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Samsung Sold 1 Million Galaxy S Smartphones in US in 45 Days

Proves that Android can go toe-to-toe against iPhone 4

Aug 29 2010 Posted in Mobile by Julius Rocas with View Comments

Samsung Galaxy S
Despite the massive popularity of Apple’s new iPhone 4, Android-based smartphones are not far behind. One popular maker Samsung has just sold 1 million units of its Galaxy S in the United States in just 45 days, reports CNN Fortune.

The key to the Galaxy S’s success? It’s cheaper than the iPhone 4 but sports the same grade of parts and features. The price point was made possible because Samsung is also a maker of parts for the iPhone 4, making and selling its own smartphone gives consumers a device on par with Apple’s but with a bigger and brighter screen.

Another factor that boosted Galaxy S sales is making it available through Verizon, the largest mobile provider in the US. Since the iPhone is exclusive to AT&T, great opportunities abound for the Android-based Galaxy S.

The trend is the same worldwide as Samsung took only three weeks to sell a million Galaxy S units. It may pale in comparison to iPhone 4′s global sales in record time, but it proves one thing: the future is bright for Android.

The Galaxy S will soon be available on Sprint as well as Verizon where some plans will offer the smartphone for free.

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Google Launches Voice Actions for Android

Users can now tell their Android phones what to do

Aug 13 2010 Posted in Mobile by Julius Rocas with View Comments


A new feature on Android will now enable users to issue voice commands to their smart phone to get tasks done instead of pushing buttons. Google calls it ‘voice actions’ and they expect to see Android remain the top mobile OS in the US with this new offering.

BBC quotes Android product manager Hugo Barra:

Before it was easy to search the web using voice but people do a lot more than just search the web.

Now you can voice up text messages, e-mail a reminder to yourself, set your alarm clock, get directions, find music, open a map and call places.

It really is about interacting with the device in the simplest of ways using the voice.

Google has claimed that it has been activating more than 200,000 Android devices a day.

According to experts, Google’s launch of ‘voice actions’ for Android shows how serious the company is as they try to make it big in the mobile market. It was previously thought that Apple would dominate with its iPhone and iOS, however the current picture shows that it’s a toss up between Apple and Google in the top spot for smart phones.

How Apple is going to respond to ‘voice actions’ for Android should be very interesting to watch.

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Google Gives Up On Nexus One Smartphone

Jul 19 2010 Posted in Featured News, Mobile by Robert Halprin with Comments Off

Google Nexus One smartphone

Lackluster sales have apparently convinced Google to stop offering its Nexus One smartphone. The device, which uses the Android operating system, received generally good notices when it was introduced in January, but evidently it couldn’t compete in the marketplace with handsets such as the Apple iPhone or the Motorola Droid.

In an official but low-key blog statement, Google said in part:

This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones. Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google…To ensure our developers have access to a phone with the latest Android OS, Google will be offering the Nexus One through a partner for sale to registered developers

According to CNN, Google managed only to sell 135,000 of the devices while the Droid and iPhone were racking up sales of at least one million. Moreover, neither the Verizon Wireless network, nor Sprint, were ever able to support the Nexus One.


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Hotel Chain To Test SmartPhones As Room Keys

May 25 2010 Posted in Featured News, Mobile by Robert Halprin with View Comments

Blackberry

Starting in June, two Holiday Inn hotels in Chicago will give a test run to technology that will allow guests  to open their room doors with a smartphone rather than a keycard. The beta test is scheduled for at least three months if not longer. Developed by the Open Ways tech firm, the technology is intended to work with most phones including the iPhone, Blackberry and Android. Another plus: the technology will eliminate the need to register at the front desk when you check in.

An executive with InterContinental Hotels Group (Holiday Inn’s owner) explained the rollout to USA Today:

The holy grail item for us is to simplify the room-key hand-off moment at the  hotel. The proliferation of smartphones is growing in such a way that we have to look at what people are already bringing with them to make their stay more enjoyable. We don’t need to burden people with additional items; it just clutters up their lives. The beauty of the smart phone is that they’ve already got it.

To participate in the trial, travelers will first need to download an Open Ways app on to their phone. If the test proves successful with no bugs and positive guest feedback, more Holiday Inns will likely adopt the technology. To give consumers a choice in their booking, only about 20 percent of the rooms are expected to be retrofitted with the keyless door locks, however.

Could this be the start of a new ad campaign: “I don’t own a smartphone, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express”?


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T-Mobile Announces Android Garminfone Pricing, Estimated Release Date

May 12 2010 Posted in Mobile by James Johnson with View Comments

Garminfone With Google Android

T-Mobile has announced pricing for their newest Smartphone, the Android powered Garminfone. The device will cost $199 with a two-year contract and is listed as arriving in “June.”

The Garminfone features the Google Android OS and in terms of connectivity it comes equipped with 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities and offers Bluetooth 2.1.

Users will also enjoy the devices 3 megapixel camera and the unit features a Garmin created interface with Garmin based mapping software.

Otherwise the device is a standard Smartphone with standard features at a decent price. [Boy Genius Report]


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iPhone 3G Shown Running Google Android [Video]

May 7 2010 Posted in Featured News, Mobile by James Johnson with View Comments

Google Android on Apple iPhone 3G

Watch out David Wang, Apple may try to bust down your door next thanks to your porting of the Google Android OS to the iPhone 3G.

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Google Android 2.2 Will Include Flash [Confirmed]

Apr 27 2010 Posted in Mobile by James Johnson with View Comments

Google Android Vs. Apple iPhone

Google’s Andy Rubin has confirmed during a New York Times interview that the companies newest iteration of Android, version 2.2, will fully support Flash Technology. That would be the very same flash that Apple completely abandoned just a few short weeks ago.

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Adobe Calls Off iPhone App Development After CS5

Apr 21 2010 Posted in Mobile by James Johnson with View Comments

Apple and Adobe Logos

It’s become apparently clear to everyone in the tech world that Apple and Adobe hate each other, adding to that realization is an announcement that Adobe will no longer support iPhone App development after CS5.

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Google Pad? Eric Schmidt "Confirms" iPad Competitor At Los Angeles Party

Apr 12 2010 Posted in Gadgets by Mark Kosur with View Comments

Google Tablet

I don’t want to say this one has been “confirmed” in the traditional sense, however a group of friends of Google CEO Eric Schmidt have confirmed to the New York Times that the companies mastermind told them a Google iPad competitor was in the works.

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Google Android Gets Over 9,000 New Apps In March, April Moving In The Same Direction

Apr 8 2010 Posted in Mobile by James Johnson with View Comments

Google Android Apps

Google Android is going the way of the Apple iPhone series, releasing what appears to be an endless stream of applications on more than an hour by hour basis. Reports are now stating that the mobile OS managed to push out over 9,000 new applications during the month of March.

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