Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sony Xperia ST21i with ICS leaks out, shows off its chunky physique

It may not be as sleek as its S kin, or even as powerful as that mid-level U, but this recently leaked Xperia ST21i might just have enough goodies to lure a handful of you in. According to Techblog, this thick, 3.2-inch unit packs some pretty run-of-the-mill features, including an 800MHz Qualcomm chip paired with 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel shooter to help with those Instagram shots and a low 480 x 320 screen res. Unlike a few of the other Xperias still waiting to be served, though, the ST21i has already been filled with a portion of Google's famous ICS. No word yet on when the pudgy device will see a legit introduction, but until then you can peek at some extra photos at the source link below.

Friday, April 27, 2012

HTC working on own processors with ST-Ericsson

It seems HTC is readying its own set of processors. According to a report in China Times, Taiwanese manufacturer has signed a memorandum of cooperation with ST-Ericsson to develop application processor for low-end smartphones.
This processor is expected to go in production next year. There are currently no details available about this deal between HTC and ST-Ericsson, but we expect an announcement soon.
With manufacturers like Samsung and Apple already using their own processor in devices, HTC too wants to reduce dependence on Qualcomm and NVIDIA.

HTC working with Facebook to make a custom phone for the social network

Another day and another set of rumours, this time is we are talking about the Facebook phone. It seems the fabled Facebook phone is back, and if we believe Digitimes, HTC is building it.
Tired of step-motherly treatment from Google after the Nexus One, HTC has decided to take the matters in its own hands and is working with Facebook to make a customised smartphone. Digitimes states that this phone will be running on Android but will integrate Facebook functions deeply in the device.
Facebook is expected to further expand its investments and sources of income after becoming a public company, and the launch of own-brand smartphones will be part of its development strategy, the sources told Digitimes.
Another interesting tidbit coming out of this report is that Samsung will continue to build Nexus smartphones. So, if you were hoping to see a Motorola or LG, or even Sony Nexus smartphone, you are out of luck.

Google starts selling Galaxy Nexus on Google Play store in US

It is one of those days, when I envy the Android fans in United States, the reason? Well, Google has re-opened its online store to sell Galaxy Nexus directly to consumers in the country.
The search giant is currently offering three versions of the smartphone to consumers – Unlocked, with Verizon and with Sprint. While the unlocked version has been priced at USD 399.99 (yes!), the contract versions will cost USD199.99 with a two-year commitment.
This is the second-time, Google is trying to directly sell a Nexus smartphone to consumers, the first attempt with Nexus One in 2010 was a big flop. We hope company has fixed the service and other issues this time and consumers are not disappointed with their purchase from Google store.
The Galaxy Nexus can now be grabbed by the US consumers from the devices section in Google Play store. As this section is called ‘devices’, it looks like we are going to see more such smartphones and tablets on sale in the coming days.
For those, who have been living in a cave, Galaxy Nexus is the company reference smartphone for the Ice Cream Sandwich release of Android and comes with a 1.2GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, Android 4.0.4, 16GB of internal storage, NFC and 5MP rear camera.

Sony India start rolling out Android 4.0 for Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V, Xperia ray

Sony Mobile India has announced on its official Facebook page that company has started rolling out much-awaited Android 4.0 update for three of its Xperia series smartphones. These smartphones are Xperia arc S, neo V and Ray.
This update can now be grabbed via the PC Companion tool, which is available for download from Sony’s website.
This update brings the ICS goodness like Face Unlock, re-sizable widgets, performance improvements, new task switcher and much more.
Other devices in the Xperia range – Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will get the update at the end of May or early June.
More on the update here.

LG Optimus True HD LTE's European assault begins in Portugal, Germany and Sweden

While the latest LTE and HD equipped addition to LG's Optimus line has already landed across Asia (Korea, Japan) and North America (US - AT&T, US - Verizon, Canada) under a few different names, the newly rebranded Optimus True HD LTE is finally prepared for a European debut. As seen by the flags flying above, this week LG will begin rolling out to Portugal, Germany and Sweden, with Britain and France on deck for the second half of the year when LTE service is available. The other flags present represent further Asian rollouts in Hong Kong and Singapore. The plan, described in the Korean press release linked below (Update: English PR after the break), is apparently to make LG synonymous with LTE, although we can't see how renaming its current dual-core standard bearer every other week is helping.

Samsung's Q1 2012 profits nearly double year-over-year on higher margins for TVs and phones

The numbers for Samsung's first quarter of 2012 are in and as it expected they are up sharply over the same period from 2011. After predicting profits of 5.8 trillion won it managed to top that, notching an operating profit of 5.85 trillion won ($5.16 billion US) for the quarter, a 98 percent gain over a year ago. Phones accounted for 73 percent of the profit, contributing 4.27 trillion won to the bottom line. As the world awaits the debut of what we assume will be the Samsung Galaxy S III May 3rd powered by its Exynos 4 Quad CPU, there's clearly no shortage of demand for the Galaxy S II and Note. Sales of chips and TVs decreased from last quarter, but like its competitor LG, growing sales of high res tablet panels (we wonder which one that might be), 3DTVs and OLEDs increased profitability. Specifically, the high end 7000/8000 series of HDTVs increased sales by 50 percent from last year, while the company plans to focus on "region-specific" LED models for emerging markets, and high end (and high priced) flat-panels for developed markets.
We're listening in to the earnings call at the moment, and we'll let you know if there's any other details that come out of what is mostly boring numbers talk. So far it's all pretty businessy, although in response to a question executives did confirm that they expect the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note to occupy different segments in terms of size. So there you have it -- the Galaxy S III will (shockingly) not have a 5.3-inch screen. Also, it predictably is trying to continue the trend of global launches, although that hardly puts to rest the issue of how long we may end up waiting for carrier-specific versions here in the US. Check out the rest of Samsung's details in a press release and a few slides from the report embedded after the break

