Chris Davies

Author: Chris Davies

ASUS delays Eee Pad Slider release: Now due Fall 2011

By Chris Davies
on 8 Jul, 2011

ASUS has updated its expected launch window for the Eee Pad Slider, with the company now claiming the Honeycomb slate with a QWERTY surprise won't launch in the UK until sometime this autumn (aka fall). Previously, ASUS had promised an August release for the Slider, having already delayed the Android tablet at least once. Unveiled alongside the Eee Pad Transformer back at CES 2011, the Eee Pad Slider has a 10.1-inch touchscreen and NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset, but also includes a sliding/tilting QWERTY keyboard. Unlike the 'board offered for the Transformer, which can be detached or turn the tablet into a netbook of sorts, the Slider's hides behind the body of the slate itself. Reports back in February suggested the Eee Pad Slider would go on sale in mid-April, though unspecified delays have pushed that back. There's no official word from ASUS as to its reasoning, but we've heard some talk that the hinge mechanism could have presented issues. [device id=629]

Samsung Galaxy S II US launch delay down to carrier disinterest?

By Chris Davies
on 8 Jul, 2011

Samsung's Galaxy S II remains one of our favorite smartphones here at Android Community, and with sales passing 3m worldwide in the first 55 days of availability, its absence from the US market is increasingly frustrating. According to a new report from Korea, however, that may not change any time soon; Chosun Ilbo claims that US carriers like Verizon are dismissing the Galaxy S II because Samsung's CDMA expertise lags behind that of Motorola and others. According to the paper, Motorola "makes phones that work best with the American mobile protocol CDMA. That means US telecoms have a better alternative." Although the Galaxy S was the best selling Android device in the US at one point in 2010, carriers are supposedly less inclined to pick up its successor because HTC and Motorola are offering more compelling CDMA options now. "When the Galaxy S smartphone was launched last year, no competing new models by Motorola and HTC were available" the paper suggests. "As far as US telecoms were concerned, the Galaxy S was the only alternative to the iPhone last year. But the new model faces much tougher competition" Samsung has not confirmed the rumors, but an unnamed executive from the company did admit that "negotiations with American telecom companies have dragged on" while European sales flourish and the Canadian carriers are gung-ho about the handset. [via GottaBeMobile]

Amazon Appstore saved from Apple injunction attack

By Chris Davies
on 7 Jul, 2011

Apple's demands to have Amazon barred from describing its Android software download store as an "app store" have been rejected, with courts throwing out an injunction request this week. While US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton didn't necessarily agree with Amazon's claims that the term had become generic, Reuters reports, she nonetheless felt that Apple had failed to establish the necessary "likelihood of confusion" required for an injunction to be the appropriate response. The decision falls in line with predictions late last month, where Judge Hamilton warned Apple that their case had likely been insufficient. She had said she was "troubled" by what Apple had brought before her, however, with the Cupertino company's approach being that Amazon's use of "app store" could "confuse and mislead customers." With a quick fix no longer possible, it now looks like Apple and Amazon's legal battle will end up going through the courts properly. A trial date of October 2012 has been set.

TI promises Full HD Netflix streaming on Android devices soon

By Chris Davies
on 5 Jul, 2011

Texas Instruments has announced that its OMAP4 platform has been Netflix certified for the 1080p Full HD version of the streaming movie company's app, the first time a mobile platform has been approved. It's the M-Shield security section that's won TI the kudos, apparently, working in combination with the high-definition capabilities of the processor cores. Although Netflix already has an Android app, its compatibility is limited to certain handsets. That, the company has previously explained, is because Android lacks standardized secure streaming protocols that Netflix can use not only to funnel their content out to phones and tablets, but also use to reassure content owners that the movies won't be ripped and shared illegally. TI's M-Shield security system, however, offers a hardware-protected, trusted execution environment (TEE), running on the OMAP4's dual ARM Cortex-A9 cores, but supposedly does away with either a dedicated chip or extra CPU cycles. There's also support for Full HD HDMI output, which could mean plugging your Android phone into an HDTV and turning it into a mobile Roku-style streamer. According to TI, devices with the Netflix app pre-loaded "will be launched in the near future."

Path for Android released: Social photo sharing made simple

By Chris Davies
on 1 Jul, 2011

Path for Android has entered beta, allowing Google phone users to access the photo-based social network service. Released on iOS some months ago, Path positions its app as a way to share photos you've taken with a small group of trusted friends or colleagues: each account supports up to just 50 contacts. Images can be tagged, both with the identity of people in the shots, as well as places and things in-frame as well. Comments and conversations are supported, along with records of who has viewed your image and - using Path's "Emotion" system - how they felt when they saw it. For a broader audience, it's possible to share shots directly from Path to Facebook. It's a free download, though the Path team does warn that there could be a few rough edges and that it's not quite as polished as the iOS version. You can download Path for Android v1.0 from the Android Market now.

