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Bingo. I think these Nexus edition devices are a thinly veiled attempt to have Motorola make Nexus devices without upsetting other OEM’s. Now Motorola can make Nexus experience devices too without looking like they’re receiving preferential treatment.

about 24 hours ago on Microsoft Xbox 360 does not infringe Motorola patents, rules ITC 1 reply 1 recommend

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That’s all hunky dory, but half the appeal of Android is that it’s so tightly integrated with Google’s services. And just because it can run Android apps doesn’t mean it magically has access to the some 900,000 available in the Play Store.

about 24 hours ago on Microsoft Xbox 360 does not infringe Motorola patents, rules ITC 2 replies

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Google bought Motorola ONLY for the patents they would have shut them down and sold the pieces the day the deal closed and kept the patents for themselves. Clearly that’s not what they did, so I think they’re a little more invested than just for the patents. People don’t seem to understand that creating a fresh product lineup takes time.

about 24 hours ago on Microsoft Xbox 360 does not infringe Motorola patents, rules ITC 1 reply

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Hey Lenovo, this is the company you buy, not Blackberry.

2 days ago on HTC in disarray: staff departures, 'disastrous' First, and production problems cloud company's future

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But Microsoft DOESN’T grant competing browsers on Windows RT the same API access and the only thing they’ve received is criticism, not actual penalties. Google can simply file countersuits for the similar practices of Microsoft. Either they both win, or they both lose.

2 days ago on Microsoft updates YouTube Windows Phone app on the day Google demanded it be removed 1 recommend

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Yes, Microsoft knew exactly what they were doing: deliberately disobeying Google’s API rules to make a scene. And Microsoft HAS been making antitrust claims against Google for years. In fact it’s probably their constant attacks (antitrust claims around the world, patent cases on Android and Chrome OEMs, and smear campaigns like Scroogled) that has made Google so bitter.

2 days ago on Microsoft updates YouTube Windows Phone app on the day Google demanded it be removed 1 recommend

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Why? Because car companies don’t pay top dollar hiring the best software developers. Besides, skeumorphic design, even if you hate it, is ideal for vehicles. You want icons and controls to be abundantly obvious. You don’t have time to be figuring out what is and isn’t a button when driving.

2 days ago on GM commits to in-car apps by the end of the year

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Newer processor, better, larger screen, better camera, removable battery, SD slot, LTE, and probably a couple other things. $300 worth of features? I don’t know if I’d go that far, but it’s certainly a better phone sans maybe the design.

9 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 2 recommends

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Can’t you buy metal back plates for the S4? Pretty sure I remember reading that somebody was making them.

9 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 1 recommend

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Theoretically there is. This should be identical hardware to the existing non-stock US GSM model GS4’s. I would think the only barrier to flashing the Nexus image onto a carrier device would be the bootloader. If you can unlock the bootloader and can flash an image onto a phone, a subsidized version of this should be easily within reach.

9 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 1 recommend

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You don’t have to use Google+ like Facebook to be “using” Google+. In fact I think Google likes it that way. If you’re using Hangouts, your using Google+. If you’re commenting on a YouTube video or rating a Play Store app, you’re using Google+. If you’re playing one of your buddies over Play Gaming, you’re using Google+. You don’t have to be posting about what you ate for lunch to be using Google+ and I think Google actually gets more useful information from people just casually using Google+. I’d argue that the best social network is actually a passive one that ties into things you already do instead of demanding your full attention.

9 days ago on Can fancy photos and lavish linking help Google+ take off? 4 recommends

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Google is making all the right moves with regards to Google+. With every update to all of their core apps the Google+ integration gets deeper. Eventually it’s just going to be convenient for everyone to use it because they already are. Google’s services are some of the most popular services across PC’s, Android, and iOS. Google+ ties all of these together and now even ties iOS users to Android users through messaging and gaming. Google is marketing Google+ as a way to tie together all the Google services you already know and love. Oh, and by the way, is also a social network and you’re friends are already connected because they too use all of Google’s other services. Google doesn’t need Google+ users, they just need Google users.

9 days ago on Can fancy photos and lavish linking help Google+ take off? 1 recommend

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Its not that the design language is bad, it’s that the implementation was and is poor. Metro is beautiful, but using it on a PC is downright clunky. Microsoft decided to “simplify” Windows which in turn actually made it more confusing to use. Google’s approach is minimalist but still a focus on function. Metro on Windows 8 was and is change just for the sake of change. I still believe the Metro interface would have been better received if they hadn’t decided to forcibly included it in Windows and just would have let it shine on its own (essentially Windows RT without the desktop and a different, non-Windows name).

