New Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Features That Make Your Phone a Joy to Use

A complete and harmonious combination of two substances can create a complete and beautiful result. In like manner, the natural sweetness of Android 3.0 Honeycomb and the crispy layers of Android 2.3 Gingerbread have resulted in a new, tastier treat for Android smartphones and Android tablets--Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Google has been aiming to unite the multiple Android versions into just one version so that one and only one Android runs on whatever device--be it an Android smartphone, Android tablet, Android portable media player, Android TV, Android watch, or wherever else the little green robot can make waves.

What glad tidings does Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) bring to its users? What better experiences can we expect from it? Read on to know more about how Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is being true to Google's description of it: "the best Android we've ever made yet."

Multi-tasking Button

Android 4.0 includes a virtual button that allows you to browse and instantly switch to apps you recently used. The list displays thumbnail images of apps--instead of just icons--so you can see which part of the apps are currently working in the background.

And, if you want to throw away or discard an item on the list, simply flick the thumbnail in order to remove it from the list.

Instant Screenshots with Button Press

There are many instances in which you'd like to share to others what is currently displayed on your screen. There are also times when you just need to save a screenshot for later use. In previous versions of Android, you could take screenshots by installing apps for that purpose. In Android 4.0, it's a built-in feature.

By holding the Power and Volume Down buttons together, your Android smartphone lets you capture screen images instantly.

Improved Notification Bar

There are several improvements that Google has done to the Notification Bar in Android 4.0. For instance, it can now be pulled down from the Lock Screen. Another is that you can discard items from the list of notifications by simply flicking an item to the right. This means that you can remove items on the Notification Bar one by one.

In previous versions of Android, it's either you clear all notifications with one tap or you leave all of them untouched.

The Notification Bar no longer shows a grid layout of recently used apps. Instead, in Ice Cream Sandwich, those apps are shown as a vertical-scrolling strip of app thumbnails. You can also directly control music playback right on the Notification Bar.

Improved Text and Voice Input

The stock keyboard in Android 4.0 has been given more love. It is now faster and more responsive compared to previous versions of Android. The suggestion strip is more accurate now and also includes an in-line spell checker. With one tap, you can select suggested words or add new words to the dictionary.

Copy-and-paste functionality has also been made easier. Just tap and hold down on the selected word, and drag the handles to highlight the selected words. Then you can select "Copy and Paste" from the popup menu, or simply drag the highlighted chunk of text to wherever you wish to insert it.

Google has also incorporated voice-to-text input in Ice Cream Sandwich. Just speak, and the phone converts your spoken words into text. It's a great way to easily and effortlessly "type" text. With Ice Cream Sandwich, voice input is more accurate and can also translate expressions into symbols.

It also accounts for pauses, so you don't have to press anything while thinking of an appropriate response.

Face Unlock

Say goodbye to passwords, PIN codes, and patterns. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has personalized phone unlocking much further. With the new Face Unlock feature, an Android smartphone or Android tablet can now recognize the face of its owner.

Just by focusing your face clearly on the secondary front-facing camera of your device, you can unlock your phone instantly. No typing needed. No need to remember passwords. Just look into the camera and let the device recognize you.

Data Usage Monitoring

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich also includes a new graphical display of the data your Android phone is using. You can set warnings for exceeding data usage limits, as well as set how much background data each app can use. Users can have more control over their Android device with this neat option in ICS.

Android 4.0 also comes with improved apps, which can be categorized into three: the core apps (i.e., Google mobile apps such as Android Browser, Gmail, and Calendar), Photos, and People.

Android Beam

Support for Near Field Communication (NFC) is baked into Android 4.0, and Google has made sure that Ice Cream Sandwich has a ready app to leverage the technology.

Called Android Beam, the app revolutionizes the way that people share files and data among one another. With NFC and Android Beam, one can send a file to another user simply by bringing two Android phones close to each other and tapping the phones against each other. Any file can be shared in this manner--photos, documents, maps, apps, bookmarks, and so on.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich surely packs a fresh new look and exciting new features that will truly make your device perform better as a smartphone. With Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich soon replacing the older versions of Android on recent Android smartphones, these new features will eventually start a new wave of more convenient and more efficient use of Android smartphones and Android tablets.

Eager to know more about Android smartphones and Android tablets? Or, perhaps, you already own one and want to know what else that intelligent device can do to make your life just a little bit short of paradise? Learn more about Android smartphones and read Android news at AndroidTidBits.com.

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The Samsung Galaxy Nexus Showcases The New Version Of Android

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the new flagship smartphone from the expansive Galaxy range by the prolific Korean manufacturer. In this article I will take a look at some of its main features so you can get an idea of the user experience you can expect from this high end device.

Screen
Arguably the most impressive feature of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is its high resolution touchscreen. And by high resolution, that's exactly what I mean. Standing at a whopping 720x 1280, it blows the previous record holder, the Apple iPhone 4S, out of the water. The iPhone 4S has long held the title as the highest resolution touchscreen available on a mobile phone. It is called the retina display because the human eye cannot distinguish between individual pixels, but the Galaxy Nexus boasts an even higher resolution. This makes it the perfect multimedia device, because whether you are using the phone to view photos and videos, play games or browse the internet, the contents of the screen are displayed in ultra high quality. Because the screen utilises super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen technology, colour saturation is great (up to 16 million colours can be displayed), further enhancing the multimedia experience.

