Android Community |
- Android joins the Army with prototype
- Android to get $100 million startup fund
- Android tracks users too [Report]
- Google fined $5m for Linux patent infringement: Is Android next?
- HTC Sensation 4G pre-interest page goes live
- T-Mobile Sidekick 4G root already discovered
- Facebook updates Android app with fixes for bugs and new feature
- US Army developing Android network
- Android for Good donates old phones to developing world projects
- Samsung counter-sues Apple in latest patent spat
- Amazon Kindle gets Honeycomb tablet update
- Verizon Droid Charge and @droidlanding get even more official
- Motorola Xoom 3G goes Extreme with Carphone Warehouse [video]
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Rooted already
- Polarbit releases another top notch game for Android Called Toki Tori
- SwiftKey Keyboard Releases new Betas for Tablet and Phones
- Casio Commando G’zOne Phone coming to Verizon April 28th
| Android joins the Army with prototype Posted: 22 Apr 2011 11:17 AM PDT The power of the Android platform is now part of the Arsenal of Democracy. Reports are that the US Army has developed a prototype for a military grade Android smartphone to be carried by soldiers on the battlefield. The prototype is known as the “Joint Battle Command Platform” (JBCP) and is being developed by MITRE. An SDK known as the Mobile Handheld Computing Environment is also in the works for App developers.
The goal is to equip every soldier with a smartphone that will keep squads networked in battle. Apps will include a mapping function, force tracking with friend or foe technology, critical messaging for data exchange and medevac requests, and reports from the field. Part of the challenge in developing such a platform, however is connectivity and security. Usually, communications is the first thing destroyed in a military conflict, so how an Android smartphone will be able to operate without cell towers is a consideration. But there’s also security. The advantage of the Android system is that it can be employed on multiple device designs thanks to it’s open architecture. The downside is that open is a bad word for the security conscious. Military encryption is going to be vital. Should a phone be captured or recovered by the enemy, it would be a boon for intelligence. There’s also the rugged nature of military operations. Can Uncle Sam develop a handset that can take the abuse of a combat environment? According to Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli, devices are already being tested in the field with solid robust results. But the real problem is weight. But all that is far away as the JBCP is only in it’s infancy. Regardless of what design actually gets deployed, it represents a significant step in national security communications and one which should also have a dramatic impact on the private sector. [via ArsTechnica] )
|
| Android to get $100 million startup fund Posted: 22 Apr 2011 10:33 AM PDT An investment firm in Silicon Valley has announced the creation of a $100 million dollar start up fund for Android territory. The firm, DCM, has identified Android as the hottest thing in the tech world right now and has earmarked on average between $500,000 and $4 million in products that will shape the Android ecosystem from the “A-fund” to help select robot-focused start-ups get up and running. The firm stated that Android’s rapid rise around the world, particularly in Asia, was what prompted creation of the fund that they hope will enable developers capitalize on it. DCM believes that Android will continue to dominate in Japan, China and Taiwan and that’s where a lot of the money is focused. DCM has offices in both Tokyo and Beijing.
Major funding for the A-Fund is coming from Asian mobile and social innovation firms like GREE, KDDI and Tencent. DCM believes that with Android’s rapid rise in the US, which many report as having come to dominate the mobile market over Apple’s iOS, and that it will continue worldwide. With such a rare and massive opportunity, DCM founder David Chao says the goal is to strike while the iron is hot. He believes that this is “an opportunity that comes only once in a major tech cycle." The move stands to compete with venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, who established the iFund in 2008 with $100 million earmarked for iPhone development and which was doubled last year. Companies vying include software application companies like Zynga, plus several mobile social networking firms. Already, the A Fund has invested in four companies which they will announce next month. [via Mashable] )
|
| Android tracks users too [Report] Posted: 22 Apr 2011 09:28 AM PDT Fresh on the heals of controversy that Apple’s iPhone 4 OS collects location data on users, a recent report shows that Google’s Android system performs the same spying functions. Security experts have found that the Android OS collects location based data every few seconds and transmits it to Google several times an hour. In addition to a user’s location, the Android OS also catalogs a user’s name, signal strength of nearby hotspots, and the phone’s unique identifier. The idea is to triangulate a user’s location in proximity to local WiFi networks in order to push location based advertising.
Last year, Google got into trouble for collecting data on WiFi hotspots using their fleet of StreetView cars who main advertised purpose was to photograph streets for their Google Maps application. Privacy advocates were up in arms over Google’s war-driving after it was determined that in addition to wireless networks, Google was also collecting personal information like e-mail addresses and passwords. But according to researchers looking into Google’s location spying, no personal information is being transmitted other than the user location and phone identifier. And Google according to the Wall Street Journal, many Apps that users enjoy do the same thing.
