Barnes & Noble integrating Google Play into Nook HD and Nook HD+ tablets
Barnes & Noble is integrating many Google services — including Google Play, Gmail, Google Maps and the Chrome browser — into its Nook HD and Nook HD+ tablets. Read more »
Spark Core brings open hardware plus a cloud service to the internet of things
photo: Spark Devices
Spark Devices is using Kickstarter and DIYers as the gateway into building a hardware and cloud-based platform for the internet of things. Today it’s DIY, but tomorrow it hopes to have corporate clients. Read more »
That Chromebook Pixel with LTE might work with other mobile networks after all
The LTE radio in the Chromebook Pixel is great, provided you’re in an LTE coverage area on Verizon’s network: There’s no 3G fall back. Turns out the modem actually supports various 3G technologies that perhaps could be enabled in the future. Read more »
Free Android app turns Nintendo Wii Fit board into a smart scale
Before you spend upwards of $100, $200 or more on a web-connected intelligent scale, you might want to dig around the house for a Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board. With the FitScales Android app, you already have what you need. Read more »
Targus aims at Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note 8.0 with new “sexy” case line
When you hear the word Targus, does “understated sexiness” come to mind? Probably not, but the company hopes to change your mind with its new Midnight Collection of cases, first for the Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy Note 8.0. Read more »
HTC barely ekes out a profit, expects HTC One to turn fortunes around
Once the brightest rising stars in this new smartphone era, HTC has been falling from grace for nearly two years. The company’s latest quarterly results reflect the situation. Can the HTC One help a turnaround or is there more HTC needs to do? Read more »
One Linux over all: Mark Shuttleworth’s ambitious post-PC plans for Ubuntu
Canonical Founder Mark Shuttleworth has really big, plans to put Ubuntu on your smartphone, on your tablet and (via OpenStack). What he doesn’t offer is details on revenue. Read more »
Besieged by a changing market, Intel chooses new CEO from the inside
photo: Flickr user huangjiahui
Intel on Thursday named a new CEO and a new president. While both are internal candidates, the new president has experience that should help her face the challenges Intel has in the mobile and data center market. Read more »
Skobbler’s online-offline ForeverMap2 app is now available on iOS
The OpenStreetMap-based app, already out there for Android users, can now be downloaded for iPhone and iPad. It’s a consumer play, but also a B2B showcase for Skobbler’s mapping technology. Read more »
iPad is top selling tablet, but Android now most common tablet OS, says IDC
Tablet sellers had a really good first quarter. As a result, Apple’s overall share of tablet sales is slipping. Read more »
More offline Chrome apps arrive: Chrome Web Store previews Packaged Apps
Google has long been pushing for more offline and even native-like apps for Chrome OS and the Chrome browser. Now it’s taking the next step: Highlighting these Packaged Apps in the Chrome Web Store. Read more »
With MetroPCS, T-Mobile could help Apple reach 9 million new potential iPhone buyers
It may not be the iPhone 5 they buy — the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S may prove more attractive — but that’s OK. Read more »
Guess who went public? T-Mobile completes MetroPCS deal
T-Mobile’s deal to join with MetroPCs closed and on Wednesday morning, the newly combined company started trading on the NYSE under the ticker TMUS. Read more »
AT&T gets another exclusive: LG Optimus G Pro for $199 with contract
The LG Optimus G Pro arrived in Asia early this year and it’s a hot seller. No wonder AT&T wanted an exclusive for this smartphone. If larger phones appeal, this 5.5-inch beast is worth the look. Read more »
Samsung’s $650 NX2000 Wi-Fi camera sits between camera phones and DSLRs
Samsung’s new $650 smart camera, the NX2000, boasts connectivity like the older Galaxy Camera. But this isn’t a camera grafted onto an Android point and shoot. This is more like an appealing DSLR with Wi-Fi and NFC. Read more »
Major changes to iOS 7 coming — what will it mean for OS X 10.9?
Rushing to finish an overhaul to iOS 7 has meant Mac team members have “been roped in to help the mobile software group finish the job,” Bloomberg reports. Read more »
GigaOM Chrome Show: New hardware hints and a Skype on the web letdown
photo: Image credit: Google Store
On this week’s podcast, we dig around some Chrome OS code and find mention of support for Intel’s new chips, so new hardware may be on the horizon. Plus three tips, one listener question answered and more! Read more »
AT&T kicks off trade-in program, offers $100 or more credit for used smartphones
photo: InComm
AT&T might be trying to one-up Sprint’s current $100 promotion in the form of a smartphone trade-in program. With it, AT&T will take any relatively new smartphone and offer customers at least a $100 instant credit. Read more »
Heroku says PostGIS support enables smarter mobile app development
photo: Thinkstock
Everyone’s trying to add geographic data to mobile apps. Heroku says its embrace of PostGIS 2.0 will help devs do that faster and easier. Read more »
By 2018, tablets will be obsolete, says legacy smartphone company CEO
photo: Google
BlackBerry’s CEO is making waves again, this time by saying tablets won’t be necessary in five years and that they “aren’t a good business model.” Samsung, Apple and mobile computing trends beg to differ. Read more »
Apple looking for deeper iOS integration into cars
A report on Tuesday indicates Apple has bigger plans for the car beyond a hands-free assistant app: teaming up with carmakers to offer Apple Maps and Siri on a car’s in-dash system. Read more »
Google working on Chrome OS for Intel Haswell chips: More Chromebook battery life ahead!
