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After sharing this morning a render of the slide-out keyboard on what is ostensibly an Android-powered BlackBerry Venice, a device which the Ontario-based company has teased but made no mention of what OS its powered by, respected leaker Evan Blass is back with more goodies for the BB faithful. This time he has tweeted out a short video that shows off a render of the smartphone from all angles, with dramatic transitions and animations in tow.

Project Ara was delayed in part due to electropermanent magnets not holding together well (Updated)

Tom Maxwell Aug 19 2015 - 12:22 pm PT

Update: Project Ara has just tweeted that the strength of the magnetic forces holding together the Ara phone modules is not, in fact, a problem — apparently that was a joke. We’ve since heard that the strength of the magnetic fields produced by the magnets being used is approximately 30 Newton-meters, more than enough strength to hold a 30 gram electronic module in place. The comments about building a better attachment/detachment solution still seem to be true, however, with the tweet also saying that, “We have been configuring a new solution. It’s better too.” The team is also working on improved camera and battery modules.

Google’s Project Ara, the name of the modular smartphone system the company is building that would enable anyone to put together a phone on their own, has run into problems that have impacted its public test roll-out. The team behind it has been cheeky and somewhat coy in explaining why it has delayed a test launch of the unique system, but a concise message posted to Twitter today might at least partly explain the delay.

AdSense v3.0 for Android receives Material Design treatment

Tom Maxwell Aug 19 2015 - 11:06 am PT

AdSense, Google’s publisher ad network used by millions of websites across the web, has just seen its Android app brought up to the company’s Material design language standards.

The app itself is mostly read-only, meaning you can quickly see data on your performance like how much money you’ve made from your ad placements over different time periods, but you cannot create new ads to place on your site from within the app. That would be cumbersome from a mobile device, though, as it requires copying and pasting HTML code into your site’s backend.

AdSense 3.0 also brings with it a new logo the company unveiled back in June. It looks like this:

And for the curious, here’s what the app looked like before today’s update:

The update hasn’t propagated completely in Google Play yet, but it’s available as a direct download through APKMirror right now.

Google and Intel combine 3D technologies to demo the ultimate augmented reality smartphone

Ben Lovejoy Aug 19 2015 - 4:39 am PT

Google and Intel have developed what looks like the ultimate augmented reality smartphone, combining Google’s Project Tango tech to map and track 3D environments with Intel’s RealSense camera sensor, which isolates and scans 3D objects within those environments.

Engadget reports that the two companies have so far produced a developer prototype of the smartphone, with a consumer device expected to be released further down the line. While there will doubtless be serious applications for the technology, it’s augmented reality gaming that is likely to get the most attention …
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Android-powered BlackBerry Venice render leaks, keyboard exposed

Cam Bunton Aug 19 2015 - 1:23 am PT

BlackBerry has been rumored to be working on an Android phone for quite some time. In fact, almost as soon as its CEO John Chen teased the portrait slider dubbed ‘Venice’, it was predicted it might run Google’s operating. We’ve seen a leaked render showing the front of the device with what looks like stock Android. We’ve even seen slides showing off some of the BlackBerry-inspired user interface elements. What we haven’t seen yet is that ever-elusive keyboard.

Pocket Casts makes use of Google’s new Nearby API in updated Android app

Tom Maxwell Aug 18 2015 - 8:07 pm PT

Pocket Casts, the popular podcast player for iOS and Android, has been updated on Android to take advantage of Google’s new Nearby technologies for enabling interactions between devices within a close proximity of one another.

Android Auto updated with fresh home screen UI

Cam Bunton Aug 18 2015 - 2:05 pm PT

Google pushed an update to its Android Auto app today refreshing the home screen to bring bigger, easier to see cards, particularly when using navigation and playing music. Previously, all stacked cards were of equal height. Now, the top activity card is double the height of any of the cards below. Being bigger not only makes them easier to see, but also easier to interact with on the touch screen.

