Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Barnes and Noble To Announce New E-Reader Device On May 24th

Posted: 04 May 2011 05:36 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

Barnes & Noble let slip that they are looking to bring a new type of e-Reader device to the market on May 24th. Not much else is known but one very strong possibility is that Barnes & Noble could be looking into a more powerful Honeycomb alternative to their popular Nook Color. With the popularity of the Android platform as an e-reader alternative, it definitely doesn’t sound too far fetched.

However, I think we may see a smaller, cheaper, e-ink type device to compete with the incredibly low-cost Kindle. A device hovering around the $100 range would make a great accessory for book lovers on the go this summer.

Guess we’ll find out soon enough come May 24th when this mysterious device is announced. As always stick with Phandroid to keep you updated as it develops. Thanks, Cabbie!

[Via MarketWatch]


RIM Shows Off Android App Player For BlackBerry Playbook [Video]

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:18 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

Today at the BlackBerry World conference in Orlando Florida, RIM’s Senior Project Manager, sneak peaked the latest software addition to their BlackBerry Playbook. The Android App Player. Just as the name suggests this will allow a user to load Android apps and run them on their very own Blackberry Playbook.

We heard about this feature long before the Playbook’s release but didn’t see the tablet offer support on launch day. Looks like all of that could soon change when this feature is finally released this summer. Check out the (slightly uncomfortable) video from BlackBerry below.

I can tell you that I’ve had more than enough time with the Playbook and generally like the ease of use, multitasking and smooth hardware acceleration throughout the OS. As always when new developments like this hit the tech world, I’ve got some tough choices to make. With the addition of Android apps on a Playbook do you think this will sway any future tablet users who were maybe on the fence on which tablet to pick up? Or is it “Honeycomb for life” as usual?

[Via YouTube]


The New HTC Kingdom For Sprint Is Exposed

Posted: 04 May 2011 03:46 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

When a ROM of the HTC Kingdom was leaked online a few days ago, most people dismissed it as just a code name for the Evo 3D. Today, PocketNow received a picture of the HTC Kingdom and it even looks like the Evo 3D. But upon closer inspection you’ll notice a few small differences. Namely, the button layout on the bottom of the device and even the bottom chin look a little slightly different than what we see on the Evo 3D. Could this be a completely different phone? Well, according to the leaked ROM – it is.

The newly leaked ROM suggest that HTC Kingdom is running on a 1.2Ghz single-core Snapdragon processor (MSM7630) and a possible single 5MP camera on the back but that’s where the differences end. The remaining specs fall in line with what we see on the Evo 3D – qHD display, 1.3MP front facing camera, the new Sense 3.0 and Gingerbread 2.3.3.

I’m wondering if this will be a cheaper option to the Evo 3D, maybe even the Evo 2? Either way, I’m hoping its not another Incredible S on Verizon which was seemingly released only to make the Thunderbolt look better. What do you guys think? The more the merrier on America’s #3 network?

[Via PocketNow]


HTC And Verizon Testing An Android Smartphone Geared Towards Women

Posted: 04 May 2011 03:09 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

With all the Android handsets out these days, sometimes you forget that with all the “Droids” and highend tech specs, most of these phones aren’t really geared specifically towards women. In fact, I’d go as far to say that most of the time, its more in spite of. Well, Verizon and HTC have taken that into consideration and are testing a new smartphone that would target that female demographic. Right now, the code name for the phone is the Bliss and its said to hit Verizon before the end of this year.

ThisIsMyNext.com provided the leak and even a mock up for what they think the phone may look like, although I think HTC’s Widlfire S would fit the bill quite nicely. Their source didn’t give too many specifics just that it would be a slate type Android device, a softer color hue, offer various preloaded calorie counting and shopping apps, a wireless dock, and even an LED charm notifier for easy access in those tight Jeggings that females are all about these days.

Honestly, its hard to imagine why a company wouldn’t want to target women. They work just as hard as men, always on their BlackBerry’s and iPhones and if it’s one thing I’ve learned through the years, they like spending their money even more than men do. I, for one, hope this phone smells like cupcakes.

