In this episode of the Android Application Weekly we demonstrate some apps that will keep you entertained, have a Siri clone on your Android, and find recipes based upon collections and searches. To download these directly to your Android smartphone or tablet just take a picture of the QR-Code using Google Goggles or any other QR-Code scanner or click on the app title link to be taken directly to the Android Market.
The iPhone 4S has Siri but Google has been using voice services for years. Iris (Siri spelled backwards) is an Android voice assistant that will help you find exactly what you are looking for. Ask Iris questions and it will begin searching the web. Send text messages, make voice calls, and much more.
Saving money is always appealing, and with Coupon Cloud you will be able to save some cash at your favorite business. This app displays coupons that may be printed and brought into the business. Many coupons offer buy one get one deals and free items at restaurants.
Cool Tool is a great app for anyone that wants to keep track of their data speeds, CPU usage, memory, and much more. This app displays a panel that shows exactly what you want to know about your Android’s performance. Change the size of the panel and move it to anywhere on the screen.
Spider Jack is a really fun puzzle adventure game. The object of the game is to maneuver Jack from one attachment point to the next while collecting stars. Once all of the stars are collected, get Jack to the bug so he can feast and move onto the next level.
Taste Of Home is a popular magazine and now gives you the same great recipes on your Android smartphone. There are many featured categories to choose from to help you find that perfect dish. Search through the database, read reviews, and get detailed instructions on how to prepare the recipe. Share the recipes through Facebook and add them to your favorites
Some pocketnow readers have called me an Android "fanboy". I can't entirely disagree. I'm passionate about the things I'm interested in, but try to keep an open mind, and be objective in my reviews and articles.
In addition to Android, I could also be called an "HTC fanboy". Even back in my Windows Mobile and Pocket PC days I gravitated to devices made by HTC. My personal Android smartphones have included the T-Mobile G1, Google Nexus One, andT-Mobile G2; all built by HTC.
When Google and Samsung announced the Nexus S I was torn. I'd had the chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy S phones from various carriers, and although I liked their speed, I didn't like their plastic shell and how light they felt compared to HTC and Motorola devices. I wasn't terribly impressed with Samsung phones. Sure, their specs have been great and their benchmarks impressive, but those weren't enough to sway my opinion (whether legitimate, or not).
On the other hand, the G1 and Nexus One were Google partner "launch devices" -- smartphones that were made primarily to show off "stock" Android, and push the platform forward. The Nexus S was the latest in the series of launch devices, and I liked what I saw -- but it was made by Samsung.
I decided to pass.
Now that the Galaxy Nexus has been announced, I have the same decision put in front of me: Do I get the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, or do I wait for an equivalent made by HTC?
My friends that had purchased Galaxy S phones (the Vibrant, Captivate, Epic, etc.) had all been really happy with their phones. Everyone I had talked to with a Nexus S liked it. I had to assume that my concerns about quality were unfounded.
Fast forward to today.
The Galaxy Nexus is the latest "launch device" from Google. It has a very sleek design with its curved back and curved front. It's thin. It has cool new gadgets that I haven't had in any of my previous phones (NFC, a front-facing camera, and barometer). It also has Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It's the latest launch device from Google, so it has the pure Android experience. Since it's a "Google phone" it doesn't come loaded with a proprietary launcher or bloatware.
Do I want this phone because it's an Android device? Sure, but not because I'm a fan boy.
I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because it represents the latest and greatest in the Android operatingsystem.
I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because it represents a paradigm shift in smartphone design.
I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because I trust my friends' testimonial of Samsung's quality.
But enough about me. Why do you want to buy a Galaxy Nexus?
White smartphones may not be to everyone's taste, but it's nice to at least have the option. We've talked before about some of the reasons we're fans, like a lessened tendency for fingerprints to show on their surfaces. Just a few weeks back, we caught a glimpse of a BlackBerry Bold 9900 tricked-out in white and wondered when we might see a chance to get our hands on the phone. Now the white 9900 has shown-up for pre-orders, and it's brought a few friends along with it.
UK retailer Phones4u has updated its site with a handful of white BlackBerry models. Besides the Bold 9900, it's listing white Curve 9360s and white Torch 9810s.
Orders placed now for the Bold 9900 will see their phones start arriving around November 16. The phone will be available for free on plans starting at about $50/month, or you can pay around $80 out-of-pocket and see your monthly bill knocked down closer to $40.
The white Curve 9360 is set to arrive on November 13. It's available free on-contract with plans running as low as $33/month. The Torch 9810 is up for delivery on November 7, and can be had for $50 upfront on a $35 monthly plan.
