AndroidGuys |
- A brief history of Android smartphone display resolutions
- New galaxy Note 8.0 images surface, showing off S-Pen and software
- Imagine how cool a Google Now smart watch would be
- HTC announces Desire U for Taiwan
- Samsung sets record for smartphones shipped in single quarter
- Samsung intros rugged and waterproof GALAXY Xcover 2
- Acer debuts 4.5-inch Liquid E1 smartphone
| A brief history of Android smartphone display resolutions Posted: 25 Jan 2013 02:02 PM PST
As more products are announced and companies look to distance themselves from competition, one area of significant value is in the screen. Bigger is often construed as being better but that is not an absolute truism. See, once in a while you get a larger display that doesn’t look nearly as sharp as another device of same size. On the other hand, you’ll also come across smaller screens that have very high resolution. Display sizes are generally given a set of initials or an acronym based on combinations of pixel width and height. But, while there are a growing number of acronyms to keep up with, it’s not as difficult as you might think to understand. Let’s take a look at some of the more common resolutions used in Android smartphones. We’ll also touch, very briefly, on tablets as well. Once you grasp these you should be able to understand the 7-inch and 10-inch stuff as well Common acronyms and display resolutions for Android devices:
A very quick rundownGoing all the way back to the first Android smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, display sizes hovered around 3.2-inches. Over time we would see things literally inch forward, notably when the HTC Evo 4G debuted with a 4.3-inch screen size. The year 2011 saw a number of higher end models coming in with 4-inch displays and resolutions of 540×960 pixels. The following generation of devices included many “HD” screens for the top of the line experience. It’s worth noting that handset makers were quick to name anything having 720 pixels in a row as being HD. Just as with television sets, there is a difference between 720p and 1080p in high definition. As to whether or not your eye is able to discern the resolution largely depends on the size of the screen. Some will argue that the 1080p display resolutions on a 5-inch is overkill and that the human eye is not able to pick up the added details. Picking up today, the trend for 2013 seems to be 5-inch 1080p HD screen sizes, or larger. The Huawei Ascend Mate and Samsung Galaxy Note II are notable examples of phones that exceed the now-common display size. VGAThe first few years of Android devices featured Video Graphics Array (VGA) displays in a variety of sizes and variations. A standard VGA resolution consists of 640×480 pixels or 480×640 pixels, depending on orientation. Early Android smartphones were found to have 320×480 pixel resolution, or HVGA. Why the “H”, you ask? This is to indicate that it is half of the size of a standard VGA.
Using the same principle, a QVGA display would be one quarter of the screen size, or 320×240 pixels. Going larger, a WVGA employs the same 480 pixel height but with a wider width. Hence the “W”. This 800×480 resolution was popular in 2010-2011 models.
Occasionally you’ll encounter a FWVGA handset which only means Full Wide VGA. The common resolution in this instance is 854×480 pixels.
XGASome models of Android feature an Extended Graphics Array (XGA) display, or variations thereof. Just as on computer monitors this indicates 1024×768 pixels. A growing number of Android smartphones are starting to employ a WXGA display which means –you guessed it– Wide XGA. Resolutions here are 1280×768 pixels.
On the extreme side of things (for now), there is a WQXGA resolution in the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet. This 10-inch tablet offers users a 2560×1600 image, or four times as many pixels as an WXGA. In essence, you’re looking at a wider quad XGA display.
HDMost of the high end phones in 2011 were found to have qHD displays, meaning they had one quarter of an HD screen. Notice that the little “q” is not to be confused with the uppercase “Q”. The former means 1/4 while the latter means 4X. You’ll recognize these as they offer a 540×960 pixel image. In 2012 we saw many handsets that boasted HD displays in that they offered 720 pixels across. With a 1280×720 resolution, this is still one of the more common types of screens you’ll find in 4-inches or larger.
As mentioned above, today’s top Android smartphones include FHD displays, or Full High Definition. As you no doubt already know, this means the same 1920×1080 pixel image that you see in TV sets. Some device makers refer to this as a “True HD” or 1080p HD image. The first officially recognized handset to boast this resolution was the HTC J Butterfly which later came to the United States as the Droid DNA. There will be innumerable product announcements in 2013 which will include 1080p displays.
There you have it, a brief history of Android display resolutions. Not as bad as you thought, is it? Of course, we’ll need to update this over time as we start seeing new and emerging standards. Spot something that doesn’t look right? Please, let us know by filling out the contact form at the top of the site. We’re not above saying we might have overlooked something or misrepresented ourselves. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| New galaxy Note 8.0 images surface, showing off S-Pen and software Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:06 AM PST Just yesterday, we saw some real world shots of the yet-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. Now, there’s some further leaks, and they’re showing off the included S-Pen and the software.
Judging by the shots, we can see that the device is running TouchWiz UI, which is no surprise, in and of itself. However, it does appear to be using a phone style of the launcher, which is rumored to be the new style with the stock launcher on tablets from Samsung running 4.2, which this is reported to be. As far as the specs, we’re still looking at:
Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Imagine how cool a Google Now smart watch would be Posted: 25 Jan 2013 08:44 AM PST
There’s plenty of chatter rolling around the internet this week with talks of Google getting into the smart watch game. Presumably powered by Android it is also possible that the watch may be something that runs on its own. Whatever it is and whenever it ultimately arrives, I’m already sold.
