ANDROID TO GET A CHROME BODY?

Android & Chrome merging will give us even more devices to choose from!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
ANDROID TO GET A CHROME BODY?
#Google #Android #Chrome #AndroidChromeMerge

Good evening / early morning, Synapse Circuit Readers! What’s happening with you? I hope that all is well with you and yours! I had to visit the dentist earlier... The anaesthetic is finally wearing off! I’d like to invent anaesthetic chewing gum as it will:

A) Prepare you for a dentist visit.
B) Prepare you for an argument with your nearest and dearest!

Lately I have been reading of a possible merger of Google Android and Chrome to happen this June to coincide with the Google i / O conference this year. A couple of years ago (at least) I had it in mind that such a merge was inevitable.

ANDROID LOLLIPOP? LIQUORICE?
Whatever the next version of Android will be called I think it is going to be pretty darned amazing. There’s a lot of scope to be had from merging Chrome with Android.

When Sundar Pichai took the reins from Andy Rubin one of the things he stated was that there’s no plans to merge Android and Chrome yet it seems to be happening what with Google Now becoming integrated into Chrome with Voice Search. Hmmmm... I wonder if my mic input is being tapped... Hmmm... Anyway, I wonder how difficult it would be to actually merge Android with Chrome. It seems to me that Google has a split personality by having two separate operating systems. Still, it’s better than a bipolar Apple in that iOS is cannibalizing OS X and they are not happy with themselves; one minute there’s euphoria regarding the next iPad and then comes the depression when the iPhone 5C bombs, iPhone 5S – with the exception of the 64-bit processor – is pretty much behind the competition.

Luckily for Google it doesn’t manufacture anything and will not suffer like Apple is suffering. You have to acknowledge that Google is doing remarkably well with its Android Nexus devices and Chromebooks!  But just think of the potential that can be had with the Android and Chrome merge.

GOOGLE LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVICES: WHAM!!! BAM!!!
With Android and Chrome merging it creates a unified ecosystem whereby Android can run Chrome apps and vice versa!

I was wondering why Google shut down devices that featured a dual Android and Windows boot. Do you remember the Samsung ATIV Q (at least I think that’s what it’s called)? The ATIV Q looked like a sweet bit of tech that was poised to wow the world and all of a sudden it was a no go! And recently Asus got the Google treatment to stop the release of dual Android and Windows devices. But that was all of a sudden; one Tech minute Google didn’t seem to mind such dual devices and the next they are pulling their support.

I think the reason behind Google pulling their blessing is because:

A) Microsoft has been raging an anti-Google trust campaign. That’s bound to piss Google off.
B) The Android and Chrome merge is happening.

Can you imagine the potential? Apple would have a meltdown due to the fact that Google would have created a uniform operating system that can run on handsets, tablets and Chromebooks, etc. And if that became a reality my PC days would be numbered.

What stops me buying a Chromebook is that I have two solid PCs and none of which can play a 4K video clip! However, the Galaxy S5 and Note 3 is able to record and playback 4K video. So, in order for me to work with 4K video on my PC is for me to invest into a new monitor and most likely upgrade the CPU and RAM. With each passing day the PC is becoming less relevant.

Android mobile devices would take on a whole new meaning! What are the odds that Google announce a 64-bit Android / Chrome this June?

What do you reckon?   

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

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SYNAPSE CIRCUIT: 2013: A REVIEW. PART FOUR: THE RISE AND RISE OF GOOGLE.

 Give us a break! Give us a 64bit KitKat! 

Chromecast... I want one!!!!!

Here's something I made earlier... Too bad it's available in the US only!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT:
2013: A REVIEW.
#Technology2013 #Google #Android #KitKat #Nexus72013 #Nexus5 #Motorola #MotoX #MotoG #Chrome #Chromecast

Good late afternoon / evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! What’s happening with you? Right now I am happy to be sitting in the warmth of my home office while a storm continues to rage outside! So much for a white Christmas! Well, I hope tomorrow will see the storm go away as there is one more day of Christmas shopping to do and contend with!

