Sandy dampens Google debut

                I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! Now stuff your face with candy and read about Google and Microsoft in this issue of Spec Tech!

                Due to Hurricane Sandy, Google had to cancel its event to announce new devices, but Google reveled these devices online anyway. 

                The first new device is the LG Nexus 4 smartphone.  It has a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch display, has 8GB of storage, HSPA+ data, and wireless charging.  It is the fastest phone on the market with 2GB of RAM.

 It runs on Android 4.2: Jelly Bean and goes on sale contract-free for $299 on November 13^th. The 16GB version will cost $349. T-Mobile will, however, sell the 16GB version for $199 with a new two-year contract.

                Google and Samsung announced the Nexus 10 tablet.  It is a 10-inch tablet with 300ppi­—more than Apple’s Retina Display—a 16:10 aspect ratio, run Android 4.2, it contains a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU with 2GB of RAM.  It has two NFC chips, a microUSB, and microHDMI ports.

 It comes in a Wi-Fi only model for now.  $400 will get you the 16GB of storage, while $500 will get you a 32GB version.  The Nexus 10 will go on sale November 13^th from the Google Play store.

                The Nexus 7 no longer has an 8GB version.  Instead, Google lowered the 16GB version to $199 and introduced a 32GB version for $249.  You can also get a 32GB version with HSPA+ connection for $299.  These price changes take effect November 13^th.

                Microsoft showed off more of Windows Phone 8.  You can now customize the lock screen with an App that will tell you information before you unlock your phone.  Bing will now create recommendations for you with local hotspots and events.  There is a child safe interface called Kid’s Corner, where a child can access only certain content. 

They showed off Xbox Music and Xbox SmartGlass.  Windows Phone Apps now replaces the Zune Apps store and claimed that Windows Phone 8 now has 46 of the top 50 Apps on their devices.Windows Phone 8 devices will not arrive until November.

                Lastly, Microsoft celebrated this weekend with having sold over four million copies of Windows 8 since last Friday.  I assume this includes all new hardware as well as customers who upgraded from Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. 

                That’s it for this week viewers.  Come by the Student Union from 2pm-5pm on November 1^st to meet some of the Spectator writers, including myself.  I hope to see you there!

Question: What device would you like me to review? E-mail your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu