Google is currently negotiating to buy over popular Internet messaging service WhatsApp for US$1 billion (S$1.24 billion), say reports.

Technology blog Digital Trends reported an “inside source” that said that Google has been in negotiations to buy WhatsApp for slightly over a month ago. WhatsApp is negotiating for a higher price though.

WhatsApp has been the most downloaded application on various platforms and it has changed how people communicate previously communicating using SMS.

By acquiring it, Google tends to integrate this platform messaging feature into it’s slate of products. Hopefully they will launch a desktop version if that ever happens.

Google Chromebook pixel goes on sale for USD 1299 onward, will you buy one? Belo are the specs

The Google Chromebok PIxel comes with a 12.85″ high res screen with resolution of 2560×1700. It has a Gorilla Glass multi touch screen and it weighs 3.3lbs and 0.64″ thin.

The device comes with 1TB Google drive online storage for 3 years. There is a LTE version of the device priced at USD 1449. The WIFI edition is at USD 1299.

ASUS and Google Announce Nexus™ 7 Tablet
World’s first 7” quad-core tablet, featuring Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean

Singapore (June 28th, 2012) — Unveiled at Google I/O 2012, Nexus™ 7 is the first tablet in Google’s Nexus line of devices and the lead device for Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean. Nexus 7 combines premium hardware designed by ASUS with the latest version of Android and all of the entertainment from Google Play. Jointly developed between ASUS and Google, Nexus 7 is the world’s first 7” quad-core tablet, built to bring consumers the best of Google in a slim and portable package that fits perfectly in the hand.

“We are very excited about this partnership and the synergy that it brings into the hands of consumers,” said ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih.

“We wanted to build a tablet that was light and portable enough for you to take your favorite entertainment wherever you go, but still didn’t compromise at all on power and performance,” said Andy Rubin, SVP of Mobile and Digital Content at Google. “Together with ASUS, we were able to accomplish that in Nexus 7. And starting at $199, it will be something everyone can enjoy.”

Nexus 7 comes with a NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor, meaning everything is faster – pages load quickly, gameplay is smooth and responsive, and running multiple apps is a breeze. A 12‐core GeForce® GPU delivers advanced graphics while the patented 4-PLUS-1™ CPU design gives you maximum performance when you need it and power efficiency when you don’t. Nexus 7 8GB is available for $199, while the 16GB version is $249 and enables consumers to keep even more of their content close at hand — even when they’re not online.

Detail features can be seen here

Youtube just launched a localised site for Singapore in Asia. Youtube has been a popular video sharing site for users in this region but it was a chore to upload the contents to USA in the past. With the local portal site http://www.youtube.com.sg , Singapore users on broadband networks will find it faster to upload video creations onto youtube and share it with the world.

YouTube Singapore is the company’s second localized site in Southeast Asia, following last week’s launch of its Philippine local site. In total, there are 35 localized YouTube sites worldwide including Asia-Pacific markets Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

- Google TV to launch in US this autumn, worldwide in 2011

- CEO says new Chrome OS to run tablet computers

- Tablet partnerships to be announced later this year

According to Reuters news, Google will launch its service to bring the Web to TV screens in the United States this autumn and worldwide next year, said it’s CEO Eric Schmidt.

Google TV will allow full internet browsing via the TV and it will be free. Google will work with a variety of programme makers and electronics manufacturers to bring it to consumers.

Sony last week had agreed to have Google TV on it’s TV sets and Samsung is looking into it. This come as a challenge to Apple TV which was announced just earlier.

On the tablet front, the Galaxy Tab is powered by Android 2.2. Google on the other hand is pushing Google’s Chrome OS (due to be launched soon) for the tablets.

Huawei will launch own brand Google Android 2.2 phone Huawei U8150 in September 2010

The device comes pre-installed with Android 2.2 (one of the first to come out of the box with 2.2), with the hardware designed to be 100% compatible with 2.2.

The product was jointly planned and developed with Google and brings a wealth of Google options, downlink speeds of more than 7.2Mb/s, ubiquitous mobile broadband services. It also functions as a Wi-Fi router.

This new smartphone will be announced on September 2nd, 2010 in Germany. The product will be launched in Hong Kong early September.