Remember that Latitude ST that Dell gave us a sneak peek at earlier in the week? Well it's slowly inching its way towards an official release, appearing on Dell's Corporate Blog early this morning. The Windows 7-based enterprise tablet is powered by an Intel Atom processor and includes a 10-inch multi-touch display with stylus, WiFi, mobile broadband options, front and rear webcams and a mic. There are also durability features like Gorilla Glass and a rubber bumper, enabling it to survive violent impacts with plush office carpeting. Port details are rather vague in the PR, though USB, HDMI and an SD card reader get their 15 seconds of fame in the promo video. There are also security features, like remote hard drive wipe, Microsoft Bitlocker support (this is a Windows 7 tablet, after all) and a Kensington Lock slot. Pricing details are absent and the product page isn't live quite yet (though that didn't stop Dell from linking to it from the blog post), but it looks like we could see these ship as soon as November 1st. Ready to get your tap and sketch on? Jump past the break for an enterprise montage, complete with doctors, educators and suit-sporting business pros.
Update: Looks like the specs have leaked out overseas, so we're guessing it'll get official soon enough.
Dell Launches Latitude ST Tablet for Business, Healthcare and Education
We're living in an exciting time as mobile computing continues to take significant evolutionary strides. Many organizations are embracing the productivity benefits of enabling their workers to be more mobile but with that freedom, they often face hurdles like security, device management and support for critical applications. At Dell, we strive to design products, services and solutions that maximize workforce efficiency without making IT sacrifices.
That's why I'm pleased to announce the availability of the Dell Latitude ST, a tablet PC built for both mobile professionals and the IT professionals supporting them. The Latitude ST provides Windows 7 Professional productivity in a convenient, lightweight tablet along with all the great attributes IT departments have come to know and trust with our Latitude brand, including security, manageability, service and support. (TBR just ranked Dell notebooks #1 in customer satisfaction.)
Latitude ST can be tailored to specific business or end user needs with certified applications and professional services. It is ideal for any organization where employees need to run a core set of applications in safe computing environments. For healthcare, the Latitude ST easily integrates into Dell's Electronic Medical Records and Mobile Clinical Computing solutions. And for education, the device is certified for use in our Connected Classroom solution. Speaking of healthcare markets, Dell is recognized as the leading provider of healthcare IT services worldwide.
Latitude ST delivers go-anywhere productivity, with anytime, anywhere data access via Wi-Fi and mobile broadband options and a 10-inch multi-touch display with a stylus for intuitive ease-of-use. Mobile professionals can experience the following features and benefits:
Work confidently with Intel Atom processors and the familiarity of Windows 7-based applications.
Collaborate on-the-go with front and rear web cams, embedded microphone, and Skype video conferencing.
Connect to projectors, printers, or other devices using built-in ports.
Feel protected with durability features such as a rubberized bumper, anti-glare Corning Gorilla Glass screen and TPU overmold.
And since mobility goes beyond hardware, we're certifying the device with select software partners. Available at launch, we'll offer certification on leading education software, such as Blio, Dyknow, LanSchool and Texas Instruments. For healthcare customers, we're working with organizations like Continua Healthcare Alliance, Athena Health and NextGen Healthcare. And we're working on partnerships with many more to ensure users never skip a beat using their familiar business applications.
IT administrators will also appreciate the attributes of the Latitude ST. They can seamlessly manage the tablet like any other PC on their network using existing remote management solutions or Dell KACE appliances and protect critical data with flexible Dell Data Protection | Encryption. The device will also integrate with desktop virtualization solutions for secure access to data virtually anywhere. And of course the Latitude ST is backed by customizable options for Dell global service and support.
The Latitude ST is quick and easy to deploy and manage, and perfect for mobile business users, enabling:
Insurance clerks to document accidents, complete forms, obtain signatures and hit submit - right on location.
Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to view client history, make medical evaluation input, submit prescriptions and research securely on-the-go.
Teachers to fully interact and collaborate with students by seamlessly moving about the classroom
Customers can begin experiencing the new Latitude ST next Tuesday, November 1.
Ready for a heavy dose of Android this morning? Then enjoy this Samsung double whammy freshly delivered from China. On the left we have the China Telecom-branded SCH-i929, a 9.7mm-thick handset featuring a Snapdragon MSM8660 chip (likely clocked at 1.5GHz), 4.5-inch 480 x 800 AMOLED display, eight-megapixel camera and GSM plus CDMA2000 connectivity. All of this makes the i929 a near-identical cousin of the Galaxy S II LTE -- same processor, same chassis, but obviously with different network compatibility.
Of course, the real star of the show is the SCH-W999, a follow-up to the SCH-W899 of the same dual-screen clamshell form factor. As you can see on the right, on the outside this phone features a 3.5-inch 480 x 800 AMOLED display along with three touch buttons, while on the inside it packs a similar screen plus a physical keypad. Like the i929 above, this funky flip phone is also powered by a MSM8660 chip and supports both GSM and CDMA2000 on China Telecom, though its camera is limited to five megapixels instead. Anyhow, we'd certainly love to get hold of a world-friendly version of this 204 gram beast, so what do you say, Won-Pyo Hong?
