Microsoft is in talks with Android manufacturer HTC to include Windows Phone on Android handsets, according to Bloomberg. According to the report, the head of Microsoft’s OS division approached the Android OEM last month with a request to include the Microsoft mobile OS on Android phones as a second option for consumers.
Flutter, the startup that created a gestured-based music controller for iTunes and Spotify, has been acquired by Google according to a splash page on the company’s website. The Flutter app used a computer’s webcam to detect hand gestures for starting, stopping, or switching songs on iOS, OS X, and Windows. Aside from iTunes and Spotify, Flutter is compatible with a variety other apps, including Quicktime Player, Rdio, and even Google Chrome.
A committee created by the Federal Aviation Administration recommended earlier today that airline passengers be allowed to use specific types of consumer electronics during takeoff and landing. Under the panel’s advice, usage of devices like cell phones, tablets, and ebook readers would be allowed as long as those devices are switched to airplane mode, which disables internet and cellular connections to prevent calls and data transfers.
Update: The app has been removed from the Google Play Store.
Earlier this month, iMessage Chat for Android appeared on the Google Play store. The app is by no means an official Apple-created iMessage solution for Android, but the creation of a third-party developer named Daniel Zweigart. Surprisingly, according to a few users who have tried the app, it actually works. You can send messages from your Android device to your iPhone or iPad, and vice versa.
However, it’s quite possible that the Apple IDs and passwords being entered into the app are being collected by the developer for nefarious purposes.
[tweet https://twitter.com/b3ll/status/382364776497545216 align=’center’]
If you’re really curious about how the app works, software developer Adam Bell has discovered that it connects to Apple’s iMessage server posing as a Mac mini. Cydia creator Jay Freeman (aka saurik) has also noted on Google+ that the app forwards all communication from Apple to a server running in China. That means every message you send or receive using this app is being processed—and possibly stored—on a server run by the creator.
[tweet https://twitter.com/b3ll/status/382369290243952640 align=’center’]
However, Steven Troughton-Smith also points out that the app has the ability to download and install software in the background, meaning it is capable of putting malware on your phone without your knowledge. Given this information, we highly advise staying away from the app.
[tweet https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/382369055887589376 align=’center’]
Should you decide to try downloading the app from the Google Play store, we recommend only testing it with a throwaway Apple ID that has none of your payment or personal information attached. We really can’t stress that point enough.
Google Apps experienced some downtime today, bringing down Gmail and parts of Google Drive for about an hour. During the downtime, Google Apps customers were unable to send or recieve emails (or experienced delays in doing so) or use the docuement and slideshow creation tools.
Everything appears to be running smoothly now, however. Google has not yet said what caused the downtime.
Thinkspace, an organization created by sixteen-year-old James Anderson, seeks to “inspire the next generation of app developers” through dedicated coding zones in high schools across the globe. Anderson formally launched Thinkspace this month with campuses in Plymouth and Northern Ireland.
Anderson first came up with the idea for Thinkspace when he became disappointed with the UK educational system’s approach to computer information and related topics. Rather than attempt to change the curriculum, Anderson sought to work around it by creating “Thinkspaces” within schools.
Pocket, the bookmarking service formerly known as Read It Later, announced their new ChromeOS application today. The app supports many of the same features as the native apps available on other platforms.
The new app brings everything you love about our iOS and Android apps—offline access, distraction-free reading, streaming video, and more—into a beautiful app that’s optimized for your desktop. Pocket runs as a standalone app that will automatically download your saved web content to view offline, and it’s easily accessible on your Windows or Chrome OS taskbar and Start screen.
The app is available on the Google Chrome store now. The app can also be used in Google Chrome for Windows.
Update: As was pointed out by 9to5Mac readers in the comments, the update was zapping account data. Google says that it is aware of the issue and has removed the app from the App Store.
The Google Authenticator app for iPhone was updated this evening with an entirely new design. Version 2.0 introduces a host of visual changes, including the long-awaited addition of Retina graphics (which have been missing from the app since the iPhone 4 launched) and support for the iPhone 5. Even after the long wait for what seems like a relatively minor update, the app still does not natively support the iPad.
The app’s new look is based on the “cards” motif seen in other Google app releases recently. Most of the functionality seems unchanged.
Google Authenticator is Google’s two-factor authentication app, which is used similarly to the Find My iPhone app (or an SMS message) in Apple’s 2-step verification process.
The update is available for free now on the iOS App Store.
We now have over 1 Billion Android activations and hope this guy in front of the building keeps that momentum going pic.twitter.com/V0VovgmObl
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) September 3, 2013
Google’s SVP of Android, Sundar Pichai just announced over 1 billion Android activations and the name of the next Android operating system on Twitter. Android 4.4 will be named after the Nestlé KitKat bar. A giant “chocolate” Android statue has also appeared alongside the previous Android mascots on Google’s campus.
As far as the changes in Android 4.4, Google says they are trying to “make an amazing Android experience available for everybody,” but so far there’s no indication of what that actually means.
To celebrate, Nestlé and Google have teamed up to giveaway a Nexus 7 and Google Play Store credits in specially-marked Kit Kat bars.
AT&T sent out invitations today for a press event later this month teasing a look at “what’s next in wireless.” Whether that’s a new handset or a new wireless technology has yet to be revealed, but we’ll have all the details as soon as they come.
Google’s entry to the smartwatch market is rumored to be launching soon, but an IndieGoGo project called the Meteor by Kreyos promises an Android-comptaible watch that could give Google’s hypothetical device—as well as other existing smart watch competitors—some intriguing competition.
Following Google’s decision to shut down Reader, many alternative RSS services have started popping up around the web. Today, AOL launched their own Reader service as a limited private beta. To get in, you’ll need to visit the AOL Reader page and enter your email address.
The service will presumably accept AOL and non-AOL addresses, but so far it doesn’t seem to provide any visual feedback or a confirmation email telling you whether you’ve been added to the beta pool when we tested with both Gmail and AOL addresses.
Additionally, Digg’s impending Reader product has gone into private beta. Gizmodo has a preview, and notes that the service, while still noted as a “beta, beta,” does a solid job of importing your feeds from Google Reader and presenting them in a nice, clean format:
Tim Cook noted during his interview at the D11 conference tonight that “Apple has no religious issue porting an iOS app to Android,” but was careful to point out that they would only do so “if it made sense.”
When asked about Facebook’s Android home screen replacement and whether such access would ever be available to developers on Apple’s platform, Cook noted that there are plans to allow deeper access to iOS, but such changes will only be allowed if they don’t impact the customer’s experience. Kara Swisher specifically asked about the possibility of Chat Heads becoming part of iOS, but Cook was quick to shoot the idea down:
Expand
Expanding
Close