What happened to custom ROMs? [Video]
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You can now quickly rotate images in Google Photos with a keyboard shortcut
If you — like me — have enabled auto-upload to Google Photos on pretty much all of your devices, you’ve surely noticed that some photos just don’t arrive on the site with the correct orientation sometimes. The Google Photos editor — which also has filters, brightness control, etc. — is an easy fix for this (it only take a few clicks), but now Google has made rotating photos in the app even easier with a quick keyboard shortcut that you can use when viewing any photo…
YouTube launches new native messaging and sharing feature on Android and iOS
Starting today, YouTube is rolling out (via Wired) a new native sharing and messaging feature in its Android and iOS apps. While the video network is already a popular destination, YouTube wants to keep people in the app by having conversations about popular videos start and remain there.
Pinterest-like image saving and tagging feature added to Google Search on the web
Last year, Google added a Pinterest-like photo saving and tagging feature to Image search. It was first available on the mobile web for Android and iOS, but starting today Google is rolling out the feature to desktop search.
Someone is trying to sell the unannounced Google Glass Enterprise Edition on eBay
Update: It appears Google has shut down the eBay listing.
Earlier this year, we told you across several exclusive reports that second-generation Glass hardware was in development, namely a variant of the device reworked with the enterprise in mind. Now, a couple months after getting our first look at FCC images of the device and later an official Google patent, we now have our first look at a unit in the wild via a new eBay listing…
Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, & Slides will soon let you set expiration dates for document access
Google is adding the ability to set expiration dates for access to documents across Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides apps. The idea is that you can limit a contributor’s access to a document for a specific time period, which Google points out will come in handy for companies and organizations that often share files with third-parties temporarily:
New images show every Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge variant from just about every angle [Gallery]
If you haven’t seen enough of the Galaxy S7 already, we’re here to fix that. In a new series of leaked renders (via @onleaks), we now have a look at every variant of both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from several different angles. Another new image also recently surfaced showing — for the first time — the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge next to each other…
Glass: Enterprise Edition appears again in newly-granted Google patent [Gallery]
Earlier this year, we told you across several exclusive reports that new Glass hardware was in development, namely a variant of the device reworked with the enterprise in mind. Now, a couple months after getting our first look at the device in the flesh, a newly-granted Google patent provides us yet another look at the elusive remnant of a less than ideal Glass of the past…
This Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge concept is pretty, but it doesn’t make much sense [Gallery]
Case manufacturers are already making cases for the Galaxy S7 (and its design doesn’t look much different than the Galaxy S6), but that’s not stopping Curved from posting the Galaxy S7 of its dreams. Curved’s designs are always pretty, but as is the case with this one, they’re not always the most logical. As you can see, this design puts the USB Type-C port on the top of the device, a microSD slot on the bottom, and another edged screen along the bottom of its face…
Google Drive gains search improvements on Android, iOS, and web
Google has highlighted new features for Google Drive apps today that it says make it easier to search for files on Android, iOS, and web.
Among the improvements to search in the app, you’ll now be able to narrow your search by file type and open advanced search from the search box. For iOS specifically, users can now get quick access to recent files and search from the Home screen icon using 3D Touch and the ability to search from iOS’s Spotlight feature.
Here’s a full list of improvements courtesy of Google:
- Narrow your search to a file type from the search box on Android, iOS, and the web.
- Open advanced search instantly from the search box.
- Access recent files or search Drive from the home screen using 3D Touch on iOS.
- Search Drive using the iOS search bar without opening the Drive app.
- Search for shared files by file owner using their name or email address.
- Use advanced search options like the date a file was modified, words it contains, or who it was shared with.
Google says the improvements for Drive will roll out to the Android and iOS apps over the coming weeks.
Here’s why images in some camera apps on the Nexus 5X are upside down
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fenchtose.lenx&hl=en">LenX app</a> using older camera API
While taking pictures with third-party camera apps on the Nexus 5X, some users may notice that both the preview displayed by the phone and the image captured are upside down. While this error could easily be attributed with initial Marshmallow incompatibility on the part of the app developer, both software and hardware are to blame…
Google Play Games app adds gameplay recording & sharing features
After adding gameplay recording features to mobile apps alongside its new YouTube Gaming platform launch earlier this month, Google is today updating its Google Play Games app for Android with similar features.
The update will allow users of the Play Games app to quickly hop into gameplay recording with the ability to share their own commentary simultaneously using their device’s front facing camera and microphone.
It’s simple. In the Play Games app, select any game you want to play, then tap the record button. You can capture your gameplay in 720p or 480p, and choose to add video of yourself and commentary via your device’s front facing camera and microphone. When you’re done recording, you can quickly edit and upload your video to YouTube.
Google notes that the feature should come in handy for some of the content creators contributing to the roughly 144 billion minutes of gaming videos and live streams viewed on YouTube each month.
The updated Google Play Games app for Android is rolling out to users in the US and UK starting this week with users in other countries getting access in the near future.
The OldNYC Project takes historic photos of NYC and overlays them onto Google Maps
An interesting project has emerged this week that uses Google Maps to plot historic data from the New York Public Library’s digital collection of photographs taken by Percy Loomis Sperr between 1931 and 1942 and various other photographers between 1870 and 1970. The photos all depict New York City’s various streets and buildings and the OldNYC project aims to integrate those images into Google Maps (via LaughingSquid).
