Jordan Kahn

Following the introduction of branded Google+ pages for businesses and brands, Google has made a point of letting us know the ins and outs of the service. We learned earlier today that promotions will be strictly forbidden from branded pages, i.e. no direct advertising of contests, offers, sweepstakes, etc. In addition to launching a new Pages guide that acts as a resource for those who want to learn more, they also made a post on the official Google+ page today outlining some of the intricacies of the service.

You might have known a couple of these, but others probably not. For instance, Google+ Pages cant mention or follow a user unless you’ve connected with them first,  and a page will automatically unfollow a user if the user unfollows the page. Below is the full list from Google, or head over to the new Google+ pages resource center to learn more about how to share, promote, and measure the traffic of your brand page.

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Microsoft is yet again said to be in talks to sign up another Android vendor in a cross licensing agreement, this time demanding royalties from Chinese-based manufacturer Huawei. According to a report from The Guardian, CMO for Huawei Devices, Victor Xu, has confirmed “negotiations are in progress”:

“Yes, Microsoft has come to us…We always respect the intellectual property of companies. But we have 65,000 patents worldwide too. We have enough to protect our interests. We are a very important stakeholder in Android.”

This is far from Microsoft’s first attempt to collect royalties based on claims of patent infringement related to Android. The company is already expected to take in an estimated $444 million from license agreements with Android backers alone during fiscal 2012.  HTC is already coughing up a $5 royalty per device, Samsung is signed up, and other vendors including ViewSonic, Acer, GDI, and Compal Electronics add to deals with well over ten manufacturers. Last we heard, the new Android-powered Kindle Fire may be Microsoft’s next target.

Despite the inevitable license agreement, Xu is positive Huawei can continue to grow and even become one of the top smartphone makers within five years:

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According to the Associated Press (via Winnipeg Free Press), Google’s Eric Schmidt attended a press conference during his first visit to South Korea since 2007 on Tuesday where, among other things, he was asked his opinion on Steve Jobs’ claims that Android is a “stolen product”. While calling Jobs a “fantastic human being” and saying he is still “very sad and recovering from the sense of loss”, he had this to say regarding claims that Google ripped off key features of the iPhone for Android:

“I decided not to comment on comments that are written in the book after his death. I don’t think it’s right…Most people would agree that Google is a great innovator, and I would also point out that the Android efforts started before the iPhone efforts. And that’s all I have to say.” 

It was revealed prior to the release of the authorized Steve Jobs bio penned by author Walter Isaacson that Jobs shared with Isaacson his opinions on Android’s blatant copying of innovations Apple first debuted in the iPhone. Here’s the full quote from the book:

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Following a temporary injunction on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, retailers say they aren’t prepared to back down despite legal threats from Apple and will continue selling the device by setting up new entities outside the “jurisdiction of Australian courts”, according to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald.

One retailer, dMavo, is even reorganizing their online operations and setting up an entirely new entity elsewhere in Europe to push the tablets, saying they’re ready for a “cat and mouse game” with Apple:

“We have a new entity established and a separate server – just to deal with the tablet orders – that is undergoing testing as of last Saturday…Was Apple just bluffing or do they really want to play the cat and mouse game?- dMavo managing director Wojtek Czarnocki.

It appears the move is paying off for the retailer on the short term with Czarnocki noting their  servers were “almost collapsing on a number of occasions” as demand for the tablet and press from the retailer’s stance against Apple starts to receive attention.

Mark Summerfield, senior associate and patent specialist at a Melbourne law firm, told SMH he is unsure if the move to restructure the online sales of the device will protect the retailer from any wrongdoing related to patent infringement and the pending litigation between Apple and Samsung in Australia:

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If you had plans on picking up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus on November 13th when it officially lands stateside (already shipping from Amazon), you might want to wait a few more days for the 4G-enabled variant launching on T-Mobile November 16th.

