Sunday, January 22, 2012

Motorola’s Android 4.0-less Droid RAZR Maxx might work


One of the biggest disappointments of the Droid RAZR is the “poor” battery life largely due to its 4G Long-Term Evolution feature that demands more battery juice.
Well, Motorola has learned a lesson and introduced a thicker, but not too thick Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx, a new Android-based smartphone with 3,300mAh battery which promises almost 24 hours of talk time and more YouTube video streaming, apparently.
Specs wise, the Droid RAZR Maxx is still the same, 4.3-inch qHD screen, 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP CPU, Android 2.3 with custom Motorola skin running on top of the user interface, two powerful cameras, a full 1GB of RAM and according to a Moto representative at CES, it will receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software update, but no word yet regarding the exact release of the new operating system.
Smartphones are popular because you can surf the web, watch movies, or play games but all features require battery juice. The new RAZR MAXX might attract more customers because it features a bigger battery.
The Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx will compete against the HD smartphone with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and LTE, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which features 1850mAh battery.
Speaking of batteries and Samsung, the Korean company recently told CNET that it will release new phones with bigger batteries this year. Rumors say the first Android 4.0 smartphone of Samsung running the TouchWiz skin is the Samsung Galaxy S3, but no word about its release date yet. If true, then this year could be the start of Android’s bigger battery lurve.
Source : http://popherald.com/news/2012/01/21/motorolas-android-4-0-less-droid-razr-maxx-might-work/15163/

Tips on getting the most out of your tech gifts


SAN FRANCISCO — It’s a few weeks since Christmas, and the novelty of that new iPad or Android tablet may be wearing off. You’ve already watched a Netflix movie, played “Angry Birds” and maybe even downloaded an e-book or two from Amazon.com or Apple’s iBooks. What next?
Here are three things you might not be aware you can do with your new tablet:

Use it as a telephone

If you want to place a video call over a Wi-Fi connection, you’ve got a lot of options, including Microsoft’s Skype and, for iPad users, Apple’s FaceTime. But suppose you want to make and receive voice calls, and not just with other Internet-connected devices but with traditional phones as well?
You could set up a Google Voice account, which comes with its own phone number, and download its app — which in the case of the iPad means an iPhone app blown up to twice its usual size.
A more elegant solution is Line2, an app from the cleverly named Toktumi, a San Francisco company. For less than $10 a month, Line2 converts your iPad or Android device into a fully functioning phone with its own number, voice mail and a host of advanced features.
It works not only over Wi-Fi but also 3G and 4G wireless data networks — giving you voice service any place and in any way your tablet can connect.
Even better, the service is transferable from device to device. Put the app on your phone too, and you’ve now got a second, fully integrated line you can use for business or in other situations where you don’t want to give out your personal number. Toktumi also provides software to let you place and receive calls on your Line2 number from Windows PCs and Macs.
Line2 for Android provides a seven-day free trial before the $9.95 monthly fee kicks in. For the iPad, the company, prodded by Apple, is in the process of moving to a “freemium” model, with a no-cost level for calls with other Line2 users and a paid service for everyone else.
You’ll also want to invest in a Bluetooth headset. You’d look awfully silly holding an iPad to your ear.

Run Windows and Microsoft Office

Several apps allow you to create, open and manipulate Microsoft Office files on a tablet, such as Documents To Go from Blackberry maker Research In Motion, Quickoffice and, for iPad users, Apple’s iWork suite. LogMeIn Ignition allows you to view and control a specific Windows PC over an Internet connection, while Citrix Receiver is aimed at enterprise users.
Now OnLive, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based online game service, has launched an app called OnLive Desktop that puts a fully functional version of Windows 7, plus Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, on your iPad — all for free.
The Microsoft programs aren’t actually installed on your tablet. Rather, they are running on OnLive’s servers, to which you connect over the Internet. You’ll need a Wi-Fi connection, where the programs run smoothly; while you can occasionally squeeze in a few minutes over 3G, you can’t count on it.
The documents you create are stored on OnLive’s servers; sharing them with other computers, or uploading documents created elsewhere, is managed via the OnLive website. The free app provides 2 gigabytes of storage, and OnLive says a coming $10-a-month service will provide 50 gigabytes, plus the ability to add and run more Windows programs. Enterprise and Android versions are also in the works.
OnLive Desktop uses a touch-friendly version of Windows 7; an on-screen keyboard also is available. You’ll almost certainly, though, want to use it with a Bluetooth wireless keyboard. It may now be possible to imagine The Great American Novel being written on an iPad — but not via fingers-on-glass.

