Lilbits (7-15-2014): Intel chases the tablet market

Intel is on a mission to get its chips into as many phones and tablets as possible, and the company’s willing to offer its chips to device makers at or below cost to make it happen.

So while Intel reported stronger than expected earnings in its latest financial report and claims to be on track to have its chips power 40 million tablets that ship this year, Intel’s mobile division actually earned 83 percent less revenue in Q2, 2014 than a year earlier.

Here’s a roundup of tech news from around the web. You can keep up on the latest headlines by following Liliputing on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.

• Intel on track to power 40 million tablets this year, but practically giving chips away means revenue is down
  Intel reported $51 million in revenue during the quarter. But the company can afford to subsidize its mobile chips — it generated $8 billion in revenue  from PC chip sales. Overall revenue was $13.8 billion and total earnings for the quarter came in at $2.8 billion. [Recode]
• Google+ drops the real-name policy: call yourself what you like
  Call me Ishmael. [Google+]
• Acer Aspire Switch 10 2-in-1 tablet with 500GB HDD keyboard dock now available in Germany
  Want Acer’s 2-in-1 tablet, but need more than 32GB or 64GB of storage? A model with a hard drive in the keyboard dock is rolling out in some countries. [TabTech]
• Some of Microsoft/Nokia’s new Lumia phones ship without the option to set Google as your search provider in IE
  Bing is the default search engine for the main search app on all Windows Phone devices, but you can usually change the default search provider in Internet Explorer… unless you pick up one of the new Lumia devices from Microsoft which have that ability disabled. [The Verge]
• Google’s smart contact lenses (for measuring glucose levels) could become a real thing
  Earlier this year Google unveiled a smart contact lens which might not be as smart as Google Glass, but which could help monitor health stats. Now Novartis has licensed the technology and could produce an actual product based on the idea. [Novartis]
• Now it’s a lot easier to find Chromecast/Google Cast-ready apps
  Want to know what you can do with your $35 Chromecast? Up until recently Google’s Supported Apps page only showed a handful of apps that work with the media streaming device. Now there are hundreds of apps listed. You can sort by featured or new apps, search, or view the full list. [Google]
• Wondering why folks would choose a Chromebook over a similarly-priced Windows laptop?
  A lot of folks seem to think the only reason to buy a Chromebook is because it’s cheap — and that’s certainly why some people pick them up. But as this thread shows, many people who are attracted to the platform for the price stay because of the simplicity and security, among other things. [reddit]
• cPulse is an Android smartphone case with 128 programmable LED lights
  Because sometimes you want more than tacky stickers to decorate your phone with. [TechCrunch]
• Lenovo licenses Imagination graphics tech, could be designing its own processors
  Lenovo’s smartphones and tablets aren’t incredibly popular in the U yet, but the company’s making a bit of a splash in China. Soon the company might have a new tool in its arsenal to help differentiate its devices from the competition: it looks like Lenovo may be designing its own chips. [Motley Fool]
• This is what Minuum’s on-screen keyboard looks like on Android Wear
  The makers of the Minuum keyboard app have been working on a version of their software that would let you enter text on an Android Wear smartwatch. Here’s what it looks like in action. [YouTube]