Posts Tagged ‘Android’

Verizon Droid’s Secret Weapon: Android 2.0

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

The Verizon Droid is coming. You have probably seen the clever ‘iDon’t’ ad campaign attacking the iPhone and ending with an ominous, you-will-be-assimilated sort of message. They left something off of the ‘iDon’t’ list: ‘iDon’t integrate well with business tools and networks.’

Verizon Droid Motorola Repair at Dr. Cell Phone

Verizon Droid Motorola Repair at Dr. Cell Phone

Actually, Verizon did sort of put that on the iDon’t list, just not in those words. The original iDon’t list includes both ‘iDon’t allow open development’ and ‘iDon’t customize’, both of which imply that the Droid does those things which means the Droid provides a customizable, open development platform that business customers can work with.

The Droid, which is Verizon’s rebranded version of the Motorola Sholes device, is slated to be the first of the Android 2.0 generation. Rumors suggest that the cryptic alien message on the Verizon Droid site can be decoded to say the Droid will be coming on October 30. Verizon is officially unveiling details about the Droid today.

According to the leaked specifications, the Droid may very well live up to the iPhone killer hype. The 3.7 inch, capacitive display has significantly higher resolution than the iPhone. The Droid has a fast processor, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a 5 megapixel camera with zoom and flash. It sounds like it has the features and functions to go where previous iPhone killers like the Pre have failed.

But, from a business perspective the most impressive feature of the slick new device may be the operating system. Lots of phones have cameras, or GPS, or Wi-Fi networking, but not many are as open to custom development as devices built on Google’s open source Android operating system. And, no other device yet is built on the latest Android 2.0 operating system.

Not only does the open source nature of the operating system allow for easier development and customization, but it also results in a much faster development timeframe for the operating system itself. While platforms like the iPhone and Windows Mobile take a year or more to roll out new versions, Android has gone from Cupcake to Donut (SDK 1.6) and now to Éclair (SDK 2.0). The public collaborative nature of open source projects allows for faster development.

The success of the device though is a combination of the operating system and the hardware. There are plenty of other Android-based devices, including the Motorola Cliq and the Samsung Behold II. They are also very capable, but they don’t have the impressive hardware specs of the Droid and they aren’t available from the number one wireless service provider in the United States.

The iDon’t ad campaign and the rumors circulating around the Droid are starting to sound like the ‘Bo knows’ ad campaign Nike ran back in the 80’s, or the ridiculous urban legend stories attributed to Chuck Norris, or that Dos Equis beer guy.

Unlike Chuck Norris though, the Droid may actually be able to live up to the hype and rumors. At the very least, it provides corporate customers with a feature-filled device on par with the iPhone, but with the added benefit of being open and customizable so it can integrate with business.

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Google Android Platform

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Seems like Apple and Blackberry REALLY have to watch out now. Motorola, LG, and even Acer (random much?) have signed with Google to produce Android-based products.

The myTouch 3G and G1 from Google

The myTouch 3G and G1 from Google

Android is the popular platform for the Google G1 and the new myTouch provided by T-Mobile. Remember, Dr. Cell Phone provides repair for the G1 and myTouch. And we also work on the iPhone 3G and Blackberry Bold.

The myTouch from Google and HTC--exclusively for T-Mobile

The myTouch from Google and HTC--exclusively for T-Mobile

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-Android-Gaining-as-Mobile-Phone-Market-Sleeper-626246/

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Sprint’s New Savior: The Google Android-Based HTC Hero?

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Move over Palm Pre, Sprint has another hot touch-screensmartphone to hang its hat on: the HTC Hero.

The HTC Hero is Sprint’s first smartphone based on the Google Android mobile operating system. It is expected to be available Oct. 11, but Sprint is taking preregistration for the HTC Hero starting today.

The 3G HTC Hero comes as the hype around the Sprint-exclusive Palm Pre starts to fizzle out in the shadow of the Apple iPhone 3G S, which has sold millions of units while the Pre has sold fewer than half a million by most estimates.

Sprint said the HTC Hero will be available through all of Sprint’s retail channels and Best Buy for $179.99 after $50 instant savings, a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year service agreement.

“The arrival of HTC Hero and the Android platform to Sprint’s network is an important milestone for our customers and the U.S. wireless industry,” Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product development for Sprint, said in a statement.

The HTC Hero is the first HTC smartphone in the U.S. to feature HTC Sense, a feature that lets users customize their smartphone via home-screen panels and widgets.

HTC Hero Repair

Dr. Cell Phone All Set for HTC Hero Repair

The HTC Hero smartphone features beveled edges and an angled bottom and is contoured to fit comfortably in users’ hands and against their faces while they’re on a call. The device also uses an anti-fingerprint screen coating for smudge resistance and a longer-lasting, clearer display.

The HTC Hero also features a 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen display with pinch-to-zoom capabilties. The smartphone is optimized for Web, multimedia and other content and also includes a GPS, a digital compass, a gravity-sensor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera and expandable microSD memory.

The HTC Hero integrates a dedicated search button that goes beyond basic search, offering users a contextual experience that searches Twitter, locates contacts, finds e-mails and searches any other area on the smartphone.

Because the HTC Hero for Sprint is Google Android-based it also offers native access to a host of Google applications like Maps, Gmail and more. In addition, it offers access to applications through the Google Android Market, Android’s storefront for free and paid mobile applications and games.

Source: http://www.crn.com/mobile/219501237;

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iPhone we love you, but we also help G1 users!

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

So I have to admit, with the craziness of the new iPhone 3G S and more and more demand for iPhone repairs, we have not informed all of our T-Mobile G1 users that we can repair T-mobile G1 cracked screen as well!  We carry parts on hand for the HTC T-Mobile G1 and can provide same day service if needed.  When the G1 was released late last year I used it for about two months, maybe less.  Honestly, I was impressed with the phone.  The Android software is very cool, slick, and fast. The touchscreen works very smooth and doesn’t get hung up like some other Windows based HTC phones.  Its because of the G1 that I got a gmail account and started using google apps for many of my day to day tasks.  Texting was very easy and the phone is simple to pick up.  The only drawback I had with it was the size of the G1.  I’ve never been a big fan of the square HTC phones, like the Tilt or Wing.  I continued to use the phone because of the Android software, but I couldn’t resist going back to my iPhone.  Everyone feels out their phone in their own way.  It’s almost like a car, you feel your car out and get used to it.  I feel like thats how cell phones are.  I’m an iPhone guy, but I understand why many people would choose the G1 over the iPhone.  Well we carry all the parts for this phone and have repaired hundreds already, so if you have a T-Mobile G1 with a cracked screen or cracked LCD, send it in to us, quality and precision are words we stand by when we do our repairs.  I love you G1, you were good to me while we lasted.

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