Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet will come out of the box with the latest version of Android Honeycomb 3.1.
A Wi-Fi-only edition of Galaxy Tab 10.1 is due to hit the consumer market on June 8. The 16GB version is expected to cost $499, while the 32GB version will run $599.
As the first upgrade to Honeycomb, Android 3.1 offers several fixes and well as improvements to the browser, Gmail, and other features. Nvidia's outspoken CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, who has criticized earlier versions of Android--even pointing to certain shortcomings in Honeycomb 3.0--has been pleased with version 3.1. He called it "delightful." The 3.1 update has already started rolling out for Motorola's Xoom tablet.
Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20066443-251.html#ixzz1NdrxsLkI
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Android Application Weekly 27 May 2011
In this episode of the Android Application Weekly we demonstrate some apps that will help you find that next geocache site, make free phone calls over a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, and keep applications and folders on your Android secure. To download these directly to your Android smartphone or tablet just take a picture of the QR-Code using Google Goggles or any other QR-Code scanner to be taken directly to the Android Market.
Read more: http://pocketnow.com/android/android-application-weekly-27-may-2011
Read more: http://pocketnow.com/android/android-application-weekly-27-may-2011
Google Launches Wallet NFC Payment System for Android
Google announced Thursday Google Wallet, a near field communications (NFC) payment system that will turn an Android device into a mobile payment system. Wallet is being introduced in San Francisco and New York City as test markets, and it was developed with Citibank, Mastercard, Sprint and First Data.
Wallet will allow users to pay for their transactions using their Android device through the Google Wallet app. Such payment solutions have been a hot topic for the last couple of years as NFC implementations have begun rolling out outside the U.S., especially in Asia. Handset makers, banks, and telecoms see the use of NFC solutions as money making operations, and both Apple and Google have been rumored to be developing NFC payment systems for their smartphone platforms.
Google’s announcement Thursday means that the Android maker is first to market, though with a limited test run, it’s far from a fully implemented system. In addition, NFC payment solutions not only require secure software, they also require both smartphone hardware and merchant hardware to be able to conduct the transactions.
To that end, Wallet is being rolled out as a hook into Mastercard’s existing PayPass network. Mastercard claims 124,000 PayPass-enabled merchants nationally and more than 311,000 globally, though it’s not yet clear how many of those merchants have the NFC gear needed to make use of Wallet.
In addition, the only Android device capable of making use of Google Wallet is the Nexus S 4G, an Android device for Sprint’s network. T-Mobile also has a Nexus S, but that version of the device was not included in today’s announcement, which focused on Sprint.
Google Wallet is not, however, intended to be limited to Citibank and Sprint. In its announcement, the company said, “Google Wallet will work best if it’s an open commerce ecosystem so you will be able to carry all the credit cards, offers, loyalty and gift cards you choose—and eventually much more. To this end, Google Wallet will make it possible to integrate numerous types of partners, and Google, Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint invite the banking community, mobile carriers, handset manufacturers, merchants and others to work with Google Wallet.”
Wallet will allow users to pay for their transactions using their Android device through the Google Wallet app. Such payment solutions have been a hot topic for the last couple of years as NFC implementations have begun rolling out outside the U.S., especially in Asia. Handset makers, banks, and telecoms see the use of NFC solutions as money making operations, and both Apple and Google have been rumored to be developing NFC payment systems for their smartphone platforms.
Google’s announcement Thursday means that the Android maker is first to market, though with a limited test run, it’s far from a fully implemented system. In addition, NFC payment solutions not only require secure software, they also require both smartphone hardware and merchant hardware to be able to conduct the transactions.
To that end, Wallet is being rolled out as a hook into Mastercard’s existing PayPass network. Mastercard claims 124,000 PayPass-enabled merchants nationally and more than 311,000 globally, though it’s not yet clear how many of those merchants have the NFC gear needed to make use of Wallet.
