Cell Bytes

While it isn’t the first time we have heard the sentiment, a recent survey by Appcelerator and IDC shows that developers have more faith in Android as a long-term platform than Apple’s iOS. 59 percent of developers favor Android for future investment as opposed to the 35 percent who favor the long-term outlook of iOS. That equals a gap widened by 10 percent since Appcelerator last posed the question to developers back in June.

The reasoning behind the shift can be explained by another statistic gathered in the study. A full 72 percent of developers agree that “Android is best positioned to power a large number and variety of connected devices in the future.” Apple and iOS had the agreement of only 25 percent of developers. This means devices like Android tablets and Google TV could be a huge factor in the long-term success of Android as a development platform.

iOS does continue to lead in areas tied to the current smartphone market. 91 percent of developers are “very interested” in developing for that platform while 82 percent said the same for Android. Part of this can be tied into the fragmented state of the OS, which developers gave higher scores to Apple for their unified hardware experience.

While the smartphone battle continues to see large growth on Google’s part, the future lies in the other avenues that can deliver Android as an entertainment experience. Developers seem more than eager to help in those areas, too.

[Press Release]

If you live in Spain and are picking up the Samsung Galaxy Tab when it hits shelves next month, you just lucked out. The keyboard dock, an accessory that retails for around $99, is free to all those who register with Samsung by October 14th to purchase the Tab. The keyboard dock was easily one of the coolest accessories to be shown off at the Galaxy Tab launch event, even if a working version wasn’t available for a hands-on. Sure, the keys and layout look decidedly Apple, but shoot me if that might be one of the more appealing aspects of the whole thing.

No word on if Samsung wants to be nice and extend the offer to other countries, so for now the rest of the world might just have to stay resigned to paying the $100 for the thing outright.

[via UnwiredView]

If you live in Spain and are picking up the Samsung Galaxy Tab when it hits shelves next month, you just lucked out. The keyboard dock, an accessory that retails for around $99, is free to all those who register with Samsung by October 14th to purchase the Tab. The keyboard dock was easily one of the coolest accessories to be shown off at the Galaxy Tab launch event, even if a working version wasn’t available for a hands-on. Sure, the keys and layout look decidedly Apple, but shoot me if that might be one of the more appealing aspects of the whole thing.

No word on if Samsung wants to be nice and extend the offer to other countries, so for now the rest of the world might just have to stay resigned to paying the $100 for the thing outright.

[via UnwiredView]

SwiftKey’s transition from beta to full version in the Android Market slipped by us last week, but the predictive text keyboard is just a little too good to go unrecognized. It did, after all, garner over 250,000 downloads in beta form to give it the crown of most-downloaded third party keyboard. The full version has been tweaked and polished and is now ready for purchase. Yes, it will cost you, but if you have used it the $3.99 asking price is the least you could do to pay back the TouchType team for all their hard work. But you won’t even have to do that, as the stand-up folk behind SwiftKey are offering the keyboard for $0.99 until September 30th for all.

The out-of-beta version carries a few big improvements, including simultaneous bilingual text prediction, voice-to-text support, multi-touch, and a slightly altered keyboard layout. SwiftKey’s text prediction also now works in the browser, search, and other native text fields. If you can’t commit to paying for SwiftKey, don’t worry. The beta is still available for the time being if you want to give the app a quick once over free of charge.

We already know Verizon is planning to a hold quite a few launch parties for the limited edition R2-D2 Motorola Droid 2, but we now have a little bit more info about what sort of surprises can be expected for those trekking to the nearest VZW store holding an event. At least one store (Vista Ridge in Lewisville, TX) will be giving away five R2-D2 Droids with all sorts of activities for all including video games and a live DJ. You will also be able to chill with some Stormtroopers. And while that all is pretty cool, the real surprises may come in the actual Droid R2-D2 itself.

It is being reported that the re-decoed handset will sport a processor clocked to 1.2GHz inside as opposed to the same chip clocked at 1GHz found in the plain-jane Droid 2. This lines up with the supposed performance boost for the world edition of the device. Could it be that the Star Wars variant is actually a repaint of the world-roaming version? I guess we will find out Wednesday night when the midnight launches start popping off. Oh, and if you want to get your hands on this special edition Droid 2 you better act quick, because stores are only getting one shipment. Those hosting launch parties will receive 200 units. Once those are gone the phone won’t be sold again.

[via BGR]

In March of this year, our friends at GAMEVIL announced Zenonia was available on Android Market. While the highly popular game has its sequel (Zenonia 2) available on iDevices and launches on Nintendo DSiWare today, we’ve been luckily informed that Zenonia 2 will launch on Android Market by the end of the year!