And the whole idea behind knowing a user’s location is to mine the lucrative market of location based advertising which the Wall Street Journal states that users want. Location based advertising shows users useful information like local business look-up, social networking, and even pinpointing coupon distribution and sales. The triangulation via WiFi networks is what makes it possible, and it’s uncannily accurate. But this is causing privacy advocates concern because it can be used by government to keep tabs on someone without a warrant or knowledge of the user. And not only government entitles. A savvy hacker can glean the information as well simply by jailbreaking an unsuspecting users phone and using the data to plot someone’s movement, making stalking a very real possibility. The issue is attracting the attention of Congress, where S. Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) are demanding answers about why location based information is stored and what it is being used for. Investigations are also being done elsewhere as Federal prosecutors in New Jersey are looking to see if information is being illegally obtained, while the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in Canada has expressed concern about cellphones being used to collect user data. And it may be that users will be unable to opt-out, so there’s just cause. Currently, it’s unclear if either OS gives the user the ability to say no to location based data collection. And with the growing and competitive field of location based advertising driving it, it isn’t likely to get easier anytime soon. [via Wall Street Journal] )
|
| Google fined $5m for Linux patent infringement: Is Android next? Posted: 22 Apr 2011 09:00 AM PDT Google has been fined $5m after a Texas court found the company guilty of infringing a Linux kernel patent, in a move that experts believe could significantly hamper open-source software’s growth. The fallout of the case, filed by Bedrock Computer Technologies, could see users of Android eventually chased for licensing fees, reports the BBC.
The specific patent infringement actually refers to Google’s server farm and the Linux kernel used there; the patent itself covers “methods and apparatus for information storage and retrieval using a hashing technique with external chaining and on-the-fly removal of expired data.” Bedrock also accused Softlayer Technologies, CitiWare Technology Solutions, Yahoo!, MySpace, Amazon.com, PayPal, Match.com, AOL and the CME Group of similar infringement. However, FOSS Patents suggests, the repercussions could see Android the next key target. “Google might have to modify the Linux kernel it distributes with Android in order to remove the infringing code” patent activist Florian Mueller suggests, “because otherwise there’s always the risk of contributory infringement should any app make use of that portion of the Linux kernel.” [via Mobileburn] )
|
| HTC Sensation 4G pre-interest page goes live Posted: 22 Apr 2011 08:16 AM PDT HTC may not be publicly confirming the rumored June 8 release of the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA, but it has thrown up a sign-up page for those wanting more information. The tri-tone smartphone has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, HSPA+ connectivity and a 4.3-inch qHD display.
There’s also an 8-megapixel camera on the back with autofocus and a dual-LED flash. HTC has reworked the camera app to minimize start-up lag, so that there’s less chance of missing impromptu shots. Meanwhile the Sensation will debut HTC Sense 3.0, the latest version of the company’s interface, complete with a new homescreen launcher. We’ve more on the HTC Sensation in our hands-on report from the launch of the European version, identical bar the radios. Meanwhile for all the specs, check out HTC’s product page. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] )
|
| T-Mobile Sidekick 4G root already discovered Posted: 22 Apr 2011 07:37 AM PDT The T-Mobile Sidekick 4G has only been on sale since Wednesday, but that hasn’t slowed down the rooting masters at xda-developers. They’ve already come up with a root for the messaging-centric smartphone, opening the door to custom ROMs and other juicy hacks.
The root is the handiwork of “josby”, but according to other xda members there are several ways to hack the Sidekick 4G. Next up is stripping away some of the preinstalled apps T-Mobile load onto the handset, which may give it an extra turn of speed. We found the Sidekick to be something of a unique proposition among Android devices, doing a darn good job of following in the footsteps of its unusual predecessors and differentiating itself for a pretty specific market. More on the Sidekick 4G in the full Android Community review. [Thanks Kenny!] )
|
| Facebook updates Android app with fixes for bugs and new feature Posted: 22 Apr 2011 07:23 AM PDT Social networking is one of the things that a huge number of web users enjoy when they are on their computer. If you are like me you probably find yourself sitting somewhere with nothing much to do and end up firing up Facebook or another social network to see if your pals are as bored as you are. If you are a big fan of the Facebook app for your Android smartphone there is an update for the app now available.
The new update brings the app to version 1.5.3 and adds some cool new things that you can do on your mobile. You can now tag specific friends in a status update. That would mean if you and a pal are at the same event you could tag them too like you do with pics. You can now also find a friend from the Android app. Another new feature that the update brings is the ability to add a phone number to your profile. Apparently, the update adds a force close feature as well and that might not be something that a lot of people use. The update addresses and fixes various bugs too. [via Android Police] )
|
| US Army developing Android network Posted: 22 Apr 2011 07:05 AM PDT A number of things that consumers take for granted today were derived from things that the military needed or wanted. One very common example is GPS that we all take for granted today. The military is now taking that develop things, then turn them to civilian use, and reversing the whole trend with a new Android powered network that it is working on. The US Army is hard at work on an Android-based smartphone framework for tactical operations.
