Mobile Phones News Blog

Finally, Google has released the mobile version of the Chrome web browser for the Android platform. The new Google Chrome for Android is still in beta stage and arrives to be available only for devices running Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Features such as accelerated page loading, omnibox and private browsing in Incognito Mode are available through Chrome Beta for Android.

Google has kept its promise to deliver the Chrome web browser for the Android platform. Already available for the desktops, the Chrome Beta for Android has been worked from ground up to support Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for smartphones and tablets. The new Chrome Beta for Android is the mobile web browser almost replicating features of its desktop counterpart. However, it comes with certain limitations and restrictions.

Firstly, the Chrome Beta for Android is compatible only with the Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich running smartphones and tablets. Secondly, it is available for download from Android Market only in the twelve countries that include US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Spain, Korea, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

Chrome Beta for Android brings same stack of features to mobile platform as its PC version but with some twists and tweaks. Google has provided accelerated page loading, scrolling and zooming function for the Chrome Beta mobile web browser as well. The Chrome Beta also has the omnibox which acts the address bar, search bar and even the navigation bar.

Google Account owners can sign in with their account credentials to sync the bookmarks – a function that Firefox for Android also offers. However, Google Chrome users can also send a web page to the Chrome Beta running Android smartphone or tablet for offline reading.

Google Chrome Beta for Android brings the famous Incognito Mode for private browsing that makes the mobile web browsing pretty interesting. That takes care of the private browsing part.

The Android smartphones with significant on-board memory can use the Bandwidth Management feature of the Chrome Beta that offers pre-loading webpages over select data networks or all data network options. That way one can save some bytes of data by pre-loading the webpages.

Google Chrome beta for Android settings menu offers Under The Hood features that include Developer Tools as well. In the Developer Tools option, the Tilt Scrolling option has been enabled by default. The Tilt Scrolling option allows uses to scroll between the open tabs in the stack view simply by flinging the device. That is one interesting feature added by Google to the Chrome mobile web browser.

Though late to party, the Google Chrome will have to compete with established third party mobile web browsers such as Opera Mobile/Mini, Firefox and Dolphin Browser HD. Google Chrome Beta for Android is available for free and can be downloaded from Android Market, albeit for select twelve countries only including the USA, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

World’s largest handset maker, Apple may come out with the fifth generation iPhone 5 this summer (April), according to a report published on a website.

Quoting sources at Foxconn, which manufacturers iPhone for Apple, the website (9to5mac.com) said, “We received word from a reliable source at Foxconn in China that the iPhone 5, as it is currently being called, is now gearing for production. The source said various sample devices are also floating around (they vary slightly from one another), so it is impossible to tell which one will be the final.”

As per the report, the Apple iPhone 5 may have a 4 inch display and would have a different form factor (design) than its older cousins (iPhone 4S and 3G S etc). The upcoming device would be longer and wider, the report added.

Despite the rise of Android, Apple has managed to keep growing. Infact, according to a research, Apple has managed to grow its market share last year significantly to become the world’s largest handset maker. The release of iPhone 5 is expected to give its sales a further boost.

Apple’s iPhone 4S was launched in India in November 2011, a month after it was released in the USA. So, if the company releases iPhone 5 in April, we can expect it to come to India probably by June.

Samsung is reportedly preparing to send two new Android phones to the UK, ready to enter both the mid and upper range. While neither are ‘new’ releases, as they’ve both been previously announced, this is the first time we’ve got confirmation of a national release for one of them.

First up is the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus, a phone announced just before the start of CES 2012, and blessed with a design that’s uncannily similar to the Apple iPhone 3G/3Gs. An update of the now aging Galaxy Ace, it comes with a 3.65-inch screen, a 5 megapixel camera and a 1GHz processor.

Vodafone has announced its intention to carry the Galaxy Ace Plus from February, with pricing still to be announced. It’ll be joined by the Nokia Lumia 710 and the BlackBerry Bold 9790 as new arrivals at the network, and will likely prove to be as popular as the original Ace.

Then we’ve got the Samsung Galaxy S II HD, which has appeared in an advert for an online retailer, suggesting it’s headed our way quite soon. The interesting part here is that until now, the S II HD has been an LTE phone only available in the USA.

