Archive for March 7th, 2011

Sync your Honeycomb music player to the Cloud

Back in December, Android Community posted a full guide on how a humble Android 2.3 Gingerbread user could possibly get the Android 3.0 Honeycomb music player up and running on their devices. The guide is basically formed out of two steps and was based on the method developed by johnnie93, a member on XDA Developer ( where else would you get this geeky goodness ). In any case, the method allows you to get the Honeycomb player up and running, but now there are some more developments in this region

Another XDA Developers member managed to take this whole Android 3.0 Honeycomb music player thing to a new level, by successfully allowing the Honeycomb version to connect and sync up to the Cloud. Users who wish to gain this nifty feature on their device will have to be running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on their devices with the CyanogenMod 7 Nightlies, although apparently forum members claim that it will work with any 2.3.3 ROM.

The whole trick of achieving to sync your Honeycomb music player to the Cloud is the huge advantage of having your very own music play anywhere, grabbing your music, which you like from your own desktop PC to the cloud and then syncing it up to your Android device. The method is working mind you as several users have managed to pull it off successfully as well, so this isn’t some bogus app hunt.

Here’s the quick few steps you’ll need to take in order to get the Honeycomb music player on your device. Note that any of these methods might void your warranty and that you will need root access to do it, so if you don’t want that, then you might as well wait for the Honeycomb player to be launched to your device.

The first step is to get root obviously. Now you must find your current Music Player application, and the chances are high that it’s called GoogleMusic.apk and you will be able to find it in the system/app zone. Once deleted, reboot your device and once rebooted copy over the Android Honeycomb Music Player .apk file. Still in your explorer place the file in the same location as you found the original GoogleMusic.apk. And there it is. Now if you are running the latest Cyanogen Mod 7 or any Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread build for that matter, you will be prompted at this point to update your music player and you will get several permission request which you can safely accept. Syncing will start as this step is finished. Head over to XDA Developers forum and Android Community and boy the hardworking boys and girls a drink!

Check out these links from Android Community and XDA Developers forum!1

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March 7th, 2011 Catalin Mengheris

Posted in Android OS

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc coming to AT&T

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc has been announced for a while now and is representing the manufacturer in the high-end zone of Android smartphones. Just recently the Xperia Arc made its way to the FCC for a good solid once over and we’ve gotten the chance to see the first pictures of the device taken apart. The good news for anyone holding out for an upgrade maybe with AT&T that this might just come to the operator.

According to the FCC the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is featuring support for both HSDPA and HSUP, high speed 3G cellular connectivity. The device will be operating on the UTMS bands 2 and 5 which would be pointing towards a launch on AT&T’s network. For those of you new to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc here’s a quick rundown of all the devices known specifications:

  • The Xperia Arc will ship with a 4.2 inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels
  • Powering the Sony Ericsson flagship is a 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM 8255 1 GHz processor ( the one which we can also find within the Inspire 4G )
  • 512 MB of RAM and ROM with a micro SD card slot ( up to 32 GB of added storage )
  • An 8.1 megapixel front facing camera with LED flash, auto focus, image stabilizer and the works and 720p HD video capture
  • Android 2.3 Gingerbread right out of the box

The thing which grabbed my attention when first checking out the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc was the very sleek and clean design lines chosen by SE. The phone measures 4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 inches ( that’s 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm ) and weighs in at only 117 grams ( that’s 4.13 ounces ). With these specs the device is guaranteed to turn some heads and the name hasn’t been chosen at random as it does actually have a slight hint of an arc in its design.

So if you are on the lookout for a new device and maybe want to sign up with AT&T, who are by the way seriously pushing Android smartphones, this might be the device for you. At the time however there is no pricing or release date announced, but stick around and you might just find out more.1

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March 7th, 2011 Catalin Mengheris

Posted in Android News, Android Phone

Samsung introduces the Samsung Galaxy Pro

Samsung introduced in Singapore today their latest device to join the highly appreciated Samsung Galaxy line. The name of this new phone joining the existing lineup of devices is the Samsung Galaxy Pro, and is it just me or does the name of the device resemble some other device ( it’s the Motorola Droid Pro in case you were wondering ) and comes with a lot of specs similar to the previously mentioned Motorola model. Despite the announcement coming out officially from the hard working people over at Samsung, they didn’t really go into details with the specs of the device.

Samsung’s Galaxy Pro will be shipping with Android 2.2 Froyo but the manufacturer didn’t give any details regarding an upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread and to be honest considering the specs they did leak, I would be surprised if they do bring Gingerbread to the device. Powering this Android smartphone is an 800 MHz processor and all of this is tightly compacted into a small candy bar shape we’ve already seen in the Motorola counterpart. However the processor is a touch on the slower side, as the Motorola Droid Pro does ship with a 1 GHz processor.