The network will has a suite of apps that soldiers and commanders can take advantage of in the field. The network and the devices on it will be able to do all sorts of cool things. The soldier will be able to mark areas to serve as a warning for other soldiers operating in the area. Other reports have also outlined apps where the solider can directly access a feed coming from a camera or drone in the air to see what the area looks like form above. The military is also working on similar networks and apps for the iPhone. “If we see an enemy up front, we could put it in the GPS system,” said Spc. Hao Bui, a member of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, to the Army’s official web site. “Even though they (fellow Soldiers) can’t see it, you can mark it for them.” Military commands think that every slider carrying a smartphone around makes a lot of sense. The military is going to offer a developers kit called the Mobile/Handheld CE Product Developers Kit and hand it out to see what devs can come up with for military use. [via ibtimes] )
|
| Android for Good donates old phones to developing world projects Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:00 AM PDT Google usually hands out free devices to the developers that attend its workshops, but at Google I/O next month it’ll be asking them for phones, not giving them away. The search company is starting “Android for Good“, collecting unlocked and working Android handsets from those that no longer need them, and then donating them to projects all over the world.
Those projects include various data tracking and monitoring initiatives, which use the Android phones to input and crunch data:
If you’re headed to Google I/O 2011 and have a spare device – that’s unlocked and fully-functional – then you can drop it off at the Android for Good booth on the third floor of Moscone Center. Google is also apparently looking into how it could extend the scheme to cover people not in the US and not attending a developer event. )
|
| Samsung counter-sues Apple in latest patent spat Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:56 AM PDT Samsung has filed ten suits against Apple alleging patent infringement, in a response to the Cupertino company’s legal blast earlier this week. Apple had alleged that Samsung willfully copied the look and feel of iOS devices like the iPhone in the design of its Galaxy range of tablets and smartphones, as well as the TouchWiz UI.
Samsung is yet to detail the patents it alleges Apple has infringed, but has said that five of the suits are filed in Korea, two in Japan and a further three in Germany. “Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property” the company says, “and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.” The irony, of course, is that Samsung produces many of the components Apple relies on for its iOS range. )
|
| Amazon Kindle gets Honeycomb tablet update Posted: 22 Apr 2011 12:59 AM PDT Android has released an updated version of its Kindle for Android app, now reworked to suit the bigger screen sizes of Honeycomb slates like the Motorola XOOM and T-Mobile G-Slate. The new app has a bookshelf-style UI for picking which ebook you want to read, and a new layout for newspapers and magazines.
There’s also the usual Whispersync of notes, annotations, highlights, and how far you’ve read through the book. That means you can pick up reading where you left off on another Kindle-running device. Amazon Kindle for Android is a free download from the Android Market.    Press Release: )
|
| Verizon Droid Charge and @droidlanding get even more official Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:42 PM PDT It looks like Verizon and the DROID army aren’t wasting any time with this @DroidLanding campaign. 2 days ago they made the first tweet in 3 months, and today they are at it again. All systems are a go, they finished updating and have officially launched. With a teaser site and video both to go along with this. I see them pushing the Droid Charge pretty hard the next few weeks. See below for more information
This mysterious video has appeared showing nothing about a phone, just a bunch of mystery and creepy things going on, all leading up to @DroidLanding and ChargeLanding. They are calling this the Droid Landing 3. Are you up for the challenge, are you ready for the scavenger hunt that is soon to follow for the Droid Charge? Everyone else is. This all came together pretty fast, it looks like once that red button was pushed the system went into DROID mode and everything else just took over. Now we can only sit and wait until the clues start coming in. Be sure to keep your eye on @Androids, as well as @DroidLanding for more information. [via @DroidLanding] )
|
| Motorola Xoom 3G goes Extreme with Carphone Warehouse [video] Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:22 PM PDT This sure is a crazy video that is for sure. You guys have to watch it, It actually made me laugh. I’m still not sure what to think about it after just watching it though. Basically carphone warehouse takes the Motorola Xoom 3G out into some “real world” extreme situations and tests the amazing device. Sort of like the recently released Samsung Galaxy S II Extreme unboxing stuff.
