Smartphones and OS

Holidays are over! Time to return to work!

Will continue blog posting new  reviews, news and more surprises. Just keep watching!

Even my other forum it’s getting lot of my time I will keep writing here.

Today a short but not seen entry related with Motorola and Android.

As you may know the biggest problem that have happened on Android platform it’s because of the updates to Donut, Eclair & Froyo. Let’s summarize the movements made by the different brands:

• Acer: Never say a thing but they released some updates for certain models, communication 0
• Dell: no plans at the moment as just released streak after long time, supposed to be easy for Michael  Dell company
• HTC: Most phones sold, no news, just rumors, slow… We will see what will happen with my Magic
• Huawei: we have no idea, as it’s so low priced if get update will be upper than others…
• LG: Another disappeared brand, no info about GW620 not GT450 nor nothing. Also we may add that GT450 will have no updates in my opinion as it’s a phone with Ericsson Manufacture, also known as EMC
• Motorola: Created a webpage to keep Droid/Milestone users about the update situation 10/10 for Motorola.
• Samsung: Spica got updated on certain countries, Galaxy nothing appeared, we will see in the future but, not so bad
• SonyEricsson: They gave news about updates but those will be pretty slow as they have to update so much. It seems like non android phone…

So, now it’s time to tell you. Motorola did great because of the following spreadsheet

So, they are working at ALL the models update. Includign the DEXT. This is how the other companies may work. When the magic will die a Motorola will follow!!

Got some issues so writting make it slower. Also discovered, late, the Call of Duty 4 annd got me a bit more of time. Sure this week will publish at least two entries for my followers. Froyo it’s also waiting our commets there.

I will try my best and hope that this effort may mean that new users will join our blog

As a way to write more on blog let’s give some extra info regarding the next entries that I’m going to publish in the next hours-days-months :D

1. The pending one, about WebOS by Palm HP now that was bought it is even more interesting as got powerful and the carriers are sure to purchase this phones and get support (less than a week after acquire and now Vodafone Spain offers Pixi Plus)
2. Another entry about the less secret product by Apple, the iphone lost&found. Now that Apple secret it’s not so secret many people for sure lost interest on it (Also it’s so ugly!)
3. Talking about Kin by Microsoft, they are about to come and we already know the hardware details, so I will add more info
4. Samsung strategy about Bada, Android and other OS.

So, as you can see there are plenty news incoming in a few days. As for now, I leave you this video done by Vodafone workers

Seeing this picture make me really happy. And you may say, why being so happy due to just one pic?

Well thi is because this pic it showing the self update for applications (pretty useful) and, this was never seen before so may be Android 2.2 and runing in an HTC Magic which means MY PHONE!!! Well if they have the honour to send it back from guarantee repaired some day.

So, the Google Dev Phone 2 it’s going to receive updates to at least 2.2 which it’s certainly great!

In my opinion Google should release updates for all the phones but, depending on the specifications allow to a complete update or to a “lite” version with less functionalities. with such simple point all the problems of updates should be done.

They main issue that android have nowadays it's with lazy brands that do not update their phones so a contract should be signed to offer at least 2 OS updates.

Another thing that should be done it’s to offer Market in those devices that it’s not at some price.

Today we will talk about acquires.

Lastly there have been two interesting options

• Palm is selling business or licences of webOS for surviving
• Apple wanted to buy ARM (In my opinion should be illegal)

The first option it’s the most interesting because we have many interesting buyers.

• HTC, which may buy it. Now they said not interested but maybe are waiting for a price drop
• Lenovo, it’s  the shy buyer. The Chinese company it’s waiting the opportunity to grow at USA market.
• ZTE & Huawei, the “cheapy” looking to become important. But after some market quotes they self rejected. They will keep growing in new markets like Cambodia, India and Africa.
• My personnal bet, goes to DELL. The computer manufacturer may “help” Palm and try to offer some special solution where John Dell may grow as well.

About Apple & ARM the story was shorter…

ARM refused the offer at first attempt!

Now preparing news for the lost n found iPhone 4G, webOS and Microsoft devices Kin one and two. But will require some time

What is MeeGo?

In my point of view MeeGo it’s the evolution of Maemo. But joining forces with a big one like Intel.

Intel showed in the past their interest on portable devices some years ago with the MIDs presenting their own device 

Time passed from this large but curious idea and the unique successful device, at least for sales was the ipod touch. The other concepts were rather lazy with sales.

