$49 Android Desktop Computer From Via Now Available For Pre-Order and Ships In July

3 weeks ago, I posted about VIA revealing their newest $49 Android Desktop Computer. Now, the Android based computer is available for pre-order and ships in July. The product will run the modified version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS for use with keyboard and mouse. When it ships early in July, you will get a hold of an 800MHz single core processor, 512MB of RAM and a 2GB of storage.

$49 Android Desktop Computer from Via Revealed

Via, a manufacturer of integrated circuits in Taiwan appears to be playing in the Android game with an intriguing new creation. They unveiled a PC running Android OS that will only cost $49. The new PC’s motherboard is approximately the size of a little tablet.

The unit features an 800MHz ARM 11 processor, 512MB of RAM, 2GB NAND flash, Ethernet port, HDMI port, VGA port, microSD card slot and more.

The small device is enclosed in a black plastic case. For $49 the unit will only run Android 2.3 Gingerbread as of the moment (maybe they’ll upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich soon) so you can’t expect too much. If you are not a heavy 3D gamer and only do basic tasks like listening to music, playing simple 2D games, and web browsing, this Android device is for you.

Via did not disclose any information about the launch date but you can see more details from the press release below.


Press Release:

VIA Initiates APC: The $49 Android PC
Taipei, Taiwan, 22nd May, 2012 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficientcomputing platforms, today unveiled the $49 APC Android PC system.
Powered by a WonderMedia ARM processor, APC integrates memory, storage, and a full set of consumer I/O features in a small footprint Neo-ITX motherboard that can be connected to a TV or monitor. The system also features a custom build of Android that has been optimized for keyboard and mouse input, and comes with a browser and a selection of preinstalled apps.
“APC brings the familiarity and convenience of Android to the PC at a US$49 price point that will open up exciting new markets and applications,” said Richard Brown, VP of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Like a bicycle for your mind, APC will enable more people than ever before to explore the vast online universe.”
APC is based on the new Neo-ITX form factor measuring just 17cm x 8.5cm and can be housed in any standard Mini-ITX or microATX chassis, providing enthusiasts with unrivaled flexibility to create new mods and DIY projects as well as ensuring rapid time to market for system integrators and OEMs utilizing the platform.
APC consumes only 4 watts when operating at idle power and 13.5 watts at maximum load. This is ten times less than a standard PC system and ensures significant power savings in large scale deployments.APC Features
APC combines an optimized version of Android with a rich hardware package to deliver the best of the internet to users. With the inclusion of hardware acceleration for the most demanding video formats, the APC delivers stunning HD quality multimedia, either streamed from sites such as YouTube or stored locally and delivers a great gaming experience on a large screen monitor or TV.
Key Features:- Optimized Android OS- HD TV support- Hardware acceleration of the most demanding video formats- VGA and HMDI display ports- Four USB 2.0 ports- One microSD slot- One 10/100 Ethernet port- Audio-out/ Mic-in- VIA WonderMedia ARM 11 SoC- 2GB NAND Flash- 512 DDR3 SDRAM- 15W power adaptor

Motorola Cliq 2 gets updated to Gingerbread

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The Motorola Cliq 2 is finally getting it's Gingerbread update. I'll spare you from the witty and/or snide remarks abut Gingerbread being 18 months old. It's not an OTA update, and you'll need a computer running Microsoft Windows to update your Cliq 2. I'll spare you from the witty and/or snide remarks about that, too. In their place, I offer this list of updates and enhancements.

• Improved Cursor Control
• Improved Word Selection and Copy
• Number and Symbol Shortcuts
• Sleep Mode
• Dock Icon Functionality
• App Groups
• Rich Location App
• App and Power Management Details
• Download Manager App
• New User Interface Icons
• Tasks App Enhancements
• Browser Search Engine
• Emergent Groups and Smart Contacts
• Updated Calendar Options
• Device Control Capabilities Through 3LM
• UI performance Improvements
• Battery Fixes
• Wi-Fi Calling Implemented fixes to improve reliability.
• Wi-Fi Hotspot Signal Improved

That's a big, long list. You can find the full details, as well as update instructions in the links below. Now go get some Gingerbread if you're still using your Cliq 2!

Source: Motorola, Update support

Thanks everyone who sent this in!

Android 4 now on 5% of Android devices, Gingerbread still dominant

No longer the platform of the 1%, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is now found on nearly 5% (4.9%) of Android devices, according to the latest Android Platform Versions Chart. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is still found on the most devices by far, with 64.4% of Android devices running the previous version of Android. These charts are based on the number of devices that have accessed the Google Play Store over the past 14 days, giving a fairly good estimate of the breakdown of devices in the general population.

