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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 02:00 AM PST
 All this fun talk lately about the Chromebook Pixel seems to lead to more questions than answers. Is it real? When will we get it? will it run Android apps? The last one seems to interest us the most. If we could run Android on a Chromebook, would we want to? Is that smart for Google? As consumers, we would be over the moon if a Chromebook could run Android apps. If the Chromebook Pixel really is going to have a touchscreen, it would make a lot of sense to have Android apps. Android apps are meant for such an interface, and asking developers to go back and alter an app to work on another OS would just be wrong. The line of code reported earlier seems to suggest there is going to be some Android in the new Chromebook, so it’s really promising at this point. If what we have heard about this new Pixel is all true, it will need to have much more robust specs. As they stand now, 2GB simply isn’t enough to handle normal function. Having Android on board would require so much more power, so we hope that Tegra 4 chipset really is included. If not, it will be another disappointment for the Chromebook, and lend credence to argument that it isn’t a viable platform. Should Google merge the two?They really should. Chrome OS has been slow to catch on, and having Android on board would really boost it’s appeal. More (and better) apps are created for Android, so the ability to use those as well as any Chrome apps would be phenomenal. Forget all the talk of “cross platform” being an important factor: if there is an Android-Chrome OS machine in the works, everyone else will have to re-think the way they approach the notebook computer.Your move, Microsoft. Related Posts |
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 02:00 AM PST
 The roster of devices that have been graced with CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies keeps growing. Last week, we told you that that nightly builds of the popular custom AOSP ROM is available for the LG Nitro HD and Optimus LTE. Now, let's welcome the original Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy S2 Skyrocket into the family. To be more specific, we're talking about the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S2 Skyrocket on AT&T, as well as T-Mobile's variant of the Galaxy Note. It was less than a month ago that several variants of the Galaxy Note 2 got their CM10.1 nightlies, while the international model received the goods back in December. We're sure there are plenty of Note owners out there who are eager to venture into a TouchWiz-less life. We assume you already know what to expect when you flash those nightlies. In short, expect most major functions of the phone to work alongside the few hiccups here and there. You can grab the CM10.1 nightly build for the Galaxy Note on AT&T right here and T-Mobile here. As for the nightly for AT&T's Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, click here. Related Posts |
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:48 AM PST
 Trying to keep a high-end gadget secret in today's tech world is a harder task than winning the Tour de France without using illegal substances, so most of the big names in the industry don't seem to put that much effort into it anymore. We sometimes even get the feeling that OEMs intentionally spill the beans way before the actual releases to build hype, as it's happened lately with several Samsung phones and tabs, Sony's Xperia Z or HTC's Droid DNA. The latest star of a true rumor bonanza is codenamed M7 and is supposed to be HTC's next spearhead. We're not expecting the big guy to come to light before the end of February, but we already know or think we know a great deal about it, which is why we've decided to gather all the intel in one place. That way, you can make sure you're up to date with the talk of the town without having to browse through a bunch of posts. Here it goes: HTC M7 pricing and availabilityWe probably shouldn't start off with the section that's the lightest on credible info, but we know you're most interested in this, so let's get it out of the way. The ETA was first rumored to be April, based on One X's 2012 release, but right now we're more inclined to say March.[Update February 11] Not so light anymore, as we have our first rumored release date, courtesy of a pretty reliable source. We could thus see the M7 in stores as soon as March 8, although we’ve had other sources tell us that the launch could after all be pushed back. Hmm, who to trust?  That's because we think HTC will be looking to undercut Samsung's Galaxy S4 launch, but also due to the increasing frequency of rumors. HTC is almost certainly no stranger to at least a couple of recent M7 leaks, so there's likely a reason why info is being spilled early. That said, Update: Even though M7′s presence at MWC is not entirely out of the question, the phone will most likely be introduced to the world prior to the Barcelona conference. London and New York stages are getting prepared for special events scheduled on February 19, and, while HTC is yet to confirm what will go down there, we have a pretty good idea already, don’t we?  