Google has released the Honeycomb SDK for developers, which is about time seeing that we’re hearing Honeycomb’s official launch is in March. A month’s time should be sufficient the least we can say here, though I’m not sure what app can you whip out in one month. This is more like a try-out of Honeycomb. A version of the Android 3.0 SDK billed as a “preview” is now available for download, featuring “non-final” APIs and system images that will help would-be Android tablet developers get their feet wet as they prepare for an inevitable onslaught of these things over the next few months.
The Samsung Galaxy S is already getting quite some different form in the US, but Samsung has decided that 10 million Galaxy S sold is not enough, and continues to segment up its brand name into some more affordable form factors for different markets and continents.
In order from left to right, the Galaxy Ace is a 3.5-incher that most closely resembles the S patriarch, though it makes do with an 800MHz processor and HVGA screen resolution. It’s said to be available immediately in Russia, to be followed by Europe, India and China soon.
Next is a 3.3-inch QVGA screen and 600MHz speed, while the Gio packs an even smaller display but raises resolution back up to HVGA. The Galaxy mini has to go down as a blatant LG Optimus T KIRF, which might be its sole notable feature, given the 3.1-inch QVGA display and 600MHz capabilities. All three are targeting the same territories as the Ace.
Since Apple is having a great quarter, Microsoft also doesn’t want to lose out to them. Therefore, they’ve dropped some numbers. Here’s what they said:
‘Early research’ says 93 percent of WP7 customers are ‘satisfied’ and 90 percent would recommend the platform to others. We don’t know details about the research, though — number of customers polled, time frame, so on.
Average of 100 new apps in the Marketplace per day, and over 6,500 total are available right now.
Most importantly, “over 2 million” licenses have been sold to OEMs around the world.
Well, these numbers are not the exact same numbers to compare to Apple’s iPhone 4 sales. They’re license sold to an OEM isn’t the same as selling a phone to a customer, since many of these manufactured devices are sitting on store shelves; it’s unclear exactly how many WP7 devices are actually in users’ pockets right now, but the number is certainly less than “over 2 million.” On the other hand, Apple’s iPhone 4 sales is directly sold to customers, but since the WP7 platform has yet to mature, this will be a very bias comparison. Let’s give them a year or two, and we shall see how they
The Germans sure have big dreams, but this dream won’t hurt at all if they manage to crank it up into real product cars. Volkswagen has unveiled its latest Super Efficient Vehicle concept called the XL1. The front might retain the corporate grille and face, but the back does look like another car that I’ve seen before. The back does remind me of some old school cars which have their rear wheels covered up. The Dutch company rated it at 313MPG and produces only 24g of CO2 per kilometre travelled. Read more…
Yes, there might be a small leak few days ago, but now all the hiccups have been cleared. Google’s finally officially turned on Google Voice number porting for all existing users. $20 is all it takes to swap your main line over to the service, although you’ll have to cancel your existing service contracts to make it all happen. The service is currently only available for existing GV users, so you can’t open a new account and port straight away, but Google says new accounts will get the option in the “next few weeks.” Now, what does all this mean to you? Cancel your AT&T iPhone 4, port it to GV, and get that Verizon iPhone 4!
LG already had the title for the world’s first dual-core smartphone, but now they’re going even further. This time, they’re going into 3D. No surprises here if this is the new Tegra 2 3D chip they’re using, since Nvidia already shown that they already have the chip ready as early as Q4 of 2010. Carphone Warehouse’s Dutch outpost has posted a teaser for an upcoming “Optimus 3D” Android smartphone, though the page has since been removed. LG has also shot out invitations to press media worldwide for an “into the new dimension” event at next month’s Mobile World Congress. LG might also be using the same glassless 3D tech shown at CES earlier this month.
The Nexus S has been given the same treatment of the Galaxy S, a white shell at the back, yet leaving the front to the very familiar concave face again. The Next Web suggests Vodafone may be the European carrier for this particular version of the handset. Then again, will Google carry this officially too?
Razer has announced yet another speaker, but this time it’s not a Mako replacement. The new Razer Ferox is a portable gaming speaker. Described as a “sophisticated, modern day boombox for gamers,” the speakers promise to deliver some “room-filling,” 360 degree omni-directional sound like how the Razer Mako works, 12 hours of battery life from the built-in rechargeable batteries and, of course, full compatibility with anything sporting a 3.5mm jack. They even give you a bag to carry it around, which adds your coolness by some 20 points. The Ferox speaker will be available by the end of the month for $60.
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