Google is expanding its Street View capabilities and now offering Google Store View that’s a new feature of the mapping app, which allows viewers to virtually take a peek inside of participating businesses and have a look around. One of the first Google Store View business participants is Manhattan’s B&H Photo Video Super Store. They volunteered because they thought it would be “cool” for people who can’t visit NY to take a tour of their shop, mentions Bryan Formhals, B&H’s social media manager.

They heard Google was implementing the new feature and contacted them about being one of the first to provide virtual tours of their store. Google then went in and scanned everything on the first floor of the store using GPS devices to ensure the location services were accurate. B$H also has a second store, but Google told them they didn’t have the technology at the moment to have the second floor added to the store view app.

To check it out yourself, get on Google Maps and type in: “B&H Photo Video Super Store, 9^th Avenue, New York, NY” and then click through the virtual tour of the shop, where you can zoom in and out as you would on the street view map option.

The Motorola Droid Razr is one of the few high-end smartphones that we haven’t yet had our hands on, but by all accounts it is one of the best phones available on Verizon. It also is the thinnest phone out (though the Huawei Ascend P1 S will soon take that spot), but there was one thing that made a lot of people wary about purchasing the Droid Razr: no removable battery. Apple may have that restriction with the iPhone, but at least there are Apple stores available all over the country. The Razr doesn’t have significantly better battery life than the competition, but the non-removable battery helped make it so thin.

Now Motorola wants to up the ante by saying “screw how thin the phone is, let’s boost battery life.” That’s where the Razr Maxx comes in, with 21 hours of battery life. What sort of battery life, I don’t know, but saying 21 hours period is an important metric nonetheless. The 9mm phone will be otherwise identical to the current Droid Razr, meaning the same processor, same LTE, same screen…everything but the battery life.

Will there be any interest for such a device? Absolutely. If the 21 hours of battery life is call time, or constant data usage, or almost anything but idle time, then that extra 1.9mm of thickness will make the phone far better to use, not just for day to day operation, but in the long run altogether. The biggest problem with today’s smartphones, in my opinion, is battery life. If Motorola has been able to solve that problem, not just before other smartphone makers but before Apple, then Google doesn’t just have a real racehorse. They have a rocket chariot.

I’ll get a hands-on of the Droid Razr Max on Wednesday morning, though perhaps earlier as well. Stay tuned for an update then.

When Apple announced iTunes Match, all iPhone fans were ecstatic. All Android fans uttered a collective “been there, done that” yawn. That’s because Google Music has not only been able to play music from the cloud since March, it does it at no extra charge. iTunes Match, by contrast, charges $24.99 a year for access to up to 20,000 songs, plus any song you have purchased through iTunes. And now that GMS is out of Beta, anyone can sign up for the service without having an invite.

Here’s how:

1. Sign in

Like all other Google services, Google Music Service is anchored according to your Google account. So all you need to do is head over http://music.google.com and sign in.

2. Download Music Manager

Once signed in, you will need to download Google Music Manager and install it. This software will scan your music library and add any songs it doesn’t have to the Google Music Library.

3. Scan and add

After installing the Music Manager, you can access it by clicking the Music Manager Headphones icon in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen (Windows), menu bar in the upper right corner (Mac) or notifications area (Linux). Then, to add songs, click ‘Upload’. Google Music will support various file types including mp3, aac, m4a, wma, .ogg, and others (for a complete list, head over to this link). If you have an extremely large, and eclectic, collection, this may take awhile, so be patient.

4. Roll your own

If you don’t want to scan and add your entire music library, you can choose to add a select playlist:

• From the ‘Upload’ tab, select ‘Choose by playlist.’

• Check the box next to the playlist(s) you’d like to add music from.

• Click ’Upload.’

Because Google Music is based on your login, you can it running on multiple computers. Google Music will simply omit duplicates – if the metadata is identical.

And you can also run up to three accounts from the same Google Music Manager application. So your family can also get in the game. To change accounts, Click the Music Manager Headphones icon, select the ‘Advanced’ tab, and click ‘Sign Out.’ The sign-in screen will reappear.

5. Go mobile

Once all your music is added, you can stream it from the website itself, or you can stream from your mobile device. Download the Google Music app from the Android marketplace, and then log in. Now you can stream your entire music library over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G.  There are a few third party Google Music apps like GMusic, and GoMusic, but there is no official App from Google.  But being that they have been vetted by Apple, they should be fine, at least until Apple changes their mind and strips them from the AppStore (it wouldn’t be the first time).

6. Buy and Try

Google has also added a music store, allowing users to buy new music and discover new artists through its free program as well. Click on the Shop Android Marketplace button, and search for the artist or songs you want. Once you find a song or album you want to buy, click purchase, enter your credit card information and purchase to complete. Your song or album will then be downloaded to your hard drive and will be available immediately in the cloud.

Google also offers free titles from named artists that you can add to your library. Look in the upper right hand corner of the Google Music interface, and you’ll see a rectangular button that says “Add to my library.” Click on that and you will go to featured songs and artists in the Exclusive Music section.  Fromt here, click on “free” next to any song and download.

7. Spread the word

Google also allows the sharing of full songs that you have purchased from Google Music. Simply click on a song, then Share Song and add a personal message. Please note that songs added from your PC or not purchased from Google Music will only share a 30 second clip.

8. Go downtown

Finally, say you bought a song at work and you want to listen to it at home. Simple enough, just open Music Manager and click Download Music Purchases. Songs will be downloaded immediately.

Sometimes even thousands of included minutes on your cell phone plan aren’t enough for life’s unexpected emergencies, like partner or spousal meltdowns, being placed on hold when calling a utility like the cable company, or another bureaucratic organization with a carefree approach to your time. Despite the joys of canned music, particularly Asian disco music, it isn’t worth the overages slapped on by the cell provider. However, there is an alternative, and that’s to sign up for one of the discounted Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services.

Until recently VOIP services on the cheap were complicated to setup because they used a technology called SIP that involved you manually configuring an adapter with server IP addresses, and so on. Skype, with its Skype-to-Skype solution was another alternative, but didn’t provide truly free calling to a landline or mobile. Recently Google, through the purchase of longtime SIP provider Gizmo, has thrown a new computer-based calling solution into the mix that allows you to make calls in the USA for free.

1. Sign up

Sign up for a Google account if you haven’t already got one. Any Google account will do, including the kind you use for Google mail, like GMail. Sign up for Google Voice at the GV website (see below.) During the GV signup process you will choose a new number that can match or come close to your current area code. This number will be your master number that you can hand out to friends and associates to call.

2. Initial Setup

Access the GV web-based interface through the link provided during the signup process. Then click on the cog wheel to the right of the screen and choose “Settings.” From the “Phones” tab, choose the options, and edit the phones that you want to ring when someone calls your GV number. For example, you can set your GV number to call your cell phone and landline at the same time. You can further integrate the voicemail functionality with a Sprint phone if you have one. Click through the tabs to see the available options.

3. Make a call

Click on the web-browser based red button labeled “Call” to make a call. A pop-up dialog box will appear that will let you enter a number to call in the first text box. The second text box will let you enter the option you want to use to make the call. For example, you can connect with your landline or cell phone if you’ve configured them in the tabs. The Google Voice application will make the call and then ring your landline or cell phone. Answer your cell phone and the call will connect. Alternatively, you can connect with your computer, right in the browser.  Just download the Google Talk browser plug in.

Warning

Even though GV calls are free in the US, if you make the connection with your cell phone–even one tightly integrated like Sprint’s, the GV call minutes will count towards your plan minutes.

Tips

Use the “Billing” tab in the GV web-based interface to add credit. You’ll need credit for the cheap international calls.

Resources:

Google: Talk Website

Google: Voice Website

This week, Google released a huge update to the Android platform which promises some notable improvements to the look and feel of the interface and which hopes to address the troubling problem of fragmentation of both tablets and smartphones alike. Gingerbread users can look for Ice Cream Sandwich to be available starting October 19 or when your wireless carrier deems you’re worthy enough to receive it.  All told, Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) has over has 1200 changes from Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and over 3200 changes since the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread).   Here are the twenty most notable features we thought took center stage.

1. Complete redesign of the user interface

With the new interface, users can re-size widgets to make room for others or to dominate the home screen, a Windows-esque favorites tray on the bottom of the screen quick launch of contacts, apps and web pages.

2. Virtual buttons

Google has eliminated hard buttons for Home, back, menu and search, moving them onto the touchscreen. In addition, in likely response to Apple’s lock screen camera option, a camera button has been placed on the lock screen for Android as well.

3. Better organization and navigation

Thanks to a new tabbed home screen and the ability to navigate pages by swiping left-right on any screen, users can navigate to their favorite apps more easily.  And like the iPhone, they can now create folders to organize liked apps together.

4. Face Unlock

Rather than swiping and inputting a code, ICS offers the option of unlocking via facial recognition. If your phone knows you, you’re in. If it doesn’t, you’re not. Nice feature if it works, but according to reports, it failed miserably during the announcement demo.

5. Screen shots with hard buttons

Android users have been requesting this feature for quite some time and now, like the iPhone, with ICS they can now take a screen shot by simultaneously pressing the power and home buttons.  So, while iOS 5 can now take a picture using the volume button, ICS users get screen capture.  I call that a fair trade.

6. Quick Response

Whether you’re in a meeting or driving, often you can’t take a call. Quick response let’s you send a pre-written text in response so whoever is calling knows you’re not ducking them.  All you do is click on the little smiling speech bubble and select a response.

7. Data Usage View

This is a good one. Going into data usage, you can get a pie chart on how you’re using your data, as well as broken down by application. Users can even give themselves a data budget.

8. Expanded camera features

Not only can users share any pictures with third party apps that support Android PhotoShare, but there’s also native panorama capability, time-lapse video, and still shots while recording. Users can also zoom while recording video. Photo editing tools include red-eye removal, cropping, and other edits.

9. Social contact integration

This new app will collate all contact information over several social networks and input it into a single feed.

10. Android Beam

Based on near field communications technology, Android Beam will not only allow for purchases by phone, but also data sharing by pressing the Beam button.

11. Improved Keyboard

The keyboard is revamped for more accurate typing and offers better error correction and spell checker.

12. Better Cut/Copy/Paste

Based on Cut/Copy/Paste in Android 3 (Honeycomb), cut/copy/paste in ICS offers animated dragging and dropping.

13. Better Gmail

As if it needed any attention, Gmail has been upgraded with a new edit bar for compose, search, labels, and off line search going back 30 days.

14. New Calendar with pinch-to-zoom

Pinch and zoom allows users to focus on a set day or event.

15. Updated Google apps: YouTube, Maps, Google+, Google Music

16. Tabbed Internet browser

A new tabbed internet browser brings desktop features including support for full versions of web sites, rather than their mobile versions. There’s also better page rendering, especially for pages that use JavaScript.

17. Better contact management

New tile-based “People app” interface for contacts, very similar to Windows Phone.

18. Speech to text entry has been improved

With the new “open mic” feature, users can dictate what they want, as long as they want and it’ll even offer correction suggestions and there’s no delay.

19. Visual Voicemail

Yet another Apple feature finally comes to the Bot with Visual Voicemail, which not only integrates messages, from the phne app, but also third-party apps which can add messages and other data to the voicemail inbox.

20. Accessibility

With Android 4, users who are disabled will have better accessibility features through TalkBack, including explore-by-touch with audible feedback and screen reader. Activated and setup with a simple touch gesture for all accessibility features.

You’d be surprised how often it happens. You’re checking your email or updating your Facebook page on your iPhone and nature calls. You walk in, lift the lid and kerplunk! The iPhone is sitting at the bottom of the toilet laughing at you. It’s almost as if there’s a micro black hole that can tug on anything electronic and pull it into the bowl. Don’t panic, you can save it. Just grab it and do the following:

1. Turn it off … IMMEDIATELY

First, turn it off. The longer your iPhone is on, the more likely the moisture that has seeped into it will short circuit and cause permanent damage. Turning it off stops any electrical activity humming around the circuitry.

2. Remove the battery, if you can (applies to non iPhones)

If you have a phone that has a removable battery, you’ll want to take it out now and completely dry it off. Use a blow dryer set on low just to be sure. This will ensure that your battery doesn’t corrode later over time.  If you don’t, well, there’s really not much you can do but move on to step 2.

3. Bury your phone in uncooked rice

Rice?  Yes, I know it sounds strange, but the next thing you’ll want to do is fill a quart or gallon size Ziploc with a cup or two of uncooked rice and bury your phone in it. If it takes more, then fine. But completely cover it and seal it.Over a few days, the  rice will act as a desiccant to draw out any excess moisture from within the phone.  If you are in the habit of keeping those silica packets that come in electronics and shoe boxes, those will work, as well.  But you’ll need a lot of them.

4.  Time will tell

Now is not the time to be impatient. That phone is going to have to sit in the rice for a few days to get completely moisture free. So if you have an old backup phone, and your smartphone is a GSM phone, then you may want to remove the SIM and use that backup for a few days. Yeah, you won’t have your apps or music player, but you can live without it for a few days, right? Your patience will be rewarded.

5. Blow dry the finishing touches

While the rice will draw out most of the moisture, there may be a little bit left and it may show on your LCD screen in the form of a black area when you turn it on. Don’t panic. Just turn the phone back off and either place it back in the rice or, use a blow dryer on low for about 15-20 minutes to drive off the rest of the moisture. I had this happen to my iPhone 3GS and there was a small black corner on the LCD. So I just blow dried it in the rice until the corner came back. It didn’t come back completely, but over time, it gradually did. But don’t think that if you can do it on low for 20 minutes, you can do it on high for 10, or save yourself two days in a rice bath. The higher the heat, the more likely you could damage the interior or cause any glue used to secure parts to melt and loosen them. Again, your patience will be rewarded.

6. Living with it

While your phone will come back, it may not be perfect right away.  And there may be some minor annoyances over the long term. First, understand that depending on your smartphone, your mileage (results) may vary.  What will work well for an iPhone may not be the complete solution for your Android or Blackberry phone.  But it’s a good place to start.  Also, understand that there is a small dot in every smartphone that changes color to reflect water exposure. So if you have any problems with the phone – that is the first thing the technician will check. If they see that there has been water damage, the warranty will be voided and you’ll be out of luck. Some corrosion may also occur over time in areas like the on/off button.

Conclusion

But in the end, it should be manageable.  I dropped my iPhone 3GS in water about 2 years ago. Dried it out and it’s been working ever since. So don’t panic! Just remember RICE and TIME.  Patience is your friend.

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

Google and Samsung today announced the world’s first Chromebook, the Samsung Series 5.

If you remember Samsung already announced the Series 2, 4, 6 and 9 this year, all of which are built on top of the Windows platform.  The Chromebook however sports Google’s Chrome OS that the company says is built for speed, simplicity and security.  Start up time has been reduced to as little as 10 seconds.  Compare that with an average laptop, which takes up to 45 seconds to get going.

At its slimmest point the Chromebook measures .79-inches and can be finished in your choice of Titan Silver or White finish.  The anti-reflective and anti-glare screen measures 12.1-inches and rocks a 300 cd/m2 brightness.

Much like Apple’s laptops, the Chromebook claims an 8.5 hour run time on a single charge and a battery life cycle of 1000 charges.

