Android Community |
- NVIDIA Tegra Android Game Wave Continues with Samurai II: Vengeance
- Dyzplastic shows more of Android Series 2 and a Surprise
- HTC Incredible S Pre-Orders now Shipping from carphonewarehouse
- HTC ChaCha and Motorola Xoom both get lawsuits for device names
- Samsung Captivate Android 2.2 Froyo Update [Download] Available Now
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Hands-On [Vodafone]
- HTC Thunderbolt has been Delayed again
- MEDIAS E-04C 7.7MM Android Phone Further Detailed
- Tech Bloggers the Focus of T-Mobiles new Ad
- MiTAC outs new Android tablets for CeBIT launch
- Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 supports Android
- OGT Mobile teases new tablet gadget that might pack Android
- LG Optimus Pad pre-orders start in Japan March 15
- Galaxy S 4G Launch Also Brings Direct Billing for Samsung Media Hub
- Motorola XOOM Speaker Dock Review
- Motorola XOOM and Honeycomb Review [All Questions Answered]
- Angry Birds Protested by Other Cartoon Pigs and Birds
- Samsung Galaxy S II Will Have MHL (Less Ports for More Beauty)
- Sony Ericsson Zento Android Concept has Barely an Edge
- Samsung Continuum-specific Reboot/Recovery Hack
| NVIDIA Tegra Android Game Wave Continues with Samurai II: Vengeance Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:35 AM PST Welcome to the new age of mobile gaming. As you know, essentially starting with that RPG/overhead game Dungeon Defenders and moving on through a couple of GLU games and so forth, these are the games that are used by the processor pushers to show how amazing the devices they power can really be. This particular game, Samurai 2: Vengeance, is another of a separate wave of games to have been developed for iOS first then brought over to Android once it was found to be popular enough. That or because Android is more difficult to develop for for a game such as this, either way, here it is now.
This game is a birds-eye-view joystick and triple-button style story-based game that you’ll be able to play “on NVIDIA Tegra based Android devices only.” That means it’s powerful. It’s full of comic-book style graphics and blasts of +1s and x8s, more than you could ever want or need! We’re looking very much forward to playing this game once we get it downloaded. NOTE: Not only do you get the overhead view, each encounter with an enemy or puzzling situation gives you a different perspective, the best perspective for each moment. Thusly, you’ll be immersed in this world further than you’ve ever been dipped into a game about Samurai before. Gore, quick action, and loads of special moves you can do to blast through your enemies. Upgrade your skills as you gain experience and upgrade your health and skill combos by buying them. Between levels you’ll find anime-style comic panels that bring your story to the forfront, all of this (including gameplay) at 60 frames per second on all Tegra 2 Devices. This game has been developed on the Unity 3D 3.2 engine, “the latest technology available on mobile devices.” Grab it right now at the Android Marketplace.         [via Madfinger Games] )
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| Dyzplastic shows more of Android Series 2 and a Surprise Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:24 AM PST Dyzplastic Inc. is at it again showing off more of the Android Series 02 Plastic Android Collectibles that we all know, love, and are collecting. We’ll us at AC are at least. If you don’t know much about them you can read more about the Mini Android Collectibles and Series 01 here. Today on the DYZplastic Productions Blog they’ve added another preview. This is part #4 on the blog. They are showing off the model named “Blackbeard”.
Here at AC we love our toys just as much as we love our Android OS. I have a feeling many of our readers may be the same. This is just one model of many to come and we will be sure to post as more show up. If you wanna see more of the series that have been shown this month you can click More of Series 02 here and see a few other collectibles. If you have been following our blog but missed some of our Android Toy Secret Series reveals we got from MWC here is two for you. Secret Series 02 Spoiler #1 & Secret Series 02 Spoiler #2 for you to drool over. I also have another little surprise coming from the DYZ Blog. Here is the super secret yet already up for pre-order Series 02 Android Hexcode Rug… Yes I said Rug. Show you’re love for the Android OS right on the floor for everyone to see.