Information about those products was poor and their uses were limited due to a closed interface and OS created by each manufacturer. So, a few years later Intel was wondering how to get more money and where to put more processors and they realised about the need to release a more concrete release.

Their error in the past was purposing an idea but nothing else. And most of the devices do not even chose intel processors. So now they come with refreshed ideas and with a main point. Clean all the mess and do the things with order.

Why choose Nokia as a partner?

While most of the brands have agreements with OS, there is only one brand that has developed two main OS. That’s Nokia.

Also as most of you know, the pic on the left it’s the Android symbol. And it seems like Intel do not like too much Google latest move with Chrome OS. A low resources computer that do not depend on hardware so much? It requires good internet but the other specs are not so important.

Nokia it’s the company with biggest sales around the world. So that’s another good reason to work with the Finnish people. So, let’s summarize the points that made Intel chose Nokia

as their partner

1. Nokia has experience in create, develop and improve OS (With Maemo and Symbian). Also Maemo it’s Linux!
2. They are good at development of hardware and with interesting times in produce and ship (Remember the delays at SonyEricsson with Xperia series)
3. They have started working with Capacitive touch screens
4. Already have two stores (before anyone with Maemo)
5. Do not have relationship with Google or Microsoft
6. They do not release as much handsets as Samsung

In my opinion those were the most important points for Intel people. Why not so many models? To avoid doubts about models. Apple showed others the way. Small amount but with interesting options for users, including durability.

About Microsoft and Google it’s simple, they will not concentrate in other developments

What MeeGo offer us?

MeeGo seems to be the replacement for Maemo for future tablet OS,but not only that, they are ambicious. The idea for MeeGo it’s working on the following devices:

• Connected TV
• Handheld
• In-Vehicle
• Media phone
• Netbook

Meego will be like the Android for Intel powered devices done by Nokia and other gadgets. They learnt from Android and they will offer source code so, maybe other brands may join later.

So nw we have two OS that can be in multiple devices. As we can see intel want to keep with us always!

What specific features of Moblin and Maemo are being used in MeeGo?

MeeGo blends the best of Moblin with the best of Maemo, to create a platform for multiple processor architectures covering the broadest range of device segments. MeeGo builds upon the capabilities of Moblin core software platform and reference user experiences, adding the Qt UI toolkit from Maemo. Okay, so much for the official slogan... Exact specification of components is not yet available and we expect that to take place during the next couple of weeks for the critical parts. We hope to be able to publish the current state within days. MeeGo is a genuine merger of the two platforms on component level. The idea is NOT to take major blocks of moblin and maemo and 'glue' them together. How could that work anyway given MeeGo targets? Moblin and maemo have been very close architectural sisters all the time, deriving from common parents in many ways. Already for over one year we have coordinated technology selections and established projects such as connman and ofono to fill the gaps. Because of this history, we expect a relatively smooth merge process.

It’s supposed to be possible to use with different architectures not only intel (ARM, AVR…) but, my thoughts are that this OS won’t run as well in ARM than Intel.

ETA || Estimated time of Arriving?

Second quarter of 2010. Nowadays we have the first image of how it looks

It reminds me to the interface of Kin Studio by Microsoft but with not so much mess

Next to comment will be Palm WebOS

There has been a while since I created the last post. Today I’m coming with more info.

The new OS in the market that are still under development are BADA by Samsung and MEEGO by Intel&Nokia (For tomorrow).

The key that Samsung pretends to acquire with this OS it’s to offer high quality features in a low price device. We understand that the low price it’s up to the operators.

They will try to form a whole community including of course their own application store. Sincerely being a programmer nowadays it’s a mess with so many OS and more to come….

Bada it’s similar to Android in the pre-requirements. This OS require a minimal feaures to run it.

Those are:

• 3G & WIFI
• GPS
• Accelerometer
• Screen resolution between WQVGA or WVGA
• Multitouch screen

The first stone put in by Samsung it’s called “The challenge”. This is a way to try to move developers/programmers to try to efficiency of their OS and the possibilities by releasing apps even though the own OS it’s not finished yet.

Also at Mobile Word Congress of this year Samsung already presented the first phone with Bada inside.

