Adobe creates a cloud, Microsoft creates an Xbox, Google creates glass and we create a podcast. All this and more on TECHGEEK Weekly. We also talking about mysterious packages turning up for Google I/O, The IT Crowd and much much more.
Google Now available for iOS
Google has finally made the popular feature of Android phones, Google Now available on iOS through the App Store.
Google Now is the real time information service that provides useful information gathered from your Google searches, calendars, apps and location. For example, Now can show the quickest route to your workplace depending on traffic conditions, show if your flight is delayed and weather information of the city you’re in.
TECHGEEK Weekly 123: Toiletband
The Liberals now have a plan for the NBN – so is it actually any good? No, and we explain why. Also, our verdict on the BlackBerry Z10, and more on this week’s TECHGEEK Weekly. We also talk about the rumors of a new 7-inch Microsoft tablet and Bitcoins!
TECHGEEK Weekly 122: TECHGEEK Home
Facebook reveals its Home, HTC One finally has a release date, and Ouya says it’s “not ready for review”. All this and more on TECHGEEK Weekly. We also delve into a Microsoft PR nightmare, Rdio’s Vdio service and Instagraph for Windows Phone.
Video Review: Microsoft Surface RT
Finally! We’ve got a review of the Microsoft Surface RT. The first tablet from Microsoft, the Surface RT has a Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 10.6″ ClearType HD Display, the option of 32GB or 64GB of storage and a 31.5 W-h battery. The RT also has two cameras and a range of colourful touch covers to protect your Surface and provide a physical keyboard. Check out our video review after the break.
TECHGEEK Weekly 120: World’s Fastest Podcast
ABC Hacked, Evernote as well and HP is making an Android tablet. All this and more on TECHGEEK Weekly. We also talk about Windows Phone, new phones from Mobile World Congress.
TECHGEEK Windows Phone App Now Available
The TECHGEEK Windows Phone App is now available for anyone with WP7 or WP8 to use. Featuring a simple and clean design, you’ll be able to catch up on the latest stories, reviews and podcasts from the app. You’ll be able to select any of our latest podcasts and listen to them on the go, under the lockscreen. Share our articles easily by pushing the share button in the bar below and even have the article read out to you (WP8 only)!
Telstra offers PayPal for bill payments
Today via their blog, Telstra has announced that they will start accepting PayPal as a payment option for bills. Obviously, the best way to get people to pay their bills is offering as many methods as possible and Telstra has done just that. PayPal joins the already extensive list of payment options which include Credit Card, Direct Debit, BPay, Post Billpay and of course, cheque/cash at a Telstra store. Best of all, there is no surcharge when paying with PayPal. Which is odd as they currently charge a surcharge for Credit Card payments.
Tweetbot outs pirates by naming and shaming themselves
TweetBot is probably the most popular and the best third-party twitter application on iOS and OS X. However, it appears some think the price tag (AU$2.99 for iOS and AU $20.99 for OS X) is a little too high for such a great application. So, Tapbots (the developers of the application) have decided to bite back at the users pirating their application. The pirated copies of Tweetbot will automatically fill the compose field on the application with the following:
Tumblr and others officially coming to Windows Phone
Nokia have announced several partnerships at their Mobile World Congress keynote. These partnerships will see official apps coming exclusively to Lumia devices. The most notable app coming to Windows Phone is Tumblr. According to Nokia’s Press Release, the app will be available for all Windows Phone devices (not just Nokia ones) upon release. The app will include exclusive features such as voice command integration and a live tile to display the newest posts from your dashboard.
Round – An Australian start-up set to change online payments
For those in online business, accepting Credit Cards can be be a costly and long process. With all the paperwork, checks and hoops you need to go through, it almost seems not worth it. However, an Australian start-up is determined to change that. Round will offer a very similar service to Stripe, a US payment processor.
Huawei announce the Ascend P2 – World’s Fastest 4G LTE Smartphone
Huawei have announced the Ascend P2 Smartphone at the 2013 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The smartphone features a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory (with no expandable memory), 4.7-inch display, 13 megapixel rear camera, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 2420 mAh battery. Powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, the smartphone is skinned with Huawei’s Emotion UI.
Telstra to increase 4G speeds with CAT4 devices
Telstra is preparing to launch new devices which take advantage of increased 4G/LTE speeds. Telstra is introducing new Category 4 (CAT4) devices to their line up: a WiFi hotspot and a handset. Currently Telstra 4G customers can achieve 2Mbps to 40Mbps download speeds (with CAT3 devices). CAT4 devices will allow 4G customers to experience a peak download rate of 100Mbps – a huge improvement.
HTC One – Is HTC’s new flagship any good?
Just a day after the official HTC One launch in New York and London, it was Australia’s (and South-East Asia’s) turn to experience the new phone. Hosted at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, the venue offered outstanding views of Circular Quay and the Harbour. Not sticking to the default setup of a stage and rows of seats, HTC opted for a very open design with plenty of standing room.
Google announces Chromebook Pixel
Google have today announced the next laptop to their Chromebook line. The Chromebook Pixel, a touchscreen laptop for those who live up in the clouds. The laptop features a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 32 or 64GB SSD and a measly 5 hours of battery life. The Chromebook has a 12.85-inch display and according to Google, has the highest pixel density of any laptop screen on the market today with 239 pixels per inch (compared to the Retina MBP’s 220 PPI) – which is fairly impressive.