T-Mobile UK Galaxy S users have plenty to be happy about. In a recent announcement, the mobile network operator will be rolling out the official Android 2.2 Froyo operating system update for the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S.
Samsung’s much loved Android handset has been breaking plenty of new grounds for the open source mobile platform and it is about time that the device managed to score a confirmation as to when it will be getting the latest version of the Google OS. The Galaxy S is such a resounding success for Google’s Android that some might even say that it may be the icon for this generation of the OS, not the HTC Desire or even the Google Nexus One.
According previous announcements, the update for most of the Android 2.1 Éclair devices moving up to version 2.2 was expected this September. However, as the end of the month is slowly closing upon us, it seems that most of the updates will not be arriving until October.
For the Galaxy S, October seems to be the new target date for a system update. T-Mobile users, as mentioned above, will be a little luckier as the OS will be updated a little earlier than expected. The network operator is promising an end of the month release date for the patch.
Android 2.2 Froyo is going to be a major update to the Google OS as it brings with it plenty of new features such as better exchange, a modified camera user interface and support for Flash.
More importantly, the OS also brings a large performance boost to the phone in terms of speed and stability. Thanks to the improved kernel memory management and the new Java script API, both the user interface and the WebKit browser’s performances have been improved.
According to some Android users, the speed boost is significant and quite noticeable especially for those who have used the OS before.
Posts Tagged ‘Android-2.2-Froyo’
Galaxy S Froyo Update: Out on T-Mobile, October for Others
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010Industry Analysts State that Google’s Android will Surpass All OS
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
If there is one thing that many people are very convinced about, it is about the Android mobile platform dominating the industry in a span of a few years. Industry analysts at Inforna are pretty certain that by 2015, a majority of the phone we will be using are Android devices.
This is a pretty major prediction, but one that many find hard to argue against. As today’s current trends show, the Android mobile platform is heading up and there is little to nothing that is standing in its’ way.
Unlike the Apple iPhone brand which is linked directly to the iOS platform, a single major hardware issue is not enough to knock out the phone series. The iPhone 4 suffered from a major antenna issue shortly after it was released –pushing public interests in other devices. On the other hand, the same issue on an Android device would not be a problem as there would be a large number of Android options to choose from.
The fact that not a single Android smart phone is suffering from such a major issue also helps. While there are plenty of devices with the open source platform available (more than one for each month since January), all of these Android devices has proven to be great mobile phones.
Even with the general dominance of the OS being predicted, there is no single handset that is being pegged as the best one available. After all, with many major manufacturers creating their own Android smart phones, it would be nearly impossible to determine which one will come out on top.
At the moment, some of the best Android devices include Google’s very own Nexus One, the HTC made Desire, Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10, the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S, Dell Streak, the LG Optimus One, and Motorola’s Milestone XT720.
New Handsets from Acer and Samsung Leaked in Images
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Acer’s latest addition to its Liquid series of mobile phones has just been announced and judging from the initial images, it looks quite promising.
The Acer Liquid Android series is a pretty decent line of handsets for those who want to try out a new approach to the contemporary smart phone look. Acer’s unique style certainly makes the Liquid devices stand out -at least in appearances. In terms of specs, the devices range from the mid to high end range, providing buyers with good choices.
The new phone, called the Acer Liquid Metal is actually a lot like the previous Liquid E at first glance. The big difference is with the physical form, the Metal uses a nicely styled aluminum casing that provides with a stylish chrome finish.
It has been confirmed that the Android 2.2 Froyo will be used as the primary operating system for the handset and that it will be using a custom user interface called the Acer Shell 4.0. The CPU is a little slow for our tastes at 800MHz, but that should be more than enough to keep most apps running smoothly. The device will also have a 3.6 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display.
In the meanwhile, Samsung’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 handset has just been revealed. The new device is called the i8700 and so far, the only thing that can be confirmed about the device is that it packs 8GB of internal memory.
Many believe that this phone will be Samsung’s primary WP7 handset as the previously announced i917 Cetus has been confirmed to be a US network exclusive. In any case, the i8700 is shaping up to the technologically superior device over the i917 so there are no worries about getting the worse handset.
With Microsoft’s new mobile platform set to launch by October 11, we might be able to catch the i8700 by that time.
System Update Reports: Apple’s iOS and the Google Android
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
If there is one other thing that is important with smart phones aside from the hardware specifications, it is the operating system that is being used. There is no doubt that the Google made, open source Android and the famous Apple iOS are among the most often used systems in the industry –which makes any system news about these two platforms quite important.
