Sunday, April 15, 2012

Update - 208



Posted: 14 Mar 2012 03:38 AM PDT

As much as we love to hear and read about Android smartphones sporting the latest and greatest technologies, there are many users who just want a simple phone that works for phone calls, texting, and the occasional web surfing. This is in line with the results of a recent survey by comScore, which tracks the habit of smartphone users in the US. Bottom line: there’s a huge market for simple, affordable smartphones.
If you don’t care about having S2, S3, or X in the name of your phone or if you know someone who’d like a cheap, simple smartphone, you might be interested in what two fine (albeit smaller) carriers in the US have to offer, starting with Virgin Mobile.
Virgin Mobile Venture 3G – $99, no contract
At Virgin Mobile, you can get an unlocked and contract-free Android smartphone that comes with a QWERTY keypad, for a mere $99. Dubbed Virgin Mobile Venture 3G, the phone is powered by a 600Mhz processor and boasts a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 320 x 240 resolution, a 2MP front-camera with LED flash, 512MB RAM, Bluetooth 3.0, 3G connectivity, and a microSD card slot. The Venture 3G smartphone ships with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is exactly the same flavor of Android you will get if you pay $200 on a contract for a Sony Xperia S. Ironic, huh?

Cricket Muve ZTE Score 3G – $30, no contract
But is 99 bucks the best deal in town for a contract-free Android smartphone? Not according to Cricket Wireless. The carrier is offering the Muve ZTE Score for $30, which will get you a 3G Gingerbread-flavored phone with a 600MHz processor, 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 320 resolution, 3.2MP rear-camera, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Not bad for the price of two movie tickets.
ZTE-Score-3
Both the Venture 3G and the Muve are dirt-cheap phones, but that doesn't necessarily make them cheap-looking or lacking in essential features. These phones are more than sufficient for entry-level users that want to get acquainted with Android OS. Their importance should not be underestimated — they might the vanguard that takes Android to omnipresence.
No related posts.

This article, Virgin Mobile offers contract-free $99 Venture 3G, Cricket goes even lower with $30 Muve ZTE Score , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 01:25 AM PDT
TAG Heuer Racer
TAG Heuer, the popular Swiss luxury watch maker (a subdivision of Louis Vuitton, in turn owned by luxury goods group Christian Dior – see where I'm going here ?) is known for providing a unique balance of build material quality and precise technology… in watches. You can only imagine how surprised we were to learn that they have recently announced the TAG Heuer Racer, a luxury Android smartphone that will be available for purchase starting this July, at a starting price (I really wonder what that really means, since we're talking about a smartphone!?) of roughly $3600 / 2800€.
No, that is not a typo, it's no research error: the TAG Heuer Racer will cost almost six times the price of an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note… and the producers didn't even bother to detail the specs! The only thing I could get out of the official presentation (spec-wise) is that it will probably ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The exact version was not specified, but that's what "the latest Android software" should mean, right? There is also a reference to a "high speed processor", although I wouldn't bet that they are talking about a quad-core processor or anything like that.
It seems like TAG Heuer put the most effort into creating the smartphone’s GT Car-inspired design. Granted, the Racer’s outer shell is built out of the same materials as a GT car, but I wouldn't be caught dead packing a $3600 smartphone that is as thick as the TAG Heuer Racer appears to be in the official presentation video:

I wouldn't go that far out to claim that the very concept of a luxury Android smartphone is an insult to the whole idea behind Android, but I am a firm believer that the TAG Heuer Racer, just like some of the other luxury smartphones that have surfaced in the past (such as the LG Prada, the Nokia Vertu, or the gold-plated BlackBerry Porsche) is intended to appeal to snobs, people who are not passionate about bleeding-edge technology, and just want to show off their status.

This article, TAG Heuer Racer: a $3600 Android smartphone. For snobs only ! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 14 Mar 2012 12:27 AM PDT

Socializing has become more interactive than ever before. If you're an avid Facebook fanatic who just can't steer away from actively socializing and getting updates from everyone on your friends list, then here's a wonderful application that will add a new twist to the same old Facebook for Android application.

