Nvidia Quad Core Tablets For $199. Focus On Android & Windows 8

Nvidia Quad Core Tablets For $199. Focus On Android & Windows 8

 

Back in September of 2011, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang stated we might see quad core tablets running Android 4.0 this summer for the very low price of $ 199, and apparently the man meant business. Last week, Nvidia introduced an Android tablet platform code called Kai, and walked investors through their plans for using “the secret sauce” inside Tegra 3 to create a quad core tablet by the end of this year that could match the price of Amazon’s popular Kindle Fire tablet. According to the Verge, those tablets are already being produced and could hit the market sooner than you think. But it's not just Android that Nvidia's Kai could do wonders for, but Windows 8 tablets as well. 

Nvidia’s vice president of investor relations Rob Csonger unveiled their strategy for not only Android tablets, but for Windows 8 tablets as well:

"So first of all, our strategy on Android is simply to enable quad-core tablets running Android Ice Cream Sandwich to be developed and brought out to market for a $ 199 price point. The way we that we do that is with a platform that we've developed called Kai. So this uses a lot of the secret sauce that's inside Tegra 3 to allow you to develop a tablet at a much lower cost by using a lot of innovation that we've developed to reduce the power that's used by the display and to use lower cost components within the tablet."

"Probably the most exciting opportunity for us, however, in the tablet space is a discontinuity and a disruption that's going to occur in the PC world, which is the end of the Windows and Intel, or Wintel monopoly. At the end of the is year, Microsoft is releasing Windows 8 with a new capability, Windows RT, and the ability here to run Windows on ARM is a very big opportunity for Nvidia. Whereas in the phone space, we are moving into the phone space and there are incumbents there, when it comes to Windows and PCs, welcome to Nvidia's home court. This is something we know very well and have done for many years."

This is naturally great news for anyone wanting to get their hands on a high end tablet for a low cost, but I have to wonder, how great can a 199 dollar quad core tablet be? If “lower cost components” will be used in building it, will it physcially feel cheap, or will the lower cost materials be components that are hard to notice when using it?

I also have a feeling that Nvidia’s focus on Windows 8 will be one of their main projects, as it does indeed open up new possibilities for them as a company. I just hope I’m wrong in thinking that Windows 8 tablets could potentially take over the tablet market. Lets just hope Google has something up its sleeve with the upcoming Nexus tablet. 

But one thing is certain: 2012 is certainly shaping up to be a great year for tablets.

Picture credits: www.technologytell.com, cdn1.sbnation.com (edited by myself)

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RUMOR: Google Releasing 5 Nexus Devices on November 5th!

RUMOR: Google Releasing 5 Nexus Devices on November 5th!

According to TalkAndroid, Google is preparing to release 5 Nexus devices directly from the Play Store starting November 5th. Why November 5th? Well, that happens to be Android's 5th birthday, making the offer quite fitting. 

Of course, at this point, this is all just a big fat rumor. But it would certainly be fitting, given the Nexus tablet rumor mill. TalkAndroid is claiming they've got an official source at the company who verified all this.

Rumor has it that all 5 devices will be running Android 5.0, codenamed Jelly Bean.

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RUMOR: Google Releasing 5 Nexus Devices on November 5th!

RUMOR: Google Releasing 5 Nexus Devices on November 5th!

According to TalkAndroid, Google is preparing to release 5 Nexus devices directly from the Play Store starting November 5th. Why November 5th? Well, that happens to be Android's 5th birthday, making the offer quite fitting. 

Of course, at this point, this is all just a big fat rumor. But it would certainly be fitting, given the Nexus tablet rumor mill. TalkAndroid is claiming they've got an official source at the company who verified all this.

Rumor has it that all 5 devices will be running Android 5.0, codenamed Jelly Bean.

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Apple: Oh, FYI, We Store and Sell What You Say to Siri

Apple: Oh, FYI, We Store and Sell What You Say to Siri

This shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone, but what happens between you and Siri doesn't stay between you and Siri. The ACLU just published a report on their website about how Apple's personal assistant sends our personal voice and user info to Apple to stockpile in its databses. While Apple maintiains that this "Voice Input Data" is used to help Siri perform better, it's also used for "other Apple products and services." 

So what might Siri be storing? Oh, you know: your name, your parent's names, their addresses and phone numbers, song titles and playlists...anything really.

 If you're telling yourself "well, duh," I agree. This is the kind of thing I always figured was happening with a service like Siri. That said, I am surprised that not only is information sent to Apple but that Apple STORES this information and then (possibly) sells it to ANYONE.Now, unlike Google, Apple is NOT in the advertising business, primarily, so they have less of an incentive to sell your data than a company like Google. That said, they could really be doing anything with this data.

Given that the ACLU's report has made the front page of Reddit, I'd say it's pretty likely that a lot more people are going to be talking about what's going on with Siri and I'd expect Apple to respond in the coming days as well.

(Photo: CultofMac.com)

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Ten Things You Could Buy For The Price Of A Samsung Galaxy S3

Ten Things You Could Buy For The Price Of A Samsung Galaxy S3

 

800 dollars...let me write that again..eight...HUNDRED...dollars. That’s the current Amazon pre-order price of the newly arrived Samsung Galaxy S3. However badly you want the device, one thing is certain: 800 dollars is no small chunk of change folks. I know that most people will get it subsidized on a contract, but the fact of the matter is, there are a lot of people that are prepared  to (and will) spend this amount of money on the phone. Now make no mistake, I LOVE Android phones and Android tablets, and I love playing with new electronic toys that hit the market. I threw money at Samsung for my G alaxy Nexus and for my recently retired Galaxy Tab 10.1, and I can say without hesitation that their products are top notch. That being said, do you actually know what you can buy for 800 dollars? Can anyone really justify shelling out almost a GRAND for a phone?

This article is for anyone who is currently debating on paying that price for this device, and before you do that, I urge you to have a look at 10 things I have found that you can get for the same price (and cheaper) as the Galaxy S3 off contract. After reading it, let me know in the comments if you still feel that this phone is worth this amount of bank.

CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme Computer - Price: $ 768.00

For even less than the price of a Galaxy S3, you can get your hands on this beastly gaming computer. Intel I5 quad core processor, GeForce GTS 430, 8 gigs of DDR RAM, 1 Terabyte hard drive, and Windows 7 included. This computer would certainly bring lots of joy to gamers, and you could always upgrade by simply replacing the parts (PC can be purchased here). Speaking of gamers...

Xbox 360 with Kinect + PS3 with Call of Duty 3 + Nintendo Wii Black Edition with Mario Kart - Total Price for all 3: $ 768.22

You’re reading that right. For LESS than the price of a Galaxy S3, you can buy ALL THREE consoles with games and accessories and still have cash left over. That’s EVERY home gaming console on the market for the price of 1 phone. A gamers dream I tell you (PS3 here, Xbox 360 here, Wii here)...But what if gaming isn’t your thing?...

PRS SE "Tremonti" Paul Reed Smith - Price: $ 565.00

Mark Tremonti has been recently voted one of the greatest guitarists of all time (Creed & Alterbridge lead guitarist) and this is a verion of his guitar with Mark's stamp on it. More than 200 dollars cheaper than the phone, and something that will last you for life. I play the guitar myself, and I can tell you that for this price, you are getting a seriously good electric guitar. If you're interested, it can be purchased here for a limited time. 

Three Day Trip To Las Vegas For 2 People With Flight And Hotel Included - Total Price for 2 People: $ 765.15

Oh yeah. Vegas baby. As you can see from this offer on Expedia, you get a package for 2 people including flight and hotel for a weekend trip to the City of Sin. You will naturally require additional funds for all the corruption Vegas has to offer, but the fact that the flight and accommodations for this trip for 2 are covered for almost 40 dollars cheaper than the phone really makes you put things in perspective a bit.

ROLEX TUDOR SOLID 9CT GOLD 15 RUBIES - Price: $ 513.44

If you’re a watch lover, then you could be the proud owner of this Rolex made watch for almost 300 dollars cheaper than what you would pay for  the GS3. A great gift from a company with a hell of a reputation for quality. If you're interested, it can be purchased for a limited time here. 

Jacuzzi 7263959WH Nova 6 Acrylic - Price: $ 733.57

This one is pretty crazy as well. For almost 70 dollars less than the S3 (minus installation of course), you and your lady could get this beautiful Jacuzzi installed in your bathroom, which would provide you with a LIFETIME of romance and relaxation. It also looks pretty freakin BOSS as well. If you're interested, it can be purchased here.

NEW A-10 Warthog Remote Control Electric RC Fighter Jet - Price: $ 645.95

I had to laugh at this one, but it’s just too cool for my immaturity to ignore. For less than the price of a Galaxy S3, you can own a freakin twin engine remote controlled fighter jet. Baller? Indeed it is. These things are so much fun to fly, and are not only a blast for adults, but are a great way for dads to bond with their teenagers :-) Twin engine remote control fighter jet = WIN. If you're interested, the jet can be found here. 

2010 Coolster Atv's Mountopz 110 - Price: $ 685

SCORE! Took me a while to find this one, but for over 100 dollars less than an S3, you can have your very own 2010 Coolster quad. It’s used, but this particular model is known for being a great beginner ATV. Fun? You have absolutely no idea....The ad for it can be found here.

HTC One X - Price: $ 584.76

Naturally, if you’re looking for a quad core phone, there’s always the HTC One X. Packing a Tegra 3 processor, a beautiful display, very solid build quality, and the best camera I have ever used on a smartphone, it will cost you over 200 dollars LESS than the quad core Galaxy S3. You can get your hands on it for this price here. 

LG 32LM6200 32-Inch Cinema 3D Smart TV - Price: $ 649.99

This one is a whammy. For 150 dollars less than a Galaxy S3, you could have a new LG 32 Inch 1080P Full Hd Smart TV including 6 pairs of 3D glasses. Do I need a 3D TV? No. Do I want one? Hell yes. If you're interested, you can pick it up at that price here. 

Bottom Line

So there it is folks. Whether you love phones, gaming, computers, musical instruments, outdoor fun, traveling, luxury items, or TV's, there certainly are lots of cool things you can buy for 800 dollars. That being said, that 800 bucks would also get you one of the best and most powerful smartphones in the business, and it will without a doubt be the Android phone to have in 2012. Is it expensive? Umm...yeah. Will I still get one? Well...yeah. :-)

Either way, if you do decide to get it, I'm sure Sammy and all the carriers working with them will give you plenty of options to get this powerful device very cheap on a subsidized plan. Gotta love subsidization and monthly financing, right? :)

Bring on the S3!!!

Picture credits: Amazon, Ebay, Expedia, and carsunder1000dollars.us

(Prices and availablity of these items are subject to change, but were for the quoted prices when I researched the article today).

AndroidPIT Blog

BREAKING: Android Did NOT Infringe On Oracle Patents

BREAKING: Android Did NOT Infringe On Oracle Patents

We have been reporting a lot recently on the trial of Google vs Oracle, as it was undoubtedly one of the biggest trials directly relating directly to Android that Google has faced. Oracle argued that Android infringed on multiple Java patents, and Google was literally faced with having to pay hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damages. Well the verdict is now in and the jury is being dismissed. The verdict? Not guilty. That’s right folks. The court/jury have determined that Google and the Android operating system did NOT infringe on Oracle patents.

WIN. The jury had been back and forth on this one, and they did find that an infringement had taken place. In the end though, the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict and was split, which could have then led to a mistrial. That was phase 1.

Phase 2 involved copyright infringement issues, which was the focus of the hearing today.The jury was unanimous today in their decision, and agreed that Google did not infringe on the 6 claims that Oracle accused them of. As those claims have now been dropped, the damages Google would have been liable for now also seem, at this point, to be null and void.

This does not mean that the end decision has been decided once and for all, but instead marks the end of the patent infringement phase of the trial. 2 down, 1 to go.

The issue of fair use is now what’s in question, as the jury could not come to a decision as to whether Google’s actions were covered under fair use or not. So at this point, although Oracle did “win” the copyright case, they have no way to collect the 1 billion dollars in copyright claims.

Legal reported Ginny LaRoe tweeted that “The trial is over. Judge Alsuup dismissing jury. Since Oracle won virtually nothing, no damages phase at this point”.

A final ruling from Judge Aslup is expected next week. Google was obviously very pleased with the verdict, and stated:

"Today's jury verdict that Android does not infringe Oracle's patents was a victory not just for Google but the entire Android ecosystem”.

It sure is great to see that Google can defend Android in the patent wars, and I hope that they aren’t faced with any other trials anytime soon. But we’re not holding our breath on that one.

This verdict certainly is a great one for Google, and it’s great to know that Android devices won’t be getting pulled from any shelves.

Picture credits: androidheadlines.com

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Motorola Is Now Officially Owned By Google...Now What?

Motorola Is Now Officially Owned By Google...Now What?

 

After months of review by regulators in the US, Europe, and Asia, Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility has finally been approved and officially completed. Google, the world's most popular search engine and owner of the world's most popular mobile operating system now officially owns one of the hardware pioneers of the mobile industry. The question is, what happens now?

A Complex Situation

While Google’s 12.5 billion dollar purchase certainly brings a lot in the way of patent protection and hardware development for the Android platform, the route they could initially go with the company might not be exactly what you would expect. At first glance, you might be thinking:

“Google, a software company that has global marketshare for smartphones, now has their own hardware company! This is brilliant!”.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and for a number of reasons. While it might make sense to use your own hardware company to optimize your own mobile software, Google must tread very carefully now. Samsung, the biggest Android manufacturer also depends on Android (for now) for their mobile devices. HTC, Sony, and LG do as well, and those are just the tier 1 companies that currently release devices regularly. Acer, Asus, Intel, Huawei, and lots of other companies also use/will use Android for their smartphones, and the last thing they want is for Google to play favorites when it comes to Android.

The Danger of Playing Favorites

If that were to happen, Samsung for example (who sell hands down more Android devices than all other manufacturers) might just say “***k you Google” and develop their own mobile operating system. After all, they have the mass majority of Android phone buyers in their left pocket, and market aggressively enough to carry over a big portion of Galaxy series owners if they had too. What’s to stop HTC or LG from doing the same?

Google does have options though, and their latest move in changing their Android strategy by pushing out multiple Nexus devices is a great first step. Basically, if Google does decide to have a flagship Nexus device for Sammy, Moto, HTC, LG, and Sony, and if they would all be sold directly through the Google Play Store worldwide, not only is it good for Google, but good for OEMs. This way, they all have a Nexus device running stock Android, which makes updating their other devices easier and provides consumers with more choice. Because of that, Google could certainly use Motorola to finally develop a Nexus phone with software optimized for their own hardware, as they aren’t playing favorites with their source code if everyone receives it at the same time (why do I have a feeling it won't be that simple?).

The Next Level

For me, this represents a huge chance for the next evolutionary phase of Android, as they are now for the first time on a level playing field with Apple in terms of development. That being said, Google will have to play it safe for a while to keep OEMs calm, so I wouldn’t expect anything too major coming directly from Motorola in 2012. Lots of people disagree with me on this, but I strongly believe that patents wasn’t the only reason Google spent 12.5 billion on this company. Of COURSE they're going to use them. Google not using a mobile hardware manufacturer for Android is like McDonalds buying a 12.5 billion dollar tomato farm, but then still depending on everyone else to send tomatoes to put on their Big Macs. Doesn’t make much sense does it?

If all OEMs do indeed get a Nexus phone this year, my money is on the Motorola Nexus device. Whether the public will see it that way is yet to be seen.

What do you guys think? Will Google use Moto to their full potential, or will they act like they didn’t just spend 12.5 billion dollars on a hardware company?

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Picture credits: www.enter.co

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