In addition, the only Android device capable of making use of Google Wallet is the Nexus S 4G, an Android device for Sprint’s network. T-Mobile also has a Nexus S, but that version of the device was not included in today’s announcement, which focused on Sprint.
Google Wallet is not, however, intended to be limited to Citibank and Sprint. In its announcement, the company said, “Google Wallet will work best if it’s an open commerce ecosystem so you will be able to carry all the credit cards, offers, loyalty and gift cards you choose—and eventually much more. To this end, Google Wallet will make it possible to integrate numerous types of partners, and Google, Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint invite the banking community, mobile carriers, handset manufacturers, merchants and others to work with Google Wallet.”
Amazon Cuts Android Phone Prices for Memorial Day
Amazon is offering big Memorial Day discounts on 4G smartphones such as the pricey Samsung Droid Charge, Motorola Atrix 4G and other handsets.
When shoppers go to Amazon Wireless, the e-commerce giant's mobile gadget subsidiary, they will find roughly 18 4G Android handsets and the HP Veer 4G WebOS phone on sale through 11:59 PDT May 30.
Verizon Wireless normally sells the Droid Charge subsidized for $299.99 with a contract. Amazon Wireless is now offering this fun phone for $179.99. The kicker is that buyers must take a two-year contract with Verizon for the extra subsidy.
The Atrix 4G, which AT&T has been selling for $199.99 since February, now costs $99 through Amazon Wireless. Consumers may also buy AT&T's Samsung Infuse 4G Android phone, which normally retails for $199.99, for $129.99. Ditto for Verizon's HTC ThunderBolt.
Sprint and T-Mobile aren't being shut out of the Android sell-off either. T-Mobile's G2x 4G, which retails for $199.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate, can now be bought for $99.99.
Sprint's Samsung Nexus S 4G, normally a $199.99 gadget with contract, now runs an incredibly low $49.99. Considering that this is the only smartphone that will work with Google's Wallet service when it launches in New York and San Francisco this summer, that could prove quite a bargain for those who want to test the NFC-based mobile payment waters.
Amazon Wireless is also offering an Amazon Student exclusive in the form of a $10 Appstore credit with the purchase of the Sony Xperia Play, now through June 4.
Finally, anyone who buys a Windows Phone 7 handset from May 30 on will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This discount comes as Microsoft is struggling to sell smartphones based on its new mobile operating system.
Gartner said that of the 3.6 million phones running a Microsoft mobile OS sold worldwide in Q1, only 1.6 million were based on Windows Phone 7.
Gartner added that these devices failed to catch on as consumers bought Android phones or Apple's iPhone for the holiday season. Android grabbed 36 percent market share for the quarter, while Apple's iOS came in third with 16.8 percent of the market.
When shoppers go to Amazon Wireless, the e-commerce giant's mobile gadget subsidiary, they will find roughly 18 4G Android handsets and the HP Veer 4G WebOS phone on sale through 11:59 PDT May 30.
Verizon Wireless normally sells the Droid Charge subsidized for $299.99 with a contract. Amazon Wireless is now offering this fun phone for $179.99. The kicker is that buyers must take a two-year contract with Verizon for the extra subsidy.
The Atrix 4G, which AT&T has been selling for $199.99 since February, now costs $99 through Amazon Wireless. Consumers may also buy AT&T's Samsung Infuse 4G Android phone, which normally retails for $199.99, for $129.99. Ditto for Verizon's HTC ThunderBolt.
Sprint and T-Mobile aren't being shut out of the Android sell-off either. T-Mobile's G2x 4G, which retails for $199.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate, can now be bought for $99.99.
Sprint's Samsung Nexus S 4G, normally a $199.99 gadget with contract, now runs an incredibly low $49.99. Considering that this is the only smartphone that will work with Google's Wallet service when it launches in New York and San Francisco this summer, that could prove quite a bargain for those who want to test the NFC-based mobile payment waters.
