BlindType Virtual Keyboard Coming to Android
Posted by Salim Ibrahim
BlindType is coming to the Android platform! As confirmed via an official blog post, the accurately predictive virtual keyboard replacement application is expected to hit the Android Market shortly.
So what exactly is BlindType and how is it different? It lets you type the way you usually do on a touch screen – sloppy and full of errors – and it fixes your typing using an impressively accurate predictable technology that has never been seen before. BlindType eliminates touch typing frustrations by automatically predicting and constantly adjusting to the user’s “perceived” keyboard and typing style.
With BlindType, users can type on the touch screen the way they are used to, but without the traditional need to constantly focus on the keyboard. Although this would typically lead to countless spelling mistakes that would be impossible to autocorrect, BlindType predicts what the user intended to write with a success rate not previously seen on any other system.
This video demonstrates the BlindType keyboard in action on the Nexus One:
BlindType was developed by Kostas Eleftheriou and Panos Petropoulos in less than a year. According to the developers, BlindType will support all major devices, including iPhone, iPad and Android phones.
For more information on the app’s release date, follow BlindType on twitter or visit their website.
What do you think about this technology in comparison to Swype?
Sources: Singularity Hub, BlindType
Facebook for Android Finally Gets a Significant Update
Posted by Salim Ibrahim
After last week’s reports about Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, jumping ship from iPhone to Android, it has been widely speculated that his switch would prompt an update for the Facebook for Android app which badly needed a face-lift in order to compete with its iPhone version.
It seems like that happened sooner than most users expected! Facebook updated the app just yesterday and I must say, the new update is a significant improvement. The newest version includes some new features and enhancements that people would love. The new graphical interface is reminiscent of an iPhone app. The moment you access the app you will notice the change immediately - the main screen now includes a photo gallery with a stream of your friends’ recently updated photos and albums.
You can now watch videos directly within the app and can access requests and events all from the app itself without sending users to the browser – something that was problematic in the previous versions.
The notifications in the app are easily accessible by pulling up a sliding drawer. Though the timeline view remains the same, clicking links within the status updates no longer requires long-holds like in the previous version.
There are some things that users are still hankering for. Facebook Chat is one. Bugs also need to be fixed. I did notice that my Facebook app exited quite often without any force closes. Is anyone experiencing this glitch?
Overall, I think this is a much improved update that users will love. What do you think?
Check it out at the Android market by clicking or scanning the QR code below:
Source: Mashable
5 Reasons Android Will Win Mobile Wars
Posted by Stormy Beach
PCWorld wrote a nice article defining “Why Android Will Win the Mobile Platform War.”
“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” quote by John M. Richardson, Jr.
The same rings true in the cell industry. Android’s definitely in the “ones that make it happen” category. I’ll let you place the others where you wish.
1. Flexibility – An open platform based around Linux, another open platform, leaves the future wide open for development. Users have more freedom to do what they wish with their OS and device. Manufacturers also gain the freedom to create the specialized customizations and UI’s they want for their consumers, which helps create signature devices that are still user customizable.
2. Strength in Numbers – With the competitors there is only ONE device. With Android becoming so popular so quickly, the manufacturers are building more devices. With LG scheduled to put out 20 Android phones by the end of the year, there is no shortage of choices available.
3. DIY tools – With App Inventor launching and now sending out acceptance e-mails, Google has helped put the power in the users’ hands. I have no doubt it will create some junk apps. I have even made a few pointless apps myself. What it will do, though, is allow the average consumer a glimpse into how apps are built and inspire new developers to start creating.
4. Focus on Users – Android is more dedicated to the success of the platform and support than its main competitor. With the “Antennagate” debacle, it took Apple a long time to even acknowledge there was an issue. Android will have its hiccups every now and again. Between the carriers, Google and the community issues are resolved rather quickly. You never feel alone in a problem or that no one cares about you.
5. The Google Factor – If you weren’t aware, there are other Linux based mobile operating systems available such as Intel’s Meego and Samsung’s Bada. But with backing and support from a giant like Google, Android is moving forward incredibly fast.
It’s a pretty good list of reasons, I think.
