Chance currently writes for both 9to5Google and 9to5Mac, in addition to 9to5Toys. He has previously written for several other online publications. He uses a Nexus 5, iPhone 5s, iPad Air, Hackintosh, and Macbook Air.
Google has updated its Android distribution data this evening to reflect numbers collected during a 7-day period ending on May 4th, 2015. Android Lollipop, which has been struggling to gain adoption since its official release, grew to 9.7 percent this time around, up from just over 5 percent at this time last month. More specifically, Android 5.0 is running on 9 percent of devices, while Android 5.1 is on just .7 percent of devices.
Popular feed reader app Feedly has been updated today to version 27 with a handful of new features. First off, the update adds Google Now integration. The app will now push the most interesting stories to Google Now every morning at 7:00AM, allowing you to quickly digest the most important news of the day.
Google today has started rolling out an update to the Play Store app that bumps it to version 5.5. The update doesn’t add much, but it keeps with Google’s trend of enhancing the design of its in-house apps. With Play Store 5.5, Google has added a new circular animation that appears when you tap on a TV show title.
After releasing the file for the Nexus Player earlier this month, Google this evening has posted the Android 5.1.1 factory images for several new devices this evening. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop factory images are now available for the WiFi-only 2012 and 2013 Nexus 7 models, and the Nexus 10.
Ford was one of the first car manufacturers to announce its intentions to add support for Google’s Android Auto to its in-dash systems. Questions concerning how Ford plans to integrate Google’s solution, however, have remained since the initial announcement. In an interview with Re/code today, Ford CEO Mark Fields clarified some of the details regarding the company’s plans to offer Android Auto (and CarPlay) in its vehicles.
After officially unveiling the device yesterday after months of speculation, LG has today shared an infographic in which it breaks down all of the specifications of its G4 flagship. The image, seen below in its entirety, highlights the camera features of device, which LG went on about for an extended period of time during the unveil.
HTC, who this morning said that brand image is more important than volume, has announced a new partnership with supermodel Jourdan Dunn. As part of the partnership, HTC and Dunn will team up to offer limited edition variants of the HTC One M9 with custom-designed, body art-inspired engravings. An example of one of the engravings can be seen above.
With Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google added support for multiple users sharing a single device. In its own infinite wisdom, however, Samsung decided not to include this feature on its Android 5.0 devices. According to a report from SamMobile, Samsung plans to add Guest Mode to its device with Android 5.1.
Just a day after the device became available on the Google Store, the LG Watch Urbane is now available for purchase from both AT&T and Verizon. Both of the carriers list the device as available for $349, which is the same as the Google Store.
After releasing its earnings guidance earlier this month, Samsung has just posed its official Q1 2015 earnings. The company reports an operating profit of $5.63 billion off of revenues of $44 billion. These numbers represent a drop in operating profits year-over-year, down from $7.8 billion in Q1 2014.
Google’s head of design, Matias Duarte, recently gave an interview at the Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2015 conference during which he discussed the future of wearables. Duarte, who was wearing an Android Wear device during the interview, compared smartwatches to a variety of other inventions throughout history that have been welcomed by many, but not required.
Google Analytics for iOS has received an update this evening that bumps it to version 1.2.0. The update includes a handful of features, such as new comparison capabilities and some small interface tweaks.
The Android-based OUYA gaming system never panned out quite like everyone expected. After receiving $8.5 million in funding via Kickstater, the device received mixed reviews and never caught on with the average consumer. Now, Forbes reports that OUYA is in desperate need of a buyer. According to the report, investment bank Mesa Global, which also handled Songza’s sale to Google, has been brought in to manage the sale of OUYA.
Just moments after the LG Watch Urbane became available on the Google Store, the price of LG’s G Watch R has dropped from $299 to $249. As pointed out before, the Watch Urbane is similar to the G Watch R in almost every way except for design. The G Watch R features stainless steel body with a brushed metal finish, while the Watch Urbane features a more high-end look and is available in gold and silver.
