Viewsonic V350 Dual Sim Smartphone now in stock at Expansys

A few weeks ago Viewsonic announced the dual sim V350 Android phone. It has a very basic spec and it runs Android 2.2, but it can use two sim cards at once. Oh and it’s cheap (£244.99 inc vat). Below is the spec for the phone.

• Dimensions (mm): 60.9 x114x12.45 mm
• Weight: 125g
• Chipset: Qualcomm MSM 7227 600Mhz
• WAN SIM (GSM/WCDMA Band)
  SIM 1: GSM Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS Band 900/2100
  SIM 2: GSM Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900
• RAM: 512MB
• ROM: 512MB
• Operation system: Android 2.2
• Display (resolution): 3.5” (480×320) TFT, capacitive multi-touch screen
• External storage: Micro SD (up to 32GB supported)
• Camera: Autofocus 5MP (rear)
• Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR
• WIFI: 802.11 b/g
• 3G speed: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• Video: 30fps WVGA encode/decode
• I/O ports: 3.5mm audiojack/micro USB (device)
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Sensor: Gravity sensor/E-compass sensor/ambient light sensor/proximity sensor
• Data Sync: Micro USB
• Battery: 1400mAH with hard-packed Li-Polymer, charged via mini-USB
• Multimedia playback:
  PIC: JPEG/GIF/PNG/BMP
  Video: H.263, H.264 AVC, MPEG-4 SP
  Audio: AAC LC/LTP, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+), AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, MIDI, Ogg Vorbis, PCM/WAVE
• Documents: EPUB/TXT/HTML/RSS/OFFICE/PDF viewer

So your probably not blown away by the specs that are almost identical to the old HTC Hero. But don’t forget it has two sim slots! This is a feature that only Viewsonic seem to have decided to use. It would be ideal to have your personal sim and your work sim in one phone. Personally I would go round the bend having my personal sim in such an underpowered phone. But hey that’s just my opinion. This may appeal to quite a few people as back in the days of Windows Mobile 6 there were a few dual sim phones that were fairly sought after. I would like to try one of these out to see how it handles phone calls ie work calls and personal calls and also the data element as the second sim slot is gsm only so no high speed data on sim 2. So is this right up your street? Do you just carry around two phones? Would you like to see this feature on more devices? Let us know.

Link to Expansys

Article: RSS via CoolSmartPhone

Tags: 3G, Android, Android 2.2, Dual-SIM, GSM, SIM Free, Smartphones, UMTS, Viewsonic, Viewsonic V350

Posted in 3G, Android, Smartphones | No Comments »

Skytex Primer Pocket Android portable media player

The Android operating system competes with the iOS on three fronts – the smartphone, tablet, and last but not least, in the realm of portable media players. While the iPhone does have its fair share of worries from Android-powered devices, the iPad 2 is still miles ahead of its competition, with the iPod touch remaining as the undisputed king of portable media players. Skytex takes a stab at challenging the last hierarchy with their Primer Pocket Android-powered portable media player.

Sporting a 4.3″ display that has multi-touch capabilities, it will also let you connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi – too bad there is no 3G support for anywhere, anytime connection. We are rather surprised to see it run on Android 2.2 Froyo when the Gingerbread update has already been released for many new smartphones now, some even right out of the box.

Other hardware specifications of the Primer Pocket include 4GB of internal memory and a microSD memory card slot that expands its memory capacity by another 16GB, tops. The mini-alphanumeric keypad does make the Primer Pocket look rather out of place though. It will arrive this August 18th at just $99 a pop – certainly this highly attractive price point will have its fair share of admirers. [Press Release]

Tags: Android, Android 2.2, Media Player, MicroSD, PMP, Skytex Primer Pocket, WiFi

Posted in Android, Portable Media Players | No Comments »

Witness the rise of Android [Infographic]

It’s been a magical ride for the Android operating system, as it wasn’t too long ago that analysts were insisting that Google was crazy to enter into this space. Now, Android has some incredible momentum in the market and the folks from Xcubelabs have put together a neat infographic about the rise of Android and its major accomplishments.