I could sit here all day long and argue why Android is the best, but most of you already know that. The numbers don’t lie so instead of opinions and feelings, let’s see how the data plays out. Market researcher ABI predicts Linux-based devices will make up 33% of the market by 2015. Google gained 4 points between February and May, while Apple lost 1. NPD found that RIM maintained the lead with 36 percent market share for the quarter, with Android coming in at 28 percent, and iPhone OS in third at 21 percent. This was reported back in May. With 100,000 Android devices shipping daily, we are giving Apple something to start worrying about. Things keep looking up for Android. Look out Steve, with jailbreaking legal, things could change very swiftly.
Long live the revolution!
Source: PCWorld, Talkandroid and Engadget
Library of Congress: “Thou Shalt NOW Root Your Android Phone”
Posted by Salim Ibrahim
Up until yesterday, your handset manufacturer had the right to deactivate your device if they found it on a different network or running a custom ROM. Effective today, that changes.
The Library of Congress’ Copyright Office announced a few exemptions from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) , among which include a new exemption that will allow users to jailbreak, root, and install unapproved applications on phones, including Android smartphones and Apple’s iPhone.
This decision makes it legal to modify, remove, or replace the software on your mobile devices without being subject to the copyright restrictions of the DMCA. This proclamation means no phone company or manufacturer can threaten to take legal action against hackers, developers or mobile phone users who “jailbreak” or “root” their devices.
To be clear, this exemption does not in any way relate to device warranties or service provider contracts. While Mobile carriers are no longer allowed to cause your phone to self-destruct, they may still terminate your service contract if you unlock your phone and Handset manufacturers can still void your warranty if you jailbreak/root your devices.
Simply put, you can unlock, root and flash Custom ROMs on your Android devices but if you brick your device in the process this law does nothing to help you – get a new phone.
The new exemptions also allow students, professors, and documentary producers to break the copy protection on DVDs so that clips can be embedded for teaching and educational reasons. Video game players can also legally break the security on video games to fix security flaws.
The new rules, which are effective as of today, are expected to last a few years. Although the jailbreaking exemption is new, all the others are similar to the last set of exemptions published in 2006.
Sources: Library of Congress, NPR
iPhone Beating Android on T-Mobile Poll. Why?
Posted by Stormy Beach
In a surprise turn of events, it seems T-Mobile fans are eager to get the iPhone on T-Mobile and would rather purchase one over any current Android devices. Right nowy over at TmoNews, there is a poll asking your feeling on iPhone coming to T-Mobile and if you’d purchase one if it did. The topic, “Would You Buy A T-Mobile iPhone?”. The current results of the poll are not in Android’s favor. As of 2 a.m. Pacific time the votes look like this:
- 31% (1,806 votes) Hell yes, come to me Apple!
- 35% (2,051 votes) Only if T-Mobile kept their current pricing.
- 24% (1,412 votes) Absolutely not, AndroidMafia forever!
- 9% (505 votes) Just aren’t interested
- 1% (82 votes) Whats an iPhone?
How is it Android is losing by more than 2 to 1? Could it be related to the popularity of Android or maybe big lack of cutting edge hardware available on T-Mobile’s network?
As far as rumor mills go, there is no official word that the iPhone is coming to T-Mobile in the near future. Will it at some point? It would be logical as it is a GSM phone. T-Mobile would be the most likely carrier to offer the device next. Do I think it would boost customers for T-Mobile? Absolutely! On a business side, bringing the iPhone to T-Mobile would deal quite a blow to AT&T. How many millions of iPhone users are out there already? There are over 3 million of them on the iPhone4 alone. So if even 1/4 of those people changed to T-Mobile, that’s 750,000 new activations. Not too shabby at all. I’m fairly sure more than 1/4 would change over to T-Mobile, especially if the antenna issue gets resolved.
Why am I ranting about the iPhone? If T-Mobile did launch the iPhone, could T-Mobile’s network handle the increased user load on the network’s infrastructure? T-Mobile’s network is more prepared for a device with such a large following. HSPA+ aka 4G, is rolling out to more cities and is expected to cover 185 million Americans by the end of the year. With only one confirmed official HSPA+ capable Android phone by T-Mobile (still not official on what it is yet though), is there enough bandwidth available for the iPhone and Android to share? Or will it be like a virus and eat us alive?
