Is Apple working on tablet-laptop 'large iPad-like' hybrid device?

Recent rumours pointed to Apple working on a large iPad-like device, however, many analysts have pointed that the speculations could possibly mean either a hybrid device or a more conventional product.

Market researchers have been trying to figure out what exactly the 13-inch 

'iPad Pro' would appear like.

According to Cnet, a source with connections in the Asian supply chain said that there is an 'internal debate' as to whether the new product is 'targeted for the notebook line, rather than the iPad line.'

However, Samsung's Galaxy Tab Pro is large by tablet standards and the South Korean company is also marketing a business-friendly tablet with a keyboard and mouse, which is a reason enough for Apple to be working on a hybrid device.

The report said that along with rumours about larger sized tablets and detachables, Apple is also speculated to be working on a more conventional 12-inch MacBook, the report added.

Vietnam's hit game developer pulls plug on Flappy Bird

The Vietnamese developer behind the smash-hit free game Flappy Bird has pulled his creation from online stores after announcing that its runaway success had ruined his "simple life". Technology experts say the addictive and notoriously difficult game rose from obscurity at its release 

last May to become one of the most downloaded free mobile games on Apple's App Store and Google's Play store.

"'Flappy Bird' is a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it," the game's creator Nguyen Ha Dong tweeted.

"I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore," he wrote Saturday from his @dongatory handle -- which has seen its follower count grow by tens of thousands in the last few days.

Flappy Bird was not available on the US or UK Apple app stores on Monday.

"It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore," Dong tweeted.

Flappy Bird features 2D retro-style graphics. The aim of the game is to direct a flying bird between oncoming sets of pipes without touching them. 

Dong has said in interviews that his brainchild was pulling in as much as $50,000 per day in revenue from online advertising banners.

The free game has been the number one app in Apple's iOS App Store in more than 100 countries, according to An Minh Do, editor of the Tech in Asia online media company.

Withdrawing the game "may be a PR stunt or may be due to legal pressure or maybe he's sick of the press. That is not clear yet," Do told AFP.

Rumours have swirled that Dong took down the game after being pressured by Japan's Nintendo -- Flappy Bird's simple graphics appear to owe some debt to Nintendo's early Mario brothers games.

"All of this is pure rumour. Some say Nintendo, but I don't believe it. I do know that he (Dong) travelled to Japan during Tet though," Do said, referring to the just-ended Vietnamese new year holidays.

Local online newspaper VNExpress quoted Dong -- who also has two other games in the top 10 in online stores -- as saying he created the game in a matter of days following "a weird design style".

Vietnam has a small but thriving software and games development sector and the global publicity surrounding Flappy Bird is likely to help it grow, experts say.

"It is inspiring a lot of young Vietnamese programmers who will now want to follow (Dong's) way and provide games to the world," said Bui Thien Canh, the president of the software association of Danang.

is google nest idea is good?

The surprise deal announced earlier this week will provide Google with more tools to build a valuable hub for homes. It's a world of network-tethered toasters and tea kettles, or a so-called " Internet of Things," that is destined to reshape society, experts say, in the same way that smartphones have done in the seven years since Apple unveiled the iPhone.

The research firm Gartner expects more than 26 billion objects to be connected to the internet by 2020, a figure that doesn't include personal computers, smartphones or tablets. That would be a nearly 30-fold increase from roughly 900 million internet-connected things in 2009.

Google established itself as an instrumental player in smartphones with the 2008 release of Android, a free operating system that runs on more mobile devices than any other piece of software. Now, the company is gearing up for the advent of the smart home with the help of Nest Labs, a 300-employee company started in Palo Alto, Calif. less than four years ago. Tony Fadell, Nest's founder, is an Apple veteran who helped design the iPod and the iPhone.

As influential as smartphones have become, their role in understanding people's habits and preferences could be eclipsed once everything in the home has a computer chip and is connected to the internet.

"Google bought Nest in order to learn about this world where even more information is going to be accessible by computers," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett.

Nest Labs quickly won over gadget lovers with its 2011 release of an Internet-connected thermostat that learns to cool and heat homes to suit the needs of the inhabitants. Late last year, the company followed up with a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector equipped with voice technology and the ability to communicate with the company's thermostat. Nest hasn't said how many of its devices have been sold, though analysts believe they are in just a small fraction of homes. The products have only been available in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Google hasn't disclosed its specific plans for Nest, but analysts anticipate an entire line of internet-connected home products will be coming to countries around the world. Some of those Nest devices could be melded with existing Google services in an effort to make people's lives easier. Such a move also would provide Google with the means to gather more insight that could be used to sell the digital advertising that generates most of the company's revenue.

In a blog post about the Google acquisition, Nest Labs co-founder Matt Rogers promised that customers' personal information will only be used for "providing and improving Nest's products and services. We've always taken privacy seriously and this will not change.

But that pledge won't preclude Google from incorporating its services with Nest's products, said Gartner analyst Angela McIntyre. For instance, Google already makes a digital assistant called "Google Now" that strives to learn what its users like and where they tend to go so it can provide helpful information without prompting. McIntyre believes Nest's products will teach Google Now to become more helpful so it can increasingly take over more of the mundane tasks in people's lives.