It starts out with the founding of Android by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears and Chris White in October 2003. Those of you who follow these things closely will remember that early versions of Android looked very similar to the BlackBerry operating system. Once the iPhone came out and was a hit among the tech crowd, Android quickly changed its focus.

Google purchased Android in 2005 and rolled out the Open Handset Alliance and the Android beta SDK in November of 2007. It took nearly a year for Android to land in a handset, as the T-Mobile G1 landed in September 2008.

From those humble beginnings – one device, one carrier, near-zero market share – Android has rocketed to the top of the smartphone charts in terms of market share. With Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb, the platform has gotten much better with each iteration and it has resonated with consumers, carriers and handset makers all over the world. Google recently said it is activating 550,000 Android handsets a day and look for that number to continue to rise.

Check out the infographic below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: Android, Android 1.0, Android 1.5, Android 1.6, Android 2.0, Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Android 2.3, Android 3.0, Android 3.1, Android 3.2, Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Google, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Mobile OS

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Telefónica unveils ZTE Light Pro, a 7-inch Android 2.2-runin’ tablet

Telefónica thinks there’s money to be made in the Spanish tablet market. Hence they’ve teamed-up with ZTE to launch the low-cost ZTE Light Pro, offering it for free to anyone who agrees to commit on a two-year contract.

The device runs Android 2.2 Froyo, while boasting specs that include 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, 3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a memory card slot. In other words, it’s like the original Samsung Galaxy Tab, only cheaper — plus the ZTE Light Pro’s screen is not as stellar as the one Galaxy Tab has.

Additionally and as part of the tablet promotion, ZTE agreed to install more than 150 Light Pro tablets in VIP boxes at the Mutua Madrid Open so that guests can access information on the tournament and “savor the experience of using the equipment.”

Price wise, Telefónica (actually Movistar) is offering ZTE’s tablet for free to users who sign-up for the Internet Maxi flat-rate plan (49 EUR/month) or for 19 EUR with the Internet Plus flat-rate plan (39 EUR/month). Kinda steep, but hey – you get a free tablet! 

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: 3G, Android, Android 2.2, Bluetooth, GPS, Tablet PC's, Telefonica, WiFi, ZTE, ZTE Light Pro

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Gooapple phone combines the best of both worlds

Every now and then we’ll come across a Shanzai device that proves interesting enough to write about and today the Gooapple 3G is that one device. At first glance, the phone looks just like an iPhone 4, with measurements and even the width of the phone copied down to a T. It even has a thickness of 9.3mm and fits most cases made for the iPhone 4! If that’s not a good copy, then I don’t know what is.

Now here’s the interesting part – it runs Android 2.2 Froyo that’s skinned to look just like iOS. Everything including the home screen, keyboard, lock screen, dialer, message app and more looks just like iOS! And you get the benefits of the Android OS i.e. the notifications bar. One of the most convincing iOS imitators I’ve ever seen on an Android phone.

The phone is even missing the back and menu button at the bottom of the device. No word on how it’ll run third party apps or if it even has the ability to download apps from the Android Market, but judging by the video demonstration – it looks pretty impressive. Check it out and let us know what you think of the phone. Would you buy a device like the Gooapple?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNjPtsTaww

Article: RSS via UberGizmo

Tags: 3G, Android, Android 2.2, Gooapple, Gooapple 3G, iOS, iPhone, iPhone 4, Smartphones, Video

Posted in 3G, Android, Apple, Google, iOS, iPhone, Smartphones, Videos | 2 Comments »

Viewsonic ViewBook 730 is a cheap Android tablet

I think that the biggest problem with most of the Android tablets on the market today is that they cost too much. Many consumers will simply opt for the iPad 2 if the price of the Android tablet is close to the price of the iPad 2 just out of name recognition. What the market needs is some lower priced Android tablets that people looking to step into the tablet world can get cheaply. That is exactly what Viewsonic has offered with the new ViewBook 730 Android tablet.

