Dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10 gets Android 2.2 upgrade, patient owners join 2010
Good things come to those who wait. If you bought the dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10, Android 1.6 be damned, we have some good news — the tablet’s getting an upgrade to Android 2.2. Just to refresh your memories, that leap from Donut to Froyo means ViewPad 10 owners will now get updated Gmail, Calendar, Google Maps, Gallery, and YouTube apps, a refined onscreen keyboard, compatabilty with newer applications, and a healthy dose of sorely needed eye candy. New customers can choose one that also runs Windows 7 Home Premium and has 16GB of flash storage ($599) or one with Win 7 Professional and 32GB of space ($679). As for those of you champing at the bit to upgrade, ViewSonic is keeping things interesting by compelling you to download Froyo onto a thumb drive, and then plug both it and a USB keyboard into the ViewPad to install the update. Then again, something tells us the kind of person who would opt for the ViewPad 10 over other ViewSonic tablets might actually enjoy the challenge.
Dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10 gets Android 2.2 upgrade, patient owners join 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
New Dolphin Mini browser aims to bring faster browsing to Android
The team over at Dolphin Browser is working on a new browser which they hope will bring faster browsing to your Android device. Currently in a "preview" stage, the team just released the second public build of the browser on their blog.
Some new features include:
- Completely redesigned user interface
- Faster page loads
- Infinite tabbed browsing
- New menu layout
Hit the read more link to grab the download link. The application isn’t in the market yet, so if you’re on AT&T, you’ll need our Sideload Wonder Machine. If you decide to take the new browser for a spin, be sure to give the team feedback in our developer forums. Via [Twitter] [Dolphin Browser Blog]
New Dolphin Mini browser aims to bring faster browsing to Android posted originally by Android Central
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Froyo, Eclair continue their dominance
It’s been another month, and that means it’s time to take another look at the breakdown of Android versions in the wild. (Click here to see October’s numbers.) Android 2.1 (Eclair) and 2.2 (Froyo) still dominate, at 40.8 percent and 36.2 percent, respectively. Actually, Eclair devices ticked up a tad from 40.4 percent a month ago. Donut (Android 1.6) devices fell to an even 15 percent, and Android 1.5 (Cupcake) is down to 7.9 percent.
How do our numbers look? Out of all the visits to Android Central in October from an Android phone, 58.67 percent of them were on Android 2.2, 27.51 were from Android 2.1, and then there’s everybody else — plus a smattering of Android 2.3 and Android 3.0.1 pings.
We’re all expecting the announcement of Gingerbread any day now, so next month’s chart may have an entirely different feel to it. [Android Developer site]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Froyo now on a third of Android devices
The march of Froyo continues, with Android 2.2 now on one-third of all Android devices. Please excuse us while we do a little jig. … … … OK, we’re back. That’s right, folks, 33.4 percent of devices now have the latest version of Android, up from 28.7 percent just 20 days ago. The number of devices on Android 2.1 (Eclair) dropped 1.3 percentage points, to 41.7 percent, and Donut (Android 1.6) and Cupcake (Android 1.5) are down to 16.5 percent and 9.7 percent respectively. Hooray for progress. [Android Developer Blog]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Android 2.2 Froyo already on 28 percent of Android phones
It’s been more than a month since we last heard from Google regarding how many devices are on which version of the Android operating system, and what a difference a month makes. As of Aug. 2, only 4.5 percent of phones were on Android 2.2, aka Froyo. Fast forward to Sept. 1, and that number jumps to 28.7 percent. We have the Evo 4G, Droid and Droid Incredible updates to thank for that, mostly, plus the Nexus One and Droid 2. (It will be interesting to see how all of the Galaxy S phones affect these numbers, as they all launched with Android 2.1.)
The other "outdated" versions of Android continue to fall, with Android 2.1 down to 41.7 percent (from 59.7 percent), Donut down to 17.5 percent (from 20.3 percent) and Cupcake at an even 12 percent (down from 15.3 percent).
Now let’s get the carriers to push out a few more updates and see how much Froyo can grow by October, shall we? [Android Developers Blog]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Xperia X10 now available on AT&T
After a long wait, AT&T and Sony Ericsson have finally launched the Xperia X10 here in the States. As a refresher, the phone sports a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 4-inch TVT LCD screen, 8 GB of on-board memory paired with a 2 GB microSD card, and an 8-megapixel camera. Also important to remember: the phone is running on Android 1.6 ("Donut") right now along with Sony’s Timescape and Mediascape UI’s. Sony has been vague on when it would see Eclair and has made no mention of Froyo yet.
AT&T will get one into your hands today for $150 with a two-year contract, or you can get it off-contract for a surprisingly low $350. If you are interested, make sure to check out our hands-on of the phone from way back in April. [AT&T]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Dell Streak now available in U.S., see Android 2.1 leaked abroad
Those of us in the U.S. can finally pick up a 5-inch Dell Streak and shake our heads in amazement while we use a brand-new device with Android 1.6. Meanwhile, overseas, an early Euro has leaked onto the interwebs. Streak Smart has gotten their hands on the leaked update file, and has nothing but love for it. If you happen to be a lucky over-seas user with the phone, hit up the links for instructions for downloading and installing the update, along with many more pictures. [MoDaCo forums via Streak Smart]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Android 2.1 and up now on 64.2 percent of devices
It’s been a couple more weeks, and that means it’s time once again to check out the Android fragmentation (erm, legacy) score sheet. For the past two weeks ending Aug. 2, devices running Android 2.1 are at 59.7 percent (up from 55.5 percent), and Froyo devices are now at 4.5 percent (up from 3.3). Check out the previous report here.
It’ll be interesting to see these numbers in a couple more weeks, now that the Evo 4G is getting Froyo, and we expect the original Motorola Droid to get it any day now. [Android Developers Blog]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Dell Streak imminent, pre-sale window coming
That rumored July 19 date for the Dell Streak has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the 5-inch tablet-MID mashup isn’t imminent. On the contrary, Dell says it’s due in "late July," and it’s opening a 24-hour presale launch window with free second-day shipping and a Bluetooth headset for 99 cents to sweeten the deal. You’ll need to sign up to be notified. [Dell]
Posted originally at Android Central
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The Samsung Behold II is getting updated
Tired of Cupcake on your Behold II? T-Mobile is rolling out an OTA update to Donut (Android version 1.6), which is supposed to be the final version add for the phone. Sure, Android 1.6 may not have been the version you were all hoping for, but it comes with a number of bug fixes, Google Apps (Google Voice Search, Google Maps, etc.) and support for Swype. Do you wish the Behold II had more of a sweet tooth for the heavier desserts? Post a comment if you wish it did or if you’re fine with the more mild sweets.
[via TmoNews]
Posted originally at Android Central
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