Elad Katz - Cool Stories

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video)

Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video): "

With tongue wedged firmly in cheek, Adobe has named its latest little bit of demo software FlashTime and given it a quick spin to whet our appetites. Built using the forthcoming Air 2.5, this peer-to-peer video chat client harnesses your smartphone's camera to get some direct visual communication going with your fellow Android lovers. Okay, so Android users already have other options for doing just this very thing, but the point being made here is that you can do just about anything with Flash, and since it's Flash it'll be easy to port around to other platforms. Skip past the break to see the demo, which has a multipeer chat session with a desktop Mac thrown in for good measure.



[Thanks, Faheem]

Continue reading Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video)

Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hexus.net | sourceMark Doherty (Vimeo) | Email this | Comments"

Monday, July 12, 2010

Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video)

Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video): "

Google is following in Nokia's footsteps today by offering its users a simple-to-use DIY app maker. Employing a design scheme that relies on visual blocks rather than oodles of arcane code, the App Inventor -- still in Beta, of course -- has functions for 'just about anything' you can do with an Android handset, including access to GPS and phone functionality. All that's really missing is the raw creative talent, which we're sure you'll be happy to provide. Hit the source link to get involved or skip past the break for an educational video.

Continue reading Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video)

Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceApp Inventor | Email this | Comments"

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found

Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found: "

Ever wondered what would happen if you threw another mobile OS onto your Nexus One? Without removing Android? Contrary to popular belief, the world will in fact not end, and in many cases, lives could very well be improved. One particular modder over at Nexus One Hacks has managed to put together a video how-to demonstrating the installation of Ubuntu as a secondary OS on his rooted N1, and while you'll obviously find yourself dealing with a few incompatibilities should you follow suit, it's not like you really have anything better to do tonight than tinker. Right? Right. Jump on past the break and mash play to get going.

Continue reading Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found

Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Geekword | sourceNexus One Hacks | Email this | Comments"

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Android 3.0 Gingerbread getting revamped UI, Froyo living on for lower-end phones?

Android 3.0 Gingerbread getting revamped UI, Froyo living on for lower-end phones?: "Last we'd heard, the next major release of Android -- codename Gingerbread -- was scheduled for a fourth-quarter launch, but the always-entertaining Eldar Murtazin has apparently just spilled a few details on what he knows of the release on a Russian podcast. Most notably, the dude says that we can expect an entirely revamped UI -- the first that the platform will have undergone since its introduction -- and will take cues from the fancy 3D Gallery app launched with Eclair. There's said to be a new 1280 x 760 resolution available for devices larger than 4 inches, which would dovetail nicely with Verizon's desire to bring a bunch of Android tablets to market. Like Windows Phone 7, Murtazin claims that Google will be laying down the law with some hardcore hardware specs to run 3.0, demanding a minimum of a 3.5-inch display, a 1GHz processor, and 512MB of RAM -- so what about cheaper devices? Well, those will apparently continue to run Android 2.1 or 2.2, which sounds like yet another serious recipe for platform fragmentation from the outset. We'll apparently see the first devices launch in time for the holidays following an October introduction, which lines up with what we've heard so far. Needless to say, we'll be keeping a close eye on this one.



[Thanks, John]

Android 3.0 Gingerbread getting revamped UI, Froyo living on for lower-end phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmodo, Unwired View | sourceDigestiv | Email this | Comments"

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities

Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities: "



Cisco's just announced a business-aimed Android tablet, and it's calling it the Cius. The tablet will offer HD video streaming, real-time video, multi-party conferencing, plus all the regular tablet functions like messaging, email, and browsing. We're not sure about the size of the device yet, or any of it technical specs, but we do know that it's going to weigh in at 1.15lbs, so it can't be terrifically large. There's also no word yet on pricing or availability yet either but we'll let you know as soon as we do, okay, businessmen? Full press release is below.

Continue reading Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities

Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments"

Android 2.2 Froyo FRF85 now available for Nexus One (update: official)

Android 2.2 Froyo FRF85 now available for Nexus One (update: official): "

We've been receiving numerous tips over the last hour that Nexus One owners on AT&T bands are receiving an over-the-air update for Android 2.2 FRF85, otherwise known as the 'bulletproofed' Froyo build. No confirmation at this point, and since you're asking, no word yet either on an update for the larger T-Mobile N1 install base (though we've had at least one report of a user on FRF50 getting the OTA today). We've pinged Google for answers, will let ya know what we hear.



Update: Thanks to a few readers, we've now got a direct link from Google's servers to update from EPE54B to FRF85.



Update 2: Tipster Christian R has sent us a picture of his T-Mobile-banded Nexus One with FRF85, apparently updated from Android 2.1 build ERE27. Has the T-Mobile rollout begun? Not for us, at least.