Use it as a remote control

Here’s perhaps the only area where some Android tablets are easier to use than iPads.
Most TVs are being sold with some ability to put them onto a home network, either with built-in Wi-Fi or an adapter port. Connecting your TV to a network means, among many other things, that you may be able to control it with an app on your Wi-Fi- connected device. Millions of TVs, though, don’t live on Wi-Fi networks. Owners rely on the infrared technology in traditional remote controls to change channels and adjust the volume.
Unlike the iPad, some Android tablets have a built-in IR transmitter, allowing them to function as universal remote controls for TVs and home-entertainment gear right out of the box. Probably the best I’ve seen is the Tablet S from Sony, which includes an app that mimics the functions of the company’s high-end stand-alone remotes, including controlling non-Sony gear. Other Android tablets with IR blasters include Vizio’s Vtab and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.
If you have an iPad, or a non-IR-equipped Android tablet, your best bet is a device that uses a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to your tablet and translates its commands into IR instructions. One that I’ve used is the Peel Fruit, which is currently on sale for $79; other products that perform similar functions include Logitech’s $100 Harmony Link and Griffin Technology’s $70 Beacon.
Whatever you use, there’s one huge advantage to using a tablet over a traditional remote: little risk of losing it in the sofa cushions.

Android 4.0 runs on an AMD tablet, thanks to the Android-x86 project

Gallery Photo: MSI WindPad 110W running Android 4.0 hands-on pictures

We just remembered there was one last curiosity we saw at AMD's suite at CES 2012: this AMD Fusion tablet, running Android 4.0. Before you get too excited, AMD was quick to point out that this MSI WindPad 110W didn't get Ice Cream Sandwich through any effort of its own. What you're looking at is actually the work of the Android-x86 project, which very recently released a test Android 4.0 ISO for AMD Brazos-based tablets like the one above.
The good news is that if you've got such a tablet lying around the house, you can download the ROM yourself. The bad news is that AMD tells us it doesn't officially support the community's efforts here, and you shouldn't necessarily expect AMD devices to run Android in the future. The intriguing news is that if you go to the Android-x86 project's website, you can plainly see that AMD is interested in where this road might go: the company donated some development boards to the project last April, and as of October the AMD "Persimmon" platform of embedded processors — like the one in this Fit-PC3 — are officially a target for new code.
Oh, in case you're wondering, Android 4.0 isn't bad on AMD silicon, but the software isn't all there yet. We scrolled through the UI just fine and even ran a game at AMD's suite, but we also ran into some force closes and a freeze in just a few minutes with the system. Good luck!


Source :

http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/21/2722148/android-4-0-runs-on-an-amd-tablet-thanks-to-the-android-x86-project

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi edition gets Android Ice Cream Sandwich


Unforgivably late, 3G users stuck waiting
In what may have seemed like a decade's worth of waiting time for Google's flagship Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet to receive the long-anticipated tablet-focused OS performance update, it appears that Motorola is finally ready to announce that its first-generation tablet is ready for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

motorola xoom 
There appears to be a cache, however. Motorola is only rolling out the Ice Cream Sandwich update to WiFi-only version of the Motorola Xoom. Users like ourselves, with the 3G Motorola Xoom, will need to wait a few more weeks for the update to be pushed out.
According to System Information screenshots from other sites around the web, this particular version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is build number IML77 with kernel version 2.6.39.4-gf03a679. Prior to installing the update, the boot screen will appear noticeably different and system fonts will appear smoother and somewhat easier to read.
Nevertheless, we can't help but postulate that this unforgivably late update will not help Motorola increase sales of its Xoom tablets. The company recently launched its second-generation Xoom, officially named the Motorola Xyboard, in December 2011. Unfortunately, the second-gen device shows almost no functionality improvements over its predecessor and it appears any performance improvements going forward will be entirely software-based.