I don’t know about you guys, but that looks like a Winner to me. Sure would look great sitting by the door in my Pool Table Room! If you would like to sport your favorite Mobile OS on the floor like I do then you can click here to pre-order it now. [via DyzPlastic] )
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| HTC Incredible S Pre-Orders now Shipping from carphonewarehouse Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:41 AM PST The shiny new HTC Incredible S has started shipping for delivery starting Saturday February 26th from Carphonewarehouse online pre-orders. It is available exclusively from Carphonewarehouse and Best Buy across the UK with availability in over 800 stores starting in-store Thursday, March 3rd.
The Incredible S follows in it’s little brother the Verizon HTC Incredible’s footsteps. With it’s very similar look and design it is sure to be another big seller. The S has some good and much needed upgrades over it’s sibling that now makes it more in line with Android phones of 2011. With a 4″ Screen, Dual LED Flash, & Android 2.2 with promises to 2.4 Ice Cream coming soon. Our sister site SlashGear has the Incredible S Hands-On for your viewing pleasure. [via Carphonewarehouse] )
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| HTC ChaCha and Motorola Xoom both get lawsuits for device names Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:01 AM PST Looks like both HTC and Motorola have lawsuits coming at them this week over the names of some recently announces devices. If you have ever heard of, or used ChaCha before then you probably could see this Lawsuit coming from the day HTC announced the ChaCha. Apparently there is a company called ChaCha that is one of those Question Answering Services. They have recently filed lawsuits for trademark infringement on HTC over the use of the ChaCha name. If you’d like to know more or see this “FaceBook Phone” in action here is our HTC ChaCha Hands-On.
After doing a bit more research it looks like ChaCha Search Inc. holds the trademark for the name in the U.S as well as Europe. Doing a quick Google Search for ChaCha brings up their site as the first search results. Things aren’t looking good for HTC and this “Facebook Phone” already. ChaCha has put lots into this name, it even has it’s own Mobile Site and Android/iOS App. Next up on Judge Judy we have Motorola and the Xoom that I’m sure you all know plenty about. Looks like Motorola has it’s own problems with the same trademark infringement lawsuit. The Xoom Corporation is a Worldwide money sending service that is based out of California. They also own the trademark to “Xoom” and have been operating under that name since as early as 2003. This news comes as a shock and a blow to Verizon and Motorola I’m sure. As this is the launch day for the Xoom. See our Motorola Xoom Review here if you’d like to see more about it & Android 3.0 Honeycomb. News like this just seems crazy. Surely these huge company’s do a little research into names before they announce or launch them. I found both companies with a single Google Search. It makes you start to wonder if Motorola & HTC don’t really care and just expect to get hits with lawsuits but continue anyways. We at AC will be sure to keep an eye on this story and bring you any new info as it comes in. [via TechCrunch] )
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| Samsung Captivate Android 2.2 Froyo Update [Download] Available Now Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:44 AM PST Those of you with the cup-of-beer of phones, that Samsung Captivate, will be happy to hear that the update to Android 2.2 Froyo is available now, right this second, and you can have it for yourself by just following the right link. This update is one of many that’ve been screamed for for what seams to be an eternity by fans of the Froyo version of the mobile OS, and now it is free unto the world. Isn’t it funny to think that when smartphones were first released, people were satisfied with the same version of their operating system the entire time they had the phone? Madness!
To grab the update, all you’ve got to do is click here: [FROYO UPDATE]. From there, you’ll have to download the necessary files and install the update with Kies Mini. On the other hand, ATT has sent out a link that looks like so: http://pub.vitrue.com/MLf that we can’t seem to access right this moment. More than likely it’s going to give you the same result though, so feel free to do what you wish. [via Twitter] )
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Hands-On [Vodafone] Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:32 AM PST Have a look with us much closer to this bigger and significantly modified version of the original Galaxy Tab, indeed a brand new monster wholly on the outside and the in. We did get the chance last week to take a peek at this device at Mobile World Congress 2011, but as our good pal Chris Davies had the opportunity, it didn’t make a moment of sense not to turn another peek at the device out in the wild. This is the Vodafone-branded version of the tablet and it does not fail to impress.