In addition to the yet to be announced Intel Dual-core processor, you can expect 3G connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2 USB ports, an HD webcam and an SD card reader.

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook launches June 15th at Amazon and Best Buy for $499.99.  The WiFi model will be $70 less, $429.99.

SAMSUNG AND GOOGLE INTRODUCE THE WORLD’S FIRST CHROMEBOOK – SAMSUNG SERIES 5
Samsung creates another industry-first device.

SAN FRANCISCO — May 11, 2011- Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced its stylish Series 5 Chromebook, the world’s first Chromebook built on the principles of speed, simplicity and security.
“With the creation of the Series 5 we are again pushing the boundaries of innovation by introducing an entirely new product category to the notebook market,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “This partnership has allowed us to combine Samsung’s design and engineering expertise with Google’s simple, secure software to provide consumers with a revolutionary notebook to fit today’s web-centric lifestyle.”
“Samsung’s reputation for innovative design and hardware development makes it a great partner to introduce one of the first Chromebooks,” said Caesar Sengupta, Director of Product Management, Google. “We look forward to bringing a much better computing experience built around the speed, simplicity and security of Chrome.”

Elegant Design, Power Performance
With its elegant shape, slim 0.79-inch body and simple Titan Silver or White finish, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook embodies fashion and function.
The 12.1-inch Super Bright display is both anti-reflective and anti-glare for a consistently vibrant visual experience across a variety of light conditions, from outdoors to dimly lit environments. The Series 5 display’s 300nit brightness brings all forms of media alive in vibrant color.
Today mobility is a deciding factor for consumers. The Series 5 weighs 3.3 lbs. and has a battery life of up to 8.5 hours, including five hours of video play for all-day use without the need to recharge. The Series 5 battery has a lifespan up to 1,000 cycles, three times longer than conventional batteries, which reduces the need for replacements. *
The Samsung Series 5 packs power with an Intel® Dual-core processor, giving you the versatility and performance you need for a one-of-a-kind web experience.

Simple, Secure User Experience
Google developed the Chrome operating system with three key factors in mind: speed, simplicity and security. The average out-of-the-box laptop starts up in 45 seconds. By contrast, the Series 5 starts up in less than ten seconds. When waking from sleep, a user simply opens the lid, and it’s ready to go. This means that wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, your computer won’t slow you down.
For a secure experience, Chromebooks run the first consumer operating system designed from the ground up to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses. They employ the principle of “defense in depth” to provide multiple layers of protection, including sandboxing, data encryption, and verified boot.
The Chromebook has also reduced concerns about security and data loss by moving everything to the cloud. If the Chromebook is ever broken or lost, all of your files are saved online.

Web-centric Entertainment, Unrelenting Workhorse
The Series 5 enables today’s digital entertainment lifestyle by simplifying browsing, social networking, application usage and multi-media viewing. An optional VGA adaptor can connect to a second monitor or television, while audio inputs connect to a microphone, headphones or external speakers. The HD Webcam completes the Series 5’s audio-visual package.
When there isn’t time for entertainment, the Series 5 can get down to business. Productivity is enhanced with the Chromebook’s stylish and comfortable island keyboard, which delivers performance that can’t be matched by a virtual keyboard.

Connectivity
Samsung Series 5 will connect you to your data anytime, anywhere through 3G, WLAN and a 4-in-1 Card Reader. Verizon Wireless has partnered with Samsung and Google to provide 3G connectivity for the Series 5 in the U.S. Verizon will provide up to 100MBs per month of Mobile Broadband service included with device for two years. Simple and easy additional data packages are also available for users requiring additional space.
The Samsung Series 5 will launch in the U.S. June 15, 2011 from Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. The Wi-Fi + 3G model will retail at $499.99, and the Wi-Fi only model will retail at $429.99.

