Category: Mobile Tech

Android 2.2 (FroYo) Improves Performance by 450%?

The buzz on Android 2.2 (aka FroYo) is that most of its improvements are under-the-hood performance gains and not flashy new features. If the tests conducted by Android Police are accurate then the performance increase will be extraordinary, largely due to an improvemend JIT (just-in-time) compiler. Using the Linpack tool, the site reported a 450 percent increase over Android 2.1 on a Google Nexus One:

Think about this for a second. 37.6, compared to 6.5-7 — that’s about a 450% speed improvement.

These results are so impressive, most likely due to the introduction of the long awaited JIT compilation into the kernel, that we felt they deserved immediate attention.

That’s pretty sick, hey? Hopefully I’ll be seeing Android FroYo in action next week at Google I/O.

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Off to Google I/O Next Week — What Do You Want?

I mentioned this to RPadholic N8R yesterday and I wanted to let y’all know that I’m attending Google I/O next week in San Francisco. My priorities are digging up info on Android gaming, Android 2.2 (FroYo), and what’s going on with Chrome OS. That said, I’ll try to pursue any angles you’re interested in as well. Check out the agenda and let me know if there are any sessions you’re interested in. If I’m not in a meeting, I’ll hit it up for you and write about it.

iPhone HD/4G Caught on Video

I love this video of the Apple iPhone HD/4G, but not because it shows off one of the most anticipated consumer electronic devices of 2010. Don’t get me wrong — that part is definitely cool, but this video’s use of the Vietnamese language and the Bee Gees is brilliant. I’m pretty sure this clip would win several awards at Cannes. Also, I can hear Steve Jobs asking, “And it’s me you need to show, how deep is your love?”

More iPhone / AT&T / Verizon Rumors

Ah, the rumors of the Apple iPhone going to Verizon and the speculation that it will remain exclusive with AT&T never end. Here’s a double dose for you today. First up is Engadget Mobile’s Nilay Patel, who confirmed that AT&T and Apple entered into a five-year contract in 2007, but questions whether it’s still valid:

Contracts can be canceled, amended, and breached in many ways, and AT&T’s spotty recent service history plus the explosion of the iPhone and the mobile market in general have given Apple any number of reasons to revisit the deal. In addition, the two companies obviously hit the negotiating table again to hammer out the iPad’s pricing plans, and there’s no way of knowing whether that deal involves the iPhone as well.

Next up is CrunchGear’s John Biggs. He received a tip that Verizon’s advertising agency is working on a campaign for the upcoming iPhone:

A company called Landor Associates “working on an advertising campaign” for Verizon for the upcoming iPhone (you know, the one that the police knocked down Jason Chen’s door down to get generally more information about?). Ladnor has been working on Verizon branding since 2007 and is, according to a tipster, now hard at work preparing for the iPhone HD launch.

Naturally I’m more interested in how these rumors impact your purchasing decisions. Are you going wait for an iPhone on Verizon or go with an excellent alternative like the HTC Incredible? Will you stick with AT&T if it remains America’s exclusive iPhone carrier? Share your feelings — like a Care Bear…or not — in the comments section (please)!

Source 1 and Source 2

Sprint HTC Evo 4G Hitting Stores on June 6 for $200?

There’s a chance that the Sprint HTC Evo 4G — America’s first 4G phone — will be on sale sooner than most were expecting. AndroidCentral came across several promotional flyers photographed by a forum user from its sister site. The photos allegedly come from Radio Shack (or as its known in some parts of the country, The Shack). A Radio Shack salesman allegedly said that the phone will be available for $200 with a contract and $600 without. The estimated arrival date for the phone is June 6.

I was expecting the Evo 4G to be available towards the end of the summer. A June 6 release date would be much better for Sprint. Verizon’s HTC Incredible has been getting great reviews and Apple is expected to announced its next iPhone later in June. The sooner Sprint launches the phone — which was recently approved by the FCC, btw — the better. Of course the June release would only make sense if Sprint has completed extensive work on upgrading its WiMax 4G network.

If the phone comes out in June, would any of you make the jump to Sprint and the Evo 4G?

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AT&T iPhone Exclusivity Extended Thanks to iPad Deal?

To borrow The Rock’s schtick, the millions — and millions — of people wishing for an Apple iPhone on Verizon will have to wait a little longer. At least that’s the word according to BroadPoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall. According to him, AT&T’s flexibility on iPad data plans has extended the company’s time as the exclusive iPhone carrier in America. He told ComputerWorld:

For that pricing [on the iPad], AT&T was able to negotiate a six-month extension on the iPhone exclusive.

If Marshall is correct, that’s brilliant news for AT&T and crappy news for the rest of the country (I’m exaggerating). The speculation was that Verizon was gunning hard for an LTE iPhone to help kick off the launch of its 4G LTE network in Q4 2010. The buzz on that scenario has been dying. Now kindly excuse me as I go weep on my pillow.

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Virgin Mobile (Sprint) Announces Aggressive Prepaid Plans

Sprint has announced several prepaid plans for its Virgin Mobile brand. Dubbed “Beyond Talk”, these plans look like a great option for consumers that want the reliability of Sprint’s network, but also want to save money and/or don’t want to commit to a contract. Here are some highlights from the press release:

  • The revolutionary $25 plan is the industry’s lowest price point for unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 300 minutes of voice per month, ideal for high-end device users seeking an unbeatable price to enable the text and data services they need.
  • The $40 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 1,200 minutes of voice per month — the perfect value for those seeking an affordable plan with everything they need.
  • The $60 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with unlimited voice to offer great value for high-end smartphone users expecting an unlimited plan to cost much more.
  • For the first time, Virgin Mobile customers can add Blackberry data service to any of these plans for just $10 more, enabling an unprecedented $35 plan consisting of both voice calling and Blackberry data service.

The press release mentions that the Virgin Mobile will offer RIM’s BlackBerry 8530 phone at the end of May. While it’s not the most advanced handset in RIM’s catalog, it’s capable enough. Combined with Beyond Talk’s aggressive pricing, it’s a compelling choice for people looking for a smartphone on the cheap.

Any of you interested in Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk plans?

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T-Mobile Officially Announces myTouch Slide 3G

T-Mobile has officially announced the myTouch Slide 3G phone, which features Google Android 2.1, a 3.4-inch screen, a full QWERTY keyboard, a five-megapixel camera, and a heavily customized version of HTC Sense. On paper, the phone is disappointing and interesting at the same time. Tech nerds will dismiss it for using a relatively slow (600MHz) CPU and low-resolution screen. It’s definitely not a cutting edge product, but it has plenty of features that make it worth a look.

Due out in June, the myTouch Slide is rare in that it uses Android 2.1 and has a physical keyboard. It also has advanced voice command and voice-to-text capabilities thanks to Dragon software. Early reports say that the Dragon implementation beats the pants off of stock Android’s. T-Mobile has worked with HTC to make its version of Android incredibly user friendly. While I expect most of you to be able to find your way around Android comfortably, there are millions of Americans that would struggle with the plain vanilla version.

The last feature is probably the most interesting facet of the myTouch 3G. It looks like T-Mobile will push this phone as Android for everyone.  The software will be idiot proof and the price should be in the mid-range (some people have estimated $129 on contract). It’s not really for tech geeks, but the myTouch 3G should appeal to consumers that want a capable phone that’s easy to use and easy on the wallet.

Any of you interested in this phone?

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Old T-Shirt + $49 = Laptop Sleeve + Supporting a Good Cause

Hello Rewind lets you use an old t-shirt to create a protective sleeve for your laptop, iPad, Kindle, etc. The cost is $49, which seems steep, but if you buy one of these sleeves you’ll also be supporting a good cause. The company trains and employs women that were brought to New York through sex trafficking. According to a company blog post:

We’re working with the women to train them in the skills that will help right now — English, sewing, and basic business skills. The training programs are free in conjunction with the services Restore NYC already provides them. We do training in the same location we sew the sleeves on the same machines we bought. We tell them about Hello Rewind. We tell them again about Hello Rewind. We show them the sleeves and tell them how much they can make for each sleeve. It’s not as much as they can make working at the brothel, but it’s still more than what minimum wage or welfare could ever hope to provide them, and more than they could earn elsewhere.

I hope some of you consider getting a Hello Rewind laptop sleeve. You’d have an awesome one-of-a-kind product and the satisfaction of aiding someone in a difficult situation.

Source via Engadget

Apple iPad 3G on Sale Today

Here’s a reminder that the Apple iPad 3G — you know, the one with the mobile chip for AT&T’s 3G “service” — is available today. It’s priced at $629/$729/$829 for the 16/32/64GB versions. Unlimited service costs $30 a month, which is actually a pretty good deal.

I’m so tempted by this device. I already know it would rule for entertainment, but I’m pretty sure I could use it as an effective blogging tool. That said, the next iPhone — with its camera and video capabilities — would probably be more useful…but not as much fun…and with a more expensive service plan. Decisions, decisions.

Are any of you intersted in the iPad 3G?