Google Translate

   Google has released the other days a new version of the Translate application for Android devices. The 2.0 version brings something I thought I will not see too soon. This is the real-time speech translation through the conversation mode, but is working for now only between English and Spanish and is still in testing period. The conversation mode should allow the user to communicate fluidly with a nearby person in another language. So if I call a friend who is speaking only Spanish and I speak only in English we should be able to get long very well with the help of this software. I just need to touch the microphone icon and speak. 

   After I have updated the Google Translate to this new version and opened it, I saw that I can download many other language packages. So in the future there will be available other languages for the conversation mode also. Other improvements in this version are better drop-down list buttons for selecting the language you want to translate from and into, cleaner icons, cleaner layout and better input box. The SMS translation is still there too.

   Google Translate was lunched a year ago in January 2010 and now it supports 53 languages with voice input for 15 of them. This is available for Android 2.1 and above versions and you can download or update it from the Android Market. I believe this is great for the users who need to communicate but are a part of different cultures. This what I like about Google - they are always making things easier for the users. That`s why I am using their blogging platform and this is why I have an Android smartphone.

Source

Motorola XOOM

   It appears that Motorola had the best mobile devices presented at CES. The XOOM is the most powerful Tablet PC with Android. This comes in premiere as the first product which runs Google Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). This is an Atrix 4G with a larger screen and acting like a tablet pc.

   So it has the nVidia Tegra 2 dual-core CPU at 1 GHz with 1 GB RAM memory, 32 GB as SSD internal storage which can be extended with and SD card (and not microSD). The HD screen has 10.1 inches with a 1280 x 800 resolution - I believe is excellent for reading ebooks. This tablet has a 2 MP front camera for video conference or chat and a 5 MP camera on the back assisted by a dual-led flash and with 720p video recording capability. For connectivity it has Wi-Fi, bluetooth, 3G (and 4G for the future) and a HDMI port. 

   The XOOM is a full HD decoding capable, can run the Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and the battery is not bad either with the 10 hours video playback performance. I like that there are some great accessories for this product like standard dock, speaker dock, wireless keyboard or protective gel case. 

   Motorola could have done better than this if this tablet would have had 8 MP back camera and NFC. But the tablet PCs are just starting to evolve. This is serious competition for iPad and if HTC will not lunch a product with at least the same features I believe the XOOM will be the first tablet PC that I will buy.

Source

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc

   I am glad that Sony Ericsson rises a little, not that they were too down. But with the Xperia Arc they are knocking on the HTC, Samsung, Apple and Motorola`s back door. This model shows the true technology that Sony and Ericsson have to offer.

   Lets start with Sony. The 4.2 inches TFT capacitive multi-touch is a 'Reality Display' with Mobile Bravia® Engine. This screen has a FWVGA (854 x 480) resolution and delivers a crystal clear image for a great entertainment experience. And this is a shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant mineral glass. The camera in the back has 8.1 megapixels with auto-focus LED flash, face detection and touch focus. But important is the Exmor R™ mobile sensor with the f/2.4 lens which enables the capture of high quality pictures and HD videos (720p @ 30 fps) even in low light. The camera also allows video light (this is missing on many smartphones), geo tagging, image stabilizer, noise suppression,  Last Sony part is the micro HDMI port just so you can share these pictures and HD videos on your big LCD/LED TV.

   Now the Ericsson part. The CPU is a Qualcomm Snapdragon (1 GHz) and Adreno 205 GPU (yes a graphic processor) working together with 512 RAM, 287 MB internal storage and up to 32 GB microSD card (arrives with 8 GB card). For connectivity we have HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5 mm audio jack and micro USB.This hardware is handled by the new Google`s Android Gingerbread on a 1500 mAh battery. If you look at the design this is a super slim elegant phone - but not a fashion one (usually these do not have enough technology) which has a dedicated camera button on the side.

   So we have seen the Sony part and the Ericsson`s. Now what is missing from this phone is: low RAM memory (if you remember the Motorola Atrix has 1GB - why they can and SE can not?), no front camera, no NFC, no fingerprint reader, low battery and only 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. But above all that I believe this is a great entertainment smartphone as can run 3D games among others. I hope they will release it soon.

Source