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When Andy Rubin stepped down as head of the Android Division at Google earlier this year it came as a shock. At that time, they made it clear that he wasn't leaving the company, but was instead focusing on other projects for Google. The year is almost up and only now are we getting the details on just what Andy has been up to. It turns out, Mr. Rubin is still in charge of androids, just not the Google mobile OS variety. A new report from the New York Times indicates that Andy Rubin is now the head of Google's robotics division. He is working on developing more intelligent robotics for industrial based applications, right now, but his work could lead to other advancements.

Right now they are calling his work a "moonshot" which refers to the fact that it could take a decade before the results of his work are realized. Here's a quote from the NYT article with a few more details,

“Like any moonshot, you have to think of time as a factor,” Mr. Rubin said. “We need enough runway and a 10-year vision.”

Mr. Rubin, the 50-year-old Google executive in charge of the new effort, began his engineering career in robotics and has long had a well-known passion for building intelligent machines. Before joining Apple Computer, where he initially worked as a manufacturing engineer in the 1990s, he worked for the German manufacturing company Carl Zeiss as a robotics engineer.

“I have a history of making my hobbies into a career,” Mr. Rubin said in a telephone interview. “This is the world’s greatest job. Being an engineer and a tinkerer, you start thinking about what you would want to build for yourself.”

He used the example of a windshield wiper that has enough “intelligence” to operate when it rains, without human intervention, as a model for the kind of systems he is trying to create.

What do you guys think? Will Andy Rubin help to usher in a new era of automated prosperity or slavery to robotic overlords?

Source: NewYorkTimes

It looks like Asus has been busy working on Android 4.3 for the newest Transformer Pad Infinity. The TF701T just launched at the end of October, but Asus is already pushing out the OTA update of Android 4.3 to the device.

Just a few days ago we shared that Asus was going to start sending out the update on November 18th and they were true to their word. The update includes all of the following:

• Standard Android 4.3 functions
• Improved battery life
• Improved trackpad responsiveness (in dock)
• Improved dock battery charging

In that story from last week Frederuco reported that some users where already getting the update. Sound off if you are one of those lucky few who got it then or now.

Picture Source: AndroidPolice

Christmas will be a little early this year for owners of the new Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF701T. The new flagship tablet from Asus will be receiving its Android 4.3 update on November 18th, according to recent reports. Supposedly the new Android 4.3 update brings a bit more to the tablet than just the usual Android goodies. Here's a summary,

• Improved battery life
• Improved dock battery charging
• Improved trackpad responsiveness (in dock).

Of course, it would be really amazing if the tablet would get the Android 4.4 KitKat update soon, but that might take a few months. We will keep you updated and let you know when that finally happens. For those who don't already have this device, here's a quick spec recap on this $449 USD tablet:

• 10-Inch 2560 x 1600 pixels Super IPS+ display
• Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor clocked at 1.9GHz
• 2GB of RAM
• 5MP rear camera
• 1.2MP front-facing camera

Source: UnWiredView

We aren't sure if we can fully agree with the point made in Asus' new Transformer Book Trio ad, but it is entertaining. The video above is for Asus' new hybrid product, which combines a removable Android based touch-screen tablet, with a Windows-endowed base unit. It can even be attached to a full sized monitor through HDMI converting it into a desktop PC. It is designed as the ultimate hybrid device for people on the go. The commercial implies that the Android side of things is for fun, but the Windows side of things is all business. Here's a rundown of some of its specs/features:

• Combines Windows 8 with Android.
• The Android tablet docks with the “keyboard”. In this mode, Windows is in control and uses an Intel Core processor and 4GB of RAM.
• When detached, Android controls the tablet using a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z2760 processor with 2GB of RAM.

It looks like Asus is really having fun and getting creative with the "Transformer" concept. Pretty soon we might see cars changing into giant robots and befriending teenagers! Gasp!

Taiwan's nonprofit Industrial Technology Research Institute is developing a product called i-Air Touch (iAT) Technology. It's basically a floating augmented-reality touch-screen system like something straight out of the movie "Minority Report" or the more recent "Iron Man" movies. If this new technology becomes a reality, it might just make Google Glass (and other products like it) the next big disruptive consumer tech gadget. As you can see in the pic above and the video below, this new technology is nothing sort of amazing. The technology basically projects a virtual touch-based interface outward and within the user's field of vision. It seems to to float in the air, yet the software can accurately measure the placement of your hands and finger so it can respond to being "touched."

This AR tech isn't just for Google Glass-style devices either. It can be used for a number of different purposes beyond just a commercial application. Here's a quote with more details,

"In addition to consumer applications, i-Air Touch is suitable for medical applications such as endoscopic surgery and any industrial applications that benefit from hands-free input," said Golden Tiao, deputy general director of ITRI's Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Laboratories in an e-mail."

The reason why this technology works is centered on how the software interacts with the custom camera. Here's another quote with a brief explanation,

According to ITRI, the secret sauce in iAT is the camera, which only activates when it detects a user's fingertip within a predetermined input distance range (roughly a foot away). In other words, it conserves battery power by only turning on when it detects that someone is trying to "air touch" the virtual input. Air touches are then sent to a host device like a laptop or smartphone that the headset is tethered to.

What's even more amazing about this technology is that it isn't decades or even years out from realization. It was officially revealed last week and is set to receive a 2013 R&D 100 Award in November. It is already available to be licensed by mobile companies or anyone else!

Source: CNET

It looks like the new 4.4 KitKat version is the most significant upgrade for Android in a quite some time. It includes a massive array of new features. The above video is a DevBytes teaser for a small few of the new features. Here's a quick breakdown of many more:

• Now supports lower-end devices and can run on just 512MB of RAM.
• It will now have a new launcher.
• Translucent system UI styling.
• Enhanced notification access.
• Includes faster multi-tasking.
• More advanced caller ID.
• new white/gray color scheme and fonts.
• There is a new sensor batching technology. This is meant to cut down on sensor power consumption by grouping and prioritizing requests. Google claims it is now 25% more accurate, and can ask back for clarification.
• It will now have wireless printing functionality.
• Includes support for IR Blasters Natively. It is limited to sending functions only for now. It can't learn or receive yet. This is probably just a feature that is in progress since it is mostly not very useful yet.
• No has native screen recording and can output in MP4 format.
• Now supports Moto X-style "OK Google" voice commands. For now this only will work with the Nexus 5. Supposedly this feature is hardware dependent, although Google hasn't shared what is required.
• Bluetooth devices will now be able to control the system volume directly instead of having to adjust two different volumes.
• There is a new lock screen which includes a camera shortcut. You can also rearrange your homescreen.
• Built-in Chromecast support.
• Chrome web view.
• Full-screen wallpapers with preview.
• HDR+ photography.
• Location in Quick Settings.
• Low-power audio playback.
• Music and movie-seeking from lock screen.
• The NFC payment system doesn't require using the secure element anymore. It uses a software based emulation work around. Because of this, carriers can no longer use this as an excuse to not support Google's NFC payment functions.

There's still quite a bit more we didn't include, because the list would have been monstrous, but you can check out more at the source links below. It's amazing that Google just soft-launched this absolutely incredible and massive update without any kind of press show.

Source: Android Developers - Android 4.4 KitKat and Android.com