Samsung Galaxy S Advance gets April 30th release date in UK, needs more suffixes

Pitched spec-wise somewhere between Samsung's first Galaxy S and its very popular sequel, think of the Galaxy S Advance as the original, reimagined for a new generation -- a generation that remembers only a few years back. The attractive Super AMOLED display with dual-core bones caught our eye at MWC a few months earlier and will finally arrive on rain-soaked British shores on April 30th at the like of Phones 4u and Vodafone. The bad news? It's still toting that Touchwizzed Gingerbread, and arrives just days before Samsung shows what it's been hiding in its top-spec drawers.

Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx hitting the UK in mid-May, available for pre-order now

We were aware of Motorola's plan to send the husky member of the Droid RAZR lineup on an overseas quest next month, but aside from telling us it was heading to Europe, we hadn't heard any specifics -- at least until now. Earlier today, Moto announced the Droid RAZR Maxx will bring its long-lasting powers to the UK, with expected availability around mid-May and pre-orders commencing today. Currently, this 4.3-inch, Gingerbread handset is up for grabs from Clove and Expansys for £430.80 and £429.99, respectively, while Amazon is also planning to offer the device. If that kind of cash isn't an objection, you can hit up either of the source links below to snag one for yourself.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Oppo teases 6.65mm-thick smartphone, about to steal 'world's thinnest' title from Huawei


China-based Poop Oppo is back again with yet another smartphone, only this time there's no pretty girl teasing Mr. DiCaprio. Instead, what we have here is an exclusive leak that shows off a 6.65mm-thick device -- just 0.03mm thinner than the Ascend P1 S from local rival Huawei. In other words, if all goes well then Oppo will have us the world's slimmest smartphone. Details are scarce at the moment, but judging by the above picture this phone will come with a metallic bezel of some sort, along with three capacitive buttons and a three-pin contact for dock connection. Obviously, stay tuned for more deets.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Style in android layout

A style is a collection of properties that specify the look and format for a View or window. A style can specify properties such as height, padding, font color, font size, background color, and much more. A style is defined in an XML resource that is separate from the XML that specifies the layout.
Styles in Android share a similar philosophy to cascading stylesheets in web design—they allow you to separate the design from the content.
For example, by using a style, you can take this layout XML:
<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:textColor="#00FF00"
    android:typeface="monospace"
    android:text="@string/hello" />
And turn it into this:
<TextView
    style="@style/CodeFont"
    android:text="@string/hello" />
All of the attributes related to style have been removed from the layout XML and put into a style definition called CodeFont, which is then applied with the style attribute. You'll see the definition for this style in the following section.
A theme is a style applied to an entire Activity or application, rather than an individual View (as in the example above). When a style is applied as a theme, every View in the Activity or application will apply each style property that it supports. For example, you can apply the same CodeFont style as a theme for an Activity and then all text inside that Activity will have green monospace font.

Defining Styles

To create a set of styles, save an XML file in the res/values/ directory of your project. The name of the XML file is arbitrary, but it must use the .xml extension and be saved in the res/values/ folder.
The root node of the XML file must be <resources>.
For each style you want to create, add a <style> element to the file with a name that uniquely identifies the style (this attribute is required). Then add an <item> element for each property of that style, with a name that declares the style property and a value to go with it (this attribute is required). The value for the <item> can be a keyword string, a hex color, a reference to another resource type, or other value depending on the style property. Here's an example file with a single style:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <style name="CodeFont" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance.Medium">
        <item name="android:layout_width">fill_parent</item>
        <item name="android:layout_height">wrap_content</item>
        <item name="android:textColor">#00FF00</item>
        <item name="android:typeface">monospace</item>
    </style>
</resources>
Each child of the <resources> element is converted into an application resource object at compile-time, which can be referenced by the value in the <style> element's name attribute. This example style can be referenced from an XML layout as @style/CodeFont (as demonstrated in the introduction above).
The parent attribute in the <style> element is optional and specifies the resource ID of another style from which this style should inherit properties. You can then override the inherited style properties if you want to.
Remember, a style that you want to use as an Activity or application theme is defined in XML exactly the same as a style for a View. A style such as the one defined above can be applied as a style for a single View or as a theme for an entire Activity or application. How to apply a style for a single View or as an application theme is discussed later.

Inheritance

The parent attribute in the <style> element lets you specify a style from which your style should inherit properties. You can use this to inherit properties from an existing style and then define only the properties that you want to change or add. You can inherit from styles that you've created yourself or from styles that are built into the platform. (See Using Platform Styles and Themes, below, for information about inheriting from styles defined by the Android platform.) For example, you can inherit the Android platform's default text appearance and then modify it:
    <style name="GreenText" parent="@android:style/TextAppearance">
        <item name="android:textColor">#00FF00</item>
    </style>
If you want to inherit from styles that you've defined yourself, you do not have to use the parent attribute. Instead, just prefix the name of the style you want to inherit to the name of your new style, separated by a period. For example, to create a new style that inherits the CodeFont style defined above, but make the color red, you can author the new style like this:
    <style name="CodeFont.Red">
        <item name="android:textColor">#FF0000</item>
    </style>
Notice that there is no parent attribute in the <style> tag, but because the name attribute begins with the CodeFont style name (which is a style that you have created), this style inherits all style properties from that style. This style then overrides the android:textColor property to make the text red. You can reference this new style as @style/CodeFont.Red.
You can continue inheriting like this as many times as you'd like, by chaining names with periods. For example, you can extend CodeFont.Red to be bigger, with:
    <style name="CodeFont.Red.Big">
        <item name="android:textSize">30sp</item>
    </style>
This inherits from both CodeFont and CodeFont.Red styles, then adds the android:textSize property.
Note: This technique for inheritance by chaining together names only works for styles defined by your own resources. You can't inherit Android built-in styles this way. To reference a built-in style, such as TextAppearance, you must use the parent attribute.

Style Properties

Now that you understand how a style is defined, you need to learn what kind of style properties—defined by the <item> element—are available. You're probably familiar with some already, such as layout_width and textColor. Of course, there are many more style properties you can use.
The best place to find properties that apply to a specific View is the corresponding class reference, which lists all of the supported XML attributes. For example, all of the attributes listed in the table of TextView XML attributes can be used in a style definition for a TextView element (or one of its subclasses). One of the attributes listed in the reference is android:inputType, so where you might normally place the android:inputType attribute in an <EditText> element, like this:
<EditText
    android:inputType="number"
    ... />
You can instead create a style for the EditText element that includes this property:
<style name="Numbers">
  <item name="android:inputType">number</item>
  ...</style>
So your XML for the layout can now implement this style:
<EditText
    style="@style/Numbers"
    ... />
This simple example may look like more work, but when you add more style properties and factor-in the ability to re-use the style in various places, the pay-off can be huge.
For a reference of all available style properties, see the R.attr reference. Keep in mind that all View objects don't accept all the same style attributes, so you should normally refer to the specific View class for supported style properties. However, if you apply a style to a View that does not support all of the style properties, the View will apply only those properties that are supported and simply ignore the others.
Some style properties, however, are not supported by any View element and can only be applied as a theme. These style properties apply to the entire window and not to any type of View. For example, style properties for a theme can hide the application title, hide the status bar, or change the window's background. These kind of style properties do not belong to any View object. To discover these theme-only style properties, look at the R.attr reference for attributes that begin with window. For instance, windowNoTitle and windowBackground are style properties that are effective only when the style is applied as a theme to an Activity or application. See the next section for information about applying a style as a theme.
Note: Don't forget to prefix the property names in each <item> element with the android: namespace. For example: <item name="android:inputType">.

Applying Styles and Themes to the UI

There are two ways to set a style:
  • To an individual View, by adding the style attribute to a View element in the XML for your layout.
  • Or, to an entire Activity or application, by adding the android:theme attribute to the <activity> or <application> element in the Android manifest.
When you apply a style to a single View in the layout, the properties defined by the style are applied only to that View. If a style is applied to a ViewGroup, the child View elements will not inherit the style properties—only the element to which you directly apply the style will apply its properties. However, you can apply a style so that it applies to all View elements—by applying the style as a theme.
To apply a style definition as a theme, you must apply the style to an Activity or application in the Android manifest. When you do so, every View within the Activity or application will apply each property that it supports. For example, if you apply the CodeFont style from the previous examples to an Activity, then all View elements that support the text style properties will apply them. Any View that does not support the properties will ignore them. If a View supports only some of the properties, then it will apply only those properties.

Apply a style to a View

Here's how to set a style for a View in the XML layout:
<TextView
    style="@style/CodeFont"
    android:text="@string/hello" />
Now this TextView will be styled as defined by the style named CodeFont. (See the sample above, in Defining Styles.)
Note: The style attribute does not use the android: namespace prefix.

Apply a theme to an Activity or application

To set a theme for all the activities of your application, open the AndroidManifest.xml file and edit the <application> tag to include the android:theme attribute with the style name. For example:
<application android:theme="@style/CustomTheme">
If you want a theme applied to just one Activity in your application, then add the android:theme attribute to the <activity> tag instead.
Just as Android provides other built-in resources, there are many pre-defined themes that you can use, to avoid writing them yourself. For example, you can use the Dialog theme and make your Activity appear like a dialog box:
<activity android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Dialog">
Or if you want the background to be transparent, use the Translucent theme:
<activity android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent">
If you like a theme, but want to tweak it, just add the theme as the parent of your custom theme. For example, you can modify the traditional dialog theme to use your own background image like this:
<style name="CustomDialogTheme" parent="@android:style/Theme.Dialog">
    <item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/custom_dialog_background</item>
</style>
Now use CustomDialogTheme instead of Theme.Dialog inside the Android Manifest:
<activity android:theme="@style/CustomDialogTheme">

Using Platform Styles and Themes

The Android platform provides a large collection of styles and themes that you can use in your applications. You can find a reference of all available styles in the R.style class. To use the styles listed here, replace all underscores in the style name with a period. For example, you can apply the Theme_NoTitleBar theme with "@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar".
The R.style reference, however, is not well documented and does not thoroughly describe the styles, so viewing the actual source code for these styles and themes will give you a better understanding of what style properties each one provides. For a better reference to the Android styles and themes, see the following source code:
These files will help you learn through example. For instance, in the Android themes source code, you'll find a declaration for <style name="Theme.Dialog">. In this definition, you'll see all of the properties that are used to style dialogs that are used by the Android framework.
For more information about the syntax used to create styles in XML, see Available Resource Types: Style and Themes.
For a reference of available style attributes that you can use to define a style or theme (e.g., "windowBackground" or "textAppearance"), see R.attr or the respective View class for which you are creating a style.

