Taiwan-based computer-now-mobile phone-maker Acer seemed so confident about the performance of its first Android smartphone that it didnât mind underclocking the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor from 1GHz to just 768 MHz.
It may have disappointed Android fans but its new Acer Liquid A1 is every inch one of the most powerful Android smartphones short of the Motorola Droid that has fashionable pretensions that work. Stability or even squeezing out the battery performance on so thin a handset may have prompted Acer to do just that, we can only guess.
But to see and use is to believe. It is now out in the market and its features just confirm the leaked technical data weâve seen over the last few months. It is a formidable smartphone that despite all its remarkable goodies comes with a very appealing price initially published at â¬380 ($570) before taxes and subsidies. But it now hovers slightly lower than that in the ?330 ($540) price point.
Top Act Features
As the world first Snapdragon Android smartphone and the worldâs first Android 1.6 in wide-VGA (800×480) high definition screen, the Liquid âs 3.5â capacitive touchscreen figure quite dominantly on its futuristic slim body just 12.5mm thick and weighing just 135g.
There are no protruding tactile keys on the face as all navigating buttons are touch sensitive flushed contiguously level with the screen. The handset exudes elegant simplicity in its fluid form and comes in three colors of your choice: black red and white.
This is a quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE on 2G and a tri-band 3G/UMTS with HSDPA data connectivity for up to 7.2 Mbps assuring a high speed internet browsing experience. Local data connectivity is supported by its WiFi 802.11b/g for hotspot internet surfing as well as Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR for wireless data transfers and synchronization with Bluetooth devices. Acer takes these features a step further allowing you to synchronize select desktop or laptop media contents with the handset over both WiFi and Bluetooth.
Talk about synchronization, the Liquid can have your address book contacts, calendar and email contents synced with social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. You can also upload your photos to Picasa and your videos to YouTube. This makes Googleâs online media services act as a virtual remote storage backup for any and all your media content.
You can expect excellent imaging feature with a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and geo-tagging courtesy of its built-in GPS receiver. On top of its capable multimedia players, the Liquid A1 comes with what Acer calls Spinlets, special phone apps that enable free audio and video content streaming that you can share with friends, family and colleagues over the web or email.
You get two choices in listening to your audio files. You can use wireless stereo earphones with its Bluetooth 2.1 A2DP support or use regular high fidelity headphones using its 3.5mm AV jack.
Some Complaints
Its slim 1350 lithium-ion battery when fully charged can only go to 5 hours of talk time and about 17 days in standby mode â a bit short compared with other touchscreen smartphones in this class. We figure if Acer hadnât underclocked the Snapdragon CPU, thereâd be shorter talk times. The Acer Liquid A1 runs on the Android 1,6 Donut platform but we hope to see it upgraded to the latest version 2.0 codenamed Ãclair that now runs the Motorola Droid.
Polarbit recently launched their first title on the Android Market and now they are bringing the rest of their library of games to Android Market. Each title is in full 3D and supports multiplayer matches. The developer just sent us the following press release to announce their suppor for cross-platform multiplayer so gamers from Android, iPhone, and Nokia can challenge each other.
Stockholm, Sweden – Polarbit, pioneering developers of games for mobile and handheld platforms announced today the immediate availability of their games on Android Market. In addition to already available award-winning street racer Raging Thunder, titles include powerboat racer WaveBlazer, arcade shoot’em-up Armageddon Squadron, FPS ToonWarz and futuristic strategy title Iron Sight.
Polarbit titles are known for their visual excellence as well as their accessible gameplay and controls, ensuring that they appeal to casual as well as hard-core gamers. The truly distinguishing feature that sets Polarbit titles apart from competitors is their cross-platform multiplayer capabilities.
For the first time ever, iPhone, Android and Nokia Ovi Store device users from all corners of the globe will be able to face off in intense deathmatches, gut-churning races, brutal dogfights and epic battles.Polarbit
Check out the Polarbit YouTube channel for videos of their current games. Polarbit is hard at working adding support for Motorola Droid phones and just updated Raging Thunder to work with the big screen phone.
