Digital lighting: Here come the wireless, smart bulbs
Smart wireless bulbs are the latest addition to the Internet of Things. And companies like GreenWave Reality — and even Google — are developing these technologies. Read more »
An oft-overlooked benefit to Windows 8 licensing: Device variety
With a new Windows release, Microsoft is playing up to one it’s key advantages that’s easy to overlook: By licensing its software, buyers can personally choose from a variety of device sizes and form factors. But to play it safe, Surface RT is all Microsoft. Read more »
MobileTechRoundup podcast 280: Chromebooks, Surface RT and Xbox Music
On this week’s audio podcast Matt and Kevin discuss the new Google Chromebook and some special deals you can get that effectively pay for the device. Lumia sales are down; could Windows 8 and Surface RT help jumpstart sales? And why Xbox Music sounds good. Read more »
CloudLock aims to protect Google Apps from rogue apps
Google Apps for Business users need to be protected from their own downloaded apps, according to Waltham, MA-based CloudLock, which on Monday launched a firewall for just that purpose. Read more »
Is Google a free speech opportunist?
photo: Aaron Amot
Google says the First Amendment should apply to its search results — even if this allows the company to favor its own products over those of its competitors. Is this a legitimate argument? Read more »
Android this week: Galaxy Note 2 pen tricks; Nexus 7 sales; New Acer tab
Even with new devices announced, the Galaxy Note 2 continues to impress. This week, I spent more time learning about the useful S-Pen. Meanwhile, Google’s mobile revenues are app; could content for the Nexus 7 be helping? Acer’s new small slate cuts a few corners. Read more »
So how many Nexus 7 tablets did Google sell?
By all measures, Google had a terrible day yesterday. The earnings news was accidentally released earlier than expected, and poor financials saw the stock tank. But there was some good news: Estimates of Nexus 7 tablet sales are near 1 million units for the quarter. Read more »
New Chromebook brings a little fragmentation to Chrome OS (Updated)
If a web app works on Google’s old Chromebooks, it works on the new one just announced, right? Not exactly: Netflix doesn’t, nor does Bastion, a fun browser-based game. Native code in the browser may require web apps to be recompiled for the new chips. Read more »
Now it gets interesting: How to build a social contract for broadband
History demonstrates that in order to build world-class infrastructure, be it railroads or electricity, a mutually beneficial commitment between communities and the providers of that infrastructure is, and has always been, essential. It is no different for communications. Read more »
New 3G Chromebook is $80 more than Wi-Fi model
Google’s new Chromebook debuted in a Wi-Fi only model, leaving many to wonder if there would eventually be a 3G model. Turns out, there already is. Verizon’s 3G network is supported on the $329.99 device and includes 100 MB of monthly data at no extra charge. Read more »
Commutist Podcast: Boxee cloud DVR, Apple rumors, Surface and Chromebook
On this week’s show, we explain why cord cutters might be very interested in Boxee’s new product. Prior to next week’s Apple event we discuss the likely products. And which company has told a better story: Microsoft for Surface RT or Google for Chromebooks? Read more »
Subscriber Content
Social third-quarter 2012: analysis and outlook
Social media technologies continue to permeate marketing and enterprise collaboration, even if investors felt let down in the third quarter by their consumer-facing businesses like Facebook, Groupon, and Zynga. So B2B technology offerings in support of marketing and collaboration will soon steal all the social tech attention. This quarterly wrap-up analyzes these events, and provides a near-term outlook for trends, technologies and companies to watch in the next 18 to 24 months. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Google has $8 billion in mobile revenue: is that good or bad?
Google disclosed that it’s on pace to pull in an impressive $8 billion from the mobile environment — but its refusal to provide details about the nature of that revenue means it’s still not possible to tell whether the company can thrive without desktop computers. Read more »
Video hands-on with Google’s new $249 Chromebook
Google’s newest Chromebook, made by Samsung, only costs $249 and offers the same general performance of ChromeOS is a smaller, lighter package. How’d they do it? This model uses the same chip type that powers smartphones and tablets. Take a look at my hands-on thoughts. Read more »
Update: Google announces disappointing results early, stock halted
photo: google
Somebody is probably looking for a job after the search giant unexpectedly pre-announced its financial results hours before they were supposed to be released. What’s worse, the numbers were bad. Read more »
Acer takes on Nexus 7 with $230 Iconia Tab A110
Looking for a low-cost, small Android tablet? There are several choices and now there’s one more: Acer’s Iconia Tab A110 launches by month-end for $229.99. Before you get too excited, though, look at the display, which has a lower resolution screen than competing products. Read more »
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Connected consumer third-quarter 2012
The third quarter saw many parts of the traditional media business in flux. Other developments included the rollout of new device-based content ecosystems, red flags and red ink for traditional consumer electronics makers, and a resurgence of consumer purchases of movies. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Something’s brewing at Google: Android event on Oct. 29
Google sent out a cryptic invite to media and press on Wednesday, with a New York City event taking place on Oct. 29. The focus will definitely be on Android, but will it be new hardware — the next Nexus, perhaps — new software, or both? Read more »
Why Microsoft hasn’t made a good enough case for Surface RT
Normally, my gadget addiction compels me to buy new devices as soon as they’re available. So why didn’t I pre-order Microsoft’s Surface with Windows RT tablet? One key reason is that Microsoft hasn’t explained why I should; essentially this is a brand new mobile platform. Read more »
So what can you do with the Galaxy Note 2 pen, anyway?
