Jordan Kahn

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• update

Google’s Currents iOS app redesigned & renamed ‘Google Play Newsstand’

Jordan Kahn Sep 23 2014 - 12:16 pm PT

0 Comments

Following the renaming of its Google Currents news reader app to “Google Play Newsstand” on Android back in February, Google has now given a similar treatment to the iOS app. The app, like the Android version earlier this year, also receives a makeover in the process with a streamlined design and new features:

What’s new
• New navigation helping you easily access the articles and editions you love including:
– Read Now – Easily access articles you subscribe to and discover new articles and editions all in one place
– Topics – Subscribe and get news from topics you are most interested in
– My Library – All of your subscriptions will be found here
• A brand new design giving you a streamlined news reading experience

The Google Play Newsstand app is available for free for iPhone and iPad on the App Store now.

• Google
• Search
• Ads
• advertising
• Germany

Google expands local inventory ads to UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia & desktop users

Jordan Kahn Sep 23 2014 - 10:31 am PT

0 Comments

Google just announced that it’s expanding its local inventory ads first launched for users in the US last fall to more countries starting today. The ads, which promote items from local nearby retailers to shoppers on Google, are now available in the UK, Germany, Australia, Japan, and France.

Google said today that it will also start showing the ads to desktop users:

We have also expanded support for store-only products and campaigns to desktop devices, enabling retailers to promote stores to the right customers at the right time. For example, you can prioritize showing local products to get shoppers in your doors during the weeks and days leading up to the holidays. As items go out of stock online and last-minute shipping costs increase, retailers who can provide cost-effective, quick in-store purchase options stand out in the crowd

Retailers can get an overview on the program here and users will in the countries above should start to see the local “in store” ads appear in search results.

• Android
• Apps and Updates

How to turn on experimental Google Now cards on Android

Jordan Kahn Sep 23 2014 - 10:15 am PT

1 Comment

AndroidPolice points us to a new app called UnleashTheGoogle from developer Zhuowei Zhang (requires root access) that allows users to manually enable experimental Google Now cards and other interesting features not yet available publicly to Android users.

In addition to turning on experimental Google Now cards like Flight Price Monitor, Artworks Nearby, and Election Information, the app includes the ability to enable a number of other Google Now related API actions and access debug options and confirmation flags.

The app is available to download directly here and the developer has provided the source code on GitHub.

• Search

Google rolling out new “Structured Snippets” of data in search results

Jordan Kahn Sep 22 2014 - 11:02 am PT

0 Comments

Google announced today that it’s rolling out what it calls “Structured Snippets” to add more helpful data to Google search results. Google provided the example above showing relevant data for the search term “nikon d7100” pulled from a webpage and displayed right in the search results. Google explained how it works:

The WebTables research team has been working to extract and understand tabular data on the Web with the intent to surface particularly relevant data to users. Our data is already used in the Research Tool found in Google Docs and Slides; Structured Snippets is the latest collaboration between Google Research and the Web Search team employing that data to seamlessly provide the most relevant information to the user. We use machine learning techniques to distinguish data tables on the Web from uninteresting tables, e.g., tables used for formatting web pages. We also have additional algorithms to determine quality and relevance that we use to display up to four highly ranked facts from those data tables.

Google offered another example for the search term “superman” to show what the structured data snippets look like in mobile search results:

All users should start to see the structured data snippets appear under some Google search results on the web on both desktop and mobile.

• Apps and Updates

Chrome iOS update enables third-party app extensions, iOS 8 support

Jordan Kahn Sep 22 2014 - 10:05 am PT

0 Comments

Google today updated its Chrome browser for iPhone and iPad with support for iOS 8’s new third-party App Extensions feature. That means that Chrome’s sharing menu will now show additional sharing options from apps you have installed supporting the new App Extensions feature. We previously put together a roundup of some of the best apps offering App Extensions when iOS 8 launched.

Google says the update, version 37.0.2062.60, also includes iOS 8 compatibility, stability improvements, and bug fixes.

The updated Chrome app for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store now.

What’s New in Version 37.0.2062.60

• Supports using 3rd party App Extensions to post and share content.
• iOS 8 Compatibility.
• Stability improvements and bug fixes.

• Android
• Apps and Updates

PayPal Here app now available for Android tablets

Jordan Kahn Sep 18 2014 - 11:43 am PT

0 Comments

PayPal announced today that it’s bringing its PayPal Here app to Android tablets starting with select markets. The app, which allows users to accept credit, debit, and mobile payments through PayPal, was previously available for Android smartphones.

• Accept credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments with PayPal.
• Manage Items so you can customize your inventory and products.
• Monitor Sales Activity so you check your sales history and transfer funds straight from the app.
• Customize your selling experience with the ability to set discounts, taxes and tips.
• Swipe Cards anywhere so you can make a sale no matter what screen you are in.

Initially, the new tablet app will be available to users in United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

The Android tablet optimized app is available to download on the Google Play store now.

• Android
• Moto X
• Motorola
• Sprint
• moto

Motorola says new Moto X won’t be available on Sprint

Jordan Kahn Sep 18 2014 - 9:42 am PT

2 Comments

Motorola’s recently unveiled next-generation Moto X smartphone is already available to order through other carriers such as AT&T, but Motorola today said the device won’t be available on Sprint. The news, which comes as a surprise considering the last-generation Moto X was available through the carrier, comes from a response to a customer on Motorola’s official Twitter account:

[tweet https://twitter.com/Motorola/status/512272654032965633]

There’s no word from either company on the reason behind the decision, but Verizon is expected to launch the device later this month while Motorola is already selling AT&T and T-Mobile compatible versions through its website. We’ll update with more if either company provides more information. 

