Another unfinished tablet that we were able to get our hands on at IFA-2010, was the Interpad by E-Noa. This 10 inch slate had Android 2.2 installed, and E-Noa said that there is a custom skin in the works to go on top of it. They are keeping the lid tight on the details of the skin, until it is ready for prime time.
The tablet will have optional 3G/UMTS but will not be able to make cellular calls. The only thing available would be cellular data access. A Tegra 2 chip keeps this thing running smoothly and we did not have any Wi-Fi access (b/g/n) to the device, so could not put the browser to the test. Among the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 is incorporated, and E-Noa is claiming the battery life is around 8-12hrs from the 3,500mAh pack.
1080p playback can occur, with MPEG2, H.264 and VC-1 codecs, among others. It is hard to give our true full opinions, without the tablet being completely finished. When put up against the Toshiba Folio 100 we are not sure we would pick this one over the name brand. The Wi-Fi only version is said to come in around€399 ($515) and will have plenty of competition, with all the current announcements of Android tablets coming lately.
[via SlashGear]
)Image Credit: Modaco
Score another one for the open source Android developer community over at XDA. Some of the users over there have discovered another update to the Froyo ROM for the Nexus One, with build number FRG33. It has been found that the ROM has some minor bugfixes and a newer version of the installed radio than in the latest official released build.
A lot of users were hoping that this leaked ROM might be a Gingerbread build because of the "G" in the build number, but after unpacking it was found to be the above mentioned ROM.
Some users are reporting that their WiFi is responding faster when connecting, and some other speed improvements. The folks over at Modaco are responsible for the benchmark graphic pictured to the left, showing some slight increases in speed.
The ROM has already been packaged to work on any phone, but there is a warning out there that this image could mess with your ability to access the Market. There is a workaround talked about here.
As always, take caution when you are flashing and installing ROMs, you do it at your own risk!
+1 to the Android Dev community for this win!
XDA Discovers Updated ROM for Nexus One originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
Are you growing tired of the constant flow of Android phones that all feature roughly the same design? While wondering the halls of IFA this week I came across one of the coolest concept phones I have ever seen.
The Huawei Hx is a smartphone that features a physical keyboard which is completely enclosed inside the device. The QWERTY keyboard slides out with a unique mechanism which allows it swivel and double as a kick stand.
I have no clue if we will ever see this thing again, but the booth babe was telling me it launches this year.
Hot or not?
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Related PostsArchos has been in the Android game for awhile now, but I never really gave them much respect and generally considered their first-gen Android tablets as cheap (to put it nicely). However, after playing with their new lineup of Internet tablets at IFA this week, I think I’m ready to fork over my cash for one and become an Archos fanboy.
For quite some time now I have wanted to purchase an Android tablet, but nothing has fit what I was looking for. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is hands-down the best effort yet, but I’ve really been wanting something a little bigger (like 10 inches) and I’m not too thrilled about purchasing it from a carrier.
It feels like someone read my mind because the new Archos 101 is exactly the device I have been waiting for. If you are looking for an affordable tablet to browse the web and consume media, then check out my top reasons for considering an Archos.
1. Size MattersWith five different models soon available, Archos gives you the choice of display size. Their new tablets will feature screens that measure 2.8, 3.2, 4.3, 7.0, and 10.1 inches.
Each tablet is also incredibly sleek. The Archos 101 (my fav) has a thiness of 12 mm and weighs only 480 g. I was amazed at how light the device felt in my hands (compared to other tablets) and the build quality was rock solid.
2. Android 2.2 with Flash Player 10.1The demos we got to sample were still running Android 2.1, but Archos is already working on Android 2.2 and expects to have it ready around launch time. Archos also confirmed they have partnered with Adobe and will make Flash Player 10.1 available.
Each tablet has an ARM Cortex processor (ranging in speeds from 600 MHz to 1 GHz) and they will all support Flash 10.1 meaning you can view your favorite online videos and access the growing library of optimized Flash (and Air) apps and games.