Here is my question. If or when the iPhone becomes available on T-Mobile, would you jump the Android ship and join the ranks of the iPhone users? If you would, is it because of the lack of cutting edge hardware available with Android?
I can with complete confidence say that I would never leave Android. Maybe I’m just crazy. Even with source not always being shared by the carriers, even with Motorola trying to lock down their devices and even with 45% of Android users on Android 1.6 (Donut), I won’t leave Android. I would be much happier on Android 1.5 (cupcake) on my G1 and open, than locked down and run by a dictator, but that’s just my 2 cents.
Source: TmoNews
Bump for the iPhone or Android
Posted by admin
bu.mp - twitter.com - One of the most popular apps on both the iPhone and the Android has to be Bump. I see people everywhere bumping their phones together in order to get to know each other better. You can use Bump to exchange contact information, share photos, or even become friends on Facebook. As you can see from the demonstration we did in the video, it's simple to use. Stop wasting your time manually typing someone's name, phone number and email address into your address book. Just Bump them! chris.pirillo.com
Google executives said that Android will over iPhone
Posted by admin
Google executives said that Android will over iPhone
With the escalating competition, Apple, Android is Google smart phone in the field of the "main weapons." According to market research firm comScore data, the current 9% of U.S. smart phones using the Android operating system. Android is Google in the rapidly growing flat-panel computers SONY VGP-BPS9 battery set-top box market, the most likely to use the operating system.
Rubin said in an interview on the Android system is open, on the Flash support, next-generation Android operating system Froyo such issues as the views will be compared to Apple's closed style of the DPRK government.
Opening is the key
Rubin Android platform are expected to "take off" because the use of Android to the open architecture of the major manufacturers. He said: "If there is a number of OEM manufacturers for you with many types of variety of products manufactured, Android phones will be sold sooner or later than such as Apple and RIM closed franchised company, this is only a matter of time."
Rubin asked when specific to Android mobile phone sales will more than BlackBerry and iPhone. Rubin replied: "the specific time I'm not sure, but I am sure this will happen, open always have the last laugh."
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs also mentioned the recent comments "like downloading pornography users should buy an Android phone." Rubin is ironic, said: "I do not understand what the logic of his words, perhaps he and way of communicating with the public and the media is rather special."
On whether consumers really care about their cell phone software "open" or not, Rubin stressed the importance consumers do this. He will close the computing platform choice than to deprive citizens of centralized government, said: "if people are denied the right kind of Quan Li, who will care, I do not want to live in North Korea."
When asked about Google's Android applications developed with third-party developers in the Android Market, the application of sales than it has strengths, Rubin said: "We hope also to use third-party developers the same tools and our . We provide developers with a software development kit (hereinafter referred to as "SDK"), which applied in the preparation of Gmail, we use the same SDK. There is no secret our application program interface (API). This is for Android is essential. open is to open all the way and achieve their own lives. "
He also promised the next generation, code-named Android Froyo Adobe's Flash standards on providing comprehensive support. He stressed that sometimes open "means that SONY VGP-BPS8 battery actually like something to respect."
Focus on compatibility
Some analysts are concerned that Android will "split" into several different versions of application software developers can not make all of the Android products to create a common software, which Rubin will Android platform and other PC operating systems compared .
The PC operating systems generally are updated, resulting in new applications not compatible with older machines. Rubin said: "We pay more attention to the compatibility more than other companies. We must ensure that to the phone application running on the screen can also be compatible with 42-inch plasma display. I believe that we can be the world's first Kuan Tong Shi, and mobile phones on the TV running applications. ""
How to look at the Google Android and Chrome OS and will use that a system for electronic products such as tablet PCs, Rubin stressed that the two platforms represent two different Google Development Goals - Android mobile phone to focus on improving access to information way, and Chrome OS's goal is to promote the network open.
However, the efforts of the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, Rubin said: "I do not know if Chrome or Android Tablet PC, but if consumers into the store, our company can choose between two products, I think is great. "
Rubin said he has an iPad, for his wife to buy one. He feels Acer Aspire 1680 Battery this Tablet PC is indeed in the "consumption more than production of the crowd was" very attractive, but these products will erode sales of laptop computers, rather than creating a new market. He said: "I think people do not want another station to a charge of electronic products.