The MSRP for the tablet is $249.99 and the 730 is set to hit at the end of June. For a price that low, you don’t get the high-end specs that the $500 or more tablets offer. What you get under the hood is Android 2.2 for the OS, an ARM Cortex A8 processor, and 512MB of RAM. Internal storage for the tablet is 8GB and that can be expanded with microSD cards up to 32GB. The screen is a 7-inch 800 x 400 resolution unit and the contrast ratio is 400:1.

The screen is rated for a brightness of 380 CD/M2. Other features include 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, integrated speakers and mic, and a VGA resolution front camera for video chats. The 730 also has a 3.5mm headphone port, mini HDMI output, and mini USB port along with the MicroSD card slot. The battery is a 5000mAH unit good for up to ten hours. This should be a decent entry-level tablet for people looking to buy their first.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Android, Android 2.2, Bluetooth, HDMI, MicroSD, Tablet PC's, ViewBook 730, Viewsonic, Wi-Fi

Posted in Android, Computing, Tablet PC's | No Comments »

Review: LG Optimus One

Product: LG Optimus One

Specifications: 600MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 170MB internal storage, 3.2-inch HVGA 320×480 display, 3MP camera, microSD 32GB supported, 1,500mAh battery, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, micro USB, FM radio, GPS, Android 2.2 Froyo OS, 129g

Price From: £130 for unlocked or £18 a month for 24-month Three contract

The LG Optimus One is a handset that simply feels distinctly average. With a very uninteresting look about it, which includes its matte black finish with simple silver trim, the handset simply feels cheap.

But, the handset’s saving grace is of course, Google’s Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system.

With a quick boot up time (around 30 seconds) and capacitive screen allowing a very fluid motion when swiping between screens, scrolling through the app menus, or finding that exciting new app available on Google’s Android Market, Froyo gives the handset a lease of life.

Unfortunately, the screen’s overall responsiveness was a slight issue as it occasionally took a few presses of the screen to select something, such as opening an app.

As with all Android handsets, the multiple homepages (default of five, but you can have up to seven) give you space to set up widgets giving you quick live information, such as your latest feed from Facebook.

Although the Optimus One benefits from the Froyo integration of services like Flash support, you now have additional services such as voice control, which lets you search the internet and navigation.

Unfortunately the biggest disappointment’s about this handset were the internet and navigation. The navigation struggled to locate itself when indoors or large urban environments (such as being stood between large buildings in Manchester City Centre). The handset also struggled with downloading web pages at any fast rate, with scrolling not always acknowledging what was being intended, and pinch-to-zoom having a life of its own. Unfortunately, lack of a decent processor and large enough display is what lets the handset down, in this case.

Using LG’s provided drivers, connecting the handset to the PC was east enough, allowing pictures, video and music to be quickly loaded onto the handset. Upon browsing through the content, I found Android doesnt natively support AVI video files (only supporting WMV, DivX and Xvid). However images and mp3 audio files played with ease.

Surprisingly, the battery life of this handset (with its 1,500mAh battery size) left little to be desired. Even with average use (which included calls, email and web browsing) and little use of on-screen widgets, the handset still needed to be charged every night, for use the next day.

In Conclusion Save your £130, and get the HTC Wildfire for £99.

Advantages: This is a cheap way of getting access to Android.

Disadvantages: The 3.2-inch display and 600MHz chip lets the handset down with problematic pinch to zoom, and inadequate mobile Internet and navigation.

Tags: 3, 3G, Android, Android 2.2, LG, LG Optimus One, P500, Review, Smartphones, Three

Posted in 3 / Three, 3G, Android, LG, Reviews, Smartphones | No Comments »

ViewSonic ViewPad 10 adds Froyo friend for Windows

No more Android 1.6 dual booting

ViewSonic has confirmed that its 10-inch dual-booting tablet – the ViewPad 10 – is now ready for its Android 2.2 update.

