Google boss Eric Schmidt launches Nexus 7 tablet in Japan

Google continued with its roll out of its Nexus 7 tablet on Tuesday, launching it in Japan, one of the world's most lucrative markets.

Google boss Eric Schmidt was in Japan on Tuesday to launch the company’s Nexus 7 tablet.

At a special event in Tokyo, Schmidt said the 7-inch device would be available on its website from today and from retail stores starting October 2. The Android-powered tablet is priced at 19,800 yen ($250) for the 16GB version, Reuters said.

Stores in Japan set to stock the device include Edion, K’s Denki, Kojima Denki, Joshin Denki, Bic Camera, Best Denki, and Yodobashi Camera. As an added incentive, buyers will bag 2,000 yen ($26) of credit to spend in the Google Play store.

Schmidt told the gathered audience that adoption of Google’s Android operating system is rising rapidly in the Asian country, with the number of devices powered by the mobile OS almost tripling in the last 12 months. As a result of the take-up, the Japanese Google Play store is now the third most popular in the world in terms of the number of app downloads.

The tablet, now available in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Australia, was well received by critics when it launched in July. Outside of Australia, Japan is the first country in Asia to start selling the Nexus 7, though earlier this month it became available for pre-order in Taiwan, which is, incidentally, where Asus, the tablet’s manufacturer, is based.

The launch in Japan gives Google a head start over one of its main rivals in the tablet market, Amazon. Its Kindle Fire range of tablets are yet to launch in the country, one of the most lucrative markets in the world.

Whether the Nexus 7 – with its 1.3GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a front-facing camera for video chat, and the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS – will have any effect on sales in Japan of the popular iPad remains to be seen. It may also have to contend with another tablet expected to be unveiled next month, the iPad Mini.

[via Reuters, TNW]

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/googles-nexus-7-tablet-launches-in-japan/

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Google hasn't 'done anything' about maps for iOS 6 yet

Google in thinking Google is better than Apple shocker

Eric Schmidt has revealed that Google hasn't "done anything" about a replacement Google Maps app for iOS 6 on the iPhone 5.

Apple ditched Google in favour of its own maps app which hasn't exactly gone down as well as the fruity company would have hoped.

But if Google's indulging in a spot of schadenfreude, Schmidt is staying diplomatic about the situation.

Partners

He told reporters in Japan: "We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know? What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It's their call."

As for a Google-made replacement, he said, "We have not done anything yet. I'm not doing any predictions.

"We want them to be our partner. We welcome that. I'm not going to speculate at all what they're going to do. They can answer that question as they see fit."

But he did have time for one little, hastily retracted dig when using the Google Nexus 7 to show off a cool new touch-free map control feature.

"Take that Apple," he said, swiftly followed by, "That was a joke by the way."

But one of those jokes you actually mean too, right Schmidt?

If you're struggling to find your way anywhere with the iOS 6 Maps app, one hacker has managed to port Google Maps to the iPhone - although you'll need a jailbroken handset and a time machine to get to the future when he's made it available to the public.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-hasnt-done-anything-about-maps-for-ios-6-yet-1099504

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Number of BlackBerry users stagnate, possibly declining

Consumers turning their backs on BlackBerry

For the first time in BlackBerry's history, its users have stopped growing as RIM struggles to maintain a foothold in the smartphone market.

The Globe and Mail cites comments from analysts, who claim the total number of BlackBerry users has stagnated, and may even be in decline.

Kris Thompson of National Bank Financial said: "This is the first quarter we are expecting zero subscriber growth – a loss in enterprise [customers] offset by a small gain in international consumer subs.

Downward spiral

"Starting next quarter, we see the sub base in a downward spiral with BlackBerry 10 potentially slowing [the losses], but we're not holding our breath."

As Thompson hints, BlackBerry 10 is likely to be the make or break point for the Canadian firm, as it pins its hope on the new operating system and prays it will be well received.