Amazon Wireless is also offering an Amazon Student exclusive in the form of a $10 Appstore credit with the purchase of the Sony Xperia Play, now through June 4.
Finally, anyone who buys a Windows Phone 7 handset from May 30 on will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This discount comes as Microsoft is struggling to sell smartphones based on its new mobile operating system.
Gartner said that of the 3.6 million phones running a Microsoft mobile OS sold worldwide in Q1, only 1.6 million were based on Windows Phone 7.
Gartner added that these devices failed to catch on as consumers bought Android phones or Apple's iPhone for the holiday season. Android grabbed 36 percent market share for the quarter, while Apple's iOS came in third with 16.8 percent of the market.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Now On Sale at Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble
Remember how music downloading caused the disappearance of actual record stores? Well, the memory of that combined with actual increased levels of online e-book downloads has caused Barnes & Noble, the largest bookstore chain in the United States with more than 700 stores, to consider putting itself up for sale.
The precise quote from the board was that they were “considering strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the company.” In light of its declining shares and the inability of the Nook to counter the digital book download phenomenon, “sale of the company” is likely the operative phrase.
To be fair, when it comes to e-readers, Barnes & Noble doesn’t do too badly, generating about 27% of e-book sales, second to Amazon which accounts for 58% of the category sales. According to this year’s Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, those brands rank as follows:
1. Kindle
2. Nook
3. Sony
4. Kobo
5. iPad
Investors are challenging Leonard Riggio, B&N Founder and director. Billionaire, Ronald Burkle has increased his ownership stake and last week Liberty Media offered $17 a share – or just over a $1 billion – for the company. As the stock has risen in recent days, a shareholder fight looms.
The particular story may have a surprise ending, but the plot twist in the category of bricks and mortar bookstores has already been written—and it’s a non-fiction story when it comes to the increasing dominance of e-readers. Either way, Barnes and Noble has found itself in the self-help section, trying to avoid the clearance bin.
The precise quote from the board was that they were “considering strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the company.” In light of its declining shares and the inability of the Nook to counter the digital book download phenomenon, “sale of the company” is likely the operative phrase.
To be fair, when it comes to e-readers, Barnes & Noble doesn’t do too badly, generating about 27% of e-book sales, second to Amazon which accounts for 58% of the category sales. According to this year’s Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, those brands rank as follows:
1. Kindle
2. Nook
3. Sony
4. Kobo
5. iPad
Investors are challenging Leonard Riggio, B&N Founder and director. Billionaire, Ronald Burkle has increased his ownership stake and last week Liberty Media offered $17 a share – or just over a $1 billion – for the company. As the stock has risen in recent days, a shareholder fight looms.
The particular story may have a surprise ending, but the plot twist in the category of bricks and mortar bookstores has already been written—and it’s a non-fiction story when it comes to the increasing dominance of e-readers. Either way, Barnes and Noble has found itself in the self-help section, trying to avoid the clearance bin.
The Amazon Tablet: Everything you need to know
2011 will forever be known as the year that tablet devices became a mainstream phenomenon. So far, we’ve seen around 50 separate releases worldwide since MWC 2011 and CES 2011 and there’s still plenty more to come. But possibly one of the biggest of all these soon-to-be-announced tablets is Amazon’s Android-powered device – or devices.
Why? Simple: Amazon is a serious force to be reckoned with and could go on to cause a lot of problems for Google, Apple et al. For instance, not only does Amazon have some serious sway in the online shopping market, but it also has a whole host of services, such as Cloud Player, Amazon Apps and Kindle, that’ll match both Google’s and Apple’s retail and commercial offerings blow-for-blow.
In this respect, Amazon has a big advantage over pretty much every other Android tablet manufacturer out there, including Samsung, LG and Motorola. And all of this is before we even begin to look at the rumoured spec that Amazon’s tablet is reported to be packing. In short, Amazon could very well be the company that finally takes a bite out of Apple’s tablet market share.
