Senior Editor at 9to5Mac.
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Mark has been at 9to5Mac for over three years, covering Apple and other topics related to the technology industry.
Mark frequently appears on technology news curation website Techmeme and news accuracy tracking website Tracour.
He also works on 9to5Mac’s Product Pages and covers news on 9to5Mac sister-site 9to5Google.
You can read more on About.me, follow me on Twitter, and find me on Google+.
Mark can be contacted with tips at mark@9to5mac.com via email or through AIM. Contact form: [contact-form to=’mark@9to5mac.com’ subject=’Tip for Mark’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Message’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]
HBO has updated its popular HBO application for Android to add tablet support. HBO Go was previously exclusive to Android smartphones and the Amazon Kindle Fire, but now it is available for all Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich tablets.
HBO Go is HBO’s online show streaming service that opens up over 1400 HBO television programs to the Web and mobile devices. The service is available free of charge to HBO subscribers, and the application on Google Play is also free to download.
Last month, Google replaced their Google Places service with a new service called Google+ Local. The new service takes the best of Google Places and merges it with Google+’s business places feature. Today, Google has swapped their Google Places iOS application with a new Google+ Local app. The new app features a tweaked user interface in addition to a voice-based search feature. The app is supported on the iPhone and iPod touch and is free on the App Store.
T-Mobile CEO Philipp Humm has resigned from the mobile phone carrier, the company has announced. The resignation seems to come at a surprising time, and T-Mobile says that its COO, Jim Alling, will take on temporary duties. Notably, Humm was the T-Mobile CEO during the difficult time following the fallout of the AT&T merger. (Image: Flickr)
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Update: The Verge dug up pricing for the $299 Q and companion $399 triad speaker option, and the video above from Google has surfaced on YouTube accompanied by the following description:
Nexus Q streams your favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to your living room. Just use the Google Play and YouTube apps on your Android phone or tablet to surf an ocean of music, TV, movies and music, and Nexus Q will play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space. Just the stuff you love — at home and out loud.
Following the leaked images of the Nexus 7 tablet from Google, new leaked images, posted by The Verge, point to an announcement of a new Nexus Q device. The feature-set or the purpose of this new device is not clear from the images, but DroidLife reports on some possible information about the product:
Nexus Q Addendum
The following paragraphs only apply if you purchase a Nexus Q.
You understand that the Nexus Q currently supports only Google Play Music; Google Play Movies and TV; and YouTube, and that your use of those services is subject to the Google Play Terms of Service.
The Nexus Q has built-in Wi-Fi and a built-in ethernet controller. You are solely responsible for obtaining internet connectivity through an internet service provider as the Nexus Q does not support mobile connectivity.
In order to use the Nexus Q, you understand that you will need your own: (i) phone or tablet running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher with access to Google Play; (ii) compatible speakers, AV system or HD TV; and (iii) 802.11a/b/g/n access point Wi-Fi router.
Google provides a limited warranty for the Nexus Q. Please visit this link for more information.
It appears that the Nexus Q might be some sort of AirPlay connection device from Android smartphones and tablets to their televisions. This would be sort of like the Apple TV + iPad/iPhone/iPod touch integrated approach.
After long being an exclusive to iOS, Flipboard has finally rolled out a free official application for Android devices. The application is available across Android’s multiple App Stores and is compatible with Android phones running Android 2.2 and above. The application, however, is not available on 10-inch tablets, currently staying exclusive to smaller Android tablets like the popular Kindle Fire. The new version of Flipboard adds Google+ and YouTube integration. Flipboard will come included with the U.S. variant of the Galaxy S III.
Research firm Elance put together some calculations about the growth of Google’s social network Google Plus and the statistics seem outstanding. Paul Allen, known as the founder of Ancestry.com, leads the team, and he shared their calculations on his Google Plus page.
As of Dec. 27, Allen writes, the Google Plus user base sits at right around 62 million users. This is up from the 50 million users reported on Dec. 1, demonstrating massive growth. The posting noted that 25 percent of all Google Plus users joined in December. These numbers represent a daily growth of approximately 625,000 users.
