8
Feb
2011
Nexus S coming soon to Vodafone
The original Nexus One set the mark for Android phones, why not? After all it was one that Google monitored from conception to realization from day one and it was more of a mark for all other Android devices to be judged on then being a device that had mass world appeal. That being said, Google followed up last year’s hit with a revision dubbed the Nexus S, one that sports not only 1GHz Hummingbird processors, but support for NFC as well.
While U.S customers have been experiencing the joys of the Nexus S, most of us here in the U.K have been missing out, even though this is a GSM device. That said, we’re hearing that Nexus and Google will be bringing the playground here to the UK in the form of Vodafone.
According to said company’s Group Director of Terminals, Patrick Chomet: “It’s great news that our customers will very soon be able to get Google’s Nexus S direct through our stores. At Vodafone we work closely with our partners across the industry to offer our customers a leading smartphone range that includes the latest innovations in product and user experience.”
Samsung’s DJ Lee who is the Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing Team at the company’s Mobile Communications Division had similar words: “I am very pleased to introduce this amazing mobile experience to Vodafone’s customers. Nexus S integrates Samsung’s best-in-class hardware and technology with Android’s stunning new features and user experiences. Nexus S enables users to enjoy the latest mobile technology and faster multimedia content with an intuitive user experience.”
Of course, no one is going to blame Google, Samsung or Vodafone with their offer, but isn’t it wise to wait just a week more to see what’s up at MWC before jumping ship for a Nexus S?
Source: Vodafone
23
Dec
2010
Google Nexus Set To Go On Sale in UK from Dec 22
The Google Nexus S is slated to be released in UK with the Android 2.3 Ginger Bread OS on December 22. Customers can pre order at selected stores of Carphone Warhouse and Best Buy UK.
Following a decision on price cut, Google Nexus S is now priced at a reasonable £429.95. This is a welcome move on the part of the manufacturer.
First review:
With shifting allegiance from HTC, the Google Nexus S boasts Samsung’s trademark glossy finish. Awarded 4 stars by TechRadar, the Google Nexus S is touted as the best android device in the market today. And quite true to this description the Google Nexus S is equipped with some of the best features like:
- a 4 inch (94 mm) super AMOLED display with 800X480 WVGA resolution
- NFC
- 1GHz processor, 16GB of storage
- a 5 megapixel camera
- a VGA resolution camera in the front for video calls
- color saturated panel with black and crisp edges
- empowered with contour display technology
- limited hardware control with just a power button and volume rocker
- supports quad band GSM/EDGE and triband UMTS/HSPA (900/1700/2100)
However, according to preliminary review, the absence of a micro SD card slot is one negative element of the phone’s design.
Carphone Warhouse and Best Buy UK has reported being positive about sales ever since news of the price slash hit the market. Indeed, both the retailers have cut the market price from £550 to £430 for the SIM free version of course. The contract price is rated at £30 per month with the contract period ranging over two years.
This second Nexus mobile, following on from the Nexus One, is Google’s prime device for Android 2.3’s release. And silence has been maintained on the price slash issue. It is true that the earlier marked price was a bit too high to affect the sales of the device positively. Perhaps, this is what drove Google to release the Nexus S at the revised reduced price.
26
Jul
2010
Android Market is Fragmented, Needs Work
While it is quite true that the Google Android operating system is indeed the most widely used smart phone mobile platform in the world, it is also the most fragmented (not counting the Symbian operating system of course).
The reason for this is due to the fact that so many handsets of different configurations are using the Android OS. Phones that come with varying touch screen sizes, display resolutions, internal memory, RAM, processor speeds and various other hardware configurations run Google’s open source mobile OS. This makes it hard to come up with a new version of the Android that would run on all mobile phones.
Add in the fact that the firmware updates that Google releases are different from operator specific updates that are compatible with users who are under a contract or tariff, and you have a mobile platform that needs some serious reworking.
Looking at this, it shows a bit of a reason as to why the previous Russian rumors about the 3.0 Gingerbread requiring strict hardware standards have popped up: because Google actually needs it. While it would be too much of a requirement for all Android devices to have 4 inch touch screens and 1GHz CPUs (as stated by the rumor), Google does need to set a new bar.
The hard part here is actually declaring some Android devices as incompatible with further updates. Which means that there will be phones stuck with running the older versions of the OS; it’s a big price to pay if Google wants to standardize the platform and help the OS’ market grow.
As it is, users of Android smart phones are taking a big gamble with each app purchase as some apps simply do not work on specific phone models –not Android OS versions. The lack of uniformity in the user experience for Android owners will have to be fixed is Google’s platform is to fully succeed.
9
Jul
2010
Apple Takes a New Approach to Data Mining
Apple is not exactly an industry friendly phone maker, but they certainly take the effort to try and take care of their end users (barring the whole antenna issue of course). This is evidently seen in the iAds system that has been implemented.
