Android News for the masses

Ice Cream Sandwich, Nintendo, and PlayStation...

2011-11-17T20:33:00.001-08:00

First off this is just a teaser article more info will be up by tomorrow. I want to start off by saying ever since the release renouncement of ICS (Android 4.0) I have been on the edge of my seat. I nearly fell off tonight when I read a post of a fellow blogger. He kept it pretty short but basically the source code has been released for ICS. You know what that means.... you do know what that means right?! It means if you haven't already you need to start ROOTING those devices and getting them ready for ICS yummers!!! There has already been speculation that any device running Android 2.3 currently will be able to support 4.0 so what are you waiting for!!!! The amazing developers at my favorite modification site -CyanogenMod- have already begun working on a modified port. So If you don't already know you need to check out my last post about regarding all ICS has to offer. We all know that carriers are notoriously slow to getting those updates out to us so why wait!?

The second and third things I wanted to touch on quickly tie in very nicely with each other. first of all coming tomorrow see how Android is dominating more than just Apple in market share... they have officially bled into other markets. What does this mean? Do companies like Nintendo and Sony PlayStation have another HUGE rival in the fight for handheld gaming dominance?! If you want to know my take you'll have to stayed tuned for the next exciting installment of ANDROID NEWS...for the Masses!!!!!! New_Droid OUT!

Ice Cream sandwich...more than a delicious summer treat

2011-11-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the developers over at Google who are working on our FAVORITE mobile OS, Ice Cream sandwich is now more than a summer treat. It's also the new build of Android that will be stocked on most upcoming Android devices, YUM. It seems as if for the first iterations of Android since 2008 we had strong yet subtle changes to the features of use. As more time passed we saw distinct changes within the actual UI (user interface). Things started to not only feel better but also LOOK great! This is no exception for the latest build either. I just want to cover some of the new features of this amazing upgrade before I even jump into any other awesomeness.

Ok, so the first thing that I want to address is the fact that a lot of people have opinions about whether Android is the OS for them and how well it performs. Well I have some really good news... apparently Google has recognized these concerns; and although they can't be held responsible for what other companies do with the software after they are allowed to use the licensing, they have taken a pro-active role in improving the overall experience. With Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) the UI was rebuilt from the ground up to make it more functional, user friendly, and just sexy looking in general.

The First thing I want to direct your attention to is the new unlock screen.
Directly from the lock screen you can access the delicious innards of your
device by dragging that little disc on screen to the left... but there's more! Many Android devices do not have a Tactile button for the camera function.
Now when you drag that little disc to the right, it opens your camera app for pictures on the fly. Well, while we are on the topic of lock screens now would be the best time to tell you about the new built in facial recognition software. That's right folks! I said FACIAL RECOGNITION! With so many devices now coming standard with a forward facing camera, what better way to implement such an AWESOME feature! By simply pointing the camera at your face you can now unlock your device. I only have one question... Is there any more secure of a way TO lock your phone!? I think not.

For our next feature, some of my more tech savvy readers may already be aware of if you've kept up with the most recent builds over at Cyanogenmod. Swiping... bad for Dora, good for you. I know why that Fox keeps swiping things...it's FUN! Something as small and seemingly insignificant as a swiping motion to disregard a notification or to close a program may not seem like much... but allow me to convince you otherwise. We all know that Android has never been afraid to multitask. I think I speak for all Android users when I say this though, it wasn't the issue of could it handle it... the issue was the preventing of multitasking. No one wants 20 different programs running in the background and now you don't have to search the Android Market for an 'App Killer' either. Welcome to 4.0 the new multitasking screen. Featuring live tiles of the currently running apps on your devices. It's as easily dismissible as it is to close completely by simply swiping, and the same applies to notifications in the Notification Bar. The changes don't stop there either, now you can even access the Notification bar directly from the lock screen and jump into any app you need to. Can you say Gesture support FTW!

The next Feature I want to cover is pretty nifty. We all know that Google may give the green light on what devices get to have the Android Experience featuring Google, they also provide the software free of charge. One thing they don't do is directly manufacture any of these devices. That being said I think that they deserve a pat on the back for this feature. Have you ever wondered how much data you are using... I mean like an itemized detailing of all the data that courses through your Android filled hands! Well now you can get just that with the new built data usage monitor. This bad boy will help you from incurring overages in data usage. You can set it so that the data is automatically cut off at a certain threshold, check comprehensive interactive charts and graphs showing current data usage and even projected data usage. How Cool is THAT, and I mean seriously people, who DOES'NT like interactive charts and graphs!? I love'em!

