Dell Streak causes user fury

Dell’s Streak might now be running Android 2.1, but those who’ve upgraded are finding the newer OS takes away more than it adds to the tablet/phone crossbreed.

PC synchronisation, Windows Media Video playback and the Facebook widget are among the reported casualties of the upgrade process, and some who did manage a smooth upgrade were still caught out by the need to replace all their data and installed applications.

The Streak was launched by O2 with Android 1.6 and the promise of a rapid upgrade, which became available on Monday. Some users are happy with the upgrade, but both the Dell and O2 forums are alive with those who’ve hit problems ranging from reversed volume buttons to disappearing browser controls.

We’d hope that Reg readers would have backed up all their data before launching into an OS upgrade, but Android devices aren’t aimed at the technically minded and many users seem to have skipped this vital step in the assumption that Dell would take care of it.

But even those who did have adequate backups are having problems and finding Dell’s level of support lamentable. We contacted Dell ourselves, and were promised that someone would get back to us real soon now.

The problem may be Dell’s, but it’s born of Android’s aspirations and Google’s overconfidence. Supporting an OS running on a range of different hardware is really tough – work in hardware design for long enough and one gains a grudging respect for Microsoft Windows and its ability to integrate with just about any chunk of hardware. Linux still strives for the same thing with immeasurable resources at its disposal.

With every new Android device the supported hardware base grows. Combine that with Google’s determination to release a new OS every six months, and you’re creating a legacy of disillusioned users who’ll start to value stability and simplicity above the openness touted by Android.

Article: RSS via: The Register

Tags: Android, Android 2.1, Dell, Dell Streak, MID, O2, Tablet PC's

Posted in Android, Dell, Mobile Internet Device, O2, Tablet PC's | No Comments »

ViewSonic ViewPad 7 video hands-on

We just got a chance to mess around with ViewSonic’s upcoming ViewPad 7 (one of possibly four tablets they plan to release this year), and while it is indeed a plastic rebadge me-too Android tablet, we mean that in the best sense. Let’s take these one by one:

• Plastic: It looks and feels enough like metal / glass that we won’t fault ViewSonic for the cost savings here.
• Rebadge: ViewSonic has an exclusive on this design for its particular markets (Europe), while the OlivePad is doing its version over in India.
• Me-too: This might be the biggest knock, since ViewSonic is dropping the ViewPad into a world that’s going to be up to its knees in 7-inch Android tablets in a few month’s time.

ViewSonic wins points for an above average build quality, better than crappy LCD (it’s not great, but we’ve seen a lot worse, and the capacitive response is just fine), passable processor (a 600MHz Snapdragon won’t win any bake-offs, but it also makes Android 2.2 completely usable in our opinion), and better-than-Augen Google blessing. Check out our video hands-on after the break.

Article: RSS via: Engadget

Tags: Android, Android 2.2, MID, Tablet PC's, Video, ViewPad 7, Viewsonic

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

Simple Dell Streak Hack Brings Sideloaded Content Without Root

A simple Dell Streak hack has emerged that will allow AT&T users to sideload apps not obtained from Android Market onto their tablet/smartphone device. AT&T has cited security reasons as to why the carrier isn’t allowing non-Android Market apps onto the device in the past. This hack, which doesn’t require your Android device to be rooted, works by entering a string of numbers into your Streak’s dial pad.

Users will need to:

1. Dial *#*#307#*#* on your Streak. Other than a quick flash on the screen, it will look like nothing has happened.

2. Go to your app drawer/program menu and tap a new icon labeled EMList. If the icon is not there, turn off the Streak. It should be there when you turn it on again. Scroll to the bottom and tap app_security.

3. Tap update unknown resource property to enable it.

4. Go to Settings > Applications, and you should now have an “Unknown Sources” check box available to you. This will now allow you to download any app of your choosing directly from a webpage or SD card. If for any reason you want or need to uninstall the EMList, simply go to your dialer and type in the following keys: *#*#308#*#*.

Article: RSS via: Ubergizmo

Tags: Android, Apps, AT&T, Dell, Hacks, MID, Streak, Tablet PC's

Posted in Android, Apps, Dell, Mobile Internet Device, Tablet PC's | No Comments »

Dell Streak on O2 Getting Android 2.1 Starting September 1st

O2 has given word that owners of the Dell Streak on their network in the UK will begin to see the update to Android 2.1 roll out to their devices come September 1st. This means at least a small portion of Streak users will be lifted from the Android 1.6 that has been shipping with the tablet/phone since its launch. It isn’t Froyo by a long stretch, but it is something a bit fresher that should hold over Streakers until later in the year when Android 2.2 is ready.