The Android build is mostly stock, with several Archos apps and widgets thrown in. It’s nice to see a manufacture stick with vanilla Android instead of creating some custom wacky skin.
Unfortunately, Google will not certify these devices because they don’t meet all their standards (no GPS, no cellular radio, etc.) which means you will not find the Google apps or official Android Market. Normally that would kill the deal for me, but in this case I don’t mind because I’m buying one mainly just to browse the web.
As an alternative, Archos will ship their tablets with the AppsLib market. I don’t have much experience with AppsLib, but I was told the number of developers and apps was quickly growing. There are quite a few devices out there that Google will not certify, so it appears AppsLib could become the lead alternative market once these tablets hit the street.
3. Pricing and AvailabilityTablet prices range from $99 up to $349. If you opt for the 10.1 inch model with 8 GB of internal storage, it will only set you back $299. It sounds like the 7-inch Galaxy Tab is going to retail around $600, so I really surprised to find out Archos’ larger offering can be had for half.
Best Buy will be one of the retail partners, so it will be really easy to walk into your local store and pick one up. I was told the 10 incher has a launch date of October 15th and it’s possible you could see the smaller ones before that.
4. No ContractsMaybe my favorite reason of all, there are no lame carrier contracts when purchasing an Archos tablet. I like being able to hand over my money up front and not have to deal with any monthly charges to use my device. All models include WiFi (b/g/n) so you easily tether it to your phone and still be connected anywhere you travel.
5. ExpandabilityThe 7 and 10 inch Archos tablets are loaded with some unique expandability options which allow you to connect with multiple devices.
Maybe I’m a unique customer, but I think there is definitely a group of us that want an affordable Android tablet to use around the house and have no need for an always-on cellular connection. Archos delivers that device and I was sold the moment I held one in my hands.
I’m just barely scraping the surface of what these tablets can do and I encourage you to visit the official Archos site and browse around. Check out the hands-on video I filmed with Will from IntoMobile and let us know what you think.
Would you consider purchasing an Archos tablet? If you think the devices are lacking, what other features would you like to see included?
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Related PostsLG Optimus One and Optimus Chic eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsChris Ziegler01629519499787580560050407972880036795441451386413214044903800608649924548339035Sources are saying that Google really wants to have their music service up and running by this Christmas. The plans Google has are, to allow music downloads along with the streaming of music to rival Apple’s iTunes Store. Andy Rubin is said to be having conversations with the labels to let them know how the service will look and run. Talk was made at this years Google I/O conference about the service coming later this year, and here we are at the start of September and we still have not seen or heard of anything confirmed.
Supposedly, from two sources, we heard that Google was planning to release the service with the newest version of Android or when 3.0 comes out and it looks like things are right on course. Google, as of right now, has not signed with any labels to get started on the music service, but if they are planning to launch it by Christmas they should be getting some details ironed out soon. We hope it comes soon because this has been one of the things that Apple has had an advantage on, against Google for a while. It would help make the competition even that much more tough. Where is that import iTunes music library button going to be again?
[via SlashGear]
)Android is slowly moving up the scale when it comes to web consumption, says Quantcast. Since November of 2009 Android has made it’s biggest gain and is up to 25%. Compared to last year, they are up 17% on the scale. What’s odd is Steve Jobs says more and more iOS devices are in the hands of people but the numbers are down from almost 70% to 56%.
This could only mean one thing, the amount of Android devices getting into the market is jumping by leaps and bounds. Another aspect of this could be, does this mean that Android users are consuming more things on the web? Either way, this is good to hear that Android is still having healthy growth and who knows by this time next year it could be a 50/50 split with Apple and Google. If you are thinking about buying and Android phone go ahead and do it, help the numbers go up.
[via Quantcast]
)Unless you just really do not like Star Wars how can you not think this looks cool? Verizon has puzzle challenges on their website that leak information about the Droid R2-D2 as you figure out the puzzles. Yesterday the pics of the docks were unlocked and–not that they perform or operate any better than the standard Droid 2–we think they look really cool.
