Hasta La Gadget!

Intel has announced a pre-Microsoft Windows 8 tablet event later in September, gathering together a clutch of manufacturers to discuss new hardware and its upcoming Atom chips. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and ZTE are all among the attendees, with ZTE being particularly notable as the only company of the group yet to officially announce Windows 8 intentions.

The most obvious plan for the company, which is so far better known for its phones, might be a Windows RT tablet. That would slot more readily into ZTE’s line-up, alongside its rumored Windows Phone 8 device which was teased earlier this week. However, it would also fail to fit with Intel’s CPU strategy, which will be powering full Windows 8 machines.

As for Intel’s new Atom Clover Trail, that’s part of Intel’s increased focus on mobility computing as it struggles to catch up with ARM-based chipsets. The company unveiled a 2GHz smartphone with Motorola yesterday, the RAZR i, though previous Intel-based handsets have yet to make a significant impact on the market.

We’ll know more on September 27, when Intel gathers together press and manufacturers together in the warm, loving huddle of a new technology showcase. Microsoft itself is expected to officially launch Windows 8 on October 25.

Intel Windows 8 tablet event on Sept 27 sees HP, Samsung and ZTE on the agenda is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google has struck back at claims that it strong-armed Acer into ditching a collaboration with Alibaba, insisting that the contentious Aliyun platform is not only based on Android but distributes pirated Android apps. Chinese firm Alibaba made loud protests last week, after Acer withdrew launch support for the Aliyun-based CloudMobile A800 smartphone only moments before the handset made its official debut, and accused Google of threatening Acer with Android expulsion. Not so, Google’s Andy Rubin says: Alibaba shouldn’t expect the support of an Open Handset Alliance (OHA) member if it’s not going to be work to be compatible with official Android.

“We agree that the Aliyun OS is not part of the Android ecosystem and you’re under no requirement to be compatible” Andy Rubin, senior VP of Android at Google took to Google+ to point out. “However, the fact is, Aliyun uses the Android runtime, framework and tools. And your app store contains Android apps (including pirated Google apps). So there’s really no disputing that Aliyun is based on the Android platform and takes advantage of all the hard work that’s gone into that platform by the OHA.”

In a post on the official Android blog, meanwhile, Rubin phrases the OHA ecosystem as a “virtuous cycle” where events are reinforced “through a feedback loop” in which “each iteration of the cycle positively reinforces the previous one.” The contrast, the exec points out, is that Aliyun does not move to reinforce Android in any way.

“So if you want to benefit from the Android ecosystem, then make the choice to be compatible. Its easy, free, and we’ll even help you out” Rubin concluded. “But if you don’t want to be compatible, then don’t expect help from OHA members that are all working to support and build a unified Android ecosystem.”

Rubin’s comments were prompted by arguments by Alibaba exec Jon Spelich, who told CNET that Google was “just speculating” about the company’s platform, and that “Aliyun is different”:

“Aliyun is an open-source based OS that is also an open ecosystem that allows others to host their mobile-enabled Web sites in our cloud and we make those Web sites available to users who use Aliyun OS phones. So we are an ecosystem that includes other Internet companies, whereas Android does not because it provides apps through downloads. It’s the crux of the whole cloud vs. app debate. Cloud is open, apps system is closed because it is controlled by the operator of the apps marketplace. So you see: Two competing ecosystems, one that’s open through the cloud, the other is closed and restricts users to only the apps that they want you to see” Alibaba

That argument of broader flexibility for developers, service providers, and end users doesn’t wash with Google, however. “Noncompatible versions of Android, like Aliyun, weaken the ecosystem” the company said in a statement.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Google’s Rubin: Don’t expect Alliance help if you fragment Android is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

On Thursday, we starting hearing claims that Google had strong-armed Acer out of launching its A800 CloudMobile in China with the Aliyun operating system. We reached out to the search giant for its response, but they declined to comment. Over the last 24 hours, though, Google has attempted to explain its stance, but at the same time has potentially created some confusion about how open Android really is. Below is the initial statement received by Marketing Land:

“Compatibility is at the heart of the Android ecosystem and ensures a consistent experience for developers, manufacturers and consumers. Non-compatible versions of Android, like Aliyun, weaken the ecosystem. All members of the Open Handset Alliance have committed to building one Android platform and to not ship non-compatible Android devices. This does not however, keep OHA members from participating in competing ecosystems.”