"They need to gather as much information as they can to understand the context in how we live our lives," McIntyre said.

Google also could plug its digital mapping software into Nest products so it could learn the layout of a home, said Brian Proffitt, a technology analyst who is also a management instructor at the University of Notre Dame. That knowledge could then be deployed to delegate such household chores as vacuuming to a robot that would be able to rely on the interior maps to navigate its way through an entire home without human help, Proffitt said.

A Google division run by Android creator Andy Rubin is working on various ideas for robots, though the Mountain View, California, company hasn't shared many details about its goals. Google's expansion into robotics is also being bolstered by a spate of acquisitions that included the recent purchase of Boston Dynamics, a US military contractor that has already built a variety of contraptions that can be programmed to run at rapid speeds, leap high into the air and climb rocky terrains.

Even as it explores various technological frontiers, Google still makes most of its money from advertising tied to search requests. Acquiring and developing products with internet connections and environmental sensors can only help Google get an even better grasp on people's interests

is google nest idea is good?

The surprise deal announced earlier this week will provide Google with more tools to build a valuable hub for homes. It's a world of network-tethered toasters and tea kettles, or a so-called " Internet of Things," that is destined to reshape society, experts say, in the same way that smartphones have done in the seven years since Apple unveiled the iPhone.

The research firm Gartner expects more than 26 billion objects to be connected to the internet by 2020, a figure that doesn't include personal computers, smartphones or tablets. That would be a nearly 30-fold increase from roughly 900 million internet-connected things in 2009.

Google established itself as an instrumental player in smartphones with the 2008 release of Android, a free operating system that runs on more mobile devices than any other piece of software. Now, the company is gearing up for the advent of the smart home with the help of Nest Labs, a 300-employee company started in Palo Alto, Calif. less than four years ago. Tony Fadell, Nest's founder, is an Apple veteran who helped design the iPod and the iPhone.

As influential as smartphones have become, their role in understanding people's habits and preferences could be eclipsed once everything in the home has a computer chip and is connected to the internet.

"Google bought Nest in order to learn about this world where even more information is going to be accessible by computers," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett.

Nest Labs quickly won over gadget lovers with its 2011 release of an Internet-connected thermostat that learns to cool and heat homes to suit the needs of the inhabitants. Late last year, the company followed up with a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector equipped with voice technology and the ability to communicate with the company's thermostat. Nest hasn't said how many of its devices have been sold, though analysts believe they are in just a small fraction of homes. The products have only been available in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Google hasn't disclosed its specific plans for Nest, but analysts anticipate an entire line of internet-connected home products will be coming to countries around the world. Some of those Nest devices could be melded with existing Google services in an effort to make people's lives easier. Such a move also would provide Google with the means to gather more insight that could be used to sell the digital advertising that generates most of the company's revenue.

In a blog post about the Google acquisition, Nest Labs co-founder Matt Rogers promised that customers' personal information will only be used for "providing and improving Nest's products and services. We've always taken privacy seriously and this will not change.

But that pledge won't preclude Google from incorporating its services with Nest's products, said Gartner analyst Angela McIntyre. For instance, Google already makes a digital assistant called "Google Now" that strives to learn what its users like and where they tend to go so it can provide helpful information without prompting. McIntyre believes Nest's products will teach Google Now to become more helpful so it can increasingly take over more of the mundane tasks in people's lives.

"They need to gather as much information as they can to understand the context in how we live our lives," McIntyre said.

Google also could plug its digital mapping software into Nest products so it could learn the layout of a home, said Brian Proffitt, a technology analyst who is also a management instructor at the University of Notre Dame. That knowledge could then be deployed to delegate such household chores as vacuuming to a robot that would be able to rely on the interior maps to navigate its way through an entire home without human help, Proffitt said.

A Google division run by Android creator Andy Rubin is working on various ideas for robots, though the Mountain View, California, company hasn't shared many details about its goals. Google's expansion into robotics is also being bolstered by a spate of acquisitions that included the recent purchase of Boston Dynamics, a US military contractor that has already built a variety of contraptions that can be programmed to run at rapid speeds, leap high into the air and climb rocky terrains.

Even as it explores various technological frontiers, Google still makes most of its money from advertising tied to search requests. Acquiring and developing products with internet connections and environmental sensors can only help Google get an even better grasp on people's interests

Google set to enter your home with $3.2 billion buyout with google nest

every thing from garden products to bathroom appliances will controlled by the touch of a smartphone without setting foot in your door aperson headed home could turn off the security  system and turn on the shower and begin preheating the oven

The deal is the second-largest in Google's history, after the $12.5 billion acquisition of mobile phone maker Motorola.

"Nest Labs appears to be focused on thermostats and smoke alarms, but it's not far-fetched to see Google expanding this technology into other devices over time," said Shyam Patil, an analyst at Wedbush.

"Home automation is one of the bigger opportunities when you talk about the internet of everything and connecting everything. This acquisition furthers their strategy around that," he said.

