Archive for the ‘Android Handsets’ Category

Zii Egg Plaszma: Android’s answer to Ipod Touch?

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

ZiiLABS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the launch of Plaszma – an open standards development platform. The Zii Plaszma Platform includes the Zii EGG StemCell Computer( also supports Android™) , Plaszma OS and Plaszma SDK.

The Zii EGG is an energy efficient handheld StemCell Computer based on the powerful ZiiLABS ZMS-05 media-rich applications processor. Besides its multi-touch 3.5-inch LCD screen, it can also output HD video at up to 1080p. The ZMS-05 has 24 floating-point processors that deliver up to 8 GFLOPS of raw processing power and its flexible StemCell computing architecture allows stunning 3D graphics on a small handheld battery-powered device.

Zii Optimized Android gives developers the chance to use the familiar Android OS, but with a difference. Harnessing StemCell Computing Technology found on the ZMS-05 Media Rich Processor, Android is now super-charged with seamless 3D graphics and High Definition video playback performance.

The Plaszma SDK Starter Kit is available for immediate purchase at US$399 on www.zii.com. This Starter Kit comes bundled comes with Plaszma OS, Plaszma SDK and the Zii Optimised Android OS.

As an introductory offer, ZiiLABS is offering a 32GB Zii EGG for FREE with the purchase of the Plaszma SDK Starter Kit, limited to one per customer while stocks last.

For customers who want to run the Android OS, an after-sales installer upgrade will be made available soon allowing them to change their operating system selection.

Another device for Android developers to be excited about.

Looks like Apple has really good competition for its Ipod Touch and Zii Egg Plasma will give Apple run for its money, if the marketing and launch of the device is done properly.

Is investing 399 USD in a non phone device worthwhile? The question remains to be answered :)

For product information, please visit www.zii.com.

For more technical information, please visit www.ziilabs.com

For press release visit http://www.ziilabs.com/news/releases/pr20090728A.aspx

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Motorola’s first Android phone coming soon….?

Monday, May 18th, 2009

According to BGR, T-mobile’s G1 v2 also known as BigFoot will be made by Motorola and not HTC. That would be really interesting, as Motorola lately hasn’t been manufacturer of choice for smartphones. WIll Motorola be able to live up to the task? Why isn’t HTC not involved? Would be interesting to find out details…..

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Updating Android Developer Phone(ADP) 1 to Android 1.5 ‘Cupcake’

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

 Android 1.5 ‘Cupcake’ update has been available for Android Developer Phone(ADP) 1 for past couple of days. In earlier post, I had mentioned about it and it’s availability at HTC site.

Please note, that the update available on HTC site is only for Android Developer Phone(ADP) 1 – HTC Dream hardware platform only and device should also have original factory bootloader (hboot 0.95.3000) or a development bootloader that supports fastboot. The update for Tmobile G1 has been rumored to be available OTA and some users have claimed to received it yesterday. But as of today, it hasn’t been confirmed to be available for all users.

 There are two ways of updating developer phone 1 to android 1.5 (as described on HTC site):-

  1. Flashing the device using an updated recovery image (recovery-image method): This method is recommended by HTC for android application developers. It is straightforward method which requires the use of adb tool (available with Android SDK) along with device with original factory bootloader (hboot 0.95.3000)

  2. Flashing the device using fastboot commands (fastboot method): This method is slightly more complicated than the first one. It requires the use of adb tool (available with Android SDK) and fastboot tool. To use this method, your device must have a fastboot-compatible bootloader. Having the original factory bootloader included on ADP devices is not required.

I used the the first method to update my dev phone (ADP) and it was piece of cake (or should I say piece of ‘Cupcake’ :) ) . Surprisingly, it was easier than some of the OS updates I have done over the years.

To check the steps i followed to update , please click here

Please note, these steps worked for me and it is not necessary that they will work for you. Please follow the steps at your own risk and I should not be held liable for any damages/injuries caused while following them. These steps are based on the instructions provided on HTC site.

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Unboxing Google’s Android Developer Phone 1

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

 

At last the day came and Google’s Android Developer Phone 1 arrived. I had been waiting for it like kid waits for Christmas day for presents. I had been following the Fedex shipment ever since I got the tracking number. I should say it was weird experience all the way. First, the tracking number provided two shipment details, so I was asked to pick one of them. Surprisingly, one shipment was a past order which had been delivered already last month. It has never happened to me earlier. So, today when I went to pick up my parcel from doorman, I found that it contained wrong apartment number on it. Nope, it wasn’t shipper issue, probably earlier doorman did it by mistake but it was another weird sign, I should say.:)

So, like anxious child, I started unwrapping the package. It seemed light compared to other phone packages I have received. As I opened it, it was rather plain packaging, a white box with no writing or advertisement on it. Suddenly, my thought went to Iphone and it’s packaging.

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Samsung announces its first Android handset

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Today, Samsung officially joined the manufacturers of android handsets. The company annouced its first Android handset. The handset will be launched in Europe in June. The rumors were available on Engadget Mobile site but it has now been officially confirmed. The handset I7500 will feature 3.2 AMOLED screen with WIFI, GPS, 5 megapixel camera and standard 3.5mm headset jack.It will feature quad-band GSM, tri-band 7.2Mbps HSDPA (900/1700/2100MHz).

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