Corner Geeks 20 – Google I/O 2012 – Part 3 – The non-Android Bits

Google I/O 2012 links: I/O websiteDay 1 videoDay 2 video

  • Day 1
    • Google+ Events
      • Party mode that shares all photos to the event page
      • Calendar integration: ensure to disable showing events that you have been invited to and not accepted to show in calendar
    • Google Glass Explorer Edition
      • US$1500. Sky diving, bike stunt, repelling approved
  • Day 2
    • Chrome for iOS
      • iPhone & iPad
      • With features like tab syncing, and password synchronization
    • Google Drive
      • Now available for iOS and Chrome OS
      • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on images – can search for text in photos
      • Intelligent image search (e.g. search for pyramid and it can retrieve photos with pyramids in it)
      • Built into ChromeOS
    • Google Docs Offline
      • save changes when offline and uploads when online
    • Google Compute Engine
      • Amazon EC2 competitor

Corner Geeks 19: Google I/O 2012 – Part 2 – Android 4.1 Jellyean

Google I/O 2012 links: I/O websiteDay 1 videoDay 2 video

Android 4.1 Jellybean

  • Overview of new features, API Notes & official changelog from Google
  • Project Butter
  • Notifications improvement
    • Actions straight from notifications. No need to open app
      • Call person from missed called
      • Email all attendees for meeting
      • +1 or share straight from the notifications
    • Different views: normal (text snippet), bigger view (with lots of text), picture view (with images)
  • Google Now
    • Siri / S-voice competitor
    • Based on knowledge graph to show results based on context
    • Card based interface with each card showing information
    • More than just text as text answers: photos as well. With Google search at the bottom
    • Natural sounding voice
    • Proactive digital assistant giving automatic reminders / information based on context. Example: reminds you that you should leave in 5 minutes in order to meet your appointment due to traffic on the highway. It has your scheduled information in the calendar, it knows the route and traffic you should take and calculates the time it would take to reach destination.
    •  Google now creepy knowing your behaviour but gives relevant results
  • Offline voice typing: core engine shrunk to work offline, but if there is an Internet connection it works better
  • Homescreen improvements: when placing new widget on a screen it will automatically reflow icons to fit it or shrink the widget in order to fit it on the screen
  • Predictive keyboard. New keyboard layouts and languages. User installable keymaps
  • Accessibility improvements – gesture mode with speech guidance. USB/Bluetooth Braille inputs
  • Camera tweaks. Swipe to review. Tap and share.
  • Android beam: initiate transfers via NFC and now allowing larger transfers via Bluetooth
  • WiFi network and WiFi direct service discovery: find services available via device son the network (e.g. printer) or via an app on another Android device (direct P2P without a need for a network)

Developer Related Features

  • Update over the air for Galaxy Nexus, Motorola Xoom & Nexus S in mid July
  • SDK available today
  • App encryption: all paid apps encrypted with a device-specific key before they are delivered and stored on a device to prevent piracy
  • Smart / Delta updates
    • Automatically handled by the Play Store
    • Support for Android 2.3 Gingerbread & above
    • 1/3 the size of regular updates
  • Android Device Messaging C2DM now called Google cloud messaging
    • Multi-casting
    • Free. No quota limits
  • Android Platform Development Kit
    • For hardware manufacturers
    • Given new version 2-3 months before release (for better / faster updates)

Note: Image licensed via Google under CC-BY

Corner Geeks 18: Google I/O 2012 – Part 1 – Nexus Q & Nexus 7

Google I/O 2012 links: I/O websiteDay 1 video, Day 2 video

Nexus Q

  • The creation from Project Tungsten ‘home automation’ mentioned in Google  IO 2011
  • Streams music / video from Google Play
  • A social Jukebox – multiple users can control the playlist and add items from their Play content
  • Phone / tablet as a controller
  • NFC enabled: tap to download software, pair over Bluetooth
  • Allows streaming to different devices/rooms
  • 25W amp built-in
  • Optical in (S/PDIF), Banana jacks, ethernet, micro USB, micro HDMI
  • 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, NFC
  • Dual Core CPU (same as Galaxy Nexus) 16GB, 1GB RAM
  • Made in USA
  • US$299
  • More at the Nexus Q site

Google Play

  • Largest eBook collection
  • Adding:
    • Movie purchasing (previously just rental)
    • TV shows (episodes & seasons)
    • Magazines (with possible 14 day trial)

Nexus 7

  • 7” (1280×800 screen), Quad core CPU, 12 core GPU
  • Android 4.1 Jellybean
  • Up to 9 hours video playback
  • 340 grams (same weight as Galaxy Tab 7.7)
  • Similar to original Galaxy Tab dimensions
  • MicroUSB for data and charging (no proprietary cables)
  • Front facing camera only
  • No 3G / microSD
  • Homescreen only portrait
  • US$199 (8GB) / US$249 (16GB)
  • Ships Mid July to US, Canada, UK, Australia
  • More at the Nexus 7 site

Corner Geeks 17: WWDC 2012 – Part 3 – Macbook Pro with Retina Display

 

Specifications (Full specifications at Apple)

  • Thinner 15″ Macbook Pro with 4 times the resolution (2880 x 1800)
  • Quad-core Intel Core i7 (starting at 2.3GHz)
  • SSD based (starting at 256GB configurable to 768GB)
  • 8GB RAM
  • Intel HD Graphics 4000 & NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1GB)
  • 7 hours battery life
  • 2 x Thunderbold ports, 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 1 x full HDMI port, 1 x full SD card slot, 1 x headset port
  • 720p HD FaceTime webcam, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0

More features at Apple.com

Brunei Prices (via AV Electronics Facebook)

  • B$2988 (cash price): 2.3GHz Intel Quad Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM
  • B$3788 (cash price): 2.6GHz Intel Quad Core i7, 512GB, 8GB RAM
Links

Other notes

  • All laptops (Macbook Air and Macbook Pro) upgraded to new the newer Ivy Bridge chipsets and get USB 3.0 ports
  • Macbook Pro 17″ discontinued but still available in 13″ & 15″ (non-retina)

Corner Geeks 16: WWDC 2012 – Part 2 – Mountain Lion

OSX Mountain Lion

Corner Geeks 15: WWDC 2012 – Part 1 – iOS 6

  • New Maps application with turn by turn directions, traffic reports and flyover aerial view
  • A better Siri
    • Sports, movies and restaurant integration
    • Ability to post to Facebook and Twitter
    • Application launching
    • Eyes Free for voice control features while driving
  • Facebook Integration: similar to previous Twitter integration but better with added contact and calendar integration
  • Passbook: a ticketing/coupon application to consolidate all items in one location (with time and location integration)
  • Better photo sharing
  • Improved Safari: tab syncing to the cloud and other iDevices and offline reading capability
  • Facetime over cellular
  • Coming in the fall to the iPhone 3GS/4/4S, iPod touch 4th generation, iPad 2 & the new iPad

Read more about iOS 6 at Apple.com

 

Corner Geeks 13: The new iPad

The new iPad (2012)
  • 4x resolution increase (2048×1536 vs old 1024×768)
  • Quad core graphics A5X (still dual core CPU)
  • 5MP rear camera (1080p video recording)
  • 4G (LTE) for US$130 more (different model for different carriers)
  • Other notable features
    • Internet hotspot tethering: finally can tether mobile data to other devices via WiFi (and presumably Bluetooth as well)
    • Voice dictation: mic button on keyboard to activate dictation
    • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Same price point as iPad 2 and same battery life
  • Slightly thicker (9.4 mm vs 8.8mm) and heavier (652g vs 601g)
  • Weight increase probably due to increase battery capacity  (42.5-watt-hourvs old 25-watt-hour)
  • Retail sales start March 16th (including Singapore) or March 23rd for the International release (no Brunei)
  • Starting at US$499
The new iPad Wi-Fi
  • 16GB: US$499 (S$658)
  • 32GB: US$599 (S$788)
  • 64GB: US$699 (S$918)
The new iPad WiFi+4G
  • 16GB: US$629 (S$828)
  • 32GB: US$729 (S$958)
  • 64GB: US$829 (S$1088)
The old iPad 2
  • 16GB WiFi: US$399 (S$528)
  • 16GB WiFi + 3G: US$529 (S$698)
AV Electronis iPad 2 Pricing (via Facebook)
  • WiFi
    • 16GB/32GB/64GB: B$528 / B$638 / B$768
  • WiFi+3G:
    • 16GB / 32GB / 64GB: B$698 / B$808 / B$938
App updates
  • iWork (US$9.99 for each app): Pages, Numbers, Keynote
  • iMovie (US$4.99): outlining and storyboarding
  • Garageband (US$4.99): 4 iOS devices can jam in real time via bluetooth or Wi-FI
  • New iPhoto(US$4.99):
    • Multi-touch editing/touch-ups
    • Can work with 19mp photos
    • Share via iCloud with public link.
    • Photo beaming share to iOS devices over bluetooth or Wi-Fi
In other notes
  • iOS 5.1 was announced and is ready to be downloaded
    • Siri for other languages including Japanese
    • Increase of max app size downloadable OTA (i.e. via 3G/4G) to 50MB (previously 20MB)
  • New Apple TV with 1080p playback support and redesigned interface.
  • iTunes update: supports movies in the cloud: can redownload from any device and watch

Corner Geeks 12: Mobile World Congress 2012

Mobile World Congress 2012

It took us a while to get back in the groove but we’re back and covered some Mobile World Congress 2012 news.

HTC

  • new HTC One series unveiled
  • Superfast photo capture: 0.7 seconds to take a photo , 0.2-seconds autofocus
  • Capture a photo in the midst of recording HD video
  • 25 gigabytes of free Dropbox space for two years
  • All devices: Android 4.0 (ICS), HTC Sense 4, Bluetooth 4.0, Beats Audio
  • One X & One XL
    • 4.7″ (1280×720) HD screen
    • X:
      • 1.5 GHz, quad core
      • 32GB storage, 1GB RAM
      • UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
    • XL:
      • 1.5 GHz, dual core
      • 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
      • UMTS
        • ATT: 850/1900/2100 MHz
        • Asia/AUS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
      • LTE
        • ATT: B4/B17
        • Asia/AUS: 1800/2600 MHz
    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)
    • F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens,
    • 1.3 MP front camera (720p video)
    • NFC
    • No microSD slot
    • microSIM
  • One S: midrange
    • 4.3″ (540 x 960) screen
    • 1.5 GHz, dual core
    • UMTS: 850/900/2100 MHz
    • 16 GB storage, 1 GB RAM
    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)
    • F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens,
    • VGA front camera
    • microSIM
    • No microSD slot
    • UMTS: Europe/Asia: 850/900/2100 MHz
  • One V: budget
    • 3.7″ (800×480) screen
    • 1 GHz CPU
    • 5 MP camera (720p video)
    • 4 GB storage, 512 MB RAM
    • Expansion slot: microSD slot
    • UMTS: Europe/Asia: 850/900/2100 MHz

Sony

  • Xperia S companion devices: Xperia P (mid range) and low end (budget)
  • Overview: Reasonable screen size, dual core but Android 2.3 with ICS supposedly coming in Q2
  • Sony Xperia P – mid range
    • 4″ (960 x 540 pixels) Reality Display
    • 1 GHz , dual core
    • Android 2.3 (Upgrade to Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich, planned in Quarter 2 2012)
    • 8 MP camera  (1080p video)
    • 0.3 MP (VGA) front camera
    • 2D and 3D panoramic images.
    • 16GB flash storage. 1GB RAM
    • NFC
    • UMTS: 850, 900, 1900, 2100
  • Sony Xperia U – budget
    • 3.5″ (854 x 480)  Reality Display
    • 1 GHz dual core
    • Android 2.3 (Upgrade to Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich, planned in Quarter 2 2012)
    • 5 MP camera (720p video)
    • 0.3MP (VGA) front camera
    • 4GB storage, 512MB RAM
    • UMTS
      • 900, 2100 MHz (Global except Americas)
      • 850, 1900, 2100 MHz (Americas)

Huawei

  • Press release: Huawei releases their own quad-core CPU said to be better performing and lower power consumption
  • Overview: 4.5” 720p phone screens with ICS
  • Ascend D Quad
    • 4.5″ (1280×720) screen
    • Huawei quad core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz
    • Android 4.0
    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)
    • 1.3 MP front-facing camera
    • 8GB storage, 1GB RAM
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
  • Ascend D Quad XL
    • 2500mAh vs standard 1800mAh in Ascend D Quad
  • Ascend D1 
    • 4.5″ (1280×720) screen
    • 1.5 GHz dual core
    • Android 4.0
    • 8GB storage, 1GB RAM
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
  • MediaPad 10 FHD
    • 10” (1920 x 1200) IPS screen
    • 1.5 GHz K3 quad-core processor
    • Android 4.0
    • 8 MP camera
    • 1.3 MP front camera
    • 2G RAM

Viewsonic

  • Dual SIM phones
  • ViewPhone 4s
    • 3.5″ (640×960) screen
    • 1GHz processor
    • 5 MP rear camera
    • 0.3 MP (VGA) front camera
    • Android 4.0
    • Dual SIM
  • ViewPhone 5e
    • 5″ (800×480) screen
    • Android 4.0
    • Dual SIM
  • ViewPhone 4e
    • 3.5″ (480×320) screen
    • 650MHz
    • Android 2.3
    • 512MB of RAM
    • 3MP camera
    • Dual SIM

Samsung

  • Galaxy Note 10.1
    • 10.1 1280 x 800 TFT LCD
    • Android 1.0
    • 64GB storage
    • 3 MP camera, 2 MP front camera
    • Pressure sensitive S-Pen
      • Preloaded with specially designed versions of Adobe Photoshop Touch, Adobe Ideas and other graphical software items, users can draw graphics and sketches and edit images on the device
    • Split screen option: , users can ‘break’ the 10.1-inch display in two, with S Note on one side, and a live web-browsing or video playing window on the other side.
  • Galaxy Beam
    • 4″ (800×480) display
    • 1GHz dual-core processor
    • Android 2.3
    • TI DLP nHD (640 x 360) Projector built into phone

Nokia

  • Nokia Lumia 610
    • 3.7″ (800 x 480) LCD screen
    • 800MHz + 256mb memory
    • Most affordable Lumia smartphone yet
    • WinPhone 7.5
    • UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
    • No microSD slot
  • Nokia 808 PureView
    • 4″ (640 x 360) AMOLED screen
    • 1.3GHz CPU
    • 41 MP camera sensor
      • Typical 5 MP photos utilizing 7 pixels to 1 ‘superpixel’ for better image quality
      • Lossless video zoom: 1080p 4x, 720p 6x
    • Symbian, S3 Belle
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/-21001900/2100 MHz
    • NFC

CES 2012 Tablet Roundup

Device Overview

  • Acer Iconia Tab A700: 10" 1080p screen with a quad core CPU
  • Acer Iconia Tab A510: An update to the 10" Acer Iconia A500 with quad core CPU and Android 4.0
  • ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700: An update to the 10" Transformer Prime TF201 with a new design, 1080p screen and 2MP camera
  • ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T: 7" quad core Android tablet for a great price of US$249
  • Lenovo IdeaTab S2: 10" Android 4.0 tablet with optional keyboard dock
  • Pantech Element: 8" LTE tablet with Android 3.2
  • XO 3.0: The One-Laptop-Per-Child (OLPC)’s US$100 tablet targetting developing nations

Acer Iconia Tab A700

Acer Iconia Tab A700 - via Engadget

  • 10" 1080p (1920 x 1200) "IPS like" screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • HDMI-port, microSD and micro USB
  • Expected in Q2 2012
  • Links: Engadget, The Verge, TechRadar, Image via Engadget

Acer Iconia Tab A510

  • 10" (1280 x 800) screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • An updated Iconia Tab A500 but with quad core CPU and ICS
  • Links: The Verge, PhoneArena, Android Central

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700

ASUS Transformer Prime TF700

  • 10" (1920 x 1200) super IPS+, Gorilla Glass screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU
  • 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • Android 4.0
  • Skyrim w/ splashtop
  • Compared to older Transformer TF201: New design, higher resolution (1920×1200 vs 1280×800), better front facing camera (2MP)
  • Links: ASUS press release, The Verge, Engadget, Android Police,

ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T

Asus Eee Pad MeMO MT370T - via Liliputing

  • 7" (1280 x 800) IPS screen
  • Quad core Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM,
  • 8 MP camera
  • Android 4.0
  • There is an older configuration (ME171) which is the original MeMO device with a specialized bluetooth headset and stylus that was previously in the news months back. It has a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU with 5MP rear camera and 1.2MP front camera
  • US$249.
  • Links: ASUS press release, The Verge, Engadget, NVIDIA blog, CNET, Image via Liliputing

Pantech Element

Pantech Element

Lenovo IdeaTab S2

Lenovo IdeaTad S2

OLPC’s XO 3.0

OLPC XO-3

CES 2012 Phone Roundup

Overview of Devices:

  • HTC Titan II: huge phone (4.7″ screen) with a 16 megapixel camera
  • Nokia Lumia 900: Nokia’s first truly competitive Windows Phone device (previous had no front facing camera)
  • Huawei Ascend P1 S and P1: Super slim Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) device
  • Lenovo K800: First Intel Atom powered Android (2.3) phone with a 720p screen
  • Lenovo LePhone S2: Unique gesture area for an Android (2.3) phone with iPhone 4S screen resolution (960×540)
  • Sony Xperia Ion: big LTE phone (4.6″ screen) with a 12 megapixel camera and 720p screen
  • Sony Xperia S: mainstream 4.3″ screen with a 12 megapixel camera and 720p screen
  • LG Spectrum 4G: 4.5″ 720p screen with LTE 4G (LTE/CMDA device not workable in Brunei)
  • LG Connect 4G: 4″ 720p screen with LTE 4G (LTE/CMDA device not workable in Brunei)

HTC Titan II

HTC Titan II

  • 4.7″ WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) super LCD screen
  • Single core, 1.5 MHz
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 16MP rear camera, 720p video, dual-LED flash
  • 1.3MP front camera
  • Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
  • HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
  • LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 1700 / 2100
  • Links: GSM Arena, HTC Press Release

Nokia Lumia 900

Nokia Lumia 900

  • 4.3″ WVGA (800 x480 pixels) AMOLED ClearBlack display
  • Single core, 1.4GHz
  • 512MB RAM
  • 8 MP rear camera, Carl Zeiss optics (f2.2/28mm), 720p video, dual LED flash
  • 1 MP front camera (f2.4), VGA video
  • Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
  • HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
  • LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 1700 / 2100
  • Links: GSM Arena, Nokia Press Release, Nokia Lumia 900 microsite

Huawei Ascend P1 S and P1

Huawei Ascend P1 S

  • 4.3″ (960 x 540) Super AMOLED with Gorilla Glass
  • Dual core 1.5GHz
  • 8 MP rear camera, 1080p video, dual-LED flash
  • 1.3 MP front camera
  • Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS)
  • HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
  • “World’s slimmest smartphone”
  • Links: GSM Arena (P1), GSM Arena (P1 S), Huawei Press Release

Lenovo K800

  • 4.5″ 720p (1280×720) screen
  • 1.6Ghz (Intel Medfield platform)
  • 8MP rear camera
  • Android 2.3, Gingerbread
  • Links: GSM Arena, Intel Press Release

Lenovo LePhone S2

  • 3.8″ WVGA (800 x 480) TFT display,
  • Single-core 1.4GHz
  • 8MP rear camera, 720p video
  • 1.3MP front camera, VGA video
  • 200 GB of free cloud storage, gesture area below the screen
  • Android 2.3
  • 8/16GB storage, 512MB/1GB RAM
  • HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
  • Links: GSM Arena, GSM Arena’s Lenovo’s Announcements

Sony Xperia Ion

Sony Xperia Ion

  • 4.6″ 720p (1280×720) HD Reality display
  • Dual core 1.5GHz CPU.
  • 12MP rear camera, 1080p video, LED flash, image & video stabilization (standby to ready in 1.5 seconds)
  • 1.3MP front camera, 720p video
  • PlayStation certified
  • Android 2.3 (Android 4.0 to come)
  • 1GB RAM
  • LTE Band IV and Band XVII
  • HSPA 850/1900/2100
  • Links: GSM Arena, Sony Ericsson Press Release

Sony Xperia S

Sony Xperia S

  • 4.3″ 720p (1280×720) HD Reality display
  • 1.5Ghz dual-core processor
  • 12MP rear camera, 1080p video, LED flash, image & video stabilization (standby to ready in 1.5 seconds)
  • 1.3MP front camera, 720p video
  • PlayStation certified
  • Android 2.3 (Android 4.0 to come)
  • 1GB RAM, 1-1.5GB ROM
  • HSPA 850/900/1900/2100
  • Links: GSM Arena, Sony Ericsson Press Release

LG Spectrum 4G (CDMA/LTE phone, not GSM/UMTS)

LG Spectrum 4G

LG Connect 4G (CDMA/LTE phone, not GSM/UMTS)

LG Connect 4G