Google and Intel Unveil a New Generation of Powerful Chromebooks

Google and Intel announced several new Chromebooks from Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba at a press event in San Francisco Tuesday.

Google also said Chromebooks will soon have Google Now integration and the ability to play Google Play movies and TV shows offline.

"Our strategy is about computing and ensuring any device that computes does it best with Intel," Navin Shenoy, Intel vice president and general manager of the mobile computing group. "We will embrace multiple operating systems."

Chromebooks are laptops that run Google's Chrome OS and are similar to netbooks in that they're usually less powerful than a typical laptop. The Intel chips that power this next generation of Chromebooks are more powerful than in most previous models.

Most of the new designs include Intel Celeron processors based on Intel's "Bay Trail" line, whose efficient design enables a battery life of up to 11 hours.

Intel also showed off a pair of "high performance" Chromebooks with the latest Intel fourth-generation Intel Core i3 processors. The Dell Chromebook 11 and Acer C720 Chromebook are variations of existing models with the new chips.

Accer's C270 will start at $350 and will be available "early in the back to school season," and the Dell will be available "later this year" and will start at $349. While Dell has targeted schools and students with its previous Chromebook offerings, the company said the new high-performance model will target small and medium businesses.

Asus announced two new models: an 11.6-inch C200 and 13.3-inch C300, both of which will go on sale this summer.

Additionally, LG's new Chromebase, the Chrome OS-powered desktop computer, will go on sale later this month in the US for $349. HP's Chromebox, a similar product, will go on sale in the US in June.

Lenovo showed off the N20 and N20p Chromebooks, which the company is billing as the company's first consumer Chromebooks.

All of Intel's new Chrome devices will be powered by the company's first conflict-free microprocessors, Shenoy said. The minerals used in the chips — tin, gold, tantalum and tungsten — only come from mines that are certified "conflict free," which means they don't benefit armed groups within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or neighboring countries.

Read full Article…

First Motorola Smartphone Under Lenovo Will Be Revealed in May

Despite recent major changes at Motorola, it seems the company still has a few surprises in store — namely a new class of smartphone.

Following in the smartphone footsteps of the Moto X and Moto G, the new, as yet unnamed smartphone is set to make its debut next month, according to an emailed invitation that Motorola sent.

Motorola will officially give some members of the public a peek at the new phone on May 13.

The handset, which is the first Motorola device under the stewardship of its new owner Lenovo, will reportedly focus on improving the mobile-Internet experience. However, if the company lives up to its history, it will likely also offer an interesting new design take on the smartphone.

Further details are scarce at this point, but just knowing that Motorola has a potentially exciting new smartphone up its sleeve is reason enough to keep paying attention to the company, despite concerns that it could soon whither under its new Asia-based parent company.

Read full Article…

LG's Big Event: G3 Smartphone and G Watch May Be Coming

LG has sent out invites for a "big event" in London on May 27, with simultaneous satellite events in New York and San Francisco, as well as events in Seoul, Singapore and Istanbul the following day.

LG could not confirm the exact nature of the event(s), but it's rumored that the company will announce a new flagship smartphone, the LG G3, and quite possibly unveil its previously announced LG G Watch.

The tagline for the event — a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To be simple is to be great" — reveals little besides a likely showing of a G series device. But LG previously told Engadget it plans to launch the G3 in the second quarter of 2014. No specifications were given, except the fact that the phone's screen resolution will be Quad HD, possibly 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.

LG recently launched a microsite detailing some of the G Watch's features. The Android Wear-based device will be "always on," as well as water- and dust-resistant. LG also said it would become available in the second quarter of 2014.

We'll be covering the May 27 event live, so stay tuned for more details.

Image: LG

Read full Article…

Best of CES 2013: Smartphone

HERE IS OUR BSET OF CES 2013

BlackBerry 10

BlackBerry 10 wasn’t formally a part of CES this year, but RIM was in town anyway, showing off the latest, near final version of BlackBerry 10, which launches on January 30. What we saw was impressive. BB 10 doesn’t completely reinvent the wheel, but it combines a lot of winning interface ideas from WebOS, Android, and iOS. In our short time with the device, we were impressed by how well its universal inbox managed everything from email to social notifications, how easy it was to manage open apps, and how well the entire interface flowed together. Like Ubuntu and Firefox OS, BB 10 plans to challenge the duopoly of Android and iPhone. With an interface that’s more appealing than Windows Phone, we think it has a chance.

Huawei Ascend Mate

he Mate is an Android lover’s dream: full HD screen, 4050mAh battery, and a 13 megapixel camera. This smartphone has all the right moves and its a bold move for Huawei, a Chinese manufacturer just starting to find its brand around the world.

Sony Xperia Z

The Z follows the new phone trend of 5-inch 1080p screens, quad-core processors, 13-megapixel cameras, and thin 8-9mm frames, but also packs in a waterproof (resistant) design, allowing you to fondle your phone in the bathtub, shower, or whatever other place you can think of. The Xperia Z may be the first major phone in the U.S. with waterproofing tech built in.

Windows 8 tablet :Panasonic 20-inch 4K 

 The gimmick here is the 4K resolution. This is the same resolution we’re seeing on flagship HDTVs, but it’s in a device that weighs around 5 pounds, runs Windows 8, and sports a touchscreen and digitized pen capabilities. It’s a multimedia beast that would make an excellent digital gaming table, though it’s more likely destined for high-tech offices.

 

 

Read full Article…

Best Mobile Events 2013

Based on their success in 2012 it is safe to say these are the best mobile events for next year:

The Mobile Show

This is a Conference and exhibition that will take place in April of next year in Dubai, about the best mobile innovations. It’s widely considered the largest mobile solutions and technology show and it’s aimed at professionals who might be interested in purchasing mobile app development technologies, mobile commerce technologies, mobile advertising solutions, mobile content strategies, mobile health technologies and Mobile enterprise technologies.

Mobile World Congress 2013

This congress which will be held in Fira Gran Via, in Barcelona, Spain, from February the 25th to February the 28th, is the world’s largest mobile industry event. More than 67,000 industry senior-level executives and professionals attended it this year so it’s supposed to be even better this year. 1,500 companies will contribute by showing their latest mobile innovations to make this the largest mobile Exhibition in the world.

Mobile Apps Showdown

This exhibition which will be held on January the tenth consists of different app producers showing their apps and putting them to text. If you’re an app fanatic I advise you to go to find out about the latest apps and if you’re an app producer make sure you have your space at the show to show up your app.

Apps World NorthAmerica 2013

This congress will be held at Moscone Center West, San Francisco on February the seventh and February the eighth. It will give you an insight to some of the world top technology brands. 5000 developers, device manufacturers, mobile operators, mobile marketers, industry professionals and platform owners are expected to turn up so if you think it will interest you don’t doubt to sign up.

Apps World Europe 2013

This congress will be held in London, at Earls Court nº2 on October 22 and 23. This great event will bring together , operators, platform providers, marketers and developers for international brands who will give us insight into the mobile and technologies industry.

Appsters awards

2013 will be the year of the second Appsters awards. It will be held in Roof Gardens in Kensington and will choose the best bapps accross 12 categories. App quality is guaranteed because the AQuA (App Quality Alliance) will put each app through a severe control test. If you’re into apps or part of the app world this is really a must-attend thing.

Read full Article…