Jul 05
While Orange, Three and T-Mobile UK subscribers with HTC Hero units are still recoiling from the ‘Droid update delay, Nexus One owners have something to feel good about. Google has given word that the Android 2.2 update is scheduled to go live this week. All mobile phone users with a Nexus One should get an update message on the mobile phone’s notification bar located at the top of the display.
Nicknamed “Froyo”, Android 2.2 allows Nexus One users to save apps to an SD card as well as perform app updates simultaneously.
With a bit of luck, everyone with a Nexus One will have their hands on the update before Monday. Well, unless they have rooted to unofficially install version 2.2 in advance.
No word has been given regarding any required data transfers or standard procedures to prepare the unit for an upgrade. But just to be sure, it would be a good idea to back up your important files. Also, if you do not currently have an abundant data plan, it may be a good idea to download the patch over Wi-Fi.
HTC seems to be lagging in terms of Google upgrades. First, it was the HTC Hero getting the short end of the stick from its mobile network operators. Now, reports say that HTC Sense owners will have to deal with a slight delay in getting their 2.2 update. This is HTC’s official statement on the matter:
“We are working hard with our partners to update the HTC Sense experience on Froyo and distribute it to our customers as fast as possible. We expect to release updates for several of our 2010 models including Desire, Legend and Wildfire beginning in Q3.”
Looks like ‘Droid owners will just have to wait a while longer for their updates. At least there are plenty of fresh Android apps to keep them busy for the time being.
Jul 01
It is already out and if you are a Nexus One owner who has yet to download the new Android 2.2. Froyo update –do so now! The new patch brings plenty of interesting new features, a major performance tweak and of course, support for the new Flash Player that Adobe released just a while back. Yes, the new flash player will not work with the older Android operating systems and is made specifically for the Froyo. Despite the player already out, the 2.2 update has only been recently launched (seems like Adobe has been eager to show the mobile industry how fast they are).
Anyway, the new OS features a “tip widget” can be turned on or off as needed. It is a very useful tool for anyone unfamiliar with smart phone technology or those who have not tried out the Android OS before. This feature brings the Android mascot (a green robot) giving users tips and guides. It is useful, informative and most importantly, non-obtrusive.
As stated above, the new version also works with the Flash Player update. This means that a whole host of sites and web apps
can now be played and accessed with the Froyo 2.2. Of course, users would have to download the Flash Player separately.
Speed is the new keyword for the Android OS. Sporting a new Java handler and better Kernel Memory management, the new Os will be smoother and faster than the older versions. Some state that the performance boost can go anywhere from twice up to five times the speed of the original. The web browsing experience has also been upgraded as well.
Fans of digital photography will enjoy the fun new user interface. With all the controls neatly packed into a single, easy to use touch screen layout –taking images and videos with a phone has never been easier or fun.
Jun 23
Google knows that people struggle with keeping their smart phones from running low on power. But with internet access, voice guided navigation, media playback and a whole host of other features, the device tends to lose plenty of energy from use. While this is understandable, having power drain when the phone is on standby is a waste. Here are some valuable energy saving tips that should keep the lights shining on your new HTC Desire for a bit longer!
The first thing that is recommended is to turn off the auto updates. This will keep you from seeing the latest tweets and Facebook updates, but these can also be checked manually. Unless you are already plugged into a charger, leaving this setting turned on will eat up energy.
Auto sync is another feature that will drain you battery when left on its own. This is very important especially for users that do not make use of the Google Life applications such as the Google calendar. Since the service auto syncs every now and then, shutting it off will save plenty of power.
From Android 1.6 Donut to the latest 2.2 version, Google has provided the Android with tools and functions for monitoring the battery drain of individual apps and functions. Check the “battery use” option to see a quick log of apps that take up plenty of energy.
Creating switch off widgets will make the task of moving a phone into low power mode much easier. While creating the widget itself will take several minutes, it turns all processes into a single screen tap command.
Of course, non Android tips also apply; keeping the screen lights low, using darker wallpapers, shutting off GPS, WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth when not needed. Also, the WiFi settings on the Android have an auto shut off feature that users might want to check out.
May 28
So we already know that Android 2.2 is already out for the Nexus One, and that an update for the HTC Desire is coming this June 23. The important thing now is to actually know what the new update is all about and what really makes Froyo so special.