Keyword: Google, Android phones, windows phones, smart phones, PDA phones
International news from CNET: a well-informed sources well-informed sources, Google plans to launch two versions of its own-brand mobile phones in next January, one will cooperate with T – Mobile USA, the other does not limit operators.
HTC will make Google cell phones, there will be names on the phones such as HTC Passion, Dream or Nexus One etc.
Google is probable to sell first Google phone on January 5 directly through their web site.
Google expressed in its official blog on last Saturday, Google is testing a new mobile device in the employees. The media revealed that Google will sell a touch mobile phone without locking operators, which is convenient for users to choose their own favored servicer.
Another version will cooperate with T – Mobile USA under German Telecom, T-Mobile USA will provide with purchasing subsidies of Google mobile phones for American customers, however prices are still pending.
Sources said that, in the long run, Google will become mobile seller and obtain commission from the operator.
Google mobile phones share resemblance with iPhone, but what different from iPhones are: Google phones can replace batteries, Google screen is bigger, and the users also can enlarge the memory card.
Currently, T-Mobile and Google haven’t issued any comments yet.
Will Power, analyst of Baird Rearch said: “we expect this phone Will bring all smart mobile phone manufacturers positive influence, such as Apple, RIM, Nokia Oyg, MOTOROLA, HTC, Palm, samsung, etc. in addition, Google’s existing partner–Android may be the biggest beneficiaries.
So far, Google has had cooperation with many phone manufacturers about Android. Last month, Google has announced more than 12 Android mobile phones listed.
As a professional cellphone dropshipping wholesaler, cellphone-china.com releases a wide range of Android phones for sale. All the Android phones come with high quality and low prices. Except for Android phones, cellphone-china.com also publishes some other excellent PDA mobile phones, Smart phones, Windows phones etc. No matter which function or style you prefer, you will find a satisfied one from this best resource of cellphones.
Motorola is planning over 20 Android phones for 2010 and more details are beginning to spread. We recently learned about the Backflip headed for AT&T and the Devour coming to Verizon. Today we bring you a trio of phones launching overseas. All of these models are intended for other countries, but they give us a preview of designs and features we might see in the United States. Motorola will be producing Android phones for all the U.S. carriers, so everyone should take note.
MT710
Motorola MT710
The MT710 is a stylish tablet style phone headed for China Mobile. The device runs the latest version of the OPhone platform (China Mobile’s version of Android) and will support their TD-SCDMA 3G network.
The XT800 is another China bound phone with some interesting features. A Cortex A8 processor (same as Droid) is powering the device but the speed is unknown. This phone will also capture high definition video and support 720p playback via HDMI. The XT800 also doubles as a bedside clock with built in FM radio and an optional desktop dock.
Finally we have the XT701, which many people have been referring to as the Sholes Tablet. This phone is said to feature the same specs that we saw in the Verizon Droid, with a few minor tweaks. Most notable is the lack of a physical keyboard that came with the Droid. Other changes will include an 8 megapixel camera with xenon flash and a FM radio.
We can also see from the new leaked pics that the weird jut on the right side is for LED notifications.
Another interesting feature of the XT701 is its increased HSPA speeds. The device supports HSDPA 10.2M and HSUPA 5.76M, which is faster than most current Android phones. That HSDPA 10.2 would pair nicely with T-Mobile’s upcoming HSPA+ network in 2010 (wink wink).
Which of these phones do you like and dislike? Do you prefer all the keyboardless phones from Motorola after they delivered the Cliq and Droid? What specific features would you like to see for U.S. models?
