Google’s Autonomous Vehicles Could Be A Game Changer

While Apple and Google continue their patent wars in the smartphone space, it may be Google’s autonomous (driverless) vehicles that propel the search giant to the head of the technology pack.

“The driverless car has broad implications for society, for the economy and for individual businesses. Just in the U.S., the car puts up for grab some $2 trillion a year in revenue and even more market cap. It creates business opportunities that dwarf Google’s current search-based business and unleashes existential challenges to market leaders across numerous industries, including car makers, auto insurers, energy companies and others that share in car-related revenue.”

But it is not just about driving. Google is and will always be a software-centric company and it is focused on drawing attention to its product. If Google can take a drivers eyes off the road it could mean longer times spent browsing the internet. Mobile data continues to increase in use and a customer using a Google driven vehicle with Google connectivity will be more likely to connect to Google service.  Imaging sitting in traffic for your 90 minutes commute to work and instead of staring at the cars in front of your vehicle you power up your smartphone and surf the web, watch YouTube videos and use other Google based internet platforms and other services.

Google autonomous vehicles could also save lives. Google has already claimed that it can greatly reduce the 34,000 deaths and 240,000 hospitalizations that occur every year. And while we would never recommend a drunk driver getting behind the wheel, Google’s new technology could provide a safer way for those drinkers to get home if they refuse a cab or other help.

The team at Mother Jones also notes that Google’s autonomous vehicles could lead to more carpooling because of their efficiency which would mean a big environmental impact could be on the horizon. By allowing a drivers vehicle to handle the driving better gas mileage and less wear and tear on vehicles could also be witnessed.

With $2 trillion in annual sales Google’s Autonomous vehicles could be a game changer for the company and in terms of technological advances the search giant is killing its competitors.

Asus Offers Windows 8 Android Jelly Bean Hybrid

Imagine a PC that runs Android and Windows 8, and you can switch between them by the flick of a switch. Asus not only created this hybrid, they made sure it was a powerhouse. The Asus Transformer All-in-One contains plenty of features that PC or Android could not have supported alone; the transformer has been dubbed as having a split personality and will be available in the market within the first quarter of 2013, which is to say in a couple of months.

The Asus Transformer All-in-One has the following features:

1. Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-Core Processor
2. 3rd generation Intel Core (i3, i5, and i7 will all be available in different versions of the product)
3. 18.5″ IPS 1080p display (maximum resolution 1920 x 1080)
4. 10 Point Multi-Touch Support
5. Undockable Tablet with a battery life of about 5 hours
6. PC Base Station
7. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
8. Secondary Display Support

Those are just the features that make this hybrid stand apart. The Asus Transformer All-in-One is a commendable attempt by Asus to bring the best of both worlds together on a single platform. Asus announced this hybrid at CES 2013, and has successfully invoked curiosity in several circles.
While the 18.5 inch tablet is mounted on the PC base station, you can switch between Android and Windows 8, place your wireless keyboard and mouse under the monitor, and use it as any other PC. The display is slick, and the powerful processors ensure this system could handle anything. The Windows 8 has a touch friendly interface, so even docked; the touch screen factor comes into play.
You can undock the tablet from the PC base, and it automatically turns into a Tablet running on Android. If you are near the PC base, you could still switch to Windows 8 mode, as the base will connect with the Tablet through WiFi. The size and weight of the Tablet can be a bit of problem, as most people are not used to carry 18 inch Tablets with them.
For people that do a lot of travelling and are consistently using their Tablets while in transition, this may not be the best option. However, people that need a powerful PC and the occasional tablet need to look no further.
The Asus Transformer All-in-One is announced at a time when Nvidia introduced Tegra 4. Considering how powerful Tegra 4 processor is, maybe Asus would look into replacing Tegra 3 with Tegra 4 in their next batch of hybrids to make it lighter and smaller.
Since this is the first of its kind in what we can hope to be a long line of hybrids, this can be considered as a technology of the future. There are talks of possible future hybrids that may be able to run both operating systems simultaneously, but it all depends on how Asus Transformer functions and how it is received in the market. Gamers might want to look into this device once it hits the stands.
 

Sony Xperia Z hands-on

Watch out Samsung! There's someone gunning to dethrone you in the Android smartphone space, and more importantly, it looks as though they're getting started ahead of everyone. That's right folks, it's none other than Sony who is shaking things up here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Just as the leaks have shown in the last month or so, Sony's upcoming flagship is indeed for real!

