New Nexus 7, the Highlight of Google I/O 2013

I believe that the news that New Nexus 7 will be announced on upcoming 2013 Google I/O conference has caught people’s eyes, since the Nexus 7 offers the best small tablet experience. Of course, Nexus 7 need to be improved when faced up with rumored iPad Mini 2 and the Galaxy Note 8. So what terms may be improved?

The rumors said that the New Nexus 7 will feature upgraded specs like a high-resolution screen, better cameras and wireless charging but with the same price $199.This is really the exciting news, that is to say, we can get another better cheap small tablet.

According to KGI Research, the next generation of Nexus 7 will run Android 4.3 Jelly bean rather than Android 5.0 Key Pie Lime.It is also said that the new one will turn to a new processor from Nvidia Tegra to Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, which may provide the higher performance, flexibility, global 3G/4G connectivity and energy efficiency.

In terms of display, the small tablet may come with a 7-inch LTPS panel carrying a 1,980*1,200 pixel resolution, just the same as Nexus 10. Full HD display, great? For camera, just like Note 8, the next-gen Nexus 7 may be also packed with a 5-megapixel rear facing camera while the old one only provide a 1.2MP rear camera. Besides, there is a possibility that New Nexus 7 offer the wireless charging, that is really amazing.

Considering of design, the next small 7 inch tablet may feature a slimmer bezel design kind of like iPad Mini.

The new Nexus 7 is reportedly be released in July, and with these upgrades, new nexus 7 seems to be more powerful than Galaxy Note 8, but there is one thing we are really want Google to do is to add a SD card, though there are some ways to expand Nexus 7’s storage.

Whatever, the next-gen 7 will unarguably a highlight at the big conference of Google, let’s just expect it.

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie：What can we Expect for?

When the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean lighted our eyes with the new amazing features, what can we expect for the next Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, which is rumored to be released at Google I/O conference from May 15 to May 17 2013? The fresh features of Android 5.0 really cause people’s great interest. Just let’s have a look at some opinions about Android 5.0 features.

Guest Mode
We all know the amazing multiple-user feature on Android 4.2, which opened a way for the mobile platform to look like Windows on a desktop PC. And as the rumors said, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will bring about the fantastic guest mode, which will let guests access some parts of the device from the lock screen, meanwhile the mode can prevent the access to SMS, phone storage and anything besides what the owner thinks appropriate without a password.

Lockscreen and Widgets
It is said that Google will improve the Lockscreen like fetching more widgets to the standard lock screen. With the improvement, you may can directly access to a lot of apps including camera app thanks to a simple right-to-left gesture from the right edge of the screen.

Shutter speed Control
The iPhone and Lumia 920 have done a good job with their exclusive camera sensors in terms of Shutter speed control on camera app, while it has not been possible in most Android devices, owing to the reason of slowing shouter speed that every Android company uses different sensors and the shouter speed is mostly controlled through different drivers. So the feature of Shutter speed Control on Android 5.0 can help solve the problem of slowing shutter speed on Android within the camera app. With the control, the Android compatible device can produce more nice images.

Better multiple device support
Speaking of the multiple device support, Google already does a good job, but there are still some problems in synchronizing various contents among Android devices. To get improved, the new Android OS should include better multiple device support to help people who own a couple of phones and tablets.

Video Chatting app
At the moment, almost all the smartphones and tablets offer the front camera, but actually we use it little.So a video chat app is the chance to change the condition.

Cross-device SMS sync
If you use more than one phone on the go, chances are you've lost track of your text messages at some point when changing to another phone. The Android system stores these on the phone rather than the SIM card, so it will be nice if the texts could be sync to the SIM, the SD card for easy and consistent access across multiple devices.

Android 5.0 Devices
The Android 5.0 devices may includes the rumored Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4,Sony Xperia Z, HTC One, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 10.1,etc.

All the things here are just speculations and what the real thing is, we should wait. And if you have some thought about Android 5.0, I ‘d like that you can leave a messge.

Turn Your Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 into a Digital Photo Frame with Daydream

Own a Google tablet Nexus 7 or Nexus 10? Saving tons of photos and want to automatically view them when you are idle? The feature Daydream of Android 4.2 or Basic Sleep Mode Apps in Android 4.2.1 or Basic Daydreams in Android 4.2.2 lets you enjoy the fun on the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. With the Daydream feature, you can now easily transform the Google tablets into a digital photo frame by displaying a slideshow of images, a clock, Google Articles or colors when idle. Next lets us see how to configure Daydream on Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.

Step 1: At first, drag down from the top right of the screen of the tablet to enter into the Settings menu, and then tap on "Display" in the left hand panel.

Step 2: Tap Daydream in the main panel to open its features. Then tap the slider at the top of the screen to switch it on.

Tip:Daydream can show either a clock, colors,articles from Google Currents, a photo frame or a photo table when the tablet is idle.

Step 3. To air your photos in the background , just tap the settings icon beside either Photo Frame or Photo Table option. Meanwhile select the "100ANDRO" folder or your profile picture and screenshots.

Step 4.After that, you can preview your selection by tapping "Start now" at the top of the screen, and the tablet will enter Daydream mode, tap back button to exit the mode.

Tip:If you're using Daydream in photo table mode, you can tap on any image to view a larger version.

