A couple of weeks ago, an ambitious software developer by the name of Florian Kiersch uncovered an unannounced Google platform known as Stars. From the looks of things, this new product is Google’s next-gen take on bookmarking content from the web. Up until now, we’ve only seen still shots of the forthcoming software, however thanks to a recent Javascript module update, Kiersch was able to gain access to parts of Stars’ web-based UI.
Samsung is working on its next high-end tablet that will ship with a high-res 2,560 × 1,600 AMOLED display, according to SamMobile. The slate will reportedly be called the Galaxy Tab S and will be available in two models (8.4- and 10.5-inch). Like Samsung’s Galaxy S5, its new tablet will also feature a fingerprint scanner built into its home button that will offer similar features to the company’s flagship smartphone.
Google’s new take on Docs and Sheets might be the first of many changes for the company’s Drive platform. The folks at Android Police managed to get their hands on a new, unreleased version of Drive and it appears to be missing editing functionality for sheets and documents. If you attempt to open a document while in Drive, it’ll display a view-only version of the item and will prompt you to install Google’s new standalone word processing app. We understand that this change might be frustrating for some users, but unbundling these apps lets people pick and choose the software that they want to use. It also gives Google a chance to focus on each app individually, which will hopefully result in a better user experience for each platform. Our fingers are crossed.
Google is taking a step towards advancing its e-commerce business, by purchasing London-based Rangespan, which has developed a unique tech that helps retailers forecast products and services that will be high in demand in the future.
A message on Rangespan’s website confirmed the buyout today. “We are very happy to announce that Rangespan is joining Google,” the company wrote. “We will continue to work on services for shoppers and retailers at Google, and we’re super excited about the opportunities to come. As part of the change, we will wind down Rangespan’s services. We’ve already begun working individually with each of our retailers and suppliers on this process.”
The OnePlus One looks like a promising device, but its maker’s marketing campaign is more than questionable. Let’s face it, OnePlus’ Smash the Past promotion was a terrible idea. It’s bad for the environment, wastes good phones and worst of all it may be a financial loss for its winners. However, it appears that OnePlus has come to its senses. Today, the Oppo Electronics subsidiary announced that it will now give participants the option to smash or donate their phone to Medic Mobile if they’re selected to receive one of the first 100 OnePlus Ones.
So far the OnePlus One has received a positive buzz, but the biggest controversy surrounding the “flagship killer” is its awful marketing program. Why smash a $700 device for a $300 phone? If you’re not familiar with what this $300 device has to offer, check out its specs below.
A few weeks back rumors surfaced suggesting that Motorola Mobility was working on a device called the Moto X+1. Soon after this claim, additional details about the unannounced handset’s customization options emerged, with rumors of it offering a new leather back plate as an optional design. While we’re still not completely sure what the Moto X+1 might be, recently the mysterious device was spotted in Motorola’s MotoMaker by German mobile blog MobiFlip.
When I was a kid, we used to watch films from the confines of an automobile at the drive-in and in order to hear the movie’s soundtrack you had to connect a low-tech doodad to your car’s antenna to broadcast audio through your stereo system. Technology sure has come a long way and the folks at ClockworkMod are putting a next-gen spin on this retro idea. The software developer is working on a new feature for its AllCast app that will let Fire TV users mute their TV’s audio and broadcast it from their smartphone. Toss in a set of headphones and you’ll be able to stay up all night watching hours of old HBO shows without disturbing anyone in your house.
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen bits and pieces of the forthcoming LG G3 and today we’ve got another set of pictures of the South Korean consumer electronics maker’s new flagship smartphone. Pictured above are two images with different origins. The front view of the handset comes from Seeko and the backside image was obtained by GSM Arena. While they both appear to be the same device, the phone on the left has a blank plastic backing, suggesting that it could be a prototype.
Today, Google opened Google Play merchant registration for eight new territories. Developers residing in Greece, Luxembourg, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam can now apply for a merchant account with Google Play, which will allow them to collect money for paid apps in local their local currency.
We’ve already heard that HTC may possibly be working on a cheaper plastic version of its HTC One (M8), but how about a broader set of hues for its flagship smartphone? According to the often reliable @evleaks, the Taiwanese phone maker is preparing to reissue the M8 in red, blue and pink. Not too much else was shared about these colorful options, but this wouldn’t be the first time HTC decided to have a little fun with its color palette — remember the purple EVO 3D from Sprint?
When it comes to tech on the web, Google is typically a trendsetter, but even the most revolutionary companies miss a beat every now and then. Perhaps in an effort to get with the times, the software giant has announced some new designs for its text-based web ads. Recognizing that people are browsing the web across multiple devices, Google has adopted a new font and color scheme that should make its text ads easier to digest. These ads now default to a blue and grey layout with a Roboto font. Google is also aware that some people only visit the internet from mobile devices, so with finger tapping in mind, the company has resized its call-to-action button, making it user-friendly. While these new additions won’t likely stop abrasive advertisers from going too far, it does make some ads easier on the eyes and that’s a good thing, right?
Today Foursquare announced that it will be repurposing its mobile app to focus specifically on search, reviews and finding places to eat. As for check-ins, that’ll soon be handled by a new piece of software known as Swarm. This new application will focus on the social media side of things, giving users an easy way to locate and connect with their friends when out and about.
