After Apple, Android's latest Jelly Bean OS lacks Adobe Flash

Adobe's Flash Player, earlier considered an integral part of the web browsing experience, may not be available for millions of Android smartphone and tablet users. As we all know that Apple's Steve Jobs used to hate Adobe and none of the iOS supported Flash. And now Android has also removed flash support in the Jelly bean version, giving a death blow to Adobe's mobile aspirations.  

After announcing that it would work on 'Flash' for computers and 'Air' will be developed for mobile devices just last November, Adobe has now stated that it will not create Flash Player for Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and would even stop downloads for the same from Google Play.

The new development would meant that Android users who do not have Flash Player installed in their devices by August 15, 2012 will not be able to play Flash-based content on their gadgets. Those who migrate to Jelly Bean from earlier versions of Android will experience instability and any updates of the app will not function, as the company has not developed and tested it on the browser of the newest iteration of Google's OS.

Adobe even went on to say that users upgrading their devices to Jelly Bean should uninstall Flash Player first to avoid such problems.

However, users who have Adobe Flash Player on their Android gadgets before August 15, 2012 or use devices with pre-installed Flash will receive future updates.

Developers, on the other hand, can access previously-released versions of the app through the archives, but installations made via archives will not be eligible for future updates rolled out from Google Play Store.

This move reinforces the belief that Adobe Flash Player is not suitable for mobile devices, as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs had said in the past.

Google Launches Chrome for Android and iOS

Finally Google has launched the Chrome for mobile devices, basically Android and iOS. The Chrome browser now has 310 million active users, according to Google, which is nearly double the number it had at this time last year. The growth and adoption of Chrome may get a big boost thanks to the browser's official arrival on Android and iOS.

Google said that the newly launched Chrome can be used with the Android mobile platform and also the iPhone and iPad, as well. The browser has been tweaked for tablets. The only limitation is that the current release requires at least Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich.” The Chrome for iPhone and iPad requires iOS 4.3 or later and will support Chrome's sync capabilities.

The Chrome for Android is available as a free download on Google Play and in the Google Play Store on mobile devices.

Additionally, the company rolled out the 20^th version of the desktop release of Chrome, which now includes numerous security fixes apart from the latest version of Adobe's Flash Player on Linux using the new cross-platform Pepper API.

The company also launched a new version of Google Maps, now 6.9 for the Android devices. Google Maps now offers an offline feature for the current update of Google Maps, enabling users to access saved regions of maps on their phone without the use of a live connection. The maximum size while saving a location offline appears to be roughly 60 MB. This feature strengthens its stand against Apple's 3D Maps which were introduced a few weeks ago at WWDC and threatened to destabilize Google's virtual monopoly over internet maps. The new version of Google Maps is compatible with devices running on Android 3.2 and upwards, clearly excluding Gingerbread (Android 2.3) users.

The Google I/O conference also saw new update of the YouTube with a host of new features. The only limitation is that user should use an OS of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or above for smartphones and Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) or above for tablets to be able to experience these new changes.

By launching these products Google can ensure greater adoption of the latest versions of the Android OS.

Mozilla Launches Powerful new upgrade with Firefox for Android

The Android market is buzz with a number of developments and launches. While officially announced the launch of Jelly bean by displaying a jelly bean statue on its front lawn, Mozilla announced a major upgrade of its browser, with the launch of Firefox for Android, optimized for mobiles.

The story about Jelly bean is well documented at Androidprint. Some of our previous posts have talked elaborately about it.   

 

One the other hand the launch by Mozilla is great especially or the die-hard fans of Firefox like me. Since buying the Android device I was not happy with the browsing experience. This is massive news, I have to still check it properly, but the app looks really good. The Firefox for Android app is currently available for download in the Google Play store for free. The Firefox for Android app is really snappy and dynamic upgrade to mobile browsing that makes it faster and easier to get where you want to go on the Web.

Its main features include a redesigned app which makes it a screaming fast and personalized upgrade to mobile browsing that lets users to take the Web experience to mobile or tablet. The company says there are dramatic performance improvements that make Firefox on the Android phone super fast with everything from startup and page load times to panning and zooming and Web app performance.

The company added that the Firefox for Android app is significantly faster than the stock browser that is shipped on Android phones based on leading industry benchmarks, such as Sunspider. Moziilla has also announced the development of a new benchmark, named Eideticker, which measures the actual user Web experience. This has been built into the Firefox for Android app and it seems the results are good as the app seems to yield an experience which is two times faster than the stock browser.

The app has a fresh, streamlined look with a personalized start page that saves time while browsing on the Web. The new Awesome Screen powered by Firefox Sync delivers the browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and form data to the Android phone. Other mobile optimized features include tabbed browsing, Firefox Sync and Firefox Add-ons.

