Google officially launches Android for Work to make enterprise push

Google has announced today the official launch of an initiative called Android for Work. Through the program, Google has teamed up with several partners to integrate enterprise-level security into the Android platform.

Google originally announced and previewed Android for Work back in 2014 at Google I/O. The main idea behind the program is to allow workers to use their personal phones for work tasks, but keep work and personal content and data separate. Google gave the following breakdown of what users can expect from the initiative:

• Work profiles – We've built on the default encryption, enhanced SELinux security enforcement and multi-user support in Android 5.0, Lollipop to create a dedicated work profile that isolates and protects work data. IT can deploy approved work apps right alongside their users' personal apps knowing their sensitive data remains secured. People can use their personal apps knowing their employer only manages work data and won't erase or view their personal content.
• Android for Work app – For devices running Ice Cream Sandwich through Kitkat, or that don't run work profiles natively, we've created the Android for Work app. The app, which delivers secure mail, calendar, contacts, documents, browsing and access to approved work apps, can be completely managed by IT.
• Google Play for Work – Google Play for Work allows businesses to securely deploy and manage apps across all users running Android for Work, simplifying the process of distributing apps to employees and ensuring that IT approves every deployed app.
• Built-in productivity tools – For everyday business tasks, we've created a suite of business apps for email, contacts and calendar, which supports both Exchange and Notes and provides document editing capabilities for documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

To make all of this work, Google has teamed up with a large number of industry partners such as Citrix, Adobe, Samsung, BlackBerry, Cisco, and many, many more. Google says these partnerships have allowed it to create a set of APIs to bring easier management of Android devices to IT departments, as well as create secure business apps and more secure devices.

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Nokia working on 3 Android smartphones: Report

While it is widely expected that Nokia will unveil its first Android smartphone - Nokia X - next week at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014, it is rumoured that the company has more Android handsets in the works.According to a report by Chinese technology website tech.qq.com, internal emails leaked by sources at Silicon Valley company Artesyn technologies say that Nokia is working on two Android smartphones other than Nokia X. While one has been codenamed Nokia XX, the codename of the other model is not yet known. The former will be positioned above the entry-level Nokia X, while the latter will be a high-end handset. The specifications of these two models are not yet known.While Nokia has already started working on these two Android smartphones, they are not expected to be unveiled at MWC. In fact, it is said that the manufacturer will launch X only to see the market response to its first Android smartphone.All three Android smartphones by Nokia are expected to hit the market in May-June. Nokia X is said to cost approximately $110.The Finnish manufacturer is widely expected to unveil the Nokia X on February 24. The device is said to have a 4-inch screen with 800x480p resolution and run on 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor. It will have 512MB RAM, 5MP rear camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Android 4.4 (KitKat) operating system and 4GB internal storage. It is said to be a dual-sim smartphone and come in six colour options.While Nokia X will run on Android, it will have a customized user interface and will not have access to Google Play Store and the apps available on the platform. Speculation is rife that Nokia and Microsoft will put their own set of apps - such as Facebook, Twitter and Here Maps - on the device via a proprietary app store, much like Amazon does on Kindle Fire range of tablets.

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MWC Preview: Huawei MediaPad X1 and Ascend G6 Specs Leaked

Are you interested in buying an affordable, though good looking, Android based tablet, or maybe an Android smartphone? If so, then Huawei might be the perfect choice for you as the mentioned company is preparing new devices, which will be of course officially revealed at MWC. But if you want to check a MWC preview and take a look over the Huawei MediaPad X1 and Ascend G6 handsets ahead of official conference, then you can anytime read the following lines, where we have described these devices for you.

Huawei is as we all know a company which is releasing good devices on affordable prices. In that matter, the MediaPad X1 and Ascend G6 will be two appreciated Android devices, which will be officially presented at Barcelona during MWC 2014. The Huawei MediaPad X1 is an Android based tablet while the Ascend G6 will be of course a new Android smartphone. Thanks to Twitter leaker @evleaks now we have the first details related to these new handsets.

MediaPad X1 is featuring a 7 inch display and LTE capabilities, while looking on the specs side, we can notice a quad core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, micro SD card slot and two cameras, one on the front and the other on the back (unfortunately there are no further info leaked in that matter). The tablet will feature Android OS with possible KitKat firmware installed and it will be priced at around $200.On the other hand, the Huawei Ascend G6 specs list is including a quad core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and an 8 MP rear facing camera. Unfortunately that’s all we could find about this device; we will properly review it after MWC, so stay close if you are considering in buying the same. Also, we will describe all the other Android devices introduced by Huawei and by other companies too therefore, if you want to keep in touch with MWC 2014, don’t hesitate and subscribe to Android.gs and we will keep you updated.

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Nokia X budget Android smartphone and custom UI spotted in live images

Nokia's much awaited and oft-teased Android-based smartphone, the Nokia X (aka Normandy, A110, and RM-980) has been seemingly revealed in four different purported live images, which allegedly showcase some of the apps one might find integrated in the custom UI of the device.The leaked images, being circulated by Gforgames, show what seem to be Nokia X's Black colour variant, and its user interface, which can be seen with Nokia's native HERE Maps application along with the Downloads and Settings options. The handset is also seen supporting dual-SIM cards.Looking at the leaked images, the hardware design of the Nokia X appears much like the smaller version of the recently released Nokia Lumia Icon, which is candy bar-like. Much like other Lumia handsets, the anticipated Nokia X also comes with volume buttons and a lock screen button placed on the right side of the handset.