While Apple obviously stands to gain a lot from the new system, it seems that the folks at Cupertino have studied hard in order to create a system that end users would not fully object to. The iAds system has been designed to record user data regarding app downloads and app usage patterns from iPhone users, but at the same time, it prevents marketers and direct advertisers from being able to get the data directly.
This is because the iAds system takes care of all the data management and of course, ad targeting. Any user seeing an ad can rest assured that the data used to select that banner or popup was done by a system that was operating outside the control of the advertiser.
On the other hand Apple is not exactly tracking data that they do not originally have –with the small exception regarding user’s app usage patterns. The iTunes store keeps a transaction and download history for all users. This is the data that is used for targeted ads –in this sense it is easy to see how the iAds system is able to target users without having to reveal any data to Apple’s ad clients.
Apple’s decision to reveal this data is actually very important. The company has managed to avoid the same pitfalls that Google and Facebook had serious problems with. At the very least, this is where Steve Jobs gets to show off something that he is able to do better than his competitors.
The iAds system is already implemented in the latest version of the Apple iOS.
7
Jul
2010
How Mobile Sat Nav on Mobile is Changing the GPS Industry
With Nokia Ovi Maps, Google Maps and the Apple iPhone GPS App Skobbler offering free voice guided sat navigation services to users, is there really room on the industry for today’s dedicated GPS devices?
Onboard navigational tools from Tom Tom and Garmin are taking second priority to smart phones that offer users free sat nav services. And with the offers being delivered the various mobile phone makers, dedicated GPS companies are having trouble keeping up with all the location based services and features that the average smart phone can offer.
But this does not completely rule out the need for GPS tools.
While the average person can completely rely on accessing Google’s Maps and street view on their XPERIA X10 Mini to get around town, a professional firefighter cannot afford to avail of such free services. The same is to be said for government and volunteers that rely on digital navigation. Law enforcement, medical teams and even delivery personnel still rely on devices made by TomTom –despite the fact that smart phones offer a similar feature.
The big difference is in the maps. While there is nothing that will tell you that Google’s maps are in any way less accurate than TomTom’s data, Google is not going to be held accountable for their content either. And that is the assurance that TomTom and Garmin gives to their users.
For a regular user, it is acceptable to do away with having a dedicated car GPS device –if you do not have one yet and simply to rely on your smart phone. The only real concern here is to be careful with the monthly data allowance and to always have a car charger around as having the service running will be a drain on the battery.
Also, it would be a wise decision to invest in a reliable car dock for the handset in order to have the device located at an easy to view location for accessing data and for referencing the map.
2
Jul
2010
Three Reasons Why You Should Get an HTC Desire
The HTC Desire is currently one of the most highly-rated Smartphone in the market. In fact, if you browse through a number of mobile phone reviews about the Desire online, you’re unlikely to find one that has anything bad to say about this wonderful device. Well, if you’re still searching for a negative review then you ought to look elsewhere as this particular article is all about why you should stop scouring the web and head straight for one of the HTC Desire deals, instead.
The Features
To put it simply, the HTC Desire is one of the most impressive Smartphones we’ve seen in a while. It packs in features such as a 5-Megapixel camera, full voice and data connectivity options, and an excellent software + hardware combo. With its 1 GHz monster of a processor, the Desire is also one of the fastest and most responsive Smartphones around.
The Operating System
The HTC Desire has been gifted with Google’s Andoroid operating system. This OS is very impressive and some critics are saying that it has topped the likes of the iPhone’s or the Blackberry’s proprietary operating systems. We can’t disagree. With all that awesome Google apps on board, combined with a very user-friendly and high performance OS, the Android is definitely currently the one to beat.
The Price
Right now, the iPhone 3GS is the most popular Smarpthone in the market (though the newly released iPhone 4 is likely to change that). However, if you’ve been paying attention to what we’ve been saying then you’ve probably realize that the HTC Desire is a much better mobile than the 3GS. Even better is that it’s much cheaper. For only around £400 you can get your hands on your own desire. That’s around £140 cheaper than the famed iPhone 3GS.
2
Jul
2010
Android Gingerbread in New Rumors
While we are all waiting for the release of the new Android Froyo update for the many smart phones running Google’s powerful, open source, operating system –Google has been busy in their labs working on what would be the newest version of the Android OS: version 3.0 Gingerbread.
The name (and version number) has already been announced during the Google I/O conference. But with the expected launch date of “end of 2010” being several months away, the current focus for many is on the 2.2 Froyo –which is still not released for a great majority of handsets. Right now, only the Google Nexus One is able to make use of the update that is available. While it is expected that compatible patches will also be released in the next few weeks, none have yet to be made available.
