In a move that can be best described as badly timed, Adobe has finally brought out the Android Flash Player. As impressive as it may be to bring Flash support to Google’s Android operating system, the fact that only the Nexus One has version 2.2 of the OS is a sad reminder to many Android owners who are still eagerly awaiting an update.
Right now, the only smart phone with the new OS is Google’s very own Nexus One. The first third party handset that is confirmed to be getting the update is the HTC Desire which will be getting a patch in a matter of days, for other smart phones; the wait will take much longer.
Considering the Android’s position in the mobile phone industry right now, this is one delay that Google should not allow to continue. Despite recent reports that the patches will be available earlier than expected, they are still taking too long. Take the Sony Ericsson XPERIA handsets. For now, the X10 and the X10 Mini are waiting for a patch to Android 2.1 –so far, there has been no announcement when the 2.2 update will be released. While the original 2.1 patch has been moved from Q4 to Q3 the delay is still significant.
Most of the other handsets are expected a 2.2 update in the next month or by August. Devices such as the Motorola Milestone, Dell Streak and the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S are just some of the Android devices that would need to be updated.
The move from 2.1 to 2.2 Froyo is significant mostly because of the Flash support that it brings. While the additional performance boosts are indeed impressive (up to twice the current UI speed and up to three times faster web browsing), people are more interested in finally being able to see Flash content on their smart phones.
Posts Tagged ‘Google-Nexus-One’
Flash Player is Out Android Froyo Still Not Available
Friday, June 25th, 2010Flash Coming to a Whole Range of Mobile Platforms
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
According to Steve Jobs, millions of people have bought his products even though they do not support Flash. He considers this as a testament for supporting his argument that Flash is no longer needed. He also seems to forget that he could removed phone call capabilities, text messaging and even taken out the camera and still would have sold millions of the iPad and the iPhone. This is not about Flash at all, but just how powerful the Apple branding is.
For a real measure of understanding where Flash stands in today’s standards: it is still being used. In fact, it is expected that in the span of a year (or even shorter), there will almost be no smart phones that will not support Flash aside from the Apple iPhone.
The Android is obviously getting Flash support; they clearly made their stand and alliance with the developer pretty early on when the argument between Apple and Adobe was just starting to brew. Microsoft also jumped into Flash bandwagon. While support for Flash will not be present in the very first version of the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform, it is expected to appear in one of the first updates for the OS.
It has also been confirmed that other operating systems will also be getting a compatible version of Adobe’s flash player. Among the systems that have been reported to be getting a flash Player update later on are the MeeGo, Linux Mobile, the Symbian OS, RIM’s BlackBerry OS and the Palm WebOS. The only OS missing from the list is Samsung’s Bada and the Brew though it is likely that the Samsung OS will also be getting a Flash update too.
Adobe has already released a downloadable version of the Flash Player version 10.1 for Google Android Froyo –well ahead of the first Android Froyo updates for other handsets aside from the Nexus One.
Milestone 2 Leaked, Promised to have Froyo
Monday, June 21st, 2010
The Android community certainly has plenty of new smart phones to look forward to. And among these upcoming devices is the Motorola Milestone 2.
So far, specifics on this handset have been vague and hard to pin down –especially when it was often mixed up with the Motorola Shadow (which is expected to be the next Nexus smart phone). Just recently, some leaked photos of the Milestone 2 were revealed and with it, promises of better specs and the new Android operating system.
The biggest news comes in form of a new processor for the smart phone; according to the rumors the Motorola Milestone 2 will have a faster 1GHz CPU –and it will also have a 5 mega pixel snapper too. This will put the smart phone on the same level as other high end Android smart phones released recently, such as the Google Nexus One, HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, Dell Streak (also known as the Dell Mini 5), and the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S. Aside from the new CPU and better camera, very little is still known about the Milestone 2.
The pictures reveal that the smart phone will still be packing two of the biggest hardware features it had before –a big capacitive touch screen display and a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard.
It was also stated that the phone will come with the new Android 2.2 Froyo (which is somewhat expected as the Milestone tends to herald new versions of the OS –the older Milestone came with 2.1 Éclair).
The advantages of having 2.2 Froyo include a faster Android OS and even faster browsing, support for tethering and allowing the handset to be used as a WiFi hotspot, and best of all, having native support for Flash content –this means that all Flash content on the web will be visible on the Android smart phone.
Android Smart Phone Wrap Up: Q2 2010
Saturday, June 12th, 2010With the first half of 2010 coming to pass, here is a quick look back at all the big Android smart phone releases with a bit of looking forward as well.
The year started with the launch of the Google Nexus One. There was plenty of hype and excitement over the handset since late last year and until the very end, there were even speculations that Google might not be making a device at all. The folks at Mountain View protected their secret till the very end and when the Nexus One finally came out, everyone was awestruck with the amazing device.