Samsung Galaxy Z gets official: Slimmed-down GSII

By Chris Davies
on 30 Jun, 2011

Samsung's latest Android smartphone has been outed, and it's clear the company has been looking inward for its inspiration. The Samsung Galaxy Z is a more compact version of the Galaxy S II, with a 4.2-inch WVGA Super Clear LCD display and 1GHz dual-core processor. There's also WiFi, Bluetooth and a 5-megapixel main camera with an LED flash and HD video recording. GPS, an FM radio and 8GB of internal storage round out the key specs, along with a microSD card slot. OS is Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with the usual TouchWiz modifications. Currently the phone us up for preorder in Sweden, priced at 3995 SEK ($635); there's no word on whether the Galaxy Z will launch elsewhere, though we would be very surprised if Samsung didn't push out versions across Europe. It seems something of a halfway house between the original Galaxy S and the SII, and considering the popularity of both devices that's probably not a bad idea. [via Samsung Hub]

Sony S1/S2 tablets get PlayStation demo and video fondle

By Chris Davies
on 30 Jun, 2011

The last video teaser we saw of the Sony S1 and S2 tablets, the company was strapping them to a Rube Goldberg-style machine and hardly telling us anything at all. Happily a brief demo of the Android Honeycomb prototypes in Munich this week has been more elucidating; while Sony still isn't saying much about final specs or software, at least Golem got to briefly play with the slates. The S1's 9.7-inch display, folded-magazine style tapered form factor and light, 600g weight met with approval, the wedge shape make for something easy to hold. Sony apparently had Crash Bandicoot running on the tablet, with the on-screen PlayStation controls straightforward to use. The company is still generally quiet, but has apparently confirmed PlayStation Suite compatibility. As for the S2, that's a lot more compact than we initially expected - the clamshell form-factor hiding its dual 5.5-inch touchscreens well - and does a decent job of minimizing the gap between the two panels. Sony hasn't confirmed pricing or availability, but previous leaks have suggested a September launch in Europe which could well mean an IFA 2011 official reveal. [youtube nGyynWokrpA] [via SlashGear]

HTC Desire Gingerbread update hits quality testing

By Chris Davies
on 30 Jun, 2011

HTC has announced that its Android 2.3 Gingerbread build for the HTC Desire is now going into quality assurance testing, one step closer to being released for owners of the former flagship smartphone. According to the company's Facebook page, the Desire Gingerbread ROM will be put through its paces from this week, though there's still no firm date for its release to users.

"Hi all- We're excited to share that we are testing our build of Gingerbread for HTC Desire and will start doing quality assurance for it this week. When we have an update on availability we'll post another announcement. Thanks for your support!" HTC

The news follows the will-they-won't-they announcements over the past few months regarding an official update for the Desire. Having initially promised Android would be released for the handset, HTC then shocked owners by confessing that they would be unable to do so, citing an inability to preserve the full Sense experience. After massive outcry, HTC changed its stance overnight and confirmed that it would indeed be pushing out a Gingerbread build. It was later revealed that the ROM would have a pared-down suite of apps, in order to satisfy the limitations of the Desire's memory. There's currently no telling which apps won't make the grade. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

T-Mobile’s myTouch 4G Slide gets official: HSPA+ and a boosted camera

By Chris Davies
on 28 Jun, 2011

T-Mobile USA has given the official nod to the myTouch 4G Slide, the carrier's latest QWERTY smartphone. Built by HTC, the myTouch 4G Slide packs a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen and the same 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor as inside the HTC Sensation and HTC EVO 3D, as well as that physical keyboard and an upgraded camera. The 8-megapixel camera - which has autofocus and a dual-LED flash - also gets a new f/2.2 wide aperture lens and a backlit sensor, both intended to improve low-light performance. HTC has also fettled its software, promising zero shutter lag as well as adding in-camera HDR support, SweepShot for easy panoramic photography, and BurstShot for firing off multiple frames in short order, and then allowing you to pick the best later on. A front facing camera gives support for video calls, meanwhile, and the phone runs Android Gingerbread with HTC Sense 3.0. Other specs haven't been announced, but we're guessing WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS and all the usual sensors will be included when the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide arrives in July 2011. It'll be priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement, and available in black or khaki. [youtube 97REawPREH4]

Microsoft scores another Android patent deal as license pressures ramp

By Chris Davies
on 27 Jun, 2011

Android device manufacturer General Dynamics Itronix has agreed a patent licensing deal with Microsoft, the latest company to cough up cash despite many assuming that Android, being open-source, liberates them from patent concerns. According to the rather smug Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft, the deal "is an example of how industry leaders address intellectual property." That certainly seems a snub to other Android OEMs yet to ink patent contracts with Microsoft. It's unclear what exact patents the agreement covers, at this stage, though Microsoft has been vocal in the past about the misconception that Android is a "free" OS because Google made it open-source. "Android has a patent fee" CEO Steve Ballmer said back in 2010, "it's not like Android’s free. You do have to license patents. HTC’s signed a license with us and you’re going to see license fees clearly for Android as well as for Windows." Earlier this year it was suggested that HTC pays Microsoft $5 for every Android device the company sells. In fact, Citi analyst Walter Pritchard suggested, Microsoft made more from indirect Android handset sales that it did from licensing Windows Phone to its own OEMs.