This particular tablet does not quite yet have final software, but when it gets released, it’ll be basically the same Android 3.0 Honeycomb experience as we’re experiencing right this moment on our Motorola XOOM tablet. Chris took the opportunity to ask the Vodafone group if there’d be many changes made to the face of the OS particular to them the carrier, but lo and behold, they said nay. Aside from the splash screen at the startup, apparently this device will have the same experience OS-wise as the Google-optimized XOOM.
Vodafone noted that they’re pushing for as early an application of the full version of Honeycomb as possible, but we’ll be waiting to see how that pans out. As for the hardware, the actual unit is 200g lighter than either an iPad or a XOOM (as they weigh essentially the same, or say they do.) Because of this weight, the unit is easy to hold even with one hand in landscape orientation. Although the back’s texture plastic doesn’t feel exactly as high-quality as the metal does on its competitors, the weight of the device seems to be worth the trade-off.
The screen we’re a bit disturbed with. It’s so glossy we’ve been using it as a mirror to see if we’ve got bed-head. This will undoubtedly be rectified by easy-to-apply screen protectors down the road though, we hope. Inside you’ll find a dual-core 1GHz for speed and super slick movement, and only one thing missing: an HDMI connector. When you think about it, it seems odd that the HDMI connector has become so standard in devices being released over the past few months though, so if you’re beyond such things, this tablet is set up nicely to be an alternate for the XOOM. The 8-megapixel camera coupled with the soon to be released Google Movie Studio for Honeycomb aren’t too shabby either.
Have a peek at the photos below and see some additional pics plus Chris Davies very similar perspective over on SlashGear.             )
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| HTC Thunderbolt has been Delayed again Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:12 AM PST Verizon’s HTC Thunderbolt has been under a slew of delays and bad news lately. It’s a shame because it is such a great device. Today a tweet by @BestBuy129 from California confirms that the Thunderbolt has been delayed once again. Now they are saying It looks like it “may” launch on Thursday, March 4th. That still doesn’t sound very convincing either. Sorry to break it to you all waiting to get yours hands on this 4G beast.
Just in case your not to familiar with the HTC Thunderbolt. Here are a few of it’s much wanted specs. Android 2.2 FroYo, 4.3″ Display, 1 Ghz Snapdragon Processor with 768MB of RAM, 8 MP Camera, Verizon LTE 4G Speeds and more. It is sure to cause some trouble and steal a few of those people switching over the the Verizon iPhone. We all wish they would release it already. If you would like to read more about all things Thunderbolt here are a few stories for you. Thunderbolt Best Buy Price Confirmed [via IntoMobile] )
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| MEDIAS E-04C 7.7MM Android Phone Further Detailed Posted: 24 Feb 2011 08:50 AM PST A couple days ago we saw a sort of sneak peek at a new phone from NEC called MEDIAS E-04C. It’s a 7.7MM-thick Android smartphone and although it appears that it’ll only be showing up in Japan, it’s just too cute not to look at a bit closer. Now we’ve got a slew of additional details including the preorder date, which is March 4, 2011, and further confirmation that this phone is indeed 7.7MM-thin. This phone will officially be released on March 15, 2011, and it’ll be running Android 2.2 Froyo.
This phone’s dimensions are 127 × 62 × 7.7MM and its thickest point is 8.7MM. It weighs in at a completely tiny 105g, which makes us more suspicious of the quality than it does impress, and it’ll be coming in both black and white models after the silver model comes out in March. That means they’re banking on the success of this model, if you know what I mean. The display rolls in hard at what they say is a 4,854 × 480 dot LCD, and this is covered with the heartiness of Gorilla Glass. Included inside the phone is what they’re saying is infrared communication capability, a rod antenna, and on the back a 5.1-megapixel camera. This camera also has the ability to take 720p video and 1.1 second interval photos… which we’re confused about, since the camera we have on our Inspire 4G here takes photos basically instantaneously, back to back to back with that app by the name of ActionSnap. Also inside this phone has WMA/MP3 audio playback capability, Wifi connectivity along b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and GPS. The battery inside they say works on standby for 360 hours. Have a peek at some photos. And anyone out there who happens to have access to this phone, feel free to send us one to poke around with!            [via AV Watch] )
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| Tech Bloggers the Focus of T-Mobiles new Ad Posted: 24 Feb 2011 08:49 AM PST We all are familiar by now with T-Mobiles pretty Brunette girl right? Carly is her name. She is the pretty face behind T-Mobile and all their ads of late. Just like T-Mobile slaps iPhone 4 on Verizon video, and many others. Looks like this time around they have changed things up. They’ve went from making fun of Apple, to AT&T, & Verizon, but now they are bringing Tech Bloggers into the mix.
In this particular Ad T-Mobile is featuring the Samsung Vibrant 4G. Boasting claims of it being the “ultimate” in entertainment as well as the fastest phone around or on any network. Where we get tossed into things is when T-Mobile brings in a guy that "blogs about these things" to inspect and confirm the high claims of the Vibrant 4G. Although many may not know what a Blogger should look like. I’m sure you’d see plenty looking just like the one from the video all over the place at CES and other events. He sure sounds like one with his casual talk like “meh, yea YouTube is fast.” The Vibrant 4G also comes pre-loaded with Inception so you can start enjoying that ultimate entertainment and dreaming up your own ideas right away. [via SlashGear] )
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| MiTAC outs new Android tablets for CeBIT launch Posted: 24 Feb 2011 05:29 AM PST We certainly saw a lot of Android tablets debut for the first time back during CES. The next big trade show that is set to kick off before you know it is the CeBIT show and that show will be underway next month. We are sure to see a bunch of new tablets debut at CeBIT as well and MiTAC is showing off a few of its new Android tablets ahead of the show.
The new tablets include the Valar 7 and Valar 10 that run Android 2.3 and have screen sizes that correlate with the product names. The tablets are said to support 1080p HD video playback and have HDMI outputs and GPS. The Ulmo tablet has a 7-inch screen and is a rugged and waterproof tablet. A fourth Android tablet will be unveiled at CeBIT 2011 dubbed the Zeus and the tablet is being hailed as the first dual GPS tablet with two receivers inside for better tacking and navigation. It also has a 6-inch screen and is only 11.6mm thick. Full details on the tablets should surface at the show.    via Softpedia )
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| Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 supports Android Posted: 24 Feb 2011 04:07 AM PST
The Android offering lacks a few of the features that the Windows Mobile and Symbian versions offer like encryption and parental controls, but it keeps most of the other features. The Android version supports anti-theft features to track the device down and remotely wipe the phone. The software offers antivirus protection, firewall, and privacy protection on Android as well. Mobile filtering is featured to allow the user to block spam text messages and unwanted phone calls on all platforms. The software will protect from the recently reported Android Trojan in the wild and more. The software is subscription based and costs $29.95 per license and Android 1.6 to 2.2 is supported. [via eWeek )
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| OGT Mobile teases new tablet gadget that might pack Android Posted: 24 Feb 2011 03:34 AM PST If you like to check out products that aren’t released yet and try to glen details for the images, we have a treat for you today. OGT Mobile has been teasing a new device on its main website for a while that is hidden away under a cloth. The company offers no details on the product other than “what you thought was the best, is about to get better…”
Vague we know. The company has taken to teasing us via Twitter with some other pics of the dev ice not turned on and lying on a desk. What we can glean from the pics is that the buttons on the front make it look like the tablet might be another Android offering. The tablet in the pic is sitting on what appears to be a standard sheet of printer paper. The iPad takes up more space on a standard sheet of paper than the unknown tablet does, but not much. I would guess maybe an 8.9-inch screen or smaller. I see what appears to be a landscape mode docking port, and the thing has a microSD card slot along with a SIM card slot. That is all we know.    )
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| LG Optimus Pad pre-orders start in Japan March 15 Posted: 24 Feb 2011 02:52 AM PST It's nice to see a bunch of new tablets packing Android head to market to complete with the iPad and Galaxy Tab. LG’s Optimus pad will make for a good option for some geeks and LG has announced that at least in Japan pre-orders are set to start on March 15.
The Japanese market version of the the Optimus Pad will be model number L-06C and will be offered through NTT DOCOMO, the largest mobile operator in Japan. The Japanese version of the tablet will be loaded with apps aimed at the needs of the Japanese market with things like BeeTV offering content tailored to DOCOMO customers and a range of eBooks and comics via 2Dfacto. We already know all the details on the tablet, but in case you missed them, the tablet has an 8.9-inch screen and runs Android. The screen resolution is 1280 x 768 and the aspect ratio is 15:9. The tablet runs a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra dual-core processor and supports 1080p along with packing in a 3D camera. The tablet sports dual 5MP cameras with one on the front and one on the back. )
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| Galaxy S 4G Launch Also Brings Direct Billing for Samsung Media Hub Posted: 23 Feb 2011 09:08 PM PST Oh you pink devil, you, T-Mobile, and your direct billing. Everyone knows that instant purchases are the building block of a great united states of credit cards, and because of that, hooray for the future! Holding hands with the availability launch of the Samsung Galaxy S 4G, Samsung Mobile will be announcing access to direct billing for Samsung’s Media Hub TV and Movie content service, charging the money directly to your T-Mobile account. You’ll be able to download your favorite movies and TV shows on your brand spanking new Galaxy S 4G and have the option to flip the bill directly onto your T-Mobile service bill.
This Samsung Media Hub, if you aren’t familiar, is tied with many top studios that allow them access to a generally generous amount of TV shows and movies for you to purchase. Every device Samsung has officially placed the media hub on is also approved specifically for the content, Samsung making sure you’re getting the quality experience you’re paying for. Amongst the networks collaborating with Samsung in their Media Hub system are CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. Content you purchase “to permanently own” can legally be shared with five Media Hub equipped devices at no extra cost. And now with direct billing to your T-Mobile bill, you’re going to be needing 5 devices worth of space because you’ll be spending all your allowance and grass cutting money on episodes of Community and HOUSE. Also make sure you pick up TRON when it comes out – support your robots. )
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| Motorola XOOM Speaker Dock Review Posted: 23 Feb 2011 07:12 PM PST Welcome to a review of one of the official holders of the newest addition to the Android universe, the Motorola XOOM tablet running Android 3.0 Honeycomb. This lovely tablet has been getting a lot of praise over these past few hours what with everyone under the sun getting themselves a review unit to peek at, but how about that speaker dock? Let’s have a look at what might be the bulkiest dock we’ve ever seen that also seems to be exactly the right size.
The Motorola XOOM tablet is not a light piece of machinery. It weighs more than a book the same size, and it’s not exactly going to be on your list of things you’re going to want to be dropping anytime soon. So you want something strong to be holding onto it. How about a dock? This is a tablet, and we as a social community haven’t really gotten the whole hang of how to use a tablet in general yet, thus having a place to plop it down and tap it is right in order with our evolution. This dock is ginormous when you compare it to the rest of the dock world (iPad docks excluded,) but when you set the XOOM in its bosom, it appears to be a part of the greater system. Furthermore, alone it looks a bit odd, perhaps not the sort of thing you’ll want sitting out when guests come over, unless of course the tablet is sitting in it, in which case you’ll be considered the coolest. Nearly the whole entirety of the outward facing sides of this device appear to be speaker. I say appear to be speaker because everyone knows that the grid is made to disperse and regulate the sound, while the actual speakers are behind it. On the back of the device you’ll see the power and HDMI out plugs, and in the cradle you’ll find all the plugs you’ll need to work with the tablet as well as hold it in place. This is the one to get, ladies and gentlemen, if you’re looking to get an official dock right off the bat. The sound is fabulous, it looks simple and fashionable enough to be sitting around your house, and it fits perfectly with the device its meant to hold. How about that? Not much to consider. Well played, Motorola. Have a peek at the rest of our review series both here and on our sister site SlashGear with the following:          )
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| Motorola XOOM and Honeycomb Review [All Questions Answered] Posted: 23 Feb 2011 06:02 PM PST Welcome to the device that expands Android beyond the hand-written letters it’s been in the past and turns it into a full-fledged book of a device. Optimized for its size, power, and intended set of purposes, this Motorola XOOM tablet has been fitted with Android mobile OS version 3.0 Honeycomb, that being the first version of the operating system made specifically for the tablet environment. What we’re going to be doing in the following post is breaking this device and its installed operating system into questions and answers so that you the potential user and Android enthusiast can get a grip on the next generation of Google-powered devices.
