Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn

Jordan Kahn

jordankahn

Senior Editor

9to5Mac / 9to5Google / 9to5Toys / Electrek.co

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac. He covers Google for 9to5Google.com, the best gadgets and deals on 9to5Toys.com, and delivers a weekly roundup of EV and solar news on Electrek.co. Sometimes he makes weird electronic music as one half of Makamachine.

Contact Jordan with news tips and long-winded complaints:  

Connect with Jordan Kahn

Google’s No.1 priority for US-made Nexus Q was faster design iterations, not cost

Site default logo image

Since Google unveiled its Nexus Q streaming device at Google I/O, more and more details have come out about what is essentially a set-top box (albeit orb-shaped) Apple TV competitor with a built-in stereo amplifier. Google was first to make it clear that the device was manufactured entirely in the United States, and a report from The New York Times later confirmed the Q “was being assembled in a large factory 15 minutes from Google headquarters.”

Today, a report from Reuters quoted Google’s Senior Director of Android Global Partnerships John Lagerling explaining that the decision was based on the ability to innovate faster and not necessarily cost:

“We wanted to innovate fast. This is the first end-to-end hardware product that Google has ever put out,” said John Lagerling, Google’s senior director of Android global partnerships.

The cost of building the orb-shaped Nexus Q, a cross between a streaming video box like Apple TV and a stereo amplifier, “was not the No. 1 priority,” Lagerling said. “We wanted to see if we could do fast (design iterations) rather than having our engineers fly across the world.”


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google: Ice Cream Sandwich is now on 11 percent of Android devices

Site default logo image

With the rollout of Jelly Bean to a number of new devices just around the corner, Google updated its platform statistics today on the Android Developers website. After having been released for nine months, Ice Cream Sandwich was able to post an increase. However, it remains at just under 11 percent of total Android devices. That is an increase of approximately 3.8-percent for ICS 4.0 and 4.0.4, and it definitely highlights the fragmentation issues Android continues to face. Jelly Bean is not included in the platform stats, because it has not launched on any devices available to consumers.

Google also released updated information about the number of devices currently utilizing a particular screen configuration. The graph below shows the majority of Android devices are still running what Google classified as “Normal/hdpi,” which is a configuration that includes devices roughly 3.5-inches to 4.5-inches with at least 470dp-by-320dp:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Analytics gets and Android app and mobile app tracking

Site default logo image

As highlighted on the official Google Analytics blog, the company is today announcing the addition of mobile app analytics for three main areas: Acquisition and new users, Engagement (retention, crashes, conversions), and Outcome (app sales and in-app purchases).

New and active users – measure the number of new and active users who launch your app everyday and analyze your most valuable segments.

App versions – keep track of the distribution of active users over the older and newer versions of your app so you know what to support.

Device overview – check out the top mobile devices and OS versions that your app runs on, and optimize the experience for each device.

User behavior – assess how loyal your users are, how frequently they use the app, and the engagement level of each loyalty group.

Engagement flow – visually see the screens, actions and paths users take to move throughout your application in order to optimize usage.

In-App purchases – if you sell virtual or tangible goods in your app, you can measure the number of purchases and the revenue generated.

In addition to the inclusion of the new Mobile App Analytics reports that can be seen in the screenshots above, Google is also rolling out a new Google Analytics Android app (images above via AnalyticsTalk.) If you are interested in checking out the new Mobile App Analytics and app, Google said it would roll out to select whitelisted users. You can sign up to become part of the beta here.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google announces ‘Save to Wallet API’ at Google Wallet I/O session [Video]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpEGuSwv1fY&feature=player_embedded&start=585]

Above is the full Google I/O session for Google Wallet Cloud APIs, and perhaps the most notable announcement comes at 9:45 seconds of the video when Google introduces a new “Save to Wallet” API that will initially roll out to select partners. Coming to offers and payment cards first, the new feature will allow consumers to save coupons and deals or load a payment cards directly from a merchant’s website to Google Wallet. Check out the video for all the details.

Google fixing spam from Google+ Events feature following complaints

Site default logo image

[tweet https://twitter.com/Scobleizer/status/218486102720393216]

When Google announced some updates to Google+ during its I/O keynote this week, perhaps apart from the new iPad compatible tablet version, the most talked about new feature was the Facebook-like invitations called “Events.” While Google calendar integration in the Events feature was supposed to be a big selling point, Google unfortunately did not provide users with control over which invites were added to their calendars. The issue led to massive amounts of spam in the form of notifications and calendar entries—most notably for Google+ users with large followings. Robert Scoble outlined the problem in a Google+ post:

Hey, +Vic Gundotra the way you rolled out the new Google+ events feature was — by far — the worst social launch ever… Not only did it spam the crap out of my notifications and my Google+ events page but it added events — hundreds of them — onto my calendar…My calendar is MINE. Not yours. You should NEVER put anything on it that I don’t approve of… I have turned down every event and they are still on my calendar so now I have to delete them one-by-one… By the way, I’ve been asking for noise controls since day one and you guys simply aren’t getting it. Amazingly bad service here folks.

