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Archive for the 'Android' Tag

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Who will offer fastest wireless Internet?

March 23rd, 2010, 4:32 pm by

It’s a big week for mobile Internet, as nearly every wireless company is at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas and unveiling plans for cell phone customers in the U.S. But is there anything we should really care about?

More people are moving to smartphones and rely on cellular-based wireless for Internet. The mobile Web needs to speed up, big time.

Currently 3rd-generation (3G) Internet speeds are around 1 megabit per second. The coming 4G technology promises much faster service.  Sprint and T-Mobile announced their upgrades today. Verizon’s is coming tomorrow.

If you’re trying to sort out what mobile service is in your future, here’s what it comes down to:

► T-Mobile: Announced “Rollout the Nation’s Fastest 3G Wireless Network.”
Speeds: Using a technology called HSPA+, T-Mobile  says its mobile Internet will jump to speeds of 21 megabits per second. The announcement Tuesday included a “coming soon” for Los Angeles (and Orange County) users.
Reality: 21 mbps is a theoretical speed. As with every wireless Internet, speed will vary based on “location, device, and overall traffic on the local wireless network,” which T-Mobile does note. How slow? One reviewer seemed impressed when he squeezed 3 mbps out of T-Mobile’s service. Users also must upgrade to a HSPA device (here’s a list) and, ultimately, this is 3G and not 4G technology. However, it’s one of the fastest wireless technologies available today and should be everywhere by end of year.

► Sprint: Expanded its limited 4G wireless Internet to more areas, including North Orange County later this year.
Speeds: Using 4G Wimax technology, Sprint says its mobile Internet is 3 to 6 mbps, which is “up to 10 times faster” than today’s existing 3G speeds of around 600 kilobits per second, says Sprint.
Reality: The same reviewer who tested T-Mobile’s HSPA+ discovered Sprint’s 4G speed was slower, at 2.25 mbps. Other 4G user forums mention how it’s slower than 3G. But there are no caps on usage, and it’s the only 4G service publicly available.

► Verizon: Still waiting to hear Verizon’s update, which is coming Wednesday.
Speeds: Its mobile Internet service using Long Term Evolution technology (LTE) is on track for this year. Peak download of 40 to 50 mbps; upload speed of 20 to 25 mbps.
Reality: Since speed is reliant on environment and other users, Verizon says the average download speed is more like 5 to 12 mbps, while upload speed is 2 to 5 mbps.

► AT&T: Appears to be concentrating on other news this week and announced connected digital photo frames and GPS-enabled dog collars. The company, which is sticking with HSPA for now until it moves to LTE, did express disbelief as to whether LTE is ready for prime time.

More CTIA news:

  • Verizon Wireless smartphone customers can add Skype beginning Thursday. Calls to other Skype users won’t affect available minutes. Read details
  • First Android phone with 4G and 3G service coming from Sprint this summer. The HTC Evo even has its own site: www.sprint.com/evo.  Read details
  • T-Mobile announces first netbook. Read details

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

Google Android walkie-talkie phone heads to Sprint this summer

March 22nd, 2010, 2:09 pm by
Another image: (larger)

Spotted: Just learned that Sprint’s first Google Android phone will come from Motorola and include push-to-talk capability, a.k.a. a Walkie-Talkie.

The Motorola i1 will also have a 3.1-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera and microSD slot. Plus, it’s one of Motorola’s rugged phones so it’s built to Military Spec 810F and can stand some dust, shock and “blowing rain,” says Motorola.

No price was announced, but expect monthly fees to be around $70 if you opt for Sprint’s Everything Data 450 plan (unlimited calls to U.S. wireless users, unlimited Direct Connect, unlimited texting, e-mail and Web and GPS).

