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Motorola's Xoom, the first Android tablet to run "Honeycomb." Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Motorola’s Xoom tablet is the first promising alternative to Apple’s iPad, but the sickly condition of Android’s tablet app ecosystem may end up stalling the platform’s progress.

One month after its launch, the Xoom currently has about 50 native apps available for Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Google’s version of Android optimized for tablets.

That’s pitiful compared with the iPad, which was released last year with approximately 1,000 native apps on launch day. The Xoom debuted with a paltry 15 Honeycomb-native apps available for download in its catalog.

50 apps is a pretty small number, and the actual total may be even smaller. The official Android online market, as well as other online message forums for Android enthusiasts, place the number of Xoom apps somewhere close to 50. But this number hardly seems accurate, as it includes existing Android applications which have been re-sized to take advantage of the tablet’s larger screen. The number of apps with interfaces made specifically for the tablet is probably diminutive.

Still, it’s unclear why more developers haven’t taken the short cut and re-sized their apps for Honeycomb. It could be that developers aren’t sold on the idea of re-sizing their apps to fit more screen real estate, as opposed to “building a true tablet experience that takes advantage of the new platform’s possibilities,” iOS developer Justin Williams told Wired.com in an interview.

And even if developers wanted to create such a “true tablet experience,” they’re hard-pressed to do it without the source code for Honeycomb, which Google is currently keeping a tight reign over. The big device manufacturers working on Honeycomb-powered hardware — like HTC, Motorola and Samsung — all have early access to the code, but only after licensing agreements were made with Google. Smaller developers don’t have this luxury.

“Apple was wise to have the tools out there months in advance of launch,” Williams said, “as compared to Google who made them available only a short time before.”

To be fair, the Xoom is currently the only Android tablet on the market running Android 3.0. Once the glut of Honeycomb-running hardware devices arrives — like the June release of LePad from Chinese electronics manufacturer Lenovo, which was delayed specifically to ensure the tablet will run Honeycomb — we could reasonably expect to see more tablet-optimized applications available. Samsung’s redesigned Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also run Honeycomb, and will also launch this summer.

“Google needs more hardware,” says Williams, “and they need to get developers excited about building tablet experiences, not just larger screened phone apps.”

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

See Also:

• Report: Motorola Xoom Tablet to Cost a Hefty $800
• Motorola Thinks You’ll Pay $800 for the Xoom Tablet
• Motorola Xoom Launches Without Flash
• Honeycomb
• Video: Android ‘Honeycomb’ Tablet OS Revealed
• Video: Motorola Tablet Running Android 3.0 Honeycomb
• Upcoming Asus Tablets Will Run Android Honeycomb
• What We Know About Honeycomb, the Android for Tablets

Like all good things Sony Ericsson, the Xperia Arc didn’t wait for an official announcement to make itself known. First appearing on a set of teasing posters at CES in January, it confounded us with a ridiculously thin (8.7mm / 0.3in) profile and an unorthodox concave rear, whose sighting was followed up with the revelation of a potent mix of internal components as well. The same 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 processor and Adreno 205 graphics that you’ll find on brandmate Xperia Play are present within the Arc, and are backed by 512MB of RAM (320MB available to apps), 8GB of MicroSD storage, an 8 megapixel Exmor R image sensor, an HDMI output, and a 1500mAh battery. That tightly packed interior is then topped off with a 4.2-inch Reality Display capable of accommodating 854 x 480 pixels. Throw the latest mobile build of Android, Gingerbread, into the mix and you’ve got yourself a compelling list of reasons for riding aboard this Arc. Nonetheless, spec sheets tell only half the story and we’re here for the full disclosure — what’s the Arc like to use on a daily basis, how are its talents harnessed by Sony Ericsson’s tweaked UI, and, most importantly, do people think better of us for carrying such a stylish phone? Keep reading to find out.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In business, there’s a right way to take on a rival, and apparently, the Dell way. If you’re up for taking a lesson in the latter, look no further than the CIO article down in our source link. There, Dell’s global head of marketing for large enterprises and public organizations, Andy Lark, attempted to prove why the iPad didn’t stand a chance in the enterprise market — a market where two-thirds of the Fortune 100 are already adopting or piloting the device. The interview meanders on in a few different directions, but the highlight of the whole thing is right here:

“An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying,” he claimed. “That’s not feasible…. Apple is great if you’ve got a lot of money and live on an island. It’s not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex.”

Even in Australia, the most expensive iPad 2 (a 64GB model with 3G) runs A$949, and unless Lark plans on bundling an Optimus Maximus and Hela Glider Mouse into the package, we’re struggling to see where his estimates came from. In fact, the one thing that major tablet makers have struggled to match the iPad on is price, making the comparison even more galling. ‘Tis a shame — all he would’ve had to do in order to be taken seriously was point out the lackluster screen resolution, omission of a USB port, the missing SD card slot and disgusting reliance on iTunes. Lesson learned, we guess.

Update: Andy himself pinged us to reveal that pricing in the article was actually referring to New Zealand dollars, but confessed that it never cited as such. NZ$1600 rolls down to around $1219, so it starts to make a lot more sense there. This also included basic adapters and such that’d be necessary to make an iPad do fairly basic tasks, like output video and interface with a limited selection of USB peripherals.

Dell’s Andy Lark bashes the iPad, points out far-fetched figures instead of actual flaws originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After reading a heartwarming review of the European-spec HTC Incredible S we’re left wondering when we, the colonies, will get ourselves a taste. The US-spec Incredible 2 looks to be coming soon enough, but our neighbors to the north will keep the S moniker, and are said to be getting it soon. It’s believed to be hitting Bell on April 4th, and now the above image purports to show the phone also listed in Virgin‘s inventory system. The price is $499.99, while a carbon fiber shield is going for a bargain $24.95 — useful if you want that Atrix look but are hoping for PlayStation certification thanks to the Adreno 205 graphics here.

HTC Incredible S coming to Virgin in Canada for $500? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One thing’s for sure: Cowon’s D3 Plenue is vastly different (and superior) to the firm’s AMOLED-equipped S9 from 2008, and it’s also catering to a vastly different sect of consumers compared to its ultra-capacious X7. This beaut is one of the few pocketable Android-based PMPs available today, offering up a gorgeous 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchpanel (800 x 480), dedicated media controls along the edges, Android 2.1, WiFi, 1080p video output, a built-in microphone and a battery good for up to 21 hours of use. As with every other Cowon player, this one also supports every file format ever conceived, including FLAC, APE and OGG — three that the audiophiles in attendance will definitely recognize. The real question here is simple: does having Android on a non-connected (cellular, anyway) device really do you much good, and moreover, is it really worth the $357.99 asking price? We’ll discuss these points and more in our full review just after the break. Join us, won’t you?

Continue reading Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video)

Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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