Google takes heat over Android tablet OS

IDG News Service - Android device makers around the world are anticipating great things from the next version of Google's mobile software, and they need the boost. Apple has a strong head start with sales of its popular iPad, while the App Store and iTunes give it apps and content, to boot.

But after a year of prodding Google, device makers think they've finally won with the upcoming "Honeycomb" upgrade to Android, which is expected by the end of the first quarter and is supposed to be the first version of the software designed for tablets instead of smartphones.

Earlier this year, for example, Samsung Electronics, had to fight to have the Android Market app, which connects users to the software's online treasure trove of over 150,000 apps, on its Galaxy Tab, according to one executive who asked not to be named due to his company's close relationship with Google.

At the time that Samsung was developing the Galaxy Tab to use Android, Google was struggling to decide if it wanted to put its upcoming Chrome OS in tablets and make Android exclusive to smartphones. The Chrome OS better fits Google's Cloud strategy, the executive said.

Gingerbread Android 2.3 enters Nokia N900 thanks to ‘Innovators’

Nokia N900 users in the near future will be able to enjoy the Android v 2.3 Gingerbread interface and features thanks to ‘innovative’ developers busy in playing with the gadgets and software.

Mobile Internet device Nokia N900, which many stubbornly believe is a communicator, was originally developed for the operating system Maemo 5. The OS works fine on this gadget, but not everyone is happy. For example, there is a team of ‘talented’ people, calling themselves NITDroid, who recently managed to install Google’s Android v 2.2 on N900. The system perfectly adapted in the new device and it could even work with all its components, including modules, cellular communications and GPS receiver. But now as version 2.2 is no longer the latest one, as recently version 2.3 Gingerbread was released, and the NITDroid team had no choice but to try to install it on Nokia N900.

Of course, they had some problems in getting the desired result, but they were resolved fairly quickly, and now the screen of N900 flaunts the interface of Google Android 2.3. Most of the work on the transfer of Gingerbread is believed to have been carried out by a certain Russian Alexey Roslyakov known by the nickname of DrinkDebugger. Ported OS has not become completely compatible with Nokia N900 as WiFi, FM and sound processor are not functional yet. Moreover, this mobile internet device is not yet able to connect to the World Wide Web, cellular networks and play audio, but the initiators behind this porting have said that these glitches will be overcome in the next before the end of 2010.

BenQ To Reveal 10.1" R100 Android Tablet At CES

Saturday, December 25, 2010 - by Ray Willington

Who else could possible get into the tablet game at this point? Maybe the question should be who couldn't possibly get in. BenQ, a company that has traditionally focused more on monitors and accessories, has announced plans to unveil a tablet at CES 2011. When the show kicks off from Las Vegas next month, BenQ will be on hand to reveal their first 10.1" tablet, one that has a 1024x600 resolution touch panel, Android and a Samsung processor clocked at 833MHz.

The CPU is ARM-based, and according to reports, the company hopes to "sell the R100 in content deals that pair the device with reading material such as books, or magazine and newspaper subscriptions." The battery will be able to last for up to 12 hours when it's being used for reading, but that figure will probably drop when it's used for more advanced tasks like gaming and Web browsing. One unique feature that few other tablets offer is the language support; it can be used for note-taking, and users can write on it with their finger or a stylus. Also, in respect for potential Asian customers, it supports English or Chinese, both simplified and traditional characters when it comes to handwriting.

It will reportedly ship with 8GB of storage, an SD slot and a mini-USB / mini-HDMI port. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. BenQ hasn't settled on a price yet, and they aren't releasing images of it until CES. But that's not too far out now!

Nexus S Gets Android 2.3.1 Update Over The Air

Google has quietly sent out a fresh update for its Nexus S smartphone, which has just seen the light of day in the US and UK. The first Android 2.3.1 Gingerbread update comes Over The Air as reported by XDA-Developers Forum member Rocketragz. The Nexus S gets updated from GRH55 to GRH78 that weighs 1.9MB.

The update brings the latest version of Google Maps on the Nexus S. Maybe some 3D layers would've been added to the Google Maps app on the phone. Apart from that, the update brings some other important bug fixes. The software update text states:

This system update from Google contains important bug fixes and the latest version of Maps.

Nexus S owners who haven't received the update yet, try the force checkin method that may fetch you this update. Just open the dialer and feed in *#*#checkin#*#* code to dial. Once it succeeds, you should get the software update notification on the top of your screen.

As of now, I don't know if it hampers the rooted Nexus S. Google itself announced that the company was fine with users rooting the device for gaining more control over the Android OS.

Nexus S isn't officially available in India, but just in case anyone in India had got the update, do share the screenshots

Download Android 2.3.1 Build GRH78 Firmware Update For Google Nexus S

The Google Nexus S is the first smartphone in the world to come packed with Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box and now it’s time for another milestone as the 2nd-gen Nexus One has received the first Android Gingerbread update over the air. If you are a Google Nexus S owner, then you can download Android 2.3.1 build GRH78.

The software update is sized at 1.9MB while the official Android 2.3.1 build GRH78 changelog says that Google Nexus S users will get lots of bug fixes and Google Maps 5.0. I’m sure you would have expected more, but that’s simply not the case. It happened in the past for a company to release a smartphone and then a firmware update in order to fix a few annoying issues that the testers didn’t notice.

Google Nexus S

The Android 2.3.1 build GRH78 firmware update for the Google Nexus S is rolling out worldwide so it might take a while until it reaches your device. If you want it ASAP, then you can force your smartphone to download it by going to the dialer and then call.

Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' due in March

Asus, MSI and ECS join stampede to show off tablets at CES

According to sources in the manufacturing industry, the DigiTimes unveiled that Google is planning to launch the Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ OS for tablets in March 2011.

DigiTimes sources dropped a number of references to the March availability while also confirming that Taiwanese manufacturers are set to join the stampede to show off tablet devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Taiwanese manufacturers Asus, MSI and ECS will be launching a range of devices including Windows 7 and Android 3.0-based devices according to a report by Taiwan-based DigiTimes.

Elite Computer Systems (ECS) is reportedly looking to launch a raft of e-book readers in 6, 8 and 9.7-inch form factors and based on the Android operating system. Windows 7 and Android tablet PCs would also feature with 10-inch screens and Intel Atom CPU for the Windows devices and ARM-based units for the Android devices.