However, Google’s announcement about the Nexus One’s distribution saw a gloom fall over the crowd as everyone knew that being sold exclusively on the Google Online Store is a death sentence for the mobile phone. They were right; Google only sold 20,000 units during the first week.
Despite the rough start, Google was able to pick up the pace by April with the back to back release of the HTC Desire (which is very much similar to the Nexus One) and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 (SE’s very first Android smart phone). The HTC Legend also came out in the same week as the two other devices providing the world with several new Android devices to choose from.
Just a while back, the HTC Wildfire and SE X10 Mini smart phones also came out –providing the mid range Android market with two extremely good choices for mobile phones.
The launch of the new Android 2.2 Froyo operating system also paved the way for the global re-launch of the Nexus One. The Google phone, now equipped with the new OS (with Flash support) is now becoming one of the top Android devices. In the meanwhile, manufacturers Samsung, HTC, SE and others are currently working on new Android handsets that will be released later this year.
Vodafone Offers Two Mid Range Androids
Friday, June 11th, 2010
The Android smart phone market is pretty much congested with high end smart phones. With handsets like the Google Nexus One, HTC Desire, Samsung i9000 Galaxy S, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 and many others, it seems that getting to own an Android handset on a budget is a pretty hard thing to do. Fortunately, it seems that beyond these impressive devices and their 1GHz CPUs and large touch screen displays, there are still plenty of smart phones that are more reasonable with the balance of specs and cost.
Take these two new handsets that Vodafone is now offering its customers: the HTC Wildfire and the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini. Both handsets are based on more expensive high end counterparts, but they drop the pricey hardware and simply focus on delivering the basic Android smart phone experience to users, and it that sense, the phones are pretty successful.
Vodafone has announced that the plans for both handsets would make the mobile phones available for free on their various 20 Pound monthly tariff plan (good for two years/24 months). Since the phones vary in retail cost, the plan offers for the two phones vary a little. The X10 Mini gets about 100 minutes of talk time, 500 SMS and 500 MB of data. The HTC Wildfire on the other hand gets to have unlimited text messages, 300 minutes of talk time and also 500 MB of data. Either way, both plans are good.
The Wildfire comes with a 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display, a 5 mega pixel camera, and the Android 2.1 OS (it also makes use of the HTC Sense user interface). The X10 Mini has a smaller screen at 2.6 inches, but has a faster CPU than the Wildfire.
Both Android handsets are available right now from Vodafone UK.
More HTC Devices this 2010
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Anyone keeping a close eye on the news for the past few months would have certainly notice the large volume of HTC handsets that have been released one after another this year. What makes HTC’s prolific distribution of the Android operating system is not simply notable for the sheer volume –which other phone manufacturers are technically matching, but because of the fact that HTC is making one high end smart phone after another.
The year already started with the launch of the Nexus One. Despite the fact that this phone is Google branded, it was actually manufactured by HTC. The decision by Google to team up with HTC is no longer surprising, as the Taiwanese company has been a strong supporter of the open source mobile platform and was the first to make a device that used the Android OS, the HTC Dream.
Breaking a little off from the Android route, HTC also came out with the HTC Smart. This low range smart phone made use of the Brew operating system. While this device lacks many key features –such as WiFi support, it still makes for a decent handset.
April and May saw the launch of the HTC Desire and the HTC Legend –two major Android smart phones that have been leaked as early as October last year. The devices first showed up in the HTC 2010 Roadmap with the Desire still carrying the older Bravo name. HTC gave the handset a name change at the Mobile World Congress. The Desire is considered to be the basis for the Nexus One while the Legend is a successor to the HTC Hero.
HTC’s Wildfire (also considered as the Desire Mini) is already available on many local stores. It has also been announced that the Taiwanese manufacturer is working on a new high end Android handset, the HTC Scorpion.
Motorola Offers 3 New Android Handsets
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
You can never go wrong with having too many Androids –or so goes the mobile phone industry these days. Indeed, there is no shortage of Android handsets being released. With the Google Nexus One starting out the year with a January 5 launch, every month has seen plenty of new smart phones that makes use of the open source OS from Google.
Motorola has always been a strong supporter of the Android operating system. Next to HTC, they have also been a very prominent figure in the distribution, development and spread of the Android. They were the very first to show off the new Android 2.0 Éclair operating system last year and it is rumored that Motorola might be the manufacturer for what might be Google’s upcoming Nexus Two.
Speaking of the Nexus Two, the Motorola handset that is deemed to be most likely as the new Google phone (or at least the basis of the next Google phone –like the HTC Desire was to the Nexus One), is the Motorola Shadow. This sleek looking smart phone takes plenty of design inspiration from the Milestone, but adds a layer of smoothness to the lines and form. It is reported that the Shadow will have a large 4.1 inch capacitive touch screen display, an 8 mega pixel camera (with 720p video recording), an HDMI port and it will run on a Texas Instruments CPU clocked at 720MHz.