Camera
When choosing a new smartphone, most users invariably look at the quality of the camera as one of the major deciding factors. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus does not disappoint on this front, boasting a 5 megapixel unit which operates at a pixel resolution of 2592x 1936. Although there are many phones with a higher pixel count, the quality of this camera is still very impressive. As an added bonus, the camera can also be used to capture video footage in settings of up to 720p high definition. The camera also comes with the full package of features that you would expect from any high end smartphone. These include touch focus, face detection, autofocus and LED flash. These features make it easy to capture pleasing results every time.

Internet Browsing
One of the major advantages of smartphone use is the fact that you can browse the internet pretty much anywhere. Wi-Fi and 3G connections provide the means to connect to the internet while the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS provides the default web browsing app. In areas with 3G coverage, speeds of up to 21 Mbps can be achieved, which is among the highest available on a smartphone.

Of course, this article only provides an overview of a couple of its main features, but if you look at the spec list, you will find that most aspects of this phone offer similar levels of quality. There is a powerful dual-core processor, plenty of internal storage (16 and 32 GB versions available), and, as mentioned, the new version of the popular Android platform, of which this is the handset assigned o showcase the new software.

If you are interested in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, you will be pleased to know that several UK networks are currently offering the handset for free on selected tariffs.

Check out the best Samsung Galaxy Nexus deals and Samsung Galaxy S2 deals

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new android version

The Google foray into the smart phones and tablet's market has given birth to various Android versions. Android is the Google operating system used to run devices on cell phones and tablets. Due to the popularity of Androids, there has been a mad scramble by major telecommunication manufacturers such as Samsung and Motorola to integrate Android updates into their products. This has led to a series of Android software updates and the most recent has been the introduction of the Android 2.x and 3.x versions

When buying intelligent phones and tablets, it is very important to know, which included features are of benefit to the user. This will enable the user decide to buy either a smart phone or a tablet. The Android 3.x is the most-recent version and is designed to run on tablets. The majority of today's mobile phones run Android 2.2 or 2.3 versions. In addition, the Android 2.3 is encrypted with VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). VoIP simply means that the Internet networks can be used to make phone calls over the net. Adobe flash is also included from the Android 2.2 version. The advantage of having Adobe flash on these devices is that it's easier to create stunning apps containing pictures, audio, and video.

Newer versions of Androids run on tablets. The major development of the latest Android 3.x versions is that it includes such features as document creation, HTML5 tagging, opening widgets, and running downloaded apps and games. These apps and games can be downloaded straight from the Android market and the Amazon Store.

With the massive popularity of social networks, websites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook have become very popular. One of the latest features on the Android 3.x tablets is that it has become much easier to play music and launch Facebook. Social networks can be launched quicker through the new home screens installed on these devices.

Another expensive feature that can be used through newer versions of Android is access to storage facilities such as Dropbox. Dropbox is very valuable because free users can use it to store up to two Gigabytes of their personal information. This information can be accessed by the user from anywhere including their mobile phones, tablets and any computer that has Internet access.

The latest version of WordPress has also been integrated into more recent versions of the Android operating system. WordPress is currently the most popular blogging and content management software in the world. WordPress has become the number one software for launching websites due to the massive number of plugins that can be integrated for easier usage.

Doubtless product launches of more Android versions will soon be available in high street stores. This is because Google's Android technology is free and hence Telecom companies do not have to pay for usage. As a result, more phone and tablet manufacturers will convert to Android technology. This will benefit Android users as more of their friends will convert to Android devices.

If you want to learn more, you may consider to visit Android Versions. Feel free to post any comments you may have about this topic at http://androidversions.org/

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new android software update

Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich was first featured on the Galaxy Nexus last month in November. This makes people wonder when the software update will be issued to their respective Android handsets. One of these smartphones is the Samsung Galaxy S2. Although the Korean tech giant has confirmed that their most popular mobile phone will receive the update by next year, there was no confirmation on when exactly in 2012 will the update arrive. Although we're not sure when it will come, we have an idea what it can do for the top selling handset.

We are sure one of the security features found on the Nexus will be added to the S2. This is face unlock. This new feature allows users to unlock their phone by simply showing their faces on the phone's front-facing camera. This eliminates the need to key in personal identification numbers or passwords that can be fall in the wrong hands if we are not careful. All you will need to unlock the phone is our facial features and facial recognition software.

It has been reported that the Ice Cream Sandwich update has rolled out for the Google Nexus S owned by Google employees. This was done for testing purposes before it rolled out to the public. According to the search giant's software engineers, the new version of the software further enhanced the smartphone's performance. If it could do this for a phone with a 1 GHz single-core processor, imagine what it can do for the 1.2 GHz dual-core processor on the Samsung Galaxy S2. The phone already offers performance at blinding speeds. We're excited to find out the enhanced performance the phone has to offer with the latest iteration of Android onboard.

The most noticeable change in the software is the interface. This overhaul is designed to work without having the need for physical buttons. However, this does not mean that the physical buttons will cease to function on the Samsung Galaxy S2. It also offers enhanced navigation and multi-tasking. It now shows recently opened apps through a set of thumbnails. This feature was exclusive to the tablet-optimized Honeycomb operating system in the past. Another new feature is swiping sideways to completely close a running application.