MSI is also getting in on the act with 10-inch Windows 7-based tablets as well as prototype Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ ARM-powered units which the company intends to release in March, according to DigiTimes sources, when Google releases the tablet-friendly 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’.

Dell Streak (unlocked) review - part 1 of 2

Android Based Dell Streak 7 is Wi-Fi Certified

Dell had introduced its Google Android 2.1 running Streak tablet in India for Rs. 34,990 two months ago. And now we hear ramblings about the Dell Streak 7 tablet in works. Apparently, a Dell M02M mobile internet device got the Wi-Fi certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance recently. Also, accessories maker Vaja listed Dell's 7-inch tablet for its leather cases. Back in September, Dell Greater China President, Amit Midha, promised a 7-inch tablet to arrive in weeks and 10-inch tablet in next 6-12 months.

Dell CEO Michael Dell briefly flashed an unnamed 7-inch tablet back in September. Following that, Midha confirmed that the tablet would be introduced within weeks. Apart from that, Dell also has plans to introduce a 3-inch, 4-inch and 10-inch tablets in the coming year. Apparently, the Dell Streak 7 would run Google Android, I suppose 2.3 Gingerbread since it has been announced already. Just like the 5-inch Dell Streak tablet, it will have the Stage UI overlaid over Android.

Dubbed as Dell Steak 7, the tablet will carry 7-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen display. Of course, it will have Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) for connectivity but there's no word on whether it will support 3G Networks as well. Inside the tablet, Dell is rumored to use dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 chip for enough computing and graphics power. The tablet would be capable of playing 1080p HD video.

Engadget claims to have got their hands on the story board of Dell Streak 7's Ad Treatment. In one of the slides, the Streak 7 is shown with front-facing camera, so video calls might be on the cards.
We can expect Dell to show off the Streak 7 at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show 2011 starting January 6 in Las Vegas.

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Android Wikileaks apps are doing well

Filling the void left by Apple's purge of free speech

By Nick Farrell

Thu Dec 23 2010, 11:11

ANDROID-BASED Wikileaks apps are doing rather well after Apple purged all mention of the website from its Apps Store.

Yesterday Apple decided to join Amazon, Bank of America and Mastercard in their futile efforts to help the US government attempt to silence Wikileaks. Jobs' Mob purged any Wikileaks related applications from its App Store on the grounds that they were allegedly "endangering lives".

The role of censoring applications comes naturally to Steve Jobs' walled garden. After all Apple is now part of the establishment and apparently does not want to offend it.

However it seems that the more liberal Google is having no problems shifting Wikileaks related apps. But that might be because Wikileaks' cable revelations have so far notably omitted any mention of Israel.

Google, which operates the second-largest online mobile applications store, has kept more than half a dozen Wikileaks apps available on its Android Marketplace that make it easier to access the confidential US government documents.

Some of the Android programs provide direct access to the WikiLeaks cables, and one of them even alerts users whenever a new leaked document from the WikiLeaks repository is made public.

John Bumgarner, CTO of the US Cyber Consequences Unit has warned that by nailing its colours firmly to the US government's mast, Apple risks being a target of hacktivists who want to defend Wikileaks.

The move has angered some of Assange's supporters, but few of them appear to be Apple users. Reuters has been reporting tweets from Anonymous members who say things like, "This is exactly why I would never purchase an iOS device" and "more Apple censorship".

Apple fanbois would never support Wikileaks over Jobs' Mob anyway. Free-speech is just something that other people do, who are probably Microsoft or Linux users, although the fanbois will fight to the death to parrot abuse at anyone who disagrees with Steve Jobs.

Read more: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1934263/android-wikileaks-apps-doing#ixzz18wTtI1Tc 
The Inquirer - Computer hardware news and downloads. Visit the download store today.

Google introduces new billing options for the Android Market

Columbus Android owners looking to pick up some cheap apps during the holiday season now have some new Android Market options to make the checkout process even easier.

News of these Android Market billing improvements first appeared yesterday at the Android Developers blog.

AT&T Direct Carrier Billing added to the Android Market

Android owners using AT&T as a carrier now have the option to directly bill their AT&T account when purchasing something from the Android Market.  AT&T Direct Carrier Billing only takes a few clicks to setup, adding convenience to an Android owner's monthly bill tracking.

Direct Carrier Billing is being gradually rolled out to AT&T customers, so Android owners can expect to see it soon if they don't already have the new billing option.  T-Mobile customers with Android devices have enjoyed a similar direct billing feature for a while.

Google adding refund ability, more app categories to the Android Market

In addition to AT&T's Direct Carrier Billing service, Google also introduced a 15-minute refund window capability for Android owners who encounter buyer's remorse after purchasing an app from the Android Market.

Also new app categories hope to streamline the process of finding the perfect app inside the Android Market.  Poor categorization is something Apple desperately needs to improve with the iPad version of the App Store.

These additional improvements to the Android Market bring Google's app store closer to Apple's in ease of use.  Now if they can only force game companies like Gameloft to sell their Android apps at the Android Market.

Columbus folks interested in checking out the world of Android merely need to visit their local AT&T store to pick up an Android-powered handset.

Firefox 4 Beta For Android Updated – Features UI Tweaks, Ability To Save Website as PDFs, And More

Mozilla’s been pretty good about keeping the mobile version of its ever-popular Firefox browser up to date (both with the current beta and with the old Fennec Alpha), and it looks like they have every intention to continue that trend. Just today, the third beta of Firefox 4 went live in the Android Market, bringing a number of minor additions along with it:

• Several UI modifications
• Easier discovery of add-ons
• The ability to save websites as PDFs so you can read them later
• Support for complex scripts (i.e. Arabic and Persian) on devices with the appropriate fonts
• The ability to copy and paste to and from the URL bar
• A simplified setup process for Firefox Sync – less typing is necessary
• Bug fixes

Mozilla promises that improvements in performance, responsiveness, and usability will come in future updates, as well as better graphics, JavaScript, and more add-ons. Check the newly updated app out for yourself using the QR code below.

