ZTE Grand X2 In official with Clover Trail+ Atom, photos at 24 frames per second

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/zte-grand-x2-in/

While Intel's Clover Trail+ Atom platform has been slow-moving so far, with only a handful of noteworthy unveilings, it just got a big shot in the arm through the official launch of ZTE's Grand X2 In. The 4.5-inch, 720p Jelly Bean phone is smaller than the Geek we saw not long ago, but it still carries that 2GHz Atom Z2580 inside -- and it's quite the screamer for shutterbugs between its 24 frames per second burst shooting, zero shutter lag and image stabilization. It otherwise sits in the middle of the road like its ancestor, carrying an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage. We're digging that soft-touch purple finish, though. Europeans should receive the Grand X2 In sometime in the third quarter of the year; there's no word on launches elsewhere, but you can be sure that we're interested in giving this x86 headliner a proper shakedown.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Intel

Comments

Via: MojAndroid.sk (translated)

Source: ZTE

Read More...

Summary only...

Recon Instruments reveals Recon Jet, a sports HUD so bright it needs shades (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/recon-instruments-reveals-recon-jet/

We know Glass comes with some snap-on shades, which is no doubt great when casually vlogging in the sun. If you're heading down a mountain, though, you're going to need something a little more like Recon Jet. You may know Recon Instruments from its line of technolicious HUD ski goggles, but Jet sees the firm leap into more casual (yet no less useful) eyewear. Inside you'll find a dual-core processor, WiFi, GPS, Ant+, Bluetooth and an HD camera, plus all the sensors you could want (altimeter, thermometer, accelerometer etc). Recon Jet comes with its own open platform (which typically has been based on Android), and will have some existing native apps (video streaming, Facebook integration, etc.) on display at Google I/O this week. Comparison with Mountain View's own product will be inevitable, but we're guessing that Recon hopes you'll leave Glass on your desk, while popping Jet on for the weekend.

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Google Play game services aims to integrate gaming across Android, iOS and the web, available today

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/google-play-game-services/

Google Play game developers and players alike are getting a quartet of game-changing additions today: real-time multiplayer, leaderboards, cloud saves and achievements. And that's not all -- the latter three services will function cross-platform between Android, iOS and the web. The whole initiative is called -- unsurprisingly -- "Google Play Game Services," and it's available today in a smattering of games. Unlike Apple's Game Center application, what Google's offering is backend support for developers rather than a standalone application. Think of it more like OpenFeint than Game Center -- you can sign in using your Google+ login in-game, and that login will track your identity (including leaderboard scores, achievements and saves) across various games and devices.

Any developer launching a game on the Google Play store has access to game services, though Google isn't making it an obligation. "We won't make it a mandatory exercise, or have any certification process around it," Google lead product manager Greg Hartrell told us. "We create fantastic services that allow developers to create these great game experiences, and help promote their discovery, help retain their users and keep them engaged."

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Google's conversational voice search reaches the desktop through Chrome

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/google-conversational-search-reaches-the-desktop-through-chrome/

We're used to Google's mobile search apps letting us ask questions as we would with real people, but the desktop has usually been quite stiff. That's changing today: Google is bringing conversation-like voice search to our computers through Chrome, with no typing required. Web denizens just have to say "okay, Google," ask their question, and get back a spoken response similar to what they'd hear on their phones. The company hasn't said just how soon Chrome will incorporate the new voice features, however.

Gallery: Google I/O 2013: Google conversational voice search

Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Google

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Google Just Massively Upgraded Its Core Product, Google Search, With Google Now For Desktop (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-just-massively-upgraded-its-core-product-google-search-with-google-now-for-desktop-2013-5

Google just brought Google Now, its voice-recognizing search product for mobile, to the desktop.

It announced the news at Google I/O, a conference for developers held today in San Francisco.

Business Insider's Steve Kovach, who's on the scene and saw the demo live, says, "that was an incredible demo. This is the future."

Any meaningful upgrade to Google search on the desktop is huge news. Google search is the desktop Internet's most perfectly profitable business.

So, what does Google Now for desktop do?

It's basically a voice-recognizing robot assistant.

For starters, you can use it to search the Web by talking to your computer.

Except you don't have to talk in the same funny way you would type out a search on Google.com.

You can speak normally and get useful responses.

For example, you can say: "How long will it take me to drive to Santa Cruz beach?," and Google will show you directions with Google Maps and tell you how long it'll take to get there.

Google Now also does more than just search the Web. 

Because it is connected to Google Now on mobile, you can use it to set reminders, and have them be triggered by times, dates, and locations.

For example, you can, from your desktop at work, tell Google Now: "Remind me to take out the garbage when I get home," and Google Now will remind you when, through your smartphone, it senses you are back at home.

Beca use Google Now has acces to your calendar and other Google services, such as Google Maps, it can pull off lots of other cool tricks, too.

For example, if you have an appointment in your calendar and Google knows traffic will be heavy getting to it, Google Now will warn you to leave early.

Most of these features have been available in Google Now for a while now.

What's new is that it's now available on the desktop through Chrome browsers.  Also, Google Now will now also recommend things for you to do.

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...