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Steve Jobs promised to spend his last dying breath destroying Android
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google,
A quick excerpt from the Steve Jobs biography, which is set to be released this Monday, showing just how upset Steve was with Google and its Android platform:
“I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong,” Jobs said. “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”
Yeah, if you love technology, you'll wanna read this book. You can pre-order it from Amazon now.
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6 awesome Android 4.0 features you should be excited about
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Software,
Google has finally unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich to the world, and we thought we'd compile the stuff that made us sit up and take notice. The Android update sports a myriad of updates, but we've distilled that down to six that we thought really stuck out. Here's a breakdown of what's new with Android 4.0 (and remember, the first Android 4.0 device wil be the Samsung Galaxy Nexus):
A new lockscreen. Ice Cream Sandwich is ditching passwords for facial recognition technology to unlock phones. Unfortunately for Google, this particular feature failed badly during Tuesday's Hong Kong demo. The new Face Unlock feature did manage to lock out a non-owner of the demo phone, but somewhat comically, it wouldn't let the legitimate owner in either.
Google has done a couple of other things with its lockscreen and homepage with Android 4.0. You can now swipe a locked phone directly to the camera function and begin taking pictures from your smartphone immediately. Android 4.0 also features some pretty cool screensaver art for the homepage and a new San Serif typeface built just for Ice Cream Sandwich called Roboto.
Click to continue reading 6 awesome Android 4.0 features you should be excited about
Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 4.65-inch HD display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
Google's next iteration of its mobile operating system has officially been dubbed Android 4.0 and it will be available for the first time on Samsung's new Galaxy Nexus smartphone.
The two companies lifted the curtain on the OS affectionately known as Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus smartphone that will be the first to run it in Hong Kong late Tuesday evening (promotional video after the break.) Google said Android 4.0 would be immediately available to developers. Samsung will begin shipping the Galaxy Nexus worldwide in November.
And here's what you need to know about Samsung's Galaxy Nexus:
A slim and curvy design. The Galaxy Nexus is 8.94 millimeters thin with a 4.29-millimeter bezel and a wider screen than on earlier Samsung smartphones that's achieved "without the phone feeling any thicker in your hand," according to the company. The next-gen handset has a curved back that's contoured for a "softer, more natural look and feel," while the buttonless design and slip-resistant hyperskin backing are also highlights.
Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 4.65-inch HD display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Motorola Droid RAZR: 4G LTE, 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen, $299 this November
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
Today Motorola announced the return of their most popular brand ever when they unveiled the Droid RAZR smartphone. The RAZR isn't just another Android handset, and you know they Motorola wouldn't just slap that name on any average device. This one has a Gorilla Glass covered 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display (this has not been seen on any other mobile phone to date,) and a body made of Kevlar, making it lightweight, water-resistant, and durable. On the inside you've got a dual-core 1.2GHz TI OMAP4430 chip, 8 megapixel camera that records 1080p video, 1 GB RAM, and 16 GB flash storage onboard (and another 16 GB on the included microSD card.) It also runs on Verizon's 4G LTE network.
Motorola's also tried to make the phone as thin as they could, touting that it's just 7.1mm thin, but that doesn't take into account the thicker bottom area. Who's counting, right? One other nice feature is the addition of something Moto's calling SmartActions. It's meant to preserve and optimize battery life by doing things like turning off Bluetooth when you get home, or clocking down the processor while you're on a phone call.
You'll be able to squeeze out 12.5 hours of talk time when this bad boy hits Verizon this November 6th, and it'll cost you $299 for the priviledge. Pre-orders start October 27th.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 set to launch October 19
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Rumors, Software,
Android fans, set forward your alarm clocks next Monday: the rumored Nexus Prime (or, Galaxy Nexus) is rumored to be launching on October 19!
According to Engadget, Google and Samsung will unveil the so-called Nexus Prime on Oct. 19 during All Things Digital's first Asia conference in Hong Kong. Android VP Andry Rubin and Samsung EVP of product marketing Won-Pyo Hong will be in attendance.
Rumors about the Nexus Prime (or Galaxy Nexus?), Google's third Nexus smartphone, have been circulating all year long. According to the latest rumors, it'll come with a curved glass touch-screen display, Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich," a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and support for 4G LTE networks.
Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 set to launch October 19
Google and Samsung delay Android 4.0, Galaxy Nexus event out of respect for Steve Jobs
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Google, Handhelds, Software,
In what can be described only as a truly classy move, Google and Samsung have decided to delay the launch event for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus smartphone. The event was originally scheduled to happen on October 11 at CTIA, three days before the launch of the iPhone 4S, and one day before the launch of iOS 5 and iCloud:
"Samsung and Google have decided to postpone the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event during the CTIA in San Diego, previously scheduled for Oct. 11. Under the current circumstances, both parties have agreed that this is not the appropriate time for the announcement of a new product. We would ask for the understanding of our clients and media for any inconvenience caused. We will announce a new date and venue in due course."
"We believe this is not the right time to announce a new product as the world expresses tribute to Steve Jobs's passing."
Nice job, guys.
Sprint Nexus S 4G gets big discount alongside Google Wallet launch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Hot Deals,
Sprint has announced that its Nexus S 4G smartphone will now be $49.99 after rebate, the highlight of the company's Google Wallet launch.
Customers can visit Sprint.com and order the Nexus S 4G for $49.99 with a new two-year contract or upgrade, Sprint said in a press release, after a $50 American Express gift certificate. However, on the Web site Sprint is currently charging new customers $29.99 for the Nexus 4G, and makes no mention of the gift card.
It can be a bit difficult to tell how often a phone like the Nexus S is offered for free; Best Buy has offered the phone for free after rebate on two occasions, most recently in August. Last December, it launched at $199, or $599 unlocked.
We havn't reviewed the Sprint version of the Nexus S 4G, although it uses the same body as T-Mobile's version, which debuted last December. At 4.9 by 2.5 by 0.4 inches and 4.5 ounces, the Nexus S is a black slab phone that's noticeably smaller than the recent round of devices with 4.3-inch displays. The Nexus looks elegant because it uses more rounded corners and a black bezel, rather than cheaper-looking chromed plastic.
Click to continue reading Sprint Nexus S 4G gets big discount alongside Google Wallet launch
Nexus Prime with Android 4.0 to launch exclusively on Verizon
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
Those waiting on the next big Android Nexus device won't have to wait that much longer, as we've just learned that the Nexus Prime--which will be the first phone to rock Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich--will be launching in October exclusively on Verizon Wireless. Of course, we expect the iPhone 5 to also launch in October on AT&T, Verizon, and possible Sprint and T-Mobile as well. Verizon wants to be the only carrier selling both the next-gen iPhone and the next-gen Android smartphone at the same time.
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Why Google’s Motorola purchase is a genius move
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Google,
I was just wondering what Google was going to do to prevent getting shut out of the mobile phone business. It was as if Google was down 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Google stepped up to the plate and hits a walk-off home run, with its purchase of Motorola Mobility.
This scenario is fascinating for a number of reasons. First of all, somewhere along the line, both Apple and Microsoft took a terrible dislike to this Android nonsense. First, Microsoft cozies up to Nokia to subvert Android (to no avail). Then Microsoft, Apple, and others pulled a trick play to get the Nortel patent assets in an effort to develop a patent portfolio to screw Google.
So Google knows it’s toast if it doesn't do anything. But what would it do? Did anyone call this one? Certainly, not me.
Let's face it, when it comes to mobile phone patents, Motorola easily has as many or more than Nortel, which is more into fiber and other comm patents. Google is now one up on the rest of these folks.
Click to continue reading Why Google’s Motorola purchase is a genius move
China suspected in Google Gmail phishing attacks
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet,
Spear phishing attempts to penetrate the personal Gmail accounts of U.S. officials, journalists, and activists, reported by Google in June, have not ceased, according to a security researcher who first discovered the attempts in February.
Spear phishing uses bogus emails to trick recipients into entering personal details, like home addresses and Gmail passwords.
"I am posting this only to highlight the fact that once compromises happen and are covered in the news, they do not disappear and attackers don't give up or stop. They continue their business as usual," wrote Mila Parkour, a D.C.-based security researcher on her Contagio Malware Dump blog, as picked up by ComputerWorld.
Click to continue reading China suspected in Google Gmail phishing attacks
