Android Portal

HTC Hero @ T-Mobile and E-Plus Germany

Manuel Kraft — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:02:29 +0000

HTC released yesterday all facts about their new Android flagship device: the HTC “Hero”. One of the biggest differences about this android phone is, that the user interface was redesigned by HTC to a so called “Sense” UI. “Sense” allows users to modify and personalize the home screens with tons of sexy widgets. Also it combines all sources of informations like twitter,facebook,email, instant messaging on the desktop in easy to use applications which look really nice. The UI seems quite fast for all the new effects. The phone will be available for 500Eur without a contract. If you need a new mobile contract, you have to get one @ T-Mobile Germany or E-Plus Germany. Our recommendation is to get a contract from T-Mobile since they have the best network in whole germany. To get more technical details, the phone has the following features on board:

Processor Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
Operating System Android™

Memory ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 288 MB

Dimensions: (LxWxT) 112 x 56.2 x 14.35 mm ( 4.41 x 2.21 x 0.57 inches)
Weight: 135 grams

Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution

Network HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

G-sensor
Digital Compass

GPS Internal,Bluetooth® 2.0 (A2DP), 802.11 b/g ,HTC ExtUSB™,3.5 mm audio jack
Expansion Slot microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Camera: 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus

Audio supported formats MP3, AAC(AAC, AAC+, AAC-LC), AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI and Windows Media® Audio 9
Video supported formats MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 and Windows Media® Video 9

Battery: Lithium-ion battery - 1350 mAh
Talk time: Up to 420 minutes for WCDMA - Up to 470 minutes for GSM

O2 Germany - Samsungs Galaxy aka. i7500

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:51:35 +0000

As most of our reades know, o2 will start sellinng its first Android powered device very soon. Since we getting closer to the official launch of the device, the name of the device was changed from i7500 to “Galaxy”. Also some more infos about the pricing were leaked, the device can either be purchased from o2 germany with a contract, or you can buy it without any contract at a price of 437,50 Eur. The galaxy will come to you with 8GB of builtin storage(sd slot available). Another nice feature is the 3,5mm standard headphone jack which allows you to use any headphone you like, standard ones and also the high end ones from BOSE or similar. It seems that beta testers of the device report the same behaviour of the battery: Not very powerfull….so you must propbaly charge the device every 2 days or so if you use it the whole day for surfing (3G activated) etc. But on the other hand, the OLED display must be awesome. So perhaps its enough to disable 3G while not surfing the net or downloading apps and just set the display to a not very high brightness.

“Panic Room”, the android way…

Manuel Kraft — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:46 +0000

Some hours ago we found an interesting app in the Android Market, its called “Panic Button” (Thx for W. Ligtenberg for Info). These little app reacts via pressing a red button on the touch screen and then sends all needed informations like GPS signal , current address and a predefined message to selected contacts of your addressbook. To prevent accidental use, it has builtin countdown before the PANIC signal will be send. So we really like this. Usefull if you are in bug city like moscow or new york and get lost… For more infos browse to the android market and search for “panic button” or direct download the app through this link.

You also want to see your own application reviewed on www.androidportal.com? Don`t hesitate to contact us via email.

o2 Germany gets the first Samsung Android Device

Manuel Kraft — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:28:11 +0000

Many sites stated that Samsung is willing to sell an Android device at the end of the year. But we just got some infos from a German Website that Samsung will sell its first Android powered device in Germany in June. Its called the i7500 and comes with all the needed stuff:

GPS

WIFI

3g3,5mm Headphone Jack

5MP Builtin Cam + Flashlight

320 x 480 pixel AMOLED touchscreen

tri-band 7.2Mbps HSDPA (900/1700/2100MHz)

8GB internal storage (MicroSD expansion for up to 32GB more)

It will be very thin with 11,9mm and covered by a nice looking metal surface

Thanks samsung, this will be the first real good device with ALL that stuff that matters.

Android HTC Magic no available in Germany from Vodafone

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:29:13 +0000

Since today, the second Android handset is available in Germany. Its called the HTC-Magic and is exclusivly available from Vodafone Stores. The new devices does not offer the builtin keyboard but its replaced with a on screen keyboard like the iphone has. It has GPS, WIFI , 3G and all the other fancy stuff. But it seems it will also do not have the standard 3,5mm headphone jack. So please HTC and/or Vodafone,T-Mobile, offer an Android powered mobile with a standard headphone jack.

Android Netbooks to show up at Computex 2009 (Taipeh) by MSI

Manuel Kraft — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:08:02 +0000

We just found an interesting article about the Computex Show 2009 in Taipeh (starts June, 2nd) where MSI is trying to show the an Android powered Netbook for consumers. This would be the first netbook which runs Android and not just a “hack” like the ones before. Which of course are also cool, but don`t bring any value to the end customers. Hopefully this will be the start of a new generation of netbooks so that HP, Asus and Dell etc. will follow these road to the future of mobile applications.

HTC Magic on the road for T-Mobile USA

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:15:08 +0000

Today, the HTC Magic device passed the FCC. So it seems that not only vodafone will be selling this great device in europe, Also T-Mobile wants a piece of this “cupcake”. Since this device will not have any keyboard, it will be released with the latest cupcake installed on it to support softkeyboard and other cool features and bugfixes which are currently missing in the current G1 phone.

CEBIT 2009: Asus will come up with Android powered Netbooks

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:16:40 +0000

There were some rumours since weeks that ASUS is going to use Android on their Netbooks. But on Cebit 2009, they announced that they definitly will bring up Netbooks with already installed Android on it. This could be a huge boost for the Android platform, because till now, only some mobile devices use Android as their operating system. But since Android does not require big hardware like Windows does, its predestined for the use on netbooks like the Eee PC`from ASUS. Some developers already ported Android on netbooks like the guys from VentureBeat.com .It shows that Android has a big potential not to only run on mobile devices but also on netbooks. So we could also imagine that Google is also planning to install Android on “Set Top Boxes” or Satelite receivers for example. Then you could easily browse the net and use all the fance stuff which is included in Android right from your TV.

HTC Magic caught with T-Mobile Branding

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:51:38 +0000

Since the MWC this week, Vodafone will exclusively sell the second Android powered mobile device this year. As you might know, it will be called HTC Magic and will not have a keyboard like the G1 has. It will only have a softkeyboard as you know it from the Iphone or from latest Android RC33 screenshots.

But we just found a picture of a google presentation on the net, which shows the HTC Magic with a T-Mobile branding.

Seems that it is not as exclusive to Vodafone as told on MWC.

Paid Applications now available in Android Market

Manuel Kraft — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:58:36 +0000

It seems that since yesterday, paid apps are available within the android market. You should Update to RC33 to get the latest Android Firmware Update. You should then be able to buy your first commercial android application. The whole shopping process is done via googles checkout technology. So you should be able to pay with your credit card.