NetApex

They make hardware better.  Today (or as futuristic as this sounds... tomorrow!) Google introduced their latest version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich *Android 4.0*  That version was released on their newest flagship phone made by Samsung and given the official name Galaxy Nexus (sadly they decided not to go with the Nexus Prime moniker.)

The major thing that seperates the Nexus/Android 4.0 news from the iPhone 4S/IO5 news is that this is simply the beginning of Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) phones.  So while specs and stats are great to read about, they are only going to continue to improve with each phone that is released with ICS running on it.  Now with that being said, todays news (which is really tomorrows since it was announced in Hong Kong) introduced quite an impressive set of specs for a phone.

GALAXY Nexus Product Specifications
Network : HSPA＋ 21Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps 850/900/1900/1700/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
＊LTE version will be available depending on the region.
Processor : 1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor
Display : 4.65" 1280X720 HD Super AMOLED
OS : Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich
Camera :Main(Rear) : 5 MP AF with LED Flash with zero shutter lag and fast shot2shot
Sub (Front) : 1.3MP for Video Call
Video : Codec : MPEG4/H.263/H.264
Playback : 1080p@ 30fps
Recording : 1080p Full HD Video@ 30fps
Audio Codec : MP3/AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋
3.5mm Ear Jack
Google™Mobile Services
Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Movie Studio
Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps and turn-by-turn navigation
Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google＋ app
Bluetooth® technology v 3.0
USB 2.0
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/ 5GHz)
NFC
Sensor
Accelerometer, Compass, Gyro, Light, Proximity, Barometer
Memory
1GB(RAM) ＋ 16GB/ 32GB Internal memory
Size : 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94mm, 135g
Battery : Standard battery, Li-on 1,750 mAh

If you notice the bold text you will see some things that I found to be very telling.  First of all the cameras are not "super mega pixel crazy."  People are already questioning why they aren't at least 8MP and 2MP for the back and front cameras respectively.  Well for those of you who know cameras know that in this case, size is not what's important.  (Lifehacker back in 2006 even did a poster sized test to prove it http://goo.gl/5zXvW)  So do not let the camera specs fool you, this baby takes pictures that will easily leave you breathless.

Second.. a barometer!  Might not mean much to you now, but wait three weeks after launch and then notice the market and see the developers ideas on what to do with it come to life.  Again, this is because Samsung has the hardware available to make use of the software Google has baked into ICS.  Not every phone that comes out HAS to have it.. but everyone of them should.

My last immediate point is a pure software item, but very important to note.  As usual the Android phone will sync with Google Calendar, but it will also sync with Google+ in a whole new way!

More info coming up.  For now, check out http://goo.gl/Xrmn3 This is My Next for their great insight, and Google's own highlight reel here  http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-4.0-highlights.html

People who know me as a very vocal Google apologetic have been asking me a lot over the past few hours about my thoughts on the passing of Steve Jobs.  Some found it strange that I did not immediately post something about his passing.  Others asked me if I think that is going to be a problem for Apple (and quietly wondered if that was going to be good for Google but at least they were tactful enough not to ask it.)

Let me start with the fact that I did not make a post when I heard the news.  Sometimes you have to be the person that breaks news to people that may not have heard it elsewhere.  Othertimes you are the person that needs to voice your thoughts on why, or what, or when something is going on.  Then there are times when you just need to stop, have a moment of silence and mourn.  There was nothing that I needed to post that the Internet did not already have covered.  There was not a corner you could look at that did not have the news posted, a video playing, or a photo displayed of one of the greatest business minds of our time.  So the words I needed to say at that time were not meant for the viewers on the WWW.  Even though I personally had not met Steve Jobs, I felt the only words that were left to say were "goodbye." 

I looked to see what Google would do with their homepage in honor of both their competitor and mentor.  I wondered if they would make a doodle in honor of him, or how they would handle it.  As usual I was impressed with their style.  They too choose to not be more "wordy" than necessary, and to make sure that the focus was where it should be.  The kept their homepage sparce and simply Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011, with a link to Apple's homepage that contained the image you see above and the proper good bye that you would expect from the place that Steve Jobs helped form.

