My bags are packed, I’m ready to go! @pavilioncrew and I are heading out this afternoon from sunny Florida (yes the east coast is getting rained on by Nicole but the west coast is dry!). The Big Android BBQ is a huge grassroots, community driven event celebrating all things Android! Sponsors from across the industry have committed to making this a wonderful event for all that are attending! For everyone that is coming to the event, from 4:15-5:20 Saturday please stop by the Android Alliance Panel with Android & Me, Android Guys, The Droid Guy, AndroidSPIN, The Android Blog & Android Dose taking place at the Staybridge Suites (our host hotel). I hope to see you all there!
For those that are unable to attend please keep your eyes peeled to this website and our twitter account we will be live blogging and tweeting all weekend!
Google announced today that they have updated the Gmail App for Android, now it updates will no longer be tied to Android OS updates! This means we will be getting the newest best features of Gmail on our Android mobile devices quicker! a quick list of improvements includes message replies and better access to quoted text, Actions now stick to the top of the screen no matter how long the email conversation is. Gmail is also introducing limited support for priority inbox, Once you have enabled priority inbox as part of the Gmail web interface you will see an “Important” label and you are also able to add an “Important” shortcut to the home screen.Unfortunantley the update for Gmail requires Android 2.2 so its only officially avaialabe to Nexux One, Droid, Droid 2, and HTC EVO users at this point. If you happen to be one of the lucky 2.2 users out there hit the QR code below to download now!
I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Media Hub launch event at the Samsung Experience in New York City. I will post the keynote video I took sometime this weekend as I’m flying today.
The event was outstanding, The 4 major US carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon are all getting a version of the Galaxy Tab, they will all have slight software variations based on carrier request. I would say this will be very similar to what we have seen on the Galaxy S Phones, small UI and
other enhancements. Featuring Android 2.2, Flash Support, Video chat, Full HTML 5 browser and unprecedented mobility the Galaxy Tab should become a great mobile device. I was lucky enough to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy Tab last night, though it was the international version and not one of the US versions the interface is smooth and responsive, I was able to download several apps from the market to test out market access. I have been extremely impressed with the Tab from the beginning seeing it launched now after having some hands on time I am totally sold, I will most certainly getting a Galaxy Tab on launch, Which carrier? That is still up in the air at this point.
Now on to Media Hub, This is Samsung’s content solution partnering with Time Warner, NBC and others to bring first run movies and TV shows the day after air to your mobile experience. There are both purchase and rental models and they both allow you to download and play your content on up to 5 devices connected to your media hub registered device, be it an Android Phone, Smart TV, Computer etc. The update was just released on the Epic 4G which is now able to access the content currently available, look for a video on Media Hub this weekend as I get to spend some more time with it.
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Tab as part of their 2010 IFA conference presentation in Berlin Germany. Samsung Electronics announced several new products set to be available this holiday season, The star of the event however was their widely anticipated Android 2.2 powered 7inch tablet, The Samsung Galaxy Tab (Model: GT-P1000).
Features:
7″ TFT Display
1024×600 WSVGA Resolution
1GHz Hummingbird Processor
Dual Band WiFi and 3G Modems (CDMA, GSM & HSPPA)
Swype preinstalled
Weighs only 380 grams
Adobe Flash 10.1 and HTML 5 built in
Samsung Social Hub
Calling Function available with Speaker phone, Wired or Bluetooth Headset
3 Mega-Pixel Camera with LED Flash
1.3 Mega-Pixel Front Facing Camera
16GB and 32GB Internal Memory Models
Expandable Memory via microSDHC
4000 mAh Battery
Turn by Turn Navigation via Google Maps and Navigation
AllShare DLNA Technology
All major components are Samsung parts (CPU, Display, RAM)
“Opening a Galaxy of new possibilities” What a great quote from the Live Streamed Samsung IFA presentation.
A small group of Android and mobile phone media were invited to a “top secret” briefing by Soon Kim, the Galaxy Tab Product Manager and Yan Hi from Samsung’s Global PR group.
In my hand the Samsung Galaxy Tab felt both sturdy and reliable, a far distance from the Comangi Web Station and Eken tablets that also came in a similar form. The display is a 7″ TFT Display with 1024×600 WSVGA resolution. This capactive touch screen features multi-touch and pinch and zoom. The on board 1Ghz Hummingbird processor insure fast transitions and true multi tasking.
The Galaxy Tab comes on board with a WIFI and 3G modem inside, although carriers for the United States have not been announced yet, remember we’ve seen pictures of a CDMA/Verizon version and were told in this meeting that GSM and HSPPA are supported in the Internaitonal Version.
I saw some exciting things during the live stream presentation, The potential to sync your Galaxy Tab with another handset and share 1 phone number between them (based on carrier support), ThinkFree providing Office product interconnection so you have the ability to not only view but also create documents, spreadsheets and presentations on the go and Samsung’s Media hub and Music hub are set to debut not only in the US but in regions across the world with major content providers still to be announced. In closing this morning I will point out that I haven’t gotten a chance to play with one of these just yet but rest assured I will certainly plan on getting some hands on time with the Galaxy Tab. Also I’d like to thank Kyle, TheDroidGuy for keeping us posted on whats going down in Berlin! Last but not least I’ll leave you with a video from TheDroidGuy’s hands on with the device for more check out the in-depth article at TheDroidGuy.
Today I was happy to find a box from SoundID in my mailbox! After meeting with the SoundID folks at the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular last month in New York I was really excited to get hands on with the latest in Bluetooth technology, SoundID no only provides a solid piece of hardware they also provide an application to tune the device to your hearing, your Ear Print. Lets see what you get in the box after the break! Continue reading “SoundID’s 510 Bluetooth Headset & its Android Ear Print app First Impressions” »
