Portable Electronics Ltd // Technology you can carry.

So the Streak is way behind on 1.6 and Dell has been saying that they will update it to 2.1. O2 has released the update now and we would not doubt that anyone would want to wait very long to install it. There are some instructions to doing the update and you will loose some of your data.

Any data that is not stored on the SD card will be lost during the update and all the the apps will have to be reinstalled through the Marketplace. You always have the option, to download an app in the Market that will backup all your SMS messages, contacts, and other important information.

To get the update started you can go into settings, then about phone, and system update on the device. Once they update is has been downloaded, then the user will be prompted to install the update. From there, you should be good to go in about 15 minutes. We know, its not 2.2 but it is a lot better than 1.6.

[via SlashGear]

)

If you are looking for a marble-rolling, maze-traveling game, Lava Ball 3D is the game for you.

Please note: you will not be able to run this on 1st generation Android devices. I would only run this game with at least a 1GHz processor. I tried it on a MyTouch 3G and it locked on the level select screen. I then reviewed it on an EVO and it ran like a champ. It seems the lag is caused by the lava background.

The free version allows 4 levels of game play. The full version offers 32.

The are 4 modes: Preview, Practice, Arcade, and Hardcore.
Preview mode only allows you to view the map by scrolling around to find all the gems before playing.
Practice mode doesn't award points and you re-spawn when you die. There are no points awarded in this mode.
Arcade mode requires you to colled all green gems within a specific time limit. When you die, you lose $50 and re-spawn from the last gem.
Hardcore mode requires you to collect all the purple gem with in a specific time limit. Purple gems can be much more difficult collect than the green. When you die in the mode, you lose. No re-spawning.

The game play is truly Marble Madness meets Labyrinth, as mentioned on the developers site. It is very challenging to grasp the controls at first. The control you have over the ball is incredible. You can drop the ball over a side and bring it back to collect gems. When you fall into the Lava there is a obnoxious scream each time without an option to disable sound. You have to turn down the media volume to disable.  The game is fun, but VERY challenging.

App Review: Lava Ball 3D originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

Our trusty Telstra connect has just hit us up with some info regarding the Samsung Galaxy S launch on Telstra. Mark the 21st of September in your calendar & make sure you have a lot of spare cash handy, as this baby is going to set you back either $99 a month over 24 months, or $960 outright. Yep, only Telstra could manage to price such a device so highly, props to them for consistency.

There is no confirmation as to whether there will be a different design as we were previously told of, and Android 2.2 is still a maybe. So Telstra customers, enticing?

The above device may look familiar, but it was announced 4 days ago by Huawei. The IDEOS is a low-end device that is aimed to push the limits of performance at a low ($200-) price.

Some features just to get you interested:

Key features:
- Android 2.2 Froyo Operating System, with access to Android’s library of 80,000+ apps

- Embedded 3G to Wi-Fi modem/router – share your 3G connection with up to 8 devices at once

- Dual 7.2Mbps 3G and Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity

- Google Maps Navigation with in-built A-GPS, Google Voice Search

- 2.8” QVGA (320x240) TFT Capacitive Touch screen, plus 5 way navigation pad

- 3.2-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash

- Smart sensors – ambient light sensor automatically adjusts screen brightness for longer battery life, accelerometer to automatically adjust screen layout, proximity sensor and compass

- Supports SD cards of up to 16GB

- MicroUSB port

Honestly, for that price and those specs (although the display could be better), it's looking like a very well placed low-end device. Let's hope a carrier picks it up

The past has proven one good point, Vodafone AU usually pick up devices that Vodafone UK stock. Examples: HTC Legend, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 & Google Nexus One. So when we saw the Galaxy Tab pop up on the Vodafone UK website as 'Coming Soon', we'll admit we got a bit excited.

No pricing has been announced but Engadget reports that it will be around AUD $220-$450 on a contract, we expect it to be a tad more. So come on Voda, don't let us down, bring the Galaxy Tab to Aus! Well, at least before Optus do

Our Apanda A60 review unit has just arrived and we're going to be spending the week putting it through its paces. But we'd also love to hear all your questions so we can get around to answering them for you. Feel free to leave a comment or question below, or hit us up on Twitter. Another pic after the break.