Here I am, again, looking at what I see as the highs and lows of 2013’s world of Tech!

PART FOUR: THE RISE AND RISE OF GOOGLE.

THE BIGGEST & BEST TECH HOUSE 2013: Google
THE SECOND BEST HIGH-END HANDSET: Nexus 5
THE BEST 7” TABLET: Nexus 7 2013
THE BEST MIDRANGE BUDGET HANDSET: Moto G
BACK FROM THE BRINK: Motorola
While Samsung are actively putting out a mass of handsets and tablets and running away with the Android ball (out of all the other manufacturers on the playing field) it is all down to Google and their awesome Android operating system. In a nutshell, Google has given all manufacturers a blank cheque and they seem to be doing remarkably well!

MOVED
Yes, I was moved by Larry Page’s speech that he gave at the i / O conference of this year. I love the fact that he’s not into creating rivals but unity through technology! And what’s more is that Google are doing their best to provide that bridge across the different platforms. Google is like the Karate Kid to the Apple and Microsoft rivalries that will take very opportunity to let slip a verbal attack. It’s one of the reasons I find it painful to watch an Apple product launch, “Pointless smarmy attack, pointless smarmy attack, pointless smarmy attack... Oooh, we’ve opened a new shop somewhere in the world and it’s fantastic... Smarm, smarm, smarm...” That’s boring to me!

However, it is Google who are doing the most interesting things with technology and part of that technology is on your handset alone! Maps, Gmail, Translate, Search, Now, Drive, YouTube and Chrome to name a few (on the top of my head). Then we get to the Chrome browser and operating system and the many apps available for it that could potentially lead people away from both Apple and Microsoft computers and software. Then we get to the driverless vehicles and the promising Glass wearable computer technology! Where will it end? You may know that Google has recently acquired Boston Dynamics and 7 other robotics companies! I can only imagine that Google is planning on delivering domestic robots as promised to us by many o’ Sci-Fi movies amongst other uses for robotics! A flash of the Will Smith movie, iRobot came to mind... Lol! Another thing that comes to mind is the issue of Singularity when man becomes machine – or something like that... Then you see folk that claim the idea of Singularity is the work of the Devil and the platform they use to spread that gospel is YouTube! Lol! I dunno... <shakes head>

ANDROID
We are seeing the Android operating system go strength to strength with the release of KitKat, 4.4! I think many, many mobile phone users in general do not stop to think about the role of Android in the mobile devices world. Android drives a myriad of handsets and tablets that come in different sizes which is a phenomenal achievement. Perhaps the consumer doesn’t look into the phenomena aspect and is more interested in having a choice. However, many budget handsets have been mis-sold by unscrupulous retailers... We’ll get to the budget Android handset in a bit.

Then there’s the issue of fragmentation... What fragmentation? A majority of consumers do not know or care regarding the issue of fragmentation. What most people want to do on their phones is to connect with their social networks, make free texts, voice and video calls. Consumers are hardly going to notice the differences between Gingerbread and KitKat – especially when they are wrapped up in another manufacturer user interface. Perhaps KitKit will go see many devices united under this one Android operating system. On the other hand fragmentation shouldn’t be an issue in the future simply because handsets have grown to a level of ubiquity whereby it squeezes out the old handsets of bygone years! This brings me to...

THE BUDGET ANDROID HANDSET
It is purely down to Android why there is a budget market for handsets. I can’t imagine a world whereby the only choice is the iPhone or the dire Windows phone! And thank God that I don’t have to imagine such a world where I am forced to buy an over expensive iPhone or a half-baked Windows handset.

In the not too distant past there were some very cheap Android handsets on the market that costs anywhere from £50 to £99! They looked promising and we were told that apps could be saved on a microSD card when we paused to consider the lack of memory and storage on these cheap phones. We spent our money on these handsets in order not to be left out with the hordes of people busting out their iPhones, Samsungs and HTCs or to replace a broken handset. In a nutshell these budget handsets were a load of horsepoop! Only a select few apps were able to run from the microSD card and not before downloading an app to do that! Then there was an issue of speed... Forget it!