Introducing TalkOver for Android–a brand new way to communicate and interact with your Facebook buddies through real-time chat messages while giving you full control over your personalized chat groups. Being the owner of your own chat group gives you full control over who can join the group chat, what content should be displayed, and what general rules participants in the group must follow.
As user of the application you can also join various chat groups started by other Facebook users.  It’s a way for you to explore myriad content — from rich multimedia galleries to personalized photos and links from other people.
Not only that, you can also make new friends with other people, start a one-on-one conversation, rate shared content, ignore other people, and most importantly, hide behind the mask of identities under 4 profiles.

TalkOver can also keep close guard on all of your activities based on your own chat groups or entire global network. The application can filter inappropriate content, alert you of new notifications, and  share the best content from Twitter and a whole lot more.

You just need to launch the application and give the app authority to access your Facebook credentials and you're all set to go. It's that easy.
On the app's homescreen, you can find different tabs that show personalized feeds, global feeds, or what's interesting for the day.
On the bottom portion, you'll find live feeds with the use of the Feeds tab, explore My Chats that keeps track of your chat history, or invite and/or manage contacts with the Contacts tab.

The Feed tab takes you to another three tabs: My Feed, Global Feed and Interesting. My Feed is where all personal activities are neatly arrange on your favorite channels. Global Feed lets you have an overview of the universal list of activities happening on the network. You can also join chat groups listed in the Interesting tab, which shows trending or featured content on the network.style=”font-weight: bold;”>

Once you join a particular chat group, you have full control of what the group is sharing.  You can open shared photos, download images, invite other Facebook friends, and even share your own stuff for the world to see.
If you want to know more about a person, you can simply tap a username and the app will automatically let you check his/her user statistics and add the person to your contact list. The app automatically updates itself in real-time, so you'll never have to worry about delayed response times.  All active chat groups that you have joined are also remembered.
The Profile tab lets you manage your TalkOver profile.  You can configure up to 4 different identities that you can use. Only one profile can be selected at a time. To help first-time users, the application also gives a short walkthrough in the form of display tutorials.
TalkOver is a must-have for anyone who loves to constantly hang out on Facebook. You can get the TalkOver app free from Google Play Store.

This article, TalkOver App for Android: Facebook Chat Client for Better Chatting Control , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:35 PM PDT

Rugged Android smartphones that are built tough are no longer a rarity. This raises the question whether or not there are Android tablets out there that offer similar level of durability and can withstand shock and scratches just as good as their smaller counterparts. The answer, fortunately, is a resounding yes. In fact, South Korea’s Pantech goes a step further by making its Element tablet waterproof. Encased in a polycarbonate shell, this is one tablet that you won't have to worry about using in adverse weather or in the bathroom.
The Pantech Element is an 8-inch Android slate that ships with more than respectable specs. Underneath that plastic-encased hood, you can find a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, a 1024 x 768 TFT display, 16GB internal memory , 5MP front-camera, 2MP rear-camera, microSD card slot and HDMI-out. Topping it off is the generous 6,400mAh battery, which ensures you can use the Element for several days, as long as you keep the usage light. Another strong point of the Pantech Element is the fact that it is 4G LTE ready. Overall, some very nice specs from a less known manufacturer.
Good specs alone won't sell tablets. You have to applaud Pantech for trying to differentiate its offering by making the tablet waterproof. That's why the Element is cloaked in said polycarbonate shell, protecting any openings on the tablet from water for up to 3 meter deep and up to 30 minutes. In terms of waterpoofing, Pantech Element differs from other similar offerings (Fujitsu showed off some waterproof tablets at CES), by using a plastic shell, instead of rubber fittings. This gives it better resistance to submersion (3 meters compare to 1 meter).
If this sounds appealing, you can get the Pantech Element tablet from AT&T for $249.99 with a 2-year contract. Not at all a bad deal, we believe, for a tablet of its kind.
Despite its rather low key presence and brand recognition, Pantech is  trying to slowly build a reputation and gain a stronger footing in the Android scene. If the Pantech Element tablet is any indication of what the manufacturer can churn out, the future does look bright for the Koreans.
What would you do with the Pantech Element? I would definitely see myself watching movies in the tub, playing Where’s My Water (see what I did?), or using it to replace maps on my hiking trips. What do you say?