Sony Electronics was showing off the final design of their new Internet TV (better known as the world’s first HDTV powered by Google TV) at IFA in Berlin and we filmed a quick 360 video of the hardware. Unfortunately no demos were being given, but at least we got to see what the entire TV set looked like.

Google TV services will be available on several devices, but the 46-inch Sony Internet TV is the exclusive launch partner so it’s the only HDTV you can purchase this fall. We are still waiting on pricing and availability. Those looking for a cheaper option should keep their eye on the Logitech Revue companion box.

We know some of the internal specs of the Internet TV, but Sony has kept quiet about the type of panel being used and expansion options. The demo units that were on display had their ports taped over, so we are not sure what they are hiding right now. If I had to guess, I would expect to see the 46-inch model debut around $2000-3000.

What do you think of the final design from Sony? How much would you be willing to pay for a HDTV powered by Google TV?

RSS feed brought to you by the Android and Me Store

Related Posts

• Top 5 reasons I want to buy one of the new Archos Android tablets
• Hands-on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet
• Logitech Revue: Meet the world’s first Google TV box
• First look at the Scandinavia Android-powered TV
• First impressions of the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 Android tablet

Viewsonic was showing off their first Android tablet, the Viewpad 7, at IFA this week and we got to spend some quality hands-on time with the device. What I found was a pretty remarkable first effort from Viewsonic, but the Viewpad 7 will not be able to take on the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Android tablets are quickly being divided into two main categories. Those with cellular radios (more expensive) and those without (like the WiFi-only Archos lineup). Both the Viewpad 7 and Galaxy Tab feature 7-inch displays and support for cellular networks, so they will be directly competing against each other.

When you buy an Android tablet in the U.S. with support for 3G/4G, it will be subsidized by the carrier and attached to a 2-year contract with data plan. This means that the initial price of the device might not be that important because it is the 24 months of payments that make up the majority of the total cost of ownership.

So how do the two tablets compare when placed side by side?

The Viewpad 7 features a slower processor (600 MHz ARM11 vs 1 GHz Cortex A8), lower resolution display (800×480 vs 1024×600), less internal storage (512 MB vs 16/32 GB), and lacks support for Flash Player 10.1.

Viewsonic didn’t make a bad device, but I can’t think of one advantage it offers over the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

There is still hope for Viewsonic because I got the feeling someone at the company has a passion for Android and an understanding for the current industry. It was good to hear that Viewsonic worked with Google to achieve official certification (Google apps and Android Market pre-installed) and they went with the latest Android 2.2. The Viewpad 7 might not move a lot of units, but I’m curious to see what future efforts will produce.

Other impressions of the Viewpad 7 include:

• Viewsonic kept saying it had a 600 MHz Snapdragon processor, but the CPU in the Viewpad 7 is ARM11 based. I’m not aware of any Snapdragons that are not ARM Cortex-A8, so I’m not sure what’s up. We were told this device could not support Flash 10.1 for “technical limitations”, which leads us to believe this is not really a Snapdragon.
• The case design makes it look like a giant iPhone 4 and the Viewpad 7 was pretty heavy.
• Some 3D games like Raging Thunder 2 were playable, but I don’t expect this CPU/GPU would be able to handle any of the Gameloft HD titles.
• Software was very buggy. Several of the benchmarks I tried running would not complete and produced force close errors.
• The virtual keyboard was terrible. It only supported a T9 layout when in portrait mode and you had to swap to landscape to see the QWERTY layout. The stock Android keyboard was not present in the test build they had installed.
• Accelerometer controls did not work properly – they were off 90 degrees.
• It was impossible to wipe off the fingerprints from the back casing. It also appeared to scratch easily.
• I didn’t notice any haptic feedback from the touch capacitive buttons. Speaking of the touch buttons, Viewsonic used some non-standard icons that were confusing to identify.