The last feature that I want to highlight is the new Gallery being implemented. These have to be some of my favorite newly introduced goodies. In addition to the Geo-Tagging that we all know,love, and (I don't know about you but..) rarely use is another reason to love facial recognition software. So now the Gallery will group pictures by not only the geographical location of where they were taken, but also by who is featured in your pictures based on faces. This is not only amazing... it's MAGICAL. In addition to all these features it will also include the use of 'hipster filters' as well as editing software built in for things like red eye reduction and image angles. The best part is that what ever you choose to do with the editing of your photos the originals still stay intact and the edited version is saved as a copy.

So, there are still so many other features I didn't have time to touch on here so for the full story head over to 'Android and me' and check out all the awesome features that Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0, or ICS) has to offer. This is New_droid saying "I hope you're still hungry"

Source: Android 4.0 Highlights

New things in the works... I really mean it!

2011-11-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

So I had some really cool ideas come to me tonight. I was thinking to myself... "Self...what would make this website really transcend the barrier faced by most Blog sites" and the answer was simple. You! My readers are people, I am a person (as far as I last recall), and that is what will separate this blog from all others. In all actually it's the same thing that has always made this site different. In part, and this is actually a HUGE part, it's the reader loyalty. It's been over a year since we first launched and even through the lull of no post for MONTHS you are still here reading and checking for updates. That's more than I could ever ask for. Secondly it's the fact that most of my readers actually KNOW me and I know most of you as well. You understand the sarcastic and witty nature of my writing, and in a lot of cases it's almost like you are actually talking to me when you read our blog. Although there is one other major component to the bigger picture... that being that this is OUR blog. While at this moment I may be the only writer and mostly the only editor, I would be nothing without my supporters. I do this all for you! With that being said, I would like to announce that There are going to be some MAJOR changes coming to the site in the coming months. I have always had large ambitions for this website and what I wanted to bring to you and I intend on making those dreams a reality. I want you guys to know I appreciate your support and I am willing to do what it takes to keep you interested and engaged in the material, as not only the market matures and changes but also this site. Cheers! Here's to a new beginning and plenty of welcome changes I hope all will enjoy! New_Droid out!

Oh my, it has been a while...

2011-10-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for abandoning you guys, but I'm back now and you now what you can expect is a deeper level of coverage and a much more refined reading experience. Here's to the NEW Android News not just for the Masses but for you! New_Droid out!

Everyone's Doing It...

2010-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Or at least they should be soon. That's right I'm talking about Video calling... what're you talking about, get your mind out the gutter that's next weeks post *Geez!. That's right folks welcome to the great video call race!!! They're have been no shortage of IM client companies that have been making recent clues that they may be getting into the video calling game and while we already have a few that have launched I think the biggest issue isn't how many services offer this feature but instead how many current DEVICES support video calling. It's no secret that dual cameras on mobile devices seem to be the new golden standard... I know that's what I expect out of my next device. With that being said I think we can expect to see better video calling messenger clients with even more rich features than their predecessors, cue in Yahoo! Messenger. I personally love Yahoo! Messenger for the PC but as far as the mobile app is concerned I think that IM clients had the right idea with the launch of the G1 when all of the clients were built into one app (Gotta love Trillian), but that's not even the point... I may not like Yahoo's mobile client but when I read that they may be working on update for the IM client that would introduce video calling that could potentially be used across multiple platforms, I got a little excited. I'm very excited to see what they do with it especially seeing that the only other company with that kind of branding power (Skype) doesn't seem to be bringing video calling to android anytime soon.

You've got some NERVE T-Mobile!!!

2010-10-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Where do I even begin here!!!! First it starts with the new G2 having loose hinges(HTC STEP YOUR GAME UP!!!), then the advertised 4gb of internal storage is dwindled down to 2gb(a significant difference) and were told that the additional 2gb is going to be used to house the Android OS, then I'm researching and get this news... 'G2 prevents device owners from making permanent changes that allow custom modifications to the the Android operating system. This is the same Android that purposefully opened up its source code under the Apache License, allowing anyone to use, modify, and redistribute the operating system code even if they choose not to contribute back to the development community. Even among other Android computing devices and phones, the G2 is touted as an open platform. Unfortunately, the hardware in this device completely undermines this license by allowing mobile network providers to override end-user changes to the source code. Wireless network operators have deployed a hardware rootkit that restricts modifications to a device owned by the user. This would be akin to a computer sold with Microsoft Windows containing chip that prevented users from installing Linux or another operating system of their choice.' - New America. Now many of you may be thinking that this is just 'not that serious' but when you think about it... it IS THAT SERIOUS. We live in an age of the Super Smartphone, with a lot less emphasis on the phone aspect in most cases. Take for instance me, I use my Android device for calling people sure but that's not the only way I choose to stay connected to those around me. I'n most cases I rely heavily on IM clients and email neither of which are software or services provided exclusively through my Network carrier... in fact if I chose to cancel my service I would still have full functionality of my device because at the end of the day it's more than just a phone, it's a mobile computing device whether I'm using it to check emails, browse the web, listening to music, watching YouTube videos or DivX movies. I hate the fact that mobile carriers are pulling an "Apple" and undermining the very structure of Android as a means of further gain for their company. T-mobile why are you so damn upset is it because people want wireless tethering and you know that through ROOT you can gain access to this feature FREE OF CHARGE!? If that's the case start listening to your consumers and offer a paid service that will allow it instead of using the legal ambiguity of a fairly new system to incorporate malicious software/hardware protocols on new devices! I swear if they pull some sh*t like this withe the MyTouch HD I'm going to go Ape Sh*t and continue to use my ROOTED Nexus One with Cyanogenmod 6 pissed and annoyed New_Dorid Audi 5000 catch you on the flip side if I even make it there.