Motorola Droid RAZR/MAXX update rolling out now

For you night owls with the Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX, know this: A decent little update, which we first told you about a few days ago, is now available. No, it's not Ice Cream Sandwich (not yet, anyway). But here's what you can expect in software version 6.12.181:
Device Features:
  • Improved device stability.
  • Optimized device performance to extend battery life.
  • Added easy access to preloaded VZW bookmarks through quick key access.
  • Corrected loud call end and connect tones over Bluetooth.®
  • Enhanced device security preventing unauthorized access of telephony database by third parties.
  • Device is now updated with IPv6. - As new Internet addresses are introduced, you will be able to continue to browse and view web pages with this latest Internet enhancement.
Network Connectivity:
  • 4G coverage indicator accurately displays data connectivity.
  • Improved Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity when utilizing WPS security.
Email, Messaging & Data:
  • Improved text message delivery.
Applications & Widgets:
  • Improved Visual Voice Mail performance with data disabled and visual voicemail notification delivery.
  • Enhanced security in Verizon Apps.
MotoCast Updates:
  • Included a new MotoCast widget to enable easier access and discoverability of MotoCast services.
  • Modified the storage settings screen to make it easier to understand total storage versus available storage.
  • Implemented a number of MotoCast performance improvements.
That's quite the changelog, actually. To download the update, you can either wait for it to push, or go to Menu>Settings>About Phone>System updates to get your download on. And if you need a little extra help, hit the forums links below.

Transformer Prime gets power of reincarnation with Team Win Recovery Project 2.1.2

Known affectionately as Twrp, this handy utility allows you to backup and recover your Android world even as you flit effortlessly between different custom ROMs. Two-point-oh worked great on a limited selection of devices, like the Nexus S, Kindle Fire and TouchPad, but this latest update brings improved support for Honeycomb tablets and ICS handsets like the Galaxy Nexus, while also doing its thing on the Transformer Prime for the first time. Team Win has even introduced a OpenRecoveryScript function, which lets apps influence the recovery process in order to preserve even more consciousness across rebirths. Now, if only we could root karma.

Samsung Unpacked 2012 app lands in Google Play store

After teasing us a little more with the video yesterday, Samsung has released the official UNPACKED event app in Google Play store. This app is your guide for the launch of next Galaxy smartphone from Samsung on May 3.
Dubbed as SAMSUNG mobile UNPACKED 2012, it comes with the usual goodies like What’s UNPACKED?, Event Schedule, Event Location, Teaser video, UNPACKED Live, Press Release, and New Product. The last three will only be available once the press event starts on May 3.
You can grab the download from here. It is said to be giving some problems with ICS devices, so you might want to wait for a fix.

Karbonn to launch Android-powered dual-SIM smartphones, tablet

The low-cost tablet launch party isn’t over yet in India, and Karbonn is the latest one in the mix. According to a report in NDTV Gadgets, Karbonn is all set to launch its first Android tablet soon in the country. The tablet launch will be accompanied by the release of two dual-SIM Android smartphones from the company.
Dubbed as Smart Tab1, this Karbonn tablet will come with 7.1 inch display, 1.2GHz processor, 2MP front camera, Android 4.0 and 3700 mAh battery. On the other hand, the smartphones will be running on Android 2.3.7 and will come with 1GHz processors.
Keeping the naming scheme introduced with A1, these dual-SIM phones will be dubbed as A7 and A9 and will have 2.8 inch and 3.8 inch capacitive displays respectively.
Coming to the pricing, tablet is expected to be priced under INR 8,000, while the smartphone will cost between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,900.

Monday, April 23, 2012

LG Optimus 3D Max launches in Europe, won't be coming to the UK

For those that still keen to dabble with the world of 3D we've got some good and some bad news. While the Optimus 3D Max has made its first arrival in Europe, launching in Germany today, it looks like the phone won't be docking at British ports. A spokesperson at LG told us there were currently no plans to bring the device across to the UK, although its L-style series and the quad-core flagship, the Optimus 4X HD, look set to receive wider adoption. The Optimus 3D Max is the brutally carb-free version of LG's original 3D phone, now lighter and thinner but still gnawing on last year's Android Gingerbread. Pricing hasn't been announced for Germany, but LG tells us that it will be on the premium end of the smartphone scale, with pricing dependent on carriers. You get the full view of the hardware and its three-dimensional chops in the press release after the break. Active shutter glasses not required.
Show full PR text

HTC One V coming to Canada on Bell, will reunite with One S

Canadians looking to hunt down the smallest addition to HTC's One series are in luck. According to a Mobile Syrup tipster, it'll arrive on Bell next week, in all its aluminum unibody glory. While the One X looks to be confined to Rogers in the Land of the Maple Leaf, both the One S and One V are going to be offered by Bell Mobility. The mole also hinted at pricing below CND $300, matching those entry-level credentials we've explored just recently. Not a fan of Bell? Don't get disheartened -- the Android 4.0 minnow will also make an appearance on Telus, so 'chin' up.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Samsung's S-Cloud tipped to arrive alongside the Galaxy S III next month

Korean newspaper Maeil Business believes that Samsung's finally ironed out the kinks in its S-Cloud service and will unveil it alongside the Galaxy S III at next month's event. The Korean giant will reportedly offer an "unlimited service" with less of the content or storage restrictions imposed by iCloud. It'll also apparently come with a VOD-store, offering up audio and video content for a fee, presumably beside what's available in Google Play. It's also reporting that the company's Media Solution Center has asked Microsoft to join KT and Amazon in developing the infrastructure to ensure a smooth launch. Either way, it's not long now until we know for certain, so be sure to join us on May 3rd for the whole story.

