We have got a triple Android update today and here’s the quick rundown of how things are.
First off, owners of the Google branded Nexus One smart phone will be happy to know that the Gingerbread update for the handset is about to arrive. As expected, the made-for-developers handset is getting the update well ahead of all other Android smart phones –most likely because of the fact that this is a Google device and as such, the folks at Mountain view are already familiar with the architecture. In any case, expect to see the 2.3 update to the OS to arrive sometime around the next couple of weeks (though there have been some hints that we might have to wait until next year).
The Android OS itself is getting a quick update from none other than Swype. The folks behind the massively popular touch screen typing aid are bringing out the best part about touch screen keyboards: intuitive typing. While physical QWERTY keyboard have long lorded over their virtual, onscreen counterparts, the new Swype is an innovation that can only be pulled off by a touch screen. Expect to be churning out replies and status updates faster than ever with this little add-on. The Swype add-on for the Android OS already available so for those of you who have yet to try it out, now is the perfect time to get it.
Finally, the HTC Wildfire social networking smart phone has been confirmed as getting an update to the Android 2.2 Froyo. Users under Vodafone UK and T-Mobile are getting the update pretty soon. According to reports, the Froyo update is expected to become available before the end of this week. Users of the impressively small HTC Android smart phone under other networks will have to wait a while longer –it has been estimated that all networks will be covered by February of the coming year
Posts Tagged ‘Google-Nexus-One’
HTC Wildfire Updated, SWYPE for Android and Nexus One Gingerbread
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010This Year in Mobile Phones
Friday, December 17th, 2010
Has time flown by that fast? Time really has a way of creeping up on us and showing us all how many changes can happen in a span of twelve months. For those wondering how this year has been for the smart phone industry, here’s a quick rundown of all the big highlights that has passed us by.
First off, the year started out with a bang that was the launch of the Google Nexus One. This is the first Google branded handset and also showed off what the Android mobile platform could really achieve. Despite the relatively slow sales of the device, Google succeeded in setting a new bar for smart phone technology. Phones such as the HTC Desire, XPERIA X10, Galaxy S and others soon followed the path that Google paved.
Microsoft made the biggest surprise at the Mobile World Congress by giving us all a teaser of the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform –with none other than Andy Rubin giving the demonstration. As awed as we were, the actual release of the platform this October proved to be the real surprise for all.
Apple once again managed to antagonize plenty of folks in the tech industry. Mostly starting with the whole fuss with Adobe; after the iOS 4.0 SDK rules came out, it became pretty obvious that Steve Jobs was cutting off all possibilities of Flash support –and thus encouraging Adobe to support other platforms instead. The whole Apple fiasco did not end there. Despite the extremely successful sales of the iPhone 4, the device’s launch was marred by the fact that the antenna on the handset was very faulty.
Nokia on the other hand did not have much of a good year. The N8 handset was delayed for several months (from April to October) and lost Nokia plenty of market interest and of course, sales. The sudden lack of support for the Symbian OS by Samsung and Sony Ericsson also affected the Finnish phone maker badly as well.
News Bits: Today’s Highlights
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Samsung has announced that it will be launching the dual screen smart phone: Continuum this coming November 8. The official announcement from the Korean phone maker official disproves all the rumors about the Google Nexus Two –aside from that, official spokespersons from the manufacturer have directly stated that there is no Google branded device coming from the company.
This is not all that surprising; after all, it was originally Google who announced that there would be no Nexus Two –at least not anytime soon. After all, the point of the Nexus series is to serve as the benchmark and milestone for the next generation of Android handsets –pushing a new standard so soon would be counter-productive.
In any case, this is still pretty exciting news, even for those in the UK. While the Continuum is said to be an exclusive device made for US carrier Verizon, the same can be said for the Motorola Droid and the HTC Aria. Both of the two handsets are now locally available in the UK, though they have gone through a quick name change.
Moving on to more Samsung news, the P1000 Galaxy Tab is now officially on store shelves and we highly suggest for those interested in buying the device to go for a good data plan –especially if you are on the go. For those who plan to leave this tablet behind at home, the WiFi access is more than enough.
Despite being a 7 inch device –much smaller than the Apple iPad, Samsung’s tablet has a pretty hefty price tag –sometimes hitting even over the 500GBP mark. Best save up your budget if this is the tablet you are planning to get.
Lastly, the reports are in and it appears that Google’s Android OS market has grown to more than ten times the original value. In the US market alone, the Android holds almost half of the smart phone industry. Expect to see similar results in the UK.
