Asus introduces two official docks for Nexus 7

Asus doesn’t think it’s too late to release accessories for the 2013 Nexus 7 tablet. The Taiwanese company introduced two docking stations for the device. One needs users to plug the tablet into the station. Another has wireless charging capabilities. The non-wireless dock features an HDMI-out port. The docks lets you use the tablet in landscape or portrait mode.

Both accessories are available for purchase on Amazon. The FH Dock costs $49.99 and the PW100 Wireless Charger costs $89.99.

Source: Droid Life

Google brings Nexus 5’s Google Now Launcher to Android flagships

Google has released its Google Now Launcher on the Nexus 5 as a standalone app for Nexus and Play edition devices. The app now brings the “Ok Google” hotword voice searches and view of the contextual cards to other Android users. Unfortunately, we’re not sure if Google plans on bringing the app to other Android devices outside of the flagships.

Source: The Next Web

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.

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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