Talking Mobile // Tablet // Web Development

This week, Verizon Wireless and Motorola released the XOOM Android tablet.  In my opinion, this is the first Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet that will give the iPad a run for it’s money.  It has a 10.1″ screen, NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB on-board storage, 5MP back cam with flash, 2MP front cam, HDMI, 720P video recording and playback, and a ton of other features (full specs).  As far as I can tell, Motorola and Verizon have not altered the operating system in any way.  There are no V-Cast or MotoBLUR apps preinstalled.  Google has updated the core apps for tablet consumptions; Gmail, Calendar, Browser, Camera, Gallery, Music.  They’ve even included Movie Studio, which allows you to splice, trim, fade, title, score and add photos to your recorded videos.

Keep an eye out for my full review, coming soon.

Development

• Android Developers Blog: Final Android 3.0 Platform and Updated SDK Tools
• Android Developers Blog: Best Practices for Honeycomb and Tablets
• Source code for Aria, Desire Z, Desire HD, and myTouch 4G available now
• Ruby on Rails: Scaling Your App for Rapid Growth
• Motorola XOOM bootloader can be unlocked
• JavaScript array “extras” in detail

The Web

• Official Google Blog: Slice and dice your recipe search results

Apps, Apps and Additional Apps

• Minecraft’s Addicting Sandbox Gameplay Coming to Android Later this Year
• Graphic.ly Brings Comics & Graphic Novels to Android
• Twitter for BlackBerry 1.1 Beta Pushes Mentions, Geotags

Carrier News

• Motorola leaned on Verizon for 28% of revenue in 2010
• Verizon Drops 10,000 Calls During Snow Storm in Washington

Device Central

• Samsung Epic 4G [Froyo] Update Arrives, Manually Install Now and Skip the Wait for OTA
• Verizon Officially Taps XOOM with $599.99 Price Tag, February 24th Release
• Nexus One, Nexus S begin receiving Android 2.3.3 over the air
• Samsung Captivate Froyo update: COME AND GET IT!

Friday Infographic

• Facebook vs. Twitter

The big news this week is that the Google Nexus S, by Samsung, is now available.  It’s sold exclusively at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores.  You can buy it carrier unlocked (no A&TT 3G) and without a contact for $529.99.  If you want to sign up for a new T-Mobile contract you can get the phone for $199.99.  However, you can only buy it on contract at Best Buy stores that sell T-Mobile.  Don’t want to hassle with finding the right store?  Buy it online and get free express shipping!

See the ninja unboxing video here.

Development

• Android Developers Blog: Analytics for Android Apps
• Google App Inventor beta now available to all
• WindowBuilder becomes new open source project – Google Open Source Blog

OS News

• 2.3 will land in the AOSP soon, proper Gingerbread ROMs to ensue
• Windows Phone 7 getting major “Mango” update in August September?
• Hewlett Packard files trademarks for Gyst, Myte, and Veer: new Palm models?

The Web

• Facebook Adds Facial Recognition to Photo Tagging
• Google Creates A Better Way To Turn IE Into Chrome: A Business-Ready Windows Installer

Apps

• Introducing the Google Latitude app for iPhone
• Voice Search gets personal
• SkyFire For iPad Goes Gold, Gets Shipped Off For Apple’s Approval
• Finally, Professional Social Network LinkedIn Gives Users An Android App

Carrier News

• Sprint Awards $250,000 in 4G App Challenge
• T-Mobile, Nokia Siemens Submit Specifications for Long Term HSPA Evolution

Devices

• T-Mobile Shaves $50 Off Galaxy Tab and Vibrant
• Big Google TV Update Brings Overhauled Netflix, Resizable Dual View, and Google TV Remote App
• HTC’s Peter Chou Confirms LTE Handsets for Mid 2011
• Best Buy Announces Free Overnight Shipping for Nexus S on December 16

Friday Visualization

Facebook put out this neat friendship visualization map. (thanks Jared)