Android in Canada Blog » Rogers/Fido

Rogers Releases Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini

Billy — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:30:26 +0000

This week, Rogers released the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini. The X10 Mini is the latest Android-powered device to hit Rogers and it is definitely the smallest Android device in Canada.

The device is ready for sale at Rogers store locations and Rogers online for $29.99 on a 3-year agreement with a voice/data plan of $45 or more. The device is also available at $274.99 with a 2-year agreement, $324.99 with a 1-year agreement, and $374.99 with no agreement.

The X10 Mini opens up new possibilities for a compact smartphone. This full-featured Android smartphones offer a 2.6 touch screen with a unique 4 corner homescreen, keeping you a tap away from all your important messages or applications. The incredible design allows these devices to fit neatly into any pocket.

The Android-powered device has launched with Android 1.6 OS and is upgradeable to Android 2.1 OS later this year. The Xperia X10 Mini further includes such features as Sony Ericsson’s infinite button and Timescape and removable back plates that come in black, green, and pink.

The X10 Mini features a 2.6-inch touchscreen display, built-in WiFi and GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. The device can support up to 16GB of storage with a microSD card, of which Rogers includes a free 4GB microSD card with the device.

[Rogers]

Rogers Lowers Prices On Galaxy Spica, Xperia X10 & Quench

Billy — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:30:36 +0000

Looking to buy an Android device in Canada? If so, Rogers has discounted some of their Android devices.

The company has dropped the prices of the Samsung Spica, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, and the Motorola Quench.

The Spica received a $70 price drop, the Xperia X10 dropped by $50, and the Quench dropped by $20. The discounted prices are available on a 3-year term only.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10: $99.99 with a 3-year agreement (was $149.99)
Samsung Galaxy Spica: $9.99 on a 3-year agreement (was $79.99)
Motorola Quench: $29.99 on a 3-year agreement (was $49.99)

[Rogers]

Android 2.1 Update Coming August 2010 For Rogers HTC Magic

Billy — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:30:06 +0000

Here is some good news for Rogers HTC Magic owners.

This week, the Rogers Social Media team sent out a series of tweets indicating that the Android OS 2.1 update is coming for the HTC Magic.

As many remember, the HTC Magic was one of the first Android-powered devices to hit Canada, along with the HTC Dream. Both devices, especially the Magic, has had their share of problems such as the urgent 911 fix and then the recent re-branding to “Magic+”.

The first tweet sent out indicated that Rogers has received a draft of OS 2.1:

“Okay Magic fans, I have an update for you! Rogers has received a draft OS 2.1 Magic upgrade from HTC”.

The tweet immediately following hinted at an upcoming release date for the OS 2.1 update:

“We’re in process of testing. No solid release date as that depends on Google’s approval as well. We anticipate end of Aug but plz stay tuned”

So it seems like Rogers HTC Magic owners may be receiving the Android 2.1 OS update this August 2010. The only unfortunate aspect is that the Android 2.2 update is already coming up, but at least the Magic will be somewhat almost up to date.

Motorola Dext, Quench & Backflip May Receive Android 2.1 Update

Billy — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:30:26 +0000

Over the last few months, Telus, Rogers, and Bell each launched one of Motorola’s new Android-powered devices. Telus launched the Backflip, Rogers launched the Quench, and Bell launched the Dext.

Aside from having MOTOBLUR in common, each device also had Android 1.5. As many know, Android 1.5 severely limits a device’s potential and is already an obsolete operating system. Well, there is some good news from Motorola on the OS front.

Motorola has constructed an update schedule for Android 2.1 and the Dext, Quench, and Backflip are all on the list as devices “under evaluation” to receive the Android OS 2.1 update.

We know you value having the latest and greatest technology on your devices. We are working very closely with Google and our carrier partners to bring you the most optimized experience on each of our smartphones powered by Android; this means appropriately releasing both operating system upgrades and software maintenance updates which enhance device functionality.

At this time, there are no definitive dates and the whole thing could just end without any devices receiving the updates, but if Motorola goes through with the update, how great would that be?!

So owners of the Dext, Quench, or Backflip, what do you think about this?

[Motorola]

Sony Xperia X10 Mini & Mini Pro Seen On Rogers Website

Billy — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:30:16 +0000

Earlier last week, Rogers went on record and announced that they have more Android devices coming. On the topic of more Android, at the end of April 2010, there were rumors floating around pointing to the summer release of two Sony Ericsson devices, the Xperia X10 Mini and Xperia X10 Mini Pro.

The Xperia X10 Mini and Mini Pro are both Android-based devices but are scaled down in features, as compared with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. Both of the new handsets are running Android OS 1.6. Each device further includes:

WiFi
Bluetooth
5-megapixel camera with video
AGPS
2.5-inch touchscreen display

In April 2010, the pricing for the new devices was estimated to be $49.99 on a 3-year agreement with no clear release schedule other than this summer 2010.

In May 2010, reports indicated that the Xperia X10 Mini and Xperia X10 Mini Pro will be launching specifically in the May/June 2010 time frame. Updated pricing rumors put the Xperia X10 Mini at $49.99 and the Xperia X10 Mini Pro at $69.99. The 3-year agreement will be required for promotional pricing.