As a comparison, Facebook’s last shared user base statistic was 800 million users as of late September. Earlier this year, Twitter reported 460,000 signups per day, which has obviously shot up after its integration with iOS 5 and for other reasons.
“If this rate of new signups (625k daily) continues then Google+ will reach 100 million users on Feb. 25th and 200 million users on August 3,” reported Allen. “They will finish 2012 with 293 million users.”
The reason for the massive December growth for Google Plus is unclear, but it may have to do with the release of the heavily Google-integrated Galaxy Nexus phone or due to new marketing tactics surrounding the 2011 holiday season.
I have been an iPhone user since 2007 and have used every iPhone since the original. My current phone is the 4S…until I had the chance to start reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket with LTE (currently 70 percent off at Amazon). I have used many Android phones in the past, and the Skyrocket (as I’ll call it for the rest of the review) is one amazing product. The iPhone 4S is currently widely regarded as the “phone to beat,” so parts of this review will focus on comparing the two devices. Since the Skyrocket is a phone with several features and components, we are going to break it down into categories: design and performance, display, battery life, LTE, hotspot, and cameras. Read past the break for the full review:
AT&T started rolling out LTE in California’s San Francisco market earlier this month, and now the company is moving south to Los Angeles. The Samsung Skyrocket with LTE capabilities that I am testing (great phone, by the way) started detecting LTE connection around the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) area. The speeds in this instance are not as fast as they are (yet) in other markets, but they are in line with the LTE speeds seen in San Francisco last week. In addition, they certainly beat HSPA+.
The speeds I am seeing in L.A. are around what is shown in the image above: 18mb/s up, 5mb/s down.
An AT&T spokesperson told 9to5Mac:
We’re continuing to expand our 4G LTE coverage nationwide. As part of our rollout, we’re regularly testing and turning up parts of our network, including in additional markets, so some customers with LTE devices may already see faster speeds.
Therefore, LTE in L.A. has not officially been announced, but now we know it is definitely in testing around the areas of L.A. This testing likely means an official rollout soon. As testing progresses, we should see LTE in more areas of L.A.
Let us know if you spot any LTE connection in unannounced regions.
Update: CNET also has reported seeing LTE in LA
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Yesterday, the specs for the upcoming Droid 4 leaked, revealing a lot of similarity between the Droid RAZR. Today, we’ve come across the first photos taken in the wild by the Droid 4. The first photo, shown above, is not very impressive (click for full resolution) for an eight megapixel lens – which the new Droid 4 apparently has. What we think happened is that it has been shrunken down to its presented 1155×2048 resolution (or it could have been shot with the front camera, but that seems unlikely). This would mirror the situation surrounding the first iPhone 4S photo taken in the wild, which was shrunken down prior to being posted on Flickr. We think it’s worth noting that the subject in the picture is in fact a Motorola employee.
What we have learned is that this new camera will rock an f/2.4 aperture with a focal length of 4.6 mm and an ISO speed of 200 (at least for this photo/model). According to EXIF data the photograph shown above does not use the camera flash, but the leaked specs call for the presence of one. As aforementioned, the Droid 4 back camera lens runs in at eight megapixels and does shoot 1080P video. The camera sounds – in terms of specs – reminiscent of the industry leading iPhone 4S camera. We’ll have to see if Motorola’s software can present the photos as crystal clear as Apple’s software does.
Additionally, we’ve come across another photo likely taken with the Droid 4 at the more impressive resolution of 3264×1840. Below the fold you’ll find possible screenshots of the Droid 4, but it could very well be another qHD device, along with the other back-camera shot. Check out the photos after the break:
Mashable reports that some Google Marketplace apps are installable on Kindle’s new Fire tablet. A user simply needs to head to the device settings pane and enable the “Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources” option. Then, the user needs to install GetJar.com. The Kindle Fire won’t appear in the GetJar options for app downloading, so the user just needs to select another Android 2.3 tablet. Not all apps will install, and Mashable uses the example of the Nook app. Quite the irony.
