You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This article was written on February 04, 2008 by CyberNet.
If there was ever any question about whether or not Google liked Microsoft, we now know for certain that they don’t. Google actually wrote-up a Press Release to talk about Microsoft’s offer to acquire Yahoo for $44.6 billion. Here are some of the key words and phrases I picked out of the announcement that give us an idea of how they feel about Microsoft’s proposal:
Google does not like this offer one bit and it is obvious why. They even point out that both Microsoft and Yahoo have an “overwhelming share of instant messaging and web email accounts” which they do. On the other hand though, if you take a look at search market share, a combined Yahoo and Microsoft would get about 33% of the share while Google has 60%. In some areas Google dominates, but in others they wouldn’t.
Now that Microsoft put their offer on the table, other companies (like News Corp.) and financial institutions may come with an offer as well. An article in the Wall Street Journal points out how even Google wants to “Help Yahoo Fight Off Microsoft.” Their offer is to form some type of alliance which would be an alternative to “giving in to Microsoft.” Can you imagine the scrutiny Google would face if they did in fact form an alliance with Yahoo? Then we’d see Microsoft throwing their arms up and screaming “Monopoly” as Google just did with Microsoft’s offer.
Over at Yahoo headquarters, a memo to employees said: “We want to emphasize that absolutely no decisions have been made — and, despite what some people have tried to suggest, there’s certainly no integration process underway.” All we know is that Yahoo has some big decisions ahead of them which will ultimately affect their future. Any thoughts on which route they should take?
Copyright © 2013 CyberNetNews.com
This week the folks at LG have announced the LG G Pad 8.3 tablet, the first tablet the company has announced for the market in several years. Remember the double-camera-toting 3D-capable T-Mobile LG G-Slate? Todays tablet device is delivering a whole new experience – bringing on an 8.3-inch display with Full HD resolution and hardware […]
Following up on its initial tease from earlier this week, LG has officially revealed the G Pad 8.3 ahead of IFA. The slate’s positioned as the next step from its G2 smartphone, and the company claims it’s the first eight-inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) full HD screen. The device features a 4,600mAh battery, and runs Jelly Bean 4.2.2 atop a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor aided by 2GB of RAM. Despite all that, it’s just 8.33m thick and weighs 338 grams. Software enhancements include QPair and QSlide — the former lets you receive messages and calls from JB-equipped Android phones on the G Pad itself, while the latter allows for three apps to run on-screen at once. What’s more, with KnockOn you simply tap the screen twice to wake it up. The G Pad 8.3 will be available globally beginning in Q4 in your choice of black or white with 16 GB of storage. No word on pricing just yet, but expect a hands-on once we catch it on the show floor.
Filed under: Tablets
Following up on its initial tease from earlier this week, LG has officially revealed the G Pad 8.3 ahead of IFA. The slate’s positioned as the next step from its G2 smartphone, and the company claims it’s the first eight-inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) full HD screen. The device features a 4,600mAh battery, and runs Jelly Bean 4.2.2 atop a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor aided by 2GB of RAM. Despite all that, it’s just 8.33m thick and weighs 338 grams. Software enhancements include QPair and QSlide — the former lets you receive messages and calls from JB-equipped Android phones on the G Pad itself, while the latter allows for three apps to run on-screen at once. What’s more, with KnockOn you simply tap the screen twice to wake it up. The G Pad 8.3 will be available globally beginning in Q4 in your choice of black or white with 16 GB of storage. No word on pricing just yet, but expect a hands-on once we catch it on the show floor.
Filed under: Tablets
Google’s Project Loon
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It’s not often when a single smartphone company has two reports leaking from the same arena saying they’re creating both higher-end and lower-end products in the same breath. That’s just what’s happened this weekend as a pair of reports from the same reporter suggest that South Korean media reports pin Samsung for a lower-end Samsung […]
The Maps Wars are on in earnest—with Apple Maps now finding its feet after a shaky start, and Bing Maps forming an integral part of Windows Phone, Google Maps can’t afford to stand still. A recent overhaul
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When Motorola announced it’s first flagship since becoming part of Google’s empire, it was to mixed response. But, if evleaks is right, as is often the case, then a forthcoming $100 price-drop could suddenly change a few minds. Currently, the customizable phone, that listens to your every word, will set you back $199 on your network of choice, so a drop to $100 on contract — reportedly just in time for Christmas — could see this rise up the gift lists. Oh, and those wooden covers? Our leaker claims will come with a $50 price tag, for those that want the natural look this winter.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: @evleaks (Twitter)
To make sure Google’s Project Loon is more internet via balloon than pie in the sky, the search giant turned to data simulations. Loon Rapid Evaluator Dan Piponi’s goal was to determine the possibility of a “nicely spaced flock of balloons” to provide reliable airborne internet. Proper spacing is key for this because if the gaps are too wide, coverage will be spotty — the opposite of what the initiative is hoping to achieve. He iterated “hundreds” of times using publicly available wind info to visualize how different stratospheric factors would affect balloon travel and found that yes, they could indeed be evenly distributed. Piponi posited that in the future, the balloons could have information about what other balloons are doing around them and adjust spacing on their own, accordingly. If you ask us, that sounds like the internet of things is taking to the clouds.
Source: Project Loon (Google+)
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