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Acer introduces Android 3.0 tablets
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Google, Handhelds, PC / Laptop,
Acer unveiled their new Android 3.0, or "Honeycomb" powered tablets in 7- and 10.1-inch versions. Each tablet will have 1280x800 resolution, while the 10.1-inch version will have a 1080p HDMI out.
Gallery: Acer introduces Android 3.0 tablets
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Android introduces content rating
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
The Android marketplace has often been called the wild west, as compared with the more organized Apple App Store. It's hard to always know which apps are available, and if those apps are suitable for everyone. Providing users with more information about the apps they download has apparently been a top request, and now the Android team at Google is introducing a rating system which all apps will have to adopt going forward. Starting next week, developer who want to sell software in the Android marketplace will need to signify if their app is intended for All, Pre-Teens, Teens or Mature people only. For those already in the marketplace, the developers will have to add a rating, or they will be marked as Mature.
Read More 
| Android Blog
Gallery: Android introduces content rating
Android phones overtake Symbian in Asia
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
It's no secret that Android phones are growing in popularity at an amazing rate, with new phones being introduced all the time. In North America, it's already the most popular smartphone platform, beating out iOS and Blackberry. However, in the rest of the world, it's a different story. Phones based on the Symbian system rule the market, but Symbian marketshare has been going down steadily. This week, the research firm GfK reports that in the third quarter, Android overtook Symbian for the first time in Asia.
According to the firm: "Our Q3 report shows that Android has recently overtaken Symbian as the most popular smartphone OS in the context of Asia as a whole, in both value and unit sales. However, it is interesting to note the difference in OS trends when we look at findings in North and Southeast Asia separately."
Definitely nice to see that the mobile OS competition is heating up across the globe.
Read More | GfK
Gallery: Android phones overtake Symbian in Asia
Google Docs now editable on iOS and select Android devices
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Handhelds, Software,
Google Docs has been available on mobile devices for several months now, but there was no way to edit Google Docs documents on the go while in the browser. Now, Google has announced that over the coming days they will push a new version of the mobile service on their servers, and suddenly all your docs will be editable on the go from some Android devices, and iOS devices running version 3.0 or higher. When opening a document, you will be able to turn edit mode on, and add text, bullet points, edit spreadsheets and so on. Changes will be shown in "near realtime" on the web, and changes that other people do to shared documents will be reflected on the mobile device as well. This should be very good news for everyone who've come to depend on Google Docs for productivity.
Read More | Google Docs Blog
Gallery: Google Docs now editable on iOS and select Android devices
Google is once again trying to show that location services are really important to them with the release of Google Hotpot, a social recommendation engine for Places. According to Google, this service will provide recommendations "powered by you and your friends" to businesses and locations you happen to be near. Right now, Google Places mostly provides information and facts about restaurants, clubs, banks, or anything you can find on a map, as well as imported ratings from outside sources like Yelp. Hotpot adds the ability to like or dislike a location on the spot, and provide your opinion. Then, the engine will present that additional information from your social circle. The new feature is available on Android phones now and on the web, and uses your Google account to allow you to rate businesses.
Read More | Google Hotpot
Gallery: Google Hotpot takes on Yelp
Ever since Google released an "official" Android phone, the Nexus One (a.k.a. the phone that provided a baseline of what an Android phone should be,) people have been speculating and wondering when the Nexus Two would appear. In the past few weeks, the rumors have gained momentum once again, and now it appears Engadget received some exclusive images that show the Nexus S, a phone from Samsung that would be the true successor to the Nexus One. A lot is still rumored at this point, but check out the link for detailed shots of every side as well as the interior from this upcoming device.
Read More | Engadget
Gallery: A look at the Google Nexus S
Google provides free in-flight wi-fi
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,
Google announced on their blog this morning that they have teamed up with several airlines to provide free Wi-Fi service while in the air during the holidays. When you fly AirTran, Virgin America, and Delta between November 20 and January 2, you will have access to the Internet at no cost, thanks to Google. This is not the first year they've done this during the holidays, and it wouldn't surprise us to see people converge on those airlines to save on Internet access while on the move.
Read More | Google Blog
Gallery: Google provides free in-flight wi-fi
Google TV review
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Home Entertainment, Product Reviews, Software,
Google launched into the TV arena last month with their very own platform, Google TV. With it, they hope to compete with the likes of Apple TV, Roku, and of course, your cable connection. Unlike its competitors however, they haven't made a hardware device, but instead a platform which device makers can integrate into boxes which you connect to your TV, or into TVs themselves. This platform boosts to bring the best of the web and TV together, into a system where you can add features, search for shows and do so much more. But does this Google TV deliver?
Click to continue reading Google TV review
Gallery: Google TV review
Several Chrome OS notebooks coming for the holidays
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, PC / Laptop, Rumors,
DigiTimes yesterday reported that several vendors have plans to bring Google's Chrome OS to some of their devices as early as this holiday season. Sources say that Google will have its own branded Chrome notebook by the end of this month, with HP and Acer following in December. It's apparently an attempt by the device makers to test the waters. Chrome OS is Google's way to make a device that's more web centric, with little to no on-board applications, and all your data residing in the cloud.
It's worth noting that Google is now playing in this field with two different operating systems: Android and Chrome OS. With Android being an obvious success in the smartphone market, and coming out on many tablets these days, I for one am skeptical as to the marketshare a device based on Chrome OS can gather.
Read More | DigiTimes
Gallery: Several Chrome OS notebooks coming for the holidays
Samsung Galaxy Tab now available in UK, hits US Nov 10
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Handhelds,
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is one of the most hyped Android tablets of the season, and it's almost here. The device sports a 7-inch display and runs Android 2.2. Samsung is claiming you'll get 7 hours of battery life out of the Galaxy Tab, which isn't bad at all. Expect a front-facing camera, rear camera, and all the typical stuff you'd expect from Android (web, mail, Adobe Flash, 80,000 Android Marketplace apps.) While we've seen other Android based tablets come out this year, this is hailed as the first true iPad competitor.
The release date is this Monday, Nov 1st in the UK (that's today!), and it comes to North America later this month. Every major carrier will have it subsidized for around $400, with T-Mobile starting on Nov 10, following with Sprint on Nov 14 and then Verizon and US Cellular later on. Amazon also just added it to their listings for $699 without contract.
It's clear that this device is going to have a strong demand, it's the best tablet out there that isn't named "iPad," and with the holidays right around the corner, we're expecting this one to be a success for Samsung.
Read More | Samsung Galaxy Tab
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Tab now available in UK, hits US Nov 10
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