Huawei announces Ascend P1 availability details

Huawei announces Ascend P1 availability details


 Huawei Ascend P1 will be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia through operators and retailers by May 2012, in Latin America from June 2012 and in Europe from summer, with availability in other markets to follow.

The Ascend P1 features a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor and measures 7.69mm thin and 64.8 mm long. With a 4.3-inch super AMOLED 960×540 touch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass, an 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera and Dolby Mobile 3.0 + 5.1 surround sound technology, the Ascend P1 has some pretty decent specifications on paper.


Lava and Intel launch Xolo X900 in India for INR 22,000Lava and Intel launch Xolo X900 in India for INR 22,000

Lava and Intel launch Xolo X900 in India for INR 22,000

Lava today became the first manufacturer to announce the launch of an Intel powered Android smartphone in India. Earlier showcased at Mobile World Congress, Lava Xolo X900 will be available in India starting April 23 for INR 22,000. Although Lava Xolo X900 does not come with a dual or quad core processor, the single core 1.6GHz Atom Z2460 processor inside this device packs some serious juice.  In other features, Lava Xolo comes with a 4.03 inch display with Android 2.3, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera with flash, 1.3 MP front camera and 16GB of internal memory.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

LG Nitro

LG nitro HD

specs

  • Smartphone
  • Android
  • 4.5 inches
  • 4 GB
  • 8 megapixels
  • AT&T
  • 5.27 x 2.67 x 0.41 in
  • December 4, 2011

General

  • Smartphone
  • Android
  • Bar
  • Internal

Input

  • Touchscreen (Capacitive [finger])

Camera

  • 8 megapixels

Storage

  • 4 GB
  • microSD

Connectivity

  • Yes

Media

  • Yes
  • Streaming / internet

Carriers

  • North America (US, Canada)
  • AT&T
  • Bell

Radio type

  • GSM, LTE

Display

  • 4.5 inches
  • 1280 x 720

Hardware

  • 1.5 GHz

Size & weight

  • 5.27 inches (h)
    2.67 inches (w)
    0.41 inches (d)

Pricing & availability

  • Pre-release
  • December, 4, 2011
  • November, 28, 2011
  • $249.99 USD

Colors

B

Android this week: Galaxy Tab 2 launches; MotoActv wows; Amazon supports freemium

Samsung hasn’t ceded the small slate market to either the Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet just yet. Although these two 7-inch slates are gobbling up market share for low-cost tablets, Samsung launched its Galaxy Tab 2 this week. The $249 Wi-Fi tablet certainly has some better hardware over its competitors but the real question is: Can it provide the experience people are looking at this price?
That’s going to depend on exactly what experience consumers are looking for. With Android 4.0, dual-core processor, two cameras and integrated GPS, the Galaxy Tab 2 is a low-cost Android tablet with few limitations. It can run any third party app from Google Play, take and sync pictures or be used as a GPS navigation device. The Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are far more limited in what they can do out of the box but what they can do, they do very well.
Amazon did remove one limitation this week when it added support for in-app purchases. This could lead to a greater number of free third-party apps that make money through upgrades or additional content within the application. This “freemium” model has been supported by iOS and Android for some time and has begun to bring more money to developers over paid mobile apps. I also expect more Android developers to bring their apps into Amazon’s AppStore; good for Kindle Fire owners.
My latest Android gadget is similar to the Kindle Fire, in that you’d never know it actually runs on Android. I bought a MotoActv wearable device about a week ago, hoping to find a way to track my outdoor exercise without having to carry my smartphone and use its GPS. The MotoActv works quite well for this, but I also gained some unexpected benefits from my $199 purchase.
Because the MotoActv is crammed with sensors and radios — accelerometer, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FM radio — I’m actually wearing it from the time I wake until the time I sleep. The 1.6-inch device with capacitive touchscreen measures calories burned as well as steps taken, so I gain that health data.
It also has 8 GB of storage, so I’ve added several albums and use it to enjoy music as needed. And of course, when I run, I turn on the GPS radio and track my route, pace, and distance, plus my heart rate with an external heart rate monitor.
The MotoActv also works as a watch, complete with several difference faces to choose from. And when paired with a smartphone, it can receive notifications such as SMS messages, caller ID and calendar events. When the device launched last October, the notification feature was only supported on Motorola handsets. However, a software update earlier this month added support for all Android handsets

LG renames Optimus LTE to Optimus True HD LTE, disses Samsung's HD Super AMOLED

While the Optimus LTE's already made its way to South Korea, Japan and the US (in the guise of the Spectrum and the Nitro HD), LG's decided to give this dual-core handset a new name ahead of its Hong Kong launch at the end of this month. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Optimus True HD LTE. Alas, the "true HD" part here doesn't actually mean the phone's getting 1080p resolution on a 4.5-inch panel (which would be 490ppi; yet Toshiba's actually done it!); but we were told that 'tis really just a dig at Samsung's HD Super AMOLED technology -- you know, the magic behind that 4.65-inch screen on the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S II HD LTE.