Nokia Rumored to Develop WP7 Device, Windows Market Grows Faster Than Android

Nokia and Microsoft have had discussions about possible WP7-based Nokia device

In his weekly op-ed, mobile godhead Eldar Murtazin announced that Nokia has been in talks with Microsoft to possibly develop a device based on the Windows Phone 7 operating system.

"This two way dialogue was initiated by new Nokia management," Murtazin writes. "It's a desperate measure for both companies. This is their only solution to stop an all conquering Android."

Nokia's tribulations have been well-documented here on DT [1] [2] [3]. And while Nokia has not commented on the alleged discussions with Microsoft, it seems particularly plausible considering Nokia's new CEO is a former Microsoft exec.

A Windows Phone-based device must sound even more enticing to Nokia, amid reports that the Windows Phone marketplace is ramping up faster than Android did after first launching, and is holding its own against even the Apple store.

"The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace reaching 4,000 apps two months after launch has to be one of the most rapid ramp-ups in recent times, reaching this milestone faster than Android, which took from October 2008 to March 2009 to reach about the same level," Al Hilwa, an analyst with research firm IDC, wrote in a research note.

"We can say that for a company that just a few months ago was an also-ran in mobile, having 10 smartphones released in 30 countries is not a trivial achievement," Hilwa wrote. "I would not be surprised if Microsoft had the third largest app portfolio in the industry by the middle of next year."

With so many reviews and news reports writing off Windows Phone because of a lack of apps, the analysis is encouraging for Microsoft. And even if sales U.S. sales figures can't match that of the iPhone, international reports say WP7 is selling well in Europe and Asia, according to EWeek. But Microsoft is also in a position that allows itself to lose money on a product initially, if adoption is slow. 

"No one expected WP7 to take the market by a storm, but the role of the first release was to [put] Microsoft in the game. To be clear this is a long term battle that will be pivotal for Microsoft’s long-term relevance," Hilwa wrote.

Google to Release Android 2.3 Gingerbread for Nexus One in the Coming Weeks

Mountain View, California-based Google Inc. has announced via a tweet on its Google Nexus account that the Android 2.3 [Gingerbread] update for the Nexus One will be released in the coming weeks. This is definitely great news for existing Nexus One owners. Google just ask Nexus One owners to “hang tight.”

Of course, there are already Android 2.3 [Gingerbread] builds for the Nexus One created with the Android 2.3 [Gingerbread] code pushed to the Android Open-Source Project.

However, Google will definitely come up with a stable version that will satisfy all of those that are not so tech-savvy. We’ll definitely keep our eyes and ears open and will report as soon as Android 2.3 [Gingerbread] becomes available for the Nexus One.

Motorola video teases Android Honeycomb tablet

Motorola teased technology watchers Monday with a video about the history of tablets -- up to but not including its upcoming Android Honeycomb device.

The company plans to reveal the tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. But first, Motorola revisits the past by walking viewers through an imaginary museum where the curators apparently have a healthy reserve of snark.

The first display shows a slab inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics. "Good graphics, but weight makes for poor portability," the video declares.

Next up: The 10 Commandments. "Excellent durability, but zero flexibility (can’t edit)" is the verdict.

The Rosetta Stone follows -- "Multi-lingual support, but low-resolution screen" -- trailed by a Maya stone -- "Successful Latin American distribution, but rumored 2012 self-destruct feature."

Then Motorola really gets to work. The iPad is deemed to be "like a giant iPhone, but ... it’s like a giant iPhone." The Samsung Galaxy Tab has "Android OS, but ... Android OS for a phone."

And finally, the star of the show is pictured under a cloth as a bee begins to buzz.

So far, the details on Honeycomb are sketchy, but it’ll probably be a step up from other sweet-sounding Android operating systems such as Cupcake (version 1.5), Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3).

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 With Nvidia Tegra 2 And Android 3.0 Honeycomb Release Date Is 1H11

The Nvidia Tegra chipset is very powerful, however, mobile devices manufacturers didn’t adopt it. Why? Probably because the ARM architecture was easier to use. Anyway we are happy to announce that this trend will change as the second-gen Nvidia Tegra CPU will be adopted by multiple companies, including Samsung who will put it on the Galaxy Tab 2.

Nvidia’s Tegra 2 chipset has been confirmed to be present in the LG Star, LG Optimus 2X, and probably in the LG B Android smartphone. The latest rumor says that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will be powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 CPU which is kinda weird because an older rumor said that Samsung is developing a next-gen dual-core Hummingbird processor.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

So what changed? Did Samsung decide that it can’t compete against Nvidia’s Tegra 2 processor?  The answer comes quickly from Google! It seems like Google is copying Microsoft with Windows Phone 7 and is looking to make the Tegra 2 architecture the reference hardware for Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

Nvidia might have hit the jackpot here, albeit we should wait for more information to come in before confirming this rumor so stay tuned!

P.S. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 release date is rumored to be 1H11.

Motorola Android 3.0 tablet gets more detailed shots, specs

Posted in Motorola by Conner Flynn on December 20th, 2010

Motorola’s Android 3.0 tablet has showed up again with a leak that shows clearer images and some more detailed specs. The new images show a 10-inch tablet with the completely overhauled interface, which includes the new navigation bar and lock screen. The back shows the five-megapixel camera with flash as well as a large external speaker and what looks like standard USB ports on the bottom.
Inside, the tablet sports a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 clocked at 1GHz with 512MB of RAM. It may not be available in a Wi-Fi only edition and could need a 3G or 4G connection to get online. Verizon is also connected to the tablet and could use it as a flagship for its LTE network, though 3G editions with EVDO and HSPA have been pegged for other carriers.

Other features include a 1280×800 display resolution, 32GB of built-in flash and a front two-megapixel camera.

Breaking: Android 2.3 Gingerbread Ported to HTC HD2

Gingerbread madness has already begun, you know. We are definitely seeing a lot of cool stuff coming. First Desire got the early Gingerbread meal and then earlier today we saw a freshly baked gingerbread cookie made its way all the way from Nexus S to Samsung Galaxy S. Well Nexus One and others have it too. Guess what’s next?

Android 2.3 Gingerbread has now been ported to HTC HD2 too! Definitely, you didn’t expect this one to come out that quick but it’s here when we have great XDA folks.