T-Mobile’s version will be largely unchanged from the currently shipping WiFi-only model, but of course include support for the carrier’s HSPA+ “4G” network. Another difference, however, is the pricing scheme which will see you hand over $250 up front (with a mail-in rebate), sign up for a two year contract, in addition to $10/monthly interest free payments for 20 months (above and beyond your data/voice plan) bringing the total just above the $399 price tag on the WiFi only model.

If you’re not up the specs of the Tab 7.0 Plus– expect a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1024×600 Super LCD display, 1GB of RAM, 3-megapixel main cam (2MP front), 16 GB onboard storage (32GB via microSD), and Honeycomb. It also has a built-in IR sensor and Peel Smart Remote app preloaded for controlling your cable boxes and audio/video setups. Full press release from T-Mobile below, if you’re interested.

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The device in the image above is the HTC Edge, a 4.7-inch beast that might very well be the first quad-core handset to hit the market. Leaked to PocketNow by a “reliable source”, we’re getting our first look at HTC’s next flagship device, and possibly a new benchmark for processing power in a smartphone.

Taking a lot of cues from the recently announced HTC Rezound, the Edge is expected to feature a 720p display, 1GB of RAM, 8-megapixel backlit camera (28-millimeter, f/2.2 lens), and an incredibly powerful AP30 Tegra 3 Nvidia CPU (four 1.5GHz cores), which doubles the power of the Rezound. Not much of a surprise, the device will also apparently include Beats by Dre. audio tech, and Bluetooth 4.0. The report notes the device will also likely get 32GB onboard memory.

There is also mention the debut of services such as HTC Listen, HTC Read, HTC Play, and HTC Watch could possibly coincide with the launch of the Edge. Although there isn’t much to go on here and we have to blindly trust their source, PocketNow expects the Edge to arrive in late Q1 or early Q2 2012.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8Ccf5GxM7vg]

Google has just announced a significant new update to Google+ with the introduction of branded ‘Google+ Pages’. From within a Page, fans will be able to join live hangouts, discuss topics, or just follow a brand or topic that interests them. For example, “hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favourite clothing line, or follow a band on tour”. Users will also be able to +1 a page, as well as add the page to a circle, while page owners can display a new Google+ badge on their site, allowing users to add their Google+ page to a circle without leaving the website. Sites that are linked to Google+ pages will also have their +1’s tallied into a single total.

It looks like just about anyone will eventually be able to create a page,  with categories currently listed including “Local Business or Place”, “Product or Brand”, “Company, Institution or Organization”, “Arts, Entertainment or Sports”, and “Other”. Although, as of right now, the feature isn’t open to the public, but will soon be available to everyone. You’ll eventually be able to create pages at plus.google.com/pages/create. Below is a screenshot of what you’ll see on that page once it’s opened up to the public.

Google also announced pages will be included in search results, while a new feature for search called Direct Connect will allow you to navigate directly to a Google+ page through search by entering “+” prior to the page name. For example, try typing “+Google” or “+Youtube” into Google search. Rather than displaying search results, you’ll be taken directly to the Google+ profile. Direct Connect is an experiment that won’t be available for all pages and users initially, but will roll out over time. You can learn more about Direct Connect here. Video of Direct Connect in action and links to currently live Google+ Pages after the break. 
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Verizon confirmed in a leaked internal document yesterday that we would indeed be seeing the Galaxy Nexus sometime before the holidays. However, today a different leaked Verizon doc (via Droid Life) shows the device with a launch date of November 21st. It also claims to be a “web-only” launch, which obviously means the device will be available through online retailers only (same as the initial original Nexus launch).

You might also notice the “Moto 8” and “Moto 10” tablets listed on the doc. Those two devices are better known as the Motorola Xoom 2, and Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition, which were confirmed for a mid-November launch by the company last week. The doc above lists a more precise release date of November 30th for the new Xoom lineup. If these dates come to fruition, we now know for sure Verizon is doing away with their typical Thursday launch day. We’ll keep you posted.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR7ZtiHoTEE&feature=player_embedded]

Following the unveiling of their new 7-inch Nook Tablet, Barnes & Noble have just posted the four-minute video walkthrough above showing off some of the Kindle Fire-killer’s specs and features. They also posted a 360-degree view vid of the tablet, as well as a video tour of the refreshed $99 E ink Nook SimpleTouch. You can check out both those videos after the break.

