Tough loss for AT&T, which will lose some business from Starbucks thanks to a new deal with Google that will see 7,000 Starbucks locations replaced with Google WiFi in order to provide faster speeds. The transition will happen over the next 18 months, and Google claims coffee drinkers will experience speeds 10-times faster than AT&T’s
The WB250 Smart camera, Samsung’s $179 WiFi-enabled point-and-shoot, just scored a major sharing boost. The pocketable cam can now boot images directly to Evernote. After downloading a software update, WB250 owners will be able to sync their images with the service seamlessly — shots can then appear on connected smartphones, computers and tablets simultaneously. Users will also be able to tap into a 3-month Evernote Premium trial, bringing a 1GB monthly upload allowance and additional sharing options. Update your software to get started.
Source: Samsung (download link)
Google and Starbucks are teaming up to boost WiFi speeds at all 7,000 Starbucks stores in the US. The move, which should be complete within 18 months, is a major loss for AT&T, the chain’s contracted ISP to date. Google claims that you’ll experience WiFi speeds up to 10x faster than what’s currently available, with a 100x boost in Google Fiber cities like Austin, Provo and KC. The rollout will begin in August — if you see “Google Starbucks” as an available SSID, you’ll know your store has been tapped with boosted access.
Filed under: Wireless, Internet, Google
Source: Google
Ever since Google TV made the move from Intel to ARM processors, Marvell has been there with its Armada 1500 CPU, providing decoding, power management and wireless support. As recent FCC documents showed, that arrangement hasn’t changed, and Marvell has just formally introduced its Armada 1500-mini processor at the heart of Chromecast. The scaled-down chip provides it (and other USB-powered devices) with 1080p decoding along with features like DRM support and access to TV-centric applications like YouTube and Netflix. Marvell also filled us in on what kind of video decoding the hardware is capable of: it supports most H.264 profiles, MPEG2/4, WMV9, VP6/8, DivX-HD and most digital audio formats (see the PR for a complete list). The high-profile Google connection aside, Marvell also said the chip will work great for other laptop, smartphone and Smart TV streaming applications. On top of that, Mountain View wants to get Chromecast tech natively into Smart TVs and other devices through its Google Cast SDK — no doubt putting Marvell on the ground floor.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet
Prolific leaker Digicame Info has just showed off new images of Panasonic’s likely new 16-megapixel Lumix GX7, along with full specs that place it squarely in the high-end, if accurate. Those include a 2.76 million dot EVF that can be tilted 90 degrees, 1/8000th of a second shutter speed, and in-body image stabilization — all of which exceed the company’s $1,500 GH-3 flagship. Other features include a 25,600 max ISO, silent mode shooting, NFC, WiFi, focus peaking, an 80-degree tiltable LCD and full HD, 60 fps video. If 43 Rumors is to be believed, all of that will cost around €1,000 in Europe for the body only (around $1,325). There’s no word on an official arrival yet, but if you’re in the market for a GH-3 and were hoping for something lighter (and cheaper), you may want to hang on. Head after the break to see the tilt EVF, or check the source for more pics.
Filed under: Cameras
Via: 43 Rumors
Source: Digicame Info
Despite the best efforts of Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, LG and others, most of the televisions in people’s homes these days are not of the smart variety. However, there are hundreds of millions of regular televisions packing HDMI ports, and Google’s new Chromecast device offers a way to put some brains into those dumb TVs by giving them access to web-based content. Having a Chromecast dongle connected to your TV means you can stream videos straight from a Google Play, Netflix or YouTube app, or mirror the content in any open tab in Google’s Chrome browser using a tab casting feature.
Sure, we’ve seen devices with almost identical functionality, like Plair, but Chromecast is backed by Google, whose relationships with content providers and developers mean that the Google Cast technology powering it will soon be popping up in even more apps. Not to mention, there’s the price. At $35, it’s almost a third of the cost of Plair and also Roku 3 and Apple TV, the current most popular devices that bring internet video to your TV. Even for such a paltry outlay, is it a worthy addition to your living room? And is it really “the easiest way to enjoy online video and music on your TV” as Google’s marketing would have us believe? Read on to find out.
Gallery: Google Chromecast review
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Google
BSkyB started investing in Roku last year and it’s leveraged that involvement to develop this new Now TV set-top box. Going on sale today for just £9.99 (including shipping), it brings a rebranded Roku 2 XD (no gaming remote) with software built for Sky’s IPTV platform and a curated list of additional channels. Notably missing from the list are Netflix, Lovefilm, ITV Player, and 4oD, however Now TV (of course), iPlayer, Demand Five, Spotify, Facebook and several Sky channels are included. It gives up a bit in flexibility compared to the standard player, but the ultra-low entry price certainly makes for a compelling option. Roku is facing more competition than ever with new game consoles, Google’s Chromecast and even Apple’s TV ambitions, we’ll see if partnering with traditional providers makes it the “operating system for TVs” CEO Anthony Wood wants it to be.
For Sky, this is just part of a multi-pronged plan to move its TV offerings into the future, detailed in today’s earnings report. Starting in September it will offer a WiFi equipped Sky+HD box to customers as the standard, and low cost wireless adapters to those with older hardware that isn’t already connected. It’s also enhancing Sky Go, with plans to add 10 new channels in the next year while marketing Sky Go Extra more. Finally, it’s adding more content to the Catch Up TV and Sky Store VOD bundle — check the PDF linked below for more details.
Gallery: Now TV box
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Now TV, Sky FY 2013 earnings (PDF)
If there’s anything better than WiFi, it’s free WiFi, but that’s usually hard to come by in public places, but that’s quickly changing. San Francisco has been desperately trying to get with the times for a few years now, and thanks to a large chunk of money donated from Google, the city will be implementing WiFi into its public parks.
At least 31 parks in the city will get free WiFi, and Google’s $600,000 donation will cover the costs of the equipment, installation, and maintenance for the WiFi for two years. After, we’re not sure what will happen, but it’s nice to know that residents in the city can go out and get free WiFi where available, thanks to Google and the government.
Of course, this won’t cover the entire city with WiFi, but many of the popular locations around San Francisco will have free WiFi available, and the network will be added on to the city’s current WiFi offerings at San Francisco International Airport and City Hall, with hopefully even more places to come in the future.
City-wide WiFi was first proposed back in 2007, but that was eventually shot down when the city couldn’t come up with the necessary resources to make it happen. However, this may be the first step into making that plan possible afterall. However, it’s anyone’s guess as to how San Francisco will continue to fund the project after Google’s donation runs dry, but we’re guessing they’ll work something out.
VIA: SFGate
IMAGE CREDIT: Idleformat
Google providing free WiFi in San Francisco parks is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
San Francisco has been striving for city-wide internet access since 2007, and with a little help from Mountain View, it’s now one step closer to achieving that lofty goal. After receiving a $600,000 donation from Google, 31 public parks in one of the world’s most tech-savvy cities will have free WiFi for at least two years. Google’s gift will cover installation and maintenance of all necessary equipment for the project, which builds upon the the city’s existing public WiFi hotspots like San Francisco International Airport and City Hall. While blanket coverage for the entire city is still a ways off, offering free internet access in places like public parks is a giant step forward in making the web accessible for all.
Via: SF Gate
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