Good news is that, unlike most of the early ports, this one has got most of the stuff working including radio to make phone calls, 3G data, audio playback, bluetooth, wi-fi and 720p HD video playback. Cool eh? Definitely! but wait. Camera and GPS don’t work for now.

Apparently, this one is a pretty safe port. So go ahead and flash it following the source link below.

[XDA]

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Android 2.3 source code released by Google

Google has released the source code for its recent Android 2.3/Gingerbread update, meaning new builds and custom ROMs can be created.

Google confirmed the update is not only going to be available for smartphones, but also those with 'extra large screens, such as tablets.'

"The source code for the Android 2.3 platform and software stack has been released! This release allows OEMs to begin preparing Android 2.3 for installation on new and existing devices, and allows hobbyists, enthusiasts, and researchers to develop custom builds."

From the Nexus to the Galaxy

To that end, XDA Developers Forum has already been hard at work to develop a custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy S, although this is a port from the Google Nexus S running on the similarly-specced handset, rather than one based on the new source code release.

It's not for the faint of heart as yet, given that certain aspects (such as GPS and Wi-Fi) are not quite functioning, but it won't be long until the Android rooters among us will have the next-gen software on a current-gen device.

LinkedIn (Finally) Goes Android

Professional networking community LinkedIn has debuted its first application for Google's Android platform.

By Eric Zeman ,  InformationWeek
December 17, 2010 02:45 PM 

 

The new LinkedIn application for Android makes its debut just ahead of the holidays and the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The app is being offered as a public beta. In order to get it, LinkedIn users must sign into their account and then join the LinkedIn for Android Group. Once logged in and all joined up, LinkedIn will share instructions on how to download the application and install it. 

According to LinkedIn, it starts off with the basics. The key features allow users to view updates from their professional connections; search for other professionals via a number of different parameters; respond to invitations to join groups or connect with other professionals; and the ability to reach out and contact LinkedIn connections.


Some of the content visible on the "Updates" homepage include your contacts' new connections, changes to their profiles, as well as content that they choose to share via LinkedIn's online tools.
For some professionals, access to LinkedIn is a vital resource. It's a great place to cull knowledge about potential clients or find out more about the professionals you meet when out of the office. LinkedIn says that the search function built into the Android app is the fastest search tool it offers. Naturally, once a user has located someone with whom they'd like to connect, the app makes it easy to reach out and initiate contact. 

Official PlayStation app coming to iOS and Android "very soon"

Got a PS3? Got an iPhone, iPod touch or Android handset? There’s an app coming to your handset “very soon.” Well, depending on where you live.

iOS users will need to be running version 4.0 or higher, and Android users will need a minimum of version 1.6.
So, what ill you be able to do?

• Check out your PlayStation Network trophies and keep up to date with your friends’ games and online status.
• Discover all the latest games, news and hardware for your PlayStation 3, PSP and PlayStation 2.
• Read all the announcements on the European PlayStation.Blog.
• Share your favorite products or news with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail.

Sorry, no gaming!

But there’s a catch - The first version (1.0) will only be available in the following countries: UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and The Netherlands.

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NVIDIA Tegra 2 to be ‘reference design’ for Android Honeycomb

An analyst over at Barron’s believes that NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 will be the ‘reference design’ for Google’s upcoming tablet-optimized version of Android, dubbed Honeycomb. While this isn’t necessarily confirmed by Google, it’s believable enough.

The Tegra 2 chipset sports the dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor and boasts the kind of graphical processing power that only NVIDIA’s experience in the gaming space can provide. The Tegra 2 is pure gold. It outperforms even the highest-end single-core chips on market today, and does it with lower power draw. It makes sense that Google would use Tegra 2 as it’s “reference design” for Android Honeycomb. But does that mean Google will require Tegra 2 for all Honeycomb devices? Likely not.

While it’s not in stone, we have every reason to believe that Motorola’s upcoming Android Honeycomb tablet will be rocking Tegra2 innards. The Motorola tablet seems to be following in the footsteps left by the original Google Nexus One, as Google is bringing top-notch hardware to the market in an effort to define the minimum standard for Android tablets going forward. Like the Nexus One, it’s as if Google is saying, “Hey, tablet makers, step it up a notch,” hoping they will follow suit.

But, with Texas Instruments’ recent announcement of their new dual-core cpu (1.5GHz each core), NVIDIA won’t be the only game in town. With multiple dual-core options on the horizon, I believe Google will steer clear of hardware requirements, and will instead provide minimum hardware specs. Microsoft did the same thing with Windows Phone 7 requiring at least a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in their smartphones, and the result was a launch portfolio that runs mostly on the same silicon.

I recently bought a ViewSonic G Tablet, which ships with the Tegra 2 (and a horrible UI you’ll want to replace immediately), and it performs like a champ. The performance advantages of a dual-core CPU are the reason you’ll soon see more and more tablets will begin shipping with the Tegra 2 chipset. I’d thank the Tegra 2 before anything else for the tablet’s great performance.

That said, NVIDIA is destined to have a good year in tablets, no matter the competition. The Tegra 2 is available now, and brings a great experience to anything that uses it, it seems. Midas of geek tech?

Bet the guys over at NVIDIA are feeling pretty good right about now.

Is Honeycomb Being Released as Android 2.3 this February?

It’s long been believed that the next iteration of Android – after the newly-launched Gingerbread 2.3  - would be Android 3.0. Honeycomb is to change the way people see and use Android, if not period then for a better tablet experience. From what we’ve seen so far in leaks and cameo appearances, Honeycomb definitely looks like enough of a jump to consider it more than just another incremental release.

A source of A&M’s says otherwise though: Honeycomb will be launching as Android 2.4, they say. Not that the version number really matters in the grand scheme of things, but if we assume Google approaches versioning – a very serious part of the software development cycle for any vendor – the same way company-wide, then we could assume that a major release like Honeycomb would warrant an entirely new version number. We wouldn’t be at Chrome 8 already, otherwise.

But that’s only if we assume. We really don’t know. The most interesting part of this rumor, though, is that their source seems to confirm a grand unveiling at the Mobile World Congress – a major industry trade show  - going down mid-February in Barcelona, Spain.