The Samsung S85000 also known as WAVE. It’s full of technology and, even the design seems to be like Samsung Jet it’s hiding much more. Those are the specs of this smartphone:

• General:GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 1900/2100 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
• Form factor:Touchscreen bar
• Dimensions:10.9 mm thin
• Display:3.3" 16M-color Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 800 pixels resolution, scratch-resistant glass surface
• Platform: Bada OS
• CPU: 1 GHz processor
• Memory: 2GB internal memory, microSD card slot
• Camera: 5-megapixels auto-focus camera, 720p video recording
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with WPS support, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack
• Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, proximity sensor for screen auto-turn-off, ambient light sensor, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD support, multi-touch input and pinch-zooming gestures
• Battery: 1500 mAh battery

It’s curious to see how advanced are Samsung phones. While most of the phones still use LED displays they use in most AMOLED and in this model Super AMOLED. Just for ending check out this video of the incoming displays. Never again broken display!

When I was witting the other entry I thought about other phones issues that happened because of bad design or after usage.

Let’s see other well know problems of phones:
It remember me the well designed 6111 that because of a bad design also, it use to cut the flex cable of the screen with the sliding mechanism. Another issue with Nokia phones appeared on S40. Lot of phones got problems like 6280 cause user received to many data by Bluetooth. This data it’s allowed in phone’s memory instead of memory card. So when the hard drive it’s full computer moves worse, in case of Nokia phones do not power on.
A good failure happened also in Spain, the really old R210 by Samsung (I had to look for the image as I wasn’t sure) got a problem. How is this possible? Well all the phones manufactured in Spain and sold to the carriers were factory unlocked by mistake…Someone was surely fired because of that.
Another problem occurs on VXXX series by Motorola, due to usage, the keyboard scratch the screen. So after few months of use the low part of the screen had the keyboard “written”.
A recent example it’s HTC Touch HD2, the so big and so fast device appeared with a bunch of bugs that HTC and Microsoft boys are solving already
A problem, maybe not of design, but of thinking was at the LG Arena. Designers did a nice minimalist job. But, maybe they were from North Pole or live inside a tree but, using this phone with direct sunlight it’s impossible. Well it’s cool each calling it’s a surprise
Samsung phones, do not think that I’m going to forget any known brand or repeat… They had some time ago problems with their phones, with the usage, some phones use to get rounder. I would like to see a pic of this on the net. This problem and phones samples were showed to me by a Vodafone guy in Spain, so it’s 100% true
If you remember more problems I would like to know them and add in blog as sometimes user work well but manufacturer not.

AS many of you know I’m user of Android phone. I’m still an student so my resources are quite limited to do comparisons between OS…


But, for the very first beginning I realize that Android had a nice feature in market…
If you don’t like you can get refund. So maybe you were searching for an app but after paying it’s not what you expected, what to do? Get refund, simple and easy. ONE BUTTON
Regarding symbian, that I tested on G900 till my dear brother, who bought same model, told me that this phone use to loose the screen because of the use. Nice work SonyEricsson!! So, also would be impossible about testing refund system since no App Store nor market it’s ready “yet”…
Palm it’s going to release new market soon for Pre and Pixi models.
And what about iPhone? Let’s check this story I found on the net

If you are anything like me, you have bought an app for your iPhone, only to discover that it was not quite what you expected so you perhaps stopped using it or even erased it.
This happened to me. I recently bought the RSS reader app Byline and I tried my best to like it and see if it fit my expectations. It didn’t. I liked neither its UI nor the unread items limit of 200. So I stopped using it and cursed my bad luck.
Of course, I didn’t think for 1 second to ask for my money back. I mean, apps don’t cost much to begin with. And I also rationalized – I had done research before buying. Wasn’t it my fault – I knew what I was buying, didn’t I?
No need for speculation, it does exist: the App Store Refund. Here’s how I got mine.
It required a total of 4 emails. First to iTunes Support desk, which as promised sent a reply within 48 hours. I should please contact the developer for assistance as they cannot provide support or technical aid for an app. Fair enough.
Next to the developer, to whom I explained simply that I didn’t plan to use the app and on that basis I desired my money back. My first email went unanswered. I sent a reminder email and got a response 10 days later, informing me that I had to contact iTunes about the refund, explaining that I’ve “contacted the app developer for support and would still like a refund“. I should also make sure to include the order reference number from your iTunes receipt. I did as instructed.
iTunes Support responded by granting me my wish, while stressing that this was strictly a most exceptional occurrence and that I’d better not think of doing this kind of thing every week. Ok I made up that last part. But the tone of the email was indeed clear. This was a one-time occurrence, since all App Store sales are final. Hmm.
I received my refund within the hour (nice!) via PayPal and was grateful at the painlessness of the procedure. Anyway, I was left with a few lessons that I will herewith share with you:
1. Explain calmly and precisely to iTunes Support that the app is not performing as you expected (“I don’t like it“ or “I changed my mind“ won’t cut it)
2. Include your purchase reference number (yes you should keep these pesky emails from iTunes in case you need them in future)
3. Be persistent if you are required to contact the developer for assistance (they will eventually respond)