Sprint will start selling the i1 this summer. More details at www.sprint.com/motoi1. Here’s Motorola’s press release. Full specs listed in the chart below:

Motorola i1
Talk and Standby Time3 Up to 4 days standby; Up to 210 min talk time
Bands/Modes 800 / 900 (i) 2400 (w)
Weight 131.26 grams, 4.63 oz.
Dimensions 58mm length 118mm depth 12.8 mm
OS Android 1.5
Battery 1400mAh
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth2 2.0 micro USB; Over the Air Sync, 2.5mm headset jack
Display 3.1” display 320×480 HVGA  265k TFT
Messaging/ Email MMS, SMS,  corporate, Gmail IMAP, POP3, Attachment and document viewer
Audio Adobe Flash, MP3, WAV, WMA, WMV, MIDI, MP4
Video H.263,  H.264, WMV
Camera 5MP, auto-focus, LED flash, 4X digital zoom
Browser Opera Mini 5 Browser, Android Webkit w/Adobe Flash Lite®
Memory Removable 2GB memory card included, up to 32GB supported
Form Factor Full touch screen
Antenna Internal

More cell phone coverage:

Posted in: Cell phones • Gadgets • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Crappy Internet? Tell the government

March 12th, 2010, 3:30 pm by

A new mobile app lets consumers test how fast their phone or home’s Internet connection is — or isn’t.

The app’s owner? The U.S. Federal Communications Commission. As part of that National Broadband plan, the FCC wants consumers to be informed about what their broadband availability is and help contribute to the FCC’s Broadband Dead Zone Report.

“Transparency empowers consumers, promotes innovation and investment, and encourages competition,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “The FCC’s new digital tools will arm users with real-time information about their broadband connection and the agency with useful data about service across the country. By informing consumers about their broadband service quality, these tools help eliminate confusion and make the market work more effectively.”

The app, called the Consumer Broadband Test, measures speed and latency and reports it back to the FCC. It’s available in the Apple and Android app stores. There’s also a Web version at www.broadband.gov.

No broadband Internet? Consumers can also submit their results to the FCC by e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov, telephone, 888-CALL-FCC, or snail mail addressed to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau,
ATTN: Broadband Dead Zone Reporting
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554

One note: By taking the test, you’re giving the FCC some personal info including your IP address and home address.  Read the privacy statement.

More on the web:

Posted in: Cell phones • Internet • iPhone • • • • • • • • | 12 Comments »

Broadcom not just iPhone supporter, likes Google’s Android too

February 9th, 2010, 2:45 pm by

Broadcom Corp.Irvine chipmaker Broadcom Corp. has fully joined the Android camp and said today that its wireless technologies fully support Google’s mobile operating system.

What does that mean? Conceivably cheaper phones because Broadcom likes to cram several features into one chip. In this case, the company said its series of wireless chips that offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and VoIP, are now available for Android phones.

While most Android phones already have these features, manufacturers can now purchase one chip instead of three separate ones. That could decrease the cost of making the phone and/or free up space inside the phone since multiple chips are no longer needed.

On top of the full Android support, Broadcom points out that its chips offer the latest Bluetooth technology, previously unavailable for in Android phones. Broadcom offers Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, which means faster connections of up to 24 mbps. That will come in handy for those who like to share videos, photos or other files between phones or any other mobile devices. Broadcom’s new Android push isn’t just for phones but also tablets, which it will demonstrate next week during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Android manufacturers who add the Broadcom chips will be the first with faster Bluetooth.

Broadcom, of course, has long supported the iPhone and was among the first to provide chips for the revolutionary phone. But now, with analysts expecting Android to be the second most popular mobile software by 2013, Broadcom decided to expand its support.

The company isn’t new to Android. It previously demonstrated support for Android on personal navigation devices; Android chips that combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM radio; and support for an Android HD camcorder, video player and 12-megapixel camera.

Previously on Broadcom:

Posted in: news • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

It’s official: Google’s very own phone announced

January 5th, 2010, 3:37 pm by

Google Nexus OneNoted: For those following what’s new in cell phones, Google did unveil the Nexus One this afternoon. (I’m heading to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show so I’m just posting the essentials below). Here’s the web site: www.google.com/phone

Good news: You can buy it unlocked for $529 or with T-Mobile service for $179 or  coming soon, with Verizon Wireless service or Vodaphone service.

