Archive for May, 2009

Android Cameraphones Against Nokia 808 PureView

Beyond a shadow of doubt Android is the most popular operating system in the world, but the question is if it deserves that title or not. Apparently, many stunning handsets run Google’s platform, and it’s THIS circumstance that makes Android this popular. But what would happen if this OS were on the handsets of only one manufacturer? Would it be as popular as it is now? To discover the truth behind that we decided to compare the Nokia 808 PureView, which runs Nokia Belle OS and sports the largest lens — 41MP, and several Android cameraphones in face of the LG Thrill 4G (aka LG Optimus 3D), the T-Mobile MyTouch Slide 4G and the HTC Evo 3D.

Nokia has been working on PureView technology for 5 years, and due to it smartphones can now sport camera a lens larger than 20MP, though I have to say there is no any smartphone featuring more than 16MP lens (the HTC Titan II). The Nokia 808 PureView’s powerful sensor comes with:

• Carl Zeiss optics of focal length: 8.02mm.
• 35mm equivalent focal length: 26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3.
• F-number: f/2.4.
• Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range).
• Construction: 5 elements, 1 group. All lens surfaces are aspherical.

1. One high-index, low-dispersion glass mold lens.
2. Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter.

• Optical format: 1/1.2”.
• Total number of pixels: 7728 x 5368.
• Pixel Size: 1.4 microns.

But the technology is not this powerful due to the sensor and only. There is an outstanding feature called oversampling as well. The latter allows taking snaps in smaller sizes at the same time keeping three main peculiarities — great image quality, lossless zoom and excellent low light performance.

For example, the actual size of an image taken by a 38MP camera will be about 10MB. It’s something unacceptable for current smartphones the owners of which hold dear each megabyte. So Nokia developed a method allowing to shoot photos in smaller sizes and store them in the phone.

Another advantage of this technology is conditioned by zooming without quality loss. Find the modes in which you can take photos below:

• 3x is the default zoom mode
• 4x lossless zoom at 1080p
• 6x at 720p
• 12x when recording videos at nHD (640×360)

Moreover, its large f/2.4 aperture allows you to take photos with faster shutter speed and without noise.

Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Photos

Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Video

The LG Optimus 3D is the first 3D smartphone launched in the US with the name the LG Thrill 4G. It sports a camera with two 5MP lenses allowing users to have 3D pictures and videos. The phone can’t boast of a monster-sized lens, but being the first 3D shooting smartphone is a rather good title.

The LG Optimus 3D will record 3D videos at 720p and 30fmps, but there is a toggle allowing to easily switch to 2D mode and record videos at 1080p (Full HD) at the same 30fps. You will easily tell the difference between photos shot in 2D and 3D modes as there are 3D marks on each 3D image.

One annoying feature is you will not be able to open the camera app if there is less than 10% of battery remaining. We must note the 3D feature on the LG Optimus 3D is a real battery killer though it’s promised to be corrected on its successor, the LG Otpimus 3D MAX.

LG Optimus 3D Sample Photos

LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (3D)

LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (2D)

The first smartphone in the US enabled to shot 3D photos and videos is not the LG Thrill 4G, but the HTC Evo 3D launched via Sprint (it’s seen even from the name). In some sense it has many common lineaments with LG’s phone, therefore geeks couldn’t reach an agreement. The HTC Evo 3D sports the same double 5MP camera and it can be switched between 2D and 3D modes easily. The biggest difference between this handset and the LG Optimus 3D is the HTC Evo 3D records videos in both 2D and 3D modes at 720p.

HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos

HTC Evo 3D Sample Video (3D)

HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos (2D)

Finally, we have another HTC-branded smartphone dubbed the T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G determined as the best cameraphone running Android OS, though only HTC used to think so.

Unlike previous Android phones, this one sports an 8MP camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash meaning this camera will feel free when taking snaps in dark conditions. Another feature helping with better pictures in low light is the backside illumination. When users snap the camera button, a special Zero Shutter lag technology begins recording everything it sees in its memory buffer. So when you push the button to get a photo, it pulls the picture from cash. The camera also comes with an f-number value of f/2.2, which will help users capture with greater depth of field.

