Google chairman Eric Schmidt may have let slip a Google-branded tablet that will launch in the first half of 2012. In the “next six months we plan to market a tablet of the highest quality,” Schmidt reportedly said during an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Schmidt’s quote could mean many things. First, that Google has plans to develop, market and sell its own tablet (possibly in partnership with Motorola) within the next six months. Or second, and perhaps more likely, ...

Google chairman Eric Schmidt recently explained that Google does not support or endorse Carrier IQ, the company that has been accused of secretly bugging phones with spyware capable of logging keystrokes and more. A security expert recently revealed that Carrier IQ is installed on millions of smartphones, including Android devices and the iPhone. Wireless carriers such as Sprint and AT&T have said the software is installed purely for quality control purposes. “It’s a key-logger, and it actuall...

Google Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt on Thursday reiterated that the company’s proposed $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility is about more than just patents. When Google announced the deal, CEO Larry Page said in a statement, ”Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developer...

During Google’s Mobile Revolution conference in Tokyo, Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt reaffirmed his company’s support of HTC and its other Android partners, ZDNET Asia reported on Tuesday. HTC is currently in the middle of multiple patent battles with Apple, and the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled on Friday that the Taiwanese firm was in violation of two of Apple’s patents. When asked whether Google would help HTC pay any fees associated with a guilty ruling, shoul...

Google’s chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt has agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, Reuters reported on Monday. On June 24th, Google announced that the Federal Trade Commission would be reviewing its business practices. The search giant said it was “still unclear” as to what the FTC’s concerns were but that it would cooperate fully with the investigation. Watchdog groups such as Fairsearch.org have repeatedly accused Google of eanga...

We’re here at Mobile World Congress awaiting Mr. Eric Schmidt to begin his keynote. Last year, Schmidt gave his talk to boisterous crowd, with some users even tossing a few boos in his direction. Everyone looks polite enough this year, and the Google front-man is due out shortly. Hit the jump to hear exactly what Mr. Schmidt has to say. Enoy! (more…)

Google’s VP of Engineering, Andy Rubin, utilized the social-network Twitter to drop some knowledge on the world. Mr. Rubin notes that his company’s mobile operating system is now being activated on over 300,000 phones each and every day. That’s over 2.1 million phones every week and over 9 million phones every month. Back in August of this year, Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced that Android activations had just passed the 200,000 per day mark — and subsequently set off a little activa...

Why not start off the week with an unconfirmed and tantalizing Android rumor, right? Thanks to one piece of known information, and one slightly more speculative nugget, the latest gossip has Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) due to drop sometime today. A few weeks ago, Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt quipped that his company’s next OS iteration, Gingerbread, would be available in “the next few weeks.” Combine that with an interesting one-liner from a Notion Ink press release:“6th December is a...

Seeing an image or two is one thing, but there’s nothing like seeing an unannounced, highly anticipated smartphone star in a crystal clear video — especially when the CEO of the company behind the phone is the one showing it off. Eric Schmidt decided to bring a shiny new Samsung-built Nexus S on stage with him at the Web 2.0 summit yesterday, and O’Reilly Media managed to capture the whole affair on film. The unreleased Gingerbread phone is looking awfully sexy, though plasticky, as Schmidt fond...

While the device’s logo was taped over, there’s no mistaking it — Google CEO Eric Schmidt just gave a live demo at the Web 2.0 summit with Google’s upcoming Nexus S smartphone. He called it an “unannounced phone” from an “announced manufacturer,” but the device used in Schmidt’s demos was outed last week and it is indeed none other than Google’s Nexus One successor. As for new info, there really isn’t anything to speak of at this point. Schmidt jus...

During yesterday’s music-event keynote, Apple CEO Steve Jobs informed the crowd that his company was activating around 230,000 iOS devices every day. The figure 230,000 is of particular significance because just last month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that the search giant was activating around 200,000 Android devices per diem. Jobs continued, and quipped, “we think some of our friends are counting upgrades in their numbers.” The implication being made here — albeit not a very subtle...

We told you about Android’s worldwide growth, then about their Q2 U.S. sales figures, so how about some more data! Google CEO Eric Schmidt noted that his company is now activating 200,000 Android handsets every single day. That is up from 160,000 per day in June, and 100,000 in May. We’ve seen several of you in the comments question whether the Android venture was worth it for Google, as they are not directly profiting from the operating systems sales. When Schmidt was asked if the Android venture...

This week at MWC, Google CEO Eric Schmidt proudly proclaimed that Android handsets are being shipped at the rate of 60,000 per day worldwide. That is a blistering pace of over 1.8 million handsets per month and over 21.8 million handsets per year. Schmidt did not indicate whether the recipient of a “shipped” handset was an end-user or a retailer; however, the number is impressive either way. As handset manufacturers continue to embrace Android and re-focus on hardware production this number is sur...

A popular topic of discussion lately in every corner of the Web has been Eric Schmidt’s position on Apple’s Board of Directors and the many possible conflicts it now presents. While opinions have varied, most take the stance that Google’s business has begun to overlap with Apple’s in too many key areas and as such, Schmidt’s role with the company is no longer appropriate. Well, the debate is over. Apparently, Google’s CEO and the Cupertino crew finally came to their senses....