Motorola & Verizon launch DROID X
Motorola’s Android-based Droid X smartphone was unveiled today during a joint press briefing with Verizon. The device, which ships with Android 2.1, will be available to Verizon customers in mid-July. The DROID X comes with a 4.3? screen and HDMI out support, plus Motorola says it’ll receive Android 2.2 and Flash 10.1 via an over-the-air update that’ll hit “in the latter half of the summer.” Behind the phone is some sort of 1Ghz processor, an 8 megapixel camera and DLNA and HDMI support.
Specs:
* 4.3-inch 854×480 touchscreen
* 8mp camera with dual LED flash and image stabilization
* 3 microphones
* HDMI output
* 3G connectivity with Mobile Hotspot ($20 month)
* Pinch to zoom
* 1Ghz Omap processor
* 7 customizable home screens
* 8GB built-in storage
* GPS
* 8 hour talk time and 220 hour standby time
Google Android 2.2 Froyo officially announced
Google just announced Android 2.2 “Froyo” at I/O, and the big addition is a just-in-time compiler, which brings a 2-5x speed boost to the system. Froyo (following Google’s adorable alphabetized dessert naming convention) is the latest iteration of Android, Google’s mobile operating system. Google has announced a number of very significant improvements will be coming to the next version, numbered 2.2 but nicknamed “FroYo,” which address key issues Android has dealt with in the past.
1) Improved Speed — Just as it was rumored, the next version of Android will have a JIT compiler, responsible for a significant (2x-5x) speed boost.
2) Better Enterprise Support – The platform has lagged behind Windows Mobile and BlackBerry in terms of enterprise functionality, but FroYo will include over 20 new enterprise features. These include better Exchange support, with auto-discovery, improved security, and GAL lookup, and new device admin APIs.
3) Cloud-to-Device API – Google services, Chrome extensions, and soon-to-be released Chrome apps will be able to sync with your Android device. If you need directions from Google Maps, it can be sent directly.
4) Tethering — This was also a rumored feature for a few weeks. The feature will be in the “settings” menu, and clicking “portable wi-fi hotspot.”
5) New Browser — The Javascript interpreter in Chrome will be used in FroYo’s native browser, offering a 2x-3x Javascript performance boost. Google’s Vic Gundotra said it will be the fastest mobile browser available.
6) Install apps on SD memory – One of the main problems people had with Android was that you could not install apps on your removable memory card, you were limited to the device’s physical memory, which in some cases was quite limited. In FroYo, apps can be moved to, and launched from, the phone’s SD card.
7) Flash 10.1 and AIR support — This one is not a surprise, as Adobe and Google have both said this would be coming.
Web-based Android Market — Without a doubt one of the weakest aspects of consuming apps on the Android Platform was that you were limited to only seeing what was shown on your mobile device’s screen, which in most cases is not very appealing.
9) App auto-updating — When an app you downloaded gets updated, you would get a notification that there was an update available in the Market. You’d have to navigate to the market and click OK three or four times per update just to get it installed. In FroYo, there will be an “Update All” icon, and the ability to check “allow automatic updating” when you download a new app. Apps can be purchased on the Web-based store and synced down to your Android device.
10) Music Sync – Even though it’s got a decent media player, Android devices have never had the music power that iPhone has with its built-in iPod functionality. With FroYo, however, users will be able to sync their local music collection with their Android device and stream wirelessly.
HTC EVO 4G Release Date & Price Announced
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse confirmed the price and release date for the HTC Evo, the very first phone to run on a 4G mobile data network. Sprint today announced that the smartphone will cost $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and the requisite two-year service plan. The swanky smartphone is features a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8650 processor, 512MB of RAM and a 1GB ROM, 4.3″ display (480×800), Android 2.1with HTC Sense UI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI-out, mobile HDTV, 8.0mp camera, 1.3mp front-facing camera, digital compass, GPS, and a microSD slot.
HTC EVO 4G Features:
* Capable of running on 3G and 4G networks
* Video chat (using the front facing camera) and Qik application
* Can be used as a hot-spot (up to 8 devices) – will require $29.99 monthly plan
* YouTube HQ (High Quality) playback
* Features HDMI port for content streaming to your flat panel TV
* 3.5mm headset port and micro-USB charging port
* 4.3″ display with pinch-to-zoom
* 1GHz Snapdragon processor
Sprint Drops The Nexus One for HTC EVO 4G
Sprint is now following the footsteps of Verizon, by backing out on its promise to carry the Google Nexus One on its network, and replacing the smartphone with a newer HTC EVO 4G. The HTC Evo 4G is a really powerful phone, and it’s going to be the Android phone to beat once it launches. Sprint originally announced plans to offer the Nexus One, but today they announced that they’re ditching the Nexus One and sticking to the award-winning HTC Evo 4G phone instead. Sprint is not the only carrier to do this. Verizon Wireless also ditched the Nexus One for their HTC Droid Incredible release.
HTC EVO 4G features adobe flash supported Android OS 2.1, 480 x 800 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with QSD8650 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 1GB of storage, and 512MB of RAM, 8.0 MP auto-focus camera, HD video capture, HDMI output, Mobile Hotspot capability and more. With built-in mobile hotspot functionality, HTC EVO 4G allows up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 4G experience which is incredible. You can Tether your HTC EVO 4G (share internet connection) with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device on the go.
Android gets ported to the iPhone 3G
Some days back we saw Android running on an iPhone 2G, and now its iPhone 3G turn. David Wang, has managed to install Android on an iPhone 3G. Now you can use the Android OS to browse the web and run any application that does not require audio support, as well as send and receive SMS text messages over the cell phone radio.
Check out the Video Below:-
Via Engadget