It was only a matter of time really.

Apple announced today that Google Chief Executive, Eric E Schmidt, was stepping down from its board because of “potential conflicts of interest”. Well gee.. you think?

Once long time allies, Google and Apple have been competing more directly as Google ventures past its core competency in search and into areas such as operating systems and mobile devices.

Some of the areas where the two companies directly compete include mobile operating systems (Google Android vs Apple’s OS X), computer OS’s (Google’s just announced Chrome OS vs Apple’s OS X), web browsers (Google Chrome browser vs Apple Safari), and of course, the Internet application suite (Google Apps vs Apple Mobile Me).

With so many overlapping services and products, Mr. Schmidt’s role within Apple would have been severely diminished anyhow as he would need to recuse himself from many meetings involving competing services.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Apple, Eric Schmidt, Google

It’s official. Google announced Tuesday night that they were indeed working on a new operating system called “Google Chrome OS.” Building on concepts that led to the Chrome Browser, Google wanted to rethink what an operating system should be. With Chrome OS, Google aims to deliver a system that is fast, simple, and secure.

In a posting on their official blog site, Sundar Pichai (VP of Product Management) and Linus Upson (Engineering Director) announced that Chrome OS would be “fast and lightweight”, have a minimal user interface that’s designed to “stay out of your way”, and a redesigned security architecture (a.k.a. no more viruses, software updates, malware etc).

Chrome OS will be running within a new windowing system built on top of a Linux kernel. It will support both x86 and ARM processors and it will initially be available for netbook systems in the second half of 2010. Chrome OS will also go open-source later this year and Google is actively talking with partners now about the OS.

It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out down the road. Netbooks have certainly created an opening for Google to enter into the OS space. WIth netbooks, consumers generally want long battery life, fast boot times, and easy access to content and web applications online – all perfect elements for Chrome OS to succeed with.

[Check it out via NetbookTech.com]

Technorati Tags: Google, Google Chrome OS

Just a little news note – looks like Gmail is having issues again. I tried to access my mail account some time ago and received an HTTP 500 temporary error instead.  A quick check on twitter (via Twitscoop) revealed similar issues all over the net. What’s up Google? Gmail’s been problematic recently!!

BTW – not a great week for email eh? BlackBerry outage a few days ago and now this. Bet you that Google will never reveal why Gmail went down.

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: gmail outage

Here’s a little bit of hilarity for your Friday.  Go to Google and type:

“I am extremely”

Don’t press enter or click on any button. Just look at the suggestions provided by Google – especially the last one.

via http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/fail-owned-suggest-fail.jpg

Technorati Tags: Google, I am extremely, Google Search Suggestions

While we’re not physically at the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona, it’s not hard to notice the lack of real news coming from the Google Android camp. About the only really exciting piece of news came yesterday when Vodafone and HTC formally unveiled the HTC Magic – basically a slimmed down version of the Dream without the built-in keyboard.

The Magic will be available exclusively to Vodafone customers initially in the UK, Spain, Germany, and France and non-exclusively in Italy.

While we think the device is certainly attractive enough, there’s little in the way of the WOW factor here (stealing a page out of Simon Cowell on American Idol). This is really just a shrunken down version of the Dream (or G1 here in the U.S.).

According to Vodafone, the Magic will be available in white (pictured here) in the UK, Spain, and France, and black in Germany. Italy will have access to both colors (what’s up with the color segregation anyhow??)

Here’s what we know spec wise for the Magic:

• 3.2 inch QVGA touch-screen display
• Built-in navigation trackball
• Navigational buttons for quick easy access
• Email options including Google Mail, POP3, and IMAP
• Google Talk support

There’s no exact word on pricing or availability at this time – expect to hear about this from the local Vodafone markets.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Google, Vodafone, HTC Magic, HTC, Android

The folks at Gizmodo have managed to get pictures of what looks to be the next Android phone for T-Mobile – the T-Mobile G2 by HTC. The phone is apparently thinner thanks to the fact that it no longer has a built-in QWERTY keyboard. No word on specs but thanks to the back of the phone we know it has at least a 3.2 megapixel camera (I know.. we’re geniuses here). Gizmodo’s source claims the phone should be coming out in the middle of May.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile G2, Android, Google, HTC,

Holding out for the next version of the T-Mobile Android based handset? Well if the rumors on the Net are correct, you won’t have to wait for long. One rumor being reported by the folks at Cell Phone Signal has the new G2 coming out on January 26th, 2009. Sounds a bit early? We think so too – especially since the G1 just came out a few months ago. The folks at the Boy Genius Report hear that the new G2 will be coming out in April (due to software issues).  April sounds a bit more palatable. So what’s in the new G2?

