The market for 4K Ultra HD displays has yet to really take off thanks to the lack of supporting content, high prices, and general newness of the technology. Yet with both the forthcoming Xbox One from Microsoft and PlayStation 4 from Sony both offering varying degrees of 4K support, it would appear other platforms are now following suit. The source code of the just-released Android 4.3 Jelly Bean seems to indicate support for Ultra HD, and although this doesn't necessarily signal a flurry of 4K Android devices, it is clear that Google is thinking ahead to the future.
Almost everyone has seen Minority Report, and why not - that blockbuster flick was decades ahead of its time in terms of the technological and computing innovation that it presented. One particular theme from the Tom Cruise flick that stuck with viewers and tech enthusiasts for a long time was being able to control and manipulate computer interfaces through gestures and body movement. A lot of developers and companies have attempted to incorporate that one way or the other, with the most successful example being Microsoft’s Kinect accessory for its Xbox consoles.
If you're into your tech news, you'll be more than aware by now that Google made one or two important announcements yesterday. The event, headed in New York City by the company's head of Android and Chrome Sundar Pichai, saw a brand new iteration of Android - Android 4.3 Jelly Bean -announced alongside a new streaming peripheral by the name of Chromecast. On top of that, the search giant also added the small matter of a significantly-updated Nexus 7 2013 tablet, which features an improved display, rear camera and faster processor among other niceties. If you happened to have missed any of yesterday's proceedings or simply would like to relive the event, a video of the entire showpiece is now available to watch online via Google's very own YouTube.
Among the announcements at yesterday's impromptu Google event headed by Chrome and Android lead Sundar Pichai, the company announced a new, low-cost streaming device aiming to take advantage of the shortcomings and limitations of similar products like the Apple TV. The Chromecast dongle, which plugs straight into the HDMI port of your HDTV, can stream content straight from your smartphone or tablet, and with the ability to let you watch videos while continuing to use your device, it looks a sure-fire winner. With a price tag of just $35, it's a hard one to pass up, and today, Google has released the accompanying app for Android.
Google's Android may be in the news for all the right reasons at the moment, but just a few days ago, security vendor Bluebox Security announced that it had discovered a way that malicious code could be injected into otherwise entirely legitimate Android applications. Now, it would appear, this issue is more than just a theory after security firm Symantec announced in a blog post that it had discovered two apps that had fallen foul of the exploit, named Master Key exploit.
Google has taken a leaf out of Apple’s book and announced Google Play Textbooks and Play Games, providing a textbook renting and buying mechanism for students, and offering a gaming portal for Android gamers. We’ll be taking a closer look at both right past the break.
The streaming media industry is currently in the midst of a boom, and never one to miss out on a potential area of growth within the technology world, Google has just taken the wraps off its new Chromecast TV content streaming device. The $35 dollar gadget, which borrows its form factor from a USB thumb drive, slots into your HDTV's HDMI port and allows you to stream content from any device. In essence, it bridges the gap between your run of the mill HDTV and the newer generation of Smart TVs, and for such a reasonable price tag, would seem a very attractive prospect.
We've been waiting quite a while for Google's latest and greatest flavor of Android to get its big update, although it's not the Key Lime Pie (5.x) as some initially suspected, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean does bring a whole host of useful changes and enhancements.
Best Buy is usually known for their ability to be on the ball when it comes to the latest technology releases, but this time, they even outdone themselves. In an effort to ramp up interest in Google's new Nexus 7 tablet ahead of today's Android press event, the company has listed the 16 and 32GB variants of the new tablet for pre-order on their official website. Not only do they have the two models available for immediate order, but they also list extensive details pertaining to the technical specifications of the device. More details can be found right after the jump!
Verizon's Motorola DROID brand is often confused with Google's Android in general, especially amongst 'normal' people who don't live and breathe smartphones like we do. If there was ever proof that wall-to-wall advertising does the job, it's the way many people call any Android device a 'DROID.'
