Dell to release 7-Inch Looking Glass tablet within weeks, but only with Android 2.1

I came very close to purchasing a Dell Streak earlier this year. Despite some of the negative press that Dell's device received, mostly for being too small, I actually thought that the device had a lot going for it. It was pretty fast, very portable - I've never been one of those people who wants to lug around a 9-inch iPad just for the screen size; sit at a laptop for God's sake - and that hardened Gorilla Glass was a great feature.

What stopped me from buying it was their decision to go with Android 1.6 at launch. Having just upgraded my HTC G1, I wasn't prepared to go back to an older version of Android. My phone would have been better than my tablet. I also had a hunch that the promised upgrade to Froyo wouldn't happen quite as quickly as Dell were promising, which turned out to be a good call as they barely made it past 2.1. All of which was pretty sad, as it seemed a great device and my head has now well and truly been turned by the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

So, to the news that Dell are now releasing their 7-Inch Looking Glass tablet, within weeks! Sounds great. If they get the price right, this could be a real challenger to the G Tab. Unfortunately for Dell however, there's that issue with using the latest version of Android lurking around in the shadows again. When I checked the specifications Android Central have it running Android 2.1. Are Dell incapable of staying up to date or something? In reality, this suggests that Dell have rushed the tablet out to hit the pre-Christmas tablet hype - which isn't actually a bad idea if you live in the UK and will have your economy smacked down by 20% sales tax in the New Year - cutting corners and abandoning Froyo for the sake of hitting a deadline.

Given their inability to update the Android OS on the Streak - their 2.1 update actually removed more features than it upgraded for some people - I won't be getting a Looking Glass. Sorry Dell.

3D gaming coming to Android

Scaleform, a user interface developer for videogames, have created a prototype no glasses 3D gaming engine for Android. This video does a much better job of explaining things than I ever could, so get watching...



It's incredible to see this kind of technology already making its way to smartphone devices. I'd been planning to purchase a Nintendo 3DS, but with Scaleform saying that 3D Android devices will be available from mid-2011, I might just put that on hold.

Via pocketgamer.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab walkthrough

Samsung have released an incredibly detailed 9 minute walkthrough for their Galaxy Tab.



Here's what I love.

Speed
Android 2.2 seems to run very quickly on the device. It looks almost as quick as the new HTC Desire HD.

Swipe keyboard
Just because I really want to try it out. Watching the disembodied hand swipe words into his presentation you can't ever imagine it working. But what if it does?

Gundam
The inclusion of the Gundam in the video calling section was even more exciting than video chat.

Ereader
The ability to highlight and bookmark individual words and sentences is a real plus for me. I'm also very interested to see how this integrates with the rest of the internet. Being able to pull up additional definitions and more information looks incredible. The book suddenly feels connected and part of the digital revolution!

Media Hub
Amazing. Just what I want. However, I know that I'll probably have to move to America to be able to use it. Hate territorial rights!

Flash in browser
Why would anyone ban Flash?

Nokia say Android is like peeing in your pants for warmth

I asked and Nokia have responded. Nokia CEO Anssi Vanjoki has been riled up by all the talk about Android on their phones; and probably claims that Android will hit 30% smartphone market share by 2014. According to Engadget:

mobile manufacturers who go the Android route are doing no better than Finnish boys who "pee in their pants" for warmth in the winter

So there you have it.

When open means exploited

Android's open platform makes it brilliant, but it's also starting to cause real problems. Personally, I'm tired of waiting for T-Mobile to update my HTC Desire to Froyo. It feels like lazy and cynical carriers have simply decided to exploit the open nature of Android for their own evil ends. Tech guru Michael Garten feels the same and has written a compelling article on the issue for Engadget.

"More and more devices I look at are coming installed with applications I don't want, often popping up messages to try and upsell me on services I have no interest in. Even worse, unlike PCs where offensive applications can be removed or the OS reinstalled cleanly, there's often nothing that can be done to get rid of unwanted mobile software without arduous work. It's not limited to Android devices, but it seems that increasingly Android more than other platforms is shipping with the worst mobile bloatware. It's a bad trend that's going to lead to consumer backlash and it's destroying the credibility of Google's Android vision."

The problem is that the carriers are going to end up killing the golden goose. And then we'll all be crying.

Read Entelligence: Will carriers destroy the Android vision?

Nokia need to go Android

Nokia N8, with an OS that only its mother could love

I noticed that Nokia have turned to a Microsoft guy to try to revive the company's fortunes in the smart phone stakes. The only way that Stephen Elop can turn Nokia around is to embrace Android. Having spent years demonstrating that they can't develop mobile software, they need to bin Symbian and concentrate on making great phones again. Something they used to be able to do, but seem to have forgotten all about recently.

If they are going to hang onto Symbian, go open. Let the development community rebuild it and make it work. It is the community that makes Apple and Android strong, although in Apple's case it's more like a cult. Nokia need fanboys and fangirls to help it come back.

Super Mega Worm

When you're house bound, suffering from Johnny Utah knee, mobile games become your friend. After getting bored with the ubiquitous Angry Birds Lite for Android, I decided to look around for others. Glad I did because I discovered the insane Super Mega Worm, for the iPhone.



From the trailer, I've deciphered that the game's plot revolves around a mega worm that's trying to eat the world to safety. Mega Shark seems to be an influence here. I love mega animals. Hope this comes to Android soon.

Samsung Galaxy Tab price fail

I've been following the hype around Samsung's new Galaxy Tab with increasing excitement in recent weeks. Finally, an Android tablet that actually might make people sit up an take notice. I'd put my Dell Streak ambitions away and was ready to buy on release day.

Then Samsung dropped the price BOMBSHELL, £600+!

How can a device, which is supposed to be a competitor to the iPad, cost so much?

If it does turn out to be this expensive the Galaxy Tab can't hope to match Apple's success.

Welcome new blog

This blog is an attempt to archive mobile media, which is something I love.