9 days ago on Can fancy photos and lavish linking help Google+ take off? 1 reply 13 recommends

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The new Nexi will launch when 4.3 is ready, which clearly it isn’t our we would have seen it today. Patience.

9 days ago on Google Maps for desktop: hands-on with the world's most-advanced web app

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If Apple will let them. Sure, they allow Spotify and Pandora, but I wouldn’t put it past Apple to block Google. Maybe that’s why they have the YouTube tie-in. I’m doubtful that Apple would allow any form of Google Play on iOS. YouTube seems like their only channel to reach iOS without getting shot down.

10 days ago on Exclusive: Google readies its Spotify competitor with Universal and Sony now on board 3 replies 1 recommend

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Well with this Nvidia is going to push that equation forward. Part of the argument could be there aren’t AAA games because there hasn’t been hardware to utilize it. Shield is an attempt to provide that missing link.

10 days ago on Nvidia Shield gaming handheld priced at $349, pre-orders begin on May 20th (preview) 1 recommend

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Might be a nice device to give away at I/O to developers, especially considering the new Google Play Games.

10 days ago on Nvidia Shield gaming handheld priced at $349, pre-orders begin on May 20th (preview)

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It’s just rounding up, right? No big deal. /s

11 days ago on Let the '5G' confusion begin: Samsung demos ultra-fast wireless with bad branding

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Huloo!?

17 days ago on Yahoo's video ambitions continue with reported Hulu talks 2 replies 11 recommends

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It doesn’t have to be autonomous to be considered a drone.

19 days ago on When a drone gets stuck in the arms of a rooftop statue, who's responsible for getting it down?

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Maybe they should send a drone to recover the drone.

19 days ago on When a drone gets stuck in the arms of a rooftop statue, who's responsible for getting it down? 1 reply 1 recommend

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No. Android is open source. The Google suite of apps is not.

19 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers 1 recommend

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Are you new to reading? This article isn’t about hacking, its about being able to unlock your phone, no hacking required, right out of the box. Hacking is great and I’m thankful that brilliant devs are able to figure this stuff out, but hacking and exploits shouldn’t be required reach the full potential of YOUR device.

19 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers 1 recommend

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I didn’t declare it as evidence, I just told him to keep his hopes in check. I said “expect” not “they will have.” That’s not passing off my thoughts as evidence, that’s just expressing caution. Pay attention to the qualifier.

19 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers

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Who cares what you do with it? Its your phone. The point isn’t what you do with your phone, it’s that you should be able to do anything you want with it since its yours.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers

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The answer to this is contact free wireless plans and devices bought directly from manufacturers. With T-Mobile’s new plans and AT&T’s rumored All-in-One plans and more “developer” devices, hopefully we’re heading in the right direction. Contact free plans mean you don’t have to go through the wireless provider to get the phone. So long as devices are sold through and branded by carriers we’ll have the problem of carriers controlling them. The next thing we need is a way to finance these devices directly from the manufacturers. Currently you have to pay full price for a developer device and that prohibits a lot of people from being able to purchase them.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers

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Don’t get your hopes too high. These aren’t Nexus devices. They may run “stock” Android, but expect carrier bloat, carrier branding, locked bootloaders, and delayed updates.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers 1 reply 1 recommend

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What they should be and what they’re willing to be are unfortunately very different things. There’s not much value to being a dumb pipe. Conversely there’s tremendous value to controlling all aspects of the equation. And there aren’t really significant competitive pressures to make them change. T-Mobile is little more than an annoyance to them right now.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers 1 recommend

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Through an exploit. You shouldn’t have to exploit your device to unlock it. That’s not what this article is about. It’s about manufacturers and carriers allowing unlocked devices. An exploit has nothing to do with that.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers 3 replies

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The plan, which I might remind everyone is rumored and not confirmed, was for Verizon Communications to buy Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless. Verizon Communications would not own Vodafone, just Verizon Wireless in their entirety.

And every company is for sale for the right price. The hot rumor for a while and it still could happen was that Verizon Communications and AT&T were going to team up. Verizon Communications would buy out Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless and then AT&T would buy out the remainder of Vodafone, giving them an overseas presence which they have expressed they want.

20 days ago on In 2013, the keys to Android are still held by the carriers