Steve Wozniak, one of the confounders at Apple, is one of the first customers in the United States to get their hands on the Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Nexus already landed in the UK this week and is launching on Verizon’s LTE network sometime in the next few weeks. Interestingly, Google engineer Kirill Grouchnikov has posted pictures of Woz — a self proclaimed Android fan — posing with the Android team receiving his Galaxy Nexus. All it took was a tweet by Woz saying he was looking for a Galaxy Nexus at Best Buy. He sure looks eager to get home and try it out! Check out another image after the break. (via TechCrunch)
The first Ice Cream Sandwich handset, the Galaxy Nexus, hit the UK this week (US launch coming soon) and AnandTechhas benchmarked the ICS/Galaxy Nexus combo vs. the iPhone 4S/iOS 5 combo. The Galaxy Nexus processor/GPU isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but the new software inside is certainly packing a punch beating iOS in a few key areas. As seen in the graph to the right, the Galaxy Nexus has a slightly faster tested browser than the iPhone 4S — a crucial day-to-day necessity for users.
The Galaxy Nexus also comes up with the win in JavaScript loading, bringing faster load times than the Droid RAZR and iPhone 4S. Don’t think the Galaxy Nexus is going to come away with everything, however. Both Apple’s iPhone 4S and iPad 2 outperform the Galaxy Nexus in GPU loading — which is limited by its slower SGX 540 underneath. That’s an important consideration for gaming.
The Galaxy Nexus’s hardware has been dubbed very smooth compared to older versions of Android. Google is activating 550,000 Android devices a day and is still behind iOS in total Activations at 200 million total. Head after the break for more graphs.
While Google said it would be days for the updated Android Market to roll out to users, users are already seeing the update hit their handsets (we’re not seeing it yet). The Market update includes the new Google Music which allows users to find new music to purchase straight to their handset and backup to their music locker. We’re waiting for the update to hit our handsets to give you guys a hands-on, but in the mean time try checking you’re own devices for the update. If you’re still not seeing the update try clearing your Market’s cache (go to settings>applications and tap on the Android Market app). Interested in seeing the rest of Google Music? Check it out after the break. (via AndroidCentral)
While working to finalize its merger with Google, Motorola Mobility’s shareholders have approved the $12.5 billion merger. The news was announced via press release this evening (seen after the break) and is a big step toward the merger actually completing. Out of the 74% of shareholders who voted, 99% agreed on the merger. As noted in the press release, the merger could still fail, but if it does pass through various other hoops — including the government — it should be completed by early 2012.
A few days after becoming available to customers, a few early Kindle Fire owners are reporting Wi-Fi issues plaguing the device frequently. Some users have reported fixing the bug by changing settings on their router or fully resetting it. This is obviously a big issue for Fire users, seeing as Wi-Fi is a crucial part to streaming content — one of the Fire’s key focuses. Amazon has yet to comment, but this seems like an issue that could easily fixed via software update. For those of you who have already gotten their hands on the Kindle Fire, are you experiencing Wi-Fi issues? (via TechCrunch)
The day after Google Music was announced at an event in LA, Google has unveiled a new Music app for Google TV. The new app streams music directly from your music locker, getting rid of the need to download music or stream it from your computer. The app is as simple as signing in with your Google account and even works in the background as you use other apps.
As long as you have Android 3.1 installed on your Google TV, the Music app is available on the Android Market. Besides streaming music you can also purchase it directly from your TV.
Google has just released their redesigned Android.com, that will definitely appeal to the consumer moving away from references of “SDK” and more. The old Android homepage was more of a portal for developers, but today’s update gives a sure direction of what Android is and how it can appeal to consumers.
The main part of the page gives information on what is new in the Android ecosystem — which right now is Android 4.0. “Discover Android”, found in the top left, will also tell you exactly what Android is and describes why you want it. There’s also links to the developer portal and Android Market.
Google has announced on their Commerce Blog this evening that they are now rolling Google Checkout into Wallet. Since Checkout’s focus was to simplify online checkouts, Wallet will now be rolling out to more places over the web including the Android Market, Google+ Games, YouTube, and even more Google sites.
Since both products have a similar goal, to simplify purchasing items, it makes sense for Google to roll the products together. For current Commerce users they will be able to setup a Wallet account when logging again, while merchants won’t have to make any changes. Wallet looks like its ready to roll for this Holiday season.
Google has just announced the new Google Music, so we’ve decided to show our lovely readers a quick tour. Above you’ll find a tour of both the Android and web app, including me purchasing a song. My Google+ friends were also able to use the one free play, as seen below.