Apple has recently announced the iOS 4.1 update and have already confirmed that the patch will be available for download this coming Wednesday, September 8. The big update from 4.0 to 4.1 will be bringing along new features and some fixes. While Apple has not gone into detail as to what minor issues will be fixed, they have confirmed that the Apple Game Center will now be available as well as better support for HD videos (such as uploading functions) and HDR photography as well.
UK based network operator O2 has confirmed a couple of major announcements –both of which concerns the Android operating system. The first is a quick announcement that the 2.2 update for the HTC Desire will not be pushing through at the moment. According to official reports, the update has already been uploaded for a while before the first reports of problems reached O2. In order to prevent further problems, the update has been put on hold until a solution is found for both the patched and those that have been affected by it.
O2’s other announcement has better news; the Dell Streak will be getting an update to version 2.1 Éclair. For those who are using the Android with a 5 inch capacitive touch screen display, the older 1.6 Donut does provide a stable user interface, though the additional features of the 2.1 update would certainly be good. At the very least, it places the Streak on the path to a better 2.2 Froyo update.
Physical Keyboard on the Next Galaxy Handset
Monday, September 6th, 2010
Having a physical keyboard is a big thing for any smart phone. Sure, RIM’s BlackBerry series practically makes the feature a standard and that some critics are now announcing that Swype technology on a touch screen virtual keyboard is actually faster to type with.
But for most folks, nothing beats the touch and feel of a physical set of keys, and in general, more people are used to using a keyboard than Swype technology (as the finger sliding thing is really not as intuitive as it is efficient).
This is why the latest Android handset from Korean phone maker Samsung is certainly going to attract plenty of attention: because it packs a slide out, physical, QWERTY keyboard.
The newest addition to the Galaxy lineup of smart phones is the Samsung I5510. The designation is already confirmed and it has popped out in the Vodafone booth at the recent held IFA. Looking at the device itself, one cannot help but be excited at what possible technologies Samsung might have hidden under the hood.
Currently, it is known that the device would definitely be sporting a capacitive touch screen display, a camera, and the device also supports 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and microSD cards. The rest of the details are still unconfirmed at this point.
Popping out of the Vodafone booth, it seems that the UK based network operator might be making some special offers for the Galaxy I5510 when it comes out. Some speculate that there might be some time based exclusivity deal going on, while others state that Vodafone might be offering the device is a special color scheme.
Samsung’s lineup of Android smart phones is continuously growing. Just recently, the Galaxy Tab touch screen tablet has been added to the list bringing in the largest Android device to the Samsung folio (though the Toshiba “Folio” might just take that title away quite easily).
Motorola Offers Two New Androids
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Android smart phones are coming out in droves this year. With the launch of the Google Nexus One in January until the very end of the year, the 2010 calendar is marked full of product launch dates that would make plenty of other folks cringe with all the sudden updates.
Of course, keeping track of so much news is quite confusing. So to make the whole thing so much easier, here is a quick heads up on two new devices from mobile phone maker Motorola.
Motorola made its’ mark on the Android community with the end-year launch of the Motorola Milestone (DROID) last 2009. The device featured a massive touch screen display, a slide out QWERTY keyboard and the Android 2.1 Éclair operating system.
Now, it has been confirmed that the Motorola Milestone 2 is coming and that it brings all of the great things from the first handset and will offer the new Android 2.2 Froyo operating system. According to initial reports, the new handset will once again be centralized on the Motoblur user interface and social networking tool. It has also been reported that the smart phone will come packed with a 5 mega pixel camera with HD video recording and dual LED support.
Another upcoming Motorola Android smart phone is the Motorola Defy, which is a pretty interesting handset because it has been specifically designed to “defy life” (hence the name). The device features a slight degree of water proofing and dust resistance. But do not submerge the handset in an aquarium and still expect it to work afterwards.
According to Motorola, the Defy will be able to withstand the daily rigors of life and that the device is designed to last through events such as accidental liquid spills and other similar situations.
Android Update Delays Plague Smart Phone Users
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
As much as we are quite impressed with the actually Android operating system, Google’s OS suffers from one major issue that really needs to be fixed: compatibility with mobile phones.
The great and bad thing about the Android is that it runs on so many devices. This means that the open source mobile platform is truly versatile and can handle the needs of a wide variety of users.
At the same time, it also means that a large variety of the Android also exists. While the differences are only known to developers and the rest of the people working on the backend side of things, consumers still see the effect and heaviness of the effort needed to bring the Android to different phones in the form of delays.
Android 2.2 Froyo has already been out since June and until now, only a few devices have been updated. While the Google Nexus One gets the update on the same day launch, devices from other manufacturers did not fare so well.