Step 5.Besides, you can also specify when Daydream from the options of when docked and when charging by tap "When to Daydream" at the top right of the screen.

When the setting is finished, you can get the enjoyment of your photos when your tablet is idle. If you haven’t experience that, just get a shot of it.


Related article:
Turn Your Nexus 7 into a Real Kindle Fire

Nexus 10 Review: A Best but Cheap 10 inch Tablet

Google has released the second tablet Nexus 10 this month accompanied with Samsung after the launch of 7 inch Nexus 7.It has boomed since it is available at Google Play and it is quickly sold out internationally as well as LG Nexus 4.So, why does it attract people soon? Where does it better then Nexus 7? Let’s just explore the features of Nexus 10.

Competitive Hardware and Display

Key points.With a notable 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 WQXGA display(300 ppi), Samsung gives Nexus 10 a dual-core 1.7GHz Exynos 5250 A15 processor with Mail T604 graphics and 2GB of RAM. You have two options of storage 16GB and 32GB.It has doubled the resolution of Nexus 7 and created the highest resolution even iPad 4 which sports 2048*1536(264ppi) cannot compete for in tablet market at present, the 1.7 GHz processor is the fastest as well.

Portability.It measures 8.9mm and 603 grams which slightly thinner and lighter than the full-size iPad's 632 grams.

Camera.Nexus 10 has a 5-megapixel rear camera for shooting videos at 1080p resolution, better than cameras on other tablets, going with a camera app. Of more practical use is the 1.9-megapixel front camera for video calls for Google+ and other social work.

Ports and sensors.Ports include microUSB (for charge) and micro HDMI, and there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and Pogo pins for use with a dock. All of the usual sensors include an accelerometer, digital compass, ambient light, gyroscope, barometer, microphone and GPS.

Battery.The battery is a 9,000 mAh Li-Poly pack which Google says is likely good for up to nine hours of HD video playback.

Display.With the 16:9 aspect ratio screen and more-than-Full-HD resolution, Nexus 10 is ideal for widescreen video playback without black framing bars.

Featured Software

Just like Nexus 4, Nexus 10 runs the latest Android 4.2 Jelly bean. It takes many new useful and dazzling features. Most notably is Photo Sphere which allows you to create 360-degree images. You can also share the images or even add to Google Maps. Google Now, a Google's voice-powered assistant similar to Siri, brings you the information you care about like sports scores, weather, and even the status of packages from Amazon that have been shipped to you. Also there are many new amazing features about Android 4.2, you can check out this article” New features of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean You should know “.

Better Entertainment

Playing games.Thanks to its high HD display, playing games on Nexus 10 has become a more excited experience. When playing a heavy game like Angry Birds Star Wars, it was awesome than ever. You will feel that never too clear.

Content side.Approximately 600,000 apps and games are available, and up to 20,000 songs and many films can found at Google Play store, less than Apple store but Google is now working hard on it and more and more contents will be offered.

Fastest Web.With a strong Wi-Fi connection, you can get a fast web speed and use YouTube as a breeze. Also, the 2 GB of RAM helped apps open quickly and made multi-tasking very efficient.

The bad Parts

No memory card slot. Nexus 10 comes in 16GB and 32GB models, and if that’s simply not enough, you just cannot expand the storage, which is really terrible for us.

No 4G LTE. If you want a 4G LTE Nexus 10 just like Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, you will be disappointed. At least at the moment, Nexus 10 is a Wi-Fi only tablet.

Price

$399 gets you the 16GB version, while $499 hooks the 32GB model, which has $100 lower than iPad 4.

Conclusion

With superior design and swift performance, Nexus 10 is no doubt one of the best Android tablets to date. Including beautifully sharp screen with highest HD display and the fastest processor of any Android tablet, the best Android OS and amazing Photo Sphere, Nexus 10 make a difference. It's light, durable, and it is an incredibly cool concept. The $399 price tag is not expensive with such specs. But the lack of expanding storage is still one thing that keeps people away from it. But if you don’t care this and you just want a cheaper tablet with more customization, then go with the Nexus 10. 






More review:

• Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Review: the Most Worthy Buying Kindle Fire 
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Review 
• Google Nexus 7 Review 
• Asus Transformer Pad TF300T Review 
• Review of Lenovo IdeaTab S2109

Upgrade Your Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7 to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Nexus 10 has finally come to us today, and it is said to both of them are sold out internationally, also Nexus 4 and 32GB are sold out in US. We have to say it is really a big situation. Furthermore, Google starts offering the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean to Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7 users with the upgrade of OTA. If you don’t want to wait for Google and prefer to manually upgrade directly, then the way this article will introduce is probably what you find.

At present, Google has released the latest firmware for Android 4.2 for Galaxy Nexus devices (GSM version, not available for LTE provided by Verizon) and Android 4.2 ROM for Nexus 7.Users can flash the devices manually with firmware or ROM.

If you use Galaxy Nexus device, you need to download takju ROM (Below link), then you can quickly install the Android 4.2 on your smartphone. You can do it with ROM Manager developed by ClockworkMod, a free download on Google Play, or just flash the system manually if you have the ability.