Google Music is now out of beta and is open to all users without an invitation. Upload up to 20,000 songs from your personal music collection to Google Music and listen instantly on all your devices.
Seamless integration with the Android Market music store. All your purchases automatically appear in the Google Music app.
Google has just announced the upgraded Google Music at an event in LA this afternoon. The new service will continue to be available to everybody today, for no charge. Google says the completely free service will have heavy cloud integration using the Music Manager application that was available in the beta, to upload music to the cloud. Users are able to upload up to 20,000 songs for free and can be available offline on Android devices.
The big feature here will be Music’s huge integration into Android Market. Thousands of songs will be available to purchase. The Music homepage in the Android Market features new releases, staff picks, and section that will recommend new music to users. Every song has a 90 second preview and will be downloaded as a high quality 320k MP3 available on your Android devices and in the web locker.
Music can also be shared with friends over Google Plus, and. your friends will receive a full free play of the song (or album) once you share it.
On the music section of Android’s website, users will be able to find recommendations and free music. There will also be featured content like interviews.
The new Music will be available on Android handsets and tablets over the coming days, but is available online now. Google has locked in Sony, EMI, and Universal for music licensing, but also has close to 1,000 smaller labels. 13 million tracks will be available over time, but 8 million are available today.
Artists Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Busta Rhymes, Shakira, Pearl Jam, and Dave Matthews Band will offer exclusive music on Google Music. The music is never before heard. Bust Rhymes will also be premiering his new album.
Before its official announcement at an event tomorrow night, more details on Google’s new Music service have leaked out. Bloombergreports that Music will have a store that closely resembles Apple’s iTunes and will allow users to purchase music. Google has reportedly earned licensing deals with Sony (this evening actually), Universal Music Group, and EMI Group Ltd. Songs will also cost between 99-cents and $1.29, but Google may offer discounts.
Wall Street Journaldrops an awesome feature that Google Music will reportedly have.
“Additionally, after buying songs from Google Music for around $1 apiece, users are expected to be able to share one or two free listens of the songs with their contacts on the Google+ social-networking service, these people said.”
All the details will be spilled tomorrow. Make sure to stick with us tomorrow evening at 5 PM EST for all of the breaking news.
The fine folks over at iFixit have done their honorary teardown of the Kindle Fire, which just became available today. The teardown revealed the device is much easier to open than Apple’s iPad and iPod. Other things to note are its huge battery and shiny metal plates on the back case that help provide protection for the internal components, as well as heat sinking and EMI shielding. Head on over to iFixit for all of the technical details.
Interested in our first thoughts on the $199 Fire? Check them out here. A few more teardown photos after the break:
Google has updated Google Voice for Android to version 0.4.2 — a small update — but the app now features group texting, offline voicemail, and improved text message notifications.
Offline voicemail is definitely the big feature here, letting users listen to voicemail in spotty coverage areas. Now if there could be some improvements to the iOS app and MMS available on all carriers. Download it now!
What’s in this version:
Prefetch voicemails so they can be listened to even when there is no data coverage
Allow sending text messages to multiple recipients
As part of the Android Open Source Project, Google has just released the source code for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The Galaxy Nexus, the first device Android 4.0 will be released on, is landing in the coming weeks on Verizon so it makes sense for Google to release the source code now. The release will help manufacturers and developers get their devices/apps ready for the upcoming launch. Hopefully we’ll be seeing devices adopt Android 4.0 as fast as possible.
This release includes all of the Android tree, so the Honeycomb code is also included. In Google’s post, they call Honeycomb “a little incomplete” and ask developers to focus on Android 4.0.
T-Mobile has begun sending out invites to the press this afternoon (via TechCrunch), inviting them to Google’s upcoming event on Wednesday. T-Mobile’s presence was already hinted at in Google’s invite last week, but today’s invite confirms that T-Mobile most likely has a big involvement in what’s coming up.
The event is most definitely looking to be the launch of Google Music. Look at all of those music artists (for the after party) in the invite: Drake, Maroon 5, Busta Rhymes, Dirty South, and R3hab are certainly some big names. However, it’s not clear what T-Mobile’s roll will be, but a Galaxy Nexus version could certainly be possible.
I’ve been playing with the EVO Design 4G for the better part of a month now, after showing off the hardware and software quickly in October. Today, we’re back with our full review of the device to answer a few questions. Is this the premier mid-range Android device on Sprint? Does it live up to its EVO name? Is this the world phone you’re looking for? But first, let’s go over some specs.
