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Android Hardware Thread - 2009 Edition

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The Take Out Bandit said:
Yeah, it's not a fashion accessory it's a tool.

Then again, some of these tools think it's a fashion accessory.

I used a MyTouch last week and the trackball doodad was pretty nice. I prefer that to navigating a site and accidentally fucking "clicking" on shit. loliPhonelol
Click to expand...

Good to see others like the trackball. I find myself using it more than the touch screen under certain situations, especially when browsing websites and going through some menus. Really nice addition.
 
Manmademan said:
anyone complaining about the hero trackball hasn't seen or used it in person. it looks great and adds usability. definitely not a drawback at all.
Click to expand...

Yeah this is why in many ways it's nearly a "must have" for an android phone for me.
 
I spent 20 minutes using it in person. I much prefer navigating with the touchscreen than using a trackball. I don't see why I'd want to scroll down a menu rather than click the option I want on the menu or give it a quick flick to scroll through. It's personal taste, no one can say "Anyone who doesn't like it is WRONG" or "Anyone who likes it makes no sense." For me, I find it pointless. I know I'm not alone. Others seem to dig being able to scroll through links and lists. That's fine, but I would like to have a device be more touch oriented.
 
I've been running Donut for a few weeks. I believe T-Mobile have pushed it OTA, but can't say for certain. It's available in the open source project.
 
I know this is a hardware thread but some of the software is also being discussed:

Firefox Headed to Android Phones
fennec.jpg

Yesterday we heard that an unknown something from Mozilla is headed to iPhones, but Firefox's maker is being a bit more specific about Android: A mobile browser is in the works for the open-source phone.

Om Malik details a bit more of an onstage talk held last weekend with Mozilla CEO John Lilly and VP for Mobile Jay Sullivan, the latter of whom we interviewed in August and reported that Mozilla was "looking at" Android development. Malik reports Lilly as saying that "Mozilla will release Firefox for Windows Mobile and then Android," and hears from Sullivan that releases on devices other than Nokia's Maemo tablets are slow coming because the mobile team has worked to get faster JavaScript and page rendering times on mobile ARM processors. As expected, add-ons, desktop synchronization, and AwesomeBar-style navigation are all expected to appear in Fennec, the code name for Mozilla's mobile browser.

Symbian and BlackBerry fans might have to do without, however, as Sullivan has misgivings about developing for either BlackBerry's Java-based app platform or for Symbian's phones. On all platforms, Mozilla is also looking for wider adoption of HTML5 standards for content and multimedia, to avoid the effort and complications of developing altered browsers for each platform.

What would Fennec have to offer on your Windows Mobile or Android device to become a default browser? What features do you hope make the transition from desktop to mobile? Share your strategy suggestions in the comments.
Click to expand...

Edit:

This is also a complete list of Android phones so far from TechCrunch, much like the OP:

Android-Avalanche-A-Complete-List-O.jpg


I want the SE Rachel so bad, but if it doesn't come to T-mobile or Sprint I might have to just be happy with the HTC Dragon, if rumors are true that it's heading to T-mobile. I find that AT&T and Verizon plans are too rich for my blood :-P
 
I just want Opera Mobile on Android with Opera Link. Firefox being on a phone OS is pretty cool though.

Hopefully 2.0 does include Chrome Sync as that "leaked" press release said.

@da list: Including rumored handsets take the credibility down a couple notches, but it's neat to see all of them there.
 
G1 looks even uglier compared to all the new phones, but I still love mine! I just hope we're getting 2.0. I mean 1.6 went on it with no problems.
 
http://phandroid.com/2009/10/20/entourage-edge-dualbook-round-2/

edge-entourage.jpg


Phandroid said:
The enTourage eDGe is $490 and ships in February 2010. If you ante up another $40 bucks you’ll have the option of Ruby Red, Glacier White or Icy Blue encasing. Otherwise you’re stuck with Midnight Blue.

[...]

