Android Overload: Transformer Prime Hitting UK In Jan With Mandatory Dock, LG Rumor 4 Heading To Boost Mobile and More

Day 1 with the Galaxy Nexus is finally drawing to a close and I hope you’re all enjoying your shiny new toy. But there’s still a heap load of other Android related news here in the Android Overload. These are all the stories that didn’t make it onto our front page but still deserved a second shot before drifting away into the world wide web. Have a look around and if you read up on anything interesting, let us know!

• Pocket Legends and Star Legends receive “holiday” themed update. [TalkAndroid]
• Time Warner Cable Android app adds smartphone compatibility. [Market Link]
• Only 4% of Android users have stock in Google where 16% of iPhone users have stock in Apple. [VentureBeat]
• ASUS Transformer Prime will hit the UK in January for £499. Optional dock now mandatory. [PocketLint]
• Dolphin Browser gets new Box.net add-on. [Market Link]
• Archos introduces “35 home connect,” an Android powered alarm clock. [Engadget]
• Rumor: LG Rumor 4 with Android coming soon to Boost Mobile. [Pocketnow]
• Panda cams! San Diego Zoo releases new app for Android. [Market Link]

Galaxy Nexus Getting Android 4.0.2, Upon Activation

Well folks they day is finally upon us. Verizon is finally releasing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. If that wasn’t good enough news for you, there will be an update to Android 4.0.2 for all you lucky Verizon customers, that manage to get one when stores open. Upon activation the update should be ready to roll out to your device.
The update is said to improve the radio /baseband for better quality. We had earlier speculated that the update would be 4.1, we were wrong on the version, but not it does seem that we were close on the effects of the update. Stay tuned, as I am sure it will be a big day of news, as the Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich finally become a reality for America. I would also expect a line or two at most Verizon stores. Who plans on picking one up tomorrow? Let us know in the comments.

Google Majel is Android's Response to Siri on the iPhone 4S

We all know that Android has voice recognition technology. Many may debate whether it is superior or inferior to Apple's Siri technology, but when you have a typical, ordinary, everyday dude like Eric Schmidt come on record stating that Siri is the sort of ground-breaking competition he'd worry about, then I guess even Google thinks Siri is superior.

Google seems so challenged by it, that rumors have it that they're already working on a new service under Codename Majel. Those of you familiar with Star Trek: The Next Generation may remember this name from the computer voice, and trust me, it's far better than something like Siri, which translated in Japanese means something I can't even write here!

Contrary to what Apple did by purchasing a company with Siri's technology, it seems that Google is approaching this as an in-house project handled by Google X, the same experimental group in charge of things like self-driving cars. According to the rumors, Majel is apparently a full-fledged Google product with a full 24/7-support team, which even planed to deliver something by the end of this year, which pretty much just ended without it. It seems to be more of a Google service across all platforms, which will implicitly become something that Android will adopt.

Sadly it's too early to know if this is more than just a rumor, or even something we should consider possible soon, but one thing I do know is that it will happen.

App Developers believe iOS will beat out Android this holiday season

iOS hit big this past October by surpassing 18 billion total downloads. But the Android Market has 10 billion total app downloads so far, and is growing at a rate of 1 billion a month. Who will turn out to be the victor in the smartphone category? At the Le Web Conference, Google chairman, Eric Schmidt, made a sweeping declaration that “Android is ahead of the iPhone now.”


Let’s take a closer look at the numbers. According to comScore’s latest MobiLens report, 46.3% of smartphone users have an Android device, compared to 28.1% for Apple. This coupled with the total downloads in the Android Market, it is not surprising Mr. Schmidt would make such a statement. There are more people with an Android device and an increasing amount of downloads from the Android Market. Mr. Schmidt went on further to say that Android would be first on the list for app developers to build.
However, those at Flurry calculated developer support for new projects on iOS and Android. With their calculations we can see that support for Android has actually declined throughout the year. One major event for iOS came with vendor expansion to three of the top four carriers this summer iPhone 4S. Developers took notice to this expansion and the successes of the iPad 2 in February and the 4S in October. What resulted from these events was increased developer support for Apple.
Another reason developers cling to Apple is rather simple. Money. Developers make three to four times as much money on iOS than they do on Android. After some more number-crunching Flurry noted for every $1.00 on iOS, the same app would only generate $0.24 on Android. Despite Android’s efforts with the recent integration of Google Wallet and Checkout, and $0.10 app sale, app developers believe iOS will continue to dominate during the Holiday Season.

Samsung may one-up Apple with 11.6-inch tablet sporting 2560×1600 resolution, coming February

Rumor has it that Samsung has plans to take on Apple’s upcoming iPad 3 tablet with its own 11.6-inch tablet, which may sport an incredibly dense, Retina display-shaming resolution. The new tablet will also have Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and will be most likely to debut at this year’s Mobile World Congress this February. Though the tablet will have a larger display than Samsung’s current Galaxy Tab 10.1, the tablet will be “barely larger”, since the panel will have a thinner bezel with a stunnning 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, 11.6-inch screen, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Apple’s rumored iPad 3 Retina display should gear up for some competition.


