Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Nvidia Co-Founder Sees Android Tablets Eventually Dominating The iPad

Posted: 17 May 2011 05:08 PM PDT

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Reuters was holding a Global Technology Summit yesterday where they invited speakers from the some of the biggest companies in the world to talk about the future of tech. It was here that Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia’s co-founder sounded off on the future of Android tablets. According to Jen, he sees Android tablets completely dominating and eventually overtaking the iPad in the tablet market much like Android did with smartphones. He goes on to say,

The Android phone took only two and a half years to achieve the momentum that we’re talking about. I would expect the same thing on Honeycomb tablets,

So, even though things may not be looking so hot right now as far as Honeycomb tablets are concerned, Nvidia is set to launch their new Kal-El quad-core processors in tablets and PC’s very soon. Couple that with onslaught of Android tablets hitting the market this year from Samsung, HTC and even Amazon, his predictions might happen sooner than later. Apple better man their battle stations because the Android army is gearing for another takeover.

[Via Reuters]

Updated Tiamat Kernel For Motorola Xoom Brings Tegra 2 To A Screaming 1.6GHz

Posted: 17 May 2011 04:42 PM PDT

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If you don’t know by now, Android has probably one of the greatest developer communities in the world. You gotta give these guys a pat on the back. They can single handedly breath new life into aging hardware making it feel better than the day you bought it. One such dev over on XDA, Tiamat, has managed to update his kernel for the Motorola Xoom. Among enabling USB tethering, he has also managed to clock the tablet’s Nvidia Tegra processor to a screaming 1.6GHz. In case you were wondering how that translates into a benchmark we have a handy screen shot of a Quadrant score for those curious.

Now, you knew this was coming BUT – benchmarks are in no way a representation of “real world” speed for the end user. Heck, even overclocked CPU frequencies can be misleading (once got my G1 clocked to 1Ghz). But you must admit, seeing the quadrant bar that big is kind of… breathtaking. I think we’re going to start needing a new benchmark for dual-core processors soon. All these mega bars are making my Evo feel self-conscious.

[Via AC]

Download: LG Revolution User Guide

Posted: 17 May 2011 02:33 PM PDT

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Just as soon as the LG Revolution got a rumored launch date of May 26th, this user guide has found its way into the hands of Droid-Life. Yep, it’s still Bing’d. And you had to guess Netflix would still be supported. Everything else is as you’d expect, though – it’s a 4G LTE device, has LG’s custom user interface, will have a special battery door for wireless charging and everything else you’ve already known since CES. If you need some reading material to put you to sleep tonight, find the .PDF file at this here link.

ASUS Transformer and Acer Iconia Tab to Get Android 3.1 Early June

Posted: 17 May 2011 02:23 PM PDT

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Folks who are worried about after-market support from the OEMs who’ve sold them the latest tablets need not worry anymore – they’re delivering. It’s being reported that both ASUS and Acer will be delivering Android 3.1 to their tablets early June. Google made mention of the update at Google I/O, if you don’t remember, and had everyone clapping. Resizable widgets, USB host support and improved performance are the main highlights here. And for what it’s worth, T-Mobile promises 3.1 for the G-Slate is coming “soon”. We only have about a couple more weeks to wait, folks. [TIMN]

LauncherPro Update Adds Real Homescreen Looping and Icon Packs

Posted: 17 May 2011 01:32 PM PDT

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Federico Carnales – famed LauncherPro developer – has unleashed version .8.6 in the Android market and brings with it some interesting changes. One is real homescreen looping. If you used the looping feature in .8.5, you’ll know it wasn’t really looping –  it just quickly bounced you back to the left or right-most homescreen as if you were swiping very quickly. Now, it just appears from whatever direction you’re swiping away from (much like how HTC does it in modern versions of Sense).

Another big feature is support for icon packs, something I have personally been craving for a long time. No new widgets this time, folks, but still a nice update. Go and get it in the Android market.

Rumor: Samsung Hercules is a 4.5 Inch Dual-Core Beast for T-Mobile, But It Isn’t a Galaxy S II

Posted: 17 May 2011 01:05 PM PDT

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Our friends at This Is My Next have uncovered another supposed forthcoming phone. This time, T-Mobile is getting some 4.5 inch love from Samsung in the form of the Hercules. (Quite the appropriate name if this spec sheet is accurate.) You’re most likely going to think about the Infuse 4G, but that phone wasn’t dual core.

