Android News - Page 119 of 375 - CNX Software

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Linux 4.9 Kernel Source Code Released for Phoenix OS Android Desktop Operating System

Phoenix OS is one of the last options left for people wanting to run Android with desktop optimizations on their computer. The problem is that so far, it was fully closed source, and the company refused to comply with the Linux kernel’s GPLv2 license, despite part of the project being based on Android-x86 work. The community also wanted to get involved to improve hardware compatibility with graphics cards, wireless modules / dongles, and other peripherals. However, without source code, nothing could be done, and a petition was launched on Change.org asking Chaozhuo, the company behind the project, to release the Linux kernel code. After over 300 signatures was reached in the petition, the company did push Linux 4.9.24 to Github, and after verifying there was indeed some changes compared to Android x86 kernel, the community declared victory. They are however trying to make the company develop the kernel in the […]

September 5, 2017October 16, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

Xiaomi Mi A1 Android One Smartphone Launched in India, Coming to 40 Markets Soon

Android One initiative aims to deliver low cost smartphones with at least 2-year worth of firmware updates. The program first launched in India in 2014, has since then expanded into more countries, and Xiaomi has just introduced their own Android One phone with Mi A1. Xiaomi Mi A1 specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor up to 2.0 GHz with Adreno 506 GPU @ up to 650MHz; 14nm FinFET process System Memory – 4GB RAM Storage – 64GB internal storage, micro SD slot up to 128GB Display – 5.5″ LTPS FHD display with 450nit brightness Camera 12 MP + 12 MP dual rear camera with dual tone flash, autofocus, 2x optical zoom 5 MP front-facing camera 4K/1080p/720p video @ 30 fps; 720p slow-mo video @ 120 fps Connectivity Dual band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi with WiFi direct and WiFi display support Bluetooth 4.2 Cellular 4G modem; supports Volte/4G/3G/2G on compatible networks […]

August 30, 2017August 30, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Google Releases ARCore Augmented Reality Preview SDK for Android

Augmented reality has been a thing for many years, and Qualcomm released an Augmented Reality SDK working with Android as soon as 2011, but Google has only just released a preview of ARCore augmented reality SDK for Android in order to bring AR capabilities to existing and future Android phones. ARCore works without any additional hardware (e.g. no 3D depth camera needed such as Tango), relies on Java/OpenGL, Unity or Unreal engines, and focuses on three things: Motion tracking – ARCore determines the position and orientation of the phone as it moves using both the phone’s camera to observe feature points in the room and IMU sensor data, in order to keep virtual objects accurately placed. Environmental understanding – This handles placement of AR objects on surface like a table or a floor, with the SDK detecting horizontal surfaces using the same feature points it uses for motion tracking. Light […]

August 24, 2017August 25, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 21 Comments

X96 Mini Amlogic S905W Android TV Box Sells for $25 and Up

Last week, we discovered Amlogic S905W processor through Tanix TX3 Mini TV box, with the processor maxing out at 4K @ 30 Hz in order to provide cost-competitive solutions, for example against Rockchip RK3229 TV boxes. However, at the time, the price was not that attractive. Prices have come down quickly, as Tanix TX3 Mini can be purchased for about $29 with 1GB RAM /16GB flash, and $32 with 2GB RAM/ 16 GB flash using coupon PYNNHDAH. X96 Mini is an even cheaper option as the Amlogic S905W is sold for as low as $24.99 shipped on Banggood. X96 mini TV box specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905W quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.5 GHz with penta-core Mali-450MP GPU @ 750 MHz System Memory – 1 or 2GB DDR3 Storage – 8 or 16GB eMMC flash + micro SD card slot Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a output with HDR, […]

August 24, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

YotaPhone 3 Dual Screen Smartphone to Launch for $360 and Up (in China)

Russia based Yota makes some unusual phones with dual display with a standard color front display, and an e-paper rear display that allows you to check the time without pressing a button, keeping displaying important information even when your battery is completely discharged, and more. The first Yotaphone was launched in December 2012, followed by a prettier and more powerful Yotaphone 2 in December 2014, but we’ve had to wait nearly three years for the company – with some fresh money and technical involvements from Chinese partners – to introduce YotaPhone 3 at the Russian Embassy in Beijing. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, and features a 5.5″ super AMOLED display on the front, and a 5.2″ E-Ink display on the back. Yotaphone 3 preliminary (& partial) specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core Cortex A53 processor @ up to 2.0 GHz with Adreno 506 GPU System […]

August 22, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Android 8.0 Oreo Launched, OS Images, and AOSP Source Code Released

Google has now formally announced Android O version and name: Android 8.0 Oreo. We already had seen the new Features in Android O-reo during the first preview release with picture-in-picture support, autofill APIs, adaptive icons and so on. There’s also a new Android Oreo character… If you want to run the latest Android 8.0 on your device, you can do so on Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel, and Pixel XL by getting the firmware in the download page, unless you are enrolled in Android Beta Program in which case you should receive it automatically. What I did not see (yet) is a joint announcement for a new Android 8.0 phone like last year LG V20 smartphone with Android 7.0, and Google simply said that “by the end of this year, hardware makers including Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, […]

August 21, 2017November 8, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 21 Comments

Khadas VIM2 Amlogic S912 Development Board Sells for $75 and Up

Khadas VIM2 is the only low cost development board powered by Amlogic S912 octa-core processor that I know of, but when we first wrote about the board it was not available yet. The three versions of the boards are now being sold on GearBest with the Basic version going for $74.99, the Pro version for $94.99, and the Max version for $109.99. [Update: You can get VIM2 Max for $99.99 by using GBVIM2MAX coupon code for the first 100 boards daily, and the five first boards are sold for $49.99 daily at 9:00 UTC until August 28th. Details on promotion page.] Khadas VIM2 Basic/Pro/Max specifications: SoC – Amlogic S912 octa core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.5 GHz with ARM Mali-820MP GPU System Memory Basic – 2 GB DDR4 Pro/Max – 3 GB DDR4 Storage micro SD card and 2MB SPI flash eMMC Flash – Basic: 16GB; Pro: 32GB; Max: […]

August 18, 2017October 2, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Videostrong VS-RD-RK3399 Development Board Review – Part 1: Unboxing, Kit Assembly, SDK and Documentation

Videostrong VS-RD-RK3399 development board is a full-featured development based on Rockchip RK3399 hexa-core processor with up to 4GB RAM, and 32GB eMMC flash, and plenty of I/Os. The company has sent me a sample, and after getting some trouble going through customs with questions like “what is a development board?” and “is it a board for TV boxes or computers?”, I finally got hold of the parcel. Today, I’ll check out the board and its accessories, show how to assemble it, and since the company shared more info about documentation and software, quickly go over what’s available. Videostrong VS-RD-RK3399 Development Kit Unboxing The board was in a bland carton box, which is fine since it’s not a consumer product, with a stick showing I got the 4GB LPDDR3 / 32GB eMMC flash version. There’s also a board using 2GB/16GB configuration. The package includes the board, bottom and top acrylic plates […]