Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Last week’s Switched On discussed why Google’s ownership of Motorola is unlikely to bring major changes to the balance of power among Android licensees. But Motorola also has significant interests in the set-top market. And, of course, there’s the question of Android’s main licensed rival, Windows Phone 7. In both of those cases, though, there is also unlikely to be noteworthy change, reinforcing the acquisition as a purely defensive move. Read on for more.

Continue reading Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2

Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates

  • The biggest update we saw this week was a widespread push of Android 2.3.3 to the Motorola Droid 2. This one is done OTA, so simply go into your settings menu and check for updates to see if it’s there. (thanks to everyone who sent this in)
  • While we saw a rollout of Android 2.3 to a select few LG Optimus Ones in June, we’re hearing reports that the update’s now getting pushed out again to a few more regions. This refresh must be done manually through LG’s updater tool, so you’ll definitely want to check to see if your phone is one of the lucky recipients. [via PocketNow]
  • US Cellular took to its Facebook Page to let customers know it’s working on revamping the Samsung Mesmerize to Gingerbread at some point, though no official date or timeframe was given aside from “as soon as possible.” [via AndroidCentral]
  • HTC announced the arrival of Android 2.3 for the Thunderbolt and Droid Incredible this month, via its Facebook page. [via AndroidCommunity]
  • In fact, some users have already reported getting Gingerbread for the Incredible, and we suspect the rollout will be complete no later than the end of the month, to fulfill the company’s promise. [via Phandroid]
  • Gingerbread is in the plans for the Motorola Milestone 2, and according to the company the refresh will begin rolling out in early Q4. [via MyDailyGadget]
  • The Samsung LC11 LTE mobile hotspot is getting a new build, EF07, that appears to improve its handling of multiple devices and congested WiFi locations. It also adds security patches and new protocols. [via Verizon]
  • An update for the Droid 3 was apparently available to soak testers and leaked online, but was pulled from Motorola servers shortly thereafter. It appears to add video chat support in GTalk and adds a new radio that’s supposed to save battery life. The via link still has the update available for anyone interested. [via Droid-Life]

Unofficial Android updates / custom ROMs / misc hackery

  • The root method used on most Motorola Android devices has been employed to root the Droid Bionic before it’s even been released. [via Droid-Life]
  • LG has released the kernel source for its Gingerbread build of the Optimus S. [via AndroidCentral]
  • The HTC Dev site expanded its support for the bootloader unlock tool this week, now encompassing all versions of the Sensation — including T-Mobile’s. [via AndroidCentral]

Other platforms

  • SPB Shell 3.0 is now available for Symbian^3 devices. It brings a fresh 3D-style UI to the OS, and can be yours for $15. [via IntoMobile]

Updates already covered this week

Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Introduces Google Apps Premier Edition

This article was written on February 22, 2007 by CyberNet.

As expected, Google has introduced their paid version of Google Apps for domains, “Google Apps Premier Edition.” Google Apps for domains has provided thousands of small businesses and organizations a way to offload their email systems while keeping their own email addresses, as well as other ways to stay connected and communicate.

Now there will be two options – a free option, and the paid option that will be $50 per user account per year. What makes this Premier Edition worth the $50? There are several unique features:

  • 10 GBs of storage per user vs. 2 GB per account with the standard free edition.
  • APIs for business integration – single sign-on, user provisioning and management, support for email gateway.
  • 99.9% uptime
  • 24X7 support for critical issues – this includes phone support.
  • Advertising option – advertisements will be turned off by default

There are already several businesses that have started using the Premier Edition like Proctor & Gamble, San Francisco Bay Pediatrics, and Salesforce.com. It seems like such a no-brainer for small businesses and even universities, because not only do they have the advantage of the 10 GB email account, Google Calendar, Google Talk, and the customized Start Page, but they’re also able to use Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and Gmail support for BlackBerry devices.

Below is an image that gives a good comparison of the standard free edition versus the paid premier edition.

Googleapps

Taking into consideration the cost of the Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps Premier could potentially save companies thousands, and thousands of dollars if they are able to adapt to using Google Docs and Spreadsheets.

Source: Google Blog-Other Google News-

Google and Gateway have formed an alliance much like the one that was formed with Dell not that long ago.  Gateway computers will now have a customized Google Personalized Homepage on the Gateway and eMachines.

And finally, according to Garret Rogers over at ZDNet, he says that charts in Google Spreadsheet are imminent based upon some code he dug up, and he says he wouldn’t be surprised if it’s rolled out soon. Good news!

 

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Google Calendar Gets Some New Features

This article was written on June 02, 2006 by CyberNet.

Google Calendar Gets Some New Features

It looks like the Google Calendar is finally getting some new features since its release nearly two-months ago. I am actually surprised at how many new features they have added:

  1. Add events to your calendar by text messaging the event to GVENT (48368), the event can be described like “Brunch at Java Cafe next Saturday at 11:00am” and then that event will be added to your calendar.
  2. You can now get a Google Desktop widget for the the Google Calendar.
  3. Google Calendar works with GMail for your domain.
  4. They have made a button creator that will now allow you to select all of the necessary options and then it will give you the code for the reminder button.
  5. They have launched the Google Calendar API so that people can make applications or other Web programs that use Google Calendar.