Update 3: And now we've got a direct link to download a FRF85 build that'll supposedly work for any Android build. We can safely say that it worked for us on a T-Mobile device with 2.1 / ERE27. Download from Google here, and if you need direction on how to do the update yourself, take a cue from our commenters. [Thanks, MRCUR and afinite]



Update 4: And now it's official. Keep an eye on that notification bar if you're itching for the OTA method. So that's one phone down, quite a few to go! [Thanks, cl]



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android 2.2 Froyo FRF85 now available for Nexus One (update: official) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments"

Monday, June 28, 2010

Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer?

Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer?: "

We knew that Intel had designs on Android for its Moorestown CPU, and as you might have guessed, the company's plans don't stop there. Renee James, a Senior VP at Intel, recently said as much in a conversation with APC. Apparently, devs can look forward to seeing a fully native x86 version of Froyo at some point this summer. James goes on to say that 'all of the code will be fed back into the open branch that will be created for x86.' Awesome! Perhaps 2011 will see a flood of generic, Atom-powered Android tablets. Because we don't see enough generic Android tablets as it is.

Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Notebook Italia | sourceAPC | Email this | Comments"

Friday, June 18, 2010

Altek's Leo in the wild: point and shoot, Android phone, or both?

Altek's Leo in the wild: point and shoot, Android phone, or both?: "

As cameraphone picture quality goes, the story is that it's not really about the sensor resolution, it's about the optics -- and if you want to go by that rule, Altek's beastly Leo should probably have your attention. Just because you've got a huge, telescoping lens doesn't mean it's any good, of course, but we'd argue that it's a good sign in a world dominated by tiny, plastic lenses atop 8 and 12 megapixel sensors of questionable heritage. Indeed, the Android-powered monster has bowed at CommunicAsia 2010 as promised, bringing a 14 megapixel CCD with an honest-to-goodness 3x optical zoom and 720p video capture, WVGA display, 802.11n WiFi, and HSPA for a Q4 '10 release. Amazingly, Altek plans on selling it for $499 -- unlocked, we assume -- and CNET Asia managed to score a few minutes with it this week. Follow the break for video from the event along with Altek's press release.

Continue reading Altek's Leo in the wild: point and shoot, Android phone, or both?

Altek's Leo in the wild: point and shoot, Android phone, or both? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community | sourceCNET Asia | Email this | Comments"

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

19 Android Phones You Can Buy Today (or Soon)

19 (20?) Android Phones You Can Buy Today (or Soon): "If you are looking to switch to Android or upgrade your existing device, here's a list of all the Android phones available by wireless carrier.


20 Android Phones You Can Buy Today (or Soon)

Updated 06/15 to include the latest version of Android OS on the phones and added MyTouch Slide.

Less than two years after Google introduced the first Android phone, the free, open source operating system has turned into a juggernaut. There are 17 Android phones available today, and three new devices will hit retail stores in the next few weeks.

The latest Android phone is the HTC Aria. AT&T revealed the Aria on Monday as a mid-range phone that will run Android 2.1, have a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.2-inch display and a slower processor than the Nexus One or HTC Evo 4G (the Aria’s CPU clocks 600 MHz, compared to 1 GHz on the latter).

Aria is not the last Android phone from AT&T this year. The company has said it will have five Android devices in 2010 and is likely to announce yet another Android phone soon.

Google debuted the Android operating system in 2008, and the first handset to use it was T-Mobile’s HTC G1. Since then, the four major U.S. wireless service providers — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint — have embraced the OS. AT&T’s Android portfolio, though, is the weakest, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering its exclusive deal with Apple: Thanks to the success of the iPhone, AT&T has less reason to explore Android alternatives.

From the $50 LG Ally on Verizon to the most advanced handset available today — the HTC Evo 4G on Sprint — there’s an Android phone for almost every price range and level of use.

So if you are looking to switch to Android or upgrade your existing device, check out our list of all the Android phones available by wireless carrier. Prices mentioned below are those listed on the website of the carrier, with a two-year contract, except as noted.

For more details on each of these phones, click through to the carrier sites: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.


