Continue reading...
Monday, March 3, 2014
Video: Here’s the first Google Ara smartphone hands-on demo
Video: Here’s the first Google Ara smartphone hands-on demo:
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Digitimes Research: Ultra HD TV demand to reach over 12 million units in 2014
Digitimes Research: Ultra HD TV demand to reach over 12 million units in 2014: Ultra HD TV demand is expected to reach over 12 million units in 2014, according to Digitimes Research.
This is the real secret to making a killer smartphone display
This is the real secret to making a killer smartphone display:
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Apple Announces CarPlay: iOS in the Car Arriving in 2014
Apple Announces CarPlay: iOS in the Car Arriving in 2014:
Earlier this morning Apple officially branded its iOS in the Car initiative as CarPlay. At a high level CarPlay allows iPhone 5/5c/5s users to access certain apps on their phone via an in-car infotainment display. It's effectively iPod integration on steroids. One of the biggest departures from the iPod integration efforts we've seen in previous vehicles is the user interface appears to be consistent across vehicles. Large, iOS 7-styled application icons adorn the UI rather than something that varies by auto maker. There's a virtual home button as well as icons for phone, music, iOS Maps and messages. Apple's CarPlay website lists a handful of apps that are supported by the technology, with the promise of more to come.
Interacting with CarPlay can be done via buttons/knobs or directly by touch (if available). It's important to note that CarPlay likely won't replace the need for checking an expensive box on your car's option list. The OEM still needs to provide the underlying hardware/interface, CarPlay simply leverages the display and communicates over Apple's Lightning cable.
The technology will show up in select new vehicles arriving this year. Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo are launch partners, with the first cars likely being shown off at this year's Geneva Motor Show later this week.
Apple's approach to CarPlay seems to be more integrated than previous efforts, however it's unclear how strict/specific the hardware requirements are for automakers. We'll have to wait and see what actual implementations end up looking like, but I rarely encounter a car maker that seems to "get it" when it comes to integrating a fast and intuitive infotainment system. CarPlay clearly attempts to at least control the Apple side of the interface, I just can't help but wonder if the right solution for revolutionizing compute in vehicles is one step below at the platform level. In fact, if we look at Apple's preferred solution to most problems it almost always involves controlling the complete experience rather than just one portion of it.
Google is of course working on its own in-car solution based on Android. The Open Automotive Alliance is composed of Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Google and NVIDIA. NVIDIA's inclusion implies more of a platform level play. The first Android powered cars will show up later this year.
Interacting with CarPlay can be done via buttons/knobs or directly by touch (if available). It's important to note that CarPlay likely won't replace the need for checking an expensive box on your car's option list. The OEM still needs to provide the underlying hardware/interface, CarPlay simply leverages the display and communicates over Apple's Lightning cable.
The technology will show up in select new vehicles arriving this year. Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo are launch partners, with the first cars likely being shown off at this year's Geneva Motor Show later this week.
Video: Volvo demos seamless integration with Apple’s new CarPlay
Video: Volvo demos seamless integration with Apple’s new CarPlay:
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Gartner: Android passes iOS to become the most popular tablet platform
Gartner: Android passes iOS to become the most popular tablet platform: 
Several years ago, technology research firm Gartner predicted Apple would maintain its hold on the tablet market until 2015. A new study from the company, however, shows Android taking a decisive lead: in 2013, it boasted 62-percent market share,...
Several years ago, technology research firm Gartner predicted Apple would maintain its hold on the tablet market until 2015. A new study from the company, however, shows Android taking a decisive lead: in 2013, it boasted 62-percent market share,...Samsung aims to keep Chromebook dominance with faster, thinner, & bigger models
Samsung aims to keep Chromebook dominance with faster, thinner, & bigger models:
Samsung is nothing if not opportunistic.
Just like with Android, the Korean electronics giant saw a huge opportunity in Google’s Chromebook platform, which turns the Chrome browser into a full-fledged operating system for cheap, low-powered computers.
After launching the first Chromebook with Google in 2011, Samsung is doubling-down on its Chromebook commitment with two new models.
The Samsung Chromebook Series 2 comes in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch variants, both of which sport Samsung’s octo-core Exynos 5 processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM. They’re also more like Ultrabooks now, with slimmer designs that measure under three-quarters of an inch thick. And, of course, the new Chromebooks feature the faux-leather backing that’s making an appearance across all of Samsung’s new products.
While the new Chromebooks are priced at $320 and $400, respectively, Samsung is still keeping its existing $250 Chromebook model around. With the improved hardware, Samsung reps tell me that it simply wants to introduce more choices for schools and businesses. The 13.3-inch model, for example, could serve as a powerful teacher’s computer, while the students make do with the cheaper models. Both new Chromebooks will be available in April.
By deploying Chromebooks in K-12 schools, Samsung tells me it jumped from minimal marketshare in the enterprise computing market to a 27 percent share last year. Indeed, the education space was huge for Chromebooks in general, which jumped from 0.5 percent of the computer market at the beginning of 2013 and ended the year with an 8 percent share.
Now with 60 percent of the Chromebook market, according to stats from NPD, Samsung clearly wants to hold on to its leadership role.
It’s easy to see why Chromebooks are becoming increasingly popular in schools: They’re cheaper than typical computers; they don’t require much IT maintenance, since they get updates from the cloud and are only focused on web-browsing; and they allow schools to bring technology into the classroom without getting locked down into an overly proprietary platform. (Yes, they’re meant to push students towards Google services, but you still have access to the open web. Chromebooks are certainly more open than bringing iPads into the classroom.)
Don’t hold your breath for ultra-cheap Samsung Chromebooks, though. Reps tell me that their customers are asking for more features, not fewer — and, of course, it’s far better for Samsung to sell expensive devices with higher profit-margins.
Like this story? Want to learn more? On April 14-15, our fourth annual VentureBeat Mobile Summit will tackle the six biggest growth opportunities in mobile today. The invitation-only Summit will gather the top 180 executives at the scenic Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., to discuss issues like this. Request an invitation.
Image Credit: Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat
Samsung is nothing if not opportunistic.
Just like with Android, the Korean electronics giant saw a huge opportunity in Google’s Chromebook platform, which turns the Chrome browser into a full-fledged operating system for cheap, low-powered computers.
After launching the first Chromebook with Google in 2011, Samsung is doubling-down on its Chromebook commitment with two new models.
The Samsung Chromebook Series 2 comes in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch variants, both of which sport Samsung’s octo-core Exynos 5 processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM. They’re also more like Ultrabooks now, with slimmer designs that measure under three-quarters of an inch thick. And, of course, the new Chromebooks feature the faux-leather backing that’s making an appearance across all of Samsung’s new products.
While the new Chromebooks are priced at $320 and $400, respectively, Samsung is still keeping its existing $250 Chromebook model around. With the improved hardware, Samsung reps tell me that it simply wants to introduce more choices for schools and businesses. The 13.3-inch model, for example, could serve as a powerful teacher’s computer, while the students make do with the cheaper models. Both new Chromebooks will be available in April.
By deploying Chromebooks in K-12 schools, Samsung tells me it jumped from minimal marketshare in the enterprise computing market to a 27 percent share last year. Indeed, the education space was huge for Chromebooks in general, which jumped from 0.5 percent of the computer market at the beginning of 2013 and ended the year with an 8 percent share.
Now with 60 percent of the Chromebook market, according to stats from NPD, Samsung clearly wants to hold on to its leadership role.
It’s easy to see why Chromebooks are becoming increasingly popular in schools: They’re cheaper than typical computers; they don’t require much IT maintenance, since they get updates from the cloud and are only focused on web-browsing; and they allow schools to bring technology into the classroom without getting locked down into an overly proprietary platform. (Yes, they’re meant to push students towards Google services, but you still have access to the open web. Chromebooks are certainly more open than bringing iPads into the classroom.)
Don’t hold your breath for ultra-cheap Samsung Chromebooks, though. Reps tell me that their customers are asking for more features, not fewer — and, of course, it’s far better for Samsung to sell expensive devices with higher profit-margins.
Like this story? Want to learn more? On April 14-15, our fourth annual VentureBeat Mobile Summit will tackle the six biggest growth opportunities in mobile today. The invitation-only Summit will gather the top 180 executives at the scenic Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., to discuss issues like this. Request an invitation.
     |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)