Archive for: eclair
Android 2.3 itself may be going on 6 months old but that is sadly not deterring phone manufacturers from “updating” said phones to version of Android 1-2 generations behind. Take for example Sony Ericsson’s late to the party (why even bother coming) Android 2.1 update for the Xperia X10. While the Rachel UI is full of eye candy and Sony’s own touches, we have a hard time finding any excuse for such delinquency. Perhaps Sony is recruiting anyone and everyone (including Sony Ericsson employees) they can for their new security team…
For those still interested, Android 2.1 will bring the following more important updates to the Xperia X10 hardware:
- Continuous auto-focus (still and video)
- Face detection in video capture
- Homescreens expanded from three to five
Nothing to write home about mind you, though for those who are in love with SE’s Android hardware it’s a grand day indeed. For more information and expediting the upgrade process, point your browsers right over here.
Source: Sony Ericsson
- November 29, 2010 6:24 pm
Out of all the Android handsets available for purchase, few would argue against the fact that Sony’s Xperia X10 is one of the sleekest units money can buy. However, all that eye candy doesn’t come without one massive con — super slow updates. While the Xperia X10 has only been available in the U.S. since August 2010, it has been available elsewhere around the globe since March. And yet it still ships and runs with Android 1.6 (Donut). Up until now, many would point the finger at Sony. After all, it is they who design and market the tweaked Rachel UI that runs atop Android. As many of you already know, special skins are one of the biggest causes of delays. But even then, Sony may not be the only party to lay blame with. According to SE, AT&T isn’t helping…
- November 4, 2010 12:49 pm
Moto Backflip users have been stuck at Android 1.5 (Cupcake) since the device’s release. Blame Motorola’s custom skin and focus on higher-end devices. But alas, today is your day to shine. The Android 2.1 (Eclair) update is finally coming — November 9th. With it, users can expect such things as greater integration with Google services, new widgets, a total of 7 homescreens, a tweaked media gallery, and access to countless new apps that are only available to 2.0+ devices.
Yeah — Android 2.1 is last year’s news. But for Backflip owners, I’m sure they’ll take whatever bone AT&T and Motorola are willing to throw them. Backflip users: Let us know how it goes once the bits start flowing.
Update
The update has actually started rolling out to a small group of users today. It will go “global” (U.S. Only) by November 9th. Sorry for the confusion.
Sony Xperia devices have been languishing with Android 1.6 since release many months ago. Though it appears Sony will finally make right on their promises of a “late October” release for the Android 2.1 update. Starting October 31st, the first batch of unbranded Xperia devices in Nordic countries (read: non-U.S. customers) will start to see the update pushed out, with the rest of the world joining the party throughout November.
For those who have forgotten, the 2.1 update will bring 720p video recording, continuous auto-focus, and plenty of more minuscule tweaks and bug fixes throughout the system.
Android 2.1 is definitely a welcome upgrade to the current software installed. But with Android 2.2 already outdated and 2.3/3.0 just around the corner, we can’t help but request that Sony try to move things along a little faster…
Oh Dell Streak how you tease us with your massive 5″ screen and speedy innards. So far, you’ve remained a sort of forbidden fruit, flaunting your awesomeness but never quite telling us about your real self, or when we can hold you. But never more. Dell has come forward to dish the dirty details on your secrets — August 13th for $299 w/ 2-year AT&T contract or $499 w/o contract.
Yes. You are a pricey date, but a date none the less. I won’t complain as I whisk you away in my clammy mitts, anxious about the hours of fun time we’ll have together. Can’t wait ’til you get here. See you soon…
If Android’s vanilla wrapping is getting a bit long in the tooth for you, there’s plenty of options to be had via the Android Market or even one of many, many Android forums. Customization is one of Android’s strong suits. But what if you wanted Samsung’s TouchWiz3 up and running on your Eclair or Froyo device? Why yes, you can now have that too. Best get a jump on it before Samsung get’s all Cease and Desisty over it…
[TouchWiz for Froyo (and Eclair)]
And the Android news keeps on a flowin’. Let’s get right to it: Droid X. It’s arguably the hottest Android device on the market right now with it’s 4.3-inch 854 x 480 display. And now, thanks to Verizon’s Droid X coming out party, we know the full shebang.
And here we go: Android 2.1 (Froyo/2.2 available as an update later this summer), new skin atop Android, 1GHz TI OMAP3640 processor, 8-megapixel camera w/ dual LED-flash and 720p video recording, 8GB of onboard storage w/ support for up to 32GB via microSD (16GB microSD card included with phone), and HDMI out. Whew! Quite the contender there, isn’t it?
Moving past the hardware side of things and jumping into the month-to-month sacrifices looks a little less “exciting”. Your standard 2-year commitment is present, complete with $199 sale price. Where it gets interesting is the WiFi hotspot feature. It’s $20/month extra on top of your $30/month data plan. Crap, but no different than any other carrier out there.
Where it starts to suck though is in the data cap and overage limit — 2GB cap w/ overage charges looking something like $0.05/MB. Yes, folks. We’re counting by MB’s. Verizon is slipping back into 2001. I’ve already voiced my opinion on AT&T’s oppressive 5GB cap on tethered devices. Verizon’s isn’t anywhere near “better”.
To be fair, data sucked down through the phone itself with no devices tethering is still being considered “unlimited”. So VZW’s got a leg up over AT&T on that front.
Last but not least — the skin. How do you guys feel with the new Android theme laid on top? What about the Droid X overall?
The HTC Evo 4G is one helluva phone. Through and through, it’s got a lot going for it. Though one thing that bothers some people, particularly the more “hipster” crowd, is that boring black garb that seems to encase oh so many electronics. From time to time, phone manufacturers switch it up a bit by offering different case colors for consumers to choose. In the case of the HTC Evo 4G, it’s black or….black. Until now.
A new tip from an Engadget reader has HTC releasing a white HTC Evo 4G on July 11th exclusively through BestBuy. According to this same tipster, the white Evo 4G will remain a BB exclusive until August 8th at which point it will branch out to Radio Shack and Sprint retails stores en mass. I have to say, the white paint job does look pretty cool on the Evo’s larger than life casing.
If you really can’t wait, word is you can go on ahead and put in your pre-order status at BestBuy starting today. So if it’s a white Evo 4G you crave, now is the time to act.
Anyone diggin’ the new color?
MetroPCS may miss out on…pretty much all the cool stuff (as does any smaller regional carrier), but that doesn’t mean they can’t get in on this Android revolution either. If you haven’t noticed, there’s an Android for everyone these days it seems.
So the device in question — the unnamed gadget before your eyes right about. Some basic specs include a 600MHz proc (same as Moto Droid’s) and what appears to be a display in the low 3.x-inch spectrum. Also, considering the fact this baby is shipping with Moto Blur, Moto isn’t shooting themselves in the foot and wasting all of our time (read: it’s coming with Android 2.1). Granted, I’m rockin’ Froyo (2.2) on my Droid right now. But 2.1 is a helluva lot better than 1.5 or 1.6. Hopefully those days are numbered…
Other tidbits such as RAM, ROM, name, release, and price are all up to you to speculate on at this point. Though what we can say is the processor has some potential. Being that it’s shared with the Droid, we can assume that this mystery device will overclock just as well, meaning easy 1.2GHz kernels wringing every last ounce of performance from this beaut (Is it really?).
So there ya have it MetroPCS fans. It’s not an Incredible or EVO 4G, but it’s somethin’. And somethin’ is so much better than nothin’. So take what you can get and hope for the best.
