New Technology Reviews!.: week in review

Android Community Weekly: October 23, 2011

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">
<div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="210" mce_src="http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3002/acweeklyh.jpg" src="http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3002/acweeklyh.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />With many re-caps of this week’s breaking news, this issue will focus on the announcements of the long awaited Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and the Motorola DROID RAZR! The Galaxy Nexus finally dropped in Hong Kong Tuesday, and officially claimed the its throne over any pre-existing Android device out there. Though the DROID RAZR had our jaws dropping earlier that morning, it was soon forgotten after the Galaxy Nexus hit.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The device will debut with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This updated OS will include a ridiculous amount of improvements – both cosmetically and with systematical functioning. A completely new lockscreen, new standard homescreen, and practically every standard application has been re-wrapped with Android 4.0′s new cyan-colored theme. Like past OS updates, this version of Android will include a new collection of ringtones and notification audio tones (now available). Editing photographs is now possible within the new Gallery application, and the camera is vastly improved over previous versions. Photos are taken almost instantly, and Google has implemented a panoramic setting straight into the app. Be sure to check here for even more new features not mentioned during the official release! For the official Samsung Galaxy Nexus hands-on, navigate here.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
During Motorola’s showcase Tuesday, the MotoACTV and DROID RAZR were unveiled. The MotoACTV will be directly competing with the iPod Nano and even offers a bit of innovation. The device will be able to read their owners pulse through the headphones to determine songs they workout best to! The DROID RAZR will be the thinnest smartphone to hit the market come November 10th. It will have many exclusive accessories including lapdocks, keyboards and more. Unfortunately, the RAZR will have a locked bootloader and a non-removable battery; developers – don’t plan on rooting this device with ease. Be sure to check out our hands-on with the RAZR and even a benchmark comparing it to the Samsung Galaxy S II.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Those hoping for an upgrade to Android 4.0 will be pleased that a number of manufacturers are working towards pushing them as soon as possible. HTC is currently looking over Ice Cream Sandwich to determine a proper upgrade plan for their current lineup. The Motorola DROID RAZR and DROID Bionic have both been confirmed by Motorola to receive updates near the beginning of 2012.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Also reviewed this week was the ASUS Eee Pad Slider via SlashGear. ASUS also confirmed Android 4.0 will appear on the Transformer soon, and will surely debut on the Transformer 2 flaunted on video Wednesday! Finally, released was the price of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus without a carrier contract. The sim-free version will run at $680, a bit cheaper than I was expecting.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
)</div>
</div>
</div>

Android Community Weekly: October 23, 2011

With many re-caps of this week’s breaking news, this issue will focus on the announcements of the long awaited Samsung Galaxy Nexus, And...

Android Community Weekly: October 1, 2011

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">
<div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="210" mce_src="http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1788/acweeklyw.jpg" src="http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1788/acweeklyw.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />Welcome back to the 20th issue of Android Community Weekly! We finally have have a quick video demonstration of Android 2.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in action, Amazon has realized an amazingly affordable tablet, and more devices continue to emerge before this holiday season. T-Mobile recently announced their version of the Galaxy S II to launch October 10th for $229. Though, more expensive than the Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G on the “Now” network, it hopefully ships without many of the Epic Touch overheating problems.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We finally have an extensive review for the AT&T Galaxy S II available! Consistently scoring higher benchmarks over any Galaxy S II device thus far, we dub this device king over the others. Most different in this version than the others is even higher quality materials used giving a less-plastic feel. Tuesday, SanDisk 64GB micro SDXC cards were reported working on multiple Android devices. Unfortunately, having a smartphone available to readily access that amount of external memory will set you back $219.00.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Android 2.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) was demonstrated on video this Wednesday. The UI and lockscreen went through a complete overhaul from 2.3 (Gingerbread). Hopefully, an application for face recognition will be available upon release! An amazing Nexus Prime concept was recently previewed, and I’m sure we all hope the actual device will resemble even some of these design concepts. Yet another device planning to debut with Android 2.4 on board will be the Sharp Aquos 104SH.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We were also able to attend Amazon’s debut of the Kindle Fire the week! Fortunately, we were able to get some hands-on time with the device – and most noticeable was the inclusion of the vibrant IPS display. Amazon did not skimp in the least when manufacturing the Kindle Fire. Though it was announced for $199, the actual tablet costs Amazon $209 to manufacture! The company is surely banking on users to purchase books and subscriptions from Amazon’s App/Kindle Store to come out of this with some profit. The Fire will indeed run Android OS and be compatible with the many apps available in the Android Market.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
RIM has recently enlightened the public with details on their Blackberry Runtime project to run Android applications. This will only improve Blackberry’s chances in retaining those of their customers with second thoughts in their non-versatile OS. Finally, the Motorola Xoom 2 tablets have been confirmed for a November launch just in time for the holidays!</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
)</div>
</div>
</div>