On the pricing front, Update: We’re still short on official pricing details, but unofficial word has it France will get the M7 for €650 outright. That’s not at all surprising and it’s more or less what we think HTC will charge for the big guy across Europe. As for carriers expected to offer it subsidized, we’ve only heard about Vodafone Germany so far, but obviously that’s just temporary. Moving across the ocean, we have a little something to add to our previous speculations about the US release. Apparently, the M7 is due to land on all four major carriers after all. Out of the bunch, Verizon might look to brand the phone as a “Droid DNA Plus” (or DLX Plus), with slightly different specs. HTC M7 design and displayWith a 5-inch Droid DNA/Butterfly in its portfolio, many of us would have expected HTC to up the size ante even more. However, rumor has it the Taiwanese will in fact get back to their One X roots, equipping the M7 with a 4.7-inch display. That will naturally boast a 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution (aka Full HD), which will result in a record-breaking 468 ppi pixel density. Unfortunately, the panel won't be of the AMOLED variation we all love so much, using instead the more traditional LCD technology supplied by Sharp. As far as design goes, we have every reason to believe the M7 will look like a sized down DNA, although we've picked up a number of contradicting rumors on the subject. Update: Now we’re pretty much certain the M7 is going to follow DNA’s design philosophy, even though there will also be some distinct points apparently, including a wider selection of color schemes. Well, not much wider, but still, it seems the M7 will come in black matte and a snazzy silver and white combo. HTC M7 hardwareWhile we still have to fill some blanks here, we're almost positive there'll be a quad-core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU and 2 GB of RAM inside of the beast. Other specs that have come up more than once in the rumor mill recently are 32 GB of on-board storage, a 13 MP rear-facing snapper, a 2 MP front cam, and a 2,300 mAh battery. Unfortunately, microSD support still remains nothing but a sweet dream, while the chances of that not so hot battery being user removable are slim to none. On the flipside, you should be happy to hear that HTC is planning to launch 16 and 64 GB versions of the M7 as well (most likely limited to certain markets), while the possible inclusion of an IR port is probably the funkiest detail of all. Update: We don’t know how much of a difference it will make, but HTC is apparently planning to market M7′s camera as using ultrapixels instead of megapixels. The “sound experience” should also be “better than before”, whatever that means. There was a mention of a new kind of sound system in one of the recent leaks (Double HP Techno Beats Audio), but frankly there are other things we’d like to see improved at HTC phones instead of the already decent Beats Audio enhancements. HTC M7 softwareExpected to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upon launch, HTC's new flagship should also come with a new version of Sense UI on top, most likely dubbed 5.0. We've heard a lot of people calling the new interface cleaner and sleeker than previous Sense versions, but before taking it for a spin ourselves we don't want to get too excited. We've also seen a number of pics starring this supposed new UI, and, while they do look pretty appealing, we still kind of wish HTC would leave Android untainted. HTC M7 nameAfter months and months of tantalizing us with the “M7″, it would be pretty, well, stupid of HTC to change the fellow’s name, right? Well, believe it or not, but that’s exactly what the Taiwanese are allegedly doing. And not just that, but they’re planning to market the M7 as the One. No, not the One X2, the One Z, One Plus or One Prime, but simply the One. Un-be-liev-a-ble! It’s like they’re trying to mess with our heads.That’s pretty much all we know about the HTC M7 for now, but damn, it’s a lot considering the phone won’t actually ship until March at the earliest. Basically, there are only a couple of specs left to be revealed and the exact pricing Related Posts |
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:33 AM PST
 Ouya CEO and creator Julie Uhrman revealed at DICE 2013 that the Android-based home console has earned support from two more independent studios. Words with Friends creator Paul Bettner and Tim Schafer's studio Double Fine Productions, which made great titles such as Psychonauts and Brütal Legend, both have games under development that are headed to the new console. No official word has been mentioned on what Bettner has in store for Ouya. What we know is that Verse – a new game studio he established after leaving Zynga – is currently working on two unannounced titles. On the other hand, Double Fine is planning to release The Cave and Reds to the console. Reds is the codename for Double Fine Adventure, a point-and-click adventure game that gained crowd funding support through Kickstarter. The Cave is a platform-adventure game that was recently released on other platforms. No release dates have been announced for the games from either studio. Paul Bettner asserts in a press release that "Ouya and Verse are nothing less than The Return Of Console Gaming. The last big wave was mobile … Words With Friends is the most played game across all mobile platforms. And yet I believe we’re about to see another disruption even bigger than this last. Gamers want the App Store in their living room. Ouya will be the first to deliver it, and it’s going to change everything. Again." Whether console gaming will celebrate its revival through Ouya or not remains unclear until the console lands on the gamers' homes. The first to get Ouya are its Kickstarter backers in March, while retailers do not start selling the console until June. Pre-ordered units will be delivered in April. Related Posts |
