Looks like a very Android Christmas
Posted in News on October 5th, 2009 by gkrakow
New Android devices are about to hit the marketplace in huge numbers.
Every morning when I boot-up the computer I read at least one or two e-mails telling me about another new device which runs on Google’s Android operating system which will be available in the next few weeks.
Some of them look very intriguing.
As for cell phones, there are new designs coming from Motorola to T-Mobile and Verizon. T-Mobile announced pre sales of the Motorola CLIQ – with a slide-out keyboard and Motorola’s new MOTOBLUR social management service.
This morning, T-Mobile announced the brand new Samsung Behold II. The press release tells us that the Android phone features a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen and Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface.
Behold II has three different home screens along with Samsung’s cube menu which provides quick access to six top multimedia features (music, photos, videos, Web, YouTube and Amazon’s MP3 store.
T-Mobile is mum about the price or about exactly when we’ll see the Behold II. All they say is it’s “currently scheduled to launch before the start of the holidays”.
Verizon is rumored to be launching another Motorola model, the Tao or the Sholes (depending on which industry leak you believe) in time for the Christmas shopping season. That’s industry speak for the next few weeks.
Sprint’s new HTC Hero is just hitting retails stores now. I’ll have a full review very soon – as soon as I stop marveling at how great a device it is).
And those are just some of the cell phones that are being touted for the holidays. AT&T – still the exclusive home of the Apple iPhone – has been very quiet about any Android phone plans).
Android is also an open-source operating system or what industry professionals call a “platform” being built into desktops, laptops, notebooks, netbooks and portable media players. For instance, France-based Archos is releasing their first Android-based “Internet tablet” handheld: the Archos 5.
Archos believes the 5 achieves the convergence of the Internet, entertainment, TV, and GPS in one small, handheld device.
As a matter of fact, they think their new device lets you discover and download applications and games while performing the best multimedia experience of any handheld device.
You can connect your 5 to your smartphone via Wi-fi or Bluetooth for a very portable wireless experience.
Thems fighting words, Apple. Based on previous experiences with Archos portable products, I can tell you that this little player could very well be a big contender in the marketplace.
This is sizing-up into what could be a very interesting gadget holiday season.