This is the best look at LG’s upcoming Nexus 5 (2015) we’ve seen yet
Of the Nexus announcements scheduled for later this month, the rumored LG Nexus 5 is definitely the one we know more about. A month ago the first full renders leaked, and just a few weeks ago, a photo of the device in the flesh managed to leak out as well. At least a couple publications have confirmed that this physical build is indeed the new Nexus, and we’ve even seen independent reports confirming its specifications as well.
But it’s not over yet, as Android Pit has now come out with images it claims are the new device, and they’re definitely the best look we’ve had yet…
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Sony Xperia Z5 Compact shows up in leaked promo image
A fresh, official-looking, image of the upcoming Xperia Z5 Compact has shown up in a new leaked promotional photo courtesy of Dutch tech blog, TechTastic. There’s nothing entirely remarkable about the image itself, but the very fact the device is showing up in promotional images prior to launch is a good indication that Sony is preparing its marketing ready for its arrival.
New images of the 2015 Moto G leak out, give us our best look yet [Gallery]
It seems like Motorola might be the new lead contender for worst-secret-keeper-ever. As I said earlier this week, we’ve seen renders, more renders, real photos, more real photos, and even more real photos of the 2015 Moto G leak over the last couple of months. And now, thanks to some new almost-certainly-legit photos (via LaptopMedia), we have what is now our best look yet at the new Moto G…
New leaked images likely show the upcoming 2015 Moto X in the flesh [Gallery]
Update: We now have a really attractive new render showing the device in white and gold, too…
Motorola has not had any success keeping its handsets a secret this year. We’ve seen half a dozen leaks of the company’s upcoming 2015 Moto G, and now — thanks to Android Peru on Facebook — we have yet another look at a device that purports to be the company’s upcoming Moto X. Previous leaks have been very sketchy, but these appear to be as legit as it gets. In fact, we had our hands on a prototype Nexus 6 last year, and it had identifying barcodes and labels almost identical to the ones seen in these pictures…
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Google Hangouts now lets you drag and drop images on the web
Google Hangouts on the web now lets users drag and drop images directly from their computer or web browser. That goes for the little chat window within your Gmail inbox and through the standalone Hangouts Chrome app. Googler Mayur Kamat shared the news and the image above demonstrating the new feature through a post on Google+ today.
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Latest Chromium build tests prompting users to install web apps for sites they visit often
If you’ve been following the latest with Chrome for Android, you probably know that Google has been making a big push with web apps. In Chrome for Android beta 42, Google added banners that recommend users install web apps to their home screens, and in beta version 43, the Chrome for Android app now has banners that push native apps on users as well. Now, in the latest build of the Chromium—the open source project that is the basis for Chrome—browser, Google is testing banners suggesting that users add sites to their app shelf.
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Imgur releases its first ever native Android app with card-based interface, more
In addition to updating its iOS app, Imgur this morning has also unveiled an entirely new version of its Android app. Imgur says that this is its first ever fully native app for Android users and was built completely from scratch. The app features a redesigned card-based gallery that offers large and easily viewable images. Users can navigate throughout the interface by swiping left or right to view more content.
Google to use robot-crane hybrids to construct new ‘hackable’ Mountain View headquarters
According to a recent report from Architects Journal, Google is looking to use a robot-crane hybrids to assist in building its new Mountain View headquarters. The report includes several mock-ups of the machines, which will be used to lift and shift the “pre-fabricated” components inside the structure.
This is Android Wear 5.1.1 running on the LG Watch Urbane (Gallery)
We’ve managed to get our hands on some images of Android Wear 5.1.1 running on the yet-to-be released LG Watch Urbane, and you can find them in gallery below…
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Leaked images claim to show LG’s upcoming G4 Note phablet
A new set of photos published on XDA Developers claim to show LG’s upcoming G4 Note flagship smartphone. The images show a device with design similar to that of the G Flex 2, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, but with a stylus.
It’s unclear if the device shown in these leaked images has an all metal body like reports have claimed the LG flagship will offer. One notable quality of the design, however, is that a stylus for the device appears to be located at the top left of the phone. This lends credit to the possibility that these images are of the G4 Note, not the standard G4. The G4 Note is said to be a higher-end device than the G4, similar to what Samsung offers with its Galaxy Note phablet line-up. Some, however, have suggested that what appears to be the stylus is actually just an antenna.
Google updates Drive and Docs sharing with profile pictures and suggested recipients
Google has made a couple of updates to its Drive and Docs editors that deliver smarter sharing and make it easier for collaborating with others. Starting today, after adding an email address to the sharing dialogue on either service, you will see profile pictures for each person you’ve added and, after adding two collaborators, suggested recipients based on who you frequently share emails or files with.
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Google Drive for Android gets improved search, better sharing & enhanced PDF viewer
Google has updated Drive for Android with a Material Design facelift and three new features in improved search, better sharing and an enhanced PDF viewer that make it easier for users to find, view and share through the app. The update will be rolling out on the Play Store for Android devices over the next several days.
The new search bar in Drive is easier and more predictive at finding content by updating results as each letter is typed into the field. Meanwhile, the app has improved sharing functionality that allows for users to write a custom comment on shared files so that all collaborators know why they sent it.
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