Specifications:
  • Dimensions: 8.25″ x 10.75″ by 1.0″ (closed)
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs.
  • Internal Memory: 4 GB (3 GB for user) up to 3000 books
  • E-reader File Formats: ePub, PDF
  • LCD Touchscreen Display Size: 1024 x 600 (10.1″)
  • E-paper Display Size: 9.7″ e-Ink®(1200 x 825), 16 shades of gray
  • E-paper Input: Wacom® Penabled®
  • Operating System: Linux with Google® Android®
  • Connectivity: 3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth capability
  • Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
  • Battery Type: Lithium-ion polymer
  • Mobile Modem (optional): EVDO or HSDPA
  • External Memory: SD card slot, 2 USB ports
  • Audio and Microphone Jack: 3.5 mm each. Includes internal microphone and speakers.
  • Audio playback: MP3
  • Video playback: MP4, 3GP
  • Input: Stylus input on e-paper and touchscreen. Virtual keyboard. Bluetooth keyboard (optional)
Click to expand...

Specs seem ridiculous... Just hope Android Market is on it.
 
Andrex said:
I just want Opera Mobile on Android with Opera Link. Firefox being on a phone OS is pretty cool though.

Hopefully 2.0 does include Chrome Sync as that "leaked" press release said.

@da list: Including rumored handsets take the credibility down a couple notches, but it's neat to see all of them there.
Click to expand...

What's this about Chrome? A Chrome browser on Android? I mean, I figured it was a possibility but that sounds amazing if they can get an incredibly fast browser shoehorned into Android this fast.
 
andycapps said:
What's this about Chrome? A Chrome browser on Android? I mean, I figured it was a possibility but that sounds amazing if they can get an incredibly fast browser shoehorned into Android this fast.
Click to expand...

Yeah some "leaked" press release from a while back on the Droid had a bunch of weird stuff, like the Android browser would be rebranded as Chrome, or at least get syncing with Google Bookmarks (like Chrome is about to.)
 
Andrex said:
Yeah some "leaked" press release from a while back on the Droid had a bunch of weird stuff, like the Android browser would be rebranded as Chrome, or at least get syncing with Google Bookmarks (like Chrome is about to.)
Click to expand...

That sounds awesome, but it makes sense that since it's a browser developed by Google that it'd have the Chrome branding regardless.
 
andycapps said:
That sounds awesome, but it makes sense that since it's a browser developed by Google that it'd have the Chrome branding regardless.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but the Android open source project has the browser as one of its core apps - it's supposed to be independent from any company.
 
The Motorola Calgary--- The Droid's cheaper alternative.

moto-calgary-bgr.jpg


ENGADGET.COM said:
The Droid's shaping up to be a beast of an Android phone -- well played, Verizon -- but Motorola's banking much of its future on its MOTOBLUR platform, which the Droid curiously lacks (though Android 2.0 adds at least some of BLUR's functionality back in). Don't worry, though -- Verizon hasn't forgotten about BLUR altogether, and the rumored Calgary is looking to arrive as the carrier's next Android phone from Moto featuring BLUR in all its social network-aggregating glory. It's clearly positioned as a lower-end device than the Droid, stepping down to a 3 megapixel cam but still managing nifty features like an optical pad, 3.5mm jack, and naturally, a full QWERTY keyboard. Considering Rubin's ties to Danger, you could think of this as the ill-fated Sidekick Slide all grow'd up. Word has it this might hit before the end of the year, so we'll see just how much breathing room Verizon and Moto feel like giving the Droid before coming back for Round 2, eh?
Click to expand...
 
Holy shit!

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10614007/1/exclusive-google-plans-its-own-android-phone.html

Rumor: Google to introduce its own handset, offering an unlocked, low-cost alternative to today's touchscreen smartphones.

Wow, if this is true, Motorola will be very pissed.
The Street said:
Exclusive: Google to Crash Android Party

Scott Moritz
10/20/09 - 02:31 PM EDT
(Updated from 10:59 a.m. EDT)
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Move over, Apple (AAPL Quote), Research In Motion (RIMM Quote) and Motorola (MOT Quote), Google (GOOG Quote) is jumping into the smartphone market with an Android phone of its own.

In what is likely to be seen as disruptive to the wireless status quo, Google is working with a smartphone manufacturer to have a Google-branded phone available this year through retailers and not through telcos, according to Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar, who has talked to Google's design partners about the plan.

