Oh Geeze: Amid search/censorship fiasco, Google/China Unicom postpone Android launches.

You can’t say you didn’t see this coming…

Amid the fury of media coverage the last couple of weeks in regards to Google’s almost certain move of pulling out of China, it appears the little Android that could is finally feeling the effects.

Seeing as how Google is a huge backer of Android, hearing of delayed product launches for scheduled Android phone launches isn’t very surprising.

If you live under a rock, Google has made headlines the last couple of weeks for it’s sudden and abrupt position on no censorship — regardless of state/country laws. Being that this involves China, you can all guess where this is heading.

At this time, the Android launches are “postponed” according to Google spokeswoman Marsha Wang. Gadget lovers in China would of course a “rescheduled” comment comes rather soon. Looking at the full suite of things going on however means it doesn’t look too promising.

Chime in folks.

Alley Insider

Capacity aware flash drive concept is functional and good looking.

Form over function function over form. Which is more important? I guess it depends on the task at hand and the perspective of the person looking at said task. All too often in the gadget world, there are two extremes: extremely functional butt ugly products and gorgeous looking boxes of plastic and metal that do almost nothing.

The flash drive concept above (designed by Sokolova Ekateryna) strives to ace both. It’s main goal is of course to act as a storage medium. It’s second job is to look good. It’s third job is add an extra level of functionality and ease to your life via the small display that shows several numbers and information regarding space free and used. For all of it’s tasks, I say it succeeds.

One might say why make a big deal about a flash drive. It’s sole purpose is to store a buffet of 1′s and 0′s. Nothing more, nothing less. So why highlight this concept when there are literally millions of novelty and “custom” flash drives flooding the market?

Because I like it. Is there any other reason?

TechFresh > Tuvie

Oxford University puts the kibosh on Spotify on campus networks/computers.

Getting a good education in todays world is a must if you plan on getting anywhere in life. Those looking for such an education have many fine and prestigious schools across the world to choose from. Here in the states, Harvard is often heard when comparing various top schools as is Oxford for those in the UK. Today however we’re focusing on the latter and one decision in particular that has students bloddy angry. It all involves P2P file sharing, though, not in the way you’d think…

I’ve written about Spotify several times before because frankly, it’s awesome. Compared to all of the music streaming services in the states, it’s simply the best option. Unfortunately, numerous amounts of red tape and corporate push over have so far kept the UK born service out of the states. But a new development at one of the UK’s most recognized colleges: Oxford.

As is similar with most colleges, P2P and any type of file sharing service is banned on campus computers and networks. Up until this point, Oxford students were able to use Spotify anyway. I mean, it is a legal service with the only knock against it (according to the school’s policies) is that it was a P2P service. Like most of you know, P2P use is generally accompanied by hefty bandwidth usage meaning it puts a heavy burden on networks. Oxford’s network is apparently buckling under the load.

Naturally, students who have come to survive on Spotify’s vast streamable library to offset the overplayed and overhyped top 40 that routinely flood the airwaves aren’t the slightest bit happy. Likewise, the school maintains their position on P2P bans pertaining to Spotify.

So where do we go from here? In all honesty it isn’t that big of a deal in the grander scheme of things (read: Haiti). Not to mention, if school related functions on their network are starting to puke because of all this new fangled music streaming stuff, Oxford has every right to maintain the integrity of their network. Still, in the digital world, it’s a pretty big thing I’d say. It begs the question: Is there a better way to handle it? Perhaps time limits tied to a particular school logon — hourly, daily, weekly?

One possible way that Oxford and schools in general can get around this is by using tunneling and other network management technologies to limit how much bandwidth is allotted to applications and services such as Spotify. Doing so would keep school and student bodies equally happy (in theory).

With restrictions and false boundaries comes those looking to get around said limitations in order to get back to what was once theirs. Such tactics to geeks are like an “Independence Day” of sorts, reclaiming lost freedoms. To the IT/school organization however, it can often lead to various punishments including a blanket computer ban and expulsion. So tread lightly.

Any Oxford students or those familiar with the matter feel like chiming in?

Pocket-Lint

iPhone gaming now worthwhile. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars now available.

