Subscribe:

Ads 468x60px

Labels

First NVIDIA-powered Chromebook seen online

It is not widely known that there is not a single Chromebook out there with an NVIDIA chip powering it. If you look under the hood, most netbooks running Google’s Chrome OS will have either an Intel mobile processor or in some cases, Samsung’s Exynos chips. This is why Acer’s CB5 Chromebook, whose pictures leaked online, is a bit strange – it is rumored to have an NVIDIA chip powering it.



The Acer CB5 was spotted in Swedish retail website “Komplett.se” – the initial pricing was interestingly taken down, but the pictures and product name remained – and Finnish tech blogger Martin Roos calls Acer’s possible new Chromebook a “weirdo” or the very reason that this is possibly new territory for NVIDIA.


The listing puts the very acceptable specs as follows – an NVIDIA Tegra K1 CPU (which is really a Quad Core ARM based on Cortex A-15s), 4GB RAM, a 32GB SSD and a 13.3-inch HD display. The pictures also show two USB 3.0 ports on the left and on the back, a headphone jack, and an ethernet port. A caveat will be that the display does not look like a full HD display, which a bit sad when you think about it.


cb5_1 cb5_2 cb5_5 cb5_4 cb5_3


The listing put the price at around USD$540, before it was taken down. Expected availability will be by early August. The Tegra K1 has had very good reviews in tech blogs, with industry observers saying that it might even be more powerful than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 80x series and Samsung’s Exynos Octa 5. If so, the 500-dollar price tag seems rational, getting a powerful Chromebook with an SSD installed.


VIA: Talk Android





Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week


Hey have you heard? Summer officially starts tomorrow. That means tomorrow's the longest day of the year, which means you'll spend even more daylight hours staring furtively at your smartphone. At least give your app folder a breath of fresh air with these, our favorite new apps this week.


Read more...
















Nike+ Running app update brings a variety of training programs

While not nearly as surprising as the recently released FuelBand app, Nike did add a key feature with the latest Nike+ Running app update. The update is already live in the Play Store and as listed in the "what's new" section -- Nike+ Running users now have the option to get coached through the app.



This coaching setup has arrived as Nike+ Coach and offers a variety of plans ranging from short to long distance. Users will have plans available for 5K and 10K distances as well as half and full-marathon distances. Equally as nice -- these plans are sitting with options for beginner, intermediate and advanced level runners.



"Take on your next running goal and never look back. Whether you’re looking to take on your first 5K or smash your marathon PR, Nike+ Coach comes equipped with training programs, coaching tips, and daily workouts to get you race-ready."



Basically, you find the race you want to work towards and then set your coaching plan based on that race date. You enter the date in the app, and the coaching plan will help you work towards that goal. You'll also be able to monitor your current progress and view future workouts.


The Nike+ Running app is free to download and free to use. Users will be able to find the app using this Google Play Store link.


VIA: The Next Web





Google just added a handy feature for Android users: now, when you Google musicians or bands, you ca

Google just added a handy feature for Android users: now, when you Google musicians or bands, you can hear their music in your favorite player app with just one click. [Google Blog]


Read more...
















Intel’s Pocket Avatars makes chatting even crazier

Seems that just the ordinary way of chatting with people through your mobile phone has become boring for a lot of people. You now have your emoticons, your stickers, your snapchats and all other things to make your chats more exciting. Intel is joining the fray with their Pocket Avatars, guaranteed to make talking to your loved ones even crazier.



The new mobile messaging app from the chipmaker contains the standard messaging stuff just like with others like it (Viber, Line, WeChat. etc). But they have added the concept of Pocket Avatars that will create your very own animated messages for the people you chat with. Using your phone’s camera and microphone, you can record a message that will capture your facial expressions, mannerisms, and even your voice to create a 3D message using any of the avatar characters in the app. The message can then be shared through the messaging app itself or through other forms of social media.


It uses a proprietary facial gesture software to be able to do this “magic” and it has taken them years of research at the Intel Labs to come up with this. They currently have 40 avatars in their in-app library, including several pop culture “celebrities” like the Annoying Orange (from the MTV show), Gumby, Care Bears, Lego characters, and other animals and people. They will be adding even more characters regularly, especially those themed with certain occasions and holidays. So if words are not enough but you need to hide behind a cute or annoying or funny avatar, then this newest app is right up your alley.


SCREEN_GRAB_05 SCREEN_GRAB_03 SCREEN_GRAB_02 Screen Shot 2014-06-20 at 6.09.41 PM Screen Shot 2014-06-20 at 6.09.19 PM


Most of the Pocket Avatars are free, but some also cost $.99. The app however is completely free and is available for download at the Google Play Store.




SOURCE: Intel


Google Search now plays artist in music app of choice

It used to be that when we searched for something on Google, it would take us a few clicks to get to either the book you wanted to read, the movie you wanted to watch or the music you wanted to listen to. But it seems that now they know that people’s attention spans have gotten even shorter so now everything has to be easy access or can be played right then and there. Google Search is the latest to do so, at least for US residents for now.



Under the updated Google Search, when you look for a musical artist, you not just get the usual results showing their official website, social networks and Wikipedia page. Now you also see a “Listen on your apps” option that will link you to any of your installed music player apps like Google Play Music, TuneIn radio or even YouTube. Just tap your player of choice and the wrist’s songs and page will open and you can play them from there.


The only thing is that it is only available in the US region for now. But given how digital music has blown up in the other regions of the world, it’s only a matter of time until they expand this option to other areas. They only have to make sure that there are certain security measures in play, as the illegal sharing of media, particularly music, is a huge concern in the industry.


There is no need to download or update Google Search to have this new feature working. You just need to use Google to search for a particular artist and if you live in the US, then that option is now available for you. Non-US residents will have to settle for a few more clicks before hey will be able tp listen to their favourite musical artists.


SOURCE: Google


Nokia wants you to be Green with Envy for the X2

Nokia is teasing something, and with an unmistakable green bent, we can only presume it is related to Android. But will it be the rumored Nokia X2 or does Nokia, under Microsoft's guidance, have something else in store for its new Android users? We have until June 24 to find out.



Immediately after the launch of the Nokia X and Nokia XL, there was already talk of a Nokia X2, born perhaps out of disappointment at the company's first two Android smartphones or perhaps out of hope that Microsoft will not kill off the line immediately. There have been already rumors and leaks about the device. One held that the next smartphone will finally have a home button instead of the back button that has left many old Android users quite confused. There was even whispers about dual booting with Windows Phone, though that is more likely wishful thinking. What is supposedly the Nokia X2 did appear in AnTuTu and the specs it revealed are not exactly encouraging.


Nokia's latest teaser talks about how summer brings out the inner glow. Nokia's teasers, however, have very little in terms of comprehensibility or associativity. Remember the ducks before the Nokia X? Yes, strange things they were. In any case, Nokia has kindly left us a timer to count down the seconds before it finally reveals what it is really talking about. As of this writing, 3 days and 20 hours.


The Nokia X, and its larger Nokia XL brother, has been met with mixed reception, some praising its extremely affordable price while others panning the devices' hardware. That said, in terms of software, Nokia did put an interesting spin on Android with its own custom launcher and app store. Of course, that didn't escape controversy either. With Microsoft holding the mobile division's reins, all mobile eyes will be on Nokia to see if it will still come out with another Android phone and if it will be able to make something substantially better.


SOURCE: Nokia





Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)