For Nexus 7, it is similar to upgrade Android 4.1 to Android 4.2.Click the below nakasi link to download the Android ROM file, again use either ROM Manager or the manual method to install Android 4.2 on your Nexus 7.The process is not too hard for most Android users.

But if you are neither familiar with system flashing nor know CA, then you might be better off waiting for Google’s OTA update to arrive which should happen in the next few days.

Jelly Bean 4.2 is an incremental update from Jelly Bean 4.1, and brings a number of new features,for example, photo sphere panorama style software camera. When you upgrade your Nexus device, you can enjoy the new features just like on Nexus 4 or Nexus 10.

Download Galary Nexus takju     Download Nexus 7 nakasi




Related article:  
How to Upgrade Your System to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean?

Nexus 10 vs iPad 4 vs Surface RT vs Kindle Fire HD 8.9

Google has announced its new and first 10 inch tablet Nexus 10 running the latest Android 4.2 to stack up against the recently released iPad 4, Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and Surface RT. Obviously, these four tablets all have their special features which will focus the different customer’s attention, and then which one is more likely to be loved by people? Google can make the Nexus 10 the same success as Nexus 7? Let’s just have compared they to get the conclusion.

Features

Nexus 10

• NFC (sharing and wallet)
• Widgets
• Enhanced notifications
• Google Now (voice or type or automatic based on settings)
• Instant shutter, panoramic, Sphere camera
• pic/video editing
• Google Search (voice or type)
• Instantly have ALL content on any Android device or PC by just logging in to Google.
• Solid interoperability with Chrome and thus any PC regardless of OS.

iPad 4

• Enhanced Notifications
• Siri (assistance/ searching)
• Passbook (holds ticketing/ reservatiosns/ etc)
• High quality camera, panoramic
• pic/video editing
• Best resale value
• Solid interoperability with other Apple products (Mac/Safari)

Surface RT

• ARM variant of PC Windows. Will be closest to PC-like experience.
• Bing (type or voice)
• Live Tiles
• Solid Interoperability with Windows 8 and winphone8
• Smartglass with all major game consoles
• Badass attachable keyboard
• Includes free full MS Office software

Amazon Kindle Fire HD

• Ultra-fast 4G LTE wireless from AT&T
• Stunning HD display
• Exclusive Dolby Audio and Powerful Dual Stereo Speakers
• Kindle Owners' Lending Library, Free Month of Amazon Prime, Vibrant HD Magazines
• Audiobooks by Audible
• X-Ray, Whispersync, Immersion Reading
• Access your content on other devices
• Free Skype HD Video Calls
• Amazon store’s music,books,movies,etc.
• Designed for both parents and kids.

Basic Spec

 

My Opinion
In terms of weight, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 takes this category as the lightest, but in terms of mobility, the revamped iPad 4 is the winner. And if you are Amazon fans,maybe you want to get the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for its attractive Amazon service. With the most advanced android system at present, special NFC service and the highest resolution, Nexus 10 can without doubt get people’s attention.

The Windows RT boasts a quad-core processor, promising better performance than most its rivals. It’s also ripe with Microsoft Office capabilities, so those who are very familiar with using Microsoft Office for productivity will surely enjoy using the RT.

iPad 4 will also be hot with its A6X processor for Apple fans and others. If you consider of the price,then Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and Nexus 10 will be your options.

Whatever, just make a wise choice. 




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• Amazon 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD VS Apple New iPad 
• Kindle Fire vs New iPad  
• Google Nexus 7 vs Windows RT Surface: the New battle

New Nexus Tablets,Smartphone are Announced By Google Today

Google announced lots of new hardware today via blog post, after an event in New York was canceled in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. The big items:

• The Nexus 4 smartphone, developed with LG. It features a quad-core processor, a 4.2-inch display, and a wireless charging feature that lets you power the phone by setting it down on a charging service. It runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and a feature called Photo Sphere for creating 360-degree panoramas. The phone goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.
• The Nexus 7 now comes in new Wi-Fi models that are 16GB (for $199) and 32GB (for $249). Google also is making a version available with an HSPA+ cellular connection -- $32GB for $299. It's on sale Nov. 13.
• The Nexus 10 tablet, developed with Samsung, offers what Google calls the highest-resolution screen in the tablet marketplace at 300 pixels per square inch. That 2560 by 1600 pixel display will still get nine hours of video playback, Google says. And it has an account-switching feature that lets multiple users share the tablet more easily. The 16GB model goes for for $399; the 32GB model costs for $499. It's available Nov. 14.

Google also announced an update to Google Now, its predictive-search feature that presents information on a series of cards without the user having to search. In addition to weather and traffic information, cards will now display flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and shipping details, the company said.

Source:cnet

A 10-inch Nexus tablet with Android 4.2 to be Released by Google on October 29?

The end of this month promises to be full of tech news, as Apple has an event on Tuesday that could see the release of the iPad Mini, Microsoft launches Windows 8 on Friday, and Google has scheduled an Android event for the 29th. As you might expect, leaks are emerging about what the search giant is planning to announce at that event, including the long-expected larger sibling to its Nexus 7 tablet.

The Next Web is reporting that Google is working with Samsung on a 10-inch Nexus -- code-named "Manta" but possibly to be released as the Nexus 10 -- that will compete against the Apple iPad, Amazon Fire HD 8.9", and Windows RT tablets, including the Microsoft Surface.