First off, the name Froyo stands for frozen yogurt. Google has been naming Android versions after sweets and snacks in an alphabetically arranged fashion. Android 1.5 is Cupcake, 1.6 is Donut, and 2.0/2.1 is Éclair. This latest update brings a bunch of new features (which will be discussed below); according to Google, a bigger update for the Android will be launched sometime later this year, version 3.0 Gingerbread
One of the biggest improvements in the new OS version is the introduction of the Dalvik VM, which is a just-in-time complier (JIT). While this may not seem like a big deal for end users, developers will instantly recognize the value of this feature –it actually makes the device faster. Since it improves performances by a very significant amount, end users will really not care much about the terminologies used, as long as it works. This literally makes the Android anywhere from twice to five times faster.
There will also be new services as well as APIs that have been designed to make the user experience much better. One of the more interesting APIs is the cloud to device messaging feature which will allow users to push data from their computers to their Android device –like browsing Google Maps on the Chrome browser and pushing the bookmark unto the Android device. Also included is USB tethering and the ability to turn the handset into a WiFi hotspot.
Apps can now be easily backed up and also moved from internal storage to the memory card –allowing users more control of how the space on their hardware is managed.
May 24
Okay, there are dozens, if not hundreds of tower defense games out on the market. Since Rampart first came out in the 1990’s people have discovered the addictive gameplay that involved setting up your defensive lines and seeing your enemies try to get past it.
It seems simple, but it is very satisfying and in later stages, very challenging. That has been the formula for tower defense games and that is how these games play until now.
Aside from Rampart, it was Blizzard’s StarCraft that has made tower defense the genre that it is now. The concept of manually building defensive lines and upgrading each structure is an element that has been retained in all tower defense games –regardless of the setting or game environment.
Lubis Labs has come out with Robo Defense, a simple, 2D graphic tower defense game that has players building sci-fi inspired defensive gun and rocket turrets to hold off a metallic assortment of baddies that will come storming in. The game also gives players special achievements for finishing certain levels under special circumstances.
The biggest charm of Robo Defense, aside from its price, is the straightforward gameplay. The developers at Lupis Labs have stuck true to the formula of tower defense and have delivered a game that will give you sensible and practical upgrade choices, easy to understand map layouts and of course, detailed enemy variations. Choosing upgrades is also fun as basic gun turrets turn into AA cannons and rocket turrets turn into SAMs. The challenge is still there, complete with non-stop swarm of a variety of enemies.
Overall, the game is not so different from other tower defense titles, but with its low budget price, wide range of stages and three levels of difficulty settings, Robo Defense is a great choice for tower defense fans.
May 18
You may already know that Google’s new improvement to the Goggles application allows people to scan and translate text written in foreign languages to be converted to English. Of course, while there are initial obvious benefits to the improvements, some may ask, is it really a big deal?
Actually, it is. In this day and age, access to the internet has been vastly improved, thanks to free WiFi access and 3G technology, smart phones provide people with instant access to the internet and thus, the whole world of information is available right at their fingertips. Google, as a search engine, has always been at the forefront of helping people find information faster. After all, we all know that the internet holds most of the answers; the only problem is actually finding the answers.
When it comes to understanding a foreign language, it can be as simple as typing the letters straight in to the search bar and getting a quick search hit. However, the same is the not the case when dealing with languages that use special symbols and characters. This is why the Goggles update will help people out by actually letting users have a quick overview of what the entrees on the French menu are or what the German warning is written on the package of that gadget you just bought.
Overall, it’s a great function, and it has the potential to be one of the most useful tools to have on your phone especially when Google’s translate team is working hard to add more supported languages to the feature. Once the AR app is able to translate a large majority of languages, it will make Android devices one of the most in-demand translation devices available.
Speaking of helping people travel, the Android also brings free voice guided sat nav services thanks to Google maps –which means that the phone will not only help you understand the location you are in, but it will also be able to guide you back.
May 17
There is another Android handset joining the Mobile party today and it will be known as the HTC Wildfire. The HTC Wildfire is a smaller, slimmer, cheaper version of the hugely popular HTC Desire and promises to bring Android functionality to the masses. With the Wildfire you get all the great APP’s associated with Google’s platform, without the high costs that you get from the likes of Apple. We think it’s great and if you get even half of the stuff that is on the Desire then it’s a good thing. There is no firm release date as yet, but word on the street is that it will be available by the end of June 2010. As soon as we get a concrete date we will be sure to let you guys know. We had a good play with it today and we have to say that we were very impressed with all that it was able to do. Prices will be between £100 and £200 for this baby, so reserve one quickly as it is expected to sell fast… very fast.
