gingerbread

In addition to showing off an Android-based Walkman prototype, Sony Ericsson took the wraps off its latest Android smartphone at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin today.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is a follow-up to the Xperia Arc and brings a faster 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and more entertainment options. These include access to Sony Entertainment's Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services, with a catalog of 10 million songs, radio channels, and the latest movies and TV shows. As for performance improvements, Sony Ericsson says the Xperia Arc S delivers 25 percent faster camera startup … Read more

This post was updated at 6:34 p.m. PT with additional information on pricing and availability.

NEW YORK--After a slight delay courtesy of Hurricane Irene, Samsung officially introduced the U.S. version of the Galaxy S II smartphone today at a media event in Manhattan.

Bound for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint this fall, the Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone improves on the first generation of Galaxy S handsets in a number of ways. On the hardware side, it offers Samsung's Exynos 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, a 10 … Read more

Anyone who picked up a $100 HP TouchPad at the recent fire sale may eventually be able to run Android on their new tablet.

The crew at CyanogenMod, which creates customized builds of Android for mobile devices, has succeeded in porting over a version of Android that can run on HP's now discontinued tablet.

An open letter and video from CyanogenMod posted on the RootzWiki Web site yesterday show that developers have so far been able to run a Cyanogenmod version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread on an HP TouchPad.

The video reveals the Android OS booting up and launching into a home screen and then displaying icons for a few apps. Though the developers seem to be making progress, one major feature still missing in action is touch-screen support. In the video, CyanogenMod is controlling the tablet through a remote console.

But the narrator of the CyanogenMod video acknowledges that "these are just the very first steps and there will be more progress soon, I hope."… Read more

Yet another hardware maker joined the Android tablet fray this week when X10.com began selling its 7-inch AirPad, proclaiming the device to be the "best tablet on the market for under $200." It's also one of the only tablets at that price. So is the AirPad worth considering? The answer depends on your needs.

On the surface, the tablet boasts admirable specifications that include a 1.2GHz Rockchip 2918 Cortex A8 processor, 4GB internal storage, and 512MB of RAM. Toss in HDMI output, microSD expansion, and a full-size USB port and the AirPad begins to show … Read more

Samsung is expected to announce the much-anticipated U.S. version of the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone at an event on Monday, but Verizon will not be among the guests.

The carrier confirmed to The Wall Street Journal today that it will not offer the Samsung Galaxy S II. When asked why this decision was made, Brenda Raney, executive director for corporate communications at Verizon, said in an e-mail to CNET, "We have a robust portfolio of devices that offer customers exciting options, including the Droid Charge by Samsung, which runs on our 4G LTE network."

It's sure to be a disappointment for Verizon subscribers who were looking forward to the Android smartphone, but there might be hope yet. The Boy Genius Report says that the carrier will offer something similar, but it simply won't be branded as a Galaxy S II phone. Of course, Verizon would not confirm or deny, as Raney said the company does not comment on future devices.

Meanwhile, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint are all expected to offer their own version of the Galaxy S II, and we won't have to wait long to find out the details. We'll be at the event on Monday to bring you all the news, as well as hands-on coverage, so be sure to tune in around 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET for the full scoop. … Read more

Today, Sony Ericsson introduced its latest Android Walkman phone, the Sony Ericsson Live. Expected to ship in select global markets in Q4, the Android 2.3 Gingerbread device features a deep integration of music and social networks, so you can share and discover new content right from your phone.

This includes a dedicated Walkman button that takes you straight to the music player where users can access their Facebook account to share music with friends. Discovering new music is also made easy with several tools.

First, there's the Media Discovery app that offers Facebook recommendations from friends, as well … Read more

Though there was some other news taking the spotlight, Motorola unveiled its Defy+ handset today, confirming recent rumors of a refreshed take on T-Mobile's version of the Android smartphone. Expected to launch in early fall across Asia, Europe, and Latin America, the "life-proof" device is capable of withstanding the incidental scratches, water, and dust that come with carrying a phone everywhere.

The Defy+ runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a 1GHz processor, a 3.7-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera, and 2GB of storage, courtesy of a MicroSD card. Motorola doesn't shy away from mentioning its … Read more

Google's Videos app has been updated to enable some Android smartphone users to watch movie rentals accessed from the Android Market.

Google said that for right now the app is compatible with Android phones running the 2.2 Froyo and 2.3 Gingerbread versions of Android.

The app will also enable the properly equipped phones to watch personal video. If you have the right software, you also must have the latest version of the Android Market on your phone. The Google Videos app allows you to manage the movies you've rented and it will also display a list … Read more

Android tablets have captured 20 percent of the market from the iPad over the past year, but no single tablet has yet been able to challenge Apple's flagship product, says ABI Research analyst Jeff Orr.

In a report out yesterday, Orr pointed to high prices as one factor that has stifled demand for individual Android tablets.

"Many vendors have introduced media tablets, but none are separating themselves from the pack to pose a serious threat to Apple," Orr said in a statement. "In fact, most have introduced products at prices higher than similarly-configured iPads. Apple, never … Read more