Of course, a UK version of the phone would come without that LTE radio, so what else makes this variant special?  Quite a lot actually, as it has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.65-inch touchscreen with a 720p resolution and a hefty 1850mAh battery.

That’s quite a spec-bump over the standard Galaxy S II, and with the Galaxy S III expected to make an appearance at Mobile World Congress at the end of next month, a launch of the HD alongside it will make Samsung’s top-of-the-range line-up absolutely stunning.

Samsung is reportedly preparing to send two new Android phones to the UK, ready to enter both the mid and upper range. While neither are ‘new’ releases, as they’ve both been previously announced, this is the first time we’ve got confirmation of a national release for one of them.

First up is the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus, a phone announced just before the start of CES 2012, and blessed with a design that’s uncannily similar to the Apple iPhone 3G/3Gs. An update of the now aging Galaxy Ace, it comes with a 3.65-inch screen, a 5 megapixel camera and a 1GHz processor.

Vodafone has announced its intention to carry the Galaxy Ace Plus from February, with pricing still to be announced. It’ll be joined by the Nokia Lumia 710 and the BlackBerry Bold 9790 as new arrivals at the network, and will likely prove to be as popular as the original Ace.

Then we’ve got the Samsung Galaxy S II HD, which has appeared in an advert for an online retailer, suggesting it’s headed our way quite soon. The interesting part here is that until now, the S II HD has been an LTE phone only available in the USA.

Of course, a UK version of the phone would come without that LTE radio, so what else makes this variant special?  Quite a lot actually, as it has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.65-inch touchscreen with a 720p resolution and a hefty 1850mAh battery.

That’s quite a spec-bump over the standard Galaxy S II, and with the Galaxy S III expected to make an appearance at Mobile World Congress at the end of next month, a launch of the HD alongside it will make Samsung’s top-of-the-range line-up absolutely stunning.

Motorola has been quietly testing the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich build for the original Xoom tablet. Enthusiastic developers (read: testers) with XDA Developer Forum managed to grab that update and offered the signed Android 4.0 update for the Xoom WiFi only and LTE versions.

Android Central reported that a specific email was sent out to registered beta testers mentioning that Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich will be rolled out through the weekend in USA.

Motorola, in the email, claimed that the Xoom tablet was Google Experience Device (devices without any custom user interface like Samsung’s Touchwhiz) but did not elaborated when the update would be rolled out for the general masses. However, while the update got delayed, the Motorola engineers claimed to have more time to test the Android 4.0 ICS in pretense of a project.

This new Android 4.0.3 ICS build IML77 update has been officially signed by Google but meant specifically for the Xoom WiFi owners. Do note that this is one of the early builds that is stable to use and meant only for WiFi models. Reason being simple that the builds for Wi-Fi+3G models and LTE models would be rigorously tested by the mobile operators as well as Google.

Flashing the new Android 4.0.3 update is bit tricky as users will need an USB host cable and 1 GB/2 GB USB flash drive. Advanced users can follow the step wise process guide to flash the update put up at the XDA Developers Forum.

Google has pushed the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich build for Samsung Nexus S, another Google Experience Device, as well but was paused due to number of issues reported with that. Some approach might be used for the first Android 4.0.3 ICS build meant for the Motorola Xoom tablets.

Last week The Mobile Indian reported about the Intel Medfield based prototype in works. Now a website spotted an Intel Medfield running Lenovo K2110 prototype tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show 2012 in Las Vegas, USA. This Lenovo K2110 tablet features 1.6 GHz Intel Atom ‘Medfield’ processors and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Intel refers to the mobile processor meant for Android-based smartphones and tablet with the codename — Medfield.

The Lenovo K2110 tablet looks almost like the Intel Medfield prototype previously reported. Both tablets have similar rounded corners. A front facing camera is in the center of top bezel when the tablet is held in landscape mode. This Lenovo K2110 tablet has a 10.1-inch touchscreen display and is merely 8.9mm thick.