These are just a few of the new and enhanced features we expect when Ice Cream Sandwich rolls out to the Samsung Galaxy S2. When it does go live for the smartphone, expect to enjoy the top selling handset even more.

For the best deal on the Samsung Galaxy S2 White and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, visit us at PhonesLimited.co.uk.

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android demo

Before engaging in online forex trading with your real money, it is advisable to test the waters by trading the demo. This will give you the opportunity to experience the operation of the platform you want to trade on. But what makes trading on a demo account different from real trading?

First and foremost, trading the demo comes with a lot more of peace of mind compared to real trading because you won't be afraid of losing your money. In addition, you will be in a better position to take risks that you wouldn't have taken if you are trading with your money. As a result of this, you will learn a lot of tricks that can be used to take full advantage of the market.

Furthermore, demo-trading gives you the opportunity to try different trading platforms in order to discover the one that is just right for you. Even though most platforms are almost the same, there is a uniqueness that is associated with each broker's platform. By trying different platforms, you will discover the uniqueness that characterizes each platform thereby giving you various options to choose from.

In addition, if you trading on a demo account, you can try out different leverages that are available on the trading platform. You should start with low leverage before moving up to the high leverage. By doing this, you will discover that high leverage brings in more pips/profits and at same time more loss while low leverage brings in less profit and loss. That is why it is advisable to start real trading with low leverage, especially if you are a newbie, in order to reduce the rate of loss if it occurs.

Real and demo trading platforms have the same features except that the money in a demo account is virtual money while the money in a real account is your real money. So, you are not going to experience something different; the charts, news feeds, spreads, etc., are the same in both instances. If the platform you will be trading on is a web-based platform that doesn't require downloading a trading software, then you are going to experience a convenient and thrilling moments in the market that is one of the most traded in the world. And if you have an android smart phone, you can use it to trade in today's forex trading world, which gives you the opportunity to place trades on the move.

For the best online forex trading tips, visit http://www.easysolar.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olushola_George_Otenaike

android hardware

Android is a platform for application program developing. It has many attractive UI elements and data management function. Android also provides a group of options. In this article, we are going to talk about how to monitor the circumstance with the Android sensor options. The code shows how to record audio during the Android phone.

Do you want to create your own baby monitor? Do you want to answer the call or open the door by the means of the sound? You can learn how to make use of the hardware function of the device equipped with android.

For the developers of Java, Android is the ideal platform to create the innovative application program through hardware sensor. We are going to learn some interface connection options which are applicable to Android application program. You will get to know how to use the sensor subsystem and record the video segments.

What kind of application programs can be created by the hardware function of Android device? Any programs requiring electronic monitoring can be created. The wholesale baby monitors, safety system and even seismograph are all included. Theoretically, you can't be in two places at once. But Android can realize it through some feasible ways. As you read the whole article, you may keep in mind that Android device is not only limited to "mobile phone", but also the devices with wireless network connection in fixed place including the EDGE and Wifi.

Android sensor function

You will find something different when you use the Android platform. You can visit some "good tools" in the device. In the past, the mobile developers feel upset about the access of the hardware of the device. Though the Android Java is still the bridge between you and device, Android developing group carry out many hardware functions. It's an open source platform and you can write code freely to complete your task.

If you haven't install Android, you can download the Android SDK. You can also browse android.hardware. SensorListener interface is the core of the sensor application program. There are two necessary ways.

OnSensorChanged (int sensor, float values []) is invoked when the sensor values change. It's only invoked for the sensor monitored by the application program. The involved parameters are: An int indicates the changed sensor; a float value represents sensor data itself. Some sensors only provide one data while others provide three float values. The direction and accelerometer sensor provide three values.

When the accuracy of sensor is changed, onAccuracyChnaged(int sensor, int accuracy) will be invoked. There are two ints involved in the two ints. One represents the sensor; the other one represents the new accurate value of the sensor.

To interact with the sensor, the program must register one or more sensor related activities. The registration should be completed by the registerListener of SensorManager.

Keep in mind that not all Android devices can support all the sensors defined in SDK. If a certain sensor can't be used on a certain device, your application program will be degraded properly.

Tracy is from chinazrh, an excellent china wholesale electronics supplier, which serves you the best wholesale electronics including the wholesale baby monitors. Welcome to find more information about the wholesale electronics you need and welcome your valuable suggestions.

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new android system update

Google has been steadily improving the Android operating system for mobile phones, adding lots of new features with every update. Its latest Android update, dubbed "Ice Cream Sandwich", is a huge step forward for the company, enhancing the mobile operating system in almost every way possible. This brings to the forefront a complete makeover of the already-robust operating system; it is also filled with fresh features that will be loved by Android fans all around the world.

This Android update brings the version number to 4.0, combining the best of its predecessor's phone interface and Honeycomb's tablet GUI. It results in a visually appealing interface that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but is also very practical. It contains smart and useful innovations that will be utilized by next-gen mobile phone models from various manufacturers, including Motorola, Samsung and HTC. Below are five features that make it stand out from the crowded smartphone market.