I find it sad that technology has evolved into more than trying to have the best devices and has instead become a "who has the best lawyer" event.  When the suits all started I was worried about Google.  More specifically I was worried about Android.  There was Microsoft making their play and HTC quietly nodding and paying what was due.  Then Apple decided to jump into the mix and throw their lawyers at both HTC and Samsung for their devices.  The differences, ignoring who is right and wrong in the lawsuits, is that while Microsoft says "pay me a license and we both make money," Apple is saying, "stop what you are doing, this is my sandbox alone."  One might question if Microsoft would be doing the same if their mobile OS was in a better position, but one can only speculate.  Meanwhile Google has continued to say that it would support the handset manufactures in their cases but no one had seen Google really do anything besides give words of encouragement.  Even one of my best friends (and someone who always keeps me tethered to the earth when I tend to float higher towards the Google cloud) told me he was starting to worry a bit about what was going to happen with Android.  So I thought I would take a moment and reitterate what is known out there right now.

If you recall I mentioned earlier that even I was worried about Android and the lawsuits.  But my fears were long before any of this came to light. I remember when Oracle was the big issue.  (Anyone else remember the Java problem, and the "smoking gun" emails?)  In my opinion, which on this blog is all that matters, that was the only item that would really hurt Android.  The reason?  Because it actually struck out AT Android and not a manufacturer.  Google doesn't manufacture phones (well.. didn't, but that will be discussed later.)  The other suits were not directed at Google, and could easily be seen as a bullying tactic to keep manufacturers from using Android in their phones.  But we all know that bullies always end up meeting someone stronger.  With Apple attacking the hardware vendors (and Google not officially having anything to do with hardware) it was hard to see what Google could do to assist.  If only they made hardware and got sued, they could finally take up arms in court.

So what does Google do?  They make a big fuss about other companies buying up patents.  They bid half heartedly on some patents and not surprisingly don't aquire them.  Then out of the blue, they buy Motorola Mobility.  While the world is reeling from the shock of that purchase, they publically state that they will NOT interfere with Motorola's hardware division.  Meaning that Google will not manufacture phones themselves since it would put them in competition with the other manufacturers.  Ok I get it, that makes sense to me.  But yet that kills my, "make a phone, get sued, fight in court" idea.  I guess that leaves.... transfer patents to the manufacturers to help them out in court and have them vow to keep pumping out Android phones.  Low and behold that is exactly what is happening.  Google has sold HTC a few patents that it picked up from Motorola (and from Palm?!  When did that happen?) and HTC promptly added them to their lawsuit against Apple.  Has this been part of the plan all along?  Gather up patents and distribute them to manufacturers in need?  However the origin, it is at least a plan.  Meanwhile, phones continue to be made.  New handsets continue to sell.  Software continues to be updated.  And lawyers continue to get rich.

In a very good read from The Street (http://www.thestreet.com/story/11205479/1/motorola-patents-a-google-ally-vs-apple.html), it was mentioned that Motorola makes a good ally for Google (specifically Android) to have when it comes to patent defense.  Motorola actually launched a law suit against Apple previously as a first strike in an inevitable phone war, so they are confident in their patent portfolio.  On AllThingsD (http://allthingsd.com/20110811/motorola-mulling-patent-offensive/) they reported that Motorola might be thinking of taking a much more offensive stance siting the comments made by Motorola Mobility Chairman and CEO Sanjay Jha, “We have a very large IP portfolio, and I think in the long term, as things settle down, you will see a meaningful difference in positions of many different Android players — both in terms of avoidance of royalties, as well as collecting them”.  While it is good having a strong friend to be able to watch your back, Google decided that it is better to be able to watch your own back while strengthening your friends.  Instead of buying 6,000 or so patents during the Nortel bid, Google bought the 17,000+ patents and 7,000+ pending patents from Motoroloa Mobility.  But heck why stop there right?  Since they were in a buying mood, they purchased Motorola Mobility...the whole company.