[Via ThisIsMyNext]


HTC Sensation (Not the Double Shot) Makes Its Way Past The FCC

Posted: 04 May 2011 02:18 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

The HTC Sensation has just passed FCC inspection and is all fired up and ready to go on T-Mobile’s HSDPA/HSUPA 4G network. PocketNow points out that the FCC documents clearly list the phone as the PG58100 which contrary to what other sites have been posting, is confirmed in HTC’s smartphone profiles as the Sensation. Unwired View of course is sticking to their guns and listing the device as the Double Shot.

We reported a possible leak that indicated the phone could launch on June 8th and with this most recent FCC filing, looks like we’re right on track. I can’t help but wonder if the Sensation will launch before its Sprint cousin, the Evo 3D?

[Via FCC]


Google Gaming Console? Android, Google TV, and The Cloud Could Rain Down Awesomeness [OPINION]

Posted: 04 May 2011 02:13 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

We already know (or think we know) that Google TV will play a big role at Google IO next week, under the veil of Android. But if you connect the dots it seems like Google may be planning a powerful foray into the gaming market that could compete with traditional gaming consoles like XBOX360, PS3, and Wii. Let’s follow the trail of clues:

  • First of all, we expect Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) to merge with Google TV in the source code for the upcoming release of Android x.x (Ice Cream Sandwich).
  • That’ll lay a lot of behind the scenes groundwork, ultimately making the deployment of Android Market on Google TV a much easier task (which we hope to see at Google IO).

Android Market on Google TV provides plenty of gaming fodder alone, but it goes deeper:

Google clearly recognizes gaming as a frontier opportunity and lately it seems like they’ve lived by the “Go big or go home” motto. Why settle for continuing down the mobile gaming road when they’ve got all the assets to create a gaming juggernaut that competes with the current leaders and takes gaming to the next level?

In this scenario, ridiculously powerful graphics aren’t what I mean by “the next level” but once they develop a critical mass of manufacturers/developers/consumers, technology certainly won’t be holding them back. Much like the inception of Android, the next level of gaming wouldn’t initially be about specs and hardware, but opening the doors of opportunity by unlocking the front door of competition. And once everyone starts walking in, power in numbers handles the rest. Let’s pretend we’re in Rob’s fantasy land for a moment and see how things could potentially play out.

  • Google merges GTV with Android source and launches Android Market on Google TV
  • As apps and games galore pour into GTV Market the value of owning Google TV rises considerably
  • More people buy GTV as its a natural and immediate extension of what they already enjoy
  • More manufacturers start building GTV compatible devices and accessories, from TVs and Set Top Boxes to Remote Controls and Keyboards
  • Without the requirement for “mobile”, devices would be MUCH more powerful, have a MUCH greater storage capacity, and will always have high speed Internet connections out

There are already hundreds of millions of Android users in the world. All their information, apps, games, connections, preferences and more are already connected to their E-Mail account. Simply connect Google TV and all of a sudden you’ve got an integrated entertainment system that can:

  • Download hundreds of GB of games (free and paid) over your Wi-Fi connection
  • Play pretty intense games created especially for the big screen: without the need to make the device compact for mobile consumption, manufacturers can affordably beef up their offerings.
  • Connect with your friends or groups of friends to play head to head games in real-time over your Wi-Fi connection (at no additional cost)
  • Take the entire Android experience into your home at a very, very low price

And what if Google launches Google Music? Download music on your phone, then listen to it on your Home Entertainment System through Google TV, then load it up on your tablet? Anywhere you’ve got an Android device with a login/pass you’ve got apps, games, music, movies, books and everything else you can imagine right in front of you. Not to mention the ability to use your Google Contacts and connections through apps like Facebook and Foursquare to drive your TV entertainment and Gaming experience.

How cool would it be to browse through your local TV listings and at the bottom of the screen see how many of your friends (and which ones) are currently watching that same station? What if you were able to interact with them while the show was going on, through text, audio, and even video? What if you could instantly challenge friends to games, everything from sports games to first person shooter of intensely high quality?

Once Google gets Android Market onto GTV, this could very well play out. Would you rather pay $300 bucks for a system that offers everything you can possibly imagine, already integrated with your life as soon as you plug it in? Of course there will be the real “gamers” who require the real stuff, but the masses will want GTV. Once the masses have it in their hands, developers start developing for it. Before you know it… GTV has become the “real stuff” for the “real gamers”.