As noted by Scoble, another avid Google+ user, Will Wheaton, highlighted the issue and received a response from Google’s Senior Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

GameStop starts accepting Android tablet trade-ins and preorders for Nexus 7

GameStop already had a ton of success with its iOS device trade-in program that we told you about on 9to5Mac, and today the company announced it will soon extend the program to select Android tablets. In addition, GameStop is taking pre-orders of Google’s new Nexus 7, and it will offer a ” 30% trade bonus on all items traded” towards the cost of the pre-ordered tablet. This comes after a rollout of its own Android-powered gaming tablets in select stores, a project detailed by president Tony Bartel in an interview with Games Industry last year.

Beginning tomorrow, consumers can pre-order the Nexus 7 at all U.S. GameStop stores. GameStop customers can also take advantage of a 30% trade bonus on all items traded towards the pre-order of the Nexus 7. This includes trades of video game hardware, software and accessories as well as iDevices and eligible Android tablets… For consumers looking to trade in an Android tablet, all U.S. GameStop stores are now offering instant cash or in-store credit for Android tablets from a variety of top brands. Trade values, ranging up to $250 in-store credit or $200 cash, are based on model, memory size and physical condition.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Siri vs Google search in 1600-question street test

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDsOtdRtG0Q&start=23]

As noted by Phillip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune, Apple analyst Gene Munster published a note to clients today that contained the results of a Siri vs. Google search 1600-question showdown.

While it is not exactly a test of how well the companies’ various voice services stack up against one another (since Google Search queries were typed-in and not spoken), but it is a good indication of just how viable Siri is as an everyday mobile search product and alternative to Google. In the test, both Google and Siri were asked 800 questions in a quiet location. Another 800 questions were asked among the loud street traffic in Minneapolis. The results, according to Fortune:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google TV to stream movies, TV shows, and music from Google Play this summer

Site default logo image

Google gave an update regarding improvements to the Google Play store coming to Android devices and elsewhere yesterday during Day 1 of its Google I/O keynote. However, information on what was in the works for Google TV was notably left out from its presentations (despite two identical Google Glass skydiver demos from yesterday and today). Today, Google made a blog post confirming features that were announced for Android devices yesterday. A new UI, subscription billing, and movie, music and TV shows will also come to the Google Play store on Google TV this summer:

You already have access to a variety of apps on Google Play, and soon you’ll be able to find movies, TV shows, and music from Google Play to stream on Google TV. Google Play works across devices, so you can rent and start watching a movie on your Google TV, keep watching on your tablet on the move, and finish watching on Google TV. The TV & Movies app will also show Google Play content, adding to the more than 100,000 TV episodes and movies available in the app. The full power of Google Play will be available later this summer on all Google TV devices.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

What’s new in Google Maps? Google posts full I/O session [Video]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0K805PeOfI&feature=player_embedded]

The video above is the full Google I/O 2012 session on “What’s New in Google Maps” with Googlers Brian McClendon, Dylan Lorimer, and Thor Mitchell. We already saw much of what is talked about at Google’s “Next Dimension of Google Maps” event earlier this month, but the full talk focuses mainly on improvements to the Google Places API.

Google Places covers tens of millions of place locations around the world. But what’s a place? A place is anything that answers the question “Where are you?” Restaurants, shops, landmarks, events, and much more. You can use it in the browser, from a server, or from a mobile device. This talk will show you how to get started with the Google Places API, and focus on how you can use this huge datastore in your mobile application.

For all I/O 2012 sessions, go to https://developers.google.com/io/

Site default logo image

Google bringing Chromebooks to 100 Best Buy stores in US, Dixon’s in UK

Google just announced at its second day of Google I/O that Chromebooks and Chromebox would come to 100 Best Buy stores in the United States and Dixon’s stores in the United Kingdom. Google’s Chromebook website already has a “Buy In Store” option, which will allow you to locate a Best Buy location near you that is stocking the Chromebooks. Google also promised more retailers and more OEMs would get their hands on Chromebooks before the 2012 holiday season. Lucky, I/O attendees were given a free Chromebox, which means we will soon have a hands-on for you.

[tweet https://twitter.com/googlechrome/status/218399112062701568]

Google launches offline Google Docs, presentations and spreadsheets coming soon

Site default logo image

[tweet https://twitter.com/googlechrome/status/218397900701569026]

Another notable announcement coming out of Google’s second keynote presentation at Google I/O today is the launch of offline mode for Google Docs. Google execs gave a demo of the app working in Chrome without an Internet connection, allowing the user access to all features and formatting to make edits offline while saving changes to a local cache. Google noted that the offline feature would launch for Docs today and eventually roll out to presentations and spreadsheets.