Enjoy DVD and video with your new Motorola mobile phone: CLIQ, Droid and so on. For the declining aristocracy MOTOROLA, any small profit has belongs to rare good. So when the company recently posted surprise third-quarter profits, Motorola stuffs are filled with happy. Namely the MOTOROLA finally successfully achieved the quarter profit. MOTOROLA has revealed the company is expected to launch less mobile phone in the fourth quarter of the year, this basically to get rid of some “cannot profit” failure. So, armed with Cliq, Droid and the MotoBlur interface, it just might be a new day for Motorola. The Droid phone, codenamed Sholes — named for the inventor of the typewriter — was expected to arrive at Verizon this month, and now has become the focus of attention. Meanwhile T-Mobile is offering Motorola’s CLIQ, an Android-based, MOTOBLUR-running, physical keyboard phone. It is available now for $199 (for current T-Mobile customers). What are the main characteristics between T-Mobile’s CLIQ and Verizon’s Droid? [img]http://www.nidesoft.com/forum/motorola-converter/moto-cliq-droid.jpg[/img] CLIQ The Motorola Cliq on T-Mobile (specs) is available now through T-Mobile. It’s a smaller phone with a 3.1-inch 320-by-480-pixel capacitive touch display, a 5-megapixel camera and 3.5-mm headphone jack. It uses a Qualcomm 528MHz MSM 7201A ARM processor, similar to current Android phones — and runs on T-Mobile’s network. Beyond the basics, you’ll have 802.11b Wi-Fi, USB mass storage, Google voice search, Google Talk, instant messaging, visual voice mail, stereo Bluetooth, PC syncing, and speaker-independent voice dialing. The Cliq also comes integrated with news and weather feeds, and apps from Shazam and Imeem Mobile. The whole CLIQ keyboard of each key is designed large and the central uplift that will bring comfort for the user input. Keyboard direction key and track the ball seemed quite suitable for playing the game. CLIQ MOTOROLA phone with the mainstream of 3.5 millimeter headphone jacks, although unclearly know how its built-in memory, but this phone support microSD card, topped the 32GB storage space, can hold thousands of song or several films.
Droid The Motorola Droid/Sholes on Verizon (specs), reportedly runs Google’s Android 2.0 operating system and features a metal chassis, large 3.7-inch capacitive display (854 by 480 pixels); 5-megapixel camera with flash, autofocus and video recorder; GPS; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 2.0; and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It uses a Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor, the same processor as the Palm Pre. The OMAP3430 features a 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX 530 GPU + 430MHz C64x+ DSP + ISP (Image Signal Processor). Although with competition for iPhone as slogan is deemed to speculation, but in my mind, MOTOROLA Droid both in appearance and functional configuration is first-rate, which are in the fuselage thickness, the processor, operating systems, video screen, filming, etc, this machine has the strength of sweeping the Android mobile phone.
So I think both mobile phones are good! With the functions of mobile are more and more powerful. The selection criteria for mobile phones are also different. As for me, I like watching movie and listening to music on phone, so I have a more attention on this aspect. Both these Moto phones are built-in media player. In CLIQ, I’ll find album art, playlists, shuffle, repeat, and an airplane mode for in-flight media use. The interface is simple, but easy to navigate and the player supports several file formats, such as: video formats: H.264, H.263, MPEG 4, YouTube, MPEG 4, 3GP and audio formats: AAC, MP3, WAV, MIDI, AMR NB and AAC+. For Droid, there aren’t any major enhancements to the player in terms of interface or functionality, which is too bad. You still get support for MP3, AAC, AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI (to name a few), and Windows Media Audio 9 formats and the player includes shuffle, repeat, and playlist creation. You can advance and revisit previous tracks by tapping the forward and back buttons or you can swipe the album covers using the touch screen. They are good Multimedia phone, but only one, they could support all of video or audio formats. So I search it On Google and I find a good assistant for Motorola phone –[url=http://www.nidesoft.com/motorola-video-converter.html] Nidesoft Motorola Video Converter[/url] which could help to convert your video files to MP4, AVI, WMV, MP3 and play on Motorola phone easily. Below I’ll share you how to use it! Firstly, [url=http://www.nidesoft.com/downloads/motorola-video-converter.exe]download this software[/url] and install it. Step 1: Launch the program and Click “Add File” button to load source video files to be converted [img]http://www.nidesoft.com/forum/motorola-converter/motorola-video-converter-1.jpg[/img] Step 2: make settings: click “format” drop list to select “Motorola MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)” as output video format. Set your video size and quality under the preview window. Step 3: Click “Convert” button to start to convert video format. After the file is converted, just transfer the file to the videos folder on your Motorola and enjoy your newly created video. Another, I know [url=http://www.nidesoft.com/dvd-to-motorola-converter.html]Nidesoft DVD to Motorola Converter[/url] could rip DVD to Motorola phone video and music: 3GP, AVI, WMV, MP4, WMA etc. So, it is not a problem to watch your favorite DVD on mobile phone. I think these two Nidesoft software are necessary additional software for MOTOROLA mobile phone users.
