Xiaomi Phone 2
At last, no more secrets. Announced in Beijing just now is the Xiaomi Phone 2, and with the exception of the appearance, most of the specs match the many leaks we've come across: 4.3-inch 720p IPS display by Sharp, Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 quad-core chip, 2GB RAM and 16GB memory. To power this beast, Xiaomi's throwing in a 2,000mAh cell, but you can also purchase a 3,000mAh version if you don't mind the extra 2mm thickness on the phone. As for photography, you get a 28mm two-megapixel imager at the front along with a 27mm F2.0 eight-megapixel BSI camera on the back -- we saw some stunning untouched shots from the latter at the launch event.
The good news doesn't stop there. On the software front Xiaomi's decided to jump straight to Android Jelly Bean for the phone's MIUI ROM, which itself packs several new features as well. Just to name a few: enhanced security, phone finder, Chinese voice assistant (apparently with 85 percent comprehension accuracy), more interactive themes and 5GB of cloud storage service with online client.
As you can already see, all of this will cost just ¥1,999 (about $310) -- the same as the original Xiaomi Phone announced this time last year -- when it launches in October, and local carriers China Unicom plus China Telecom will also be offering the DC-HSPA+ handset at subsidized prices. Interestingly, Xiaomi co-founder Lei Jun even admitted on the stage that the phone's raw cost is ¥2,350 ($370) per unit, so hopefully it'll go down sooner than later for his sake. But if ¥1,999 is still too much, there's also the ¥1,499 ($235) Xiaomi Phone 1S which, as we've already seen, is very much just the original Xiaomi but bumped up from 1.5GHz to 1.7GHz, along with a front-facing camera.
Until we get hold of the phones to play with, here are some photos from the event.
Update: Now we have some photos from our very brief hands-on -- each person was only given 90 seconds with the beta units! That said, the Xiaomi Phone 2s already felt pretty solid and the UI animation was slick, so we look forward to the more refined engineering samples next month.
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
With a price point that is neither overtly friendly on the wallet or aspirationally expensive, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 bridges the defined boundaries of the smartphone market, featuring a number of notable improvements over its predecessor whilst failing to match the collection of ground-breaking and genre defining specs as its Galaxy S3 branded sibling.
A well rounded, impressive little handset, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 plays host to a largely appealing 3.8-inch WVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen display with an 800 x 480p image resolution that is pleasant on the eye despite failing to set the device apart from a number of its upper-end competitors.
Slotting this display into an aesthetically pleasing, albeit largely plastic, design, the second-generation Galaxy Ace has slimmed down with a strong construction that makes the device as impressive in the hand as it is on the eye.
Coming for a general all-round overhaul, the Galaxy Ace 2 has been bumped to an 800MHz dual-core processor from a similar speed single-core offering whilst the handset's RAM offering has made the jump from 278MB to a far more respectable 768MB.
As fun as it is functional, the Ace 2 is far from bereft of redeeming qualities on an entertainment front as the handset sees Samsung pair a 5-megapixel rear-mounted camera with autofocus capabilities and integrated LED flash features.
Samsung Galaxy S3
Secara default Samsung Galaxy S3 menggunakan sistem operasi Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tapi programmer di forum XDA Developers telah mengeluarkan CyanogenMod versi ke-10, perisian ubah suai Android untuk menaiktaraf Android 4.0 ICS dalam Galaxy S3 kepada Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Namun, setelah CyanogenMod 10 di install beberapa kesan sampingan timbul pada Galaxy S3. FM Radio tidak dapat dibuka, fungsi kamera jadi tidak stabil, capaian Wifi tidak stabil, masalah pada audio sebab codex tidak serasi, masalah pada paparan skrin. Jika Anda memiliki Samsung Galaxy S3 dan berminat mahu install CyanogenMod ini supaya mendapat kekacakan rupa paras Android 4.1 mirip Nexus 7, sedialah hadapi risikonya. Walaupun interface cantik tapi perjalanan sistem tidak akan sempurna dek kesan-kesan sampingan sepertimana dikatakan tadi. Tunggu saja update naik taraf ke Android 4.1 dikeluarkan secara rasmi oleh Samsung sebab lebih selamat serta tidak memingkan kepala. Namun jika Anda mahu cuba-cuba install CyanogenMod untuk men’transfrom‘ peranti Anda kepad Android 4.1, bolehlah rujuk ke forum XDA Developer.
Android Microsoft attacks the Chinese Huawei
As a dozen builders before him, Huawei wipes the wrath of Microsoft, which is seeking royalties under a violation of intellectual property on a portfolio of hundreds of patents related to Linux kernel, Android component.
Microsoft confirms its deterrent strategy vis-à-vis manufacturers that implement their Android mobile and connected. The Redmond company, which points to a portfolio of hundreds of patents related to Linux kernel (the core of the OS of Google), it now takes to Chinese Huawei.
As a dozen others before them, Acer, Samsung and HTC have recently bitten on the same bait , preferring to grant to Microsoft a lump sum compensation for each product up, smartphones and tablets together, rather than go to court.
The story continues endlessly, without further clarification from the complainant, who claims to hold in its portfolio of licenses which he claimed to insinuate that Android is his property. Accordingly, any device with Android materializes an additional component of a large-scale attack on intellectual property.
Next implicated in a list which already has a dozen freed at the cost of some royalties, Huawei does not give ground maintenance without prior negotiations. Just like Motorola, the telecoms operator China because of the resistance and confirmed by the voice of the marketing director Victor Xu, “take particular care to respect the copyright”.
Interviewed by The Guardian , the person evokes a catalog provided some 65 000 patents, which “protect its interests” and follow the path of Motorola Mobility, have gone to court against Microsoft.