If you aren’t on O2 or if you are in the US, still no news on when you can expect Android 2.1. That is if you haven’t already tried your hand at the leaked ROM that has been floating around.

Article: Web via: Phandroid.com

Tags: Android, Android 2.1, Dell, Dell Streak, MID, O2, Tablet PC's

Posted in Android, Dell, Mobile Internet Device, O2, Tablet PC's | No Comments »

SmartDevices To Launch Sub-$100 Android MID SmartQ V3

SmartDevices keeps rolling out new Android MIDs. After the T7, now we see the Smartq V3. If you’ve been tracking down this company’s products, the V3 must be familiar to you. The device shares the same design with the company’s another Android MID V5, and just the color is slightly different. It brings a 600MHz ARM11 processor, a 4.3 inches 800×480 resistive touchscreen, 256MB DDR2, a USB OTG port, and a miniHDMI port. It runs Android 2.1 and is targeted at entry level market. Now the most exciting words come: It’s said It’s a Sub-$100 product, and the price would be just around 650 Yuan(about $97 USD) when it hits the market. Still no words about the launch time, we only heard that it’s very close now.

Article: Web via: Cloned In China

Tags: Android, Android 2.1, Cloned In China, MID, SmartDevices, SmartQ V3

Posted in Android, Mobile Internet Device | No Comments »

Dell Streak PDMI connector modded for mini USB

Although we’ve recently established that the Dell Streak’s charging/sync connector is actually PDMI, the limited use of the standard doesn’t really open up any new accessory possibilities right now.

Rather than wait for more manufacturers to incorporate a PDMI port into their devices, an enterprising Streak user decided to mod the existing connector for compatibility with mini USB. The result is a little rough around the edges in the looks department (the Dell-branded cable clip that comes with the unit is used for the casing), but it’s fully functional for connecting to a PC using standard mini USB cables and charging the device with some (not all) generic mini USB chargers.

Video of the modded connector below.

Article: Web via: Streak Smart

Tags: Accessories, Android, Dell, Dell Streak, MID, PDMI, Tablet PC's, Video

Posted in Accessories, Android, Dell, Mobile Internet Device, Tablet PC's, Videos | No Comments »

Archos 32 Android PMP gets pictured & detailed at Amazon

Having made its debut at the FCC a few weeks back, the new Archos 32 Android PMP/MID is getting further pushed into the limelight with a new set of information added to the Amazon preorder page.  From the spec list, we know the Archos 32 has 8GB of onboard storage, a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 resolution display, WiFi, Archos AppLib software download access, a web-browser supporting multitouch pinch-zoom, and an integrated camera for shooting photos and videos.

There’s also broad audio codec support, with the new PMP content with MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, OGG, and FLAC formats for audio (together with optional AC3 5.1 support) and MPEG-4 HD, MPEG-4, H.264 HD, WMV9/ACP, and MJPG codecs with various extensions: AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, and WMV.  Under the hood is an 800MHz Cortex A8 processor with DSP, and 3D OpenGL graphics acceleration.

The Archos 32 is currently listed at $147 though there’s no indication of when Amazon expect the PMP/MID to begin shipping.  We’re still more than a little disappointed by the mere WQVGA resolution – cellphones with 3.2-inch screens have managed 480 x 320 – together with the absence of the full Android Market.

Article: RSS via: SlashGear

Tags: Amazon, Android, Archos, Archos 32, MID, PMP

Posted in Android, Mobile Internet Device, Portable Media Players | No Comments »

RAmos W9 Android MID Announced

You must still remember RAmos’ first Android MID W7,which made its debut in last September. At that time, it’s quite attractive and arose lots of buzz on tech website. RAmos teased us with this device long enough, but disappointedly it has been out of date when it arrived at the market in March, just with Android. Today, the company is going to take its second try on this category with the 7 inches W9 announced. Still not much information could be available. It just said that It will be powered by Rockchip’s RK2818 chip. Looks like everything is still uncertain, because so far even Rockchip company still hasn’t said anything about RK2818. We can only hope that RAmos won’t let W7’s story happen on W9.