Thankfully, Google Motorola gave us the Moto G! The Moto G came out just in time to save the world from these awful budget handsets that gave people the wrong impression of Android. The faith in Android, budget Android, has been restored. Amen! Because of Google Motorola there will be more decent budget handsets to be had next year! Watch out!

Of course, Google and LG brought us the Nexus 5 for a very reasonable price. The Nexus 5 is not quite Galaxy S4, One or G2, but it is a great budget alternative for those who want a reasonably powerful handset at a good price.

Both the Moto G and Nexus 5 flew out of the mobile retail outlets here in the UK – specifically London!

WHAT A TURNAROUND
Yes, indeed what a turnaround for Motorola – Google Motorola! The Moto X was slightly disappointing simply because the teaser advertising made it seem as though consumers would be able to customize the innards i.e. processor, memory, etc. However, the good thing about the Moto X is that it is manufactured in the USA and I am sure that it helped to provide jobs for citizens in this wake of an uncertain economy. Another good thing is, of course, a degree of outer customization. I am sure that the Moto X sold well – especially with the touch free command feature!

Well, you could hardly say that Motorola were doing badly; they had a good hit with the RAZRi and HD but such handsets were not quite on par with the premium beasts from Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony and so on. I think the adoring handset fans are looking for the Motorola equivalent of let’s say the Galaxy S4 and when they don’t get it they have ruled Motorola out of the big league so to speak. It begs the question: What does 2014 hold for Google Motorola? Will we see cheaper more powerful handsets? Will we see a flagship decked out with the largest cores, RAM and storage? Will they do a phablet? We’ll just have to wait and see!

IN CHROME WE TRUST
Now just look at what is happening with Google Chrome! The web browser keeps getting better now with search via voice and the mobile browser offers the best Internet surfing solution – more so than the standard web browser that comes with handsets these days!

Then there’s the Chrome OpSys that has seen the release of a new Chromebook from Acer and the decked out Chromebook Pixel! Wow! Who wouldn’t want a Chromebook Pixel?

And the surprise hit for Google has not only been the second generation Nexus 7 but the Chromecast dongle that allows you to stream audio / video to a connected device such as a HDMI compatible TV / Monitor! It costs a mere $35! I am just waiting for it to come to the UK or I might just order one from the States!

ROLL ON GOOGLE
I can see that the scope for Google is vast come 2014! What I envisage for 2014 is that Android goes 64bit; we’ll see more of a range of wearable devices; dual Android and Chrome tablets and PCs and possibly cost effective exoskeletons for those that have problems with mobility. The cost effective exoskeleton would certainly come in handy for people that lift heavy products as part of their jobs and / or for lifting patients in a hospital / hospice. Bring it on!

From Motorola I see that there will be a range of mobile devices that can be put together in a Lego-like manner possibly towards the end of 2014!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this instalment of 2013 in review!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

BREAKFAST WITH GOOGLE’S SUNDAR PICHAI.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

BREAKFAST WITH GOOGLE’S SUNDAR PICHAI.  
#SundarPichai #Android43 #Nexus72 #Chromecast

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! Did you see the live streaming event launching the second generation Nexus 7, Android 4.3 and Chromecast? No? Ok, let me fill you in...

NEXUS 7 II
After the recent “leaks” of the eagerly awaited successor to the original Nexus 7 the second generation came is no surprise in terms of the look. I think the design shows an overall improvement and there’s a 5MP back-facing camera that is capable of capturing 1080p video.

What is a little disappointing with the Nexus 7 II is no expansion via a microSD card. Other than the lack of expansion the price remains relatively low for an HD tablet.

On the upside the screen is sharper and displays true full HD 1920 x 1200 resolution with a pixel density of 323! WOW! I like it! And that’s not all... It is enhanced by stereo surround sound speakers designed by Fraunhofer. 