Update: With the launch of the Urbane and price drops for the LG G Watch R, Google is no longer selling the LG G Watch on the Google Store.
As expected, LG’s Watch Urbane is now available via the Google Store for $349 in gold and silver variants. The Watch Urbane is similar to the G Watch R, but with a nicer, more high-end design. The device is made entirely out of metal and comes with a single leather band. For the gold model, the leather band is brown, while the silver model includes a black leather band.
During the company’s earnings call for the first quarter of 2015, Google CFO Patrick Pichette made a comment concerning its “other revenues” stream. The “other revenues” category consists of revenues from the Play Store and now Google Store, and it’s one of the company’s smallest sources of money. But Pichette noted that while revenue from “other revenues” was up 23 percent year-over-year to $1.8 billion, revenue was down 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceQKErGALV8
Google today has posted its earnings for Q1 2015. The company reports revenue of $17.3 billion, which is up 12 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014. Net income for Q1 2015 was $3.68 billion For the first quarter of 2015, the company also reports earnings per share of $6.57. Google CFO Patrick Pichette cites momentum of its mobile advertising business as a reason for its strong performance.
LG has announced this evening that its all-metal Watch Urbane will be available later this month on the Google Store in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. In Korea, the device will be available this week with the other countries following.
Earlier this week, Google began rolling out Chrome 42 with support for website notifications and an improved “add to home screen” function. With those two new features, Google is clearly making a big push towards web apps on both the desktop and mobile. Now, Google has launched a new Spotlight page to highlight some of the best mobile web apps.
To celebrate Earth Day 2015, Google has added a quiz to its search engine for visitors. By clicking the Earth Day themed Google Doodle, users are directed to a search results page with a quiz at the top. The quiz claims to answer the question, “Which animal are you?”
Google writes on its Doodle explanation page:
You can search Google for answers to all kinds of animal questions: What does an aye-aye eat?Where do narwhals live?How long is a toco toucan’s beak? And this Earth Day, you can turn to Google for the answer to something that you’ve always needed to know: which animal are you???
Clicking on this year’s Earth Day logo (or searching for “Earth Day quiz”) presents one of the Internet’s favorite pastimes: a totally scientific and 1,000% accurate personality quiz. Take the time to answer a few questions to determine and share your Earth Day animal. And, of course, you’re only a search away from learning more about nature’s precious pals and interesting inhabitants (fyi: kakapo is the heaviest parrot).
Happy Earth Day to you today and everyday,
The Earth Day Doodle Crew
The quiz consists of 5 questions and allows you to share your results to social media at the end. Take it here and tell us what animal you are when you’re done. Apparently, I am a honey badger….
Screenshots via <a href="http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/04/21/android-wear-app-v1-1-rolls-out-with-an-updated-look-support-for-cloud-sync-over-wi-fi-and-calendars-for-multiple-accounts-apk-download/">Android Police</a>
After unveiling a handful of new features for Android Wear yesterday, Google this evening has started rolling out an updated version of the Android Wear companion app. The update prepares the app for many of the features revealed by Google yesterday, including WiFi support, wrist gestures, and always-on apps.
Google’s oft-rumored U.S wireless service could be unveiled as early as Wednesday, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal. The report corroborates earlier rumors that the key selling point of Google’s network will be that users will only pay for the amount of data they actually use each month.
Sony today has taken the wraps off of a handful of new products that will play nicely with Android devices. First off, the company has announced that its 4k Ultra HD televisions with support for Android TV and Google Cast will begin shipping in May. The TVs feature Sony’s X1 processor which lends itself to improved color, brightness, and upscaling. The TVs also feature the X-Reality PRO Picture Engine, which also contributes to improving those factors.
Alcatel originally announced its Idol 3 budget smartphone at Mobile World Congress and now the device is available for pre-order. While the company had originally promised an April 21st pre-order date, it’s now offering an early bird special on Amazon and its own website. For the brief time being, the 5.5-inch Idol 3 is available on Amazon and Alcatel’s website for $200. That’s $80 off the anticipated price.