Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
Just in the last few days, Google [GOOG] announced multitouch support for the Nexus One. We now hear that a new update to the Google Maps software brings multitouch to DROID phones that use the latest version of the software.
If you have a DROID then load up the market and go grab the new version which is numbered 3.4. When installed you should have full pinch to zoom support in the mapping application. [Read more…]
The Sony Ericsson X1 is normally a Windows Mobile based smartphone, however, this particular X1 has been modified and now runs a version of Android.
The video below gives a demonstration of how the X1 can handle the Google [GOOG] Android operating system. At the moment it isn’t quite up to speed with other Android based devices but mainly this is down to control of the device looking slow (maybe to do with the resistive touchscreen rather than capacitive) which makes gestures and flicks a little harder to achieve. Also the phone doesn’t seem as responsive when transitioning between different menus and functions. In saying that, it isn’t terrible by any means and it does look responsive enough to use. [Read more…]
An application for iPhone users has been created that emulates the graphical dot to dot style lock on Android based phones. The normal way to access a locked iPhone is by using a 4 digit pin code. The Android lock system uses a series of nine dots in a 3 x 3 square that you need to replicate a pre-set pattern to unlock the phone. This functionality can now be loaded on to iPhones that have been jailbroken.
For details on how the application works and what it does and how to install it check out the video after the jump. The application needs to be downloaded and installed. Once installed you simply go to the settings and activate it. You can choose if you also have the pin code active for a second layer of security, but if you just want the 3×3 grid then just disable the PIN code security check. [Read more…]
I’ve never thought much to the games available on Android based phones… that is until now when I saw this video (available below) that shows 50 Android games.
The video was put together by the guys at AndroidHD and shows a brief clip of each game and how it looks. The full list of games can be found after the jump. [Read more…]
The HTC Supersonic was one of the phones included on a leaked roadmap of HTC devices to launch this year. A screenshot from the said phone has said to have been leaked to BGR and shows that the smartphone is to run Android 3.0.
BGR do say that the tipster is a new guy, so they haven’t been able to verify if it’s the real deal or not just yet. However, if real then it shows the phone running on the T-Mobile network along with the OS as being Android 3.0. [Read more…]
Garmin-ASUS are to unveil their first Android smartphone this year at MWC 2010. The unveiling of the phone will be the beginning of what is believed to be 4 – 5 new Windows Mobile and Android phones being launched this year.
Garmin-ASUS hope to shift about 1 million units this year although hopefully they don’t follow the G60 pictured above and take years to launch after the official announcement. [Read more…]
The next version of Android has been given a name. The next version that follows on from Eclair will be Froyo which is short for Frozen Yoghurt.
The version name was given on the Engadget Show a couple of days ago and although we now know the name, we do not know the version number. All we know at the moment is that Android 2.1 is still part of Eclair. With all this in mind we might see Froyo arriving sometime this year based on how quick 1.5 to 1.6 to 2.0 to 2.1 progressed. [Read more…]
For those of you who run an Android based mobile phone, the Android Backup software called Lookout could prove handy to have installed. The backup software has a feature that automatically uploads all new content added to the phone to a webserver each day at midnight. Backups can then be easily restored by connecting a new phone up and downloading the data or by accessing a website.
What happened in this weird situation is that a couple of teens broke in to a couples home and stole two Motorola Android phones. One of the teens decided it would be a good idea to capture some pictures of himself with the phone… which incidentally had the Lookout software running… midnight struck and the newly captured images were backed up to the internet as usual that allowed for the owners to download photos that the criminal took of himself. [Read more…]
Rather than using a pin code, Android phones have the option of setting a pattern to unlock the phone for usage. The pattern is made up of a series of 9 dots that you join up in a specific order you choose. If you get the pattern correct the lock screen lets you through.
By using all 9 dots on the screen it makes for a potential 362,880 combinations which seems to be secure. However, the Motorola DROID has a problem in that if you call the phone you can easily bypass the screen by answering the call. It seems right now that only the DROID has the issue as it runs Android 2.0.1.
It isn’t a matter of just answering the call though as the hacker will need to access an application as well as hit the back icon which bypasses the lock screen.
The risk this threat poses is that someone who has physical access to your phone that is running the 2.0.1 Android version, knows your number can access your phone. [Read more…]
Google [GOOG] have announced that the Android 2.1 SDK is now available for download. By launching the SDK it allows developers to take advantage of the new functionality found in the latest Android 2.1 OS found on the Google Nexus One.
Although not too much different from Android 2.0, it will allow developers to access new hooks such as the active wallpaper feature found on the Nexus One. Some of the new feature won’t be compatible with older Android phones, but as there are new devices preparing for launch it should be a good enough reason for developers to get working away. [Read more…]
ALK Technologies were demonstrating their latest version of CoPilot Live 8 at CES running on the iPhone, Google Nexus One and a Dell Inspiron 1110 Netbook. Version 8 of the software has been available for several months now, but on display they were showing what they are capable of including what systems they support.
CoPilot Live 8 stores map data on the memory card of your phone meaning that you do not need to rely on a data connection for it to function. This makes navigation a little more reliable for times when the phone lacks signal. At this point other “on-line” navigation programs can fail you. [Read more…]
A number of sites have received a press invitation to be held by Google [GOOG] on January 5th 2010. The press invitation says…
With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago, we’ve seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation. And this is just the beginning of what’s possible.