The Design 4G is packing Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) HTC Sense, a 1.2 GHz processor, 4-inch qHD display, 5-megapixel rear-camera, 1.3-megapixel front-camera, Wi-Fi, and World Phone capabilities. So how does this hardware hold up with the software? Head on after the break for our full review.
Amazon just announced in a press release that the Kindle Fire is shipping today — a day early — to users who pre-ordered. Amazon is already touting the Fire as their best selling item. For users who didn’t pre-order, they can order the Kindle Fire now for $199. For those that did, expect to be seeing your Fire soon, but in the mean time check out our review roundup.
Amazon.com today announced it is shipping Kindle Fire, already the bestselling item on Amazon.com, one day early. Kindle Fire offers more than 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, magazines, apps and games, as well as free storage of Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync for books and movies, a 14.6 ounce design that’s easy to hold with one hand, a vibrant color touch screen, a powerful dual-core processor and Amazon Silk – Amazon’s new revolutionary web browser that accelerates the power of the mobile device by using the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services cloud – all for only $199.
In a separate press release, Amazon announced that the $99 Kindle Touch Wi-Fi and 3G will be shipping tomorrow, six days earlier than originally intended.
At a meeting with investors yesterday, Logitech’s CEO Guerrino De Luca didn’t hold back while talking about how Google TV has affected their business. Luca said that Google TV ‘cost us dearly’, and that developing the set-top box was a mistake. He also dropped the bomb that Logitech will be letting their supply of Revues run out this quarter and won’t develop any more or be manufacturing a follow-up device either. Ouch.
Luca does believe, however, Google TV has a chance sometime in the future, but said it needs some work. He went as far as saying Google TV is currently like a beta.
Even with the recent 3.1 update, we’re going to have to side with Luca on this one. Google TV is still missing many key features to disrupt the television industry. It’s going to take more innovation, content deals, and devices to get the ball rolling. (via The Verge)
PhanDroid has posted the side-by-side chart above to compare Verizon’s three new Android offerings: the Motorola Droid RAZR, HTC Rezound, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus. As you can see, all three phones are almost dead alike when it comes to specs. The Galaxy Nexus boasts a slightly bigger screen than the Rezound or RAZR, while the Rezound has the speed in-lock with its 1.5 GHz dual core processor. Ugh, the decision is just so hard..
The Galaxy Nexus is lacking when it comes to camera, having a 5-megapixel camera while the other two have 8-megapixel cameras. All three phones do pack Verizon Wireless’s blazing 4G LTE, so network speed won’t make a difference. So which device is for you?
The question is really up in the air right now. We’re currently playing with the RAZR (which lands tomorrow) and Rezound, and will be getting the Galaxy Nexus soon. You can expect our reviews of all three to be up in the coming weeks. At any rate, it really looks like Verizon is dominating as a carrier right now. The carrier is boasting all three of the cutting edge Android phones, along with the iPhone 4S. You definitely know where to shop this holiday.
Google has acquired San Francisco based startup Apture, for an undisclosed amount AllThingsDreported today. Aperture is a downloadable browser plugin that presents users with contextual information from sources like Wikipedia to match the current webpage they’re on.
A Google spokesperson told AllThingsD, while they’re not only after Apture’s product, they’re after Apture’s talent to add to the Chrome team.
There’s no word on what the team will actually do inside of Google, but it would be cool to see this technology implemented somehow. Aperture raised $4.1 million in venture funding before being acquired by Google.
Curious about some of the details in why Google switched to their new Roboto type face in Ice Cream Sandwich? Matias Duarte, Android director, took to Google+ this evening to explain it in great detail. Switching from Droid type face to Roboto type face was mainly due in part to the higher pixel density screens, Matias explained. As screens get bigger, and more pixel dense, certain font schemes can lose their luster.
The other big part of the new type face was also due in part to the design strides Google is trying to make with Ice Cream Sandwich. You’ll notice in screenshots that fonts are much more crisp and tie in better with the rest of the UI.
The Android team is devoting themselves to continue working on the font, and the overall UI. We can’t wait to check it when we get our hands on the Nexus Prime in a few weeks.
Google+ engineer Vermont Lasmarias revealed today that a new section displaying all of your recently played games has been added to the Google+ homepage. The new section can be found in the bottom left, and allows you to quickly launch into a game where you left off. Luckily, if you’re not a fan of the new games section, or just want to free up your side bar, you can get rid of the widget right from the homepage too.
