Wednesday, March 23, 2011

SONY ERICSSON XPERIA PLAY CONFIRMED AS FORMER GINGERBREAD HERO PHONE


Whilst chatting at a Verizon event last night, we again heard, this time direct from a Sony Ericsson repreentative, that the reason the Xperia PLAY is able to launch with Android 2.3.2 Gingerbread is that this “PlayStation Phone” was once in the running to be Google’s hero phone. This spot as Gingerbread model has since been usurped by the Nexus S, but didn’t leave Sony Ericsson empty-handed. In fact, Google didn’t leave Sony Ericsson at all, working with them from start to finish on a phone that’s as optimized for Android a piece of hardware are you’re ever going to find.*
*This is basically what they’ve told us about the awesomeness of the device, and I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but having had our hands on the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY now several times, we’re bordering on completely convinced. Have a look back at the post called “On the importance of the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY [via a casual conversation with an inside source]“, and note here that what we’ve just been told is that the information we picked up back there was nothing less than completely true.
This phone, the “PlayStation Phone,” is optimized not only for Gingerbread, but it’ll essentially be blowing the lid off the Android Market when it’s released as at the SAME TIME there’ll be a magic number 50 games available, most of them brand new, launched at the same time as the phone, all of them optimized for this device specifically. We’ve played more than a couple of them and it’s a real PlayStation experience. While nothing is exactly the same as holding the utterly classic PlayStation controller in your hand, this device gives you a real PlayStation feel where you can play games in a place you’re comfortable rolling out in.
Along with the games, it’s important to note that they’ll all be released at the same time as the PLAY and will be optimized for it, but they’ll work on a lot of other Android devices as well. Instead of the controllers being physical, they’ll be virtual and on the screen. Sony noted though that THAT kind of experience was what they’ve been trying to avoid. Thusly, this phone exists.
Another interesting point we’ve been reminded of is that that the physical button functionality is built in to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. All developers need to do to make PlayStation optimized games is to gain access to the NDK, like they would anyway, and call up the appropriate bits that are native to Gingerbread. No willy-dilly business needed. It’s as if, again, Google had something like this in mind for quite some time.
So the important info to take away from this is that even though the Xperia PLAY was once in the running to be released as the Google hero phone for 2.3 Gingerbread, they didn’t really lose out after the Nexus S usurped. In fact it used its position with Google to flourish, and you’re going to see that when this device is blasted upon the earth soon, soon, soon!
Oh and BONUS: the gingerbread painting easter egg works, lols.

SHAZAM ADDS “SHAZAM FRIENDS” TO ANDROID APP


The music discovery app Shazam has announced that it will be getting a new Android feature in the coming weeks. The new feature is called Shazam Friends and it is a new way to let the app users find new music using their Facebook friends.
If you have friends on your Facebook page as if I do that post music constantly this app will let you keep up with what they are playing and posting. The app will track all music files tagged on Facebook and creates a continuously updated list of the songs for you to check out.
The feed is in real time so as soon as a friend posts a cool new song you will know about it. The Friends tab on the app when it lands will let you brows all the tags from friends, watch videos, read reviews, and access artist info. You can see all tags from one specific friend and add tags to a friend’s history and playlist. If you like the track you can purchase it. You can also use streaming service to play the songs. The last new feature for Shazam that we talked about was Spotify.

Opera Refreshes Android Browser With Much Needed Features [Video]


Anyone who knows me knows I’m a browser nut. I struggled for years to choose browsers on the desktop and even though I’ve found the right one for me (Chrome) I still can’t resist checking the competition every once in a while. Unfortunately, my addiction has gone mobile.
That’s why I was excited to learn that Opera would be launching versions 11 and 6 of their Mobile and Mini Android offerings respectively. Starting with Mini, they’ve finally added true multi-level pinch-to-zoom. Before, performing a pinch-to-zoom gesture would net the desired result, but it wasn’t smooth and you could only zoom in and out once to pre-determined levels.
Now, you can get as close or as far away as you need to as you can in countless other browsers. Opera Mini has quickly become a great option for those on older phones or for people who need to do a bit of browsing on a slow network. Due to the nature of the application, there is no flash support and there probably never will be.
That’s where Opera Mobile 11 comes in. It’s the browser for those who have decent/better than decent phones who can take advantage of a fast 3G or 4G network. The one complaint many had, though, was its lack of Flash support when Adobe debuted the Flash 10.1 player for Mobile.
This week’s update adds just that, thankfully. They’ve also apparently flipped the switch on hardware acceleration in this version, but we honestly couldn’t tell. (Unless that contributed to the lack of checker-boarding that used to plague the app.) Things still didn’t look as smooth as they do on iOS devices, but it was still a VERY usable and desirable browsing experience. The only thing I’d like to see now is improvement in the browser vendor’s rendering engine, but that’s still a bit of a problem on desktops. It’s getting there, though.
Finally, they’ve introduced the Honeycomb-specific version of their browser. There isn’t much to the update: it puts the status bar on top and shuffles a couple of the UI elements around. Other than that, it’s a good looking browser that does some good looking browsing. Check out video of the mobile versions above and the tablet version below.