Although the shell is different, but Motorola Droid and apple iPhone internal is very similar. And compared the before mobile phones using Android operation system, the Droid had a great performance, application and the speed of opening menu, scrolling list and switching the screen goes really fast. Some analysts believe the Droid is the best of MOTOROLA phone since 2005 and Cliq is the first step of MOTOROLA mobile department to turnaround. For MOTOROLA, the success of publishing two mobile phone, not only indicates the formerly overlord comeback, and for users to regain their confidence has also played a very positive role. Next, let’s us look forward to Motorola numerous sales! Wish Moto good luck!
Google releases the “Listen” app in the Android Marketplace for podcasts. AT&T cancels the HTC Lancaster while the Hero might possibly go to Spring. Both AT&T AND T-Mobile get swindled. The TomTom might come soon to Android phones. Do you think that the $99 price point is too much? Let me know in a video reply or comment below. Make sure to rate, subscribe, and follow me on Twitter at @Cubanmike82! … Google Podcast App Listen HTC Hero Lancaster AT&T T-Mobile TomTom for Android $99 22 …
Hey guys this is just another tech update about the G1! So I talk about flash cupcake, new android phones, iris readers and more! Here are the links: Arnold Pic: www.gsmdome.com ScreenShot trick: androidcommunity.com
Here are some more Android phones that will drop by later on this year and onto 2010. … google android motorola sholes shules morrison cliq heron ironman sony ericcsson se xperia x3 samsung bigfoot htc hero lancaster dell benzine iphone touchscreen cupcake donut eclair 2.0 multitouch
The HTC Hero is also known as the Google G3 phone is regarded the third mobile phone that has been developed by HTC using the Google Android operating system. The HTC Hero is currently available in white, graphite and pink color options.
Unparallel Design and Display
HTC Hero Graphite continues HTCâs policy of cutting edge design features and introduces a variety of distinctive devices to represent your own individuality. Boasting beveled edges and an angled bottom, the gadget is contoured to fit comfortably in your hand and against your face while you are talking. The HTC Hero Graphite is build with an anti-fingerprint screen coating for improved smudge resistance and a longer lasting clearer display so you might be able to do without a screen protector.
Overall the phone is of 135 grams with 112 x 56.2 x 14.4 mm dimensions. The gorgeous TFT resistive display is simply huge to measure 3.2 inches that comes with few touch sensitive measures like multi-touch input method and accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate. The trackball is even an alluring touch sensitive attribute which not only enhances the overall look but also is a utility feature.
The HTC Hero Graphite is the first phone coming out from HTC to embody HTC Sense which provides an intuitive seamless experience built upon three fundamental principles – ‘make it mine’, ’stay close’, and ‘discover the unexpected’ that focuses on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple and natural way.
Endless Boasts
HTC has taken Android phones to a new level with the new HTC Hero Graphite and its centralized accessibility features. You do not have to just remain satisfied with the accessibility but at the same time you can access Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and several other such websites and even you can update status from the gadget itself. HTC Hero also provides you opportunity to manage widgets as you can set different widgets at one time and can also turn off certain widgets whenever you want depending upon work and personal life profiles.
The new LG GW620 is the newest offer from LG that will, for the very first time, feature the Android operating system. This release only comes a week after the announcement by the third largest mobile phone manufacturer that they will be releasing 3 new mobile phones that will be running Windows Mobile. These efforts seem to be paving the way for LG to expand the smartphone market and make it a lot more accessible to everyone. With this newest release, LG is honoring its commitment to bringing consumers better choices and experiences.
