Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), 3M Co (NYSE:MMM), Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is introducing a sleeker version of its Nexus 7 tablet as the Internet company escalates its battle with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) in the mobile computing market. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) also announced a $35 device that will let you watch Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), YouTube and other content on a high-definition TV. Simply plug the Chromecast into the TV’s HDMI port, and it’ll display content from your phone, tablet or laptop. The Chromecast is available right away, while the new Nexus 7 devices go on sale in the U.S. on Tuesday. It’s available in Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s online store and at various other retailers. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) made the announcement Wednesday at an event in San Francisco.
Google Street View to cover Kinmen Island (FocusTaiwan)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) confirmed Monday that it has taken photographs of Taiwan’s offshore Kinmen County in an effort to expand the coverage of its Street View, a panoramic viewing feature on its mapping services. However, the American Internet service specialist declined to reveal how many scenic spots in Kinmen Island it has shot or its schedule for including the pictures in its Street View service. An operator was seen in Kinmen last week carrying Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Street View “Trekker” — the compact backpack version of its Street View vehicle — and taking pictures of the island’s historic Jyuguang Tower, a structure that is accessible only on foot.
Congress Betrays 3M to Google Over Patent Fees With Cuts (Bloomberg)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) are among the top patent-holding companies which agreed two years ago to pay higher fees if Congress let the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office use the funds to address a work backlog and improve application scrutiny. …“We were willing to pay those and thought it was an investment that needed to be made in the patent office,” said Kevin Rhodes, chief intellectual property counsel for 3M Co (NYSE:MMM), the St. Paul, Minnesota-based maker of Scotch tape, Ace bandages and boat wax. “All we asked in return was that all the fees be used to pay for the services we paid for.”
How new Google Nexus 7 compares with rivals (YourHoustonNews)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced new versions of its Nexus 7 tablet computers. It has better features and a higher price tag. The new models are available in the U.S. starting Tuesday through Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s online Play store and the following retailers: Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Home Shopping Network, Radio Shack, J&R and B&H Photo. A version with 4G LTE cellular capability is coming later. It’s coming to United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Japan, Korea, and Australia in the coming weeks and to other countries after that. Here’s a look at how the new Nexus 7 compares with last year’s model and other tablets with comparable screens.