This is clearly outlining Google’s intention to prevent forked Android spin-offs from diluting the platform and the user experience. Fair enough. The trouble seems to be, however, defining when something is Android compatible, rather than its own separate (albeit Android-based) operating system. Amazon’s Kindle Fire will instantly spring to mind. The new tablets run on Ice Cream Sandwich, but are fenced-off from the official Play store and other Google offerings. As you can imagine, the debate has started to get a little heated, we go into it in more detail past the break.

Continue reading Google wants ‘better compatibility’ for Android, Alibaba says ‘Aliyun is separate,’ Acer takes the brunt of it

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile

Google wants ‘better compatibility’ for Android, Alibaba says ‘Aliyun is separate,’ Acer takes the brunt of it originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to Thursday evening folks – just one day left to go before the weekend is here once again. Today we were finally given some actual details about the Wii U, and it’s safe to say that anticipation is quite a bit higher now that we know it’s release date and pricing. Nintendo started off early with pricing and release information for Japan, and later on in the day, gave us pricing and release date details for the US and European releases. We were also given a list of “launch window” titles for the Wii U, and we have to say – it looks pretty impressive.

We also found out that Bayonetta 2 will be a Wii U exclusive, as strange as that may seem, and Activision gave us some in-depth details about Black Ops II on Wii U. Nintendo gave us a glimpse at its own take on smart TV with Wii TVii, and this new feature has us intrigued, to say the least. We got word today that Apple’s new Lightning adapters aren’t going to work with some accessories, and the iPhone 5 event video was released as well, meaning you can watch the reveal of the new iPhone, along with the various iPod refreshes that were announced yesterday.

Apple has won a pretty big patent battle against Motorola in Germany, and today eBay revealed that it will soon have a new logo, ditching the old one after 17 years. Microsoft told us what it’s doing to fight the spread of the Nitol Botnet earlier today, and we’re hearing that Google threatened to cut Acer out of the Android party at one point in time. Samsung revealed its new Galaxy Victory 4G LTE earlier today, and we were treated to a list of availability by region for the iPhone 5 and iOS 6. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak shared his hopes for the iPhone 5 and told us what he thinks of the Apple-Samsung verdict, and that is definitely something you don’t want to miss.

Google showed off the first demo that was shot entirely shot with Glass today, and it seems that the trial run of Isis has been delayed to later date and won’t be happening later this month. NVIDIA has introduced two new Kepler GPUs, and Shuttle Computer Handels has introduced its brand new OMNINAS KD20 2-bay NAS. Finally tonight, NASA has talked about plans to have a manned colony on the surface of the moon, which we have to admit has us pretty excited.

That’s all for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up! Enjoy the rest of your Thursday night everyone!

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: September 13, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We have word that Acer has called off a smartphone launch with Alibaba at the eleventh hour, with Alibaba (the biggest e-commerce company in China that did mull over purchasing a controlling stake in Yahoo) citing that pressure from Google on Acer was the main reason behind being ditched. Acer and Alibaba’s cloud computing unit originally intended to roll out the Acer CloudMobile A800 smartphone that ran on Alibaba’s very own mobile operating system known as Aliyun, but journalists who turned up for the event were prevented from entering the venue, with an Alibaba Cloud Computing official claiming the launch was canceled due to internal reasons.

A statement from Alibaba later mentioned the following, “Our partner received notification from Google that if the new product launch with Aliyun went ahead, Google would terminate Android product cooperation and related technical authorization with Acer.” There was no response from Google to this allegation, while Acer’s Shanghai-based spokeswoman Elaine Cao remained silent. What do you think of the situation?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Alibaba to launch its own Google+ like social network, Google Chromebooks New Design and Price Cut,