We’re playing with Google Maps right now (below). FYI Launcher apps don’t seem to work. It appears that the Kindle is about to be opened up bigtime for hacking in the next 24 hours….
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MG Siegler reports that Google is “on the verge” of releasing a native Gmail client for the iPhone through the App Store. Gmail users have long complained over the lack of push Gmail for the iPhone, which this native application is said to bring. Siegler says the application will likely bring also bring Priority Inbox and one click starring. Of course, nobody says that this application has been approved or will be approved by Apple, so until then, don’t get too excited.
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GoogleTV updates should be happening any second now. We’ve just got the following email from Google:
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As we just reported on 9to5Mac, Radio Shack will finally being selling the Verizon iPhone 4 on September 15th, the official kickoff date for Radio Shack and Verizon Wireless’s new partnership. But we can’t forget those interested in Google’s Android devices, so here’s the rest of Radio Shack’s initial Verizon Wireless offerings:
This is obviously a fantastic – and Android filled! – initial lineup for Radio Shack and Verizon’s new partnership. This is also great news for Google and will likely assist in their growing marketshare.
Late last week, Verizon introduced a new 300MB data plan for $20/month for the carrier’s mid-Atlantic region. This covers Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and North Carolina. This special data plan tier is available in a limited test run from August 18th until September 30th. The idea for the plan, according to Verizon regional president Mike Maiorana is to welcome users from non-smartphones:
This is a great introductory plan for customers who have been contemplating moving from a basic phone to a smartphone but were hesitant because of cost, said Mike Maiorana, regional president in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia. The $20 monthly access promotional plan is an opportunity for customers to learn the many benefits of having a smartphone with email and calendar functions, as well as Internet access and apps, at their fingertips
According to our sources, though, Verizon’s reasoning for the plan is not that simple. The company is actually going right after AT&T’s $15 data plan that provides users with 200MB of data usage per month. Verizon Wireless figures that an extra 100MB for only $5 is the more enticing deal. The plan also doubles as an easier route for parents to set young children up with a phone line on their Verizon plan. Because of this, Verizon Wireless currently plans to make this data plan a permanent and nationwide option by this holiday season. This could change at anytime, though, depending on response to the test-run.
Google Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond has written an open letter in regards to Apple and others (namely Microsoft) going after smartphone patents. Drummond notes that it is fishy that Apple and Microsoft “have always been at each other’s throats” and “when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what’s going on.” Google’s Drummond is referring to the two technology heavyweights “banding” together to win the Novell and Nortell’s old smartphone related patents. As revealed just a few days ago, a Consortium of Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle payed $4.5 billion for the aforementioned Nortell patents.
Drummond outright calls this “a hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents.” Drummond also says that the approach to acquire patents and file patent lawsuits is Apple’s (and other’s) way of showing that they “want to make it harder for manufacturers to sell Android devices.” He also says that Apple and others are going after these patents and filing complaints “instead of competing by building new features or devices.”
Drummond also says that Google feels that Apple and Microsoft’s take over of the Nortell patents is unlawful:
Fortunately, the law frowns on the accumulation of dubious patents for anti-competitive means — which means these deals are likely to draw regulatory scrutiny, and this patent bubble will pop.
Drummond ends by saying that Apple and Microsoft’s moves could potentially hurt Android and they are obviously looking into ways to stop this.
Unless we act, consumers could face rising costs for Android devices — and fewer choices for their next phone.
The full letter is after the break:
Google has officially outed Android version 3.2 with better support for tablet devices, syncing with SD card media files, new APIs for developers and an SDK. Here are the user feature release notes:
In addition to their earnings announcement, Google has revealed that Android is now the operating system that sits on 130 devices. The platform is growing swiftly with approximately 500,000 new activations per day, according Android chief Andy Rubin, but is still 70 million device’s behind Apple’s 200 million. These 130 million total devices have garnered just over 6 billion application downloads, per TechCrunch, – which is still far from Apple’s breakthrough 15 billion.
