Google is giving $1000 to 500 YouTube Partners

You must have heard of Google's YouTube Partner program, where you can become a partner and can earn revenue for your videos (provided they are good). Apparently it is doing very well as they have over 15,000 partners worldwide. Since these people generate a lot of revenue for Google by driving people to YouTube, Google is now giving back to them by giving 500 of these partners $1000 each. 

It will be in the form of store credit at B&H Photo, where these partners can get better photographic equipment for themselves so they can create better videos in future. Along with acknowledging those who are already on board, this should also encourage more people to become a partner and earn money for their videos. 

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Android Honeycomb Tablet Of Motorola due at CES 2011

Before this month, Motorola's Google Android 3.0 HoneyComb OS running tablet - was rumored as MOTOPAD - and was reportedly spotted online. Earlier, on December 6, Google VP of Engineering Andy Rubin had shown Google's next major Android Update - Honeycomb at the D: Dive Into Mobile Conference. While we eagerly waited for the details of this MOTOPAD, Motorola' s official Twitter account shared a link to the tablet's teaser video. Though Motorola hasn't specified anything on unveiling it, we expected to catch a glimpse of it at Consumer Electronics Show starting January 6, 2011. 

Motorola Tablet's teaser video does not show much about the MOTOPAD, but it certainly features current rivals Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. These are the two tablets widely available. Since RIM hasn't released the PlayBook tablet yet, it won't be in the picture. In the Twitter update, Motorola simply stated, "Might want to hold off on that tablet purchase until 2011." However, it doesn't specify or promise unveiling or launching it on a specific date/month.

So far we have a rough list of MOTOPAD specifications that state it has a 10.1-inch screen with 1280x800 pixel resolution support. Under the hood, the tablet will run NVIDIA Tegra 250 System-on-Chip running at 1GHZ with 512MB RAM. Google Android Honeycomb update is said to be optimized for running on large screen tablets and devices. However, we're yet to get a glimpse of a working model.

Watch the MotoTablet/MOTOPAD teaser video below:

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Google Latitude Now Available on the iPhone, iPad

Google Maps was a built-in applicaiton in the iPhone since the 1st version back in the year 2007. All these years, while other phones running OSes like Android or Symbian enjoyed Google Latitude - a friend locator-tracking feature as part of Google Maps, Apple had rejected the iPhone version of the app previously. Now, you can download the newest version of the Latitude app on all recent iOS devices like the iPhone 3GS (sorry iPhone 3G users), iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3rd and 4th generation and the iPad. It will require your iDevice to have iOS 4.0 or above installed. 

With Latitude, your friends (ideally, people you know rather well) can know your current location on a Google map. Latitude lets you share your location in the background, even when the application is closed or your device screen is locked. As a measure for your privacy, you can share only city-level location, hide your location or turn off background updating at any time. It may sound creepy to some, but a few could also find it useful. Consider that you are reaching some unknown place where your friend has already reached - thus that person could turn on Latitude, and you just have to navigate to them. 

Check it out on the Apple iTunes website here.

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Clear video of PlayStation Phone surfaces online

Last weekend the grainy images of Sony Ericsson's PlayStation Phone surfaced on the web. Then two days ago, we reported about Sony Ericsson's much buzzed about PlayStation Phone was captured in a spy video. And now Engadget's Paul Miller spotted a video showing clear image of the PlayStation phone running Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread update. Apparently, Engadget is lucky in getting early scoops on the PlayStation Phone.

A user with YouTube user name xxmajstor uploaded video of his brief encounter with PlayStation Phone running Gingerbread update. Looks like Sony was working on PlayStation Network integration with the Android just like Microsoft Xbox LIVE is integrated in Windows Phone 7 operating system. PlayStation Phone has PlayStation App with a joystick button just like the one that appears on Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles. From the video I still can't figure out whether its PlayStation Store connecting App or proper PlayStation integration. 

So finally following are the confirmed details:

- OS: Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread

- Model Name: Zeus

- Gaming: PlayStation Integration

- PSPgo like controls with a touchpad and two shoulder buttons

- PlayStation App has three tabs out of which two are All and Recently Played.

Watch two videos of the PlayStation Phone being checked out briefly. Screen looks glossy and bright but can't figure out if it's Super LCD or AMOLED display.