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Barnes & Noble execs just took the stage in New York (via The Verge) to unveil their next-generation Nook– The Nook Tablet. According to the company, it’s an “unrivaled portable content machine”, and execs made a point of comparing it to the Kindle Fire…

While the new Nook Tablet at first glance might look almost unchanged from the Nook Color, inside is a beefed up TI OMAP 4 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 7-inch 1024×600 LG-made IPS Vivid View display. It also packs in 16GB of onboard storage, expandable to 32GB via microSD, and supports 1080p video. Other notables include built-in WiFi, and a reported 9 hours (video playback) and 11.5 hours (reading) of battery life. Oh, and it weighs just 0.88 pounds. Unlike Amazon’s Kindle Fire, with these specs, the Nook Tablet might actually be considered a tablet competitor opposed to an e-reader on steroids.

The Nook Tablet also includes Read and Record functionality, allowing kids to “hear their parents or grandparents read to them when they can’t be there in person.” The company also talked apps for the device, while mentioning regular smartphone apps don’t run on the 7-inch tablet, execs showed off Angry Birds, Pandora, and noted Netflix and Hulu Plus will come preinstalled. You can also expect 250 interactive magazines and periodicals from Nook Newsstand, content storage via Nook Cloud, and the “largest digital collection of Marvel graphic novels” with Nook Comics.

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Motorola officially unveiled the Motorola Droid RAZR for Verizon’s 4G LTE network last month on October 18th. The new RAZR is slated to land on November 11th for $299 and sports a 960×540 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8-megapixel main cam (1.3 front), and a microSD slot. While it might not mirror some of the specs of new high-end Android competitors, the reviews are starting to pour in and, apart from a non-removable battery and worst than expected camera performance, overall they’ve been pretty positive…

Jordan Crook / TechCrunch:

“The Droid RAZR for Verizon is no doubt a beastly little phone. The combination of 4G LTE support and a dual-core processing chip makes for quite the snappy experience, and the design speaks for itself. While I’m not sure I can tell you it justifies its $299 price tag, I can say it certainly deserves its spot as one of the top contenders for this holiday season… There’s one thing to be said for the Droid RAZR’s design before all else: it’s crazy thin”

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While Sony recently made a deal to cut Ericsson out of their smartphone business, we’ll inevitably have a few more Ericsson branded devices before Sony rebrands their smartphone lineup, if at all. Today we’re getting our first sneak peak at the rumored Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc HD (model number LT26i), bringing their smartphone lineup up to the what seem to be the new standard high-end Android specs– 720p 1280×720 4.3-inch display, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. It looks like every major Android manufacturer is producing a 720P display phone, except Motorola, and that is only a matter of time.

The device, previously referred to as the “Nozomi”, made its first appearance over at iAndroid.co.il this weekend, giving us not only a look at the device itself but also showing some Quadrant benchmark stats.  Unfortunately, those benchmark tests are designed for single-core processors, so they don’t really give us the whole picture. However, we expect the device to rival performance by other high-end Android devices with similar specs- think Galaxy Nexus or HTC Rezound.

Other specs you can expect from the Xperia Arc HD include 1GB of RAM, and an LED illuminated strip near the hardware buttons which wraps around the backside of the device as well. It is also slated to run Gingerbread, although an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade is likely considering the device probably won’t hit market for a few months. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more. More images after the break.

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We got a little bit more excited about the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime when chairman Jonney Shih announced it would be getting an Ice Cream Sandwhich upgrade shortly after release. We already found out it will be powered by Nividia’s latest quad-core Kal-El chip, but today Tech 2 has posted some pretty impressive AnTuTu benchmarks providing yet another reason to get excited about the hybrid tablet/notebook.

