Tweet
we have moved from blog to site www.goandroid.co.cc
and our feed is www.goandroid.co.cc/feed/
please join us
we have moved from blog to site www.goandroid.co.cc
and our feed is www.goandroid.co.cc/feed/
please join us
LG Optimus Black vs HTC Sensation
We take a look at how the new HTC Sensation stacks up against LG's new Optimus Black We compare the LG Optimus Black to HTC’s Sensation. Form: LG Optimus Black - 122x64x9.2mm...
HTC Incredible S vs LG Optimus Black
It's time for HTC's Incredible S to earn its moniker as it goes head-to-head with LG's bank balance friendly super phone, the Optimus Black As the successor to the fantastic Desire HD, the HTC Inc...
HTC Flyer WiFi Review
A lovely white plastic and silver metal chassis, a smooth 7-inch 1024 x 700 pixel resolution capacitive touchscreen capable of working with special Scribe pen surrounded by a generous black border...
Confirmed: EVO 3D’s Bootloader, Recovery, and Kernel Images All Locked Down
It seems HTC has finally caved to what are likely the security demands of wireless carriers with its newest phones, and is locking down its handsets Moto-style. Latest case in point: the EVO 3D – which sports the same sort of security we found on....
HTC ChaCha price revealed for Facebook fans
HTC’s first Android Facebook phone, the HTC ChaCha, has been priced and (roughly) dated by UK retailer Carphone Warehouse. The smartphone – which has a 2.6-inch touchscreen, full QWERTY...
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
Move to our new blog and new feed
Tweet\
Move to our new blog and new feed www.godroid.co.cc
Subscribe to our feed http://godroid.co.cc/?feed=rss2
Move to our new blog and new feed www.godroid.co.cc
Subscribe to our feed http://godroid.co.cc/?feed=rss2
Friday, 3 June 2011
Thrutu App Gets A Massive Update, Adds Tons Of Features To Your Phone Calls
Tweet
Out of all the things that we use smartphones for these days, calls come in pretty close to last. We’re too busy texting, taking pictures, surfing the web, getting directions… you get the idea. What if we could incorporate all of these things into our phone calls though? That’s exactly what Thrutu aims to do, and the newest update to the app makes most of that possible. Here’s a video to get a better idea:
Another really cool feature of Thrutu is Google Voice integration. If you don’t want to use it with your primary mobile number, or you use Google Voice exclusively, then (once activated) Thrutu will seamlessly integration with Voice.
Unfortunately, Thrutu is near-useless on 3G CDMA phones (unless you’re on Wi-Fi) due to the lack of simultaneous data and voice. Still yet – it’s a really cool concept, and could prove to be quite valuable (if you can get everyone you know to use it, of course).
You can grab Thrutu for free in the Android Market.
Every feature isn’t highlighted in the video, though – it can actually do even more than that. Here’s a breakdown of each option, directly from the Market listing:
It’s also possible to install buttons developed by the community, using Thrutu’s APIs. Here’s a few:
Unfortunately, Thrutu is near-useless on 3G CDMA phones (unless you’re on Wi-Fi) due to the lack of simultaneous data and voice. Still yet – it’s a really cool concept, and could prove to be quite valuable (if you can get everyone you know to use it, of course).
You can grab Thrutu for free in the Android Market.
Thrutu
 |
 |
[New App] VideoSurf: It’s Like IntoNow For The iPhone, Only… Worse
Tweet
When you hear a song and don’t know what it is, but want to find out, what do you do? Fire up Shazam or SoundHound, of course. But what do you do when you see a video that you’re lookin’ to identify? Well, there hasn’t really been a solution on Android to handle this sort of debacle – until now, that is.
Calling itself the "ultimate video discovery" app, VideoSurf is a direct answer to the iPhone’s IntoNow – it can identify videos through audio and video recognition, suggest other videos, and locate other videos using keywords. According the VideoSurf website, there is "no need to open a new application", as it can "play practically any video on the web inside [the] app!" It also offers Facebook and Twitter integration, so you can easily share, Like, or Tweet any video directly from within the VideoSurf app.
If you’re feelin’ froggy – head on over the Android Market where you can grab this app for free. Hopefully you get better mileage than we did; drop us a line in the comments and let us know how it goes.
We decided to give this app a shot, and our first impression wasn’t so good. After attempting to get it to identify both Family Guy and Lost, it came up empty handed. Hopefully the developers are hard at work on correcting these sorts of issues, because, let’s face it – if it can’t even detect something as popular as Family Guy or Lost, then it’s still got a long way to go.
Yet another downside is that this app is only available on select Verizon Wireless smartphones, but the VideoSurf Team is planning on bringing it to other devices soon. They said that it should work on all VZW devices running 2.2 or higher – but I couldn’t install it on my OG Droid, so it may be hit-or-miss.If you’re feelin’ froggy – head on over the Android Market where you can grab this app for free. Hopefully you get better mileage than we did; drop us a line in the comments and let us know how it goes.
VideoSurf
|
|
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Launch with Stock Honeycomb 3.1
Tweet
Samsung just announced that the Galaxy Tab 10.1, given away early to attendees of Google IO will be available over the next two weeks, and they snuck in a little surprise. As had been rumored, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will indeed launch with the latest version of Honeycomb, Android 3.1 on board. The extra bonus here is that to meet the deadline, the Tab will be running stock 3.1, rather than have Samsung’s TouchWiz UX skin as originally planned.
The news was indirectly mentioned in the press release today announcing the dates for the Samsung tablet, when at the bottom it said that TouchWiz UX would be available as an additional download at a later date. A comment from the president and CEO of Samsung, Dale Sohn, confirms that making sure the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 was a primary goal. It appears that this goal has come at the cost (or to some, bonus) of no Samsung UI skin.
There is no confirmation that later down the road, the device will not ship with TouchWiz. This news is an indication of how manufacturers UI skins, if nothing else, slow down upgrades. While it does naturally take time to make adaptions for different screens, chipsets and the like, the main reason many phones don’t get an upgrade for so long is because of the time it takes to work skins like HTC’s Sense, Motorblur, or Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top of them. I for one am a fan of stock Android, and would take an upgraded version of Android without a skin over an older version with a UI any day. I’m glad to see Samsung give priority to the upgrade in this case, and think that offering their UI for download at a later date was a good compromise on their part
So if you love stock Android, and love Android tablets thinner than the iPad, you can pick up the Galaxy Tab 10.1 starting June 8th at the Best Buy in Union Square in New York, NY, or nationwide June 17th.
)
Samsung just announced that the Galaxy Tab 10.1, given away early to attendees of Google IO will be available over the next two weeks, and they snuck in a little surprise. As had been rumored, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will indeed launch with the latest version of Honeycomb, Android 3.1 on board. The extra bonus here is that to meet the deadline, the Tab will be running stock 3.1, rather than have Samsung’s TouchWiz UX skin as originally planned.
The news was indirectly mentioned in the press release today announcing the dates for the Samsung tablet, when at the bottom it said that TouchWiz UX would be available as an additional download at a later date. A comment from the president and CEO of Samsung, Dale Sohn, confirms that making sure the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 was a primary goal. It appears that this goal has come at the cost (or to some, bonus) of no Samsung UI skin.
There is no confirmation that later down the road, the device will not ship with TouchWiz. This news is an indication of how manufacturers UI skins, if nothing else, slow down upgrades. While it does naturally take time to make adaptions for different screens, chipsets and the like, the main reason many phones don’t get an upgrade for so long is because of the time it takes to work skins like HTC’s Sense, Motorblur, or Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top of them. I for one am a fan of stock Android, and would take an upgraded version of Android without a skin over an older version with a UI any day. I’m glad to see Samsung give priority to the upgrade in this case, and think that offering their UI for download at a later date was a good compromise on their part
So if you love stock Android, and love Android tablets thinner than the iPad, you can pick up the Galaxy Tab 10.1 starting June 8th at the Best Buy in Union Square in New York, NY, or nationwide June 17th.
