Stephen is Growth Director at 9to5. You can find his current work at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google 9to5Toys, Electrek, and more. If you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter. Or, email at stephen (at) 9to5mac (dot) com, or an encrypted email at hallstephenj (at) protonmail (dot) com.
Google acquired app streaming startup Agawi earlier this year, and now it looks like the Mountain View company is putting their technology to good use. As of today, users will be able to stream certain apps straight from Google’s mobile search results. Google is also going to show “app-first” content (that without a web-based counterpart) in search results starting today as well…
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The new Google+ interface is rolling out on the web today, and if you’re anything like me, you don’t have much patience for slow rollouts. I still hadn’t been prompted to click the “Let’s go” button and get the new layout, but luckily I stumbled on a way (via Sean S) to opt myself in without any wait time. Here’s how…
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Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.
The Pushbullet you know and love isn’t going to be the same for much longer, at least for those that don’t want to throw $40 at the company for a year-long “Pro” subscription (or $5/month). Today, the company announced a “Pro” version of its app, which sadly doesn’t add any new features at all. Instead, Pushbullet is simply using emotional appeals and asking for users to start paying for features that were — until today — free.
What’s more, it looks like the original Pushbullet creator, a man by the name of Ryan Oldenburg, once promised that exactly this kind of thing would never happen happen…
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The Mate 8 is shaping up to be the best Huawei phone yet, and this time around people might actually care. The previously almost-unheard-of-in-the-west Chinese company was the star of the show with this cycle of Nexus devices, and the company also launched this year what I believe is the best Android Wear smartwatch to date — the Huawei Watch.
And now we’re getting a look at the company’s upcoming flagship, the Mate 8, in all of its glory…
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If you’re a Chrome or web developer, you’re probably already aware that the Chrome Dev Summit is set to take place today and tomorrow. The event brings Chrome engineers and web developers together for a two-day “exploration of building beautiful and fast mobile web applications.” This is an important event for many people, especially considering the growing relevance of web apps.
This is a two-day event, as I mentioned, and day 1 is set to start at 9 AM PT on November 17th. Google has provided livestreaming video of the entire event, and you can tune in below…
According to a report out of The Information today, Google is working on three devices under the umbrella of Project Aura: the next iteration of Glass (dubbed Enterprise Edition, which we extensively detailed earlier this year), and two screenless head-mounted devices that rely on audio.
The report mentions that these two audio-based devices use bone conduction just like Google Glass, but notably go without the screen. They’re like “headphones worn on your face,” Jessica Lessin says. The team that’s building the new devices (one of which is reportedly for “sport” users) is targeting a release for next year…
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I’ve been feeling up the Nexus 5X for about a week now, and I’m undoubtedly impressed. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Nexus phone in this size range, and — as someone who used the Nexus 6 as his daily driver for a year — it’s really refreshing to once again have a handset to match my hands. That was the first thing I noticed about the Nexus 5X. I have little-to-no tolerance for third-party bloatware, skins, and gimmicks, and stock vanilla Android is almost a non-negotiable for me. And in this one area, the 5X — the 6P, as well — delivers, and that alone puts it in a league of its own in my eyes. That alone makes this phone, for me, one the cream of the Android crop.
But there’s one thing that has been a recurring theme in my first week with the 5X: performance. It’s just simply not good enough, and in 2015, OS stutters, frame rate drops, and lag while switching apps is quite simply inexcusable, (but especially in any phone that costs more than $100). It’s not that the 5X is a crippled experience — no, I’m sometimes in buttery smooth Android heaven. But in those times that my phone just slows to a crawl in the middle of my day, whatever the reason may be, I can’t help but want to throw the 5X at a wall…
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Samsung’s new Galaxy View tablet was announced a few weeks ago, and now we have word that the gigantic device is going to be available at AT&T starting November 20th. AT&T is also announcing a promotion with DIRECTV that can land you a View for just $100.
The Galaxy View is a behemoth of a tablet, so much so that some are referring to it as a TV. I have to agree with this sentiment, because even compared to Apple’s very-large 12.9-inch iPad Pro, this thing is just plain massive.
The Galaxy View has an 18.4-inch Full HD 1080p display, a 2.1-megapixel camera on the front, and is powered by a 1.6 Ghz octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, and a 5,700mAh battery. There are two 4W speakers on the back, and a MicroSD card slot to go with 32GB or 64GB internal storage.
Keep reading for the details on the DIRECTV deal…
WALK OUT WATCHING DIRECTV® WITH THE ONE OF A KIND SAMSUNG GALAXY VIEW FOR $99.99, ONLY AT AT&T
Built for streaming entertainment on your terms, you can walk out watching DIRECTV
DALLAS, NOV. 16, 2015 – Available first from AT&T on Nov. 20, experience the latest LTE device from Samsung with the entertainment-centric Samsung Galaxy View. The Galaxy View is more than a tablet. It combines the entertainment features of a TV with the mobility and engaging design of a tablet. You can buy the Galaxy View in retail stores nationwide and online at www.att.com. DIRECTV customers can walk out watching over 100 live channels.d For a limited time, customers that sign up for new DIRECTV service (24-month agreement required) can buy the Samsung Galaxy View for $99.99, with a two-year wireless agreement.3 Existing DIRECTV customers that activate a new line with a smartphone on AT&T Next can also get the Galaxy View for $99.99, with a two-year wireless agreement.4
Additional key features on the Galaxy View tablet include:
• Display: Streaming video is brought to life on the Galaxy View’s 18.4 inch, Full HD 1080p screen.5
• Storage: AT&T’s Galaxy View comes with 64GB6 of storage, with expandable memory up to 128GB7, so you can download your favorite videos, music and more.
• Portability: Use the Galaxy View’s built-in kickstand in TV-mode to watch the game while you grill, or stand upright into Lap-mode to read comfortably. Turn up your music’s volume while its powerful speakers provide serious sound.
• Long-lasting Battery: With up to 8 hours of continuous play or watch time8, you can binge-watch, game and browse for hours without having to pause the action.
Samsung Galaxy View will be available in Black from AT&T for $0 down for well-qualified customers and $30 per month for 20 months with an AT&T Tablet Installment Plan9 or $499.99 with a two-year agreement.10 Add the Galaxy View to a new or existing Mobile Share Value Plan for an additional $10 per month access charge.11
“The Samsung Galaxy View is the best parts of a TV and tablet, designed with entertainment as its primary focus,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Device Marketing and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. “We know our customers are watching video in ways they never used to, and with this tablet you can shift where and when content is consumed. No other Samsung device provides this combination of integrated entertainment experience and value.”
The Samsung Galaxy View earned 4 of 5 stars, on AT&T’s Eco-Rating 2.0 system. The 2.0 system rates the social and environmental factors of AT&T branded handset devices and tablets. AT&T created the Eco-Rating 2.0 system to empower consumers to make better informed decisions when selecting a device. For more information about this device’s rating, AT&T’s Eco-Rating 2.0 System, and how you can join AT&T in making a difference, please visit http://att.com/ecospace.
For more information on the Samsung Galaxy View, check out this Mobile Minute video and visit: att.com/GalaxyView. Follow the conversation on social media by using #GalaxyView.
ASUS has come out on its ZenTalk forum today to detail which of its phones will be getting the upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Among others, the list of course includes the ZenFone 2 (which we gave a decent review earlier this year), as well as the ZenFone 2 Special Edition and the recently-announced ZenFone 2 Laser…
Here’s the full list of models as per the forum posting:
We are planning to support the Android M upgrade for below model:
- PadFone S (PF500KL)
- ZenFone 2 (ZE550ML/ZE551ML)
- ZenFone 2 Deluxe / Special Edition (ZE551ML)
- ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE500KG/ZE500KL/ZE550KL/ZE600KL/ZE601KL)
- ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL)
Almost half a year ago, we reviewed the ASUS ZenFone 2 and basically said that it’s definitely a decent phone (which, frankly, was a first from ASUS in my book). We also gave the ZenFone 2E a review, in which I said that it’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a ZenFone 2 turned Go Phone. I’ve had my hands on the ZenFone 2 Laser for the last few days, so keep your eye out for that review sometime soon.
In a clever new video, Motorola has proven — albeit while also advertising its Moto X — that we just can’t keep our hands off of our phones for as much as one minute. It’s perhaps not the most well-designed scientific experiment, but it’s interesting nonetheless the temptation we have to reach for our phones when they start buzzing, even in situations where we probably shouldn’t.
In this case, Motorola (or, more accurately, Ashton Kutcher) told unknowing victims that they were “running an experiment” that required them to keep their hands in two circles on a table. After they closed the door to leave the suspects in the room by themselves, they started sending notifications to their phones. As might be expected, the participants just couldn’t wait to check them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qUZai-kGgA
Street View has been slowly getting more locations since it launched in 2007, and now the company has added many of parts of Bolivia and Ecuador to the list. These two South American countries are full of history and beautiful imagery, and now they can be explored from the comfort of your Chrome browser.