Android Beam - this is basically the incorporation of near-field communication technology that has been picked up by other phone makers, including BlackBerry. It will let users share content with each other by tapping the back of the phone with another. Users will be able to send web links, YouTube videos, pictures, and other digital content simply by touching others' phones. This is only applicable to other Android 4.0 users only though.

Face Unlock is one of the most talked about features in this Android update. There are no other smart phones in the market that have this technology. It scans and verifies your face before letting you use your phone. This uses advanced facial recognition technology that is simply not there in other high-end phones, including Apple iPhone 4S. On top of this, Google claims that it is impossible to fool the system with a picture of the owner. Only the actual owner will be able to use his or her phone. It is a technological marvel.

Taking a cue from Microsoft's Windows Phone, Google has introduced a People App. The company has placed your friends, family and acquaintances at the center of your device. It will keep you informed on what everyone has been up to. It uses social networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to grab status updates, work information and photos straight to you. Additionally, it will allow the user to reject any untimed calls.

This Android update also enables re-sizable widgets, letting users embed live content. It will let users check email, listen to music and carry out other tasks without even having to open the related apps. It also helps people save screen space.

The above are some of the best features in the upcoming Android update. There are many more enhancements and new features that are waiting to be used by users in the days to come.

If you want to learn more, you may consider to visit Android Versions. Feel free to post any comments you may have about this topic at http://androidversions.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amsalak_Balukov_Tashakov

new android operating system

Android Phones

The new Android phones are phones that operate on the Linux Kernal mobile operating System. It was developed by Android Inc, and later purchased by Google. This system enables developers to write managed codes in the java language and control the device with Google developed Java libraries.

The Android Phones are the phones of the future because they combine the ultimate advances in mobile phones, video, cameras, PC's and Navigation systems with multiple applications. The Phase development of the Android Phones started with the first model that had bugs and poor documentation, this was first introduced with the Sake Game-Android Development Phone. Next came the Android SDK it had a debugger, libraries, documentation, and tutorials. The final droid was the Android OS-Donut which added supports like voice search, priced applications and Gmail freeze fixes.

The Android OS system is important in this new system because it allows third party developers to create their own screen widgets. This allows for more applications and more opportunities for the manufacturer. The new Android Phones are being made by Google, Motorola, and HTC, LG, Dell and others breaking into the Smartphone market. The technology that it promises is ground breaking. The Android system acts like a robot, the user tells it what to do and it does it with supposed lightening speed.

The new Android Phones are basically bringing the desktop to the mobile phones. It allows for emailing, instant messaging, and web browsing all at the same time. It can run applications in the background while the user goes to a social network site. It also allows the user to listen to music and write an email at the same time, while talking on the phone. The possibilities are endless; the Android system allows several applications to run at the same time, just as a computer with windows does.

There are thousand of applications available for the Android phones and more are becoming available everyday. With the apps and the ability to multitask without having to shut down one act to do another is the new age of the mobile phones thanks to Goggles Android system. The new Android 2.0 is the latest in the line of Android systems to hit the market. The capabilities and promises are coming true very quickly as 2.0.1 stands ready for release.

Many people enjoy using the Android Phones already and sales have been phenomenal. Everyone wants a system that acts like a PC but is really a phone with all of the capabilities. The technology has just begun and there is more to come.

The author of this article has built and maintained multiple websites that support Cell Phones and Smartphones. The goals are help users get the most out of the newest technology and understand it. As the Android Operating System has been developed and installed by many carriers more user are looking for tips and tricks to optimize there Smartphones.
Seeing the author as been following Android since the day Google announced working the open source platform it is very fitting that he has built Droid Cell Phone. A Knowledge base and blog that's sole purpose is to help Android users.
He is a true authority with 7 years plus of involvement with telephone technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Grant

android technology

The Android OS is slowly gaining its popularity. If you're in track with all of the latest cellular market news you are most probably aware of that. iPhone and Blackberry OSes are more popular that the Android OSes. This is partly due to the fact that the Android OS is used in a lot of different phones. It could also be because this OS is always being developed and upgraded which makes it a lot more competitive with the other smart phones that are being sold. Unlike the other major smart phone competitors (iPhones and Blackberries), the Android (aka "Google") phones are varied and come in many different styles with systems that vary in extensiveness. Here are some great facts about the Android and Google phones that you might not yet know.

We found one website that said Google didn't invent Android. Yes, we already know that Google claims credit for these phones. Many people will call these phones "Google phones" when they are looking into them. Rich Miner and Andy Rubin, according to the research we've done, are the actual creators of the OS. Google bought the OS from them after they invented it in 2003. Even though they bought it in 2003, they didn't release it right away and, instead, chose to spend a few years on further developments so that it would be better prepared for the mobile market. The popular iPhone has many users who purchased the phone because they were familiar with

Apple computers. The main reason most iPhone users purchased their phones is because they are loyal followers to the Apple brand name. Apple's overall fan base is perhaps larger than some other brands. Consumers of Android OS are not yet as committed to their product. They will most likely choose a phone because of its pricing or technology. Loyal iPhone users will recommend their phone to everyone they talk to about cellular devices. Android users lack the zeal for the product to recommend others use it too.