)
Tampermonkey App Brings Augmented Browsing to Android
Tweet
Now if you are a fan of the Greasemonkey Firefox extension or Tampermonkey’s Chrome version, you’re probably thinking “awesome!”, while the rest of us are thinking “what’s augmented browsing?” Apps like Tampermonkey allow you to utilize scripts to make changes to websites as you browse. This is very open ended, but to give you a better idea, of what this means, some of the popular uses for such apps are removing ads, auto-filling forms, or transposing info from another site, onto the one you’re viewing.
Obviously this is a very powerful tool, but it needs scripts to do anything. Luckily, this app is compatible with Greasemonkey scripts as well as Chrome Tampermonkey scripts, meaning it should be able to use any pre-existing script you can dig up on the internet. The downside here is that they may not run perfectly.
The developer of the app states that it is still in beta, and that since phones are not as powerful as the computers that use the Chrome app it’s adapted from, it may be a bit sluggish for now. Given its limitations, Tampermonkey doesn’t appear to be quite ready for the big time yet. If you’re familiar with Greasemonkey or Tampermonkey and want to test out scripts to lend a hand to its development head over to the XDA thread and jump on in. For the rest of us, given the beta status and the current lack on instructions, waiting may be the wiser choice. The app shows great promise though and could shape up to be an awesome tool as it progresses to it’s final stage.
[via XDA]
Now if you are a fan of the Greasemonkey Firefox extension or Tampermonkey’s Chrome version, you’re probably thinking “awesome!”, while the rest of us are thinking “what’s augmented browsing?” Apps like Tampermonkey allow you to utilize scripts to make changes to websites as you browse. This is very open ended, but to give you a better idea, of what this means, some of the popular uses for such apps are removing ads, auto-filling forms, or transposing info from another site, onto the one you’re viewing.
Obviously this is a very powerful tool, but it needs scripts to do anything. Luckily, this app is compatible with Greasemonkey scripts as well as Chrome Tampermonkey scripts, meaning it should be able to use any pre-existing script you can dig up on the internet. The downside here is that they may not run perfectly.
The developer of the app states that it is still in beta, and that since phones are not as powerful as the computers that use the Chrome app it’s adapted from, it may be a bit sluggish for now. Given its limitations, Tampermonkey doesn’t appear to be quite ready for the big time yet. If you’re familiar with Greasemonkey or Tampermonkey and want to test out scripts to lend a hand to its development head over to the XDA thread and jump on in. For the rest of us, given the beta status and the current lack on instructions, waiting may be the wiser choice. The app shows great promise though and could shape up to be an awesome tool as it progresses to it’s final stage.
[via XDA]
Sony Announces Over 20 New Games to be Demoed for Xperia Play at E3
Tweet
In the past E3 has belonged to the major video game companies, but as gaming is ramping up on phones and tablets, expect to see a lot more Android at the gaming conference in coming years. Case in point, Sony Ericsson has announced over twenty new games that will be coming to the Android, including ten that will be exclusive to their Xperia Play. Sony Ericsson says the games will be made available over the coming months, but many of them will be available to demo at their booth at E3.
The Xperia Play is obviously not your conventional phone. With a set of Playstation-style controls, the Xperia Play was a phone made for gaming, and with the entire Android Market at its disposal, its not short for content. Sony Ericsson, however, is working to make sure the Xperia Play is THE phone for gamers, with a slew of exclusive content.
Among the games Sony Ericsson will be making exclusive to the Play are the popular game Minecraft and a Tom Clancy game, Rainbow 6 Shadow Vanguard. We’ll have to see if any of these exclusive games ever make it to other devices, as many of them have been created with physical controls in mind, rather then the touch screen. Sony Ericsson gamers are the ones who will be buying this phone, and they seem to be committed to it. Be sure to stay tuned for coverage from E3 next week.
In the past E3 has belonged to the major video game companies, but as gaming is ramping up on phones and tablets, expect to see a lot more Android at the gaming conference in coming years. Case in point, Sony Ericsson has announced over twenty new games that will be coming to the Android, including ten that will be exclusive to their Xperia Play. Sony Ericsson says the games will be made available over the coming months, but many of them will be available to demo at their booth at E3.
The Xperia Play is obviously not your conventional phone. With a set of Playstation-style controls, the Xperia Play was a phone made for gaming, and with the entire Android Market at its disposal, its not short for content. Sony Ericsson, however, is working to make sure the Xperia Play is THE phone for gamers, with a slew of exclusive content.
Among the games Sony Ericsson will be making exclusive to the Play are the popular game Minecraft and a Tom Clancy game, Rainbow 6 Shadow Vanguard. We’ll have to see if any of these exclusive games ever make it to other devices, as many of them have been created with physical controls in mind, rather then the touch screen. Sony Ericsson gamers are the ones who will be buying this phone, and they seem to be committed to it. Be sure to stay tuned for coverage from E3 next week.
Atlanta, GA – June 2, 2011 – Today Sony Ericsson announces more than 20 new games, including 10 exclusive titles, optimized for Xperia™ PLAY. The new games, many of which will be showcased at the world’s leading games expo, E3, June 7-9, add to the more than 60 titles already available for Xperia™ PLAY.
The new titles offer broad appeal to different users and usage occasions from popular, innovative, massively multi-player online titles (MMO) to immersive titles and addictive graphically rich new casual content.
Amongst the titles announced today is Minecraft™, the much anticipated game from the Swedish indie developer Mojang, currently setting the industry alight. Minecraft™ is one of the fastest growing game franchises in history, with over eight million registered users announced to date and over 50,000 new players joining every day.
“As Xperia™ PLAY becomes available to Verizon Wireless customers in the U.S., the portfolio of great games continues to grow and we are delighted to announce 20 new games optimized for Xperia™ PLAY,” said Steve Walker, Head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “By building on the open Android ecosystem, we’re providing a brilliant opportunity for developers and game publishers to bring their best titles to new audiences and fantastic new experiences for Xperia™ PLAY owners. Keep watching this space.”
In addition to the new titles announced today, Sony Ericsson can confirm that new games from Sony Computer Entertainment’s stable of classic PlayStation 1 titles will be coming to Xperia™ PLAY shortly. More details will be shared imminently.
Sony Ericsson’s support for the Android ecosystem also includes its partnerships with key industry players, such as Unity and Havok, with whom it is working to build an ever growing ecosystem. Sony Ericsson is launching a programme to support and find new upcoming innovative developers called “Stand out from the crowd”, which enables game developers to become part of the Xperia™ PLAY story and get their games the profile they need.
Sony Ericsson will be present at E3 in Los Angeles, June 7-9, to offer first hands-on demos of Xperia™ PLAY and many of the new games in the Sony Ericsson booth 713.
New Android Games Exclusive on Xperia™ PLAY:
Minecraft™ by Mojang
Battlefield Bad Company 2 by Electronic Arts
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Shadow Vanguard by Gameloft
Desert Winds by Southend Interactive
Ruined by Bigpoint
Icebreaker™ by NaturalMotion
Sleepy Jack by SilverTree Media
Cracking Sands by Polarbit
Armageddon Squadron 2 by Polarbit
An unnamed fighting game from Khaeon Gamestudio
New Games coming soon on Xperia™ PLAY:
Pocket Legends by Spacetime Studios
Star Legends: The Black Star Chronicles by Spacetime Studios
Eternal Legacy by Gameloft
Guns ’n’Glory 2 by HandyGames
Dungeon Hunter 2 by Gameloft
Pocket RPG by Crescent Moon Games
D.A.R.K. developed by Gamelab
Samurai II: Vengeance by MADFINGER Games
Vendetta Online by Guild Software
Order & Chaos – Gameloft
Happy Vikings by Handy Games
A Ball Game by Trendy Entertainment
Lumines by Connect2Media
The new games announced today will be released in the coming months. More details regarding timing and exclusivity will be announced during E3 week and closer to launch.
Toshiba Thrive Honeycomb Tablet coming this July for $429
Tweet
The Toshiba Thrive is the name of the Toshiba tablet we have covered a few times. We even saw it way back in January looking the same as it does now. It was originally known as the Regza and original leaks suggested a $700 price tag. Today we have better news that this tablet will be starting as low as $429
The Toshiba Thrive will be the first tablet by Toshiba in the U.S and will be making its way to the market starting June 13th for pre-orders at Best Buy and other retailers and it will ship early July. It boasts the usual specs for a Honeycomb tablet and will come with Android 3.1, a 10.1″ 1280×800 resolution display as well as some competitive pricing. They will offer 3 models: 8GB for $429, 16GB for $479, and the 32GB for $579. The lowest starting at $429 is a smart move and even the 16GB is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but the 32GB Transformer is already cheaper.
The Thrive features all those other specs most of the tablets of late have. Such as Wifi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB ports, Micro SD slots and can’t forget about cameras. It has a 5MP rear and 2MP front for video chat. It also has a lock button for portrait or landscape mode as well as having a removable battery so it should fair well, and also be different from the rest. Stay tuned for more information.
[via Engadget]
The Toshiba Thrive will be the first tablet by Toshiba in the U.S and will be making its way to the market starting June 13th for pre-orders at Best Buy and other retailers and it will ship early July. It boasts the usual specs for a Honeycomb tablet and will come with Android 3.1, a 10.1″ 1280×800 resolution display as well as some competitive pricing. They will offer 3 models: 8GB for $429, 16GB for $479, and the 32GB for $579. The lowest starting at $429 is a smart move and even the 16GB is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but the 32GB Transformer is already cheaper.
The Thrive features all those other specs most of the tablets of late have. Such as Wifi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB ports, Micro SD slots and can’t forget about cameras. It has a 5MP rear and 2MP front for video chat. It also has a lock button for portrait or landscape mode as well as having a removable battery so it should fair well, and also be different from the rest. Stay tuned for more information.
[via Engadget]
HTC Keynote at Uplinq 2011: OnLive, HTC Dev, HTC Watch, and HTC Pro
Tweet
The second main keynote at this years Uplinq 2011 was all about HTC. They started off with comments about NFC, the cloud, and the start of 4G. They quickly led into some more exciting topics such as HTC Watch and the new partnership with OnLive for the future of gaming with HTC.
We have already heard a lot about HTC Watch when they unveiled the Sensation and the EVO 3D. HTC Watch will be a global media hub that will be deeply tied into HTC devices for streaming and consuming data and entertainment such as movies and TV.
OnLive is a new partnership with HTC that will bring rich and feature filled gaming to new levels for HTC users. They go on to mention that OnLive will not be just about gaming, but will also stream real-time applications such as AutoCAD and other education and work related applications right to your handheld device.
Peter Chou, CEO of HTC noted that HTC is the number one Android brand and supplier “everywhere in the world.” Chou went on to say that “HTC believes in giving people choice.”
Then Chou moved on to Mobile Development and had some things to say about the developers. He noted there is over 450k Android developers and they will be launching HTC Pro. A new program that will lend a helping and learning hand to developers of all sizes, big or small. HTC recognized that they themselves are developers and would like to help out smaller teams or developers any way they can. Some of those include HTC Dev, and HTC SDK’s all being available in an open source library. More on that at htcdev.com where you can download as many SDK’s as you’d need.
Next up we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon event and a few more keynotes over the next few days so stay tuned right here at AndroidCommunity.com for all your Uplinq 2011 news.
Bonus Video of Drums concert at Uplinq 2011
The second main keynote at this years Uplinq 2011 was all about HTC. They started off with comments about NFC, the cloud, and the start of 4G. They quickly led into some more exciting topics such as HTC Watch and the new partnership with OnLive for the future of gaming with HTC.
We have already heard a lot about HTC Watch when they unveiled the Sensation and the EVO 3D. HTC Watch will be a global media hub that will be deeply tied into HTC devices for streaming and consuming data and entertainment such as movies and TV.
OnLive is a new partnership with HTC that will bring rich and feature filled gaming to new levels for HTC users. They go on to mention that OnLive will not be just about gaming, but will also stream real-time applications such as AutoCAD and other education and work related applications right to your handheld device.
Peter Chou, CEO of HTC noted that HTC is the number one Android brand and supplier “everywhere in the world.” Chou went on to say that “HTC believes in giving people choice.”
“Our partnership with Qualcomm is one of the most important relationship HTC has made in over a decade, we’re like brothers.” – Peter Chou
Then Chou moved on to Mobile Development and had some things to say about the developers. He noted there is over 450k Android developers and they will be launching HTC Pro. A new program that will lend a helping and learning hand to developers of all sizes, big or small. HTC recognized that they themselves are developers and would like to help out smaller teams or developers any way they can. Some of those include HTC Dev, and HTC SDK’s all being available in an open source library. More on that at htcdev.com where you can download as many SDK’s as you’d need.
Next up we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon event and a few more keynotes over the next few days so stay tuned right here at AndroidCommunity.com for all your Uplinq 2011 news.
Bonus Video of Drums concert at Uplinq 2011
T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide gets photographed by Mr. Blurrycam
Tweet
We have been hearing about a device like this under the name the HTC DoubleShot lately and that was the code name for what we all believe is the MyTouch 4G Slide. My Blurrycam was lucky enough to find this device and snap a few photos for us all to enjoy. If you have not heard it will be just like its older brother but feature a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
From the leaked photos it appears to be running Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. That is the absolute latest version from Google and if that is correct it will natively run Google Talk and have those video and front facing camera features. It also appears to have the latest HTC Sense UI v3.0 onboard as well, even though the original MyTouch 4G had a custom skin with parts of Sense included.
It should feature a similar dual-core Qualcomm chip as the Sensation 4G, and it has the same 8MP camera on the rear as well as the front. The leaker suggests the screen is nothing to write home about so it must not have a qHD screen sadly. He also suggests the keyboard is soft and squishy and seems very similar to the HTC G2. Hopefully we see more on this in the coming weeks.
[via BGR]
We have been hearing about a device like this under the name the HTC DoubleShot lately and that was the code name for what we all believe is the MyTouch 4G Slide. My Blurrycam was lucky enough to find this device and snap a few photos for us all to enjoy. If you have not heard it will be just like its older brother but feature a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
From the leaked photos it appears to be running Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. That is the absolute latest version from Google and if that is correct it will natively run Google Talk and have those video and front facing camera features. It also appears to have the latest HTC Sense UI v3.0 onboard as well, even though the original MyTouch 4G had a custom skin with parts of Sense included.
It should feature a similar dual-core Qualcomm chip as the Sensation 4G, and it has the same 8MP camera on the rear as well as the front. The leaker suggests the screen is nothing to write home about so it must not have a qHD screen sadly. He also suggests the keyboard is soft and squishy and seems very similar to the HTC G2. Hopefully we see more on this in the coming weeks.
[via BGR]
Xperia Play with HDMI out spotted in the Wild
Tweet
When the Xperia Play launched one of the features everyone wished they had was HDMI out. To be able to enjoy those amazing games over HDMI would really make the Play a true gaming phone. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play did not ship with HDMI out, although devices like the Arc did so there must have been a reason behind this. You can see our very own unboxing and hands-on, HDMI out is missing sadly.
We don’t know much more than the picture above shows. This may be development hardware or even just another version for another market. If you saw our unboxing video posted above, or even read our amazing Xperia Play Review you will see that the micro-usb for charging is in fact under the right joystick and nothing is under the left, on the Verizon version at least.
