Archive for: Android
- February 10, 2012 9:43 am
PhoneArena has managed to snag a few images of an unannounced HTC device (see above) that features a design reminiscent of the Incredible 1 & 2. They speculate it could be a possible Incredible 3 or upcoming HTC Fireball.
As far as specs go, there isn’t anything breathtaking to be had: 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3″+ AMOLED display, 1 GB of RAM, 8mp/VGA rear/front cameras, LTE, and Android 4.0 ICSfar too long, wouldn’t you say?
It may sound like everyone in the world is picking on Google/Google Wallet/Android about “security”. Truth be told, we’re not meaning to (at least not today). But this latest issue is something that Google Wallet users will want to know as it could put them in the financial hot seat should their phone be lost, stolen or simply sold.
The new bug: A thief/hacker can delete the user data for Google Wallet on the device, set up a new account complete with new pin, and then select an option to use a previously used/saved pre-paid card.
Bug #2 was found by TheSmartphoneChamp team and have backed it up with video proof. We’d try it ourselves but we don’t have a Google Wallet capable device. That said, the same way to protect yourself in this instance (similar to the first security scare from earlier this week) is to put either a password or lockscreen pattern on your phone. It might be inconvenient for you now, but we’re fairly certain having to deal with stolen money/personal information will be a much bigger pain in your ass should your phone get snatched.
While we’ve known for some time that HTC had a slew of handsets lined up for Android 4.0 ICS in 2012, no specific time frames were given. Today, the uncertainty gets a bit clearer with HTC’s latest update which says we can expect Android 4.0 updates to hit the HTC Sensation, Sensation 4G and HTC Sensation XE by “end of March”, with the Sensation XL “following soon after”. That only leaves the HTC Rezound, Vivid, Amaze 4G, EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G, Incredible S, Desire S and Desire HD to go.
Be sure to keep checking back as we’ll keep you updated on the latest HTC (and other manufacturers’) Android 4.0 update schedules as they’re announced/leaked.
- February 9, 2012 12:54 pm
The process in which Android manufacturers update their hardware is pretty maddening. It goes something like this: New Android update is released by Google –> wait 2-8 months –> release to customers. So when Motorola’s Senior Vice President of Motorola’s Enterprise Business unit, Christy Wyatt, sat down to answer a few questions with PC World regarding Android’s upgrade process, one would think we’d get some juicier details on the inner workings of Moto’s system for Android upgrades and a valid reason for why updates take so long. Humorously, the response Wyatt gave to PC World is the same thing we’ve said time and time again — there are too many useless (our emphasis) variations in hardware that ultimately mean more time is needed to developer for each different model.
Another gem: customization (by Motorola) is also cited as a reason for update slowdowns. Our response is the same as it was to the “too much hardware” comment — get rid of it. The empty UI skins that manufacturers slap on top of Android add zero value. Let us stress that skins and manufacturer apps are two different things. The former is a waste of everyone’s time while the latter are generally pretty lackluster too, though do offer up some added functionality here and there.
Further casting doubt on the legitimacy of Wyatt’s response is the fact that individual Android developers whom have far less time, money, or living bodies to devout to updating hardware manage to get it down far faster. Why a company as large as Moto (or HTC, Samsung and LG) can’t have this stuff handled in a more timely manner is a conundrum that might have even stumped Einstein himself.
Motorola is calling out the very things they do as problems getting in the way of speedier Android updates yet they continually shoot themselves in the foot. How do these people get hired?
A teaser image showing what appears to be LG’s upcoming MWC handset of choice, the “Optimus Vu”, has trickled out. Physically speaking it’s about as simple and plain as a smartphone gets. On top of that, the dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm processor, 8 GB of storage, 1 GB of RAM, 8mp shooter, NFC, and Android 2.3 aren’t exactly grabbing our attention like “quad-core” or “Android 4.0″ would. Though, the 5″ display is somewhat unique all things considered. That said, should Android manufacturers even bother with “high-end” Android devices if they’re not going to ship with Android 4.0 moving forward? We don’t think so. LG?
For those looking for a bit more, Engadget has a photo of a phone that is supposedly the Optimus Vu in the flesh. Thoughts?
The HTC Sensation, a pretty awesome Android phone in its own regard, is now officially available for pre-order from Clove UK sans color. Besides the hue-shifting appearance, the whitened XE is otherwise identical to the original: 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3″ qHD (540 x 960) display, 768 MB of RAM/4 GB of ROM, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera w/ 1080p video recording capability, a 1,730 mAh battery, Beats Audio and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Look for the white Sensation XE to begin shipping on February 20th to our friends across the pond for £340 .
Web browsing on Android’s stock browser has been pretty decent so far. Next to Safari for iOS, it’s the next best (native) browser. But it could certainly be better.
Today, it gets better. Google has officially unveiled Chrome for Android, a more portable version of its desktop counterpart but with some interesting and useful finger friendly features tossed in.
After the break you’ll see a quick video showing off Chrome for Android’s new user interface as well as unique tab management and navigation. Nifty navigation/tab features aside, the underlying guts of Chrome for Android is better than the old stock browser, too. For starters, now that Chrome for Android is built off of the same open source Chromium project, updates should be (in theory) faster and easier for Google to push out as it allows the entire mobile-desktop browser landscape follow a much closer path.
Also, while Google has focused more on UI presentation and “natural” feeling throughout, the browser itself is a wee bit faster than the outgoing version. Finally, we’re stoked to see the ability to sign into Chrome for Android and have it automatically open up the tabs you’ve left open on your desktop version of Chrome, perfect for continuing your web browsing on the go.
Hop past the break for a quick video, screenshots and the download link (Android 4.0 required)!
Announcements of new hardware and software often get mistakingly posted before their official release (if they’re not already leaked beforehand). The “bad” affect it has on the company in question is debatable. We’d argue that the small leaks here and there only increase the anticipation and hype around a genuinely lusted after product/service.
Instagram for Android is the latest to suffer from pre-release release. The screenshot above was captured by an AndroidGuys reader and shows the Android Market’s “Featured App” as the currently unreleased Instagram for Android. Clicking on the link by said reader resulted in a failed journey into awesomeness (read: the link was broken). Still, despite leaving the Android Market empty handed, the person who caught the image above (as well as the rest of us) shouldn’t have to wait too much longer. Details around Instagram for Android have been constantly bantered back and forth in the online world.
Keep waiting everyone. It’s almost here.
The HTC Ville is an upcoming (rumored) dual-core device. On top of the mid-range hardware, the Ville will be the first device from HTC to ship with Sense 4.0. As we saw the other day, Sense 4.0 is actually pretty good looking thanks to its more reserved, less flashy aesthetics.
Today, we get another look at the Ville thanks to Chinese site ePrice. (Via) As we’ve stated before, the rumored Qualcomm S4 processor will bring a new level of battery life (for the better) as well as performance all while remaining rather svelte. Outside of the CPU and revamped Sense UI, the Ville isn’t all that special; an 8-megapixel camera and 4.3″ qHD (540 x 960) display round out the list of notable mentions.
While we’re happy to see HTC making the internal hardware of their phones more efficient, it is the quad-core packin’ Edge that has our full attention.