Android won’t likely overpower XBOX 360 or PS3 anytime in the next few years, but very well could within a decade. I mean come on, using your Android Phone as a controller it could probably be as good as a Wii out of the box. And there’s a reason Sony Ericsson has the XPERIA Play bulit on Android.

Android has a bright gaming future but perhaps mostly on Google TV. Oh wait, I forgot, they’re almost the same thing. And once they are… that’s half the battle.

Bring on Google IO.


Which US Carrier Has the Best Android Phones?

Posted: 04 May 2011 02:08 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

It’s been three and a half years since Google introduced the very operating system we write about everyday – Android – and every major (and many minor) United States carrier has phones running it. Some more than others, of course, but who has the best lineup? I take a gander at offerings from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, MetroPCS and more and at the end I’ll let you know who I think has the best Android lineup. Let’s get started!

AT&T

It’s no secret that AT&T got off to a slow start when it comes to Android. Blame it on Apple, blame it on the alcohol, blame it on whatever – they’ve caught up and have done so marvelously. They now offer a number of high-end phones from the likes of Samsung with their soon-to-be-released Infuse 4G, HTC with the Inspire 4G, and Motorola with the ATRIX 4G. And it’s not just because they have a “4G” tag on them – they are damn good phones.

The ATRIX 4G, for instance, was the first phone on the market with NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor inside. It had 1GB of RAM, a qHD display, fingerprint scanner and with the help of an accessory or two, it could transform into a netbook. Choice is always a big factor, though, and they’ve proved that they can manage a diverse lineup offering different products at different price points. The HTC Aria can be had for one cent on a two-year contract and it is by no means a bad device for the crowd it’s aimed at.

The only thing holding me back from giving AT&T all the love I have is the fact that they still don’t allow you to sideload applications on Android phones. It may not be as huge of a deal to others as it is to me, but trying to lock users into one ecosystem because you don’t want them to scrape a knee is irritating. AT&T also doesn’t offer a lot compared to other carriers, but quality and quantity are two different things. For the most part, they offer quality.

Sprint

Back in 2009, Sprint followed HTC in embracing Android early on. They came to town with the HTC Hero the first Sense device that had everyone wanting it for the software alone. (Including yours truly. I went as far as flashing a Hero ROM on my original G1. Yes, it was painful but it was well worth it.) Times have changed, of course, and Sprint has proven they can keep up with those times. They were the first to market with a 4G Android phone in the HTC EVO 4G It surpassed their previous high-seller – the Samsung Instinct.

And more than it was popular, it was just good. In fact, I don’t think any Android device to launch on Sprint since the EVO has topped its sales. They had heavy hitters like Samsung’s Epic 4G – a Galaxy S with a QWERTY keyboard – and a smaller keyboard-enabled cousin in the HTC EVO Shift 4G Even though they weren’t as successful, they were every bit as good. Sprint also offers a number of cheapies in the Sanyo Zio, the Samsung Transform and the LG Optimus S The former-most isn’t that good of a phone but the latter-most will blow you away with its speed and stability when you consider how cheap it is compared to high-end beasts.

More than just affordability, though, Sprint’s looking to separate themselves with unique products. The Kyocera Echo is the first of its kind – the phone can fold out into a dual-screen tablet-esque device and allow you to multi-task like you never have on a phone. We’re still having trouble getting behind this one, though, as third party software that takes advantage of the phone’s dual screen capbailities has yet to take off.

The upcoming Nexus S 4G (it’ll be here May 8th) won’t be a bad device, either. In fact, it may just end up being their new best device once it’s available. Sprint doesn’t have many options but the ones they do have are fantastic and they stand by them. They’re usually quick about software updates and the software preinstalled doesn’t get in the way as much as they do on other carriers’ devices. Sprint is held in high regards with me.

Verizon

Verizon’s army of Androids began with an iconic device – the Motorola DROID. Many credit Verizon and Motorola with single-handedly slingshotting the platform into relevance and making it a household name and a mainstream entity. Since then, they have released many devices under the DROID name and most of them have lived up (at least in quality) to the standard that the original set. No, we’re not counting the DROID Eris, folks.