Not too much of a stretch considering we’re expecting to see some Honeycomb tablets in Q1 (and we’re still hearing rumors about a couple of Honeycomb tablets being shown as early as CES.) At least for that side of the story, I hope their source is right. I couldn’t really give two hoots about the version number. In fact, I’m more interested about how the oversized statue will look on the Android building’s front lawn.

An Android Phone That Says ‘Google’

nullAs the year winds down, we’ve all got problems. Economic slump. Wars. Unemployment.

The latest in technology from the Times’s David Pogue, with a new look.

But look at the bright side: there’s never been a better selection of really terrific cellphones. In fact, in the world of Google’s Android phone operating system, new phones seem to fall down the chimney once a week, each leapfrogging the last in desirability.

The one that landed this week is particularly intriguing, because Google designed it. Not just the software this time — the phone itself. Yes, “Google” is painted right on the back, along with “Samsung,” which did the manufacturing. This phone, the Nexus S, bears little resemblance to Google’s first effort at a phone a year ago, the failed Nexus. (The S has more in common with Samsung’s Galaxy S models.)

That Google is trying again is important for a bunch of reasons. First, it represents the official throwing in of the towel on Google’s radical sales model. It had intended to create an online store where you would buy the phone and the service independently. No more “You want an iPhone? Then you get AT&T.”

nullThat never caught on. This time around, you’ll buy the Nexus S from Best Buy ($530 without a contract, or $200 with a two-year T-Mobile contract).

In general, the new Nexus is much the same as its rivals: it’s a black rectangle (bigger than the iPhone in every dimension) with a multitouch screen, an on-screen keyboard and a superfast chip that makes everything feel responsive.

The back panel camera has an LED flash, but the quality is only average and it can’t take hi-def videos. The low-resolution front-facing camera is intended for video calls or checking for spinach in your teeth. (The software for video calling doesn’t come with the phone, although you can download a couple of somewhat flaky apps for this purpose from the Android app store online.)

The 4-inch screen is bright, sharp and vivid. The case is all plastic, which makes it more of a scratch-and-fingerprint magnet than the glass-and-metal iPhone. It’s sleek but fairly generic-looking; the only design eccentricity is a bulge on the lower back that, you could argue, helps you orient the phone when extracting it from your pocket.

Samsung also claims that the screen is slightly bowed inward — curved — to fit your face better. Really? You’d need a microscope to measure it; the curve is virtually undetectable. If this minute degree of curvature fits your head, well, you must have a cranium the size of a hot-air balloon.

The S lacks a couple of features of the original Nexus, like dual microphones for sound cancellation (doesn’t matter — the S sounds great), the trackball that doubled as a message-indicator light, and the memory card slot. This time around, your storage is capped at 16 gigabytes — only 1 gig of which is available for storing standard downloaded apps.

Technically, the phone is sold “unlocked,” meaning that you don’t have to use T-Mobile; if you like, you can insert the little account card from an AT&T phone or, when you’re traveling, from an overseas cell carrier. Even then, though, technical limitations prevent you from getting onto AT&T’s 3G Internet network, or even T-Mobile’s 4G (fastest) Internet network.

The most exciting hardware news is that the Nexus S can read N.F.C. tags. In case you’re not an engineer, that stands for near-field communications. Supposedly, one day soon, you’ll be able to pass your phone over a special smart tag to pay for something. You’ll be able to wave your phone at someone else’s to exchange e-business cards. You’ll be able to extract information, Web links or videos from special stickers on billboards and bus shelters, just by swiping your phone.

Sure. And then you can hop into your hovercraft and fly home.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any N.F.C. tags in America (except in a Portland test program run by Google), so for now, the feature is worthless. Sure, you could argue that if N.F.C. ever does arrive, the Nexus S will be ready. Unfortunately, by that time, it will look like a kerosene-powered steam pump.

The most attractive aspect of the Nexus S may not be the hardware at all — it’s the software. Here is pure Android, the way Google intended it. No cellphone maker has tweaked, diluted or complicated it with its own redesigns. It doesn’t come with preinstalled junkware apps from Verizon or whomever. And it’s the first phone with Android 2.3.

That’s a big deal. Google updates its software frequently. But if you buy your Android phone from a cellphone carrier, you may not get the update for months, if ever, because the carrier is the gatekeeper. Android 2.2, for example, introduced the ability to watch Flash videos on the Web — but to this day, many Android phones can’t exploit that feature because their carriers haven’t offered the 2.2 update. You won’t have that problem if you buy a phone from Google.

Motorola’s 10-inch Android 3.0 Tablet Has Tegra 2 Processor

Motorola badly wants in on the Android tablet game and its first shot at the form factor has been confirmed to pack a dual-core processor from NIVIDA. This can be none other than the Tegra 2 chipset that will also power at least two of Motorola’s smart phones next year. A couple of screen shots of the 10” tablet have appeared online now—“Confidential Motorola Restricted Property: Not for Sale” is stamped on the back—and some unofficial specs have also been leaked.

Rumored specs of Motorola’s unnamed, 10-inch Android tablet:

• 10” touchscreen at 1280×800
• 1 GHz, dual-core NIVIDA Tegra 2 processor
• 32 GB of internal storage
• Micro USB port
• Mini HDMI port (the Tegra 2 chipset supports 1080p video playback)
• microSD card slot
• Android OS 3.0 ‘Gingerbread’
• Verizon will probably be the first carrier to offer the tablet
• Gyroscope support for games

This is quite a bit to go on. Acer is also going with the Tegra 2 processor in its announced but so far unnamed, large sized tablet because of the 1080p HD video playback abilities the chipset supports. While Motorola has not released a name for its coming tablet, the names ‘Trygon’, ‘Everest’ and ‘Stingray’ are all possibilities.

Interestingly, Motorola’s coming two Tegra 2 powered smart phones—the Motorola Olympus and Motorola Etna—are both named after mountains. My money is on Everest. Don’t hold me to that however, as product names change up to the last minute all the time and these could all just be internal codenames and not actual brand names.

Motorola has been doing very well with Android on Verizon’s network so the fact that Verizon Wireless is the first expected carrier is no surprise. How well Motorola’s tablet will fare now that Verizon is selling Apple iPads bundled with MiFi mobile hotspots for 3G network connectivity is another story. Especially since Verizon is expected to offer some version of Apple’s coming iPad 2 next year.