Check out our hands-on video for additional details. Would anyone out there choose the Viewpad 7 when the Galaxy Tab will be available at the same time?

RSS feed brought to you by the Android and Me Store

Related Posts

• Top 5 reasons I want to buy one of the new Archos Android tablets
• ViewSonic makes the Android 2.2 powered ViewPad 7 official
• Toshiba Folio 100 tablet is a steaming pile of disappointment
• Hands-on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet
• Hands-on Flash Player 10.1 Beta 3 for Android 2.2

From today onwards the HTC Wildfire will be available on Telstra Prepaid for $349 (supposedly). The Wildfire will be network locked, but can be unlocked by recharging $80 + unlocking fee. Tell us how you go

The HTC PD42100 --the same horizontal slider CDMA/GSM world phone we posted leaked photos of last month--has made its way through the FCC.  The device will feature Wifi b/g/n, a 4-inch screen, and possibly one of the fastest mobile processors on the market.  It is going to be a sexy, bad-ass handset.

No word yet on pricing, but this phone looks to be different possibly than the rumored Droid Pro. This is all we have at the moment.  Hit the source link for more images.

Source: Engadget

Android World Phone Passes Through FCC, Headed for Verizon originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

There's quite a bit that's meant to be happening in September, although most of it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I hope some of the stuff in this post will get your Android juices flowing. Hit the break to get into it..

Samsung Galaxy S

This month will see the launch of the Galaxy S on Vodafone + Three, although no pricing has been announced yet, we suspect it will be released on a $49 or $59 cap.

Also during the month Samsung will update the Galaxy S series to Android 2.2, which will add all the Android 2.2 features + the much-needed GPS fix. Certainly a good month for Galaxy S owners.

Sony Ericsson X10 Series

Sony Ericsson Australia have confirmed the Android 2.1 update for the X10 Series will occur as soon as it does in Europe, and SE UK have confirmed it will happen towards the end of September or start of October. We're hoping for the former.

The 2.1 update will be the last such update for the X10 Mini Series.

HTC Wildfire hits Telstra Prepaid

After confusing, price changes and well.. the typical Telstra treatment, the HTC Wildfire will indeed be hitting Telstra Prepaid from the 6th of September for $349 upfront.

The Wildfire is able to be network unlocked by recharging $80 and paying an unlocking fee.

Millennius Apanda A60 & SmartQ Tablets hit the market

It may be a few months late, but unlike the Kogan Agora, the Millennius Apanda A60 has hit the market this month and is available for purchase through the Millennius online store starting from $399 for the 8GB variant and $459 for the 16GB variant. We'll have our hands on the Apanda A60 from tomorrow, so we'll be sure to give it a thorough working through and write-up a review for you guys.

In addition to the Apanda, Millennius also have two Tablets, the SmartQ ($299) & SmartQ 3G ($399). We're also hoping to try these both out as well.

Pink LG Optimus available now from VHA

The fashion conscious, or just people who love the colour pink, will be happy to know the Pink variant of the LG Optimus is now available from Vodafone and Three this month. It's $19 a month over 24 months.

Samsung Galaxy Tab could be headed to Aus

Take this with a grain of salt, but after the news that Optus is looking into Tablets, then not to soon after we find there's a Galaxy Tab floating around Sydney, we're thinking there may be a connection. After getting in contact with our Optus connect, he informed us that Optus is indeed looking into Tablets and that they aren't ruling the Galaxy Tab out. This is a rumour I really want to come to fruition.

Win an LG Eve thanks to Ausdroid & MobiCity

Last, but not least, you have 4 days left to enter our competition to win yourself a brand new LG Eve thanks to Ausdroid & MobiCity. For instructions on how to enter, click here.

I think that's just about it, let's hope there's plenty more to come!

Another unfinished tablet that we were able to get our hands on at IFA-2010, was the Interpad by E-Noa. This 10 inch slate had Android 2.2 installed, and E-Noa said that there is a custom skin in the works to go on top of it. They are keeping the lid tight on the details of the skin, until it is ready for prime time.