As well as the updated user interface, there are a few bug fixes and performance improvements. You can download the fresh update right now from the Google Play Store. It’s a free update and requires Android 5.0 or later to work. Obviously, you’ll also need a car with a compatible built-in system, or a compatible after-market system.

You can find out more about Android Auto, including compatible vehicles, over at android.com/auto.

Google unveils OnHub, a wireless router that intelligently finds the fastest connection for you

Tom Maxwell Aug 18 2015 - 9:45 am PT

Google has just published a blog post unveiling OnHub, a wireless router it has developed in partnership with popular router manufacturer TP-LINK, which it says provides a Wi-Fi experience that’s “that’s fast, secure, and easy to use.”

Google Hangouts gets its own dedicated website

Tom Maxwell Aug 17 2015 - 2:16 pm PT

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In a sign that its Hangouts messaging platform is becoming more important to the company, and that Google+ is becoming somewhat less important, Google has given Hangouts its own dedicated website found at hangouts.google.com.

Project Ara delayed until 2016, looking for new locations in US

Cam Bunton Aug 17 2015 - 12:58 pm PT

The Project Ara team just announced through its Twitter account that its modular smartphone won’t hit the public until next year. It had initially planned to get a test launch up and running towards the end of this year, but it seems Google has come up against some stumbling blocks. As it explained on Twitter, chief stumbling block was not being able to predict the number of variations possible. It stated there were far more iterations than they’d originally thought.

Just before announcing the delay, the company stated that it’s looking for new locations to test the product in the U.S:
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Google announces Android M’s full name: Marshmallow

Cam Bunton Aug 17 2015 - 10:21 am PT

Android M’s software features have already been announced, but what hasn’t been announced is what the ‘M’ stands for. In our early poll, you decided Marshmallow was the most likely choice, and that’s what Google’s gone with. Earlier today, Jeff Sharkey shared a photo of the covered statue on Google Plus, and now the tarp is off! It’s our favorite green robot clutching on to a Marshmallow.

Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S4 receives Stagefright patch, other fixes

Tom Maxwell Aug 17 2015 - 9:47 am PT

Stagefright isn’t totally a solved issue just yet, but device manufacturers and carriers have continued work on rolling out a patch that mitigates the OS vulnerability until another one of Google’s monthly security updates. Today we get an update for Verizon’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 which includes that patch and then some.

The update, rolling out over-the-air (OTA) and first spotted by Android Police, includes nothing new at all but quite a few fixes for software bugs to go along with addressing the Stagefright vulnerability. Device carriers and manufacturers that make them have felt almost unanimously responsible for rolling out fixes for the issue due to its sheer potential for damage and ease of exploitation, to name just two reasons.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S4 on Verizon, expect to receive a notification when the update hits your device, sometime within the next few days. You can also check for it manually by visiting Settings > About phone > System updates.

Google’s Project Sunroof automates much of the solar purchasing process

Tom Maxwell Aug 17 2015 - 9:32 am PT

Google today used a YouTube video to announce Project Sunroof, a website through which it is automating much of the process of researching and then purchasing solar panels for the home.

The gist of it is that while the cost of solar energy has been falling dramatically over the past few years, thanks in part to subsidies and economies of scale, the actual process of determining whether solar panels are right for you — logistically and economically speaking — is still complicated. Google is (still) a very data-driven company, though, and thinks that it can use data to provide just the right insights and information consumers are in need of, tailored specifically to each individual household.
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Roundup: 5 best affordable to premium Chromebooks out right now

Cam Bunton Aug 17 2015 - 9:16 am PT

Chromebooks are only four years old as a computing category, but they’ve helped give a new lease on life to a flagging PC industry in this ‘Post PC’ world. They’re almost always inexpensive and low maintenance, thanks to being almost entirely browser based. But now, four years later, there are so many options on the market, it’s hard to know what to buy. Here’s our guide on the best Google-powered notebooks out there…

Google X robotics expert speaks out on the decline of women in tech from 35% to 26% (Video)

