Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread gives full NFC capabilties

While Android 2.3 Gingerbread had NFC among its main features, it only had the read functionality but Google recently pushed out a “small feature release” that enhances the NFC capabilities. Based on the search giant’s developer blog, Android 2.3.3 now includes: - A comprehensive NFC reader/writer API that lets apps read to any kind of standard NFC tag usedtoday. - Advanced Intent dispatching that provides apps more control over how/whenthey're launched when an NFC tag comes into range. - Some limited support for peer-to-peer experience of other NFC devices. The company said that it expects all Gingerbread phones that enter the market to perform Android 2.3.3. Right now, we only know that the Xperia Arc will land with Android Gingerbread but let’s hope a plethora of devices hit the market using the latest version on thelittle, green roboto. Android 2.3.3. Gingerbread is currently intended for developers and you’ll be capable of check it out with theSDK manager. It also provides a new API level for developers to make richer apps. So, when will Google android 2.3.3 Gingerbread hit the Nexus S and other devices? I wouldthink that the Samsung Google-blessed phone will getit in just a few weeks but I wouldn’t hold my breath for other phones. I realize many Google nexus one owners are still awaiting 2.3 hitting their Google experience device too and you haveto wonder why this is taking so long. If you’re using an Epic 4G, you’re still waiting for Froyo – Cliq XT owners won’t feel sorry for you, as they may be forever stuck on 1.5. So, this shouldlead to some cool NFC apps in the future but what’s the pointif it’s only available to Nexus S users? The Xperia Arc won’thave evenan NFC chip in it, so we still have to wait for a mass-market device that maytake advantage of the features in Google android 2.3.3.

More Details on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Following Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc’s launch at CES a couple weeks ago, we’ve been waiting to know for the device.Sony Ericsson product blog has helped us out by shedding some light for the smartphone and here's what you must know.

First of all, the processor in the centre in the Xperia Arc is a Qualcomm 1GHz MSM8255. The GPU will be the Adreno 205, so the phone is excellent specs-wise. Android 2.4 Gingerbread that had been spotted to the Arc is a red herring though, it had been unfortunately simply a typo. Android 2.4 doesn't exist (yet), what exactly the Arc is carrying is Gingerbread.

The Mediascape UI is gone and its place is a customizable Media Pane widget. Timescape remains to be though, as both an app plus a widget. The music player has gained equalizer support, with around 10 genre-based presets. It has been a concern for a some time now and we’re glad to discover it finally get fixed.

The product doesn’t use a front-facing camera, so you’ll need to put a stop to your plans involving video chatting. It can do, however, have 2 microphones, which assists in voice cancellation. The product does indeed support multi-touch, Wi-Fi 802.11n and four different modes to the LED flash combined with the 8 mega-pixel camera - auto, fill flash, red-eye reduction and off.