Among a selection of formidable Android devices including the Galaxy S II, Moto Xoom, and Galaxy Nexus, the Transformer Prime tops the list with results providing it has at least twice the power of the previous generation Transformer. Looking at the individual stats, you’ll notice a significant lead in processing power over the other high-end Android devices in the benchmark, and of course RAM clocking almost twice as fast. Here’s to hoping the results turn into just as impressive real-world performance. The Transformer Prime is expected to come out of hiding on November 9th with an Ice Cream Sandwich update promised before the end of the year.

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Last we heard Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus was set to ship in the US on November 13th. Ahead of schedule, Amazon is now shipping the the 7-inch, Android Honeycomb-powered device for $399. If you’re unfamiliar, the Tab Plus ships with a 1024×600 Super LCD display, 1GB of RAM, microSD slot, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3-megapixel main cam, and 2-megapixel front cam. You can grab it now in 16 and 32 GB variants. It also packs in the Peel Smart Remote application and built-in IR sensor for controlling your A/V setup. Head over to Amazon to get it now.

Amazon also recently started shipping their Android-based Galaxy Player 4 and Galaxy Player 5, iPod touch-like media players. You can grab the 4-inch model for $229, and the 5-inch model for $269 now.

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Google has been on a roll this week releasing a ton of new features and apps from YouTube and Chrome integration in Google+, to a Google Offers for Android app, and updates to Gmail and Google Reader. Some updates were received better than others. The Google Reader and Docs apps for Android haven’t been left out with new versions of both apps now live on the market.

Both new versions will include a similar Android 4.0-inspired UI, along with widgets, that the new Google+ for Android and other apps have received recently. The new Reader app also loses the “previous” and “next” buttons you’re used to and instead utilizes more fitting left and right swiping gestures. Some users might not like the fact the update also removes features that are now included in Google+, for instance, sharing and following.

If you’ve been experiencing issues with Docs since the recent update, which brought the three-panel UI and other improvements, the latest version includes mostly bug fixes. You can grab the latest updates for Google Docs and and Google Reader for Android from the Market now.

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Left to right: YouTube slider (closed), slider (open), pop-up playlist, slider (while playing)

As part of several Google executives’ promise to “ship the Google part” of Google+, the company is rolling out two new features that integrate two of Google’s core products into Google+, starting with YouTube and Chrome.

The YouTube “slider” will be accessible via a new icon in the upper right of Google+. Hover over the icon and a search bar will slide out allowing you to enter a search query. A playlist of related videos will automatically begin playing in a pop-up window, while the slider will remain so you can continue searching. Also, when sharing YouTube videos within your circles, users can open a related playlist right from within the post (image below). YouTube playlists will also now be displayed in Google+ search results.

Chrome integration comes way of two new extensions (image below). The first, a +1 button allowing you to share the current webpage with any of your circles. The second is a notifications extension that allows you to check your Google+ notifications from a familiar red icon that looks almost identical to the notifications tray on the Google+ UI. Non-Chrome users can get these features on the latest version of the Google Toolbar. You can grab the new Chrome extensions here.

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In a move that might drive more e-book-only tablet users to Amazon (opposed to iBooks or elsewhere), Amazon has announced a new book borrowing service called “Kindle Lending Library”.  The move is said to encourage Prime subscriptions, which are required for the service, but could be part of Amazon’s larger strategy as the $199 Kindle Fire prepares to enter the tablet market. Either way,

The service will allow users to borrow from a selection of approximately 5,000 books (up to one a month) that have been enabled for lending by the publisher. You’ll be able to return the book at any time without due dates, and bookmarks and highlights will be saved in the event you borrow or purchase the book in the future. Included in the available content will be 100 current and previous New York Times bestsellers.

Not so fast if you’re hoping to borrow books on your non-Kindle tablet, however. The service will only be made available to owners of an eligible Kindle device that are also Amazon Prime subscribers. A Prime membership is currently going for $79 per year, a pricey ask for just the book borrowing service if you’re not planning on taking advantage of the 10,000 movies and tv shows, and free two-day shipping available to Prime users. The good news is the $199 Kindle Fire will come bundled with one free month of Prime.

