SlashPhone » HTC Android

Rumor: AT&T Getting Android Smartphone with HTC Lancaster

Kim Poh Liaw — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:49:34 +0000

Featuring a slide out QWERTY keyboard, AT&T is looking good to get its first Android smartphone made by HTC. The smartphone has a name called HTC Lancaster, supports GSM Quadband and HSDPA / HSUPA network. It also comes with built in bluetooth, microSD card slot but only comes with a 2.8-inch touch screen with QVGA resolution. It is not sure if the specs is accurate, the QVGA resolution seems to be too low for the Android OS user interface unless there is a customized UI for it. According to the leaked info, it will be available in August this year with 6 months AT&T exclusive.

[via engadgetmobile / Android Community]

HTC Sapphire Is The Next Android Smartphone for T-Mobile?

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:59:44 +0000

Other than the HTC Android Hero, HTC seems to have a few more other Android smartphones planned for year 2009. Leaked on Gizmodo gadget blog, the HTC Sapphire (called HTC Sapphire 2.0 for T-Mobile in previous leaked) will be powered by Android OS, has the similar trackball design as T-Mobile G1 but without a hardware keyboard. Would this also means the soft keyboard will be ready in this Android version?

Detail specifications of this Android phone (T-Mobile G2?) is unknown yet, from the photos you can see a 3.2 megapixel camera module without a flash LED at the back. According to the source it will be available in mid-May, to be offered by T-Mobile.

[via Android Community]

Rumor: HTC Smartphones Line Up for 2009 Got LEAKED!

Kim Poh Liaw — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:34:16 +0000

Wow, more than 20 upcoming HTC devices for year 2009? This is a huge leaked of information from a chinese website diypda.com, there are some duplication of the devices for different service providers though. The HTC diamond series is going to stay alive this year, meaning more full touch screen smartphones to be offered by the company. HTC will continue to release smartphone with hard QWERTY keyboard, the HTC Excalibur will be improved with a 3G version. It is not too sure how difference is the upcoming HTC Android Hero, consider the picture is quite similar to the current T-Mobile G1 Android smartphone. See all the leaked pictures here!

Iolite

HTC Maple (3G Excalibur)

HTC Twin ( CDMA + GSM )

HTC Tupaz

HTC Tupaz (AT&T)

HTC Citrine

HTC Topaz C

HTC Rhodium

HTC Tungsten for T-Mobile

HTC Tungsten W for Sprint

HTC Rhodium for Verizon Wireless

HTC Willow W

HTC Cedar W

HTC Beryl (Jade 2)

HTC Firestone

HTC Whitestone W

HTC Thoth (Athena 2)

HTC Magnet

HTC Sapphire

HTC Sapphire 1.5

HTC Sapphire 2.0 for T-Mobile

HTC Jasper C

HTC Android Hero

HTC Memphis

Early Adoption Soaring for Google Android Device

Kim Poh Liaw — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:18:33 +0000

A surge in early adoption of the new G1 mobile handset — the first to incorporate Google Android mobile computing platform – indicates Apple’s iPhone may have another challenger for the title of hip mobile device, according to WebTrends.

During the first few days of availability, leading digital businesses such as Telegraph Media Group (TMG), publishers of the UK’s biggest selling quality daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk, have received significant traffic from the G1 handset from T-mobile. To date, a new Google Android application available at Telegraph.co.uk/mobile has generated more than 5,000 downloads and nearly 31,000 visits.

“Part of Android’s cachet is its encouragement of third-party development due to the openness of its platform. As a result, many businesses are already creating applications to increase brand awareness and engagement,” said Nick Sharp, VP and General Manager EMEA and Australasia, WebTrends. WebTrends updated its On Demand software to track and report on Google Android in its reports on Oct. 30, the day of the platform’s release in Europe.

Soft QWERTY Keyboard for Android Available in Q1 2009

Kim Poh Liaw — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:08:18 +0000

If you are needing a soft keyboard for your new T-Mobile G1, Android has released a roadmap which include the soft keyboard feature on Q1 2009. When the Input method framework and Input method engines is complete, you will be able to use the soft keyboad from Android, plus application developers can develop new soft keyboard application for the Android OS.