The site says it's been tipped off on two intriguing specs the new Nexus will have. One is resolution: 2,560x1,600, which could work out to be a higher pixel density (around 300 pixels per inch) than the latest iPad with Retina Display offers. The tablet will also apparently ship with Android 4.2, which was once code-named Key Lime Pie, but which is now being referred to as Jelly Bean, just as Android 4.1 has been.

The Nexus probably won't be the only device announced on the 29th that will run Android 4.2, but it will probably be touted as the first tablet to have it. Whether the latest OS will offer enough novel features to make the Nexus 10 stand out in the ever-more-crowded full-size tablet market remains to be seen, but the success of the Nexus 7 suggests that Google would probably have another winner on its hands regardless.

Are you intrigued by a 10-inch Google Nexus tablet? Enough to buy one over another full-size slate? Let us know in the Talkback section below.

source:zdnet



Related article:
3G-based Google Nexus 7 Unveiled, the Same Price, More Powerful

3G-based Google Nexus 7 Unveiled, the Same Price, More Powerful

Google Nexus 7 tablet has become the highest selling Android tablet in its history since going on sale on 27 July, Carphone Warehouse, the UK’s largest independent mobile retailer, said. Although new tablets, including the Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD, the upcoming iPad Mini and Microsoft Surface, are aroused with some attractive features, Nexus 7 still keeps its popularity. However, the lack of 3G function also alienates some people.

Luckily, thing has changed. Rumor that there will be a 3G-capable Nexus 7 tablet has confirmed by Taiwan's NCC, a certification agency, with the model of ME370TG.

Details
 
The present model of Nexus 7 is ME370T, only supports Wi - Fi, providing two choices of 8 GB and 16 GB, but a 32 GB version has been leaked on the web just recently. There are two certain reasons that the ME370TG appeared in Taiwan NCC will be the 3G version of Google Nexus 7.First, the model has been added a “G”,and the other is this version will support the GSM/DCS/WCDMA/WLAN/bluetooth/NFC and so on.

However, the 3G version has only the choice of 32 GB, which may mean that the price will not attractive. In addition, although the 3G version has been verified by the NCC, the releasing data is not sure, there is even the possibility that Google will set the price after the launching of Apple iPad Mini.

Released on October 24?

According to the blog BGR, Google will replace 16 gb version by 32 gb version with the same price of 249 dollars to enhance Nexus 7’s competitiveness for the upcoming iPad mini.As for the specific launching time, Rumor said the 3G-based Nexus 7 comes on October 24,the next day of   iPad mini apple releasing day. The 3G version appeared with 32GB storage this time may also mean that Google will debut the 3G version next week.

It is absolutely the good news for customers especially for Nexus fans that Google will release the 3G-based Nexus 7 .If the 3G version is the same price as the present 16GB version, offering the bigger 32 GB storage, the core competitiveness of Nexus 7 will without doubt been strengthened and it will be the selling point, too.

Google market value overtakes Microsoft.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Google market value overtakes Microsoft.

Google has overtaken Microsoft for the first time in terms of market value, becoming the third-most valuable company on public markets behind Exxon Mobil and Apple.

Based on closing prices yesterday, Google's shares ended the day to value the company at US$249.1 billion, nearly US$2 billion more than Microsoft. Google is in an escalating arms race with Apple (US$628 billion), the next company in Google’s sights, after Apple launched its own less-than-stellar maps application that replaced a Google-powered version on the iPhone.

Apple goes after Google`s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Apple goes after Google`s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Apple said it plans to extend its claims of infringement to include Samsung products released since the last case management conference in May. Having evaluated the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet and the OS used in it, Android 4.1, Apple said it believes both infringe on the patents at issue, and intends to amend its suit accordingly.

Samsung Electronics intends to drag the iPhone 5 into an ongoing patent lawsuit with Apple, according to documents filed with a U.S. court.

The companies revealed their plans in a joint case management conference statement filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, on Wednesday.

How Google is going to react to Apple`s claim against Samsung use of the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, remains to be seen.

Source: MacWorld

Google acquired top iOS based photo app Snapseed, challenging Facebook`s Instagram

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Google Inc  has acquired a top iOS based photo app, Snapseed, in a bid to challenge Facebook Inc ’s Instagram, as Google+ subscriber base and monthly active users soar. According to recent reports, , the search engine giant has decided to enhance its social platform, Google+’s, competitive edge as it tries to challenge Facebook’s dominance in the social networking business, by acquiring the top iOS photo app.

According to reliable sources Snapseed deem as the the best app ever built by the German Software company. It is noted that the $4.99 app won Apple’s coveted iPad App Of The Year award in 2011, for its inventive multitouch photo editing interface, and gained over nine million users during its first year on sale. 

This week we also hit an important milestone–over 400,000,000 people have upgraded to Google+. It was only a year ago that we opened public sign-up, and we couldn’t have imagined that so many people would join in just 12 months. While Google+ is all about creating a better experience across Google, it’s also a destination. And here too, I’m happy to report that we have just crossed 100,000,000 monthly active users on Google+ (plus.google.com and mobile app).

http://www.snapseed.com/

The Comparision: Android4.1 Jelly Bean vs. iOS 6 vs. Windows Phone 8

When it comes to operating system, you must know the mainstream operating system -Android, iOS and Windows Phone. And these days Android4.1 Jelly Bean and iOS 6 and Windows Phone 8 have become very hot. Plenty of folks are interested in the three systems, whether they decide to buy a tablet or a smartphone. But what exactly are these systems? Let’s take a closer look at them and compare them in a few aspects.

