New Android Market app starts rolling out, here’s a quick review

Google announced the updated version of the Android Market app a while back but there was one small problem, the update wasn’t available for download then. But now we are hearing Google has finally started rolling out the update to device with Android 2.2 and higher. And we couldn’t help ourselves and we went to see what it’s all about.
The version number for this latest update is 3.0.27 (the one that leaked before was 3.0.26). Apparently, if you were running the previously leaked version you will automatically be updated to the new version.
Personally, I didn’t receive the update automatically (and I have a Nexus S, for crying out loud) so I got impatient and sideloaded it. I have been using it for some time now and here are my quick impressions of it.
First of all, it definitely looks a lot better. Wasn’t a big fan of the previous version which looked like someone puked all over my screen after eating some radioactive waste. The new one uses green more subtly with a lot more black thrown in. Also, curved lines have been dumped in favor of straight lines. And there’s not so much space wasted.

The app categories are not in a hierarchical order any more but placed next to each other and you need to swipe horizontally on the screen to move between them. There are also a lot more categories, such as top grossing, top new paid, top new free, trending apps and staff picks. The app will also contain Google Music Beta and Google Books if you reside in the US.

The new square grid layout is definitely better. You see a lot more apps on screen at once and hence it is a lot more functional at the same time being better looking. Click on an app and you can see the screenshots prominently on the top above the description. You can scroll through the screenshots horizontally the way you can in the App Store app in iOS. Click on them to view them full screen. The full screen view is loaded along with the thumbnails so it displays the images immediately after you click on them. All the other things that were there before such as reviews, developer info and related apps are still there below in the same order.

The Download button remains on top with the app name even if you scroll down on the page. If the app is already installed you will get an Open button along with an uninstall button. You can also share the app now using any of the installed applications.
There is now also an option in the Market app to switch your Google account.
The Market icon has been slightly updated. Bit of green added to the inside of the shopping bag but you’ll hardly notice that.

The new UI gives you no reason to use the hardware back button on your Android phone. This is probably keeping in mind the next version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, which is likely to make hardware navigation buttons on phones obsolete. Even the new Android Music application does this.

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Nokia N9 not coming to the US and the UK

In a move that is going to break the hearts of a lot of people, Nokia has decided against launching the Nokia N9 in the US as well as the UK.

The company was contacted by Engadget and The Inquirer regarding the availability in the US and UK respectively and in both the cases they were met with a negative response. Although Nokia is delighted with the positive response the N9 has received from everyone they also made it clear that they currently have no plans for launching the N9 in these markets.
The carrier-centric nature of these markets could be the reason why Nokia doesn’t feel it is a good idea to launch the N9 there. Or they simply don’t want to take the focus away from their upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices. Whatever the reason is, we are disappointed to see Nokia take this move. After a such long time, when a Nokia phone had finally generated so much interest amongst the public with a lot of people were really looking forward to it, this is such a shame. We guess you will have to find other ways to get your hands on the phone now.

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European HTC Sensation gets Gingerbread 2.3.4 OTA update

The European HTC Sensation units have just started receiving their 2.3.4 update over-the-air. HTC didn't say anything about it, but reports from all ends of the continent started coming in, saying that the update is already rolling.
The update brings video-calling functionality via Google Talk and regular mobile video-calls. Some bug fixes and performance improvements are also promised, but nothing too major, as you could imagine.


So far only unlocked Sensation units have been getting the update, while carrier-locked handsets are still sitting on the sideline. Let's hope they won't be too late to the party, though.

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Samsung Mobile announcing new product on August 29

Samsung Mobile is holding an event in New York on Monday, August 29 for a product announcement, for which they have sent out invites for the media.

Although the invite does not specify which product will be launched all clues point to the fact that it will be the Galaxy S II. First is the fact that the invite image has Galaxy S II in the name and then there is the large “II” in the image as can be seen above. It’s possible that the phone will be launched on multiple carriers simultaneously. Whatever it is, we will keep you informed about it.

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Samsung Galaxy Xcover is one sweet-looking rugged droid

Samsung has just unveiled the latest addition to their Xcover lineup of rugged phones and it is by far the most exciting to date. The Samsung Galaxy Xcover is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone with IP67 standard certification, meaning it's fully dust and water resistant, and it's also shock resistant so you won't need to worry about dropping it.

The Xcover series by Samsung have so far been only dumb phones with next to no functionality outside calling and texting, but this latest unit runs Android and aims to challenge the Motorola Defy and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active.

We don't have the full specs sheet yet, but we can confirm that the Samsung Galaxy Xcover has a 3.2 MP camera with LED flash that doubles as a flashlight, Wi-Fi, GPS, HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps and, finally, a 3.65" scratch-resistant display of tempered glass. Oh, and the phone can stay as deep as 1 meter under water for 30 minutes.

So far we know the phone will hit Germany in October, but unfortunately, nothing on its pricing. Man we can't wait to take this one for a ride.

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Android Ice Cream Sandwich to come October

Google could push the latest version of Android - Ice Cream Sandwich to an early October release. The latest bit of online rumor has it that Google will try to steal some of the spotlight of the upcoming iPhone 5 (4S, etc.) by unleashing its newest mobile platform and the first batch of devices to run it.

No there's no official information on the mater so at this stage it would be wise to take those rumors with a pinch of salt, but they certainly make sense.

Ice Cream Sandwich is supposed to combine the best of both worlds - Gingerbread and Honeycomb. And it's supposed to be one OS for them all - no customizations and home-brewed UIs. But we'll have to wait just a bit more and see what exactly that will look like.

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