Verizon is really doing something different here, and they for sure have the attention of all the geeks and Star Wars fans. Is it good marketing or just something that is humorous? We would like to hear what you think about the R2-D2 that will come out eventually. Would you think about getting it just because it is named and designed after a real Droid?
[via Phandroid]
)Archos has their whole group of Android devices at IFA-2010. We will start off first with the Archos 101 and 70. Both of these tablets are the bigger ones coming in a 10 and 7 inches. They both sport a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 3D OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics accelerator and WiFi b/g/n.
The capacitive touch screen on the 70 has a resolution of 800×480 and the 101 is 1024×600 and both incorporate multi-touch that appears to be buggy at times. The slates have HDMI ports on them to output 720p HD video on to your HDTV and support the video codecs as follow, AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF and 3GP. The 101 weighs in at 480 grams, and is just 12mm thick, and over all it feels very solid without any flexing of any kind. It also is sporting a kickstand on back to relieve your hands if you are watching a movie or wanting to give you an angle to type on. Games on the device looked stunning and were very responsive to the action.
Now let’s move on the the 70. It is defiantly more pocket friendly with the dimensions of, 201 x 114 x 10/14 mm (the 250GB hard-drive unit is thicker than the 8GB flash version). The touchscreen was more responsive on the 70 than it was on the 101, it lacks the two-stage kickstand and only props up for watching video. When it comes to the camera’s both devices have a front camera, but no camera on the rear. The Archos tablets, are running Eclair 2.1 and are said to be launching with Froyo 2.2.
The 43, 32, and the 28, are the smaller of the bunch ranging from 4.3 inches (FWVGA), 3.2 (WQVGA) and the 2.8 (QVGA). All three of these guys are small hand sized devices that are half PMP and half MID starting out at $99, then $149 and ending at $199. These will support all the same video codecs, as their larger brothers and will also launch with Froyo pre-installed. The Archos 28 and 32, both are running an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and the 43 gets a 1GHz version; all have WiFi b/g/n plus USB Host and Bluetooth 2.1. None have Android Market access, instead using Archos’ own AppsLib download store.
Archos’s 32 has 8GB of storage and comes equipped with a 720p capable camera, and with it’s low-res screen the browsing and typing are not the best experience to say the least. 43 is the best of the lower end devices despite it’s restive touch screen, rather than a capacitive. It has a really good sized display coming it at 4.3 inches, with plenty of features including, 720p video recording and playback (with a camera on the back), an HDMI output, up to 16GB of storage (with a microSD slot) and the same processor as in the bigger Archos 70 and 101. It will have Flash 10.1 support on board and we think with paired together, out of all 5 devices surely you can find one to suit your needs at a price point you can live with.
[via SlashGear]
)
Our friends over at androidswag.com have released some new must have Android items, including a deck of Cyanogen Mod cards pictured to the left! Along with the Cyanogen cards, there is an Android wall clock, mouse pad, business card holder and a home Welcome mat.
Check after the break for the gallery of new items, then head on over to AndroidSWAG to get you some awesome Android gear!
Check out the gallery
AndroidSWAG.com Announces New Goodies! originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
Over there in Europe, there’s a little show going on right now called IFA. And by little, we actually mean huge. And, as we had heard rumored well before its official kick-off, there’s plenty of Android related news, devices, and everything else flying around the event. As we’re sure you’ve already noticed, there’s hands-on videos all over the place, so hopefully you’re not getting sick of them. Because here’s another one, featuring Huawei’s Ideos S7 tablet and Ideos U8150 smartphone.
First and foremost, the smartphone. The cheap, cheap smartphone. The Ideos U8150 is meant to target the entry-level crowd, as it is rumored to have a price tag that borders on $150, without contract. Interestingly enough, though, the price doesn’t reflect the features. Under the hood you’ll find Android 2.2, but there is a 2.8-inch QVGA display. There’s a 3.2MP camera on the back. Additional features include the capacitive touhscreen, and a 3G mobile hotspot feature built-in. You won’t find a 1GHz processor, though, which isn’t surprising considering the price point.
