ABI Research tips tablet shipments to hit 200M in 2014

The tablet market around the world is booming right now with significant growth in the industry. The growth of tablet shipments and smartphones has come at the expense of the … Continue reading

Motorola Moto 360 Smartwatch, presented by Jim Wicks, Design Chief at Motorola

Two days ago, Motorola announced the Moto 360, its smartwatch powered by Android Wear. Except for the few pictures and the few Android Wear functions that Google and Motorola described in their official blog posts, we do not know much about the exact specifications. We were invited yesterday to a hangout with Jim Wicks, CVP Consumer Experience design at Motorola and we were hoping to learn a little more.

“TIME WAS THE INSPIRATION”   Unfortunately, except for the concept and the ideas behind the round shape and the Android Wear interface, he did not share the main information we are all waiting for: no pricing, no exact release date, no battery life, no display type, no processor type no resolution were provided.

We learned a few things though: the round interface is standard in Android Wear, the SDK for a choice of a square or a round interface, the Moto 360 will be compatible with Android 4.3+ devices, it will probably only feature wireless charging or a new type of connector-less charging system, the casing is made of stainless steel with a brushed finish and a gloss finish on the edges and you will be able to see the time constantly.

Last but not least, time was the inspiration for the round shape and since 80% of the traditional watches sold in the world are round (according to Jim Wicks), we predict that Android Wear will power watches made by traditional manufacturers in the future. To learn more details about what Jim Wicks had to say about the Moto 360, read the full article.

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  • Motorola Moto 360 Smartwatch, presented by Jim Wicks, Design Chief at Motorola original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    New Android KitKat Build Reportedly In The Works

    New Android KitKat Build Reportedly In The WorksAt the moment the latest version of Android KitKat is version 4.4.2. So far it seems that there has not been any mention as to whether Google could be releasing more updates for KitKat before Android 4.5, but according to reports, it seems that Google could have one or two more updates left for KitKat before the next major Android refresh.

    According to Myce who spotted the KTU65 Android build running on the Nexus 5, they speculate that this could be an update that has yet to be released. In fact according to their breakdown of the build, they suspect that the build could have been dated on the 6th of March 2014, suggesting that it is a very recent build. (more…)

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  • New Android KitKat Build Reportedly In The Works original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Rescape Augmented Reality Mobile FPS Platform: CountAR-Strike

    If 13th Lab has its way, you could soon be playing first-person games using your surroundings as a battlefield. Or a space station, a temple and anything else you can imagine. The computer vision company is working on Rescape, an FPS platform for mobile devices that can scan and digitize your environment, turning it into a video game map.

    rescape ar 1magnify

    13th Lab uses a robotics technique called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). With the help of cameras and sensors, SLAM allows a device to make a map of its environment and place itself – i.e. know its location – within the map that it just made. The end result is shown in the image above. If you look closely you can see that the iPhone is showing a virtual equivalent of the player’s environment – everything from the structures, objects and even other players. 13th Lab calls this mix of augmented and virtual reality Reality Gaming.

    rescape first person shooter platform for mobile games 2 620x470magnify

    As of now, a Rescape package includes a 180º fisheye lens and an adjustable gun controller with a trigger and a d-pad. To drive costs down and make it easier for app developers to port their FPS games, Rescape will make use of your mobile device to map and digitize your environment, as well as track your position.

    rescape first person shooter platform for mobile games 4 620x348magnify

    The Rescape software development kit (SDK) handles the mapping feature, as well as the ability to digitally paint over a map and turn it into your battle ground of choice. I don’t know if the SDK will be simple enough for normal folks to understand and use though.  As I mentioned, mobile game developers can port existing FPS games into the Rescape platform, but that’s not as fun as turning your house or university into a game map.

    Pledge at least $39 (USD) on Kickstarter to get the Rescape controller and Office Defender, the game shown in the video. Pledge at least $129 and you get the controller, the game and the Rescape SDK. When it launches Rescape will only support the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S, with “experimental support” for the iPhone 4S. 13th Lab promises that it will provide support for Android devices within a few months after the launch.

    [via InStash]

    AT&T Samsung Gear 2, Neo, Gear Fit releases set

    This week the folks at AT&T have let it be known that they’re releasing the full Samsung collection of wearable devices revealed at Mobile World Congress 2014 including the Gear … Continue reading

    AT&T Galaxy S5 release begins with pre-orders this week

    Starting tomorrow, Samsung will be offering the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 with 4G LTE and the whole works with a ship date in early April. Meanwhile it … Continue reading

    LG G Watch will run on Android Wear

    lg-g-watchIt does seem as though the smartwatch market segment is all set to scale greater heights than ever before, with word that Google will be releasing the Android Wear platform that makes wearable technology all the more viable in everyday life. Motorola did announce their Moto 360 smartwatch earlier this week, and South Korean consumer electronics giant LG has decided to hit back with a reply of their own, calling it the LG G Watch. This LG G Watch will run on Android Wear, and that makes it play nice with a wide range of Android smartphones, as it works to offer you relevant information as and when you require. Alternatively, you can just speak “OK Google” to the LG G Watch, ask it a question, and get stuff done.

    LG, being one of Google’s lead partners in this effort, has plans in their pipeline to introduce the LG G Watch to the masses sometime in the second quarter of this year, so we should not see it being delayed beyond June 2014. The LG G Watch that is powered by Android Wear is touted to offer a low barrier to entry for developers, and not only that, it also claims to offer the best Google experience for users. I suppose only time will tell when the device is finally delivered to the masses.

    LG engineers have been said to have worked closely with Google from the initial stages of development to ensure that the LG G Watch worked perfectly with Android Wear. This makes the LG G Watch as LG’s fourth device developed in close collaboration with Google, where the previous three models would be the Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and the LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition.

    Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, shared, “The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering. With the LG G Watch, LG is continuing the milestones we’ve set in wearables following in the footsteps of the world’s first 3G Touch Watch Phone in 2009 and the Prada Link in 2008. We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.”

    Press Release
    [ LG G Watch will run on Android Wear copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

    Having proudly claimed the first Android-Windows Phone dual-boot phones would arrive by spring, Huaw

    Having proudly claimed the first Android-Windows Phone dual-boot phones would arrive by spring, Huawei is now backpedalling—saying they won’t happen after all. Sound familiar?

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    Google Keyboard Update Comes With Personalized Suggestions Now

    Google Keyboard Update Comes With Personalized Suggestions NowIt makes perfect sense for the likes of Google to introduce their very own keyboard app into the Play Store, considering how they are the ones behind the Android mobile operating system. Apart from gesture typing, Google decided that an update is long overdue – and has finally pushed out the latest version to its Google Keyboard that will see the inclusion of personalized suggestions.

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  • Google Keyboard Update Comes With Personalized Suggestions Now original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Google Search App On Android Uses Voice Command To Snap Photos And Record Videos

    Google Search App On Android Uses Voice Command To Snap Photos And Record VideosGoogle Search for Android can be a pretty handy app, especially when you need information right at your very fingertips without having to go through too much of a hassle. Well, the internet search giant has certainly done their homework this time around to know just what consumers want, having released the latest version of the Google Search App on Android which allows you to perform a search via voice. Yes sir, all that you need to do is to just tap the microphone or say “Ok Google,” followed by “take a photo” or “take a video.”

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  • Google Search App On Android Uses Voice Command To Snap Photos And Record Videos original content from Ubergizmo.