Random Linux » google

Five Reasons why Google’s Linux Chromebook is a Windows killer

Chris — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:57:38 +0000

When Google first started talking about Chrome OS, I thought it might be turn into a Windows killer. Well, now we know that the first commercial Chromebooks will be available in mid-June and there’s no question: Google is aiming right at the Windows business desktop market.

Can Google do what the Mac was never able to do? What the various desktop Linuxes, even the most popular ones like Ubuntu have never even come close to pulling off? I think it can. Here’s why.

How to Enable Unity Quicklists in Google Chrome and Firefox

Chris — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:20:08 +0000

A few weeks ago, we did an in-depth review of Ubuntu 11.04 when compared with Fedora 15. One of the interesting little features we missed was Quicklists in Unity. Quicklists allow users to access common menus, or perform common tasks within a program by right-clicking the launcher icon. The feature is very much similar to Jump Lists in Windows 7, which could be accessed by right-clicking the Windows task bar. Applications, like Browsers and Media Players use these Jump Lists to let the user access documents and tasks associated with the current application. Unity on the other hand being freshly baked from the oven, there aren’t many applications that take advantage of the Quicklist features. Here’s a quick tip that will let you enable Quicklists for both Google Chrome and Firefox.

2011 GSoC KDE Projects and Season of KDE

Chris — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:54:41 +0000

“The KDE Community is grateful to Google for sponsoring the Summer of Code, now in its 7th year, and for giving both students and mentors the opportunity to improve the software we use every day”, said KDE developer Aaron Reichman.

According to Reichman, students who participate in GSoC will work on every level of the KDE project; until May 23rd, students will get to know to the KDE project and the community. From May 23rd through the end of August, students will work with their mentors on individual projects.

Intel Working on x86 Port of Android 3.0 Honeycomb

Chris — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:58:24 +0000

It’s that time of the month…for earnings calls. Luckily the big wig types that typically speak at these sorts of things aren’t averse to letting a few tasty details slip out while regaling us with numbers and data points. Somewhere in the midst of their report, Paul S. Otellini of Intel gave us an update on their Android ventures. The company is currently in the midst of porting Android 3.0 Honeycomb to their CPU architecture and hopes to have some reference devices on display at the upcoming Computex show.

Google has allowed to Intel to be among the privileged few with access to the Honeycomb source, and Intel hopes to have a build of Android 3.0 ready for delivery sometime this year. Intel has already begun shipping their Oak Trail chipset designed with tablets and Android in mind to various clients.

[via The Register]

Google’s Honeycomb blunder

Chris — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:07:43 +0000

Computerworld – I don’t say this very often, but some days Google is stupid. Until recently, Google’s biggest blunder was Google Wave. But now Google has announced that it won’t release Android 3.0, the tablet version of its mobile operating system, until it has made it “better.”

In a statement, Andy Rubin, head of Google’s Android group, said, “Android 3.0, Honeycomb, was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes and improves on Android favorites. … While we’re excited to offer these new features to Android tablets, we have more work to do before we can deliver them to other device types, including phones.” In other words, Google will release the Honeycomb source code as soon as it’s ready. Just don’t ask when that will be.

This has ticked off pretty much every open-source professional out there. Android is under the open-source Apache Software License 2.0, which requires that the source code be released when the executable programs are released. That usually means they’re released together. But the license doesn’t insist on that.

Future Samsung Devices not to Have Locked Bootloaders!

Chris — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:30:36 +0000

Today is a good day for ROM flashers who intend to buy a new Samsung device. Supercurio’s source says that the future Samsung devices will not use a locked bootloader, unless if Google would require it specifically — which is a small chance. The same source says about the bootloader on tablets:

Tablets projects are still young, I don’t know about the bootloader plans for those devices.

So what does this all mean? It basically means that rooting and flashing on new Samsung devices will be as easy as it is now, because the bootloader doesn’t have to be cracked. Well secured bootloaders are almost impossible to crack, so let’s hope that this is all true. We asked supercurio how reliable this source is, and he answered:

@ThijsKoot I am as confident as I can be without testing it by myself. I cannot tell otherwise for me this kind source have always been true.

Please keep in mind that these are al just rumors at this point. Reliable rumors, though.

Intel Based Honeycomb Tablets Are On The Way

Chris — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:14:09 +0000

Ever since I’ve watched Android make its evolutionary jump from smartphones onto the tablet scene, I’ve oft wondered where Intel was during this tablet craze. The semiconductor giant had remained strangely quiet on the subject — until now.

Digitimes is reporting that after a year and a half of negotiations with Google, the strategy formally known as PRC Plus will be pushing an Intel/Android 3.0 based tablet sometime during the third quarter of this year. PRC Plus hopes to take advantage of Intel’s stronger performance over ARM-based processors and improve on Honeycomb’s user experience.

Intel is also hoping to entice more manufacturers by offering $10 chip subsidy to “first-tier notebook vendors” if they make a tablet using an their processor. This would discourage manufacturers from using ARM or AMD based chipsets with the hopes of offsetting some of the costs.

I can tell you this, the thought of a Honeycomb based tablet with “Intel inside” definitely has my nerd hormones raging.

[Via Digitimes]

Read Original

HTC Developer center posts GR140 Nexus One Gingerbread update

Chris — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:40:48 +0000

Those who have been waiting for the Gingerbread updates to come to the Google Nexus One device won’t need to wait anymore, as HTC Developer Center posted the Nexus One Gingerbread system image code for download from their portal. Developers will no doubt grab this image and get right into customization, cause really, that’s the best thing about Android software, and although some manufacturers warn against customization, HTC seems to keep endorsing it.

Grab the latest system image from the source link below.

Visit TalkAndroid for android news, android guides, and much more!

HTC Developer center posts GR140 Nexus One Gingerbread update

Google Maps updates to 5.3.1, What are the changes?

Chris — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:40:27 +0000

Google Maps was updated to 5.3.1, but a change log wasn’t posted. We all assumed that it was probably some minor bug fixes because if something big was added, I am sure they would have posted it. For those that are still wondering, we found the info on the Google forums:

Update! We’ve pushed out a new release, version 5.3.1. This version should fix the Manage My Places and auto-checkins issues you’ve been reporting in this thread and elsewhere in the Forum.

Please head to Android Market to download version 5.3.1, and, as always, let us know what you think!

Visit TalkAndroid for android news, android guides, and much more!

Google Maps updates to 5.3.1, What are the changes?

Android still growing, but some developers frustrated

Chris — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:51:19 +0000

Google’s Android platform has been growing steadily since its release in 2008. Now, one out of every three U.S. smartphone owners is using an Android-based device, according to a recent report.So why aren’t developers more excited about the platform?