This article, Pantech Element waterproof tablet – movies in the hot tub, anyone? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Whether you love them or hate them, 5-inch devices fill that nice gap right between phones and tablets. Some users may complain that 5-inches is way too big for their hands, while others may find them just perfect.
One thing is sure, however — 5 inches definitely does not make a compact phone and it may be a little ridiculous to carry such-sized phone around in your pocket, much less to answer publicly whenever you get a call. But, if you’re someone who wants the functionality of a tablet in the comparatively smaller size of a phone, these devices may be after your heart.
After the debut of the Samsung Galaxy Note, at one point dubbed a “phablet” or “phoneblet” as it dipped its feet in both smartphone and tablet waters, a number of other 5-inchers have cropped up. Though neither of these two contenders have hit the market yet, both LG and Panasonic have decided to give the 5-inch territory a shot and show Samsung that it’s not the only one willing to push the envelope.
First introduced and announced at the Mobile World Congress this year, the LG Optimus Vu and the Panasonic Eluga Power may or may not be contenders for the Samsung Galaxy Note’s crown. Though more details will appear once these phones hit the market, let’s see how they may fare against the available Galaxy Note.

Design and Display

Let’s start with the Samsung Galaxy Note, as it was the first to really push the boundaries. With dimensions of 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm and a weight of 178 g, the Note is equipped with an HD Super AMOLED 5.3-inch capacitive touchscreen and an 800×1280 pixel resolution.  Just from those display specs alone, the Galaxy Note is confident in showcasing media such as movies, videos, and pictures.
Though it’s got a plastic body, it does come with Corning Gorilla Glass, which may make this device a little more durable.
What really made waves when the Note came out was its stylus and with good reason; the stylus’ presence brings new ways to interact with your phone, such as being able to jot down notes and even doodle a little if you feel bored on the ride home.
Unfortunately, the stylus is small and may feel a bit like holding air. It also has delayed response and may take some training to use. One definite advantage is that the stylus can snugly fit into the phone, which makes it easier to bring around.
Artists who work extensively with graphic tablets may be thrilled to know that the Note’s screen responds to pen pressure. For people who love taking down notes, but loathe bringing around bulky notebooks (whether we’re talking about the old-fashioned ones made out of paper or the electronic ones with a keyboard), the ease of not just having your phone in your hand but also as something to use in class is definitely an advantage.

Set to debut first in Korea, the LG Optimus Vu has dimensions of 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5 mm and a weight of 168 g. We can already see that it’s a whole 10 grams lighter than the Note, but its 5-inch display is also at the slightly lower resolution of 768×1024 pixels at an aspect ratio of 4:3.
The Optimus Vu also comes with a pen dubbed the Rubberdium. But, unlike in the Samsung Galaxy Note, it doesn’t fit anywhere inside the device. This makes it highly possible to lose your pen if you’re not careful.
Panasonic decided to jump into the ring with the Panasonic Eluga Power, which people are calling the big brother of the regular Eluga. The phone’s developers aimed to deliver the convenience of a 5-inch HD screen, superfast charging (reportedly full charge in less than an hour or so),  water and dust resistance, as well as adding features like NFC.
People who’ve tried texting with the Eluga Power have reported that it’s easier to wield than the Note but may be a little awkward to type on with the thumb of one hand, given its size. Equipped with an OLED screen, the Eluga Power has a 720×1280 pixel resolution for a 5-inch display. Its dimensions are 136 x 70 x 9.6 mm and has a much lighter weight at 133 g.

Storage

You can purchase your Samsung  Galaxy Note with either a 16 GB internal memory or a 32 GB, depending on your needs. If you need extra space, you can expand memory with up to 32 GB more,  thanks to the Note’s microSD card slot. It’s got 1 GB of RAM.
Not to be one-upped, the LG Optimus Vu also packs 1 GB of RAM but is only available with 32 GB internal memory.  You can max out with a microSD expansion card of up to 32 GB.
The Panasonic Eluga Power, by comparison, seems to have a disadvantage in this area as it has been reported to have internal memory of only 8 GB. Storage expansion up to 32 GB also applies to this device, if you’re worried about not having enough space for your files, music, and apps.

Camera

All three of these phones are packing a 8-megapixel cameras, but it’s in the front facing camera that they differ.
The Samsung Galaxy Note’s own front facing camera packs 2 megapixels, while the LG Optimus VU only packs 1.3 megapixels.
As of this writing, there doesn’t seem to be any specs for the Panasonic Eluga Power but we have been informed that it will have a front-facing camera.

