Google's Schmidt Does the Android Definition Boogie

As Android smartphones sell like hot cakes -- 3.7 million were reportedly activated on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day -- concerns about the fragmentation of the operating system  are increasing, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Chairman Eric Schmidt sought to allay those fears while speaking at a panel at the Consumer Electronics Show Tuesday.

Schmidt reportedly stated that Android is not fragmented, but rather "differentiated."

Further, Google wants to have all Android users employ Android 4.0 aka "Ice Cream Sandwich," Schmidt reportedly stated. However, customers will retain choice because they're not bound to any one manufacturer's hardware.

Facebook Riding Shotgun in New Mercedes Models

Facebook will be among the Internet services that can be accessed in new car models from Mercedes Benz.

Facebook access is just one of the new features in the second generation telematics system, called "Mbrace2," which will begin appearing in new Mercedes models this spring.

Introduced at CES 2012 in Las Vegas Tuesday, Mbrace2 will connect to the Internet through any 3G network and runs apps tailored for it by the car maker. In addition to a Mercedes flavor of Facebook, Mbrace2 offers access to Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and Yelp, as well as the viewing of information like stock prices and news.

A problem car makers face when they install software in their models is keeping that software current. With access to the Internet, however, Mercedes can push automatic updates to Mbrace2-enabled vehicles from the cloud

Facebook Subset

Mercedes Mbrace2 offers a version of Facebook tailored for auto use. For example, all tasks that require text input are disabled while the car is moving. Some interaction can be conducted with the social network, however, through canned messages that can be posted with the tap of a screen or twist of a knob.

Information from the auto's navigation system can be automatically posted to Facebook, if a driver desires to do so.

In addition, drivers can access a list of friends near their current location, as well as nearby friends' favorites, such as restaurants.

One of Mercedes' engineering teams based in Palo Alto, Calif., worked with Facebook in putting together its social network app, the carmaker said.

The Facebook app will also play a role in a future telematic feature Mercedes has on the drawing board called "CarTogether." It will allow Mercedes drivers to discover people, like Facebook friends, who need a ride to a common location -- a concert, for instance, or a ball game.

Mercedes sees the kind of impromptu carpooling that CarTogether would foster as a tool that's beneficial not only for the environment, but also for a driver's social health.

Distracted Driving

Although Mercedes' Facebook app appears to be designed to provide minimal distraction to a driver, there are those that don't see it that way.

"Is it really that important for people to know what their Facebook status is that they need to risk their lives over it?" Bill Windsor, associate vice president for consumer safety for theNationwide Mutual Insurance Company, told TechNewsWorld.

"I can't imagine there's any Facebook message or email message or anything else you'd need from the Internet that's that important it would take precedence over focusing when you're driving."

Desire for Comfort

Auto makers, though, don't seem to agree with Windsor's analysis, as the trend in the industry is to pile more and more interfaces into a vehicle. That trend is driven by consumers who want to make the interior of their cars more like a living space than a driving space, according to Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director for global auto at J.D. Power Associates.

"The interior environment is becoming a personalized space for consumers," he told TechNewsWorld. "We spend so much time in our cars these days that we've created a desire that this space to become more comfortable."

Not only do consumers want their cars to be comfortable, but they want them to be less insular from the world around them. "We're seeing more and more of these applications, devices and features that allow us to customize how we want to connect with the outside world while we're in this captive environment," VanNieuwkuyk explained.

Security Ignored?

Distraction may not be the only hazard created by adding electronic creature comforts to a car. It may also be exposing motorists to new risks from the cyberworld, according to Ryan Permeh, principal security architect at McAfee.

Makers of unwired devices think nothing of adding wired capabilities to their products, he explained.

"When you throw a wireless adapter on something, the device still functions as it should, but what you just did is add a huge attack surface to it," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Very rarely do traditional manufacturers of these devices think about the security implications of what they do," he added. 

The Daily To Come Pre-Installed On Verizon Android Devices Starting With Samsung Galaxy

The Daily, News Corp’s tablet news reader app, will no longer be iPad-only. A deal has been struck with Verizon to pre-install an Android version of the app on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 this month, with more Verizon Android devices to receive The Daily in the future. Verizon customers will get week’s free trial of the app before the $4 a week / $40 a year subscription cost kicks in. This distribution deal could significantly increase The Daily’s readership and sales by relieving Android users from having to go out and download it.

Twitter Really, Really Hates Google’s New Google+ Integration

This morning, Google began rolling out a major change to its core search engine that intertwines results from Google+ (and Picasa) with the ‘normal’ algorithmically-generated results we’ve come to expect. There have been plenty of critiques of the news, including John Battelle’s discussion on how this isn’t actually integrating ‘Your World’, as Google calls it, but rather just its own social network.

And now there’s another critic that’s coming out swinging: Twitter.

Is It Time For Computers To Have Their Own .Data Domains?

The web, as we all know, was built for humans. A nice graphical interface to the internet, which has been around much longer. But as the web has grown from a nice way to display information to the largest computing infrastructure on the planet, we need to make the web friendlier for computers once again. Computers don’t want to look at pretty web pages. They want data.

When I Search Your Name, I’m Not Looking For Your Google+ Profile

What most alarms me about today’s “Google Search Plus Your World” announcement is how it will distort name searches. When I Google someone’s name, I’m typically looking for a Wikipedia entry, their Twitter account, a personal website, or an author page on their blog. Today, Google Search handles this well, often returning these as the top results. But *thanks* to Search Plus Your World, soon I’ll see Google+ profiles more prominently even though they’re rarely what I’m looking for.

Pin Drop iPhone App Is Like An Evernote For Location

Pin Drop is a new iPhone app and website which helps people mark locations that matter to them. One or two other startups are trying out this arena, most notable Everplaces, still in private beta, however it feels like the market is wide open for this kind of application which you could also describe as a sort of Evernote for location I think.

Users can drop their own pins or they can take inspiration from the curated lists feature. Each pin can then be assigned to multiple categories allowing users to build up a library of their favourite locations.

MADE.com Raises £6m In Series B Financing

Apparently, “there are only three areas in ecommerce to build billion dollar business: amazon, zappos and furniture”. That’s at least according to Oliver Samwer of clone factory Rocket Internet in Berlin.

Perhaps he right. Because now Made.com, a London based start-up that offers consumers designer furniture online at factory prices, has raised a £6 million series B funding to expand its brand in the UK and fuel international expansion. New York-based growth equity investor, Level Equity, led the funding round with additional investment from founding investors, PROfounders Capital.

Hands On: The Nintendo Wii U

One of the first things I was told when I ducked into one of Nintendo’s suites to play with the Wii U was what they wouldn’t tell me. Price, release date, technical specs, games in development — all of these were taboo topics that would be (and were) met with a gentle dismissal if I broached the subject.

Great. With that load lifted, I picked up the Wii U controller and dove in.

Holding the Wii U controller is your hand is… unusual. It’s been historically rare to see a controller that maintains such a considerable distance between the user’s hands (save for some funky Japanese one-offs), but it’s not so large as to be awkward.

Why Samsung Is The Next Apple

For most of the ten years I’ve been coming to CES, every presentation, every booth, has had one goal: to create an ecosystem in order to encourage consumer to lock in. Year after year, presentation after presentation, someone has come out to show how the phone will connect to the fridge which, in turn, will connect to the TV. And year after year, they failed.

Until now.

Digital Payments Innovator Jumio Raises $25.5 Million

Kicking off the new year with a fresh wad of cash: according to anSEC filing, mobile and online payments startup Jumio hasraised $25.5 million in funding on top of the $6.5 million it raised from Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin – and others – back in March 2011.

Jumio confirmed the financing round but declined to provide more details (which investors participated and what they plan to use the additional capital for) at this time.

The startup’s twist on helping e-merchants process card payments digitally is to leverage webcams (and smartphone cameras) to read credit cards rather than making people enter their details or swiping their cards. Its solution, called Netswipe, in other words turns phone cameras and webcams into credit card readers.

Jumio was co-founded by Daniel Mattes, who sold his latest company, Jajah, to Telefonica for $207 million. Mattes is called the “Bill Gates of the Alps” in some parts.

Good to see a European entrepreneur swing for the fences once more.

The Daily To Come Pre-Installed On Verizon Android Devices Starting With Samsung Galaxy

The Daily, News Corp’s tablet news reader app, will no longer be iPad-only. A deal has been struck with Verizon to pre-install an Android version of the app on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 this month, with more Verizon Android devices to receive The Daily in the future. Verizon customers will get week’s free trial of the app before the $4 a week / $40 a year subscription cost kicks in. This distribution deal could significantly increase The Daily’s readership and sales by relieving Android users from having to go out and download it.

Lenovo Unwraps Android 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' Smart TV

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Sunday, Lenovo unveiled a smart TV it says is the world's first to run Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich.

Powered by a QualComm 8060 Snapdragon dual core CPU, the smart device -- called the "K91" -- features a 55-inch screen, a gamepad, and a user interface that combines Video On Demand (VOD), Internet applications and traditional TV programs.

Thirty console-quality games will come bundled with the TV, with many more apps available in the Android Market and the Lenovo App Shop.

The K91 is now available in China, but information on pricing and availability elsewhere was not provided.

1/12 BBC News - Technology

BBC News - Technology         $10m prize for 'Star Trek' gadget January 12, 2012 at 1:18 PM   A $10m (£6.5m) prize will be awarded to whoever can create a Star Trek-like hand-held medical diagnosis device. Media Files _57841780_startrekrex.jpg (JPEG Image)         Gorilla Glass thins phone screens January 12, 2012 at 9:56 AM   The Gorilla Glass team upgrade their smartphone screens Media Files _57837945_gorilla2.jpg (JPEG Image)         Gorilla Glass thins phone screens January 12, 2012 at 9:56 AM   The Gorilla Glass team upgrade their screens Media Files _57837945_gorilla2.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Headphones 'made to fit in minutes' January 12, 2012 at 8:12 AM   Spencer Kelly experiments with a device that can make bespoke headphones in minutes. Media Files _57831052_jex_1286453_de54-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Taking the pulse at CES January 11, 2012 at 9:40 PM   As the world's largest technology event, Las Vegas's Consumer Electronics Show, opens for its second official day, Rory Cellan-Jones takes its pulse. Media Files _57824157_jex_1286667_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Taking the pulse at CES January 11, 2012 at 9:40 PM   As the world's largest technology event, Las Vegas's Consumer Electronics Show, opens for its second offical day, Rory Cellan-Jones takes its pulse. Media Files _57824157_jex_1286667_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Twitter 'failing' on child abuse January 11, 2012 at 7:53 PM   Twitter's child protection policies lag behind other social networking websites, an organisation set up to tackle sexual exploitation of children says. Media Files _55290225_010237916-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Twitter 'failing' on child abuse January 11, 2012 at 7:24 PM   Twitter's child protection policies lag behind other social-networking websites, an organisation set up to tackle sexual exploitation of children says. Media Files _55290225_010237916-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Buzz of the big CES 'match' January 11, 2012 at 7:00 PM   Follow UK start-up Blippar as it gets to work impressing at CES. Media Files _57812848_lasvegasview.jpg (JPEG Image)         Buzz of the big CES 'match' January 11, 2012 at 7:00 PM   Follow UK start-up Blippar as it gets to work impressing at CES Media Files _57812848_lasvegasview.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Dull' computer classes beefed up January 11, 2012 at 6:01 PM   The current information and communications technology (ICT) curriculum in England's schools is a "mess" and must be radically revamped, the education secretary has announced. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Tablet PC 'makes cup of coffee' January 11, 2012 at 5:40 PM   Richard Taylor looks at a piece of software that controls everything from the TV and the heating system right through to boiling a kettle. Media Files _57825339_013676915-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: One Laptop per Child gets upgrade January 11, 2012 at 5:35 PM   Marc Cieslak looks at an initiative to get touch screen computers to children in developing countries. Media Files _57824251_004028173-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Will.i.am shows off CES 'ghetto blaster' January 11, 2012 at 5:24 PM   Will.i.am believes his ultrabook is the "new ghetto blaster". Media Files _57827271_57823564.jpg (JPEG Image)         Will.i.am shows off CES 'ghetto blaster' January 11, 2012 at 5:24 PM   Will.i.am believes his ultrabook is the "new ghetto blaster" Media Files _57827271_57823564.jpg (JPEG Image)         Homophobic tweet striker sacked January 11, 2012 at 5:16 PM   A footballer who posted a homophobic remark on a social media website is sacked by his club. Media Files _57824000_dsc_0569.jpg (JPEG Image)         Twitter anger over Google changes January 11, 2012 at 5:05 PM   Moves to integrate Google+ into search are described as a "bad day for the internet" by Twitter's lawyer. Media Files _53750801_lbei0v0p.gif (GIF Image)         Changes to Google anger Twitter January 11, 2012 at 5:05 PM   Moves to integrate Google+ into search are described as a "bad day for the internet" by Twitter's lawyer. Media Files _53750801_lbei0v0p.gif (GIF Image)         VIDEO: Eco-tech sweeps CES 2012 January 11, 2012 at 2:47 PM   Has environmentally-friendly tech had its lightbulb moment? Media Files _57822797_jex_1286078_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Eco-tech sweeps CES 2012 January 11, 2012 at 2:47 PM   A look at some of the companies at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas showing off environmentally friendly products. Media Files _57822797_jex_1286078_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Affordable' 3D printers at CES January 11, 2012 at 2:25 PM   Build your own at a fraction of the cost with 3D printing Media Files _57821328_otherprinter.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Affordable' 3D printers at CES January 11, 2012 at 2:25 PM   3D printing offers consumers the chance to print toys at a fraction of the cost of buying them Media Files _57821328_otherprinter.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Dull' computer classes beefed up January 11, 2012 at 1:02 PM   The education secretary has announced a replacement for "harmful and dull" ICT classes in England's schools, which he says will better equip pupils for the 21st Century. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Electric cars fail to spark high sales January 11, 2012 at 11:35 AM   Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and GM's Chevy Volt were hailed as the new dawn of driving, but last year they sold under 18,000 models in the US. Media Files _57815507_013643497-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Virgin doubling broadband speed January 11, 2012 at 11:02 AM   The Prime Minister backs plans from Virgin Media to double the broadband speed for over four million of its customers. Media Files _57810960_virgin-media-union-logo-on-.jpg (JPEG Image)         Virgin doubling broadband speed January 11, 2012 at 11:02 AM   The prime minister backs plans from Virgin Media to double the broadband speed for over four million of its customers. Media Files _57810960_virgin-media-union-logo-on-.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: 'TripAdvisor ruined our business' January 11, 2012 at 9:24 AM   One couple explain how a travel website has had a detrimental effect on their business. Media Files _57814580_jex_1285634_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Latest gadgets unveiled at tech show January 11, 2012 at 9:13 AM   Rory Cellan-Jones takes a look at some of the newest gadgets unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Media Files _57814512_jex_1285627_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Bank switches its staff to Google January 11, 2012 at 8:12 AM   Spanish bank BBVA tells the BBC it is switching its 110,000 staff to use Google's cloud-computing software in the largest deal of its kind. Media Files _57811640_oficina-bbva-la-pedrera-barcelona.jpg (JPEG Image)         Bank signs up for cloud computing January 11, 2012 at 8:12 AM   Spanish bank BBVA tells the BBC it is switching its 110,000 staff to use Google's cloud-computing software in the largest deal of its kind. Media Files _57811640_oficina-bbva-la-pedrera-barcelona.jpg (JPEG Image)         School computer classes overhaul January 11, 2012 at 8:06 AM   Teaching of computer studies in England's schools will be completely revamped from September, the education secretary is to announce. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Dull' computer classes beefed up January 11, 2012 at 8:06 AM   Education Secretary Michael Gove to announce a replacement for "harmful and dull" ITC classes in schools, which he says will better equip pupils for the 21st Century. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Dull' computer classes beefed up January 11, 2012 at 8:06 AM   The education secretary is to announce a replacement for "harmful and dull" ITC classes in England's schools, which he says will better equip pupils for the 21st Century. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         'Dull' computer classes beefed up January 11, 2012 at 8:06 AM   The education secretary is to announce a replacement for "harmful and dull" ICT classes in England's schools, which he says will better equip pupils for the 21st Century. Media Files _57809628_schoolcomputers.jpg (JPEG Image)         New Intel chip on Motorola phones January 11, 2012 at 3:00 AM   Chip maker Intel is to make a fresh attempt at breaking into the smartphone market with partnerships with Motorola Mobility and Lenovo. Media Files _57811850_intel.jpg (JPEG Image)         Web domains face major overhaul January 11, 2012 at 2:25 AM   Applications are due to open for custom top-level domain names in what is the biggest change to the web address system in over two decades. Media Files _57810626_icanngrab.jpg (JPEG Image)         Start-up fight for CES attention January 11, 2012 at 2:14 AM   Follow UK start-up Blippar as it fights for attention at CES Media Files _57812848_lasvegasview.jpg (JPEG Image)         Kodak stock rises 46% on new plan January 11, 2012 at 12:32 AM   Troubled photography firm Eastman Kodak unveils a new plan to transform the company into a digital player, sending its shares soaring. Media Files _56466257_kodak2.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: The tablet served up for cooks January 11, 2012 at 12:20 AM   Click's Spencer Kelly looks at the Qooq tablet, a product especially designed for cooks to use in the kitchen. Media Files _57812405_jex_1285491_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Internet TV 'comes of age' January 10, 2012 at 10:21 PM   The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones reports from Las Vegas on the latest attempts to connect televisions to the power of the internet. Media Files _57810395_jex_1285400_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Internet TV 'comes of age' January 10, 2012 at 10:21 PM   The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones reports from California on the latest attempts to connect televisions to the power of the internet. Media Files _57810395_jex_1285400_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)         Kodak stock rises 45% on new plan January 10, 2012 at 10:14 PM   Troubled photography firm Eastman Kodak unveils a new plan to transform the company into a digital player, sending its shares soaring. Media Files _56466257_kodak2.jpg (JPEG Image)         VIDEO: Tour of Google TV at Googleplex January 10, 2012 at 6:59 PM   Rory Cellan-Jones visits Googleplex, Google's headquarters in California, where he is given a tour of Google TV. Media Files _57787918_jex_1284307_de27-1.jpg (JPEG Image)             This email was sent to shamas.bozdar.naya@blogger.com. Delivered by Feed My Inbox PO Box 682532 Franklin, TN 37068 Create Account Unsubscribe Here