All Things Android

I just wonder how big this is going to have to be to have any reasonable battery life - or is there some new technology we don't know about?

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Motorola are rumoured to be working on a new super-powerful Android phone that if the rumours are correct, will blow every other Android phone out of the water!
According to the rumours, the new Motorola phone will feature a 2GHz Tegra2 processor developed by Nvidia, and will “…incorporate everything that is technologically possible in a smartphone today.”
With 2GHz powering the thing, and with Motorola already having an Android phone with an 8 megapixel camera and 720p HD video recording on sale now, that’s entirely possible!
But just where did these rumours come from?
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A very reliable source

The rumours come from a very reliable souce – Mr Nvidia himself, Jen-Hsun Huang. He’s already stated that Motorola is “…one of the major clients that Nvidia is cooperating with for the long term.” Now he’s backed this up by telling DigiTimes that “…more models based on the dual-core processor [Tegra2] are expected in 2011.”
The Tegra2 can pump out full 1080p HD amongst its many other talents, which should make for a mouth-watering next-gen Motorola Droid!

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Looks like they're continuing the trend of increasing CPU power and screen size at the expense of better battery life. I'd say we'll be charging our smartphones every night for some time yet...

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Originally Posted by BiCranial

Looks like they're continuing the trend of increasing CPU power and screen size at the expense of better battery life. I'd say we'll be charging our smartphones every night for some time yet...

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Apparently they've cracked it.

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them were the days!!!

Never got into the smartphones, always been a compact minimalist phoner and always had a good laptop.

Missus just bought herself the Nokia N97 mini running Symbian 3. After playing around with it I was hooked and looking to buy a smartphone. Clearly Android is the way to go, I knew this before the missus made her purchase but she wouldn't have a bar of it, being loyal to Nokia. The web browing is dissappointing even with opera, and it's too big and bulky, but she wanted the keyboard for Thai.

I just checked out the Galaxy S, sweet look and feel, nice size screen and apparently battery just as strong as the N97. But I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger now or wait a while. This Samsung has been dubbed the pinnacle of smart phones but I don't see it slowing down. If I buy the Galaxy S, will there just be something better and cheaper available in 6 months? Who is likely to outdo Samsung? I don't think there's any real competition for Android in terms of OS.

Plenty of cool new models on the way (HTC Desire HD, G2 etc) but as soon as they're released there'll be rumours of even better phones coming...

Have a browse through the new releases planned by Moto, Samsung and HTC but unless you see something that really gives you wood I'd suggest you just go with the best of what's currently available

Phones, cameras, TVs.. just about anything electrical will be knocked off top spot soon after purchase.

You could spend your entire life waiting for the next new model..

Just make sure that its running Android 2.2

Whatever you do, if you buy now, insist on Android 2.2. Manufacturers seem to be half arsed about upgrading existing phones, as I've found to my cost with the Galaxy Spica.

Mind you, Windows Mobile 7 devices were announced in a flurry yesterday, so if you are taking your time, you might want to wait and see if it's worth the fuss Microsoft are making.

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HP Photosmart eStation C510 comes with an Android mini tablet

HP has launched their HP Photosmart eStation C510 printer model that comes bundled with an Android powered mini Tablet.

HP claims that this unit can be used as a “wireless digital companion and control panel for remote printing.”

In simple terms, this can be considered as HP’s first mini Tablet PC as it features the Android 2.1 mobile OS.

Archos Android tablets:

Archos has a range of Android tablets with screens ranging from 2.8 to 10 inches

Apparently the 10" model will run about $200 cheaper than the iPad
Rounding out the details on all five Archos Android tab models:

• The 2-8 (the model number indicates the 16:9 screen size) with 4GB at $100.
• The 3-2 with 8GB of memory, a 1.3MP camera and VGA video recorder at $150.
• The 4-3, the closest analog to the new iPod Touch, with 16GB, a microSD slot, HDMI mini out, HD video recording and a 2MP still camera running on an 800MHz chip for $200 (comparable to an 8GB Touch at $229 or 32GB at $299).
• The 7-0, with 16GB of flash for $275 and a whopping 250GB hard drive for $350.
• The 10-1 comes in two versions, 8GB for $300 or 16GB for $350.

From DVice

Archos Android tablets

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One thing I'd be suspect about with Archos is battery life - their media players are not much kop on this front.

So what's the difference between a tablet and a smart phone, just the size? Is there a 'tablet' that's also a phone (with blue tooth headset)? Had a play with the galaxy S and it's pretty bloody sweet, would like it to be just a little larger, now considering getting a tablet and just keeping the small old phone for phone calls.