Other Android handsets coming from Motorola are the Flipout and the Milestone XT 720. The XT 720 is a variation of the Milestone that lets go of the QWERTY keyboard in exchange for a better 8 mega pixel camera, 720p video recording and an HDMI output port. The Flipout on the other hand is a sleek looking square phone with a corner hinge for ‘flipping out’ the 5 row QWERTY keyboard beneath the screen.
Android Device Lineup: Streak, Flip Out and Shadow
Friday, June 4th, 2010
There are three impressive Android smart phones coming out soon and if you are not already overwhelmed with the Nexus One, Desire, X10 and Legend, then get ready for another salvo from the Google mobile platform.
Dell is right on top of our list, partially because the release date is just around the corner. According to O2, the Dell Streak Android smart phone is heading to store shelves by the end of this week (or more precisely, this Friday, June 4). But the real reason the streak is on top of the list is because of its massive touch screen display.
At 5 inches, the Streak is more than just a smart phone; it is practically a tablet hybrid. In fact, some people are already calling it a tablet with mobile phone functions. Either way, this impressive Android is going to hit the market and interested buyers should start lining up.
Motorola is offering two new Android smart phones to the tech community. First up is the Flipout, a square-ish Android smart phone with a unique form but still familiar features. The name might suggest a typical flip or clamshell device, but in fact, the device actually twists around Texas Instruments OMAP CPU and 3.15 mega pixel camera, it makes for a great mid range smart phone. Of course, Google’s Android OS keeps the device’s overall functionality pretty high.
The second device from Motorola is the much rumored Shadow. So far, precise details on what the specs on the Shadow will be are scarce. But if we are to believe the initial rumors; the device will have a 4.1 inch capacitive touch screen, an 8 mega pixel camera, a 720 MHz CPU and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. Initial images of the handset show that it closely resembles the Milestone (known as DRIOD in the US).
Google Android: 2010 Recap, So Far
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Mobile platform developer Google is basically one of the most active companies in the world. Putting aside their significance as an internet search engine, Google has also been a strong competitor in the phone industry –particularly with the development of the Android operating system.
The open source mobile platform has become a major player in the industry thanks to its wide distribution and of course, innovative features. Google’s web services such as maps, talk, mail and others are key components to the success of the operating system.
Aside from Google’s own innovation, Apple’s aggressive strategies are one of the reasons why the Android is getting even better. The year opened up with an early announcement from Apple that they were suing HTC for patent infringement. Naturally, Google announced that they completely support HTC in case –many believe that the lawsuit was simply a way for Apple to strike at Google.
Last April, as Apple claimed to the world that Adobe’s Flash was obsolete, Google found itself a new ally in the form of the Flash developer. Thanks to this, the new Android update will come not only with impressive new features, but also with native support for Flash and AIR content.
Apple’s newly launched iPad will also become a direct competition for Google as the search engine company also plans to release a touch screen tablet that runs the Android operating system. A similar device has already been debuted at the Web 2.0 Expo and it showed the world how Flash content would appear on a touch screen device.
Right now, the only Android handset which features Android 2.2 is the Nexus One; an update for the HTC Desire will be coming out this June 23 while other handsets are expected to get the new version in the following weeks.
Details on Acer’s High End Android Emerge
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
The Google developed Android mobile platform is certainly coming out in plenty of new smart phones this year, and manufacturer Acer is adding another one to their already impressive roster.
Acer started off their Android line of smart phones last year with the release of the Liquid A1. While it was an impressive device, it still bordered on the mid range tech tier; the Snapdragon processor on the A1 was under clocked far below 1GHz. And just a month after the Liquid’s launch, the Google Nexus One came out –being the first 1GHz Android smart phone to be available on the market.
Now, with the recent release of the HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, and other Android smart phones, Acer is also coming with their own high end smart phone, the Liquid Stream.
For the most part, this handset matches the average high-end smart phone in terms of specs, it has a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512 MB of RAM, a 5 mega pixel snapper (with autofocus, flash and 720p video recording), a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen and of course, the Android 2.1 Éclair operating system. Acer bumps up the hardware a little with the device’s 2 GB of internal memory. As expected, the device supports Bluetooth, WiFi, AGPS, and HSDPA. Overall, it’s a pretty good phone to go for if you have yet to invest in HTC or Google’s offerings.
In terms of looks, the Stream is a basic looking smart phone with its gray and black colors and of course, black glass screen. Speaking of which, Acer’s AMOLED display looks pretty sharp and has a decent amount of brightness. It also helps that the screen is not that much of a fingerprint magnet though it does seem suffer from some minor glare issues.
The device is expected to come out sometime later this year, though no specific launch date has been announced.