Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, Neo V And Ray - Ice Cream Sandwich Update

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Great news for Sony Ericsson Xperia Phone owners, surprisingly the company who got a bad history on updating their devices with latest Android software, just released an official Ice Cream Sandwich Alpha Build for it’s unlocked Xperia™ phones spiced with TimeScape UX. 

In a blog post Sony Ericsson (and now Sony Mobile Communications) stated : 

"To show our continuous support to the open developer community, and get your valuable feedback, we are today (December 17, 2011) making an alpha ROM of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.1) for Xperia™ arc S, Xperia™ neo V and Xperia™ ray available for download. This is something we have not done before, and we are obviously very excited about it.". 

The ROM will not work on original Xperia arc or Xperia neo, hopefully the developers will make it installable on other Sony Ericsson Phones as well. This Ice Cream Sandwich Alpha ROM is not yet ready for everyday use and only targeted to advance user. But, if you can’t wait to see Android 4.0 glory on your Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray and you got some knowledge in flashing or modding your phone then follow the instructions below.

1. How To Install Guide 

Important information: 

Since this is far from the final software upgrade roll out, there are a few things to pay close attention to before you download and install the ROM. 

You should be an advanced developer with extensive knowledge in how to install, and switch between different ROMs.If you are a consumer without these developer skills, then we strongly recommend you not do try this as you may damage your phone. 

You must be using Xperia™ arc S, Xperia™ neo V or Xperia™ ray, running the latest Sony Ericsson software release (which is 4.0.2.A.0.42). Please note that you can’t use the original Xperia™ arc or Xperia™ neo, as they have different partition layouts. 

You must unlock your phone using Sony Ericsson’s Unlock boot loader service, and agree to all the legal and warranty conditions that apply. Please note that you may void the warranty of your phone and/or any warranty from your operator if you unlock the boot loader of your phone. Sony Ericsson can then no longer guarantee the full functionality of your phone, and will not be responsible for any unusable functions or loss of personal data associated to the alpha ROM being flashed to the phone. Please pay special attention to the following legal statement before downloading (the full statement is available on the download link): 

“You must acknowledge that the software is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express, or implied, and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.” 

Also, if you unlock the boot loader, you will not be able to download and install the final Ice Cream Sandwich software upgrade from Sony Ericsson. For additional information on limitations and warranty, please see the Sony Ericsson Unlock boot loader service. 

You should have read through and acknowledged the limitations of the software described below. 

You must read and accept the end user license agreement on the download link, before you can download the alpha ROM zip file. 

2. Limitations and Functionality

The number of features and functionalities working and turned on in this alpha ROM are very limited. This is because many features are not yet certified, and in a few cases because we have more work to do on certain features, as they are still in the Bring up phase. These are some of the features turned off or not yet working in this alpha ROM: 

 - Google Mobile Services (GMS) apps are not included (for example, Gmail, Google Maps, etc.). 

- Modem is turned off and SIM card will therefore not be recognised (this also means you can’t make any phone calls). 

- Bluetooth™ is turned off. 

- Wi-Fi® is turned off. 

- ANT+ is turned off. 

- FM-radio is turned off. 

In other words, this software is not intended for ordinary everyday usage - it is for demonstration purposes only. However, this alpha ROM includes a number of new features: 

- New “Roboto” font. 

- New “Holo” theme is supported (you are able to test apps written to make use of the Holo theme). 

- Music player control from lock screen. 

- Updated UI in the Settings menu. 

- Updated UI in the web browser. 

- Updated UI and interaction with the new messaging action bar. 

- Updated UI for improved multitasking. 

- Swipe to dismiss notifications, tasks and browser tabs in the Notification menu. 

Check out the video above to see a demo of some of these features! 

3. Download and Install

Follow the instructions below to download and install the alpha ROM. Please note that it only works with Xperia™ arc S, Xperia™ neo V and Xperia™ ray. 

Make sure your phone is running the latest software release, which is build number 4.0.2.A.0.42. If not, upgrade your phone through PC Companion. If you can’t upgrade to this build number, it is not possible to try the Ice Cream Sandwich alpha ROM for Xperia™ phones. 

Unlock the boot loader of your phone. To do this, you must read through and agree to all the legal and warranty conditions that apply. 