According to reports, O2 has recently confirmed an Android 2.1 update for the Dell Streak (not quite 2.2, but any update is good enough) while Orange Mobile UK has announced that their HTC Desire will not be updated until later in September (a slight delay from the previously stated early September launch).
In both cases, it is understandable that many Android smart phone owners are certainly going to be unhappy. As great as the Android platform may be, if it is not updated in time, it will be left behind by its competitors.
This is why the Windows Phone 7 has a great advantage over the Android. Despite not targeting the low end users, WP7 has a good grasp of the high end market. They did this by having a great spec sheet on the minimal hardware requirements of the platform.
Android News Bits: Everything Android this Week
Monday, August 30th, 2010
It seems that the Samsung Galaxy S is getting a new accessory. A quick look at our German neighbors has revealed that there is an add-on battery pack available for Samsung’s powerhouse of an Android smart phone.
The EBB-U10 is currently available on retail for 70 Euros and is packing some serious power updates for the Samsung smart phone. The new battery pack is external and from the way that the body wraps around the handset and seems to have an odd bulk on the top, many suspect that it connects to the phone through the mini USB port.
According to the tech specs, this new battery buff up will add a full 8.5 hours of talk time. That is a lot of power to enjoy your Android phone. Of course, with more power comes more bulk. This hefty little upgrade will weigh your down by an extra 70 grams and will definitely add a lot more size to the Galaxy S.
In other Android news, Mozilla has announced that the Android version of the Firefox is officially ready for downloads. Fennec Alpha, which was originally launched for the Nokia Maemo has finally been ported over to the Android OS. Mozilla had announced the new version earlier.
Lastly, the newly announced Huawei mid range Android smart phone capable of running Android 2.2 Froyo has finally been confirmed. The device will be named Ideo and will be arriving by next week on September 2. The device sports a 2.8 touch screen display, a 3.2 mega pixel camera and a 500MHz CPU.
So far, this handset is quickly proving to be a great cause mid range smart phone alternative for anyone who goes for basic handsets. If you plan on getting a contract from an operator, better stick to the high end devices.
Orange Froyo Delayed to September
Monday, August 30th, 2010
In what has to be one of the saddest announcements of the week, Orange Mobile UK’s PR manager has Tweeted that the update for the HTC Desire will not be available until later this coming September.
With Vodafone UK launching their Android OS update just recently, this announcement from Orange Mobile is a little disappointing. But only a little, with the middle of September just a couple of weeks away, a little bit of waiting time are not going to be such a big issue. The only thing that is heavily scarring Orange’s reputation is the fact that the update is already available on another network.
In any case, knowing about the delay ahead of time makes a big difference for those who are already waiting. While delayed, the Android 2.2 Froyo is certain to come and knowing a good estimate of the launch period is also comforting to many.
For those not familiar with the Android operating system, the term from Froyo stands for frozen yogurt. Google has been naming Android versions after deserts and sweets. The most recent version, 2.1 Éclair is currently the standard for many high Android smart phones including the HTC Desire.
2.2 Froyo brings a performance boost to the operating system (as well as plenty of new features as well). According to Google, Froyo will enhance the speed of the user interface up to three times faster while web browsing is now five times faster. This is thanks to better kernel memory management and the use of a new Java API.
The Desire is currently HTC’s best Android handset. While other devices are also going to be released, the Desire is considered to be the pinnacle of Android smart phone standards and sits alongside the Google Nexus One in terms of its’ importance in the Android community.
Android Froyo is Cheapest with Huawei
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Right now, it is only mere speculation that the upcoming Huawei U8150 Android smart phone will actually have a low price tag, but according to the China based phone maker, that is the point of the new handset. Considering that this is one phone maker that focuses heavily on producing low cost smart phones (previous Android phones from the maker include the U220 and U230 devices), it is quite possible that the U8150 will be the cheapest Android 2.2 device yet.
As a phone maker, Huawei’s reputation is decent at best. While their devices have always been low cost, many wonder if it is at the compromise of quality –a reasonable concern for every consumer. And while it is promising, getting Android 2.2 is simply a matter of time and patience for Android fans.
Looking at the U8150 handset, one can easily see the basic signature markings of the Android OS in the buttons below the screen. Of a much larger curiosity, there is a circular pad below the buttons –which might be an optical track pad or a small directional control. In any case, it is difficult to determine the purpose of the pad at this point.
The device comes with a 2.8 inch capacitive touch screen display and a 3.2 mega pixel camera. For an Android device, that’s pretty much the all the basics you need. There is currently no information on what speed the processor will be running on, though it is expected to be operating around the region of 600MHz or better.
Currently, the device is expected to come out during the first week of September, which is just a short time away –this would make the phone very tempting for those who have been waiting for an update to the OS for quite some time.