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We've clearly got a little bias on the subject, but Android has a long and storied history filled with its own triumphs and pitfalls. It's been well over a decade now since that first HTC G1 landed, the inaugural Android smartphone, and things have changed drastically since then. Being "first" might make you think the G1 was the most influential Android phone — but was it, really?
It takes a lot of applications to build an ecosystem. Google has all the essentials down — email, calendar, contacts, productivity applications, and so on — but the company has always struggled with creative tools. Most notably, Google is still lacking a proper video editor for its own operating systems, which is becoming even more of an issue as high-end Chromebooks gain momentum.
Although development of Android for tablets has largely stagnated, mid-range media consumption tablets are still cheaply produced. The AT&T Moto Tab (stylized as 'moto tab') is technically Motorola's first tablet since the Xoom 2 (known as the Xyboard in the United States), though the design strongly resembles that of the Lenovo Tab 4 10. You can now buy the Moto Tab from AT&T for $299.99 upfront, or for $15/month for 20 months. This is $120 more than the Lenovo-branded tablet, though the two share more similarities in appearance than power.
Of all the Android ROMs out there, few receive even a fraction of the love that CyanogenMod does. For users that like to flash ROMs and experiment with all Android has to offer, getting official Cyanogen support can be like Christmas morning. Today users of the HTC One XL and the old Verizon Motorola XOOM get to do a little happy dance as CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies have become available for the XOOM, while an experimental build is up for the One XL.
Don't you just love when your device gets a new version of CM? It's like getting an update from the Android gods, because who knows when the manufacturer/carrier is going to send one out.
Earlier this evening, CyanogenMod's Google+ page published an announcement that read "Who says Everest is in Nepal?". That's right – the Motorola Xoom 3G (GSM) variant has joined the list of CM-supported devices, getting its first experimental build dated 10-17.
Well, that was fast. Android 4.1.2 was just released to AOSP last week, and Motorola has already started pushing the Wi-Fi XOOM's update out to soak testers. This isn't a huge jump in terms of functionality, and the incremental update will bump the XOOM from build JRO03H (4.1.1) to JZO54K (4.1.2).
New Jelly Bean (JRO03H) Binaries Up For Nexus S/4G, Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi, And Verizon, GSM Galaxy Nexus
In a post to Google's Android Building group today, Jean-Baptiste Queru once again acted as the bearer of good tidings for developers and tweakers everywhere,
In a post to Google's Android Building group today, Jean-Baptiste Queru once again acted as the bearer of good tidings for developers and tweakers everywhere, announcing that "a new set of proprietary binaries for Jelly Bean are available."
[Update: Public Release] Wi-Fi Motorola XOOM Update To Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1, JRO03H) Finally Rolling Out To Soak Testers - Here It Is If You Dare
Update 7/26/12: It looks like the JRO03H update was final after all and has now started rolling out to everyone. Grab your XOOM and taste some Jelly Bean
Update 7/26/12: It looks like the JRO03H update was final after all and has now started rolling out to everyone. Grab your XOOM and taste some Jelly Bean (thanks, @Fdiazreal and @iphilluv).
[Update: Delayed] Motorola Is Beginning The Soak Test For Jelly Bean On The WiFi Motorola Xoom
Update 7/24/12: The soak test has been delayed for unknown reasons: So it begins. Motorola has just begun rolling out the initial soak test (read: not
Update 7/24/12: The soak test has been delayed for unknown reasons:
[Deal Alert Roundup] Kindle Fires For $140, Unlocked LTE Skyrocket For $385 And More eBay Daily Deals
We've got a bunch of deals for you folks today! To start things off right, refurbished Kindle Fires are currently available from eBay Daily Deals for a
We've got a bunch of deals for you folks today! To start things off right, refurbished Kindle Fires are currently available from eBay Daily Deals for a mere 0. The Amazon-branded slate, as you will no doubt recall, was one of the hottest selling Android-branded tablets prior to the advent of the Nexus 7. While both tablets are priced to ship, the Kindle Fire is the closest to impulse-buy we've ever seen it. While the Nexus 7 absolutely blows the Kindle Fire out of the water in terms of raw functionality, if you're looking for an Amazon-centric device for a steal, it's hard to beat this one.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Being Released To AOSP Right Now
Jelly Bean was announced at Google I/O just recently, but a posting from Google's Android open source guru, Jean-Baptiste Queru has confirmed that Android
Jelly Bean was announced at Google I/O just recently, but a posting from Google's Android open source guru, Jean-Baptiste Queru has confirmed that Android 4.1 is hitting the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository right now. Time for the developers among you to update your clients to get all the official bits.
Verizon 4G Xoom Android 4.0 Update Now Rolling Out, Manual Download Available
Verizon 4G Xoom Android 4.0 Update Now Rolling Out
It's been a long time coming, particularly for the pioneer Android tablet, but the Ice Cream Sandwich update for Verizon's 4G Xoom is rolling out today as expected. The update brings the Xoom to the very latest version of Android available - 4.0.4.
Finally, after a bajillion years of waiting, the first Android tablet is finally getting its very own update to Android 4.0, finally. Finally. As some of you may recall, the WiFi model received an ICS update months ago, but the 3G/4G version, which has been plagued with problems since launch, including lack of advertised flash support and an actual 4G modem, is only just now set to get the OTA update.
Update Rolling Out To The Xoom Wi-Fi Right Now, Brings Android 4.0.4 (Build IMM76), Quicker Screen Rotation, Improved Exchange Support, More
Update Rolling Out To The Xoom Wi-Fi Right Now
The hits just keep on coming today, as Android 4.0.4 begins rolling out to the WiFi Xoom. The update carries with it a few new features, including quicker screen rotation, the ability to immediately lock the device when you press the power button and more. Users can check out the rest of the changes in the full press release below.
Just under a week after receiving almost unprecedented support from the Android community to fund the purchase of new build servers, the CM team has begun pumping out CM9 nightlies for a handful of devices. There's no question - the CM team is moving quickly, and the release of so many nightlies in such a short time span is exciting, to say the least.
Yes, we were excited too, but it looks like owners of Verizon's LTE Xoom still have to wait a bit for ICS. The tablet is about to receive a software update (HLK75H) "soon". Verizon's support page doesn't specify when. There's not much to the update, though. Your tablet will now support dual International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSI), as well as a bugfix for restoring data connectivity after exiting Airplane Mode.
A few days ago, Motorola pushed out a special soak test of the ICS update to a number of Wi-Fi XOOM owners in the U.S. Apparently, no serious issues were found by the company's engineers, as the very same Android 4.0.3 update (IML77) is now rolling out to everyone. Well, everyone in the U.S. with a Wi-Fi XOOM that is. This makes the XOOM the 2nd mainstream tablet device to officially receive ICS, losing out only to the Transformer Prime that beat it to the punch by only a couple of days.
Well, it's official - the "project" Xoom owners have been waiting for is an update to Ice Cream Sandwich, meant as a soak test, expected to last through the weekend. Moto has begun pushing the new software as of 9pm PST. An anonymous tipster has provided us with shots of a private section of Motorola's official XOOM support forum, which confirm that the update is going live to those lucky enough to join the test group.