The 16GB Nexus 7 II is listed at $230 and the 32GB model is $270, $30 more than the first edition. The 32GB LTE version is $350. UK prices have yet to be announced.

The Nexus 7 will arrive 30 July in the US through the Play Store, and in the UK "in the coming weeks", Google said.

ANDROID 4.3
Yes, as expected, this was not a major advancement but a very good tweak. For example, if you intend to share the tablet with a family member it is possible to create restrictions that disables in-game-purchases so that you won't get a surprise spend on your credit card.

Bluetooth Smart allows one to connect to Bluetooth devices such as a heat monitor without draining the battery.

OpenGL ES 3.0 is supported to get the most out of videogame graphics. Google apps such as Maps, Drive, Calendar, YouTube, etc have been optimised for the HD screen and they look great – stunning! Chrome for Android now features web page translation like the desktop version. Excellent!

As you’d expect Nexus devices such as the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google editions will be getting the upgrade very soon. 

GOOGLE PLAY
Google Play has been enhanced with Game Play Services. Furthermore, students can purchase or rent text books.

Google Play users will be able to see specific apps meant for the tablet; there has been an increase in apps meant for the tablet display! Roll on!

 

CHROMECAST
Chromecast was a very pleasant surprise... If you have seen my review on the Honestech  nScreen device for sharing mobile and computer screen content and was impressed then prepare to be impressed even more! Chromecast is a HDMI dongle that can be connected to any HDMI enabled screen such as a computer monitor and television. Once Chromecast is connected to a television you will be able to broadcast YouTube, Google Music and Netflix content straight from a mobile, tablet, PC, Chromebook and Macbook to the Chromecast enabled TV. What is not clear is if you are able to broadcast a video or image file i.e. a slideshow made from your pictures other than going through the Chrome web browser. The good news is that it’ll only cost $35! Very nice! It is expected to come to the UK soon.

Take good care!

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Thank you for watching and reading!

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Synapse Circuit Dot Com

TODAY IS THE DAY: ANDROID 4.3 & NEXUS 7 MARK II

Android Jelly Bean 4.3, please come out...

The new and improved Nexus 7 second generation running Android 4.3.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

TODAY IS THE DAY: ANDROID 4.3 & NEXUS 7 MARK II.  
#SundarPichai #Android4.3 #Nexus7

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! It’s less than 2 hours before we know what Google’s Sundar Pichai, head of Android and Chrome, will be revealing.

It is expected that we’ll be introduced to Android 4.3, Nexus 7 second generation and possibly the latest developments with Chrome.   

MORE EXCITEMENT
Android fans around the world will be very excited in anticipation even though the general consensus is that Android 4.3 will not be a major leap forward. It is an advancement nonetheless of the world’s most popular mobile operating system! Bring it on!

I would imagine that every dedicated fan has seen the leaks of the second generation Nexus 7 tablet (as pictured above) and that it will not come as a big surprise. However, the Nexus 7 mark 2 is good news for the consumer who is considering a tablet this year. I’m considering a tablet this year and I have yet to decide. I can hardly wait!

1:26:48 and counting...

Take good care!

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 Thank you for watching and reading!

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WAKING UP AND BEING TURNED ON... BY CHROME

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

WAKING UP AND BEING TURNED ON... BY CHROME, GOOGLE CHROME    

#GoogleChrome #ChromeOS #ChromeOperatingSystem #ChromeApps

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope you have had a good day and chilling out doing whatever it is that you do when you wind down. Or maybe your day is still on and in that case I hope you get home safely. Or indeed your day may have just begun... Lucky you! If I could turn back time...

...I’D HAVE BEEN TURNED ON TO GOOGLE CHROME AGES AGO!
How can I call myself a “tech writer” when I haven’t really investigated the dizzy world of Google Chrome? Well, the most I can do is be honest and let you know that I do not know where to start... I find the Chrome concept bewildering! When I get up in the morning (and do my habritual – now there’s a new word that I’ve made up) the first thing I do is launch my writing PC, open Word, Chrome and log into my Google Blogger account and then I get on with the business of writing articles. 98% of the time I completely bypass the “Apps” section of the Chrome browser. And the 2% of the time I’ve been looking in that section I am just overwhelmed by the amount of apps available to me. I get lost and I must admit I get excited, turned out to the possibilities of what’s on offer!

