Samsung rolls out Gingerbread update for Indian Galaxy S users

Next in line is Android Gingerbread update for Galaxy Tab & other family smartphones - Gio, Fit, mini & Galaxy S LCD.

Samsung had begun rolling out Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for its Galaxy S GT-I9000 smartphone earlier this month in several regions. However, due to some bug with the update, Google stopped this roll out process. Most Gingerbread updates rolled out for the Galaxy S via forums and other sites have problems related to battery life and WiFi connectivity etc.

From today onward Galaxy S users in India are getting the Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update through Samsung Kies desktop software. Nitish Kumar, IT infrastructure professional and Galaxy S owner, shared via Twitter the image of Kies, showing the new Gingerbread build for Galaxy S GT-I9000 devices.

ASUS launches PadPhone at Computex 2011

Android based smartphone gets hooked to the back of an Android tablet.

ASUS has launched what it calls a PadPhone at the ongoing COMPUTEX 2011 convention in Taipei, Taiwan. The device involves a pair wherein an Android smartphone docks at the back of an Android tablet.

The ASUS smartphone has a 4 inch display and is expected to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Xperia Arc, Play get Android update

Sony Ericsson rolls out first update for Xperia play and Xperia arc fixes bugs, adds Facebook Inside and updates the core system to Android version 2.3.3.

Sony Ericsson has officially announced the launch of its first update for the users of Xperia Play and Xperia Arc smartphones, which will now be upgraded to Android Gingerbread version 2.3.3.

Besides, they will also get the recently launched feature 'Facebook inside Xperia' that was introduced during the launch of the new range of Xperia Mini's. The feature allows users to share, like and connect on Facebook in a faster and easier way that is not possible through an application or through website. 

ASUS may unveil tablet-smartphone hybrid device

After the 10.1 inch Transformer tablet, ASUS might just have a smaller tablet under wraps, which it is set to unveil during Computex 2011.

Taiwan-based ASUS technologies may soon launch a device that would bridge the gap between the non pocket friendly bigger tablets and smaller sized smartphones. 

The company recently started a teaser campaign for the launch of the device during Computex 2011,which will start on May 31 and continue till June 4. The device has not yet been categorised in the advertisement, which asks "Is it a pad or a phone?" 

Sharp announces a 16 mega pixel Android smartphone

The smartphone features a 16 mega pixel camera, Android 2.3, and is waterproof as well to keep things from getting wet.

While Sony Ericsson might still be planning to pump some life in its Cyber Shot brand, Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp has become the world's first handset maker to launch a smartphone with a 16 mega pixel camera. The device is called Aquos Hybrid 007SH and runs on Google's Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system. The smartphone is perhaps the world's first clamshell Android smartphone. 

It will have a 3.4 inch LCD display capable of reproducing 3D imagery though its stereoscopic vision, which means that users will not be required to wear glasses to view the 3D content on this phone. 

The manufacturer has also made this phone waterproof to protect it in various situations, but the idea behind making it a clamshell phone is still unknown. 

Google fixes security flaw

The security flaw in Android 2.3.3 or older versions allowed hackers to gain user's login ID and passwords when unencrypted was sent by the user over a public WiFi network.

A flaw in the Android operating system, which allowed hackers to gain unencrypted data of a user over public WiFi networks, has been fixed up by the Google, the maker of the OS.

The security flaw was highlighted by a group of German developers and was reported by The Mobile Indian earlier too. 

It was found that Android devices running on 2.3.3 or older versions are particularly susceptible especially when the one uses services such as Google Calender and Google docs to be sent over-the-air unencrypted over a public WiFi network. This may allow hackers, present in the network, to gain the user's login ID and password. 

Samsung rolls out Gingerbread upgrade

Galaxy Tab and Galaxy smartphone users can now upgrade to Android 2.3 as Samsung announces Android Gingerbread upgrade for various devices.

Samsung Electronics has officially announced that its Galaxy Tab and other Galaxy smartphones will soon start getting Android Gingerbread upgrades. The devices chosen for the upgrade are not few and include Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy Ace, Gio, Fit and mini smartphones.

The upgrade, from Android Froyo (Frozen Yoghurt) 2.2 to Android Gingerbread 2.3, will offer users faster performance with a low CPU consumption rate, while supporting powerful 3D Graphics for enhanced mobile gaming.

Adobe launches Flash player 10.3

Android devices get the latest version of the Adobe flashplayer ahead of all the other smartphone platforms.

Adobe has released the Flash Player version 10.3 for Android based devices. With speed and reliability being the keyword for Android now-a-days, the new update of the Flash player focuses on adding more speedy operations while managing and fixing the bugs. 

The new Adobe 10.3 or 10.3.185.21 version, according to the company, is a general availability release which means that while all the other devices will have its Beta version, Android 2.2 and above devices will enjoy its full functionality. 

The new release enables ARM Neon optimisation for devices running ARM system on chip with the Arm cortex 9 processors. ARM Neon technology accelerates multimedia and signal processing algorithms such as video encode/decode, 2D/3D graphics, gaming, audio and speech processing, image processing, telephony, and sound synthesis.

HTC Desire smartphones to get Gingerbread update

But, HTC Wildfire owners will not be so fortunate as the company has no plans for the Gingerbread update for the smartphone for now.

In yet another reason for the HTC Desire owners to rejoice, the handset maker has decided to give a Gingerbread update to its Desire HD and the recently launched Desire Z smartphone. However, these updates will only be available only sometime before the end of June this year. 

Notably, both the smartphones, HTC Desire and Desire Z, still runs on the older Android 2.2 Froyo operating system.

When asked by 'The Mobile Indian' about the reasons for the delay, HTC said, "We optimise the experience for each handset separately. For example, HTC Desire HD and Desire Z have different screen sizes. Hence, the delay in rolling out updated for both the devices." 

It is also expected that HTC is looking for a multi device update roll out during the given time period. 

But, HTC Wildfire owners will not be so fortunate as the company has no plans for the Gingerbread update for the smartphone for now.

Meanwhile, the updates for the Desire smartphones will start rolling out in the UK first. All other countries, including India, are expected to get the updates in June or in July.