Sony Ericsson to shut down Sync service, recommends Google Sync instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Sony Ericsson  | Email this | Comments
Engadget

This week saw highs and lows for news relating to the next version of Google Android and a flagship phone to feature the new mobile platform. Samsung and Google had planned to hold an event at next week’s CTIA trade show, where presumably both the operating system and a high-end Nexus Prime smartphone would debut. With the passing of Steve Jobs, both companies decided to postpone the event for a later date.

That means Android enthusiasts and developers will have to wait for Ice Cream Sandwich, the version of Android intended to unify the platform between smartphones and tablets. The anticipated Nexus Prime should feature the updated software but instead of a new phone introduction next week, we’re left with leaked specifications and a video demonstration of the alleged handset for now.

If the rumors hold true, the handset will have a 4.65-inch curved touchscreen display with 1280×720 resolution and be powered by a speedy dual-core chip. The specifications generally make sense to me as the Nexus line of Google phones is meant to be a reference design to illustrate the advanced in the software. While I generally don’t place much stock in leaked videos, the one that surfaced this week appears to be the real deal based on the look of the phone and user interface.

We’ll have to wait for the official unveiling of Ice Cream Sandwich and the Nexus Prime, but in the meantime, most Android phone owners can now play Minecraft on the go. The popular indie game with retro-graphics originally debuted for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, but this week became available for all Android phones. There’s a free demo version in the Android Market and a paid version that costs .99. Having played Minecraft on the desktop, I find that the mobile experience is fairly good port, even if it’s not as elaborate as the computer-based edition.

This week may have been bigger for iOS than Android, given Apple’s launch of iCloud, iOS 5 and the new iPhone 4S. Why mention these in a column devoted to Android? Because there’s room for both successful platforms, for one. More to the point, I left iOS for Android some 22 months ago.

The new iPhone 4S let down some but generally compares well with the latest Android hardware. Even more importantly, iOS 5 addresses some of the issues I had with the platform. I’ve used the beta of iOS 5 on an iPod touch since July and find the platform to be much improved. While Android still offers much greater flexibility and has been improving in its own right, iOS 5 is well worth the look. After all, the best phone and mobile platform is the one that meets your needs; regardless of who makes it.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Forecast: the future of near field communication
• Mobile Q2: Smartphone growth surges; iPad’s rule continues
• The rise of tablets in the enterprise

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM

Customers pining for the Samsung Galaxy S II handset received good and bad news, depending on their carrier of choice. While models of this popular and top-selling smartphone are expected to see AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile during a product launch next week, Verizon this week confirmed it would not be carrying the Galaxy S II. Instead, the company said it had a strong lineup already and pointed to the LTE-equipped Droid Charge as an alternative.

Verizon appears to want more handsets that utilize its next generation LTE data network; understandable after investing billions on the upgrade which not only offers faster speeds, but can help reduce any congestion on the company’s existing 3G network. Galaxy S II fans shouldn’t be too upset though: Samsung is also expected to announce an LTE version of the Galaxy S II at next month’s IFA event in Berlin. That model is slated to have a larger display, faster processor and higher capacity battery, so may be worth the wait.

Owners of Sony Ericsson Android phones are used to waiting, but for software updates more than handsets. Initially known for being slow to provide Android updates, the company looks to be improving its response to Google’s Android improvements and this week said all 2011 Xperia smartphones would get Android 2.3.4 starting in October. Although the software is mainly a maintenance release, it does bring support for Google Talk video calls, deep Facebook integration, support for USB devices and a new 3-D panoramic image capture function.

Android owners don’t need a Sony Ericsson phone for panoramic shots, though; several manufacturers have built such functionality in to their high-end smartphones. Not everyone has the hardware to handle panoramic pic, however, as the process to stitch frames together can be processor-intensive. A new Android application in beta called 360 aims to change that.

I took 360 for a spin and found that it creates sweeping images in a relatively small amount of time. I didn’t have a low-end Android handset to test the application, but the folks at TeliportMe, which created the software, told me that it’s designed for phones with meager hardware specifications. The software also adds a social component, allowing pictures to be shared via Facebook, Twitter, or through a website specific to the application.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• What the Google-Motorola deal means for Android, Microsoft and the mobile industry
• A Global Mobile Handset Platform Forecast, 2011 – 2015
• Mobilize 09 Wrap-up

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends