Sony’s continuing to improve their stronghold in the camera market by developing a new phone-sized sensor that’s 5x faster (from the initial snap to the final result) than traditional sensors of the same size. It’s a 17 megapixel sensor that – pending a device has sufficient hardware – can shoot video at maximum resolution with 120 frames per second.
It’s not exactly phone news, but we know Sony Ericsson have been striving to improve mobile camera quality in phones for years. The Xperia Arc is one device with a camera that impressed us and made us forget about carrying along a point-and-shoot. If that isn’t the best they have to offer, then I can’t imagine what this new sensor will be like. (Could it replace a DSLR? Nah, we won’t go that far.)
They could very well be using the sensor in their smaller point-and-shoot offerings, but you have to imagine Sony Ericsson will want to get this into one of their flagship devices whenever it’s ready. [Electronista]
I’m not sure how many of these research reports and studies we’ll post before we stop, but here’s another (that probably sounds a lot like 100 other reports out there): consumers are more likely to buy Android devices over iPhone. They found that 34% of those surveyed are looking to buy a Android device this year, while 21% were looking to buy an iPhone. 12% were said to be looking for a new Blackberry.
We can’t vouch for this survey in relation to the real world – especially since we don’t know what the sample size was. But considering all of the trends from other high-profile research firms – such as IDC and Gartner – mirror this particular survey, we can’t say we’ll doubt its accuracy. [Market Force Research via Android Community]
CyanogenMod is rocking the morning wire on this fine Friday. Firstly: they have a new phone portal that will show you a list of their officially supported devices. It’s a portal that’s much appreciated given the difficulty in finding out which devices Team Douche officially supports outside of most popular HTC devices. You can find that portal here.
They’ve also released a test version of CyanogenMod 7 for the Samsung Vibrant the first Galaxy S phone outside of the international version that has received such an honor. We don’t expect a stable release to come about for quite some time – if ever – so don’t download this if you aren’t the type who can’t stand a bug or two. Everything you need can be found right here. [via Android Central]
And you thought it would never happen. It's been about six months since our exclusive hands-on with the HTC Merge, and we'd hardly seen or heard a peep from it since. But it's official, folks -- the HTC Merge lives, and it's coming to "multiple North American operators" this spring.
And it looks like the HTC Merge will be the same device we've already seen. Same 3.8-inch touchscreen, same 5MP camera with 720p recording, same World Phone capability (SIM-card slot), same Android 2.2 -- and the same awesome sliding keyboard. The biggest question now is when, and where.
For our complete exclusive preview of the HTC Merge, please see the following stories:
The HTC Merge™ Smartphone Brings Android™ and HTC Sense™ to HTC's First CDMA Android World Phone
Download image
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC's first Android-based CDMA world phone.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110225/SF54676)
"HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment," said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. "Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it's at home or travelling around the world."
Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Market™ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitter™ updates through HTC FriendStream™.
In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.
Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011.
The Nexus One's over-the-air update to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread (erm, not Android 2.4) is starting to push out. But if you can't wait (that'd be us), you can manually install the update. It's the same thing as the OTA update, just, not OTA. Here's how to install:
Rename the file to update.zip. Note that if you're using Windows, just rename it to "update" (no quotes, of course) because it's already a zipped file.
Copy the update.zip file onto your microSD card.
With your Nexus One off, hold down the trackball and press the power button.
You'll be booted into a white screen with three Android robots on skateboards. Select "Bootloader."
On the next screen, select "Recovery."
Your phone will reboot, giving you a picture of the Android robot and an exclamation point inside a triangle.
Now press the power button and volume up button at the same time. It could take a couple of tries.
Now (using the trackball this time) choose "Apply sdcard:update.zip" and let things run their course.
Easy peasy! Enjoy! Update: Seeing getprop/status 7 errors? You'll need to update your version of Hboot. If you're not familiar with fastboot and flashing, have a look here for the long (but easy) way.
If you were a recipient of the Android 2.3.3 OTA that went out to the Nexus S, or went ahead and did it manually, you may have noticed that Facebook contact syncing is suddenly missing. That's because Google has purposely removed the feature from the Nexus S and all future "googlephones" because users can't pull those synced Facebook contacts off the phone, and if you decide to remove your Facebook account, those contacts will suddenly go missing. Google's official statement on the matter is as follows:
“We believe it is very important that users are able to control their data. So in the over-the-air update for Nexus S, we have a small change to how Facebook contacts appear on the device. For Nexus S users who downloaded the Facebook app from Android Market, Facebook contacts will no longer appear to be integrated with the Android Contacts app. Since Facebook contacts cannot be exported from the device, the appearance of integration created a false sense of data portability. Facebook contact data will continue to appear within the Facebook app. Like all developers on Android, Facebook is free to use the Android contacts API to truly integrate contacts on the device, which would allow users to have more control over their data. We are removing the special-case handling of Facebook contacts on Nexus S and future lead devices. We continue to believe that reciprocity (the expectation that if information can be imported into a service it should be able to be exported) is an important step toward creating a world of true data liberation — and encourage other websites and app developers to allow users to export their contacts as well.”
Interestingly enough, this won't be affecting Nexus One owners who also updated today because the Facebook app for the Nexus One was baked in to the stock software. Google says they don't want to remove a feature that users were already expecting to be available. With all of that in mind, do remember that OEMs like Motorola and HTC can re-enable this feature relatively easily. Both HTC and Motorola already use their own Facebook sync, so this may be a non-issue for many. [TechCrunch]
Yes, you read that right -- The Samsung Vibrant now has its very own CyanogenMod 7 (official) test release. It's clearly labeled as a TEST RELEASE, so don't expect miracles just yet, but finding and fighting bugs is half the fun of fooling with custom ROMs for many of us anyway. You can find all the details and download information at the source link.
Let's be serious here for a minute. You're probably never going to see an official Gingerbread build for the Vibrant from Samsung. Yes, I think I was wrong. That hardly ever happens. CyanogenMod 7 looks to be the best, and logical choice for the Vibrant at this time, and it's something to at least keep an eye on. If you do decide to take the plunge, you'll find help and support in the Vibrant forums here at Android Central. [CyanogenMod forum] Thanks everyone who sent this in!
For all you folks out there asking for an easier solution to rooting the HTC Inspire 4G, some of the world's greatest scientists and nerds are on it. And maybe this will help -- HTC just released the source code for the 4.3-inch Android device (check out our review). In the meantime, keep a close eye on our Inspire 4G forums.
And for what it's worth, HTC's also released the source code for the Gratia and Droid Eris Eclair update, if you're into that sort of thing. [HTC Developer Center]
Hopefully you weren’t too locked on to the $249 2-year contract price tag that Best Buy was advertising last week for the HTC Thunderbolt because this week they’ve jumped it up a notch to $299. That would be the same $299 from the Buyer’s Guide that we first reported on last weekend and a number I’m sure many of you are not excited about.
And now that we know the TBolt is again in this week’s BBY ad, we’re putting more thought into that March 3rd date rather than the oddly spammed March 10th one that was spread around to every tech site on the planet last night. Something seems too fishy about that one, but hey, who really knows at this point, right? Buddha. Cheers M!
The Motorola XOOM bootloader has been easily unlocked using “fastboot oem unlock” and thanks to a bit of help from some key players (Koush, Pete, and Charlie) in the Android community, we’ve put together this simple guide for you. If you run into issues, be sure to drop them in the comments. Instructions:
*Warning 1* – This will void the warranty on your brand new XOOM.
*Warning 2* – This will completely wipe and format your XOOM. Many of you have had yours for a full day now, but it’s probably a good idea to do this now than after you’ve had it for a month.
*Note* – This uses adb. If you are into hacking on your Android devices at all, it’s time you learn at least some basic commands. Not everything in this world is a 1-click breeze.
*They’ve changed the location of some files from the Tools folder and placed them in Platform Tools. Go into Platform Tools, copy everything, and paste it all in your Tools folder.
3. Open a command prompt from within your Android SDK Tools folder.
*Make sure nothing is selected and hold SHIFT+Right click – select “Open command window here.”
4. Type: adb reboot bootloader
5. Your XOOM will reboot into the bootloader showing “Starting Fastboot Protocol Support.”
6. Type: fastboot oem unlock
7. Read the warning on your XOOM’s screen.
8. You may have to tap Volume Down to switch it to “Accept.”
9. Then press Volume Up to actually “Accept.”
10. Once you accept, your XOOM will be unlocked and formatted.
11. And now on to rooting instructions.
+1 Motorola XOOM.
What's the first thing you're going to do with your Motorola Xoom? If you're Koush, the answer's clear -- install your very own ClockworkMod recovery image and ROM Manager, and grant the latter superuser permissions. That's right, on the very day of release, the Motorola Xoom's all but ready for custom builds of Android and allthejoy they bring.
Meanwhile, Verizon's decided to bring us the latter half of the abruptly cut Xoom TV ad, which actually differs significantly depending on whether or not Spanish is your primary language. Either way, it's a fairly sordid affair, with no Iron Man feats of stratospheric skill to be found, merely a quick demonstration of gaming with the accelerometer and a few quick swipes through Honeycomb. You'll still watch it if we tell you it's after the break though, won't you?
Source: Engadget
Boy, we've had so many leaked materials relating to the HTC Merge that we kind of assumed the handset was official by now. Never mind, HTC is taking care of that little oversight now, admittedly much later than we expected the phone to show up, by announcing that the Merge will arrive on multiple US carriers in the spring. It brings Android 2.2, skinned with HTC's Sense UI, a 3.8-in touchscreen plus that slide-out keyboard, and a 5 megaixel autofocus camera with 720p video recording. Not bad, now let's see how those carriers decide to price this mid-range contender.
HTC Introduces the Powerful, Feature-Rich HTC Merge
The HTC Merge™ Smartphone Brings Android™ and HTC Sense™ to HTC's First CDMA Android World Phone
Download image
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC's first Android-based CDMA world phone.
"HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment," said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. "Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it's at home or travelling around the world."
Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Market™ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitter™ updates through HTC FriendStream™.
In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.
Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011.