The tablet will have optional 3G/UMTS but will not be able to make cellular calls. The only thing available would be cellular data access. A Tegra 2 chip keeps this thing running smoothly and we did not have any Wi-Fi access (b/g/n) to the device, so could not put the browser to the test. Among the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 is incorporated, and E-Noa is claiming the battery life is around 8-12hrs from the 3,500mAh pack.

1080p playback can occur, with MPEG2, H.264 and VC-1 codecs, among others. It is hard to give our true full opinions, without the tablet being completely finished. When put up against the Toshiba Folio 100 we are not sure we would pick this one over the name brand. The Wi-Fi only version is said to come in around€399 ($515) and will have plenty of competition, with all the current announcements of Android tablets coming lately.

[via SlashGear]

)

Image Credit: Modaco

Score another one for the open source Android developer community over at XDA.  Some of the users over there have discovered another update to the Froyo ROM for the Nexus One, with build number FRG33.  It has been found that the ROM has some minor bugfixes and a newer version of the installed radio than in the latest official released build.

A lot of users were hoping that this leaked ROM might be a Gingerbread build because of the "G" in the build number, but after unpacking it was found to be the above mentioned ROM.

Some users are reporting that their WiFi is responding faster when connecting, and some other speed improvements.  The folks over at Modaco are responsible for the benchmark graphic pictured to the left, showing some slight increases in speed.

The ROM has already been packaged to work on any phone, but there is a warning out there that this image could mess with your ability to access the Market.  There is a workaround talked about here.

As always, take caution when you are flashing and installing ROMs, you do it at your own risk!

+1 to the Android Dev community for this win!

XDA Discovers Updated ROM for Nexus One originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

Are you growing tired of the constant flow of Android phones that all feature roughly the same design? While wondering the halls of IFA this week I came across one of the coolest concept phones I have ever seen.

The Huawei Hx is a smartphone that features a physical keyboard which is completely enclosed inside the device. The QWERTY keyboard slides out with a unique mechanism which allows it swivel and double as a kick stand.

I have no clue if we will ever see this thing again, but the booth babe was telling me it launches this year.

Hot or not?

RSS feed brought to you by the Android and Me Store

Related Posts

• First look at the Scandinavia Android-powered TV
• Toshiba Folio 100 tablet is a steaming pile of disappointment
• First look at the Sony Internet TV
• First impressions of the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 Android tablet
• Top 5 reasons I want to buy one of the new Archos Android tablets

Archos has been in the Android game for awhile now, but I never really gave them much respect and generally considered their first-gen Android tablets as cheap (to put it nicely). However, after playing with their new lineup of Internet tablets at IFA this week, I think I’m ready to fork over my cash for one and become an Archos fanboy.

For quite some time now I have wanted to purchase an Android tablet, but nothing has fit what I was looking for. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is hands-down the best effort yet, but I’ve really been wanting something a little bigger (like 10 inches) and I’m not too thrilled about purchasing it from a carrier.

It feels like someone read my mind because the new Archos 101 is exactly the device I have been waiting for. If you are looking for an affordable tablet to browse the web and consume media, then check out my top reasons for considering an Archos.

1. Size Matters

With five different models soon available, Archos gives you the choice of display size. Their new tablets will feature screens that measure 2.8, 3.2, 4.3, 7.0, and 10.1 inches.

Each tablet is also incredibly sleek. The Archos 101 (my fav) has a thiness of 12 mm and weighs only 480 g. I was amazed at how light the device felt in my hands (compared to other tablets) and the build quality was rock solid.

2. Android 2.2 with Flash Player 10.1

The demos we got to sample were still running Android 2.1, but Archos is already working on Android 2.2 and expects to have it ready around launch time. Archos also confirmed they have partnered with Adobe and will make Flash Player 10.1 available.

Each tablet has an ARM Cortex processor (ranging in speeds from 600 MHz to 1 GHz) and they will all support Flash 10.1 meaning you can view your favorite online videos and access the growing library of optimized Flash (and Air) apps and games.