The good thing is that the browser supports Flash which allows the users to watch videos, play games and interact with more Web content on the Android phone. This may increase the time spent on the web by Android devices compared to iPhones. It also has many features for privacy and security in mobile browsing. The apps security features include Do Not Track, Master Password, HTTP Strict Transport Security and more.

The best part is its HTML5 capabilities, which enables developers to create rich Web apps and websites based on HTML5, JavaScript, CSS and other open Web standards.

Finally Google to launch Nexus branded Tablet

Although it is not yet official, but Google is expected to unveil its own Android tablet very shortly, I say on June 27^th at its I/O conference. The device is expected to be called Google Nexus 7 tablet which will sport a smaller 7 inch screen but is expected to cost significantly less. Only time will tell if Nexus tablet will eat the market share of Apple, the dominant tablet player.

As was reported a day after our post, Google has in fact released a Nexus 7 in Tablet, made by Asus.   

The I/O developer’s conference is targeted at web, mobile, and enterprise developers who are building applications on Google platforms. Over 5,500 people are expected to attend the San Francisco event.

Rumors about the Google Nexus 7 have been there for several months. Some people with insider information believe that the tablet will be manufactured by ASUS and it could be the first device to run on the Google Android OS, 4.1 Jelly Bean. Since the Jelly Bean platform is predicted to be a minor upgrade to ICS, it could very well be a tablet optimized version of 4.0 also.

The Google Nexus 7 tablet is expected to have a 1.3Ghz quad-core Tegra 3 processor and will come with a GeForce 12-core GPU for gaming and other graphic intensive applications. The Tablet will have 1GB of RAM and two option of 8GB or 16GB of internal memory. The option for removable storage is not yet known, since the Google-branded but Samsung-built Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus smartphones lacked removable storage.

The Google Nexus 7 inch screen will be an IPS display of 1280×800 resolution. The device is expected to have a pixel density of 213 pixels per inch (ppi), a bit less than the Apple iPad (264ppi) but more than other models currently available. High ppi typically results in crisper and sharper text and much higher levels of detail.

Some of the other reported features of the Google Nexus 7 device include a 1.2-MP front-facing camera for video applications, a nine hour battery and built-in Near Field Communication (NFC) connectivity. According to some leaked picture, there is no rear facing camera, which can be a used to keep the manufacturing costs low. One drawback with the device is that, the device is expected to be a Wi-Fi only device and may not have 3G connectivity. The rumored tablet is expected to come at price points of $199 for 8GB and $249 for 16GB.

Android Jelly Bean 4.1 mistakenly updated on Google Play Store

Already a year has passed on since the introduction of Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich, and everyone is eagerly waiting for the next update of Android OS. Based on the frequency at which Google releases updates of Android, I am sure we are just around the corner to get the next update. It is widely believed that Google will introduce the upgraded version, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at their I/O conference which is to be held in the coming weeks. The company has already released a teaser of sort, weather deliberate or not, but the reported leak of Jellybean at the Google Play store has boosted the chances of such a release in the upcoming conference.

The screenshot available below. 

The device shown at the Google Play store indicates that the unlocked HSPA+ version of the Galaxy Nexus is expected to be the first phone that will run on Jelly Bean. Traditionally, Google’s Nexus phones have always been the first ones to receive new Android updates. The information may have been accidentally leaked a week earlier itself and a tech site managed to grab a screenshot of it before it was taken off. Apart from the smartphone, the Nexus 7 tablet may also run on the updated platform. The Google’s I/O conference will also have some other important announcements. There are updates on the mobile version of Chrome, apart from the launch of a new Android tablet running on the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core processor.

The Jelly Bean version is expected to have a new search bar and background image. Although there were considerable differences between the Android 2.x versions, Android 1.x, and Android 3.x, the latest one (Android 4.1) may not have any major changes compared to Android 4.0.

After the success of Android 2.0 Donut and 2.1 Éclair, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and 4.1 Jelly Bean are expected to match up to the same levels. However, currently only a disappointing 7% of Android devices run on ICS, ever since its launch eight months ago, in spite of the significant updates it offered. Verizon Wireless and Motorola have introduced the ICS update on RAZR MAXX and Motorola Droid RAZR only now, after a delay of eight months. For more statistics on the adoption of different Android versions available in the market visit our previous page here.

Many of the newly launched phones such as Sony Xperia Ion are still running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. With Jelly Bean, Google is offering the new OS to a number of manufacturers, unlike in the past when they entered into a partnership with only a single vendor. In the end, the question remains, how quickly will devices will be upgraded to Android 4.1 considering that a big majority of Android devices do not use Android 4.0. Another question in mind is whether it is possible to for users to directly switch to Android 4.1 from 2.3. Well rooting the device can give you instant access for the upgrade, but i am talking about the stock Android OS.

Finally some sense prevails in Motorola patent fight, thanks to Posner

So finally some sense has prevailed on the Android- iOS patent fight, thanks to Chicago judge Richard Posner who has dismissed the claims of Apple. He has earlier described the Motorola-versus-Apple lawsuit as “silly” and “ridiculous.”

In his ruling last Friday, Judge Posner dismissed the case citing that neither Apple nor Motorola has compelling proof of damages. The Judge did so with prejudice, preventing both the companies from re-filing claims.

In his verdict he wrote:”It would be ridiculous to dismiss a suit for failure to prove damages and allow the plaintiff to re-file the suit so that he could have a second chance to prove damages. This case is therefore dismissed with prejudice; a separate order to that effect is being entered today.”

FRAND means “fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory” the term refers to a licensing obligation that is often required by standard-setting organizations for members that participate in the standard-setting process. In this case Motorola has pooled some patents for the FRAND, which have become industry standards now.  

He further added: “To begin with Motorola’s injunctive claim, I don’t see how, given FRAND, I would be justified in enjoining Apple from infringing the ’898 [patent] unless Apple refuses to pay a royalty that meets the FRAND requirement. By committing to license its patents on FRAND terms, Motorola committed to license the ’898 [patent] to anyone willing to pay a FRAND royalty and thus implicitly acknowledged that a royalty is adequate compensation for a license to use that patent. How could it do otherwise? How could it be permitted to enjoin Apple from using an invention that it contends Apple must use if it wants to make a cell phone with UMTS telecommunications capability — without which it would not be a cell phone?”

The judgment is sort of a legal victory for Motorola and Google, but the comments on the FRAND terms may go against Motorola in other cases. 

Earlier in April Motorola won a similar patent battle against Microsoft. In that case Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) won a US International Trade Commission ruling that boosts its chances of blocking imports of Microsoft’s Xbox gaming system from entering the US. In his ruling, ITC Judge David Shaw said that Microsoft was violating four of five Motorola Mobility patents. These findings are subject to review by the six-member commission, which has the power to ban imports that infringe US patents.

Androidprint Android App of the day

Well the Google Play market has been growing exponentially over the years, thanks to Google’s full support for the developers. Google has gone a step further, allowing top Android developers to directly reply directly to Google Play comments. 

This facility will surely enhance the goodwill and reputation of the Android developers, who can directly reach the end-customers. Only time will tell the true value of such a decision, since such an interaction may result in the development of new and innovative applications.  

Obviously the growth of the Android OS coupled with the support provided by Google has improved developer confidence on the Android market. Let’s discuss about the app launches of the day.  

Well today three apps of noticeable importance were launched, including Flipboard, TiVo android app and the Nike+ Running app.

Flipboard, one of the most popular news-reader app has officially reached the Google Play store for Android. Flipboard Android app will come preinstalled on Samsung's Galaxy S3 phone from any of the leading carriers. For all other it can be freely downloaded from the Google Play Store, worldwide.

The app’s developers have added Google+ and YouTube services to Flipboard. The app now allows users to connect Google+ account to Flipboard and see all the activity in the Circles in a beautiful magazine format. Additionally, the Flipboard app is now available in five new editions, including Germany, Italy, Korea, Netherlands and Spain. All other details can be seen on the company’s official blog here.

The second app of the day is the TiVo app for Android. During the day set-top recording major TiVo released its official app for the Android tablets. All TiVo users can use the app to search, browse, explore, and share comments without interrupting what is currently playing on their DVRs.

Some key features of the app include a channel guide, where users can schedule a recording up to 14 days in advance, add Season Pass recordings, or start playing a live show; a search function to find specific shows or movies; and an information screen where users can order a Season Pass and explore cast and crew information. Other details are available on the company’s official blog here.

The third app of the day is the Nike+ running app for Android. This app was originally launched for the iOS some time ago. The Android version is free of charge. The app uses the phone’s GPS and accelerometer to record distance, pace, and time. Its in-run audio feedback provides the metrics at every mile. The app can be downloaded from here.

Nuance launches next-gen Swype keyboard for Android

Voice and language solutions provider Nuance has launched the next-gen version of its popular Swype keyboard. The next-gen version takes a step forward with a four-in-one keyboard, which seeks to change the way people communicate and input text on mobile devices. The new Swype version combines touch and voice input with unique adaptive capabilities to understand users’ preferences over time – becoming smarter and more personalized every time they swype, speak, tap and write.