The Android OS was created to enhance the Open Handset Alliance. Many companies are working together to update and advance the operating system on a continual basis. Grabbing the majority of press interest gives Google the appearance of being the largest company but there are others with the same interests. There are many companies in different locations around the world working with a variety of mobile providers. Making the Android OS a universally recognized cellular device. Users who are familiar with open source ease of accessibility and development will choose the Android OS for this reason alone.

The Android phone can even be found in Africa! Many people already own Android OS phones but are unaware. If you are using a Blackberry or and iPhone you are not likely using the Android Operating System, however most other phones do. That is because many providers began implementing the open source Android OS in 2007 after it's premier. How many times have you changed phones since 2007?

To find out more information on this topic, please head here. If you want to end this problem, please view this amazing help site.

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android

Google's android technology is an interesting, thought-provoking one that has android development gaining momentum across the world. A simple search on android brings out thousands of pages all discussing the potential this new piece of technology is giving the android application developer.

There are tutorials and articles, even sample codes that all serve the purpose of empowering the android application developer and implement various features of their creative software works. On some specific websites , sample codes offered include those of real-world android platform applications, that one can make and deploy. These codes clearly show all the amazing techniques in use in the android development environment.

There are also numerous articles with loads of tips, optimization strategies and DIY / how-to pieces, that give you the knowledge-base to further understand this particular environment as an android app developer. Tutorials seek to take you through the basics of what an android app is to more advanced-level skills in application development using the technology on offer.

You could also download the android software development kit (SDK) that runs on Windows, Linux as well as Mac OS. It is pretty much easy to set up this SDK. First you need a PC with appropriate features. On Windows, you just install the SDK much the same way as you install any other software on a Windows-based system. After this, you will ready to explore what the android development kit contains. You will get to know the basics on what an android application developer needs to know, what the Android SDK offers and how to integrate whatever application you may have into the overall platform.

Another thing included in this SDK is what is known as the framework topics. These take you through all the baby steps through to internalizing what APIs you may need to advanced skills like user interface development and data manipulation on the android platform.

The android market topics aim at showing you how to not only publish your application as an android app developer, but also the steps to take to ensure you earn from your ideas.

It is important to note that like any other application development platform, android is also fast changing, with various versions out. So you need to appraise yourself on what is current and what may not necessarily work out well. At the present, an android application developer would require the all-new Android 3.2 platform.

In a nut-shell, android development is like a blank slate for an astute android application developer. You can turn nothing into something and earn from it!

Read all about android development and then hire the best android developers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jyotsna_Ramani

new apps for android 2.2

The twelve million lines code of the Android has gone through yet another major update nicknamed Froyo. The Froyo is now the seventh upgrade to the Google's most acclaimed Smartphone OS. Since its release in September 2008, it has gone through many updates.

At present, the two main contenders in the Smartphone OS world are the Google's Android and Apple's iOS 4. With the new Froyo update to the Android Phones, Google has bashed Apple's OS and Android has left iOS 4 far behind. Almost all the performance benchmarks have proven that Froyo has outperformed Apple.

It is mindboggling to comprehend the drastic improvement in the Android OS. There is day night difference between the original Android and now the updated Froyo version. The Android executes the applications in a virtual environment, called the Dalvik.

The major feature that the Froyo has brought to the Android is the changes in the Dalvik system, giving a just in time compiler to the Dalvik. This just in time compiler has given the new Android 2.2 approximately 5x performance hike while processing CPU heavy code.

This has made the working experience on the Android far smoother. The lagging and stuttering are long gone. You can now enjoy working in a friskier environment without getting irritated with the lag that was present in the earlier versions. Google claims that this performance boost is accompanied with better battery life but in reality no such drastic improvement in battery life could be seen.

Sweeter than sugar for most Android phone users is the fact that the new Froyo browser now supports Adobe Flash. This new feature comes as a blessing to net surfers. The good thing is that the flash can be brought to use when the user wants it with the browser's on demand option. Turning it on allows the user to use flash by clicking a Flash object. The Flash rendering isn't as impressive as a desktop but it will do for a phone.

The user interface has been kept almost the same. The importance of this 2.2 upgrade is that it has fixed the small bugs and glitches present throughout the OS. The Android users complain that its user interface is far more complex and ungraceful while compared to the iPhone or the web OS of the Palm. The little tweaks made by Froyo have tried to get rid of this complain and they are quite successful.

There has also been an addition of a task manager to the Android. It is a little hard to find hidden deep in the settings. The main thing is that you can now end the unwanted processes and apps that eat up the precious memory. Another of the nice features is that now apps can be installed on the micro SD card too, thus relieving the user from the limited small internal storage of the phone. The list of features is limitless but one thing is for sure, the new Android Froyo update has taken Android to the next level. It has become a completely different product now, far better than it was firstly introduced.

Dan Ponjican is blogger at http://blog.ShopAndroid.net and covers all things Android including the newest apps, software releases and devices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Ponjican

droid x

Droid X for "Excellent"

Motorola hits another homerun with the Droid X. I'm not certain what the "X" stands for, but I'm going to say that it must stand for "Excellent" because it is. Let me tell you why I have come to that conclusion.

Basic Specs

The first thing that will grab you is the humungous 4.3 inch touch screen, and its brilliant WVGA edge to edge display that supports up to 16 colors. Remember the old three and four color screens we used to get so excited about?

Its sleek, shiny black case measures 5.02" x 2.57" x.39". It has a slight hump on the back presumably to accommodate the camera and flash-more about that later. It weighs in at 5.47 ounces. So, it's not going to make your pants fall down if you put it in your pocket.

The Droid X runs on the Android 2.1 with the Motorola platform. Version 2.2 (Google Froyo) should be available soon. It features a 1.0 Ghz processor with plenty of hunk and 8 GB of internal memory. With a micro SD slot, you can get up to 32 more Gigs of memory. It comes with a 16 GB card installed.

A 540 mAHLi-ion battery is rated to provide up to 480 minutes usage time and 220 hours standby time. But, in practice, I found that the battery can become exhausted rather rapidly, especially if you are multitasking with additional services such as GPS, Wi-FI or Bluetooth. Keep your charger handy or a spare battery.

Let's take a walk around the unit checking for buttons, inputs and outputs. On the top, we have a 3.5 mm jack for earphones, a microphone (one of three), and a power button. On the right side are two volume control buttons and a button to invoke the camera. There is nothing on the bottom unless you count the bottom of the screen in the front where there is another microphone plus Menu, Home Screen, Return, and Search physical hardware buttons. On the left side, toward the bottom is a micro USB port for a charging/sync cable. Below that is a HDMI cable port for audio/video output so that you can transfer content from the Droid for viewing on your TV. Nice. You can also output to a projector. On the back is an 8 MPX camera lens and a dual LED flash. On the bottom of the back is yet another microphone.

Camera and Video

The camera is to covet with its 8.0 MPX lens 1/1000 second mechanical shutter, auto focus, touch to focus, face recognition and panoramic modes features. The Droid X will share photos, video, and music with other DLNA compatible devices. (However, I didn't have much luck with this feature.) The 720 p ND video allows slow motion capture, fast action, and quick uploads to YouTube. It features directional audio capture with is three microphones that enhance sound while tuning out background noise. With HDMI output, you can play your recorded videos on your HD TV. Unfortunately, a cable is not included. But there is still no way to take screen shots, which is a pity.

Entertainment: Music-Movies-TV-Radio-Games

If you enjoy listening to music on your phone, the Droid should please you with its standard 3.5 mm jack for headphones, Bluetooth, Android Music Player, ability to create playlists, access to the Amazon Music Store of MP3 downloads, and FM Radio. There is also a Verizon VCast store available for the purchase of music.

I found the sound quality to be acceptable with earplugs, external stereo speakers, and with Bluetooth headphones.

If you're looking for video entertainment, the Droid X can deliver. It comes with an Interface app for Blockbuster video that allows you to stream videos. Of course, you must rent them. Unfortunately, there is no app for, nor could I even access Hulu on the browser to watch TV and movies. Fortunately, there is an app for Orb, which allows you to tune into your desktop computer remotely to access files, watch videos, and live or recorded TV. Also, I am happy to report that SlingBox now has an app for the Droid. It costs $29.95, and you must have a Slingbox installed on your TV, but it's well worth the investment. Welcome aboard Sling Media. There are some other apps for viewing more limited TV channels as well that are worth exploring. I only wish there were an application for Netflix streaming videos. Maybe I'll have to create one myself.

Droid X comes with an FM tuner that requires you to plug in ear buds that act as an antenna. There are many nice radio and music apps available as well. My favorite is Pandora, which is free. If you suggest a tune or a composer, it will create a playlist of similar items in the same genre and stream them to you. Nice.

If you are a gamer, there is a plethora of games in the Market for you to download. Many are free. The large screen, fast processor, memory and great graphics combine for a pleasant gaming experience. I haven't tried it yet because I don't have an HDMI cable, but I suspect it may also be possible to play games from the X on your HDTV or on a projection screen.

3G Mobile Hotspot

Another attractive feature of the X is that it can perform as a Wi-Fi router connecting up to five other devices using Verizon's 3G network. Unfortunately, this service costs an additional $20 per month, and there is a 2 GB cap on usage.

Using the built-in Wi-Fi feature will generally give you a much faster connection to the Internet and save possible billable connection time via 3G.

Apps and Software

As Android is a Google platform, it offers many Google mobile apps such as Maps, Voice, Latitude, Calendar, Push Gmail, Talk, and integrated Google, Exchange, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter contacts. Let me caution you though. Adding all your social networking contacts to your regular contacts can be overwhelming and bog down the system. It offers advanced Speech Recognition, IMAP, POP, Hotmail, and AOL email support. Other Google and Verizon apps may be installed from the Android Market along with around 50,000 other paid and free apps.

I am pleased to report that my Google contacts and calendar ported over seamlessly to the X and synced with my desktop Outlook information. You can access your Google tasks and Docs. Strangely, while you can edit Excel docs, you cannot create or edit any other Microsoft Office documents, which is not exactly a plus in my book. However, there is a workaround with a third party application from DataViz.

My Verizon, Backup Assistant, and CityID are some of the other apps that come preinstalled that let you keep track of your account, backup your device, and have a caller's city appear on the screen. It also comes with a voicemail widget that I never could get to work properly. You can subscribe and pay a fee, for visual voice mail. But I much prefer Google Voice, and it's free.

