The released source is for the Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread version, but as ICS development is currently in progress, we hope to see its source too after the completion. It is certainly good news for Android ROM developers, now they will able to include to MIUI parts in their custom ROMS easily.

Source

Manufacturers shipped a total of 488.0 million smartphone units last year; on the other hand, global client PC shipments were just 414.6 million units.

“ Smart phone shipments overtaking those of client PCs should be seen as a significant milestone. In the space of a few years, smart phones have grown from being a niche product segment at the high-end of the mobile phone market to becoming a truly mass-market proposition. The greater availability of smart phones at lower price points has helped tremendously, but there has been a driving trend of increasing consumer appetite for Internet browsing, content consumption and engaging with apps and services on mobile devices.”

- Chris Jones, Canalys VP and Principal Analyst

On the smartphone OS front, Android is maintaining its lead. Here is quick table to give you the shipment details.

ZTE Optik can also be purchased without a contract for $350. You will still need data plans that start $19.99 for 1GB of data per month.

“ZTE Optik is ZTE’s first tablet in North America and makes the tablet experience available to a new segment of consumers. Paired with Sprint’s cutting-edge network, ZTE Optik provides an exceptional user experience to consumers who demand affordability, flexibility and mobility in one package.”

- Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA and president, North America Region, ZTE

Flashing this is not recommended for everyone. Unless you know, how to flash Gingerbread back on Galaxy S2, don’t install this ICS update build.

Build Details:

I9100XXLPB, based on Android 4.0.3

Download

Screenshots:

via

According to an analysis of over 214 million apps launches in November and December 2011, in the top quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 0.15% of the time they launched, on the other hand iOS apps crashed 0.51% of the time. Similarly in the second quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 0.73% and iOS apps crashed 1.47% and in the third quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 2.97% of the time, while iOS apps crashed 3.66% of the time.

As you can see from the above analysis, it is clear that apps on iOS tend to crash more often than Android, but there are several reasons behind it.

1. iOS 5, which accounted for most number of crashes, was rather new during the sample period
2. Android developers can push update to their apps almost in real-time but for iOS, it can take days or a week for an update to show up. Thanks to the approval process
3. iOS users often don’t update their apps, while Android unlike iOS allows users to auto-update their apps, which eliminates some of the problems.

So what do you think and does this data surprise you? Do let us know your view in comments.

If you want more on the topic, I would suggest you to read the full report at Forbes.com, it includes more details.

Motorola Atrix 2

AT&T is rolling out a software update for Motorola Atrix 2 users. This update brings several app updates, enhancements and performance improvements to the device. As the update is rolling out OTA, you will soon get a notification to download and install the update or you can manually initiate the update by going to Settings>About phone>System updates.

Update Details:

System version: 55.13.25.MB865.ATT.en.US

Android version: 2.3.6

Change-log:

Camera: Enhancements to deliver better overall picture taking experience so you never miss a moment

Google Music: Addition of Google Music application so you have greater access to the world of music. Shop millions of songs and hundreds of free tracks. Store your purchases on Google Music for free, and listen instantly on your mobile device.

My Gallery, My Music, My Files:  Re-naming of Motorola Gallery, Music, and Files applications for easy access in the Applications Tray

Device Security: Enhancements to deliver greater device security, including addition of Android security patches from Google and Cisco Any Connect VPN enablers.

Emergency Alerts: Enhancement to allow you to receive emergency alerts from authorities such as Hurricane warning notifications.

Amazon Kindle:  Enhancement to include link to app for quick and easy method to access your library of Amazon digital books as well as access to the entire Amazon library.

AT&T Messages: Enhancement to include link to app for quick and easy method to give you access to all of your texts, calls and messages which have been stored in the cloud.

Keyboard: Improvements to keyboard functionality for better email experience

Mobile Hotspot: Improved stability for better overall performance

Webtop: Enhancements to improve stability and better overall performance

Source

According to a report in Cool3C.com (Translated), it is a 10.1 inch mid-range Android tablet. We can see a rear camera and 3.5 mm jack, apart from them, rest is still a mystery. It might be announced at Mobile World Congress later this month with a Qualcomm dual core processor on-board, but that is just a guess right now.

The scanning is not limited to just new apps, Bouncer also analyses existing apps, whole developers accounts already present in the App store. According to Google, it was put in place sometime last year and is already yielding results. Between first and second halves of 2011, there was a 40pc decrease in potentially malware downloads from Android Market.

Being the biggest mobile phone OS, Android is increasingly becoming the target of malicious app makers and considering the fact Android Market does not apply the typical approval process for app submission in Market, anyone can upload anything but that is where Bouncer comes in.

How does Bouncer work:

Once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags. Google actually run every application on its cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. Bouncer also analyzes new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.

Anti-virus makers are also culprits in spreading un-reasonable fear among consumers of malicious Android apps and the recent example of Symantec and Malware affecting 5 million devices is one such case.

Overall, Google is saying that it is doing everything it can to keep Android out of trouble.

Further Reading: Android and Security (Google Mobile Blog)

While other blogs think that it might be the leaked Samsung Galaxy S II Plus, there are several clear flaws in this image that a known manufacturer will never make in a press shot.

1. Date is wrong; it is from 2011 calender, why would a device being launched in 2012 have a date from 2011 on its home-screen.
2. Even the calendar widget showing Mobile World Congress Keynote entry has date according to the 2011 calender.. In 2012, 28 Feb is Tuesday not Thursday.
3. Android Market Icon iss old, ICS has different Icon.
4. Samsung will never have these ICS buttons as main capacitive buttons.. and their placement is all wrong, why all the space around them..

Someone has clearly done a bad photoshop job while designing this so-called leaked press shot and it is not Samsung. I am sure if Samsung launches Galaxy S II Plus at MWC, it will not look like this.

HTC EVO Shift 4G Update Details:

Software version: 2.77.651.3

Change-log:

• Security Update
• Updated Peep client ( to align with Twitter)
• Battery life improvements

Install Instructions:

To manually initiate the update, go to Settings > System updates > HTC software update> Check Now.

Source – Sprint