Build
At present, very little is known about the Amazon tablet devices. Of course, there are rumours a plenty, but nothing currently concrete regarding build quality, materials or general design. Both LG and Samsung have been named as potential manufacturers – we’re hoping for Samsung – and there’s said to be two tablets on the way: a 7-inch one and a 10-inch one.
If we had to hazard a guess, we’d say that the devices will be thin, utilise Gorilla Glass displays, support microSD and, potentially, HDMI for mirroring and sharing videos to compatible devices. There’ll no doubt two cameras – front and back –, microSD support and some form of USB connectivity, most likely MicroUSB for charging and syncing.
Operating System
All of Amazon’s up-and-coming tablet devices will be powered by Google’s Android operating system. The only thing we’re not sure of is which iteration they’ll feature. At present, there’s no word on release dates, so it’s difficult to pinpoint which version of Android they’ll use.
That said, some reports have suggested a Q4 release, just in time for Christmas, and if this is the case the devices will no doubt be powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich. If not, it’ll most likely be Android 3.1 – although, this will obviously be dependant on when Google rolls out the new platform.
Amazon already has an Android Apps Store in place, so users buying the Amazon tablet devices will be able to bypass the Android Market and, we’d assume, use one click buying on Amazon’s version via their Amazon accounts. This could be a serious blow to Google’s Android Market – and is no doubt something Google is already very aware of.
Services
In terms of services, Amazon has pretty much all the bases covered with its Kindle app, Cloud Player service and its newly launched Android Apps Market.
No other tablet manufacturer, bar Apple, of course, has this level of services at their disposal. In this sense, we expect Amazon to be a serious threat to Apple’s current domination of the tablet market place.
Amazon has the services, hardware and operating system to really make Apple’s life difficult. It’ll also introduce one-click app purchasing as well, which could very well deliver a deathblow to Google’s Android Market – especially if Amazon sweeten the deal for developers a little.
‘On the face of it,’ says Robert Bamforth, Quocirca Analyst, ‘Amazon could be more of a threat than other tablet companies as it can offer the complete proposition. Ultimately, this isn't about tablets - who has the biggest screen, best OS, fastest graphics, USB ports or even Flash support – it's about end-to-end user experience.’
Either way, it’s going to be a very interesting period. Change, could very well, be on the way.
Why? Simple: Amazon is a serious force to be reckoned with and could go on to cause a lot of problems for Google, Apple et al. For instance, not only does Amazon have some serious sway in the online shopping market, but it also has a whole host of services, such as Cloud Player, Amazon Apps and Kindle, that’ll match both Google’s and Apple’s retail and commercial offerings blow-for-blow.
In this respect, Amazon has a big advantage over pretty much every other Android tablet manufacturer out there, including Samsung, LG and Motorola. And all of this is before we even begin to look at the rumoured spec that Amazon’s tablet is reported to be packing. In short, Amazon could very well be the company that finally takes a bite out of Apple’s tablet market share.
Build
At present, very little is known about the Amazon tablet devices. Of course, there are rumours a plenty, but nothing currently concrete regarding build quality, materials or general design. Both LG and Samsung have been named as potential manufacturers – we’re hoping for Samsung – and there’s said to be two tablets on the way: a 7-inch one and a 10-inch one.
If we had to hazard a guess, we’d say that the devices will be thin, utilise Gorilla Glass displays, support microSD and, potentially, HDMI for mirroring and sharing videos to compatible devices. There’ll no doubt two cameras – front and back –, microSD support and some form of USB connectivity, most likely MicroUSB for charging and syncing.
Operating System
All of Amazon’s up-and-coming tablet devices will be powered by Google’s Android operating system. The only thing we’re not sure of is which iteration they’ll feature. At present, there’s no word on release dates, so it’s difficult to pinpoint which version of Android they’ll use.
