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Google teams up with Intel, Sony to make Google TV set-top boxes

Audio/Video, Home Theater, News, Software / By /

Google is pushing to get Android into other hardware, such as set-top boxes, and in turn to get their ads into more markets and in front of more eyeballs. To that ends, they have teamed up with Sony and Intel to develop something called, naturally, Google TV.

google tvGoogle TV is pretty much a re-imagining of the ill-fated WebTV, where a set-top box brings the Web to your TV screen. Of course, today, there are many different set-top boxes vying for your dollars and space in your AV shelf, including but not limited to media centers, DVRs, place-shifting boxes (like the Slingbox) and much more.

Who knows? Perhaps this version could fare better (think Palm vs the Newton). Of course, the Internet’s pervasiveness is exponentially greater than when WebTV first appeared.

One additional difference will be that the Google Android platform will allow for the software to be embedded in more devices than just the set-top box.

Press Release

Google most likely exiting China

Networking & Internet, News / By /

Oh well. So much for the big G trying to throw their weight around to convince the big C to give a little on their censorship stance, following the hacking attacks. Google will most likely close its search engine business in China, google.cn.

They’re going to make an orderly exit, and take steps to protect their employees there. Does China care? Not really. They can (and have) created their own search engines that are more compliant with their way of thinking.

via FT.com

Motorola Backflip, Android phone comes to AT&T

Miscellaneous / By /

Well the iPhone honeymoon at AT&T may be over, what with Android handsets coming to the network. The first one is here, the Motorola Backflip and like its name, it has a hinged design that lets the keyboard float below the screen or even to rotate all the way around.

Here are the big points:

  • 3G
  • 3.1″ touchscreen
  • full QWERTY keyboard
  • GPS
  • WiFi
  • 5 Megapixel camera
  • micro-SD card slot
  • up to 6hrs of talk time, 13.5 days of standby time

You can get the phone with a service plan for next to nothing, or buy it outright for $350 at places like Amazon.

Buy now!
Price: $349.99 (without contract)
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Google jumps into the social web with Buzz; goes up against Facebook, Twitter, et al.

1 Comment / Gizmo of the Day, Networking & Internet / By /

Google rolled out its latest product, called Google Buzz [announcement], this time in the social networking arena. Buzz is built into Gmail and has tight integration with your e-mail inbox.

You can share links, photos and videos directly from within Gmail and it uses your existing set of Gmail contacts. You can see what your friends are sharing and Buzz also recommends items based on your activity.

…

Google jumps into the social web with Buzz; goes up against Facebook, Twitter, et al.Read More »

CES 2010: AT&T Launching 5 Android Smartphones in 1st Half of 2010

1 Comment / CES, Phones / By /

androidat&t logoAT&T announced that it plans to launch 5 new Android smartphones in the 1st half of this year (2010) [press release]. The phones will be from HTC, Motorola and Dell. Yes, Dell.

What does this say about AT&T relationship with Apple and its iPhone? Perhaps nothing, but perhaps that the honeymoon is over and Apple may really be taking its iPhone to other networks as well.

Google Releases Nexus One Android Phone – What You Need to Know

1 Comment / Gizmo of the Day, News, Phones, Portable / By /

If you follow any sort of news, you’ll know that Google announced their Nexus One phone running their Android-supported mobile OS. What’s really unique and new here is that Google is selling the handset directly, and not the carrier.

Here’s what you need to know about the phone: …

Google Releases Nexus One Android Phone – What You Need to KnowRead More »

Offline Gmail has become a Regular Feature of Gmail

Networking & Internet, News, Software / By /

Offline Gmail has been a Gmail Lab for quite some time now, and is now being sanctioned by the Gmail team as ready for general consumption and will become a regular feature of Gmail.

There will now be an Offline tab when you visit your Gmail Settings. From there, you can initiate and control how a copy of your Gmail account will be downloaded and synchronized to your computer.

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