Android Atlas Weekly 48: Google united, Google divided: the I/O show (Podast)

Google gets serious about putting an end to fragmentation at its 2011 I/O conference with the official announcement of the next generation of Android: Ice Cream Sandwich. At the same time, the tech giant adds another layer of complexity to its big picture with another big push behind Chrome OS with the announcement of a series of Chromebook devices. Will Android and Chrome OS end up going head to head or can we all just get along? We try to find the answer to that question, plus get hands on with Google's new movie rental and cloud music storage services, on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly with Antuan Goodwin and guest hosts Jessica Dolcourt and JT Tabencki.

Watch this: Ep. 48: Google united, Google divided: the I/O show

53:21

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GOOGLE I/O

Android 3.1:

What’s new?
http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-3.1-highlights.html N

better support of external accessories via USB or Bluetooth HID, deeper integration of NFC, support for content services such as movie rentals, resizable widgets, updates to AOSP apps

Up next Ice Cream Sandwich, what should we expect?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20061451-264.html

hopefully an end to fragmentation, developer guarantee to update phone OS for 18 months post launch
merging of handset and tablet OS interfaces, multi-apks?, 3rd or 4th quarter 2011. I think the biggest will have to be with the carriers.

Google movie rentals
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20061467-251.html

Google Music Beta: Hands-on by Donald Bell
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20061554-251.html

…and a how to by Sharon Vaknin
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20061876-251.html

…and a comparo against Amazon Cloud Player by Nicole Lee
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20061592-251.html

Will Android and Chrome OS end up going head to head?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20061825-264.html

E-mail (androidatlas@cnet.com)

Best unlocked Android phone?

Hey guys,

I indulge in nerdery, keeping on top of things with you guys, Buzz out loud, others, but I tend to have shopping paralysis and rarely buy stuff so I’ve been using my girlfriend’s old iphone since moving back to the U.S., so what’s the best older android for someone who’s main concerns are: being unlocked/useable with T-mobile prepaid (living in Hong Kong spoiled me), good music player, bluetooth, standard headset jack, maps and under $200 (possible?). Oh yeah, and calls. But I couldn’t care less about call quality, I spend less than 5 min a day talking on the phone.

Thanks!

Hong Kong Hitch

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The nexus of tablets Is the Motorola Xoom the Nexus of tablets?

Thanks,Tre

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Hello Justin and Antuan,

I’m writing to you as a proud male owner of a HTC Droid Eris.

I was sad to hear you dissing the Eris. I got mine in December 2009. I don’t regret my decision on it and am happy to say it’s been rooted for a long time and is rocking a custom Gingerbread ROM (unlike some phones… *cough* Thunderbolt *cough*).

Hopefully, I haven’t ticked you off to much because I’d like advice on my next phone. I’m think I’m going to try Motorola. I don’t like HTC Sense software and really don’t want to mess around with different Roms for awhile. I’d like to get as close to stock Android as I can on Verizon with minimal crapware. Motorola seems like a good choice (even with the Blur). I don’t like a physical keyboard. My thoughts:

– Motorola X2 (although don’t like the non-capacitive home, back, menu, search keys and it’s 3G for 2 more years)
– Motorola Bionic (a fav of Justin’s, but I’m concerned if it will ever come out. Also having 4G since I live in a non-4G area and battery life is a concern).
– Something else? Samsung?

I know whatever decision I make will be wrong with newer phones coming out, but at least I can share the blame.

Keep up the great podcasts!

Steve Lowe
Madison, WI

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