Download the Ice Cream Sandwich alpha ROM for Xperia™ arc S (133MB), the Ice Cream Sandwich alpha ROM for Xperia™ neo V (131MB) or the Ice Cream Sandwich alpha ROM for Xperia™ ray (136MB), depending on your phone model. 

Extract the downloaded zip file to your Android Fastboot directory. For example: ..\android-sdk\fastboot\Xperia_arcS_ICS_alpha. 

Open a command prompt and go to your Fastboot directory: ..\android-sdk\fastboot\ 

Flash the three alpha ROM files one at a time using Fastboot. Use these three commands (replace the folder name if you are using Xperia™ neo V or Xperia™ ray) : 

fastboot flash boot ..\Fastboot\Xperia_arcS_ICS_alpha\boot.img 

fastboot flash userdata ..\Fastboot\Xperia_arcS_ICS_alpha\userdata.img 

fastboot flash system ..\Fastboot\Xperia_arcS_ICS_alpha\system.img 

Once done, please reboot your phone.  If you need some help, feel free to contact us for more details and support. 

If you liked our post, then kindly leave your constructive feedback and share it with your friends. 😊

*by andreascy*

Samsung's GALAXY Note : Introducing Premium Suite with Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Software upgrade for GALAXY Note offers exclusive S Pen optimized applications, enhanced multimedia features and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

S Note, an unique tool that combines your notes and sketches with other digital content, giving you a new way to create your own stories. 

Also includes innovative shape- and formula-match functions, instant digitization of tables and grids, and knowledge search engines.

Along with a new look and feel, the Ice Cream Sandwich update provides a more intuitive user interface, faster performance, Face Unlock, Snapshot, Photo Editor and other features.

Plus, GALAXY users can also access an exclusive GALAXY Note level in Angry Birds Space (http://samsung.angrybirds.com/galaxynote), the newest Angry Birds game from Rovio Entertainment, along with a special package of 30 challenging levels in "Danger Zone".

*by andreascy*

Intel CEO Paul Otellini : Windows 8 tablets 'being queued up' for production

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Windows 8, Microsoft’s next-generation platform, is expected to become commercially available this fall, and devices to run under it are already being developed. 

We’re referring here to tablet PCs, of course, since Windows 8 is the first Microsoft client to feature optimizations for this type of devices. We already assumed that Microsoft and its partners were working on tablet PCs to be launched when Windows 8 was made available, but no specific confirmation on this has emerged before. 

Intel CEO Paul Otellini hinted that Windows 8 tablet production may not be that far off (are already in the pipeline - PCMag reports), while asserting that Android tablets won't be able to compete against the iPad until Ice Cream Sandwich becomes more widespread. 

In an earnings conference call after the chip giant posted better than expected earnings today, Otellini said Android-based tablets don't have what it takes to compete against the iPad - yet.

"Tablets are a little bit about hardware and an awful lot about software," he said. "Until you get to Ice Cream Sandwich, the offering isn't as powerful as with what's out there with Apple. As Ice Cream Sandwich tablets start shipping, you'll begin to see a little bit better receptivity...everything got a little bit better with ICS," he said, referring to Android 4.0.

Then he made an interesting comment about Windows 8 tablets and production schedules. "The other part of that test [of competing with iPad] of course is the Windows 8 tablets that are being queued up for production," he said.

He also repeated a theme addressed back in November at an Intel conference about the fungibility of ultrabooks and tablets. "I don't know that the whole tablet thing is settled down by any stretch. These hybrid and convertible designs...there is a significant blurring of what people do with tablets and what people do with PCs," he said.

"Many of those [ultrabooks] will incorporate touch. At that point, it's hard to tell what the market impact will be because the PC now has the characteristics of both tablets and high-performance notebooks. I [don't think] we know how that plays out," he said.

Intel, of course, believes it will be in a good position to finally penetrate the tablet market as the world's premier chip manufacturer. "With the silicon integration capability we have...to be able to drive the bill of materials cost down and integration up in the tablet space which I think is going to be a sweet spot for Intel," he said.

Otellini also reiterated that the goal is to exit the year with 40 percent of consumer notebooks being ultrabooks.

*by andreascy*

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade for DROID RAZR & DROID RAZR MAXX

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Two Motorola phones making the global jump to Android's latest Operating System. The DROID RAZR and the DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola are the first 4G LTE smartphones on the Verizon Wireless network to be Global Ready.

If you’re the owner of a Motorola Droid RAZR or Droid RAZR Maxx, the day you’ve been waiting for is finally here. As promised by a Verizon, the Android 4.0 update for the RAZR Devices is finally here. You don’t have to wait for it to get pushed to your device, just go out and get it on your own.

- To get the update, simply go to Settings > About phone > and check for a system update. The update should be available, and once applied, you should be rocking Android 4.0 in no time.

Ice Cream Sandwich features upgraded functionality and new features, such as Face Unlock. By looking directly at the screen, the smartphone recognizes its owner and automatically unlocks the device. It also includes Direct Access Lock Screen, which allows you to easily open camera, text messages, and dialer from the lock screen. 

Customers can use the front camera to video chat with friends and family to share summer stories or even just to wave hello. The new Video Calling icon makes it easy to access video chatting apps like ooVoo and Tango. 

The upgrade also enhances the voice input technology, typing your words as you speak emails or texts. Speak continuously for paragraphs at a time, add punctuation and even edit mistakes with voice input. 

As a Global Ready device, customers with the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX will be able to have voice and data service in more than 220 countries, when subscribed to an international plan. 

Additional information on the ICS upgrade can be found on the DROID RAZR & DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola support page. 

Before you upgrade : 

Learn what's new with Android 4.0. Ice Cream Sandwich on your DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX. 

Home Screens and Notification Window :

Discover more about the interactive home screens and notification window.

Home Screen Folders :

Learn how to group and organize your apps in labeled folders.

Webtop Basics :

Discover more with your phone in a full desktop experience.

Calling & Messaging :

Check out the features of calling and messaging.

Adding & Deleting Widgets :

Learn how to add and delete widgets on the home screen pages.

Taking and Sharing :

Learn how to capture a screenshot and share it with friends.

Smart Actions App Setup :

Learn how to setup triggers and actions in the SmartActions app to automate your everyday tasks.

Face Unlock :

Learn how to setup Face Unlock in order to protect your device.

Google Voice Actions :

Learn how to send text messages, set alarms, get directions and more through Google Voice Actions, by using only your voice.

Check out http://motorola.com/icecreamsandwich for more information.

Check also :

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX : Video Playback and GPS Navigation Test

*by andreascy*

Samsung Galaxy S III

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Samsung finally unveiled its latest flagship device, the Galaxy S III ( the follow-up to last year's best-selling phone in the world ), after months of speculation, expectation, and anticipation.

The smartphone market moves on once more, with the hi-tech voice-controlled Galaxy S III likely to becomes a standard-bearer for Google’s Android operating system - and a device for the Apple refuseniks. 

The phone’s most innovative feature is built-in face-tracking and voice control - allowing, Samsung claims, for a more 'natural' control system.

Other innovations include what Samsung claims is a 'more intelligent' lock system, that keeps the screen 'awake' when the phone’s camera senses eyes watching it, rather than turning it off. 

The voice control system is called S Voice - and allows access to weather forecasts, web searches and scheduling, similar to iPhone’s Siri system.

Saying 'I want to take a picture' launches the camera application - and will work in eight languages at launch.

S Voice can also reply out loud - which Samsung claims will allow the system to be used while driving.

Available in blue and white, the phone will be launched at the end of May, starting in Europe, with other regions following.

Samsung played on its expertise in screens with a large 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen running a resolution of 1280 x 720p - far bigger than Apple’s iPhone, and close in size to the smaller end of the tablet market.

Applications developed with an earlier platform version can cause issues with newer versions of the same platform. To minimize disruption Samsung provided some app porting tip on Android 3.0 (or earlier) to Android 4.0 to their website. For more information you can visit :

http://developer.samsung.com

Porting Guide for Ice Cream Sandwich #1

Porting Guide for Ice Cream Sandwich #2

More on :

http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxys3/index.html

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/3/2995948/samsung-galaxy-s3-first-hands-on-pictures


http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-preview-hands-on


http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/samsung-announces-1-4ghz-exynos-4-quad-as-basis-for-galaxy-s3


http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-is-official


http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-camera-features


http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-software-hands-on

Tech Specs on :

http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2012/05/04/GALAXY-S-III

*by andreascy*