Posted: August 12th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: android, Archos, Archos 32, Cortex A8, Linux, OMAP3630, PMP, TI OMAP, WiFi | No Comments »
Anyone who knows the potential of the TI OMAP processors will know they are always to be taken seriously. The last gen OMAP’s found in devices such as the Nokia N900 have been wildly overclocked and have been shown to out perform even the current generation Snapdragon’s. It is good news that Archos have possibility decided to use them in their next move in the crowded Android market space.
The Archos 32, will be a 3.2-inch WiFi only iPod Touch (or Sony Walkman X series, or Microsoft Zune…) competitor except there is a good possibility the device will retail for under $150USD. The most important part of the device is the heart of it, featuring the brand spanking new OMAP3630 45nm ARM Cortex A8 processor. What it means is you can expect advanced OpenGL 3D acceleration, improved video decoding and encoding features which will make the alternatives look underwhelming.
There is no release date as yet, but the good news is that their may be an array of similar devices ranging from 2.8-inches all the way up to 10-inches. If the build quality is up to par and they keep keep the prices reasonable, Archos will have a winner on their hands for sure.
Via [Arm Devices]
Posted: July 30th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: AMOLED, android, Android 2.2, Firmware, Froyo, Galaxy S, Linux, Samsung, smartphone | No Comments »
So, you went out and brought Samsung’s delicious Galaxy S on the day of release. You are sitting their contemplating your purchase, but feel slightly disenchanted. You have such a fast beautiful device, but all the cool kids with their HTC’s and Motorola’s are getting all this news of Android 2.2 while you are left without hope.
Today that changes my AMOLED loving friend, with Samsung saying September is the month that you get to really see if the humming in hummingbird is accurate. No exact day, but at least you will know that by October you will be all Flashed out and waiting eagerly for Gingerbread.
Via [BGR]
Posted: July 27th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: android, Android 2.1, Germany, Interpad, ipad, Linux, Nvidia, tablet, Tegra 2 | No Comments »
While it’s known that Android 2.1 isn’t exactly designed for tablets, the hardware coming out is definitely looking impressive. The next to the pad (get it) is a Tegra 2 based device from a German company, Interpad.
Being in the same 10″ range as another famous tablet, it features much more impressive hardware. Dual Core Cortex A9 Tegra 2 giving it unparalleled processing and graphics power, 1 GB of RAM (4 times what the iPad currently has), HDMI output to push all those FullHD movies and games to a much larger screen, and 3900mAH battery for 9-12 hours of battery life.
If you think the hardware is impressive then the price is the icing on the cake. For just over $500USD this baby could be yours when it is released sometime before the end of the year. If Google can get a more tablet friendly OS out the door before Christmas, I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t get one (other then the fact they will probably never leave Germany)?
Via [Lilputing]
Posted: July 26th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Gaming | Tags: android, available, Emulation, Gaming, Linux, Playstation, PSX, PSX4Droid | No Comments »
Another reason to buy an Android device is the release of a handy little app titled PSX4Droid. For $6 and half a brain, you will soon be rolling in Playstation games on your handset. All we need now is a Bluetooth driver for a PS3 controller and it would be an unbeatable portable gaming experience.
Via [PocketNow]
Posted: July 23rd, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: android, available, B&N, Barnes & Noble, Ebook, ereader, Linux, Marketplace, Nook | No Comments »
Nook has finally joined Kindle in the Android Marketplace. The interesting part is that the Nook is already an Android device, so porting it shouldn’t have been much of a challenge at all.
Apart from being ‘yet-another-ebook-store’ for the Android marketplace, it is the first application to offer ebook lending. That in itself makes using Nook over Kindle desirable if you ever want to share books with friends or strange homeless people.
Via [Engadget]
Posted: July 16th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: android, Droid X, Hack, Linux, motorola, Self Destruct, smartphone, Stupid, Trap | No Comments »
Motorola has recently released the Droid X. The 4.3-inch behemoth has made a lot of reviewers wet and excited. The problem is, Motorola has a dirty little secret and it isn’t a good one.
Motorola have added a self destruct function that is activated when anyone attempts to tamper with the OS. When tampering is detected the phone instantly bricks itself, becoming unusable and a relatively expensive paper weight.
Motorola is basically taking a device, which hacker emthusiasts would have loved to ‘tamper’ with, and made it the least hacker friendly device released this year. What does Motorola gain by locking the phone down? Maybe stopping hackers from porting Motorola’s dead ugly MOTOBLUR UI additions to other hardware?
Did they forget that the OS they are using is Open Source? The same hackers that you are locking out, are also the same ones making Android better! It is a damn shame, as the Droid X is one impressive piece of hardware.
Via [MobileCrunch]
Posted: July 15th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: android, e-reader, Linux, R7, Refresh, SmartQ, T7, tablet | No Comments »
SmartQ have been in the tablet game for a while now, with their 5 and 7 series of tablets. Today, SmartQ will continue that tradition with a refresh to the 7 series of tablets, the T7.
Replacing the colour E-reader want to be; the R7, the new 7-inch T7 features Android and a speedier processor (720mhz). It also gets a battery increase to 4,700mah, hopefully bringing it closer the to magical 10hr life.
The SmartQ T7 will be a released sometime in the future, and will start at $219USD and range all the way up to $292USD (EVDO/WCDMA). The SmartQ’s use to get decent reviews when they were the only players. I will be interested to see how they perform with such a massive range of similar tablets already available.
Via [Engadget]
Posted: July 12th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: ARM11, Console, Gaming, GP2X, Linux, Open Source, Portable, The Caanoo, The Wiz, WiFi | No Comments »
I am a big fan of open source and of gaming. Imagine my delight to hear that my second favourite portable open source gaming device (Pandora is king) the GP2X has recieved a giant refresh. Titled the Caanoo, it shares a lot of (internal) similarities with its older sibling, the Wiz. What has changed is double the memory (128mb), added joystick, much larger 3.5-inch screen and an option for added Wi-Fi. All the addition’s while maintaining the low price of $150USD (or $120 without wireless). Devices like this make the PSPgo and DSi look even less appealing.
Via [MaxConsole]
Posted: July 9th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: Android 2.2, ARM, China, Cortex A8, Froyo, Linux, processor, RK2808, RK2818, Rockchip | No Comments »
Rockchips are the guys who make most the budget processors for the $99 tablets that excite people oh so much. Anyone who is interested in tablet tech will know Rockchip’s RK2808, which is a 677Mhz ARM11 processor. Rockchip have now announced a much wanted 1GHz RK2818, which has been designed with Android 2.2 in mind. I am not sure if it is Cortex A8 based, but I suspect it is.
It is very good news for anyone who is losing interest in their very badly made M001 and want a better iPad knockoff.
Via [i4u]
Posted: July 9th, 2010 | Author: Daniel Georges | Filed under: Technology | Tags: 1.01, fixes, Linux, MeeGo, Netbook, patch, update | 1 Comment »
MeeGo 1.01 is now available for all the brave souls who have switched their netbooks over to the new OS. Nothing new has been added to the minor patch, but the team has hammered out some problems and increased performance. It is great to see that MeeGo is actually being proved at an active rate. Congratulations MeeGo team, and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Jump over to Lilputing for more info on the patch.
Anyone who knows the potential of the TI OMAP processors will know they are always to be taken seriously. The last gen OMAP’s found in devices such as the Nokia N900 have been wildly overclocked and have been shown to out perform even the current generation Snapdragon’s. It is good news that Archos have possibility decided to use them in their next move in the crowded Android market space.
