Google TV reportedly being rebranded as Android TV

Three years after launching Google TV, reports say the company plans to leave the brand behind in favor of a new, Android focused position, according to a report from GigaOm.

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Google developer shares original Android mascot artwork

                        
We’ve seen Google’s Android mascot dressed in a number of different outfits over the years to commemorate each new operating system release. Visions of delicious jelly beans, an ice cream sandwich and gingerbread immediately come to mind but odds are you’ve never seen the original Android mascot until now.

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Jelly Bean is now on 10 percent of Android devices

                                       
Google has updated its Android Developer Dashboard site with data about the percentage of active devices running a given version of its mobile operating system. Unsurprisingly, the holiday season marked a few shifts in the version distribution of the platform, with Android 4.2 and 4.1 -- both named Jelly Bean -- breaking the 10 percent milestone for the first time in six months.

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OUYA ships developer consoles ahead of schedule

                          
It’s a big day for fans of the Kickstarter-funded Ouya gaming console as we have learned that developer consoles are now shipping to early project backers. Those who laid down money for the console early on should expect to have the open-source Android machine in their hands no later than January 10, according to new posts on the official Ouya forums.

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Google outlines their top 12 Android apps of 2012

                       
A new post in the Google Play store by merchandising manager Tavares Ford outlines the top 12 Android apps for 2012 in the eyes of the search giant. Those of you that picked up a new Android handset or tablet this holiday will likely want to pay close attention as part of the fun with a new connected device is discovering the latest and greatest apps that everyone is using.

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Acer may release $99 Iconia tablet

                                 
Following recent rumors of an Asus-made $99 Google Nexus 7, Acer is said to be prepping its own 7-inch, $99 tablet offering. The Wall Street Journal claims this information comes a source with "direct knowledge" of the project, but let's keep this one's status set to "rumor" until we ascertain more concrete details.

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iPhone surpasses 50 percent US market share for the first time

                                    
Apple and Google have been battling head-to-head for smartphone supremacy for quite some time now but it looks like Cupertino recently came out on top, at least for the time being. According to a new report from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, the California-based company is now responsible for 53.3 percent of the US smartphone market.

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Google may be planning $99 Nexus 7 tablet

                                        
Get your salt shakers ready. According to unnamed sources from Shenzhen-based supplier O-Film Tech (via Digitimes), the Google Nexus 7 may be in for a very substantial price drop. Purportedly, the Asus-made tablet could dip as low as $99, making it by far the least expensive device in its class. A tummy tuck may also be in store for the tablet, possibly sporting an even thinner design.

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Samsung unveils 5-inch Galaxy Grand with dual-SIMs

                                    
Samsung has added a new big screen phone to its lineup today with the introduction of the 5-inch Galaxy Grand. The device sticks to the design language introduced with the Galaxy S III, featuring a hard plastic body and removable back cover for battery access, but it also makes some significant compromises to keep costs down. Namely, that huge display sports a modest WVGA 480x800 resolution and 186ppi pixel density.

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Google apologizes for Nexus 4 delays, blames LG for erratic and scarce supply

                                     
Google’s latest Nexus 4 smartphone is a great deal for anyone looking to buy an unsubsidized phone upfront. It's only $300 for 8GB or $350 for the 16GB model, as opposed to $600 or more for today's high-end phones if you can find them off contract, and since it comes unlocked you'll be able to get a cheaper or pre-paid plan rather than locking yourself into two years of overpriced voice and data.

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Yahoo updates e-mail client, revises apps for Android, iOS, Windows 8

                          
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer announced earlier today via blog post that the search company has updated their web-based e-mail client. The revised layout focuses on minimizing distractions and improving speed, Mayer noted. Yahoo Mail now also has new mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows 8 users on the go that are available as of writing.

Performance upgrades were a key concern for Yahoo as its sluggish nature likely deterred many users over the years. The company estimates that the speed increases will collectively save users around 36 million minutes each day.

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Trojan bypasses two-factor authentication, steals $46.5 million

                                                   
A sophisticated, multi-layered trojan dubbed "Eurograbber" is estimated to be responsible for siphoning over €36 million -- or about $46.5 million -- from the bank accounts of unsuspecting Europeans. In a case study (pdf) performed by Versafe and Check Point Software Technologies, researchers reveal how the trojan works.

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Samsung promotes son and heir closer to top job

                         
(Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co pushed the anointed heir of the company Chairman closer to the top job on Wednesday as the it cemented a global lead in smartphones with a stock price that is close to record highs.

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Ouya developer consoles to ship on December 28 alongside SDK

                          
Ouya, the company behind the self-titled gaming console that gained a considerable amount of fame and donations thanks to a month-long stint on Kickstarter, is reportedly right on schedule. The device’s founders have said the console will ship to early backers (developers) as planned on December 28.

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Samsung takes aim at Japanese rivals with Android camera

                         
(Reuters) - South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co is taking aim at its Japanese rivals with an Android-powered digital camera that allows users to swiftly and wirelessly upload pictures to social networking sites.

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Samsung Galaxy products infringe Apple patent: Dutch court

                       

(Reuters) - A Dutch court ruled on Wednesday that some of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy smartphones and tablets infringe an Apple patent in the latest round of the two firms' worldwide battle.

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Microsoft and Amazon To Launch Smartphones in 2013

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Galaxy Note II hits 5 million channel sales in two months

 
Samsung has revealed that its oversized Galaxy Note II smartphone just surpassed 5 million channel sales, less than two months after its launch. The company stopped short of mentioning actual sales to consumers, but the figure still provides an indication of how much demand the so-called ‘phablet’ is seeing, with estimates suggesting it is selling roughly three times faster than its predecessor.

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Archos unveils 13.3-inch Android 4.0 ICS FamilyPad tablet

Hoping to ride the wave of this holiday's soaring tablet sales, Archos has announced a new slate (PDF) that aims to differentiate itself by offering a larger-than-average touchscreen. While major competitors like Apple, Google and Amazon are focusing on the 7 to 10-inch space, Archos' latest offering packs a 13.3-inch 10-point multitouch display.

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently sat down with LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman at a Churchill Club event to discuss a wide variety of tech topics. Of particular interest during the chat were Ballmer’s comments on the top players in the mobile space.

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