Simply put, LG doesn't think that 1,280 x 720 on PenTile counts as HD due to the lower number of sub-pixels; and while it's at it, the company also criticized AMOLED's over-expressed colors and higher power consumption in "normal user environment" -- for the latter, LG showed that its AH-IPS has a more consistent power consumption across varying levels of overall whiteness. You can see the relevant slides after the break.

Of course, we've already expressed (twice) how much we like the HD Super AMOLED display on the Galaxy Nexus. The clearness issue now is much less noticeable when compared to the original Super AMOLED; but as for color accuracy, many of us are indeed deceived by the vibrancy that we naturally enjoy -- except when you need to inspect photos, of course. Regardless, we're pretty sure that it's only a matter of time before Samsung strikes back with a, ahem, "true HD" Super AMOLED (Plus) panel -- hopefully in time for the upcoming Galaxy S III.

Huawei officially launches Honor, Ideos X5 Pro

Huawei India has officially announced two of its Android smartphones in the country. These smartphones include Gingerbread powered Honor and Ideos X5 Pro (an upgraded version of Ideos X5).
As we have reported before, Huawei Honor has been priced at INR 19,990. It features a 1,900 mAh battery, 4”scratch resistant Gorilla glass FWVGA display, 1.4 GHz processor, 8MP AF rear camera with HDR and 720P Video recording.
On the other hand, Huawei Ideos X5 Pro will be sold for INR 13,800 and features a 1Ghz processor, FM Radio, 16GB Cloud space, 5 MP camera with ability to capture 720P videos, 3.8” WVGA capacitive touch and a 1500mAh battery.

Sony starts rolling out Android 4.0 update for Xperia Ray, Arc S, neo V

Sony has announced in a blog post that it has started rolling out the much awaited Android 4.0 update for three of its 2011 Xperia smartphones. These smartphones include Xperia arc S, neo V and Ray. Other smartphones in the Xperia series – Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman – will be getting the ICS update in May and June months.
The currently roll-out is only limited to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland countries, however company will release the update in other markets too in the coming weeks.
The Xperia smartphones users will need PC companion software to upgrade their smartphones to the latest software as there is no OTA roll-out.
You can find the full change-log of what can you expect in the brand new ICS based software at Sony developer website.


Google Play Now Accepts Paid Android App Submissions From New Seller Countries

While Google’s top brass were busy dissecting the company’s Q1 earnings on their scheduled conference call, it was business as usual for the rest of the company. Over on the official Android Developers blog, for example, Google announced that developers in the Czech Republic, Mexico, Israel, and Poland can now sell Android apps and in-app additions in the Google Play store (and in their native currencies to boot).
“But wait,” you may say. “Developers from Israel and Mexico have been able to sell their apps for years now!” You’d be absolutely right — the Czech Republic and Poland are the only really new additions, but there was a bit of a catch for the other two.
At the time, developers in Mexico and Israel could only sell their apps through an AdSense merchant account and set prices in U.S. dollars. With this new change in place, Google now supports both countries’ respective currencies. The process for Israeli or Mexican developers to make the transition seems a bit hairy though — Google outlines the whole thing here, and it involves creating a new Google account and re-registering with Google Play.
So what does this mean for you developers? Well, unless you live in one of the aforementioned countries, not a whole lot. While most of the work will have to be done by developers operating out of those locales, Google still suggests that you consider whether or not you want to set a specific price for each of those new markets instead of just letting your default price ride.
Those minor issues aside, Google now officially supports paid application sales from developers in 31 countries. It sounds pretty good until you realize that it’s taken over a year and a half for Google to add these new names to the list of supported countries. I’m sure that developers in those countries will appreciate that Google has finally gotten around to them, but there are still quite a few that haven’t.
A link to the post was shared by the Android Developers’ Google+ account, inspiring a litany of requests from people asking Google to support their countries as well, prompting Android Developer Relations Lead Reto Meier to apologize for the delay. Then again, Google’s always been very upfront about this sort of thing — they note in their list of seller countries that they are “unable to provide any guidance on timelines.”

Friday, April 13, 2012

Codes Of Android Mobile

Codes Of Android Mobile

1. Complete Information About your Phone 

*#*#4636#*#*
 This code can be used to get some interesting information about your phone and battery. It shows following 4 menus on screen:
  • Phone information
  • Battery information
  • Battery history
  • Usage statistics

2. Factory data reset
*#*#7780#*#*
This code can be used for a factory data reset. It’ll remove following things:
  • Google account settings stored in your phone
  • System and application data and settings
  • Downloaded applications
It’ll NOT remove:
  • Current system software and bundled application
  • SD card files e.g. photos, music files, etc.
Note: Once you give this code, you get a prompt screen asking you to click on “Reset phone” button. So you get a chance to cancel your operation.

3. Format Android Phone

  *2767*3855#
Think before you give this code. This code is used for factory format. It’ll remove all files and settings including the internal memory storage. It’ll also reinstall the phone firmware.
Note: Once you give this code, there is no way to cancel the operation unless you remove the battery from the phone. So think twice before giving this code.

