GeekSugar

Google Will Sell Its Own Phone

GeekSugar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:43:06 PST

Google has announced its plans to sell its own phone. . . independent of wireless carriers. The device will be manufactured by HTC and is called the Nexus One. It will run Google's Android operating system and be available for sale online. No technical specs have been released, though the photo at left, reportedly leaked by a Google employee, may be an image of what to expect.

Unlike Apple, Google isn't working with one wireless carrier to support the phone. Instead, customers will be able to choose between AT&T and T-Mobile for service.

It's an interesting model, and one that may challenge Apple's AT&T exclusivity and also other carriers' plans. Because the phones will be bought directly from Google, though, they may not be able to offer the introductory pricing rates offered by wireless companies upon signing a new two-year contract.

Google Announces Cell Platform, Not Gphone

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:04:42 PST

We've done our part to revel in the Google phone rumors over the past year. Every once in a while we hear speculation that it will be released next year, next week or next month, but have never gotten any official confirmation from the company.

Finally, Google has spoken. They aren't making a Gphone, but they have announced an Open Handset Alliance and Android, an open platform for cell phones that includes an operating system, user-interface and applications. They are calling it "more significant and ambitious than a single phone." In a press release on the Google blog the company said it hopes "Android will be the foundation for many new phones and will create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities we can’t imagine today." Here's more:

"Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications - all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation...We recognize that many among the multitude of mobile users around the world do not and may never have an Android-based phone. Our goals must be independent of device or even platform."

Google developed Android with the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders including Motorola, Qualcomm, HTC and T-Mobile. They hope to capacitate an open ecosystem for the mobile world by creating a standard, open mobile software platform. The companies are targeting the second half of 2008 to ship phones based on the Android platform, so those of us who are already champing at the bit to test it out won't have to wait for too long. What are you looking for in a phone? Google made the video below to promote the Open Handset Alliance's "plans to build a better phone." We gush at the ad's cuteness and our next geeky obsession.

To check out what the creators have to say about the device,

The Google Phone To Debut Early Next Year

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:00:25 PDT

For those of you who practiced some serious restraint and decided to save your pennies for the second gen iPhone, behold the next superstar device which might make you change your mind: The Google phone. No word on specs yet, but I'm going to take a wild guess and assume it will be jammed packed with lots of Google apps goodies that will rock anyone's online world. Supposedly Google has been working with Taiwan’s High Tech Computer (HTC) Corp to make this Linux-based phone far superior to the iPhone. And yes, it will be here in less than a year. via techfresh

Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer on Modern Dating and the '90s

Annie Scudder — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:00:50 PDT

Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer are gearing up for the June 5 season-two premiere of Franklin & Bash on TNT. The guys hold a special place in our '90s girl hearts, so when we got a chance to chat with them, we had to get their straightforward dating advice. And, of course, we brought up the '90s. How could we resist while talking to Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris and Clueless's Travis Birkenstock? Read more to find out what we learned.

5 Tried and Tested Tools For Learning Spanish

Nancy Einhart — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:15:19 PDT

Studying a foreign language could make you smarter. According to a new study from the University of Chicago, people make more rational decisions when thinking in a foreign language, because it forces us to use the more analytical side of our brains.

If you're looking to learn a language, you could certainly do worse than Spanish. It's the third most-spoken language in the world, and Hispanics make up more than 16 percent of the US population. So, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, here are five tools I've found super helpful in my quest to learn Spanish as an adult.

App: Larousse Spanish-English Dictionary ($4.99) The free Spanish-English dictionary apps I tried left a lot to be desired, and this $5 app is well worth the price. It quickly translates almost any word from my phone, and it also has tons of verb conjugations - a must have for beginners! Plus I can do my homework on the go.
Podcast: Discover Spanish (free) This series of 10-minute Spanish lessons is great for travelers, because it teaches commonly used phrases while also explaining a bit of the grammar, so you're more likely to remember. It's also a great supplement to in-person Spanish lessons. After a while, I found the hilarious music and overly enthusiastic host "Johnny Spanish" quite endearing.

Three more Spanish tools after the break.