Looking at some of the moves Google has made over the last few months with Google Now, this technology would be the perfect backbone to a smart watch. I don’t care if this thing runs apps or has a ton of media storage capabilities. No, I just want my watch to alert me of things ahead of time. Consider that Google Now works by delivering information without asking. Sure, you hit the notification bard or pull up Google Search to get the cards but it’s still there before you go looking for it. Now, imagine your watch vibrating on your arm and showing things as you need them. Here’s just a few ways in which a Google Now watch would be a killer experience
In other words, all I need a Google smart watch to do is push notifications to my wrist. The stuff that makes Google Now so downright cool is what would make for the smartest of watches. This doesn’t factor into the stuff that is in development. I don’t need to it show tweets or Facebook status updates; I have a phone for things like this. I don’t need to play games or music, either. Nope. My needs are simple in that I only want Google Now cards pushed to my watch.  Google Time concept via Adrian Maciburko/Dribbble What would you like to see Google do with a smart watch? Do you have higher demands or do you even want one of these? See Also: Business Insider Note: The feature image was created using the Google Time concept by Adrian Maciburko Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| HTC announces Desire U for Taiwan Posted: 25 Jan 2013 07:24 AM PST
HTC today announced a new phone for its home country of Taiwan, pulling the curtain back for the Desire U. Specifications for the entry-level smartphone include a 4-inch WVGA (480×800) display, 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and 5-megapixel camera. Priced at roughly $275 US, the Desire U is SIM-unlocked and also offers a 1650mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wi-Fi, HSPA/WCDMA/GSM support.
HTC (translate) Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Samsung sets record for smartphones shipped in single quarter Posted: 25 Jan 2013 06:50 AM PST Samsung set a new record for the number of smartphones shipped in a single quarter and in a single year. Its broad and deep line-up of Android smartphones, particularly the Galaxy-branded Android family, combined with sustained demand for its mid-range and entry-level models to account for the remarkable shipment volumes. – IDC
Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Samsung intros rugged and waterproof GALAXY Xcover 2 Posted: 25 Jan 2013 06:44 AM PST
Samsung today introduced the next member of the Galaxy family, the rugged and waterproof Xcover 2. Pricing and availability are unknown at this point however we expect this is one device that will stay outside of the United States.
Details include a 4-inch WVGA display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel camerea, and VGA front-facing camera. Thanks to its IP67 rating, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-powered Xcover 2 can stay in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This means plenty of photos in the shallow end of the pool, right? With Mobile World Congress arriving in roughly one month’s time, we expect to learn more about the handset. Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2 January 25, 2013 SEOUL, Korea – January 25, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today unveiled the Samsung Xcover 2, the ideal smartphone for active explorers who are enjoying outdoor lifestyles and seeking a durable mobile device with essential smartphone capabilities. The GALAXY Xcover 2 is optimized to endure against the most rugged outdoor conditions, whether you're at work or play. Protected against the elements, it is dust and sand proof. It's even water resistant to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes (IP67 Certified). You can now take photos under water with the direct camera key, hold on tight to your device with the strap holder and not worry about dropping your phone as the battery cover lock gives added protection. Pre-downloaded Google map data, an enhanced GPS ＋ GLONASS which shortens the satellite signal detection by up to 20％ to tracks your location more accurately, LED Flash next to the camera which can be used like a torch and a huge battery capacity of 570 hours(1,700mAh), making the GALAXY Xcover 2 is the best possible smartphone partner for outdoor exploration. In addition, the Cardio Trainer Pro workout application will also help you achieve your fitness goals by creating a tailored training program, checking your progress and recording your track and speed. For everyday, users can expect the powerful performance characteristic of a Samsung smartphone with the robust GALAXY Xcover 2 shell. Its vivid 4.0″ (100.8mm) WVGA display provides a clear and wide viewing experience, a 5-megapixel camera and VGA front camera that will let you record precious moments in high resolution, Bluetooth® v 4.0 gives a better connection that consumes less power and detects devices 50 meters away. An impressive 1GHz dual core processor powers the core of the GALAXY Xcover 2, which ensures a fast operating speed for seamless multitasking, faster webpage loading and softer UI transitions. Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2 runs Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean) enabling faster and smoother screen transitions and providing an enhanced user interface featuring a new, easier-to-use notification panel. As a premium Samsung Android™ phone, the device is packed with a series of innovative features and services to boost performance and the overall user experience. The intuitive Motion UI understands your movements to shake and update or turn over to mute; data can be synced, backed up and restored with S-Cloud; S Voice lets users control the phone using their voice, allowing you to see the weekly weather forecast, the contact number you're trying to find or even take a picture as you speak; Best Shot recommends the best shot from a series of photos; Smart Stay recognizes whether the user is looking at the screen to dim the screen accordingly. Users can also enjoy all the benefits of Samsung Hubs, including the latest versions of Readers Hub, Video Hub, Game Hub and Music Hub. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Acer debuts 4.5-inch Liquid E1 smartphone Posted: 25 Jan 2013 06:05 AM PST
Acer today introduced a new Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean smartphone, the mid-range Liquid E1. Specifications include a 4.5-inch qHD display (960×540), a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and a 5-megapixel camera. Weighing in at 130 grams, the Liquid E1 also features a 1760mAh battery and microSD card. No word on pricing or availability yet but we expect to learn more with Mobile World Congress fast approaching.
Via PhoneArena Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| You are subscribed to email updates from AndroidGuys To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment