The next big frontier in mainstream consumer technology is home automation. 

While home automation enthusiasts have been enjoying home automation for years, the vast majority of people don’t have it because it has always been far too expensive and complicated.

But, as we know, Moore’s Law cures all. Suddenly, it’s clear that major Silicon Valley companies are now interested in getting into the home automation space.

It’s all the more interesting because this home automation will be developed as part of the so-called “living room” experience, where every home will have a server that controls not only the all-important DVR recording of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, but also controls the automated sprinkler system, the heating and cooling systems, the home security system and all the lights.

Although there are literally dozens of specialist companies most of us haven’t heard of doing home automation, it’s more likely that the big companies we’re all familiar with will battle for the future of home computing: Microsoft, Apple and Google are the leading contenders.

Among these companies, Google is currently in last place. Here’s why I want them to win. 

We simply love wallpapers. They’re one of the first changes we make to our Android devices and often represent our moods, interests, or wicked alter egos. They’re as unique as the individuals who use them! Each day we’re going to feature a free wallpaper for you to download and use on your Android device. 

We simply love wallpapers. They’re one of the first changes we make to our Android devices and often represent our moods, interests, or wicked alter egos. They’re as unique as the individuals who use them! Each day we’re going to feature a free wallpaper for you to download and use on your Android device. 

Vanity Fair today released a brand new architectural rendering of the plans for Google’s new office building complex, called ‘Bay View.’ The new campus, planned for Mountain View, near San Francisco Bay, comes after the recently aborted Googleplex plans fell through, and will have nine different structures, each four stories high, shaped like bent rectangles. These shapes are arranged to form different-sized courtyards, while several of the buildings seem to have green roofs, perhaps planned as rooftop gardens, cafes, and possibly meeting spaces. There are bridges connecting all the separate buildings, and there are no cars to be found within the rendered plan.

Google announced its first computer yesterday, the ChromeBook Pixel. Yes, they’ve had ChromeBooks for a few years now, but this is the first computer product that was made solely by Google.

Over the past few years we’ve seen service and software oriented companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon venture into hardware development. It’s left many people scratching their heads, as we wonder why these companies want to shift their focus to hardware when they’ve dominated by just offering great services? Asymco’s Horace Dediu is pretty sure he knows the answer, and it all comes down to money.