Androidi

Ieri Google ha tenuto una conferenza stampa in occasione del Mobile World Congress, edizione 2012. L’azienda americana non ha presentato il misterioso e attesissimo tablet economico da 7 pollici di cui si sta parlando nelle ultimi tempi ma ha “dato i numeri” riguardo Android che illuminano sulla sua crescita esponenziale. Secondo Big G, il sistema operativo Android, prendendo in considerazione solo la prima attivazione, è presente su circa 300 milioni di terminali nel mondo, di cui 12 milioni sono tablet. Ogni giorno, vengono attivati 850 mila nuovi terminali.

I numeri mondiali di Android
- installato su 300 milioni di terminali (di cui 12 milioni di tablet)
- attivazioni giornaliere: 850 mila
- 450 mila applicazioni (contro le 150 mila di un anno fa)

I numeri mondiali di Apple
- installato su 18 milioni di tablet
- 500.000 applicazioni su App Store

Appare chiaro che i numeri sono oramai confrontabili ma il trend di crescita è tutto a favore del sistema operativo di Google!

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) has been a major event for fans of HTC as this manufacturer has rolled out a range of new and exciting Android handsets, all of which feature Google`s latest edition of the platform, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich.

Kicking things off in style is the HTC One V, which is set to be an affordable Android handset which takes its design cues from the HTC Hero, a fan favourite from years past. It is modestly modern when it comes to hardware, with a single core 1GHz processor and a 3.7 inch touchscreen display.

The rear of the One V is home to a five megapixel camera and the Android 4.0 operating system has been overhauled with HTC`s very own Sense interface. This means plenty of tweaks to the lock screen, homescreens and menus which should give it the edge over its closes rivals at the lower end of the market.

A step up from the One V is the HTC One S, which is essentially a 2012 reimagining of last year`s Sensation XE. It sports a dual core 1.5GHz processor, an improved 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display and an eight megapixel camera with full HD video capture.

Like the One V, the One S comes decked out with Android 4.0 and Sense. Although its display is slightly larger, HTC has managed to slim down the One S to the point that it measures just 7.6 millimetres thick.

For those who are keeping score, that is slimmer than the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2. The One S has a chassis fashioned from a polycarbon material and so it should also be very hardwearing despite its good looks, which means you need not worry about it taking a few knocks or scrapes in general usage.

The most interesting handset to emerge from MWC is the HTC One X, as this represents the pinnacle of the firm`s technological achievements. It runs a quad core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, which will make it amongst the fastest smartphones on the planet when it arrives in a couple of months.

A 4.7 inch Super LCD screen with a high definition resolution will be a major asset of the One X and allow its CPU to flex its muscles. The pixel count will put it up there with much larger tablets, which means the clarity and detail that you can see will be difficult to match.

Each of HTC`s new handsets has Beats Audio technology built in, which means it should be able to deliver a superior experience when it comes to playing music and watching videos. HTC`s 2011 acquisition of Beats Audio is starting to pay off, although whether this is able to convince consumers to part with their cash is yet to be made clear. What is obvious is that even the best BlackBerry Torch deals will not be able to top any of HTC`s new models when it comes to hardware prowess.

Mobile network Orange and chip manufacturer Intel have partnered up to produce the Santa Clara, a smartphone which looks to offer an intriguing approach to the Android operating system.

From a hardware point of view the Santa Clara will be relatively difficult to define given that its CPU will be created by Intel, a company which has been absent from the mobile market in recent years. An Intel Atom processor using the Medfield chipset will be installed onboard, which means it will be quite distinct from the processors found onboard the other flagship mobiles which are making their first appearances at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event this month.

A 4.03 inch touchscreen display, 16GB of storage space and a slim chassis which will measure under a centimetre thick help to define the Orange Santa Clara. Meanwhile an eight megapixel camera with high definition video capture and superfast still shooting capabilities will give owners something else to get excited about if they choose the Santa Clara upon its launch.

From a software point of view the Android 2.3 operating system will be preinstalled on the Santa Clara, although Orange and Intel have promised that this will eventually be upgraded to allow Android 4.0 to flourish on the handset.

