Leaked screenshots show redesigned Gmail with ‘Categories’ feature to sort emails by content

Jordan Kahn

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The image above is being passed around by an anonymous tipster this evening that claims to have screenshots alongside some new information about an upcoming version of Gmail for both the web and mobile devices.

According to the tipster, the update Gmail for web will have new Category tabs that organize emails into separate inboxes based on the content within (as pictured above). Examples given include Main (for family, friends and everything that doesn’t belong in another category), ‘Social’ for emails related to social networks, ‘Offers’ for promotional material, ‘Notifications’ for reservations, bills, etc, and ‘Forums’ for mailing lists and forums.

We have no way of verifying the legitimacy of the tip, but it’s an interesting concept nonetheless and it will apparently also be hitting the new Gmail mobile apps when it begins rolling out this Wednesday… Read more

Report: Google planning to develop wireless networks, low-cost Android devices for emerging markets

Jordan Kahn

Google-internet-fiber

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Google is now in the middle of a new project that will see the company develop wireless networks in emerging countries including sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Google plans on teaming up with local companies to develop the wireless networks, which are said to use airwaves normally reserved for TV, but will first have to get government approvals:

Some of those efforts revolve around using certain airwaves reserved for TV broadcasts to create wireless networks, but only if government regulators allowed it, these people said. Google has long been involved in public trials to prove the technology—which operates at lower frequencies than some cell networks, allowing signals to be more easily transmitted through buildings and other obstacles and across longer distances—can work. And it has begun talking to regulators in countries such as South Africa and Kenya about changing current rules to allow such networks to be built en masse.

The report mentions that Google is also “building an ecosystem of new microprocessors and low-cost smartphones powered by its Android mobile operating system to connect to the wireless networks,” although it didn’t offer up any other specific information on the devices.

It also points out a Google X project that takes advantage of “special balloons or blimps, known as high-altitude platforms, to transmit signals to an area of hundreds of square miles,” but it’s unclear whether or not the two projects are connected. Read more

Google shows off a redesigned Gmail app for Android with side navigation drawer?

Jordan Kahn

Gmail-update-with-navigation-drawer

In a Google I/O presentation titled “Structure in Android App Design,” Google might have given us a sneak peak at what’s to come for the Gmail Android app. Much of the talk focused on the new navigation drawer that is already present in the latest Google app updates including Earth and Shopper for Android. One slide, as pointed out by AndroidPolice, appears to show off a redesigned Gmail app equipped with the sliding drawer for navigating inboxes (similar to Gmail on iOS) and a number of other tweaks including the removal of the navigation buttons along the bottom of the app. We’ll have to wait and find out for sure if this was simply a mock up for the presentation or the next redesign of the official Gmail app for Android.  Read more

I want to believe: more rumors of stock Android HTC One – from the guy who called the stock S4

Ben Lovejoy

htc-google

When seemingly pulling rumors out of thin air, it helps to have a track-record. Geek.com‘s Russell Holly does: he was the guy who told us that a stock Android version of the Samsung S4 would be announced, a day before it was. So when he claims claims rumors that a vanilla version of the HTC One is on the way are true, we pay a little more attention than usual to such things … Read more

gMusic app unofficially brings Google’s new “All Access” subscription music service to iOS

Jordan Kahn

gMusic-All-Access-iOSWhen Google unveiled its brand new $9.99/month “All Access” Google Play music streaming service earlier this month at its I/O keynote, we quickly learned that the service would not be coming to iOS initially. Google didn’t get into why, but today developers of the popular gMusic iOS app has unofficially brought support for the service to iPhone and iPad.

The app previously acted as client for songs stored in your Google Music library, but with an update to version 6.0 today the All Access subscription service is now officially available to iOS users. The changelog on iTunes also lists the ability to “Create/play Radio Stations” and “Search, listen, and add music to your library from inside the app.”

As for why Google didn’t make it’s own All Access app for iOS, we’ve heard from sources close to the situation that Google wants to submit an app but is currently in a holding pattern with Apple regarding what they will accept.

gMusic: Google Music Player is available on the App Store now for $1.99. The updated app will require users to have a Google Play All Access subscription to access the new features.  Read more

AT&T announces Galaxy S4 in ‘Aurora Red’ coming June 14

Jordan Kahn

Galaxy-S4-Aurora-Red

AT&T announced today that it will exclusively be offering the Samsung Galaxy S4 in Aurora Red starting June 14. The new color will be available on the 16GB variant for the usual $199 on a two-year contract and preorders will officially kick off tomorrow, May 24. Samsung is also planning to launch some more special edition colors this summer including: Blue Arctic, Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn.

Starting tomorrow you’ll be able to preorder the Galaxy S4 in Aurora Red exclusively through AT&T at  www.att.com/galaxys4 or at a brick and mortar location.

Good timing on the announcement because (coincidence!) Verizon’s Galaxy S4 is availabile today.