Many of those DROIDs have been phased out for new renditions, though, which include the Motorola DROID PRO Motorola Droid 2 Motorola Droid X and the HTC Droid Incredible 2 Samsung was also blessed with their first DROID-branded phone recently – the Samsung DROID Charge (Though that has been delayed and still has not been released as of the time of this writing.)

All of these devices may not be the best fit for you or me, but there’s no doubting their impressive performance in specs. The DROID line has become an exclusive stable of phones that you can expect to be powerhouses every time Verizon announces one.

There are others, though, such as the Samsung Fascinate the Samsung Continuum and the HTC Thunderbolt While we’re not particular fans of the second one, the other two aren’t too shabby themselves. (And it makes us wonder why they weren’t given the DROID tag.) The HTC Thunderbolt is one of particular interest considering it was Verizon’s first 4G phone, but others will soon eclipse it.

And for business types, they really believe in securing your hardware with options like the DROID Pro. For those who do field work, the Casio g’zOne Commando provides durability and great functionality. You can’t go wrong with one of Verizon’s devices no matter who you are. Big Red is definitely near the top of the curve.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile was the first carrier in the world gutsy enough to adopt Android. It all began on October 22nd, 2008 with the now-legendary T-Mobile G1 As much as we loved the device, though, Android quickly outgrew its clothes. It’s been officially discontinued but not without some devices worthy of replacing it. For starters, T-Mobile has continued the “G” line with two smash mouth devices that everyone currently enjoys – the T-Mobile G2 and the G2x.

The first is a stock Android device with a great QWERTY keyboard and an optical trackpad that pays homage to the original. The dual-core spinoff – the G2x – has NVIDIA’s dual core Tegra 2 processor and is the first stock Android device to carry that load. T-Mobile’s going to keep the “G” brand going with nothing but stock Android devices, it seems, so you’ll always have a carrier to go to if you need one of those. They are also FOR hacking and encourage folks like Cyanogen and other developers to do exciting things with the hardware. They really get a lot of bonus points for that.

They have a slew of devices from HTC, Samsung and Motorola and are currently the exclusive carrier of the Nexus S. (That’s going to change in four days, though.) The MyTouch line keeps rolling with devices tailoring to those who need a great looking device with powerful features, but still easy enough to learn to use. And while selections from Motorola aren’t all that great, they deliver a big punch for the asking price. You can’t go wrong with T-Mobile. (Unless AT&T buys them. Ouch.)

US Cellular

US Cellular has increasingly made a name for itself over the past year releasing devices such as the HTC Desire and the Samsung Mesmerize, a Galaxy S phone. Unfortunately, the number of less capable phones far exceeds that of their high-end devices with offerings such as the Samsung Gem the Samsung Acclaim the LG Apex and the LG Optimus U. US Cellular, like many of the carriers following it, are wallet-conscious and consumers flock to them for that very reason. If you want an affordable Android with an affordable rate plan, they’re top dog.

MetroPCS

MetroPCS had a disappointing lineup early on, but their selection has been heavily bolstered by two top-notch Androids. The LG Optimus M is a great option like all Optimus One phones are, but for the same price you’ll get the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Indulge. They aren’t calling it a Galaxy S phone, but it might as well be one with its 1GHz Hummingbird processor and a very nice slide-out QWERTY keyboard. And at only $300, you’d be a fool to pass this up if you enjoy MetroPCS’ service. That’s where we’ll draw the line, though, because simply cannot endorse the Huawei Ascend

Boost Mobile

Boost’s Android lineup is less exciting. Their options include the Motorola i1 – a smallish Android operating on a soon-to-be dead network – and the Samsung Galaxy Prevail The latter is a decent option and very affordable at $180, but even then there isn’t a whole lot to get me excited here. If you want a good selection of phones, Boost isn’t the best place to look.

Cricket

Cricket has three smartphones – two of them are Android and both of those are bad. I’m talking about the Huawei Ascend and the Sanyo Zio. Sure, a smartphone for less than $150 seems great on paper (and to your wallet), but don’t expect to save the planet with these.