Processor and Operating System

The Samsung Galaxy Note comes out of the box with  Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread. Inside of the device, you’ve got an Exynos chipset, a dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, and a Mali-400MP GPU.
The LG Optimus Vu also comes with Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread but LG has already announced that an Ice Cream Sandwich should be hitting the Optimus Vu in a few months. The Optimus Vu comes with a   Qualcomm MSM8660 Snapdragon chipset, a dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion processor, and an Adreno 220 GPU.

Not to be bested by the Samsung Galaxy Note and the LG Optimus Vu, the operating system is really where Panasonic is aiming to shine. Rather than settling for Gingerbread, the Panasonic Eluga Power is pushing for Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box. Inside, we’ll find a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and an Adreno 225 GPU.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy Note has been tested and the battery in the device can offer a standby time of 960 hours on 2G and 820 hours on 3G. Where talk time is concerned, if you’re on 2G, you’ll get about 26 hours out of your phone, while you may only get about 13.5 hours while on 3G. Of course, length of battery life may differ, depending on how you use your Note.

Though these two contenders haven’t been tested yet, we’ve been told that the LG Optimus Vu packs a 2080 mAh battery, to provide us with longer life, while the Panasonic Eluga Power has a 1800 mAh battery, which is said to charge faster.

Verdict

We’ve yet to see the performance of the LG Optimus Vu and the Panasonic Eluga Power in the hands of consumers, but their improvements over the Samsung Galaxy Note’s size is definitely worth looking out for.
If you’d like the huge beautiful display that a 5-incher can provide you, but not the bulk that comes with it, the Panasonic Eluga Power seems to be the best contender in terms of weight. The Eluga Power also seems the most promising, with its Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box yet its internal storage is a little skimpy next to the LG Optimus Vu and the Samsung Galaxy Note.
We’re certainly looking out for the performance of the Optimus Vu’s battery, which may be able to keep the device running for a longer period and keep us away from charging at the end of the day.
Until we see and actually hold these two contenders, the Samsung Galaxy Note may still keep its crown and keep note-takers and doodlers alike entertained while in class, meetings, or just killing time commuting.
Have you already settled for a Samsung Galaxy Note?  Tell us how awesome it is.  Or, are you holding out for either the Panasonic Eluga Power or the LG Optimus Vu?

This article, Panasonic Eluga Power vs Samsung Galaxy Note vs LG Optimus VU , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:42 AM PDT
Galaxy S2 ICS Update Root
This morning, the Galaxy S2 ICS (Android 4.0.3) update began to sweep the world, first in South Korea, followed by Scandinavia and a few other countries. Of course, it took only hours for the industrious gathering of enthusiasts at XDA-developers to produce a method of rooting your freshly updated Samsung Galaxy S2. And if Samsung has neglected your country so far and you can't wait to replace that stale Gingerbread on your S2 with a spankin' fresh Ice Cream Sandwich treat, XDA-developers has you covered too.
If only some carriers would be so adept at releasing updates as Android enthusiasts are at rooting them, the world would be a better place… Enough dreaming, let's see how you can gain root on your updated Galaxy S2.

Final European ROM available for flashing

If you can't wait for the OTA to grace your Galaxy S2 phone with its creamy presence, you can try (on your own risk and after bidding your warranty a warm farewell) to update your phone yourself, using the ROM put at your disposal by XDA member Faryaab. Note that we are talking about an European ROM for now –  I9100XXLPQ (Official Final Build) – so if you're living across the pond or elsewhere in the world, you might give the update a second thought. After all, the carriers will push the Galaxy 2 ICS OTA soon enough, right? Right???
Anyway, you can get complete instructions and maybe some support from Mr. Faryaab himself, on the dedicated XDA thread. The thread is also home to a bunch of screenshots to prove you that the ROM is for real.


If you like your devices thoroughly rooted and free from any trace of carrier spyware, err… quality improvement tools, you also get instructions on how to acquire root on your newly updated Samsung Galaxy S2. Neat.
At the time this post was published, the Galaxy S2 ICS root and update thread was already 53 pages long, complete with cries of help, silly questions, and the victorious proclamations of those who pulled it through. If you're not sure about what you're doing, it may be a good idea to wait for the official update. Bricked phones are never funny, so be extra careful with those backups. For those who prefer to wait, we’re keeping our Galaxy S2 ICS rollout coverage updated.
If you do try out the new XDA Galaxy S2 ICS ROM or the rooting method, give us a shout. How did it go? Are you satisfied with the flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich?