This one is. And with that, you’ll probably think – “oh, a Galaxy S II!” Unlikely – this one isn’t housing Samsung’s Exynos chipset, and it isn’t even housing NVIDIA’s Tegra 2. Inside is a 1.2GHz APQ8060 processor by Qualcomm, the same processor that runs HP’s tablet. And if you know that, you’ll know that it’s no slouch. Its Adreno 220 GPU delivers insane graphics performance and high-definition video playback at buttery-smooth framerates. Here are the full specs as listed by TIMN:

  • 4.5-inch 480 x 800 Super AMOLED Plus display
  • Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
  • NFC support, though compatibility with the forthcoming ISIS mobile payment standard is "to be determined"
  • Category 24 HSDPA (42Mbps) and Category 6 HSUPA (5.76Mbps) for extremely fast HSPA+ support -- faster than any HSPA+ phone currently sold in the US
  • AWS plus 850 / 1900MHz compatibility for support on AT&T’s "4G" network if the merger succeeds
  • Preliminary measurements place it at 5.16 x 2.76 x 0.37 inches -- within a few hundredths of an inch of the Infuse
  • 16GB internal ROM, 1GB internal RAM, external microSD up to 32GB
  • Here’s where it outdoes the Infuse: it’s quoted with a Qualcomm 1.2GHz dual-core APQ8060 application processor, which is extraordinarily unusual for a Samsung -- particularly considering the availability of Samsung’s own multi-core Exynos line; it’s paired with an MDM8220 modem processor
  • 8 megapixel primary camera with flash and 1080p video capture, secondary front-facing camera
  • Like the Galaxy S II, the Hercules won’t have a dedicated HDMI port -- it’ll move high-def video over Micro USB using MHL

With all of this, you have to wonder why T-Mobile would even want the Galaxy S II, which could explain why their name didn’t show up next to Sprint’s, Verizon’s and AT&T’s on an accessory listing for the device. Let’s not go too far, though. We still have a long way to go to see this one pan out and it could very well end up being a compliment rather than a replacement to the S II.

Nexus S 4G Having Reception Issues?

Posted: 17 May 2011 12:41 PM PDT

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A new device, another boatload of problems storming in. This time, the Nexus S 4G is giving users signal trouble. Users report that they sometimes can not get any type of signal – be it 4G, 3G, or 1xTT – in certain instances while other Sprint phones are getting strong signals in those same areas. A majority of reports complain of very bad signal strength and data speeds, though, with some folks not able to get off of 1xTT.

It took a week, but Sprint has finally acknowledged that there is, in fact, a widespread issue and that they’ll be looking into it. There’s no indication on whether or not this is a fault of the hardware’s or if the software is the culprit. And Sprint didn’t exactly give a timeline, but it’s nice to know they’re looking into it. Any of you experiencing these same issues? [Sprint, Thanks Matt!]

SPB Wallet for Android Now Available

Posted: 17 May 2011 11:56 AM PDT

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Yes, things have been quite scary with all of this talk about trojans, malware and data theft plaguing the Android platform. While an extremely vast majority of Android users should have nothing to worry about in those regards, people are still concerned. I know a few of you might approach SPB Wallet with caution because of recent events, but if you really need a reliable, reputable and secure information locker for your mobile device you need to check it out.

It stores your credit card information, passwords and pin numbers, passport numbers and other important information that you may need at a moment’s notice but don’t want to dig around in your wallet for. All of this is AES-256 encrypted and can even be synced to the cloud using your Google account. There are also desktop companion applications available. Availability on other mobile platforms also ensures you can get your information no matter what you’re using.

It’s normally $7 to play, but even for that it looks like it’d be worth it if this is the sort of thing you need. And lucky for you guys, they’re offering it for 50% off until the end of the month so be sure to take advantage as soon as you can. Find it in the Android market.

Download: Try Out the Dolphin HD 5 Beta

Posted: 17 May 2011 11:40 AM PDT

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The folks at Dolphin have been hard at work on the next iteration of their popular Android browser, but only a select group of people were able to get their hands on the latest up until this point. They’ve announced a public beta for version 5.0, though. Changes may not seem significant on the surface, but things such as sub-folder support in bookmarks make it quite the desirable upgrade for me. (And many others, I’m sure.) Find more details on what’s new and a download link over at Dolphin’s site now.

Intel: You’ll See Us Inside Phones in the Earlier Parts of 2012

Posted: 17 May 2011 11:16 AM PDT

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Intel has already laid out plans to produce mobile chipsets with Android support. We still don’t know how good these will be and how they’ll do up against competition at this point, but Intel’s given a hint as to when we’ll start seeing the first devices with their chipsets embedded – early 2012. I imagine chips are already close to being sampled and I won’t be surprised if we get a peek at some of these devices at some point this year. (Or very early next year. Like, around CES time.) Bring it on, Intel. [Reuters]

New Gingerbread Leak for Epic 4G Arrives, And It’s Stable Enough [EE03]

Posted: 17 May 2011 10:13 AM PDT

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This isn’t the first Gingerbread leak for the Samsung EPIC 4G but the first one was really unstable. GPS didn’t work, 4G didn’t work and there was just a sea of other issues that had people running back to Froyo. The folks behind ACS have gotten their hands on yet another leak, though.