Still, with Ice Cream Sandwich now six months old, and Jelly Bean set to be unveiled later this year, we’re a bit disappointed that Android 4 is not available on more devices. The update to Android 4 is the greatest improvement yet in the Android OS, meaning it has taken OEMs significantly longer to push out updates to their devices.

With an update for the best selling Android device, the Galaxy S II, hitting the airwaves around the world recently (coming soon to the U.S.), we should see this number creep up and break the 10% mark shortly. Are you one of the lucky 5% to be on the latest and greatest version of Android? One of the 0.3% still on Cupcake?!

The latest Android version numbers show earnings for ICS and gingerbread

The last set of version Android number was published by Google, showing details on the difference between the different versions of the operating system. As always, the statistics were taken from devices for Google during the last two weeks of the month game store. Here ' s a quick breakdown.

• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich from a share of 2.9% last month 4.9% this month, marking a continuation of the slow but steady rise for the last version of the operating system. It is probably because the sale of new phones ICS as the series a HTC, as well as updates to existing phones and tablets of bread spice and running honeycomb.
  
• Android 3.x Honeycomb remained flat at 3.3%, probably as a result of slow sales of honeycomb Tablet combined with a modified schedule and pace for the current tabs of honeycomb.
  
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread increased from 63.7 to 64.4%, meaning people are still buying phones of gingerbread. No surprises there.
  
• Android Froyo 2.2 and 2.1 lightning fell steadily in market share and now stand at 20.9% and 5.5% respectively. Older devices are left behind, and more recent are updates to bread of spice and ICS, expect to see more of this in the coming months.
  
• Android Donut 1.6 and 1.5 Cupcake continue to soldier respectively 0.7 and 0.3% of the Android market. Go to the figure.

To locate, watch last month ' numbers s here. If ICS continues to be out-represented by people like lightning, we ' re expect to see a big leap in the next 30 days, with the launch of devices such as the AT & T HTC a X, Sprint HTC EVO 4 G LTE and the Samsung Galaxy S3, in addition to updates to existing even more material. If you like looking at the rankings, you ' ll still find the link of the source.

Source: Android developers

AT&T Samsung Infuse 4G Gingerbread update finally available again, confirmed to work this time

It's been about two months since the AT&T Samsung Infuse 4G first saw its Android 2.3 Gingerbread made available, only to be yanked back due to some bugs. On Thursday, the download was finally revived via the Samsung Kies Mini application. Yes, folks. It's finally happening. (Again.)

Here's a reminder of what you'll be getting in the Android 2.3.6 update, which takes the software version up to UCLB3: 

• Improved Copy and Paste functionality


• Redesigned Multi Touch Software Keyboard


• Download manager for long running HTTP downloads


• Improved power management and application control


• Notification Shade: “Flight Mode” added (“Silent” removed)


• New Fonts options added include Choco Cooky, Cool Jazz, Rosemary


• Keyboard Changes: Android Keyboard with Wider Spaced keys and Quick Keys at the top


• New Widgets: The name of the content provider will be listed on the widget list along with the widget name. Previously only the widget name was provided.


• New Widget: Traffic (Android) added to list of available widgets


• Menu Changes/New Apps: Downloads and Google Books added new, Promotional pre-load of Angry Birds removed.

A slightly odd development: AT&T in its forum post says that this update will hard-reset your phone -- as in wipe anything that was previously on it. But that wasn't the case with our update. Regardless, be sure to back up your contacts and e-mails and pictures and the like, just in case. Then be sure to download Kies, and get to updating. Should take about 5 minutes or so once it gets going.

Download: Kies Mini for the Infuse 4G; More: Update instructions
Via: Samsung Infuse 4G forums

Samsung Galaxy S 'value pack' comes to Korea, adds ICS features to Gingerbread

Despite some confusion as to whether it was or wasn't real, the fabled Samsung 'value pack' for original Galaxy S phones (the 'GT-i9000' GSM version, that is) has now started rolling out, beginning in Samsung's native South Korea. The pack attempts to make up for the fact that the OG Galaxy S isn't getting an official Ice Cream Sandwich update by bringing a handful of high-profile ICS features to the current version of Gingerbread. Same goes for the mid-range Galaxy K and Galaxy U.

These include face unlock, the ability to snap photos while recording video, enhanced photo editing features, and improved folder functionality in the Launcher. We're there are some who will settle for nothing less than a full ICS update, but it's nice to see Samsung offering something? to owners of the Galaxy S, which launched in mid-2010 with Android 2.1 Eclair. The good news for anyone still holding out for ICS is that there's a great selection of Android 4.0 custom ROMs available for the phone, if you're willing to root.