4. Phone Camera Update
*#*#34971539#*#*
This code is used to get information about phone camera. It shows following 4 menus:
  • Update camera firmware in image (Don’t try this option)
  • Update camera firmware in SD card
  • Get camera firmware version
  • Get firmware update count
WARNING: Never use the first option otherwise your phone camera will stop working and you’ll need to take your phone to service center to reinstall camera firmware.

5. End Call/Power

*#*#7594#*#*
This one is my favorite one. This code can be used to change the “End Call / Power” button action in your phone. Be default, if you long press the button, it shows a screen asking you to select any option from Silent mode, AirPlane mode and Power off.
You can change this action using this code. You can enable direct power off on this button so you don’t need to waste your time in selecting the option.
6. File Copy for Creating Backup

*#*#273283*255*663282*#*#*
This code opens a File copy screen where you can backup your media files e.g. Images, Sound, Video and Voice memo.
7.  Service Mode

*#*#197328640#*#*
This code can be used to enter into Service mode. You can run various tests and change settings in the service mode.
8. WLAN, GPS and Bluetooth Test Codes:
*#*#232339#*#* OR *#*#526#*#* OR *#*#528#*#*           – WLAN test (Use “Menu” button to start various tests)

*#*#232338#*#*                  – Shows WiFi mac

*#*#1472365#*#*                – GPS test

*#*#1575#*#*                      – Another GPS test

*#*#232331#*#*                  – Bluetooth test

*#*#232337#*#                    – Shows Bluetooth device address
9. Codes to get Firmware version information:
*#*#4986*2650468#*#* – PDA, Phone, H/W, RFCallDate

*#*#1234#*#* – PDA and Phone

*#*#1111#*#* – FTA SW Version

*#*#2222#*#* – FTA HW Version

*#*#44336#*#* – PDA, Phone, CSC, Build Time, Changelist number
10. Codes to launch various Factory Tests:
*#*#0283#*#* – Packet Loopback

*#*#0*#*#* – LCD test

*#*#0673#*#* OR *#*#0289#*#* – Melody test

*#*#0842#*#* – Device test (Vibration test and BackLight test)

*#*#2663#*#* – Touch screen version

*#*#2664#*#* – Touch screen test

*#*#0588#*#* – Proximity sensor test

*#*#3264#*#* – RAM version

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Specifications

This is a listing of Xperia arc S’s main features and functions. For a complete technical specification, download the Xperia™ arc S White paper (3 MB)
.

Camera and video

  • 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash and Auto focus
  • Sony’s Exmor™ R for mobile CMOS sensor
  • 16x smart zoom
  • f/2.4 Aperture
  • HD video recording (720p), up to 30 frames per second
  • 3D Sweep Panorama
  • Image playback, supported formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WBMP
  • Image capture, supported format: JPEG
  • Video playback and recording, supported formats: 3GPP, MP4
  • Accelerated Adobe Flash Video

Connectivity and communication

  • USB High speed 2.0 and Micro USB support
  • WiFi and WiFi Hotspot functionality
  • HDMI Support
  • DLNA Certified
  • Synchronisation via Exchange ActiveSync, Google Sync and Facebook
  • aGPS
  • WebKit web browser with Pan & zoom
  • Bluetooth technology

Memory

  • Internal phone storage: 1GB (up to 320MB free)
  • RAM: 512MB
  • Expansion slot: microSD, up to 32GB

Networks

  • GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
  • UMTS HSPA 900, 2100 (Global except Americas)
  • UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100 (Americas)

Entertainment

  • TrackID music recognition
  • xLOUD Experience – audio filter technology from Sony
  • FM Radio with RDS
  • 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones
  • Audio playback, supported formats: MP3, 3GPP, MP4, SMF, WAV, OTA, Ogg vorbis
  • Audio recording, supported formats: 3GPP, MP4, AMR
  • 3D and motion gaming
  • Timescape with Twitter integrated
  • Facebook inside Xperia 2.0
  • Sony Entertainment Network (selected markets only)

Display

  • 4.2”, 854x480 pixels 16,777,216 colour TFT
  • Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
  • Scratch-resistant, shatter proof sheet on mineral glass
  • Capacitive touchscreen with on-screen QWERTY keyboard
  • Screenshot capturing

Pre-loaded applications

  • Google Voice Search
  • Google Talk
  • Google Mail
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Gallery 3D
  • Google Maps with Street View

HTC Evo 3D


Released October 10th, 2011
Size:126.1mm x 65.4mm x 11.3mm 4.96" x 2.57" x 0.44"
Weight:170 grams (6.0 ounces) with battery
Display:4.3-inch 3D touch screen
Screen:109 mm (4.3")
HTC EVO 3D

It's all in the details

  • Dual 5 megapixel camera lenses and a 720p HD camcorder with stereo sound recording let you capture an immersive life that jumps out at you.
  • Stream photos or videos to your big screen TV via DLNA so you can share comfortably to a bigger audience.
  • A personal Wi-Fi hotspot anytime, anywhere lets you share your Internet connection with multiple devices wirelessly.
  • Find more information about anything you read with a quick lookup tool that lets jump to Wikipedia, YouTube or Google Dictionary.
  • Zero-wait, zero-cost maps. Download maps to your phone for instant loading and no data roaming charges when you’re traveling.