If you have been paying attention to my articles you may have picked up upon that I like to dabble in making music. My favourite digital audio workstation is Synapse Audio (no we are not related) Orion Studio 8; I think it is one of the best music making programs on the market. I have amassed many virtual instruments over the years and I haven’t had any time to do anything with them. Lol! But one of many things has caught my eye and that’s the ‘Audio Sauna’. I am afraid that I have become one of those people who have become a collector than a doer when it comes to music. However, I could be enticed by the Audio Sauna app. I have the notion that Audio Sauna can help to declutter my musical mind.

Then I see apps for editing video... Huh? I was under the impression that one couldn’t do video editing or is on the Chromebook computers? Hmmmm... I must investigate...

DAZED & CONFUSED
I can’t say that I understand Google when it comes to the Chrome OS, the way they publicise it or do not. If this was Apple there would be TV adverts around the clock. Cue cheesy cool mildly mawkish music (depending on your mood... ...when I haven’t eaten I hate the music on Apple ads) and a bunch of people doing stuff with their equivalent of Chrome OS and apps. I don’t get why Google isn’t shouting Chrome OS from the rooftops! I have seen some adverts and vaguely remember them and I think that’s the problem: the ads are too vague. If that was advert king, Samsung, I rate their ads as being the most informative; they would have taken the top apps in music making, video editing, word processing, presentation and so on. It is so strange that Google isn’t doing that. Why?

Am I the only person who feels that way? Please let me know.

WHY NOT A HYBRID ANDROID / CHROME TABLET?
Yes, instead of Android and Windows how about Android and Chrome OS? Or am I missing the purpose / point?

In my mind the combination sounds very interesting. Ok, what if Google just released a Chrome tablet? Do you see the potential in this? I do. Quite possibly Google Chrome OS could essentially take over IBM compatible PCs and Microsoft software, oh, and Adobe too! In Chrome could just finish off the PC and any software for it... I can see some software houses going Chrome to survive.

Yeah, it must sound like I have a crusade against the PC... Hmmmm... I do and I don’t. Let me see if I can explain...

Forget the majorly unhappy incidences with Windows XP and Windows 7. I just think that the computer industry needs a major overhaul. Apple has almost got it right except for their pricing; the iPad – the way it comes across – appears to make the Mac computer redundant if one can do so much on it! Is it possible for Google to replace Windows with Chrome OS and thus enable us to just consign the Microsoft experience to the Recycle Bin? Lol! Going where Linux / Ubuntu couldn’t do on a mass scale or am I wrong?

That makes me ask the question: If Android and Chrome come from Linux when why hasn’t Linux taken over Microsoft already? Hmmmm...

And another: Is it possible to reconstitute Linux into Chrome?

Could be possible that this is the long term plan for Google, to reconstitute Linux into Chrome so that when it’s ready the switch can be instantaneous?

This would alleviate the need for people to dash their PCs for yet another machine.

I get the feeling that the proposed Chrome OS that I have in mind could use the processing power of the Intel chip in a better way. Aren’t you disturbed that with each CPU revolution a lot of software becomes obsolete because they just aren’t programmed to take advantage of the newer technological changes. In my most humble opinion I think that the software should get better in the same way as apps on let’s say Android. Do you understand what I am getting at?

I think the computer industry has been too wasteful and where does the waste go? Electronic waste such as computers get shipped out to third world countries to dispose of where children are exposed to the toxic metals in the breaking down of these discarded machines. I am concerned about the environment. If you take a dump upstream it’s going to end up downstream and eventually in the water and food supplies.

My task is to get familiar with Chrome OS, Linux and Ubuntu. I feel the need for a change.

Yes, I am full of questions tonight.

Let me know what you think!

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe! 

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com