It's a Skype free for all... literally

2010-10-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

I remember when Skype was first unleashed for Android... I also remember, to my dismay, that it was offered only to Verizon Wireless customers. Cue in the NEW MyTouch HD with T-mobile. Now you may be wondering what kind of connection these seemingly unrelated events have with each other. Well if you don't already know recently T-mobile went live with a registration page for the new MyTouch which, if you'd been reading earlier post you would already know, comes equipped with a front facing dual camera. This is great news when coupled with the fact that Skype is coming to all Android devices. I personally have plenty of friends that use Skype so it really opens up the range of people who could find a device like this useful... no more having to wait until you get home to video chat with friends, you've got the power in the palm of your hand! This is great news but now I've got to go download Skype for my Nexus One =D

APPLE-GATE???!!!!

2010-10-04T12:39:00.001-07:00

I was using my Nexus One today and I was thinking to myself, “You know what android needs, a catalog of fully 3D rendered HD games... O wait we have those there just currently unavailable”. This is effing ridiculous folks, is anyone aware of what kind of scandalous backstabber-ey is going on here!? I for one am COMPLETELY outraged out how some companies are carrying on these days!!! Let me explain... once upon a time there were seven dwarfs. These seven dwarfs took care of an alabaster prissy little Bitch and her name... was STEVE JOBS. On a very unsuspecting day kind of like this one a not so evil little Android offered Steve some of his own medicine... and ever since we've been watching him choke on that poisonous Apple he's been trying to shove down our throats for so long THE END!!!! Case and point folks we already know that Apple is evil I just never knew the depths of the depravity. OK so lets look at the facts here and maybe you can tell me what you think... Gameloft makes 3D rendered HD games for both the Android and the IOS platforms, but Gameloft can attribute most of it's growth to sales made the Iphone. How much growth!? How about $24.5 MILLION in 2009 and about $10 Million that came in the fourth Quarter which breaks down to 231% increase from 2008.

Now this may not seem like a big deal but follow me here... I think if I ran a company and through a partnership with a device manufacturer I made over a 200% increase in revenue I'd be said company's biggest fan. Let's take a look at some other interesting information. AT&T provides Android phones as we all know... they are also the sole cellphone company to offer the Iphone/Ipad, once again everything seems normal on the surface of this deal... until you look closer at the distribution tactics not of the Android devices itself but of the core OS. If anyone knows of someone with AT&T who also has an Android phone you may realize that they've stripped away a key feature to be able to install apps from the Internet or any third party source for that matter... the only way you're getting your apps on AT&T is through the app market. AT&T claims that they want to protect their customers from “rogue” programs that can be downloaded from any third party developers, claiming that the less tech/Android savvy users may be ensnared... I'm calling Bull Shit!!! Most people that aren't that tech/Android savvy are not going to put themselves at risk downloading programs from unverified sources anyway. So you may be asking yourself, “How does this all play a part in this Apple-Gate scheme?” Well here's where it gets REALLY interesting... Gameloft as I mentioned earlier makes 3D HD games for both platforms, unfortunately they're only offering on of their MANY titles to Android users through the Android Market. The other Android Titles they offer have to be downloaded directly to your handset via their website... and once you finally get it installed there are a FEW restrictions, such as only being able to download the game once per device (although they supposedly fixed this issue it seems to still be plaguing many users), the update process is messy at best and if you ever have to wipe your device good luck with re-downloading with out having to pay for it again... there have also been reports of purchases being made through their online store that don't appear on your account. This is what a Gameloft Rep offered as an explanation to the folks over at Android and Me, “The Android platform is still rather new, (so) we are trying out different methods of distribution to see what works best.” Yet they offer full market support to the Palm-OS and Iphone... I'll let you draw your own conclusions but it would seem that AT&T and Gameloft are both working in accordance to seemingly cripple the Android experience for their customers....just saying. Well my heard hurts sooooo, until next time this is New_Droid going to have a drink!