If you’re a Sprint customer still rocking a Samsung Galaxy S3, you’ll be glad to know that Android 4.4 is on its way. Today, the carrier is rolling out a new software push for the legacy smartphone, but warns customers that it may take several days for the update to reach every Galaxy S3 on its network. Sprint’s changelog didn’t provide many details about this new release, only noting that software version L710VPUCND8 will bump the handset up to KiKat.
If you’re somehow unfamiliar with Android 4.4, you can expect a snappier performance, improved memory management, translucent status bars, and a snazzy immersive mode that puts a device in a fullscreen view. If you haven’t received an over-the-air notification, you can try to manually initiate the update process by tapping Settings> System Update> Update Samsung Software> Check Now.
Remember, all updates aren’t created equally, so if you’ve already pulled down this new software, be sure to let us know how it’s treating you and your GS3.
(via Sprint)
Snapchat received a massive update today that introduces video chats and instant messaging. As for those of you concerned about privacy, don’t worry, self-destructing messages aren’t going anywhere. Users can swipe to the right on a contact’s name in their inbox to start a regular chat. Whenever you leave a session, messages viewed by you and the other participant will be cleared, however both of you will have the option to screenshot anything you’d like to save.
Another day, another entertainment app adding support for Chromecast. Not to be outdone by its competitors, Redbox Instant recently added video streaming support for Google’s mini media maven. Sure, Redbox’s online library may not have the inventory offered by a place like Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, but when you pair its streaming service with its game and movie dispensing kiosks, along with its occasional rental credits — baby you got a stew going!
Of course, what app update would be complete without its set of bug fixes and performance enhancements? If you haven’t already, you can pull down this refreshed software from the Play Store and start casting movies on your big-screen tonight.
Google just blessed our inbox with an invitation to an Intel- co-sponsored media event in San Francisco where the topic will be Chrome OS. Set to take place on May 6th, the mega-chip maker will have a panel of speakers, which include Google’s VP of product management Caesar Sengupta and Intel’s own VP and general manager of the mobile computing group, Navin Shenoy.
The timing couldn’t be better for the Education-heavy Chromebook market – educators tend to make big buying decisions over the summer so vendors will want to strut their best stuff.
Earlier today LG started sending out invites to its big G3 reveal and now Motorola is following suit by announcing an event of its own dated for May 13th. However, unlike its competitors that appear to be focusing on building high-end flagship smartphones, Motorola’s invitation hints at a more modest announcement. “Connect more people to the world’s information and each other, and they can do great things,” the invitation reads. “Introducing the next smartphone from Motorola to make these connections happen. Made to last. Priced for all.”
Google’s mobile office suite isn’t the most refined experience, but it’s there if you need to compose a document or edit a spreadsheet while on the go. Aware of its shortcomings (and competition), the company has released three new mobile apps today that aim to improve the way you handle projects when out and about. First up is Docs, a full-blown word processing application that lets users compose, edit and share documents directly from their mobile devices. The second new piece of software in Google’s big release is Sheets, which focuses specifically on spreadsheets. With similar functionality to Docs, this app lets you edit and manage rows and columns on a spreadsheet from the comfort of your smartphone or tablet.
If you’ve got an eye on the OnePlus One, but you’re not too keen on smashing your current smartphone to bits in order to get the handset early, then you’re not alone. The good news is that you shouldn’t have to wait too long to get your hands on the self-proclaimed “flagship killer.” In a recent production update alert, OnePlus revealed that after it clears its first 100 devices from its Smash the Past campaign, the company will ramp up production for a larger batch of 16GB Silk White models of its new phone in mid to late May. This production run will require a hard to get invite, so what about the rest of the world?
Google may be hard at work retooling the look and feel of Android, but the company isn’t stoping there. Chrome appears to be in for a few cosmetic tweaks and the company is starting this effort with a new Incognito tab page. Pictured above is a screenshot of how the private browsing tab will look in the near future. If you’re unfamiliar with Incognito mode, it’s Chrome’s privacy tab that lets users browse the web without logging in their history.
Remember that Pokemon April Fools joke that Google ran earlier in the month? While it was an obvious gag, it turns out that there was a slight piece of truth to this challenge. Google is reportedly sending out reward notifications to participants who completed its Pokemon Master challenge by finding all 151 of the pocket monsters. While we’re not too sure of what Mountain View is sending to the people who finished its challenge, we do know that it’s a physical item, because the company advised participants that it’ll take four to six weeks for their reward to arrive.
Today, Google announced a trio of updates heading to Glass later this week and they appear to be pretty thoughtful. First on the docket is image backups.This process will only take place when Glass is connected to WiFi, however users with wireless data to burn will have the option of forcing a data backup if they wish to do so. Snap happy shutterbugs will also be able to clear photos and videos from their timelines, which should help keep things nice and tidy.
If you’ve been flirting with the idea of buying a gigantic phone or a small tablet with a vanilla Android experience but your cash flow is low, look no further than the Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition. Typically priced at $650, Mountain View has knocked $200 off the phone-tablet hybrid’s asking price. In addition to a shrunken premium, Google Play is offering free ground shipping with a standard warehouse departure time of 1-2 business days.
You were all set to wow the boardroom with that new presentation you worked on over the weekend, but before you walked out the door to head to the office, you received a call telling you that the conference room’s projector was on the fritz. What do you do now? Pull that Chromecast out of your TV, that’s what! Google has quietly updated its desktop version of Drive, giving it the ability to stream presentations to its mighty media dongle.