• Android
• update
• Google Maps
• navigation
• turn-by-turn

Google Maps Navigation features roll out to 20 new countries

Jordan Kahn Sep 18 2014 - 8:55 am PT

0 Comments

Google is rolling outs its Maps navigation features to 20 additional countries as confirmed on the company’s website (via AndroidPolice). That means users in the new countries will have access to turn-by-turn navigation features for walking, biking, and driving directions. The full list of countries included in the latest roll out is below:

• Angola
• Bahamas
• Bolivia
• Botswana
• Fiji
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Tobago*
• Trinidad*

The navigation features are available in the new countries to Google Maps users on both Android and iOS devices. Google notes that Countries marked with asterisks include limited coverage in only some regions of the country.

• Apps and Updates
• Google Apps

Google’s new iOS Sync features for Google Apps users are now available

Jordan Kahn Sep 17 2014 - 12:51 pm PT

0 Comments

After announcing its new iOS Sync feature for Google Apps customers last week, the new iOS Mobile Device Management solution is now available to users:

The advantages of iOS Sync for users and administrators include:

• Manage Google Apps: Set a policy that prompts employees to enroll their device when they log into Google Apps such as Google Drive and Gmail.
• Configure WiFi networks: Distribute WiFi passwords and certificates to employees so they can easily connect to trusted networks.
• Support for existing policies: Manage password requirements, data encryption and camera policies, as well as actions like remotely wiping a device, activation approvals and blocking devices.

The feature is available starting today for Google Apps for Work, Google Apps for Education and Google Apps for Government users. Admins can access the new features from the Admin console now: Admins should access the Device management function in the Admin console to establish an Apple push notification certificate and begin enabling these new functions.

• Android
• Google Chrome

Slingplayer apps updated with Chromecast streaming support

Jordan Kahn Sep 17 2014 - 11:54 am PT

1 Comment

Sling announced today that it’s updating its Slingplayer apps with the ability to stream content to a Chromecast connected TV. The service, which allows users to watch live and recorded TV shows from their TV at home using dedicated hardware, also allows streaming to mobile devices through the SlingPlayer iOS and Android apps. Following today’s update, users will now be able to send content from the SlingPlayer app to a TV connected to one of Google’s $35 Chromecast HDMI streaming sticks:

We’re ecstatic to announce that Chromecast support has arrived for Slingbox M1, 350 and SlingTV/500 customers using the Slingplayer app… When paired with the Slingplayer app, you’ll be able to watch any of your cable or satellite programming (live or recorded) on any TV that’s been set up with Chromecast. Remember, both the Chromecast device and Slingplayer-equipped mobile device must be on the same network. And when they are, you’ll be able to control your TV with a soft remote interface that shows up on your phone or tablet

The Slingplayer apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphones get Chromecast support first, but the company says support for Android tablets is coming soon.

• Android
• Apps and Updates

Google Play Services 6.1 rolls out to developers

Jordan Kahn Sep 16 2014 - 3:33 pm PT

0 Comments

Google just announced that it’s rolling out Google Play Services 6.1 for developers today with a  number of enhancements to analytics, Google Drive integration, and Google Fit.

In addition to improvements to the Google Drive Android API and analytics features, Google is making the Google Fit Developer Preview it launched back in August available for testing on any Android device.

Google Play services 6.1 adds Enhanced Ecommerce analytics support from Google Tag Manager and offers new improvements to the Google Drive Android API. With the latest release, we’re also including a refresh of the Google Fit developer preview, so that you can test your fitness apps on any Android device.

You can get full details on today’s release from Google here.

If you think a Samsung sitcom sounds bad, it’s a musical too

Jordan Kahn Sep 16 2014 - 7:50 am PT

0 Comments

Samsung is apparently about to start shooting on a new sitcom filmed at the company’s headquarters in Korea that features a fictional Samsung employee and friends (via BusinessInsider):

The series, which will be called “Best Future,” will be written to portray a “young Samsung” that people in their 20s and 30s would want to work for, the reports says. Samsung is taking the name of the series quite literally. The main character, a woman who works at Samsung in the series, will be named Mirae, which ZDNet Korea said means “future” in Korean. The male lead, who shares a boarding house with Mirae, will be named Chaego which means “best” in Korean.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it’s also reportedly set to be a musical of sorts. 

The sitcom’s title translates to Best Future and will arrive in October as a web-only offering in 60 minute episodes. There is more info and images from the set on Samsung’s blog here (in Korean). 

(via BusinessInsider)

• Apps and Updates

Google is investigating Google Drive service disruptions this morning

Jordan Kahn Sep 16 2014 - 7:04 am PT

0 Comments

If you’re having issues with Google Drive this morning, you’re not alone. Google has just confirmed that it’s investigating a service disruption with the service this morning after a number of users reported issues with accessing various Drive features.

The problem isn’t being listed as a flat out service outage just yet, but Google’s app status page does list Google Drive as experiencing service disruptions as of earlier this morning. We’ll update when we hear back.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play Music
• update
• Shazam

Shazam app adds Google Play Music streaming & purchasing options

Jordan Kahn Sep 15 2014 - 11:55 am PT

0 Comments

Popular song recognition app Shazam announced today that it’s integrating Google Play Music, allowing users to preview, purchase or stream the song on from Google Play Music or Google’s All Access streaming service in one tap.

Google Play Music joins the other options Shazam offers users for purchasing and or listening including Rdio, Beats Music, and Spotify.

The feature is available first to users in the Shazam app for Android and later the iOS version of the app.