As for the hands-on time with the S7 tablet? Well, there was no network connection available, so while we could play with the device a bit, we couldn’t really put it through its paces. Responsiveness on the home screen wasn’t the best, and there were a few times we were waiting for the device to catch up with us. Could the S7 tablet have been a good purchase at the beginning of the year, when there weren’t any real Android-based tablets on the horizon worth looking at? Probably. But that’s a totally different story now, isn’t it? Check out the hands-on videos, and make sure to let us know what you think in the comments.
[via SlashGear]
)We get an awful lot of emails from you guys wanting to share news, promote links, tips, etc. As much as we'd love to share everything that comes across the inbox, we simply can't. So, we decided to start a semi-regular series of posts called "The Ticker". These will be items that we think are worth covering, but not necessarily in a dedicated post. And away we go!
Porn and pirates hide Android's money maker
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/27/android_market_devs_unhappy/ (and as a developer I have to say it's 100% true)
Vignette for Android: Time-Lapse Feature - Press Release
Time-Lapse photography allows the user to take photographs at 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 second intervals.
Vignette's new Time-Lapse feature can be seen in action {at} http://www.vimeo.com/14489694
1 Click LbsTestMode on Captivate
Using Launcher Pro Activities I have created a 1 click icon to the LbsTestMode (GPS settings). I have created an easy walk though on how to do it on my blog, http://www.gmachine.net -Greg
NOTE: This is a similar trick, to a different set of settings, and using AnyCut to make the shortcut: http://www.tested.com/news/how-to-use-a-shortcut-to-keep-the-nexus-one-from-switching-to-edge/69/
Might be good to include both to make clear that this can be used to make shortcuts to all kinds of hidden activities.
First ever cross-platform real-time multiplayer mobile gaming tournament
Pure Pwnage releasing official Android app
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=9370
Press Release: iBastket
The Ticker (September 3rd) originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
Android Community has received a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for AT&T to review and had a chance to unbox it, along with take a first look at the hardware. The device currently runs Android 1.6 and has Sony’s skin with Timescape and Mediascape on board. It has a 4 inch LCD display, with Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot and 2GB card included along with 429MB of internal storage for apps.
We will put in some time with the device and put the pressure on it to see how it holds up, and how Sony’s skin is in everyday use. While we are doing that check out the unboxing and first look below to see what the phone has in store.
)
So just as expected it looks like the Fascinate will be available on the 9th of September. With the leaked screenshot it looks like you will have to come up with $200 dollars, and a signature on the dotted line to commit yourself into 2 years. Still not confirmed, what the pricing will be full retail if you decide you might want to get this as a pre-paid phone.
There is also talk about there being a by-one-get-one offer also when released. So we still think this is a tough choice for many. Get a Droid device or the new Samsung? It all comes down to personal opinion of course. Hey, if there is a BOGO you could always get both.
[via Android Central]
)ViewSonic announced the "world's first" dual-boot Android/ Windows 7 tablet earlier today at IFA 2010. The Android side of things is 1.6 which might turn away tech savvy early adopters, but the rest of the tablet sounds good on paper. The Viewpad 100 comes with a 10" capacitive LED touchscreen (1024x600), an Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, 16GB SSD, and 1GB DDR3 RAM. There are also two USB ports, Bluetooth, WiFi, A-GPS, an accelerometer, and a 1.3MP front-facing camera. Like us, you're probably wondering why two operating systems for the tablet. Here's the ViewSonic rationale.
"We want to supply users with a tablet computer that incorporates both Android and Windows as we believe in providing an open approach to mobile technology to users who may not wish to be tied to a specific operating system. The ViewPad 100 is aimed at those who want the speed and portability of Android without losing the advantages of having a Windows-based system. We recognise many users may be transitioning from a netbook but will possibly struggle with the learning curve of a new OS, even for simple tasks as uploading photos or using a VPN. Eventually they may choose to favour one over the other, but they will always have the choice.”
