Dell Streak Android 2.2 update
Dell has updated its 5-inch Dell Streak tablet-come-phone to Android 2.2 this week, and Pocket-lint has managed to grab a handset off Dell for a quick review to see what’s new and what the update brings users.
The biggest change is the introduction of a new User Interface called Dell Stage, that sees apps, songs, web pages, and photos bundled into collections and then presented as “Stages” for you to access.
There are eight stages at the moment and these are: Contacts, Email, Gallery, Home, Music, Social, Web.
Users can add to remove them how they see fit, and underneath the skin is still the standard Android looking tiles that allow you to place your favourite apps.
Also new is the addition of quick launch buttons with the emphasis on being quick. Press the small dots in the bottom corners of the screen and you’ll have about half a second to touch the correlating home tile.
Beyond the Dell Stage skin users will be getting a whole host of additions which include: improved performance & memory management, Adobe Flash 10.1 support, support for more apps like the native Twitter client, Skype for Android, the Firefox Beta browser, Live Wallpapers, the ability to create a portable W-iFi hotspot, an improved more-responsive phone dialler interface and enhanced Microsoft Exchange support.
Doom-themed live wallpaper for Android turns your phone into a playground of carnage
Okay, so maybe this isn’t the best choice for businessfolk sporting their new Droid Pros, but if you remember Doom as fondly as we do, you’re probably going to want to check this out. A dev over on xda-developers has posted information on his new Doom-themed live wallpaper — it doesn’t actually draw from the game itself, but he’s taken the bad guys (the important part) and reused them on a flat, stationary playing field of his own design. Basically, your hero strolls around battling baddies as they spawn; when he finally succumbs to his countless festering wounds, he respawns in a different room ad nauseam. It’s available in beta form for free in the Market right now — question is, are you tough enough to load it?
Sony Ericsson CEO suggests February reveal, perhaps the PlayStation Phone?
Plausible deniability seems to be Sony’s strategy when it comes to the PlayStation Phone, and that apparently goes for Sony Ericsson as well — once again, without actually confirming the existence of the Android-based gaming handset, its manufacturer is hinting strongly at an impending reveal. “There’s a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere,” CEO Bert Nordberg told the Wall Street Journal, adding that some sort of new Sony Ericsson product will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress this Februrary. While that particular item could easily be the 4.3-inch Anzu slate rather than a PlayStation slider phone, the chief executive didn’t seem to shy away from video games in a series of additional quotes. “I haven’t dug into that history, but the future might be brighter,” he said when asked why the company didn’t make a PlayStation Phone years ago, and later suggested that gaming might be the ticket to help SE diversify its offerings. “Sony is of course a very strong brand, and why shouldn’t we use that?” he asked the Journal. We can’t think of a single compelling reason, Mr. Nordberg. Bring on the games.
Xperia X10 To Get Pinch-to-zoom in Q1 2011
Since the release of the Xperia X10, perhaps even before, there has been a lot of discussion as to whether the Xperia X10 would be capable of multitouch. As you know, the answer turned out to be a resounding no. At one point, Sony Ericsson declared that the hardware of the Xperia wasn’t able to handle multitouch. Today finds the handset maker issuing an about-face.
Yes, dear folks, you’re reading it right. Multitouch is on the way but it will take some time and it will be pinch-to-zoom only. You see, when the two fingers cross each other on the X- or Y-axis, the phone starts to behave weirdly. Those of us across the pond, and those of us on AT&T don’t care. It’s still brilliant, and welcome anyway!
LG's 4-inch Android phone with dual-core Tegra 2 and 1080p video coming in early 2011
Wow. LG did say it’d bring some heat to its Android Optimus line and here’s our first look at it, folks! An 8 megapixel camera-wearing, 1080p video-recording, dual-core superphone to appease all the spec fanatics out there. Aimed for release early next year, as the very first dual-core Android handset, this device will finally bring NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 into the smartphone realm. Our tipster tells us it’s codenamed Star internally, though that’s certain to change in the final product nomenclature. You might think that massive Google logo on the back would imply stock Android and you’d be right — we’re told it’ll be a nearly untouched representation of the Google OS, though it’s still not clear which version it’ll be. We’ve also spotted a front-facing camera on the front, while the innards include microSD memory expandability, microUSB connectivity, and a 1500mAh battery.
Panasonic says it will start selling Android-based smartphones in Japan next year, overseas in 2012
Panasonic may not be new to cellphones, but it has sat out of the smartphone explosion of recent years — an oversight that it’s now apparently looking to correct. Speaking at a news conference today, the head of Panasonic’s mobile division, Osamu Waki, said flatly that the compmany “misjudged the speed at which smartphones would be taken up in the Japanese market,” and that “with the rapid shift to Android, we want to catch up quickly.” Exact details on how it plans to catch up are expectedly still a bit light, but Panasonic’s phones will indeed be based on Android, and it apparently hopes to differentiate them by emphasizing their networking capabilities with other Panasonic products. As for when the first ones will roll out, Panasonic plans to kick off sales in Japan sometime next year, with overseas markets set to follow in 2012.
White HTC EVO 4G leaves the Best Buy nest, migrates to Sprint stores
Once a Best Buy exclusive, the white version of HTC’s still-badass EVO 4G is finally making its way into actual Sprint retail locations, the carrier’s website, and other third party stores for the same $199 on contract after $100 mail-in rebate as usual. Gives us a good opportunity to levy the same complaint we’d levied before — that the front of the phone should be white, not just the back — but hey, at least passers-by will know you’re stylin’ when you’ve got it held to your face.
Galaxy Tab coming to AT&T November 21st for $650, US Cellular on the 19th for $399 / $599
So, AT&T, it’s true: you’re charging $50 more for the Galaxy Tab than everyone else in the States off-contract. That’s a pretty gutsy sense of entitlement, though you’re bundling $50 in Samsung Media Hub credit — and, of course, no other Tab has access to AT&T’s $15 and $25 pay-as-you-go data plans at 250MB and 2GB, respectively. Pick your poison, we suppose. In related news, regional carrier US Cellular is going to start telling the Tab on November 19th for $399 on-contract or $599 off, effectively the same price schedule as all the big guys except AT&T. Data pricing on USCC seems like it needs another tier, though, because right now you’ll be able to choose between $14.99 for 200MB or $54.99 for 5GB with tethering enabled. Where’s the happy medium, guys? Follow the break for both press releases.
Developer Support for Windows Phone 7 and Android Increasing
According to a survey conducted by Millenial Media in collaboration with Digiday and Stifel Nicolaus, there is a significant shift underway away from the iOS platform to Windows Phone 7 as well as the Android Platform. Android will see the most attention from developers with an increase from 23% currently to 29%. In an interesting development Windows Phone 7 will move from a current 6% to 20% of developer share. The most interesting and fan-boy backlash inducing figure is that developers expect to reduce their projects for the iPhone from 31% to a surprising 8%. While these types of surveys should always be taken with a grain of salt, if things play out this way both Microsoft and Google will be able to provide competitive app libraries for the respective platforms.
Samsung H1 Android Flagship Leaked
Over on the What Mobile Forums, a member has posted two photos of what is going to be the flagship Android phone from Samsung to replace the Galaxy S and is called the H1 and is due to be announced at Mobile World Congress in February.
The image shows some great specifications although at the moment these cannot be confirmed as 100%.
The specifications are:
- Android 2.3 Gingerbread
- 4.3 Inch Super AMOLED Screen
- 8 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash
- 14.4mb/s HSDPA and 5.76mb/s HSUPA
- 1080p Video Recording
- 1.2Ghz Processor
- 16GB Memory
AIVAnet 