Ben Lovejoy Aug 17 2015 - 4:57 am PT

If we want to understand why the percentage of women in working in the tech sector has dropped from 35% in 1990 to just 26% today, asking some women in tech for their thoughts on the issue seems like a smart thing to do. Re/code is doing just that, in a new video series entitled The 26%: Women Speak Out on Tech’s Diversity Crisis, and a Google X robotics expert was first in line …
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Photo of rumored 2015 LG Nexus 5 leaked

Cam Bunton Aug 17 2015 - 3:50 am PT

LG and Google are purportedly working together to release a revamped version of the Nexus 5 for 2015. We’ve already seen a number of supposed specifications, a case leak and a detailed 3D render based on detailed schematics. But we hadn’t seen any real evidence of the device being real. Until now.

High quality Huawei Nexus renders published based on “detailed blueprints”

Cam Bunton Aug 15 2015 - 3:38 am PT

Yesterday the well-known leaker, Steve Hemmerstoffer teamed up with uSwitch to leak digital renders of the purported upcoming LG-made Nexus. Today, the two are back with their first look at what could be this year’s flagship Nexus device. As rumored multiple times, this device is expected to be manufactured by Huawei, one of China’s biggest Android OEMs.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: GoPro HERO4 Silver $330, Brother wireless printer $80, more

Stephen Hall Aug 14 2015 - 1:20 pm PT

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

GoPro’s HERO4 Silver Action Camera is on sale for $330 shipped (Reg. $400)

Brother Wireless Laser Printer with AirPrint $80 shipped (Orig. $130)

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 64 GB (factory unlocked): $580 shipped (Reg. $1,000) | eBay

Up to 50% off Android on eBay: LG G Pad V410 $9, Samsung Note Pro P905 32GB $400, more

Giveaway: Olio Model One Black Collection Connected Timepiece for iOS and Android ($795 value)

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX $45, D-Link Wireless Cloud IP Camera $55, more

Synology DiskStation 2-Bay Network Attached Storage $300 shipped (Reg. $350+)
Games/Apps: Batman Arkham Knight from $45, Metro Redux $17, Wii U bundle $253, iOS freebies, more
Stop paying rental fees w/ the best-selling Motorola Arris SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable modem (refurb): $45 (Orig. $100)
Get Ed Sheeran’s complete X album for $1 (Reg. $12)

More deals still alive:

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro w/ Retina Display (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,100 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

Apple 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display 3.3GHz/1TB/8GB: $1,850 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

Spigen: Air Vent Mount for iPhone 6/Plus & Android Devices $7 (Reg. $16), iPhone 6 MFi 3100mAh Battery Case $35 (Reg. $60)

Home: Hamilton Beach Single-Cup coffee maker (refurb) $26 (Orig. $60), stainless steel electric kettle $18 (Orig. $30), more
ThinkGeek 16th Birthday Sale w/ toys at only $16: USB Flux Capacitor, Minecraft/Star Wars items, more
Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless AirPrint All-in-One Printer $70 shipped (Reg. $97+), more
Juiced Systems USB-C 6.5-Foot Braided Cable: $20 Shipped (Orig. $30, CA Tax Only)
Audio-Technica ATH-M70x over-ear headphones + Apogee Groove portable headphone amp $329 shipped ($600 value)
Specimen vintage-style horn speakers/amps 50% off: 19-inch Hornlet $1,200 (Reg. $2,400), more
Over $90 of paid Android Apps for Free: Scribblenauts Remix, Bloons TD 5, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Goat Simulator, more
Get 12 months of Adobe’s Photography Creative Cloud plan for $100 ($20 savings)
JBL LSR305 Professional Studio Monitor speakers (pair) from $262 shipped (Reg. $300), more
Etekcity Remote Control Outlet $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
Charge your Apple Watch and iPhone with this Bamboo Dock for $11.50 Prime shipped (Reg. $17)
D-Link DCS-5029L 720p HD Pan & Tilt Day/Night Wi-Fi Camera: $100 shipped (Reg. $150)
USB roundup: Lumsing 6000mAh Power Bank + 3-port USB car charger $16, more
NomadPlus converts your iPhone USB wall charger into a 1800mAh power bank: $20 shipped (Orig. $40)
Storage: WD Portable USB 3.0 HDD $50 (Orig. $100), Samsung 500GB 2.5″ Internal SSD $150 (Reg. $180+), more
Spigen Rugged Armor Apple Watch Case & Night Stand: $22 Shipped (Orig. $35, CA Tax Only)
AT&T offers new customers up to $500 in credits to switch to its wireless service plan
The new Art of Lego Scale Modeling design book gives directions for custom projects: $22 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)
VIZIO 49-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV $650 shipped (Reg. $770), more
Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ mic & CAD Acousti-Shield $159 shipped ($257 value)
Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones in black or white: $90 shipped (Reg. $120)
Back to school essentials you may have overlooked: Litographs tees, dorm decor, GE alarm kit, more
Two Philips Hue connected light bulbs (multiple styles) for $100 shipped (~$120 value)
Aukey Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for iPhone 6/Plus from $2 Prime Shipped
Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon

New products & more:

Make nearly any HDTV a giant Android touchscreen tablet with the Touchjet WAVE

JayBird’s new Apple Watch compatible X2 in-ears sport enhanced Bluetooth audio

iRobot finally gets approved to bring wireless robo lawn mowers to your backyard
The E-Raw concept electric motorcycle combines wood and steel for a one-of-a-kind look
Samsung’s new 15TB SSD fits world’s highest-capacity hard drive in 2.5″ enclosure
WalkCar looks like a four-wheeled MacBook that you can ride
These magnets can turn your fridge into a Game Boy for $20 Prime shipped
Solenica’s solar-powered Lucy lamp shines light into the dark spaces in your home
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 hits iOS a decade after its initial release
Build the wildest NERF Blaster you can imagine with Amazon’s new N-Strike Modulus design tool
Here’s the first look at The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land gameplay for iOS and Android
Amazon’s Kindle First delivers Prime members early access to books for free, see August’s picks
Utinni! This unbelievably detailed Sandcrawler might be one of the coolest Star Wars LEGO customs ever
Thermos’ latest water bottle will nag you with iOS notifications to make sure you stay hydrated
The new Graava action camera uses your heartbeat to capture the best moments and make a highlight reel
The CydeKick uses renewable energy to charge your iPhone while you ride
Blizzard brings the new World of Warcraft: Legion expansion & character class to Gamescom 2015
DJI reveals a new Phantom 3 for beginner pilots loaded with specs
Bang & Olufsen brings it all together with new whole home audio capabilities for existing products
Review: Sony’s RX100 IV is the best compact photo/video camera that money can buy (Video)
The Lexus Hoverboard is here: watch as it flies around a skatepark and over water
Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain gets brand new trailer & gameplay footage w/ commentary
EA Gamescom 15: deep Need for Speed campaign mode, new Battlefront gameplay, more
Microsoft announces new Halo 5 Limited EditionXbox One Console, DVR functionality, games and more
Epson’s new EcoTank printers have enough ink for “two years” right out of the box

The coolest Apple-certified MFI Lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone, iPad and iPod

Use Google’s same-day delivery service, help give school supplies to kids in need

Tom Maxwell Aug 14 2015 - 9:50 am PT

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The beginning of a new school year is almost here and with it many stores have begun to fill their aisles with supplies and pepper the media with advertisements to get kids, and their parents, in the door. Many students can’t afford to get everything they may need, however, which could start the year off on a wrong, anxious foot. Google, in partnership with Volunteers of America Operation Backpack, is using its Google Express same-day delivery service to give away 10,000 backpacks full of supplies to disadvantaged children.

Operation Backpack^® provides new backpacks and school supplies to disadvantaged kids, giving them a sense of confidence in knowing that their education is important and that somebody believes in them.

Here’s how it works: Spend at least $50 on Google Express between now and the 17th of this month, and Google will donate a backpack to Volunteers of America Operation Backpack, up to 10,000 backpacks. The website isn’t specific as to whether or not the $50 has to be in one transaction, but I assume so. And since there’s just a limit on the maximum amount of backpacks they’ll donate, you should be able to make multiple $50 orders and have a backpack donated each time until they hit that limit.

