Taking a walk with a Google Android prototype

Google's Android platform has emerged as one of the sleeper hits of the GSMA World Congress in Barcelona. Though it exists only in prototype, show attendees are flocking to the Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and ARM booths were demos are available.

The TI booth was was packed to the gills when I passed by so I headed to the ARM booth instead. There, I got a short demonstration of a prototype. As my colleague Maggie Reardon reports, there's not a lot to say at this point. The welcome screen featured a plain black background with a series of generic icons along the bottom. The icons open features like the Web browser, calendar, messaging, Gmail access and Google Maps. The main menu page was also pretty basic; just a series of icons on the same black background. Remember that since Android will be a open platform, the design will vary by developer.

And in any case, there's no knowing what it will look like in its final form. I can say, however, that with a 200Mhz processor, the prototype was pretty speedy. Check it out for yourself in our Google Android video.

Via CNET Crave

» Mobile World Congress 2008 show report

WildCharger keeps plugging away

The WildCharger was met with some skepticism when it was announced more than a year ago because it sounded too good to be true. The rollup pad promised to charge various devices simultaneously, regardless of type or brand.

But its manufacturer, appropriately named WildCharge, continues to prove its critics wrong by releasing new adapters compatible with more products. The latest of them will work with the iPhone, iPod, second-generation nano, and two BlackBerry models (the Pearl and 8800), according to Gizmodo.

The adapters still need to be placed on the back of the devices, which can then be charged when placed on the flexible mat. WildCharge has long hoped that the receivers could be integrated directly into their devices, but that would likely be a vastly complicated endeavor involving multiple companies, technologies, licensing, and standards. In other words, don't hold your breath.

Via Crave CNET

HTC P3470 to ship in March

Latest in HTC's burgeoning portfolio of Windows Mobile 6 devices is the P3470. According to our sources, the touchscreen GPS handset is slated to be available in selected countries in Asia-Pacific some time in March, though the company wasn't able to be more specific. Features include a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen LCD, quadband GSM and miniSD expansion card slot. The P3470 is still based on the TI OMAP 850 200MHz chipset and comes with 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM. More details to follow once we have them.

» Mobile World Congress 2008 show report

Impressions of the Sony Ericsson X1

Updated with live pictures!

The folks at Sony Ericsson were pretty strict about letting us try out the interface of the new XPERIA X1, but we were still able to get close enough to have a few good impressions.

Sony Ericsson has always been pretty hot when it comes to handset design, and the X1 is no exception. Looking at it, you forget that this is a Windows Mobile PDA-phone because, very often, the products in that category are pretty clunky. The keypad slides out at an angle and the keys look pretty well spaced-out for typing.

While the Today screen on its WVGA (800 x 480) display looks like the regular Windows Mobile Professional one, a button press will bring up a cool nine-panel interface. These look like shortcuts to other applications and are very attractive, though it looks like users still won't be able to fully avoid the regular WM6 interface when using the X1.

One of the most surprising things is the connectors. Along one side of the device, you can see there's a 3.5mm audio connector. This isn't common for Windows Mobile PDA-phones (2.5mm ones are the norm). More significantly, this isn't even seen on any of the company's Walkman phones, devices that are supposed to target music lovers. Along another edge, the X1 has a mini-USB connector. That's good news because you don't have to rely on the proprietary cables usually packaged with Sony Ericsson devices.

With a truckload of features including HSDPA/HSUPA, GPS and Wi-Fi, the X1 is poised to do battle with established names in this arena like HTC and HP. One worry is that the release date is set for the second-half of 2008, which is a long time from now. That gives competitors quite a bit of lead time to come up with even better-looking products. Let's just hope market availability is closer to the middle of the year than the end.



»  Mobile World Congress 2008 show report

"Xtensor" claims CrackBerry rehabilitation

We recognize that BlackBerry Thumb can be an all-too-real affliction but, seriously, if you need something like this therapeutic contraption you've really got to let it go. Literally.

The Xtensor claims to be "the first product on the market to perform with true bio-mechanically correctness and treats the direct cause of this pain". That may be so, but to us it looks like a bowling glove combined with those elastic bands that pitchers use for to exercise their rotator cuffs.

In any case, the makers of the Xtensor say it can help rehabilitate habitual gamers as well as CrackBerry addicts. As for us, we'd rather be at the spa.

Via Crave CNET

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