Hasta La Gadget!

Remember the blurry blob of pixels reputed to be Samsung’s entrance to the Android handset market? It was initially expected to come into focus sometime after July, but word from Dr. Won-Pyo Hong, a Samsung VP, is that the phone will see international release a month earlier, in June. He has also confirmed that two other Google-powered handsets are in development by the company, both set for US release sometime in the second half of the year. The phones are said to be “totally different” from each other and will be so at odds they’ll have to go to separate networks or risk creating a hilarious feud of the type we haven’t seen since TV’s Perfect Strangers. Both are said to offer considerable enhancements and tweaks to Android that should distance them HTC’s offerings, but will the two ever stand a chance of getting along? Don’t be ridiculous!

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Samsung’s Android phone arriving to the party earlier than expected, bringing friends originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LAS VEGAS — About five months after HTC G1, the first Google Android operating system based device, made its debut, HTC is ready to roll out its second Android phone.

Called the HTC Magic/Sapphire, the phone will be released through service provider Vodafone in parts of Europe but recent FCC filings indicate it is likely to come to the U.S. soon with T-Mobile as the telecom carrier.

At the CTIA 2009 conference, we had a chance to briefly get hands on with the G2, though HTC didn’t want to acknowledge the device with that moniker.

In terms of looks, the HTC Magic with Android OS looks very similar to the G1, except that it lacks a slide-out keyboard. Overall the phone feels slimmer and lighter than the G1 though it is unlikely to win any points for sleek design. The black finish is basic and the phone has the standard five-button configuration.

The HTC Magic will be the first Android phone without a keyboard. The G2’s on-screen keyboard is fairly responsive though nowhere near the iPhone or Palm Pre quality.

The phone’s main screen has icons for messaging, browser, maps, contacts and the Android market. Switching between contacts and browser seemed pretty smooth but overall our impression is that there is little to really make users go ‘wow’ when they see the device.

The HTC Magic will start retailing through Vodafone within the next three weeks, says HTC spokesperson Eric Lin.

Here’s another picture of the phone

See also
HTC, Vodafone Show World’s Second Googlephone

Photos: HTC Magic/G2 Priya Ganapati

Sure, we’ve already seen Android pop up on the HP 2133 Mini-Note thanks to some intrepid DIYers, but now comes word from The Wall Street Journal that HP’s got programmers looking into using the Google OS officially for an upcoming netbook. VP of the PC division Satjiv Chahil’s quoted as saying they’re in the process of assessing its capabilities, so don’t get your hopes up anytime soon. Also mentioned is Asus, which we already knew about from back in February. Interestingly, the report states that Dell’s been tweaking the software for use in multiple devices due out this year, including a MID and one of those long-rumored smartphones — that is, assuming they make one that can tickle the carrier’s fancy.

Update: HP confirms that it is testing Android but “has made no decision yet whether to offer Android in products.”

[Via Unwired View]

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops

WSJ: Android being considered for HP netbook, Dell MID and smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to folks over at Android Community, Google has begun to pull tethering applications from the G1’s Market. One of the contributors to the “WiFi Tether for Root Users” app claims that the company is citing distribution agreements with carriers as the cause of the takedowns. In their words:

Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer’s or Authorized Carrier’s terms of service” Google Developer Distribution Agreement

Of course, this should come as quite a surprise, given statements T-Mobile’s Cole Brodman made to us during the G1 launch last year, and Google’s seemingly rampant interest in being the de facto open source mobile OS. It’s not clear at this point if this is an isolated incident (possibly related to the root nature of the app), or just the beginning of a more widespread move. Google (and T-Mobile to some extent) — we await your response.

[Thanks, Chris]

Filed under: Cellphones

Is Google pulling tethering apps from the Android Market? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a public release to investors over the weekend, Archos revealed company plans to release an Android-powered internet tablet by the start of Q3 2009.

In light of a difficult year financially, the French-based company intends to ‘integrate telephony’ in the device in order to jump into the fray of the communications/media single-player gadget market. 

According to the release, Archos intends to improve its new lineup of media players in four ways: Increased availability of mobile TV (through WiFi and 3G networks), better mobile web services, direct media content through the Archos Media Club download service, and by adding a phone ‘communication’ feature.

Presumably, all aspects will be improved with the use of the Android OS. Having reviewed the latest version of the Archos players, I think a flexible OS and sleeker browser UI are obvious places in need of improvement. But the continuing focus on content from the Archos Media Club is disappointing, since I found the current version to be mainly composed of overpriced crapware.

The addition of a phone is the latest move for a company looking to quickly diversify its product line.

Back at CES, Archos announced it was getting into the netbook arena with a mostly unimpressive (and basically re-packaged) laptop hardware. Then, a couple of months ago, an Archos executive said the company was looking into integrating vibrant OLED screens into their players if it improved the experience.

At the time, we noted that while the latest Archos players are already excellent video and music media players, browsing the net was a slow, crippling experience in comparison to the iPhone.

Adding phone functionality to an Archos tablet seems like a no-brainer, since the company has likely lost business to companies offering all-in-one media experiences.

Last year, Archos posted a loss of $24 million (on a gross margin of $13.7 million), or about half the amount it made in 2007. This was despite a line-up of products that were mostly of high quality, though they did tend to skew toward the expensive.

There is currently no word on exactly how much the Android internet tablet/phone will cost or whether it will follow the aesthetic design of the most recent players. But the release does mention the price may go all the way up to 500 Euros or more than $650.