The war of words between iOS and Android goes on, with Google’s mobile boss now claiming the lion’s share of new device activations over the Christmas holiday. How Apple will respond is anyone’s guess, but with the close of another calendar quarter just days away, we’d expect some serious revenue boasting next month when Cupertino reports revenue from their holiday quarter. In the meantime, there’s plenty of other tech items making news for this Wednesday, December 28, 2011.
Social network Facebook has been rocking their new Timeline feature fairly hard since debuting earlier this month, with one curious exception: It doesn’t work yet on the iPad. That serious bummer may get squashed over the next four weeks, however. According to 9to5Mac, the iPad version of Timeline “was pushed back due to last-minute bugs found during advanced testing.” The good news, however, is the tablet-friendly version appears on track for an “update between mid-January and late January.” Since we all need something to look forward to next year, might as well start with the little things...
Now that 2011 is winding to a close, we can look ahead to what 2012 may bring, which usually includes new processors from Intel to power our favorite desktop and laptop computers. According to DigiTimes, the chipmaker plans to release “a total of 25 models of its 22nm Ivy Bridge processors” on or around April 8. Taiwanese PC makers claim Intel will introduce 17 desktop-class processors as well as another eight aimed at notebooks and ultrabooks. “Desktop CPUs to be unveiled include quad-core Core i7-3770K, 3770, 3770S, 3770T, and Core i5-3570, 3550 and 3450, with prices ranging from US$184-332,” the sources claim. “Additionally, the Core i5-3470T will be available in May priced at US$184.” These desktop processors should find a home in the iMac, with the mobile versions landing in the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini product lines.
AllThingsD is reporting that Google Android boss Andy Rubin has further elaborated on yesterday’s Flurry data regarding iOS and Android device activations over the Christmas holiday. The analytics company projected 6.8 million devices were activated on Christmas Day, and according to Rubin’s Twitter account, 3.7 million of those were for Android-based products “activated on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.” Those numbers obviously downplay the potential iOS numbers, so it will be interesting to see if Apple retaliates with their own claims of holiday mobile domination.
The folks in Cupertino haven’t been shy about chest-thumping their own custom silicon for the A4 and A5 processors which power their iOS devices, and a new report from AppleInsider claims that the tradition is likely to continue with the rumored debut of an Apple-branded television set next year. According to DigiTimes, three companies are expected to bid on the custom, ARM-based chips, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering and Siliconware Precision Industries. The first of those, TSMC, has already reportedly signed a deal with Apple for next-generation A6 and A7 processors to be utilized in future iPhone and iPad devices, but AppleInsider notes “it’s possible an Apple television could also utilize the advanced chips.” Apple is said to be finalizing their hardware by the end of the second quarter of next year, with assembly to take place at Foxconn Electronics for a launch by the end of 2012.
Android may be kicking ass and taking names where smartphones are concerned, but it’s stumbled when it comes to home theatre domination with Google TV thus far. If you’re one of the few, the proud who has dove headfirst into that shallow pool, however, you can at least make the best of the situation by adding a little AirPlay love to your Google TV box. According to TUAW, a new 99-cent app from the Android Market called Airtight will stream your videos and photos from an iOS device to your Google TV over Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, music and DRM’ed content (such as iTunes movies, TV shows and music videos) won’t work with Airtight, and mirroring over AirPlay is also off the table for now. However, the developer is working hard to add new features, so stay tuned for future updates and features.
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(Image courtesy of TUAW)