Regardless of which camp you stand in—iPad or Android tablet—you have to admit that manufacturers are really upping the bar with 1080p capable hardware and dual-core processors. The Tablet Wars are almost upon us. The Samsung Galaxy S Tab was just the first of the coming wave. Just like there are so many Android smart phones available, Android tablets will soon start flooding the market. More competition means better products for all of us.

HTML5 on Android Samsung Galaxy Tab "disappointing" vs Apple iPad

Web app developer Sencha has profiled Samsung's Android-based Galaxy Tab in comparison to Apple's iPad, concluding that while it is billed as "the first mass-market Android tablet; unfortunately, it’s a little bit of a disappointment."

Sencha develops JavaScript frameworks to enable developers to create apps--including rich multitouch mobile apps for iOS and Android devices--built from web standards. The company is therefore intently interested in how well new products support HTML5 and its related web standards, including advanced CSS3 transforms, SVG, Canvas animations, Web Sockets, embedded multimedia playback, and overall JavaScript performance.

In its developer scorecard of the Galaxy Tab, Sencha examined how well the new Android tablet performs compared to the iPad across a series of benchmarks including Acid3 (basic web standards), Modernizr (HTML5 feature support) SunSpider (JavaScript performance) and some real world testing.

Acid3 vs Android 2.2: where's the modern Webkit browser?

The Galaxy Tab runs a fairly stock version of Android OS 2.2, scoring 93/100 on Acid3, Sencha reports. This compares to a perfect 100/100 score on the iPad as well as RIM's BackBerry Torch, which Sencha also recently profiled.

Android lost points in Acid3 related to a Media Query test, but most of the points were deducted for failing SVG feature checks, as Android doesn't ship with support for the standard.

In its look at the BlackBerry Torch smartphone, Sencha reported that "Webkit based browsers have been shipping with a score of 100/100 for about a year now, so the result here would tell us how recently the BlackBerry team took their branch of Webkit. And the result is: 100/100. The Torch browser is running a modern Webkit browser."

Modernizr HTML5 features

The second test Sencha reviewed, Modernizr, is a JavaScript library written by Faruk Ates and Paul Irish which profiles compliance with a variety of HTML5 features.

While the Galaxy Tab supports a variety of modern HTML5 features, including localStorage, geolocation, CSS3 styles, Canvas, WebSQL, and drag & drop, it lacks support for features that work on the iPad, including CSS3 3D transforms, SVG, and Web Sockets.

Neither the Tab nor iPad support every component of HTML5, with both lacking support for Web Workers, WebGL, inline SVG and IndexedDB.

SunSpider JavaScript performance

In August, Sencha profiled SunSpider JavaScript scores across three generations of iPhone (3G, 3GS, and 4) running iOS 4.0, along with the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and two versions of Android: a Samsung phone running OS 2.1 and a Nexus One running 2.2 Froyo.

It discovered the Torch offered performance comparable to the iPhone 3GS or Android 2.1, while the Android 2.2 led in performance across the bar, being both good at text processing functions as well as math. In testing the Tab, Sencha reported identical performance, while an iPad running iOS 4.2 reported scores ranging from a few times slower to much slower (in the case of regular expression handling).

Sencha notes, however, that the benchmarks don't tell the whole story because they only test JavaScript performance as it runs on the CPU. "It doesn’t account for the fact that Apple offloads lots of tasks to the GPU for better performance, so a comparison isn’t entirely fair," the company wrote.

Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 Gingerbread update incoming

Credit for this leak goes to Samsung Mobile India, which Tweeted in response to Galaxy S-wielding punters that its Android-running smartphone will be getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread. However, it neglected to mention when the 4in AMOLED blower would recieve the tweaked OS.

Gingerbread launched just last week, with the Android 2.3 update going out to game developers at the same time as Google’s 2.3-running Nexus S was announced. The Nexus S could be a direct clone of the Galaxy S, so it wouldn’t surprise us if the Korean firm was readying over-the-air updates for its entire line-up.

But it’s not the only phone-maker looking to Gingerbread, both LG and Sony Ericsson have said they will offer upgrades in the future, while HTC has said its current range of Android blowers will be getting Android 2.3 soonish.

Do you own a Samsung Galaxy S? Are you excited about Gingerbread? Let us know in the comments below.

Android-powered Galaxy Tab a contender to Apple's iPad

The first thing that struck me about the Samsung Galaxy Tab is the size, which is smaller than I had envisioned.

But after a couple of weeks of use, the smaller size became a plus instead of a minus.

The Android-powered Galaxy Tab is now available from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

I've been using Verizon's version with the Android 2.2 operating system and I've found myself grabbing it quite often to surf the Internet, check social networks and run various Android apps.
Easier, lighter to tote

The Galaxy Tab is going after Apple's iPad in a big way, and that's a big challenge.

I've had limited hands-on experience with iPad and found the Galaxy Tab to be a contender. The display is just as nice as the iPad, even though it's only seven inches, compared with 9.7 inches for the iPad.

They both share one gigahertz processors, but the Galaxy Tab is lighter at just under a pound, compared with 1.5 pounds for the iPad. I found the Galaxy Tab easier to tote around.Guys can even tuck it in an inside coat pockets or, believe it or not, stuff it into their back pockets. I imagine it also would slip easily into a woman's purse. I think the Galaxy Tab wins in the mobility arena.

I can hold the Galaxy Tab in one hand and and use the touchscreen with the other hand and probably could do the same with iPad, but it'll get a little tiring after a while. Since the iPad offers no camera, Samsung saw an opportunity to offer two cameras on the Galaxy Tab. The front camera for video chats is 1.3 megapixels and the rear camera with a flash for capturing images up to 3 megapixels.

With the onslaught of tablets coming, I'll bet the next version of the iPad will include cameras.
Easy to navigate

The Galaxy Tab is easy to navigate and the LCD display with six customizable screens provides a nice backdrop for web browsing and using apps.

The web browser is fast and moves easily among websites. I really like the feature where turning the Galaxy Tab to landscape mode will zoom in on an article that appeared small in portrait mode.

Android 2.3's 'Gingerbread' OS: What's inside

We've been talking about Android 2.3--code-name Gingerbread--for so long, this morning's Google's co-announcement with Samsung of the Gingerbread-powered Nexus S was frankly anticlimactic.

