Android and Me |
- Android in Chief Andy Rubin sets the record straight about Honeycomb and fragmentation
- WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab priced $349, releasing next week
- HTC EVO View 4G shipping with Android 3.0 afterall (Nevermind! Update)
- When will your device get Android 2.3 Gingerbread?
| Android in Chief Andy Rubin sets the record straight about Honeycomb and fragmentation Posted: 06 Apr 2011 06:59 PM PDT Completely out of left field, Andy Rubin — VP of Engineering at Google and head of Android development — decided to put an end to those rumors we’ve been hearing lately about Honeycomb, and OEM customization. Both of these rumors started at Bloomberg, so take that as you will. To refresh your memory, the rumors implied that Google was changing strategy with Honeycomb and it had decided to delay or keep the source code locked . Then last week, Bloomberg reported that Google was taking a more aggressive approach against OEMs and carriers customizing Android, in order to fend off fragmentation. Fast-forward to today and Andy Rubin took to the Android Developers Blog with a post titled: “I think I'm having a Gene Amdahl moment”. In reference to Gene Amdahl, the person who coined the term “FUD” or “Fear, uncertainty and doubt”. Andy explains that nothing has changed in the partnership between Google and the Open Handset Alliance members. More specifically:
Then talking about delays in the release of the Honeycomb source code, Andy said:
There it is folks, nothing has changed in terms of OEM customization and the Honeycomb source code will be released when it’s ready for phones — at Google I/O, pretty please? — We can all calm down now. I suggest you go read the whole post and then come back and let us know what you think. Food for thought: Where do you think Bloomberg got those rumors from?
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| WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab priced $349, releasing next week Posted: 06 Apr 2011 12:24 PM PDT If you follow the comments on most blogs reporting on almost any tablet, you’ll notice a steady stream of users clamoring for a WiFi-only version. It seems like a pretty large chunk of people don’t want the extra device costs and especially don’t want another monthly carrier bill. It seems Samsung is finally listening and is gearing up to release a WiFi-only version of the popular 7-inch Galaxy Tab in several retail locations and online as early as next week. On April 10, the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be available for $349 from various retailers and while the specs have stayed mostly the same (Android 2.2, 7-inch TFT display) we thought the WiFi-only option might get some of you excited. Anyone considering picking this thing up? Check the press release below for more details. Show Press ReleaseDALLAS, April 6, 2011—Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, announced today that several retail stores and Web sites will carry the WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab™ by April 10, offering customers the opportunity to buy this powerful and compact mobile tablet for $349.99. Consumers can visit http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab for a complete list of retail outlets selling the WiFi Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Tab is powered by the Android™ 2.2 platform and has a 7-inch TFT display with a 1024 x 600 resolution. The super-light and sleek device weighs just 13 ounces, is 12 millimeters thin and easily fits in a pocket or purse. The Galaxy Tab includes 32 GB of internal storage and offers microSD expansion to allow for up to 32 GB of additional storage. “We are excited to have the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab join our growing portfolio of Galaxy-branded devices,” said Dale Sohn, President of Samsung Mobile. “The 7-inch Galaxy Tab is the first truly mobile tablet on the market, allowing users to comfortably hold the device in one hand while typing or navigating the Web with the other.”
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| HTC EVO View 4G shipping with Android 3.0 afterall (Nevermind! Update) Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:52 AM PDT Android has gone through amazing growth and evolution since its birth, and when it comes to manufacturers, it must be said that HTC has earned its place successfully. With an array of devices that have impressed the public, such as the T-Mobile G1, the Nexus One, and of course, the EVO 4G, HTC is without a doubt one of the main players since the beginning of the Android platform. The Android world is undergoing what many call the "Tablet War," and everyone was eager to see what HTC had to bring to the table, but when the HTC Flyer surfaced, it did not seem to impress the public too much. For months, things like dual-core processors, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and even 3D cameras have been mentioned, all three being things that the Flyer is missing. If you have been disappointed with HTC’s tablet, Sprint has news that might get your heads up. Their website now shows that their version of the HTC Flyer, which they call the HTC EVO View 4G, will ship out with Android 3.0 Honeycomb. The fact that the device was going to have Android 2.4, was one of the main issues, since it is meant for phones, unlike Honeycomb, which is optimized for tablets. Now that the device will have the latest and greatest Android version, some might even ignore the fact that it has a single-core processor, which is not actually such a bad processor, running at 1.5 GHz. The EVO View 4G (Flyer) is definitely not the most powerful tablet, but it doesn’t lack strength either, and it definitely offers features that are completely different from the competition. It is always said that there is no such thing as "the best phone," for it all depends on personal needs and preferences, and so is the case with tablets as well. HTC’s tablet might very well be the best option for a student, or anybody that needs to take notes on a regular basis. One of the main reasons why people do not switch to e-books is the fact that they don’t allow writing annotations, highlighting, and underlining, all being problems that HTC Scribe would fix. If you prefer a tablet with a 7" screen, which many are very fond of, and would rather have Honeycomb right away, then the HTC EVO View 4G might now be a great option to consider! Thank you HTC! Stay tuned for upcoming news on the EVO View 4G, as well as the Flyer (which still seems to be shipping with Android 2.4). UPDATE
Of course, our dreams had to be shattered once again. Sprint has updated their “This Just In” site, and now it does not specify that the HTC EVO View 4G will launch with Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Instead, the description reads “Latest Version of Android,” meaning that Honeycomb upon release is a possibility. Let’s stay tuned and see what happens! Afterall, HTC did state that the Flyer would eventually receive an update to Honeycomb, so we just might get lucky, maybe this is just an accident that gave us legitimate information!
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| When will your device get Android 2.3 Gingerbread? Posted: 06 Apr 2011 08:39 AM PDT With Android releasing new versions so often, it is impossible to feel like one is up-to-date. Froyo will always have its place in our hearts, but Android hungry fans definitely want the latest and greatest. Sadly, unless you have one of the Nexus devices, Android 2.3 Gingerbread updates will probably start rolling out after the release of Android 2.4, hence restarting the vicious cycle. Android 2.3 has been out for a few months now, and many cannot help but to wonder when some Gingerbread love will come their way. JR Raphael from Android Power has put together a list specifying pretty much every device’s 2.3 update status. Along with the devices that will, will not, and might be updated, Raphael briefly specifies the details for every single device. To go to the upgrade list simply click here. We know that many of you stay updated with Android news, and so will Raphael’s upgrade list, so do keep going back and checking for changes on a regular basis, and do let us know how you feel about your update status!
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