P.S. This is what their holding out on...

(Currently Trying To Gather Bits of Brain Matter From Across The Room) O MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Where do I even start to begin... I had to put the video at the top of this post. I thought that to be one of THEE most profound advertisements I've EVER SEEN!!! The funny thing is... I'm not exactly sure why!? Like, did they get George Lucas and Martin Scorsese to write and direct that commercial... because that's what it felt like, that was just EPIC!!! Now I know you're probably all thinking "Is he done having his freaking nerdgasm" and to answer you yes... Yes I am but I also need you to know why this is so amazing to me and why it should be to you too! I mean seriously besides the fact that is really showcases the practicality of tablet devices in everyday life (All of which I'd like to imagine are running Android, just saying) it's really showing off why the average working class or even in the case of the of the homeless person at about 0:43 seconds in would have a vested interest in something like this. Now I have to say I'm no artist by a long shot but to have a device capable of recognizing my handwriting is pretty amazing as is but then you add in the fact that it will be equipped with advanced features that can even reject unintended screen contact... wow! Not too mention that it's been developed to work on larger screens and it will increased performance. This means a lot for future and current game developers amongst others when it comes to designing apps for future Android Tablets. This means more fast paced action games and richer content across the board. I mean c'mon folks we already have flash support, the writing is on the wall. Here are some specs I ninja'd from my peeps over at Android and me. The most exciting of which and I think we can all agree on this one, is Low power consumption. I hear a good amount of concerns from people that own touch screen phones in general complaining about battery life and here's your answer. So next you may be wondering "what does this all relate to exactly".... and to be honest with you I'm not exactly sure... but what I do know is that HTC is currently working on an Android tablet with Motorola and I also know for fact that this is the kind of touchscreen technology that will be seen(and touched) on Samsung's Galaxy Tab. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for any additional info that becomes available but until next time this is New_droid signing off!

Complete highlights of the single-chip touch solution include:

Unlimited touches
Low power consumption
Fast response — completely redraws screen every 4/1000 of a second (4ms) to eliminate recalibration issues
Excellent signal-to-noise ratio for superior precision — 3x better than competitive products
Superior performance for first-touch response — 3x better than competitive products
Unambiguous, unlimited touch support
Responsive user interface: > 250 Hz report rate for a single touch
Extremely low current consumption: < 1.8 mW in “touch-ready” state
Two touch adjacency of less than 10 mm on a 4.3″ touchscreen
Small footprint with few external components
Supports stylus, fingernails, and gloves
Grip and face suppression functionality: avoids false touches
Size and angle of touch supported
Screen sizes up to 10.2″ are supported by a single chip
Proximity channel support

App Review - My Market App from socialtap

2010-09-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

So I was browsing the android market as I often do perusing for new and interesting apps and I came across something of particular interest. It's was an app on the Android Market, which in essence, IS an app for the Android Market. Paradox's aside here I think thought that this was an interesting idea. Here we have an application that allows you to not only browse the Android market that is directly linked to your mobile carrier but it actually unifies ALL mobile carriers Android Markets into a single streamlined app store. So say, not unlike myself, you have T-Mobile but there's an app that is only offered through say, I don't know, Verizon Wireless. You now have the ability to browse through that carriers app store and download it to your device. Now here comes that grain of salt you should be aware of, some applications are made with particular devices in mind so not all devices are always compatible with all apps. Also you should know that most carriers app store are nearly identical. Now you may be wondering why it is that I seem to be so excited over this app, allow me to explain... with the rise in popularity of Android based tablet's there is a slight, if not defining, issue. That issue being whether or not your android tablet will have support for Google apps, more specifically the Android Market. Now at the point that you should find yourself about to make a purchase of an Android tablet you'll recognize that it may have Google branding or it will be mentioned somewhere in the specs that it is in fact "With Google". For a lot of other tablets running Android, such as the Archos line of tablets, they will not feature the Google apps or the Android market. This is where the My Market app may play a HUGE role. I do want to preface the next few statements with a disclaimer.*DISCLAIMER It has not been confirmed whether the use of the My Market app is contingent upon already having the original Android Market installed on your device. I have contacted the developer of this app in order to gain some clarity on the issue in question. I will be updating this post as soon as I get word back from this developer.* Now that's out of the way... I guess what I'm really commenting on here is the possibility to open up the Android Market to a wider customer base through a third-party application. This in my personal opinion would be an AWESOME idea... if even possible, but in short I downloaded the app myself and I love it. It's a great alternative for those who would need an alternative, it may load a little slow but when this is the only app available to offer this kind of service I'm not going to complain to much. I have rooted all the Android devices I've ever owned and had this been available to me then it would have been a great help, especially seeing as how you can download it directly from the website. So all in all, Great App does what it says it will do I give it 4 and a half out of 5 stars... and just an F.Y.I to any who choose to download it you will have to restart your device once after you install it.

