Thus far, it has been a pretty winning formula. Devices created by Samsung, but running Google's Android software, account for 40% of total Android smartphone sales, and have helped Android become the number one ecosystem in terms of reach. With this in mind, you may think Google would be happy that its key manufacturing ally is doing so well, but while the search giant is grateful its partner is shifting such vast quantities, the Mountain View-based outfit is also a little worried the Korean company's dominance is getting a little too big, and wants other vendors to step up their games and offer some competition.
When It comes to the Web, or indeed any field within the technology industry, Google is never far away with its own service or product looking to revolutionize (or at least Googlize) the way we do things. With the likes of Spotify and Pandora currently seen as two of the main players in the streaming music game, The Big G, it is claimed, wants a piece of the action, and with Apple trying to get its own iTunes Match service off the ground, Google would once again be locking horns with one of its fiercest rivals.
The Chromebook was initially touted as an affordable, efficient product catering to the very basic computing needs, but today, in announcing the Chromebook Pixel, a premium notebook offering a 12.85-inch, 2560 x 1700 touchscreen-equipped panel, it's clear Google's ideas evolved way beyond that original manifesto. The notebook is a direct competitor to Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina display, and as well as the sharp display covered in solid Gorilla Glass, there is an LTE model (as well as Wi-Fi only), and it will begin shipping from next week.
There's scarcely an industry within the digital spectrum that Google hasn't tried its hand at, and having made a decent start to its notebook ventures with a fleet of Chromebook machines, the Mountain View company is looking to step things up a notch or two. This is according to the Wall Street Journal, which states the search giant is planning to release Chromebooks later this year with touchscreen panels, and after several reports singing a similar tune, it's looking increasingly likely that the Big G does have something up its sleeve.
What would you do if you had Glass? This is the question that Google is putting to every tech enthusiast who is hoping to get their hands on pre-production editions of Google Glass, as the company is looking to ship some prototypes to creative individuals.
Google has teamed up with a couple of big-name manufacturers to deliver a slew of successful Nexus devices to market, but one constant criticism of the series has been the underperformance of the camera. That all looks set to change, according to one Google executive, Vic Gundotra, who has promised the next line of Nexus smartphones will offer snappers which deliver crisper, altogether better shots by packing, in the words of the Google chief, "insanely great cameras."
If you are a user of a Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 with a GSM chip, you might be happy to learn that a software update should be arriving on your phone soon. According to multiple users, Android 4.2.2, a minor update to Android Jelly Bean, is being rolled out to all users.
After months of waiting, a long-promised accessory for the LG manufactured Google Nexus 4 is finally available to the general public. It’s not a pair of fancy headphones or a set of cases: just a wireless charger that aside from being visually appealing, removes the need for annoying cables around your device.
Google has hooked up with several reputable vendors in order to push its Chromebook brand of notebook, and although things have gotten off to a fairly good start, it has to be noted that the search company's laptops have yet to faze those on the hunt for a truly high-end notebook. A leaked video, which may or may not have originated from the Mountain View-based company, appears to indicate a new direction for the Chromebook. Dubbed the 'Chromebook Pixel', it'll supposedly take a swipe at the heart of the high-end market - currently dominated by Apple - in boasting a 2560 x 1700 resolution display.
One can paint a fairly accurate picture of a company's future movements by assessing public job postings. The requirement of a software expert, for example, is more than a strong indication that a new app, or series of apps could be on the horizon, and in the case of Motorola, its latest job posting serves only to corroborate the rife notion that the company is working with Google to manufacture the 'X Phone' and an accompanying 'X Tablet'. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the codenamed devices, and although there has been little else in terms of solid evidence, the vacancy search suggests both Motorola and project partner Google are looking to get the wheels in motion.