The Santa Clara moniker seems like it will actually be chucked out before the handset reaches consumers as Orange has confirmed that this is only a development name. It is being reported that it could eventually be dubbed the Orange London as speculation about such a handset has already been doing the rounds online.

Another intriguing Android handset which has arrived at MWC 2012 is the Asus Padfone, which attempts to hybridise a number of devices into a single, small chassis. It will not only be a smartphone and a tablet but will also be able to triple up as a full netbook computer if you invest in the compatible docking station.

As a mobile it ticks all of the right boxes, offering users a window onto the world of Android 4.0 via a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display. A dual core Qualcomm processor ticks over within the handset and there is even an eight megapixel camera, as has become standard on any handset with high end aspirations.

Asus has also created a 10.1 inch docking station for the Padfone which increases its display size and also multiplies its battery life by a factor of five to make it better for long haul usage. Given that most smartphones are at least as powerful as full sized tablets it is no surprise to see Asus taking this hybrid route. It has also found success with its Eee Pad Transformer range and so knows how to work this end of the market.

These handsets from both Orange and Asus should be available on pay monthly contracts before the middle of the year, as well as being available to buy SIM free for those who want added flexibility.

Every week there are new apps added to the swelling ranks of programs available on the Android Market. Rather than wading through the latest additions at random, why not use this look at the best Android apps launched in recent weeks to guide your downloading session?

Musaic Box
This quirky, unusual app lets you enjoy a game experience which is a combination of puzzle, music and adventuring tropes. The blend sounds like an unlikely mix but it ends up working quite well, in part because each section remains distinct and you are never left carrying out one task for too long.

You essentially have to round up fragments of sheet music left around your grandfather`s house, with graphically appealing pre-rendered scenes allowing you to scan the rooms at leisure. You then piece together the fragments and eventually get to hear the work in full. It is an interesting take on casual gaming and one which is worth a look.

Sky Go
Video streaming to your Android handset just got better thanks to Sky Go. If you have a subscription with satellite TV service Sky then you can use this application to get a world of content direct to your mobile either over Wi-Fi or 3G.

You can not only enjoy on demand movies and TV shows while on the move, but you can also stream live channels so that you never miss a moment of the big game or that important coverage on a breaking story from Sky News.

Microsoft OneNote
OneNote lets you enjoy cloud synchronisation and storage of your documents from an Android handset. This gives you easy access to files that you have updated on your PC, tablet or laptop when you are out and about. You can also compose OneNote documents from your phone, allowing you to share your thoughts and feelings without having to rely on local storage to keep them safe.

Fancy
Social shopping is a concept which is only just emerging in the mainstream, but Fancy is an Android app which should help bring this community-driven, interactive retail experience to a wider audience.

It is easy to find lots of esoteric and desirable items on Fancy and then add them to a list of products you want, even if you will never be able to actually afford them. From furniture and household items to electronics and accessories, this is really a fashion conscious buyer`s dream.

Steam
Valve`s PC gaming service has millions of users and so getting Steam on your Android phone is essential if you have the service on your home computer. You can browse available titles, check out news relating to new release, socialise with your Steam friends and even enjoy instant messaging.

Steam`s Android iteration will let you make purchases of videogames which can be added to your library and downloaded the next time you are at your computer, which means it offers similar functionality to the way that the iPhone deals with the service via its companion app.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has been revealed to the press for the first time, giving users a sneak peak at what the next generation of this Android-based tablet has to offer.

It has emerged alongside the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and as with the previous iterations you will find that the screen size is clearly indicated in the name of each device.

The 10.1 inch display of the larger model is still essentially the same as that found on its predecessor and the same can be said about the 1GHz dual core processor, three megapixel camera and 7000mAh battery. That means that on the surface there is very little to separate this year`s iterations from those of last year, from a technical point of view.

What does stand out is the fact that both the 10.1 and 7.0 Galaxy Tab 2s will feature Android 4.0 straight out of the box. This means all of the latest tablet-friendly features and updated homescreen technology will be available as soon as you power on one of these tablets.

Of course if you already own a Galaxy Tab 10.1 then you could just wait for the inevitable Android 4.0 update to arrive on the original, but if you are impatient then this could be just the upgrade that you need.

