TechUnfolding.com » Google

First Look at Google TV

Justin — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:47:39 +0000

Google is doing just about everything these days. Well today at I/O they announced they will be getting into the TV industry, which is the biggest market in the world due to its 4 billion TV viewers world wide. According to Google, “video should be consumed on the biggest, best, and brightest screen in your house, and that’s the TV.” The idea is to merge the web and TV without compromising on either the web experience or the video experience, with a focus on discovery and personalization. Of course, since it’s Google, the interface is search-driven, so you can just type in things like “30 Rock” or MSNBC” to find channels and content — including upcoming content to record and content from the internet.

Google hasnt reviled and hardware specs , but we’re told Google TV devices will have WiFi, HDMI, the Intel CE4100 processor. The input devices will all have keyboards, and you’ll also be able to use Android devices as a remote, including using voice search to find content and sending content from the phone to the TV.

As for partners, it’s just as we heard: Sony will launch Sony Internet TVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV in the fall, and Logitech will introduce a set-top box with a Harmony remote and an HD camera for video chat at some point in the future. Dish Network will also launch a Google TV box at some point, while Best Buy will promote the platform as a whole in-store.

Check out the Google video below for more details on Google TV.

Source Engadget.com

Nexus One now Compatible with AT&T and Rogers

Justin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:16:46 +0000

Up until today, only T-Mobile ( in the USA ) owners could take full advantage of the Nexus One’s 3G capabilities, but Google has now made available its premier phone for those who want to buy one to use on AT&T in the U.S. and Rogers Wireless or Fido in Canada. It’s now available for order for $529 on Google’s Nexus One website.

Many have been speculating this move due to the lack of sales compared to the iPhone and Droid. Here is the link to the Nexus One website.

Google’s Twitter Killer

Justin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:02:28 +0000

Google is at it once again. This time they are looking to take the buzz away from Twitter. Google Buzz is what its called, its a tool much like Twitter that allows you to share links, pictures and videos with all your Gtalk contacts. Positioned inside your Gmail account, Buzz is essentially Google’s attempt to take on Twitter and a bit of Facebook.

Google Buzz will also support the ability to connect to other sites you use, like Picasa, Flickr, Twitter and your RSS feed.

Buzz is available now and to get more information on how it works check out the video below.

Google Phone – Nexus One

Justin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:31:08 +0000

Dubbed the Nexus One, and looking kind of similar to pretty much every other HTC handset we’ve seen as of late, the Google phone is said to be launching next month.

Word of the device (and indeed the first pictures) did the rounds on Twitter following a messages from Google employees who claimed they had all been given the device during a staff meeting. “Like an iPhone on beautifying steroids,” Engadget quotes one message as saying. “ZOMG we had fireworks and we all got the new Google phone. It’s beautiful,” reads another.

The Nexus One boasts a trackball, has no physical keyboard, is supposedly a little thinner than the iPhone and is pegged for a January launch. Engadget reports that the device is running Android 2.1 and is AT&T-ready. However, Peter Kafka over at MediaMemo says that so far, “only T-Mobile has agreed to actively help push the phone via distribution channels and support infrastructure.”

Source: TomsHardware.com

Google Chrome OS Demo

Justin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:16:36 +0000

Google Chrome OS is an open source operating system for people who spend most of their time on the web built around the core tenets of speed, simplicity and security. This is a demo video to give you a feel for the Google Chrome OS user experience.

Google Chrome OS Demo Video:

What is Google Chrome OS?

Will Google Unveil Chrome OS Tomorrow?

Justin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:03:40 +0000

Lots of people can’t wait to see what Google has in store for the Chrome operating system. Google is has become a popular smart phone OS company with the release of Android in recent years. But now everyone wants to see what they will be coming out with when it comes to computers.

TechCrunch reports that Google is planning a Chrome OS event for tomorrow. While the Google operating system won’t be launching tomorrow, the company is said to be lifting the lid and providing a lot of details about launch, showing off some demos and discussing the technical background of it all.

The release date for Chrome OS will be sometime next year. But looking at the fact that Google will be showing off the OS in great detail tomorrow, you can probably expect to see it in Q2 2010.

Keep checking TechUnfolding.com for all of the latest news on Google’s Chrome OS.

Google Adds Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation for Android 2.0

Justin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:42:29 +0000

Google today unveiled Maps Navigation (beta, of course), an extremely upgraded version of its current Maps software that’ll be free and, from what we understand, available by default on all Android 2.0 devices. All the usual Maps features are present, including the ability to search by name of business and have it suggest the closest matches, both semantically and geographically, and traffic data. We’re also now looking at turn-by-turn navigation, female robotic voice and all, and integration with satellite and street view, the latter of which will be able to show you what lane you need to be in when exiting the highway, for example. Instead of just searching nearby, it’ll also now search along the route for when you’re looking for upcoming gas stations or fast food joints that won’t take you too far off your beaten path. Select addresses can be added to the Android home screen as their own icons, and given the limits of living in the cloud, trips and their respective visual feeds will be cached just in case you hit dead spots along the way. Still no multitouch, but as VP of Engineering Vic Gundotra noted at a press conference, there’s nothing stopping a company like HTC from adding that feature à la Sense UI.

Courtesy of Endgadget.com

Videos:

Bing’s numbers fall for the first time

Justin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:18:06 +0000

New numbers from StatCounter show that rather than continuing its trend of acquiring more market share at the expense of competitors Google and Yahoo!, Bing fell by 1.1 percent. This is the first time Bing’s numbers have fallen since the new search engine was released back in July of this year. I think everyone knows who the number 1 search engine is Google, their numbers rose to over 80% in the month of September.

Here are what some analysts are saying about it:

“The trend has been downwards for Bing since mid August,” commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter.

“The wheels haven’t fallen off but the underlying trend must be a little worrying for Microsoft.”

Recent Search Engine Numbers

Rumor: Chrome OS coming to netbooks next month

Justin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:33:23 +0000

Google’s official stance is that Chrome OS wont be ready until sometime late next year, well, we were a little skeptical. Now we’re hearing reports that Chinese netbook manufacturers are doing everything they can to get little Chrome lappies running a “preview edition” of the OS out onto the Asian markets by sometime next month, and we’re still skeptical — but intrigued. These devices from a company called Lemote run a MIPS-based CPU called the Loongson, which currently powers a custom flavor of Linux named, get this, Loonux. That OS has been receiving criticism for things other than its title, so it’s not surprising that the company is interested in trying something new, apparently even if that new thing is still half-baked and rather doughy in the middle. That these devices currently sell for under $200 is even more intriguing, but even if they do indeed get a bit of shine next month don’t expect to find one locally — at least not for that price.

Courtesy of Engadget.com

Google Announces Chrome Operating System

Justin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:32:42 +0000

Google has announced that they are working on a operating system. This Chrome OS will most likely be open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Details are limited at this time, But we know that it will run on both ARM and x86 chips, and we know that we’ll see netbooks running the software in the latter half of 2010 (Google says its already talking to partners). Because they’re stripping everything down and going back to OS basics, users won’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. According to Google, “It should just work.”

For people wondering if Google will make the Chrome OS free or charge for the software. The answer is yes, the Chrome OS is open source and will be free.

For an even more in depth look at what Google might be doing in Chrome, check out the video below where it is discussed with TechVi and CNET.com