Part of big announcements from Google during the Android-specific keynote at Google I/O is the Android Honeycomb 3.1. On this first major upgrade to the Android tablet OS, Google brings some tweaks and optimizations over the Android 3.0. These are include resizable homescreen widgets and USB host functionality that will give users ability to plug in their digital camera and transfer file directly to their tablet or even use mice, keyboards, and game controllers. Another enhancements including more robust multi-tasking and app-switching mechanism for more fluid transitions and reduced crashes.

Let’s take a look at the Android Honeycomb 3.1 new features highlights from Android Developers blog for users and developers below.

• Open Accessory API. This new API provides a way for Android applications to integrate and interact with a wide range of accessories such as musical equipment, exercise equipment, robotics systems, and many others.
• USB host API. On devices that support USB host mode, applications can now manage connected USB peripherals such as audio devices. input devices, communications devices, and more.
• Input from mice, joysticks, and gamepads. Android 3.1 extends the input event system to support a variety of new input sources and motion events such as from mice, trackballs, joysticks, gamepads, and others.
• Resizable Home screen widgets. Developers can now create Home screen widgets that are resizeable horizontally, vertically, or both.
• Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) Applications can now receive notifications when external cameras are attached and removed, manage files and storage on those devices, and transfer files and metadata to and from them.
• Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) API for audio. Developers can directly manage on-demand or interactive data streaming to enable VOIP, push-to-talk, conferencing, and audio streaming.

The Android Honeycomb 3.1 is now being seeded to the Verizon-bound 3G version of the Motorola XOOM and should be followed by other devices including Google TV with Android Market support coming this summer.

No more mistery left to the upcoming Verizon’s Motorola Droid X2. After beeing rumored with many speculations, finally an official spec sheet revealed the full specifications of the Motorola X2. With this sheet came out, we can expect that the official launch is imminent. It’s probably next month or perhaps earlier than that. And the price should be below $200.

The Motorola Droid X2 is basically an Android 2.3 Froyo device, possibly shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It has 4.3-inch display with qHD resolution, 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 8 megapixel camera. The RAM/ROM will be the same with the original Droid X at 512MB/8GB. However, the Tegra 2 chipset gives higher-quality video playback (1080p over HDMI) and also higher frame rates between 26-30fps for both capture and playback.

For the connectivity, it still has the same EV-DO Rev.A mobile broadband. Additionally, there are also Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Wi-Fi 802/11a, sensros including proximity, light, accelerometer and e-compass.

[via: PocketNow]

A mysterious new Android device has hit FCC codenamed IHDT56MJ1. Looking at the naming convention which is matching with the one seen on recent Motorola handsets like the Atrix 4G, it’s possible that this supposed to be the Motorola Droid X 2. It basically has CDMA, EVDO and 802.11n Wi-Fi. Moreover, the CDMA radio indicates that it might be headed to Verizon but it’s unlikely to be the Droid Bionic.

There’s also the short term confidential letter attached to the filing showing a request from Motorola to FCC to keep photos, the manual and other revealing details a secret for 180 days from the February filing. It means the device is expected for mid-August launch or over one year after the original Droid X launch.

Speaking about the Droid X 2, it’s expected to be a large, Verizon-friendly which is similar to Atrix with a 4.3-inch 540×960 screen, a dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 8 megapixel camera. In addition, it will also use an updated version of the MotoBlur interface.

[Source: FCC via Electronista]

Read the Press Release of Motorola DROID X Announcement:

June 23, 2010

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID X by Motorola.  DROID X does more with ultra high-speed Web browsing; a fast 1GHz processor; 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities; loads of memory; intuitive social messaging; Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10.1 ready; and access to Android Market™, which has more than 65,000 applications, along with a host of unique Verizon Wireless applications such as NFL Mobile, Skype mobile™, V CAST Video, EA Need for Speed Shift™ and more.

“Nine months ago, we made a commitment to our customers to bring the openness of Android to the Verizon Wireless network,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “Since then, we have introduced the top-selling Android phone in the marketplace today – the DROID by Motorola.  DROID X takes that commitment to another level with exclusive content, faster processing speeds, and, of course, the reliability of our network.”

Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home business added, “Motorola designed DROID X to push the extreme limits of Android innovation, and enable you to do even more with your mobile device. We are breaking down barriers so that you can experience the Web the way it was meant to be and create, share and view content like never before, either in your hand or in your home. Enterprise users will also find DROID X appealing with features including push e-mail and live widgets for e-mail and calendar updates.”