Mar 03
The Google phone is confirmed to be heading to the UK this coming April.
For those who missed out on the news about this Android smart phone, the Nexus One is the very first Google branded device to be released. The phone was manufactured by HTC, a mobile phone manufacturer with deep roots in the development of the Android operating system. HTC is one of the first members of the open handset alliance and they were the first to manufacture a mobile phone that used the Android OS –the HTC Dream.
Since the Android arrived in the mobile phone industry, its popularity grew thanks to its easy to use touch based user interface, the open source system and of course, Google’s own marketing machine. In two years, the OS went from underdog to mainstream, easily placing second only to the Apple iPhone OS in terms of popularity. 2010 is considered to be the year of the Android with the sheer number of devices using the OS set to arrive this year.
The Nexus One has been out since early January. After a small launch event at Google’s own headquarters at Mountain View, California, the device met with very low sales that many attributed to the fact that the phone had limited marketability due to being exclusive to the Google store. Only 20,000 units of the Nexus One sold during its first week. Despite Vodafone bringing the device over to the UK, the only way to get a unit would still be online.
Android fans who are not too keen on the online ordering system might want to opt for the HTC Desire smart phone. It has similar specs to the Nexus One and is expected to be released sometime this March.
Get to know more about the Nexus One heading to the UK at Tech Radar.
Feb 19
To ask what the general reaction to Buzz was; it is annoying.
Yep, just simple annoyance; this would have been more than enough reason to just ignore the function all together and treat it like that spam folder we never even have to empty out (it trashes anything older than 30 days anyway).
So imagine our surprise to know that Harriet Jacobs, an American woman, suffered from serious emotional harm because of the social networking tool. Why is this different?
The difference here is that when Facebook, Twitter or other social networking tools are used against another person, it is often due to the victim’s own negligence. Your account is your content; that is what would apply here. For Buzz however, you are suddenly put into the middle of the network without even signing up for it.
Believe me; that one page “yes/no” option does not count at all. Had Google given users the benefits of editing default settings right after you press “Yes” (or literally, something more to the lines of: go see Buzz) then it would never have been a problem.
Instead, you are suddenly followed by everyone and following everyone. Not really what you would want since not everyone in our contacts, received from and sent to lists are people we would want to have as online friends. Some are just co-workers, others are acquaintances we sent a needed document to, others can be customer support staff whom we have argued with and others could be vengeful ex-husbands.
That last example was the exact case for poor Ms. Jacobs. All of a sudden, her ex-husband was privy to all the updates she places online.
At least Facebook lets you confirm who you will be connected to.
Read more about Google’s big problems with Buzz at Times Online UK.
Feb 15
If you are already tired of hearing news about Google, brace yourself. It looks like the folks at Mountain View are systematically penetrating every aspect of day to day use technology.
We already have the whole web service combo. Google provides us all with an amazing search engine, a reliable email service, instant messaging, VOIP, maps and even a full faux-3D photo-Earth. Sure there are occasionally services such as Google Video and Wave that simply do not work out. But at the same time, there are gems like Picasa and the acquisitioned YouTube.
Google has also ventured into development outside of web. The Chrome web browser and the Chrome OS are reported to be getting its own net book (and according to rumors, a tablet). The Google Android operating system is getting plenty of positive feedback in the mobile phone community. The Google branded Nexus One mobile phone launched early this January and it looks like a Nexus Two device (through a tie up with Motorola) is in the works.
Now, it looks like Google is looking into providing the internet itself to us.
Right now, they have already laid the groundwork and the foundation by setting up the fiber network for high speed transfer. It has been reported that the connection will reach speeds of about 1 gigabit per second.
So far, the announcement is only good for the US –and most likely in selected areas only. But if Google’s network does prove to be superior to what we commonly consider as the base standard, it would not be too surprising to see other internet service providers to follow suit. For now, the 1gbps connection speed is practically worthless unless you are also accessing content that can deliver the same speed.
Read more about Google’s new broadband service on Times Online UK.