Key Specs:
● 0.79-inch thin case designed for comfort and mobility
● Full-size Chrome keyboard
● Oversized multi-touch trackpad
● Intel® Dual-core Processor
● 16:10 resolution
● 12.1-inch SuperBright Display – 36% brighter than standard display
● Starts up in less than 10-seconds
● Resumes instantly from standby
● Up to 8.5 hours battery life*
● HD Webcam, built-in digital microphone and stereo speakers
● Two USB ports capable of charging mobile phones and accessories, connecting digital cameras and media storage devices
● Support for removable media cards (SD, SDHC, MMC) for photos, videos, music and documents

Google ain’t taking the news of Amazon’s recently launched Cloud Music player sitting down.

Today, a new version of Android’s Music app, analogous to that of the player found in Honeycomb, was accidentally leaked to developers.  It includes a new rating system and options for what is purportedly Google’s cloud music service.  However, and despite the app being available for download, no one has had any luck with pushing or playing music from the cloud.  This is not surprising since Google probably hasn’t allowed the service to be accessible to those who aren’t employed or cleared by Google’s project managers. Perhaps a trip to Mountainview and logging into Google’s network will resolve that.  Any takers?

So should Amazon be nervous?  Hells yes.  The app will ship with all Android phones, and if we’ve learned anything from Microsoft’s past it will surely lead to some sort of law suit with citations to the good old monopoly clause often invoked by those that feel as though their capitalistic opportunities are being infringed upon.  But on the the other hand, Amazon has been at this for a long time and presumably amassed a vast array of knowledge that should give them a leg up in terms of infrastructure.  Plus it doesn’t hurt that they’re the world’s largest online retailer.

Read

Interested in a broadband connection that boasts theoretical peak speeds of 1Gbs?  Then you’ll have to move to Kansas City, which earlier today was awarded with Google’s ultra high-speed fiber network.

Kansas City beat out over 1,100 other applicants, by proving that their town could build efficiently, make an impact on the community and develop relationships with local government and community organizations.

In theory, Google fiber users will be able to download an HD feature length film in just minutes and perform a variety of other bandwidth demanding activities online without any delays or slow downs.

Once the city’s Board of Commissioners has approved the project, Google will begin to offer the service as early as 2012.  Service will be offered at a “competitive price” to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

Read

Soon Sprint customers will be able to access all of Google Voice‘s features without the hassle of changing their number.  So what does that mean to you, provided of course you’re a Sprint customer?

• Your number can ring on up to 6 phones
• Transcribed voicemail
• Online voicemail that can be accessed via Gmail
• Low priced international calling
• Personalized voicemail greetings for different groups – work or business
• Block callers by telephone number
• Screen callers – lets you listen in on a voicemail and join the call at any time

So how does it work?  All you need to do is go through a step-by-step form that let’s Google know that you’d like to use your current Sprint number with Google Voice services.  There is no need to notify Sprint or spend any money; Google will automatically notify Sprint to “to provision the necessary services on the network required for the Google Voice integrated experience.”  According to Google it takes just minutes for the change to take place.

So in short order, Sprint customers can use Google Voice’s features on their phone without the hassle of porting their Sprint number to Google voice, a recently offered option that costs $20 and might result in disruption of service.  We couldn’t determine if text messaging would be free, since that is a feature of Google Voice.

No word on an actual launch date, but Google said “soon”.

Read

Google TV isn’t exactly the run away product the company had hoped it to be.  But that hasn’t stopped them from finally releasing an iOS compatible Google TV remote app, originally only available for Android smartphone users.  

Feature wise there’s nothing new.  It allows you to control the volume, channel and a variety of controls on your Google TV box over your home’s WiFi network.  You can even search for shows using your voice, although you apparently can’t share web pages from your phone to the Google TV using an iOS device, a feature currently available on Android.

Read

Just hours after one of the worst earthquakes in history, Google has already launched a website that helps victims track down friends and loved ones. So far the website received more than 7,000 records within hours of launching.

Users can post updates to the site with info regarding people, including themselves, as well as look up info about missing persons.