So Who Has The Best Overall Selection?

This is such a difficult choice to make. There are a lot of compelling options through MetroPCS. I can tell you now that the bottom two won’t make the cut. At the end of the day, it depends on what you as a consumer want or need. Factors other than how good a phone is play into one’s decision such as its cost or the cost and quality of the carrier’s service. I’ve based my decision on variety, depth, support and quality, though, and with that I name the victor – T-Mobile.

Perhaps it’s the rooter in me, but there’s something about Magenta’s open arms toward device customization that I am thrilled with. Some carriers fight tooth and nail to lock their devices down and the first thing they’ll check before they service your phone is to see if it’s modded or rooted in any way. T-Mobile has openly admitted that they’re fans of developers like Cyanogen and that they always look forward to seeing what cool things folks do with their devices.

The Sidekick has never looked so good, the MyTouch line offers a unique take on HTC Sense and HTC’s design practices and the “G” series will always make the development community flock to them. Don’t forget about the HTC Sensation one of the OEM’s flagship devices that’ll have a 4.3 inch display and a dual core processor. Their willingness to carry Nexus devices is also nothing to take for granted. Don’t let the looming merger deter you, either – it could very well end up being denied and that won’t happen for a while anyway.

What do you guys think? Who has the best selection of phones from smallest to biggest and cheapest to bank breakers? Vote in the poll below and I know you want to put your own $.02 in so the comment section is open for debate. Go!


HTC Marvel Surfs Its Way Onto T-Mobile This Summer

Posted: 04 May 2011 01:20 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

With all the great Android handsets T-Mobile has been rumored to get later this year (Sensation, Double Shot) it seems as if they have the whole “high-end” market covered. So what’s next for Magenta? Well, T-Mo News has uncovered some pics of HTC’s latest foray into entry/mid level phones, the Wildire S, also known as the HTC Marvel (pictured on the left). This phone seems like it could be geared specifically for those who can’t really rationalize a $200 price tag for some of the higher end, dual-core phones.

Visually, The HTC Marvel looks great. Almost like a smaller, baby version of the Nexus One (still the sexiest phone in existence). Specs include an 600Mhz processor which should be more than capable of pushing the 320×480 pixels on a smaller 3.2-inch screen, 5MP camera, 512MB of both internal memory and RAM and a newer version of Sense (possibly Sense 2.0). Also, HTC has been on top of Gingerbread updates as of late so you can expect the phone to ship with Android 2.3 as well.

For added measure, here’s a video of Rob taking a look at the phone at MWC in case you wanted to see how smoothly the phone runs.

Looks like T-Mo might go out with a bang (assuming they get bought up by AT&T). With the color variants, and its almost cute, smaller form factor, I think the HTC Marvell should do quite well when it releases on T-Mobile later this summer.

[Via T-MoNews]


The Zombies Are Coming! – Plants Vs Zombies Stumbles Its Way To Android

Posted: 04 May 2011 12:30 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

PopCap Games makes some of the most fun and addicting arcade type games for Xbox, PSN and iOS. You may have heard (and hopefully played) their smash hit Plants vs. Zombies. Well, a few minutes ago they just announced on Twitter that their popular real time strategy game will finally be making its way to Android!

Their goal was to get the game ported to Android sometime in the first half of 2011, so according to PopCap, you can look forward to some zombie killing action sometime in the next 2 months. I’m trying to contain my excitement but all I have to say is, Angry Birds better watch out cuz the zombies are coming and they look hungry!

[Via Twitter]


Droid Charge Hits Amazon, Backordered at $249.99

Posted: 04 May 2011 09:41 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

If you aren’t one of the lucky few who has been able to snag the Samsung DROID Charge on the down-low from Best Buy, you will want to keep your browser directed to Amazon’s site. The online retailer just launched their Droid Charge order page and is selling the new 4G LTE smartphone for $249.99, $50 less than Verizon’s asking price. The catch? The device is listed as backordered and shipping in 8 to 9 days.

Rumor has it that Verizon could begin selling the phone as soon as the end of this week, at which point we assume Amazon will lift the backorder status and begin shipping handsets out to customers. If you haven’t checked it out yet, we had plenty of nice things to say in our full review of the Charge. Who is picking one up?