Our first thought was to break this post down into operating system and device, but we got wise real quick – as Motorola worked so very closely with Google to make this tablet the optimal environment for Android 3.0 Honeycomb to shine, the hardware and the software are inextricably dependent upon one another in that we’ve gotta keep both in mind when explaining this device and reviewing it at the same time. That said, let’s begin. How does the XOOM feel in your hands, how heavy is it, and will it compete with the iPad as far as form?
The Motorola XOOM is heavier than we’d like, but then again, we’re in an age where we wish everything was perfect as we see it to be, and this is the first larger tablet to come out with Android on it. It’s the first try. We cannot expect perfection the first try, but why not wish? On the other hand this device is not difficult to handle, regardless of its weight. We can, in fact, hold the tablet with one hand and work with the display with the other.
When we attempted to do the same thing but with a camera in our hand, this proved a bit more difficult, but surely the tablet wasn’t built with the intention that people would be propping it up and filming it and controlling it all at once while they’re running around Mobile World Congress 2011. Instead it’s clear that this tablet was made to be sitting in one’s lap or laid flat on a table while the user works with it during a moment of downtime.
The tablet, both the USA black-backed version as well as the EURO silver metal backed version are both pleasing to the touch. This absolutely is not the sort of situation where the hardware came second to the software, no way. This tablet is as much about ease and comfort in use as it is about the newness and excitement of the operating system. Of course it is difficult to escape the excitement of using this first big step into the Android tablet world, but Motorola’s made sure the journey is done in a solid set of shoes
Will I have trouble adjusting to this new version of Android? If you expect this version of Android to work based in the Froyo/Gingerbread world, then you might have a bit of a hump to get over as far as comfort goes. While we found it rather easy to slide around in the system, it became much easier once we let go of the fact that this was an Android system. What I mean is that if you expect a relatively easy to understand experience here, you’re going to get it, just so long as you don’t expect know this user interface from top to bottom just because you’ve used Android before. This version of Android has been built from the ground up. Not COMPLETELY from the ground up, but it’s certainly not just a re-hashed version of the smartphone OS you’ve grown so accustomed to. There are a slew of new elements you’ll have to allow yourself to be comfortable with before you come to realize how well implemented they are.
How do I get around in this new system? The Action Bar, the one on top, is a replacement for the overflow dropdown menus of the past, made to essentially be available to developers who wish to utilize it. You’ll find this element appearing in apps (and on your homescreen) in many different forms depending on how the developer chooses to use it. We find this to be a magnificent example of the open source “use it if you want, if you don’t want it, don’t worry about it” nature of Android.
The System Bar, on the bottom, takes on many of the functions that the Notifications Bar of the Android mobile OS currently still has on smartphones. This System Bar is similar to the Action Bar in that it can appear anywhere inside / outside of apps at the request of each app. Along with this feature comes notifications pushed to sort of “poofs” which can appear inside of apps without disrupting function or gameplay. For the most part during these first few months, most apps will be working with the “Lights Out Mode” meaning the notification bar will be gone completely as optimization for Honeycomb will be a gradual process for most developers. On the other hand, we’ve heard that the next big version of Android’s mobile OS (Ice Cream) will take into account features such as the System Bar in Honeycomb and integrate them back into the mobile version of the OS. Should be interesting.
Where are my Settings?
Will I want to download a homescreen replacement app right away?
Does my apps drawer look the same as it does in the mobile OS?
