Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged Android
Samsung Galaxy S’ Android 2.3 updates stopped by Google
Apr 19th
Vodafone has taken to its support forums to reveal a freeze on the Samsung Galaxy S update to Android 2.3 for the UK and other areas. The delay is likely to apply to all Galaxy S handsets at other carriers, as the update was suspended by Google. Exactly what the issue is with the update hasn’t been revealed.
The upgrade promises to bring with it a simpler and quicker user interface, a new Android virtual keyboard with an easier copy-paste feature and longer battery life through better app management. Users can also once again switch the updated Galaxy S to More >
Samsung Galaxy S gets Android 2.3 in Europe
Apr 16th
Samsung began making amends for long upgrade intervals with reports from users that it was pushing out Android 2.3 to some Galaxy S models. Europeans, including the Netherlands and multiple other countries, are being told of a new build when they sync the phone with Samsung’s Kies app on the PC. Early anecdotes from the XDA-Developers forum suggest the build is fast and lag-free.
Most are expecting the update to lead to an official source code release from Samsung that would let users load unofficial firmware.
Original Galaxy S owners won’t get the same benefits from Android 2.3 as they would on More >
Gartner: iPad will outsell Android tablets to at least 2015
Apr 11th
A fresh long-term protection from Gartner has given Apple the lead in the tablet market for at least the next four years. In spite of the Xoom and other Android 3.0 tablets, the iPad is still expected to dominate 2011 with 68.7 percent share and to only gradually decrease. It would have 63.5 percent of the tablet arena in 2012 and would still have the largest share in 2015 at 47.1 percent.
Android would have 19.9 percent share this year owing to the launch of the first real wave of direct iPad competitors, such as the Galaxy Tab 8.9 and More >
Google boosts Android for work with Find My iPhone-like tool
Apr 9th
Google late this week took a cue from Apple to bolster Android in the workplace. A combination of a new version of the Google Apps Device Policy app (Market) and a new My Devices page lets workers control a lost or stolen phone similar to Find My iPhone. They can track the device’s location, reset the PIN code, ring it to help others find it, or lock it entirely.
Other improvements to Android in the enterprise came at the same time. A new policy lets administrators require that any Android 3.0 tablet on the network use encrypted data. It should More >
E Fun outs two new NextBook Android e-book readers
Apr 7th
A company called E Fun has released two new Android-powered e-book readers, the Next5 and Next6. A third device, the Next4, hasn’t been seen yet but is expected to arrive later this Spring. The two available devices are powered by Android 2.1 and get Wi-Fi, motion sensors, speakers, and SD memory card slots.
In software, both support Adobe ePub DRM files and a connection to Borders for downloading e-books. A seven-inch, 800×480 LCD touchscreen is common to both as well, but is capacitive rather than resistive in the Next6. The Next6 also has 4GB of storage rather than 2GB. Each More >