Tuesday
Feb252014

Mozilla Firefox devices crop up at MWC

Alcatel OneTouch Fire S

The Android-powered devices might overpower Mozilla Firefox’s mobile operating system but there are still some new Firefox handsets out on the MWC floor. Here’s a look at a couple of them.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Feb252014

Intel introduces 64-bit Android for smartphones

Intel has introduced a new 64-bit dual-core smartphone chip for Android at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Hermann Eul, vice president and general manager of mobile communications group at Intel, demonstrated the Merrifield chip with the use of a smartphone that shows off a few screens of Android’s user interface. The company has been working on integrating 64-bit chip on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Intel sped up code contributions of the 64-bit Android kernel for its x86 chips. While development for 64-bit ARM chips are still underway.

“We have on Merrifield our 64-bit Android kernel running,” Eul said. “We prepare the world and the ecosystem for advances and we push the 64-bit adoption in mobile.”

There are currently no smartphones that carry the 64-bit Android. Intel expects Merrifield-powered devices to come out around the second quarter of the year.

Source: PCWorld

Tuesday
Feb252014

TiVo creators introduce online video auto-curator Qplay

 

TiVo has debuted a new streaming box that curates online videos according to your preferences. The Qplay TV adapter plugs into the HDMI port of the television. It comes with a companion iPad app to allow you to customize your interests. The app pulls content from YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Vimeo, and Instagram. The company plans to add more sources in the future. Viewers can also curate clips via a browser bookmark and share these to friends or to other Qplay users outside your network.

The app will then generate curated playlists or “Qs” according to your choices. There are regular Qs based on interests and Social Qs based on the content your friends share on Facebook and Twitter. You can watch the videos on your TV or on the iPad app. The device is up for pre-order at $49 with limited amounts currently being shipped.

Source: Slash Gear

Tuesday
Feb252014

Motorola to offer Moto Maker customization to the UK, Germany and Mexico but not Canada

Motorola Mobility is going to offer the Moto Maker customization option to Moto X customers in the UK, Germany and Mexico in Q2. There is no mention of having the service available to Canada, which would be an ideal candidate because of its proximity to the US (Moto Maker phones are proudly made in the USA).

Moto Maker is one of the big draws for users choosing the Moto X. It allows for various colour and texture customizations, the ability to choose storage capacities, and even personal engravings and phone startup graphics. Motorola is looking at partners to produce the phones for Europe. So those of us in Canada pining for a 32GB Wood Backed Moto X are out of luck. Sad fact.

Sort of reminds us of how the Moto G shells, which were similarly a huge feature for that device during launch, aren't even being sold in Canada.

Source: Engadget