Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged Android
HTC says Thunderbolt getting Android 2.3 in spring
Mar 26th
An HTC representative claimed Saturday that the just shipping Thunderbolt should get Android 2.3 in the spring. While the representative Carol was telling Droid-Life reader John about compatibility limits with Bluetooth, she added that HTC was “excited to announce” the refresh. More details would come closer to the launch, she said.
The list of features she mentioned included NFC and many of the interface polish changes, though it’s likely she copied the feature list. HTC usually implements Sense over top and would almost certainly use the same version found on the Evo 3D, Desire S, and its other 2011 Android phones.
Android More >
Google won’t share Android 3.0 source early on
Mar 25th
Google in an interview saidthat it wasn’t giving out the source code to Android 3.0 for well after the launch. Engineering VP Andy Rubin claimed to BusinessWeek that it could be months away as the code had been rushed to make the Xoom launch date. The design was optimized almost exclusively for tablets and would likely work very poorly on phones, but with few controls to developers to prevent them from working it in
“We didn’t want to think about what it would take for the same software to run on phones,” he explained. “It would have required a lot of More >
BlackBerry PlayBook to run Android apps to prop up support
Mar 25th
RIM along with its latest results confirmed that it would support Android apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook. The seven-inch tablet will have a Java engine that not only supports legacy BlackBerry Java apps but those running Android 2.3. The apps will need “players” to work but just need to be repackaged to be downloadable through BlackBerry App World.
Also coming is an open beta of the native SDK, which allows C or C++ code and theoretically much faster performance than the usual AIR, Flash and Java code for PlayBook apps. It should be accompanied by support from Unity Technologies’ self-titled More >
Aircell delivers first Android smartphone for aircraft
Mar 24th
Aircell, a well-known provider of inflight connectivity has delivered the Aircell Smartphone cabin handset for business aircraft. The Aircell Smartphone allows passengers to place and receive voice calls aboard business aircraft just as they would with a terrestrial mobile phone. It is also powered by the Android OS, giving it a full-range of multimedia capabilities not previously seen in handsets designed for inflight use.
It centers on a large 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display and is designed for interchangeable wireless or wired operation. An integrated audio jack for wired headsets and earbuds is included, as well as Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free More >
Microsoft rolling remote management for Android, iOS
Mar 23rd
Microsoft at its Management Summit on Wednesday surprised guests by revealing that the next version of System Center Configuration Manager would give remote control for rival mobile platforms. A beta and final versions will allow monitoring for Android, iOS, and Symbian in addition to Windows Phone 7. It justified the extra support as grappling with the “consumerization” of IT that let companies bring in devices their workers really wanted but while keeping them relatively secure.
The approach is somewhat in contradiction of Microsoft’s own strategy to drive companies towards Windows tablets. It recently put out a presentation to scare companies More >