That said, some reports have suggested a Q4 release, just in time for Christmas, and if this is the case the devices will no doubt be powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich. If not, it’ll most likely be Android 3.1 – although, this will obviously be dependant on when Google rolls out the new platform.
Amazon already has an Android Apps Store in place, so users buying the Amazon tablet devices will be able to bypass the Android Market and, we’d assume, use one click buying on Amazon’s version via their Amazon accounts. This could be a serious blow to Google’s Android Market – and is no doubt something Google is already very aware of.
Services
In terms of services, Amazon has pretty much all the bases covered with its Kindle app, Cloud Player service and its newly launched Android Apps Market.
No other tablet manufacturer, bar Apple, of course, has this level of services at their disposal. In this sense, we expect Amazon to be a serious threat to Apple’s current domination of the tablet market place.
Amazon has the services, hardware and operating system to really make Apple’s life difficult. It’ll also introduce one-click app purchasing as well, which could very well deliver a deathblow to Google’s Android Market – especially if Amazon sweeten the deal for developers a little.
‘On the face of it,’ says Robert Bamforth, Quocirca Analyst, ‘Amazon could be more of a threat than other tablet companies as it can offer the complete proposition. Ultimately, this isn't about tablets - who has the biggest screen, best OS, fastest graphics, USB ports or even Flash support – it's about end-to-end user experience.’
Either way, it’s going to be a very interesting period. Change, could very well, be on the way.
Amazon Tablets Sport Android, Tegra Quad-Core Chips: Bajarin
Amazon.com is aiming to release at least one tablet computer based on Google's Android operating system in time for the holiday 2011 season, said an industry analyst May 23.
Creative Strategies analyst Tim Bajarin, who spoke to sources in Tapiei where many computers are manufactured, said in a PC Magazine piece that the bookseller-turned-mobile-device maker plans on releasing a 10-inch tablet, and possibly a 7-inch tablet later this year.
The tablets, which will challenge Apple's iPad, the Android-based Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab slates, Research in Motion's Blackberry PlayBook, as well as the HP TouchPad, will feature LCD screens, support Adobe Flash and run Nvidia's Tegra quad-core chip.
Bajarin's report is the latest in a pile of evidence that has been steadily mounting since Amazon launched its Amazon Appstore for Android in March.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stoked the fire 10 days ago when he told Consumer Reports to "stay tuned" on the topic of an Amazon tablet. One week before that, Taipei-based DigiTimes said Quanta has received tablet orders from Amazon.
One month ago, Engadget and gdgt Co-founder Peter Rojas said he's almost certain Amazon is having Samsung build a tablet that could run a custom version of Android rather than the Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" tablet OS. Rojas said such a device could launch as soon as this summer.
Now Bajarin said a tablet device will use a display similar to the one in the Nook and the Galaxy Tab, though Amazon originally wanted a screen that could switch between the black and white E Ink-like display consumers are accustomed to using on Amazon's Kindle and a color LCD.
However, such a screen will not be ready for the market until at least 2012 or early 2013, the analyst said. In the meantime, he expects the 7-inch tablet to be priced at $349, with a 10-inch model offered for $449. Such aggressive prices undercut the $499 pricing for the 7-inch Galaxy Tab on Verizon Wireless and undercut the entry-level iPad by $50.
Bajarin is intrigued that Amazon is entering such a competitive tablet market, with tens of devices following the hype cycle Apple started with its iPad in April 2010. The iPad and iPad 2 combined to sell over 20 million units to date.
By contrast, the much younger Xoom and Blackberry PlayBook may have sold 500,000 units combined over the last two months.
While many experts like to gauge new tablet offerings as possible iPad slayers, Bajarin believes Amazon is trying to whip the Xoom, the Galaxy Tab family (Tab 7, Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9) and other Android tablets suffering from a more fragmented user experience.
