Is This What The Google Music Store Will Look Like?

Google’s November 16th event is inching closer. And with each passing day more leaks come out suggesting topics for the upcoming announcement(s). The most popular at this point is either an official launch or at the very least, revealing of the Google Music Store. With that said, today images have leaked showing what could very well be the official Google Music Store for Android. The leaks come compliments of TechnodroidVE reader, Ricardo, whom discovered the Store on his Inspire 4G. How he actually managed to get to the Music Store isn’t known. Nonetheless, we’ll take what we can get (in this case, lots of pictures).

Considering the mobile world is currently a 2-platform race between Android and iOS with everyone else falling behind rather quickly, this is a huge moment for Google and Android as a whole. Part of what makes the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad the juggernauts that they are isn’t just the hardware or even local software. It’s a complete ecosystem that encapsulates hardware, software, music, apps, books, games and so much more. Apple is the king when it comes to an engaging ecosystem. Google on the other hand has had some trouble tying it all together. With the launch of the Google Music Store, the differences in ecosystems between Android and iOS should be a leveled a bit.

Lust: Intel Launches Six-Core 3960X Extreme Edition Processor.

Time to toss more money Intel’s way, PC enthusiasts. The long awaited LGA2011 chipset is finally here bringing with it new hex-core chips and quad-core memory. In true Intel fashion they’re starting off with a bang featuring the high end Core i7-3960X hex-core processor. Each core runs at 3.3 GHz when in multi-core mode, but can clock as high as 3.9 GHz when less than 6 cores are active. The 3960X features a 15 MB of level 3 cache and is priced at $1,050.

You can go a la carte and pick up the chip by itself or go full steam ahead with one of Maingear’s new Shift or F131 computers which now have options for the new processor. The cheapest configuration with a 3960X will set you back just under $2,800 — and that doesn’t even include a decent GPU (Nvidia GT 440). Hope you saved your pennies.

Samsung Backtracks, Won’t Seek To Block iPhone 4S In South Korea.

Samsung’s previous drum beatings proclaiming that the company was going to fight to block Apple’s iPhone 4S from being sold within the count once it launched in South Korea have changed tune. A reportreport from South Korean newspaper “The Chosun Ilbo”, a high ranking Samsung executive has stated that Samsung will not look to “engage in legal battles” with Apple in South Korea as they have in other countries such as Australia, France, and Japan (to name a few):

“We concluded that we should engage in legal battles with Apple only in the global market, but not in order to gain more market share in Korea.”

Meanwhile, despite ongoing lawsuits/fighting over Android and iOS between the two companies, Samsung will remain an important part of Apple’s immediate future, and Samsung Apple’s. Current reports peg Samsung as producing the next-gen A6 processor, a platform that has been a cash cow for Samsung.

Spotify’s Reach Expands To Austria, Belgium, And Switzerland (Possibly This Week).

Everyone’s Most peoples’ favorite streaming service, Spotify, is getting bigger! Starting as early as this week residents of Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland will be able to enjoy all the streaming goodness that some parts of the world have been enjoying for over 2 years now.

The claim comes via Paid Content. Unfortunately, Spotify won’t confirm any such timeline, instead saying that they are “working hard to launch the service in Austria, Switzerland and Belgium as soon as possible”.

Regardless if it’s “this week” or next month, having Spotify expand into new territories further proves that streaming music is here to stay despite early reservations by many different parties.

We’ve jumped back and forth between some of the bigger services such as Spotify as well as Rdio and Mog. They all have the own strengths and weakness, not to mention completely different approach to UIs. With that said, what music streaming service do you use, and why?

Lenovo Tablet Tipped For Late 2011 Release With 1.6 GHz Quad-Core, 2 GB RAM , And ICS In Tow.

Lenovo isn’t exactly a brand known for bleeding edge, exciting consumer electronics. Though in the corporate world, they’re one of the many forces to be reckoned with. Still, Lenovo is no stranger to the ways of the average consumer as the Chinese based company has released a smattering of Android tablets over the last year. None of them have really caught on (at least here in the U.S.). But we have a feeling their upcoming quad-core beast will catch on.

Engadget scored some exclusive details on a Lenovo tablet slated for years end coming with a screaming 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, a 10.1″ display and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Specifics regarding the display and the rest of the tablet aren’t yet known. Looks like ASUS’ Transformer Prime won’t be our only lust going into the holiday season after all.

From The Plex: Episode 5

Want a good weekly recap of everything Google but short on time? Awesome. All you’ll need to spare is a mere 1:22 — “From The Plex” Episode 5 is now live, compliments of Google At A Glance co-host John Hanlon. No need for a snack (no time to chew). Hop on in…

[Update] Macbook Pros At Apple Genius Bars To Be Replaced With iPads.

When a Mac/iOS user stops by their local Apple Genius Bar they’ll find a line of geniuses peering over a row of gleaming Macbook Pros — stationary, hulking slabs of aluminum. But in the near future Apple will revamp the Genius Bar to a more mobile, efficient station for customers by replacing the Macbook Pros with iPads.

Just a couple of months ago Apple added iPads to all tables/kiosks within Apple stores to showcase each device exponentially better than any simple paper chart could. Not to mention, the iPads give customers an interactive tool to compare hardware as they wait for their turn to see an Apple employee.

By swapping out the Macbook Pros for iPads, Apple Geniuses will be able to (1) fit more people at the bar as well as (2) actually move around and help people throughout the store.

In short: Genius appointment wait times are about to get a whole lot shorter.

As soon as we know more info as to when the Macbook Pro -> iPad swap will happen we’ll let you know!

Update

According to 9to5 Mac’s Mark Gurman, the Macbook Pro to iPad Genius Bar swap is going down tonight.