News Updates: White iPhone Delayed and Nexus 2 Rumors
Thursday, October 28th, 2010It seemed not too long ago that Google officially announced that they would not be making another handset in the Nexus One series. In fact, it can easily be recalled that Google specifically stated that the Nexus One was only meant to bring the benchmark for Android smart phones up to certain standard and that the handset has already succeeded in what it was supposed to do –as opposed to making a profit that Google was already making in plenty of other ways.
So when we see rumors that a potential Google Nexus Two is on the horizon, we immediately react with raised eyebrows.’
But the possibility is not as completely null as one might imagine. After all, there are millions in the smart phone market and Google has no reason to refrain from going at it again –this time for actual sales profit even. Despite arguments that the developer would end up antagonizing their industry partners –that also make Android phones, the fact is that Google’s devices would simply spice things up. And unlike Samsung, HTC, LG and other developers, Google would only launch one device at a time; leaving most of the competition still in the hands of the phone makers.
So what about the rest of the rumors? According to speculations, the new Nexus phone is UK bound and that Google is looking into the possibility of a tie up with a specific retailer (named to be Carphone Warehouse in certain sources).
In other news, the White iPhone 4 seems to be really hard to produce as the elusive handset has once again been delayed for launch. The latest news regarding the device now states that the phone will not be out in store shelves until 2011 rolls in -actually far too long of a wait for a simple white version of the Apple handset.
Google’s Playbook: How the Android is Dominating the Field
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010While there are some who voice out that Google’s Android operating system is being undermined by their very own partners, there is no doubt that the open source mobile platform is taking plenty of ground in the industry.
The whole speculation that Google’s Partners are not happy is due to the release of the Nexus One –which is the first Google branded handset. Of course, the general speculation was that the release of such as device would spell doom for Google as it would directly disrupt their partnership with phone makers that manufacture Android handsets.
What the public does not know is that the Nexus One is a benchmark device and while it was made commercially available, Google has deliberately limited the distribution of the handset in order to avoid competition with other phones. When it launched in the US, the device was strictly limited to being sold online through Google’s own online store.
The phone did eventually get released on a more regular scale locally in the UK –though only for a limited time. After a few weeks, Google announced that the handset would no longer be available for sale –though developers would be able to acquire the device through special channels.
So where does that leave the industry? With a new handset that has set a great standard. The Nexus One came with a 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera and the first to sport a 1GHz CPU (a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor); a great choice of specs that has led to the new era of Android phones. Even long time industry partner HTC was keen to help Google manufacture the handset.
Of course, the Android has a lot of problems –mostly stemming from the various OS versions available and the time it takes to standardize the platform. But that is not a problem caused by manufacturers.
Samsung and Sony Team Up to Bring New Screen Technology
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
When two of the largest names in the tech industry collaborate on a single project, we all know we can expect great things. The latest big tie up comes with an unexpected cooperative move from Japanese electronics leader Sony and Korean industry giant, Samsung.
The new technology they are working on is an alternative to AMOLED touch screens. As many smart phone fans are already aware of, AMOLED screens are among the most impressive displays available for smart phone users. It is so good that the only technologies to ever surpass it are the Apple Retina display and of course, the super AMOLED touch screen which was developed by Samsung.
Among the handsets to use the AMOLED touch screen technology, there are some phones that truly standout such as the HTC Desire and the Google Nexus One. Both devices run the Android operating system and are two of the biggest profile handsets around. According to Sony and Samsung, the first S-LCD displays will be used in the Desire and the Nexus One smart phones.
The decision to use the S-LCD devices on existing devices (as opposed to slapping it into a new phone) is a tactical choice. First, HTC needs more AMOLED screens for the two handsets. With AMOLED technology being harder to produce, S-LCD is the perfect alternative. Not only does it match the AMOLED screens in terms of quality, but it is also able to deliver better viewing angles, contrast and more importantly, less battery consumption.
With Samsung previously pushing forward the limits of AMOLED technology, (they came up with the “super” variant and are reported to be working on a flexible and durable version of the technology) it would not be surprising they (along with Sony) also choose to improve the S-LCD screen technology in the same way.
Froyo Update Available for Vodafone’s Nexus One
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
The Google branded Nexus One has received the Android 2.2 Froyo update a couple of weeks ago. However, not all owners of this impressive smart phone were able to update. Only users who purchased the device through Google’s online store had been updated to the new Froyo version while those who are under Vodafone’s contracts are still waiting for a compatible patch to be released.
Fortunately, the wait is finally over. Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has announced that the Nexus One smart phone is finally available right this very moment. Those who have not downloaded the update should go online as soon as possible to get their handsets fully fixed up with the latest firmware from Google.
As one might expect, an update of level is more than just a bunch of random bug fixes and tweaks, the new OS version provides plenty of additional functionality to users.