REALLY!? GOOGLE... REALLY!?!!!!

2010-09-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm not gonna lie folks... upon reading that not only is Google offering a new service called Google TV I was more than skeptical about the idea. To make matters worse, now I'm reading that Sony plans to unveil this new "Google TV" device on October 12... I gotta say folks I don't think that this is a particularly good idea... wait... what's that... breaking news, apparently this new service Google TV is a better idea than I anticipated. Two words, ANDROID. MARKET. Wow, That was a shocking yet delightful twist. I mean here I am watching this video as they explore the cool feature that will be included and I just am thinking to myself the whole time, "Yeah, this is nice and it would make searching for my favorite shows a lot easier than Time Warner Cable has made it for me thus far but... It's not GAME CHANGER" and then as if Google was reading my thoughts BAM! Look what else we got, that's right the ANDROID MARKET! That's insane... but the best kind of insane. Now folks, I'm not saying I'm going to go run out and buy one as they come out... and if you know me you how much I love to run out and buy some new tech, but what I am saying is that this could be just what android fans have been needing... A deeper more enriching Android experience offered through home entertainment, assuming that this particular product doesn't COMPLETELY FLOP! I guess what I'm trying to say is this, while Google TV sounds like a good idea it also SOUNDS like an expensive idea for consumers. The reason I believe that Android phones have been able to make such a distinct mark on the world of mobile computing is because most consumers purchase a new phone every 2 years if not more frequently. I mean seriously how many people, and I mean normal working class people, are really going to buy something of this caliber?! Not many. Maybe this is just a sneak peak into what will soon be revealed, in the next few years, as "The bigger picture" (no pun intended). If that is the case Google, I hope you've got a plan! but for the rest of you enjoy the video because "LIVE FROM SATURDAY NIGHT" this is New_Droid signing off!

3D and Android... A peak into The Future of Mobile Gaming

2010-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that 3D media seems to be the next "Big Thing" in not only home theaters but also in a major sector of current movies thanks in part to the monumental success of movies like Jame's Cameron's Avatar... a movie that many who know me are well aware that I hated, but not for lack of stunning visuals or 3D cinematic immersion(didn't too much enjoy the story, there I said it!). I do on the other hand am a huge advocate of giving credit where credit is due and where I feel Avatar made it's biggest success within the revolutionizing of 3D media... and it's getting better with each movie we see released. This brings me to my next point, a videogame UI (User Interface) company known as Scaleform introduced an Android prototype device built by Master Image and NVIDIA that incorporates 3D visuals that don't require 3D glasses. This device is running an unknown Tegra processor. Take this video with a grain of salt, these are graphics rendered through a whole different camera/camera filter but even still I feel like this is monumentally AMAZING!!! Check out the vid... it's only best thing EVER!!!

Until next time this is New_Droid signing off!

No Contract... No Problem!!! Android Does that!

2010-09-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone and welcome to another exciting issue of Android News... for the Masses of course. So folks I was thinking to myself recently (cue flashback), "What if I wasn't tied down to a yearly contract with my current cell phone provider". A question that may plague a lot of you... well whether you have a cellphone with a contract or not the principle still applies, what options do you have!? Well up until a few hours ago you didn't have many between the Sanyo Zio for Cricket Wireless and The i1 With Boost Mobile, but there's hope and still yet promise for a growing amount of Android powered devices on carriers with no contracts... Introducing the Samsung Intercept with Virgin Mobile. Confirmed via Virgin Mobiles official Facebook account they will be offering the use of the Intercept on their network, which should really come to no ones surprise seeing as though *Sprint* owns Virgin Mobile. I'm just happy to see more Android powered devices coming to more cellular networks one Awesome phone at a time! Hopefully We'll see something posted to the Virgin Mobile site in the next coming few weeks.

Get back to your Android "Root"-s

2010-09-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

Now many of you may or may not know of the process known as rooting when it comes to your Android powered devices. For those of you who are not too aware of this process allow me to explain... most times when you purchase an Android device (or any other phone for that matter) from a wireless provider they typically are locked to their respective device carriers. Rooting your device while not illegal will void yor warranty in most cases. Now you may be thinking to yourselves, "What reason could I have for rooting my Android device?!" While that is a good question it's one that you will have to decide for yourself as some people think it's worth it and others not so much. I do want to warn you rooting your device is not for the faint of heart and I would not suggest this to anyone that doesn't have some sort of extensive background in working with computers... but if you do decide to make that decision here are some things you can look forward to.