Samsung will hopefully decide to price the Galaxy Tab 2 range rather competitively given that the components are no longer state of the art. This could make it an appealing choice for budget conscious buyers who want to see what Android is like on a tablet form factor. It could also allow Samsung to seriously undercut rival Apple when it comes to pricing.

Further Android-based tablet intrigue has been doing the rounds recently, with rumours suggesting that Google itself will be launching an own-brand device in this sector to take on its major rivals.

Reports suggest that the as yet unannounced Google tablet will feature a seven inch display, which will put it right in the firing line of the Amazon Kindle Fire, which is another Android-based seven inch tablet which is being sold at cost in order to generate revenue for the retailer further down the line through content sales.

The own-brand Google tablet will reportedly be produced to run Android 4.0 and should start being built as early as April, which means it could be out before the end of the year.

Part of the motivation behind Google`s tablet-oriented manoeuvres could be the fact that it has recently acquired device manufacturer Motorola and so now has plenty of in-house expertise and experience to call upon when it comes to making Android-based gadgets.

This is no guarantee that any Android tablet with a Google label stuck on it would be able to sell well in such a tough market, but you could end up seeing such a device on the shelves of PC World before the end of the year.

LG has continued to diversify its portfolio of Android-based smartphones during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), launching a pair of new fashionable handsets as part of the Optimus L Series.

The Optimus L5 is the more capable of the two phones from a technical point of view, although it is still very much targeted at the entry level end of the market. This is obvious from its use of a single core 800Mhz processor. Nowadays you need at least a dual core chip to enter the mid range market segment.

The L5 features a four inch display, which sounds impressive and is certainly large enough to make web browsing and video playback pleasant. However, its low resolution of 480×320 means it will not pop with such clarity as the other four inch handsets on the market. Again, the standard resolution for displays of this size is usually 800×480, with many handsets opting for 960×540 or higher, but with the processor limitations of the L5 this level of detail would be untenable.

You get a five megapixel camera on the rear but there is no secondary camera for video recording. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the Optimus L5 comes with Android 4.0 preloaded and so it could be one of the most affordable ways to experience Google`s latest mobile operating system. You will have to bear in mind that the hardware may not be able to make the most out of the software, but it will surely make an admirable attempt nonetheless.

The Optimus L3 is a smaller and cheaper iteration of the L Series, with a 3.2 inch touchscreen display, a three megapixel camera and the older Android 2.3 operating system onboard. It shares the same 800MHz processor as its larger sibling and with its slightly less technically taxing operating system it could end up feeling a lot more nippy in the long run.

What makes both handsets stand out from the crowd is their designs, which are deliberately geared towards a youthful, fashionable audience. With so many smartphones opting for a plain black design with little accenting or detail, the L Series are a breath of fresh air.

The L5 features a distinctive angular design with a sleek chassis and lots of attractive touches arranged around the outside. It has echoes of the Samsung Galaxy S2 thanks to its home button and chrome elements.

The L3 is smaller and will be available in an array of different colours, so you can pick whichever hue suits your personality. Meanwhile it too is a little more angular and refined than many other lower end models and it gives off the air of a premium handset despite being affordable.

Neither of these Android handsets is going to be at the top of any list of the most desirable models available this year. However, like a waterproof MP3 player, each has its own specialised merits which could appeal to a niche crowd of fashion-conscious teens and 20-somethings.

E’ iniziata giovedi 30 ottobre e finirà martedì 4 Novembre il JIMTOF 2008 ovvero la 24a Fiera internazionale giapponese delle macchine utensili.
continua…

Kota è un realistico animale domestico del passato. Diventerà rapidamente il migliore amico del tuo bimbo in età prescolare grazie alle sue caratteristiche capaci di suggestionare tutti i bambini! Misura intorno al metro di lunghezza e tutti possono cavalcarlo.
continua…

Ha la forma di un serpente e potrebbe diventare una delle armi piu efficci contro gli incendi. Anna Konda è lungo tre metri, ha un peso di 75 chili e dispone di 20 giunti, ognuno dei quali può ruotare di 33 gradi.

Il robot non si limita a sparare acqua, continua…

Alto un metro e mezzo con grandi occhioni a mandorla muove con fluidità mani e braccia grazie alle sue 17 articolazioni: è il robot androide della Toyota che intrattiene il pubblico in occasione della sua presentazione eseguendo un formidabile assolo con violino.