Opera Mobile Web browser

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A faster, better web browser experience awaits. Introducing Opera Mobile 10.1 beta, a full web browser that makes surfing a snap. Features include; -G... Read More
Downloads >250,000
Developed by Opera Software ASA

Opera Mini web browser

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Get a faster, more cost-efficient mobile web browser. This browser uses powerful servers to compress data by up to 90% before sending it to your phone... Read More
Downloads >250,000
Developed by Opera Software ASA

Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places



Unsurprisingly, El Goog gifted the Android versions of Latitude and Places with these updates a few weeks back, but now the iOS loyalists are being brought into a similar circle. The search giant has just added check-ins to the iOS version of Google Latitude, with any iDevice using iOS 4 or higher being deemed compatible. In related news, the Applefied build of Google Places is now available in 30 languages, and there's an added 'Saved Places' feature for keeping tabs on your favorite spots. You can check your phone for updates, or if you haven't dug in yet, have a poke around in the App Store.

Mozilla Firefox 4 RC for Android and Maemo now up for grabs



If you're liking what Firefox 4 for mobile already offers in its previous beta builds, then you'll certainly want to check out its release candidate that went live on Monday -- just less than six months after the browser when beta. According to Mozilla, this new build provides a better overall user experience with faster scrolling and improved Firefox Sync, along with other goodies like Awesome Screen smart shortcuts, tabbed browsing, Firefox Add-ons, and Persona themes. Sounds a lot like its desktop sibling(which has a healthy 4.9 million downloads already), doesn't it? Head over to the source page for the Android and Maemo download links, or you can have a look at Mozilla's latest video after the break if you need some convincing.

Sprint Echo harnesses dual touchscreens



At CTIA, Sprint and Kyocera are demonstrating multi-pane support for its Echo in apps from productivity, gaming, social networking and other popular areas. Gaming will include titles from Gameloft, Namco Bandai and Electronic Arts, including "The Sims." Productivity apps will include Skype and a one-finger text entry technology that works at 40 words per minute. Social networking apps will be available for Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Google Talk, YouTube, Flickr and Picasa.

The dual-pane Echo allows its touchscreens to be configured side-by-side, over-under or at an angle like a tiny laptop. The multiple configurations, accessed using the application programming interface from Kyocera's Android Developer Program, are made possible by a novel hinge mechanism.

"The real magic in the Echo is its patented hinge that allows the two screens to be placed so close together that they can complement each other, or can act as a single oversized display with minimal distortion," said John Chier, director of corporate communications at Kyocera.  

Enjoy a fun Spring Break with these Android apps


Spring is in the air, and that means its time for Spring Break. Travel during this time of year is a rite of passage, whether you’re with college friends or the entire family. Your Android phone can help you stay on budget and on time, with these handy apps. From trip planning to photo-sharing, Android apps are there for every thrilling moment of your Spring Break adventures.

Getting there

Kayak is a useful travel organizer, aggregating flight, hotel and rental car searches into a single app. Free, this Android app also offers a travel itinerary for quick access to important information, like flight numbers, venue contact details, maps and directions. It’s an inclusive app that simplifies the early stages of your Spring Break escapades.
The Weather Channel app is necessary, whether you’re driving to your destination, or need to check the temperature before heading to the beach. With voice search, hourly forecasts, one-click access and local video highlights, this free Android app is essential for even the most carefree of Spring Breakers.
GasBuddy will keep your gas budget tight, so you have enough cash to party through the week. This crowd-sourced app marks cheap gas locations across the land, helping you map out your road trip efficiently. Filter by brand, add cheap gas locations you discover, and keep everyone’s travel costs down.

Party time

WHERE is a local search app with personalized recommendations to discover new places, no matter where you’re vacationing. You can even pick places you and your friends will like, using the “Perfect Places” feature, along with a phone-bump. You’ll also get deals from local businesses, which is great for added cost savings during your trip. This Android app is free.
Another local search tool is Poynt, with categorized filters for restaurants, movies, shopping and more. Find concerts and events, or places for nearby activities. You can find businesses and people, check gas prices and search events by category. You’ll socially orient yourself quite well with this free Android app.
Google Maps can help you navigate the city, with driving and walking directions. Recent updates to this free app include public transit information for many cities, including train times. Use Street View as a visual aid, zoom in on 3D maps and fearlessly explore the local fare. With Latitude integration, you can even share your location with fellow Spring Breakers for a virtual buddy system.
The PicSay photo editor is an easy way to share vacation pictures, with stamps, effects and more. Share your photo creations with friends across all the major social networks, just to make them a little jealous. Super budget-conscious travelers will have no problem using the free version of this Android app.
For those of you that are serious about sharing your vacation photos, try the JustPictures! app. Free, you can upload batch images across a range of services and social networks, from Picasa to Flickr, Smugmug and Facebook. Create and view slideshows on the fly, view others’ albums and manage your album’s images.
TabbedOut is an easy way to track your bar tab, and even split the bill with friends. Whether you want to buy a round or pay for a meal at a restaurant, this free Android app keeps your credit card tucked safely in your wallet. Monitor open tabs, calculate tips and choose your payment method. TabbedOut is available at 170 or so venues across the U.S., with a GPS search for nearby locations.

Vacation recreation

As many Spring Breakers are destined to land in Florida, the Florida Beaches app is one to consider. Pan and zoom the state’s finest beaches or search manually. Get useful beach information, like surf conditions, weather, water temperature and bacteria levels. This Android app is free.
Ski & Snow Report is for those of you headed north for Spring Break, with information on resorts and ski areas across the country. This free Android app delivers powder points, new snowfall highlights, extended weather forecasts and reviews from other users. Share ski reports with friends, so everyone’s ready for a safe vacation.

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