The move would fulfill Google's pledge to bring a new generation of open-standard mobile Internet devices to consumers. By bypassing the carriers, who keep tight controls over the features and applications that are allowed on phones, Google will presumably offer a device that lets users determine the functions.

Both the Chrome netbook and the Android phone will use Qualcomm (QCOM Quote) chips, with the netbook running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform, says Kumar, who has discussed the plan with original design manufacturers working with Google.

Android's Mobile Land Grab

If talk of the Google phone plan is true, the entrance of a unlocked, low-cost, Web-friendly touchscreen device will probably undercut other Android phone efforts by players like Motorola, Samsung and Dell (DELL Quote).

Motorola's entire turnaround strategy is based on the Android operating system. The company is expected to announce a ultra-thin Droid phone at Verizon (VZ Quote) next month. Both Verizon and Motorola expect the Sholes/Droid phone to be a significant challenger to Apple's iPhone.

Dell is also working on an Android smartphone, which is expected to be ready early next year at AT&T (T Quote).

Skeptics point out that Google might have a hard time getting the phone out in time for the holidays, since it typically takes a year or more to bring a phone from design to production.

Industry analysts also argue that the move would be an affront to the U.S. carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint (S Quote) and Deutsche Telekom's (DT Quote) T-Mobile, outfits that have been supporting the Android effort by selling or planning to sell subsidized devices.

"It's a bit of a departure from Google's strategy, but I think the speculation is valid," says Michael Cote of the Cote Collaborative. And as for getting the phone to the market quickly, Google "would probably use a partner they are familiar with."

HTC, the first developer of an Android phone, is also a no stranger to Qualcomm chips and would be the most likely manufacturer able to give Google what it wanted fast.

If Google goes through with the plan, it would point to how eager the Internet ad giant is to get Android in as many hands as possible so it can extend its search business beyond desktop computers to mobile devices. Going around phone companies to reach consumers is a bold move, but Google no doubt sees the wireless Internet market as a land-grab race with Apple, Nokia (NOK Quote) and Microsoft (MSFT Quote).

Google also has plans with computer maker Quanta to build its own netbooks that will run on a Linux-based Google Chrome operating system and be available next summer, says Kumar.

Representatives for Google, HTC and Quanta were not immediately available for comment.

Google shares were down 0.8% to $547.78 in recent trading.
Click to expand...
 
Battersea Power Station said:
Holy shit!

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10614007/1/exclusive-google-plans-its-own-android-phone.html

Rumor: Google to introduce its own handset, offering an unlocked, low-cost alternative to today's touchscreen smartphones.

Wow, if this is true, Motorola, HTC, etc. are going to be pissed.
Click to expand...

If talk of the Google phone plan is true, the entrance of a unlocked, low-cost, Web-friendly touchscreen device will probably undercut other Android phone efforts by players like Motorola, Samsung and Dell
Click to expand...

Oh well, the more the merrier! But I don't like the sound of "low cost". It might be an open phone and all, but if its not on par with the likes of Droid, HTC Dragon, or eve Samsung's Moment I won't be interested in this phone.
 
Andrex said:
Maybe, but the Android open source project has the browser as one of its core apps - it's supposed to be independent from any company.
Click to expand...
Maybe Chromium?

And wow it that Google handset news. Can't wait to see the specs on that (if true)!
 
T-Mobile needs some new Android phones, ASAP. Compared to the Samsung Moment and Motorola Droid, The CLIQ, G1 and MyTouch look ancient. T-Mo's quantity over quality approach with Android is terrible.
 
As long as we don't have a general thread-- anybody else upgrade to donut yet?

I don't see much solid in the way of benefit, but I haven't read much yet, either. Pain having to wipe my data, tho. :(
 
I just learned about the Motorola Droid and didn't know it was so close. My 5th Verizon Voyager broke and so I upgraded to a samsung Rogue. Now seeing that Android phones were so close to coming out it makes me sad. I would have loved a Droid!
 
Yeah so, the Moto Droid sounds like it's going to be pretty swank, but I'm skeptical of Verizon.