DROID X gives customers a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen for viewing the latest movies and video from BLOCKBUSTER On Demand^® presented by V CAST Video, the newest addition to the Verizon Wireless V CAST application, which also includes access to favorite TV shows.  The DROID X video capabilities let customers capture spontaneous fun, combining a dual-flash, 8-megapixel camera, HD camcorder, as well as DLNA and HDMI connectivity to download, stream and share personal HD content.

DROID X customers will also receive Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 with an over-the-air update in the latter half of the summer.  With the update, the Flash Player will allow mobile users to experience hundreds of sites with rich applications and content inside the browser, including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, music, video, audio and more.

“It has been an exciting time for Android momentum and global consumer adoption since the announcement of DROID by Motorola nine months ago,” said Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering for Google.  “There are 160,000 new Android-powered devices activated daily and Android Market has grown to over 65,000 applications.  Plus later this summer, Verizon Wireless and Motorola will update all the DROID by Motorola phones to the latest 2.2 software.  For customers, this means great new features and improved browser performance.  For developers, this will provide new tools such as cloud-to-device messaging and enhanced enterprise functionality.”

“We are excited about full Flash support coming to the DROID X and other devices from Motorola,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer of Adobe.  “Flash Player 10.1, which is one of Adobe’s most anticipated releases ever, has been redesigned from the ground up to deliver the kind of highly engaging experiences that consumers now expect from their mobile devices.”

Once updated to Android 2.2, business customers will find DROID X offers the features that turn the device into a workhorse with support for both Exchange and Gmail™ for business. Corporate users can enjoy push delivery of e-mail; live widgets that stream messages to the home screen; filter widgets to differentiate work and home e-mail; corporate directory and Global look-up along with a unified calendar for Enterprise and sync with Google Calendar™.  Security protocols allow remote password control and wipe via Exchange server.

Pricing and Availability

DROID X by Motorola will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning July 15 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  In addition to subscribing to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan, customers will also need to subscribe to an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access.  Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

Customers can add the optional 3G Mobile Hotspot service to their DROID X for $20 per month.  The 3G Mobile Hotspot allows customers to turn the phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible Wi-Fi devices.  In addition, current Verizon Wireless customers who have contracts ending by December 31, 2010, can upgrade to any smartphone, including DROID X, without penalty.

For more information on DROID X by Motorola, go to http://phones.verizonwireless.com/droid/x/.  For information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Remember “the lost iPhone 4 saga”, when someone found a lost iPhone on the floor of a bar in Redwood City and “sold” it to Gizmodo? That story is not the only one. A reader recently sent a “love letter” to Gizmodo explained about his first impressions about the coming Verizon’s Motorola Droid 2. Looking at the letter, it’s too good to say that it’s only “a letter from a reader”. So either Gizmodo paid some money for that or that guy must be kidding.

Anyway, i don’t know to whom we should thanked to, Gizmodo or the summer intern guy. Although there’s no new things leaked on this letter but it’s worth info to read. So let’s see what they have from the letter.

Specs - 1 Ghz processor, 8GB internal memory plus 8GB micro-SD card, 5 megapixel camera, QWERTY keyboard of course, micro-USB port, Android 2.1 (probably will have Android 2.2 Froyo for the official release device).

Comparison to the first Droid:

• Felt smoother at hand with a lot more curves and less sharp edges
• Exactly the same size with the Droid including the headphone jack, volume buttons, power/sleep button and micro-USB port.
• Camera button is smaller and the camera took pictures faster
• Dark crome-like color of the device
• Soft keys are in different order compared to the existing Droid phone
• Wider keyboard with blue coloring and voice commands button on the lower left

That’s all! You may read more details on the source. But according to that guy, the Verizon representative didn’t tell him about the exact release date of the phone, but it’s in the next few weeks. So it’s matched to what have been rumored before that the Droid 2 will be released around July/August.

Last but not least, seems like “selling news” is now becomes an interesting “part time” job isn’t it?

[via: Gizmodo]

Unlike many people think, the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be coming out before the Bold 9700. According to the source, the Storm 2 is set to be released on Mid October and Vodafone will be the first carrier to bring the Storm 2. A week after Verizon will get the Storm 2 and followed by Canada.

For the Bold 9700, seems like the phone will have to wait for few weeks after the Storm 2. It’s expected to be released in Mid November close to first day of December. But good news for UK customers, T-Mobile UK plans to release the phone in October.

[via: thecoolguyreport]