The Android build is mostly stock, with several Archos apps and widgets thrown in. It’s nice to see a manufacture stick with vanilla Android instead of creating some custom wacky skin.

Unfortunately, Google will not certify these devices because they don’t meet all their standards (no GPS, no cellular radio, etc.) which means you will not find the Google apps or official Android Market. Normally that would kill the deal for me, but in this case I don’t mind because I’m buying one mainly just to browse the web.

As an alternative, Archos will ship their tablets with the AppsLib market. I don’t have much experience with AppsLib, but I was told the number of developers and apps was quickly growing. There are quite a few devices out there that Google will not certify, so it appears AppsLib could become the lead alternative market once these tablets hit the street.

3. Pricing and Availability

Tablet prices range from $99 up to $349. If you opt for the 10.1 inch model with 8 GB of internal storage, it will only set you back $299. It sounds like the 7-inch Galaxy Tab is going to retail around $600, so I really surprised to find out Archos’ larger offering can be had for half.

Best Buy will be one of the retail partners, so it will be really easy to walk into your local store and pick one up. I was told the 10 incher has a launch date of October 15th and it’s possible you could see the smaller ones before that.

4. No Contracts

Maybe my favorite reason of all, there are no lame carrier contracts when purchasing an Archos tablet. I like being able to hand over my money up front and not have to deal with any monthly charges to use my device. All models include WiFi (b/g/n) so you easily tether it to your phone and still be connected anywhere you travel.

5. Expandability

The 7 and 10 inch Archos tablets are loaded with some unique expandability options which allow you to connect with multiple devices.

• A full HDMI port is included for video out, so there is no need to purchase some special micro cable.
• A full size USB host allows you to plugin keyboards and mice.
• Bluetooth 2.1 EDR is included, also with support for keyboards.
• A micro SD slot allows expansion up to 32 GB.

Conclusion

Maybe I’m a unique customer, but I think there is definitely a group of us that want an affordable Android tablet to use around the house and have no need for an always-on cellular connection. Archos delivers that device and I was sold the moment I held one in my hands.

I’m just barely scraping the surface of what these tablets can do and I encourage you to visit the official Archos site and browse around. Check out the hands-on video I filmed with Will from IntoMobile and let us know what you think.

Would you consider purchasing an Archos tablet? If you think the devices are lacking, what other features would you like to see included?

RSS feed brought to you by the Android and Me Store

Related Posts

• First impressions of the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 Android tablet
• Hands-on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet
• Toshiba Folio 100 tablet is a steaming pile of disappointment
• First look at the Sony Internet TV
• Quick hands-on the T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant

Lease coming up and looking to move? College student heading back to school for the new school year and looking for a different place to stay? Padmapper hopes to provide you with the tools to make your search as easy as possible, and it does the job quite well.

Launching the Padmapper application takes you to the all familiar Google maps, where you can either use geolocation to search for apartments and houses to rent around your current location, or you can scroll around on Google maps to find your preferred location and search houses and apartments there.

Simply click the menu button, then “search here”, and Padmapper will search Craigslist, Apartments.com, ForRent.com, Ookla, and other apartment websites to find the apartment or house of your dreams! The apartments appear as the standard Google map markers, and clicking on one of the markers quickly pulls up more information on the selected location. You can then click on a website link to go to the full listing, place a green marker so you can come back to that listing later if you like it, or email or call the person who listed the apartment or house to get more information.

Even better, Padmapper allows you to filter your search by selecting the minimum and maximum number of bedrooms, and bathrooms, the total price of the apartment, and the maximum price per bed. You can also filter by sublets/non-sublets, and apartments that allow dogs or cats.

Pretty awesome stuff, actually, and I wish I had something like this back when I was in college looking for apartments.

Pros

• Easy and intuitive to navigate. If you understand Google Maps, you’ll understand Padmapper.
• Filters make your search as easy as humanly possible.
• Very easy to contact the people listing the house or apartment right from your device.
• Search is as simple as scrolling around the map.
• Easy to tag places of interest by clicking on the map marker, then the frog icon. The marker will then turn green, which stands out pretty well.