Most of the Samsung Galaxy Pro specs are rather low-end in this day and age, as accompanying the 800 MHz processor we also find the 2.8 inch touch screen display ( again, the Motorola Droid Pro comes with a 3.1 inch display ) and a 3 megapixel rear facing camera and no front facing camera. Samsung Social Hub Premium will also be slapped on top of Android and Wi-Fi connectivity has also been confirmed. To be honest, I would have dared to put the Samsung Galaxy Pro in a standoff versus the Motorola phone, but they didn’t say anything about “corporate” or “business” and the existence of the Social Hub might indicate towards a device rather more similar to the HTC ChaCha.

Well in any case, the device will be shipping in the UK with the carrier Three in the following months although no pricing or any set launch date were announced. You will however get a full front facing QWERTY keyboard, but I would still not pin it against the Droid Pro, as in this case it would be severely outclassed and out specked.

The Samsung Galaxy Pro seems to be intended more towards a social conscious market, something we’ve seen other manufacturers do as well, HTC being one and the British manufacturer INQ being the second on the line. Still, I for one, don’t really see the point of these devices, but if they make them, there must be a market out there.1

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March 7th, 2011 Catalin Mengheris

Posted in Android Phone

Nokia better off with Android according to Intel CEO

One of the biggest developments in recent years on the smartphone market was related to the shocking results of 2010’s fourth quarter smartphone sales – the Android platform finally managed to take down the giant Nokia. Something which wasn’t really conceivable a few years back, became a reality within just two short years and Nokia’s response was something which amazed everyone, including Nokia employees I might say.

As the company entered a partnership with Microsoft to offer up the first Nokia Windows Phone 7 device within the near future, Paul Otellini, Intel CEO, said that the Nordic company would have been better off with Android instead of Windows Phone 7. Some might argue on this as both Intel and Nokia have been long time partners but once you start breaking it down a touch you will understand the reasoning of Intel’s CEO.

First of all, Intel and Nokia are working on MeeGo, a platform which should have ended up on the next generation of Nokia smartphones, yet this recent partnership might spell trouble for the development of the operating system, as Nokia already did drop the development of Symbian. The second element to this factor would be the fact that MeeGo is built on a Linux platform, so if Nokia would have gone for Android, their devices would have been more compatible from this point of view, as Android is also a Linux built operating system.

Intel’s CEO added that Nokia accepted the offer because of a large sum of money exchanging hands between Microsoft and Stephen Elop, Nokia’s Chief Executive. But not to be one sided here, if Nokia would have gone with Android they would’ve been another manufacturer in the sea of Android manufacturers. Considering that Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson along with LG already have a solid grasp on this sector, a new company entering it, even if it’s Nokia, might have issues making its views port unto the platform.

On the other hand, by signing a partnership with Microsoft, the company became not just another Windows Phone 7 user but a premium member. What they say will be heard and what they ask will be delivered, and as such, the company has a lot more say in the development of future versions of the mobile operating system.

Considering that MeeGo might be dropped as well because of this recent development in this department, it’s easy to understand the frustration if nothing else of Intel’s CEO. Despite that, I still consider that there’s more pressure on Nokia now, to enter a market in which they aren’t the leader but a market in which they are trying to catch up to Android, RIM and Apple.1

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March 7th, 2011 Catalin Mengheris

Posted in Android News

New Android devices on Sprint incoming?

Although their presence at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sprint recently showed the interest in booking a hefty two and a half hours at the upcoming CTIA later this month. With such a large amount of time being booked already we might be in for a treat yet despite that the operator did not give out any press release as to what we are to expect from them this time around. Despite that, the fine folks over at Engadget did manage to squeeze out bits of information regarding this upcoming announcement of the operator and here’s a quick rundown of what we could expect from them.

The first thing to come to my attention was the fact that Sprint might be bringing the Samsung Nexus S over to their camp as well, with most tips and hints pointing towards the SPH-D720 model, which recently received its certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance. This would mean that Sprint is trying to get aboard the Nexus train this time as well as they did plan to bring the Nexus One over to their network as well last year but that didn’t work out and I do really hope that they will be more successful this time around.

On a close second is a device named the EVO 3D, something which might be a hint towards an upcoming HTC EVO 3D phone. This is becoming a trend lately with LG leading the way with its LG Optimus 3D and LG Optimus Pad both of which come with 3D recording and 3D playback. Considering that HTC didn’t make any announcement in this direction, I think it’s safe to say that all of those above lines are pure speculation on my part.

The third device is name EVO View. Considering the name and the fact that Sprint is one of those carriers which tries to send over a meaning with their titles ( just look at the Shift 4G ) I might hazard on pointing towards the mighty HTC Flyer Android tablet which was recently presented by HTC at Mobile World Congress. If that’s the case, then these new additions to the Sprint lineup might get some more attention to the carrier considering that their last announcement was with the previously mentioned EVO Shift 4G.

Note that all of these are pure speculation on my part, and the sources… well, someone said these names so we all went around and started guess ( that’s news writing there folks, at its finest I might add ). So in any case, keep your eyes out for more news in this direction.1

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March 7th, 2011 Catalin Mengheris

Posted in Android News
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