Google IO

Hey techies! It's Ross again from Today's Tech Blogger's tech team duo.

Not sure how many of you guys out there know, but the Google IO conference is coming up. What is Google IO you ask? Google IO is a conference held by Google to present and promote current/future projects and products that will be hitting the market. For example, Google IO of 2010 introduced Motorolla's Droid Android based smartphone. Not only did they introduce it, they gave them away to all attendees prior to the actual release! Why would you want to see Googles new products and hear them boast about what they can do while they show you the endless uses and how to program them? Well, at least for me, you can learn about future technology and how you can integrate it into your life. For example, you keep up to date on the current smartphones and you want to learn how to develop X software for Y device. The conference is there to show you your options and even introduce some aspects of how you go along to do what you need.

In addition, I mentioned before that Google gave away the first edition Droids. If that wasn't for you, you had the option to get a Nexus One. Google sent a choice to all registered attendees asking which they would prefer, to which their choice was sent to them free of charge. These phones were then discussed in great depth at the conference after the new owners had a few months to get their hands dirty with the software. But hey, get this... They also gave away the HTC Evo prior to the release! So these developers, students, and new avid Android users got two pieces of free software that is over a grand without contract (general retail.)

Highlights for this years Google IO hardware give away are rumored to the new release of their CR48 laptop (also known as the Google Chrome Netbook), as well as some phone that just recently got released and or has yet to be released. Since it is Google I would speculate getting a Nexus S as it is their personal line of phones.

How do you sign up? Curious to see what Google has going for the rest of 2011 up to 2012? Or just want free hardware?!?! Well too bad. The tickets sold out in 20 minutes this year. Prices for non educational individuals were $450 and students $150. The conference is held in the Moscone Center in San Fransisco on May 10-11. Luckily I was able to grab a ticket along with a friend and the misses. So I'll fill you in live from the conference! Hopefully off of their CR48!

But thats it for now! Look forward to conference to let all of you know.

OnStar FML... I mean: OnStar FMV

Okay, we're posting this simply because it's amazing!

            General Motors (GM) has decided to call the mirror OnStar FMV. FMV, which stands for "For My Vehicle" and not "Full Motion Video," will act like a hands-free mechanism and allows you to acquire other blue button functionality, including turn-by-turn directions and emergency assistance. It is also looking to contain an external microphone at a price of $299 when it releases this summer. Of course, there will also be a $100 for installation and $18.95 per month or $199 yearly to make use of OnStar services.

            Here are some of its features:

• Free external microphone provides best-in-class audio quality

• Bluetooth speakerphones

• Automatic Crash Response

• Turn-by-Turn navigation

• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance

• Two choices for hands-free calling: through the OnStar service itself, or through a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone

            These can be viewed as are some pretty good features, but it's amplified since it's all in one package! The Automatic Crash Response is triggered by an accelerometer in the OnStar FMV mirror which connects the vehicle to a trained OnStar emergency advisor in the incident of a crash. The advisor can supply the precise position of the crash to emergency responders using the mirror's GPS location, even if the vehicle's occupants are incapable to respond.
     Also, the security services include Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which also uses OnStar FMV's global positioning satellite location. Roadside assistance is a blue button push away. A red button is for emergency assistance or situations such as witnessing a collision or a crime in progress.

I don't know about you, but when looking at this, I see the future - something that we're about here at Today's Tech Blogger.

-Joe

Google Nexus S 4G with WiMAX

Okay, first off, this phone is looking to hit the market for ~only $200 with a 2 year contract. While reading, I am sure that you'll consider this to be a fine deal.

Coming this Spring is the first pure Google 4G Device powered by Android 2.3. This phone will boast the Google experience, entail Google Voice integration, and posses a super AMOLED display and Mobile Hotspot capability. This Google Voice™ integration built into the Sprint Network will be a HUGE bonus for those who use Google Voice.