I am very impressed with Google’s dedication to the Calendar project. I would really like to see a task list integrated into the Calendar so that I can keep track of everything important in one location. I am sure that they are working on it though.

News Source: Google Calendar What’s New Page

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Happy Birthday Google Talk

This article was written on August 24, 2006 by CyberNet.

Google Talk BirthdayI woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise when I opened my Google Talk. They had cleverly replaced the traditional Google Talk logo with one that reflected a birthday celebration. After I got done looking at the logo singing Happy Birthday ;) I began to wonder if that logo is hard coded into the program or if it had to be retrieved from the Internet?

Anyhow, I have been using Google Talk ever since it has been released and it is now my primary instant messenger. I don’t like all of the clutter and “features” that other messengers have to offer, such as the new Windows Live Messenger. Sure some of the features would be great like video conferencing but I am sure Google will get those soon.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Visualized: an interactive timeline of the web

Ever wondered what the World Wide Web’s illustrious history would look like if plotted in timeline form? Well, thanks to Google’s “Evolution of the web,” you won’t have to. The delectable chart traces the evolution of HTML, the web technologies that came alongside it and the browsers that’ve held it all together — all in a seriously meta HTML5 package. Ready for a trip down memory lane? Hit the source, friend, and revel at how far we’ve come.

Visualized: an interactive timeline of the web originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Employees Use Google To Search

This article was written on June 23, 2006 by CyberNet.

Microsoft Employees Use Google To SearchGoogle Blogoscoped reported that 66% of Microsoft employees are using Google to do their searching. Does it really surprise you? Of course people want to use the most powerful search engine available (possibly just my opinion). Here are the stats that they are reporting:

Microsoft Corp: Top Search Engines Used
Google: 66.31%
MSN: 19.65%
Yahoo: 10.18%

Yahoo! Inc.: Top Search Engines Used
Yahoo: 68.87%
Google: 29.80%

Google Inc.: Top Search Engines Used
Google 100%

It is pretty surprising that 100% of Google employees use, well, Google. Maybe it is because anyone can easily obtain the top search result on MSN.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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HTC Flyer Honeycomb ROM leaks, not for the timid tableter

HTC Flyer

One of the biggest knocks against the HTC Flyer when it launched (besides the extra $80 the stylus would cost you) was that it shipped with a Sensed-up version of Gingerbread, instead of the more tablet-appropriate Honeycomb. But, with the Android 3.1-packing Puccini now official, the Taiwanese manufacturer is working to bring the rest of its inbetweeners up to speed and, as usual, the devs appear to have sprung a leak. There’s not much information about the early Flyer Honeycomb beta that just dropped on MoDaCo, courtesy of Paul O’Brien, but it’s already packaged up in RUU form and ready for flashing. It goes without saying, this is not for the faint of heart. If you cherish things like stability and reliability (you know, if you’re a wimp) it’s probably best to hold out for an official release. The bold can download it now at the source link.

HTC Flyer Honeycomb ROM leaks, not for the timid tableter originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AR.Drone control finally comes to Android, lazy quadrocopter enthusiasts rejoice

AR.FreeFlight

The folks at Parrot have been promising us an Android app for the AR.Drone since pretty much day one. Well, it certainly took long enough (it’s been over a year since the app was demoed at Google I/O), but pre-made quadrocopter fans no longer have to reach for unofficial solutions to pilot their unmanned vehicle with their Droids. Sadly, games for the flying augmented reality platform are still MIA, but at least you can fire up AR.FreeFlight and have the $299 UAV tear around your block and annoy your neighbors. But, it shouldn’t take long for some one to whip up something fun with the SDK. Check out the video and PR after the break, and hit up the more coverage link to download the free app now.

Continue reading AR.Drone control finally comes to Android, lazy quadrocopter enthusiasts rejoice

AR.Drone control finally comes to Android, lazy quadrocopter enthusiasts rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.3.6 begins rolling out to Samsung Nexus S, fixes voice search concerns (update: breaks tethering, too)

If you’ve been one of the unlucky folks who’ve been experiencing issues with the voice search on your Samsung Nexus S, fortune may be coming your way this weekend in the form of an OTA update. Android 2.3.6, which aims to fix the voice search bug (other improvements haven’t been detailed yet, aside from “security patches”), has officially begun rolling out to the device. The new firmware hasn’t been pushed to our devices yet — attempting a manual check yielded no results either — but Google is stating that the refresh will likely take a few days to make the rounds. So unless you’ve been hit hard by the bugs, we doubt you should panic if it takes extra time to reach your phone.

Update: We’re getting updates from all over that indicate 2.3.6 is also breaking WiFi and USB tethering across all devices, so this “enhancement” may be something to hold off on for a while until everything gets sorted out — if it gets sorted out, that is.

[Thanks, Neil]

Android 2.3.6 begins rolling out to Samsung Nexus S, fixes voice search concerns (update: breaks tethering, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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