According to foreign media reports, market research firm Millward (Millward Brown Optimor) Wednesday released the 2010 Global 100 most valuable brands, Google won the fourth straight year, while China Mobile ranked the eighth.
This year, Google's brand value reached 114.2 billion U.S. dollars, up 14%. IBM and Apple, with a brand value of the order of 86.3 billion U.S. dollars, and 83.1 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of respectively 30% and 32%.
Fourth to tenth ranking followed by Microsoft, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Marlboro, China Mobile, General Electric, and Vodafone. In addition, Hewlett-Packard 12, BlackBerry 14, Amazon 15, Oracle 19.
Android 2.2 Froyo running on the iPhone
Posted by admin
Sorry for lack of focus guys. For more information, please visit: linuxoniphone.blogspot.com Credits to planetbeing and mih for the port. Credits to _jiga for the original port of Froyo. ifroyo.blogspot.com
iPhone 3G Gets Froyo!…For Real?
Posted by Alex Smith
In the development community, we expect the latest Android OS on Android devices that haven’t received an update yet or devices aren’t supposed to support the latest OS. Cyanogen has stated that he is going to have Android 2.2 running on all kinds of Android devices soon with CM6. We’ve heard before of Android 2.1 on the iPhone 3G and 3GS, now we can say we’ve heard Android 2.2 on this iPhone 3G, as well. While there are no instructions and downloads yet, keep an eye on iPhoDroid. I can almost feel the anger radiate through my laptop as the news of this hits you in the soul. iPosers rejoice!
Source: iPhoDroid
Leave your comments below.
Beginning Smartphone Web Development: Building Javascript, CSS, HTML and Ajax-Based Applications for iPhone, Android, Palm Pre, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Nokia S60
Posted by admin
- ISBN13: 9781430226208
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Today’s Web 2.0 applications (think Facebook and Twitter) go far beyond the confines of the desktop and are widely used on mobile devices. The mobile Web has become incredibly popular given the success of the iPhone and BlackBerry, the importance of Windows Mobile, and the emergence of Palm Pre (and its webOS platform). At Apress, we are fortunate to have Gail Frederick of the well-known training site Learn the Mobile Web offer her expert advice in Beginning Smartphone Web Development. In this book, Gail teaches the web standards and fundamentals specific to smartphones and other feature-driven mobile phones and devices.
- Shows you how to build interactive mobile web sites using web technologies optimized for browsers in smartphones
- Details markup fundamentals, design principles, content adaptation, usability, and interoperability
- Explores cross-platform standards and best practices for the mobile Web authored by the W3C, dotMobi, and similar organizations
- Dives deeps into the feature sets of the most popular mobile browsers, including WebKit, Chrome, Palm Pre webOS, Pocket IE, Opera Mobile, and Skyfire
By the end of this book, you’ll have the training, tools, and techniques for creating robust mobile web experiences on any of these platforms for your favorite smartphone or other mobile device.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build interactive mobile web pages that comply with industry standards and best practices.
- Develop web sites using the markup languages of the mobile Web: XHTML-MP, Wireless CSS, and WML.
- Use Mobile JavaScript and Ajax for client-side web interactivity.
- Adapt the syntax and design of mobile web pages to target smartphone models.
- Enhance mobile web pages to target advanced features of smartphone browsers.
- Validate and compress mobile markup to optimize for network transmission and browser performance.
- Simulate smartphone browsers using emulators and development tools.
Who is this book for?
Mobile application developers and their managers need to learn mobile web technologies because it’s in their economic interest. Time-to-market and opportunity costs are significantly lower for web-based mobile applications than for native ones.
Desktop web developers at software companies and IT departments of non-technology businesses need to learn mobile web technologies to meet the demands of managers who will soon be asking them to “mobilize this web site.” These developers will want to do the minimum work possible to maximize the compatibility of their mobile web sites. The standards-based approach advocated in this book will allow them to build gracefully adaptive and portable mobile web experiences that perform well across mobile browser platforms.
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