The obvious patent defense is pure genius.  The full company buyout is pure Google.  If you have been reading my thoughts for any length of time then you will already know that there is much more to this purchase than meets the eye. I once said that either HTC or Motorola would become the official "Google Phone" (or Triple G as I called it for lack of a better name http://news.netapex.org/?p=542#more-542) If you had the change to attend Google I/O this year, or if you saw the videos of the sessions you may have heard talk about Android being used for more than just mobile devices.  The project is called Android@Home and it will allow your (insert home electronic item here) to talk to your (insert other electronic item) and to talk to your phone.  It was demo'd with the home lighting system flashing off and on based on the gun fire from a video game.  They also showed how with an RFID embedded into a CD jewel case you could tape the case on a devide and it would load up onto your home stereo (if only people were still buying CD's).  Why am I bringing this up?  Yet another quote from Sanjay Jha, "Solutions we are developing includes, streaming TV, home monitoring and control and advanced video gateways. From an infrastructure perspective, our focus includes solution for network based storage and delivery, enhanced network capacity and improving consumer service level....We’re collaborating with Time Warner to develop a video gateway platform that creates an IP home network capable of delivering premium in-home entertainment across multiple devices. And our full home solution with selective for the rollout of a home monitoring control and energy management service to be announced later this quarter."  Google TV will have the chance to change into the hub of your home.  Instead of being the most under utitilized device in your home, it can become the place you schedule your @Home activities, the alert for when the dryer/microwave/doorbell has gone off by displaying a message on your television.

But what about the rest of the hardware developers that have "Gone Google?"  Well they have gone on record as saying they "Welcome" Google's attempt to stand behind Android and its partners with this purchase.  People are still speculating that there is some worry that Google will become evil and keep the best of Android for themselves.  The way I see it, Google might (I repeat, *MIGHT*) ensure that Motorola will always have a top of the line pure Google experience Android phone, but I do not "have serious doubts about whether or not it can retain its neutrality."  Some people (who have stake in Apples success) feel that the buyout was a bad idea. (http://seekingalpha.com/article/287393-google-s-motorola-buyout-a-sign-of-wea...  Kind of a backed into a corner, rash, no other choice move.  I see it as Google killing a whole lot of birds with one really big gun.  Once again I have to say, Google is a search company.  Everything else is to enhance that search ability.  Google isn't buying hardware companies so it can really become a phone company.  It is buying it to ensure that Android sits in the number one phone OS position.  It would be stupid to try to outsell phones from other hardware vendors in order to be the best hardware company.  It will work to make sure that anything whatever lawsuits that come up due to shape, design, usage of a phone, will become grounds for Google to hop into court as well.  (Until now only the actual software was officially tied to Google.  Now Google will have a much larger hand in the lawsuit picture.)  If anything, it will just enforce the fact that phone updates can be done in a reasonable amount of time by doing a "look, we updated Android and sent it to Motorola Mobility (which will still be run as its own company) and they pushed it out, why can't you?"

Of course, all of this is subject to the usual company buying another company so sit and wait while things get approved stuff.  So in the meantime, Motorola and Google will continue on with their business as usual.  (While secretly eyeing Sprint as they plan to one day make a ground breaking deal with them as well.)  *The Sprint deal is just my opinion that I have been harboring for the past three years*

There are dozens of great quality tech sites out there, and even more mediocre ones.  But it turns out that a lot of the public doesn't really care what the "geeks" have to say about the latest phone.  They want someone to tell them if it does what THEY want it to do.  For example, I think Google+ is amazing, but I have heard quite a few comments that it feels more of a geek hang out than a Facebook competitor.  After some digging I found that what they really wanted were games and other entertaining things to do with the site.  Being a geek, I know that it is coming along with plenty of other surprises as well.  But without a reason for reading a tech site, the average person would be unaware and only know what is seen.  So my girlfriend and I decided that it might be beneficial to have a non-geek give opinions and reviews on the site as well.

I would like to introduce my non-geek girlfriend Kim and welcome her to the site as the occassional guest writer.  She is mostly non-biased (well as non-biased as possible with me being such a Google fan) tech savy (but not overly techy) woman and would be able to provide a different point of view than the majority of us are used to.  Stay tuned for her post and feel free to ask questions and comment.

First of all, Google is known for doing limited beta invites to their products.  (Gmail, Wave, Voice...)   This time, they made it so that those that have been invited can immediately invite others.  Afterall, what is a social network without the ability to be social?  This does two things, 1) It creates the feeling of being "on the inside" and causing more people to want an invite than actually care about the service. 2) It causes people to make sure they have others to be social with.  Giving that this is a Google product, you don't need to "sign up" for something new.  Your current Google account (you do have one right?) is all you need.  So all of you Android phone owners, chances are very high that you are just a few clicks away from being more social than ever.

