"Google Music" and "Ice Cream Sandwich" for Android

From 2008 to discuss the "Google I / O" professionals every year on products from the Google universe. But the group itself presents new developments. Highlights of 2011: an Android version for all devices and its own music service.

New year, new luck?

2009 saw Google Wave the light of day, 2010 saw Google TV sensation in the two-day developer conference in San Francisco. Both services started with only moderate success, Google, Google Wave has already pulled the plug. 2011, be more successful and enrich not only the Google universe of fresh features, but to bring together existing equipment and technologies. COMPUTER IMAGE shows you the most interesting innovations.

Google Music: Clouds music for U.S. users

A few weeks ago, it has led the way Amazon Cloud with the player, now, Google's own vision of a music service in the data cloud. "Google Music" allows you to upload up to 20,000 songs you play on the computer or on an Android device. For the stay in areas without network coverage, you can deliver the content to make available offline. Downside for German music fans: For now, Google released the service as a pre-release in the U.S. only. It is also unclear whether "Google Music" after the beta period is free.

Pressure on iTunes Movies on Android Market

Where Apple does with the iTunes software monster a complete solution for apps, music and movies, the Android Market has so far been limited to programs and games to its own devices. This is now final: Google makes movies as streaming offering available, please view the contents either in the browser on your phone or tablet PC. Up to 30 days, the rental of a film is valid - once you start playing, you have 24 hour access. As with "Google Music" is to movies can be downloaded in the background, if the network connection exposed. Prices: Starting at $ 1.99, from $ 4.99 for HD material. If Google offered the service outside the U.S., is still unclear.

Ice Cream Sandwich: ice cream for all devices

Android now will not only be found on smartphones, but also with Tablet PCs, notebooks, and thanks to Google TV even on the home TV. But the device classes currently require different versions of the operating system. This fragmentation will command a stop Google: The next version of Android "Ice Cream Sandwich" is to unify all the devices.

Android @ home: home control Google

But Google's plans with its own operating system already has a larger dimension. With Android @ home it should be possible in future to control the entire house by Android. This means you are in the integration of your apartment is not limited to multimedia devices, and also serve interior without WLAN functionality, Android uses a special protocol @ home. Thus, for control by power and heating and lighting of the Google operating system.

Faster and more: New Google policy

2011 is a year of success for Android: 100 million units have been activated already, according to Google, another 400,000 being added every day. The rapid development cycles, however, represent a risk for buyers, because some devices get a few months after the publication of any more updates. To stop this trend, Google with all major manufacturers and mobile operators have agreed on more consumer-friendly policies: If the built-in hardware in a position, it must be future supplies every Android device at least 18 months, with updates - with greatly reduced waiting time for the new versions.

The cell phone trends and smartphone news in 2011

The war of mobile operating systems is in full swing. Two winners have been: Google and Apple. Provide equipment and Trends 2011 What a sensation.

The technique 2011

Large touch screens, tidy case with a few buttons, virtual and sliding keyboard - the recipe to keep almost all smartphone manufacturers. The all-rounder to take in everyday life even more features. The transmission standard NFC (Near Field Communication) enables the easy payment by mobile phone, making debit and credit card competition. Music, videos and television programs are available on Cloud Services (online storage) per data connection. The LTE wireless standard satisfies high-bandwidth mobile data hungry. Thus all liquid buy running the manufacturers more processors. The first of the new dual-core generation, the LG P990 Optimus Speed​​, the fastest mobile phone, the computer image has been tested (April 2011).

Smartphones are booming

Apple presented with over 16 million iPhones sold in the fourth quarter of 2010 to increase. The outstanding climber is Google's Android operating system. According to market researcher Canalys were 33.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2010 for the first time in more Android smartphones Nokia phones (31 million) were sold. Google fired in addition to the other great smartphones Trend 2011: With Android 3.0 is the first for tablet computers optimized operating system.

Nokia ties up with Microsoft

Turning strategy at Nokia: The world's largest mobile phone maker ties up with Microsoft to stop its downward trend. In the future, the Finns also rely on Microsoft's refurbished mobile operating system Windows Phone 7 In deciding against the prospect of Google's Android certainly helped on the billion-dollar support from Microsoft. Microsoft speculates in return for a significant increase in the previously manageable market share of Windows Phone 7.

Germany - smartphone-land?

In Germany, according to research firm ComScore 23 percent of consumers have a smartphone. The paragraph 2011 in this country for the first time exceed the ten million mark (up 39 percent). Then it would already be every third phone sold a smartphone.

Mini mobile phone or computer?

Smartphones, despite their wide range of functions are still phones. Therefore, it should be easy to use, provide long battery life and a robust housing. Numbers must be selected easily, quickly tap SMS, save new contacts easily in mobile phone. The COMPUTER-test checks these criteria, only a thoroughly enjoyable Smartphone conquered the top of the leaderboard.

Nokia puts in patent dispute with Apple to

Nokia heats the patent war with Apple once more. The Finns started a fresh application with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ITC, after a judge rejected a push by the company to Apple.

To go there now by 46 patents, Nokia announced. Apple infringed Nokia patents in almost all of its iPhone mobile phones, iPods, iPad tablets and Mac computers, is the sharpest criticism yet of the mobile phone manufacturer.

The new ITC complaint includes seven patents, which involve, among other things, according to Nokia to data synchronization, the use of Bluetooth accessories, and call quality. Nokia had a significant influence in recent decades with the development of mobile phones and GSM wireless standards, and collected over 10,000 patent families.

Apple refuses, according to the Finns, despite repeated requests, licenses to patented technologies from Nokia to purchase. Nokia launched in 2009 a first patent suit against the iPhone manufacturer. Apple countered with its own patent allegations, since then, the companies fight each other in different instances in several countries.

On 25 Nokia in March 2011 suffered a setback: An ITC judge found in a preliminary determination on five Nokia patents that Apple is not violated. With the new Nokia application shows after a few days ago that the arsenal of patents contains enough ammunition for such cases.

The patent war between Nokia and Apple is far from it only in the mobile industry. Nokia itself has for years defended against accusations of German patent exploitation IPCom. The focus of several actions are also a manufacturer of phones with the Google operating system "Android".