Google is even featuring some of the best imagery from Bolivia and Ecuador on its Street View site.
Just a couple of months ago, Google launched a standalone Street View app for Android and iPhone. Android users will find it on the Play Store, and iPhone users can download the standalone Street View app on the App Store. And if you’re interested in exploring Bolivia and Ecuador in VR, you might be interested in the fact that the Street View app recently added support for Google Cardboard.
In the wake of some absolutely tragic and terrifying events tonight in Paris, Google has made international phone calls to France free on Google Hangouts. In other tragic past events, many companies that offer calling services have offered similar opportunities.
In a related initiative, Facebook has tonight launched a feature called Safety Check, which allows you to “quickly find and connect with friends in the area” and mark them safe if you know they’re safe. You can also let your friends know if you’re in the affected area.
We’ve made international calls to France free via Hangouts. #ParisAttacks
Android→ https://t.co/RLNSn2HPHd
iOS→ https://t.co/UKRrBZgBGT— Google (@Google) November 14, 2015
You can head over to the Play Store or the App Store to grab the app for free, or head to hangouts.google.com to make free international calls to France straight from your browser.
My thoughts are with all the victims and their families on this sad night #Paris Great to see everyone come together to support France
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) November 14, 2015
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To the surprise of pretty much no one, LG’s recently-launched Watch Urbane 2nd gen. LTE runs the latest version of Android Wear, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This version is certain to be rolling out to the current line of Android Wear devices soon, and as was revealed in the recently-updated Android Wear companion app, the update will bring some features to other watches that are currently exclusive to the new Watch Urbane. Now, Google has published some support documents detailing the two major features coming in this version: new wrist gestures, and support for hardware speakers…
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According to Steve Jurvetson, venture capitalist and board member at pioneer quantum computing company D-WAVE (as well as others, such as Tesla and SpaceX), Google has what may be a “watershed” quantum computing announcement scheduled for early next month. This comes as D-WAVE, which notably also holds the Mountain View company as a customer, has just sold a 1000+ Qubit 2X quantum computer to national security research institution Los Alamos…
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Earlier this year, Google called on community artists in San Francisco to design the doors to some of its cute prototype self-driving cars. The contest’s winners were announced in late September, but now Google has come out on Google+ to post the first picture of some of the custom paint jobs now mostly finished and ready to hit the road.
We’ve been following the self-driving car program pretty closely as of late, and told you just last week that the cars haven’t seen an accident in over two months despite driving 100k miles. Also of note in recent weeks, Nest CEO Tony Fadell came out to say in an interview with Bloomberg that riding in the cars feels like being taxied by a professional driver.
Several old Nexus devices just don’t support Android 6.0 Marshmallow (and many never will), and that has left some owners of older phones feeling left out. But now, owners of the 2010 (yep, 5 years old) Nexus S might be glad to hear that one developer has managed to put together a build of Marshmallow for the phone. It’s definitely at your own risk, but you can now install this hacky unofficial build of Marshmallow with a little know-how, and here’s how to do it…
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If you’re a developer and you use Android Studio in any capacity, you might be happy to hear that Google has today launched Android Studio 1.5 in beta. Google says that the beta release isn’t that much different than Preview 2 (except a few bug fixes, of course), and it’s worth mentioning that Preview 2 wasn’t all that different than Preview 1.
You can update your current 1.4 installation to 1.5 beta by using the built-in patch mechanism, Google says, but you may not want to do that as it will completely replace your stable installation with a potentially less-reliable beta version. If you download from the Preview 2 page, you can keep 1.4 and 1.5 installed side by side — which might be best option regardless.
As was widely rumored, T-Mobile has today announced at their UnCarrier X event that customers can now stream unlimited video from certain services without impacting their data caps. The new program is called Binge On (not all too different than the company’s previously-launched Music Freedom in principle), and the list of compatible services includes many favorites like ESPN, Netflix, HBO Now, and more. The company also announced new Simple Choice plans…
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A new smartwatch prototype experiment from Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon might just be the smartwatch use case we’ve all been waiting for.
The technology, called EM-Sense, which is currently being shown off running on a Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch, uses electromagnetic (EM) noise from electrical and electromechanical objects to determine what you’re touching. This gives your theoretical future smartwatch a glimpse into what you’re doing and allows the device to be context aware beyond just your email inbox, your calendar, and your geographical location. It’s also maybe a little creepy.
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