First off, Froyo gives the Android OS a major performance boost. The system runs and loads faster thanks to better kernel management. The user interface has been reported to be running up to three times faster than it normally does. Not only has the speed been improved, but the performance as well –the OS is also smoother and more stable than before.
There are also new features that have been added to the system such as a better user interface for the 5 mega pixel camera. This will allow users to easily add changes to settings, effects and filters as they shoot images on the go. Additional support for Exchange has also been added in as well.
Tethering is now supported, as well as an additional function that turns the handset into a WiFi hotspot. But of all the new features that Froyo brings, the most exciting one would be the compatibility for Adobe’s Flash Player 10.1 which allows users to view any Flash content online.
Google Takes Nexus One Off Online Store
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Google has announced that the Nexus One handset will no longer be available on the online store.
Many fans of the Android operating system might remember that initially, the Nexus One was exclusively available on Google’s online store. When Google made the announcement about the device’s availability, many who attended the launch of the device last January 5 felt that the online store was a bad idea. And they were right. Within the first week of sales, Google managed to sell only 20,000 units of the Android smart phone.
But bad sales do not necessarily mean that it is a bad phone, many attributed the fall of the supposed iPhone-killer to its store availability than a problem with the handset itself. In fact, many considered the Nexus One to be an excellent high end smart phone.
According to Google, the Nexus One was simply meant to push the standards of the open source operating system further. They did not make the device to break into the smart phone industry. In fact, Google even says that they do not have any plans to create a second device –which means that it is unlikely that the initial rumors about a Nexus Two smart phone will no longer come true.
With that, the Nexus One is said to have already achieved what it was meant to do, and Google is not asking for anything more of the handset. The device has now been taken off the online store, but is still available in the UK. Mobile network operator Vodafone UK is still offering the device on their monthly tariffs.
The Nexus One, despite being Google’s first handset, is a very impressive device. The phone comes with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, a 5 mega pixel camera with autofocus, LED flash and video recording. Of course, the handset is able to run the Android 2.2 Froyo.
No More Nexus Handsets from Google
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
According to some sources, it seems that Eric Schmidt is no longer going to pursue the Nexus series of smart phones. What this really means however, is pretty vague.
When asked for a reason, the CEO of Google simply stated that the Nexus One was meant to push the industry forward. According to him, it did, and now that it has served its goal, there is no need to create a second handset.
The announcement is pretty surprising because up until about a week ago, there were still some rumors about Motorola making the next Google branded handset. Some might argue that even if the Nexus line has been discontinued, Google may still choose to create more smart phones –which do not fully count out the possibility that the Motorola Shadow might still end up as a Google branded handset.
In any case, it is not surprising that the Nexus One series is no longer being continued. Despite the fact that the phone has rather impressive hardware and good specs, bad sales decisions have kept the handset far from the success that many expected it to be.
Google launched the device exclusively under their Google Online Store –a move which many questioned when it was announced at the launch of the handset last January 5 at the Googleplex in Mountain View. It took several months of the device lingering in the shadows of popularity before the UK release prompted Google to take a more open approach and have the handset available on retail.
Given that, it is still a sad bit of news if the Nexus series would no longer have new additions. HTC and Google have established an excellent benchmark for other smart phones to match up with and the Nexus One is still considered to be the quintessential Android smart phone of the current smart phone generation.
Google’s Nexus One is Getting the Froyo Update
Thursday, July 1st, 2010
The Android operating system’s latest update is now available for Nexus One owners. For those wondering, Froyo stands for Frozen Yogurt (the previous Android versions have been named Éclair, Donut and Cupcake –which as one might realize are reverse-alphabetically arranged).
Google’s Nexus One smart phone is considered to be the quintessential Android handset. After all, this is the phone made by the mobile platform’s developer, which means that the device delivers the Android in the way it was meant to be. HTC, a key partner of Google, helped manufacture the handset for the search engine company.
The Nexus One is considered as a high end smart phone – by today’s standards anyway. The device sports a high speed 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon for handling all apps and other resource heavy functions. The 5 mega pixel camera is a great way to take high resolution photos and videos. With the phone’s 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, images are rendered beautifully in rich, deep colors.
New to the Android 2.2 Froyo is the inclusion of a new tips widget that provides new users with several useful guides and tips on how to customize a new home page –which is a great experience for users trying to get a grasp of the Nexus One.
Speaking of grasp, it has been confirmed that the new user interface will be affecting how images will be taken. Both video recording and image shoots will be controlled by the new user interface.
Speed and performance are going to be added to the Android 2.2 as well. According to reports, the new Kernel management and addition of better Java handling will make the Android a lot faster than its predecessor. According to Google’s benchmarks, the new OS will be about twice as fast (or even up to three times faster) than the older Android 2.1 Éclair.