Consider that tablets are media consumption systems. It behooves tablet makers to provide a simple ramp to media services, similar to the way Apple has done with its iPad. With its Android application store, Web-based music and movies, and books, Amazon can provide an efficient ramp to its own media services.
"I believe Amazon looked at the Android market and saw that it was becoming fragmented and that it would be quite difficult for any of these players to create their own fully integrated app store, media cloud and storage solution. As I stated earlier, any Android competitor can only do this in a piece meal fashion, not in a highly integrated manner,” Bajarin said.
"This is why I believe Amazon is quite confident about entering the crowded tablet market. It knows that combining its own app store with its content and storage would allow it to compete extremely well with Motorola, Samsung, RIM and all of the other tablet vendors, since its offering would be pretty close to what Apple has," he said.
If Amazon can do this effectively, it may easily become the iPad's toughest competitor to date.
Creative Strategies analyst Tim Bajarin, who spoke to sources in Tapiei where many computers are manufactured, said in a PC Magazine piece that the bookseller-turned-mobile-device maker plans on releasing a 10-inch tablet, and possibly a 7-inch tablet later this year.
The tablets, which will challenge Apple's iPad, the Android-based Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab slates, Research in Motion's Blackberry PlayBook, as well as the HP TouchPad, will feature LCD screens, support Adobe Flash and run Nvidia's Tegra quad-core chip.
Bajarin's report is the latest in a pile of evidence that has been steadily mounting since Amazon launched its Amazon Appstore for Android in March.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stoked the fire 10 days ago when he told Consumer Reports to "stay tuned" on the topic of an Amazon tablet. One week before that, Taipei-based DigiTimes said Quanta has received tablet orders from Amazon.
One month ago, Engadget and gdgt Co-founder Peter Rojas said he's almost certain Amazon is having Samsung build a tablet that could run a custom version of Android rather than the Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" tablet OS. Rojas said such a device could launch as soon as this summer.
Now Bajarin said a tablet device will use a display similar to the one in the Nook and the Galaxy Tab, though Amazon originally wanted a screen that could switch between the black and white E Ink-like display consumers are accustomed to using on Amazon's Kindle and a color LCD.
However, such a screen will not be ready for the market until at least 2012 or early 2013, the analyst said. In the meantime, he expects the 7-inch tablet to be priced at $349, with a 10-inch model offered for $449. Such aggressive prices undercut the $499 pricing for the 7-inch Galaxy Tab on Verizon Wireless and undercut the entry-level iPad by $50.
Bajarin is intrigued that Amazon is entering such a competitive tablet market, with tens of devices following the hype cycle Apple started with its iPad in April 2010. The iPad and iPad 2 combined to sell over 20 million units to date.
By contrast, the much younger Xoom and Blackberry PlayBook may have sold 500,000 units combined over the last two months.
While many experts like to gauge new tablet offerings as possible iPad slayers, Bajarin believes Amazon is trying to whip the Xoom, the Galaxy Tab family (Tab 7, Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9) and other Android tablets suffering from a more fragmented user experience.
Consider that tablets are media consumption systems. It behooves tablet makers to provide a simple ramp to media services, similar to the way Apple has done with its iPad. With its Android application store, Web-based music and movies, and books, Amazon can provide an efficient ramp to its own media services.
"I believe Amazon looked at the Android market and saw that it was becoming fragmented and that it would be quite difficult for any of these players to create their own fully integrated app store, media cloud and storage solution. As I stated earlier, any Android competitor can only do this in a piece meal fashion, not in a highly integrated manner,” Bajarin said.
"This is why I believe Amazon is quite confident about entering the crowded tablet market. It knows that combining its own app store with its content and storage would allow it to compete extremely well with Motorola, Samsung, RIM and all of the other tablet vendors, since its offering would be pretty close to what Apple has," he said.
If Amazon can do this effectively, it may easily become the iPad's toughest competitor to date.
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