GAMEVIL has been following Zenonia convo on AF and in addition to their “later this year for Android” announcement they’ve also tweeted that we can more specifically expect December.

[Thanks Hisiru!]

A chief complaint of many Android users outside of the 14 countries currently featuring paid app support is, well, a lack of paid app support in local version of the Android Market. While the specific number and names will remain a mystery for now, a recent email being sent out to developers indicated that more countries soon will be receiving paid app support.

“Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding paid apps support for additional countries. If you have selected to publish your paid apps to all locations and intend to support all new locations as we expand the number of supported countries for paid apps, you don’t have to do anything. If you have selected to publish your paid apps to all locations but intend to only target the currently supported 14 countries, please update your location selections to target these specific countries.

Please look for follow-up emails when we introduce paid apps support for specific additional countries in the coming weeks. At that time, you’ll have the option to target these specific countries.”

If you have been quietly lamenting in your world of free apps only, you better get to saving up those ducats. Just think of all the Pro versions you will be able to buy! As always, we will be sure to keep you posted as more info comes in about exactly which countries will be added to the list.

[via DroidLife]

Even though T-Mobile denied that it would enable UMA calling on their Android phones, a whole slew of new evidence is suggesting quite the contrary. First we saw Kineto Wireless demonstrate their UMA-powered Smart Wi-Fi app on a poorly concealed Samsung Vibrant, then we spied a leaked document claiming the feature would be available on the LG Optimus when it touches down on the carrier, and now a similar document is suggesting the feature will be on a few more “select Android devices.” One of those devices will be none other than the upcoming T-Mobile G2.

There are some downsides to the UMA service, as it won’t simply hand off calls between WiFi and your cellular network. Instead if you leave WiFi coverage you will drop your call. The service also won’t be readily available on all Android phones on TMo.

Speaking of things that won’t be available on TMo, the company has come out saying tethering will not be available for the G2. Their reasoning has more to do with the fact that they don’t have the necessary service plans set up rather than simple ignorance to a feature that many crave.

“T-Mobile does not currently support handset tethering or offer a tethering rate plan. Though tethering and Wi-Fi sharing will not be initially supported on the T-Mobile G2, we know that consumers are interested in these features and we are working to develop a solution to support them in the future.”

Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but that statement leaves open a lot of room for hope that tethering will make its way to the G2 (or at least some other TMo Android) eventually. The phone is set to drop October 6th.

[via TMoNews 1, 2]

It seems like the official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Tab may have ushered in the latest era of Android devices – tablets. Today, Sharp has announced two new devices called “Galapagos” – a 10.8-inch tablet and a 5.5-inch version – to be available this December.

Thanks to the tipster who sent this in, who also claims the Galapagos will run Android, but I was unable to find an official trace mentioning Android or another definitive OS for that matter. However the name Galapagos was assigned because Charles Darwin, the father of Evolution Theory, was born in the Galapagos Islands and Sharp’s new devices will allow software updates “to evolve”.

Sounds like Android to me! Of course those “software updates” could merely be discussing the 30,000 magazines, newspapers, and books that will be available with a service/content plan, suggesting that the device will offer new content as new issues of magazines, newspapers, and books are published.

The announcement was made at an event in Tokyo, and due to my inability to speak Japanese, all the details of this story aren’t 100% clear. For example, although Sharp announced the Galapagos it appears it may be sold with a Kuraudomedia brand and marketed as an Electronic Bukkusutoasabisu, which I assume is the Japanese equivalent of an “eReader”.

If you’re a Japanese speaking Phandroid feel free to jump into the comments and properly direct the conversation and analysis. It will certainly be interested to see what eReaders and tablets catch fire and which one struggles, also noting what types of service plans and content offerings play into the picture.

It seems the Galapagos is destined for an Asia only release, at least initially, but details of the story are a bit unclear. I guess the latest we’ll find out is December!

Update: looks like a mini-site is going up at Sharp.co.jp/galapagos

Just like Han Solo making the Kessel Run, someone has smuggled out a few pictures of the Motorola Droid R2-D2 in stock at Verizon. Well, the dummy units anyway. The release of the Star Wars-themed device shouldn’t be too far away, and with a World Edition refresh of the Droid 2 not far away either, it looks like those in the market for the handset will have quite a few options to consider. The phone is still looking pretty good in terms of pure geek awesomeness. I especially like the nice white and blue lettering of the slide-out keyboard. So who can’t wait to have this thing bleep-bloop-boppin’ in their pocket?

[via BGR]