Read

1) Number Porting
Google Voice now lets you port your cell phone number to Google voice.
- Upside: This means the number everyone knows and uses will now effectively be your number for all your phones.
- Downside: It cancels your contract with your carrier, which may mean a cancellation fee and it costs $20 to port.

2) Voicemail transcription
Google Voice will convert your VOICE mail from audio to text
- Upside: Great if you’re in a loud place or you don’t have the patience to listen to someone’s drawn out voicemail. Great if you hate “ummmms”.
- Downside: It’s not perfect and sometimes it can’t understand what the person is saying, resulting in forks becoming…

3) Rings multiple phones simultaneously
Your Google Voice account has its own phone number that is specific to you. You can use it to ring multiple phones. It’s also handy if you’ve got roommates and a front door buzzer, which means all roommates can answer the pizza delivery call.
- Upside: Never miss a call wherever you are, especially if you have poor cell coverage at home
- Downside: Limited to just 7 phones (includes Google Voice at your Gmail address)

4) Free Text Messages
If you perform reason number 1 then you’ll have free texts on all text messages you send and receive. Google has apps for the iPhone and Android platform to make this streamlined.
- Upside: Save money
- Downside: Doesn’t work with your phone’s native text message app; you must launch Google’s app

5) Make international calls on the cheap
With Google voice you can buy credits similar to that of Skype and make International calls without being charged an expensive rate by your cell phone provider
- Upside: Cheap, saves money and works directly in the Google mobile apps and gmail account
- Downside: Still uses your airtime minutes even if you have a WiFi or 3G connection

Yesterday, we told you that Google Voice was offering number porting on a beta or trial basis to select users.  Today, the company announced that the program is a full go and now available to all existing Google Voice users.

What does this mean to you?  You can now make your mobile number your Google Voice number.  Why would anyone wanna do that?  Simple, it’s probably the number that everyone has stored in their phonebook, so you won’t have to go through the painstaking process of letting everyone and their mother know you’ve got a new telephone number.  In other words, your mobile number will be able to ring all your other phones and you won’t miss those ultra important calls by changing your number.  Plus you’ll have all the flexiblity and features of Google Voice which includes free text messages and transposed voice mail to email.

To get started with Google’s Number Porting, log in to your Google Voice account, visit the Settings page and click on “Change / Port” next to your Google Voice number.  Next, you’ll be prompted to pay a one time $20 fee.  After that, Google will handle the rest.  Now, keep in mind that doing this will CANCEL your mobile phone provider’s contract.  So unless you’re out of your 2-year obligation, you might be charged an early cancellation fee, which can run up to $300+.

Of note, word is that AT&T will soon change the pricing structure of their TXT message service, which should allow you to break your contract fee free, but that change has yet to be announced.

Read

Google’s One Number does a lot of things, and does them well. Its core utility, actually, is being able to take care of a lot of things, namely a lot of phones. You give out your Google Voice number instead of any other numbers you may have – such as a home phone, a personal mobile or a work cell. When someone calls the One Number, it gets patched through Google’s servers where your own filters are applied – depending on who’s calling it will be directed to home or work or simply voicemail, where the message can be transcribed and sent to your email for free.

This is awesome for anyone who hasn’t been using the same phone number for many years. But when literally hundreds of people are used to finding you at a certain number, suddenly changing to Google Voice seems less of an option.

Google has solved that one as well, allowing you to now make an already existing phone number your One Number. But it requires a bit of an awkward and fuzzy switch from one contract to another, and a $20 fee paid to Google. But once you’re done with the process, you have a fully functional Voice account, and your old number’s still there.

Read

Google Latitude for the iPhone (it’s free), the app that tracks you and your friend’s locations on a map, is now available in the iTunes app store for the iPhone.

It’s compatible with the iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4.  Based on a customer’s review it is not available with the iPhone 3G, though the app’s page doesn’t explicitly say that.

