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Google Senior VP of Mobile: Aliyun OS 'under no requirement to be compatible', but it won't get help from Android ecosystem alliance
Andy Rubin has added another response to Alibaba's Aliyun OS, after Google's insistence that Acer put the launch of its new smartphone on pause. He focuses (again) on the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which OEMs agree to when they work with the platform, promising to keep Android a happy (and relatively compatible) platform. Amazon dodges any similar issues with its Kindle Fire tablets, because it didn't sign up to the same alliance. Rubin says that because Aliyun uses Android's framework and tools -- as well as housing some suspect Android apps (and pirated Google programs) within its own App Store -- the mobile OS "takes advantage of all the hard work that's gone into that platform by the OHA." Google's looking to protect how Android behaves as a whole, and the senior VP suggests that if Alibaba's new OS wanted "to benefit from the Android ecosystem" then they could make the move across to full compatibility. We're still waiting to hear what Acer (and Alibaba) plan to do next. [Thanks Jimmy]
Google wants 'better compatibility' for Android, Alibaba says 'Aliyun is separate,' Acer takes the brunt of it
On Thursday, we starting hearing claims that Google had strong-armed Acer out of launching its A800 CloudMobile in China with the Aliyun operating system. We reached out to the search giant for its response, but they declined to comment. Over the last 24 hours, though, Google has attempted to explain its stance, but at the same time has potentially created some confusion about how open Android really is. Below is the initial statement received by Marketing Land: "Compatibility is at the heart of the Android ecosystem and ensures a consistent experience for developers, manufacturers and consumers. Non-compatible versions of Android, like Aliyun, weaken the ecosystem. All members of the Open Handset Alliance have committed to building one Android platform and to not ship non-compatible Android devices. This does not however, keep OHA members from participating in competing ecosystems." This is clearly outlining Google's intention to prevent forked Android spin-offs from diluting the platform and the user experience. Fair enough. The trouble seems to be, however, defining when something is Android compatible, rather than its own separate (albeit Android-based) operating system. Amazon's Kindle Fire will instantly spring to mind. The new tablets run on Ice Cream Sandwich, but are fenced-off from the official Play store and other Google offerings. As you can imagine, the debate has started to get a little heated, we go into it in more detail past the break.
Canon's CES 2011 PowerShot quartet: A3300 IS, A2200, A1200, and the $89 A800
Cameras! Betcha didn't see that coming, did you? Canon's PowerShot lineup is out in full force. Actually there's just four to list, including the company's first point-and-shoot to drop below the $100 mark, but more on that one in a bit. From the top: The $179, 16 megapixel A3300 IS features 720p HD video, 5x optical zoom, a 3-inch LCD, a number of creative filters including "toy camera" and monochrome, and discrete mode that turns off all sounds for when you need to snap more quietly. Next up (or rather down, on this proverbial list) is the $139 A2200, which keeps the creative filters, 720p HD video, and discrete mode while moving down to 14 megapixels, 4x optical zoom, and a 2.7-inch LCD. The PowerShot A1200 (for $109) has similar specs to the A2200 but drops the sensor to 12.1 megapixels and nixes the discrete mode. There's also a tiny optical viewfinder -- not too useful, but hey, it's there if you want it. Finally we have the A800. 10 megapixels, VGA video with blur reduction, and a 2.5-inch LCD... doesn't look as spectacular when in the company of others, but it does rock an $89 price tag. All are due out late February. Check out the pics below. %Gallery-112557%
Samsung's 1080p-blasting A800B and A900 projectors unveiled, plus six more
Good ole' Sammy's announced an octuplet of new projectors, and while we'd like to say they're all special in their own little way, two models definitely catch our eye more. The A800B DLP boasts a 1080p output, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 ANSI lumens, two HDMI ports, and a variety of other input options. The luxury doesn't come cheap, of course: retail price is $10,000. The other full HD model is the A900, and although we're lighter on details with this one, we do know it's packing 1000 ANSI lumens, only one HDMI port, an impressive 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and what we can only assume is price tag of equal magnitude. As for others, we've got the travel-sized $700 P400 with SVGA output, the L220 (price unknown) and $1100 L300 for bringing VGA / XGA to classrooms, respectively, the XGA-blasting D300 for large venues, and a $1500 A400B for home theaters, which features WXGA, 2500:1 contrast ratio, and 2000 ANSI. We kindly direct your attention to the read link for all the nitty-gritty details.[Via About Projectors]
15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored
At this point, it's remarkably tough to say how legitimate these claims are, and while we'd wholeheartedly recommend digesting these details with a dose of NaCl, we'd be shortchanging you to not pass 'em on. According to a curious post over at Photofan.jp, Sony is readying an Alpha A800 DSLR (mockup pictured) with a 15.2 megapixel sensor, an ISO range of 200 to 12,800, a new high-speed sync flash, 23 total AF sensors, a fresh metering / AF sensor tracking system and inbuilt WiFi. We're told that the camera will be officially unveiled at PMA 2009 alongside a trio of new lenses -- thankfully, March (and our answer) is less than two months out.[Via Photography Bay]
FujiFilm's FinePix F40fd, A800, and A610 announced
The FinePix IS-1 wasn't the only camera unleashed by FujiFilm this morning. Far from it. In fact, we've now got three additional FinePix shooters to fawn over at CES next week. First up is the FinePix F40d (pictured), an 8 megapixel compact shooter with 3x optical zoom, picture stabilization, and 2.5 inch LCD. Notable, are the inclusion of FujiFilm's face detection technology, a dual-shot mode which takes 2 shots "in rapid succession" (one with flash, one without), as well as support for an ISO 2000 mode which should prove useful for small prints with help from FujiFilm's 6th generation FinePix Super CCD-HR chip and the Real Photo processor. Next up is the A800, another 8 megapixel shooter based on the Super CCD-HR sensor. This pup sports a 3x optical zoom, and 2.5-inch display, and gets juiced by AA batteries. Bringing up the tail then, is the A610 entry-level, 6 megapixel cam with 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD. Of interest, all the new compacts now support SD in addition to FujiFilm's traditional xD-Picture Cards. The F40fd, A800 and A610 will all hit in March and retail for $299, $179, and $129, respectively. Pics of the A800 and A610 after the break. [Via Digital Photography Blog]
