Google purchases HTC's Pixel team for US $1.1 billion

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

After weeks of speculation that Google would purchase HTC's smartphone business, we finally learn that the search giant has bought the Pixel team from HTC for $1.1 billion, while HTC will continue its own smartphone business. 

The team in question was the R&D team behind last year's Pixel and Pixel XL. This means around 2,000 people will move to Google. According to the agreement this grants Google a non-exclusive license for HTC's intellectual property. The deal is expected to be approved and closed by early 2018.

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The father of Android stages a comeback with the Essential Phone

Andy Rubin is considered the father of Android, being the originator what is now the leading mobile platform. Well, after some years in the wilderness, Rubin is back with the Essential Phone. Basically a QHD 5.7-inch edge-to-edge display wrapped around a titanium and ceramic back, powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage plus a 3040 mAh battery.

This device will cost $700, is available in the US for now and is out to challenge the top tier smartphones of 2017. How will the Essential Phone fare against present and upcoming competition? That depends on various things like availability, its ability to differentiate itself in the market and whether or not consumers will find it an attractive option.

Microsoft's Cortana assistant now available on Android in the US

The battle for personal assistand domination is well underway with yesterday's announcement of Google Home, hints that Siri will be coming to OS X, and now with Microsoft's Cortana assistant crossing over to the Android realm via an app but currently only for the US.

Cortana manages your schedule, your interests, your people, your reminders—Cortana makes sure all that stuff is available wherever you need it. You can set a reminder to pick up milk on the way home while you’re on your PC at work, and Cortana will give you the heads up on your phone when you’re on the road. You can also ask Cortana to make an appointment, send an email, open an app, or help you find what you’re looking for. And it’s not only about productivity, Cortana’s always up for a little chit chat. She's also pretty savvy about predicting outcomes of sports matches.

Powered by Bing, the Cortana version for Android requires your companion PC to be running version 1511 or later. Canadians who really want to use the app have to likely change location on their devices which may not be ideal for other apps.

SlideShow: HTC 10

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The new HTC 10 looks and feels like a proper premium smartphone from a company that's carefully developed devices with many core strengths. HTC may have missed a beat or two with some of their previous offerings, but the company is back in full force with what could be their perfect 10 device and the best flagship they've ever built.

The HTC 10 is about simplification. A pared down OS that's closer to Pure Android than ever, a sleek yet purposeful new design that succeeds in making a 5.2-inch phone fit in the dimensions of a 5-inch device. Improved front and rear camera optics, top-shelf processor and performance, plus a battery that can last the whole day and night (and be quickly charged to 50% in 30 minutes), are just the tip of the very cool iceberg that is the HTC 10.

For better or for worse, the HTC 10 will only be released via Bell Mobility in Canada (but you can pay full price to get it unlocked from HTC online).