This article, Root acquired: Galaxy S2 ICS rooted, update instructions available online , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:33 AM PDT
AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment
Although the Android OS aims to be a self-contained mobile platform, most Android apps (even those that really suck) are developed by using the Eclipse SDK, on a PC. Up to this point, it was considered that mobile devices cannot harness enough processing power to compile code. With the emergence of quad-core processors, those premises were bound to change eventually.
And change they did, as the recently released Android IDE (AIDE for short) supplies Android users with a development package that grants access to code completion, refactoring , formatting, real-time error checking (fixing as well), and more, all at a
click
touch away. Simply put, AIDE is the first Android app that allows you to build other Android apps. Neat, huh?
AIDE — Coding on the go?
AIDE (currently in beta version 7) is touted as fully compatible with Eclipse projects, meaning would-be devs are able to transfer the source files from their PC to the Android device of their choosing, open these files with AIDE, and then immediately start improving on their apps on the go. At this point, it is worth noting that AIDE is the product of a small group of Android devs from Germany, and not the offspring of a major software producer. I'm sure more similar apps will surface over the next year or so, as the processing power of Android smartphones (and mobile devices in general) exponentially increases over time. It would certainly be very interesting if Google itself would decide to come up with an Android development app that works on their OS.
Although AIDE is available for all Android devices, I would say that the best results would imply the use of a tablet. An attached keyboard couldn't hurt either. This is because (except for, say, the Samsung Galaxy Note,) the screen real estate isn't vast enough on a smartphone to allow for efficient code editing. That being said, the quad-core ASUS Transformer Prime, along with its dedicated keyboard dock, should be everything you ever need to develop Android apps from now on. That's if, of course, you have some decent dev skills.
Note: those of you who are considering getting into Android app development should consider Google's tutorials on this subject as a starting point for their future endeavors.
Are there any excited Android developers amongst the readers of this post? Drop us a line and tell us what you think!
AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment 2
 AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment 3
AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment 4
AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment 5
AIDE: Android Integrated Development Environment 6

This article, Android IDE (AIDE) lets you develop Android apps without a PC , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:42 AM PDT
Sony Xperia Sola
Remember our The Future is Now: Touch-free Touchscreens Coming Soon post, which described the touch-free touchscreen technology developed by French company Noalia? Well, you can now say that the future described in the post is already old news, because the first touch-free smartphone is not only real, but is also just weeks away from being available in stores. Who's the culprit? Sony!
At an event in London today, Sony announced the newest member of its Xperia lineup, the Sony Xperia sola (yes, not capitalized), a 3.7-inch Android 2.3 device that resembles the Xperia S, with dumbed-down specs and sans the translucent bottom insertion.
However, the sola (codenamed Pepper in Sony’s leaked 2012 roadmap) comes with a twist, a touch of magic, as Sony would put it – the floating touch™ (yes, not capitalized) technology.

Sony Xperia sola comes with touch-free control

So, what's all the fuss about this touchless touch devilry? Floating touch is a technology that lets you control your smartphone's screen without actually having to touch it. How would that be useful? Well, the applications can be numerous. For one, touchless control would solve one of the biggest issues with smartphone UIs – the fact that you can't hover over an element. With Sony's floating touch that might change, although we're not sure how deep is the technology integrated with Android. At least in theory, you can use the floating touch to highlight elements, to get information (think tooltips) on various elements, and in a variety of other ways.
For now, we don't have any clues about how the sola works its magic. Previous efforts in touchless interfaces involved cameras, but this doesn't seem to be happening with the sola, as the distance between the user's finger and the display is too small for a camera to discern. Another possibility would be the sola uses an electrostatic sensor, just like Noalia's technology works. If that's the case, the sola is probably fitted with sensors beneath the display, which detect the static electricity that floats around your body. Apple is also said to be working on something similar, but it seems that Sony has beaten Cupertino to the punch.

Magic aside, what will the new Sony Xperia sola give you?