Site default logo image

Google announces Chrome for iPhone & iPad, coming to App Store today

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSKZy2ayvMs&feature=player_embedded]

Update: The app is already available in some international App Stores and will hit the U.S. store soon.

Google just announced at Day 2 of Google I/O that Chrome for iPhone & iPad will come to the App Store later today for devices running iOS 4.3 or later. The app will feature many of the features present in other versions of the browser, including: Chrome sync, incognito mode, and its unique tab UI. Google also announced during the keynote that it would bring its recently launched Google Drive cloud service to iOS devices.

As noted by Daring Fireball, the Chrome iOS app will have to rely on WebKit:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google I/O: Chrome has 310M active users, up from 160M last year

Site default logo image

[tweet https://twitter.com/googlechrome/status/218391731031379971]

It is Day 2 of Google I/O, and execs kicked things off today with some Chrome numbers:

-310 million active users (up from 160 million at I/O in 2011)

-60 billion typed words per day

-1 TB of files downloaded per day

-13 years of human life saved thanks to page pre-rendering per day

Google I/O 2012 Day 2 Liveblog

Site default logo image

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANiY0uQHQVg&feature=player_embedded]

Yesterday was a big day for day 1 of Google I/O, kicking off with the company keynote and the unveiling of the Nexus 7 tablet, an enhanced Google+, the Nexus Q, and of course, Google Glass. Today we are on hand again for second half of Google’s keynote address and will be bringing you all the live updates as they happen. The live stream above is set to kick off at 1 PM EST. Links to all the highlights from yesterday’s presentation are below:

Expand
Expanding
Close

HTC One V now available from Virgin Mobile for $199 contract-free

Site default logo image

We heard rumors in March that the HTC One V, which unveiled at MWC in Barcelona, would land in the United States on Virgin Mobile in “late spring” for $200. As noted by Engadget, the company has since announced plans to bring the device to a number of carriers this summer. The One V was spotted today on Virgin Mobile for $199, contract-free. We did not get word of an announcement from Virgin, so we are nor sure exactly when the device went up for sale, but it is definitely an enticing option at $200 for Android 4.0 device packing Beats Audio, a 5-megapixel camera, and a 3.7-inch WVGA display.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google Maps and Google Earth for Android updated

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujh0_61uYuk&feature=player_embedded]

Both the Google Earth and Google Maps for Android apps were updated with several new features. Google outlined the new features available in the latest release of Maps on its Lat Long Blog. A couple of the notables include offline maps for more than 150 countries and a new Compass Mode for Street View:

Today we’re also releasing a smoother and faster Compass Mode for Street View within Google Maps for Android. It’s the next best thing to being there, because your device becomes a window into a 360-degree, panoramic view of the outdoor or interior location through Business Photos. To experience the improved qualities of this feature you need a device with Google Maps for Android, Android 3.0 or higher and a gyroscope sensor plus version 1.8.1 of Street View on Google Maps.

As for Google Earth, Engadget noted version 7.0, available on Google Play now, implemented the new 3D tech that Google showed off at its Maps event a few weeks ago.

Site default logo image

Chrome for Android officially out of Beta

Google confirmed on the Google Chrome Releases blog today that Chrome for Android is now a Stable Channel release and officially out of Beta. The download is available now on Google Play for devices running Android 4.0 or later.

This update picks up important stability and performance fixes since the last Beta, along with some minor UI adjustments, especially for tablets. Known issues are available on the Chrome support site.

Sergey Brin’s Google Glass skydiver demo from I/O keynote [Video]

Site default logo image

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMrmnmvyoU&feature=youtu.be]

If you do not know by now, Sergey Brin just interrupted Google’s I/O keynote to give a demo of Google Glass. The demo consisted of skydivers jumping from above to land on the venue’s rooftop, and it included a few other Google Glass-wearing helpers. We have all the information on what unveiled at the event—even details for the $1,500 Explorer Edition of Google Glass offered as a preorder to attendees (shipping early next year). The video above is of the entire skydiver demo.

The 2012 Google I/O Developers Conference starts today at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, Calif., with events continuing until June 29 at 4:30 p.m. PST.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google+ has 250M users, dedicated tablet version rolls out today

Site default logo image

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blN7M39yh0I&feature=player_embedded#!]

Google’s Vic Gundotra is on-stage at Google I/O to give some updates on Google+ and beyond. The first numbers announced are 250 million Google+ users with 150+ million active users monthly. He also said 50 percent of users sign-in every day and spend more than 12 minutes on average in the Google+ stream.

