Category: Gadgets

Gadgets receiving update now include Google TV

| October 17, 2013

The experience as it once was known will now been changed completely and forever.

The experience that was offered as Google TV is will soon come to an end as these gadgets and the overall service that they provide a new upgrade that has transformed into Android TV.

This, according to several reports that are based on sources that are close to Google.

While this officially remains a rumor, as the search engine giant has yet to confirm any plans regarding its gadgets, it has been confirmed by a number of other sources close to the matter that Android TV should be considered to be a done deal.

This alteration in the gadgets and the service is considered to be more than just a change in name.

Gadgets - Google TVAccording to Gigaom’s Janko Roettgers, “For Google TV, this is more than just a name change.” Going on to explain the gadgets and the platform, Roettgers said that “The TV platform was launched three years ago based on Honeycomb, the Android version that also powered Google’s first steps into the tablet world. Google’s latest tablets now run Android 4.3, but Google TV is still stuck on Android version 3.2, which makes it much harder for developers to bring their apps to the TV screen.”

This suggests that it’s not just the packaging for the gadgets that will look completely different but that the entire platform will be altered so that the viewer will be using the television in the same way that he or she would be using any other Android based device, such as a tablet or smartphone. It won’t be stuck on an ancient version of the operating system but will be propelled forward so that apps can be enjoyed on the television screen, as well.

Earlier in 2013, Google had announced that it would be bringing its Google TV gadgets up to the most recent Android version, so that it would make it possible for developers to be able to use the same APIs that are available on smartphones and tablets.

The Android 4.2 upgrade did receive its official announcement for the third quarter of this year, but the rumor is that LG will be updating their own Google TV gadgets later on in October. Other manufacturers will be following suit over the next few months. That said, it’s not likely that this will occur before the end of 2014.

Gadgets from LG will soon feature curved displays

| October 14, 2013

These new handsets are slated to be launched in November, in time for the holiday shopping season.

LG Electronics Inc. has announced that it is now beginning to mass produce gadgets that have curved displays, such as in the case of the smartphones that are set to launch next month.

The goal is to carve out a larger portion of the market that is currently held by its larger rival, Samsung.

Last month, Samsung announced that it would begin releasing curved display gadgets as of October. These smartphones were to become available at some point this month from the leading smartphone manufacturer in the world. It made this announcement in order to help to keep ahead of the slowing high-end smartphone market growth.

Curved displays are still in the beginning states of gadget development but could be important to wearables.

Gadgets - smartphone with curved displayThis new type of display can make it possible to have bendable and foldable designs that could make it possible for wearable gadgets and other mobiles such as smartphones and tablets to be able to take on new designs that could dramatically change the look and design of the high end smartphone market.

In the case of LG Display Co. Ltd., they have announced that the gadgets that will use this technology, so far, will include a six inch display smartphone that is curved from top to bottom. This LG device is expected to be launched in November. At the same time, the Samsung handset will be curved from side to side, instead of the top to bottom shape from LG Electronics.

As of January, Samsung had become the global smartphone gadgets leader, after having taken the position from Apple Inc. In that month, it revealed a line of prototype products that were based on a flexible screen as well as a display extending from the side of the device.

According to tech experts, the technology has yet to be manufactured in a way that can be mass produced cheaply, and there is still a need to come up with display panels that are resistant to heat and that are thin at the same time. Curved displays are already available in larger gadgets such as big screen televisions. Both LG and Samsung have been selling these TVs this year.