This one is build EE03 and seems to be as stable as stable can get at this point. GPS works, 4G works and there just isn’t that big of a sea of other issues. (See what I did there?) Be sure to note that this ROM is RFS only. If you only deal with Ext4, you’ll have to wait until developers implement it (if it’s even possible).

This one is pre-rooted and deodexed, of course, and flashing instructions can be had at AndroidForums.com. (You may have to Odin back to stock ECO5 and re-root that before proceeding.) [Android Forums]

And remember, your phone is your own responsibility. We reserve the right to throw fish at you if you try to blame us for anything that goes wrong.

Google starts rolling out Music Beta invites to Verizon Motorola XOOM owners

Posted: 17 May 2011 09:34 AM PDT

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When we first caught wind of Google’s launch of Music Beta, word was that both attendees of Google I/O and owners of the  Motorola XOOM would be first to gain access to the invite-only service. Google I/O’s announcement passed and only attendees of the event were given their invites, but XOOM owners are indeed still among the first to be able to experience Google’s cloud music platform. Invites have begun rolling out via email to XOOM owners who picked up their Honeycomb tablet through Verizon, though it is unclear if the privilege will be extended to all owners of the device. Anyone out there get their invite to Google Music yet?

 

New KDDI Infobar interface gives Windows Phone 7 a run for its money

Posted: 17 May 2011 08:53 AM PDT

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What do you get when you take an Android 2.3 base layer and stack a slick interface on top? The new look of Japan’s KDDI Infobar line of phones as they cross into the smartphone age. Yes, it does look a lot like Windows Phone 7, tiles and all, but that’s not going to stop us from drooling over this fully customizable interface.

[via Gizmodo]

Trade in your old mobile phone, regardless of carrier, and get credit towards a new one at T-Mobile

Posted: 17 May 2011 08:30 AM PDT

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T-Mobile is putting their own spin on the trade-in programs that have become pretty popular as of recent times. Customers can now trade-in any existing mobile device from any carrier for up to $300 off of the purchase of a new handset from T-Mobile. We doubt many will be getting that full $300 in return for their old handset, but whatever amount you do get is given in the form of a mail-in rebate. T-Mobile hopes the program will offset the cost of upgrading to their high-end 4G smartphones while drawing in new customers to their slowly bleeding totals.

We’re all for a way to turn old phones into cash, especially now that the lifecycle of a smartphone barely lasts six months. See the press release below for full details.

T-Mobile USA Launches Trade-In Program for Used Handsets
T-Mobile Trade-In program enables customers to save on new device purchase whether opting for the latest messaging device or trading up to one of the fastest smartphones running on America’s Largest 4G Network

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- May 17, 2011 -- T-Mobile USA, Inc. today introduced a retail Trade-In program, aimed at giving customers a cost-effective way to purchase a new phone and upgrade to America’s Largest 4G Network. T-Mobile’s Trade-In program provides customers with the ability to trade existing mobile devices for money that could be used toward the purchase of a new handset -- including any new smartphone running on
T-Mobile’s 4G network.

T-Mobile is dedicated to making the latest wireless devices and mobile Internet services more affordable to more people. Through the Trade-In program, customers can offset the cost of a new phone purchase by up to $300 with the trade in of their old device. Even devices from other wireless carriers are eligible as long as they meet the minimum criteria, i.e., being fully functional, having an intact and working display, and being free of liquid damage or corrosion.

Customers can take advantage of the Trade-In program at any T-Mobile retail store. In partnership with The Wireless Source (TWS), a leader in consumer electronics collection programs, a trained T-Mobile representative will determine the trade-in value of each device and a check for the quoted amount will be given to the customer via a mail-in rebate process. Customers receive a voucher, shipping label and bubble pack mailer and simply ship the old phone to TWS at their convenience. They will then be sent a check from TWS in the amount of the quote once the device is received in good working condition.

"T-Mobile is committed to providing the latest, most innovative and affordable technology to new and existing customers," said Ami Silverman, senior vice president of sales, T-Mobile USA. "If device purchases can be made even more affordable through the value offset of T-Mobile’s Trade-In program, we want customers to have that option. We encourage them to take advantage of it so they can stay connected no matter what their budget, current device or mobile provider."

Customers have the ability to check the estimated value of their device before going to a T-Mobile retail store and learning more about the T-Mobile Trade-In program at http://www.mytradeins.com/.

 

Red HTC Inspire 4G headed to RadioShack

Posted: 17 May 2011 08:18 AM PDT

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If you’re looking for something a little more colorful than your standard grey/black smartphone, check out this version of the HTC Inspire 4G headed to RadioShack. The red color scheme looks mighty poppin’ on this 4G handset from AT&T. Release details are scant, meaning there are none. Also without a price or date is a supposed purple HTC EVO Shift headed to the Shack. Me likey the new color options.

[via Engadget]
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