He also announced a new, full-featured tablet version of Google+ that will roll out to users today. It is equipped with video hangouts redesigned specifically for the tablet experience and other usual UI enhancements that we see in Google’s other apps. Also new to Google+ is a new feature called “Events.” Events are essentially invitations, which we are used to from other social networks, but are fully integrated with calendar and a “party mode” that allows partygoers to easily share pictures and other content during the event.

Google made a blog post on the official Google blog highlighting the new Events feature alongside four introduction videos below:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google officially announces the Nexus 7 tablet, ships in mid-July for $199

Site default logo image

Although the official introduction video for Google’s new Nexus 7 tablet leaked before the announcement, the company just unveiled the 7-inch device on-stage at its Google I/O keynote. While announcing the device’s specs (listed below), the company gave a number of demos for the Nexus 7’s UI, including a content recommendation page, Gmail, YouTube, Chrome (first device to ship with Chrome as default, stock browser), and a full-featured Google Maps with offline mode. Google also gave a demo of the 12-core GPU in action with some impressive 3D games, as pictured above.

Pre-orders start on Google Play today for $199 (8GB) or $249 (16GB), with the device shipping to the United States and Canada in mid-July alongside Jelly Bean.

  • -1,080-by-800HD display
  • -Tegra 3, Quad-core CPU
  • -12-core GPU
  • -4325 mAh battery- 9 hours video playback, 300 hours standby
  • -Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer
  • -1.2 megapixel front-facing camera
  • -340 grams
The 2012 Google I/O Developers Conference starts today at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, Calif., with events continuing until June 29 at 4:30 p.m. PST.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google officially unveils Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, rolling out OTA mid-July

Site default logo image

Google execs are live on-stage at Google I/O to kick things off with the official unveiling of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The first aspect of the latest version of Android discussed at the event is “Project Butter,” which is a number of enhancements that improves touch responsiveness and overall smoothness of animations and the UI. It also brings the system frame rate up to a consistent 60 frames per second.

Google moved to demos of the redesigned widgets, which scale intelligently around other UI elements, and a new Predictive Keyboard that supports voice input. There was also a demo of redesigned notifications that Google explained are now fully customizable, expandable, and collapsible.

Execs gave a demo of new notifications that expand to offer more information as they reach the top of the list (such as sharing options or artwork related to notification), and they can be expanded and collapsed at any time via gestures. Google next showed improved voice search in Jelly Bean that appears to be its much-rumored Siri-like assistant feature.


Expand
Expanding
Close

‘Do Androids Dream of Jelly Beans?’ — Google gets ready for today’s I/O keynote

Site default logo image

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QAAP2AtPo]

We told you yesterday that Google was carrying on the tradition of placing a large monument on the lawn in front of Building 44 at the Googleplex. This time, the statue represented the upcoming new version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The image yesterday showed a transparent jar tipped over with jellybeans spilt out, but today we get a look at the finished sculpture in the video above. The jar is actually the Android mascot’s torso. TechCrunch went behind the scenes to find out how the Android jelly bean jar was made.

The Google’s I/O event is kicking off today, where we are all expecting to see much more of Jelly Bean. We will bring you live updates as they happen when the keynote address kicks off at 12:30 p.m. EST (9:30 a.m. PST). We are also expecting to see some major Google TV announcements.

[protected-iframe id=”db9adc5619fa15de8a9d06302616051a-22427743-13611283″ info=”http://embed.5min.com/517405335/” width=”560″ height=”345″]


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google puts up Android Jelly Bean statue at Googleplex

Site default logo image

As it has done in the past, while nearing the unveiling of new versions of Android, Google placed a giant statue in front of Building 44 at the Googleplex this morning to represent the next version’s codename: Jelly Bean. Google is expected to unveil Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at tomorrow’s Google I/O keynote, which we will bring you live coverage of as it happens, starting at 12:30 p.m. EST (9:30 a.m. PST). Google will make things even easier this year thanks to a new live blogging tool it introduced specifically for the event.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Mozilla launches a faster Firefox for Android with ‘Awesome Screen’

Site default logo image

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKqyxhEUrBg&feature=player_embedded#!]

Mozilla refreshed its Firefox for Android app today and promised an “a snappy and dynamic upgrade” that will improve everything from page load times to performance of web apps. On top of the performance upgrades that Mozilla claimed make Firefox “two times faster” than the stock Android browser, the newly updated app also received a few new features.

First, you will notice the UI has been streamlined, and it now includes a “personalized start page” called the “Awesome Screen.” The new start page, as highlighted in the video above, allows you quick access to bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, and data from your device that are stored in Firefox Sync. Mozilla also gave us an update on changes to the web platform:


Expand
Expanding
Close