Customization not currently available with stock versions of android; This is a screen shot from my current phone running the latest build from Cyanogenmod. I have a Nexus One and was able to not only change the color of the default clock to match my theme but I also was able to change the color of the notification bar as well as the notifications that appear their in.

Apps not available to users without rooted devices such as the app that allowed me to take this screenshot.

In the case of my phone I have access to free network tethering, which allows me to connect other WI-FI enabled device to connect to my phones mobile internet

So there is something to be said about having a rooted device but I wouldn't be doing a good job as a reporter if I didn't make you aware of the negative potential as well. That being said if one was to root their device improperly you stand the risk of "bricking" your device which, in layman's terms, renders your device utterly USELESS! Once again and I can't stress this enough, ROOTING YOUR DEVICE WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!!!! I also would like to mention that I do not endorse rooting your device but if you decide to I feel you should know what you are getting into. I would also like to add that most cellular providers have an additional charge for WI_FI access through your mobile device so be sure to check with your provider lest you involve yourself in some illegal activities... which is BAD if I may so add. Yet and still for those of you that are willing and able to do so you may want to check out this app on the Android market that can give you that sweet , sweet root access without the risk... unfortunately at this time they only support a limited array of devices so do your research and check out Unrevoked and for the rest of you brave enough to try it check out a detailed account of how you can root and what you will need over at the XDA-Developers forumXDA-Developers forum

Two cores are better than one!

2010-09-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot of information is available as of yet regarding T-Mobile's newest Android device, but I will tell you this... the information we do have is pretty spectacular. If you're not sure what “Device” I'm referring to allow me to introduce you to the new myTouch HD from HTC. Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of it yet, officially it hasn't been announced. Thanks to our friends over at TmoNews we get a look at some internal documents listing some of the goodies we should expect to see when it releases later this year (F.Y.I. The myTouch HD has yet to get a release date although based on some internal documentation it speculated to release in early November) *add grain of salt as needed*. Now that we've gotten the fine print out of the way I invite you to eat up these golden nuggets of delicious, if not limited, confirmed features. The first thing I want to address is the inclusion of a 1ghz dual processor, which at this point would mean that this device would be the first of many to be getting the dual core treatment... can you say 2x the fun! We're also looking at not one but TWO camera's... of course with one being a forward facing camera for what I can only speculate to be used for video calling, while the traditionally placed camera is rumored to be a 5 mega-pixel. You can also get excited about a revamped genius button that allows phone navigation via voice command for those times when your driving and can't access your phone otherwise. Lest we forget about one of my favorite features... 4 gb of Internal memory, it's about time if you ask me. I get so tired of my phone informing me that I'm low on internal storage because all of the apps I've downloaded, so that's good news for all you app happy Android fans out there. On another note, apparently T-mobile is planning on going head to head with Sprint or so I've speculated based on how T-mobile has referenced their own HSPA+ network. T-Mobile has gone even so far to say that this new myTouch HD will run on “Americas Largest 4G Network”. T-Mobile's HSPA+ network is theorized to be able to offer up to 21mbps which they plan to double to 24mbps by 2011.

That's great news for both T-mobile users and Android fans alike. Be sure to stay tuned for future post about this and other devices as information is leaked, until next time... this is New_Droid signing off.

Welcome Back...!!!

2010-09-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

I know I've been gone and I shouldn't have left you but... What a way to come back!!! If you've been following me on Twitter you'd be aware of two very important things. 1) I haven't abandoned you, I was dealing with some unfortunate system issues that have been resolved by the amazing open source OS known as Ubuntu... it's like Android for your PC and 2) Just as I've suspected The new Samsung Galaxy Tab Will be released on ALL FOUR major U.S Carriers (Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint an AT&T). Not only that but for you all who are not interested in tying your new piece of Galaxy Goodness into a new 2 year contract, there's good news for you too. The Samsung Galaxy Tab will also be coming to market with a WI-FI only version of the device. Check out the four Official press releases on Phandroid. Enjoy the great news and keep reading.

Until next time this is New_Droid signing off!

