The new ACER AIO Android on PC

This new Android on PC from ACER certainly raises the ante on the Android game. This ACER AIO model DA220HQL has been introduced into the market. The official data about this very appealing AIO Android on PC includes a 21.5 inches LCD touchscreen, 1 Gb RAM and 8 or  16 Gb of memory. The price tag at Bestbuy at the time of this writing on their online store is about USD 400, which sounds appealing too. Certainly a bold move into desktop computing for Android, by one of the biggest consumer computer hardware companies in the world.

What is the correct mind frame for this Android device ? Well, “a big tablet” might fit the bill. Of course, it comes with Google Play Store pre-installed. But as some early users rant on their reviews, it seems that not all the apps are present in there. They mention Spotify as one of the missing apps. It wont run Flash content (as happens with almost every recent Android Device). On the other side, you will find Netflix. Proven that you may first test-drive this Android on PC from Acer and verify that all the apps and games you may need are already in place on the Google Play Store, then it may end up being a better purchase than a 10 inch tablet, while keeping the price on the same ballpark.

Dell goes private: Bought by Michael Dell and $2 billion from Microsoft

Michael Dell has teamed up with investment firm Silver Lake to buy computer maker Dell, the company he founded as a 19-year-old in 1984, in a deal valued at about $24.4 billion.

After the transaction closes, Michael Dell will continue as CEO and chairman of the company, according to a statement.

“I believe this transaction will open an exciting new chapter for Dell, our customers and team members,” Michael Dell said in the statement. “We can deliver immediate value to stockholders, while we continue the execution of our long-term strategy and focus on delivering best-in-class solutions to our customers as a private enterprise.”

According to the statement, the deal is being financed through a combination of cash and equity contributed by Dell, cash from investors affiliated with Silver Lake, cash invested by MSD Capital, L.P., a $2 billion loan from Microsoft, rollover of existing debt and debt financing that’s been committed by BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Credit Suisse and RBC Capital Markets.

Microsoft issued a statement saying that it is “committed to the long term success of the entire PC ecosystem and invests heavily in a variety of ways to build that ecosystem for the future. … we will continue to look for opportunities to support partners who are committed to innovating and driving business for their devices and services built on the Microsoft platform.”

Dell has been around in one form or another since 1984, when Michael Dell started a company called PC’s Ltd. with $1,000 in his pocket. He changed the name to Dell and took the company public four years later.

Dell made its biggest mark in the 1990s, when its model of building PCs to order and shipping them directly to customers undercut rivals like Hewlett-Packard and IBM, which had complex supply chains and backlogs of inventory. In 2001 Dell became the top PC seller in the world.

Its fortunes didn’t last, however. Dell’s rivals adopted some of its low-cost production methods, while also expanding into other areas such as services and software. Dell stayed focussed on PCs and servers and eventually found itself left behind. In 2007, after a spell away from his CEO job, Michael Dell returned to try to right his listing ship.

Since then it’s been on an acquisition spree, buying 25 companies to build out networking, software and services businesses. Notable buys include Quest Software, Perot Systems, Force 10 Networks and Wyse Technologies. Dell’s goal is to refashion itself into an all round provider of hardware, software and services, mimicking larger rivals IBM and HP, except focused primarily on the midmarket.

It’s had some success, but combining those acquisitions into cohesive “integrated systems” is a long road. Dell itself said last year that it could be a two to three year journey. Investors have been impatient, and Michael Dell apparently grew tired of running his company to the whims of a stock market that often

favors immediate return over long-term investment.

“Dell has made solid progress executing this strategy over the past four years, but we recognize that it will still take more time, investment and patience, and I believe our efforts will be better supported by partnering with Silver Lake in our shared vision,” Michael Dell said in the statement. “I am committed to this journey and I have put a substantial amount of my own capital at risk together with Silver Lake, a world-class investor with an outstanding reputation. We are committed to delivering an unmatched customer experience and excited to pursue the path ahead.”

The company’s PCs and server hardware remains the core of its business for now. Dell has said it will stay in the PC market because it provides an entry point to selling other, higher-margin products and services. It offers fewer low-cost computers and more high-end models like its XPS PCs, which has caused it to fall behind HP and Lenovo in worldwide shipments.

Dell has also exited the smartphone market, but sells tablets that target use both at home and in the enterprise.

The transactions calls for Dell shareholders to get $13.65 in cash, a premium of about 25 percent over Dell’s closing price on Jan. 11, when rumors of a deal first appeared, the company said.