The source mentions it may be a micro-usb to hdmi converter but the usb port is not on that side, that also rules out MHL. So this could in fact be development hardware or possibly an updated version or second generation Play. We wont know more until more details surface so stay tuned and we will update you as we hear more.
[via SE-Xperia]
We don’t know much more than the picture above shows. This may be development hardware or even just another version for another market. If you saw our unboxing video posted above, or even read our amazing Xperia Play Review you will see that the micro-usb for charging is in fact under the right joystick and nothing is under the left, on the Verizon version at least.
The source mentions it may be a micro-usb to hdmi converter but the usb port is not on that side, that also rules out MHL. So this could in fact be development hardware or possibly an updated version or second generation Play. We wont know more until more details surface so stay tuned and we will update you as we hear more.
[via SE-Xperia]
ASUS Transformer 32GB In-Stock at Newegg for $499
Tweet
The Asus Transformer tablet has been a hot item over the last few weeks, only problem is no one can find it in stock. We have mentioned it a few times at places like Walmart, K-Mart, Target and more but it looks to be in-stock and ready to ship with FREE 2-Day shipping at my favorite online store called Newegg.com
If you have not been paying attention the Android 3.1 update for Honeycomb has just started hitting the Transformer. So you can get it now and have it delivered by Saturday and have that update waiting for you. Newegg usually ships same day if you order before around 3:00 PST (I know from many many purchases) so for those that can’t wait order now and choose next day shipping if you want it tomorrow.
The developers at XDA already have the Transformer chugging along at over 1.4 Ghz so you basically just need to buy it and enjoy the party.
[via Newegg.com]
The Asus Transformer tablet has been a hot item over the last few weeks, only problem is no one can find it in stock. We have mentioned it a few times at places like Walmart, K-Mart, Target and more but it looks to be in-stock and ready to ship with FREE 2-Day shipping at my favorite online store called Newegg.com
If you have not been paying attention the Android 3.1 update for Honeycomb has just started hitting the Transformer. So you can get it now and have it delivered by Saturday and have that update waiting for you. Newegg usually ships same day if you order before around 3:00 PST (I know from many many purchases) so for those that can’t wait order now and choose next day shipping if you want it tomorrow.
The developers at XDA already have the Transformer chugging along at over 1.4 Ghz so you basically just need to buy it and enjoy the party.
[via Newegg.com]
HTC EVO 4G Update to Gingerbread 2.3 Starting June 6th [Official]
Tweet
It is official, starting Monday June 6th Sprint will start the rollout for Android 2.3 Gingerbread for their hot selling HTC EVO 4G we all know and love. The EVO has been one of the biggest selling Android phones aside from the Galaxy S and has been a huge success for Sprint. The update to that sweet Gingerbread was talked about back in April, then leaked a few days later. This will be official, and tasty just as Gingerbread has been.
Here is a little tip, for those that are excited and just can’t wait until June 6th you can apparently get it starting Friday the 3rd. Yes that is tomorrow. According to the Sprint site users can “check for updates” right on the handset on the 3rd and the update will be initiated, otherwise it will be pushed over-the-air starting Monday. Pretty weird way to roll-out the update because I’m sure anyone that hears that will check for updates manually.
Gingerbread brings many changes and improvements as well as UI changes. A Download manager is included as well as some EVO specific Gmail, and battery drain issues have also been resolved. For all the information check out the press release below, or click here.
Here is a little tip, for those that are excited and just can’t wait until June 6th you can apparently get it starting Friday the 3rd. Yes that is tomorrow. According to the Sprint site users can “check for updates” right on the handset on the 3rd and the update will be initiated, otherwise it will be pushed over-the-air starting Monday. Pretty weird way to roll-out the update because I’m sure anyone that hears that will check for updates manually.
Gingerbread brings many changes and improvements as well as UI changes. A Download manager is included as well as some EVO specific Gmail, and battery drain issues have also been resolved. For all the information check out the press release below, or click here.
HTC EVO™ 4G from Sprint will receive the Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread, update through an over-the-air maintenance release beginning on Monday, June 6.
Sprint will send update notifications to users in waves. The notification will let users know the update is available and provide the simple two-step, over-the-air download instructions.
Users will receive a notification that Android 2.3 is available for download.
Once the user has downloaded the update, they will be prompted to install the update. The user will be notified that their device will be disabled during the installation process. The phone will be ready to use once the process completes.
Can’t Wait Until June 6?
For those who just can’t wait to get Android 2.3, there will be an easy user initiated option to download the upgrade starting on Friday, June 3. To access the update – from the home screen/Menu/Settings/System updates/HTC software Update. This will initiate the upgrade process.
The software release upgrades HTC EVO 4G to Android 2.3, Gingerbread. This version of Android improves download management through the Downloads application, offering the user easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email or another application. It also fixes the devices ability to stream media through certain applications for the device.
Gingerbread restores HTC EVO 4G’s ability to sync multiple Gmail™ accounts, display email attachments in the email client and fixes battery discharge issues.
Red Cross launches new S.O.S app for Android users
Tweet
If you are, the sort of person that likes to be prepared for anything this new app might appeal to you. The app comes from the Red Cross and offers tips for what to do in an emergency. The app also offers links to 911 that will dial the number for you. If you are ever in a life threatening emergency, you should dial 911 before you try and use this app.
This app is really aimed at what to do in the interim between dialing 911 and the ambulance showing up. It has links to tips on giving care. There are slide shows for different things you might need to do rather than full motion videos. The app can help diagnose some issues too.
It has walk throughs for what to do with simple questions like are they breathing and others. I guess this app is better than nothing, I wonder if it has got stuff inside like what to do for minor cuts or burns. That will be more helpful to most people than anything else.
[via Mobiputng]
If you are, the sort of person that likes to be prepared for anything this new app might appeal to you. The app comes from the Red Cross and offers tips for what to do in an emergency. The app also offers links to 911 that will dial the number for you. If you are ever in a life threatening emergency, you should dial 911 before you try and use this app.
This app is really aimed at what to do in the interim between dialing 911 and the ambulance showing up. It has links to tips on giving care. There are slide shows for different things you might need to do rather than full motion videos. The app can help diagnose some issues too.
It has walk throughs for what to do with simple questions like are they breathing and others. I guess this app is better than nothing, I wonder if it has got stuff inside like what to do for minor cuts or burns. That will be more helpful to most people than anything else.
[via Mobiputng]
Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE official: Pre-orders from June 8
Tweet
It’s not just the WiFi-only Galaxy Tab 10.1 arriving imminently; Verizon has thrown up details about its 4G LTE version of the Samsung Honeycomb slate, which is set to hit pre-order on June 8 in either gray or white. Set to arrive in stores this summer – nothing more specific than that, sadly – the Android tablet has the same 10.1-inch display and dual-core Tegra 2 processor as the Limited Edition version we reviewed recently.
There’s also a 3-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. Verizon will also be offering a bevy of accessories, including a full-sized keyboard dock and a docking station for multimedia use.
Unfortunately this LTE goodness doesn’t come cheap. Verizon is asking $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model, both with a new, two-year agreement.
Press Release:
There’s also a 3-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. Verizon will also be offering a bevy of accessories, including a full-sized keyboard dock and a docking station for multimedia use.
Unfortunately this LTE goodness doesn’t come cheap. Verizon is asking $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model, both with a new, two-year agreement.
Press Release:
Verizon Wireless Adds 4G LTE-Enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 To Portfolio
4G LTE-Enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, Exclusive from Verizon Wireless, Measures Only 8.6 Millimeters Thin
06/02/2011
BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and DALLAS, TX — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), today announced the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 will be available on the fastest, most advanced network in coming weeks. The slim and sleek Galaxy Tab 10.1 debuts with Android™ Honeycomb and will be available in either Metallica Gray or Glossy White. Customers will be able to pre-order the device online on June 8 at www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab4glte. When the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits Verizon Wireless stores this summer, it will be accompanied by an array of optional accessories such as a full-sized keyboard dock and a multi-media docking station.