Look for the ViewPad 100 to arrive in October via authorized resellers in October at a MSRP of £549 ($845 US).
ViewSonic Announces Dual-Booting ViewPad 100 originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
So you had to know that once wasn’t enough when the hit of the IFA-2010 event, the Galaxy Tab is in the building. After spending some more quality time with the Galaxy Tab, we still have the same positive outlook that we had on our first hands on impressions. So for your viewing pleasure we have, went back and gotten more pictures and videos, enjoy.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab still fits very well in hand and surprisingly will fit in a jacket pocket without ripping the seams. You can also see that the screen real-estate is drastically bigger when put up against the 4 inch Galaxy S phone, and was not disappointing when compared to the Super AMOLED display in the phone. The larger screen has allowed for some better functionality with the email app and calendar app. The email app in landscape gives you a sizable two column view that supports POP, IMAP and Exchange, that will allow you to quickly switch between different accounts.
Current apps that you get in the Marketplace are not designed to run at a resolution of 1024 x 600, so Samsung has built in some app-resizing that stretches the current software. It is quite surprising at how good the apps do actually look. Running the HDMI dock you will be able to output full 1080p video to your HDTV along with 5.1 channel surround sound, which is another very welcomed addition.
We did hear some pricing rumors yesterday and Samsung is still keeping the lid tight on that because they are (just like we thought) working with the carriers on pricing and subsidy options. However Samsung is preparing the tablet to be available to multiple carriers just like they have done with their Galaxy S phones.
The Galaxy Tab will actually launch in Italy first, later in September, shortly followed by the UK before the end of the month (we’ve heard Vodafone are the likely carrier, though obviously Samsung wouldn’t confirm that). Samsung told us that this is the first of many tablets that they have in store for us, and plans for expanding the line in 2011 are imminent. We do highly expect to see bigger screened tablets available especially when they mentioned Android 3.0 and 3.5 yesterday.
Samsung has also said that they are working closely with Google to share code, so that will allow them to stay on top of the updates and allow minimal work to get Android running on the larger displays. Overall we are excited about the Galaxy Tab and think it is really cool. Hopefully, it will be available through several carriers, we are hearing the rumors it is coming to Sprint just this morning. In the mean time keep your browser home page set to Android Community to see how it unfolds.
[via SlashGear]
)Just the other day we heard the announcement of the ViewSonic ViewPad 7 and we were really anxious to get our hands on it. Low and behold, we ran across it at IFA-2010. We must say, for a 7 inch 2.2 Android tablet that is said to cost £350 ($539) with 3G and Wi-Fi data access, this tablet looks very compelling when compared to its direct rival the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
The ViewPad is a solid feeling tablet, with a glossy back and metal band around the sides. On the the back sits a 3 megapixel camera along with the company’s logo, also there is a front camera for making those video conference calls. The capacitive touchscreen was reasonably responsive, and the screen looks very nice. ViewSonic said, that you will be able to use the tablet as a cellphone also, when a survey reported most people said they would like the functionality built into it.
Running the tablet is a 600MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which is a little low compared to the other tablets and phones we have been seeing, but pages loaded quickly and the games ran without any lag. ViewSonic has left Google’s Android OS alone without any skinning on top, and have not made any mention of whether 3.0 Gingerbread will be available to the device. It seems like we could have a winner here at the cheaper price point that the ViewPad has. This device is unlocked and not paired with any carrier, so let’s see if it stays that way.
[via SlashGear]
)Gallery: For You Digital MX10 5-inch Android MID hands-on
For You Digital MX10 5-inch Android MID hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsChris Ziegler08348203759908332944035578138001894401260502556478414986919109522516095235246956037219266812147919701275253034959764856815317973462073067951095560990844213649640119485657681932763505703780034632396026023594081505577586430162951949978758056017214117192345817357061337028311076709930239531887001878231910219456665617116596144741402492417795081573370476468126938112773233091295646557018908450044255977280032093338726920390412202497939694651342