Cell Phone News
Microsoft's Portable Windows 8 USB
Microsoft recently showed off a rather innovative product at its Digital Worldwide Partner Conference (DWPC) that has some seriously interesting potential. Dubbed “Windows to Go”, the new portable version of Windows is essentially a 32GB memory stick specifically designed to carry around Windows 8 and save personal data, apps and settings. The stick essentially allows the user to plug in to a PC that is running Windows 7 and immediately begin running Windows 8 with the same saved data, all without any downloads or installation time.
ICS Now on 10% of Android Devices
It’s been around seven months since Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) hit shelves but still only one in ten active Android devices have received the update. Admittedly, that’s a bit better than we’ve seen with some previous iterations of Android, but considering that ICS was supposed to be the one Android update to unify them all the numbers are hardly staggering.
Mozilla Making its own Firefox OS
Mozilla has revealed that it will soon be releasing its own HTML5-centric mobile OS. Once known as Boot to Gecko, the now-rebranded Firefox OS will focus on promoting openness and innovation through an open source approach that is aimed entirely at HTML5 developers. Sound familiar? It should; it’s a very similar approach taken by Google back when it launched Android, except that Firefox will be focusing on HTML5 rather than Java or Flash.
Google Nexus Tablet: The Nexus 7
Despite the fact that ‘the Nexus 7’ sounds a bit like some kind of sci-fi meets wild-west action flick, the new Nexus tablet unveiled by Google at its 2012 I/O conference looks all kinds of promising. From the outset we’ll justify that statement with the Nexus’ price tag of just $199 for the 8GB model and $249 for the 16GB. This is not a ‘premium’ tablet; it’s a low-end contender that sports specs which could give the higher end of the market a run for its money.
Google I/O: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Google has detailed the changes and improvements coming to the Android OS with the next update: 4.1 Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean is set to bring some key improvements to the ecosystem with a definite focus on eliminating the lag time and often jerky touch-response often found on Android devices. Of course other changes will be coming as well such as camera improvements, keyboard and voice tweaks, NFC data transfer, Notifications, Search and Google Now.
Windows Phone 8 Finally Announced
Hot on the heels of its Surface tablet announcement, Microsoft has finally unveiled Windows Phone 8. The new version of the increasingly popular OS is a significant improvement over its predecessors and has been almost completely rebuilt from the ground up. However, the new features and abilities have come at a price; because Windows Phone 8 is such a radical switch all current Windows Phone devices running WP7 or WP7.5 Mango will not be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8. The news has come as a blow to WP users, many of which have only just made the switch by purchasing the recently released Nokia Lumia 900.
The Different MS Surface Tablets
There’s been some confusion regarding the two new Surface Tablets that were recently announced by Microsoft and what those differences mean, if anything. Of the two that have been announced one will come running Windows RT and the other will use Windows 8 Pro as its operating system (OS).
Microsoft Surface Tablet Announced
Microsoft has actually managed to impress tech gurus and tablet fans alike around the world with the announcement of its new and upcoming Microsoft Surface Tablet. Complete with 10.6 inch screen, Gorilla Glass 2 display and new VaporMG scratch-resistant casing, the Microsoft Surface tablet continued to bring out more and more new features with every successive announcement.
Microsoft's Interactive Xbox Live Ads
The LA Times has reported that Microsoft is planning to introduce interactive ads, called “NUads”, to its Xbox 360 streaming services. Already signed on are Toyota, Unilever and Samsung Mobile to deliver NUads over Xbox channels like ESPN, TMZ, UFC and NBC News.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Preview
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the direct successor to the original and remarkably successful Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note almost single-handedly created the niche, yet thriving “phablet” industry, with its originally questionable size that sits somewhere between what one might consider a smartphone and a tablet. Knocked by many at first, and still to this day by a few less, the Galaxy Note managed to find its place in an ever increasing, yet oftentimes evolutionarily one-directional industry.
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