They are starting to converge, but generally a tablet has no phone capability.

The middle ground at the moment is the Dell Streak: A 5" screen that doubles up as a phone.

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Winamp now available for Android

Works well for me, I definitely prefer it to the standard music player

Still in Beta so YMMV

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After tossling over getting the Galaxy S, the new galaxy 7" phone / tablet, or another small tablet such as Acer, have decided to go with the normal Galaxy S handset just for the phone, and look at also getting a tablet down the track a bit, when the technology improves. It blows my mind this whole Android revolution, and I'm just wondering how far it will go. 5 years ago, who would imagine video conferencing and watching movies on a handset, GPS wherever you go and point and click around to get information on your surroundings. How long before we become cyborgs?

Some chat going on about Android 3.0 not being the next major release; apparently there may be a 2.3 out before they go with the next big version (which will be more optimised to tablets).

I'm not buying another phone this year, I think I'll wait until the January sales.

^ They told me in the shop that the Samsung tablet is exactly the same as the Galaxy S only it will have android 3.0 and be available early next month. The Galaxy S they sell are still 2.1, but they told me the upgrade is no worries, and they upgrade to 3.0. Just what I was told by Thai sales staff, so to be taken with a bucket full of salt.

No, the Tab has a 7" screen and will have Android 2.2 (and no phone capability in the US version I believe - kind of defeats the object!).

The 2.2 update for Galaxy S has already rolled out.... in Norway.

It's due out in other areas subject to carrier.

Or as Samsung state in their own press release:

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The Android 2.2 upgrade will be available from the mid of October 2010 in the Nordic region and gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America, Africa and rest of the world.

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Press release

I'm not going to buy Samsung as they've refused to put 2.2 on the Spica which I only bought in January.

The c*nts.

^ What's involved in upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2? I'm a bit worried I'll end up with 2.1 and not be able to upgrade. Wouldn't be the first time sales staff told me what I want to hear to make a sale.

That's gay that the US release has no phone capabilities. Why the hell would they do that?

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Originally Posted by 9999

^ What's involved in upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2? I'm a bit worried I'll end up with 2.1 and not be able to upgrade. Wouldn't be the first time sales staff told me what I want to hear to make a sale.

That's gay that the US release has no phone capabilities. Why the hell would they do that?

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Upgrades go over the air and are installed by connecting the phone to your PC using the KIES software; Samsung seem to release area by area, it's so f**king ridiculous and time consuming it's unbelievable. There are people with phones on 1.6 still waiting for a 2.1 upgrade that's been out for months, simply because Samsung haven't made it available; it seems a bit hit or miss.

I'm guessing once the update is available, even if you can't get it over the air, you'll probably be able to go into a Samsung Service centre and git ur dun.

OK cheers, a bit dodgy but looks like if I want the phone I have to buy with 2.1, they haven't released them with 2.2 in Thailand yet. I've read that 2.2 is a must and 2.1 is redundant. What is the difference?

Android 2.2 Platform Highlights | Android Developers

Android 2.2 Platform Highlights

The Android 2.2 platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers. This document provides a glimpse at some of the new user features and technologies in Android 2.2. For more information about the new developer APIs, see the Android 2.2 version notes.

• New User Features
• New Platform Technologies
• New Developer Services
• New Developer APIs

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Some chat going on about Android 3.0 not being the next major release; apparently there may be a 2.3 out before they go with the next big version (which will be more optimised to tablets).

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I saw mentioned that there will two branches, Android 3 for tablets and high end phones and Android 2.x for lower end mass market handsets, so perhaps we'll see 2.3 and 3.0 out by the end of the year...

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Originally Posted by BiCranial

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Some chat going on about Android 3.0 not being the next major release; apparently there may be a 2.3 out before they go with the next big version (which will be more optimised to tablets).

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I saw mentioned that there will two branches, Android 3 for tablets and high end phones and Android 2.x for lower end mass market handsets, so perhaps we'll see 2.3 and 3.0 out by the end of the year...

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It's a possibility, but I think they'd prefer a single version, given that most of the manufacturers/carriers customise it so that it will only work on their phones/networks.

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Originally Posted by 9999

The Galaxy S they sell are still 2.1, but they told me the upgrade is no worries, and they upgrade to 3.0. Just what I was told by Thai sales staff, so to be taken with a bucket full of salt.

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Beware as I also have this problem...

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I'm not going to buy Samsung as they've refused to put 2.2 on the Spica which I only bought in January.

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I think mine is still running 1.6 and will not update in Thailand which is unacceptable.