Intel Medfield mobile processor running at 1.6 GHz clock speed resides in the 8.9mm thick form factor. This Medfield processor would be branded under the Intel Atom family but no details on the model number as yet. For instance, the Intel Medfield chip for model is referred as Atom Z2460.

The Lenovo K2110 was labeled as pre-production/beta prototype and was running Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich update with a layer of Lenovo’s new Mondrian user interface on it. Of course, this is a prototype with number of changes that can be expected when the final product comes out.

As of now, there is no word on when Intel and Lenovo are expected to formally launch the Lenovo K2110 tablet.

Images by: Android Police

With the show almost over, anyone with a major announcement to make has already done so, but that doesn’t stop the news from flowing, as new products are discovered on the show floor.  Here’s day three of our news round-up from CES 2012 in Las Vegas.

Project Fiona

Razer, manufacturers of gaming PCs, gave CES visitors an exciting glimpse at the future of tablet gaming with Project Fiona, an Intel-powered machine designed specifically for playing full PC games. Running a Core i7 processor makes it an incredibly powerful tablet, while the gaming controls on the side-mounted grips make playing games far easier than with a touchscreen. They even feature force-feedback! It’s expected to launch during Q4 this year, at a sub-$1000 (that’s less than £700) price point.

Pantech Element

An exclusive tablet to AT&T in the USA, this is an Android machine with a 4G LTE radio inside. It runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb and has an 8-inch screen and a front and rear camera. The name gives away its unique selling point, as it’s waterproof!

Pantech Burst

Joining the Element tablet at AT&T will be the Burst, a 4G LTE smartphone. Equipped with a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB or memory and 5 megapixel camera, the Android Gingerbread phone is set to be very competitively priced – for the USA, at least – at $49 with a two-year contract.

Polaroid SC1630

We’ve seen Android feature on almost every device imaginable, so it should come as no surprise to see it implemented on a camera. The Polaroid SC1630 is a 16 megapixel camera with a touchscreen, Wi-Fi and the Android operating system. It’s not some stripped down version either, as users can access the Android Market and download apps, just like on a phone.

Lenovo IdeaTab

Lenovo has introduced two IdeaTab tablets, essentially updated and rebranded IdeaPads, a name that will now move to Lenovo’s laptop range.  The Android Ice Cream Sandwich IdeaTab S2 is the first, and is a similar idea to the Eee Pad Transformer, as the tablet has a detachable keyboard dock. It uses a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Krait processor and has a 10-inch screen. The other tablet is the K2, again using Android Ice Cream Sandwich and a 10-inch screen, but this time with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and no keyboard dock option. The pair are initially launching in China, but an international launch will follow later in the year.

Huawei MediaPad.

Huawei’s 7-inch tablet has recently found a home in the UK as the Orange Tahiti, but the original device is about to get an upgrade both in style and in OS. Yes, the little tablet will be getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as an over-the-air update, and be supplied as standard on new models, plus the tablet will now come in several new colours including black and pink.

T-Mobile Galaxy S Blaze

Yet another Samsung Galaxy S II variant has been released in the USA, this time for the T-Mobile network and under the name of the Galaxy S Blaze 4G. As is obvious from the name, it’ll connect to their 4G network, and is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon dual-core processor.

Korean Electronics giant, LG has very subtly added a new member to the Optimus series of Android based smartphones in the form of LG Optimus 2. The new handset is supposedly the upgrade version of the age old Optimus GT 540 which was launched in the year 2010 with the Android Donut 1.6 as its operating system.

The new LG Optimus 2 smartphone has a 3.2 inch display with a capacitive touch, Android Gingerbread 2.3 operating system, 3.2 megapixel camera and up to 32 GB expandable memory. But since this device is a CDMA version smartphone, it will only be available with network operator tie-ups only. Thus, CDMA players like MTS, Tata Docomo and Reliance Communication are expected to offer this handset with their connection in India.

The Optimus 2 is expected to be priced very competitively. As of now, LG has not officially announced the launch date or price of this device but it is expected to do so during the Consumer Electronics Show 2012 which is to be held in Las Vegas, USA from January 10-13.

To know more about the device, see the LG global website.