Android 4.1
When Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, arrived on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone last November, it marked the most radical change Google’s hugely popular mobile operating system had undergone since its debut.
It was also the best thing to happen to Android so far. It was the first version of Android designed for both phones and tablets, and it was the first version of Android that was truly beautiful to look at and fun to use.
But of course, Android can be improved. On Wednesday, Google is expected to kick off its Google I/O developer conference by introducing Android 4.1, dubbed Jelly Bean. Unlike version 4.0, which featured a top-to-bottom redesign of Android, version 4.1 is expected to bring a number of incremental changes. Rumor has it the new OS could even debut on a Google-branded, Asus-built Nexus tablet, and it could land on Google’s developer-friendly Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone as well.
Whenever it arrives, we’re expecting new features and bold moves. Here are a few things we’d like to see in Jelly Bean.
Ditch Browser, Go With Chrome
Android has two web browsers, both built by Google. The boringly named Browser is the default entry point to the web installed on every Android phone going back to the first version. The thoroughly modern Chrome, however, has only been available as a download from the Google Play store since its debut on Android in February, and it only works on ICS devices. Chrome is still a “beta” product — Google is killing bugs and polishing off the app. But Chrome’s time has come.
When the world thinks of Google’s web browser, it thinks of Chrome. Android’s Browser app is an afterthought. Chrome is the better browser in absolutely every way: user interface, tab handling, speed and support for web standards are superior, and Chrome can sync your bookmarks and browsing history between all your Chrome installations across all devices and platforms. Not to mention that Google is extending the Chrome brand beyond just the browser, with the Chrome OS and devices like theChromebook and Chromebox. It’s time to simplify things, Google — go with Chrome and ditch Browser.
Unify Messaging
Another example of multiple apps that do the same thing: messaging.
Google could ease the lives of Android users by delivering one unified messaging app. Currently, Google offers a stand-alone text messaging app (Messaging), a separate app for chatting over Google Talk (Talk) and yet another for sending notes to Google+ contacts (Messenger). Three apps that all do the same thing — that’s more complicated than it needs to be.
It’s time to take a page from Apple’s playbook and offer just one messaging app. All three services could be rolled into just one app — call it Messages or Messenger or Messaging or Talk or anything you’d like. When a user messages a phone number, it can be sent via text message. When a user messages an e-mail address, as they do via Talk or a contact on Google+, that message can be sent using web data as opposed to a standard text message through the wireless carrier.
The app could even recognize when a user is sending a message to another Android phone and send that message using web data as well — just like Apple’s iMessage app in iOS. One app for all three services. This is the way to go.
Program Your Own Gestures
We’d like to see Android give users the ability to create their own gestures, specific swipe combinations for opening up apps or forcing their devices to perform specific actions. Google already has a patent for this, and no other platform — iOS, Windows Phone or the different flavors of BlackBerry — currently offers this feature.
If you’ve ever used Android’s gesture-unlock feature, you already have an idea of how this might work. Essentially, your phone would record a specific swipe or gesture that’s unique, and launch an app or action of your choice whenever you perform that gesture. Apple already has a number of multitouch gestures, such as the five-finger pinch-to-close gesture found on the iPad. But so far, Android is largely devoid of this sort of thing. The ability to program your own gestures would bring a level of personalization to Android that’s unmatched. To make things easy, Google can throw in a couple multitouch gestures of their own for those who don’t want to customize their devices, but still want a shortcut to popular apps.
Add More Built-In Apps
Ice Cream Sandwich has no built-in apps for audio and voice recording, to-dos and reminders, or weather. Other operating systems — namely iOS — do. So this update seems like a no-brainer. Integrating with Google Drive for saving audio files, or re-purposing Google Calendar’s Tasks to handle to-dos and reminders are easy wins. As for weather, Google’s desktop search engine delivers forecasts from the Weather Channel, Weather Underground and AccuWeather. It’d be nice to see these three options show up on the ground floor of Android as well. If Google had to go with one, we’d like to see it pick Weather Underground, which offers crowdsourced weather reports down to the neighborhood in many cities.
Do Not Disturb
Apple introduced a “Do Not Disturb” feature for iOS 6 at its Worldwide Developer Conference just two weeks ago. Android should match it.
OK, so it’s a bit lame to see operating systems ripping off their rivals off — iOS’s Notification Center if a notable offender — but a good idea is a good idea. And Do Not Disturb is brilliant.
You walk around with your phone in your pocket (or very close by) all day. When you get home, you’ve still got your phone on you, and you might have a tablet kicking around, as well. Having the ability to take a break from text messages, alerts, e-mails and phone calls would be welcome. Of course, like the iOS version, Android’s Do Not Disturb should still allow you to get all of these messages and notifications, only later, when you want them. But during the Do Not Disturb period of your choosing, your gadget should remain silent with out a ring or vibrate to bug you.
Exceptions are a must, too. This way, select friends, family and even bosses can reach you if you decide. Or, if someone calls multiple times — maybe you can decide what the threshold is — the call or message will go through, alerting you that this time, it’s urgent and your attention is needed.
Firefox 14 now available for Android
Mozilla has recently released the latest version of Firefox 14 for Android devices.
Mozilla has revamped the user interface of Firefox 14, making it easier for users to browse multiple tabs with a list of thumbnails of opened tabs from a dropdown box.
Searching or keying the web address is a breeze now with the enlarged address bar in Firefox 14.
Similar to Chrome, the Firefox 14 has a new start page that shows your top four most visited sites on top of the page, followed on by the last visited tabs and a list of recommended Add-ons.
In addition, Firefox 14 supports Flash and Add-ons, which are the features that Chrome on Android does not offer. Other features include HTML 5 support and performance improvements.
Firefox 14 works on Android devices running on Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above. You can try out the new browser by clicking the linkhere
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