Call me a renegade, an outlaw, or someone who simply doesn’t like authority — I love the Grand Theft Auto series. It isn’t so much the killing innocent civillians, destroying cars, or shooting up random things as it is more the freedom to do whatever and go wherever I want. It is that unbound gameplay that truly draws me in. Of course, blowing up an intersection full of cars is always fun too.

Apple markets the iPhone/Touch as “the” mobile gaming platform. And in most aspects, it is. No mobile platform has as many games as the iPhone does. The diversity and visual candy that is finally coming forth from the iPhone is quite impressive indeed.

WIth all of that said, you can imagine I’m just a liiiitle bit excited with the release of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the iPhone. Finally, the game that has been rumored and leaked for many months is finally here. Mind you, we’ve been spoiled for some time now with PS2/3 and Xbox 360 graphics in the newer ull 3D style of gameplay. The iPhone, as capable as it is, is still a mobile device. Top down gaming is back. Well, it’s sort of a blend of top down and a more modern full 3D experience.

In short: It’s a lot of fun. Though one thing does get highlighted again — the lack of any physical gaming buttons will keep this from being the best it could be. The onscreen soft buttons are some of the best in the iPhone gaming league. But at the end of the day, you simply can’t beat a good old fashioned controller/physical buttons for gaming.

I’ve done enough chattering. Mosey on over to the App Store and pick up your copy of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the low price of $9.99. Considering the price of GTA on any other console, $9.99 is a steal. Wouldn’t you say?

[GTA: Chinatown Wars (iTunes Link)]

TechDigest

BlackBerry 8910 obsolete before it even launches. Nothin’ but good ‘ol 2G EDGE.

If you were holding out on the BlackBerry 8910 hoping that slim form factor would get a 3G kick with the latest 8910 iteration, prepare to be sorely disappointed. As we can see from this image depicting the internals of RIM’s 8900 refresh, 3G is absent.

Ok folks, this is how it is — In 2010, no one should release any so called “smartphone” without 3G. I understand 1-2 years ago for battery life, cost, yadda yadda, but it is again, 2010. We’re looking at 4G making it’s way to the masses and finally starting to catch on as as 2010 rolls into 2011 and more carriers start flippin’ that 4G switch. RIM is wasting their time with a 2G phone.

Granted, the 8910 will make use of e-EDGE which is an evolved form of EDGE that brings near 3G speeds. That’s great and all except the carriers have to have build that support into their infrastructure. Older towers and hardware will needed upgraded hardware — not cheap — while new towers and hardware can get by with a simple software upgrade.

Even still, spending countless millions on old technology when 4G is just starting it’s upward trend is stupid is it not?

Anyone else think RIM is spinning their wheels in supporting Evolved-EDGE?

Cellphone Signal

Motorola Ruth oozes averageness. *yawn*

If you thought the DROID was pretty tight and the N1 wasn’t quite your cup of tea and were instead looking forward to the next great Android handset, it’d be in your best interest to pass on up this newly leaked Motorola “Ruth”.

According to the user profile, two of the bigger specs — the processor and the display — consist of a Qualcomm MSM7200a processor and QVGA display. They don’t seem too high end do they? The real kicker — or kick in the pants — is that this codenamed “Ruth” will ship…brand new…with Android 1.5. Mind you, even though the Ruth appears to be on the lower end of things, Android 1.5 will be over a year old by the time this device rolls around.

Releasing new hardware with old software is stupid on multiple fronts. I guess the big question is: Did Motorola have a one hit wonder with the DROID?

Engadget > Cellphone Signal

Sprint issuing Samsung Moment updates like it’s 1982 — In-store pick up only for now…

When I was counting down the seconds until 2010, the biggest thing that stuck in my mind as something I needed to achieve in the coming year was seeing more of the inside of a Sprint store….not really. But that’s exactly what impatient Samsung Moment owners are going to have to do for the precious update from Sprint.

I’ll just lay it out there from the start. Having to physically go anywhere to download or obtain a digital good is stupid, inefficient, and wasteful. According to Sprint, the Samsung Moment update will be made available for download at some point in the near future, though no clear time table or date is given. Is it even worth trekking to town? You tell me…

• Battery life improvements

• Hard reset available in recovery mode

• Updates to several third-party apps: Visual Voicemail, NFL, NASCAR and Sprint TV

• Change to Emergency Dial on lock screen

• Network Assist GPS (aGPS)

So you tell me. Is it worth it?

Android Central