Nevertheless, version 2.3 of the operating system that's taking the mobile world by storm is a significant next step in Android's evolution.

While there are plenty of user interface changes (we'll get to those), some of the more esoteric back-end changes are also the most impactful to the Gingerbread recipe, especially those that will boost mobile gaming and make two-way video chatting open to all.

Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G getting Android 2.2 Froyo now

Newsbrief by Michael Oryl on Sunday December 05, 2010.

It appears that the official Android 2.2 Froyo update for Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G is starting to roll out - though Sprint has not yet officially acknowledged that. Users supposedly can expect to receive the update directly pushed to their handset by the end of the month, but BriefMobile.com also has posted some instructions for manually obtaining and applying the update. The process is not intended for novices, though, so be warned. When asked for an official comment on the supposed update, a Sprint rep told us "We have not shared specific timing in the release of Android 2.2 for Samsung Epic 4G. We will share specific details when they are available."

Samsung Becomes No. 1 Supplier of Google Android Phones in U.S.

For years Nokia has been the largest maker of mobile phones on the planet. The company is still the largest supplier of both traditional and smart handsets, but the emergence of new mobile platforms, such as Google Android, are inevitably changing the market realities. According to Gartner, Samsung is now the main supplier of Android-based smartphones.

Gartner reported Samsung as the top Android smartphone provider in terms of sell through to end users in the United States for the third quarter of 2010. According to Gartner, Samsung captured 32.1% of the U.S. Android smartphone market in Q3 2010 based on retail sales, an increase from 9.2% of the Android smartphone market in Q4 2009.

Samsung Mobile attributes much of the success to its Galaxy S portfolio of premium smartphones, which recently passed the three million shipment milestone in the U.S.

The Samsung Galaxy S portfolio sports 4" Super AMOLED display screen, 1GHz Hummingbird application processor, Google Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system in the near future as well as a number of other premium software features.

According to ComScore, a market tracking company, 60.7 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in October, up 14% from the preceding three month period, representing 1 out of every 4 mobile subscribers. RIM was the leading mobile smartphone platform in the U.S. with 35.8% share of U.S. smartphone subscribers, followed by Apple with 24.6% share (up 0.8% points). Google Android saw another month of strong growth, rising 6.5% points to capture 23.5% of smartphone subscribers. Microsoft accounted for 9.7% of smartphone subscribers, while Palm rounded out the top five with 3.9%. Despite losing share to Android, most smartphone platforms continue to gain subscribers as the smartphone market overall continues to grow.

Android 2.3 Spotted In Hong Kong

We’re sure that people around the world are getting fed up of Google’s constant teasing of the Android 2.3 update supposedly called (but not confirmed) Gingerbread. Well it’s at it again with the release/leak of an official Google Hong Kong video showing off voice search on the updated OS.
The video is in Cantonese and we can’t really follow what is going on other than it is showing off a new Google Voice Search application. The phone in use is apparently a Nexus One and we get a few brief glimpses of what the update may bring us in terms of visuals. Other than this we have only glimpsed Gingerbread for the briefest of seconds a few weeks back when Google head honcho Eric Schmidt showed off a Google Nexus S running Android 2.3.

Schmidt did tell us at the Web Summit 2.0 that Gingerbread would be with us in a couple of weeks time though we’ve heard nothing since. The video mostly shows off cosmetic changes, which look smart enough including a third tab in Market now, which is for related applications.

Here’s the video for you to make up your own mind but we will be hoping that when the update is released after all this build up we will get more than what is on show here.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread UI

Android 2.3 Device Pictured In Official Google Video

Here's a little Android 2.3 Gingerbread sighting that went undetected for a little while. Google Hong Kong originally posted a video showcasing its Google Voice Search capabilities on Android and iOS. Voice Search isn't anything new to us, but the Android device used in the video seems to be a Nexus One powered by the upcoming Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The video shows some of the user interface and status bar changes that should be included in the next version of Android and hopefully this means that development for the update is going along just nicely. The bad news is that the video has since been yanked offline.

Flash Player 10.1.105.7 now available in the Android Market (just bugfixes)

If you've got Flash installed on your device you'll want to make sure you grab the latest update Adobe has just rolled out. v10.1.105.7 is now showing as available in the Android Market. We'd love to tell you from the changelog what, exactly, is new but since Adobe neglected to include one we were forced to ask them ourselves. Upon doing so we can now confirm that it's just a bug-fix release.

That all said, we'll use this space to make a plea to Android developers out there. If you update your app in the Market place and it's just bug fixes, let us know it's just bug fixes. Leaving your change log unchanged when changes have clearly been made is kind of frustrating. Even if it's just big fixes we'd like to know. It really is better to just say "bug fixes" than nothing at all. Rant over, hit the break for the latest Flash download.

Google launches its own Google Reader app for Android

The lack of an official Google app solution for access to its superb RSS Reader on Android has been a puzzle for some time. But it’s been rectified today, with the launch of Google Reader – an Android app that supports full integration with your Google Reader account and feeds.

Here’s Google’s description [UPDATE: Long version now on Google's Mobile blog].

Android 2.3 - Gingerbread - Music

Android 2.3 Gingerbread UI shown off on video

e all know that Android 2.3 Gingerbread will bring some user interface improvements and Google has released a video which shows us what this will entail.

The video below is from the Hong Kong branch and it is showing off Google Voice Search. It’s not a massive overhaul – we weren’t expecting this from a .X update – but it looks like Google will be adding a few nice tweaks.

First of all, the Android 2.3 Gingerbread should bring some new icons to the status bar. It’s nothing crazy but the battery, signal and WiFi indicators look a little more stylish. There’s also some re-done buttons in the settings menu.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the UI tweaks in the upcoming Android Gingerbread update, as the lock screen will also be getting a new animation. The Google Maps update also shows a few visual changes that should permeate the whole operating system soon.

Of course, perhaps the most important feature of Android 2.3 Gingerbread will be its support for NFC technologies. This should make it possible for the little, green robot to become a mobile wallet and the Samsung Nexus S should be the first smartphone which will be able to take advantage of this.

We’re still waiting on when Android 2.3 Gingerbread will hit the streets, as it seems like we’ve been waiting a long, long time. There are reports that it will hit Dec. 6 but earlier reports have been off too. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said it should be coming out in the next couple weeks, so let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.