It will be highly competitive price-wise and comes in 4 colours -  Black, purple, blue and yellow targeting the youth.

From our sources, this phone intends to be a mass market phone, it will be priced quite competitively at around HKD 2000 (USD 258, SGD 350, Euro 203, UKP 166) without contract.

* Specifications

Dimensions 104×54.8×13.5mm
Frequency UMTS Radio Interface:
EDGE/GSM/GPRS: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
UMTS 900/AWS/2100MHz or UMTS 850/1700/1900/2100MHz
HSDPA 7.2Mbps
Display 2.8” QVGA (320×240) TFT Capacitive Touch
262K colors
Auto rotate (G-sensor)
Camera 3.2 Megapixel Camera FF
Sensor Proximity Sensor
Ambient light sensor
Color Black, purple, blue and yellow

Features
Home Screen: Android Home screen
Local Search: Google Search
Tools: Key Lock / Alarm clock / Calculator / Settings / Note pad
Call service: Voice call
Supplementary Service: Voice mail
Google Mobile Suite:
Google Search, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google sync and Android
Market
Digital Compass: Support digital compass base on Android
Sound Recording: Audio format: AMR
Other
Applications
Google Maps, Google Search, Gmail etc.

In Day 1, we take a look at the exhibits first at ASRock booth. They have tons of boards. One of such is an unreleased product based on a Intel P67 chipset is also on the show. Another is P55 Extreme3 which is world’s first board to support 2 front panel USB 3 ports. The focus this year is on their new HTPC the Vision 3D w/ Aiwi.

Motherboard

Word’s First Motherboard Supports Front USB3.0 – P55 Extreme3

Unprecedentedly, ASRock will showcase the soon to be released P55 Extreme3 motherboard with its unique external Front USB3.0 panel. Exclusively bundled with ASRock Front USB3.0 Panel that comes with 2 x USB3.0 ports, P55 Extreme3 facilitates the computing operation! Along with every other component maker, ASRock will be also showing off it’s bevy of P55 motherboard beauties. The new Core i7 unlocked 875K CPU from Intel is one of the few really new products shown at Computex this year!

2 x Front USB3.0 support
World’s First Motherboard Supports 4 x USB3.0 – 890FX Deluxe3

USB3.0 interface will become the mainstream in the coming future. Extraordinarily equipped with 4 x USB3.0 ports on the I/O panel, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 allows a more convenient computing operation environment! For users seeking for the ultimate motherboard configurations, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 can satisfy you with a host of technologies include ATI Quad CrossFireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX, Cool Heatpipe Design that can dissipate heat from CPU power mosfet and northbridge rapidly and make your system running much cooler, 8 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, 6 x SATA3 are sourced from AMD SB850, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and RAID 5), the remaining 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s are from Marvell. Special introduce here is ASRock unique multi-function Turbo UCC technology. Turbo UCC provides you an all-in-one solution to unlock the hidden cpu cores in the CPU, get the amazing system performance boost by auto-overclocking, and running the system in a certainly lower power consumption level as well.

4 x USB3.0 Ports

Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU Live Demo – X58 Extreme3

In conjunction with ASRock CeBIT2010, ASRock will also reappear the awesome live demo by running the Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU on our feature-complete motherboard – X58 Extreme3. Delivering outstanding features for power users and gaming enthusiasts including a Cool Heatpipe Fan design that makes the system cooler than ever, NVIDIA Quad SLI, ATI CrossFireX and Quad CrossFireX, 7.1 CH, VIA VT2020 Audio Codec which supports Premium Blu-ray audio as well as support for the latest USB3.0. As part of ASRock SuperSpeed USB3.0 lineup, X58 Extreme3 comes with 2 x SATA3 6Gb/s connectors, 1 x Powered eSATAIII/USB2.0 connector, 2 x USB3.0 connectors, it is the outright performance leader of its class.