Shares of Google were up 0.5% at $1,128.49 in extended trading on Monday.

Nest will continue to operate under the leadership of chief executive officer Tony Fadell - a former Apple executive who is referred to as the "godfather" of the iPod - with its own distinct brand identity, Google said

Nest, which counts Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Google Ventures and Shasta Ventures among its investors, employs a large number of designers and engineers from Silicon Valley firms like Apple and Google.

It gained a large following with its first thermostat - a round, brushed-metal device with a convex glass screen that displays temperature and changes hue to match the colour of the wall it attaches to. It also tracks usage and employs that data to automatically set heating and cooling temperatures.

The Palo Alto, California-based, company employed about 280 people as of October.

Google CEO Larry Page praised Nest's current products and its founders' talents in a statement and said that Google was "excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams."

Google said the deal is expected to close in the next few months pending regulatory approval.

Google set to enter your home with $3.2 billion buyout with google nest

every thing from garden products to bathroom appliances will controlled by the touch of a smartphone without setting foot in your door aperson headed home could turn off the security  system and turn on the shower and begin preheating the oven

The deal is the second-largest in Google's history, after the $12.5 billion acquisition of mobile phone maker Motorola.

"Nest Labs appears to be focused on thermostats and smoke alarms, but it's not far-fetched to see Google expanding this technology into other devices over time," said Shyam Patil, an analyst at Wedbush.

"Home automation is one of the bigger opportunities when you talk about the internet of everything and connecting everything. This acquisition furthers their strategy around that," he said.

Shares of Google were up 0.5% at $1,128.49 in extended trading on Monday.

Nest will continue to operate under the leadership of chief executive officer Tony Fadell - a former Apple executive who is referred to as the "godfather" of the iPod - with its own distinct brand identity, Google said

Nest, which counts Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Google Ventures and Shasta Ventures among its investors, employs a large number of designers and engineers from Silicon Valley firms like Apple and Google.

It gained a large following with its first thermostat - a round, brushed-metal device with a convex glass screen that displays temperature and changes hue to match the colour of the wall it attaches to. It also tracks usage and employs that data to automatically set heating and cooling temperatures.

The Palo Alto, California-based, company employed about 280 people as of October.

Google CEO Larry Page praised Nest's current products and its founders' talents in a statement and said that Google was "excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams."

Google said the deal is expected to close in the next few months pending regulatory approval.

7 bestapps for your new tablet

we can check the system of our device by using some high profiled apps.So you have bought a new tablet, and want to unleash its full potential? Why not install apps from the market? From the abundance of apps, we have chosen only the best ones and gathered them below, these are must have apps for your new tablet, take a look:

Astro File Manager

Astro is not like any other normal file manager application, it takes you to next step of file administration. It helps you systematize your images, music library, video clips and other files on your phone and SD card. You can also kill processes, which consumes a lot of your battery and even backups your applications. It can also view images and backup files and apps at the same time. The free edition of this application contains ads, but they don’t obstruct the application’s features by any means.

HD Widgets

Having widgets in Android is the best part, since you get the control to insert anything and everything to your standby screen, so it makes your tablet useful. HD widgets is an android application which is ideal for android tablets. It gives you a great and polished feel on the homescreen of your tablet, and you even get to choose between colors, you get options to turn the edges and more transparency options, which makes it a must app for your new tablet.

Amazon Kindle

With Amazon kindle app you can easily access a big collection of e-books. Even if you don’t to buy e-books, you can still use this application for e-reading. Above and beyond, you can also download free classic titles from the amazon store using this wonderful app.  The Kindle application also includes a dictionary plus a feature called ‘Whispersync’ which helps you to sync the books you’re reading across other devices.

Gmail

Gmail is a must have app on your new tablet, since the tablet’s local email application is not quite excellent, so Gmail app is the best option.

The app provides you the same interface as it provides on web-based client. Push messaging, search and many other options are available. You can also access synched messages in off-line mode. While you can also use multiple Gmail accounts.

Dolphin browser

Dolphin Browser HD is the snappiest, simplest and amazing Web browser. It boasts gesture feature, Webzine and add-on. This browser app will take your web surfing experience to the next level.

SwiftKey X Tablet

In android devices we have the choice for 3rd-party keyboard option and they provide you the option to personalize your whole experience. If you think you are comfortable with the built-in keyboard, then you must install SwiftKey X Tablet app on your tablet. This keyboard app provides a complete package with themes, personalization, and yet an opportunity to discover from the users Gmail, Facebook or Twitter behavior. It also has tier-one prediction system which will help save you time. This app also has a split key “thumb” option to use only the ends for easy typing on the huge 10″ tablets.

Flipboard

Flipboard absorbs content feeds from a variety of websites and creates gorgeous, tablet-friendly journal like pages, which makes it easy for a user to browse and read the content.

You can swipe from page-to-page as you scan titles, and then you may just tap on that box to see more. You can even share an article via the Share tools which are available in this app, through this tool you can send links to Twitter or e-mail.
This app is for iOS but if you have an android tablet then Pulse is an option but it doenst offer much as compared to Flipboard.
So which one of these apps you liked the most?