Here are the reported specs:

• Touch-screen display – no keyboard
• Trackball at the bottom
• Enterprise support
• Wi-Fi support
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash
• EDGE and GPRS support
• 3G networking
• Memory card slot
• VGA secondary camera for supposed video calling

[CellPhone Signal, Boy Genius Report via CNET]

Technorati Tags: Android, T-Mobile G2, Smartphone

T-Mobile has officially announced the nationwide availability of the T-Mobile G1 handset powered by Google’s Android OS. The G1 as you know is the first Google Android phone to be made commercially available and is manufactured by HTC. The reviews thus far have been fairly positive though the G1 does have its quirks. However, for a version one handset, the G1 isn’t bad at all.

Anyone can now purchase the G1 at select retail stores around the country or at the G1 website at http://www.t-mobileg1.com. To support the launch of the G1, T-Mobile has done the following:

• Established an online forum for the G1 at http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/
• All T-Mobile retail stores will be open at 8am today (or later today that is)
• T-Mobile G1 experts will be on hand to demo the phone.

For new T-Mobile customers, the G1 is available for $179.99 along with a new T-Mobile plan. The phone is normally sold for $399.99. 

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile G1, Android, Google Android, HTC

According to various reports on the net, it appears T-Mobile has begun shipping the T-Mobile G1 Android phone to customers who pre-ordered the phone. Some of you might get the phone as early as the 17th which would be ahead of schedule for T-Mobile.

In the meantime, the reviews of the G1 have begun to hit the web – here are some of them for your reading pleasure.

New York Times – A Look at Google’s First Phone:

So there’s your G1 report card: software, A-. Phone, B-. Network, C.

But get psyched. Although the ungainly T-Mobile G1 is the first Android phone, it won’t be the last; Android phones will soon come in all shapes and sizes, and on all kinds of networks.

Venture Beat – HTC’s T-Mobile G1 Android phone up close: A nice touchable gadget

All in all, it’s a good phone. It’s smaller than an iPhone (only 0.62 inches thick) and so fits more easily into a shirt pocket. It feels solid. If you threw it at something, it would leave a considerable dent. But you’re not going to want to throw this phone. It’s got cachet, a cool look, and a lot of useful features. HTC, T-Mobile and Google have come up with a winner. I’d say more, but I didn’t get to keep it.

Mobile Burn – Review of T-Mobile’s Google Android Powered Smartphone

Even though we love the new OS and are pleased that there are no real deal breakers in the G1, there are enough small issues and 1.0 type features that keep us from giving the G1 our highest rating. But with that said, the G1 is certainly a device that deserves your consideration, especially if you are in the market for a mobile internet device that also happens to be a very solid phone.

Boy Genius Report – T-Mobile G1 Review

In the meantime, we think the up-and-coming mobile consumer/prosumer will love the G1 as long as they know what it is. It’s not a BlackBerry, it’s not a Sidekick. You could think of it as the adult Sidekick though, and that, my friends, is what people have been waiting for, for a very long time.

Gizmodo – T-Mobile G1 Google Android Phone Review

This isn’t something you’re going to give your mom for Christmas, but if you’re an adventuresome gadget guy with some money to spend ($179) on a totally new, pretty exciting venture, then why not?

Engadget – T-Mobile G1 review

When you put the G1 up against, say, a Sidekick LX, it seems like a no-brainer for T-Mobile customers looking for a powerful QWERTY device — especially at $20 less. You don’t need to be a cutting-edge mobile geek or a pundit to do that math. When facing off with platforms like the iPhone and Windows Mobile devices, it holds its own, but has a lot of ground to cover before it’s really making the competition sweat.

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile G1, Android Phone, Google, HTC, Review

Is the upcoming T-Mobile G1 Android handset really as popular as some publications are making it out to be? According to the Fool.com, T-Mobile has already sold out 1.5 million units of the phone due to pre-order sales. That’s a pretty impressive number for a phone that’s yet to show it’s face in a consumer’s hand (other than the hands of gadget reviewers out there of course). This also happens to be three times the 500K number that was originally quoted earlier in the month. The question is – who’s actually coming up with the 1.5 million count? According to Android Authority it appears the 1.5 million count came from T-Mobile announcing that they were tripling the number available (which was originally 500K). However, no one has actually come out to say that 1.5 million units have been sold thus far.. soo what’s the real truth here?

[Check it out via Mobile Burn]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, Google, Android, G1