Without doubt, the floating touch thingy is the only aspect that makes the Sony Xperia sola stands out, unless, of course, you're a Sony-maniac or a sucker for the Xperia S industrial design.
Under the red, black, or white case, the sola hides specs that are, at best, unimpressive:
  • 3.7-inch Reality Display, 854 x 480 pixels, with the Bravia engine
  • ST-Ericsson NovaThor dual-core processor, clocked at 1GHz
  • 8GB of storage, expandable via microSD
  • 5MP rear-camera, with autofocus, 720p
  • 1320 mAh battery, enough for 5h of talk time
  • Android 2.3 (to be upgraded to ICS soon, promises Sony)
So, nothing to write home about, except the floating touch. We wonder why Sony choose the sola to showcase this new tech, instead the higher-end (and more visible) Xperia S, U, or P? Anyway, we're very curious about touchless controls and we can't wait for a sola hands-on, to see whether Sony managed to implement it in a compelling way or it's just another short-lived gimmick.
The Sony Xperia sola will be available globally in the second quarter of 2012, and will be known as the Sony Xperia sole in Italy and Sony Xperia MT27i in China. No word on the pricing yet, but from the looks of it, we would bet on a relatively affordable price tag.
We'll let you know more about the Sony Xperia sola as soon as we learn more. Meanwhile, tell us: would you like to have touch-free technology on your device?
Show full PR text
13 March 2012

  • Introducing "floating touch" navigation for magic web browsing without touching the screen
  • Easily open apps and launch actions in an instant with NFC and Xperia SmartTags
  • Reality Display with Mobile Bravia engine and fast capture camera boosted by a powerful dual-core processor
13 March, London, United Kingdom – Sony Mobile Communications today announced Xperia™ sola* as the latest addition to its portfolio of Android powered Xperia smartphones.  Complete with Sony technology, premium entertainment and innovative floating touchTM navigation, the NFC enabled Xperia sola comes equipped with Xperia SmartTags, allowing consumers to change their smartphone's settings and applications to fit their lifestyle in an instant. Xperia sola will be available to consumers globally in black, white and red in the second quarter.
A floating touch of magic
Making its smartphone debut exclusively on Xperia sola, Sony's unique floating touch lets consumers navigate the web by hovering their finger above the screen so it acts like a moving curser, without actually having to touch the screen.  Once the desired link is found it can be highlighted and a simple tap will load the page.  Floating touch will evolve with new user functionality and applications through software updates and engagement with developers.
Calum MacDougall, Head of Xperia Marketing for Sony Mobile Communications, commented; "Xperia sola comes with the power of Sony and a sense of magic with floating touch, giving consumers a fun new way to browse the web and latest technology to show off. With Xperia SmartTags out of the box and access to the latest content through Sony Entertainment Network, Xperia sola is perfect for consumers looking for ease of use and the best in entertainment in a smart and innovative smartphone."
Simplify the everyday with SmartTags
Xperia sola is NFC enabled and comes with two NFC Xperia SmartTags in the box as standard to simplify consumers' everyday smartphone experiences. By touching an NFC Android smartphone on a SmartTag, a pre-configured profile in the smartphone will launch. The two SmartTags included with Xperia sola can be personalized with up to 10 commands. Out of the box one is ready for the living room to turn on Wi-Fi™ and launch Google™ news and weather apps, and the other one for the bedroom, which turns on the alarm and switches to silent mode. Xperia sola supports NFC pairing, allowing consumers to enjoy great connectivity with other NFC smartphones, applications and services by tapping their smartphones together.
Powerful entertainment anytime, anywhere