Cons

• Not a dang thing (see below)

Final Verdict

Yes, I’m skipping right over the cons, because as hard as I try, I can’t find anything wrong with this application. Yes, some people if you read the market comments have had some problems with selection, or glitchiness, but I haven’t experienced any of those issues.

Bottom line: If you’re in the market to rent a new apartment or house, you need to give Padmapper a try. It’s pretty damn awesome, and I only wish it had been invented sooner.

Padmapper can be found for free on the Android Market.

Padmapper Padmapper Inc. MARKET QR Gallery

RSS feed brought to you by the Android and Me Store

Related Posts

• CampusBooks aims to make buying and selling textbooks easier for Android users
• PayPal gets updated to 2.0, brings two new features and UI overhaul
• A new generation of emulators comes to Android: Android and Me reviews psx4droid
• ProOnGo Expense: A mobile expense tracker for Android 2.0+
• Picplz: A picture is worth a thousand…check-ins?

That "leaked" low-end LG Android device from a few days back? Turns out it was nothing more than the Optimus Chic, one of two Google-powered phones that the company announced back in early July. They're still not ready to let us touch the damned things here at IFA -- apparently on account of the fact that they're not commercially available yet -- but we got close enough to conclude that you definitely won't be fooling anyone into thinking that you've dropped many hundreds of euros on your phone. You could argue that Huawei set the tone for IFA's small-but-notable mobile presence this year with its introduction of the Ideos -- in other words, cheap Android gear -- and both of these LGs look primed to go head-to-head with the Ideos in that arena. Nokia had long been hoping to totally own the smartphone industry in emerging markets by driving S60 into the bargain basement -- but with this latest round of Android releases coming dangerously close to the same price points, we could have an interesting battle on our hands.

LG Optimus One and Optimus Chic eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | CommentsChris Ziegler01629519499787580560050407972880036795441451386413214044903800608649924548339035

Sources are saying that Google really wants to have their music service up and running by this Christmas. The plans Google has are, to allow music downloads along with the streaming of music to rival Apple’s iTunes Store. Andy Rubin is said to be having conversations with the labels to let them know how the service will look and run. Talk was made at this years Google I/O conference about the service coming later this year, and here we are at the start of September and we still have not seen or heard of anything confirmed.

Supposedly, from two sources, we heard that Google was planning to release the service with the newest version of Android or when 3.0 comes out and it looks like things are right on course. Google, as of right now, has not signed with any labels to get started on the music service, but if they are planning to launch it by Christmas they should be getting some details ironed out soon. We hope it comes soon because this has been one of the things that Apple has had an advantage on, against Google for a while. It would help make the competition even that much more tough. Where is that import iTunes music library button going to be again?

[via SlashGear]

)

Android is slowly moving up the scale when it comes to web consumption, says Quantcast. Since November of 2009 Android has made it’s biggest gain and is up to 25%. Compared to last year, they are up 17% on the scale. What’s odd is Steve Jobs says more and more iOS devices are in the hands of people but the numbers are down from almost 70% to 56%.

This could only mean one thing, the amount of Android devices getting into the market is jumping by leaps and bounds. Another aspect of this could be, does this mean that Android users are consuming more things on the web? Either way, this is good to hear that Android is still having healthy growth and who knows by this time next year it could be a 50/50 split with Apple and Google. If you are thinking about buying and Android phone go ahead and do it, help the numbers go up.

[via Quantcast]

)

Unless you just really do not like Star Wars how can you not think this looks cool? Verizon has puzzle challenges on their website that leak information about the Droid R2-D2 as you figure out the puzzles. Yesterday the pics of the docks were unlocked and–not that they perform or operate any better than the standard Droid 2–we think they look really cool.

Verizon is really doing something different here, and they for sure have the attention of all the geeks and Star Wars fans. Is it good marketing or just something that is humorous? We would like to hear what you think about the R2-D2 that will come out eventually. Would you think about getting it just because it is named and designed after a real Droid?

[via Phandroid]

)