Simply known as the Sony Xperia Z, it’s the Japanese company’s dubbed flagship device – and boy does it have the impressive specs sheet to live up to that recognition! Certainly we’re drooling over its wicked hardware, which consists of many lovable elements that would crush most of the existing line high-end smartphones on the market right now, but interestingly enough, it merely matches some of the stuff we’ve seen already put forth by the HTC DROID DNA most recently.

First and foremost, the Sony Xperia Z travels in a different path from some of the other Xperia branded devices we’ve seen in the last year. Even though it might retain some of the Xperia design DNA, it’s a little bit different this time – mainly because it’s sporting a glossy finish with its casing, as opposed to some sort of cleaner looking finish. Of course, it’s a big magnet for things such as fingerprints and smudges, but to tell you the truth, it’s soundly solid with its construction. At the same time, Sony has been able to keep its profile relatively thin. Overall, it’s undoubtedly a handful to hold, but when you combine its sharp industrial design with its sturdiness, which includes being waterproof and dustproof, it’s a safe bet to assume it’ll withstand a lot more punishment than some of its highly esteemed rivals.

Turning on the Sony Xperia X, our eyes relish the vibrant screen it’s packing along. Specifically, it’s a 5-inch 1080p display that’s using the Mobile BRAVIA 2 engine, which simply comes to life with its high contrast, robust color reproduction, and sharp viewing angles. Right away, it’s really the centerpiece of the Sony Xperia Z, since it’s the first thing to really catch our eyes from afar.

Under the hood, a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor coupled with 2GB of RAM is running the show. Although it’s able to win us over with its mostly responsive performance, we’re still seeing some sluggishness perusing around the UI – though, it’s worth noting that this is a pre-production model we’re scoping out, so it could be other software bugs that can be the culprit behind it. Rounding things out, it’s impressively packing along a 13-megapixel auto-focus camera that features an Exmor RS sensor, LED flash, and 1080p video recording. Additionally, it’s carrying along 4G LTE connectivity, a microSD card slot, 2,330 mAh battery, and NFC.

With this particular pre-production model, it’s running Sony’s specific custom UI, an updated version of Timescape of course, which definitely packs its own set of eye candy, but from our cursory exposure, it doesn’t seem to be drastically different in terms of comprehensive functionality. Oh yeah, did we mention that it’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with an anticipated software update to 4.2 sometime after launch?

In the greater scheme of things, Sony neglected to provide an exact price point and release date for this monster, but it’s currently slated for a Q1 release, which means it can potentially be out any time before March. Needless to say, time might be working against this one indeed launches later in March, but if it really wants to take the crown by force, they need to get this one out sooner than later – with a price point that’s no doubt on the aggressive side as well.

Symantec Launches Mobility Solution Specialization For Channel

Symantec has introduced new mobility solution specialization and cloud enablement offerings for its channel partners in India.

The company launched a dedicated mobility channel specialization program that will allow partners to offer Symantec’s enterprise mobility products to their customers.

The mobility solution specialization will cover the full Symantec Mobile Management Suite and will provide partners access to opportunity registration, expert resources, enablement programs, and accreditations in a multi-tier model.

The specialization also gives partners a unique position to help overcome the challenges BYOD presents by offering a complete set of solutions, thus adding multiple opportunities for value-added services and revenue streams.

For its vision on cloud, company launched resources for partners such as CloudSmart e-learning course, the Symantec Cloud Security Essentials Training in which the company shares cloud knowledge and best practices for building and protecting clouds, helping customers design and architect a comprehensive cloud data security strategy based on Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) guidelines.

Symantec’s enhanced subscription-based licensing program (ExSP) is a subscription-based licensing model. The program offers Symantec partners the choice of buying Symantec software in a monthly subscription-based model, providing them with greater flexibility in how they deliver solutions to their customers. The program rewards service partners for their growth by reducing licensing costs as their volume of business increases. The Symantec ExSP Licensing Program is open to partners enrolled in Symantec’s Partner Program who are qualified service providers.

Said Amitabh Jacob, Director, Channels, Symantec, India & Saarc, “The new specialization and cloud enablement offerings provide partners with the tools and resources to increase their marketability and drive additional revenue.”

“Customers are increasingly asking us to help them address challenges such as BYOD and manage disparate mobile devices securely within the corporate network as well as the cloud,” said Sunil Dalal, Managing Director, Softcell. “We are excited to build expertise in the mobility and cloud programs to address these opportunities and generate value for our customers.”

"Cloud computing as a technology trend is seeing a lot of interest from customers. However, not many are aware of how they can take advantage of the cloud effectively,” said Prashant Mudbidri, Director, Logix InfoSecurity. “Symantec’s new cloud enablement offerings are a welcome move to enhance our skills and reinforce customer confidence in our capabilities to assist them in leveraging the cloud model.”