The launch of BB10 was initially pegged for earlier this summer, but it was then pushed back to the end of the year, and then RIM CEO Thorsten Heins announced the first BlackBerry 10 devices would launch in January 2013.

TechRadar has contacted RIM who said: "we do not comment on speculation".

Thorsten Heins is due to make a keynote speech at RIM's Jam Americas later today, where details on user growth may be revealed.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/number-of-blackberry-users-stagnate-possibly-declining-1099499

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Oh dear, Google hasn’t submitted a Google Maps app to Apple yet

Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Google hasn't submitted a standalone Google Maps to Apple for approval yet.

In a statement that’s sure to elicit sighs of disappointment from many iPhone users, Google’s Eric Schmidt has told reporters that the company has not submitted a standalone Google Maps app to Apple for approval, despite rumors to the contrary.

Google Maps was removed from Apple’s iOS 6 software along with the standard YouTube app, which Google has already replaced with one of its own, prompting hopes it would do the same with Maps. Apple Maps has come under fire since release for, amongst other things, errors, bugs, a lack of detail and no public transportation information.

Various sources indicated an iOS version of Google Maps was on its way, with The Guardian saying “a Google Maps app is being prepared for iOS 6, which will appear in time,” to Google themselves telling SearchEngineLand.com that its goal was to “make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser or operating system.”

Schmidt was questioned over the situation during an event in Japan, where he was busy promoting the local launch of the Nexus 7 tablet, and replied “we haven’t done anything yet” when asked whether Apple was likely to accept a Google Maps app into the App Store.

He added “We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?” Later, as he demonstrated Google Maps on the Nexus 7, he quipped “take that Apple” while showing off the app’s capabilities. It appears The Guardian was right when it said Google was enjoying Apple’s suffering at the hands of the press and the public.

Naturally, Apple is defending its new Maps software, saying it’s “just getting started,” and welcomes all feedback in an effort to implement improvements as quickly as possible.

Without an official Google Maps app on the horizon, iPhone owners can access it using Safari, or try one of these alternative apps.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/oh-dear-google-hasnt-submitted-a-google-maps-app-to-apple-yet/

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Nokia’s new Asha 308 and Asha 309 are now “smartphones,” despite running Series 40

Nokia has announced a pair of new Asha touchscreen phones, and made a point of labeling them as smartphones. So, what has changed?

Nokia has announced a pair of new Asha phones, the Asha 308 and Asha 309, which as touchscreen devices join the previously released Asha 305, Asha 306 and Asha 311. While we, and everyone else, referred to them as “feature phones,” according to Nokia’s press release, the Asha phones have earned “full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC.”

So, you may be thinking, the Asha’s run Symbian Belle? Nope, the 308 and 309 still use Series 40 as their operating system, except it’s now called “Nokia OS” according to the specification pages on Nokia’s website.

The press release continues to refer to the 308 and 309 as smartphones, but looking back at the release for the Asha 305, 306 and 311, they were “touch screen devices,” with a “smartphone-like” experience. What has changed about Series 40 between early June, July — when Nokia still referred to it as a feature phone OS — and now? Not much, as this is manipulative marketing at its best.

It has been a long-time coming too, as the new generation of Series 40 phones have been blurring the line between feature and smart devices for a while, and when Nokia sold its 1.5 billionth Series 40 handset it paved the way for the change by describing them as “smartphone lite.”

Asha 308 and 309 features

Here’s what you need to know about the new Asha phones. The Asha 308 is a dual-SIM variant of the Asha 309 and aside from this feature, they’re both identical, so we’ll concentrate on the 309. A 3-inch capacitive touchscreen is your window into the world of Nokia OS and it has a resolution of 400 x 240, while the little device weighs just 104 grams and measures 13.2mm thick.

There’s a 2-megapixel camera on the back, plus Nokia Maps, Wi-Fi, a microSD card slot and an FM radio are all to be found inside. The Nokia Xpress browser compresses webpages for speedier (and cheaper) browsing, there’s access to an app store and a Facebook and Twitter app come pre-installed. Electronic Arts also provide 40 free games to download. Both Asha phones connect only to a 2G network.

