Hasta La Gadget!

I am quite sure that you have heard of the term Chromebook before – it is one of those computing machines that Google has commissioned to make sure that affordable and yet effective computing is made available to the masses. The thing is, the Chromebook did not really take off in that big a way, as consumers do not mind forking out additional dough to make sure that they have access to superior computing power. Well, there is a new Chromebook in town today as announced by Google, and this incredible piece of computing device retails for a mere $249. Yes sir, tipping the scales at a mere 2.5 pounds while measuring just 0.8” thin, the new Chromebook is definitely one of the lightest laptops on the market today. Will it be able to work decently enough for the average user?

Well, for starters, you have over half a dozen hours of battery life which should be more than adequate for the standard user, not to mention being able to access up to 100GB of free storage space on Google Drive, allowing you to access your data anywhere, anytime, as long as there is a decent Internet connection in tow.

Most folks would most probably wonder just what kind of performance that the new Samsung Chromebook is able to pack, and rest assured, it will not be found wanting. For starters, it will boot up in under 10 seconds and can more or less resume from where you left off almost instantly. Viewing high-resolution videos (in 1080p) are a cinch, and when your fingers dance all over the touchpad, you will notice smooth scrolling courtesy of a hardware-accelerated user interface. It does not matter if you are of the baby boomer generation or are averse to technology, the Samsung Chromebook allows you to have separate accounts where all your private data will remain accessible only to you, and not the other users.

Last but not least, if you tend to revolve your working life around Google’s suite of products such as Gmail, Drive, Search, Maps, YouTube, Play or Google+ Hangouts, you will find that the new Samsung Chromebook serves everything up in a seamless manner.

Press Release
[ Google launches new Samsung Chromebook at just $249 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

We talked briefly about the coming video game app from Marvel called War of Heroes back at the beginning of the month. At the time, the game was slated to launch on October 11, but the launch didn’t happen until yesterday. If you missed that official launch, you can get the game on Android or iOS devices right now.

The game has players stepping into the shoes of a SHIELD agent and teaming up with Marvel superheroes that we all know and love. The video game is based on a completely original script that was written with cooperation from Marvel. The game is described as an “incredibly unique handcrafted card-battle game.”

I’ve always thought games that were digital yet were based on cards were quite strange. The game promises more than 200 types of cards that feature heroes and villains from the Marvel universe. Players are able to recruit Marvel characters into their deck, including Spider-Man, Captain America, The Hulk, and a lot more.

The player can combine various heroes to create the ultimate team to defeat their enemy. The game also promises new Marvel characters, and events tied to the Marvel Universe will be added regularly. That means the game will continue to evolve and change over time.

Marvel: War of Heroes Launches for iOS and Android is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Wait! Belay that order for the $249 Samsung Chromebook! There’s a 3G model coming and it’s just $329. That’s a great deal.

For some reason Samsung and Google did not announce this upcoming model alongside the $249, WiFi-only model yesterday. The 3G model was found within the bowels of Amazon. Spec-wise, it’s the same Chromebook with the notable addition of a 3G modem.

Details about the wireless plan are still missing. Previous 3G Chromebooks could use 100MB of Verizon data monthly for two years. No word if this Chromebook ships with the same deal.

This model presumably ships with the same killer deal of 100GB of Google Drive storage for two years — that’s a $120 value.

Samsung’s latest Chromebooks are decent computers, employing a dual-core A15-based Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (5250) SoC, 2GB RAM, 16GB of built-in flash storage, WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth. Engadget found the WiFi model to be “80 percent of the entry-level MacBook Air experience for a quarter of the price.” And soon, buyers will have the option to buy a Chromebook with integrated 3G — an option not found on any MacBook Air models.

If you’re planning on being one of the first few that will be picking up the ASUS PadFone 2 (official specs and images available here), you might want to note that the device will be launched with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Given that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been out for a while now, some of you guys might be disappointed that ASUS has decided to go with an older version of Android. Well the good news is that according to an ASUS representative, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update is scheduled for a release by November, which means early adopters of the device will only need to wait a couple of weeks before they get the update. As far as the keyboard dock is concerned, the rep stated that the dock is still in development although no timeframe was given for its release. We’ll keep our eyes peeled nonetheless but for buyers on the fence, hopefully the release of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by November will make the ASUS PadFone 2 a more tempting purchase.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: ASUS PadFone 2 official specs and images, Asus Padfone 2 leaked,

If you’re on Verizon and don’t feel like racking up your plastic when you buy Play store apps or content, the carrier will soon give you the option of putting it on your phone bill, according to a recent Google tweet. Mountain View’s had the option for a while now, with T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T having already jumped on the app-billing bandwagon, which left Verizon as the final major to climb aboard. Other than saying that you’ll be able to bill apps and music that way, details are scant — but considering Big Red’s whopping Android lineup, it’s about time.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon

Google to Verizon Android users: carrier billing coming to Play store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  Google Play (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments