Hasta La Gadget!

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he’ll explore where our industry is and where it’s going — on both micro and macro levels — with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

A few weeks ago I sat down with the father of Android, Andy Rubin. Andy’s a super smart person, having done stints at Apple, General Magic, WebTV and Danger before starting the Android project. We talked about a lot of things, and we particularly spent time discussing Android fragmentation. I’ve written in the past about my concern that the Android platform is fragmenting much like desktop Linux has over the years, and the potential for the platform to turn into a patchwork of devices and vendor specific modifications that bear little relationship with each other. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my conversation with Andy, and I’ve rewritten this column more than a few times as a result.

Today, there are at least five different versions of Android on the market. Many of them are highly customized to allow for new features and device differentiation, but that same customization also makes it harder for vendors to update them to the latest versions. New releases and versions of Android are often outdated by newer versions in the span of just a few weeks. For example, the Nexus One when released was capable of running apps like Google Earth that devices such as the Droid could not, because it ran Android 2.0, not 2.1.Tablet vendors complain their Android offerings lack features such as Android Market because Google forbids them to install the marketplace app, forcing them to create proprietary alternatives. It would appear Android is indeed fragmenting — but perhaps there are other forces at work.

When I spoke with Andy, he pointed out there are several classical symptoms of platform fragmentation. First, older APIs no longer work and break in new releases. Second, multiple application marketplaces offer different applications that lack uniformity across platforms. Both of these are true when you look at desktop Linux. Neither are true of Android.

Continue reading Entelligence: Is Android fragmented or is this the new rate of innovation?

Entelligence: Is Android fragmented or is this the new rate of innovation? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While there’s certainly plenty to love about HTC’s EVO 4G, that 4G in the title is certainly one of the major draws. We’re guessing it’ll be a little easier to sell the things if customers can experience the wonders of WiMAX for themselves, so that’s probably why RadioShack is (according to our tipster) installing these Clearwire WiMAX repeaters in at least some of its stores ahead of the May 30 June 4 launch of the phone there. This will effectively turn The Shack into 4G hotspots and, while we’re not sure of the range of these bad boys, this is a good thing even if it extends the reach of WiMAX just a few feet further into our lives. Another picture after the break.

Update: Oops, the phone is of course launching on June 4. It’s 4G that’s going live in this tipster’s home city on May 30.

[Thanks, Markus]

Continue reading Radio Shack stores getting WiMAX upgrades ahead of Evo launch?

Radio Shack stores getting WiMAX upgrades ahead of Evo launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 08:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You remember those Android 2.1-powered LG Allys that were supposed to go on sale with Big Red earlier this week? Yeah, well, they didn’t, and Verizon’s site is still showing them as pre-orders. We’re not sure what’s going on there, but pre-orders are being extended through the 26th with sales commencing on the 27th; folks that have already pre-ordered the phone are apparently getting emails explaining the situation and letting them know that they’ll be “the first to receive the phone upon initial availability on or after May 27th.” The “or after” part there seems to be giving them a loophole in case they need another delay — so this could be a last-minute software issue, supply problems, some sort of wacky marketing stunt, or a stunning heist involving the theft of every Ally that has been imported to the United States thus far. Your guess?

LG Ally release pushed back a week for reasons unknown originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 01:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As of last month, there were still no solid plans to ever bring HP Compaq’s Airlife 100 smartbook to US soil, and judging by the first reviews surfacing across the pond, the company should probably consider keeping it that way. In a land already saturated with increasingly powerful netbooks, highly capable smartphones and a blossoming selection of tablets, the actual need for a so-called smartbook is questionable at best. For those still interested in paying near-netbook prices for this (on contract with a carrier, no less), you should probably first take a gander at the reviews linked below. Put simply, the Airlife 100 just wasn’t a contender, and it had issues handling basic tasks like playing back HD videos and loading the full Gmail experience. ‘Course, Android 1.6 is looking severely dated right about now, so we can’t say we’re shocked to hear so much negativity. The design itself was universally praised, but when you can snag a Crystal HD-equipped netbook (sans a data plan agreement, to boot) for just a few Euros more, it’s hard to justify locking yourself into something far less intelligent.

Continue reading HP Compaq Airlife 100 review roundup: a little too dumb for a smartbook

HP Compaq Airlife 100 review roundup: a little too dumb for a smartbook originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since its initial launch on the T-Mobile G1 in October of 2008, Google’s Android operating system has evolved rapidly — perhaps more rapidly than any other operating system in recent memory — to become one of the most important and prolific smartphone platforms in the market today. Its latest incarnation, announced at Google’s I/O conference in San Francisco this week, began life as codename “Froyo” (continuing its tradition of naming new versions as desserts in alphabetical order, starting with Cupcake) to officially become Android 2.2. Don’t be fooled by the mere 0.1 boost in the version number over 2.1 Eclair, though — this is a huge upgrade that represents the most user-friendly, compelling, and feature-complete version of the little green guy to date. Read on for our full look!

Continue reading Android 2.2 Froyo: everything you ever wanted to know

Android 2.2 Froyo: everything you ever wanted to know originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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