All Android tablets aren't created equal

2010-09-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Just two days ago an article surfaced stating that some of the upcoming Android OS based tablets will not be receiving the beloved Android Market. Google has concerns about how certain apps may scale on larger screen sizes as well as the concern of certain app functionality, especially those of which that use GPS for location based services. Google's director of mobile product development went on to say, “You can have Android Market if it leads to a good implementation. We have to make sure that every device meets the criteria for a good experience for Android Market.”. While I realize that the use of Adobe AIR is not yet being used to develop the apps that are featured in the Android Market, I can't help but to speculate that this may be the answer to more than a few tablet manufactures prayers. Take for instance the line of Android based internet and home tablets from Archos, these are some very impressive devices and what is equally as impressive are the price points. What isn't so impressive is that these particular line of devices will not include access to the Android Market *Sad Face*. Now I know what you're thinking and I'm thinking the same thing, trust me, because the Android tablet scene is not that popular at this point it still leaves time for current and future developers to write programs with Adobe AIR so that we have more of a Google enriched experience when it comes to new tablets debuting and who doesn't want that... I know I do. With apps like Gmail, GTalk (an I.M. Client for Google users), Google maps with navigation and Google Voice just to name a few I don't think i stand alone when I say Google has gotten us use to a certain standard of mobile computing and if loving Google is wrong... I don't want to be right! Last but not least I found this video of the newest addition to the Archos Tablets so for your viewing pleasure all the way from Kazakhstan (Borat Humor) here is your video review of the new Archos 7 internet that can "Go on the Android".

LOL and on that note... this New_Droid signing off, until next time!

OMG! ADOBE FTW!!!!

2010-09-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Today's Special Edition Android news is actually going to focus on one of the newly added features to the Android OS. You may have heard of Adobe and the Amazing line of products that they have brought forth to the public whether it be Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or something that almost any one will recognize...Flash. Well today as I was researching looking for topics sure to interest and amaze all I found just that on Talk Android, where they covered a snip-it of what's to come from Adobe's latest and, if I may say, Greatest web based development tool yet.

I just want to explain exactly what all of this means... Cross platform compatibility. This is great news for program developers and consumers alike, No more will a program developer have write a program in more than one programing language(you write one and you're done), for consumers especially those using Android(and I'm speaking from experience on this one) I believe we will start to see a high influx of the amount of programs available for the Android OS. One of my biggest concerns was a year ago when I first got my G1, I thought to myself... "self, I really hope that we start to get apps on par with that of the Iphone", fast forward a year and we find just that(Quality Apps on par if not better than the competition, in some cases from those very same developers). I guess the point I'm trying to convey is, with the ease of writing an app that will work on multiple platforms it slowly but surely starts to blur the app race and when that happens I think you'll have more informed consumers. Instead of looking at the differences in Platforms people will start paying more attention to the quality of the devices... but no matter what you look for first in a device I think we can all agree this is Good news for all platforms. This was your Android News Special Edition, I hope you enjoy.

Until next time this New_Droid signing off.

Great news!!!

2010-09-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

If you're like any number of tech thirsty individuals, me too, you where very excited about the announcement of Apple releasing a tablet computer. You may be wondering to yourself, "Self, why is he making mention to Apple's Ipad on an Android exclusive blog", well let me answer that for you... I may not like Apple, shoot I may not even respect them but I do have to give credit where credit is due and Apple deserves credit for two things in particular. 1) Releasing an awesome and innovative new device that, while overpriced in my opinion, has served to entertain the masses while providing a certain amount of social exclusivity and 2) They have opened up a huge and largely untapped market share for tablet pc's. Cue entrance of the Samsung Galaxy tab, with specs as impressive as these it will be difficult to ignore the 7 inches of delicious tech that this piece of equipment is touting.

Time for the break down. As we can see here it will be able to take advantage of two types of networks(CDMA networks such as AT&T or T-Mobile and HSPA networks like Verizon or Sprint) the core differences being the use or lack thereof of sim cards respectively. Also if you notice it will make use of the most recent build(version) of Android(2.2 Froyo).We also find as mentioned before a 7 inch hd lcd screen with support for Adobe Flash 10.1 which really breaks down to a full web experience whether you want to watch videos on your browser directly on youtube.com or if you want to play flash based games and other content. Unlike previous incarnations of android based tablets this one will include the Google experience, which means that you will have access to over 80,000 apps in the Android Market. It will also come equipped with Wi-FI receiver and Bluetooth Connectivity. Some other cool features include a light sensor for automatic screen dimming in certain lighting conditions, an accelerometer for landscape and portrait modes, a gyroscope sensor and geo-magnetic sensor for cool apps that may use compass functionality. This device should be hitting at least three of the major providers soon so keep your eyes pealed and remember you read it here first.

Until next time this New_Droid signing off.