Screens and Navigation

After turning on the device and unlocking it with a finger gesture, a home screen appears sprinkled with apps and widgets. Navigation is accomplished with finger gestures. You can flick to six different screens that you can customize to suite your tastes. You can even customize the background with pre-loaded graphics or provide your own.

One of the six screens is set up for quick access to your favorite contacts. It did not work well for me. My first four contacts displayed with large photos, the next four with smaller photos, the next four would not display photos at all, just a blue box with a gear in the corner. Tech support was not able to resolve this issue.

Another screen is set up with a music widget for easy access to your favorite tunes and playlists.

At the top of another page is a widget that gives quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Phone, and GPS, which I appreciate.

Another page comes with widgets for news and RSS feeds already set up for you. Of course you can remove these if you wish or add more icons of your own choosing to any of the six screens.

Google Voice search allows you to take charge of your phone and tell it what to do. You can search on the phone for such things as contacts, tell it to call someone or pull up an app or file. You can search the Web orally or find a business or address and then navigate to it. If you have an urge to be dictatorial, here's your chance to be the boss.

Keyboard

Unlike its predecessors, the Motorola Droid X does not have a slide out lateral keyboard. For me that it is plus. I do not like slide out keyboards, and I especially don't like lateral ones. They are bulky, mechanical, and just something more to go wrong. I don't appreciate being forced to use two hands to type if I don't want to. I really like the onboard input panel for Droid X.

The X also comes with an onscreen keyboard that opens automatically whenever text entry is required. If you prefer a larger keyboard, just orient the device horizontally, and the keyboard will shift to a wider, horizontal display.

In settings, it is possible to turn on such options as keypress sound or vibrate, auto capitalization, auto punctuate, word suggestions, and autocorrect errors. You also have your choice between the standard Multi-touch keyboard, and a new innovative one called Swype.

The Multi-touch keyboard expands the touched character, which reduces typos. You can slide your finger to the desired character if you make a mistroke. Holding the key down brings up every available variation of the letter including foreign characters diacritical markings. Another nice feature of this keyboard is the voice option. Touch the microphone and speak the text you want to create. It is surprisingly accurate. As a test I said, "I want to say that this is a very accurate system." The way it came out was, "I wanna say that this is a very accurate system." Whoops, maybe it's a little too accurate.

Swype is a pretty amazing keyboard option. You merely slide your finger around the screen from one desired letter to the next until the word is completed. When you lift your finger the word appears on the screen as if by magic. If there are other possibilities with the letter combinations, a list of choices to tap will appear on the screen. There is a tutorial to get you up and running. You can also use the speech to text engine with Swype, and there's a emoticon directory too.

Now comes the most exciting part for me, and that is the X's ability to connect to an external Bluetooth keyboard using an interface app called KeyPro. It works like a charm, and you are in the word processing, inputting business. There is a trial version to try before you buy.

The only problem is that there is no real word processing program available yet for the X. The work-around is to use Documents to Go by DataViz. It costs $14.99, but it's a most worthwhile investment if you want to turn you PDA into a road warrior. It will allow you to view, edit, and create Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. I consider this an absolute must have.

It would be an altogether perfect world if the Android Market had an application that would display a Droid screen on your desktop and allow interaction with file drag/drop, keyboard inputting, and mouse/cursor movement. Sometimes I really miss my Windows Mobile devices.

Another feature I appreciate is the you can tap and hold to make a string of entered text expand and the easily see where to place the cursor to correct a type. Nice.

Browsing

Browsing the Net with the big, crystal clear screen and fast processor on the X is a pleasure. The response time is snappy, and scrolling is smooth and fast. Enlarging the image with spread or retracted figure gestures works well. My only wish would be that there were an option to configure a Webpage to fit the screen as you can with a Windows Mobile device. This is a much better way to view a Webpage on a handheld device because you don't have to scroll all over the place. I would put this option on my list wish for Droid developers.

There are many attractive features associated with the browsing experience. For example, you can tap on the star on the right side of the address bar to mark a favorite. It then appears on the favorite screen for easy access. The favorites screen lets you view the bookmarks in a list or image view showing the home page. There are also tabs for Most Visited and History. You can even place a Webpage on one of the home screens for instant access.

By the way, you can watch YouTube in high resolution by tapping HQ on the lower right of the screen.

Syncing

By connecting your X to your desktop or laptop via the supplied micro USB cable, you can transfer files, videos, and pictures. With downloadable Media Manager, you can also purchase, store, and listen to music from the Verizon store. Unfortunately, the Media Manager only supports 32 bit systems. So, if you have a 64 bit system, you're out of luck. However, you can still connect to the X as if it were another drive and transfer files that way.

Accessories

The X comes in a pretty bare bones box with just a charger, a micro USB cable, and a mini quick start guide. To take full advantage of this marvelous device, you may wish to accessorize it more fully with a 32 MB micro SC card, an HDMI cable, a windshield mount for navigation, a charging/docking station, and perhaps a case to protect your investment. I plan to write reviews of some of these items in subsequent articles.