Inside this phone is a powered 1GHz Samsung application processor that produces rich 3D-like graphics, rapid upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia along with a flexible Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to make mobile games, surfing the Web and viewing videos a smooth and enjoyable experience. It is designed with Samsung's brilliant Super AMOLED™ touchscreen technology. The 4-inch Contour Display is a more curved design for a more appealing look and feel in the user's hand or along the side of the face. It also offers a vivid screen with higher color contrast, leaving images ultra vivacious and text crisp - at any size - and produces less glare compared to other smartphone displays when outdoors, making videos, pictures, and games look their greatest even when it's very sunny outdoors!

For those who are into apps, the Sprint Nexus S 4G will be among the first to receive Android software upgrades and new Google mobile apps. In various cases, the device will get the updates and new apps as soon as they are available. Also, the Nexus S 4G features a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and camcorder and front-facing VGA camera(for things like Skype). In addition, Nexus S 4G features a gyroscope sensor to offer a smooth, flowing gaming experience when the user tilts the device up or down or pans the phone to the left or right.

Awesome features that we would like to focus on include:

• 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously
• Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
• Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, syncing with Google Calendar™, Voice Actions and YouTube™
• Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP & IMAP) email and instant messaging
• Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows the device to read information from everyday objects, like stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips
• 16GB Internal Memory (ROM)/512MB (RAM)
• Wi-Fi® – 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR
• Integrated GPS
• 1500 mAh Lithium-ion battery

Google Voice makes it effortless for people to handle and contact most of their voice-based communication. It lets users manage up to six diverse phones through one number with clever call routing and sophisticated features like call screening, blocking and recording. For those unaware, checkout Google Voice by Googling "Google Voice", as it's completely free on your PC!

If you're looking for a phone that offers quite a standard, then look no further.

-Joe

HTC Thunderbolt

            If you want a phone - a FAST phone - that does just about everything paralleling today's needs for mobile devices, than the HTC Thunderbolt is right for you. If 4G and Google is not enough to float your boat, than you may want to read on to see what else this phone provides in it's elegant package Otherwise, I'm sure that you tech-fans are aware of this phone's incredible ability! It's hard to believe these are still called phones/smartphones, as with the Thunderbolt, it's almost insulting when looking at all of its features.

            Some neat features include:

• spacious 4.3-inch WVGA display
• 8 megapixel camera
• dual-LED flash
•  Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
•  integrated kickstand
•  a second "4G" radio
•  access to Verizon's LTE network

If you're still paying attention, it's no wonder that the Thunderbolt has a very real opportunity to be the finest 4.3-inch device HTC has ever created, at least for now...

Remember I mentioned FAST? Take a look at the AVERAGE 4G speed below:

     This is insanely fast, considering that there were only 2 bars!!!

            Underneath the kickstand (which has "with Google" engraved on it, how kool is that?!! -> In case you've haven't noticed, Google is taking over), there's a metal grating that hides a loudspeaker -- which is exactly that, quite loud!! The Thunderbolt's thickness and design details seemed to be improved from the EVO and the camera's rim is pretty flush with the back and the lens is actually counter-sunk, so do NOT worry about scratching up the 8 megapixel lens by setting the phone down. Did we mention that the 32GB microSD card can come pre-installed! That's 32GB the size of a pinky finger nail! I remember when hard drives were 1GB in the old PII PCs...

            Anyway, there are some downsides, in my opinion. There is a rather weak 1400mAh battery underneath the back case, which is very difficult to remove. This will make it less appealing when thinking about removing the microSD card. Besides this, I cannot see much flaw with this phone. The edges of the Thunderbolt are clean and simple and there is an HDMI-out  which is great for those who like to film with the 720p camera built into the phone! The power button is nicely seated and the volume rocker is also perfectly shaped, sized, and in the best possible location along the right edge. Also, the display is simply amazing.

            Overall, this phone is quite a force. My bet is that it will get better in newer generations, but for now, this smartphone is a leader for sure.

-Joe