Source : http://fudzilla.com/home/item/25659-motorola-xoom-wi-fi-edition-gets-android-ice-cream-sandwich

IPhone and Android users are app happy


It’s never been easier to follow our headlines, at any hour.
Many iPhone users know that, as about 2,000 of them have downloaded the free Centre Daily Times app in recent weeks.
In December, their page views recorded at CentreDaily.com almost hit 100,000, three times the October total.
This month our mobile traffic is increasing by the day, and the wait has ended for our Android phone app, introduced quietly at the start of the year.
Combined, these two apps are keeping busy business people, students and travelers informed of developments in Centre County and beyond no matter the time.
Enjoy these apps, and we hope it will only be a few months before we roll out an iPad app. Stay tuned. In the meantime, send feedback to cdtonline@centredaily.com that may help us improve the app experience.
Moving from mobile to print, we’re introducing Washington Post and Bloomberg News content to our wire mix that includes McClatchy Tribune and many top papers, including The New York Times.
Look for this new content everywhere in the paper, including this page. The timing of this development is outstanding, allowing us to print in full last Sunday the interview with Joe Paterno conducted by Sally Jenkins, of The Washington Post.
This arrangement also will serve us well as the election year plays out, to bring you top coverage and analysis from sources inside the Beltway.
A great adventure is ahead in 2012. Thanks for joining us in print, online and mobile.


Source : http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/22/3061674/iphone-and-android-users-are-app.html

Tablet war tests brand loyalty


IT'S a showdown that started in the courts and Apple's iPad and the Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 have now taken their stoush to the shelves.
While there are plenty of other Android tablets available - by Motorola, Sony and Acer, among others - the Galaxy is nearest to the iPad in terms of price, design and function. And, it appears, sales. The Galaxy has only been on sale for just over a month and customers are snapping it up - at least anecdotally, given Samsung and Apple won't release sales figures. Ben McIntosh, general manager of computers at Harvey Norman, said the Galaxy was the second-best selling tablet after the iPad. ''They are selling extremely well. We can't keep enough in stock,'' he said.
Nevertheless, Apple's tablet was selling about 50 per cent more than the Galaxy, he said.


Good Guys Brighton manager Xen Elias said the Galaxy was the best-selling Android tablet but sales ''would probably be ten-to-one in favour of the iPad''.
''I think people who aren't cluey on the products go for the iPad over the Samsung because of the brand name,'' he said. The fact that the Galaxy had missed the Christmas season because of a losing court action by Apple had also hampered the Galaxy's sales, he said.
It's no surprise the Galaxy is selling well, given the demand for a tablet of Apple quality, but free of the tightly controlled Apple ecosystem - iTunes, iCloud, the Apple app store. Many analysts think that, technically, the Galaxy is a better tablet. ''The raw grunt of the hardware is where most of the tablets have an edge over iPad 2,'' said the editor of e-magazine MacTheMag, Matthew Powell.
The Galaxy's camera and video are also clearly superior. The Samsung's front camera, for video calls, is 2 megapixels; the back camera, for photographs, is 3.1 megapixels. The iPad's resolutions, by comparison, are just 0.3 megapixels for the video and 0.7 megapixels for the camera. ''The camera on an iPad 2 is woeful, utterly woeful, but I don't think people buy tablets for the camera,'' said Mr Powell.
The other hardware differences are subtle. The Samsung weighs slightly less. It has a plastic backing unlike the iPad's all-metal finish.
And while the Galaxy's touchscreen shows higher resolution - 1280x800 compared to the iPad's 1024x768 - Mr Powell remains a fan of Apple's. ''Nothing compares to the screen of an iPad 2 at the moment. The clarity of an iPad 2 is the best out there by far.''
And there's little pricing difference. The cheapest iPad, wi-fi-only with 16GB of memory, is $553 at Harvey Norman; the wi-fi-only 16GB Samsung is $572. The iPad doesn't run Flash animation and video; the Galaxy does. Ultimately, said Mr Powell, the major difference between the tablets is the long-running generic argument of whether Apple's iOS software and ecosystem is superior to the more open Android platform.
''What it comes down to, essentially, is whether you want Google apps and Gmail or whether you want to be in Apple's ecosystem with iCloud.''
That's also the view of telecommunications analyst Paul Budde. ''I don't think it's to do with which tablet is better or not,'' he said. ''I think it's more to do with people's attitude towards Apple and to the other side, Samsung and Android.
''I don't think in terms of the quality of the devices there's not much difference.''
When Choice magazine rated tablet computers last year, the iPad came out on top, followed by the Acer Iconia Tab and the Motorola Xoom. The Galaxy came in fourth. Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said customers should keep an open mind. ''Don't automatically assume the iPad is right for you. Check out both. You may well find for whatever reason that the Samsung might work for you. Don't presume that the iPad owns the whole market.''