Nokia files cases against HTC One in the US

Nokia is targeting HTC’s latest slate of smartphones, including the HTC One, with new legal action in the U.S. that demands the Taiwanese company cease the alleged patent infringement.
Nokia is accusing the HTC One, and several other HTC phones, of infringing three Nokia patents, according to a lawsuit filed by the Finnish handset maker on Thursday. The patents deal with handset radio frequency identification technology for use with applications. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. district court of Southern California, is demanding HTC stop the alleged infringement and pay damages.
Other handsets named in the lawsuit include HTC’s Droid DNA,
the HTC First, and last year’s generation of HTC One phones.
Nokia on Thursday also filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the company said in an email. Nokia said both the ITC and U.S. district court complaints cover nine patents new to its legal dispute with HTC.
In total, the company has accused HTC of infringing on 50 of its patents, Nokia added. The Finnish smartphone maker originally kicked off its legal action against its rival back in May of last year, filing lawsuits in both the U.S. and Germany.
“Since then, despite the German courts confirming infringements of Nokia patents in HTC products, HTC has shown no intention to end its practices,” Nokia said. “Instead it has tried to shift responsibility to its suppliers. We have therefore taken these further steps to hold HTC accountable for its actions.”
Cases brought to the International Trade Commission can request an import ban on devices accused of patent infringement. HTC said in a statement on Friday, “Upon receiving the official document, HTC is to consider all legal options to protect our rights.”
Nokia filed the complaint after it lost two patent infringement lawsuits against HTC in Germany this past March. Despite the loss, Nokia said at the time it would press on with its claims against HTC using 34 other company patents.
HTC products previously faced an import ban in the U.S. after the International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Apple in a patent infringement case. Last year, HTC phones were forced to go through a U.S. Customs review to ensure compliance with the ruling, forcing a delay in phone shipments to the country.

The New Google Glass

Google Glass  is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display (HMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.While the frames do not currently have lenses fitted to them, Google is considering partnerships with sunglass retailers such as Ray-Ban or Warby Parker, and may also open retail stores to allow customers to try on the device. The Explorer Edition cannot be used by people who wear prescription glasses, but Google has confirmed that Glass will eventually work with frames and lenses that match the wearer's prescription; the glasses will be modular and therefore possibly attachable to normal prescription glasses.

Glass is being developed by Google x, which has worked on other futuristic technologies such as driverless cars. The project was announced on Google+ by Project Glass lead Babak Parviz, an electrical engineer who has also worked on putting displays into contact lenses; Steve Lee, a product manager and "geolocation specialist"; and Sebastian Thrun, who developed Udacity as well as worked on the self-driving car project. Google has patented the design of Project Glass. Thad Starner, an augmented reality expert, is a technical lead/manager on the project.

 

Soon you'll be able to view emails, text messages and maps on a translucent screen hovering in the upper-right corner of your peripheral vision. Breaking news alerts will appear right before your eyes. You'll snap photos just by saying, "OK Glass, take a picture." In other words, you'll be able to perform tasks everyone else has to do with their grubby hands and filthy smartphones

AMD is willing to embrace Android

Advanced Micro Devices has opened the door to embrace Google's Android operating system, but said it would continue to focus on Windows with its upcoming tablet and laptop chips.
AMD on multiple occasions has said it had no interest in putting its chips in Android tablets and would focus exclusively on Windows 8. A change of heart could open up a wider market for tablets for the company.
For now, the company's focus remains on optimizing chips for usage on Windows laptops, desktops and tablets, said Kevin Lansing, director of the notebook product line at AMD's client business unit.
In an email, however, AMD spokesman Gary Silcott said OS adoption depends on device makers.
"Windows is it for right now. Nothing about our architecture precludes Android operation if AMD or a third party decided to pursue it," Silcott said.

The tablet market is currently ruled by Apple's iOS, followed by Android. Windows 8 adoption on tablets and smartphones has been weak. Android support could open up a potentially larger market for AMD, whose chips are used in just a handful of tablets. AMD to date has released two chips for Windows tablets over the past two years, both of which have failed.
AMD on Thursday also shared more details about its upcoming Temash tablet chips, and will be showing off devices with the latest processors at the Computex trade show early next month. AMD is competing against ARM, whose processors are used in most tablets, and Intel, which later this year will be releasing new chips code-named Bay Trail for tablets running Android and Intel.
ARM and Intel already support Android 4.2, while independent efforts are under way to bring Android to the handful of AMD tablets. AMD has signed an ARM license, and is building chips based on the architecture for servers.
Android is used in most low-cost tablets with small screens, which are gaining preference over the larger-screen devices. Intel is chasing the low-cost tablet market and has said Android tablets priced between $200 and $399 with Bay Trail could be available by the end of the year.
However, AMD has shown no interest in low-cost tablets, and with 64-bit support, the Temash chip for now is optimized for high-performance tablets and low-end laptops. It can offer a full Windows 8 tablet and desktop experience, which is an edge over competing chips that are optimized for specific tablet or PC usage. For example, Intel's current Clover Trail chip, designed for tablets, is 32-bit and may not run specific desktop applications that are 64-bit.

