Google releases Android code as Open Source

With the release, Google kept it promise since it was announced on the “Android’s roadmap” for the fourth quarter.

According to the download page the source is approximately 2.1GB in size and it need 6GB more to complete the build. At the moment only Linux and Mac OS systems are officially able to compile the code while Windows is not currently supported.

Dave Bort, a Google software engineer and author of the announcement, stated that: “Today is a big day for Android, the Open Handset Alliance, and the open-source community.  All of the work that we’ve poured into the mobile platform is now officially available, for free, as the Android Open Source Project”.

The announcement come a day before the the scheduled sale of the first Android-based smartphone: the T-Mobile G1 phone.

Links
Google Android: http://www.android.com/;
Google’s announcement: http://source.android.com/posts/opensource;
Google Android source code download: http://source.android.com/download.

BLACKBERRY STORM SPECIFICATIONS

Credit: Boy Genius Report

According to Boy Genius Report the device is slightly overall bigger, while the monitor is the same size of the first Kindle. A good news seems to be that Amazon dropped its own charger format in favor of the miniUSB standard.

Amazon has not yet disclosed a release date for Kindle 2.

Links
Amazon web site: http://www.amazon.com/;
Boy Genius Report’s article with fotogallery: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/10/03/amazon-kindle-2-ebooks-its-way-to-bgr/.

PALM TREO PRO SPECIFICATIONS

Apple originally intended to use the “Non Disclosure Agreement” just to prevent competitors to steal secret technical information on how its popular device works, but it ended up to be a too heavy burden also for the developers whom wanted to write applications for the iPhone, since they were unable to even share programming skills between each others.

According to Apple, the developers will receive a new agreement without an NDA covering within days.

Links
Apple’s announcement: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/.

HTC G1 PRO SPECIFICATIONS

The different packages, with the relative prices (base price and upgrade price) are the following:

• Creative Suite 4 Design Premium (US$1,799 / US$599)
• Creative Suite 4 Design Standard (US$1,399 / US$499)
• Creative Suite 4 Web Premium (US$1,699 / US$599)
• Creative Suite 4 Web Standard (US$999 / US$399)
• Creative Suite 4 Production Premium (US$1,699 / US$599)
• Creative Suite 4 Master Collection (US$2,499 / US$899)

Adobe Creative Suite 4 integrates Flash across all six versions.

The Adobe Creative Suite 4 is scheduled to be released in October 2008. Adobe is offering a service that it will warn the user when the actual release is determined.

Links
Adobe Creative Suite 4: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/?promoid=DNOWM.

The slotMusic will have 1 GB of capacity and it will offer DRM-free music from EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner; it will be sold first on US stores, especially Best Buy and Walmart,� before Christmas and on the European market shortly after.

It sound like a good idea, but there is a catch: while the microSD slot is very common on many devices, there are not so many branded mobile phones and MP3 players that support it, not even iPod and iPhone.

Of course there also also benefits: distributing music via a high capacity physical media instead of relaying on the internet connection will allow easier offering of high quality version (up to 320 Kbs) of the music and the bundle of accessory material like liner notes, album art, videos, and other creative content.

SanDisk has not disclosed yet the detalils about the price, availability, and actual albums offered, but it claim that they will be announced in time for the coming holiday season.

Links
slotMusic web site: http://www.slotmusic.org/.

The problem lays on the metal prongs of the adapter that could break off and remain in the power outlet.

The defect is present on the adapters sold in the following countries:

• US
• Japan
• Canada
• Mexico
• Several Latin American countries

Both the adapters bundled with the iPhone 3G and those that can been purchased separately are affected, while the adapters supplied with original iPhones or supplied with iPhone 3G units sold in other countries not listed above are not affected.

Apple claims that “no injuries have been reported”, but as precaution it is offering the possibility to exchange the defective units. The exchange campaign will start on October, 10th, and the users can choose to receive the replacement either via the Web, which will ship within three weeks, or exchange it at any Apple retail store; in order to receive the replacement the users need to include their iPhone 3G’s serial number with the order.

Links
Apple announcement: http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/?sr=hotnews.

The update is relatively big as it weight 240 MB. The users who own an iPod with already the 2.x version of the firmware can get the update for free while those who are running a 1.x firmware can upgrade for $9.99.

Links

Apple: http://www.apple.com/.