Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is now official, includes revamped design, and many more enchancements

Google has taken the stage in Hong Kong to make the next version of Android OS, nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich, a thing of reality. Better known as Android 4.0, the update offers a massive redesign to the user interface and adds so many of new features. Some of the highlights include an NFC-enabled feature called Android Beam, offline search in Gmail, new lock screen features and a fancy unlocking method called "Face Unlock," which uses facial recognition to ensure strangers can't use your phone without permission. Ice Cream Sandwich also includes enhancements in almost every native app within Android itself. The SDK is already available for Android 4.0, and the update itself will make its first public appearance on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.


Here's some of the enhancements found in Ice Cream Sandwich:

Option to use virtual buttons in the UI, instead of taking up capacitive touch buttons
Widgets are in a new tab, listed in a similar list to apps
Folders are much easier to create, with a drag-and-drop style similar to iOS
A customizable launcher
New phone app with visual voicemail functionality that lets you speed up or slow down voicemail messages
Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar
Gmail has offline search, a two-line preview, and new action bar at the bottom
Swipe left or right to switch between Gmail conversations
Integrated screenshot capture by holding power and volume down buttons
Improved error correction on the keyboard
Ability to access apps directly from lock screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)
Improved copy and paste
Better voice integration
Face Unlock, a facial recognition service
New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabs
Browser now automatically syncs your Chrome bookmarks
Modern "Roboto" font
Data Usage section in settings lets you set warnings when you reach a certain amount of use and disabling data when you go over your limit
Ability to kill off apps that are using data in the background
Camera app: zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, zoom while recording
Built-in photo editor
New gallery layout, organized by location and person
Refreshed people app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images
Android Beam, a NFC feature that lets you exchange websites, contact info, directions, YouTube, etc.

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HTC Droid Eris / Verizon Droid Eris

The HTC Droid Eris is essentially a modified version of the HTC Hero and was released on November 6, 2009. Also known as the second Android phone on the Verizon Wireless network, the Droid Eris offers a slimmer design and does not have a slide-out physical keyboard. A subsidized price of $99 set a record as the least expensive Android phone to hit the market.

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Google Nexus One / HTC Nexus One

Released on January 5, 2010, the Google Nexus one is the current "king" of Android phones. The Nexus one is available unlocked directly from Google for $579 for use on any GSM provider (although the Nexus One does not support UMTS 3G bands of 850 MHz and 1900 MHz), or through T-Mobile in the US at a subsidized price of $179. A Verizon Wireless (US) and Vodaphone (UK) version is expected in mid-2010.

Carriers: 

 T-Mobile Unlocked

Device Type: 

 Smartphone

Weight: 

 4.59 oz (130 g)

Dimensions: 

 4.69" x 2.35" x 0.45" (119 x 60 x 11.5 mm)

Modes: 

 GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 WCDMA 900 / WCDMA 1700 / WCDMA 2100

OS Version: 

 Android 2.1

Processor: 

 1000 MHz Qualcomm QSD 8250

Memory: 

 174 MB (expandable)

Data Speed (max): 

 7.2 Mbps (HSDPA)

Display Resolution: 

 480 x 800 pixels

Display Size: 

 3.7"

Display Type: 

 OLED (Full color)

Display Colors: 

 65k

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Gigabyte to Launch Dual-Boot Android Tablets

Taiwanese motherboard manufacturer Gigabyte plans to release two dual-boot tablets in October, giving users an operating system choice between Android and Windows 7 on the same device. Preliminary information points to Android 3.0 Honeycomb installed on a 10-inch screen model, with a smaller 7-inch version running Android 2.2. Pictured below is the Gigabyte S1080, a current offering available in Taiwan running Windows 7 Home Premium.

The S1080 is heavy at two pounds, but it includes a large 320GB hard drive and runs Windows applications. Gigabyte is still working on the designs for these new dual-boot tablets and will finalize the versions of Android to be installed before release. Pricing is expected to be competitive, coming in at under $400.

Both dual-boot tablets are expected to use an Intel Atom processor, but unfortunately will not come with USB ports like the S1080 according to the preliminary description. Gigabyte is hoping that Windows 8 will run on an ARM processor, the type currently found on many mobile devices. The company is looking ahead to a Windows 8 tablet for 2012, however it's not clear whether or not this model will feature dual-boot capabilities.