Recently, further confirmation about the two new Sony Ericsson devices has appeared on the Rogers website, which have since been pulled by the wireless carrier. If you navigate to the Rogers on Demand Mobile (ROD Mobile) section and click on compatible devices, users would have seen 12 devices listed and two of them are labeled as “E10a Robyn” and “E10a Pro Mimmi”.

The two new device labels are believed to be the device names for the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro. Stay tuned for more details.

[MobileSyrup]

Rogers: “Stay Tuned…There’s Lots of Android Product Coming”

Billy — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:30:18 +0000

Fans of Android will be happy to know that this week, Rob Bruce, President of Rogers’ Communication Business, said in an interview to stay tuned with the company, as Rogers has “lots of Android product coming”.

The interview further indicated that the future Android-powered handsets would be coming from HTC and Motorola. At this time, we can only hope that the new Android devices will feature OS 2.2, or at the very least, Android 2.1.

“Stay tuned,” Rob Bruce, president of Rogers’ communications business, said today in an interview at the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto. “There’s lots of Android product coming” from handset makers including Motorola Inc. and HTC Corp. he said, declining to give a time frame.

Rogers started Android sales in Canada with the debut of the HTC Dream and HTC Magic, followed quickly by Telus and Bell releasing their own Android devices. Over the last few weeks, Rogers finished releasing a series of Android-powered devices from Motorola (the Quench), Sony Ericsson (Xperia X1), and most recently the Liquid e from Acer.

[Businessweek]

Rogers Releases Acer Liquid e

Billy — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:30:03 +0000

This week, Rogers officially released the Acer Liquid e. The Liquid e is the latest Android-powered device to hit Rogers and it is definitely one of the better ones.

The device is now available for sale at Rogers locations and Rogers online at $49.99 with a 3-year agreement and a voice/data plan of $45 or more. The device is also available at $274.99 with a 2-year agreement, $324.99 with a 1-year agreement, and $424.99 with no agreement.

The Android-powered device has launched with Android 2.1 OS, including such features as Live Wallpapers, five home screens, Widgets, the Android Market, and an Acer-only application for spinning music and videos. The device will also likely be upgradable to Android 2.2.

The Liquid e further includes a 768MHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5-inch touchscreen display, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera with video.

The Liquid e also includes a full HTML browser and supports up to 32GB of storage with a microSD card, of which Rogers includes a free 2GB microSD card with the device.

[Rogers]

Rogers Confirms HTC Magic and Sony Ericsson X10 To Receive Android 2.1 Update

Billy — Sat, 29 May 2010 14:04:00 +0000

Owners of the HTC Magic or Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 will be happy to know that Rogers has confirmed that both devices will receive the Android 2.1 update.

The confirmation comes from one of the social media members of Rogers and states the following:

I just confirmed that HTC will deliver 2.1 for Magic for testing end of June. Acer Liquid will release w/ 2.1. X10 2.1 in Fall.

The Acer Liquid e was already launching with Android 2.1 and the X10 had rumors pointing to a fall 2010 update for Android 2.1. However, the Magic receiving the Android 2.1 update was not known!

This is good news for Magic/X10 owners!

Rogers To Release Acer Liquid e This Week

Billy — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Within the next few days, Rogers will be officially releasing their latest Android device, the Acer Liquid e. An internal Rogers product launch flyer has been distributed to Rogers employees to prepare them for the impending launch.

The Acer Liquid e is available at $49.99 with a 3-year agreement and a voice/data plan of $45 or more. The device is also available at $274.99 with a 2-year agreement, $324.99 with a 1-year agreement, and $424.99 with no agreement.

The Android-based device will launch with Android 2.1, including such features as Live Wallpapers, five home screens, Widgets, the Android Market, and an Acer-only application for spinning music and videos. The device will also likely be upgradable to Android 2.2.

The device further includes a 768MHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5-inch touchscreen display, the new SWYPE typing feature, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera with video.

The Liquid e also includes a full HTML browser and supports up to 32GB of storage with a microSD card, of which Rogers includes a free 2GB microSD card with the device.

Rogers Releases Navigator App For Android

Billy — Sun, 23 May 2010 08:30:54 +0000

This month, Rogers has officially launched their Navigator app for Android. The Navigator application is a re-branded version of the previous Rogers TeleNav service, which first launched on iPhone and is now available for Android.

Features

Navigator for Android features 2D or 3D color maps, available in both landscape and portrait display modes. The maps are further available in day or night modes.

Like TeleNav, maps include automatic map updates and also automatic updates for business listings. Maps further include pedestrian route enhancements and choices to avoid toll roads.

Navigator for Android also features real-time traffic alerts with one-touch rerouting. At this time, traffic support is available in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa. For additional user friendliness, Text to Speech (TTS) can be used for driving to a destination. For example, pressing a button and saying where you want to go.

Users may also pre-plan their trips online at www.rogers.telenav.com

Pricing

Rogers Navigator for Android is available in the Android Market for $4.99/month for Canada-wide navigation. The cost of the app is in addition to your monthly data plan.