Wallpaper is self-explanatory – one for each panel if you like. App shortcuts work the same as they always have, each of them sitting neatly wherever you’ve placed them on a panel. An interesting addition to the display of masses of icons here though is the off-screen row. As you can see, the first row that’s not quite visible is instead set to a sort of outline in blue to give you a hint of what it will be once you pull it into view.
As far as widgets go, each one is displayed in your launcher exactly the same as it’ll appear once you’ve activated it by moving it to a panel. If you’re unsure of how many rows and columns each widget will take up, no worries, it’s listed below the title of each widget. Drag each widget to the panel of your choice and there it will plop! You can do this as many times as you like with each widget, though we’re unsure of how multiple instances will function or if they’ll be useful in any way yet. NOTE: depending on which panel you entered into the launcher with, a single tap on a widget, wallpaper, or app shortcut adds each element back to the panel. If you want to add an element back to a different panel than the one you came in through, you’ve got to press-hold and drag.
May I access apps from this launcher?
In a move that seems like it should have been implemented generations ago, a press-hold gives you the option of uninstalling an app as well. It appears that the app drawer will finally be the place where you can not only access and activate your apps, but also work with them and delete them as well. The Tron-outline effect is again active here for slightly-offscreen icons. This Tron-outline also appears whenever you drag an icon from its resting place. A fun effect and well-played by Google. NOTE: Android Marketplace is always looming overhead while you’re in your app drawer – up in the right hand corner is that familiar shopping bag, a single tap will bring you there instantly.
How about quick-access settings like Wifi and brightness? What happened to the “big four” buttons? What if I want to search?
How’s the new keyboard work?
Can I copy and paste?
How’s the Android Marketplace look?
And wait a second, what’s that? Could it be a brand new section in the Android Marketplace, one with books? Indeed it is! A couple days ago we found out that the Android Marketplace would be potentially growing to cover Music, Movies, and Books and that Honeycomb had already dipped its bear-claw into the pot. Is this a power-play by Google to take over the media selling business? You betcha. How large are the homescreen panels?
Have widgets been improved?
How’s the internet browsing experience? There’s also a super sleuth incognito mode:
Can I view flash content?
How is the photography experience? May I see the System Information to look at all the important info?
How about some benchmarks, have you run any benchmarks on the XOOM with Honeycomb running?
Have there been any improvements made to out-of-box apps?
What’s that big fat clock I keep seeing?
How’s battery life?
And the video playback, how is that? What kinds of video can I view? How do I load media onto my XOOM running Android 3.0 Honeycomb?
How long does the XOOM tablet take to charge? What’s under the hood? Is it fast?
Any improvements to the calendar system?
Anywhere else search is improved? Anything else? While you wait for us to dig deeper and deeper, have a look at our sister-site’s take on the tablet and the OS in two reviews, one for Honeycomb, the other for the XOOM!                                                                                                                                   )
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| Angry Birds Protested by Other Cartoon Pigs and Birds Posted: 23 Feb 2011 01:30 PM PST Everyone from Daffy to Rocksteady have come together to bring you this public service announcement. This message is a very serious one, with every celebrity bird and pig speaking out against what they’re calling the “Angry Birds War.” This is a war where noone is safe, pig or bird, and where birds and pigs deaths number in at over 1 billion, “that number nearly doubling if you count every blue bird as four birds” (that’s right!)
Rocksteady, whom you’ll recognize from his role playing himself in the hit cartoon series and comic book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, speaks of the ongoing effort by the name of Habitat for Hogs where despite their efforts, millions of pigs are “still without a fortress.” These cartoon stars ask us (birds and pigs) to stand together, breaking down barriers as we do so, or as Donald Duck says, “sit together if we’re on the toilet.” Peace be with you! That’s what they’re saying. The ACME company is joining in this peaceful movement by doubling your donation to a scholarship fund that’ll send veterans of the war to ACME University. There, birds will learn that they are birds, not war machines, in a class called Ornithology 101. They slip in the fact that your donation will also support Farmville, a non-profit summercamp for orphaned piglets. “And together, we can give these pigs and birds a replay at leading three-star lives.” [via CollegeHumor] )
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| Samsung Galaxy S II Will Have MHL (Less Ports for More Beauty) Posted: 23 Feb 2011 12:48 PM PST It’s stuff like this, Samsung… This is probably the most brilliant innovation in the past few years – the combining of cords. One example is here in the Samsung Galaxy S II (or Samsung Galaxy S 2, however you want to write it,) where an MHL port has been introduced. This port functions as both a microUSB and an HDMI port in one. It’s the size of a microUSB port, so if you’re just going to use that, you’re set. If you want to use HDMI for high-def playing of content from your device, you’ll just need a microSD to HDMI cord to plug.