Anyway, the rumors regarding the new version 3.0 Gingerbread are both impressive and at the same time, a little hard to believe. The source of the rumors has been traced to a Russian tech podcast that states that the new 3.0 version will be made specifically for high end Android devices –while mid to low range handsets will be sticking with version 2.2 Froyo. While such a move would not be surprising (Microsoft is doing the same with Windows Mobile and the upcoming Windows Phone 7), Google is not quite likely to take that route.
Right now, Google’s mobile platform is the most used OS –considering that there are so many handsets that make use of the OS. Pushing version 3.0 to abandon the older OS would mean alienating a large percent of Google’s current users. Also, Google also announced at the I/O conference that they plan to make the Gingerbread something close to a standard version –stable and with minimal compatibility issues so that all devices have a specific benchmark to meet.
1
Jul
2010
What is New with Android Froyo?
So it is the latest Android OS version, but with so much hype about the new Froyo, it is getting hard to figure exactly what is so special about the new version. We already know that the Os update has been released for the Google Nexus One. In the meanwhile, the Desire, Wildfire and Legend (which is HTC’s killer Android trio for this season) and several other handsets such as the Motorola Milestone and the Samsung Galaxy S might have to wait a little while longer for a compatible patch to be released.
With the launch of Adobe’s Flash Player for the Android 2.2 Froyo pre-empting the actual OS itself, many are wondering when the new era of Flash on smart phones will actually start. The players are all in place and all the industry needs now is a massive multi phone update to the new Android version.
Of course, the new OS is going to be bringing users more than just Flash support. In fact, the new Froyo updates have so much to offer that Flash support ends up becoming an extra feature.
The most obvious difference in the new OS is that the interface now has a cute mascot telling you what to do. And unlike Microsoft Office’s annoying paperclip, the Android Robot (a term that would make science fiction fans cringe) actually offers useful advice.
One of our favorite improvements is in the camera user interface. When taking photos, users can now easily adjust the settings, add effects and basically control every element of the shot in order to provide the best image possible (of course, users might want to brush up on the basic theories of shutter speed and aperture to figure out what exposure settings are best under certain light conditions). At the very least, the new UI lets users add in cool effects to photos too.
29
Jun
2010
The Kill Switch: Why Our Gadgets Need It
Smart phon
e technology affords us plenty of things, abstract and otherwise. From information access to simple convenience to pure entertainment, these gadgets are designed and made with the end user in mind. The innovation does not end there, aside from good hardware, manufacturer’s also select great software as well. Together these two elements provide users with the power of smart phone technology.
Of course, things are not always perfect –especially with software. While the occasional errant software issue can fixed with a quick patch or update, there are some apps that actually manage to get past manufacturer’s unique screening processes and would perform tasks that they were not intended for.
The kill switch for apps has been developed in order to combat this issue. While Google has not open declared how the kill switch is actually activated, they have formally announced that the feature does exist and they will use it if it proves necessary.
Basically, a kill switch is a method by which apps can be remotely disabled and even uninstalled or deleted. This is use as a last-resort in order to combat malicious apps or apps with unannounced behaviors.
Some users might feel worried or even unsecure with a kill switch, and while that is a normal reaction, many should know that the technology has been around for quite some time –and Google is not the only company to use it. Even Apple’s Steve Jobs has announced that the iPhone also has a similar feature.
Many articles have stated that Jobs “admitted” having a kill switch, but that is misleading. The man announced it; having a kill switch is not an error that has to be confessed. In fact, it would actually be wrong for manufacturers to not have a kill switch as that would leave their devices openly vulnerable to attacks by malicious applications.
28
Jun
2010
Android Smart Phones Getting Froyo Update
Google has finally released a final build of the Android 2.2 Froyo update and that file is now available for people to download. Many have reported that the update does not appear on their handsets which means that this patch will not work on all Android operating systems. It has been confirmed that users would need to have the FRF50 firmware if they want to get the latest version of the Android.
Initial tests on the new Android 2.2 Froyo shows that Google has been true to their word in terms of the improved performance; the screens shift faster, apps and features load quicker and overall, the phone experience feels a lot smoother. In some ways, the update makes it feel like the CPU itself has been boosted in speed.
Web browsing has also been improved in the case of loading Java faster, however, since some internet connections are really slow, it is hard to see the big improvement –though when the connection is fast and stable and users are viewing pages with plenty of Java script, the performance boost is pretty noticeable.
Tethering and turning the handset into a WiFi hotspot have been confirmed, though these have yet to be tested. The feature has been much in demand among many smart phone owners in order to make full use of many 3G data plans and the inclusion of this to the Android is a welcome addition.
Naturally, the most anticipated feature is the Adobe Flash Player. Fortunately, Android smart phone owners do not need to wait any longer as Adobe has already released the downloadable Flash Player update just two days ago. The software development company was met with surprised and confused reactions from people as the player was only compatible with Android 2.2 and only the Nexus One has the OS at that time. Users of HTC’s Desire handset are expecting an update to Froyo soon.
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