Back at Google I/O 2011, Google announced something called Android @ Home, which seeks to allow a huge range of accessories and appliances to interact with Android devices. I want my vehicles to be Android @ Home accessible more than stuff in my home, and I’ll tell you why. Google did some brief demos on stage showing rudimentary integration between an exercise bicycle and a phone, and they also show how you might be able to automate your home by controlling lights, the thermostat, perhaps your coffee maker, etc. Watch […]

Fresh from HTC’s Facebook wall comes commentary detailing exactly how the bootloader unlocking process will work for users who already own an HTC handset. The good news is that it will be easy-peasy, even for those of us non-hackers who normally just run our handsets stock. The bad news is that doing so “…may void all or parts of your warranty”, according to the recent update to the company’s Facebook status. Another key takeaway is that all new phones will continue to ship with the bootloaders locked, so no out-of-the-box unlocked […]

IGN managed to get a hold of what their source claims is an internal document listing launch dates for 14 upcoming devices. Swing by IGN to see the original document, but also hang here to see that I’ve taken the information and plotted it on a handy timeline for you (I am a visual person, after all). Be sure to click to bigify: Among the devices listed are the Motorola Droid Bionic (I accidentally didn’t note it as being 4G), which has seen a number of delays, and the Motorola […]

IGN managed to get a hold of what their source claims is an internal document listing launch dates for 14 upcoming devices. Swing by IGN to see the original document, but also hang here to see that I’ve taken the information and plotted it on a handy timeline for you (I am a visual person, after all). Be sure to click to bigify: Among the devices listed are the Motorola Droid Bionic (I accidentally didn’t note it as being 4G), which has seen a number of delays, and the Motorola […]

Want something that’s like an Ultrabook, but isn’t, officially? The Samsung 900X1B is the Core i3 (2nd gen) 11” version of the 900X3A ‘Series 9’ that we tested a short while back and while it’s not labeled, ‘UltraBook’ and may not have the best of the 2nd-Gen core platforms (no Turbo-Boost for example) the 900X3A breaks the $1000 barrier and comes in under the average netbook weight at 1.06KG. The MacBook Air is the direct competitor but if you want Windows, this is about the only ‘Ultrabook’ option today. I’ve […]

I’m surprised it took this long. An Ultrabook micro-site is now available on the Intel web site. Ultrabook appears to be a important word in Intel. They’ve trademarked it (in the U.S.) and stated that it will cover 40% of notebook sales by end of 2012 so why it took so long is a mystery. It’s also a mystery why there’s a lack of information. I hope it’s going to be padded out in the weeks leading up to IDF. How about a section for equipment designers, a full ‘certification’ […]

Myriam Joire does an excellent job on this review of the Touch 4G Slide. She says it’s the 3rd best cameraphone on the market behind the Galaxy S2 and the Nokia N8. If you want a connected camera first though, the N8 is still the one. http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-slide-review/?fb_ref=article&fb_source=home_oneline Posted, possibly while reclining, with the Galaxy Tab 7

With a number of already available or soon to be launched Honeycomb tables equipped with full-sized USB ports, I’m hoping that we’ll see the trend continue. Current devices have an issue though; only one USB port! For devices like the Slider, which lacks a trackpad or other form of mouse, that one USB port is likely to be taken up by an external mouse for a desktop-like experience, leaving no room for other peripherals such as external HDD’s, flash drives, game controllers, etc. Thankfully, Google is rather smart and built […]