Google Express is Google’s same-day delivery service for getting everything from electronics to fruits and vegetables delivered right to your door within hours. It’s the same idea as the popular Instacart delivery service, except that Instacart delivers a more limited selection of items — mainly food and healthcare products. Express, like Instacart, procures its inventory from local stores which vary depending on the city you’re in, and you can either pay $5 for delivery, or a $95 annual membership fee to get unlimited free deliveries on orders of at least $15 in value. Google Express is only available in a few major US cities right now, though:

San Francisco
Peninsula & San Jose
West Los Angeles
Manhattan
Chicago
Boston
Washington, DC

Sprint rolling out Stagefright vulnerability patch for HTC One M8

Tom Maxwell Aug 14 2015 - 8:23 am PT

Like every other US carrier, Sprint has been working diligently to release a patch to the Stagefright vulnerability in Android to its lineup of phones, and today HTC One M8 owners get the fix.

The release notes for the update only list a “Patch for critical security vulnerability (‘Stagefright’)” as being included in this update, so don’t expect anything else.

Stagefright is a vulnerability spotted in Android’s default MMS behavior that makes delivering and executing code on an Android-powered smartphone as simple as delivering a rich text message. Android has the ability to fetch the contents of a message before the user even opens it (this functionality itself is called “Stagefright” in Android), and most messaging apps previously didn’t prevent this from happening because, why not? Pre-fetching contents would be ideal as it means the user doesn’t have to wait for something to download when they tap and open a message.

Unfortunately, however, it’s also an easy way for bad guys to gain control of your phone. Google’s default text messaging app on Android, Messages, as well as its Hangouts messaging app, have both received updates to solve this from happening. Other popular messaging apps have followed suite, but Google’s vulnerability patch means that more apps won’t need to do the same.

Since this is a carrier update it’s being rolled out in stages, so it could be a few days before you see it hit your device. You should receive a notification when it’s available, otherwise you can manually check by visiting Settings > About phone > System updates.

Google ‘recalculating’ plans for Project Ara modular smartphone, says will update next week

Ben Lovejoy Aug 14 2015 - 5:35 am PT

Engadget noticed that Google’s Project Ara team had posted a confusing series of tweets about its Project Ara modular smartphone, making it unclear how the company now plans to proceed.

After a long period of radio silence following a photo posted from Google I/O back in May, the project’s Twitter account posted first that it had some updates to share, then that there would be a “market pilot re-route” but “don’t worry, #ProjectAra isn’t going anywhere, #just recalculating” …
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OxygenOS 1.0.2 update released with Stagefright patch for OnePlus One users

Cam Bunton Aug 14 2015 - 4:14 am PT

OnePlus One users running OxygenOS can now download the security patches to deal with the Stagefright vulnerability. OnePlus One announced in a blog post this morning that Oxygen OS 1.0.2 is now available to download, and fixes what some dubbed the worst Android vulnerability in the mobile device era. Customers are advised to ensure they back up all their data before flashing. Those using OxygenOS already won’t need to reset their devices.

Detailed LG Nexus 2015 renders leaked, show 5.2-inch screen, fingerprint sensor, more

Cam Bunton Aug 14 2015 - 3:05 am PT

2 Comments

For the past few weeks, rumors have surfaced suggestion Google will partner with two manufacturers this year for its Nexus phones. We’re purportedly going to see a smaller device made by LG and a larger model made by Huawei. Today we get our first look at some detailed 3D renders designed using hardware schematics sent to case-makers.

Google’s new Mobile Vision API makes it easy for Android developers to tell if you’re smiling

Tom Maxwell Aug 13 2015 - 2:02 pm PT

Google has today completed its roll-out of Google Play services version 7.8, the package of app tools and APIs that Google manages and which make it stand out from those who use the open source version of Android to create their own mobile platforms. With version 7.8 comes some new technology that will make it easier for developers to recognize when you’re smiling into your Android device’s camera.