What this will do is essentially nothing more than get rid of a port from your phone, making it much more lovely to look at. What’s next in the evolution toward singularity? The destruction of cords altogether. If it were economically sound, this could be done today, but because the evil cord lobby is still plotting world domination, we remain under its evil glare. We’ve got transfer of files via Bluetooth, over-the-air transmitting of images and video, and touch conducting charging of batteries. What’s left? All we’ve got to do to move forward is gather up all the cords and put them in a big pile. Once they’re all piled up, we’re going to have to get some hot-burning gasoline, because this pyre is going to need to burn some very evil stuff. On the other hand, we’d need a new planet then as the chemicals blasted into the air would erase time and space. [via SlashGear] )
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| Sony Ericsson Zento Android Concept has Barely an Edge Posted: 23 Feb 2011 12:27 PM PST We’ve recently become addicted to conceptual design in Android devices, and we’ve found that the fountain scarcely runs try. The following concept is known as the Sony Ericsson Zento, an Android smartphone by Frank Tobias. If this phone were to ever take fruition, it would be one bad mother. Oddly enough, this badness starts with Android 3.0 Honeycomb which, as you know is optimized for tablets, not smartphones. On the other hand, this device has a 4.4 in touchscreen, so perhaps the size qualifies.
Also inside this device is a Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine as well as a 2.5 Ghz dual core processor without a name. When you’re concepting as hard as this fellow is, you don’t even need a name to be hardcore. On the back is the most generous camera we’ve ever heard of on a device such as this with 10 megapixels of strength, while the front camera runs at 3.2 megapixels. The back camera is capable of Full HD capture (Sony Exmor R), while the front is essentially made for face to face chatting. This device rolls with an HDMI port of course, allowing you to send out high definition signals to all of your even-bigger screens you’ve got lying around. This phone, as you can clearly see, is set to fit in directly with the rest of the XPERIA family. Have you ever seen a device with such a small bezel? We like where this is going.     [via Some Phones] )
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| Samsung Continuum-specific Reboot/Recovery Hack Posted: 23 Feb 2011 12:23 PM PST It appears that the odd phone extraordinare, aka the Samsung Continuum, is finally starting to see some hack press. This is the phone yours truly has been using as a sort of mid-tier test-all device for the past couple months, so you know we’re pumped up about this one. The following is a flashable app that turns your Continuum’s power button into an options master, allowing you new options including Reboot and Recovery when its long-held down. Before all you could do was silence, airplane, or shut it down.
This is a mod that isn’t entirely perfected yet, and the developer, who oddly enough doesn’t even own a Samsung Continuum, asks for your help in crunching the bugs. Certainly a simple app that’s so helpful as this one must be brought to full fruition, and you’ve gotta help! The third option you get is to reboot into download mode – you know how helpful that’d be, how very very cool?! Have a look at everything you’ll need to get this running over at XDA Forums. Then let me ask you a question – how many of you use or have ever held a Samsung Continuum? Since this phone was released, we’ve seen approximately ZERO out in the wild besides our own. Every time we show it off, people are amazed at its wild second screen – are you?   [via XDA Developer Forums] )
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The number of Trojans and malware aimed at the Android mobile platform is growing every day. The only way to be sure that your device is protected is to install some sort of security software on the device. Kaspersky has announced that its Mobile Security 9 platform is now available for the Android platform.
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