If you didn’t see the Galaxy S II Extreme unboxing video’s our very own Chris Davies did his own in a very similar rally car to this carphone warehouse video. They take the Motorola Xoom through the streets, down the rally racetrack, on a motorcycle, on a segway (I didn’t know people still used those) and even on the wing of an airplane. It really is worth the watch. I can’t help but wonder if they knew these Samsung video’s were about to be released and they made a bunch of clips that are very similar. Either way I found them equally entertaining and pretty extreme myself. Feel free to check it out, and once it convinces you to get the Motorola Xoom you can get it now at Carphone Warehouse. [via YouTube] )
|
| Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Rooted already Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:52 PM PDT Ever since Sony announced that they would be having unlocked bootloaders I’m sure you have all been happily waiting for the new and exciting phones they have coming out to hit the shelves. The Xperia Play, and the Arc look sweet. Today I have some news for you, looks like the Xperia Arc has already been rooted.
As usual, we have no other than the amazing developers at the XDA forums to thank for this. This comes from the dev known as Bin4ry. He provides full instructions to completely get the job done, from unlocking the bootloader and then rooting. Then you can use the Arc to drive your car. If you want to see more of this device you can see the Arc and Neo in action here by SlashGear, the hardware really does look great, and now with unlocked bootloaders and root there is only good things to come. Apparently there is also files included in this source thread to root the Neo also but I don’t think they are as far along on that. As always, use caution when doing anything this serious with your device. [via XDA Forums] )
|
| Polarbit releases another top notch game for Android Called Toki Tori Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:28 PM PDT I’m not sure about you guys, or how much you game on Android (angry birds doesn’t count as “gaming”) since everyone plays that, but I play a fair share of games on my Android phone. One thing I do know is that if Polarbit is releasing the game, it will have great graphics and most likely be well worth the price. All the past Polarbit games have stunning 3D Visuals and they don’t cut any corners. They have just released the fun and cute new game for Android called Toki Tori.
Available in the Android Market now. In a way you could almost compare it to Angry Birds, but the game play is completely different, and instead of angry birds, they are cute little assassin chickens. Leading developers and independent publishers, Polarbit and Two Tribes, announced today the long-awaited release of Toki Tori on Android Market. Time to get with the chickens. They go on to explain the game as a mind-bending, brain-teasing puzzle platformer starring the worlds cutest chicken. It has some great 3D visuals, the puzzles are fun, yet not to difficult, and all stay fairly entertaining. You have 80 levels, with tons of puzzles to finish and enemies attacking. Overall this looks to be a great game just like all the past releases from Polarbit. Go get it now and let us know what you think, we would love to hear from our readers in the comments.    [via Polarbit News] )
|
| SwiftKey Keyboard Releases new Betas for Tablet and Phones Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:03 PM PDT Swiftkey is the popular 3rd party keyboard for Android available in the Android Market. We have mentioned it here as being the most popular downloaded keyboard for Android. They are still hard at work and are developing a few great ideas as well as a tablet version.
If you sign up (for free) for the SwiftKey VIP program and join the beta you can too get access to the latest and greatest features they are testing and integrating into the highly popular app. Not only that but it was just updated in the Android Market for both phones and tablets also and has some great new features for that update as well. Recent Phone Changes: * Adjusted prediction parameters to improve prediction and correction Tablet Changes: * Adjusted prediction parameters to improve prediction and correction It looks like they are hard at work making some great and much welcomed fixes and changes. I can’t wait to see what else they have in mind. So far I’ve really enjoyed typing on my Motorola Xoom with the stock keyboard. I am extremely fast and accurate on it, I just might have to give this SwiftKey for tablets a try now though. For more information as well as signing up for the betas go ahead and sign up now here for SwiftKey VIP. Feel free to report back here in the comments on how you like Swiftkey for your phone, or tablet. [via SwiftKey VIP] )
|
| Casio Commando G’zOne Phone coming to Verizon April 28th Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:34 AM PDT The Casio Commando is a rugged smartphone that is coming to Verizon starting April 28th. They are touting it as something strong and durable like the Motorola Defy, only better, and with Android 2.2. This phone should be able to handle all the drops, spills and dirt that most of you outdoorsy type do. I would mention a time frame to possibly get Android 2.3 but Casio has no track record for us to speak on.
I have to admit, it is a bizarre looking phone, but if you need something durable for on the job and don’t need the best top of the line phone. This very well may be the phone for you. It features a 3.6″ Gorilla Glass covered display, an 800 Mhz CPU, 512mb of RAM, a MicroSD Slot and most of those other usual things like a camera and such. It is an interesting device that is for sure. Verizon does make a good point in the spec sheet you can see at the source, it has Android 2.2 so it will have Adobe Flash, and can do Verizon’s NFL Mobile unlike most of those other rugged and durable phones. I don’t know about you, but most construction workers and manly men seem to also like Football. Here in the states at least. So that is all good news. The 75 dB loudspeaker sure sounds like a nice addition also, but I’m not sure if I would use that feature much myself. For more information hit the source. [via PocketNow] )
|
cd /data/local/tmp
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community 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