La casa automobilistica investirà raffinando le già notevoli doti manuali dell’androide continua…

Ci siamo. C’era d’aspettarselo: presto dalle bambole gonfiabili si passerà a giocattoli molto più verosimili ed interattivi!
Lo pensa Henrik Christensen, fondatore di European Robotics Research Network e docente di Robotica all’Università di Stoccolma, che ha dichiarato: “…. Entro cinque anni al massimo la gente comincerà a fare sesso con i robot”.

Ma c’è chi si spinge oltre, David Levy, un apprezzato ricercatore sull’intelligenza artificiale presso l’Università di Maastricht in Olanda, continua…

Si chiama RoboZak, un rivoluzionario robot umanoide, l’ultima creatura della De Agostini. Cammina, corre, balla ed emula le mosse di un temibile atleta di ‘wrestling robotico’. Secondo la De Agostini, implementa una avanzatissima tecnologia che gli consente di compiere movimenti acrobatici possibili solo agli umanoidi dei centri di ricerca più famosi.

E’ fornito di speciali software di programmazione continua…

Detestate e illegali le copie biologiche qualcuno ha pensato di clonarsi in un androide.

Si tratta del professore giapponese Hiroshi Ishiguro che nel laboratorio dell’ATR, lo stesso che ha creato le due androidi ‘femminili’ dell’Università di Osaka, ha replicato se stesso costruendo un robot al silicone a sua immagine e somiglianza. continua…

Presentato all’università del Kyushu, in Giappone, un robot con una forma vagamente antropomorfa alto poco più di 110 centimetri, capace di riconoscere diversi tipi di odori.

L’ automa è in grado di continua…

L’Associazione Italiana Macchine Utensili (UCIMU) ha presentato i risultati della quarta edizione dell’indagine sul parco macchine utensili e sistemi di produzione dell’industria italiana.
Lo studio, realizzato con cadenza decennale, fotografa lo stato dell’apparato produttivo del paese. L’industria italiana appare in buona salute, il sistema produttivo si rinnova ma si auspica una accelerazione del ciclo di aggiornamento. Occorrono misure concrete per favorire e accentuare il processo di rinnovamento delle strutture produttive affiancando agli ammortamenti liberi anche le rottamazioni.

Giunta alla sua quarta edizione, la ricerca è stata realizzata da UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, l’associazione dei costruttori italiani di macchine utensili, robot e automazione, con il contributo continua…

Tomy, l’industria che ha ideato i sosia giocattolo dei famosi robot “Transformer e che ha creato gli animali virtuali “Tamagotchi”, lancia una versione aggiornata del compatto “Omnibot”, il robot tuttofare venduto dalla stessa società negli anni 80.

Il modello del 2007, denominato i-Sobot, può suonare la batteria, ballare a ritmo di musica, fare le flessioni e rialzarsi dopo una caduta. E’ alto 165 mm, pesa appena 350 grammi e, secondo Tomy, è il più piccolo robot al mondo tra quelli a due gambe. continua…

E’ stato inaugurato nel quartiere Chinatown di New York un sofisticato parcheggio robotizzato che utilizza un sistema gestito
da raggi laser e sensori radar.
Come funziona il servizio? continua…

Gli scienziati delle università di Warwick, Cardiff, Newcastl e Dublino stanno collaborando con ingegneri e esperti di software per progettare dei robot infermieri e avere a disposizione tre prototipi entro il 2010.
Questi automi dovrebbero alleggerire il lavoro degli infermieri aiutandoli nelle opere di pulizia dei reparti e non solo.
Vengono programmati continua…

I ricercatori dell’università di Tokyo hanno presentato il ‘Salotto del futuro’, dove robot, dalle forme antropomorfe, si prendono cura della casa e degli inquilini.

In via sperimentale sono state dimostrate alcune delle possibili applicazioni della nuova serie di automi intelligenti utili alla vita quotidiana dell’uomo. continua…

Il celeberrimo robot antropomorfo della Honda ha un incidente in diretta in una manifestazione. Guarda il filmato inserito su Google.
continua…