The ViewPad 10, is a Windows 7 and Android device that was originally launched in October 2010. At the time the device came with Android 1.6, which was the only Android version that Google would provide assistance for on Intel devices at that time.

“We are happy to release this update based upon customer feedback, now that Intel and Google are working better together,” our buddies at ViewSonic informed us.

The ViewPad 10 was one of the first Windows 7 tablets (that wasn’t absolute cack) and in still in demand.

To get some Froyo fun on your ViewPad 10, you’ll need to download an ISO file of an Android 2.2 recovery disc. You can do so, as read instructions, over at www.viewsoniceurope.com/uk.

Article: RSS via Pocket-lint

Tags: Android, Android 2.2, Software Update, Tablet PC's, ViewPad 10, Viewsonic, Windows 7

Posted in Android, Tablet PC's, Windows 7 | No Comments »

Android TV set top box brings Android 2.2 to your living room

Google certainly does seem to have its strategy for the Android platform all worked out – they are working to bring Android 2.2 right smack into the middle of your living room, thanks to Android TV. Do bear in mind that Android TV is very different from Google TV, where this tiny set top box will show off Android 2.2 Froyo running on your TV thanks to HDMI or component cable. It will run on an Amlogic 1GHz Coretex A9 CPU at its heart, accompanied by 512MB RAM, 2GB of internal memory, an SD memory card slot that lets you cram in another 32GB of storage space, and an USB port that lets you connect an external USB hard drive.

The Android TV intends to be one well connected box, hooking up to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, where it will bring digital TV, Internet TV, a web browser, music/picture player, IM and SMS apps right to your living room. Android Market access is not forgotten, so have a spanking good time with Angry Birds on the big screen, aye?

No idea on when Geniatech of China will release the Android TV box, but since it has passed the FCC’s scrutiny, we hope to hear more about it soon.

Article: RSS via UberGizmo

Tags: Android, Android 2.2, AndroidTV, Set Top Box, TV

Posted in Android, Gadget News, HI-FI | No Comments »

Vodafone Smart: Android 2.2 with 3G, WiFi, GPS, and a 2.8 inch screen for just 90 Euros

Let the era of the sub 100 Euros handset begin! Today Vodafone has introduced the “Smart”, otherwise known as the Vodafone 858. For 90 Euros this summer, and that includes tax, you’ll be able to pick up this delightful little smartphone that packs Android 2.2, quadband 2G, 2100 MHz 3G capable of 3.6 Mbps download speeds, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, all in a body that weighs just 104 grams and measures 56.8 mm x 103.8 mm x 12.6 mm. Other important specs: It has a 2.8 inch 320 x 240 pixel resolution capacitive touch screen, 2 megapixel camera, 1200 mAh battery rated for 380 hours (15.8 days) of standby time and 270 minutes (4.5 hours) of talk time in 3G mode, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and there’s even a built in FM radio.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9OztJi6xs

Available to prepaid customers only, meaning it’s locked to the Vodafone network, the Smart should not only help Android become even more dominate than it is today, but also introduce millions of Europeans to their very first smartphone. We’ve got to wonder, at this price point why are other handset makers still insisting on making feature phones? We’re not talking about the sub 50 Euros feature phones for Africa and India, we’re talking about the heavily designed Nokia, Samsung, and LG feature phones that can fetch upwards of 200 Euros and not even come with a decent web browser.

Many of you will look at this thing and roll your eyes. Too small, terrible resolution, single core only, no HSPA+, but let it sink in for a moment that what you spent for the superphone inside your pocket can buy you, your mother, your father, your significant other, and your best friend this fully loaded Android smartphone that back in 2007 would have easily sold for well over 500 Euros. If that isn’t a mark of progress, then we don’t know what is anymore.

Update: We found the official specification sheet! [PDF file]

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: 3G, Android, Android 2.2, GPS, Smartphones, Video, Vodafone, Vodafone Smart, Wi-Fi

Posted in 3G, Android, Smartphones, Videos, Vodafone | No Comments »