#Droid X unveiled; #Froyo open-sourced

Droid X is the "Droid that you've been looking for." This thing is H-O-T!

THE LATEST

Froyo is now open-sourced!

Droid X site launching on Verizon.

THE BOX + SHELL
65% recycled materials.
PVC-free, bromine-free, mercury-free, arsenic-free.
No physical keyboard.

UNDER THE HOOD
1GHz ARMv7 CPU.
40GB Memory (maximum) (8 GB phone + 16 GB sdcard, stock)
Latest Motoblur.

THE OS
Android 2.1 stock w/ Froyo coming soon.
Flash 10.1 after Froyo update.

AUDIO VISUAL
4.3-inch handset.
16:9 display.

WVGA 854x480 resolution.
720p video capture.
8mp camera.
HDMI out/playback.
Three microphones.

THE EXTRAS

Multi-touch... keyboard?

Blockbuster app + deal with Verizon?

Redzone w/ streaming video & clips.

Swype pre-installed!

GET ONE
U.S. Verizon customers ONLY!

Launching/Shipping July 15 and will cost $200 WNC
$29.99 for smartphone service + $20 for mobile hotspot w/ 2GB limit. Tether up to 5 devices!

Available from Best Buy (and more) as well as Verizon stores.

Current customers w/ 2010 renewable contract can immediately upgrade for $200.

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from kquade's blog

iPhone iOS4 Does, Now. (Continued story) #imjustsaying

You may remember my earlier article, iphone does but androids been doing. This is part two.

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Apple has just released the iOS 4 update for iPhone and iPod touch owners. The iPhone 4 might not be in stores until Thursday, but existing owners can take advantage of the new software features coming to the new device starting now. [read the full article at Mashable]

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It's nice to see that Apple has gotten on the boat with these things. For example, folders. M-Dos had those back in 1978. My old RIM phone had those too on the SD card. My Android has them of course. Shoot, even the Mac OSX here at work has them! Good "jobs" Apple. Way to come into the '80 feature-margin with this update.

Said examples also had multitasking too. I'm just saying.

Posted via email from kquade's blog

Google Unleashing A Cloud Based iTunes Competitor This Fall - #andr0idd0es

Where do you get your music? iTunes.
Where do you get your movies? iTunes.
Where do you get your tv shows? iTunes.
Why do you need an app for Android to enjoy your music? iTunes.
What were Google, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music discussing last December? iTunes.

...to be more precise, the new kid in town - [Google Music].

Cnet, TechCrunch and major music companies are all reporting that Google is getting ready to storm the beaches of Apple's baby, iTunes. Let's go back to the keynotes from day 2 of Google I/O and see what may have gone unoticed by some.

1. Android devices can now purchase and download music from the Android Market, over the air.
2. Google is working to reproduce iTunes abilities with just a browser (their new approach to success), no iTunes.

Some may ask, "Well, What about existing iTunes libraries?" Google is reportedly enabling users to play non-DRM music straight from Android devices. While their demo at Google I/O showed music "magically" appearing in a library, there was a string attached: it was a stream.

Streaming is a goal that Google has for their music services to come, but the real magic comes with the ever looming 'cloud' that is Google's backbone. While "Apple's managers haven't revealed many details about their plans, but did discuss offering iTunes users a means to store copies of their music libraries on Apple's servers," reported cnet, Google knows the cloud. They are the cloud. My growing-by-the-second 7.49 GB Gmail account can testify right along with my 3 (might I add also free) Google Apps accounts.

Now for those of you that think that Apple has the upper hand when it comes to music, vs. an advertising company, Google may surprise you. Google Discover Music and [Google Music] are results of trials carried out with Lala.com and iLike before Apple and Myspace ended them with a buyout.

In all honesty, big lables are tired of the iTunes monopoly. They get one source. One price. One way, or the highway. They want choices. We want choices. To quote Google I/O, "this is not the future we want." For years Google, Facebook, and even AOL have been asked to step up to the iTunes plate.

As early as this fall, it's on! 

Posted via email from kquade's blog

HTML5: The Origins of RIA (for @ANDR0IDD0ES) - http://j.mp/cEKXPC

While this isn't a topic that is "directly linked" (spoiler 1) to the Android OS, it is still a major factor in todays mobile market. As we've already seen, large companies have the ability to drive the market while media companies (since this has to do with multi-media presentation and distribution) like Time Warner and NBC Universal can really ruin your day.

Let's begin by taking a look at the history/origins of several web-media platforms.

FLASH
1996 - Birthed by FutureWave as "FutureSplash Animator"
1996 - Macromedia aquires and re-brands F-utureSp-LASH as "Flash"
2007 - Adobe owns Flash, releases CS3
2008 - Adobe releases CS4
2010 - Adobe declares they will not support Apple's iPhone or iPad beyond CS4
2010 - Adobe releases CS5

SILVERLIGHT
2007 - Birthed by Microsoft
2010 - Silverlight 4 Release Candidate arrives

JAVAFX
2009 - Birthed by Sun Microsystems
2010 - JAVAFX (v1.3) produces a stable release

HTML5
2007 - Birthed by Ian Hickson of Google, Inc. (spoiler 2)
2010 - HTML5 is still a draft

Let's now look at who adopted these standards first.