“The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a great option for customers who want to enjoy the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network – the fastest network in America,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless. “Customers can also use the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 wherever they are on the nation’s largest 3G network.”
Dietel added, “The tablet market is exploding as customers are discovering new uses for the technology that features a large screen, powerful processing speeds and access to Android Market™’s 200,000 applications. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is perfect for customers who want to take advantage of Google™’s new movie rental option and view their favorite film on-the-go.”
“Samsung Mobile is excited to expand its mobile tablet portfolio with Verizon Wireless to include the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. “The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest and lightest tablet in the world that delivers a truly mobile multimedia experience on an Android Honeycomb platform.”
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 offers full support for Google™ Mobile Services, including GmailÔ, YouTube™ and more. Customers will relish the 10.1-inch enhanced display with a 1280×800 resolution HD screen, 1 GHz dual core application processor, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera. Both consumers and business customers will find a multitude of uses for the Galaxy Tab that range from video chat to business tools, including those that allow for the opening and editing of documents, spreadsheets and presentations. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features Adobe® Flash® Player to deliver an enhanced Internet browsing experience and access to content-rich Websites.
Verizon Wireless will offer two 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 models both priced with two year customer agreements: $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, go to: www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab4glte.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 set to hit US on June 8
Tweet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet has finally received an official launch date with Samsung saying that the tablet will hit Best Buy on June 8. The only catch is that the June 8 launch day is for a limited number of the devices in stock only at the Best Buy Union Square store in NYC. The general availability of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be June 17 at all Best Buy stores and lots more places like Amazon and Fry’s.
The 32GB version of the Galaxy 10.1 WiFi will be $599 and the 16GB version of the tablet will be $499. If you have missed the details of the tablet in the past, the device will run Android 3.2 and has a 10.1-inch screen. The tablet is very thin at 8.6mm thick and it weighs 1.25 pounds. The screen resolution is 1280 x 800.
The tablet will also have WiFi and it runs an NVIDIA Tegra 1GHz dual core processor. The tablet has a 3MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera for video chat and it can play 1080p HD video. We knew the launch date had to be soon when pricing and availability on the official accessories for the tablet turned up recently.
)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet has finally received an official launch date with Samsung saying that the tablet will hit Best Buy on June 8. The only catch is that the June 8 launch day is for a limited number of the devices in stock only at the Best Buy Union Square store in NYC. The general availability of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be June 17 at all Best Buy stores and lots more places like Amazon and Fry’s.
The 32GB version of the Galaxy 10.1 WiFi will be $599 and the 16GB version of the tablet will be $499. If you have missed the details of the tablet in the past, the device will run Android 3.2 and has a 10.1-inch screen. The tablet is very thin at 8.6mm thick and it weighs 1.25 pounds. The screen resolution is 1280 x 800.
The tablet will also have WiFi and it runs an NVIDIA Tegra 1GHz dual core processor. The tablet has a 3MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera for video chat and it can play 1080p HD video. We knew the launch date had to be soon when pricing and availability on the official accessories for the tablet turned up recently.
)
Thursday, 2 June 2011
HTC Flyer vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Tweet
We pit the HTC Flyer up against the Android 3.1-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
HTC is no stranger to acclaim. Its smartphones are widely regarded as industry leading specimens and innovation and design excellence have become synonymous with the Taiwanese manufacturer.
But up until recently it was a stranger to the tablet market, and we've decided to put the company's premier tab, the Flyer, through its paces by placing it up against a device that has enjoyed a very positive reception: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Let's see how it got on.
Display
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features, unsurprisingly, a 10.1-inch TFT display that operates at a resolution of 800 x 1280 and the screen is just about as impressive as you'd expect from Samsung. It may not rival the company's Super AMOLED products but you'll be hard pushed to find anything to dislike about the Galaxy Tab 10.1's display. It's big, responsive and is great for watching HD content or web browsing.
The Flyer however, only offers a 7-inch screen, operating at a resolution of 600 x 1024, which HTC claim will make the device altogether more mobile than its competitors. Performance-wise the display's solid enough, colours look vivid and blacks deep, but the lack of space does prove to be a hindrance at times and the small-size sometimes gives you the feeling that you might be better off with a large screened smartphone, which you can slip into a pocket. We have no major complaints though.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Power
The HTC Flyer may feature a small screen but it doesn't lack in the engine room and the single-core 1.5GHz CPU is a beast, it chomps through tasks super speedily and the 1GB of installed RAM help matters along nicely.
Samsung opted to go down the dual-core route with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, packing a 1GHz chip into the device, which takes care of multi-tasking without skipping a beat. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also offers 1GB RAM too, making it a fast, well provisioned machine indeed.
While the Samsung weighs-in heavier with the dual-core, we're pretty fond of the higher clocked chip of the Flyer too, and let's not forget, Android isn't 100% ready for dual-core just yet, so we're happy to call this one a draw..for now.
Winner - Draw
Optics
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3.15-megapixel primary snapper which performs adequately, with an LED flash and auto-focus included to make your life easier and while it won't set the world alight it should be ample for casual use. The device does capture video at 720p though, which should allow all you amateur film makers to exercise your creative muscle! The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also packs a secondary 2-megapixel camera for video-calling.
HTC's Flyer comes with an altogether more impressive 5-megapixel shooter which also features autofocus but, brace yourself, no flash! So you're golden if you're outside or in good lighting but step inside after dark or on one of the UK's infamous grey days and you might just be done for!
Video capture functionality on the Flyer is the almost-standard 720p and the device also boasts a secondary 1.3-megapixel camera.
Winner - Draw
Form
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm, 595 g
HTC Flyer - 195.4 x 122 x 13.2 mm, 420 g
HTC's plan to make the Flyer a super-portable tablet works. The device is small, light and comfortable to use but while you'll be stoked it isn't weighing you down while you're carrying it, you might not be as impressed when you crack it out to use. Sure, it feels balanced in the hand and is made of high-quality materials, but it just seems to exude a 'smartphone with gigantism' vibe. On the positive side it might make you feel like a kid again.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a well constructed, nicely designed device which looks good, performs well and is eye-catching enough to stand next to the likes of the iPad 2 without blushing. It is a little on the heavy side for a tablet though but in the aesthetics category we give it an enthusiastic A+.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Software
Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the HTC Flyer run on Google's all-conquering Android platform and as such offer the user the ability to customise with widgets, download from the huge app catalogue that is the Android Market and browse with full flash support!
Tablet-only support is a little thin on the ground for Android at the moment though, so don't expect to enjoy the same sort of tablet-only support you'd get on Apple's gadget.
The notable difference between these two devices is the version of Android that they run. Strangely, HTC opted to install version 2.4 of Android on the Flyer, rather than the tablet-specific 3.0, which the Galaxy Tab 10.1 enjoys and as such certain nice features, like the new system and overhauled apps aren't present on the device. It does feature HTC's neat Sense UI but for once that isn't enough of a sweetener to clinch the deal, which means we're putting our tick firmly next to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 box in this round.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
So it's a pretty decisive victory for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1! The device builds nicely on the foundation laid by its predecessor the Galaxy Tab, making it a great device for Android enthusiast and newbie alike. Build quality is second to none and the feature list is jam packed too!
The HTC Flyer is something of a damp squib though and while we can't help but admire its good looks and pedigree it generally doesn't fit in with the smartphone market, or the tablet, a fact cemented by the baffling decision to run the device on a smartphone platform rather than tablet software.
If you're looking for a more portable tablet it will serve a purpose but other than that we can't think of a single reason why you'd want to choose the Flyer over one of its big-screened peers.
We pit the HTC Flyer up against the Android 3.1-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
HTC is no stranger to acclaim. Its smartphones are widely regarded as industry leading specimens and innovation and design excellence have become synonymous with the Taiwanese manufacturer.
