Android Articles
Android 2.2 lays down the gauntlet, includes WiFi tethering
So the iPhone might finally get USB and Bluetooth tethering next month, huh? Well it may turn out to be too little and too late.
At its IO Conference today in San Francisco, Google announced Android 2.2 (code named “Froyo”), and as expected, the new version of its mobile OS includes Wi-Fi tethering — something previously available only on PalmOS phones (like the Pre+) and on rooted Android devices. They even demo’d a Wi-Fi iPad connected to it.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if the iPad could tether to an Android device but not to an iPhone? Actually no, it would be sad.
No word on if and how carriers may charge for tethering on Android, but unlike the current iteration on the Pre+, an additional charge appears likely. In addition to Wi-Fi tethering, Android 2.2 also includes USB tethering, which is faster than Wi-Fi.
And that’s not all. Android 2.2 also includes a rash of other new features, including:
* Adobe Flash 10.1
* apps on microSD
* a JIT compiler
* faster V8 javascript engine
* (optional) automatic app updates
* OpenGL ES 2.0
* a new one-handed camera UI
* revamped Google voice search, and
* desktop to handset music streaming
I hope Cupertino is paying close attention. Customers won’t accept a substandard mobile OS forever. I hope that Apple has some tricks up its sleeves for WWDC on June 7, or iPhone OS 4 is bound to be a disappointment.
Nexus One: the first smartphone with Google
By Matthew Roesler Hamann
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Learn all about the launch of the Nexus One, the first smartphone designed by Google.
The year 2010 has just begun and after several months of speculation and news about the cold-awaited Google smartphone arrives at last on January 5, the day that Google officially announces the launch of the Nexus One, or Google Phone, as has been called by the public.
Until then the news had been published were no more accurate and clear information about this device that promises to shake the world market, not just smartphones, but electronics in general. It had not been released official images and users were limited to those blurry, leaked by the network in recent weeks.
First official information
The first official information about the Nexus One are limited to the specifications of the device, as it is no surprise to anyone, will be sold with Google Android 2.1 as the native operating system and touch screen of 3.7 inches, and a resolution of 480x800 pixels.
3D interface
The smartphone which is manufactured by HTC (the same company responsible for the Hero and the Magic) also has a 1GHz processor, 512 MB ROM and 512 MB of RAM, and has a microSD memory card, 4 GB, which can be expanded to up to 32 GB. The integrated digital camera to Nexus One is 5 megapixels and flash native has composed of LEDs.
Google Android
The Android operating system was the first smartphone to be open source, ie, to have the source code released to anyone who wanted to change it. Android is financed by Google and, therefore, is fully compatible with the main services of Google Mobile, and Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Search, Google Calendars as well as other less well known by users like Scoreboard, My Tracks and Sky Maps.
The War of the Smartphones
The launch of the Nexus One brand to ignite a war technology that promises to bring good results to users: Apple vs. Google. The companies have been facing battles are indirect for some time, and recently passed the Google Chrome Apple Safari in the list of browsers used.
With the launch of Google Phone, both will compete directly in the market for more affordable, Google intends to dominate space belonging to the iPhone.
The problem that Google could face in this regard will be imposed by itself. Apparently, the device will initially be sold in the United States in just two packages.
One of them will cost $ 180, but will require a contract in two years with T-Mobile, the other will not require anything, that is, the device will be unlocked, but it will cost $ 530, a fairly salty and higher than the iPhone.Enfim revealed
Google's event began at 10 am on Pacific Time, 16 hours GMT. Shortly after the start, Google executives began to announce the growth that the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a group that takes care of Android, obtained in 2009. After 16 minutes elapsed, there is one of the most anticipated announcements.
"The next step in the evolution Android"
Finally comes the official logo of the Nexus One, the Google executives call "superphone. It's finally revealed that he is the fruit of a partnership with HTC, which has launched six mobile phones with Android and now launching what promises to be the culmination of a partnership between Google and HTC.
Peter Chou, HTC's CEO, says the device that has screen 3.7-inch AMOLED, and has said that the Nexus One has Snapdragon processor 1 GHz, the most "powerful" category. It has light sensors and approach, to facilitate the visualization of information. The Nexus One also has compass, GPS, LED indicator for new messages and accelerometer.
The multimedia playback features ensure compatibility with various types of files. For images: JPEG, BMP, GIF and PNG. For audio: AAC, AMR, MIDI, SMF, OGG, WAV and MP3. For video: H.263, MPEG-4 and H.264.
The camera is really 5 megapixels, LED flash, 2X digital zoom and also records video in MP4 with a resolution of 720x480 pixels. The audio system allows connection to Bluetooth devices and has a system of noise suppression. Images released by Google shows that the device has only 11.5 mm thick, which means little more than 1 cm, and weighs only 130 g.
