i/o

Google releases schedule for 2013 I/O conference

Google has published the schedule for its 2013 Google I/O conference, which features more than 120 sessions on the Android and Chrome operating systems, and just one keynote, but it's a long one.

The three-day annual conference, which typically assembles more than 5,000 developers, will begin May 15 in San Francisco with a three-hour keynote, according to the agenda released Tuesday evening. There will also be a host of satellite events, allowing developers around the world to view conference sessions and connect with other developers.

Because the company uses the conference to make big announcements, the confab … Read more

Intel shows off speedier Thunderbolt tech

Intel today announced the next generation of its Thunderbolt technology, which doubles the speed and works with previous inputs.

The technology, which Intel announced at the National Association of Broadcasters conference today, supports up to 20Gbps bidirectionally (up from 10). That extra speed means the cables can now support both transferring a 4K video and putting it on screen at the same time, reports Engadget.

Thunderbolt is the input/output technology that brings transfer speeds that exceed what is currently available with USB 3.0 (though not for long), as well as extending that speed across several devices at once. … Read more

New Thunderbolt dock includes optical drive

Sonnet Technologies has debuted its Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock, which includes a number of ports and options that is intended to be an all-in-one solution to I/O needs for systems with Thunderbolt connectors.

As portable systems get smaller and adopt high-speed universal I/O technologies such as Thunderbolt, more peripheral and docking solutions that use this technology are being introduced. Since a single-port solution is a popular choice for notebook users, a number of companies have promised Thunderbolt-based docking options that can link all peripherals to a portable system directly via its Thunderbolt connection.

One of the first of … Read more

The Galaxy S4's Key Lime Pie problem

The new Galaxy S4 features cutting edge hardware.

Too bad its operating system will be out of date about four weeks after the phone hits store shelves.

Samsung Electronics' latest phone, which will debut in April at the earliest, will run Android 4.2.2, also known as Jelly Bean. It's also the latest version of Android -- for now.

The problem is another version of Android, widely believed to be called Key Lime Pie, will likely make its debut at Google's I/O developer conference in May.

With the first carriers expected to get the Galaxy S4 … Read more

And just like that, Google I/O is sold out

It took less than an hour for Google's developer conference, Google I/O, to sell out today.

The event, which will be held May 15-17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, has always been a popular draw for the developer community. About 50 minutes after the tickets went on sale at 7 a.m. PT today, the "sold out" message appeared. On the registration page instead was a note that the keynotes and top sessions will be available on computer, phone, or tablet.

Google I/O has been the venue for the announcement of major releases … Read more

Google to open registration for Google I/O March 13

Google fans will be happy to know that registration for the 2013 Google I/O conference will open Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00 a.m. PT.

In December, Google announced that it had moved up its annual developer conference by a month. The confab that assembles more than 5,000 developers will take place in San Francisco on May 15-17 this year. Previous Google I/Os had been held in June. The company has posted the registration date and details on its developer Web site and on the Google+ page dedicated to developers.

Google said it will keep registration … Read more

Apple's Thunderbolt cable gets a price drop, shorter version

Apple has quietly dropped the price of one of its most expensive accessory cables, along with releasing a shorter, cheaper model.

The company now sells its $49, 2-meter Thunderbolt cable for $39. There's also a new 0.5 meter version (that's 1.64 feet) for $29, notes 9to5mac.

Google I/O 2013 set for May, a month earlier than last year

Anyone curious about how Google plans to top its stunt-filled developer conference from this year will find out 162 days from today.

Google announced today that Google I/O 2013 will return to Moscone Center West from May 15 to May 17. This year it took place in 2012, and wowed the tech world with a presentation that included daredevils skydiving onto the roof of Moscone Center while live-streaming the whole thing on their Google Glasses.

It's not time to register yet; registration details will be announced in February, Google said. Prospective attendees can get a feel for what … Read more

How to turn off notifications for an app in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Last month we got our first look at Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and all of its buttery goodness. With plenty of new features coming to the latest release of Android, there are some smaller tweaks that haven't seen a whole lot of discussion.

One of those tweaks is the capability to disable notifications for a particular app. This will come in handy if you have an app that's overloading you with notifications, with no setting in the app to disable them. But now you can do it at the OS level in Android 4.1.

You may … Read more

Episode 3: Where Google has more money than sense

The debate about "unboxing" rages on, so in this week's Always On episode, I actually get down to using a pocket knife to open up the new Google Nexus 7 and Nexus Q. And I try to bring back some of that old Molly snark so many of you have been asking for. Sometimes it's hard to put together a whole show and then remember to write in the personality! I'm working on it, though.

I had a pretty great time running around Google I/O, mainly because of the food, and of course, the … Read more