Google Phone Coming December 14, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google.add a comment
TechCrunch reports that Google plans to release their own version of an Android phone early next month under the name “Nexus One”. It would be an unlocked GSM phone (which means it could be used on the AT&T or T-Mobile networks in the United States). Manufactured by HTC, it will include a speedy Snapdragon ARM-based processor, a high-resolution OLED screen, and camera with a large lens. Unlike the Droid, the Nexus One will not have a physical keyboard and will be thinner than an iPhone. There are two microphones, one on the front and another on the back that are used to reduce noise.
This Week in Google mentions that phone will be called the HTC Passion — another TechCrunch article says the Nexus One is almost identical to the Passion without the HTC branding. I am looking forward to the release of what should be the definitive Android device.
Google Chrome OS Open-Sourced November 19, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google.add a comment
Today Google held a preview event for their Chrome operating system. They have open-sourced the project as Chromium OS and expect it to be released late 2010. For a quick overview of the Chrome OS, watch this nice presentation by Epipheo Studios:
Complete Guide to Google Wave November 9, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google.add a comment
I have been spending some time this weekend reading Gina Trapani’s on-line manual, The Complete Guide to Google Wave. Google Wave is an intriguing new service that operates as an interactive, on-line collaboration tool.
Google has a long video demonstration of Wave, but if you don’t want to spend over an hour watching it, here’s a cute little summary that someone created to explain how Google Wave can be useful:
Android 2.0 Development November 1, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google.add a comment
Last Tuesday, Google released version 2.0 of Android, their open source mobile operating system. This new version of Android is about to appear on many new smart-phones about to be released (notably Motorola’s Droid). I am anxious to see how these new phones compare to the iPhone.
What got my attention is that Android now supports native app development — the Native Development Kit was introduced in June. Before this, applications had to be written in Java. Java is fine, but applications that are compiled for the specific device run faster and aren’t as restricted in what they can do. This should make the Android platform more attractive to many developers and eventually the end-users.
New Google Search Options October 26, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google.add a comment
Early this month, Google added some useful options for refining a search. This is a handy feature everyone should know about. On a search page, just below the Google logo, is a “Show options…” link. Click that and a wide variety of choices appear in the left margin. Now, if Google’s results are not quite to your liking, there’s an easy way to tweak the search. —
For example, I wanted to know more about using Chinese White in watercolor paintings (something frowned upon by most contemporary artists). In the past, a search for “chinese white watercolor” would return pages and pages of sites that only wanted to sell me tubes of paint.
Google already improved their standard search to return sites that actually talk about subject rather than just stores. Even better, the Google search options let “More shopping sites” or “Fewer shopping sites” be shown — depending on whether you’re trying to buy something or simply get more information.
Other handy options restrict searches to a period of time — you can choose to discard sites that too old for your needs. In my case, I selected “Books” and discovered a Chinese White resist technique. Many of these features have been available from Google for a while, but the new options list now makes it easy explore the possibilities.
Google’s Chrome Operating System July 13, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Google, Web Development.add a comment
Last Tuesday, Google announced its Chrome operating system. It will support Intel and Arm processors and should be available on some netbooks in 2010.
Google only announced the project and did not disclose too many details. The stated goal is to create an efficient, secure, browser-centric environment for netbooks and desktop machines. The Chrome OS is based on Linux and will be open sourced later this year. Although the kernel is Linux, the user interface is being written from the ground up. It presumably boots directly into the Chrome browser and will mostly run cloud-based applications.
Many are saying the Chrome OS targets Windows and Mac OS X, but I have my doubts. People tend to stay with the environment that’s familiar to them. A case in point: Linux still only has a 1% market share of operating systems on desktops.
What is unclear is how this is going to effect the adoption of Google’s Android, which also targets netbooks and smartbooks in addition to mobile devices. Ars Technica suggests that Google’s real goal may be to change the public perception of on-line computing.
But if the Chrome OS is an attack on Microsoft, Microsoft answered today with the announcement of a free web-based version of Office 2010 that competes with Google Docs.
Update»
Paul Thurrott made an excellent point on Windows Weekly that even if Google never releases the Chrome OS, this is a historic announcement. It signals that the world of operating systems is changing directions and Microsoft must respond in one way or another.
Alert!»
TechCrunch reports that Google Chrome may be introduced next week (the third week of November, 2009).