Apps
Android is currently at 600,000 total apps. Most of those will run on tablets, but the number of tablet-optimized offerings is obviously lower than iOS (Google won't give an official number, but a quick run through Google Play makes the situation abundantly clear).

Apple owns totally 650,000 apps in the app store and 225,000 of them are for iPad.

Windows Phone currently has 100,000 apps available for download, of course less than the other two. Since the Windows 8 tablet is to be waited, there are no apps for tablet at the moment.

Maps
Android 4.1’s mapping system bases on the well-known Google Maps, bringing Street View, 3D and indoor mapping. Integrating with Google Now, the mapping system continues the sat-nav experience for both pedestrians and motorists, providing details of how and when to leave to get to your appointments on time.

A maps service of Apple own is supplied like Google and Microsoft. Not only does it deliver traffic updates, points of interest, and turn-by-turn navigation (which is well integrated throughout iOS 6), there are 3D maps which both look cool and might be helpful when lost in the middle of a crowded metropolis. But Apple lacks public transit directions, which makes users very inconvenient.

Windows Phone 7 was of course a showcase for Microsoft's Bing maps, but the mobile navigation turf will belong to Nokia on Windows Phone 8. Fortunately, there are terrific NAVTEQ maps, turn-by-turn navigation, 3D buildings, offline caching, and dynamic routing for public transit. There aren't many bells and whistles here, though, for better or worse.

Browser Sync
The Chrome Beta on Android also offers tab syncing with your desktop, but bookmark and search syncing in the bargain are thrown. When there are more desktop Chrome users in the world than any other browser, a lot of people will be taking advantage of this feature.

New in iOS 6 are iCloud Tabs, and them unify your browsing across all of your iOS and OS X devices. It's not a full cloud browser that offers the same tab view across all devices but rather a list of tabs tucked behind an icon or sub-menu, along with your bookmarks.

Browser sync is conspicuously absent from Windows Phone, which is odd considering it will run the same version of Internet Explorer that Windows 8 will in the WinRT environment. Then again, with Windows 8 and WP8 both not expected until this fall, there's a lot of time for Microsoft to make this work. Fingers crossed.

Facebook Integration
Android has always been good for Facebook sharing, and there's no reason for that to change with Jelly Bean. You can share and upload from pretty much anywhere in the OS, or inside most Android apps. Plus you can pull Facebook data for your contacts already stored on your phone, or pull all your Facebook friends into your contacts.

Facebook is integrated throughout iOS 6, which means you can update your status and upload images from various apps (not to mention notification center), sync contacts, and have your Facebook events coordinate with your iOS Calendar. Plus a third-party API is on the way, so all apps can integrate Facebook into their wares.

Facebook integration has always been one of Windows Phone's selling points, as the platform seamlessly integrates features like status updates, images, Contacts, Chat, and Events into Microsoft's own sections (People, Messaging, Calendar, etc). It's as well-designed as Facebook integration can get.

Voice Commands
With Jelly Bean, speech recognition is about to get a big update. Google has always allowed for voice search and dictation across the entire OS, but now it taps into Knowledge Graph and a built-in speech recognizer that will be in future devices. Not only should Android voice recognition improve dramatically, but it will recognize voice input even while offline and, like Siri, can spit back Wolfram-like semantic search results (with or without your voice).

Siri wasn't amazing in iOS 5, but it worked. In addition to being able to dictate texts and emails, schedule calendar events, and set timers, Siri in iOS 6 has much more promise, given its ability to pull data from even more sources (sports scores, movie times, dinner reservations), in more useful ways. Plus, Siri will be able to interface with car audio and navigation systems once iOS 6 goes live in the fall.

Windows Phone also has voice commands, allowing you to place calls, send texts, search the web, and launch an app all from your device. It may not have the depth of Google and Apple's efforts, but it's there.

NFC
GGoogle also seems keen to use NFC, using services such as Android Beam and Google Wallet (currently only available in the US). The premier service allows for the instantaneous sharing of contacts, media and apps between two enabled phones, whilst the latter stores your card details to allow instant payment in stores.Google's Android beam gets an overhaul in 4.1. It now provides instant transfer of photos, videos and apps, as well as the instantaneous pairing of NFC enabled Bluetooth devices.
iiOS 6 brings in Passbook. Whilst not entirely a NFC based app, it does provide a lot of the same features, keeping varying tickets to sports, the theatre, airlines or store cards all in one easy to access, and constantly updated place.We're expecting Apple to announce NFC capabilities in the iPhone 5 – given the fact rivals are all over the contactless technology.

Windows Phone 8 packs in Microsoft Wallet, making use of any NFCtechnology packed into handsets. This is all set to tie in to varying applications installed on the phone, allowing payment via services such as Paypal. Other applications, such as instant pairing of Bluetooth accessories will also be supported.

Video Chat
Android's Gmail/Google Talk-based video chat system is a bit more universal, considering you can video chat with anybody who has Gmail on a Mac, PC, or Android phone. And yes, you can chat over 3G or Wi-Fi. But Google's ace in the hole, surprisingly enough, might just be its updated Google+ app, which features improved Hangout support and will be available for both Android and, some day soon, iPad.

Apple has FaceTime, which can place calls over 3G or Wi-Fi, and works fairly well. But its also a pretty insular app that only works with other Apple devices.

Microsoft's secret voice chat weapon is Skype, which is arguably the most universal standard of them all. There are already proper Skype apps for Macs, PCs, iOS, and Android—and Microsoft owns all of them.

Media
With the introduction of the $300 Nexus Q, Google just provided its own streaming standard for Android-based devices. The hubs will be able to take audio and video streams, and spit them out to televisions and speakers (powered by the Q's 25-watt amplifier). Plus you can link hubs together for more robust multi-zone streaming than what Apple offers. Think of it as Sonos for Android, complete with the modest sticker shock.

iOS 6 has Airplay, which has been one of the easier, more intuitive implementations of media streaming we've seen so far. You can push music from your computer or iOS device to AirPlay-approved speakers, AirPort Express routers, and Apple TV (which also accepts video and iOS device mirroring, and soon OS X mirroring). And if you're streaming from a computer, you can push to multiple AirPlay devices. But like some of Apple's other features (FaceTime, iMessage), AirPlay doesn't really extend past the Apple product ecosystem. That said, you'll find AirPlay baked into more and more devices with each passing month.

Windows Phone will have SmartGlass to serve as its media streaming portal to the Xbox. Though built directly on top of DLNA streaming standards, the app simplifies and visualizes the process of pushing content back and forth between the Xbox and Windows 8/Windows Phone 8 devices. Plus, Smart Glass can beam supplementary content to your device while watching a TV show, such as Game of Thrones. Toss in the possibilities for gaming and support for Windows, Android, and iOs, and you have yourself a very intriguing streaming platform.

Tablet support
Android 4.0 was perceived as the operating system that united both smartphone technology with tablet PCs. It took the best of 2.3 (Gingerbread) and combined it with 3.2 (Honeycomb) to provide a seamless experience that has been shown off well on the likes of the Asus Transformer Prime and the released and Google nexus 7 has used the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean which is considered as the best android system.

Microsoft shows off the new Microsoft Surface tablet running windows 8 these days for this part. Whilst there is no word from Microsoft as to whether we will see a Windows Phone 8 Tablet, we would bet that it ties in strongly to Windows 8, as they are both based upon the same kernel to allow easy development on both. Since Windows Phone 8 also supports the 1280x768 resolution, seeing a tablet running the mobile OS is not as farfetched as it might once have been.

For iOS, you may have heard of it… the iPad. Taking the world by storm since its release, the iPad has grown in popularity and is boosted by iOS 6 bringing Siri over from the iPhone 4S to the new iPad.

Verdict
The smartphone or tablet markets have the ability to support over one operating system at a time for the demands of the users who want different stuffs from different handsets.However, If we observer the markets we probably know that Apple and Google will remain in the dominant position but the fate of Microsoft is still uncertain.

Using Nexus 7 with a keyboard?

My Nexus 7 is almost always in my hand, surfing the web, researching articles, reading an ebook, or otherwise consuming content from the web. It is particularly useful for those purposes as I have detailed in the past. I am getting asked if the Nexus 7 would be useful for creating content with an external keyboard. My answer is absolutely not.

I have a reputation for using tablets in my work by using them with keyboards to write thousands of words. They are very good at that as my working history proves, but only to a point.

The Nexus 7 will never be good for writing as I do, even with a good external keyboard. That's due to one factor: size. While the 7-inch display makes the Nexus 7 perfect for a portable companion, it is too limiting for use as a laptop replacement.

This limit is due to two factors, keyboard width and display size. Just like the original 7-inch netbook, the Eee PC, the Nexus 7 is too narrow to support a case with a workable keyboard. I never could type well on the Eee PC, and the same would be true for any keyboard for the Nexus 7.

The screen size is even worse for using in a laptop configuration with a keyboard. While the small display is perfect while held in the hand not too far from the eyes, it's a different ballgame when propped up with a keyboard for typing. The small screen is too far from the eyes and just too darn small to be useful.

That's why I can't see ever using the Nexus 7 as a standin for writing, even if it's the only gadget in the bag. While larger tablets like the iPad work well for me for such tasks, I am not willing to use something that makes the process difficult. A tiny display would certainly do that so I'll stick to using the iPad for writing and the Nexus 7 for most everything else.

from zdnet

Get you started with the Nexus 7 with five Great tips

Getting started with the Nexus 7 can be a bit daunting if it's your first tablet, or if you're not familiar with Android. But, that's why we're here. We have rounded up the best Nexus 7 tips and tricks to help get you started with your latest tech addiction.

Customizing the Nexus 7

The first thing you're going to want to do is personalize and customize your Nexus 7. Donald Bell came through with a great video full of Nexus 7 tips and tricks. You will be shown how to change widgets, the wallpaper, or even unlock the Nexus 7 using nothing more than your pretty face. You'll feel a lot more comfortable with the Nexus 7 after watching the video.

Google Nexus 7 tips and tricks

Taking a screenshot

After customizing your Nexus 7, you'll probably want to show off your setup. You can take a screenshot on the Nexus 7. With the new actionable notifications in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, sharing a screenshot is possible from the notification tray.

Learn how to take a screenshot on the Nexus 7

Print using the cloud

From time to time you may need to print a document, photo or even a screenshot from the Nexus 7. Thankfully, setting up Google Cloud Print and using an app to print from your Nexus 7 is a breeze.

You can print e-mail attachments and nearly any document or Web page from the device to any printer you have set up with Google Cloud Print.

How to print from the Nexus 7

Where's the camera app?

The Nexus 7 comes equipped with a 1.2 MP front-facing camera, and no rear camera. The front camera is intended to be used for video chats, but third-party apps can also take advantage of the less-than-stellar quality camera.

One thing you'll find missing from the Nexus 7, however, is the Android Camera app.

Well, thanks to a developer, you can install an app from Google Play and gain access to the standard Jelly Bean Camera app.

How to access the camera app on your Nexus 7

Turn the Nexus 7 into a Kindle Fire -- kind of 

If you're switching from the Kindle Fire to the Nexus 7, bringing content you've already purchased over with you is possible -- to an extent. The process is simple; you'll just need to know what settings need to be changed and how to access the Amazon App Store on your Nexus 7.

Thankfully, Donald Bell has put together another great video showing you how to get your Kindle Fire content on to your Nexus 7.

How to turn a Nexus 7 into a Kindle Fire

 

Bonus tip

USB accessories

Sharon Vaknin recently showed us all how a little $2 adapter, called a USB on-the-go (OTG), would allow you to connect USB accessories to an Android device. She was able to connect and use a PS3 controller, a keyboard, a wireless mouse, and even her iPhone with an Android device. Make sure you read the list of supported Android devices and accessories in her post, then watch the video to see how easy a USB OTG is to use. 

from cnet

Nexus 7 16GB Tablet is Sold Out at Google Play store

The 16GB version of Google's Nexus 7 is out of stock, as evident by the "Coming Soon" Google Play store. The 8GB version is in stock and ships within 3 to 5 business days. Apparently, Google thought that the $199 8GB version would be the big seller, according to reporting by the Guardian:

"The Guardian understands that Google's planners had thought that buyers on the Google Play store, more than from physical or online retailers, would be more committed to the company's "cloud" concept, and so would have more of their content stored online, rather than wanting to keep it on the device."

Retailers such as Staples, Sam's Club and Office Depot are also having a hard time satisfying demand for the Nexus 7. Buyers who can't wait to procure a 16B Nexus 7 tablet might find one at a cost of $300 to $400 on eBay.

CNET reviewer Eric Franklin rated the Nexus 7 as the best 7-inch tablet available at this time (read the full review). He wrote, "With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market."

Apple is rumored to be prepping a 7.85-inch iPad to compete in what is turning out to be a popular form factor for tablets.

                       

from cnet

Google Nexus 7 Costs $151.75 To Make, Analysist Says

Google released their own brand Nexus 7 tablet at the IO conference, Nexus 7's low price causes people’s great interest. How much does its hardware really cost? Whether Google sells it at a loss or not? Google and Asus were said to earn about $15 each machine before, in other words, the cost of Nexus 7 was $184. However, ISuppli brought a other answer to us today, the total cost of the hardware construction of Nexus 7(8 GB version) is $151.75, most of the costs use for flash memory, NVIDA Tegra 3 processor and 7 inches 1280 x800 IPS display screen.

Compared with Amazon Kindle Fire, Nexus 7 is more advanced. Its CPU is four nuclear Tegra 3 and the screen is 1280x800 pixel,but Kindle Fire has only DE instrument dual-core processor OMAP 4430 and 1024 X600 pixel screen.

The report says the switch technology in-plane Nexus 7 uses costs $38, Kindle Fire only $35.

Nexus 7‘s camera costs $2.5, Kindle Fire don’t have one. In addition, the Nexus 7 also imports the technology chips, supplied by NXP and supporting NFC (near field communication), and the GPS receiver chips, supplied by Broadcom and supporting map.

The accelerometer and gyroscope supplied by Invensense Company are also a concern. Many mobile devices have applied Invensense’s gyroscope, but it is rare that accelerometer and gyroscope are integrated into the same chip just like Nexus 7.

Accelerometer and gyroscope are mainly used to judge the position and movement of mobile devices. Only Samsung Galaxy S3 is equipped with these two devices besides Nexus 7. Accelerometer and gyroscope Galaxy S3 has used are provided by the European chips supplier STMicroelectronics.

Overall, as IHS iSuppli estimates, the cost of production of Nexus 7 is $18 higher than Kindle Fire .IHS iSuppli also points out, Amazon Kindle Fire will use the new higher quality display screen, so the situation will soon change.

Office Depot Nexus 7 launch Start July 12?

Google’s Nexus 7 is slowly but surely approaching its official launch as both Google and other third-party retailers are getting ready to accommodate your tablet needs – and by that I mean shipping the Nexus 7 or making the device available in stores.

