Google I/O 2015 sets a low bar for Apple's WWDC to leap

Google I/O 2015 sets a low bar for Apple's WWDC to leap
From all the breathless coverage detailing Google's I/O 2015 conference announcements, you might not have noticed that virtually all of what Google had to show this year were things Apple had already introduced over the past year (or long ago).

I'm not at Google IO, so... but either we're looking at different announcements or somebody has their head in the sand. Between Google Wear's touchable fabrics and the RADAR interaction interface, these announcements are just as forward-thinking as anything Apple has announced recently.

"Where do 3rd party application developers go?" is a more important question. The same question from the early 90s when Microsoft Windows 95 was the 80% to Mac OS 20%. The answer is: the healthiest 3rd party eco-system drives worldwide dominance.

You could call Android the "Windows XP" of mobile. Which could be a back-handed compliment. Or it could be a way of describing that the next 10 years will be dominated by Android.

Google’s Project Tango tablet now available to everyone for $512 via the Google Store | 9to5Google

Google’s Project Tango tablet now available to everyone for $512 via the Google Store | 9to5Google
Google’s Project Tango initiative was originally introduced last year alongside a tablet with “advanced vision capabilities.” Until today, the tablet had only been available with an invite, but now the device is listed on the Google Store for anyone to purchase (via Android Police). Google dropped the price of the tablet for invitees to $512 earlier this year and that’s also the price for which the device is available on the Play Store.

This is really interesting.

Android M allows Android TV developers to create channels of continuous content, users to format USB drives as internal | 9to5Google

Android M allows Android TV developers to create channels of continuous content, users to format USB drives as internal | 9to5Google
We’ve already done a roundup of the core changes coming in the next big release of Android, simply called “M,” so you should check that out. But we haven’t yet covered what additions and changes Android M brings to Google’s Internet TV platform, Android TV.

Anything that makes media more of a meritocracy is AOK by me.

Google I/O kicks off tomorrow morning, but we took an early tour [Gallery] | 9to5Google

Google I/O kicks off tomorrow morning, but we took an early tour [Gallery] | 9to5Google
I’ve already grabbed my badge and checked in for Google I/O 2015, so I thought I would grab a few shots to give you a little bit of an idea of what the atmosphere is like.

I/O, I/O, it's off to work we go.

Apple's iPhone 6s could add 12MP Sony camera with RGBW subpixels - report

Apple's iPhone 6s could add 12MP Sony camera with RGBW subpixels - report
The next-generation iPhone will reportedly sport a camera with a 12-megapixel Sony sensor that makes use of the firm's RGBW technology to help with low-light photography.

I'm not familiar with this technology but it looks like a second luma sample at a different f-stop. Effectively: a HDR type frame buffer for every image? More as the story develops.

Google says that larger-screened devices are helping the mobile ad business | 9to5Google

Google says that larger-screened devices are helping the mobile ad business | 9to5Google: "‘As phones get bigger the space issue becomes less challenging,’ he said, pulling his Nexus 6 smartphone out to show its six-inch display. ‘This is essentially a tablet. People’s ability to navigate sites and fill out forms and such goes up tremendously."

This seems at once entirely obvious and entirely logical.

Google reportedly ready to launch Android-based ‘Brillo’ OS for the Internet of Things | 9to5Google

Google reportedly ready to launch Android-based ‘Brillo’ OS for the Internet of Things | 9to5Google
According to a report this morning from The Information, Google is working on new software built specifically for lower memory devices like smart home products. While current versions of Android are aimed at devices with at least 512 megabytes of memory, this new spinoff of the Android operating system, codenamed “Brillo,” is aimed at low-powered devices with as little as 32 or 64 megabytes of RAM…

Less is more. Or, in this case, a LOT MORE!

Apple tops tech rivals in sales, profits & assets for first time in Forbes Global 2000

Apple tops tech rivals in sales, profits & assets for first time in Forbes Global 2000: "Based on figures available by April 6 — notably excluding the company's record March quarter — Apple managed $200 billion in sales, a net profit of $45 billion, and $260 billion in assets, according to Forbes's latest annual Global 2000 rankings. The company's next closest competitor was Samsung, which achieved $195 billion in sales, $22 billion in net profit, and $210 billion in assets. "

I fully expect Russia to invade Apple just for the munchies.

First 'Steve Jobs' teaser trailer shows Michael Fassbender as late tech guru

First 'Steve Jobs' teaser trailer shows Michael Fassbender as late tech guru
Universal Studios released the first teaser trailer for Danny Boyle's highly anticipated Steve Jobs biopic on Sunday, offering a glimpse at what to expect from the film and Michael Fassbender, who plays the late Apple cofounder.

It's that Steve Jobs movie.

These old Apple devices are about to become obsolete | Cult of Mac

These old Apple devices are about to become obsolete | Cult of Mac: "If you own and still use something on these lists, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to get one it repaired if you take it someplace that knows its way around an Apple product. But if the fixer doesn’t have the parts they need, they won’t be able to get them."

One of my favorite Macs is on the list.

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is still gaming's showman at 72 | GamesBeat | Games | by Dean Takahashi

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is still gaming's showman at 72 | GamesBeat | Games | by Dean Takahashi: "In 1972, Nolan Bushnell co-founded Atari with Ted Dabney. The company went on to launch seminal video games such as Pong and Breakout that defined a generation of gamers. Almost 43 years later, he’s still the spokesman and showman of video games."

Inspiration!

Apple considering 'major' expansion of Ireland manufacturing - report

Apple considering 'major' expansion of Ireland manufacturing - report
If Apple moves forward, the new expansion would build into a Cork County Council land bank which for 20 years has served as a Traveller halting site, according to Independent.ie. The company could be ready to almost double its factory space, although it's reportedly weighing that against a smaller expansion.

Cheers for the land of Ir!

Apple cash reserves greater than those held by most US industries combined

Apple cash reserves greater than those held by most US industries combined: "The $178 billion in cash reserves Apple held at the end of 2014 was more than aggregate of every other non-financial U.S. industry sector, excluding the technology and medical industries, according to a Moody's Investors Service study released on Thursday."

You'd think with all those resources they could make the Mac dominant. Hmmm. Here's hoping! I'm ready with Xcode.

Apple details new 'AppleBot' web crawler used by Siri and Spotlight

Apple details new 'AppleBot' web crawler used by Siri and Spotlight
One web developer spotted Apple's crawler last November, after seeing numerous hits from a crawler in the 17.0.0.0/8 block. That block is assigned to Apple, one of just a handful of companies that control an entire A block.

I got a whole block to myself.

WSJ: Google was going to build Periscope/Meerkat years ago, but didn’t have the resources | 9to5Google

WSJ: Google was going to build Periscope/Meerkat years ago, but didn’t have the resources | 9to5Google: "Google-owned YouTube had a chance to beat Twitter’s Periscope and its biggest competitor, Meerkat, to market by somewhere in the ballpark of 8 years, but decided against the move due to the fact that a large portion of the company’s resources were engaged in fending off a Viacom lawsuit and creating the Content ID copyright detection system."

VIACOM working overtime to eventually destroy VIACOM!