Hands0n
19th June 2009, 07:56 AM
Not before time too, it looks like the closing quarter of 2009 will be when we'll see more Android handsets appear.
It may be no coincidence that Apple's iPhone firmware version 3.0 has been timed to hit the streets following the arrival of the HTC Magic, the first serious rival to the iPhone itself. Certainly, Apple's 3.0 firmware performs a significant catch-up to Google Android 1.5 (otherwise known as Cupcake). Certainly, Apple have had the touchscreen handset field pretty much all to itself since the iPhone's launch. The HTC Magic changes all of that, and Google Android more than hints that exclusivity is now all but over. This will be good for the consumer, and good for the technology itself.
I find it odd that it is taking so long for Android handsets to appear. Is this because of existing licensing deals with Microsoft (Windows Mobile)? Or are they, allegedly like Sony Ericsson, awaiting Google Android 2.0 (Donut) that promises even more power and sophistication from the OS itself?
Certainly what is becoming clear is that Q3/2009 will see the tip of the wave, then into 2010 and we'll see a several more manufacturers' devices start to appear in the high street.
And so we start to read more frequent articles on the new wave that is approaching us.
LG promises three Android phones for '09
LG has said it plans to launch three Android-based smartphones during 2009.
The firm refused to disclose specific launch dates or provide technical details about any of the devices during as announcement at the ongoing CommunicAsia event in Singapore.
But LG did confirm that its first Android smartphone will appear during the late Q3/early Q4.
Unike other handset manufacturers, LG has kept fairly quiet about its plans to offer phones based on the headline-grabbing Google OS.
But the Korean firm’s latest announcement is hardly surprising. It’s already a member of the Open Handset Alliance - a group of companies, also including Google, which combine efforts to develop open standards for mobile devices.
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/18/lg_android/)
And ...
T-Mobile names next Android handset
T-Mobile has announced the name of its second Android-based handset.
In a post on its Twitter page, the network operator announced today that the phone will be called the G1 Touch.
“Very excited! T-Mobile’s highly anticipated 2nd Android phone has been named the T-Mobile #G1Touch – more soon!” the post read.
T-Mobile’s first Android offering is the HTC-manufactured G1 (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/12/review_smartphone_android_g1/). The second one could be HTC's Magic (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/06/review_smartphone_htc_magic/), currently offered solely by Vodafone.
Google-based handsets are also in the works from Samsung and Vodafone, but given the G1 branding, it's likely T-Mobile's own-brand handset will come from HTC or a company like it.
Such as Huawei, which just yesterday confirmed that its first Android phone – known as the U8230 – will be available in the UK through T-Mobile during the third quarter.
Vodafone has an exclusive on the Magic, but it's not known when the period is due to expire.
Don’t forget to check out the Register Hardware’s full rundown of the U8230’s features – including its “full- and half-Qwerty” virtual keyboard – here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/17/huawei_u8230/).
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/18/tmobile_g1_touch/)
And ...
Sony Ericsson baking Donut Android phones
Sony Ericsson has a sweet treat in store for Android fans – confirmation that it'll launch several Android phones based on the Google OS’ Donut edition.
The firm first confirmed plans (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/12/10/sony_ericsson_android_conf/) to launch an Android-based phone back in December, but has kept relatively quiet on the subject until now.
However, Peter Ang, head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson Asia Pacific, has now said that the firm's preparing to launch Google phones running on Android 2.0 – aka Donut, DigiTimes reports (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090522PD211.html).
Android 1.5 – aka Cupcake - was released late last month. But little’s yet known about the Donut update’s features.
However, Ang reportedly said that the Donut will feature greater multimedia support than Cupcake – suggesting that SE’s Android 2.0 phones will be strong contenders in the entertainment category.
Since Google’s yet to confirm when Android’s Donut update will be available and the fact that Cupcake is only a few weeks old, it could be some time before Donut-based SE Android phones hit the market.
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/22/se_donut/)
It may be no coincidence that Apple's iPhone firmware version 3.0 has been timed to hit the streets following the arrival of the HTC Magic, the first serious rival to the iPhone itself. Certainly, Apple's 3.0 firmware performs a significant catch-up to Google Android 1.5 (otherwise known as Cupcake). Certainly, Apple have had the touchscreen handset field pretty much all to itself since the iPhone's launch. The HTC Magic changes all of that, and Google Android more than hints that exclusivity is now all but over. This will be good for the consumer, and good for the technology itself.
I find it odd that it is taking so long for Android handsets to appear. Is this because of existing licensing deals with Microsoft (Windows Mobile)? Or are they, allegedly like Sony Ericsson, awaiting Google Android 2.0 (Donut) that promises even more power and sophistication from the OS itself?
Certainly what is becoming clear is that Q3/2009 will see the tip of the wave, then into 2010 and we'll see a several more manufacturers' devices start to appear in the high street.
And so we start to read more frequent articles on the new wave that is approaching us.
LG promises three Android phones for '09
LG has said it plans to launch three Android-based smartphones during 2009.
The firm refused to disclose specific launch dates or provide technical details about any of the devices during as announcement at the ongoing CommunicAsia event in Singapore.
But LG did confirm that its first Android smartphone will appear during the late Q3/early Q4.
Unike other handset manufacturers, LG has kept fairly quiet about its plans to offer phones based on the headline-grabbing Google OS.
But the Korean firm’s latest announcement is hardly surprising. It’s already a member of the Open Handset Alliance - a group of companies, also including Google, which combine efforts to develop open standards for mobile devices.
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/18/lg_android/)
And ...
T-Mobile names next Android handset
T-Mobile has announced the name of its second Android-based handset.
In a post on its Twitter page, the network operator announced today that the phone will be called the G1 Touch.
“Very excited! T-Mobile’s highly anticipated 2nd Android phone has been named the T-Mobile #G1Touch – more soon!” the post read.
T-Mobile’s first Android offering is the HTC-manufactured G1 (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/12/review_smartphone_android_g1/). The second one could be HTC's Magic (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/06/review_smartphone_htc_magic/), currently offered solely by Vodafone.
Google-based handsets are also in the works from Samsung and Vodafone, but given the G1 branding, it's likely T-Mobile's own-brand handset will come from HTC or a company like it.
Such as Huawei, which just yesterday confirmed that its first Android phone – known as the U8230 – will be available in the UK through T-Mobile during the third quarter.
Vodafone has an exclusive on the Magic, but it's not known when the period is due to expire.
Don’t forget to check out the Register Hardware’s full rundown of the U8230’s features – including its “full- and half-Qwerty” virtual keyboard – here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/17/huawei_u8230/).
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/18/tmobile_g1_touch/)
And ...
Sony Ericsson baking Donut Android phones
Sony Ericsson has a sweet treat in store for Android fans – confirmation that it'll launch several Android phones based on the Google OS’ Donut edition.
The firm first confirmed plans (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/12/10/sony_ericsson_android_conf/) to launch an Android-based phone back in December, but has kept relatively quiet on the subject until now.
However, Peter Ang, head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson Asia Pacific, has now said that the firm's preparing to launch Google phones running on Android 2.0 – aka Donut, DigiTimes reports (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090522PD211.html).
Android 1.5 – aka Cupcake - was released late last month. But little’s yet known about the Donut update’s features.
However, Ang reportedly said that the Donut will feature greater multimedia support than Cupcake – suggesting that SE’s Android 2.0 phones will be strong contenders in the entertainment category.
Since Google’s yet to confirm when Android’s Donut update will be available and the fact that Cupcake is only a few weeks old, it could be some time before Donut-based SE Android phones hit the market.
Source: The Register (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/22/se_donut/)