Android

Android

Android

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Verizon HTC Thunderbolt getting unlimited LTE data plans

Verizon Wireless and HTC announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.
Additional features:
4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
4.3″ WVGA display
8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing
With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.
Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC. Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless 4G LTE visit www.verizonwireless.com/4glte. For more information about the ThunderBolt by HTC please visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

HTC Desire HD – USB Host Drivers Ported


This is a hack that many could find useful. By porting the USB Host Drivers to your device you could be able to connect a variety of devices to your HTC Desire HD, such as a keyboard, external monitor, USB mass storage. This was also accomplished for the Nexus One. Isn’t it great to see what some of these XDA members come up with? But there is a small downside to taking the steps to do this to your Desire HD. If you give this a try, let us know in the comments, your thoughts, and how it worked for you.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

ATT Puts the Brakes on Upload Speeds for Non-iPhone devices



Is AT&T showing more favoritism to the iPhone? Surprised? Sure the iPhone is loved by millions. But, come on! Not every one wants it, for one reason or another.
So it looks like the proof has shown that AT&T may have set an upload cap on everything but the iPhone. Take a look at the specs of the Atrix 4G. By all accounts, it should be a peppy ANDROID device, and actually fater than the iPhone due to its HSPA+ 14.4 modem, when the iPhone only sports a HSPA 7.2 modem. Unfortunately though, as we can see in the upload speed tests conducted by PC Mag, results suggest that AT&T is throttling back the Atrix 4G, and possible other devices

The9 and OpenFeint Look to Boost Android Gaming

OpenFeint has been pushing to boost game development on the Android platform for quite a while, and has got a nice assortment of games that they’ve developed themselves. However, they’re looking to help taking Android gaming even farther, but partnering up with Chinese developer The9 to promote Android game development by funding developers transitioning to the Android platform.

Obviously, developing games for Android is a smart business move. Android has the largest portion of the smartphone marketshare, and it has been proven as a profitable platform to develop for. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy for any company that already has games on iOS to just rebuild it to run on Android OS. It takes time, and it takes resources — resources that a lot of the smaller dev studios just don’t have.
Enter OpenFeint and The9. OpenFeint’s social gaming platform gives them a reason to want to help developers: To get more games in their network. Couple this with The9’s “Fund9″ program to invest $100 million in internet projects, and you have an awesome support system for independent devs who might be considering porting their existing projects.
OpenFeint and The9 will choose which projects to fund based on the strength of the developer, the quality of the app, and its success in other app markets. They are scouring the Apple App store to find the best candidates. Eros Resimi, marketing VP for Open Feint, stated that “There’s a treasure trove of great games on iOS waiting for the rest of the world to discover…This fund will help make that possible for indie game developers.”
While they are actively seeking projects out, developers can also submit a request for consideration by sending an email to androidfund@openfeint.com. (We’re looking at YOU, Tiny Wings developer Andreas Illiger!) With a project like this in the works, the Android gaming landscape is about to change, drastically.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Who's winning the smartphone race?



Viewed by operating system, Google's (GOOG) Android appears to be pulling ahead in the U.S. smartphone race, with a 29% share of sales over the past two months compared with Research in Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry and Apple's (AAPL) iOS -- neck and neck with 27% each.

But from the manufacturers' point of view, the race looks very different:

"An analysis by manufacturer shows RIM and Apple to be the winners compared to other device makers since they are the only ones creating and selling smartphones with their respective operating systems."