The Design
In terms of the design, this mobile phone does not necessarily stand out. That is to say, it comes in a very basic style that is both fashionable and modern (although it is not at the same level of the Nokia N series or Blackberry community). It also features a 3.0-inch resistive touchscreen that has a 320 x 480 pixel resolution (262K colors). This is also a slider phone, which means it slides out (landscape) to reveal a full QWERTY keypad that can facilitate faster typing. This is good news for all the young people and professionals in the crowd because a full QWERTY keypad makes drafting emails, instant messages, and SMS very simple and very convenient. It also features an accelerometer, which is very responsive.
All in all, the design is okay. It will not necessarily put people in a state of awe but it won’t leave them bored either. It is the perfect mix of simplicity and style that should appeal to a significant amount of people out there.
The Features
As for the features, this Android phone is packed full of them. First of, this will be running on the Android platform, which should mean that it will have access to a lot of the different Google Services being offered. These include Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search, and others. It should also come with access to the Android Market, where people can download a multitude of applications to populate their phones with.
Apart from this, it also comes with a 5.0-megapixel camera with an autofocus feature, video capture capabilities, and the ability to take photos of up to 2560 x 1920 pixels in resolution. It also features SMS/MMS capabilities, space for over 1000 contacts (with photocall), a microSD slot, 2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth connectivity, email support, a WAP browser, instant messaging capabilities, as well as an FM radio and photo and video editors. It is also java enabled, supports GPS with A-GPS, has an audio / video player, and all the other basic features typical of any new smartphone.
The Verdict
All in all, the LG GW620 is not necessarily the best smartphone out there. It will not have the same amount of functionality that HTC handsets, or other high-level smartphones will feature, but on its own, it is a very good Android offer that will surely expand the reach of LG. If you are in the market for a new smartphone, give this slider phone a try and you will be pleasantly surprised by its functionality and style.
Geek Brief TV #640 Kindle Goes International Kindle Goes International, AT&T Allows VoIP Apps, New Android Phones, doubleTwist Adds Amazon MP3 Store, Gateway One ZX6810
The Tattoo sports a great design, the design is basic but that just means that it’s sporting a already proven design that has worked in the past and still holds true. The device has all the buttons we always see from HTC, menu, back, home and search, call. Instead of a trackball this time they choose to install a four way directional pad that works, only just feels less fast than the HTC Hero/Dream and the HTC Magic. Less smooth but workable, the interface is as snappy as the HTC Hero (and the sprint version) with their current software upgrade. One thing we haven’t seen before though is the removable covers, HTC is really trying to get to the ‘general public’ with this affordable and personal looking device.
Ok now we get to the thing that really makes this cell phone different and we guess cheaper then the other Android smartphones HTC has released thus far. The touch screen is only 2.8 inches in diagonal and has a resolution of 320×240 (QVGA) where all the other Android phones released thus far have a resolution of 480×320 (HVGA). This is quite a drop in resolution also considering these days lots of smartphones have been coming out with WVGA screens, though not in the Android segment yet.
There is a resistive LCD instead of a capacitive, which means the LCD is pressure sensitive and it’s not made of hard glass. The screen does seem quite responsive but not as responsive as the devices with capacitive touch screens. It’s decent enough, considering this is meant to be a budget phone.
The Android smartphone is made around the same hardware as all their Android devices so far released (the Qualcomm MSM7225) and quite frankly does the job. We are waiting for the first HTC Android cell phone that sports a Snapdragon CPU (HTC Dragon is rumored). Enough of the sidestepping now, the CPU does its job, and because the Tattoo has a smaller resolution then its predecessors the UI should run smoother then the Hero, though as said before it is smooth, and that is more then enough.
The camera is 3.2 mega pixels and it’s a bit of a downgrade comparing it to the Hero but it makes decent pictures and it’s fine for using it for facebook/twitter and other social networking from your mobile device. The battery life is the same as any other android phone we tested so far from HTC. When used heavily you get a day, with less use you get 48 hours which is acceptable. There is nothing more to say without basically copying it from the other HTC Android cell phone reviews, a bit the same thus far.
