Android World: AndroidGuys

Thursday, May 3, 2012

AndroidGuys

Android 4.0 getting close to 5% share of platform
T-Mobile announces $20 Prism 3G for May 6
Verizon’s Galaxy S III user agent profile confirms Snapdragon S4 chipset
T-Mobile readying entry-level Prism 3G for early May

Android 4.0 getting close to 5% share of platform

Posted: 02 May 2012 12:02 PM PDT

Android's biggest problem continues to be fragmentation. Particularly when you have a huge UI change, like in Android 4.0 ICS, it's important to get as many devices as you can on the update to avoid customer confusion and developer frustration. Even the Nexus S 4G, Sprint's iteration of the "Pure Google" phone, just got the latest update a bare month ago, a full six months after the software was first released. With many legacy devices not even getting ICS, this fragmentation is only going to grow. As you can see in the chart above, the various iteration of 4.0 total up to just under 5%, with Gingerbread 2.3.3 taking the...ahem...cake, at just under 64%. Interestingly enough, while Android 4.0 has a pretty low percentage of platform share, it still beats out Android 3.0 Honeycomb, which stands cumulatively at just over 3%. Given how few phones are currently out running Ice Cream Sandwich, this offers a sad bit of commentary on how the last generation of Android tablets sold overall.

The good news here is that with future Android tablets and most future Android phones both running the same software, and impending releases of some pretty huge name brands, there's going to be a good jump in the number of Android 4.0 devices shortly. That and the impending upgrades of quite a few devices should definitely shift some of the share from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich. From there, it becomes more a question of what Google's software game plan is down the road and how it will affect the current fragmentation. What do you think intrepid reader? Let us know in the comments below!

Source developer.android.com

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T-Mobile announces $20 Prism 3G for May 6

Posted: 02 May 2012 09:19 AM PDT

T-Mobile today announced their next Android smartphone, the "budget-friendly" Prism 3G, putting it on sale a few short days from now. Priced at $19.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and two-year agreement, the phone runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features entry-level specs. Details include a 3.5-inch HVGA touch display, a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2GB microSD card, and 3G connectivity.

Chances are good that you existing Android users already have a more powerful device sitting on your desk right now. With hardware that would have been merely average in 2010, it's definitely not worth your upgrade money. On the other hand, this is the perfect entry-level device for Aunt Alice.

The T-Mobile Prism lands at Best Buy on May 6, at Walmart on May 9 and then on to T-Mobile retail stores starting May 23. Should you opt for picking one of these up without a contract, you'll need to have $149.99 in your wallet.

T-Mobile Introduces Its Latest Budget-Friendly Smartphone: T-Mobile Prism

Built for first-time smartphone customers, the new Android device is expected to be available starting May 6.

BELLEVUE, Wash., — May 2, 2012 — T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announced the upcoming availability of the T-Mobile® Prism™, the latest budget-friendly option for cost-conscious consumers looking for their first smartphone. The T-Mobile Prism will be available to T-Mobile customers through flexible pricing options, including no annual contract paired with a T-Mobile Monthly4G™ plan or paired with a two-year T-Mobile Classic or Value plan.

Powered by Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread and featuring a 3.5-inch HVGA touch screen, the new 3G smartphone enables T-Mobile customers to easily surf the Web, access their favorite social networking sites and choose from thousands of applications to download from Google Play. The T-Mobile Prism also makes it simple to capture and share photos and videos via its 3.2-megapixel camera with digital zoom and video recorder. With the T-Mobile Prism, customers can sync multiple email accounts, including Microsoft Exchange, Google calendar and contacts, T-Mobile contacts, and more.

The T-Mobile Prism is expected to be available at Best Buy starting May 6, at Walmart starting May 9 and available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, online via www.T-Mobile.com and at select dealers beginning May 23. The T-Mobile Prism is expected to cost $19.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan or $149.99 via no annual contract.

T-Mobile announces $20 Prism 3G for May 6 originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Verizon’s Galaxy S III user agent profile confirms Snapdragon S4 chipset

Posted: 02 May 2012 07:11 AM PDT

We're just a matter of hours from getting all the official Galaxy S III details but that won't stop a few last minute leaks from dropping on us. A leaked user agent profile picked up by our friends at Pocketnow has been found and looks to confirm a number of Verizon's GS III device specifications. We may be weeks or months from getting the Big Red edition however we've got some early details.

Assuming the SCH-I535 proves to be the Verizon Galaxy S III, the smartphone will feature a Snapdragon MSM8960 (S4) processor and run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The resolution is listed at 1280x720 however we don't know whether it's a Super HD AMOLED display or something else.

Are you saddened to learn that the Verizon Galaxy S III handset will have a dual-core S4 CPU or is that more than enough for you?

Verizon’s Galaxy S III user agent profile confirms Snapdragon S4 chipset originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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T-Mobile readying entry-level Prism 3G for early May

Posted: 02 May 2012 06:43 AM PDT

T-Mobile looks set to follow up the HTC One S with a budget-based smartphone for first-time buyers. Designed by Huawei, the Prism 3G is expected to feature a 3.5-inch display, 3.2-megapixel camera, 600MHz processor, 512MB ROM, and 2GB storage (microSD). According to details obtained by TmoNews, the handset will trickle out to Best Buy and Walmart next week, followed by a larger rollout later in the month. No pricing or official announcement to share at this time. Considering the specs remind us of phones from days gone by, we cannot imagine T-Mobile able to ask for more than $50 for this thing.