The rear camera is also shown in one of the images, but surprisingly the handset, is seen without any Nokia branding in the leaked images.The Nokia X, besides being said to fall between the Asha and Lumia line-up, is said to feature a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480x854 (FWVGA) pixels; a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor; 5-megapixel rear camera; microSD card and dual-SIM support, apart from Android 4.4 KitKat. The device was recently spotted on a listing page on a Vietnamese online retailer website.

The Nokia X handset was previously said to sport a 5-megapixel rear camera, however theCamSpeed benchmark hinted that the handset would arrive with a lower 3-megapixel camera, with a fixed focus lens.Nokia also started a countdown page for the MWC event on its official Conversations blog, with a clear 'X' marked, similar to that seen on the teaser map image.

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Archos introduces 3 phones and 1 tablet ahead of Mobile World Congress

Just in time for Mobile World Congress, budget phone and tablet maker Archos has a collection of new 4G/3G devices for those looking for something a bit more affordable.The new line of devices include three budget smartphones, and one budget tablet that is the least expensive in its category. All four of the devices will be shown at Mobile World Congress, but Archos is announcing them now, presumably so they don’t get lost in the wake of the Samsung Galaxy S5next week.To start with the unique device in the lineup, the Archos 80 Helium 4G is, Archos claims, the first 8-inch tablet with 4G connectivity to cost less than $250 (it actually costs $249). That’s less than $250 before any subsidies which is ridiculously low, though not unexpected from Archos. The Helium 4G uses a quad-core processor, has a 1024×768 resolution, and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Next up is the most interesting smartphone oft he lineup: the Archos 50c Oxygen, which will cost $199. The 50c Oxygen is notable because it sports a 5-inch 720p IPS display, and a 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processor. It’s a flagship phone for Archos, which shows just how low-end the rest of the line is. The phone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and comes with just 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. It does have a two SIM card slots, though, which is a nice feature for some users.

Next up is the 6.4-inch Archos 64 Xenon, because every lineup has to include a phablet of some sort. The 64 Xenon will also cost $199, and also has a 720p resolution display. Unlike the 50c Oxygen, though, the 64 Xenon has a quad-core processor. The giant phone has 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, an 8MP rear-facing camera, and a 2MP front-facing camera.

Finally, there’s the $199 Archos 40b Titanium. The 40b Titanium has a 4-inch, 800×480 display, and has a platy 512MB of RAM with 4GB of storage. There s no doubt that this is a low-end samrtphone.The new lineup of Archos devices will likely be exciting to fans of the company, but to use they seem a bit wanting on paper. In a post-Moto G market with phones like Asus’ Zenfone line and the newAcer Liquid E3, these low-end phones just aren’t as appealing.For less than the price of the Archos 50c Oxygen you can get a Moto G, the younger sibling of one of the best Android phones on the market. That’s impossible to ignore, and Archos might have to step up its game if this trend of worthwhile low-price smartphones persists. Can you find any reason to buy any of these new Archos devices over the Moto G or a Zenfone?

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Nokia X budget Android smartphone teased in images ahead of MWC 2014

Nokia seems to be leaving no stone unturned in an attempt to promote the expected launch of its first Android phone. The Finnish giant has now released teaser images ahead of the much-anticipated Nokia X (aka Normandy) launch.Notably, the Nokia X teaser images do not reveal much about the upcoming device, but it explicitly shows an 'X' mark in a couple of the images. The images have been posted on Nokia's Weibo site, which is the equivalent of Twitter in China. The first teaser image shows two monkeys: one standing below a tree and another on the tree.We expect that the Finnish giant is indicating that there might be two devices unveiled at the MWC event scheduled for 24 February. At this point of time, we only know about the long-rumoured Nokia X, earlier known as Nokia Normandy which has been in news since last year, though there are more than a few Windows Phone offerings also supposedly due at the event.The second Nokia X teaser image shows a tree with its DNA-shaped helix roots visible, clearly depicting an 'X' mark. The third teaser image shows a pirate treasure map with green-coloured 'X' mark is formed by negative spaces between the arrows pointing inwards.Nokia also started a countdown page for the MWC event on its official Conversations blog, with a clear 'X' marked, similar to that seen on the teaser map image.On Monday, Nokia X's alleged press image was leaked, which further cemented the authenticity of the name. The purported press images were leaked via the phone tipster, @evleaks. The post, with an image of a green-colour variant of the handset, seemingly confirmed the name as Nokia X amidst a number of rumours crowding around the device for weeks.The Nokia X, besides being said to fall between the Asha and Lumia line-up, is said to feature a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480x854 (FWVGA) pixels; a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor; 5-megapixel rear camera; microSD card support and Android 4.4 KitKat. The device was recently spotted under a listing page on a Vietnamese online retailer website.The Nokia X handset was previously said to sport a 5-megapixel rear camera, however the CamSpeed benchmark hinted that the handset would arrive with a lower 3-megapixel camera.

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