Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/07/23/google_christmas_wares/

REG MAN penetrates GOOGLE'S LAIR

Did he get the good(ie)s? What do YOU think, reader...

By Bob Dormon

Posted in Personal Tech, 23rd July 2014 14:03 GMT

Pics A Google Hangout of a different sort took place at its London offices yesterday. And, neatly fulfilling quite a few of our expectations of the Choc Factory, we ogled tech while milling around a real chocolate fountain.

Making conversation Google Glass style

Making conversation Google Glass style: record it so you can enjoy it all over again

Yes, we’re talking Christmas in July again, the silly season where vendors and resellers showcase Yuletide bound products including some that aren’t available to buy just yet... and the press were invited to savour some Chocolate Factory festive fare.

Having dodged the assimilation of hacks adorning Google glassware, I made it to the Christmas tree of Chromebooks – which featured all the latest models from the likes of Acer, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba. A welcome sight was the Samsung Chromebook 2 with its 13.3-inch full HD display which is still "coming soon" to the UK.

Chromebook Christmas tree with HP's 14in model and LG's Chromebase desktop version

Chromebook Christmas tree with HP's 14-q010sa and LG's 22CV241-B Chromebase desktop version

What makes the memorably named XE503C32 so interesting is that it’s powered by Samsung’s 2.1GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa ARM processor, whereas the bulk of today’s Chromebooks rely on Intel’s 1.4GHz dual-core Celeron 2955U CPU. In other areas it’s much the same with 4GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD. I did a quick boot to login test which took 8.5 seconds – on a par with the Intel alternatives.

Samsung's Chromebook 2 XE503C32 makes its UK debut

Samsung's ARM powered Chromebook 2 XE503C32 makes its UK debut

Processors aside, another distinction is its stitched leather effect lid. It’s a bit subtle, which is probably a good thing, as you do have to look closely to notice it and you won’t find this ornamentation on the base.

It's a stitch up: fake leather lid anyone?

It's a stitch up: fake leather lid anyone?

While it doesn’t bend over backwards Lenovo N20p Yoga-style, the non-touch display does tilt back quite far. The 200nit screen is sharp and bright enough but isn’t the usual Samsung laptop dazzler league as it’s no doubt toned down a bit to save on battery.

Lenovo's N20p bendy Chromebook stands atop a Toshiba CB30

Lenovo's N20p touchscreen bendy Chromebook stands atop a Toshiba CB30

As Christmas tunes blasted away from a Google Play playlist and the Chocolate Factory’s chocolate fountain shimmered its indulgence as passing journos daubed strawberries in this edible form of streaming, I dodged the Glassholes again and wound up alongside the watches.

The gingerbread factory? Record your decorative touches on Google Glass

The gingerbread factory? Record your decorative touches on Google Glass

Wear we're headed?

LG’s Smartwatch was on display, but once more, Samsung was taking pride of place, with the Gear Live being demo’d alongside a Google Nexus 5. The phone does all the networking and number crunching while the latest Android Wear simply connects via Bluetooth and delivers notifications on its display and offers voice commands too.

LG's Smartwatch notifications in black show off fingerprints

LG's Smartwatch notifications using the black background really show off fingerprints

Although “Open Channel D” didn’t produce any meaningful results, finding out what’s happened to your Amazon deliveries and using the spoken word to set reminders on the device – such as asking it to prompt you to buy milk on the way home – worked smoothly enough. One could also add these commands to the calendar with alarms.

Samsung's Gear Live updates you on Amazon deliveries

Samsung's Gear Live can update you on Amazon deliveries

Where you’d hope this combination of smartphone and strap-on to really show its worth is on navigation, but after requesting directions to Big Ben from the Googleplex, the churnings went on endlessly with nothing to show. As far as the demo went, it was a case of swiftly moving on… although in retrospect perhaps this was a good thing as who knows where you might end up on the trail of those going by the name of Big Ben.

Samsung's Gear Live waits for route calculation

In search of Big Ben: Samsung's Gear Live waits for route calculation or is it searching Grindr?

Unlike my John Lewis Google Glass initiation, the spectacle here did have internet functioning on the eyewear and you can use voice or taps and finger slides to navigate the apps.

There are now around 70 apps available that you can use on Google Glass but you’ll need to visit the Glassware Gallery to get to them and that is accessible MyGlass, an app that runs on iOS or Android. Sorry Windows Phone users, Google doesn’t know anyone who owns one, but there are workarounds.

Getting Google Glass to fit comfortably on existing spectacles can be a challenge

Getting Google Glass to fit comfortably on existing spectacles can be a challenge

Beside muttering “OK Glass…” commands to capture video, one of the more useful functions demonstrated was Translate. At first I thought I was going to have to try to speak aloud the Italian warning sign that was held out in front of me. Yet when checking the Google Glass image, the Italian text had been covered with the translated text in English, with it all in positioned in the same place. Looks like it'll soon be time to say goodbye to your Hungarian phrasebook.

Google Glass: the new addiction?

Hey kids, wanna try some Glass? Come on, just try it once, you'll love it...

Another nice touch was the Star Chart app, which wasn’t a prediction of whether I’d end up buying this stuff (actually there was an HP Chromebook 11 in the goodie bag – thanks Google), but an interactive astronomical map that, using GPS, tracks the movement of your head to show constellations above and below you. I've had a similar app on my iPhone for years but on Google Glass a faint and rather monotone voice babbles away about various heavenly bodies. Meanwhile there's still no sign of Big Ben. ®