  • AT&T
  • Motorola Backflip
  • Android 1.5 (upgradable to 2.1), 5-megapixel camera, 528-MHz Qualcomm MSM7200A processor, 3.1-inch display, 4.7 ounces, $100.
  • Google Nexus One
  • Android 2.1 (upgradable to 2.2), 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm 1-GHz processor, 3.7-inch display, 4.6 ounces, Not available subsidized. $530.
  • HTC Aria
  • Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, 600-MHz Qualcomm MSM 7227 processor, 3.2-inch display, $130. Available June 20.
  • Dell Aero
  • Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, 624-MHz Marvell chip, 3.5-inch display, Pricing not disclosed. Available this summer.
  • Sprint
  • HTC Evo
  • Android 2.1 (upgradable to 2.2), dual cameras includes 8-megapixel camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera, Qualcomm 1-GHz processor, 4.3-inch display, 6 ounces, $200.
  • Samsung Moment
  • Android, 3.2-megapixel camera, 800-MHz Samsung S3C6410 processor, 3.7-inch display, 5.6 ounces, $100.
  • HTC Hero
  • Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, 528-MHz processor, 3.2-inch display, 4.5 ounces, $80.
  • Motorola i1
  • First ruggedized push-to-talk Android phone, Android 1.5, 600-MHz Freescale ARM processor, 5-megapixel camera, 3.1-inch display, 4.63 ounces. Pricing not disclosed. Available this summer.
  • T-Mobile
  • Google Nexus One
  • Android 2.1 (upgradable to 2.2), 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm 1-GHz processor, 3.7-inch display, 4.6 ounces, $180.
  • HTC G1
  • Android 1.6, 3.2-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7201A 528-MHz processor, 3.2-inch display, 5.6 ounces, $100.
  • HTC MyTouch
  • Android 1.6, 3.2-megapixel camera, 528-MHz processor, 3.2-inch display, 5.9 ounces, $180.
  • Motorola Cliq
  • Android 1.5, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7200A 528-MHz processor, 3.1-inch display, 5.6 ounces, $130.
  • HTC MyTouch Slide
  • Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, 600 MHz processor, 3.4-inch display, 5.8 ounces, $180.
  • Samsung Behold II
  • Android 1.6, 5-megapixel camera, 528-MHz processor, 3.2-inch OLED display, 4.2 ounces, $100.
  • Garmin Asus Garminfone
  • Android 1.6, 3-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, 3.5-inch display, 4.9 ounces, $200.
  • Verizon
  • Motorola Droid
  • Android 2.1 (upgradable to 2.2), 5-megapixel camera, 550-MHz ARM processor, 3.7-inch display, 5.9 ounces, $150.
  • HTC Droid Incredible
  • Android 2.1 (upgradable to 2.2), 8-megapixel camera, 1-GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.7-inch display, 4.6 ounces, $200.
  • Motorola Devour
  • Android 1.6, 3-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7627 600-MHz processor, 3.1-inch display, 5.9 ounces, $80.
  • HTC Droid Eris
  • Android 1.5 (upgradable to 2.1), 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7600 528-MHz processor, 3.2-inch display, 4.3 ounces, $50.
  • LG Ally
  • Android 2.1, 3.2-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7627 600-MHz processor, 3.2-inch display, 5.6 ounces, $50.
Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/the-android-army/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29#ixzz0r2aBsEMX

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Motorola wants a 2GHz Android by year's end, so do we

Motorola wants a 2GHz Android by year's end, so do we: "

Looks like we didn't get the full dish from Sanjay Jha's bout of loquaciousness this morning. It turns out Moto's chief of handsets has also expressed his company's intention to bring the world its first 2GHz smartphone and to do so on an aggressively accelerated roadmap. By the end of the year, Sanjay? Yes please. Another Moto exec is cited as saying NVIDIA Tegra will be providing the graphics prowess, Flash 10.1 will be fully supported, and a gyroscope will accompany HD video recording and output on the dreamy spec sheet. We wouldn't invest all of our trust in the conveniently anonymous exec's promised specs, but that 2GHz number comes straight from the top -- let the countdown begin.

Motorola wants a 2GHz Android by year's end, so do we originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid Life | sourceKnow Your Cell, ConceivablyTech | Email this | Comments"

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Nexus One steps up to 720p HD video thanks to latest hack (video)

Nexus One steps up to 720p HD video thanks to latest hack (video): "

Just more evidence that rooting is the only true path of the geek. The indefatigable coders over at xda-developers have just pushed out a download that allows the Nexus One to start shooting video at 720p resolution. You'll need to have at least CyanogenMod version 5.0.8test3, but once you get your house in order, you'll be enjoying one of the big touted features of the latest handsets on your five-month old Googlephone. Pretty neat, and what's even better is that work is already underway to improve audio and the fps rate, as well as making the code compatible with Android Froyo, it all just requires a bit more tinkering. So, hit the source link to get the download or join us after the break for a quick sample video.



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Nexus One steps up to 720p HD video thanks to latest hack (video)

Nexus One steps up to 720p HD video thanks to latest hack (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourcexda-developers | Email this | Comments"

Friday, June 4, 2010

Nexus One gets USB host driver from a dude with an oscilloscope (video)

Nexus One gets USB host driver from a dude with an oscilloscope (video): "

For Sven Killig, running Android 2.2 wasn't enough. No sir, this dude wanted even more power for his Nexus One, so he went ahead and penned a few lines of code that have allowed his Googlephone to act as a USB host. As a result, he can now do cutting edge stuff like plugging in USB keyboards and webcams, as well as more useful things like watching movies off USB sticks or connecting to a monitor via a DisplayLink USB-to-DVI adapter. All these features are demonstrated in the video after the break, and you'll find the downloadable binaries at the source -- Sven expects them to work on Android 2.1 as well.