[via Amazon]


Verizon Packaging More Bloatware into Droid X Gingerbread Update

Posted: 04 May 2011 08:51 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Another build of Gingerbread for the Motorola Droid X on Verizon has leaked, and Verizon has their fingerprints all over it. Rather than simply updating the Droid X experience with the latest version of Android, expect Gingerbread for the Droid X to carry its fair share of bloatware, as well. The latest to be spotted in build 4.5.591 is the VCAST appstore, which Verizon has taken the liberty to simply rename “Apps.” The small change in name has the effect of bumping Big Red’s appstore up to the top of your app drawer.

Still no signs of when the Droid X will officially receive its taste of Android 2.3, but with no build’s leaking almost weekly we figure they are working diligently on it. Should only be a matter of time now.

[via DroidLife]


How to Install Custom Themes on the HTC DROID Incredible 2

Posted: 04 May 2011 08:43 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

The latest and greatest version of HTC Sense comes with Skins support which allows you to change the look of your device. A bunch of cool skins were discovered for the HTC Thunderbolt and it’s been recently discovered that those same skins work for the HTC DROID Incredible 2 – no surprise considering how similar the phones are in both software and hardware.

They’re packaged as .APK files and you can install them just as you would any application. Just move them to your SD card, find them in a file manager of your choice and open it up to begin installation (you may need to enable your phone to install third party applications). Easy peasy and no root needed. After that, go to the personalize menu and select skins. You should now be able to see it in that list and apply it just as you would any of the HTC ones.

You can find a massive list of them over at XDA here and here. (And let us know if you find some cool ones). [courtesy of Droid Life]

 


Viber Brings Its Free Calling and Messaging App to Android, Beta Testers Wanted

Posted: 04 May 2011 07:55 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Viber is in the process of bringing their free calling and messaging app to Android, and they are seeking 500 beta testers to help them out. The app has, up until now, been an iPhone exclusive, but soon enough Android users will be able to experience the joys of free 3G and Wi-Fi voice calls and messaging. The Android version even gets a few features its iOS counterpart has lacked, including pop-up text message notifications and better integration with the phones messaging and call logs.

If this all sounds good to you, you will want to head over and sign up to be a tester of the new Viber app. The company will be rolling out Viber for Android to 500 users this week, with more to come over the coming weeks. How long the app stays in beta is up in the air, though it reportedly is working quite smoothly.

[via TechCrunch]

 


Another Samsung Event Planned for May in NYC, What Can We Expect?

Posted: 04 May 2011 07:36 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Samsung hasn’t even shut the doors on their first New York City press event of the month and they are already asking us to save the date for the next. While tomorrow’s announcement also involves AT&T, the new invitation for an event to take place on May 24th has Sammy flying solo. The invite provides few details, but if we had to guess we’d say this event will be the bigger of the two. Two major product announcements come to mind as possibilities: the US release of the Samsung Galaxy S II or the release of the new line of Samsung Galaxy Tabs.

We know from some previous events that Samsung doesn’t always do what you might expect, but with little else going on in their Android lineup worthy of a big event we are excited at the possibility. Of course, they did throw an event for the Samsung Continuum… Anything could happen.

 


Asus Won’t Rest: Quad-Core Tegra 3 and Intel Atom Tablets in the Works

Posted: 04 May 2011 06:14 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

You shouldn’t be surprised that Asus is already hard at work planning out what will follow their current lineup of Android tablets, which includes the Eee Pad Transformer and a few other yet to be released Honeycomb slates. Next-generation specs seem to be the theme, as the company is said to be developing both a quad-core Tegra 3 (Kal El) tablet and an Intel Atom device. There is no specific word on operating system, but the assumption is at least one will run Android.

If you haven’t read up on Kal El, check out our full report from Mobile World Congress. NVIDIA is aiming to get the next-gen chip into tablets by end of summer/early fall, and we suspect Asus could be among the first with such a device. Will they be able to do it at a similarly unbeatable price point as the Transformer? Let’s wait and see…

[via Engadget]


No comments:

Post a Comment