The new platform has been optimized for Google's Android software and the beta version is available for download from here. It may not much time for the official app to come to the Google Play store.

Some of its major features include:

Next Word Prediction: Nuance has integrated the Swype with its XT9 portfolio, which includes 300,000 words in English and supports 50 languages for text and 35 for voice. Swype also gets smarter based on historical usage, so prediction becomes more accurate with each use.

Voice-Text Dictionary Syncing: The app has a personal dictionary and every new word a user enters on the keyboard gets added to their personal dictionary for speech and text. Users can also allow the app to pick or learn words from emails, texts and posts. These updates are then mapped into Swype’s unified language model, so people can immediately speak or write that same word no matter how unique or specialized.

Language Downloads: Swype supports the download of over 55 languages, removing the barriers of geography.

Four-in-One Keyboard: The app has four input modalities in one keyboard. This allows users to swype from letter to letter; type rapidly with predictive text input powered by XT9; speak their text naturally through a fully integrated Dragon button; or, simply write letters, words and symbols using their fingertip. The best thing is that multiple options can be used for a single text, i.e. users can switch back and forth between modalities on the fly. 

You can watch this YouTube clipping for its capabilities.

Android to soon get VLC app

Finally some good news from VLC is planning to officially launch the VLC app for Android in the coming few days. The app can be downloaded from Google Play in a few days. VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols.

The company said that the VLC app for Android is still in beta stage and may have some bugs, which can be fixed. 

Like its desktop version, the Android app can play most of the formats: Its features include:

- Play almost all types of media file formats

- Audio and video media library, with full search

- Support Android from 2.1 (Eclair) up to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

- Support for network streams

- Gestures, headphones control

- Subtitles support, embedded and external, including ASS and DVD subtitles

- Multi audio or subtitles tracks selection

- Multi-core decoding, for Cortex-A7 A9 and A15 chips

- Experimental hardware decoding

VLC was earlier launched for the iOS but was removed from the Apple App store in January 2011 as its GNU General Public License was not compatible with the Apple App Store terms of service.

The company has also recommended some handset, for using its player. These include:

Galaxy Nexus; (OMAP 4460)

HTC One X; (Tegra 3)

Samsung Galaxy S3; (Exynos 4 Quad)

Motorola Defy; (OMAP 3610)

HTC Desire; (QSD8250 Snapdragon)

Nexus one. (QSD8250 Snapdragon)

More details about VLC are available here.

How to upgrade Droid Razr to Stock ICS

For all those Motorola users, who do not want to root their Droid Razr, good news is coming. Motorola has announced plans to officially provide Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the Droid Razr and Razr Maxx. The update will start from the second quarter, and also Verizon is also planning to provide the updates within the same time.

Verizon has in fact sent txt messages to some Razr users informing the same. The SMS goes like this:

Free Verizon Message: Your phone will soon be upgraded to Android 4.0. At that time we will remove your Verizon Wireless Mobile IM app because it is not supported in Android 4.0. Please download a new instant messaging app to use IM on your phone. Thank you for using Mobile IM!

For all those, who cannot wait for the official update, here is the guide to root and update your Motorola Razr.

First of all you have to root the device. Please follow the instructions carefully from here. Make sure the Motorola Razr is rooted with ClockworkMod Recovery installed.

Before we start, DISCLAIMER: Rooting may void the device’s warranty and the below mentioned method may be a bit risky and we are not responsible if the device is damaged or you lose data, therefore it is advisable to please proceed at your own risk.

Make sure that the battery is fully charged, if the battery drains totally during the rooting process, bricking may happen. Also make sure to create a backup of the device data such as SMS, internet settings, contacts and other media files in order to get data back in case of problems.

Step 1:    Download the IC3RAZR Alpha ROM file and save it to the PC or laptop. It is a zip file containing all the files required for rooting.

Step 2: Now copy the ZIP file to the root of the mobile’s SD card. This is useful for the visibility of the files during the rooting process.

Step 3: After copying, switch off the mobile.

Step 4: Now reboot into recovery mode and make a Nandroid backup.

Step 5: Select the “wipe data/factory reset” and then select “Wipe Cache”.

Step 6:  Now select “Wipe Dalvik Cache” from the advanced menu.

Step 7: Now navigate to the “Install Zip from SD Card” option.

Step 8: Select the downloaded ZIP file and also confirm to start flashing the file.

Step 9: After the file has finished flashing, please select “Go Back”.

Step 10: Now select “Reboot System Now”.

That’s it after reboot the Razr has Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich courtesy of IC3RAZR Alpha ROM.