While we wait for Google to announce the release date of the Nexus 7 – somewhere around mid July – we’ll tell you that pre-orders are still available to anyone interested in the device. In fact, Office Depot is the latest retailer to offer Google Nexus 7 pre-orders. According to a leaked document dug up by Droid-Life, Office Depot “will be authorized to pre-sell the new 16GB Google Nexus 7 tablet in all stores and online.” The device will cost $249.99, which is what Google is charging for it inside Google Play.

Furthermore, the same document reveals that the 16GB Nexus 7 tablet will ship starting with Thursday, July 12 – on the same day, inventory will begin to arrive to 341 select stores.

Those of you interested in getting their hands on a Google Nexus 7 tablet as fast as possible should definitely check with your closest Office Depot retail store to find out more details about the availability of the device. The company will not sell the 8GB version initially, although the document hints that the cheaper Nexus 7 will hit Office Depot at some point in the future.

In case the July 12 date turns out to be the day Office Depot does indeed start shipping the Nexus 7, then we can only assume that Google will also ship the device to those of you that pre-ordered it from Google Play around the same day.

from  androidauthority

The New Kindle Fire Tablets

Come November, Amazon’s Kindle Fire Android tablet will be a year old, which means that its successor is shortly on the way.

Sources “familiar with Amazon’s plans” have told AllThingsD that the next-generation Kindle Fire will be thinner and lighter, and feature a built-in camera. It will also have a display resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels — about the same as the iPad 2, and a substantial upgrade from the current Kindle Fire’s 1,024 x 600-pixel screen. (The iPad 3′s “retina” display is 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, for comparison.)

The Kindle Fire 2′s screen won’t only be sharper, it will also be slightly more square, AllThingsD‘s sources said. The screen of the next Kindle Fire will have an aspect ratio of 1.60, compared to the current Kindle Fire’s more elongated 1.71 aspect ratio.

The device is expected to ship before September.

AllThingsD made no mention of a second forthcoming tablet. Last week, tech blog BGR reported that Amazon is planning to announce two new Kindle Fires as soon as next month: a 7-inch version called “Coyote” and a 10-inch “Hollywood” tablet. The Coyote, BGR says, has a dual-core processor just like the current Kindle Fire, while the Hollywood is said to pack a more powerful quad-core processor.

Whether it launches one tablet or two, Amazon is going to face some tough competition leading into the holidays. According to multiple credible outlets, Apple is planning to launch a 7-inch “iPad Mini” that could come within the price range of the $199 Kindle Fire. Google’s 7-inch, $199 Nexus 7 has also already received rave reviews from the press — our own Christina Warren called it “the Android media tablet the Kindle Fire was supposed to be.”

Of the one actual and two rumored tablets — that is, the Kindle Fire 2, the iPad Mini and the Nexus 7 — which do you expect will lead the pack through the holidays?

from mashable

Android: The Motorola Tablet's Update

Let's see, it's 5:00 and the cable guy was supposed to show up at 1:00. And, oh yeah, where's my Android update?

I hear Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) is great. I've been hearing how great ICS is since October (when it was released).

Which is about the same time I got my Motorola Xyboard (aka, Xoom 2) -- with Honeycomb. You know, Android 3.0, the old version of Android.

Think about it. Motorola announced a brand-new tablet design just as ICS was coming out but saddled it with Honeycomb.

So, I've been waiting.

It wasn't exactly encouraging when Motorola posted a schedule of upcoming updates last year showing the 10.1-inch Xyboard ICS update slated for "early Q3 2012."

When I first saw this I thought, wait, don't you mean Q1? Somebody must be getting their quarters mixed up.

Now I hear the ICS update is finally ready and "runs extremely smooth."

Like I said, I hear Ice Cream Sandwich is great. Motorola is not officially offering the upgrade yet. (I check for official updates constantly.)

This Android update thing gets under my skin because I like Motorola's Xyboard. A lot.

In fact, I like its physical design more than that of my third-generation iPad. The Xyboard is lighter, thinner, and easier to hold. (The Xyboard is 8.8mm thick versus the iPad's 9.4mm, and weighs 603 grams versus the iPad's 652 grams.)

Weight and weight distribution in a tablet is really important to me. And Motorola nailed it with the Xyboard.

I also wanted the Xyboard because it came with 4G -- at the time of purchase this wasn't an option on the iPad. And, oh, the Xyboard has a killer display.

And I like the Android market. I like the fact that there are a lot of different tablet designs to choose from in all shapes and sizes (though this has a dark side too, in the form of fragmentation). In that sense, Android is a lot more dynamic than Apple's one-design-fits-all.

And I like the Android OS. Or, I should say, I want to like it. Despite all the griping (yeah, I'm guilty of raising a stink, too) about the lack of apps on Android, I can get most of the apps I need.

The biggest problem I have is with updates and, consequently, performance. Honeycomb on the Xyboard is not always a smooth experience. Basic things (like text input, Web browsing) can, at times, become too slow to be productive. (A 3.2.2 update improved things but not as much as I thought initially.)

But it doesn't have to be that way. Other Android tablets running ICS, such as the Asus Transformer Prime and, now, Google's Nexus 7 with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), are fast and smooth.

And up to date. So, hurry up with the update Motorola while I wait for the cable guy to show up.

from cnet