Now we eagerly wait for the Sony Ericsson France's CEO Pierre Peron's presentation on Dec 9. That will make things clear what exactly the PlayStation App will contain. 

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Indians:Call US/Canada Free till 2010 End in Gmail

When I woke today morning i checked my Gmail, only to be pleasantly surprised by a "Call Phone" option right at the top of my Google Talk chat window. I clicked it, accepted the Terms and Conditions and was presented with a num-pad; much like the one you'd find in VOIP services like Skype. While I was almost about to yawningly say, "You can now make international calls via your Gmail for cheaper than using regular telephones...yada yada...", this one small line at the end made me jolt off my chair! In bid to popularize this service, Google is allowing free unlimited calls to the US and Canada till the end of the year 2010. I than instantly ran to my phone-book and made an hour worth calls to the US and Canada and here are the three things I observed: 1) The phone started ringing the moment I hit the call button, 2) The call quality was absolutely clear on my end and was reported to be equally clear from the other side as well, 3) There were no disconnections during the two different half-hour long calls I made. FYI: I'm using a 512 Kbps broadband internet connection.

 Calls to other countries can be made after purchasing pre-paid credits on their Google Voice website. After doing a quick comparison of the call rates, you'll realize it isn't a good bargain for people in India to use this service to make calls to the US or Canada (after the free period is over, of course). For example, India to any other country is charged at 6 cents (Rs. 2.7) per minute whereas Skype charges almost one-third the cost - 2.2 cents (roughly a rupee) to call specifically to the US/Canada. 

Now the sad thing is that after making those hour long free phone-calls, that option has all of a sudden disappeared from my window after I logged back again to take some screenshots; I hope it returns again soon. After talking to my colleague, he too said that he hasn't got that option yet. So, we can assume that the roll-out will be gradual and everybody should eventually get it. So, check your Gtalk window in your Gmail to see if you've got that "Call Phone" option right underneath your status change drop-down menu. It's the end of November, so even if most of us get it before the month ends, we'll still have one whole month to make free US/Canada phone-calls! We leave you with the introductory video of the same. 

Click To View The Video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-DzpAg0SdU&feature=player_embedded

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Samsung Nexus Two details surface

Crude details of heavily anticipated Samsung Nexus Two (rumored name) have surfaced online. Gizmodo reported about a source who claimed to have got hands on to the next major smartphone Nexus Two smartphone. Nexus Two isn't going to be the official name of Samsung's Android device due on Nov 8. That name is being used just because the phone is believed to be a successor of Nexus One. On Nov 8, all eyes would be set on this smartphone build Samsung and will run Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread update. 

As per Gizmodo s Nexus Two will have a full touchscreen form factor with black, shiny glossy plastic with a curved back. It comes with front facing camera and the stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread might bring video chat feature built-in. Google engineers have been working to get video chat activated on Android. 

Taylor Kimberly, blogger at AndroidandMe blog has compiled a set of specifications that possibly would constitute as the Nexus Two s internal features. Checkout the list of specifications compiled for Nexus Two smartphone.

- Stock Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)- 1.2 GHz processor (mostly overclocked Hummingbird or may be different model)
- 4 inch AMOLED display (Could be Super-AMOLED version)
- 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and HD video capture, front-facing camera 
- 512 MB RAM, 16 GB internal storage
- Support for multiple carriers     
- All the usuals like WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm headset jack, etc.
- Outer casing is a mix of metal and plastic materials

Based on the above specifications, it seems like Google and Samsung have been working on one of the best Android phone available today. Why Google chose Samsung? Simple, Samsung makes the CPU and GPU chips used in majority of smartphones available today. Also the Galaxy S smartphone has proven to be one of the best high-end Android-based smartphones available today. But there's no information on whether Nexus Two will carry flash or will it be dropped just like in Galaxy S. Nexus Two would be offered by several mobile operators and won't be exclusive to just one like Sprint had bagged Evo 4G.

Purported Nexus Two is a better and powerful iteration of Nexus One smartphone with 4-inch screen and 1.2GHz microprocessor. Though both the sources state that the details are confirmed, we d still term them as speculations until we see actual listing or specification details. That s because at times, the actual unit carries different specifications.

We ve got to hold our procrastinating speculative horses just for a week. 

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