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, Schmidt’s statement could mean that Google is planning to begin pumping up the marketing around Ice Cream Sandwich and improving the experience that Google offers on Android tablets. Currently, Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablets leave much to be desired when it comes to the end-user’s overall experience, and sales have been lackluster at best according to numerous reports.

[Via Engadget]

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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 actually does keep your keystrokes, and we certainly don’t work with them and we certainly don’t support it,” Schmidt said during a recent conference. “Android is an open platform, so it’s possible for people to build software that’s actually not very good for you, and this appears to be one.” Apple, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Carrier IQ have been sued in class-action lawsuits over the software. If you’re worried about whether or not your phone has the tracking software installed, follow our guide on how to find out in just one tap. 

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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 developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.” He also noted, however, that Motorola’s extensive patent portfolio would greatly assist Google and its Android partners in defending Android against patent complaints from the likes of Apple and Microsoft. Read on for more.

Several experts have since weighed in on the acquisition, and many believe Motorola’s portfolio of 25,000 issued and pending patents will do less to protect Android than initially believed. One patent expert went so far as to call the deal “an immense mistake.” On stage at the Salesforce.com Dreamforce conference, Schmidt made certain to communicate that the benefits of the Motorola buy extend beyond patents. “We did it for more than just patents. We actually believe that the Motorola team has some amazing products coming,” Schmidt told Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff on stage at the conference. “We’re excited to have the product line, to use the Motorola brand, the product architecture, the engineers. These guys invested the RAZR. We know them well because they’re Google Apps users.” He continued, “[We enjoy] having at least one area where we can do integrated hardware and software.”

Schmidt continued, noting that the current U.S. patent system has created a hostile environment that is in serious need of an overhaul. His only idea for a proposed solution, however — to crowd-source patent applications and let the general public comment on possible prior art — is not legal under the current system.

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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, should the company’s appeal be shot down, Schmidt replied “We will make sure they don’t lose, then.” Schmidt attributed the lawsuits to Android’s massive global growth and restated that there are now more than 550,000 Android smartphone activations daily. “We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations,” Schmidt said. “I’m not too worried about this.”

[Via CNET]

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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 eangaging in anti-competitive behavior. “I look forward to discussing a number of important issues relating to Google and Internet search competition,” Senator Mike Lee, the lead Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s anti-trust subcommittee said.

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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!

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 activation brouhaha with rival Apple. For the sake of comparison: the latest numbers from iOS maker Apple (released in September 2010) revealed that there were over 230,000 new iOS activations happening every day.

The verbiage used in both of the companies statements is interesting. Rubin notes 300,000 phones activated each day (indicating the number does not include tablets or other devices running Android, but could include users upgrading), while back in September, Jobs noted there were 230,000 new iOS activations each day (indicating that Apple’s numbers include other iOS devices like iPads and iPod touchs, but not users upgrading).

Either way, Google is now on pace to activate over 10 million Android phones per month. That is an impressive figure any way you slice it.

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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 another big day for Android and you will find out how fast Notion Ink can work. (Eden is extremely compatible with 2.3).”

and you have all the ammunition you need for a sizzling internet rumor. If that still isn’t enough for you, Andy Rubin, Google’s VP of mobile platforms, is speaking at AllThingsD‘s D: Dive into Mobile event later this evening ( 6:30PM PT).

If you’re an Android enthusiast, throw salt over your left shoulder, keep your fingers and toes crossed, and charge up that Nexus One. Today could be a big day for you!

[Via Engadget]

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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 fondles it while discussing NFC. Hit the jump for the video and get ready for a formal unveiling Google’s Nexus S, which will take place in the next few weeks.

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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 just mentioned that NFC technology, which is supported by Android 2.3 and included on the device he showed off at the summit, would eventually replace credit cards. He then joked that while he admits to having said Google will not be releasing a “Nexus Two,” he never said anything about the letter “S”.

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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 one — is that Google was including users upgrading from one Android device to another in their activation figures. In light of the semi-explicit innuendo, Google released a statement that reads: “The Android activation numbers do not include upgrades and are, in fact, only a portion of the Android devices in the market since we only include devices that have Google services.” Just another twig added to the Google versus Apple fire. Speaking of fire, try to keep the flaming comments to a minimum if you would.

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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 was worth it, he responded that the idea of Android was to further grow their search business. Schmidt then quipped, “Trust me that [search business] revenue is large enough to pay for all of the Android activities and a whole bunch more.” Google’s CEO was also caught saying he “loved the success of the iPhone.” We’ve got the video conversation queued up for you after the break.

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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 sure to climb even higher.

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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. Steve “Thanks for Picking Our Brains and then Trying to Eat Our Lunch” Jobs had this to say:

Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful. Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.

So long Dr. S, you will be missed — unless Chrome OS somehow manages to beat the odds and outreach OS X’s market share at some point down the road. Then we imagine pretty much no one at Apple will miss you.

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Apparently the only way to stop people from continuously sending this tip in is to run it, so here we go: Eric Schmidt was caught rocking a BlackBerry. Oooooooo. Sure Google’s CEO can have his pick from the current stock of Android-powered handsets and likely from amongst a handful of unannounced devices as well. It would appear as though Schmidt knows what everyone else in the free world knows, however — if you want to get stuff done, use a BlackBerry. We imagine Schmidt has a handful of Android devices he uses as well of course, but it’s always fun to point and laugh. So people… Point and laugh.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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