Article: RSS via: Cloned In China

Tags: Android, Cloned In China, MID, RAmos, RAmos W9

Posted in Android, Mobile Internet Device | No Comments »

US Dell Streak to get Froyo instead of Eclair

A nice little unconfirmed nugget from Dell’s Lionel Menchaca via Twitter over the weekend: the super-sized Dell Streak may bypass Éclair entirely, jumping straight into everyone’s favourite Android flavour, Froyo (despite earlier UK Éclair leaks).

While clearly good news feature-wise, as far as release date is concerned, this will probably only push back the update.

You’ve got to take the bad with the good, I guess.

Article: RSS via: MobileCrunch

Tags: Android, Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Dell, Dell Streak, Froyo, MID, Tablet PC's

Posted in Android, Dell, Mobile Internet Device, Tablet PC's | No Comments »

Buying from Dynamism? Read this first!

Buyers Beware: You may be left out of pocket

This June I placed my order with Dynamism for the new Viliv N5 Windows 7 MID. I’m a huge fan of Viliv, having previously owned the Viliv S5 Premium 3G.

My new Viliv N5 was dispatched on the 18th June from the US, and arrived the following Monday, which I was quite pleased with. The device was as amazing and outstanding as I knew it would be. I had only recently sold my Viliv S5 to make way for the new device, and knew it would be of the same high standard usually provided by Viliv.

I managed to use the new Viliv a few times during the week and was marvelled at its build and useability. After a few days, I came to operate the device and got no response from the screen. I tried all day to get it working using various methods including removing the battery, using the power cable only, and even letting the battery completely drain of power. Unfortunately, none of these methods worked, and the device’s screen appeared to be dead.

I rang Dynamism on the Friday, hoping there might be a reset procedure I was unaware of, but the Dynamism representative just asked a few generic questions about whether I had tried removing the battery, etc.  He then said the device would have to be sent back, and informed me that I was just inside the 5-day period in which a device can be returned. (This I knew nothing about and should be made clear on ordering.)

I was asked to wait for an email for details about returning the device, and was expecting them to arrange a courier to pick up the item for repair. Again, I was to have no such luck! At this point, Dynamism had already charged me $40 delivery for importing the device to the UK. Dynamism finally sent me an email with details on where to return the device, and I then found I had to send the device back to them at my own expense. I felt truly irritated that I, (the customer) was and still am, left out of pocket through no fault of my own.

Once I found that I was responsible for the shipping costs of the device back to the US, I decided that I did not want a replacement device, as if this was to happen again, I would then have to pay (again!) to send it back. With this in mind, I emailed Dynamism’s customer services department to request that my money be refunded upon the return of the device. The department responded by stating it was not Dynamism’s policy to give refunds, but that they would allow it…… subject to a restocking fee of 15%!!!

At this point, I have now paid £25 to return the device and 15% of the original cost of the device I paid to them, all because they sent me a faulty device.

I originally paid £468 for the device and in the end, was refunded around £360. Just to top things off, I have now received a VAT bill from FedEx (Customs) for £86.22, which I was expecting for originally importing the device. Although I explained to FedEx that I have returned the device, they say I will have to pay and attempt to claim back from HMCE as I have returned the product. I originally paid £554 for buying and importing the device  (including the VAT bill from FedEx), and I have ended up with a refund of £338, meaning I have lost a grand total of £216 with nothing to show for it.

All in all, this has been a truly horrific experience of customer care with Dynamism, and I can say with certainty that they will never, ever get another penny of my money. To be fair, I have bought from Dynamism before, having previously purchased my Viliv S5 from them. And there were no problems with that purchase. But unfortunately, through their own greed, Dynamism have lost a loyal customer.

To make things clear, this story is to voice my concerns over the customer care and policies of Dynamism, and not of the high build quality usually pertained of Viliv products.

On a separate note however, I recently received an excellent example of how customer care should be given, when my HTC Desire malfunctioned recently and so I called HTC. They sent a next-day courier and at no cost to myself, repaired the handset before returning it to me in all new packaging. This is how it should be done, Dynamism!

Tags: Customer Care, Dynamism, MID, Viliv, Viliv N5, Viliv S5, Windows 7

Posted in Gadget News, Mobile Internet Device, Windows 7 | 1 Comment »