Xperia sola boasts razor sharp clarity with Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine, xLOUD™ and 3D surround sound audio technology delivering crisp and loud sound, and a 1GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance.  Xperia sola also comes with fast capture to take the camera from sleep to snap in a little over a second with a single key press.
Consumers can also access premium entertainment experiences with Sony Entertainment Network**, where they can watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters on Video Unlimited or listen to millions of songs*** through Music Unlimited.
Key features for Xperia sola
  • Floating touch navigation for an easy web browsing experience
  • NFC enabled and Xperia SmartTags in the box to enable quick app loading and easy content sharing
  • 3.7" Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity
  • Powered by a 1GHz Dual Core Processor for super fast browsing
  • xLOUD and 3D surround sound audio technology for crisp and loud listening
  • Direct access to Sony Entertainment Network* with pre-installed Video and Music Unlimited** apps
  • Launches on Android platform 2.3, upgrade to Android 4.0 during summer 2012
* Xperia sola will be bought into the Italian market under the name "Sony Xperia™ sole" and in China P.R. under the name "Sony Xperia™ MT27i"
**Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availability by region, please seewww.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for more details.
*** The number of available songs varies by region.
Xperia sola specifications
All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be available in every market.
Colours
  • Black
  • White
  • Red
Facts
  • Size: 116 x 59 x 9.9 mm
  • Weight: 107 grams
  • 1 GHz STE U8500 dual-core processor
  • Google Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
  • 2D and 3D Sweep Panorama™
  • 5 megapixel camera
  • 16x digital zoom
  • Auto focus
  • Face detection
  • Flash/Photo flash
  • Geotagging
  • HD video recording (720p)
  • Red-eye reduction
  • Self-timer
  • Send to web
  • Smile detection
  • Video light
  • Video recording
Music
  • 3D surround sound
  • Album art
  • Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
  • Clear bass
  • Clear stereo
  • Music Player
  • PlayNow™ service
  • SensMe™
  • TrackID™ music recognition
  • xLoud™ Experience
Internet
  • Google play™
  • Bookmarks
  • floating touch™
  • Google™ search
  • Google Voice™ Search
  • Google Maps™ for Mobile with
  • Street view and Latitude™
  • NeoReader™ barcode scanner
  • Pan & zoom
  • Web browser (WebKit™)
Communication
  • 2 speakerphones
  • Call list
  • Conference calls
  • Facebook™ application
  • Facebook inside Xperia™
  • Google Talk™ application
  • Noise suppression
  • Twitter™ (with Timescape™ integration)
  • Xperia™ Timescape™
Messaging
  • Conversations
  • Email
  • Google Mail™
  • Instant messaging
  • Multimedia messaging (MMS)
  • Predictive text input
  • Sound recorder
  • Text messaging (SMS)
Design
  • Auto rotation
  • Gesture input
  • Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
  • Live Wallpaper
  • Picture wallpaper
  • Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
  • Screenshot capturing
  • Touch screen
Entertainment
  • 3D Album
  • Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
  • Media browser
  • Motion gaming
  • Radio (FM radio with RDS)
  • Sony Entertainment Network
  • Video streaming
  • YouTube™
Organiser
  • Airplane mode
  • Alarm clock
  • Calculator
  • Calendar
  • Contacts
  • Document readers
  • Notes
  • Setup guide
  • Stopwatch
  • Tasks
  • Timer
Connectivity
  • 3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
  • aGPS
  • Bluetooth™ wireless technology
  • DLNA Certified®
  • Micro USB support
  • Media Go™
  • Media Transfer Protocol support
  • Modem
  • Native USB tethering
  • NFC
  • PC Companion
  • Synchronisation via Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
  • USB High speed 2.0 support
  • USB Host
  • Wi-Fi®
  • Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality
  • Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation

All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be available in every market.

Display
  • 3.7" Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
  • 854 x 480 pixels
  • 16,000,000 colour TFT
  • Scratch-resistant glass
Memory
  • 8 GB internal storage (up to 5 GB user-accessible memory)
  • microSD™ memory card slot (supporting up to 32GB)
Networks
  • Quad EDGE/GSM/GPRS 850, 900, 1800
  • W-CDMA Band I, II, V and VIII
Battery life
  • Talk time GSM: Up to 6 hrs*
  • Standby time GSM: Up to 470 hrs*
  • Talk time UMTS: Up to 5 hrs*
  • Standby time UMTS: Up to 475 hrs*
  • Music listening time: Up to 40 hrs
  • Video playback time: Up to 6 hrs
  • Battery: 1320 mAh (built-in) typical, 1265 mAh minimum
*Values are according to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.
In the kit
  • Xperia™ sola, embedded battery, 2 SmartTags, stereo headset, charger, micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer, and user documentation.
"Sony" and "Sony Entertainment Network" are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This article, Sony reveals first touchless smartphone, the Xperia sola , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:14 AM PDT
Marvel_AR_app
Marvel comic books are scheduled to make their complete appearance on mobile devices in June 2012, when Marvel will start offering those who purchase any super hero comic book (priced at $3.99) an exact digital-copy of the same book, available on both Android and iOS devices. Slightly late to the tablet show, Marvel has plans for a major impact (they call it the Marvel ReEvolution), with Marvel execs recently announcing that they will soon release an augmented reality app called Marvel AR. The (highly interesting) app was announced a couple of days back, at South by Southwest Interactive, the same event in Austin, Texas where Instagram for Android and Angry Birds Space were officially announced.
In a nutshell, the Marvel AR app (soon to become available on Android as well as Apple's iOS) will allow you to uncover exclusive digital content, as long as you've also got the physical book in front of you. If the demo is anything to go by, the Marvel AR app will be nothing short of impressive, even if you are not the Iron Man's biggest fan (but you are, right?).
The first comic book to receive this bonus, digital, augmented-reality content will be Marvel's upcoming Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Infinite. According to Marvel officials, the exclusive content is similar to the DVD extras that a blockbuster movie usually features: “The AR app will show readers what the editor was thinking, what the writer was thinking, 3D extras, and pencil art”. But the really interesting part (as far as Android tech blog readers are concerned) is the way the app brings up that content, rather than the content itself.
Powered by Aurasma's augmented reality technology, the Marvel AR app uses the camera lens on your device to detect unique points of recognition in the pages of the physical book, in a similar way to the way QR code-reading works. Once those points are detected, the app will bring up content that augments the page you are looking at through the camera lens.
For instance, one of the most impressive moments in the demo I previously mentioned involved a 3D model of Iron Man coming out of the comic book's pages, taking off, and then landing back in front of the page. The part that really blew me off was how the user could angle and move the tablet, to catch a better glimpse of the animation. It's really as if Iron Man was actually there, except that… well, he wasn't. Here are a couple of videos that showcase exactly what I’m talking about:


The only downside, as mentioned by CNET’s Seth Rosenblatt, is that you’ll have to hover your tablet over each page in search for this exclusive content, but I guess playing a little detective shouldn’t be that much of a daunting task for comic book fans.
What do you guys think about the Marvel AR app? If you’re a comic book fan, drop us a line and tell us what you think about Marvel’s initiative!

This article, Marvel reveals augmented reality app, dubs it ‘Marvel AR’ , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 05:59 AM PDT
breakdroid android rooting tool for mac
Now this is something you don't see every day – XDA member Northmendo released an automated rooting tool and ADB installer, to help Mac users get the most of their Android devices. So, if you're one of those fellows that can't make up their minds between the dark side, err, I meant Apple, and Android, you can now go on and mess with your Android phone, without requiring access to a Windows or Linux PC.
Before you get too excited, you should know that BreakDroid is very new and that the tool has only been tested on a handful of Android devices. Nevertheless, Northmendo announced that he is working on expanding the tool's usability and is actually looking for volunteers to test his creation.
Here are the devices currently supported by BreakDroid:
  • Kindle Fire
  • Motorola Droid Razr
  • Galaxy Nexus
  • Galaxy Note
Northmendo is looking for testers for the last two devices, so if you have the guts and the necessary Mac, feel free to drop a line on the BreakDroid thread from the XDA forums. Your effort will certainly be forever appreciated. Or, at least, you'll know you did a good deed this week. Besides the four phones that are "officially" supported by BreakDroid, the tool is, in theory, compatible with any phone that can be rooted using GingerBreak, psneuter, or zergRush.
BreakDroid

What can BreakDroid do?

As the tool's developer specifies, BreakDroid is not an entirely new tool, built from the ground up, but rather an automation of existing applications and techniques. Still, its importance should not be underestimated. Until now, Mac users had few options when it came to simple rooting tools for Android, and had to delve into complicated, manual operations.
The new BreakDroid rooting tool for Mac lets you automatically root your Android device, and in addition, it provides automatic ADB set up and installation of the Android SDK. Keep in mind that this is an Alpha release, so don't expect flawless functioning or a full feature set.
As always, make sure to back up and be aware of the consequences that rooting has on device warranty. But if you read so far, you probably know about all that, so I'll stop the nagging right now.
Happy rooting and let us know if you tried BreakDroid!

1 comment:

  1. I'd be inclined to go for the ZTE Blade Q Mini instead, which Argos has for £50. 1GB RAM, a 5mp camera with autofocus and flash and -- crucially -- an IPS screen. I have one, and having played briefly with a Kis 3 I think the Blade Q Mini is definitely better. (It does only have Android 4.2 though.)

    ReplyDelete