CPU Processing Speed

1.2 GHz, dual core

Storage1

Internal phone storage:
1 GB
RAM:
1 GB

Expansion slot:

  • microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

Connectors2

  • 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
  • micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection

Sensors

  • Gyro sensor
  • G-Sensor
  • Digital compass
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor

Power & Battery3

Battery type:
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Capacity:
1730 mAh

Talk time:

  • WCDMA:Up to 450 minutes

Standby time:4

  • WCDMA:Up to 355 hours

Multimedia

  • Gallery, Music, and FM Radio
  • SRS virtual surround sound for wired headphone
  • DLNA for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to your TV or computer

Audio supported formats:

  • Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9)
  • Recording: .amr

Video supported formats:

  • Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3), .xvid (MP4 ASP and MP3)
  • Recording: .3gp

Internet5

3G:

  • Up to 14.4 Mbps download speed
  • Up to 5.76 Mbps upload speed

GPRS:

  • Up to 114 Kbps downloading

EDGE:

  • Up to 236.8 Kbps downloading

Wi-Fi®:

  • IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Platform

Platform

Android™ with HTC Sense™
Camera

Camera

Dual 5 megapixel color camera:

  • Capture 2D photos with up to 5 megapixel resolution
  • Capture 3D photos with up to 2 megapixel resolution
  • Auto focus and dual LED flash

Front camera:

  • 1.3 megapixel fixed focus color camera

HD video recording:

  • Record 2D/3D videos with up to 720p resolution
Bluetooth®

Bluetooth®

  • Bluetooth® 3.0
  • A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
  • FTP and OPP (object push) for file transfer
  • PBAP for phonebook access from the car kit
  • Other supported profiles: AVRCP, GAP, GOEP, HFP, HID, HSP, MAP, SPP, SDAP
Social Networking

Social Networking

  • Facebook® and Twitter™ for HTC Sense
  • Friend Stream
  • Share photos/videos on Facebook®, Flickr®, Twitter™, or YouTube™
Location

Location

  • Internal GPS antenna
  • With Locations, explore maps with zero wait, zero dead spots, and zero data roaming fees
Tethering

Tethering

  • USB and Wi-Fi® tethering
Recommended Windows System Requirements

Recommended Windows System Requirements

  • Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows® XP
  • HTC Sync

samsung galaxy ace plus

Platform

Band GSM&EDGE Band 850/900/1,800/1,900MHz
3G Band 900/2,100MHz
Network&Data GPRS 850/900/1,800/1,900
EDGE 850/900/1,800/1,900
3G HSDPA 7.2
Operation System Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)  
Browser Android browser  
SAR Value 0.839W/Kg  

Design

Form Factor Full Touch  
CPU 1Ghz Procssor  

Physical Specification

Dimension(HxWxD) 114.7 x 62.5 x 11.2mm  
Weight 114g  

Display

Internal technology TFT
Resolution 480 x 320
Size 9.3cms

Battery

Standard Capacity 1,300mAh
Talk Time Up to 670 minutes (2G)/Up to 440 minutes (3G)
Stand-by Time Up to 660 hours (2G)/Up to 420 hours (3G)

Camera

Camera Resolution 5 Megapixels  
Digital/Optical Zoom X3  
Flash Single LED Flash  
Auto Focus Yes  
Shot mode Single/Continuous/Panorama/Smile shot  
Photo effects Black and white/Negative/Normal/Sepia  
White Balance Auto/Daylight/Incandescent/Fluorescent/Cloudy  
ISO Auto/100/200/400  

Video

Video Player 3GP/H.263/H.264/MPEG4  
Video recording QCIF/QVGA/VGA  
Video Messaging Yes  
Video Streaming Yes  
Input Device Touch  

Music&Sound

Music Player MIDI/AAC/AAC+/AAC++/AAC+e/AMR/AMR-NB/eAAC+/Enhanced AAC+/I-Melody/MIDI/MP3/OGG/WAV  
Poly Ringtone 64 Poly  
MP3 Ringtone AAC/AAC+/AMR/AMR-NB/eAAC+/MP3/OGG  
DRM OMA 1.0  
3D sound technology Yes  
Music Library Yes  

Fun&Entertainment

Embedded Wallpaper 4EA  
FM Radio Yes  
FM Radio RDS Yes  

Business&Office

Document Viewer Yes  
Mobile Printing Yes  
Offline Mode Yes  
Voice Memo&Voice Mail Yes  

Messaging

SM/EMS/MMS SMS/No/MMS  
Predictive Text Input T9 XT9  
Email POP3, IMAP4, SMTP  
Cell broadcast Yes  
vCard/vCalendar Yes/Yes  
Instant Messaging ChatON, G-talk  

Connectivity

Bluetooth BT 3.0  
USB 2.0 High speed  
USB mass storage 1.8GB  
Internet HTML Browser Chrome Lite  
SyncML (DM) Support Yes  
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz  
AGPS Yes  
PC Sync Application Kies 2.0  

Memory

User Memory 2.7GB  
SMS Up to available memory  
Phone Book Entries Up to available memory  
External Memory 32GB  

Personal Information Management

Calendar Month/Week/Day/List  
Clock Real time/Dual time  
Worldtime Yes  
Alarm Yes  
Calculator Yes  
Memo book Yes  
Stop watch Yes  
Countdown Timer Yes  

Call Function

Call Time All Calls/Dialed voice calls/Last call duration/Last Call Time/Received voice calls/Reset all  
Caller ID Text/Photo  
Dialed/Missed/Received Calls 500  
Multiparty Max 5  
Speaker Phone Yes  

Further Information

Mobile Tracker Yes  
Touch Screen C-Type