Continue reading Nexus One gets USB host driver from a dude with an oscilloscope (video)

Nexus One gets USB host driver from a dude with an oscilloscope (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceSven Killig | Email this | Comments"

Friday, May 28, 2010

Android 2.2 wastes no time getting hacked onto HTC Dream and Magic

Android 2.2 wastes no time getting hacked onto HTC Dream and Magic: "

Though we're not even a wee bit shocked to see a 'usable' version of Froyo already available to owners of the G1 / Dream and Magic, we're definitely heartened to see that phones running 2008 specs can handily run a mid-2010 version of the platform. There's plenty of stuff that doesn't work yet -- WiFi and GPS, just to name a couple of biggies -- but we suspect that this is one dev community that won't give up until everything is working to their satisfaction. Motivation to hang on to otherwise outdated hardware for a few more months, perhaps?

Android 2.2 wastes no time getting hacked onto HTC Dream and Magic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android France | sourcexda-developers | Email this | Comments"

Skype Mobile with video support coming to Android Market later this year?

Skype Mobile with video support coming to Android Market later this year?: "

Skype's PR folks have been unusually loquacious today, as they've responded to a query about whether HTC's EVO 4G would get a Skype client with a deep and meaningful forward-looking statement, underpinned by a promise of an Android app 'for all consumers globally to download regardless of carriers.' This universally available addition to the Market should arrive 'later this year,' but what's important about it is that it's preceded by a lengthy spiel about Skype's ambition to 'set the bar on mobile video calling,' which it also intends to do this year. Does this necessarily mean that Skype video calling is coming to Android in time for us to wish granny happy Hanukkah over video chat? No. Is it a well constructed insinuation to that effect? Hell yes. Read the full statement at the source, or find the juiciest excerpt after the break.



[Thanks, Jeremy]

Continue reading Skype Mobile with video support coming to Android Market later this year?

Skype Mobile with video support coming to Android Market later this year? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceSkatter Tech | Email this | Comments"

Monday, July 27, 2009

Next version of the android coming out soon

Android donut (cupcake was c, donut is d, eclair will be e, and then flan, etc...) has had it's code dropped to the main dev branch of the project. What does that mean?
check out this post from engadget.com:

Early Android 2.0 "Donut" build available, up and running on G1


Android's official code repository has been updated with a fresh load of Donut stuff in the past day or so, and as you might imagine, the dev community is already having a field day with it. Early reports show that all of the features demoed at I/O this year have made it into this cut in one form or another, including universal search, text-to-speech, and system-wide multitouch with gesture support, allowing users to draw symbols on the screen to trigger actions. What's more, though, the codebase is showing signs of CDMA support -- a must for Sprint and Verizon, of course, both of whom will almost certainly have Android sets at one point or another -- and a cool 5-in-1 bank of toggle switches in a home screen widget that can be used to control common features like Bluetooth and WiFi.

Perhaps more excitingly, the community is hard at work on a couple major fronts here: first off, the Donut build is actively being ported to current handsets, and an Android Dev Phone 1 / T-Mobile G1 version is already available (though very, very crashy and incomplete right now). Secondly, work is being conducted to extract major elements of Donut (some of the new widgets, for example) and roll them into cooked 1.5 builds, making the best stuff available in a more solid, accessible form without having to wait for 2.0 to become stable. If you're an adventurous -- nay, borderline mental -- G1 owner, though, you can start your journey to Donut right now.

and from androidCommunity:

Google have released elements of Android OS 2.0 Donut to the developer community, and the changelist is already prompting excitement. Among the differences already noted are multitouch and gesture support, together with CDMA compatibility opening up the possibility of Android devices on US networks like Verizon and Sprint.

android_os_2-0_donut_screenshot_4

There’s also improved universal search, automated backups and what developers are already calling a huge amount of performance tweaking that should hopefully see the platform running more smoothly even on existing hardware. More technical issues have been tweaked, too, with WPA Enterprise encryption support together with VPN functionality.

It seems Google and HTC have been thinking along the same lines, too, as one of the most visible changes is the connectivity bar in the above screenshot, which allows for one-touch homescreen control over WiFi, Bluetooth and other connections. The first hacked ROM suitable for the G1 has already been prepared, though be warned: core aspects such as network connectivity do not work, and this is really a build for early testers rather than those looking for the most functionality from their Android devices. Such users should wait a while, as the frontline devs are promising new versions of OS 1.5 Cupcake with elements taken from 2.0 Donut.