Equally impressive, it’s rumored that the 2.0 GHz Exynos 5250 processor will be on board to power the larger screen and higher pixel-density panel. Alhough still only dual-core, the ARM Cortex-A15 chip and the more accelerated graphics should lead to much faster performance overall, to match the 2560×1600 resolution. If the rumors are true, the 11.6-inch tablet will have a pixel density of 260, much, much higher than any comparable device currently on the market. In fact, that’s on pretty much on par with standard 30-inch LCD displays.
Samsung’s launch timing for this tablet has to be critical, as it may coincide with a rumored iPad 3 launch from Apple in February. And Samsung doesn’t expect to ship the Exynos chip until the spring, which may drag its release date, and harm its ultimate sales. So the stellar resolution is a must for Samsung, if the company wants to compete with the likes of Apple and its new iPad.

Google celebrates 10 billion Android app downloads with 90% discount on top apps

  Google’s Android Market app store has surpassed downloads in excess of 10 billion and to commemorate this feat, Google is offering top paid apps at heavy discounts. Starting today, for the next 10 days, 10 apps will be available at 90 percent discount. Today’s app list includes some great app and games like Asphalt 6, SoundHound Pro, Fieldrunners HD, Swiftkey X keyboard and more.
All the apps are available for just 10 cents or Rs. 5.12 to Indian Android users.

Twitter revamps UI, updates iOS and Android apps

  Twitter just announced a major redesign that claims to make it easier for users to follow, connect and discover quickly. The overhaul will be reflected on all Twitter platforms but as a start Twitter has updated iOS and Android app with the new interface.
The new interface boasts of four tabs that will show all the tweets, interactions and mentions, popular hashtags and profile page with messages.
Twitter will roll out the new interface on Tweetdeck, mobile.twitter.com, Twitter for iPad in the coming weeks.

Toshiba Excite Release Date Confirmed on February 2012

Toshiba will arrive with the upcoming tablet which is codenamed Toshiba Excite. This tablet was exposed at IFA 2011 last September along with Toshiba AT200. Now, An official Announcement come early from Toshiba Website about Toshiba Excite release date. The Toshiba Excite is ready to go to  the Maple Leaf way in Next January, and rumor said it will be ready to purchase on February 2012.

Toshiba Excite  specs offer the Excite sport with OS android 3.2 Honeycomb, a 1.2GHz TI OMAP4430  CPU, two different option of internal memory; 16GB and 32GB versions,  Wi-Fi, 2MP front facing camera and a 5MP rear facing camera. Claimed as The World’s lightest and thinnest for screen size tablet with 10.1-inch display and 7.7mm thin.

Although Toshiba Excite runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb, but it has similar silicon type where you can find on Galaxy Nexus ICS 4.0.  We Just wait for ICS android 4.0 arrive to this device for the next update. Reportedly from Phonearena, Toshiba Excite’s first launch will be at Canada next year, Hopefully we will see the device in the US soon as well. The Toshiba Excite  price is still unconfirmed, so we must wait for more information from Toshiba.

Amazon Kindle Fire Release Date in UK – Confirmed in January 2012

Finally, Amazon Kindle fire will be arrive in UK  after waiting this tablet since it released back on November 15th. January 2012 is the confirmed date which the UK may get Kindle Fire at last. UK is still in the queue for waiting to taste Amazon kindle Fire as the rest of the world to test it but it has not yet touched the UK.

Even Amazon didn’t reveal it clearly about the Amazon Kindle fire release date in UK, but reportedly from KnowYourMobile, confirmed that they have a trusted source for its release date information. Their  source stated amazon kindle fire will be available in January 2012, and its not ready  for Christmas holiday.

Although the release time has confirmed, but Kindle fire price in UK still unclear. As we know, 7-inch Amazon Kindle fire price in US cost $199.99 (149 Euro). If we convert to pound, it will be available for £128.18 (pounds), but its still not reflected the actual price.  But some tech site from UK supposed that the price expected as low as £100.

As we know, Amazon Kindle fire sport 1024 pixels by 600 pixels screen using  IPS technology (similar on the iPad), powered with Dual core, 1000 MHz, TI OMAP4 and 512 Memory RAM.

Stay tune with us for more info about Amazon Kindle Fire.

Amazon Kindle Fire 2 vs Ipad 3 Ready for Real Battle Next Spring 2012

Amazon and Apple is having a though battle for its tablet. So far as we know, Apple is still dominating the tablet market with its Ipad 2 but the Amazon Kindle Fire is found as the first real competitor to the iPad’s dominance. Now, Some rumor is growing enough about the next update of their hottest tablets for next spring. Yup, this battle head-to-head between Amazon Kindle Fire 2 vs Ipad 3.

Comparing the upcoming kindle fire 2 vs ipad 3 supposedly difficult this time as two of them is still not available physically. But we can still  following those tablet from some leaked information about its specs and design.  Last Week, we heard that Ipad 3 Expected to be 0.77mm thicker than the iPad 2, so it will accommodate a  2048 x 1536p high-resolution screen with 264 pixels per inch.

An upgraded processor inside iPad 3 will turn this to ARM’s new four-core that different from iPad 2′s processor which only only two cores. Amazon Kindle Fire 2 will get the larger screen than its brother, 8.9inch compared to the current 7inch display. Yes, Amazon give more view with  a 1.9-inch improvement to its touch screen. No more information about specifications enhancement.

Next Spring will be the real battle between Amazon kindle fire 2 vs ipad 3, as its release date will be  roughly the same time. Let’s wait and see