Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on January 16, 2008 by CyberNet.

The New York Times managed to get some time with Steve Jobs yesterday after his keynote, and there were some interesting remarks in the interview from Jobs. Apparently his mother never taught him that if he didn’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all.

First up was the Amazon Kindle (review). This is portable reading device designed by Amazon that is able to download digital books without ever needing to be connected to a computer. Amazon can’t even keep the device in stock, but Jobs said that:

It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.

Then he went on to talk about the Google Android (review) mobile operating system which is expected to be released later this year. Interestingly enough Apple has worked with Google to provide specialized services on the iPhone, such as mapping and YouTube videos, but that didn’t hold Jobs back from expressing his true feelings:

Having created a phone its a lot harder than it looks. We’ll see how good their software is and we’ll see how consumers like it and how quickly it is adopted. I actually think Google has achieved their goal without Android, and I now think Android hurts them more than it helps them. It’s just going to divide them and people who want to be their partners.

The thing is that Google isn’t actually creating phones, instead they are developing the software to run on the phones. It’s likely that there will be dozens of different devices running Android when it is released, and that will help speed up the adoption rate. Particularly if they are more affordable than the iPhone.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both Kindle and Android, and to see just how accurate Jobs’ predictions are.

New York Times [via Gizmodo]
Thanks to “Google” for the tip!

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

Related Posts:

Fake Steve Jobs is Closin’ Up His BlogGoogle Android Devices DemonstratedIs The Kindle Amazon’s iPod?Hey Bloomberg, Steve Jobs Isn’t Dead!Prepare for Macworld 2008 with Past Bloopers

Good way to start Wednesday, indeed. Right on schedule (and not a minute too soon), the over-the-air Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) update for Motorola Droid X has started propagating the radio waves. We’ve received dozens of tips already, from those who both checked manually and received notification in the status bar. In addition to a new Android, there’s also improves visual voicemail with Bluetooth support, a refreshed mobile hotspot app, and a fix to prevent data connections from dropping as you move between WiFi and 3G coverage. Go on, check your phone now — and don’t forget to pick up the new Gmail when you’re done updating.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Droid X now getting OTA Android 2.2 update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Don’t blink — you might just mistake ViewSonic‘s new G Tablet for the ViewPad that we handled back at IFA. This guy, however, packs a very different list of internal specifications in a 10-inch tablet form factor that’s beginning to look all too familiar. Showcased for the first time last night in New York City, this guy dumps Intel’s Atom in favor of NVIDIA’s Tegra 2, and rather than booting a pair of operating systems, it relies solely on Android 2.2 — a mobile OS that Google has specifically said isn’t tailored for use on slates. At any rate, there’s also 1GB of RAM, a 1024 x 600 resolution panel, USB / HDMI, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 16GB of storage, a 1.3 megapixel camera and a chassis that measures 9.96- x 6.5- x 0.5-inches. We’re told that it handled 1080p media without any trouble, and while the capacitive touchpanel was deemed “beautiful,” the ultra glossy coating will certainly turn off those who plan to visit the great outdoors. It’s expected to hit shelves in October with a lofty $529 retail price, and with that, we’ll simply wish it the best of luck and point you to the video past the break.

Continue reading ViewSonic outs 10-inch G Tablet: Android 2.2, NVIDIA Tegra 2 on the inside

ViewSonic outs 10-inch G Tablet: Android 2.2, NVIDIA Tegra 2 on the inside originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Laptop, Hot Hardware  | Email this | Comments

Didn’t get in on one of those $199 netbook closeouts earlier in the year? If you’re willing to deal with Android (an Android that lacks bona fide Android Market access), you can redeem yourself right now. Augen‘s 10.2-inch netbook, dubbed the GenBook 108, is now on sale through Kmart, offering a 1024 x 600 resolution display, an 800MHz ARM11 processor, 256MB of DDR2 memory, 802.11b/g WiFi, an SD / MMC card slot and a 2100mAh battery. The whole shebang weighs just 1.8 pounds, and Augen even throws in a (p)leather carry case, a USB cable and a 93 percent full-size keyboard. Get in on the fun for just $189.99 — but you may want to read about our disappointment with the outfit’s Gentouch 78 and $99 netbook before carelessly pulling the trigger.

[Thanks, Nick]

Augen’s 10.2-inch GenBook 108 goes on sale at Kmart for $190 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Kmart  | Email this | Comments

Hello, obvious! Anyone who has actually used an Android-based tablet for any length of time would probably tell you that the experience is far from optimal. It works, sure, but it doesn’t take a CSC major to understand that Google’s existing builds of Android were crafted for smartphones and nothing more. Thankfully for those who are tired of arguing the point, Hugo Barra, director of products for mobile at Google, is stepping up to the plate and giving you some backing. Quoted over at Tech Radar, Hugo noted that “Android is an open platform, and we saw at IFA 2010 all sorts of devices running Android, so it’s already running on tablets; but the way Android Market works is it’s not going to be available on devices that don’t allow applications to run correctly.” He followed up by proclaiming that “Froyo is not optimized for use on tablets,” and while he wouldn’t go so far as to affirm that Gingerbread would be built for use on the aforementioned form factor, he did say that the company’s working “to ensure our users have [the] right experience.” How’s that strike you, Galaxy Tab?

Google: Android 2.2 ‘not designed’ for the tablet form factor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Tech Radar  | Email this | Comments