Category Archives: Tech News

Google TV Coming Soon

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If you are a Google fan, you may have more reasons to celebrate in the coming months, as three giants – Intel, Sony and Logitech – have proposed to team up with Google and lunch Google TV and set-top boxes on an Android based platform.

The platform intends to seamlessly integrate web content and online services like Twitter, Youtube, online games, web apps and the formidable Google Search. It’ll also integrate a light weight browser for light surfing activities. Google TV will run on set-top boxes built with Intel Atom processor running the Android Operating System. Google TV technology will also be implemented on BlueRay drives and Sony TVs along with keyboard equipped remote control feature in partnership with Logitech.

Google TV

Google TV

With all the blueprints, for the project in place, The Times has indicated that Intel and Logitech have advertised job listings for programmers with Android experience. Google plans to deliver a fully functional technology product rather than a product with cosmetic design value.

The field of television is an uncharted frontier for Google. But, Google sounds optimistic about it’s project plans and let’s hope they deliver the integrated power of the web and television as a part of this project.

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Intel Gets Slapped With A Huge Fine

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Intel has been hitting the news lately, some good & some bad. the European commission just hit Intel with a fine of US$ 1.45 billion for violating the EC treaty & abusing their power unethically between October 2002 & December 2007. AMD had already filed complaints along these lines with the EC in 2000, 2003 & 2006, which urged a further investigation into this issue.

Intel Logo

Intel Logo

A summary of the claims are as follows:
Intel allegedly gave hidden rebates to computer manufacturers & encouraged them to only stock up on their x86 CPUs. They also allegedly paid a major retailer to delay the launch of their competitors products.

The manufacturers that have been identified are Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo & NEC.

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The Business of iPhone Apps

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July marked one year since Apple began allowing independent developers to sell their apps through the iTunes App Store. During the year that passed by, we have witnessed a frenzy from geeks all over the world to create a variety of applications for the iPhone.

iPhone Apps

iPhone Apps

But are any of these geeks becoming millionaires selling inane applications such as “Rate a Fart 2.0″, which, incidentally, is selling for 99 cents? All logic points towards a Firm no. Still that hasn’t stopped the App Store’s repertoire from reaching well over 50,000 apps and more than 1.5 billion downloads. The base and top or this pyramid consists of applications that cost less than a dollar. One might in fact be inclined to think Apple is running a digital dollar store.

The best seller lists titles such as GloBall and Flight Control — both games. These are hardly the building blocks of something that can become as big as an Amazon or eBay.

Besides, most veteran app developers around the world are saying that the app store is now very crowded. Getting noticed is therefore becoming even more difficult. There are sites such as l48Apps.biz that even give app makers tutorials on how to market their applications. Tips include getting your app reviewed on some of the dozens of app review sites that have sprung up, such as AppScout.com.

Making apps might be serious business or just something that geeks do on the side for fun or popularity. Yet, there are signs that more serious and utility- oriented apps are on their way. For example, the QuickOffice Mobile Office Suite that has crept in at the 99th position on the top 100 list. It’s a $12.99 application for creating, editing and synching documents and spreadsheets. There i5 also a S 100-million dollar venture capital fund called iFund, that intends to “fund market-changing ideas and products that extend the revolutionary new iPhone and iPod Touch platform”.

However, the fund has so far managed to fund only five ventures. Considering the competition from Pre and Android that is expected in the near future, let’s hope the enthusiasm of app makers continues undampened.

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