It appears Amazon hasn’t entirely convinced publishers of the long-term benefits of the service, as they note in the press release they are actually ” purchasing a title each time it is borrowed by a reader” to provide a “no-risk trial” for publishers:

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Google has just announced a free, standalone Google Offers app for Android, the local deals service previously only accessible through a web browser and baked into the Google Wallet app.

Discover, buy and redeem great deals with your Android phone. From food to fun, Google Offers connects you with great deals every day in your city. Discover, buy and redeem Google Offers without the need to print them. A city is what you make of it: start exploring today.

Some users are reporting deals for certain regions aren’t being properly displayed. Hopefully this isn’t an unfinished, prematurely released app like the native iOS Gmail app released and promptly pulled yesterday. The Google Offers app is currently online available for Android users in the US. Grab it from the Market now.An iPhone version of Google Offers will be “coming soon” to the App Store.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x16LUdsMPqw]

We knew it was coming eventually and today Motorola confirmed our suspicions and previous leaks by confirming availability of the new Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition for mid-November.

There’s not much to be surprised about when it comes to specs. Both models will feature 1.2GHz dual-core CPUs, 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, 5MP main cam, 1.3MP front cam,  and 16 GB onboard storage. The Xoom 2 will sport a 10.1-inch widescreen “HD display”, while the Media Edition will offer an unspecified 8.2-inch display. Both utilize Corning Gorilla Glass and “splashguard coating” tech.

When it comes to the design of both tablets, it’s clear whatever inspiration when into the new RAZR design is making its way into Moto’s other product lines. The promo video above mentions “subwoofer and 3D surround sound”, but specs on the built-in audio aren’t listed in the press release. Of course Motorola’s own tech is also built-in– Motocast, Motoprint, and support for the Motorola Stylus. The Xoom 2 also includes Citrix Receiver and GoToMeeting.

Customers in the UK and Ireland will get their hands on both devices sometime in November through Dixons, PC World, Best Buy, Carphone Warehouse, and Currys. No word on pricing or international availability yet. Full press release and more images after the break, if you’re interested.

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Republic Wireless, which is a division of Bandwidth.com, is prepping to launch a unlimited voice and data plan on November 8 that combines both VoIP and cellular voice services. According to a report from GigaOM, the plan will offer users the ability to place VoIP calls over Wi-Fi and switch to a traditional cellular connection when Wi-Fi isn’t available. Same goes for SMS.

“The company is going to buy wholesale minutes from third-party carriers such as Sprint. Bandwidth.com could easily use other wireless carriers as its wholesale partners. The company says the monthly plan would include unlimited 3G data without any bandwidth caps. Typically, phone companies call 5 gigabytes download as “unlimited.”

The plan will also offer truly unlimited data without caps, we’re assuming thanks to their parent company Bandwidth.com. Not to be confused with other Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) services that also allow users to place calls over both Wi-Fi and traditional cellular connections, Republic claims to have their own proprietary system for handling the service.

The screenshots below show how the Android-powered hardware compatible with Republic’s service will handle calls. Head over to the company’s website to learn more and sign up to be notified when the service goes live.

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Update: Google has now pulled the app from the App Store following a notifications bug many users have reported experiencing. Apps guy at Google David Giouard sent out the following tweet: “Googla culpa! Sorry but we pushed a bad version of our iOS app for Gmail. More info shortly – we’re working on it.” Google issued the following apology via their Twitter account:

Following reports that Google was about to launch a native iOS Gmail app, they just announced an official app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. More sceenshots below.

We’ve created a new Gmail app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. We’ve combined your favorite features from the Gmail mobile web app and iOS into one app so you can be more productive on the go. It’s designed to be fast, efficient and take full advantage of the touchscreen and notification capabilities of your device. And it’s one more reason to switch to Gmail.

Features listed on the iTunes page include notifications for new messages, threaded conversation views, the much-needed priority inbox feature, the ability to send and open attachments, and of course, search capabilities. You will also have access to archiving, labeling, starring, deleting, and reporting spam. It looks like we are finally getting the full-fledged, feature-rich native Gmail experience on iOS. We’ll have to take some time to really dig into the app and see how it stacks up. More screenshots after the break.

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