Here are five travel apps that will take care of all your requirements when you are travelling. These apps are not just useful when you travel out of your city.

MapMyIndia ShowNearby

MapMyIndia ShowNearby app shows places of interest nearby such as ATMs, petrol pumps, banks, movie theatres, restaurants by cuisine, attractions, shopping destinations by category, and emergency services like hospitals and police stations.

You can let the app use the GPS location or set your location manually. Once this is done, you need to select a category from the menu and then sub categories, like Chinese in case of restaurants, or Apparel in case of shopping. The categories displayed can be moved around as well.

You will then get a list of places sorted by distance from your location. You can see the places on a map, call them, save their addresses as favourites, add them to your contacts, get directions, or share them with a friend. The app works across India. MapMyIndia is also mulling over adding a variety of dynamic components to the app including movie show times and reservations, restaurant reviews and a host of other functions.

JustDial

JustDial provides local search through phone calls and is currently one of the largest services of its kind. The JustDial app for Android also provides the same services.

Using this app, you can find out about the latest movies, events, restaurants, lounges, art shows, ATMs, hotels, doctors and much more. The app comes with a Hotkeys feature, with which you can quickly access results with just a tap. You can also add more hot keys based on your favourites and preferences. Use the Near Me feature to search for any business, product or service near you.

The JustDial app uses the in-built GPS functionality of smartphones to detect users’ location and provides mapping and navigation features, thereby leveraging the built in Google Maps application. The app allows you to choose a city of your choice for your desired searches anywhere in India or the USA.

NGPay

NGPay app has a list of services enabling users to book railway, air and even movie tickets with ease. You can buy railway tickets from IRCTC; and air tickets from Jet Airways, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, PVR Cinemas, INOX, Fame, Cinemax, etc.

NGPay also enables online shopping at more than a hundred stores and enables users to send gifts. You can recharge your prepaid mobile numbers from NGPay as well. You have the option to store information for one credit so that it is easy to process transactions, or you can feed in information every time you want to use the app.

Ixigo

For cost effective travel planning, Ixigo is one of the best apps as it searches for more than 100 travel sites to give the best rates for hotels and flights.

The app is not India specific but nonetheless has Indian related content. It helps users find cheap flights to anywhere in the world and compares 250,000+ hotels globally in list and map view.

You can also view hotel photos, amenity information, room rates and availability, as well as get recommendations on interesting locations and also reviews of major hotels.

The app also allows you to track flight status and delays, find airport Information and locations, and airline phone numbers.

Zomato

Food is an important part of enjoying vacations and, therefore, we believe that it requires a special app like Zomato, which allows you to search for a restaurant near you. Notably for India, it has a list of more than 18,000 restaurants and provides services in ten cities of India including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh.

Zomato also lets you check ratings, reviews and pictures of all restaurants in your city. The booking, however, is not done through the app, for which you can use the NGPay site or let the app redirect you to the site of your choice.

The Nokia Lumia 710 was announced alongside the Lumia 800 at Nokia World back in October, but at the time it wasn’t given a launch date here in the UK. The phone has subsequently been released in some international markets, and confirmed as the first Nokia Windows Phone to make it to the USA, where it’ll launch on the T-Mobile network.

However, today there’s some good news for anyone wanting the mid-range Nokia Windows Phone handset, as a ‘coming soon‘ page for the Lumia 710 has appeared on the Three network’s website. While the page doesn’t offer a date for the phone’s arrival, its appearance suggests we’ll be seeing the device sometime early next year.

While not as outright sexy as the Lumia 800, the Lumia 710 shares many of its bigger brother’s features. For example, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor keeps things running very smoothly, while Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is displayed on a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 pixel touchscreen – but instead of an AMOLED panel, it’s a standard TFT.

The main differences are with the camera, which has 5 megapixels instead of 8, and an internal memory of 8GB rather than the Lumia 800′s 16GB. On the software side, Lumia 710 owners will still have Nokia Music and Nokia Drive, along with access to the Windows Martketplace application store.

Those interested in an affordable Windows Phone 7 handset, who don’t want to wait for the Lumia 710 to arrive, could also check out the Radar, a similarly featured phone from HTC.