Check out the Google IO 2012 Live Video and my G+ stream.
Tag: Android
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 1838
While watching Live.Twit.TV as they walk around early products show at CES on January 8th 2012 they stopped and talked with Lenovo and a guy was showing a ThinkPad Tablet 1838, it’s a 10.1″ Android 3.1 tablet. It has a lot of connections and ports along with a pen tool to writ on it. Also they can be setup for business and also be managed by an IT department.
You can get these now in different sizes starting at around $500.
Amazon.com: ThinkPad Tablet 1838 Android 3.1 32GB 10.1″
CES 2012 Pre-Thoughts
CES is coming for 2012 and I like to see what comes from the show. Last year it was all about 3D TVs and Android Tablets. This year it looks like tablets and apps on TVs will be some of the big things. I’m sure they will have more 3D TV but some without glasses but I don’t care because I can’t see the 3D.
Android Tablets were big last year but the ones that did come out in 2011 were flops and the main reason was that they were trying to do the old computer trick of having spec wars and charging too much. The iPad dose so good because it is not that expensive and is somewhat of a good device that has a sexy or prestige factor that the Android tablets lack because of marketing by Apple.
If they can make new tablets with Android 4.0 that are good specs and don’t cost over $500-600 then they may work out but if they want to sell lots they need to have it be good spec, Android 4.0 and cost less than $350.
As for the TVs with apps, it looks like they will be running Google TV aka Android TV, but the mistake that the companies are going to make is putting skins on them, they need to look and feel the same. Also Google and the TV companies will need to make deals to get the content producers to make apps to put their content on the system.
With Microsoft also pulling out I don’t see much coming from them, probably some new looks at Windows 8 and a recap of the new video options on Xbox 360. And I’m sure Sony and Nintendo will save most of their big things for games for E3 were I’m sure Microsoft will still have a big setup to pimp there Xbox stuff.
This year I will probably keep looking over some of the blog sites, and check out Twit.tv they have the most raw unorganized look from the floor as if you were there. CNet has some good stuff but it is more organized and almost too setup only with big names.
Kind of Want a Kindle Fire
All the talk about the Kindle Fire that came out today I have been unsure if I would like one because it isn’t a full Android tablet and its only running the older 2.3 rather then 3.2 OS. But it dose look like it would be good for consuming content, I probably would want a full Android tablet, but it would work out good for something to watch videos on and to have around. So as I’m still unsure on it check out this video that Tom Merritt did an unboxing at TWiT.TV …
Google Galaxy Nexus
Google and Samsung just announced a few days ago there new Galaxy Nexus phone and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich! From the demos of new features and how slick the hardware is its making me want one of these new phones. There are some things that bugged people such as the name is backwards to the other Nexus phones out (Nexus One, Nexus S) but meeh not that big of a problem.
There was a few problems with the demos but things like voice dictation worked good but the guy tried doing it too fast and it had the first word wrong. Also the face unlock didn’t work but that could have been other things.
But as for new things such as the fonts, task switching, camera app, menu buttons, and power of the phone I can’t wait for this. You can get some info about it on the Google site  ( http://www.google.com/nexus ) or check out the YouTube video in this post. Also Twit.TV did some good commentary along with the announcement video check it out at ( http://youtu.be/lD79yTFS2-0 )
They did not have full specs of the phone or what cell phone companies in the USA would have it, but it sounds like there will be one for CDMA companies (Sprint and Verizon) and a HSPA+ version (T-Mobile, ATT&T, almost every other cell company around the world) But they did say it would have a desktop dock like the Nexus One, this is something I use every day with my Nexus One still.
Can’t wait hope it won’t cost too much and I can get one on T-Mobile unless someone wants to give me a hook up 😀
Google Music Beta
Just got home from getting my car fix and I found a nice email waiting for me from Google saying that I have been invited to their music beta. They announced the service less than a month ago at the Google IO conference, and I signed up to be added when they had more space for people. I also have the new music app on my Nexus One and it’s kind of nice but I don’t listen to music I have on my phone all that much.
I did try out the Amazon Cloud Player a week or so ago and it was kind of cool to just have the app on my phone and be playing the songs I got without adding them to my phone. Before that I was trying a server app combo that worked ok but it was running all the time on my computer and wanted me to donate to keep it working after a month, it was called Subsonic and works the same why that both Google Music and Amazon Cloud Player do.
So far I just clicked the link in the email (I know you shouldn’t click email links but I trust and saw who it was from,) on the page it had me accept some terms and conditions (that I didn’t read much of) and then asked if I wanted some free music, I took everything just to see what there was nothing all that amazing but whatever. Then it asked to download the Music Manager and then skip on to the player.
The Music Manager was a web installer like the Chrome installer, after a user email and password it was setup very fast. On first load it asks if you want to import music from iTunes, Windows Media, My Music, or a Other folder. Because I don’t have iTunes installed and wont install it because its garbage and none of my music is in one place I did Other folders and added a few folders to the program. It then looked at the files and after the scanning of over 1,000 files it asked if I want to upload my files. It changes over to a new window showing progress and from there you can add folders and what not.