As I could see surfing at Sprint AT&T webpage the last week they are announcing their incoming releases. And as a picture does more than hundred words…

And if we still have doubts about possible phones to be acquire by AT&T they gave us full details, except for HTC which it’s impossible due to the big amount of phones with Android.

Let’s see the clues given by AT&T…

• Motorola’s unique form factor smartphone
• Dell’s first smartphone
• New HTC smartphone

First one it’s quite easy if you followed a little bit the pictures and information from CES at Vegas

Yes, we are talking about the new curious design by Motorola guys.

I must recognize, I like Motorola phones they are good quality phones that are well seen in United States and really bad seen in Europe.

This concept bring us some features like: Android 1.6, MotoBlur interface, full keyboard, and the two more curious specs:

• The swivel keyboard with camera in there
• The touch surface in the back of the screen

I never thought that the touch surface in the back of the screen may be useful, but, for example if you are seeing pictures with your friends to change from one to other you must put your finger in the screen. The advantages of the evolution, now you can’t see the picture… So using this surface you may scroll or change the pic without using the screen.

Second one it’s as simple that it’s close to an insult. They only presented a device

There are not lot of specifications regarding this phone and the features. In fact I’m not here to start talking about dimensions and camera and so on… For such requirements you can surf the net, there are pretty good webpage's.

Even I have never bought a DELL product I like their way of business, and I think this device will be a success if they release in the same way as they release their computers. Nothing else it’s needed.

Please Dell, I know you won’t never read me but I have two wishes:

First one, being tester, I will do a never seen before review

Second, release the phone in the same way as Google released Nexus One. You can choose carrier from your webpage.

The third device, which it’s HTC it’s still a mystery, they can’t show all the information or spies may die of hunger :)

And now some words about Android platform…

The good of Android platform it’s that lot of brands are in.

The bad it’s that if you can find any relationship between this Dell phone and any HTC devices powered by Android will be a coincidence.

And is this bad? Of course it’s. I like that manufacturers may change the interface but, so much means big problem. Updating device means that manufacturer must reconvert again the OS. And maybe it’s easy, but maybe not. And if the idea of Android it’s compete with other older OS like Symbian, WinMobile, Mac OS… they must show as ready to update devices.

This is already not working. Many brands and some carriers decided that they will not jump to Android 2.0

This is an incorrect way of working and the unique losers are the users. Thanks to people like Cyanogen and other programmers there is a hope to update manually your device, but with risk for your device…

We will keep looking at Android future from here and reviewing it…

Next post will be about iPhone :)

After the release the other day of Nexus One Google published this week the SDK of Android 2.1 (while I’m still waiting for 2.0…)

After seeing all the specifications about this phone before the release of the own himself, that prerelease bunch of news gave us details about some minor changes.

We were waiting for the information and just a few days after the release official release of the Smartphone they released the SDK. Now let’s take a look about the improvements at this new version of Android OS.

Those are the improvements, some of them easy to see on Nexus One

LIVE WALLPAPERS

Instead of the classic GIF based image, this time the image it’s not a GIF and it changes continuously. New and different and it’s not Apple :)

TELEPHONY

• There were some changes on the way to check signal and the strength

VIEWS

• The new viewing method present on Nexus One with 3D menu
• The panels are now 5 and there are shortcuts to go from to other.

WEBKIT

• New Web Storage in order to manipulate web storage databases
• Geolocation permissions for Webview porpoises.
• New methods to manage settings, web storage & zooming
• New Webchrome client methods to handle video, history custom views and many more

Now I completely improved the method of adding entries as I started using Live writer. Also categories are established.

Welcome to my dear readers!