AMD's Lansing said its Temash chips hold an advantage in graphics, which are becoming more important with online video streaming and gaming. AMD's core strength is in graphics, and its chips have been adopted by Sony for PlayStation and by Microsoft for the next Xbox.
In a comparison list, AMD said Temash also has support for DirectX 11, Windows 7 and USB 3.0 ports, which are not offered on Intel's Clover Trail. However, that is expected to change with Bay Trail, which will support DirectX 11 and USB 3.0. The Bay Trail chip will be able to provide an equally capable desktop and tablet experience on Windows 8.
The Temash lineup includes two dual-core A4 chips and one quad-core A6 chip. Tablets running on the quad-core will deliver up to eight hours of battery life during Web browsing, and around five hours of battery life when watching 1080p high-definition video on YouTube.
The A4-1200 chip draws 3.9 watts of power, and the A4-1250 draws 9 watts of power. Both chips run at 1GHz and have 1MB of cache. The quad-core A6-1450 runs at a maximum clock speed of 1.4GHz, draws 8 watts of power, and has a Radeon HD 8250 graphics processor with a maximum clock speed of 400MHz.
AMD has already been working with various ARM processor vendors through the Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) Foundation to unify multiple processing resources in servers, PCs and mobile devices. The organization's goal is to develop an open hardware interface specification so tasks can be offloaded to the appropriate hardware resource, which will bring portability of applications across architectures and devices.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Sells 10 Million Units and Announces New Colors

Samsung released data this morning showing that their newest flagship model, the much hyped Galaxy S4, has been a huge success with consumers.  Since its release on April 27, the S4 has sold 10 million units.  To celebrate the milestone, the manufacturer announced the production of a slew of new colors to supplement the stock white and black models that are currently available.

Ten million sales is a pretty impressive benchmark for the Galaxy S4, and reaching it in under a month shows a clear trend of rising popularity for Samsung’s phones. 

The S4’s predecessors, the S3 and S2, took 5 and 2 months, respectively, to reach the same level of sales.
Samsung’s Galaxy series is well known for integrating innovative features like Air View and Air Gesture technology, which economize your finger movements and make for a faster, easier experience.  Each model in the series has also boasted impressive hardware, with the S4 feeding its 5-inch AMOLED screen and 13 MP camera with a super fast Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Perhaps intended as a gesture of gratitude to Samsung fans, the company also announced the imminent arrival of several new colors to the S4 line.  The stock White Mist and Black Forest models will soon be accompanied by Blue Arctic, Purple Mirage, and Brown Autumn.  There will also be a Red Aurora model, which is being reported as an AT&T exclusive color.  It should make for an exciting summer for Samsung fans.

Emerging information technology trends and innovation take centre stage at UN forum

13 May 2013 – More than 1,500 participants from Government, private sector, civil society and international organizations are meeting at a United Nations forum in Geneva this week to review and measure progress towards targets set almost a decade ago designed to help countries more effectively harness the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. Photo: ITU/J.M. Planche

The WSIS Forum is an “international multi-stakeholder engagement” to meet the goals of the World Summit on the Information Society which met in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, according to the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the host and main organizer of the event.
The Summit set out Action Plans in several key areas for ICT development, including ICT infrastructure and capacity building, cybersecurity and ICT applications in key areas such as e-Government, e-Learning, e-Health and e-Environment.
“Ten years after the Geneva phase of WSIS, we are witnessing some of the most innovative developments in the ICT sector,” ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré told a press conference held today on the sidelines of the opening of the Forum.
“Mobile phone subscriptions are reaching the 7 billion mark,” he noted. “In 2012, two and a half billion people used the Internet from one device or another.
“The thrust now is to drive content through enhanced broadband access that will feed both rural communities and urban centres,” he continued. “It is now time to look at WSIS+10 and how we can continue the momentum for the future development of ICTs, which govern so many aspects of our day-to-day life.”
During the Forum, high-level dialogues with Government ministers and representatives from business and civil society will examine issues such as women’s empowerment in the information society; smart climate change monitoring; ICT innovations and standards; cybersecurity; and youth and ICTs.
Also on the agenda is ICTs and the so-called ‘post-2015 agenda’ – the global development agenda beyond 2015, the deadline for meeting the internationally agreed anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Together we will address a range of issues within the global information society and we will reflect on how ICTs continue to shape the daily lives of individuals, businesses, communities and governments,” said Mr. Touré.
Addressing today’s opening, the ITU chief said that this year’s WSIS Forum is a unique opportunity to “develop consensus on what is needed for the WSIS process in the future, to ensure that the bottom-up approach of the WSIS process is preserved and that the decisions concerning modalities also respect the real requirements of the use of ICTs for socio-economic development, while ensuring growth in the ICT ecosystem itself.”
Also today, the ITU awarded prizes to 18 recipients in recognition of outstanding effort and achievement in the implementation of WSIS-related activities. The winners include the education ministries of Saudi Arabia, the Civil Service Commission of Kuwait, the University of La Punta in Argentina, and Child Helpline International from the Netherlands.