The android device is profiled as a low end device, and even though it has the same CPU speed as all its predecessors the device really is just that. The Tattoo is just a bit less powerful at all things then the other devices out there. Lower resolution, worse camera then the Hero, the other phone that runs Sense by HTC. The resistive screen is disappointing, but other than that it’s a good device. Why not pay a small amount more and get a HTC Hero? If there is no budget holding you back go for the Hero over the Tattoo for sure.
The mall spends 4/5ths of the year being a gaping black hole devoid of usefulness. But the week or so after Thanksgiving and before the few weeks leading up to Christmas where the crowds are too much to endure you are left with an almost passable shopping experience. Multiple stores in a short walking distance, a food court where you can get a giant pretzel with a side of greek food and a smoothie- it’s all quite a scene.
Not really surprising considering web browsing on other phones sucks!
When it comes to the mobile Web, increasingly there are only two mobile platforms which matter: Apple and Android. According to AdMob’s October, 2009 mobile metrics report, the iPhone/iPod Touch and Android phones accounted for 75 percent of mobile Web traffic in the U.S., as measured by all the mobile ad requests it tracks. That number is up from a combined 65 percent in September, 2009.
The iPhone is miles ahead of everyone else, but Android is quickly rising as a strong second. While Android phones managed to increase their share from 17 percent in September, 2009 to 20 percent in October, 2009, the iPhone and iPod Touch gained even more, going from 48 percent to 55 percent share. Meanwhile, during that same month the Blackberry ’s mobile Web traffic share went down from 14 percent to 12 percent, and Palm’s webOS shrank from 10 percent to 5 percent (Ouch).
On a global basis, the iPhone OS now accounts for 50 percent of all mobile traffic, up from 43 percent the month before. Android has an 11 percent global share, which makes it third globally after Nokia/Symbian’s 25 percent share. The U.S. makes up 49 percent of all the mobile Web traffic, according to AdMob’s stats. Thus strength in the U.S. translates to strength in the worldwide numbers.
As major new carriers come onboard, the numbers can shift dramatically. Since Verizon launched the Droid two weeks ago, that single device now makes up 24 percent of all Android mobile Web traffic. The HTC Dream, which is the oldest Android device, is the only one with more, at 36 percent of Android traffic. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Droid passes that within the next two weeks.
AdMob was recently acquired by Google for $750 million. Hopefully, it will continue to share this mobile market share data in the future.
According to ZDNet.co.uk, in November 2007 Google confirmed that all the OHA (Open Handset Alliance) members had signed a non-fragmentation agreement stating they wouldn’t modify the code in non-compatible ways, although the results don’t seem to be the expected ones.
It wasn’t long ago when using an Android phone really just meant using a G1 phone. In one short year, we’ve seen different models of phones pop up from different carriers all over the world. This is a great thing for Android as a platform because more users means more apps and hardware choices. Unfortunately, there are many complications coming.
The G1, MyTouch and Hero phones all use a screen size called HVGA, or Half VGA. It is 320 pixels wide and 480 pixels tall. That’s exactly the same number of pixels as the iPhone’s screen. Up until about 2 months ago, every app developed for Android was developed specifically for that screen size. That was easy and it worked well. With the introduction of Android version 1.6, support was added different screen sizes. The platform does a nice job of letting developers tell the market what size screens their app supports, but that’s only half the story.
Many 2D games are developed for a fixed size screen. Games that scroll up or sideways don’t really have too much of a problem adapting to new screen sizes but games that use an “arena” have to figure out what to do. The new screen sizes aren’t just bigger or smaller – if they were, we could simple scale up or down for them. They are actually wider and narrower as well which is especially difficult to cope with.
In a recent talk with Froogloid via Twitter they said “fragmentation is here! We’ll have to write special rules in every app to handle different phone models, not just firmware. uhg”. In this article we will talk more about this matter. Chris Fagan explains to us that Froogloid is having some problems in running their applications as expected in different Android phones with different firmware versions and manufacture customized ROMs. Chris explains:
“In addition to the ROM’s, Google is supporting 3 active firmwares simultaneously; 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0. Each time a new firmware version is released we inevitably find bugs and spend a lot of time troubleshooting without much documentation from google. We usually have to rely on dev forums to find our answers or luck out and figure it out ourselves! Also, the fact that there are three firmwares available means we have to write custom code on each to support each firmware version. That in itself becomes a nightmare to manage!”