T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Photos

T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Video

Camera’s special features:

• SweepShot™: Used to capture ultra-wide panoramic shots, so that you can sweep across an entire scene in a single shot.
• ClearShot™ HDR: Used to capture objects in high contrast settings, so that photo details are not lost.
• BurstShot™: Used to capture multiple photos in a quick burst, so that you don’t miss the perfect photo.

The question I raised at the beginning is still actual, so let us know what you think in this regard.

How to Install Non-market Android Apps

Now that you are continuously surfing over pages of Android Market with hundreds of apps to download, one day you may wonder what next, what are the other resources to explore. This article contains detailed instructions as how to find and install third party compatible apps.

Step 1. Research and locate other compatible app resource

The easiest way for this step is just to do a search on Google, but sometimes you may just discover a compatible app by accident. Forums also are a good place to read about other users’ findings and comments. Other websites like Slide Android Market and AndAppStore also feature non-market apps.

Step 2. Check to see of the app is in compatible format.

You have to make sure in this step that the app you are going to download is in the right format. The correct format to work with your Android handset is the APK; that is the file should have the APK extension to work.

Step 3. Start the download the compatible file to the smartphone.

As a rule, the file will be downloaded to the phone’s default download folder. But the location is not important if you can find the file later.

Step 4. Customize your Android phone to a non-Market installation option.

You will have to go to Menu, Settings and then press Applications. From the latter, select the Unknown Sources option.

Step 5. Get the Android file manager and install it.

You can also use Android SDK for APK file installation. But most users usually opt for a free file manager app. The most popular is the free Apps Installer available from Android Market, but of course there are other with similar function.

Step 6. Installing the new software.

Launch the file manager and then select install. Browse to the downloaded APK file and select it. Further follow on screen instructions to finish the installation.

Step 7. Make Android secure again.

Go to Menu, Settings and Application and then uncheck the Unknown Source box.

We hope with this simple instructions, you can find tons of useful apps to every taste and install them without any headache

Viewsonic Viewpad 10 Android 2.2 Update

Viewsonic has finally rolled out Android 2.2 update for their ViewPad 10 tablet. This tablet originally came with Android 1.6 operating system and its company has made its user base wait for quite a long time for an update. While we strongly believe that the company should have blessed the users with Honeycomb, it is still nice to see that the users will be atleast be able to view flash content on their tablets. Here is a step by step instructions on how to get the update on your ViewPad 10.

Acer A500 Root

Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a Android 3.0 tablet sporting a zippy Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, all packed inside a nice big 10.1 ich screen. It costs a lot less than the Xoom ($600 vs $450) but is a bit on the bulkier side. Some people are already calling it a cure-all tablet and we respectfully agree with them. But, did you know you could do much more with this Android tablet after rooting it? Follow these instructions to root it:

Root Tmobile G2x

Yay, so you just got yourself the Tmobile G2x and you are thrilled by all that power packed into that little smartphone. Now, you want to make it do stuff which the companies do not want to do and to do that, you will need to Root that beauty. Just follow these instructions to root it:

SE Xperia Play Root

This method roots a rooted Android 3.0 (gingerbread) firmware of SE Xperia Play. Just follow these instructions to root the Xperia.

Dell Streak 7 Root Guide

Dell Streak 7 is one of the cheapest branded Android tablets around. It comes with Android 2.2 Froyo and will be given Honeycomb treatment. Here is a guide to root your Streak 7 which will open a new world of possibilities.

Xoom 3G, WiFi One Click Root

Here is a much more simpler and straight forward way of rooting your new Wi-Fi or 3G Motorola Xoom. This one does not require you download huge SDKs or anything of that sort (like this Motorola Xoom Root guide). Follow this guide very carefully:

Xoom: Enable MicroSD card

Motorola has still not released an official fix for the MicroSD card slot on Xoom but that has not stopped the brave and adventurous developer community (and crazy people) to fix that problem. To fix the nasty problem, all you have to do is use the kernel ‘Tiamat’ (v1.3.0). This will add support for the slot that can be found in the SDcard2 root folder.

Asus Transformer Root

Asus Transformer has not even made it to the market and someone has not only been able to get their filthy hands on the tablet but has also rooted it. Yes, he has been able to gain root access and this means that you will be able to all sorts of mods on it the day it hit the market shelves. UPDATE – Rooting instructions are up.