I know this is a hardware thread, but my experience so far with Verizon and 'openness' hasn't been great. I've got a bottom of the line KRZR, and they've locked that thing up tighter than a nun's honeypot. Can't put on my own ringtones, can't put on my own MP3s, can only use camera shots as wallpapers...

So while them promoting openness is promising, I'm not holding my breath that they won't cockblock the thing in some way.
 
finaly tested out in browser flash on my hero. Works amazing well. Pretty insane lol.

One of the grad students who sits in a cubicle over has an iphone and was pretty blown away by the hero, especially the web browser.
 
Ignatz Mouse said:
As long as we don't have a general thread-- anybody else upgrade to donut yet?

I don't see much solid in the way of benefit, but I haven't read much yet, either. Pain having to wipe my data, tho. :(
Click to expand...
I'm running Cyanogen 4.1.999 on my Magic and it's pretty neat so far. To be honest it's not much different from Cupcake, though. I like the new market look, the home screen orientation and the reboot option, but I'm not sure if any of those features are ROM-specific.
 
I 85% believe Google will not make their own phone in the next couple years, and 150% believe that they wouldn't be able to get it out before the end of the year.

If I did, some thoughts:

  • So, it's both low-end on price, and not subsidized by carriers? The tech specs cannot even be mid-end with that - I'd be surprised if it had at least a HVGA capacitive screen. Instead, I'd expect something like the HTC Tattoo: QVGA and resistive.
  • Assuming the above, Google will have to make an attractive piece of hardware right? Probably not. Their designers are what influenced the G1 and Droid the most. Granted, they've come quite a bit along with the Droid's design, but really only because it's so thin.
  • Why would Google, who've been mostly divorced from the Android namespace (outside of "with Google") until now deliberately put themselves and their brand name in the line of fire with such a sub-par phone? Doesn't make sense to me.

Of course, being a Google fan, I'd love for all of this to be proven wrong.
 
I think google getting into the hardware business would be a big mistake. They are undercutting their main customers, companies that use their OS on other phones.
 
MThanded said:
I think google getting into the hardware business would be a big mistake. They are undercutting their main customers, companies that use their OS on other phones.
Click to expand...
??? Android is open source -- it's not for sale, as far as I know. Plus it might be Google's baby, but officially it's made by the OHA. That being said, yes, it would severely undercut some hardware manufacturers, which might sour relationships. I don't think the rumor is true either, but it's exciting to think about.
 
BigGreenMat said:
I just learned about the Motorola Droid and didn't know it was so close. My 5th Verizon Voyager broke and so I upgraded to a samsung Rogue. Now seeing that Android phones were so close to coming out it makes me sad. I would have loved a Droid!
Click to expand...
do you get a free upgrade after five breaks or something?
 
How is video playback on the HTC Hero? I remember reading the review on GSMArena and it seemed like MP4 playback was quite juddery (and it had no divx support). Has any of this been sorted with firmware updates?
 
I don't think this has been posted yet.. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Engadget said:
Well, hello there! Those Dell MID rumors we've been hearing have finally received vindication in the form of a nice, picture-heavy leak courtesy of some industrious folks in Vietnam. What we know as of now is that there's an 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display (with multitouch zooming), WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G WWAN connectivity, all riding atop an Android 2.0 (aka, Donut Eclair) install. A dual-LED flash 5 megapixel camera adorns the back, and there's a 1,300mAh battery to power all that goodness. See pics below and a video awaits after the break, where an old friend of ours plays with the jumbo smartphone.
Click to expand...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/21/dell-streak-is-a-5-inch-android-2-0-mid-packs-3g-and-wifi-vide/
 
Anyone know if you need to buy a data plan to get the Droid? Or can you get it with a voice plan and use wifi hotspots for network? I like the idea of a phone/tiny computer combination that I can take anywhere, but $100/month for service is too much for me to spend.
 
It should be interesting when apple responds (in terms of software and hardware upgrades) to the droid does ads.

As for that huge dell thing the performance seems a bit laggy where zooming is concerned.
 
iapetus said:
Damn it, I no longer know what I'm allowed to know and what I would be killed for revealing. :D
Click to expand...
Can you at least answer this question? Is it about Android, the Verizon Droid phone, or something else?
 
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