We also don’t know which phones will get the update, but you can be sure that the Nexus S will get it. If history is anything to go by, the Nexus One will also be one of the first devices to get the update.

Android 2.3 - Gingerbread - Web API's

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Wikileaks' Assange in UK, police know where: report

(Reuters) - Wikileaks website founder Julian Assange is in Britain and police know his whereabouts but have refrained so far from acting on an international warrant for his arrest, a British newspaper said on Thursday.

The 39-year-old Australian, who founded the whistle-blowing website that has disclosed a trove of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, supplied British police with contact details upon his arrival in October, The Independent said.

The newspaper cited police sources who said they knew where Assange was staying and had his telephone number. It added that it was believed he was in southeast England.

The international police agency Interpol this week issued a "red notice" to assist in the arrest of Assange, who is wanted in Sweden on suspicion of sexual crimes, but Britain's Serious Organized Crime Agency (Soca) so far has refused to authorize this, the paper said.

Citing unnamed sources, the Independent said Soca needed clarifications about the European Arrest Warrant issued by Swedish prosecutors but it described the delay as technical.

The Metropolitan Police and Soca declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Assange, a former computer hacker, leads a nomadic existence and cultivates an aura of mystery. He left Sweden last month after authorities there said they wanted to question him about allegations of rape and other sexual offenses.

U.S. authorities, bruised by the international damage caused by thousands of classified U.S. documents being leaked to the media, have promised to take action to shut down such activities.

On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department had "an active, ongoing criminal investigation with regard to this matter" and insisted the Obama administration's promises of action were "not saber rattling."

(Reporting by Michel Rose; editing by Michael Roddy)

Android, IPhone Are Most Wanted Smartphones

Apple's iPhone and devices that run on Google's Android operating system have emerged as the most desired smartphones, according to research firm Nielsen.

The company found that women picked the iPhone as their most-desired handset, while men and smartphone buyers aged 35-to-54 preferred Android phones.

The survey also indicated that 35 percent of current smartphone owners plan to get an iPhone, while 28 percent of both consumers want to upgrade to an Android-based device on their next purchase.

Thirteen percent plan to get a Research in Motion's BlackBerry phone, and only 6 percent anticipate getting a Microsoft Windows Phone 7 device.

Twenty-five percent of feature phone users were "not sure" what operating system they were going to buy next, compared with 13 percent of smartphone owners. Twenty-eight percent of consumers aged over 55 were unclear on their future choice of OS, but only 12 percent of the 18-to-24 age bracket was unsure which operating system they plan to get next.

The results indicate a growing dominance of Android and iPhone in the smartphone market, with both platforms gaining market share in the U.S. from other competitors.

Nielsen discovered Apple took a 28 percent share of the smartphone market, displacing former number one BlackBerry with 27 percent, while Android took 23 percent.

Android is clearly growing its presence in the smartphone market as more and more devices running the platform become available, but the consumer demand for Apple is still strong.

Apple, currently carried exclusively by AT&T, plans to start selling the iPhone at Verizon next year, which will open up the largest carrier in the U.S.

But the survey's results are far from permanent, with the overall smartphone market itself growing. Three out of ten mobile phone owners now own a smartphone, according to Nielsen, an increase from 25 percent in the second quarter and 28 percent in the third quarter.

And with seven out of ten mobile phone owners still open as prospective smartphone customers, the smartphone market is still wide open.

Spread Christmas cheer with Angry Birds

Everyone's favorite finch-flinging frolic is going festive for both iOS and Android devices (just try saying that five times fast after downing a glass of egg nog).

Rovio Mobile's next big update for Angry Birds, which celebrates Christmas, has been hinted at, detailed, and screenshotted, and now the company has made it official, though we don't have an exact release date yet.

Angry Birds Christmas will be free if you purchased the 99-cent Angry Birds Halloween edition for iOS devices. Rovio had initially tweeted that the Christmas title would only be coming to the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad, but today posted a message that it's flying onto Android too.

Now we're just waiting to hear if Angry Birds fans with MeeGo, WebOS, and Symbian devices will see their Yuletide cheer turn into jeer this holiday.

Angry Birds has steadily been growing into a phenomenon (being No. 1 in most mobile app stores for a while can do that for you), and Rovio is riding the wave with an official Angry Birds Day scheduled for December 11. Nearly a thousand people in 65 countries have already signed up for the meetups, which Rovio is flavoring as a celebration of popping 3 trillion piggies, and the chance to meet, play, and compare scores with Angry Birds fans.

I'm pretty decent at Angry Birds, and have had many three-star rounds, if I may brag for a moment. Comparing scores against others might be intimidating, though. I fear the grand master of Angry Birds in my area would probably show up and school everyone.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20024198-1.html#ixzz16on5zjjk

Android Gingerbread Getting New Icons, Camera Interface?

Samsung is working on a revamped TouchWIZ with new icons, camera interface and virtual keyboard. Will Android Gingerbread get similar improvements?

Android and Me reports that the firmware of what is believed to be an upcoming Samsung Android smartphone has been leaked. Interestingly, the leak that stems from an XDA member reveals that Samsung is working on a revamped version of TouchWIZ, featuring new icons, camera interface and virtual keyboard.

Additionally, while the Android team seems to be testing the camera experience of the Nexus S (GT-9020T) in Google territory, Samsung is currently testing the camera experience of two Galaxy S2 models (GT-9100 and GT-9200) on a different continent. The above-mentioned leak also stems from the GT-9200.

Given Samsung is working on TouchWIZ improvements as far as icons, camera interface and virtual keyboard is concerned, we guess there's a chance Google's Android team is making changes to these aspects on the stock interface of Android Gingerbread too.

This would add to a range of other upgrades Android Gingerbread is expected to deliver in the coming weeks. Interestingly, Engadget today reported that the GT-9020T that was recently tested with GPS in Google territory recently appeared in FCC's database.

It's still unclear when Google will officially announce Android Gingerbread, and whether the Nexus S for T-Mobile will immediately be available for purchase at that time. Right now, it basically remains to be seen whether the Nexus S will be powered by a Hummingbird or Orion chipset (most likely the former, if providing American developers with a relatively cheap developer phone is the aim).