More details from Google:

Nexus One Hardware Features

Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display
Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • • | 11 Comments »

10 things I loved, hated about the Motorola Droid

November 6th, 2009, 9:55 am by

Motorola Droid from Verizon WirelessI, for one, am very glad that there is more to mobile phones than the iPhone, which is a very nice phone. But if the world only wanted an iPhone, gadget geeks everywhere wouldn’t have much to look forward to. And today, we’re looking forward to the new Motorola Droid, on sale today from Verizon Wireless (There are 40 Verizon stores within 25 miles of Santa Ana. Here’s a store locator).

After a week with the Droid, I’m seriously digging its Google Android 2.0 operating system, which will pop up in more phones from Verizon Wireless and other carriers. While I wouldn’t call the Droid a game changer for the industry, it’s a game changer for Verizon Wireless because for the first time the company let outsiders help develop the phone. Even tinkerers who want to develop Android apps can  influence the Verizon phone in a way that was prohibited before.

The phone itself is an improvement over the original Google phone, the G1 (my current phone), with a sleeker shape and better internal technology. A 3.7-inch screen makes it the largest smartphone screen out there. The slide-out keyboard is a bonus. But, as with any gadget, I have an opinion. There are features I love, like and hate. Let me start with what I don’t like.

5 things I don’t like about the Droid:

1. Screen sensitivity: Nice big screen, but not as responsive and smooth as the iPhone. Not sure if it’s a glitch, but sometimes shortcuts I placed on the main screen did nothing when pressed. Other times, one touch popped up the application. Also, when scrolling on the Web, it can be jerky as images load. Reminds me of pre-broadband everywhere days. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Car tech • Cell phones • Gadgets • • • • • • • • • • | 34 Comments »

We’ve got Verizon’s new Droid! Watch the video

October 28th, 2009, 6:19 pm by

Motorola Droid from Verizon WirelessHot new phone alert: Motorola Droid from Verizon Wireless goes on sale next week on Nov. 6. But wait no further to get a closer look. Verizon and Motorola folks stopped by my office this morning to show it off. And they’ve left one for me to play with for one week.

So, to appease the 71 readers who want me to bring back gadget coverage (you, too, can sign up HERE), I’ve got photos, a video and a short review below.

I am personally excited about this phone because I have come to heavily rely on Google Android, which powers my T-Mobile G1 as well as the new Droid. Only, the Droid is the first phone to get Android 2.0, so the software is already better than existing Google phones. Still, any Android phone has the benefit of automatic syncing with your Google account — no need to tether and wait for-ever for contacts, e-mail or calendar items to sync.

Here’s the 2-minute first look at the new phone and some features, with help from videographer Rob Whitfield:

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Brightcove video.

Ken Muche, from Verizon Wireless, and Paul Nicholson, Motorola’s global marketing director, boiled down their favorite features — I’ve included some of my own observations (Click all images to enlarge): Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • | 7 Comments »

Verizon releasing Google Android phones in ‘next few weeks’

October 6th, 2009, 8:09 am by

Google AndroidNoted: Google’s first cell phone, the G1 from T-Mobile, went on sale last Oct. 22. Could the company be planning a big one-year anniversary by releasing more phones?

Verizon Wireless mentions today that it has joined Google in a strategic partnership to “leverage the Verizon Wireless network and the best of the Android,” the name of Google’s phone software.

No specific details disclosed other than the ending line, “The agreement will come to fruition within the next few weeks as Verizon Wireless introduces Android-based handsets.”

(Disclosure: I have the original G1.)

The news comes out of the big wireless convention being held in San Diego today International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment show is just getting started so I suspect we’ll be hearing more news from the mobile phone companies.

T-Mobile recently added a second Android phone, the MyTouch. Sprint’s first Android phone, the HTC Hero, goes on sale  Thursday, October 8.

Related:

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • | 3 Comments »

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