Source : http://www.smh.com.au/business/tablet-war-tests-brand-loyalty-20120121-1qbbp.html

App inventor for Android becomes open source


Summary: Google and MIT have released App Inventor for Android today on an open source basis.
Google and MIT have announced an initial free and open-source release of the ‘App Inventor’ source code for Android.
In the same week that Google announced it will be closing its Picnik image editing service, Urchin web analytics tool, social graph API, Needlebase and several other products, it seems this tool has also been given the boot as a Google service.
The search engine giant has continually expanded its business and influence, so it stands to reason sometimes projects will be shuttered or released in order to allow Google to strengthen other areas. For those that would like a crack at improving software or products, making the App Inventor open source gives others this chance.
After Google first announced its plans to bin the development platform, it found a new home atMIT labs, in order to allow continued use for educational purposes. The labs already host Scratch— an interface designed to create apps, games or animations.
App Inventor assumes users have zero programming knowledge, and allows developers to create mobile apps for a variety of functions through a drag-and-drop visual interface.
According to the MIT blog:
There’s currently little supporting documentation yet, and we’re not accepting contributions to the code right now. That will happen later, after the MIT Center of Mobile Learning opens their App Inventor server to the public. We hope to nurture a robust and active open-source project eventually, but for now we don’t want to distract the MIT developers from their efforts to complete and deploy the large-scale public server.
An accompanying Google group for would-be developers has also been established to help open-source developers if they wish to use the code, and BuildingAndRunning is an additional resource to help people get started.
The released code will be updated by Google to mirror what is running at the latest MIT experimental system.
MIT isn’t ready to accept code contributions from the open source developer community, but anyone can download, build, use, and modify the App Inventor for their own needs. In the future, these users will also be able to contribute to improving the development tool.
If people create modified versions of the code, according to Google they are free to use both the term ‘App Inventor’ and the puzzle-piece Android logo in their work.

Source : http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/app-inventor-for-android-becomes-open-source/14801

How Much Does Windows Phone 7 Cost?


Not only does Microsoft now milk money out ofmore than 70%ofGoogle(NAS:GOOG) Android devices sold domestically, but the software giant also demands a hefty price tag for its own Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. The amount of those Android licensing fees has been estimated between $10 and $15 per device from popular OEMs such as Samsung and HTC.
Chinese gadget maker ZTE has inadvertently tipped part of Microsoft's hand by disclosing that it pays Mr. Softy between $20 and $30, after converting from euros. The tidbit was revealed by ZTE UK portfolio manager Santiago Sierra at the U.K. launch of the ZTE Tania Windows Phone, and it's the first time any manufacturer has divulged Windows Phone licensing figures.
Unsurprisingly, ZTE explicitly said that creating a Windows Phone costs more than a comparable Android one, because of its "different cost structure." While open-source Android is obviously free, there are some other implicit costs associated with building an Android phone.
When a manufacturer wants to build an Android phone, it can get the OS for free but has to do a lot of legwork picking hardware and making sure the software integrates properly with the hardware. That's not to say Google doesn't work with OEMs; it certainly collaborates with major makers such as Samsung, HTC, andMotorola Mobility(NYS:MMI) .
Shortly after it announced the Motorola acquisition, someslides were leakedshowing that Google favors some device partners (including Motorola) that build to Google's specifications. With as many Android OEMs as there are, it's unrealistic that Google gives them all this level of attention.
In contrast, that Windows Phone license fee will also get an OEM more support from Microsoft in terms of providing precise specifications that it will need to produce the phone, and it also provides software drivers and code along with the OS.
With Microsoft just having reportingearnings, you'll notice that the company's Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) grew its revenue by 15% to $4.2 billion. Windows Phone and related patent-licensing revenue is included in EDD, along with Xbox and Skype. EDD's revenue growth was attributed to the latter two, while the 21% drop in EDD operating income was partially due to payments to Windows Phone partnerNokia(NYS:NOK) .
Windows Phone doesn't look like it's paying off quite yet. While WP7's market share still lags Android, at least Microsoft is bringing in dollars from both.
With iOS and Android leading the mobile revolution, some winners are hard to see -- because they're buried inside the gadgets. The proliferation of mobile gadgets is going to be breathtaking, and a handful of companies stand to rake in the profits as consumers snap up each year's latest and greatest models. We've just released a new special free report on "3 Hidden Winners of the iPhone, iPad, and Android Revolution." In it, you'll find three companies that supply crucial components that virtually every mobile device relies on. Check it out now -- it's free.


Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/21/how-much-does-windows-phone-7-cost/

Android this week: Acer A200 tablet; a must-have app; Ice Cream Sandwich rolls out


Android was everywhere at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show, but the downside to the event is that many products don’t hit retail shelves for months. Acer took a decidedly different approach by launching the A200 tablet at CES and getting it in stores soon after. A 16 GB version of the A200 is now available at Best Buy for $349, or $100 less than last year’s A500 slate. But outside of the price drop, there isn’t much that’s different in this 10.1-inch tablet refresh.
Just like the old A500, Acer chose a 1 GHz dual core processor and the Honeycomb version of Android for the new A200. The device is lighter and keeps the many ports from the prior model: Full-sized USB, microSD card slot and micro USB jack to name a few. Gone is the rear camera on the A200, but it does keep a 2 megapixel front-facing sensor for video chatting or images. At this price, the A200 is surely worth a look and will be even more attractive once Acer pushes out the expected software update to Android 4.0; possibly as early as next month.
Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi tablet owners don’t have to wait for a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich, however. The company began to roll out Android 4.0.3 to the Xoom this week and will continue to push the software out in waves. The updated software could help give new life for the first Android tablet, which arrived nearly a year ago to generally mediocre reviews.
How much will Android 4.0 improve the experience on a Xoom tablet? That will vary by each individual’s needs, but overall the device is better with the updated software according to Jason Perlow of ZDNet. He used a enthusiast-created version for two weeks and then got the official upgrade a few days earlier than consumers. There are still some rough edges in the operating system, he says, but most will welcome the improved interface on their tablet.
While I wait for Android 4.0 to appear on my own 10.1-inch tablet, I’m enjoying Android 4.0 on my smartphone and this week found a new app that I consider a “must try”, if not a “must have” for Android devices. Wikipedia finally debuted its Android app this week and while you could use a browser to access the online encyclopedia, I find thefree app in the Android Market much better. Simple sharing of Wikipedia entries, support for offline article reading and GPS-powered local Wikipedia results all add to the experience.

With Android, Have Samsung Learned From Their Symbian Mistakes?


The Samsung i8510, running Symbian
The Samsung i8510, running Symbian

I can’t help but feel that Samsung have been here before.
The operating system that powers their critically acclaimed smartphone range is not under their control, but a third party. That third party is telling everyone of the level playing field and the economy of scale benefits it will have, but another manufacturer is moving ever closer to full integration of the hardware and software, threatening Samsung.
Then, the operating system was Symbian, and while the organisation was part owned by Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, Matsushita, Psion and Motorola throughout its history, Nokia built up it’s stake until eventually buying out all the partners in December 2008. Symbian’s public goal was always to be platform neutral and to let manufacturers make differentiations at the software level. But Nokia played their cards inside Symbian far better than Samsung, steering the project closer to their vision and becoming the dominant partner… at which point Samsung left.
Now, the operating system is Android, and while the Android core is managed by Google at arms length from partners including Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola, the purchase of Motorola’s mobile division by Google (and the assurances that there won’t be any favouritism) must feel like a little bit of history repeating itself.
There are two clear differences this time around though. The first is sales. Nokia had the lion’s share of Symbian units, and with Android the Samsung Galaxy range is definitely at the top of the Android pile – much like Nokia’s N95 was the leading Symbian phone (before the world went touch-screen slabs).
The second difference is that there’s no place to go if Samsung decide to move to another platform. Symbian is a practical dead end (and is now fully owned by Nokia in any case); iOS is a non-starter for obvious reasons; WebOS failed in the marketplace and unlikely to get another chance.
Samsung do have Bada, a mobile phone platform that’s more suited to the advanced feature phone market, but I fear that the merging of Bada with Intel’s Tizen is going to cause more headaches for the platform, and making it stable for commercial use will take years – and then you have the problem of getting people to develop apps for the handsets.
And then there’s Windows Phone. Samsung do have a number of handsets already on the platform (including the Focus S, which looks so much like a Galaxy S II that UK networks reportedly wouldn’t stock the device as it would cause confusion in their retail stores). But there’s a problem there. Microsoft may be keeping all the Windows Phone hardware partners in check, but one of them is getting a lot more coverage than others. Nokia.
There’s no bolt-hole for Samsung this time. Whatever Google and Motorola get up to, Samsung are going to have to stay on the train. That’s good for Android, but it’s not good for Samsung. While the sales and acclaim will continue for the next year or so, they are not completely in control of their own fate. Samsung must have brainstormed the “what if” scenarios. Can they get Bada/Tizen ready for the smartphones, will the acceleration of Windows Phone prove a useful level at any negotiating table, or will they accept the Motorola issue with Android and ensure things are different this time around?
Every year is an interesting year for those of us watching the smartphone world – and where Samsung go next is just one of the stories that I can’t wait to see play out.