Don’t get me wrong before we start here, the ability to chat in a window inside Facebook with Skype’s video capabilities is really neat. If they execute the plan correctly, it will almost certainly keep a lot of people inside the Facebook family where thousands of video-chat seekers may have otherwise run to Google+ for their brand new Hangout video chat program. What we’ve learned today, however, is that the Facebook team has seen what Google+ can do and that they understand that LOTS of people are thinking of Google+ as a real alternative to Facebook and that they wanted to know what Facebook thinks about Google+ as it stands today. They understand and they’ve certainly responded.
The talk today started with Mark Zuckerberg making a case for the idea that Social Networking has taken off, and that, though he did not say it implicitly, Facebook has been at the center of this revolution. His first relatively big announcement was that Facebook now has 750 million users, finishing this thought with a note that they’d held off sharing this statistic because he and the Facebook team don’t feel that the amount of users on the network is the most important number anymore. This, at once, throws a rather important number in Google’s face AND allows Zuckerberg to say that it’s no big deal – so what, who cares? He goes on to say the amount that people share is the real big number.
Zuckerberg goes on to mention a new design for chat, that being a sort of AOL Instant Messanger-esque buddylist along the right of your screen, group chat, and of course Video Calling with Skype. After noting these three points, Zuckerberg says that they’re releasing apps and programs like these one item at a time in small doses on purpose. Zuckerberg notes in what your humble narrator believes wholeheartedly is another jab at Google with their giant undertaking in Google+ form:
“Companies that focus will always do better than ones that try to do a million things” – Mark Zuckerberg
Philip Su is called onto stage and does a short demo of what Video Chat will look like on Facebook. Using this function will require a single-time download (per browser, we imagine) leading you to a one-button connection to whoever you want to video chat with via their profile. He makes a really rather pointed quote happen here that, you guessed it, again has at G+ for the umpteenth time:
“No separate accounts, no separate connections, on a network that already has all your friends on it.” Philip Su, Facebook Software Engineer
Tony Bates, CEO of Skype is called out of the crowd and delivers a set of words not unlike the pre-recorded message you see here:
You’ll notice much excitement over lots of work done leading up to this precise moment in history. Did Skype and Facebook intend on announcing this collaboration before it was ready to launch in earnest?
Then came the whopper, inside the Q and A session, as asked by the lucky first questioner, a writer from Mashable, coming in the form of some sort of filler words in front of the bomb: “and what do you think about Google+”
Zuckerberg plays it cool and answers in a way that promotes moving forward rather than reacting to the Google+ mess we’re all in:
“As far as the Google stuff goes, I’m not going to say a lot. The next 5 years are about building apps. A lot of companies that haven’t been social in the past, not just Google, will be building social apps. In some cases they’ll build on existing infrastructure, in some they’ll build their own. Facebook’s job is to stay focused.” -Mark Zuckerberg
Growth, accessing the userbase that Facebook already has, working with the friends you’ve already got, all of this for the greater good of the one TRUE social network, right? They’ve got their own movie for goodness sakes! The saga will continue to unfold, and RIGHT NOW via our Tabletpalooza contest where you’ll have to connect to BOTH social networks to grab yourself a free Android dual-core monster.
The Google Maps app for Android has been updated today to version 5.7 and introduces several new improvements including better directions, search suggest, and a photo viewer for Places. But the most interesting new feature is Transit Navigation. The feature uses GPS data to determine your routes and to alert you when it’s your stop to get off.
Transit Navigation will be really helpful for those visiting a new metropolitan area where getting around town depends heavily on public transit. Once you’ve started a trip with the Transit Navigation feature, you can actually open up other apps or tuck your phone away and the feature will continue to alert you in the notifications bar and vibrate your phone when you approach your stop.
However, it’s noted that Transit Navigation relies on GPS data, so having a wireless signal is vital to it working properly. Hence, do not attempt using it for a subway ride yet. The feature is also still in beta.
The other improvements introduced with Google Maps version 5.7 include a more efficient interface for getting directions. Now you can access driving and walking navigation directly from the first screen where you enter your destination. Search suggestions have also been improved to now have category icons and to give priority to Places for which you’ve recently received directions. And, a new photo viewer now lets you browse photos associated to a place on its Places page.
The Google Maps 5.7 update for Android is available for download now and requires Android 2.1 and above to work.
After the desktop stalwarts of Windows 7 and Mac OS, the world’s third most popular platform for web browsing turns out to be Apple’s iOS. The software that makes iPhones, iPod touches and iPads tick has been identified by Net Applications as responsible for over two percent of the global traffic data analyzed in the web statistician’s latest report — the first time iOS has crossed that threshold. The UK and Australia had more than five percent each, while the USA clocked in at 3.4 percent. Leaving operating systems aside, Chrome has continued its steady growth on the browser front and now stands at a 10.7 percent share, more than doubling its slice from this time last year. Internet Explorer overall has dipped to its lowest level yet, at 56 percent, however Net Applications indicates IE8 is showing nice growth. So at least it’s looking like we’re finally ready to bury the zombies known as IE6 and IE7, whatever other browser we choose to migrate to.
Google is broadening support for its Hotpot recommendations system, adding 38 new languages – including French, German and Chinese – and adding search results for the crowd-sourced review system to Google.com. The news is important since Google plans to tie Hotpot in with its Android NFC drive; Hotpot window stickers – currently seeing a trial roll-out – already work with the NFC reader on the Nexus S.
Video demo after the cut
It will take some time for that to build up any sort of momentum, but Google isn’t letting the content side of Hotpot sit until manufacturers wake up to NFC. Hotpot results – which can be left at google.com/hotpot or via the Android widget or iPhone app – will now show up for restaurant, store and other search queries on the Google homepage.
The LG G-Slate that was introduced to the world at CES (then seemingly disappeared) has been further detailed by T-Mobile. The impressive Honeycomb-based tablet will be a direct competitor to the Motorola XOOM when it’s made available this spring.
On-board the device will boast a NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor which will power Android 3.0 Honeycomb, 32GB of internal storage, gyroscope and an accelerometer. The main feature of the device will be its set of on-board cameras. On the back, the tablet sports stereoscopic rear-facing cameras – one of these will serve as a 5MP still camera with flash for capturing shots with the device. On the front you’ll find a 2MP camera for video chat over T-Mobile’s HSPA+ and WiFi networks. Also supported is the output of 1080p video playback from its built-in HDMI port.
The device will ship “this spring,” but pricing has yet to be determined. But, if we know anything about tablets, we can expect it to be somewhere near the Motorola XOOM.
The Galaxy S line of phones from Samsung has just expanded with the Galaxy S 4G. This fabulous new phone will be rocking the house with 4G speeds, a full copy of the movie INCEPTION, and a bunch more surprises including full T-Mobile TV functionality. A 720p video camera on the back, Android 2.2 Froyo installed inside, and a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card make this phone a slight step behind the rest of the pack as far as being the absolute top notch, but certainly it is heading for the top of the middle heap.
Also take special note of the fact that this phone’s stocked with Inception. Certainly an odd play by Samsung, but possibly leading again to the idea that more media (movies and music) will be finding their way onto phones in the future — will today mark the day when all Androids become iPods? We’ll see. Take a peek at the full press release below and stay tuned for additional details!
Galaxy S 4G from T-Mobile to Offer Blazing-Fast Speeds and Unparalleled Entertainment Experience Featuring Movies, TV and Video Chat ?
T-Mobile expands America’s Largest 4G Network to eight new
metropolitan areas in South and Midwest
BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Feb. 2, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 1, today announced the anticipated February availability of the Galaxy S™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile. According to T-Mobile, the Galaxy S 4G will be the fastest smartphone running on America’s Largest 4G Network™2. The Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile’s first smartphone capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, offers enhanced mobile experiences and unparalleled entertainment including mobile HD TV3 through T-Mobile TV, the ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION, and T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™ — delivered at 4G speeds on its 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display.
T-Mobile also announced the expansion of America’s largest 4G network into more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. In addition to expanding its 4G footprint, T-Mobile also has aggressive plans to double the speed of its 4G network in 2011, and the company expects that 140 million Americans in 25 major metropolitan areas will have access to these increased 4G speeds by midyear.
“The Galaxy S 4G pushes the envelope by reaping the benefits of our network’s unprecedented speeds and by offering groundbreaking entertainment experiences,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We are excited to continue to expand our portfolio of 4G devices that enable our customers to have access to unique and compelling features and an optimal 4G experience.”
“The Galaxy S 4G offers customers Samsung’s core premium product investments to speed, screen and content,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer, Samsung Mobile. “Galaxy S 4G is T-Mobile’s fastest smartphone and offers Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED display and rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content.”
Through the delivery of faster speeds comes an enhanced experience when viewing video entertainment over the Web using services such as YouTube. In addition T-Mobile TV, a preloaded application, offers consumers access to live and on-demand mobile HD TV on T-Mobile’s 4G network, including free programming from select stations like ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, PBS Kids and Azteca America.
To further enhance the entertainment package on the Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile has preloaded, at no additional cost to consumers, Warner Bros. Pictures’ ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION which is nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which features a robust collection of new releases and TV shows.
The Galaxy S 4G’s blazing-fast speeds will make sharing memories via e-mail, social networks or video quick and easy. For example, the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik enables customers to share any moment with loved ones virtually whenever and wherever they want through T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi. Using either the front-facing or the rear camera, which features a 720p HD camcorder, paired with Video Chat allows customers to hold video conversations with friends and family who have a compatible mobile device.
Featured as a pre-installed application, doubleTwist® with AirSync™ provides customers with a useful and easy way to auto-sync and back up photos, HD videos and music to and from their home computer. With a Wi-Fi connection, customers can easily sync their media wirelessly and at no additional cost. The doubleTwist Player lets customers enjoy their favorite tunes and videos directly from their phone while on the go. The Galaxy S 4G also comes preloaded with Slacker Radio, offering music fans more than 130 genre stations and ability to create their own custom stations for free.
With a slim and sleek design, the Galaxy S 4G’s 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display gives customers a vivid, sharp viewing experience, whether consumers choose to watch a movie or read a book or newspaper with the preloaded Kindle for Android application while on the go. Powered by Android™ 2.2, the Galaxy S 4G is equipped with a speedy Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, an ST-Ericsson M5720 HSPA+ 4G modem to enable theoretical peak downloads of up to 21 Mbps, a 5 megapixel camera, a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card, and a 1650 mAh lithium ion battery.
Availability
The Galaxy S 4G is expected to be available to T-Mobile customers in February. Customers can visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/4G for more information.
Beginning today, T-Mobile’s network will also be delivering 4G speeds to Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the South region as well as in Champaign, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; and Rochester, Minn., in the Midwest.
Look, let us just sum up the Galaxy S 4G for you: it’s a Vibrant with Froyo, a front-facing camera, and Inception. After reading through the new details T-Mobile’s outed on its latest HSPA+-equipped Android smartphone today, that’s really the best way to describe it… and let’s face it, Avatar (which, you might recall, came bundled with the Vibrant) was getting kind of old and played out anyway. Naturally, like T-Mobile’s other video call-capable devices, the front-facing camera will make use of Qik; other preinstalled third-party apps will include Kindle, doubleTwist with AirSync, and T-Mobile TV for streaming content from ABC, Fox, PBS, and others. You’ll also get a slight battery capacity bump from the Vibrant to 1650mAh, undoubtedly to counteract the effects of the beefier radio. Revolutionary, no; evolutionary, quite! We don’t have a date or a price yet, but the carrier says we can expect it this month. Follow the break for the full press release.
Though it was technically announced back at CES, T-Mobile just barely talked about the LG G-Slate there, spending more time chatting up Dell’s Streak 7 and letting Motorola’s Xoom get virtually all of the Honeycomb attention. Well, that’s changed today with a handful of official new details: turns out the G-Slate features a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of internal storage, both a gyroscope and accelerometer, and — this is key — stereoscopic rear-facing video cameras capable of 1080p 3D capture, one of which doubles as a 5 megapixel still camera with LED flash. There’s also a third 2 megapixel camera up front for video chat over T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network or WiFi. Going back to that 3D business for a moment, you’ll need glasses (it’s unclear if they’re active or passive) to enjoy recorded or downloaded 3D content on the G-Slate’s 8.9-inch display — but you’ll also be able to output 1080p video over HDMI to the external display of your choice. Pricing is still an open question, but the companies are now comfortable enough to say that we can expect it “this spring,” so go ahead and start thinking about all the blooming springtime plant life you’ll be filming in three glorious dimensions. Follow the break for the full press release.
We’ve gotten a bunch of tips in the past hour or so that the Android Market is doing weird things, and we can corroborate this on our Nexus S here — we’re just not able to download stuff. Apps look like they’re starting to download, then they suddenly vanish into thin air without a trace and without an error message. Our Droid 2 is still fully functional, though, so this definitely isn’t consistent; really, we’re just wondering if this outage might have something to do with tomorrow’s Android-themed festivities at the Google campus, which — naturally — we’ll be attending. So how is everyone faring out there tonight?