It did have an error uploading a file and it was shown in a separate window, I wouldn’t be surprised of an error because some of my music has come from years of collecting, computer wipes, and different sources. Back on the website I was seeing new songs show up and are organized kind of nice.
So far it plays good on a computer, pages load fast and the music streams like it was playing right on the computer. As for the Android app it took a second to load up the listing in the app after setting up the account to use. When you would play a track that was not cashed to the phone a few second later it would start playing over WIFI and you can see a tinted progress bar where it shows the play progress. But it all plays very nice ill have to see how 3G works some other time.
I think that Google has it working the best, but it is almost the same thing as Amazon, one difference is that Google counts the number of tracks and Amazon counts gigabytes giving you 5GB free on Amazon and 20GB if you buy an album. Where Google gives you 20,000 tracks at this point, who knows what they will do, if it’s like Picasa they will give a usable amount then sell you a yearly amount for a good price.
If you go over to http://music.google.com it looks like they are opening it up to anyone right now for there “free for a limited time” so go check it out. Below is a few screen shots of the service. Have fun with this, it might just get me to listen to more music or ill just stick with http://di.fm 😀
Android Market on PC
So Google released the Android Market on PCs in a web browser a few days ago, and from my playing around with it, it’s kind of cool. There is lots of work to be done though but it’s a start. First you can install apps from the website and have it install on your device right away. This makes it really nice so you don’t have to do all that scan a QR code or send a link to the phone or what not. Second it’s easier to find apps you may want to use, and it’s easier to see what they are with more images and even videos of the apps. But finally the bad part is it is always trying to get you to get the paid apps, which is ok but I like to find free apps and if I like them to get the paid version with more features.
Other then the fact that it wants all paid apps, I like being able to get new apps easy.
Webluke Cast 3 – CES 2011 #1
Back again with the Webluke Cast as part of the change from a list of news to a topic show this is my thoughts of CES 2011 so far as of Friday the 7th 2011 at 1:00 AM MST. I cover what I see as big including Android tablets, 3D TVs, applications for TVs, and so on.
More CES 2011 in a few days so look for that Webluke Cast soon. As always support the show and website by going to the Savings & Support link to get some deals and keep me going 😀
Webluke Cast 2
Google, Black Ops, Power-Hook, and more in Episode 2 of the Webluke Cast. Better recording then last week so check out the stories below and download the podcast.
Samsung Galaxy Tab
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20022611-1.html
Hulu Revenue
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A95C820101110
Color Comes to E Ink
http://www.pcworld.com/article/210248/color_comes_to_e_ink_lg_electronicpaper_displays.html
Amazon Increases Kindle Royalties to Publishers
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/technology/09kindle.html
Google Instant Previews
http://www.pcworld.com/article/210198/google_instant_previews_a_handson_tour.html
Google Gives Free Wi-Fi For Holidays
http://feeds.informationweek.com/click.phdo?i%3D1f6cfb07b1d055420ec02caade1654b4
Android Phone Solves Rubik’s Cube In 12.5 Seconds
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/11/11/2115235/Android-Phone-Solves-Rubiks-Cube-In-125-Seconds
Military Uses ‘Bat-Hook’ To Tap Power From Lines
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/11/11/1720219/Military-Uses-Bat-Hook-To-Tap-Power-From-Lines
Battlefield Play4Free
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id%3D273899
Call of Duty: Black Ops
http://reviews.cnet.com/Call_of_Duty_Black_Ops_Xbox_360/4514-11457_7-33657494.html?part%3Dcnet%26subj%3DCall%2Bof%2BDuty%253A%2BBlack%2BOps%2B(Xbox%2B360
GRC Domain Name Speed Benchmark
http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm
New iPods, AppleTV and iTunes Update
Well I watched the Apple iPod update tonight and I have to say I was very disappointed. Not that I like Apple products that much to begin with. But first the good stuff.
The iPods, they looked better than the last one like they always do, but there is nothing new about them except that nano version with the touch screen. The screen on a small device is cool but I have had a few iPod nanos and they were nice to just put in your pocket and play stuff, adding a touch screen makes it more complex and doesn’t make it any better. Adding recording video to the iPod Touch is cool and I wouldn’t mind one since it’s not an iPhone, but I would rather spend my money on an Android small tablet like one of the 7 inch ones that are coming out.
iTunes update not much to say but o look they changed the icon since they never sold CDs there they thought to take that out. Must have been one of those great ideas Steve had. And other than the cover where the name of the album was is something that Windows Media Player had for a long time great idea stolen again. Almost forgot this but they added Twitter into iTunes but you can’t do anything but use it in iTunes another rip-off.
Finally they rebuilt the Apple TV to be well a Roku device with some of the extra stuff and they make more money off of the stuff you rent. Ok well they do have a very few differences, such as YouTube, and playing stuff from your device but that’s not that cool unless you have been keeping up on getting the new Apple devices. This is one of those things you even look at and say “wow that looks and sounds just like a Roku and I have had mine for over 2 years!”
So to sum up the Apple stuff for this month so we can stop talking about it. New iPods, little changes in iTunes, and a rip-off of the Ruko and it will be out soon all ready for the holidays! You can just tell how excited I am.