So lets say you have been invited, signed up and even have friends on Google+.... now what?  Well like any good social site you have your Wall, or in this case, the Stream that contains the post from people in the "Circles" that you have setup.  (Circles are the ingenious way that you can seperate your friends and family from the people that you just want to be able to read about and not inform them of your BBQ plans for the evening.)  You can choose which Circle you want to look at, and ignore, mute, or even block people depending on how you feel about their content.  Most importantly, Google is leaving the privacy aspect in your hands.  To prove that, they made sure to create a video on how to manage your privacy (http://goo.gl/F27c3).  Including how to liberate your data before you quit!  (Unlike another social network)

The next thing on the list to try out are the Hangouts. Hangout lets you not only communicate with a select number of people, but it also lets you manage video calls with the group as well.  Suddenly group video chats have gone from being Skype dominated, to just something that is a standard practice.  To me, this is one of the must under rated aspects of Google+.  Right now you it may seem more of a novelty item, but think of Facebook in reverse.  Facebook started out as a college (Harvard to be exact) only site and then expanded.  Google+ will eventually welcome Universities to create their own identities on the site and can easily hold "Hangout" classrooms allowing for distanced learning at a reduced cost.

Then there is Sparks.  It is basically a modified version of Google Reader grouped with the power of Google Search to help you locate information that is important to you.  Then with a simple click you can share those stories with your Circles.  Not a whole lot more to say here other than typical Google using its strength in search and data mining to help you locate the information you want.  Sometimes even before you knew you wanted it.

The last thing I want to talk about tonight is the mobile app.  Like most of the other Google apps, it is more function than flash and that suites me just fine.  You can view your stream, huddle, circles, photos and your profile from the Dashboard page.  Right now the major thing lacking (which I am guessing will be remedied once Icecream Sandwich comes out) is the ability to do view hangouts from your phone.  Instead of hangouts, there are huddles.  Picture the group text message app Disco (http://goo.gl/3nKQM) in a more refined form.. that is huddle.  Group texting without the text message fees.  And of course... the Google+ app is 20% better than the Facebook app for Android.  It simply needs a better widget (in which case the Facebook app has Google+ beat).  I will have to try Google+ on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Google TV tomorrow and see how they fair as well.  I will make sure to update the blog later with more information.

So of all of the announcements that were made so far, one of the most important ones for the casual users will be the fact that Google has made an agreement with the carriers and manufacturers to make sure that all new phones will get updates for at least 18 months.  So that new phone that you are planning on buying will not be outdated the moment you leave the store (or in some cases today, before they are even placed on the shelves).  Baring some crazy hardware upgrades, every Android phone will be as capable of every other Android phone in the store.  So it will finally come down to a matter of personal style when picking a phone (remember the days it used to be, do I want a phone that flips, or slides?)

For the geeks, the best announcement (in my eyes at least) was the Android @ Home demo.  Lights that resond to your Android device.  Open source options to develop software to control those lights (they showed a person playing Doom, and the lights flashed every time the person pulled the trigger).  Of course that could be used more constructively as well of course.  Examples.. notifications (phone rings, email comes), Alarms and other uses.  The ability to integrate to other utilites... microwave goes off, and a message comes across your phone, flashes a light, shows on your Google TV... if you can think of it, you can develop it.

Google Music was also demo'd and went live today as well.  Enabling you to upload music to the cloud (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrNhKcxBbZo) like Amazon, but does it so much more interestingly.  While you still can not purchase music via Google, the Music App (downloadable now https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.music&feature=search_result ) has been brilliantly thought out and performs beautifully!

Speaking of Music and Android @ Home would not be complete without talking about Project Tungsten.  Using NFC (which will become the most amazing thing since sliced bread) in a CD case, you can tap the case onto a receiver which automatically added all of the songs into your library.  Tap it again, and it begins to play.  Using the other things they showed, your music can stream live to wireless speakers that are connected to the cloud.  Meaning home stereos suddenly just become speakers attached to wifi.  Portability x2!   Science Fiction is actually becoming outdated!