Seth Weintraub

James Gosling has had quite the run-around since he left Sun after Oracle bought the company. Never one to mince words, he set the record straight on his view of Google’s use of Sun’s Java:

Just because Sun didn’t have patent suits in our genetic code doesn’t mean we didn’t feel wronged. While I have differences with Oracle, in this case they are in the right. Google totally slimed Sun. We were all really disturbed, even Jonathan: he just decided to put on a happy face and tried to turn lemons into lemonade, which annoyed a lot of folks at Sun.

Interesting perspective and interesting timing for the guy who went to work for Google after he left Sun with some hinted harsh words for Oracle. Gosling then left Google just a few months later for an Ocean robotics startup, but he never hinted at any ill will.

He told eWeek in 2009 that leadership was needed at the Android division (although, I can think of a lot of people who would disagree).

And what’s going on in the Android world is there’s kind of no adult in charge. And all these handset manufacturers are doing whatever they damn well please. Which means that it’s just going to be randomness. It could be let a thousand flowers bloom, but it also could be a dog’s breakfast. And I guess having been around the track a few times, it feels like it’s going to be more of a dog’s breakfast.

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This is big news: Until now, Barnes and Noble was at odds (lawsuits) with Microsoft over its Android-based Nook software. Today, the two companies announced a Digital Joint Venture. While the press release does not say so specifically, it would appear that Barnes and Noble might abandon Android as its future eReader OS. Moreover, this would seem to put the previous patent litigation behind the two companies.

Barnes and Noble announced its intentions to spin off its digital arm in January.

BKS doubled in pre-market trading:

Press release follows:
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I’ve had my HTC One S review unit for a week and can say that what I found before still stands. Without a doubt (O.K., one little one), this is the phone to get if you are on T-Mobile. In fact, there are few phones available from any carriers that can stand with this device. Here’s why:

• The screen is beautiful. The not too big, not too small, 4.3-inch diagonally 540-by-960 display is not the monster that most high-end Androids tout today, but it is well big enough for just about anything you could throw at it. It is bright, vibrant and stands its ground to direct sunlight. Pixels are not discernable in normal use.
• The phone is thin, light, and strong. At under 8mm thin, you will not find a thinner phone anywhere. At the same time, it has a beautiful unibody aluminum construction. It feels great in the hand and is relatively unnoticeable in the pocket.
• Sense 4.0, while still an overlay, is an improvement from HTC. I really liked the camera software, as well as the some of the little weather, Stock, Sense Widgets, etc. I also like T-MobileTV, which broadcasts some good live and other content over the mobile network or Wi-Fi.
• The experience is polished all around. Fast processor, ample battery time and great Beats sound.

To make the deal sweeter, T-Mobile started trade-ins today, which means you could get the One S free. Get the HTC One S for $199 on a two-year plan now.

Related articles

• HTC One S landing on T-Mobile April 25 for $199 (9to5google.com)
• Review: T-Mobile’s HTC One – 2012 is a whole new ballgame (9to5google.com)

Earlier today, Google started selling the off-plan Galaxy Nexus on the new Play Store for $399. Both T-Mobile and AT&T are possible carriers for this device, but T-Mobile obviously has a bunch of love (more than 90 percent anyway) for Android. T-Mobile came out today and told us it has the best plans for the “bring your own device” set:

T-Mobile currently offers SIMs for customers who already have a GSM phone they want to use on the T-Mobile network, including the Galaxy Nexus. In order to set up an unlocked device on T-Mobile’s network, customers simply need to purchase a microSIM card and select a T-Mobile Value plan that suits their needs.

Customers can save up to $50 a month when they bring their own device to a SIM-Only Value Plan. See http://explore.t-mobile.com/phone-sim-card for more details.

It appears that T-Mobile is game for Galaxy Nexus users. Get the $30 monthly prepaid plan here. 
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After what felt like years of speculation, Google finally released its Google Drive product. The rumors were true: 5GB, Mac and PC apps, collaboration and editing, OCR, and —of course —a hefty search. Google also released an Android Google Drive app that allows you to access the service directly from your mobile device.

• Create and collaborate. Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, so you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you choose to share content with others, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and receive notifications when other people comment on shared items.
• Store everything safely and access it anywhere (especially while on the go). All your stuff is just… there. You can access your stuff from anywhere—on the web, in your home, at the office, while running errands and from all of your devices. You can install Drive on your Mac or PC and can download the Drive app to your Android phone or tablet. We’re also working hard on a Drive app for your iOS devices. And regardless of platform, blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.
• Search everything. Search by keyword and filter by file type, owner and more. Drive can even recognize text in scanned documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Let’s say you upload a scanned image of an old newspaper clipping. You can search for a word from the text of the actual article. We also use image recognition so that if you drag and drop photos from your Grand Canyon trip into Drive, you can later search for [grand canyon] and photos of its gorges should pop up. This technology is still in its early stages, and we expect it to get better over time.

As for pricing, Walt Mossberg at The Wall Street Journal did some digging and discovered additional storage is significantly cheaper than alternatives such as Dropbox and SugarSync:

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You know it is coming any minute now. In preparation for the Google Drive software launch, Google is updating Docs user accounts to 5GB from 1GB (mine above). You will see the update when uploading a new document.