• Shockwave: Intel
• Flash: Microsoft
• Silverlight: Microsoft
• JavaFX: Adobe
• HTML5: Google

Hey Apple, where'd you go? Oh that's right, you adopted Shockwave, then Flash, avoided Silverlight (but support it), and don't like Adobe. So you choose HTML5... built by (and the punchline) GOOGLE; The same people that developed the Android OS?? Good call Apple! After years of playing the mooch you finally put your foot down and say "Google, we want YOUR standard for the iPad & iPhone."

Oh the irony Mr. Jobs, oh the irony. 

Exclusive Edit: Not included in the AndroidDoes article is a behind-the-post comment made by site admin Christopher Dean:

"I like it. I especially like the part where you slam Apple, spit in his eye, and then tell Steve to go eat some **** food."

Posted via email from kquade's blog

#Android 2.1 having weather widget issues on #Eris. #Google Voice tells me I missed a call; phone says nothing.

So last night apparently there were some issues. I love my Android phone. I love Google Voice. I love Verizon and their coverage. However, at about 11pm, several times a week, I have signal and widget issues. I thought this was just me and the fact that I'm in a basement with only 3 bars. Last night, many had the same issue.

Apparently Verizon is working on this, but they are encouraging people to come in the store and report any issues in person.

Leave a comment: Are you having issues with your Eris or Verizon?

Posted via email from kquade's blog

#Android 2.2; on a @MotoDroid for #ANDR0IDD0ES - http://bit.ly/cSZElz

Yesterday I gave you Android (Froyo) 2.2 specs. Today, I give you screenshots!** A number of the new features, and especially the UI, are showcased within.

To name a few features shown:

• new camera features
• camcorder updates
• the app management
• lock screen options
• home screen changes
• Google search
• car mode UI

While this is a very exciting update for Android users, I would like to emphasize that this is Android 2.2 running on a Motorola Droid.

Not a Nexus.

Not an Eris.

Not a Shadow.

**I have to give mydroidworld props on their exclusive first look and coverage of these features. Thanks guys!

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from kquade's blog

Froyo, The Complete Guide (for @ANDR0IDD0ES http://j.mp/9maOUp)

While the Android 2.2 platform introduces many new features, it is considered by Google to be a “minor platform release.” No matter its description, users and developers alike are already drooling over the ever unfolding list of improvements and features.

Let’s take a look at what Froyo has to offer:

1. Better Developer Support

• Dalvik Virtual Machine
• JIT compiler - Apps will run 2-5x faster
• Chrome V8 JavaScript engine – 3x speed improvement
• Cloud-to-Device messaging API and Push services
• Media Framework Improvements (StageFright)
• Continued OpenCore support
• HIGHMEM support for RAM >256MB
• Kernal Memory Management up 20x
• Microsoft Exchange
• Device reset via Exchange
• Exchange account discovery
• New audio API’s

2. Better User Experience

• Overall performance boost
  
• Adobe Flash 10.1 and Adobe Air
  
• App data back-up API
  
• Tethering and Mobile HotSpots
  
• 802.11n WiFi
  
• Streaming audio from pc to phone, including iTunes
  
• Home screen assistant
  
• New security options, including pin numbers
  
• New Camera UI
  
• Camcorder flash
  
• Camcorder frame rate boost to 20fps
  
• Bluetooth voice dialing
  
• Bluetooth contact sharing
  
• Bluetooth docking
  
• OpenGL ES 2.0 w/ YUV formatting and ETC1
  
• UI framework adding “night” and “car” mode
  
• Multi language keyboard support

3. Market and Apps

• One-button and auto-updates
  
• Music store
  
• SD installation
  
• Crash reports
  
• File uploads from within Apps
  
• Auto-open feature for Google Maps

4. Misc

• Permissions
  
• Sync
  
• UI changes
  
• YUV manipulation

What devices are getting it? Sources confirm that the Droid, Desire, Incredible, Eris, EVO 4G, MyTouch Slide, and future Android devices are slated for the update. When will this happen? The official word is “this year.”

Quote

...if your phone was launched this year, we will most likely offer an upgrade for it to the Froyo version. This includes popular models like the Desire and Droid Incredible as well as hotly anticipated phones like the Evo 4G, MyTouch slide and upcoming models. We will announce a full list of phones and dates once we are closer to launching the upgrades. We are working closely with Google and our other partners to ensure we have the earliest access to everything we need to provide a complete and solid Sense experience on Froyo. We expect to release all updates in the second half of this year but can't be more specific yet.

We've already seen the videos from Google I/O and Youtube showing off these features. So, be excited to know that Android (Froyo) 2.2 is closer than we think! 

Posted via email from kquade's blog

#iPhone Does, but #Android's been doing

Google I/O really opened up a can of whoop-apple with their Froyo demo and Apple has taken a step into the past with their 4.0 announcement. I'm not one to use folders (with 7 home screens, why would I) but it's nice to know that they're there. The Iphone is just getting this feature? Wow. M-Dos had this feature back in 1979. Welcome to the future Apple!

So folders? So what. Fine, not that impressive. In fact, let's not even compare "red carpet" or "en route" features. Let's go back to the basics for a moment.

Foursquare is getting some attention lately with Starbucks using it as a marketing platform and Stockholm University using qr codes for check-in's. What about all the Apple fanboys? A poor bar code scanner means no momentum into these future ventures.

I say all that to say this; Google's openness is going to take Android, and ultimately the user experience, to new heights. A search engine, a phone, a tv. Soon we'll have Google cars and Android based home security systems. Imagine how closed an Apple car would be!

Who knows, iCar 4.0 may even have folders.

Posted via email from kquade's blog