No word on anyone outside of Korea getting this update, and we're not holding our breath when it comes to the U.S., where original Galaxy S hardware (and branding) is all over the place.

Source: Samsung Tomorrow; via: Engadget

YouTube app update brings quality HD Froyo and Gingerbread capable devices

It seems that Google are gone and slipped an another small update YouTube on the Android Market. It is directed to person on Android 2.2 and 2.3and brings HD video streaming to anyone on these platforms with a measuring device. This is not ' will be a good part of you, but if you ' re a lucky then with this update, you should see some better video search.

It seems to be a hit and Miss too update. Not all devices have been demonstrate it - that seems very familiar. There are also reports that not all devices are able to install either via the market.You can find that some useful links download is after the break.

Samsung Galaxy Beam official, with Gingerbread and 15 lumen pico projector

Samsung is putting out press releases this evening, and to start with we have the all new Galaxy Beam. The Beam runs Gingerbread on a dual-core 1GHz CPU, a 4-inch WVGA screen, 8GB internal storage and a 15 lumen pico projector that will crank out an HD image up to 50-inches wide. It's worth noting the official product specifications list the Beam as having 6GB of RAM, but we're sure that's simply a typo. We'll verify with Samsung while we're talking to them in Barcelona. Hit the jump for the press release.

Source: Samsung

ARNOVA Unveils 8b G2 Android Tablet

Arnova is a well-known Android tablet maker that sells their tabs for cheap. Following their previously produced tablets like the Arnova 9 G2 and Arnova 10 G2 is the latest 8-inch Arnova 8b G2 which will have 800 x 600 pixels TFT display. Although the tablet is their “latest”, the specs are so last year (outdated). The 8b G2 will have a Gingerbread OS, 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 or 8 MB built-in storage with extra microSD slot. The price is not yet known but based on the specs and the pricing of their previous tablets, We can assume that this tablet is budget friendly.


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ZTE Light Tab 2 Gingerbread Tablet to hit UK Next Month

At the CES event recently, ZTE revealed their 7-inch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet (ZTE T98). And now, they are planning to release yet another tablet called the ZTE V9A Light Tab 2 on late February. It is confirmed to hit the UK for a price tag of £235 inclusive of VAT and if ever there’s a chance it will hit the US, it will translate to approximately $365.

The tablet features a 7-inch capacitive touch screen display, a single-core 1.4 GHz processor, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, 0.3 Megapixel front-facing camera, 3.2 rear camera, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. There is no information yet if the new upcoming tablet is upgradable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS but as of the moment, you might want to look at the specs from the retailer Clove.

Kobian Mercury mTab2 Android Tablet Launched in India

If you are searching for an Android tablet that would only cost $250 or less, then you should consider buying this new tablet called the Mercury mTab2 from Kobian. Launched in India, the mTab2 features a 7-inch capacitive WVGA touch screen, 1GHz Cortex A9 dual-core processor, 8GB of memory, and a 3D accelerator. The tablet runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS.

Like other Android tablets in the market today, the mTab2 is equipped with a USB 2.0 port that will certainly connect to peripherals like thumb drives, keyboard, mouse, and etc. For video chatting, the tablet is armed with a front-facing VGA camera. If you want to view your device to a larger screen, you can connect it to an HDTV via the HDMI cable. For browsing the web, the mTab2 has Wi-Fi connectivity.

The tablet is currently offered in India with a 1-year warranty which is a good deal for a dual-core tablet.

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Viewsonic ViewPad 10e Gingerbread Tablet, priced at $399

First seen last year, the Viewsonic ViewPad 10e did not really draw any attention since then. The tablet, which is the successor of the ViewPad 10, is designed for entry level users, but the 10e doesn’t seem to be reasonably priced. Viewsonic is not that famous compared to other major players in the Android tablet world and it won’t change that way even if their new tablet is released. I stated that because the 10e has a selling price of a whopping $399!

Although the tablet’s 9.7-inch (1026 x 768 pixels) IPS display is reasonable, the 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM and the 1 GHz single-core processor is just quite low. The tablet is also equipped with an HDMI port, micro-SD, and a micro-USB port. What makes the tablet even more disappointing is the fact that it is preinstalled with a stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS even though the competitions are going for Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich.

I think the Viewsonic ViewPad 10e doesn’t stand a chance at all. If you just add extra bucks then you get a quad-core ASUS Transformer Prime. Also, for $249, you will get a 7-inch quad-core ASUS MeMO with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. As of the moment, the ViewPad 10e is only available for preorder as listed by Amazon.

What do you think about the tablet? Are you interested to have one?

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