The Google Latitude app allows you to choose who can see your location and to what detail; you can show your exact location or just what city you’re currently residing in.  iPhone users will be able to toggle background updating on/off to not only conserve battery life, but to hide their location in real time.

No iPhone?  No problem.  You can login to the service via a computer and stalk track your friends.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Google eventually offers the ability to “check in” places, though a partnership with Four Square might be better served since they have a solid head start.

Read

As the very first notebook designed with the Pilot program in mind, if you’ve got the heart of a power user, the Cr-48 will steal that heart and never give it back.

Booting takes all of 10 seconds, and resuming from sleep happens instantly. Wi-Fi and 3G are both naturally part of the deal, as is a webcam. The touchpad is on the big side, Google calls it “oversized”, and the 12 inch LCD mirrors a full size keyboard.

Now, when you look at this notebook, there’s a quality that’s immediately obvious, and it’s reminiscent of the square and solid look of full-sized laptops from a decade ago. It somehow spells resiliency and business, and, again – if you’re a power user – this is a look that will feel very intimate to you. But there’s also something refined on top of that, partly from the small form-factor, and partly from the color, which isn’t the purest black.

This quality’s character seems quite outspoken, and you might be able to hear its little voice saying ‘I’ve taken the best out of those tough business laptops and slimmed it down to something neat and sleek, but definitely not cutesy like those other notebooks, and now it all works for 8 hours on end and weighs just 3.8 pounds’.

“What did we leave out? Spinning disks, caps-lock key, function keys, and lap burns.”

I hear you Google. And I want one. Badly.

Read

3D maps are coming to an Android handset near you…and maybe an iPhone.  Yesterday, Google unveiled their all new 3D mapping system.  It displays maps using something called “dynamic rendering”, and it lets Google render maps in real time.  This equates to faster load times, smoother scrolling and yes, a 3D view of buildings that can be viewed and automatically orientated using the phone’s compass as you walk down the street.

Initially, 3D building will be available in 50 cities and does not, we repeat does not combine real pictures as found in Google Streetview.  But we wouldn’t be surprised if they some how integrated the two in the future.

But what makes the Google Maps update really snazzy is its ability to work offline.  In the event that you lose your wireless connection, Google Maps is instructed to locally store your most often used maps, allowing you to still navigate sans Internet connection.  Which when you think about it is a bit flawed, because chances are you’ll need directions more often than not in cities you don’t live, a place where you probably don’t often use your handset.  Nonetheless, perhaps a future feature will be the ability to preload maps as the users discretion, or we can only hope.

The update will supposedly roll out for the Galaxy S, Droid, Droid X, Droid 2, Droid Incredible, EVO 4G, Nexus S, and G2 in a few days, though we haven’t seen any official announcement as of yet.  When and if it will actually arrive for the iPhone is anyone’s guess.  We’re still waiting on free turn-by-turn directions.

Read

With 100 Android phones having seen the light of day, and 200,000 Android devices being bought every day, Google has good reason to celebrate, and they’re doing it by releasing Android 2.3 – Gingerbread, together with a new Android phone from Nexus – the Nexus S.

The Nexus S is the result of joint work between Google and Samsung, and for a while at least will be the symbolic flagship of the armada of Gingerbread phones that will set sail for consumer horizons.

Being developed under Google’s watchful eye means the Nexus S should have a flawless matching of software and hardware, making sure to showcase the best of the updated platform, while delivering what they call a “pure Google experience”.

What’s that? In a way it’s something like an Android-filtered version of open source, an unlocked phone that can access all Google services and updates, which of course isn’t open-source but might as well be when compared to Apple.

The Nexus S has a 4” Contour Display built for comfort around the face, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, front and rear cameras, it comes with 16GB internal memory, and NFC hardware, which is very fast short-range wireless technology – bound to make its mark in the near future.

NFC is one part of the updates in Gingerbread, along with a revamped interface, VoIP/SIP calling and support for a gyroscope sensor.

Now feast your eyes on the videos provided by Google:

Read