Search Results for: droid

Google [GOOG] has said that your Android battery should last a day. This information first came from Larry Page over at the Google annual partner forum, Google Zeitgest. This information was then backed up by Eric Schmidt.

The problem as described by Larry is that people install applications that constantly keep data going such as Twitter and other apps. When applications constantly run in the background they tend to eat up battery life and drop the life of the charge down significantly.

“I have noticed there are a few people who have phones where there is software running in the background that just sort of exhausts the battery quickly. If you are not getting a day, there is something wrong.”

[Read more…]

Google [GOOG] has updated the platform version chart that gives a break-down of which versions of Android OS are the most popular.

The reason Google launch the chart is to give information to developers on which build they should focus on most. Up till last month Google Android 1.5 and 1.6 were always in the lead with versions such as 2.0 and 2.0.1 having a very small usage foot print. For the first time though, Android 1.5/1.6 have been kicked out of the top spot and replaced by Android 2.1. 2.1 accounts for 37.2% according to the chart (larger version below) and that is followed by Android 1.5 and then 1.6.

A few interesting things to note are that some users are still on Android 1.1 which indicates either some small network is not pushing out updates, or some people are just happy the way their phone is. [Read more…]

This week we expect that Google [GOOG] will officially announce and perhaps release Android 2.2. When launched, it will be available for the Nexus One, DROID and HTC Evo 4G off the starting blocks and of course, other devices will follow over the coming months.

Google hasn’t released a list of what will be included just yet although a number of leaks and information found on other sites such as Adobe has indicated that Flash 10.1 will be built in to the Froyo build. In regards to flash we also hear that when a 2.2 updgrade is complete the Flash 10.1 feature will be highlighted by Google along with a list of sites that will function correctly (as pictured above). Of course the list isn’t limited to what you see above as Adobe has just highlighted some of the best and most popular sites.

Other features believed to be included are the ability to create a WiFi hotspot with your Android phone along with USB and wireless tethering. [Read more…]

Amazon is releasing a Kindle App for Android OS smartphones. The application, like on other platforms, is free to download and will allow users to read Kindle eBooks on their Android device.

Just like other versions of the Kindle App, the Android version will also include the Whispersync function that allows all your devices running Kindle to be synchronised with bookmarks, annotations and where you were last reading.

‘Kindle for Android is the perfect companion application for Kindle and Kindle DX owners, and is also a great way for customers to enjoy over 540,000 books in the Kindle Store even if they don’t yet have a Kindle, said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle. ‘We think customers are going to love the convenience and simplicity of having instant access to a massive selection of books from Amazon on their Droid, Nexus, Incredible and many more Android devices.

[Read more…]

After a few false starts the Android 2.1 update is now available for the Samsung Moment on the Sprint network.

The update brings the smartphone up the most current Google [GOOG] Android OS bringing a number of enhancements to the device.

To get the update you need to manually download it online and copy it over to your phone. Right now there is no OTA update being pushed out and it isn’t clear if an OTA update will arrive. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] is launching Android 2.2 this month from what we understand, but as of yet we only know of a few things that will be included in the new operating system. Normally Google provide a change list, but this changed with 2.2 where nothing has been mentioned yet.

What is confirmed is that Android 2.2 will have full flash support built in. We also hear from rumours that automatic app updates will happen on an app by app basis. We also hear that Android 2.2 runs 450% faster than Android 2.1 in some cases and is ultra fast. All good news!

What we hear next is that Android 2.2 will have USB tethering built in as well as the ability to turn the Android 2.2 phone in to a wireless hotspot. This is something that hasn’t previously been available other than through rooting the device. [Read more…]

Some tests have been performed on a Google Nexus One running Android 2.2 (Froyo) vs a Nexus One running Android 2.1.

Early results indicated that in some cases Android 2.2 runs 450% faster than the previous 2.1 OS.

The speed tests were done using a tool called Linpack and the speed increase is believed to be because of JIT compliation in to the kernel. When using Linpack it tests how fast the phone can operate and provides results where you can then compare numbers.

The LINPACK Benchmarks are a measure of a system’s floating point computing power. Introduced by Jack Dongarra, they measure how fast a computer solves a dense N by N system of linear equations Ax = b, which is a common task in engineering. The solution is obtained by Gaussian elimination with partial pivoting, with 2/3*N3 + 2*N2 floating point operations. The result is reported in Millions of FLoating-point Operations Per Second (MFLOP/s, sometimes simply called FLOPS).

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Google [GOOG] has provided an update for Google Maps Navigation on Android that brings a few new features to the software.

The new features include biking directions, a navigation shortcut for the homescreen along with sharing and a few other bits. The new version of Google Maps is 4.2 that works on all Android devices running Android OS 1.6 and above.

The biking directions on Google Maps bring details of lanes and trails to your Android smartphone. When navigating you can select a new Bike icon that brings up details of bicycling routes in the US. By using layers the software can show various coloured routes with each indicating a different type of challenge.

The Google Navigation shortcut brings a small arrow to the home screen of the Android device. By clicking the navigation shortcut you are able to go right in to the Navigation features of Google Maps and get navigating right away. [Read more…]

The Motorola Flipout is a new smartphone that runs the Android 2.1 operating system. The phone it’s self is a square that flips open to reveal a QWERTY keyboard underneath. On the front of the Flipout is a 2.8 inch screen. The Android 2.1 operating system appears to be running MotoBLUR allowing for easy access to social networking features from the home screen.

Other features of the Motorola Flipout include GPS, a 3.1 megapixel camera although there is no mention of wifi for connectivity at the moment.

Either way, it’s a unique looking phone that will appeal to some people. When launched, it will come in three different colours. [Read more…]

Ryan Stewart of Adobe has given a demo of flash running on the Nexus One. The Nexus One is running the latest version of Google [GOOG] Android which is version 2.2.

The video demonstration below shows how smooth flash runs in the browser by showing a demonstration of a site running 3D interactive objects along with flash charts found in Google Finance. Each runs flawlessly.

Also in the video demonstration towards the end the new desktop of Android 2.2 can be seen with a few new features not seen before. These new features include a new global search box, new launcher and a built in tutorial system. [Read more…]

Data collected by the NPD Group indicate that smartphones running the Android OS are now outselling the Apple iPhone for the first time.

This switch over in sales puts Android as the second most selling OS behind RIM devices.

In the first quarter of 2010, Android from Google [GOOG] took about 28% of all handsets followed by Apple at 21% and just behind RIM at 36%. [Read more…]