It’s not often I buy a mobile gadget and get a bonus, but that’s how I feel about the S-Pen in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2. I never thought I’d use the digital pen, but I’m finding more uses for it every day; here are a few. Read more »
Google uncloaks the hidden world of its data centers
Google unveils photos, gives interviews, and even creates a Google Street View of some of its formerly secretive data centers. Greater transparency is the future of these massive facilities that will house the world’s information. Read more »
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A look back at mobile in the third quarter
Apple stole the spotlight in the third quarter with the release of its iPhone 5, Amazon pursued the tablet market aggressively with a new line of tablets, and Microsoft prepped to launch Windows 8 and the highly anticipated Surface tablet. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Asus PadFone 2 is a modular phone and tablet combo
Tired of synchronizing data, media and apps between a phone and a tablet? Asus is hoping so; the company introduced the PadFone 2, a powerful Google Android phone that docks into a thin 10.1-inch tablet shell and powers the slate for dozens of hours. Read more »
Sprint Galaxy Note 2 LTE lands on Oct. 25 for $299
Samsung’s 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 smartphone arrives on the Sprint network Oct. 25 for $299 with contract. The phone supports unlimited data on Sprint’s LTE network and will ship with Android 4.1.1 plus Samsung’s own software that takes advantage of the included digital S-Pen. Read more »
Siri, why did Apple hire Amazon’s William Stasior to run you?
Siri, and possibly Apple’s overall search functionality, is likely to get smarter: Apple has hired William Stasior away from Amazon. Stasior led Amazon’s A9 search unit and was Amazon’s director of search and navigation. With the move, Apple can rely less on others for search. Read more »
AT&T’s first quad-core LTE phone, LG Optimus G, available Nov. 2
AT&T is launching a new smartphone powerhouse on Nov. 2: The Optimus G pairs a quad-core chip with 2 GB of memory and a high-resolution IPS display sized a 4.7-inches. Of course, the new Optimus supports AT&T’s LTE network as well. Pre-orders start tomorrow. Read more »
iPad Mini models, pricing reportedly leaked
Apple’s iPad Mini isn’t yet a real product: It hasn’t been announced yet. However, that may change soon with talk of an upcoming event. And now there is a retail inventory system reportedly showing tablet pricing in 4 different storage capacities with Wi-Fi and cellular. Read more »
Android this week: Nexus 4 leaks; Galaxy S III Mini’d; Opera Mobile
Keeping the next Nexus phone under wraps is proving to be difficult: This week a Russian site shared details, photos and even an early review of the Nexus 4. Meanwhile, new markets will see Samsung’s Galaxy S III Mini and everyone can download Opera Mobile. Read more »
First impressions of Apple’s new iPod touch: Superb
My iPod touch arrived today and after a few hours of use, I’m impressed. Apple has taken nearly all of the iPhone 5 features and functions and put them in this super thin and light iPod. I may use Android phones, but this is my PMP. Read more »
Web traffic: iPhone 5 wins but Galaxy S III holds its own
The iPhone 5 is a few weeks old but according to one mobile advertiser, it’s already getting more mobile web traffic from the iPhone 5 versus Samsung’s Galaxy S III, which launched in June. There’s still an Android win here if you look deep enough. Read more »
Meet Manymo, a web-based Android emulator
App developers tired of testing their software on multiple Android apps have long used emulators to simulate an Android device. Now they can do that right in the browser: Manymo offers 42 various online emulators for different screen sizes, display resolutions and Android versions. Read more »
Why Google is right and the Authors Guild is wrong on book scanning
photo: Flickr user Marcus Hansson
A federal court has found that scanning books for search — which Google was doing for a university project called the Hathi Trust — is clearly covered by the “fair use” principle in copyright law, which could help Google in its own lawsuit with the Authors Guild. Read more »
Hoping for big sales, Samsung goes small with Galaxy S III Mini
Those hoping Samsung’s Galaxy S III Mini was simply a smaller version of the company’s flagship phone may be disappointed: This is for the budget market. But that’s not a bad thing for Samsung, which can leverage branding and design cues from its GSIII. Read more »
Why wait for Android 4.1.2 on that Nexus 7? Install it yourself!
Google is rolling out Android 4.1.2 to Nexus 7 tablets around the world, but it could take time before your slate sees it. Here’s how to get it now along with a video of the updates to notifications that Google included in the software. Read more »
Schmidt: Apple has to approve Google Maps app for iOS — if we build it
Google’s chairman is very confident that Apple would approve a Google Maps app for iOS. He didn’t explain why he’s so sure that Apple would “have to.” Historically, Apple has not automatically approved all Google apps for iOS. Read more »
Cloud storage wars rage on with OwnCloud’s new release
OwnCloud released its community edition and updated the business version of its service which lets IT store employee files in its cloud of choice. Cloud storage for business is a white hot market at least in terms of vendor activity. Read more »
Of course PC sales are in decline: Mobile is where it’s at
Analyst reports on PC sales are hitting the wire and they’re not good. Should this surprise? Not really when you consider how more capable and cheaper mobile devices are selling like hotcakes. The PC certainly isn’t dead, but it is dying a slow painful death. Read more »
Drippler, a helpful app for your device only, hits 2.5M downloads
Smartphones and tablets are getting more complex while folks new to this market are jumping in. How do you stay informed of news, tips and tricks for your device? Try Drippler. It’s like a Flipboard edition for your mobile device and 2.5 million have downloaded it. Read more »
Got a strong neck? This hands-free video phone is for you!
Bad hair days on video chats are a thing of the past with NTT Docomo’s hands-free video phone. Of course, a hat is a lighter solution because this heavy headgear has multiple cameras to render you as a finely detailed, and possibly better looking, avatar. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Platform as a Service in 2012
The PaaS market is predicted to reach $20.1 billion in 2014. Huge brands occupy this space, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Salesforce.com, as well as newer startups. As the market grows, watch for more consolidation, tighter integration with IaaS services, and more features. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