Android Community Weekly: October 1, 2011

Welcome back to the 20th issue of Android Community Weekly! We finally have have a quick video demonstration of Android 2.4 (Ice Cream S...

Android Community Weekly: September 24, 2011

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">
<div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="210" mce_src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4558/acweekly.jpg" src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4558/acweekly.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />Viewing the Android Community Weekly roundup this week will land you in-depth reviews of two amazingly well build devices, more information on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and some Android OS controlled supergadgets. Both American variants of the Samsung Galaxy S II are now in our possession! The Epic 4G Touch was extensively reviewed this past Sunday, with benchmarks even the original Galaxy S II can’t touch (out of the box that is). And just recently, the AT&T Galaxy S II was unboxed by Chris Burns; be sure to ask him any questions regarding the device so they may be answered before the official review! The Epic 4G Touch is already available, but AT&T expects to release their Galaxy S II for under $200 coming October.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Looking for an affordable smartphone capable of Verizon’s incredibly fast 4G speeds? The Pantech Breakout was officially announced on Verizon Wireless for $100 with a two year service contract. Though this device may not give you the same speed and functionality available on their recently released DROID Bionic, it is indeed much cheaper. The HTC Rhyme is also scheduled to debut on Verizon soon; Chris Burns went hands-on with the phone Tuesday. As the name suggests, one would expect the Rhyme to ship with Beats integration, yet this was not the case within our hands-on coverage. The Rhyme will run HTC’s Sense 3.5 UI, which is now said to incorporate a free 5GB of free Dropbox storage.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Google Wallet went live this Monday and is now available for all Nexus S 4G devices. Currently, only Citi and Mastercard users can link to the service. However, Visa, American Express, and Discover will all support Google Wallet in due time. It will surely be supported by the next generation Nexus device, so Google Wallet’s potential may rise from spread popularity. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now rumored to arrive before the DROID Prime on Verizon’s network with a launch date of November 3rd. Verizon normally launches devices on Thursdays – so this very well may be accurate.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
If the tablets released as of late have been slightly too small for your taste, then maybe the Android MegaPad 23″ life-sized tablet may be of interest to you. Within the video demonstration, it’s easy to see how adapting Android to such a large tablet is such a good idea. Two other awesome gadgets previewed this week were the Sphero robotic ball and the TankBot micro-vehicle. Both of these are remotely controlled by your Android device! Who wouldn’t want to control a tiny ball around their house with Android or iOS device?</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Even though Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich hasn’t even hit devices yet, Notion Ink has confirmed it will be running on their Adam slate this October. This may very well fall through, as Notion Ink previous history hasn’t complemented their ability to follow through with their customers. Finally, Amazon has just recently started sending out invitations to their press event in NYC come September 28! Could this be the introduction to a long awaited (and affordable) Android tablet? The majority of us hope so!</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
)</div>
</div>
</div>

Android Community Weekly: September 24, 2011

Viewing the Android Community Weekly roundup this week will land you in-depth reviews of two amazingly well build devices, more informat...