Nearly a year ago the T-Mobile G1/HTC Dream was the only Android device available, but Android is growing very fast and today we have several devices with different firmware versions (1.5, 1.6 and 2.0). Also, each manufacter is trying to standout from the rest by adding custom user interfaces like HTC Sense UI, Motorola MotoBlur and the recently announced Rachael UI from Sony Ericsson. We have different hardware too, like phones with/without camera flash, the lack of physical buttons in some equipments like the Home, Back or Search, different screen resolutions and so on. Once again Chris Fagan shares their view:
“To top it off, you may build an app that works perfectly with all three firmwares, but then when you run it on carriers ROM it completely blows up! So then we find ourselves having to create apps that are compatible with multiple firmwares, multiple ROM’s, and multiple devices leveraging different hardware (for example some phones have cameras with a flash)”
In a developer perspective, we can see that it’s getting harder for developers to maintain their applications. Chirs Fagan from Froogloid told us that for example, running one of their application, a2b, in Sprint HTC Hero launches the wrong settings. Instead of launching GPS settings it launches the “screen unlock pattern” settings which is in the same main settings area “security and location” on other android phones, but for some reason location is not listed when settings are brought up. It appears “security” and “location” may be 2 different settings areas.
Another aspect is the short time between the release of the SDK and the official firmware. Developers have to rebuild their code to work in the new firmware and sometimes this passage is not so straightforward. Applications built fo 1.5 and 1.6 can have problems running on 2.0 or can’t run at all and some of them will have to be changed and use new APIs provided by 2.0.
So, what can be done in the future to avoid fragmentation? Applications have a big role in the growth of a platform, so, can the Android fragmentation be a drawback in Android growth? Can we expect that in a near feature developers start to develop applications that are compatible with only some devices or firmware versions?
In a video (seen below) published before Android was even released as open source, Dan Morrill describes how google intends to prevent fragmentation of the platform. He says “traditionally the industry has tried to enforce compatibility by a contractual or stick approach”, that he describes as “we’re gonna give you the source code but only if you agree to follow there rules we set out”, or “we’re gonna give you the source code but only if you follow a particular test compatibility”.
He goes on to explain that Google wants to take a different approach, “what we wanna do is set the bar really high, we wanna make sure this is a device the end users love, and when the end users love they will tell their carriers that they love this device”, “by doing it that way people won’t have an incentive to fragment the platform … basically why would they take a successful platform and remove some of the key ingredients that made it successful in the first place”.
The type of fragmentation referred by Dan Morrill may not seem to be directly related with the compatibility issues being reported by developers, since the problem is not that “key ingredients” are being removed from the platform, but that those compatibility issues are unintended consequences of the manufacturer’s ROM customizations.
According to ZDNet.co.uk, in November 2007 Google confirmed that all the OHA (Open Handset Alliance) members had signed a non-fragmentation agreement stating they wouldn’t modify the code in non-compatible ways, although the results don’t seem to be the expected ones. Should Google intervene and have a more active role in the way manufacters customize their ROMs? Shouldn’t it be the manufacturer’s responsibility to assure that it’s customized ROMs maintain application compatibility?
Since the community plays a big role in the android platform development, wouldn’t we be able to develop a solution for this problem? Like what is happening with the JavaScript implementation testing in web browsers, there could be one or more community driven compatibility test suites in which developers create test cases that exercise a specific standard functionality or expose a specific problem in some ROM.
The test suites could then be run by developers and users in all the variety of ROM and device combinations, and the results made available online, helping manufacturer awareness of the compatibility issues in their ROMs. The manufacturers would still be responsible for pushing ROM updates to users, freeing developers from maintaining workarounds in their code.
7Touch Open Source – s7ratingview
UIView that allows you to build Rating components to provide the same kind of experience AppStore or Youtube applications on iPhone do.
Force Close
Force Close is a question and answer site for questions about the open-source Android operating system that runs on cell phones (like the Google Nexus One, Motorola Droid and more.) It’s 100% free, no registration required.
