Dell launches new Android HDMI dongle with desktop virtualization

Dell has just launched a new Android based HDMI dongle, which can transform any display into a virtualized desktop computer. Portability is the essence of mobile technology, but Dell aims to go one better by packing in as many feature as possible into its tiny USB sized computer.

Dell’s Wyse Cloud Connect can be hooked up to any TV or display with an HDMI or MHL port. The little device comes with full support for mice and keyboards via Bluetooth or a mini-USB port, so productivity won’t be an issue. The dongle itself is barely any bigger than your standard flash drive, but packs sufficient punch to output at full-HD 1080p.

Whilst Android dongle computers have been available for a long time, this dongle offers access to Dell’s own desktop virtualization software via its Wyse Cloud Connect app and your choice of client, either Citrxi, Microsoft or VMWare. So on top of a full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean experience, you’ll also have full access to your Windows or Mac machines.

Hardware specs are a little thin on the ground, but Dell has listed the device as running on a “multi-core” Cortex A9 CPU, it has 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal flash memory, microSD card slot with support for an additional 72GB of storage, and the dongle can display an output resolution of up to 1080p.

The Dell Wyse Cloud Connect also features a range of connectivity options, including a HDMI/MHL output, a DisplayPort video interface, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi adapter, 1x USB mini connecter for peripherals, 1x Micro USB port, and Bluetooth V3 connectivity to support a range of wireless peripherals.

The Wyse Cloud Connect dongle is currently priced at $129 on the company’s website, however Dell is apparently more interested in targeting business clients than the regular consumer. The dongle’s permissions are currently managed through Dell’s business grade Wyse Cloud Client Manager software, but Dell’s VP and GM of cloud client computing, Steve Lalla, said that “It’ll bleed into the consumer space” eventually.

Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra update adds White Balance setting, improved Wi-Fi, and more

Taking to its official Twitter account, Sony has revealed a new software update is rolling out for the Xperia Z Ultra and Z1. While the update is still packing Android 4.3, there are a few noticeable changes making their way to the firmware upgrade.

First, there’s a new “White Balance” setting for the display, which lets you manually adjust your colors to find the perfect balance. If this setting sounds at all familiar, that’s because Sony first introduced it with theSony Xperia Z1 Compact. Some of the other changes for the update include improvements for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth music streaming and email.

It’s important to note that the only way to get the update right now is through Sony’s PC Companion or the Mac Bridge. It’s also possible it will eventually make its way out as an OTA, but no word on when just yet.

Minuum Keyboard updated: new look, improved predictive abilities

Fans of the Minuum Keyboard will be happy to know that an app update has now arrived to Google Play!

For those that have never heard of Minuum, the app essentially takes an entire keyboard and scrunches it down to just one line. The idea is to fully maximize your screen real-estate, which could especially be important if you’re rocking a smaller-screened Android device. For those moments when you need a full-size keyboard, it’s easy to switch back and forth.

So what’s new in Minuum 1.2.3? The most noticeable change is the new keyboard layout, which has been redesigned to provide a cleaner look. While the change is mostly cosmetic, there are a few minor differences when it comes to keyboard spacing as well.

Aside from the layout, the keyboard’s predictive abilities have been enhanced, adding a few new changes. First, there is a new ‘deletion-aware’ prediction system that sees when you delete an incorrect word and then offers a new (hopefully more accurate) suggested word to replace it. Second, the smart auto-spacing technology has been improved so it doesn’t get in the way of smileys. Lastly, Minuum 1.2.3 makes it easier to create new (made-up) words and custom suffixes.

For those that have never tried Minuum, it is a premium app with a $1.99 asking price and there certainly is a bit of a learning curve, but it’s still a pretty solid choice for those looking for a keyboard that takes as little space as possible. To grab the update or to learn more about the app, head on over to Google Play.

Lenovo takes aim at Apple and Samsung: “our mission is to surpass them”

Lenovo’s £2.91 billion acquisition of Motorola from Google is certainly the talking point of the week. Hot on the heels from a meeting with Motorola employees about the purchase, Lenovo’s CEO Yuanqing Yang discussed the deal and the company’s plans to compete in the smartphone market with Fortune Magazineyesterday. The interview sheds some much needed light on the deal, as well as what Lenovo has planned for Motorola.