Until the Chromebook Pixel, Chrome OS laptops were relegated to use older, slow Intel chips. Looks like that’s changing as new Chrome OS code has numerous references to Intel’s fourth-gen Core chip, which should greatly boost Chromebook battery life. Read more »
Ring, ring! Skype video calls arrive in the browser … with Outlook.com
Skype in the browser is finally arriving, but there’s a bit of a catch: The service is fully integrated with Microsoft’s Outlook.com email service. It’s a smart move by Microsoft to integrate the service, which will require a browser plug-in. Read more »
Leap2 gets $1.6M to change mobile search
Leap2 has a new mobile search app that’s pretty useful as well as a $1.6 million first round of funding. The Kansas City, Mo. startup combines web searching and social in a compelling package. Read more »
Verizon to spend $100M on solar panels, fuel cells for facilities
Verizon is making its largest commitment to clean power to date with a planned $100 million investment into installing solar panels and fuel cells at its facilities. The company joins the league of Apple and Google with its aggressive investments in distributed, renewable energy. Read more »
Nokia to invest in array camera outfit Pelican Imaging, report says
Californian startup Pelican has designed a camera composed of multiple smaller cameras, which aims to overcome the noise issues typically associated with tiny smartphone shooters. And it seems imaging-focused Nokia wants in. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Forecast: Global mobile subscribers and handsets, 2012-2017
Saturated markets and a slumping global economy shrank sales of mobile phones in 2012. But demand for smartphones will help restore growth moving forward, as shipments of smartphones worldwide will surpass those of feature phones in 2013. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Need a Chromebook Pixel case or sleeve? Try the Apple Store
Google has a lineup of Chromebook laptops but no sleeves or cases for them, including the new Chromebook Pixel. It turns out the Apple Store is a great place for Pixels since the laptop is similar in size to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Read more »
Skycam: A simple $99 remote webcam solution that uses Skype
Remote webcams are super for checking in on your home, pets or office. So why aren’t more people using them? They’re too complicated and costly. That’s where Skycam comes in: It leverages Skype to make for an inexpensive, simple solution. Read more »
IBM has a new protocol (and a box) for the internet of things
IBM has a new box for the internet of things, but it’s the MQTT protocol inside that box that’s worth a long look. The protocol could become the messaging layer for the internet of things. Read more »
Holy graphene: Giving batteries a boost with graphene and tiny holes
A Midwest startup wins a big business plan competition by showing the promise of its technology to create a longer-lasting lithium ion battery that also can charge at a faster rate than what batteries in smart phones can deliver today. Read more »
Get ready for Google I/O: reported Nexus 11 tablet specs leak
Google may be up-sizing its tablet line in a few weeks: A reported Samsung road-map shows a Nexus 11 tablet with two potential firsts. This could be a Nexus with memory expansion and also use an octa-core Samsung Exynos chip. Read more »
Target to promote products endorsed by Wired, including Fitbit and Belkin WeMo
Target will sell electronics products endorsed by the editors of Wired in stores and online. Selections include the Square credit card reader, Fitbit and Belkin WeMo. Target also has an editorial partnership with CNET. Read more »
Siri, watch out: personalized search service Google Now is coming to iOS
The feature is available as an update to the iOS Google Search app. It leverages user information in Google mobile apps and desktop services and its knowledge graph, aims to give users relevant answers to questions before they’ve even asked them. Read more »
Vodafone investors want more money in still-speculative Verizon takeover deal
We’d have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last rumored merger between Verizon and Vodafone, but the latest crop of rumors are taking speculation to a new extreme. Read more »
Chat apps have overtaken SMS by message volume, but how big a disaster is that for carriers?
photo: Flickr / whiteafrican
According to analysts at Informa, IP-based platforms such as WhatsApp now carry more messages than SMS infrastructure does. However, we should be cautious about how we interpret the figures. Read more »
Smartphones evolving from flat to flex with new shapeshifting prototypes
The mobile devices of tomorrow will be shapeshifters, and experimentation in the design space will make them a reality. Morphees are prototype devices that incorporate smart materials and can morph into different shapes. Read more »
With UDID gone, the mobile-ad floodgates will open – straight to Apple iOS
With the sunset of UDID this coming week, a major barrier to mobile ads will fall. The new system for iOS will benefit advertisers while still protecting consumers, and will become a revenue juggernaut for Apple. Read more »
Player FM goes native on Android with a podcast app worth checking out
Player.fm’s Android app doesn’t just offer you a way to follow your favorite podcasts – it also lets you subscribe to topics you’re interested in, and lets you access those subscriptions from its website as well. Read more »
Timing is not just for traders anymore, networks need it too
Internet architects are realizing that timing is becoming more and more important on packet-based networks. The question is how they can implement precise timing on a distributed architecture. Read more »
