Google I/O 2013 wrap-up: Expanding the Android Ecosystem

Google I/O 2013 wrap-up: Expanding the Android Ecosystem

Because Google’s most popular operating system – and the most popular operating system on the planet, mind you – is Android, it only makes sense that much of the company’s yearly developers conference would be centered in this multi-device environment. What we expected for this year’s Google I/O was an upgrade to a new version of the mobile OS and a new device (or two) to run it on. Instead what we got was a major … [Read more...]

Acer Iconia W3 8-inch Windows 8 tablet quietly gets official

Acer Iconia W3 8-inch Windows 8 tablet quietly gets official

Acer’s Iconia W3, the first 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, has quietly cropped up at the company’s site, confirming the smaller slate and promising a full eight hours of runtime. Rumored since April, the Acer Iconia W3-810 is now listed on the company’s Finnish site, running full Windows 8 Pro on an Intel Atom Z2760 processor and with an 8.1-inch WXGA screen. That chip is paired with 2GB of RAM and up to 64GB of flash storage. The … [Read more...]

MacBook Air stock shortage adds weight to WWDC range-refresh rumors

MacBook Air stock shortage adds weight to WWDC range-refresh rumors

Whispers of a full MacBook refresh at Apple’s WWDC 2013 this June look increasingly possible, with stocks of the 13-inch MacBook Air already tightening ahead of what’s believed to be an Intel Haswell-based upgrade. Apple was tipped to be updating its notebook line-up to Intel’s 4th-gen Core processors by analysts back in April, and now stock checks across US retailers would seemingly confirm that the last of the existing models … [Read more...]

Google+ and Glass just got the upgrade for lifelogging everything

Google+ and Glass just got the upgrade for lifelogging everything

If you’re still laughing at Google+, and at Google Glass, then it might be time to stop; Google has just shown that they’re its next route to digitally understanding everything about you, and it slipped that through in the guise of a simple photo gallery tool. Highlights is one of the few dozen new features Google+ gained as of I/O this past week, sifting through your auto-uploads and flagging up the best of them. Ostensibly … [Read more...]

Google H840 media streamer hits FCC to potentially replace Nexus Q

Google H840 media streamer hits FCC to potentially replace Nexus Q

Google’s short-lived Nexus Q has already been left out of the Google Play Music All Access action, but there looks to be a successor in the pipeline, with a new Google media player spotted in FCC testing. The Google H840 (product code H2G2-42, an apparent play on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) WiFi-testing listing has been pared back thanks to a confidentiality request, but the wireless report does confirm that it … [Read more...]

Foxconn continues to violate Chinese labor laws says report

Foxconn continues to violate Chinese labor laws says report

Foxconn has come under fire repeatedly, fueled by several worker suicides and threats of suicides, as well as protests and its eventual installation of nets to catch employees who jump from the roof. Because of the criticism, the Chinese manufacturer – which supplies some Apple devices, among others – agreed to over 300 terms set forth by Apple after a Fair Labor Association investigation. While some things have changed, the latest … [Read more...]