Nexus smartwatch concept is awesome, probably not that hard to make

A concept video of the rumored Google smartwatch emerged online.

Fan concepts show up online all the time, but in most cases they are dream devices with made up specs and futuristic designs that have little chance of ever becoming a real product.

The video below does show a dream device (at least for some users), but the difference is its minimalist design isn’t actually that crazy. Bearing the Nexus brand, this Google smartwatch concept could actually become a reality in the close future.

Google (along with other big players in the mobile industry) is rumoured to be working on a wrist-worn wearable computer. Seeing what Sergey Brin’s team of tech wizards managed to stuff into Glass (specs that are similar to the Galaxy Nexus’), a smartwatch similar to that in the video isn’t all that far-fetched.

Would you buy a Google smartwatch if it looked like that? What features would you like to see on such a device?

Google Now for Google's Homepage in Testing

It looks like Google Now won't be limited to Android, iOS and Chrome, it will also be added to Google's homepage. Some code from a page that's tested by Google offers more information about this feature.

"Get started with Google Now. Just the right information at just the right time." That's how Google introduces the new feature. "Google Now uses your Home location to show relevant information like weather, traffic conditions, and nearby places," explains Google. You can edit the home location, work location and the current location. Another feature lets you track your favorite stocks.

It's not clear how Google Now for desktop will look, but this screenshot reveals a possible implementation (it's from a Chrome extension developed by Google):

Here's the Google Search app interface for Android tablets (Nexus 10 gallery):

As I mentioned here, Google Now could replace some of iGoogle's functionality. Here's an early version of iGoogle from 2006:

Google unveils One Today charity app, makes giving easy

On Thursday, Google announced a new Android charity app initiative called One Today, which makes it easy for users to donate $1 to various causes every day. Rather than searching out different projects and donating to each individually, which can be as difficult as it is time consuming, the One Today app provides a new project every day, supplying all the relevant info needed.

For now, the app is only available through an invitation, which can be requested over at Google.com/OneToday. Once the limited pilot is over, we imagine the app will be freely available to everyone, but Google doesn’t say when that will happen. The app is offered for Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows Phone, but during the limited pilot only the Android app is available.

Google has several of the projects available for review on the website, providing an example of the charities that users will support. Among those is a project that teaches children empathy, scholarships for students in Laos, Rhino protection, a tree-planting project in Kenya, and more. Non-profit organizations can register with the service to have their own project featured.

The project only allows the donation of $1 per project in a single day, but Google says that higher donations can be made via challenges to friends. All the projects featured through the app are part of the Internet giant’s Google for Nonprofits, and specific projects cannot be selected, instead with projects being auto-offered based on past donations. To see answers to a host of other questions, head over to the project’s FAQ page.

Archos 35 Carbon $99 Android smartphone revealed

Today Archos has revealed a set of smartphones that begin on the low end with the “Archos 35 Carbon”, a $99 Vanilla Android handset you’ll absolutely have to take a peek at. This machine isn’t by any means meant to break the high-end market open with its specifications set, but at $99 USD, you might need to see how low you can go for an off-contract smartphone. It all begins with a lovely 3.5-inch 320×480 pixel IPS LCD display.

This device is tiny, but for $99 USD, one would expect it to be. The Archos 35 Carbon brings you GPS, Bluetooth, and FM radio connectivity. It also brings you Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – not exactly the most desirable build now that it’s been out-dated for nearly a year.

You’ll be working with a single-core Qualcomm 7225A processor clocked at 1.0 Ghz while your RAM racks up to 512MB. You’ll have 4GB of internal storage space while you have the ability to add a 32GB microSD card in this device’s microSD card slot for memory expansion. This device also comes in at a cool 117 x 62.3 x 10.2 mm small – small enough to fit in the palm of your hand!

This device works with dual-sim functionality so you can switch between carriers as you move through different parts of the country and the world. Though we don’t often see this feature appearing useful here in the USA, internationally such a perk will be well received!

Have a peek at the Archos tag portal for more information on the other Archos smartphones launching today – they only get bigger from here!