While the hardware specification doesn’t scream smartphone, the software is more convincing, and although it’s easy to sneer at Series 40, there’s no denying it looks polished and really quite flash in the video below. To us, “smartphone-like” is still the best description of the Asha range — particularly for those without 3G — but that’s not going to sell any phones for Nokia, at least not where it counts.

Smartphones sell

Feature phone sales are dropping in the USA, but the Asha range isn’t aimed at those with the means to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S3 or an iPhone 5, it’s for markets where those devices are either prohibitively expensive, or don’t offer the right feature set — dual-SIM for example. These emerging markets are prime Asha hunting ground, but for Nokia to do business, it must compete with endless cheap Android smartphones.

With the software looking its best and installed on full, capacitive touchscreen handsets with a cool, colorful style; the only thing left was to convince the public that they’re buying a fashionable smartphone and not a feature phone that’s one step away from the grave. A task which starts right now.

Nokia will release the Asha 308 and Asha 309 before the end of the year, and both will cost around $99.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/nokia-plows-on-with-symbian-belle-announces-asha-308-and-asha-309/

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Samsung announces list of devices that will get Jelly Bean

The Android 4.1, Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S III has started rolling out but Samsung isn't going to stop at its flagship device. It has announced a list of devices that will be getting the Jelly Bean update in the upcoming months.

The list includes the following devices:

• Galaxy Tab 2.7.0
• Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
• Galaxy Note 10.1
• Galaxy S II
• Galaxy Note
• Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
• Galaxy S Advance
• Galaxy S II LTE
• Galaxy Music
• Galaxy Chat
• Galaxy Ace 2
• Galaxy Beam
• Galaxy Ace Plus
• Galaxy Mini II
• Galaxy S Duos

There are no concrete dates for any of the devices but we'll let you know when the devices mentioned abvove start receiving the update.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_list_of_devices_that_will_get_jelly_bean-news-4853.php

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Foxconn factory at center of riot reopens, supply not affected

The Foxconn factory at the center of a large riot on Sunday night reopened on Tuesday, a company spokesperson said, adding that there has been no impact on supply.

The Foxconn factory at the center of a serious disturbance late Sunday involving thousands of rioting workers has reopened.

Company spokesperson Louis Woo told Reuters Tuesday that despite staying shut all through Monday, no impact on product supply is expected. “We have 79,000 people working in Taiyuan campus, and we always have spare inventory,” Woo said.

The trouble, which reportedly involved more than 2,000 workers causing widespread damage throughout the factory campus, was brought to a halt by around 5,000 police. About 40 people were injured, with countless arrests made.

China’s state-run news agency said the brawl started after a fight broke out between two workers in a factory dormitory. However, workers allege the incident erupted after a security guard manhandled an employee at the factory gates.

Foxconn, the world’s biggest component maker, is a major manufacturer for Apple, as well as other giants in the electronics industry. The Taiwan-based company has so far refused to say whether this particular facility, located in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, is involved in the production of Apple’s new iPhone 5 handset.

In an on-screen interview with the UK’s Channel 4 News program, one former Foxconn worker explained that new devices can cause great stress among workers, saying, “When a factory launches a new product, workers do overtime for long periods to test the production line until they are ready, which really puts pressure on the employees.”

He added, “A new generation of workers has higher demands. They know their rights and they’re more rebellious.”

Foxconn, which employs more than a million people across China, has been under the spotlight for the last few years following reports of employees suffering poor living and working conditions. More recently, the company has apparently been implementing changes in an attempt to improve the situation.

The Fair Labor Association said in August that Foxconn had been making good progress towards its goal of providing better living and working conditions, though if Sunday night’s disturbance can be attributed to a frustrated and beleaguered workforce cracking under the strain, it clearly still has some way to go until its job is complete.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/foxconn-factory-at-center-of-riot-reopens-supply-not-affected/

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