Currently Windows is not a common operating system on tablets, which are dominated by Apple's iOS and Android. Dual-boot functionality would give users the choice of which operating system to load at startup, making it possible to use Microsoft Office applications, for example. Loading up Android would give the user access to Android Market and the complete Honeycomb experience without carrying an extra device.

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Google's Version of FaceTime Coming to Android

Google announced this April that it will soon be releasing an updated version of Google Talk featuring video chat. The service will be similar to Apple's FaceTime, a video chat service introduced with the release of the iPhone 4. Like FaceTime, Android's video chat will allow for chatting with friends and family between different devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Unlike FaceTime, however, Google Talk for Android will allow for video chat over 3G and 4G connections.

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Tethering applications disabled by GOOGLE for Android phones

What is Tethering ???

Tethering enables you to go online from your laptop or PDA using your cell phone as a modem.

Google is disabling access to tethering applications in the Android Market at the request of wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Wireless carriers aren’t fans of these unofficial tethering apps because they allow subscribers to turn their Android devices into Internet hotspots without incurring additional monthly fees.

Without those Android applications, the majority of wireless subscribers will be forced to spend upwards of $40 per month for the ability to tether or risk compromising the security of their device (to some degree) by running (sideloading) an app found outside of the official Android Market.

The reaction by carriers to block unofficial tethering is more or less expected, since it lowers the potential revenue brought in by subscribers and adds stress to already insufficient wireless networks. However, Google’s willingness to assist the major carriers is more than a little surprising.

The search engine giant has long since touted its Android OS as superior to other mobile operating systems because of its openness. So, disabling access to any application for any reason seems contradictory, except for cases of malicious intent.

Technically speaking, Google didn’t remove the tethering apps, which can still be pulled up in the Android Market. It just made them unavailable for the vast majority of people using the Android platform. T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon subscribers that attempt to download a tethering apps are met with a gray, disabled link and a prompt that reads “This item is not available on your carrier” — which is pretty much the same as having it removed outright.

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Facebook for Android

Facebook for Android is a free social network application designed for Android mobile phones.

Facebook is the leading social networking site that garnered more than 500 million active users making it a web site phenomenon. Facebook for Android makes it easier for mobile phone users to stay connected at the same time share information from friends, update and check their news feed, change their photos and view posted videos.  Users can also check their message box, upload photos and share links with just a click or touch on their handy mobile phones.

You can download this apps from here  

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Your Android Phone is Tracking You!!!!

While everyone is crying foul that the iPhone is tracking users, people should be aware that their Android phone has been doing the same thing.
Yes, it seems like Google's little green robot is also collecting user data every few seconds and sending it off to Google. Data which includes GPS location, Wi-Fi hotspots the phone has encountered, and the device ID. The difference between the data that Google is harvesting vs. what is going on with the iPhone is that users have to opt in for their data to be collected.
During the initial phone set-up, you may have seen a message asking for which location services you would like to use.
If you checked off that you wanted to use Google's location services, then your phone has been tracking you all this time. Don't worry, though; Google isn't doing anything malicious with your data. Instead, it is using the information to better target ads for things near your location. It's also so that when you do a search for "pizza," you don't get listings in New York when you are in Seattle.

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Android apps developing

Hi friends .. Decide to learn android application developing

So What is android ??

Android is a software for moblie devices which includes operating system , middleware , key applications .

For Developing android application we need Android SDK which includes tools for developing the applications on Android Platform using java language .

Features of  android
1) Application framework
2)Davlik Virtual machine
3)Integrated Browser
4)optimized graphics
5)Sqllite
6)Bluetooth , EDGE , 3G , Wifi
7)Camera ,GPS ,Accelarator
8)Rich development environment

Android Architecture

What Applications we can develop ???

email client, SMS program, calendar, maps, browser, contacts, and others. All applications are written using the Java programming language.

Will posting everything about android application developing in detail so stay tuned friends :)

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Skype to bring Video chat to Android

Good news for Android users , Skype is going to release a android version very soon for enabling video chat option for android phone .

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