Another landmark statistic for Google today is the announcement of 10 million Google+ accounts. The service that just launched, which has been based on invitations to gain new users, has passed the 10 million profiles mark in just over two weeks. In addition, per Business Insider, the service has been home to one billion shared items. It is not clear what this one billion marker specifically means, but likely means that one billion items have been shared between users.
It looks like investors are enjoying the news: GOOG up 11% in after hours trading
Google has announced its Q2 results with revenue up 32% year over year. The biggest highlights are an income of over $9 billion in this second quarter with $2.51 billion in net growth. Google’s websites made up 69% of this total revenue number with $6.82 billion. Capping up the total of $9 billion is $2.48 billion in revenue from advertising (28%).
Q2 financial summary courtesy of Google:
Google CEO Larry Page expressed his joy and excitement over Google’s new and rising Google+ social networking service:
I’m super excited about the amazing response to Google+ which lets you share just like in real life.
The full press release is after the break:
The LA Times reports that Google is in preliminary talks to acquire the online video service, Hulu. Google, in addition to companies also involved – Microsoft and Yahoo, would use this purchase to extend their current online video offerings. Google, of course, is the company behind YouTube. Google would also use this Hulu purchase to extend the range of content offered on YouTube, namely in a push for more professionally produced content, something that Hulu manages to accomplish very well.
Google, which has had a testy relationship with Hollywood, is making a major push to add professionally produced content to its mix of user-created videos on YouTube. It has hired industry veterans to help the Internet search giant make inroads and strike deals.
Hulu is in a prime position for a sale as it has recently signed new licensing agreements with programming heavyweights, Disney and News Corp. Exact details of the possible Hulu purchase by Google are yet to be revealed: this includes any sort of public confirmation from the companies about the talks and terms of the deal.
Google has announced on their Google+ information page that their new social networking service will be available as a native application for the iOS platform. Google does not provide a launch date for this application, but says it is “coming soon” to iPhones running iOS 4.0 or later. There is no mention of an iPad application at this time, but you’ll be able to run it in 2X mode like other iPhone apps. (via iPhone Italia).
Nice, you can now rent an Acer 500 Honeycomb tablet from the dudes at Rent-a-Center. The kit is a 10.1 inch tablet with Android 3.1 and you can rent one here. via fake Alexia
Hulu has announced that their Hulu Plus application and service is finally available for Android users. The application provides Hulu Plus subscribers with much of the content available on Hulu’s website.
We’ve always said our mission is to provide the world’s premium content to people when, how and where they want it. And we know that a lot of people want that content on their Android smartphones. We’ve been working hard to make that a reality, and today, we have begun our early rollout of the Hulu Plus application on Android smartphones.
The free application is now available on the Android Marketplace and all content is, of course, free for subscribers. The only catch is that Hulu Plus is only available on six Android phones today: Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix. Hulu Plus will add support for more devices as the year progresses. One more screenshot is after the break.
With Apple’s purchase of two mapping companies over the last couple of years – Poly9 and Placebase – many have speculated that iOS 5 will finally be the iOS release where Apple moves from a Google Maps backend to an Apple backend. Multiple job postings on Apple’s official site backed up this speculation and even Apple promised some under-the-hood maps tweeks for their next-generation iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch operating system.
Now, sources have told 9to5Google that although Apple is working to improve the iOS Maps application, iOS 5 will not bring an Apple developed maps service and Google Maps is still in. Besides Apple’s purchase of both Placebase and Poly9, some speculated that Apple is building their own maps service to either compete with Google or step away from their input into iOS.
Apple began the process of distancing themselves from Google when former Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigned over “conflict of interest.” Apple has also added Microsoft’s Bing as a Safari search option and will be competing with Google head-to-head with their upcoming cloud-based music service. Those who enjoy Google Maps should not fear iOS 5, though, and hopefully Apple is working to implement turn-by-turn directions or something else to improve their maps application without changing the backend.
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