But up until recently it was a stranger to the tablet market, and we've decided to put the company's premier tab, the Flyer, through its paces by placing it up against a device that has enjoyed a very positive reception: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Let's see how it got on.
Display
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features, unsurprisingly, a 10.1-inch TFT display that operates at a resolution of 800 x 1280 and the screen is just about as impressive as you'd expect from Samsung. It may not rival the company's Super AMOLED products but you'll be hard pushed to find anything to dislike about the Galaxy Tab 10.1's display. It's big, responsive and is great for watching HD content or web browsing.
The Flyer however, only offers a 7-inch screen, operating at a resolution of 600 x 1024, which HTC claim will make the device altogether more mobile than its competitors. Performance-wise the display's solid enough, colours look vivid and blacks deep, but the lack of space does prove to be a hindrance at times and the small-size sometimes gives you the feeling that you might be better off with a large screened smartphone, which you can slip into a pocket. We have no major complaints though.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Power
The HTC Flyer may feature a small screen but it doesn't lack in the engine room and the single-core 1.5GHz CPU is a beast, it chomps through tasks super speedily and the 1GB of installed RAM help matters along nicely.
Samsung opted to go down the dual-core route with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, packing a 1GHz chip into the device, which takes care of multi-tasking without skipping a beat. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also offers 1GB RAM too, making it a fast, well provisioned machine indeed.
While the Samsung weighs-in heavier with the dual-core, we're pretty fond of the higher clocked chip of the Flyer too, and let's not forget, Android isn't 100% ready for dual-core just yet, so we're happy to call this one a draw..for now.
Winner - Draw
Optics
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3.15-megapixel primary snapper which performs adequately, with an LED flash and auto-focus included to make your life easier and while it won't set the world alight it should be ample for casual use. The device does capture video at 720p though, which should allow all you amateur film makers to exercise your creative muscle! The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also packs a secondary 2-megapixel camera for video-calling.
HTC's Flyer comes with an altogether more impressive 5-megapixel shooter which also features autofocus but, brace yourself, no flash! So you're golden if you're outside or in good lighting but step inside after dark or on one of the UK's infamous grey days and you might just be done for!
Video capture functionality on the Flyer is the almost-standard 720p and the device also boasts a secondary 1.3-megapixel camera.
Winner - Draw
Form
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm, 595 g
HTC Flyer - 195.4 x 122 x 13.2 mm, 420 g
HTC's plan to make the Flyer a super-portable tablet works. The device is small, light and comfortable to use but while you'll be stoked it isn't weighing you down while you're carrying it, you might not be as impressed when you crack it out to use. Sure, it feels balanced in the hand and is made of high-quality materials, but it just seems to exude a 'smartphone with gigantism' vibe. On the positive side it might make you feel like a kid again.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a well constructed, nicely designed device which looks good, performs well and is eye-catching enough to stand next to the likes of the iPad 2 without blushing. It is a little on the heavy side for a tablet though but in the aesthetics category we give it an enthusiastic A+.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Software
Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the HTC Flyer run on Google's all-conquering Android platform and as such offer the user the ability to customise with widgets, download from the huge app catalogue that is the Android Market and browse with full flash support!
Tablet-only support is a little thin on the ground for Android at the moment though, so don't expect to enjoy the same sort of tablet-only support you'd get on Apple's gadget.
The notable difference between these two devices is the version of Android that they run. Strangely, HTC opted to install version 2.4 of Android on the Flyer, rather than the tablet-specific 3.0, which the Galaxy Tab 10.1 enjoys and as such certain nice features, like the new system and overhauled apps aren't present on the device. It does feature HTC's neat Sense UI but for once that isn't enough of a sweetener to clinch the deal, which means we're putting our tick firmly next to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 box in this round.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
So it's a pretty decisive victory for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1! The device builds nicely on the foundation laid by its predecessor the Galaxy Tab, making it a great device for Android enthusiast and newbie alike. Build quality is second to none and the feature list is jam packed too!
The HTC Flyer is something of a damp squib though and while we can't help but admire its good looks and pedigree it generally doesn't fit in with the smartphone market, or the tablet, a fact cemented by the baffling decision to run the device on a smartphone platform rather than tablet software.
If you're looking for a more portable tablet it will serve a purpose but other than that we can't think of a single reason why you'd want to choose the Flyer over one of its big-screened peers.
HTC Desire S vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Tweet
This time the HTC Desire S takes on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
We compare the HTC Desire S to Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc.
Form:
HTC Desire S - 115 x 59.8 x 11.6 mm, 130 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm, 117 g
The HTC Desire S doesn’t really stand out that much in the current smartphone market. Nor does it look very different from the majority of other HTC handsets, but in each case this is not necessarily a bad thing.
There’s something to be said for the elegant simplicity of the Desire S, something HTC seem to consistently get right, with smartphones at least.
The Desire S is thin, sleek and professional-looking with that HTC minimalist style and slightly rounded (though not overdone) corners bucking the trend for the angular.
Sony’s device is a completely different ball game, like the rest of the Xperia range, each is different and distinguished from each other and they’re very much attention seekers in the wider world of mobile tech too.
The clue is in the name for the Arc, with the whole handset curving along its back panel in the palm of your hand.
At the front it’s very straight and angular and very clean looking, while the back is a peculiar but effective mix of curves and angles, there’s some chrome trim but it’s tastefully done and actually suits the overall bombastic visuals of the device quite well.
We think the silhouette of the Xperia Arc from any angle looks fantastic, it looks like it shouldn’t work but it simply does.
The Desire S looks average and ‘okay’, but the Xperia Arc really is something exceptional and very special indeed when it comes to design, if only all smartphones were so interesting to look at.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Display:
HTC has, funnily enough, opted for Sony technology for the Desire S’ display with a 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen which is reinforced with toughened Gorilla Glass.
The display comes in at a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and 252 dots-per-inch (dpi). The Desire S has multi-touch input as well as an accelerometer and comes preloaded with the HTC Sense user interface (UI).
The Xperia Arc boasts a larger screen than the Desire S at 4.2-inches, it’s an LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 854 pixels and 233 dpi.
The Arc’s display has a scratch-resistant surface and features multi-touch input and an accelerometer. This curved handset also has the Sony Mobile Bravia engine and Timescape UI pre-installed.
Quite a tricky one to call, we prefer the larger screen size of the Arc and it also has a slightly higher resolution. However, the Desire S has the upper hand with a higher dpi rating for a sharper picture and the S-LCD screen technology offering better power economy as well as enhanced brightness and colours.
We think the Desire S will offer the most satisfying display quality overall.
Winner – HTC Desire S
Storage:
Storage on the Desire S is not what we would describe as fantastic, it’s got 1.1 GB of ROM for internal capacity which is acceptable but nothing to write home about, meanwhile on the RAM side of things it has 768 MB, which is rather good. Micro SD is supported for cards up to 32 GB.
The Arc isn’t great in this area either with a mere 320 MB of onboard storage space, RAM is decent enough at 512 MB though it comes in behind the Desire S. Card support is the same as the HTC and the Arc includes an 8GB Micro SD card as part of the package.
Neither handset provides as much storage as we would like but of the two the Desire comes out better with more RAM and more internal memory for your contacts, apps and multimedia.
Winner – HTC Desire S
Processor:
Oddly enough, the Desire S and Xperia Arc use identical single core processor setups and pretty speedy ones at that.
In both cases it’s a 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion running the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset while graphical number-crunching comes from an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).
There’s nothing to distinguish the two phones here. These are both very good single core offerings and the Qualcomm technology means performance is great, though they won’t keep up with all the dual core monsters roaming around freely these days.
Winner - Draw
Camera:
The Desire S has a nice enough primary camera at 5-megapixels, the resolution comes in at 2592 x 1944 pixels and video capture is 720p. There’s a secondary camera but it’s only VGA but the primary’s feature-list is decent with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus and image stabilisation.
The camera setup really is one of the Xperia Arc’s most standout features with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264 x 2448 pixels with autofocus, LED flash, touch focus, image stabilisation, geo-tagging plus face and smile detection.
Video capture is at 720p and has a continuous autofocus mode and video light. This excellent setup had to compromise somewhere and the Arc has no secondary camera, but we feel it’s no great detraction.
There’s no doubt that while the Desire S’ camera is admirable the Xperia Arc is a much better offering and the clear winner of the two.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Operating System:
Both phones run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is as good as it gets right now for Android on smartphones. It’s better than 2.2 Froyo, but not quite as good as what the tablets get on 3.0 Honeycomb.
It’s very fast, the multi-tasking is brilliant, the user interface is slick and responsive and the touch keyboard is a refreshing change from the treacle-y iterations of the past.
We wish the browsing was as good as Honeycomb, though. No contest here as they’re both on the same version.
Winner - Draw
Final Thoughts:
Neither handset is perfect but both have a lot of positives which make them rather endearing in their own right.
The Desire S has a slightly nicer screen and more storage and RAM to play with, though both phones are somewhat lacking on storage, it is the lesser of two evils in this case, and the Arc’s screen isn’t bad either truth be told.
The Arc excels in a couple of areas but neither of which are significant enough to make the phone particularly desirable for those reasons alone.
The first one is it’s visual design, which is just phenomenal, but buying your phones on looks alone is a quick way to accumulate a large but attractive paperweight collection. The other area is the camera which is a very high-end setup.
With the same processor and operating system these phones are more similar in terms of basic functionality than their vastly different looks would imply and there simply isn’t an obvious winner here.
This time the HTC Desire S takes on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
We compare the HTC Desire S to Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc.
Form:
HTC Desire S - 115 x 59.8 x 11.6 mm, 130 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm, 117 g
The HTC Desire S doesn’t really stand out that much in the current smartphone market. Nor does it look very different from the majority of other HTC handsets, but in each case this is not necessarily a bad thing.
There’s something to be said for the elegant simplicity of the Desire S, something HTC seem to consistently get right, with smartphones at least.
The Desire S is thin, sleek and professional-looking with that HTC minimalist style and slightly rounded (though not overdone) corners bucking the trend for the angular.
Sony’s device is a completely different ball game, like the rest of the Xperia range, each is different and distinguished from each other and they’re very much attention seekers in the wider world of mobile tech too.
The clue is in the name for the Arc, with the whole handset curving along its back panel in the palm of your hand.
At the front it’s very straight and angular and very clean looking, while the back is a peculiar but effective mix of curves and angles, there’s some chrome trim but it’s tastefully done and actually suits the overall bombastic visuals of the device quite well.
We think the silhouette of the Xperia Arc from any angle looks fantastic, it looks like it shouldn’t work but it simply does.
The Desire S looks average and ‘okay’, but the Xperia Arc really is something exceptional and very special indeed when it comes to design, if only all smartphones were so interesting to look at.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Display:
HTC has, funnily enough, opted for Sony technology for the Desire S’ display with a 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen which is reinforced with toughened Gorilla Glass.
The display comes in at a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and 252 dots-per-inch (dpi). The Desire S has multi-touch input as well as an accelerometer and comes preloaded with the HTC Sense user interface (UI).
The Xperia Arc boasts a larger screen than the Desire S at 4.2-inches, it’s an LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 854 pixels and 233 dpi.
The Arc’s display has a scratch-resistant surface and features multi-touch input and an accelerometer. This curved handset also has the Sony Mobile Bravia engine and Timescape UI pre-installed.
Quite a tricky one to call, we prefer the larger screen size of the Arc and it also has a slightly higher resolution. However, the Desire S has the upper hand with a higher dpi rating for a sharper picture and the S-LCD screen technology offering better power economy as well as enhanced brightness and colours.
We think the Desire S will offer the most satisfying display quality overall.
Winner – HTC Desire S
Storage:
Storage on the Desire S is not what we would describe as fantastic, it’s got 1.1 GB of ROM for internal capacity which is acceptable but nothing to write home about, meanwhile on the RAM side of things it has 768 MB, which is rather good. Micro SD is supported for cards up to 32 GB.
The Arc isn’t great in this area either with a mere 320 MB of onboard storage space, RAM is decent enough at 512 MB though it comes in behind the Desire S. Card support is the same as the HTC and the Arc includes an 8GB Micro SD card as part of the package.
Neither handset provides as much storage as we would like but of the two the Desire comes out better with more RAM and more internal memory for your contacts, apps and multimedia.
Winner – HTC Desire S
Processor:
Oddly enough, the Desire S and Xperia Arc use identical single core processor setups and pretty speedy ones at that.
In both cases it’s a 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion running the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset while graphical number-crunching comes from an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).
There’s nothing to distinguish the two phones here. These are both very good single core offerings and the Qualcomm technology means performance is great, though they won’t keep up with all the dual core monsters roaming around freely these days.
Winner - Draw
Camera:
The Desire S has a nice enough primary camera at 5-megapixels, the resolution comes in at 2592 x 1944 pixels and video capture is 720p. There’s a secondary camera but it’s only VGA but the primary’s feature-list is decent with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus and image stabilisation.
The camera setup really is one of the Xperia Arc’s most standout features with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264 x 2448 pixels with autofocus, LED flash, touch focus, image stabilisation, geo-tagging plus face and smile detection.
Video capture is at 720p and has a continuous autofocus mode and video light. This excellent setup had to compromise somewhere and the Arc has no secondary camera, but we feel it’s no great detraction.
There’s no doubt that while the Desire S’ camera is admirable the Xperia Arc is a much better offering and the clear winner of the two.
Winner – Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Operating System:
Both phones run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is as good as it gets right now for Android on smartphones. It’s better than 2.2 Froyo, but not quite as good as what the tablets get on 3.0 Honeycomb.
It’s very fast, the multi-tasking is brilliant, the user interface is slick and responsive and the touch keyboard is a refreshing change from the treacle-y iterations of the past.
We wish the browsing was as good as Honeycomb, though. No contest here as they’re both on the same version.
Winner - Draw
Final Thoughts:
Neither handset is perfect but both have a lot of positives which make them rather endearing in their own right.
The Desire S has a slightly nicer screen and more storage and RAM to play with, though both phones are somewhat lacking on storage, it is the lesser of two evils in this case, and the Arc’s screen isn’t bad either truth be told.
The Arc excels in a couple of areas but neither of which are significant enough to make the phone particularly desirable for those reasons alone.
The first one is it’s visual design, which is just phenomenal, but buying your phones on looks alone is a quick way to accumulate a large but attractive paperweight collection. The other area is the camera which is a very high-end setup.
With the same processor and operating system these phones are more similar in terms of basic functionality than their vastly different looks would imply and there simply isn’t an obvious winner here.
iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4
Tweet
We compare the iPhone 4 to the rumoured specs we think will be appearing on the iPhone 5 to see what's different
With the grand reveal for Apple's iPhone 5 expected to be a short while away, we compare the rumour with the reality and look into what's on the agenda for the biggest device launch of the year and how it stacks up against the iPhone 4. It's safe to assume that the iPhone 5 will raise the bar in each category, but by how much?
Display
The iPhone 4's 'Retina Display' is still regarded as the benchmark by which other companies judge their devices and the 3.5-inch LED-backlit IPS screen has earned each and every one of those plaudits. It offers peerless clarity, vivid colours and ranks among the most responsive displays we've ever used.
With that in mind we think it's safe to assume that the iPhone 5 will be packing something breathtaking, which knocks the iPhone 4 into a cocked hat. What we know so far (or think we know) is that it will come with a curved display à la the Samsung Nexus S (could this be what the recent patent kerfuffle was all about?) and the size may be boosted from 3.5-inches to somewhere around 4-inches.