Google Drive has been expected for years; however, a flurry of activity over past weeks seems to indicate that Google will release the software any…minute…now.

Related articles

• Rumored Google Drive already being referenced to in Google Docs code (9to5google.com)
• Google Drive launching next week, according to a new report (9to5google.com)
• Google Docs updates spell checker to recognize words like ‘Skrillex’ (9to5google.com)
• Google Drive logo and interface leaked in screenshot? (9to5google.com)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZZzn4EPN9Q]

T-Mobile’s launch of the HTC One S should be seen as the first real phone benchmark for 2012. That is good because 2011 was a bad year for both T-Mobile and HTC.

We have a bold new generation of devices from a beaten up manufacturer on a carrier that is just now emerging from the AT&T merger/breakup.

Without even turning the One S on, you will immediately marvel at the hardware. It is an incredible 7.8mm thin, which is significantly thinner than the thinnest Galaxy S2 or iPhone 4S. It is also 118g light, yet it is a metallic solid, owing to its unibody aluminum construction. With angular/rounded corners, it feels great in the hand and the dark Gorilla Glass on metal look is as nice of a design as you will find on any device. It has three capacitive buttons on the bottom, which we owe to the new Ice Cream Sandwich user-interface.

It is hard for me to imagine someone going into a T-Mobile store and coming out with anything else but this phone.  Sure, the new Galaxies have slightly bigger screens, but this feels much more solid and has the same resolution. Moreover, last year’s HTC Sensation and Amaze feel like a grenades compared to the svelte HTC One S.

Let’s dig in:

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Mqm15Os7wuA]

AT&T just announced the HTC One X would be available for pre-order April 22 with availability May 6. The LTE flagship HTC device will have Sense 4.0, Beats by Dre Audio, and “long-lasting battery performance to accommodate heavy mobile use.”  We have long talked about the focus that HTC has put on its One line, especially because the camera and screen are best in their class. The hard decision? Gray or white. Click below for larger images.

Full press release follows:
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It does not get more official than a corporate tweet anymore, does it?

[tweet https://twitter.com/sprint/status/191889128995041280]

Yes, the rumors and leaks were true, Sprint now carries the Galaxy Nexus, complete with Google Wallet, which is something Verizon blocked. As an extra bonus, Sprint customers who activate a Google Wallet account within a week of activating their Galaxy Nexus will receive the standard $10 instant credit on their Google Wallet account plus an additional $40 credit within three weeks.

The press release and fact sheet follow:

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[tweet https://twitter.com/SamsungMobile/status/191798576278536192]

It is not 100 percent that this is the Galaxy S 3, but we would place our chips on it. Invites went out today for a “Samsung Mobile Unpacked” event in London for May 3.

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[slideshow]

I’ve been playing with Samsung’s newest 7 inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2, for the past week and can report that Samsung is making some progress on the 7-inch form factor.  In fact if it weren’t for Samsung’s own Tab 7.7 with Super AMOLED+ display (which Verizon has cornered the market on in the US), I’d say it is the best small form factor tablet you can get your hands on.  And for $249, why wouldn’t you? Here’s why:
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As music goers descend on the lawns of Indio’s Empire Polo Club in Southern California for the Coachella festival, Google Play is following along with a playlist of free music from top event “All Stars” (see full list below the fold).

2012’s lineup features reunions from Brit-poppers Pulp, Swedish punks Refused and Texas post-hardcore firecrackers At the Drive-In, as well as headliners Radiohead, the Black Keys, and original G-Funk super-duoSnoop Dogg & Dr. Dre. Previous years’ fests, showcased in this “Best of” playlist, have been just as impressive.

Get some free tracks now.

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We have been looking forward to HTC One announcements, and this appears to be T-Mobile’s. We will, of course, be on-hand to suck up some music, fun, and HTC One S.

[vodpod id=Video.16353130&w=512&h=350&fv=]

It is always nice to see stuff we are interested in covered by my favorite show. On one hand, $33 per Instagram user seems pretty high. On the other, Facebook buying what could one day be a big competitor for 1 percent of its value might not be so dumb.

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There are reports today that Google’s 7-inch tablet made by ASUS has been delayed until July from an original release window in May.

I was told from the beginning that the tablets would be announced at Google I/O and shipping to the public shortly thereafter, so I do not know if this is a delay at all. The original source for May is Digitimes, so I am not sure how accurate the information is. Perhaps Google was hoping to bank on a little cushion in its delivery window.

What is the reason for the delay?

The Mountain View team plans to make some design changes and hopes to lower the price from the current $249. The tablet, made in partnership with Taiwan’s Asustek Computer, currently comes with a 7-inch screen, an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, and is Wi-Fi-only.

Pictured above is the ASUS Memo370T shown off at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in January and due in the second quarter. It has some beefy specs including a Tegra 3 processor, 8-megapixel camera, and a 720P display. It has a retail price of $249, so I am not sure if Google really needs to get the price down too far. This is already a solid tablet.

If the release is pushed to July, it would mean that attendees will not get the tablet at the show (I have not heard this specifically) and would have to get a voucher/mail-in kind of thing like the Samsung ChromeBooks last year.

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