Conclusion

The Motorola Droid X is a supreme powerhouse of functionality with its big, high definition screen, 8 MPX dual flash camera and HD camcorder with an HDMI port for output to TVs and projectors. While it may not have as many apps yet as the iPhone, there are certainly enough to keep anyone busy, productive, and entertained while more are being developed for this relatively new platform.

There are several things I wish the X could do and hope they will be forthcoming. I wish it were possible to take screen shots. I wish it had the native capability to handle Office docs. I wish there were an app to place an interactive X screen on a monitor. I wish there were an option to configure Webpages for single column viewing without having to scroll sidesways. I wish there were a Netflix app for viewing movies, which would be much better, in my opinion, than Blockbuster.

I could go on with my wish list, but I feel confident that the Droid platform is a serious contender now and developers with place a lot of energy into creating new and wonderful applications to make it even better. I fear, however, that as an open platform in which every manufacturer can put its own twist on things using all different screens, processors, and resolutions, that it will be more difficult for developers to create apps that work across all Droid models and they will become discouraged. That is a problem iPhone developers don't have as much.

The hump on the back reminds me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and makes the device appear to be top heavy. It's too bad that it doesn't come with an HDMI cable and a case to protect it.

In any case, I am very pleased overall with the Motorola Droid X from Verizon, and I wish to give it my very highest recommendation. It is worth your serious consideration if you are looking for a new device. I would even encourage you to trade in your current model for this beauty.

Timothy Hillebrand, Ph.D. is a retired archaeologist and mobile device expert who writes for Smartphone magazine and several other publications. Visit his blog at http://professorpocket.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Timothy_S._Hillebrand,_Ph.D.

                  

android platform

Software platforms are being increasingly focused on and worked around in order to develop newer and more innovative means of reaching more and more people across networks. The Android is one of these platforms that has been extensively worked upon and developed in order to have robust and unique operation method.

The Android is generally described as an operating system and a software platform that Google developed in order to facilitate improved development of mobile devices. This allows developers to work in their code on JAVA based language that make use of Google-based JAVA libraries. The Android mobile platform encompasses a software stack for mobile devices. It comprises operating systems and key applications. The Android SDK has APIs and tools such as other development software; these are important for initiating for development of applications that use J2ME, JAVA programming language.

Android software development companies offer top-of-the-line Android Mobile Application Development. With experienced and highly trained mobile application developers, these application development companies will give you the best and nothing less than that. Your access to complete mobile device functionality as well as an enhanced development environment gives you the power to create robust applications that are Linux-based.

The Android is meant for better speed in terms of collecting information and delivering precise information requested by a user. With an open distribution system such as the Android market allows publishers to project their applications to relevant users.

An advantage with Android applications is that they are used by organizations and individuals too from a variety of industries. This provides you room for branding your products in the face of unique opportunities.

With Android Custom Application Development, the possibilities are limitless as you will have countless opportunities as well as possibilities when it comes to enhancing functionality of smart phones and also personal productivity. There are many application development companies that offer a wide range of Android development services in the shape of solutions of multimedia mobile and mobile business software. Additionally, you can develop web-based applications for mobile devices as well as design and implementation of utility applications and Java mobile applications. Apart from these services, there are many, many more that are offered.

With each passing day almost, there are more and more ideas coming to life thanks to the Android platform, and developers are indeed a breed of professionals who are most creative. While they can create exactly what you desire, you can also trust them to come up with ideas that would most likely suit your fundamental plan.

Roses Mark is a successful internet marketing professional, Facebook and iPhone Application Developer. Until now he has written numerous articles on the internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roses_Mark

new android market apk

This is great news for Android app developers because it will allow them to offer apps on a wider array of the company's hardware. This new change is one of Google's major efforts to tackle the problems that have been experienced with fragmentation. Multiple versions of the same app can now be combined into one Android Market listing. The previous rule only allowed for one APK per product listing. The benefit to uploading multiple versions of an APK are that each version can address a different niche of your customers. The different versions share the same package name, but contain coding that targets different versions available on the Android platform, various screen sizes and GL texture-compression formats. The correct APK is delivered to the customer, based on the signatures and characteristics of the users device.

Initial reports of this new market device detection surfaced last month on the web version of Google's Android Market. Users just go to the web browser and sign in, then select the app they wish to install. This system then checks the compatibility of the selected app and the hardware that is specified in the settings of the user. Approved apps will then receive a green message that says "this app is compatible with your device" or a yellow message that says "this app is incompatible with your device."

Now Android app developers will have the capability of providing bonus versions that are compatible and within the same offering, instead of cluttering up the marketplace with multiple listings that end up confusing the user. Multiple APK support will give the developer more options for controlling their app distribution. Most notable, a developer can create a separate APK for smartphones and tablets under this same listing. Taking advantage of new API's or hardware capabilities without drastically effecting your customer base should be viewed as a major benefit to giving the Android Market a try for app developers.

There has not been a date set for the release of the new-look Android Market app, but leaked versions have been cropping up online for download and installation. Google did announce plans to unveil a completely new Android Market app that allows for customers to purchase books or rent movies from their tablets, smartphones and devices. Android Market has gone through a new overhaul that is embodies more of a Windows Phone 7 "Metro UI" look, as opposed to the previous Green and White motif.

Copper Mobile is a leading Android Development Company Company that specializes in App design, development, and marketing for Android mobile apps.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_M_Backus