5 Ways to Live Stream a Wedding

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:34:02 PDT

When a loved one can't attend your wedding, consider live streaming any part of the ceremony or festivities so far away guests can still celebrate practically in person. From video calling to live video channels, these five services enable you to live stream a wedding:

Skype: One of the most well-known video-calling services, Skype is a great free option if you are just trying to include one person. To include more people, sign up for Skype Premium ($9.99 per month), which allows group chats with up to 10 people.
Ustream: The video website enables you to broadcast live video content. It even developed a UStream Broadcaster app, so you can easily stream live HD video from your mobile phone.
iPhone FaceTime: Via FaceTime, you can quickly call a friend who has an iPhone, iPad 2, iPod touch, or even a Mac computer. Since the iPhone 4S is equipped with a front and back camera, simply tap the camera swap button on the bottom right hand side of the screen to share the ceremony.
YouTube Live Stream: With an on-site webcam and WiFi, you can schedule and stream the event live on YouTube. Google offers simple and clear instructions on how to set up, test, and manage your live stream so everything runs smoothly.
I Do Stream: The company provides all the equipment you need (camcorder, tripod, etc.) to seamlessly broadcast your wedding ceremony online. You can even rent a laptop with built-in broadband wireless in case the ceremony grounds don't have an Internet connection.

Google Drive and 4 Other Cloud Storage Solutions

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:48:01 PDT

After years of speculation about a storage product, Google announced today its cloud storage solution - Google Drive. In an effort to seamlessly blend use for those already entrenched in Google Docs, documents are automatically built into Drive so that files can be collaborated on in real time. Users can give feedback on anything shared, including PDFs or video files, not just Google Docs; all users are then notified of the latest comment.

Drive can be installed on both Mac and PC platforms and a Drive app is available now for Android phones and tablets. We're hoping the iOS app is on its way. The cloud industry standard of a free 5GB of storage is the basic Drive account, with paid upgrades of 25GB for $2.50 per month, 100GB for $5 per month, or a huge 1TB for $50 per month. Any upgrade to a paid account includes the storage in your Gmail account boosting to 25GB.

Of course, Google Drive is only the latest product for cloud storage needs. Here are four more solutions for storing budget files or photos from your around-the-world vacation.

Dropbox - Arguably the leader in cloud storage, Dropbox has won customers with the user-friendly ability to sync files across multiples devices and act as a hosting tool for large media like hi-res images when sending them through email isn't an option.
iCloud - Stores 5GB of anything and everything for free for all iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac users. It has some limits and only stores media purchased through iTunes, but for Apple devotees it's an effortless option.

Discover two more cloud solutions after the break.

iOS (Finally) Gets Its Own Google TV Remote Control App

Kristen Hawley — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:07:04 PDT

Google TV's remote app for Android launched late last year, and now there is finally an iOS app, too. The free app works via your home's WiFi network and runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

The app allows you to fully control your Google TV with quick access to DVR recordings and show guides and information. Search and change channels, view the home screen, bookmark content, even use voice search to find what you're looking for. Use the circular center pad to navigate menus and content by touch.

Anyone in the room who is connected to your home WiFi network and has the app can use it to control the Google TV; let the channel-changing pranks commence. Download the iOS app free from the App Store.

Keep Up With the Royal Wedding at Home For Under $5

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:20:53 PDT

You could be trekking all the way across the globe (and dropping some serious cash) to witness the spectacle that is the royal wedding, but the good news is you don't have to travel to jolly old England to get in on the action. Thanks to technology and a few livestream options, you can watch the entire thing unfold right from your couch and for a lot less money. Check out these apps, sites, and tools that will let you in on a little royal wedding fun at home.

Tour Westminster Abbey - A new iOS and Android app ($4.50) lets you tour a virtual replica of Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate will be saying their vows. Also included in the app are points of interest, so you can stop and take a look from all angles. Who needs an invite?
Get updates on Twitter - There may be a rule against cell phone use during the ceremony, but you'll still be able to get up to the minute updates about the royal wedding on the official Clarence House Twitter page.
Watch it live - You have three solid options for watching the royal wedding live online, so even if you don't have cable, you'll be covered.
See the royal procession route in 3D - No need to battle the crowds after the ceremony, just check out the sights on Google Earth instead! Taking you on a virtual 3D tour of the postwedding parade, you'll see sights like Big Ben, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace, where the reception will be taking place.

Daily Tech: The Folks at Work on Your Phone

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:21:55 PDT

The people inside your iPhones - BuzzFeed FWD
Pinterest is now the third most popular social network - Geekosystem
The 5 stupidest technology questions ever Googled - Cracked
Get retro with Donny and Marie's Star Wars parody - GeekTyrant
Insane spark art should be everywhere - Dvice
Even luddites come around to technology - Newser
Draw Something outranks the most addictive mobile game in the App Store - Tecca
Large Hadron Collider restarts stronger than ever - SlashGear