January 30, 2009 by Tap
Given the open nature of the Android Marketplace, it was only a matter of time until we started to hear talk of dodgy or even malicious Android applications. Step forward eMobieStudio's MemoryUp, an optimisation program designed to reclaim unused memory. Rumour has it that once installed, the app was able to delete files. Not only that, it was accused of sending spam using personal contact information, removing calendar items, corrupting memory and placing adware onto the G1. Pretty strong accusations, all of which have been denied by both eMobieStudio and Google who investigated the app and found that "In the versions we tested, MemoryUp cannot perform any of the malicious things it is reported to have done."
Despite these findings and the fact that applications are well sandboxed within the OS, it seems that MemoryUp has been removed from the marketplace which is obviously a blow to its developers. More importantly however is that fact that this incident has brought into question the open nature of the Android Marketplace itself. Unlike Apple's App Store which has a fairly strict screening process, the Android Marketplace provides developers with "an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available." The process of regulating the marketplace has been passed onto the users themselves who are able to rate applications or even flag them as harmful. In the case of MemoryUp this process worked although the worrying downside is that in this instance the application was binned as a result of an imaginary threat. On the one hand this has got to be a bit of a concern for other Android developers. On the other hand it is a clear indication that applications deemed as useless or malicious will not be tolerated in the Android Marketplace which has to be a good thing for end users.
Via: ars technica
January 29, 2009 by Tap
General Mobile, known for their dual sim phones, has confirmed that they will demo their first Android compatible phone at this year's Mobile World Congress. Fans of General Mobile may already have spotted the DSTL 1 Imaginary on their website but there hasn't been any specific mention of Android support up until now.
Android Authority has now confirmed that the DSTL 1 will support Android and will ship during Q3 this year. Basic specs provided by Android Authority (different from what's displayed on the General Mobile website) are as follows:
- Dual-SIM cards with dual-Standby mode
- 624MHz Marvell PXA 310 processor
- Tri-band GSM/EDGE support (900/1800/1900MHz)
- 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display, 260k colors
- 802.11b/g WiFi support
- Bluetooth
- 135g (4.75oz), 112 x 54 x 16mm (4.4 x 2.1 x .6 inches)
- 5 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (made by Sharp)
I have to say this is a sleek looking phone. That said, these are still mockups created, I suspect, before they were planning on using Android so some changes are inevitable. It will be interesting to see if the front-facing camera remains on the production modelx.
Via: General Mobile | Android Authority
January 29, 2009 by Tap
Could Acer be the next manufacturer to join the Open Hanset Alliance? This comes in the wake of news that Acer is to reveal a smartphone at this year's Mobile World Congress. It seems Pocket-lint were fortunate enough to receive an invite which in itself doesn't give away much but does include the text 'smartphones launch'.
Up until this point, Acer and Microsoft have been best of friends so assuming Windows Mobile as an OS would have been a safe bet but given the growing popularity of Android, could it be possible that Acer could finally be coming onboard. I guess we'll have to wait until next month to find out.
Via: Pocket-lint