First KDDI’s iida INFOBAR, then Sharp’s clamshell Android phone HYBRID oo7SH, and now the so-called Smart Bar [JP]: Japan is getting more and more specially designed Android handsets. As you can see on the pictures, the Smart Bar adopts the “traditional” candy bar form factor but is actually powered by Android Gingerbread.
The device is manufactured by Huawei and will be distributed in Japan by mobile carrier eMobile. Targeted mainly at female users, the phones comes with a 3-inch WVGA touch display (LCD), 512MB RAM and ROM, a 5MP camera, a microSDHC slot, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, IEEE802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (tethering for up to 5 devices is possible), IrDA SIR infrared, GPS, and W-CDMA/GSM support. It’s just 51mm slim and weighs 114g. → Read More
The original GalTab is a tough beast to love. It ran an outdated version of Android in the face of an onslaught of Honeycomb tablets (remember, this was November 2010 when it was launched) and everyone hated on it for being underpowered. Well, the next version should be a bit swifter and, more importantly, run an updated version of Android Gingerbread, 2.3.4. → Read More
Samsung Italia is alive with the sound of Gingerbread! It seems that the country is among the first to get the Android 2.3.3 update for the original 7″ Galaxy Tab. It’s rolling out via KIES, Samsung’s useful device management tool, but naturally there’s no word of it here in the states yet. Remain vigilant! You could load it yourself before now if you really wanted to, but this update should have support for Samsung’s custom widgets and app store, among the performance gains and other features. [via Unwired View] → Read More
Now, I have a pretty good idea that pretty much every Nexus One owner out there is overly eager for the Android 2.3 (aka Gingerbread) update to be pushed to their handsets. And now, in lieu of an actual date, we have a vague idea of the kind of wait you’re in for. According to Google’s Nexus Twitter account, you Nexus One owners will get the update “in the coming weeks.” What that’s not good enough for you? Perhaps take some of Google’s advice, and “hang tight” while enjoying the remainder of the silly season. [via Mobile Burn] → Read More
The Android Open Source Project (known to the geekerati simply as AOSP), is where all the real Android action occurs. It’s the place where all the hard-at-work modders and ROM builders go to grab the Android source code, so that they can compile all those wonderful custom ROMs that you know and love so well.
So, it’s not hard to imagine, then, that the period between the announcement of a new version of Android, and the day that it arrives in the green fields of AOSP, is a particularly difficult time for the Android developer community.
Well, today, geek’s hearts worldwide skipped a collective beat when Google employee Jean-Baptiste Queru mentioned in a tweet both the words “Gingerbread” and “AOSP” in the same sentence. → Read More
The original video got pulled… but someone re-uploaded it. If this goes down, hopefully we can find a more permanent source. Oh, Google Hong Kong — you tricksters. That video up above? Watch closely. Really, really closely. Well, skip all the iPhone stuff at the beginning, then watch closely. Notice the green and black status bar? The slightly modified buttons? The subtle tweaks in the Android Market? That, friends, is the as-of-yet unreleased Gingerbread update (Android v2.3). Sure, this footage isn’t the most riveting — but it’s easily the clearest clip of Gingerbread we’ve seen to date, and has been sitting on Google Hong Kong’s YouTube account for around a week now unnoticed. Check out a few comparison shots of the oh-so-subtle differences behind the jump. → Read More
Google/Samsung’s well-leaked follow up to the Nexus One — the Nexus S — has once again shown up in some super-secret spyshots, this time, however, we’re treated to a close-up look at its curved display.
Yes, those wonderful folks over at XDA have managed to get their hands on some top-secret pics of the upcoming device, including the yet-to-be-announced Android Gingerbread release.
Notably, they confirm that Gingerbread will, indeed, be v2.3 of Android. Although we pretty much knew that already.
Their tipster also confirmed (well, sort of) some of the specs, which you can see after the jump. → Read More
Now, this is firmly in the unconfirmed basket, as the only proof I’ve seen of an update reaching a Nexus one is the first part of a two-part upgrade, but some Twitter users are getting all a flutter, claiming that Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread, has arrived on their device. → Read More
I love Carcassonne. It’s a great board game, kind of like Civilization, that lets you build little cities, farm them, and simulate a medieval zoning board. Don’t get the Princess and the Dragon expansion pack, BTW, but everything else is cool. That said, cthulhia created an edible Carcassonne game for her own personal edification. The resulting boardgame was eaten almost immediately, but it’s just so cool and crafty. Mmmmm… edible settlers. Gingerbread Carcassonne → Read More
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