It turns out that Lenovo was interested in acquiring Motorola all the way back in 2011, when Motorola initially split into two companies. Yang and Eric Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman, even discussed the prospect of Lenovo taking over Motorola’s hardware business when Google acquired the company back in 2012, which turns out to be the basis for the recent deal. Just two months ago, Google reinitiated contact with Lenovo to ask if they were still interested in Motorola, and now here we are.

The interview also confirmed one of our suspicions about why Lenovo was so interested in Motorola – the brand and access to Western markets.

Lenovo is already a big name in China, and other emerging countries, but the company’s focus on lower end products has so far kept it out of the U.S and Latin American smartphone markets. Lenovo aims to leverage the Motorola brand to branch out into the mid and premium tier market segments, which means that we’re very likely to see Motorola stick around in the west, but Lenovo also may make use of the brand in other markets.

We will fully leverage the Motorola brand in the U.S. and Latin America, just like we leveraged the ThinkPad brand in the PC space. Motorola will be our smartphone product. Yuanqing Yang

Following its acquisition of Motorola, Lenovo is setting its sights high, with a lofty sales target of 100 million smartphones by 2015. Yang even stated that the company’s “mission is to surpass” both Samsung and Apple.

I wish we could sell more than 100 million smartphones together in the year 2015.Yuanqing Yang

Despite the seemingly bold talk, we must remember that Lenovo finished in the top five smartphone developers in 2013, regarding the number of devices shipped. Lenovo is a company with substantial clout, even though it may not be a western household name like Samsung or Apple.

Looking at the numbers, the 2015 100 million smartphone shipment target is fairly reasonable. Lenovo already almost doubled its handset shipments throughout 2013. The company was also the fastest growing manufacturer out of the top five, if this trend continues the company could be close to the 100 million target by the end of 2014. Not to mention that Motorola managed 10 million sales itself in 2013, and could act as Lenovo’s gateway to the much sought-after Western markets.

Of course challenging Apple and Samsung is another matter entirely. The two smartphone giants also saw decent growth figures in 2013, although Apple was by far the weakest of the top five. Catching them up is going to be a much more difficult and drawn out task.

Do you think that Lenovo and Motorola can challenge Apple’s and Samsung’s dominance, or has Lenovo spent $2.9 billion on a dead weight?

Lenovo takes aim at Apple and Samsung: “our mission is to surpass them”

Google ended 2013 strong, reported $3.92 billion operating income for Q4

Google’s 4th quarter 2013 results are in and things are looking very good for the company. For Q4 2013 Google reported $16.86 billion in revenue, which was up 17 percent when compared to the $14.4 billion it brought in during Q4 of 2012. Google also reported $3.38 billion in net income, up from its $2.89 billion in Q4 2012.

In the official earning release Google’s CEO Larry Page also issued the following statement summing up the quarter results:

We ended 2013 with another great quarter of momentum and growth. Google’s standalone revenue was up 22% year on year, at $15.7 billion. We made great progress across a wide range of product improvements and business goals. I’m also very excited about improving people’s lives even more with continued hard work on our user experiences.

Although 2013 was an excellent year for Google, the same can’t be said for Motorola. The Moto maker ended the year with a total loss of $1.245 billion, and a $384 million loss just for Q4 2013. The continued loss highlights yet another reason why Google is unloading the company and selling it to Lenov

Samsung prepping a new 'Life Times' app, may launch alongside the Galaxy S5

A new Samsung app is on its way, according to SamMobile, and they have the evidence to prove it. Dubbed "Life Times", the new app is something of a diary that is being compiled automatically by your smartphone as you go through the day. Of course, we're talking a richer kind of diary, one that uses a plethora of sources to feed content onto its virtual pages, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, but also your call logs, e-mails, messages and so on. This will allow Life Times to sketch a fairly informative snapshot of your day.

The new app is likely already headed for release, and it'll be probably announced on stage alongside the Galaxy S5 -- after all, numerous new features and apps have been a part of Sammy's repertoire lately. That said, Life Times looks like an exact copy of LG's Life Square app, which does the exact same thing -- it creates the very same kind of 'diary', and pulls its content from the very same sources. Hopefully, Sammy has put more of an effort into its version of the idea, as LG's sure could use some polish. Regardless, we found such apps kind of useful, as they essentially allow you to take a peek into the past, without having to rely on your fallible memory.