Android Q1 2009 roadmap:

Input method framework (IMF)
This feature will enable support for input methods other than physical keyboards, for example soft keyboards. IMF will also enable application developers to provide IME (see below) applications based on the framework.Input method engines (IME)
IME will support soft keyboards, a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm. The Android platform may contain few reference IMEs, and developers can provide IME applications through the Android Market.

Source [Android] via [engadgetmobile]

T-Mobile G1 Goes on Sale Today

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:26:40 +0000

T-Mobile USA today announced the national availability of the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-powered mobile phone. The T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a rich mobile Web experience, dozens of Android Market applications, and popular Google products that including Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others. Beginning today, consumers can purchase the phone in select retail stores across the country and online at http://www.T-MobileG1.com.

T-Mobile 3G service is currently available in 95 major cities. For a list of cities where T-Mobile 3G service is available, please visit http://www.T-MobileG1.com/3G.aspx.

via [engadgetmobile]

Android Source Code Available Now

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:57:36 +0000

Today, Google and the Open Handset Alliance announced the availability of the Android platform source code to everyone, for free, under the new Android Open Source Project. This represents the first fully featured mobile platform which will enable people to create a mobile device without restrictions, build applications that run on Android powered devices, and contribute to the core platform.

As an open source project, anyone can contribute to Android and influence its direction. It means that anyone can download, build, and run the code needed to create a complete mobile device. With an open source platform, developers, OEMs, carriers and code contributors are given the opportunity to build faster, cheaper and more innovative devices and services.

“Open source allows everyone and anyone equal access to the ideas and innovation that can make good products great,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms, Google. “An open sourced mobile platform, that’s constantly being improved upon by the community and is available for everyone to use, speeds innovation, is an engine of economic opportunity and provides a better mobile experience for users.

With the availability of Android to the open source community, consumers will start to see more applications like location-based travel tools, games and social networking offerings available to them directly; cheaper and faster phones at lower costs; and a better mobile web experience through 3G networks with richer screens.

The code can be found under the Android Open Source Project, the open source initiative for Android now available at source.android.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

via [Android Community]

MySpace Releases MySpace Mobile for Android

Kim Poh Liaw — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:06:35 +0000

Available now on Android Market, Android Community members who have received their pre-ordered T-Mobile reported the new myspace mobile for Android yesterday. The application is free and will allow you to access your MySpace account with navigation tabs on the right side. You can also approve friend requests, send and receive messages, search for friends, update your current status and upload photos directly from your G1.

Source [Android Community]

T-Mobile G1 Pre-Order Figures Remains Unknown

Kim Poh Liaw — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:33:57 +0000

Is T-Mobile actually got 1.5 millions of T-Mobile G1 pre-ordered? Probably not. Betanews has tried to get a confirmation from T-Mobile and they were simply told, “While we have not released specific pre-sales numbers, nor do we comment on rumor or speculation, we look forward to Oct. 22, when our customers will be able to experience this unique phone first-hand.”

So how did the fool.com come out with the figures? Marin Perez from informationweek has contacted the author Anders Bylund and here is what happened

I contacted Anders Bylund, the author of the original Motley Fool article that hundreds of stories are citing. I was curious as to how he got these figures and he gave me his rationale.

He cited a Cens.com article that said, “according to industry insiders, T-Mobile is planning to order a total of between 1.5 million and 2 million units of G1 with HTC in the near future, including 400,000 to 500,000 to be sold in the fourth quarter of this year.”

Then, Bylund cited T-Mobile selling out of pre-order units, and tripling the number of phones initially available. He then tripled the 500,000 number to get 1.5 million.

Source [BetaNews]

Source [InformationWeek] via [Gizmodo]

T-Mobile G1 Review at Android Community

Kim Poh Liaw — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:59:53 +0000

Android Community has posted review of the T-Mobile G1, the first Android smartphone. The extensive review also includes videos of T-Mobile G1 unboxing video and hardware/software walkthrough. Check out the full Android Community review here!