Camera
Another feature that has won the iPhone 4 plenty of fans is the camera, and although it's only a 5-megapixel offering the quality is quite superb. The inclusion of an LED-flash was a must-have addition after the slew of complaints levelled at Apple about older iPhones, and to up the ante further Apple provisioned the iPhone 4 to capture video at 720p too!
The iPhone 5 is rumoured to feature an 8-megapixel snapper which will undoubtedly come with an LED-flash, and it's likely that the video capturing facility will see an upgrade to 1080p, to allow the device to fall into line with the market leading Android devices on offer.
Power
The iPhone 4 jogs along at a pretty brisk pace thanks to the 1GHz Apple A4 CPU and proceedings are helped along nicely by the 512MB RAM installed, but let's not forget the iPhone 4 doesn't truly multi-task, so the power is dispersed nicely among the OS and other features without really being taxed.
What we're expecting to see on the iPhone 5 is a dual-core 1GHz CPU and around 768MB RAM , but this extra oomph may be placed under strain if the device finally offers users what they've been crying out for: true multi-tasking!
Form
iPhone 4 - 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 137g
The iPhone 4 cuts a pretty impressive figure and we wouldn't expect the iPhone 5 to deviate too much from Apple's master-plan. The same thin, light physique is on the cards for the next device, though the iPhone 5 may offer something for users to get hold of, rather than being a sleek but slippery metal and glass affair.
Over the years the one thing people have come to expect from Apple is style and design quality, and that isn't about to change all of a sudden with its biggest device to date.
Software
There has been much speculation regarding whether or not the iPhone 5 will launch with iOS 5.0, and it still remains unclear whether or not this will be the case.
It would be an odd product launch for Apple (especially seeing as the device may actually be called '5') without the next generation of software being used to launch the smartphone though, so we're hopeful.
Supposedly the next iteration of iOS has been scheduled for a September release (which could tally with a delayed iPhone 5 release of course) and we know that it will feature an overhauled notifications system, to provide users with actual information rather than the current cryptic clue system that is currently in effect in the iPhone 4 (and other iOS devices).
You can also look forward to a cloud-based music service, which will likely integrate with iTunes and use the company's MobileMe service (which may be offered free-of-charge when the changes rollout!).
Another firm bet for iOS 5.0 is advanced voice recognition, as it transpired recently that Apple was working closely with the voice recognition gurus at Nuance to make vocal-control a real selling point for the next generation of iOS devices.
So things are looking rosy for Apple devotees around the globe! Not only is the iPhone 5 finally nearing release, but the iPhone 4 has just dropped in price too! So you can either treat yourself to a slice of Apple goodness for free, or wait and splash the cash on what will be an impressive (but expensive) new gadget! An interesting summer lies ahead.
We compare the iPhone 4 to the rumoured specs we think will be appearing on the iPhone 5 to see what's different
With the grand reveal for Apple's iPhone 5 expected to be a short while away, we compare the rumour with the reality and look into what's on the agenda for the biggest device launch of the year and how it stacks up against the iPhone 4. It's safe to assume that the iPhone 5 will raise the bar in each category, but by how much?
Display
The iPhone 4's 'Retina Display' is still regarded as the benchmark by which other companies judge their devices and the 3.5-inch LED-backlit IPS screen has earned each and every one of those plaudits. It offers peerless clarity, vivid colours and ranks among the most responsive displays we've ever used.
With that in mind we think it's safe to assume that the iPhone 5 will be packing something breathtaking, which knocks the iPhone 4 into a cocked hat. What we know so far (or think we know) is that it will come with a curved display à la the Samsung Nexus S (could this be what the recent patent kerfuffle was all about?) and the size may be boosted from 3.5-inches to somewhere around 4-inches.
Camera
Another feature that has won the iPhone 4 plenty of fans is the camera, and although it's only a 5-megapixel offering the quality is quite superb. The inclusion of an LED-flash was a must-have addition after the slew of complaints levelled at Apple about older iPhones, and to up the ante further Apple provisioned the iPhone 4 to capture video at 720p too!
The iPhone 5 is rumoured to feature an 8-megapixel snapper which will undoubtedly come with an LED-flash, and it's likely that the video capturing facility will see an upgrade to 1080p, to allow the device to fall into line with the market leading Android devices on offer.
Power
The iPhone 4 jogs along at a pretty brisk pace thanks to the 1GHz Apple A4 CPU and proceedings are helped along nicely by the 512MB RAM installed, but let's not forget the iPhone 4 doesn't truly multi-task, so the power is dispersed nicely among the OS and other features without really being taxed.
What we're expecting to see on the iPhone 5 is a dual-core 1GHz CPU and around 768MB RAM , but this extra oomph may be placed under strain if the device finally offers users what they've been crying out for: true multi-tasking!
Form
iPhone 4 - 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 137g
The iPhone 4 cuts a pretty impressive figure and we wouldn't expect the iPhone 5 to deviate too much from Apple's master-plan. The same thin, light physique is on the cards for the next device, though the iPhone 5 may offer something for users to get hold of, rather than being a sleek but slippery metal and glass affair.
Over the years the one thing people have come to expect from Apple is style and design quality, and that isn't about to change all of a sudden with its biggest device to date.
Software
There has been much speculation regarding whether or not the iPhone 5 will launch with iOS 5.0, and it still remains unclear whether or not this will be the case.
It would be an odd product launch for Apple (especially seeing as the device may actually be called '5') without the next generation of software being used to launch the smartphone though, so we're hopeful.
Supposedly the next iteration of iOS has been scheduled for a September release (which could tally with a delayed iPhone 5 release of course) and we know that it will feature an overhauled notifications system, to provide users with actual information rather than the current cryptic clue system that is currently in effect in the iPhone 4 (and other iOS devices).
You can also look forward to a cloud-based music service, which will likely integrate with iTunes and use the company's MobileMe service (which may be offered free-of-charge when the changes rollout!).
Another firm bet for iOS 5.0 is advanced voice recognition, as it transpired recently that Apple was working closely with the voice recognition gurus at Nuance to make vocal-control a real selling point for the next generation of iOS devices.
So things are looking rosy for Apple devotees around the globe! Not only is the iPhone 5 finally nearing release, but the iPhone 4 has just dropped in price too! So you can either treat yourself to a slice of Apple goodness for free, or wait and splash the cash on what will be an impressive (but expensive) new gadget! An interesting summer lies ahead.
Glow Hockey 2 For Android, It’s What Tron Folks Do For Fun
Tweet
FEATURES:
+ Multiplayer (on the same device).
+ 2 table themes.
+ Colorful glow graphics.
+ Smooth and responsive game play.
+ Realistic physics.
+ Quick play mode (single player), challenge yourself with 4 difficulty levels (easy to insane).
+ 4 selectable paddles and pucks.
+ Vibrate when goal.
*Android Market Link*
The good folks over at Natenai Ariyatrakool have decided to release a second version of their popular Tron looking hockey game. Glow Hockey 2 delivers better graphics and game play for single users or multi users (same device). Single users can be challenged by the computer and multi-users, it’s recommended you play on a tablet if you can otherwise screen play can be a little tight. We’d imagine the game play would be extremely smooth on a dual-core device. Check out the cool features the game offers below and don’t forget to let us know what you think. Hit the break for some cool screenshots and to check out the video demo of the game in action. There’s also an Android market link for the download as well.
+ Multiplayer (on the same device).
+ 2 table themes.
+ Colorful glow graphics.
+ Smooth and responsive game play.
+ Realistic physics.
+ Quick play mode (single player), challenge yourself with 4 difficulty levels (easy to insane).
+ 4 selectable paddles and pucks.
+ Vibrate when goal.
*Android Market Link*