Welcome to The Android Market

2010-09-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

So I was on my Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nysoja) account last night talking to an old friend from H.S and I always figured that the young people from our generation were/are pretty tech savvy, some more than others, and the way he reacted to the news of an actually marketable resource in the Android OS was nothing short of shocking if not validating. It just proved further to me that this blog is a well needed resource even if my readers (whether you know about Android or not) aren't fully aware of the purpose, I'm positive that in the coming months people are going to want to know more and more about what is happening. Speaking of markets... the Android market is an Integral part of any Google Certified android device. Just one year ago Android launched with the very first Android powered device The T-mobile G1. Now I'm gonna shoot it straight with you folks reading this... I'm not exactly sure how many apps the Android Market launched with, but what I do know is May of 2010 the market that we all know and love housed an incredible 50,000 apps. Fast forward just four months and we find ourselves relishing in the fact that now the android market now has 80,000 apps, many of which are identical to the ones you will find on the IPhone OS(IOS) in Itunes. This in my professional opinion is a GREAT feat... now I know what a lot of you are thinking and trust me I agree "Quality over Quantity" and to that I need to inform you of one very important factor. Consumers understand that the tech market changes every six months almost like clock work and to that end we, the consumers, always want more. We want it better than the last version, we want it faster, fitter, more productive and guess what folks GOOGLE is listening to you chanting your ideas from the side lines about what will make your devices better. In the last article I made some notes to what makes this system what it is and I want to expound on some of the things that make it so great.

On 15 September 2009, Android 1.6 (Donut) was released. Included in the update were:

An improved Android Market experience
An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface
Gallery now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion
Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with native applications, including the ability to dial contacts
Updated search experience to allow searching bookmarks, history, contacts, and the web from the home screen
Updated technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, and a text-to-speech engine
Support for WVGA screen resolutions
Speed improvements in searching and camera applications
Gesture framework and GestureBuilder development tool

On 26 October 2009 Android 2.0 (Eclair) was released. Among the changes were:

Optimized hardware speed
Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
Revamped UI
New Browser UI and HTML5 support
New contact lists
Better white-black ratio for backgrounds
Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
Microsoft Exchange support
Built in flash support for Camera
Digital Zoom
MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events
Improved virtual keyboard
Bluetooth 2.1
Live Wallpapers

The 2.0.1 SDK was released on 3 December 2009.

The 2.1 SDK was released on 12 January 2010

These changes are coming quick and it seems that with each passing day Google is working on something new and different to pack into the updates named after tasty desserts we call Android. It's a great thing and I'm very excited to be bringing this information to anyone who so desires it... information for Consumers by A Consumer, It has a certain ring to it.

Until next time... New_Droid Signing off

"These Are not the Droids you're looking for"

2010-09-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Or ARE they? With so many New android devices on the market today, ranging from the new niche of android powered tablet PC's to the all too familiar android phones, it can be hard for some to differentiate what truly separates one device from the other. In this issue I want to address some of the core differences. In the Android universe it's referred to as fragmentation, allow me to explain.

As you may notice from the timeline there are varying degrees of the android operating system(or OS) each with it's own little something extra that it brings to the table. In most cases the changes in the android OS are most notable in either the user interface(UI); which can be seen in changes such as menus, icons and screen orientations;or through changes in the speed of the device, which depends on the hardware but in most cases can be enhanced through a simple software update to a newer version of the Android OS. Typically you will find that higher end Android devices (such as Google's Nexus One, The Droid Series of phones offered with Verizon, The Evo 4g or even the Samsung galaxy phones) are either already running the android 2.1 software or will soon be issued an upgrade. Other phones like the newly released Sanyo Zio or The Motorola I1 will ship running android 1.6, I also want to mention while these are great smartphones for the services providers they belong to they are not powerhouse devices which is the defining reason behind them running that particular version of android. Some very nice features of the Android 1.6 release include but aren't limited to

System Wide Search

This new feature unleashes the power of Google's search engine across your entire phone including the search through apps currently installed, current contacts, web search and even music.

Revamped Android Market

The newly improved android market has now been made easier to navigate through the addition of menu options such as the exclusion of paid and non paid apps, app categories such as sports, health, themes and comics. App screenshots and user commentary assist in choosing the right app for you.

I just want o wrap this up by letting any and all my readers know that anyone looking to buy a new android device or possibly upgrade the one they currently have, if you have any questions leave them in the comments and I'll be sure to get back to you promptly

Welcome To My Android Blog

2010-09-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my new readers, which in this case will be all readers. I just want to star by saying this has been a very exciting time for consumers and android enthusiast alike. I also want to take this time out to clarify my objective for this blog. The whole reason for this particular forum is for Us, the users of this wonderful platform. I love android but I don't want to be confused with a fanboy, that's not what this is about, it's about bringing my valued opinion based on fact to the masses that have answered the calling of a smartphone/technology based world that until this point has made us complacent for the mundane. I'm tired of reading blogs the like of Cnet.com spewing out nonsense about an OS that many have not taking the time to research properly. I also do want to take this time to address one more very important factor. I know that their are a lot of android blogs out there, but I find they're not addressing enough of the issues that we want to hear about. This blog is geared toward the new Android OS users that don't know much about the system. That being said I want to know what you think, I wanna answer your questions and post links to helpful websites, apps and app reviews. Until next time this New_Droid signing off.