Chromebooks could get even cheaper soon thanks to support for MediaTek Processors
Chromebooks are fantastic value for the type of people who just need a larger form factor device for surfing the internet at home, or in well-connected places. While some Chromebooks are a little expensive, most Chromebooks are extremely well priced around $200-300 USD. Well, that average may be set to drop after what has been spotted on the Chromium OS code review site. It appears that MediaTek, manufacturer of generally cheaper smartphone processors, has added code to Chromium OS, suggesting Chromebooks could get even cheaper than they are now if they were running MediaTek processors.
Having said that, the code contributed comes from a test device running an ARM Cortex-A7 processor, something which when compared to existing Chromebooks, could get a little slow. This would obviously cut down costs, though, and we could even see Chromebooks with MediaTek processors drop below the $200 mark. This marks the second time that MediaTek has been mentioned in relation to Google products; the first being their involvement in the development of Android One, Android’s new budget line of devices.
What do you think about cheaper Chromebooks running MediaTek processors? Let us know your thoughts below in the comments.
Source: Chromium OS via engadget
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Chromebooks could get even cheaper soon thanks to support for MediaTek Processors appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Weekends with Engadget: DARPA’s mad science projects, Google’s 3D-mapping tablet and more!
This week, we dove into the history of DARPA, explored the hand-drawn world of Cuphead, took an in-depth look at Google’s 3D-mapping tablet and interviewed two people who managed to cut ties with technology. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
What you need to know about DARPA, the Pentagon’s mad science division
You probably know DARPA for its fleet of super-powered machines, but this agency’s reach extends far beyond military robotics. Read on as Mariella Moon breaks down everything you need to know about one of the Department of Defense’s most interesting operations.
Two years to Tango: the race to finish Google’s 3D-mapping tablet
Two years. That’s exactly how much time Google’s ATAP division was given to develop Tango, a first-of-its-kind 3D-mapping tablet. Read on as Brad Molen digs into the project’s ambitious start and race toward the finish line.
Cuphead: Bringing 1930s style to 21st century games
Cuphead, you say? At first glance, this upcoming, hand-drawn 2D shooter might appear to be a long-lost game from the 1930s, but it’s only meant to look that way.
How to Disappear (almost) Completely: living off the grid
Ditching social media is hard enough, but how about technology itself? In the final installment of How to Disappear, Dan Cooper interviews two people who cut their ties with the modern world and took up meager existences off the grid.
The world’s first video game arcade machine is a glittery fiberglass wonder
They may look like Teletubbies, but these colorful contraptions are actually a few of the world’s first video arcade machines. Produced in 1971 by the minds behind the Atari, these devices had plenty of glitter and diodes, but weirdly no RAM, processor or ROM.
Music Vault brings 12,000 classic concert clips to YouTube
Music lovers listen up: YouTube is now to home to nearly 2,000 hours of classic concert footage, all thanks to Music Vault. This incredible archive includes 12,000 clips of performances by The Who, Bob Dylan and more.
Hicon Social Bangle is a wearable fashion bungle
It’s gaudy. It’s awkward. It’s the Hicon Social Bangle. Paired with a selection of vibrating charms, this bracelet notifies its wearer of text messages, calls and social network activity — as long as its Kickstarter campaign is funded, of course.
Samsung NX mini review: a $450 mirrorless cam that fits in your pocket
Samsung’s latest mirrorless shooter, the NX mini, is cheap ($450), lightweight and has a flip-up LCD that’s perfect for selfies. This camera’s compact size makes it extremely pocketable, but those with larger hands be warned — it has very petite controls.
Sony RX100 III review: a fantastic point-and-shoot, but it’ll cost you
Sony’s RX100 line of point-and-shoot cameras have always been fantastic. Zach Honig takes a look at the latest camera from Sony, the RX100 III. Does it live up to the reputation of its predecessors? Read his review and find out!
What you need to know about Kickstarter, Indiegogo and the concept of crowdfunding
From potato salads to virtual reality headsets, crowdfunding websites offer something for everyone. But how exactly do they work? Read our explainer and find out.
Chromebooks can get cheaper thanks to new support for a low-end chip
You can pick up a Chromebook for a dirt-cheap $200, if you know where to shop. However, there are now signs that these Google-powered portables could get even cheaper. MediaTek has contributed code to Chromium OS (the base for Chrome OS) for a test device with an entry-level ARM Cortex-A7 processor — a big step down from the relatively inexpensive Cortex-A15/A7 hybrid that Samsung uses, not to mention the Intel Celeron chips in other Chrome devices. Theoretically, this leads to Chromebooks and Chromeboxes that cost significantly less than $200, albeit after a big speed hit. Just as with phones and tablets, a Cortex-A7 system is likely to be pretty sluggish.
MediaTek hasn’t discussed what it’s doing with the code, and it could be a while (if ever) before there’s hardware you can buy. However, it’s not hard to see why the semiconductor firm would want to support Chrome gear. The company’s chips are seemingly omnipresent in the basic smartphones seen across developing markets like China and India. Support for a starter Cortex-A7 processor could have a similar effect in the PC world, bringing Chrome OS systems to people who might not otherwise get a computer at all.
Filed under: Laptops, Internet, Google
Via: Francois Beaufort (Google+)
Source: Google Source
Google filtered World Cup search trend news to spare Brazil from further agony
If you love Brazilian futebol, this has been an especially tough week; that devastating loss to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals was a shock to fans used to victory. Thankfully for you, Google feels your pain. The internet giant has revealed to NPR that its experimental social newsroom for the Cup avoided covering some of the bigger Brazilian search trends during the lopsided match, such as “shame,” because they were simply too negative. As producer Sam Clohesy explains, the decision was motivated both by a desire to go viral as well as pure sympathy. People tend not to respond well to bad news on social networks, and Google would rather not “rub salt into the wounds” — unlike a regular news outlet, it has more incentive to write about cheerful happenings than calamities. The filtering isn’t going to restore Brazil’s lost chance at football glory, but it might make the next four years a little more bearable.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo]
Via: Slashdot
Android Wear Mini Launcher makes it easy to get to apps
Google didn’t design Android Wear to emulate a smartphone’s interface for a reason: the company believes it makes no sense doing so on such a tiny screen. Sadly, many early adopters find it cumbersome to launch third-party apps on the current design, prompting a developer to come up with the Wear Mini launcher to solve the problem. On vanilla Android Wear, you’d need to issue a voice command (which doesn’t always conjure up the right app) or scroll through a list if you want to launch Evernote, Lyft, Duolingo, or any other app you have. If you install the Wear Mini Launcher, though, you’ll get an app drawer (showing all your apps’ icons like your phone does) that you can access by swiping from the top left edge of the screen. You can download it right now from Google Play, but note that its performance might vary depending on your device.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Via: 9to5google
Source: Google Play
Google Maps on iOS now plots search results, your appointments
Slowly but surely, the iOS version of Google Maps is gaining parity with its Android equivalent. With the latest update, those who use Google’s mapping application on Apple’s mobile platform will be able to see search results along with their descriptions visually laid out on the map, as seen in the image above. You can toggle between the map view and just a regular list view as well. Additionally, Gmail users will find that appointments and reservations will show up on the map too, which is handy if you want to know how to get to that dinner meeting on time. Last but not least, there’s also an improved Explore view that you can use to figure out what’s nearby, just in case you’d like to follow up the meal with after-dinner drinks. So if you’re an iOS user who prefers Google’s own email and maps offerings over Apple’s own, then you should download this update right about now.
Via: 9to5 Mac
Source: App Store
Samsung keeps its distance from the Android pack with Galaxy Apps store
Samsung has spent the last several years trying to separate itself from the rest of the Android pack. Of course, that was much to the chagrin of Google. And while the two apparently reached an agreement to reduce the amount of bloat and branded services, Sammie is quite ready to give up on building its own ecosystem just yet. The company announced a major redesign and rebranding of its own app store, which is now known as Galaxy Apps. The goal, according to WonPyo Hong, president of the media solution center at Samsung Electronics, is to provide “differentiated solutions and services.” And that including delivering “hundreds of apps exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.” Though, what compelling apps are included in that and whether or not anyone will use them is still not exactly clear.
The move seems particularly interesting in light of Samsung’s apparent decision to hand over the reins of its enterprise friendly Knox project to Mountain View. Elements of the security suite are going to be incorporated into the next version of Android and security features for the OS will be entirely controlled by Google. But that leaves Sammie in a slightly awkward spot, it doesn’t want to be a commodity handset maker, but ways to stand out are increasingly hard to come by. Whether or not a streamlined, exclusive app store will be enough to do that is debatable. And there’s always the chance that this will rub Google the wrong way and lead to another round of tense negotiations between the maker of Android and its largest hardware partner.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Samsung, Google
Via: Telegraph
Source: Samsung
Are we there yet? A century of the smartwatch in pictures
With two Google-powered smartwatches currently on sale, and the circular Moto 360 already causing a stir among design geeks, wearables are one step closer to securing a place on our wrists. And while many of us aren’t ready to strap on a Gear Live, G Watch or Pebble just yet, that doesn’t mean the smartwatch is a new concept. In fact, depending on your definition of “smart,” these gadgets have been fusing time-telling with extra functionality since the early 20th century. From wrist-borne spy cams to radio-controlled timepieces, here’s a look at this wearable’s evolution.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, LG
Motorola talks Android 4.4.4 updates; plans a Google+ AMA
Motorola has provided a bit of insight into the Android 4.4.4 KitKat software update and how it pertains to its line of smartphones.
This latest update includes all of the goodies of 4.4.3—such a new dialer, the ability to pause during video recording, and enhanced camera image quality—and includes enhanced security for OpenSSL.
A blog post on the hardware maker’s website tells us that the update has commenced for the Moto G in Brazil and India while the Moto E is getting the same treatment in Brazil, France, Canada, and Asia Pacific. As for the United States, the Droid Ultra is the only one thus far to see 4.4.4.
Looking ahead, Motorola will be holding a Google+ Ask Me Anything event on July 17 where product manager Mark Rose will field your questions over 30 minutes.
The post Motorola talks Android 4.4.4 updates; plans a Google+ AMA appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google says it’s struggling to cope after being asked to censor 250,000 EU webpages
Google’s top lawyer has spoken out to try to explain the mess that happened last week, when the search giant censored, and then partially reinstated, links to a number of important news articles. Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond now admits that some of the initial censorship decisions were “incorrect,” specifically in the case of some Guardian newspaper articles that were delisted for a short time. But, as you’d probably expect, he also gives Google’s side of the story.
“We’ve had over 70,000 take-down requests covering 250,000 webpages since May.”
Drummond says that Europe’s recent “Right To Be Forgotten” (RTBF) ruling, which allows a member of the public to request the removal of search results containing their name, is so “vague and subjective” that it’s hard to enforce consistently. He adds that Google has received so many requests — 70,000 so far, concerning 250,000 different web pages, all of which must be assessed individually — that the company has been struggling to cope. He says the process is still very much a “work in progress” that will lead to “difficult and debatable judgments,” as well as to errors.
Unfortunately, Drummond fails to address one of the most controversial de-listings of last week. This concerned a BBC blog post about the former Merrill Lynch CEO, Stan O’Neal, and his involvement in the sub-prime mortgage crisis. At the time, the BBC was left in the dark about who had ordered the takedown and why — and O’Neal has since denied it was him. This led others to argue that Google had deliberately approved a weak takedown request (possibly from someone who had merely commented on the original post) in order to make the RTBF ruling appear worse for the public interest than it really is. Judging from Drummond’s general defence, he’d likely argue that it’s extremely difficult to decide whether a specific request is spurious or legitimate when you’re being swamped by so many.
Via: GigaOm
Source: The Guardian
AIVAnet 