ASRock AIWI Rock You Everywhere – Playing Games by Holding Your iPhone

ASRock motherboard solutions offer advanced performance for customized environments. At Computex there will be a wide selection of innovative boards in terms of Intel and AMD platform. To make differentiation from other normal motherboards, this year, ASRock is going to show you something really different! ASRock will showcase our newly launched ASRock AIWI utility running on our motherboards and HTPC systems. ASRock AIWI is the world’s first utility to turn your iPhone/iPod touch as a game joystick to control your PC games. Simply installing ASRock AIWI utility onboard and download free AIWI Lite from App store to your iPhone/iPod touch. Connecting your PC and apple devices via Bluetooth or WiFi networks, then you can start experiencing the exciting motion controlled games. ASRock AIWI motherboard will ensure you to enjoy a rich variety of gaming and be entertained by a better way. Just come to ASRock Computex at Nangang Hall, L0118 to experience how fantastic the ASRock AIWI program will be.

HTPC System

The Most Powerful 3D HTPC on the Planet – Vision 3D

ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series is developed to match the trend of 3D entertainment. It has a powerful build-in graphic card which supports 3D game and 3D movie, allowing users to enjoy a high class entertainment experience! The soon to be released ASRock Vision 3D comes with everything essential for a HTPC platform. Featuring Intel Core architecture-based processors and NVIDIA 3D Vision Capable, GeForce 300 / 400 Series, ASRock Vision 3D can provide you an absolutely realistic 3D image display!

Still, ASRock Vision 3D has adopted lots luxury components include the stylish, high glossy aluminum housing, SuperSpeed USB3.0 support that delivers data transfer rates up to 10X faster than USB2.0, slot-in optical drive that provides a more convenient way of computing operation! For audio aspect, Vision 3D supports 7.1 CH HD audio with professional THX TruStudio PRO solution which allows user to have a rich variety of programming and be entertained by a better way! To realize modern computing mission, ASRock Vision 3D series equipped with BD Combo, 802.11n Wireless network, and even bundled with a user-friendly MCE remote controller.
As such, ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series operates with a high resolution 3D video which allows a realistic and solid picture scene in your interactive game or movie, providing a cinematic environment in your home! At Computex there will be a modern living scenario setting with ASRock Vision 3D system in ASRock booth, we’ll demo the latest ASRock AIWI gaming program there, just quickly join ASRock Computex, and you will exactly understand why 3DTV can be so fantastic!

Your Perfect Choice for mini HTPC System – Core 100

With intention to present an affordable and functionable HTPC product to users, ASRock will also showcase the newly launched Core 100 HTPC series at Computex. This series totally comes with three models – Core 100HT-BD, Core 100HT and Core 100. By adopting the Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 and Arrandale-based processors, Core 100 series features Intel HD Graphics that offers great FullHD 1080P performance and energy-efficient capability. Features abundant, ASRock Core 100 HTPC series is the world’s first USB3.0 onboard system on the market, and specially bundled with THX TruStudio PRO solution, ASRock Core 100 even supports the unmatched audio quality and stunning movie experience.

Based on the Intel HM55 Express chipset, Core 100 series features Dual Channel DDR3 1066 memory, 2 x SO-DIMM slots, Max. 8GB, 2.5” HDD up to 500 GB supports 2nd 2.5” HDD. Other excellent features include BD Combo, WiFi 802.11n networking as well as MCE remote controller!

Your Perfect Choice for HTPC System – ION2

HTPC wisely replaces a desktop place and thus easily PClizes any multimedia entertainments and thoughtfully save space for you! The exclusively launched ASRock ION2 HTPC series (includes ION2HT-BD, ION2HT, ION2) target users who want most out of their PCs from standard work to entertainment and extremely gaming. This series features Intel Dual Core D510 processor, Intel CH8M Chipset, NVIDIA ION2 graphics, and THX TruStudio PRO solution. In addition, ASRock ION2 HTPC series features the latest ASRock App Charger function that allows you to quickly charge many Apple devices simultaneously and provides you a much faster charging experience.

Below are pictures of the exhibits. More pictures on the following pages.

1. Your Nexus One MUST NOT BE ROOTED.

Intensified relations between Apple and Google gave more credibility to the rumor that Bing is going to replace Google as a default search engine in mobile Safari on iPhone. Here comes a new evidence found in the iPhone OS 4.0 where Apple has replaced the “Google” branding from the Safari Search keyboard and replaced it with “Search”.

In iPhone OS 3.1.3, the button is still branded with Google when you type something in the search field of iPhone Safari. Screenshots from both 3.1.3 and 4.0 firmware after the jump…

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