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:28 AM PST
 Google is an ad company. They’re not a phone company, they’re not targeting enterprise customers, they just want to show people as much advertising as they can so they can rake in the dough. Apple on the other hand, they’re a box pusher. They make things that go inside boxes, and those boxes then need to end up in stores all over the world. According to a new report from the analyst firm Morgan Stanley, Google gives Apple roughly $1 billion every year because Apple sets Google as the default search engine for all their devices. Because Google gives people a cut of their ad money, and because Apple pushes so many boxes, you end up with an incredibly large number. Why isn’t Apple partnering with Microsoft so they can use their search engine instead? Let’s be serious, who in their right mind would use Bing? Will Apple ever develop their own search engine? Probably not. They can barely get their customers to use iCloud properly. Deploying server farms in multiple countries to scrape the web just so that people who use Apple devices don’t have to see a Google logo is an investment we’re sure Tim Cook doesn’t want to make. The bigger question is how much money does Samsung get from Google? Think about it, how many more devices do they ship in any given quarter compared to Apple? Granted, someone who owns a Galaxy Pocket isn’t going to be Googling as much as someone who owns an iPhone 5, but it’s still got to count for something, right? Let’s also not forget that the largest smartphone market these days is China, and people couldn’t care less about Google over there. All those small players are missing out on millions of dollars a year in revenue, all because of Google’s questionable relationship with the Chinese government. Shame. Related Posts |
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:41 AM PST
 EE, which recently expanded its 4G LTE coverage to nine new markets in the UK, boasts that it now covers 45% of the population. Aiming to bring that number to 55%, the company has announced that it will be rolling out its LTE service to an additional 27 towns by June 2013. The following towns will get 4G LTE between April and June: Aldershot, Ashford, Basildon, Basingstoke, Blackpool, Bracknell, Camberley, Colchester, Crawley, Farnborough, Guildford, Horsham, Huddersfield, Leatherhead, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Oldham, Oxford, Redhill, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Warrington, Wigan and Woking. EE's LTE network was only launched last October, but the superfast Internet access is already available in 28 UK towns and cities. While the rate of expansion is commendable, customers are hoping to see more affordable data plans, something that its competitor, Three UK, might help bring to the table. Excited about seeing your town on the list? Waiting for Three UK to launch its 4G network instead? Let us know in the comments. – EE, the UK's most advanced digital communications company, today announced that 4G will be switched on in a further 27 towns across the country by June 2013, expanding superfast coverage to more than 65 UK towns and cities in total. |
Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive Officer, EE, said:
"Our business customers want a 4G network that covers the markets in which they operate, and that is exactly what we are building for them – and at a phenomenal rate. We're set to cover more than half of the UK population by Summer, staying ahead of the schedule that we set for ourselves at launch, and continuing to demonstrate the amazing value of 4G mobile to many organisations with different challenges and different needs."
Between April and June, 4G will be launched in Aldershot, Ashford, Basildon, Basingstoke, Blackpool, Bracknell, Camberley, Colchester, Crawley, Farnborough, Guildford, Horsham, Huddersfield, Leatherhead, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Oldham, Oxford, Redhill, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Warrington, Wigan and Woking.
The EE 4G network currently covers 45% of the UK population, and is forecast to increase to more than 55% by summer, as the network grows to cover more than 65 towns and cities as well as much of the suburban and rural areas that surround them. At the end of January, nine new 4G towns were switched on, and this week 4G coverage from EE, the UK's largest mobile operator, landed in Newbury – the 28th live 4G town.
For more information, please visit www.ee.co.uk.
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors
4GEE is available in 28 UK towns and cities today – Amersham, Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hemel Hempstead, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Maidenhead, Manchester, Liverpool, Newbury, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stockport, Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton. EE is aiming for 98% of the UK population to be covered by the end of 2014.
Related Posts
- EE 4G service starts October 30th, 4G LTE available nationwide in the UK by summer 2013
- Verizon: 4G LTE for all by mid-2013
- AT&T 4G LTE coverage was doubled in 2012, is now available for more than 150 million people
Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:26 AM PST
When people say “the mobile industry”, what they really mean is Apple and Samsung. Sorry HTC, Sony, Huawei, and just about every other handset player, but you’re simply not big enough for this writer to take seriously.
Reuters knows this just as well as everyone else, and they’ve recently written a piece talking about the complicated relationship between these two industry giants. If you haven’t read it by now, then do yourself a favor and open up the story in another tab so you can read it later. The key quote we want to highlight is from the third paragrpah:
“Tim Cook, Jobs’ successor as Apple chief executive, was opposed to suing Samsung in the first place, according to people with knowledge of the matter, largely because of that company’s critical role as a supplier of components for the iPhone and the iPad.”It seems kind of obvious. If you’re highly dependent on a company for components, you don’t want to piss them off, because it’s going to put you in a bad situation, yet that’s exactly what Apple did. And who was behind the whole thing? It looks like it was Steve Jobs himself, which again, is something that seems rather obvious, but now we at least have evidence to back that theory up.
Will Apple and Samsung ever stop fighting? That’s hard to say. Apple’s beef is with Google, who they don’t want to sue directly, because Google has an army of lawyers the size of a small European country. Suing Samsung helps Apple because it makes Samsung question their commitment to Android. Make no mistake, Samsung was a nobody before they switched to Google’s mobile operating system.
At the end of the day, none of this court stuff matters to end users. It’s an interesting fight to watch, if you’re into watching large multinational corporations duke it out, but the average guy on the street couldn’t care less.
Related Posts
Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:09 AM PST
Happy new year, folks! No, we’re not greeting you a month too late for 2013, but rather we’re welcoming the Year of the Water Snake, along with our friends in China, Chinese fans elsewhere, and those of us who likewise celebrate Chinese New Year (the start of which fell on February 10th this year). To commemorate the Spring Festival, the creators of Cut the Rope have released a new update, called Lantern Box, which brings new elements into the amazingly addictive (and sometimes frustrating) physics-based game.
See also: Best Android puzzle game apps
Cut the Rope Lightning Box brings 25 new levels, which are centered around the Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, which is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the new year. This lunar year, the Lantern Festival will actually be celebrated on February 24th, so you still have time to practice your skills moving candy across lanterns on their way to candy-loving monster, Om Nom. The lanterns aren’t just there for show, as they actually act as teleporters, which act as the main gameplay element for this release.
Check out the intro video below.
Curious? Update your game now or head on to the source link for the Google Play Store page. The link is for the free version, but you can also get the premium, ad-free variant for $0.99.
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Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:00 AM PST
The “Grammys”, for those of you who may not be familiar with the word, is an annual award show held for musicians. Some people really care about it, others, this writer included, don’t even know it exists until everyone starts tweeting about it. To give you an idea of how important the show is, the 2012 Grammys had a viewing audience of roughly 40 million people according to The New York Times. But enough about that, let’s get to the news.
Google Now is a service that not a lot of people know about. If you have a Nexus device, then yes, you know what Google Now is, but think about all those poor people walking around with a Samsung smartphone that’s S-Voice enabled. Not cool, right?
In order to fix this, Google aired a one minute commercial during this highly watched award show to show people what Google Now is all about.
Did Google do a good job with the ad? Not really. When Apple runs an ad showing you what the iPhone does, they walk you through something like taking a photo or pinching and zooming. Google’s ad just shows people hitting the Google button and seeing a few cards. It doesn’t explain where those cards came from, how they’re sorted, and all the other neat things that make Google Now a genuinely nice thing to have.
The bigger question is why did Google air this ad during The Grammys? We don’t want to insult our older audience, but they’re usually the type of people who watch award shows. Younger folks get their music from their friends, who in turn get it from music blogs.
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Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:37 PM PST
The phrase “wearable computing” is one you’ll be hearing a lot of over the next few years. There’s Google Glass, the rumored Apple iWatch, and now the Neptune Pine. What is the Pine? Take an Android smartphone, shrink it down to something you can fit on your wrist, and give it a 2.4 inch screen. That’s it, that’s the Pine. If you’re interested in more of the tech specs, then feel free to read them on Pine’s website. We’re not going to bother bringing them up because … let’s be serious, this thing is never going to hit the market.
It’s just another geek’s fantasy.
Will there ever be a watch with a large screen and a SIM card slot that runs a full blown smartphone operating system? Probably, but we’re quite a ways off from that happening. There are multiple factors to consider. Starting with the most obvious one, the battery life. How long do you expect a watch that runs Android and is connected to a 3G network to last? One day? Two days maximum? Do you want yet another thing to charge? How will the Pine interact with the devices you already own? Will it at all?
We applaud companies for trying crazy things, but we’re not going to give them praise for shipping products that are essentially alpha versions of devices that are two to three years out. The Pine just gives off a vibe that we’re not sure we really like.
But hey, we could be totally wrong and it could be absolutely amazing. What do you think?
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