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What we expect at Google I/O 2016: Android VR, Android N, Chrome OS, and more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 16 2016 - 9:15 am PT
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Google I/O is right around the corner, and this year’s a bit different. Google’s holding the event closer to home — at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. And everything’s happening outside in the cool breeze of the Bay Area. This is different scenery than the last several years that have  at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco, and we’re hoping that this means the event itself is going to have some fresh scenery as well.

Among many other things, this year looks like it’s going to be heavy on virtual reality, with a little bit of Android N, Chrome OS, Project Tango, ATAP, and messaging sprinkled in for good measure…


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As battle between Google and the EU continues, the search giant may face a record €3 billion fine

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio May 16 2016 - 6:01 am PT
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We had heard that the EU was planning to levy a substantial fine on Google for its alleged favoring of its own services in search over those belonging to competitors last year already, and the Telegraph is reporting that the European Commission is now estimating a hefty €3 billion ($3.4b) tag…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Galaxy S7 (unlocked) $530, 13-inch MacBook $850, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 13 2016 - 10:03 am PT
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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:

Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB (unlocked): $530 shipped (Reg. $695)

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/8GB/128GB (newest model): $850 shipped (Reg. $999)

Apple’s just-released 13-inch 256GB MacBook Air w/ 8GB of RAM gets its first price drop: $1,000 shipped (Reg. $1,199)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,040 (Reg. $1,299)

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage (refurb): $110 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+) | eBay

Motorola SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem & 802.11AC Wi-Fi Router refurb: $75 shipped (Reg. $220)

Green Deals: Philips Hue LED Starter Kit (1st Gen.) $110 shipped (Orig. $200), more

Philips Friends of Hue Bloom Wireless LED Bulb $45 shipped (Reg. $60)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

QNAP 4-Bay NAS w/ HDMI, AirPlay & PLEX: $349 shipped (Orig. $480)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

iTunes $0.99 HD Rentals (Reg. $5): Sicario, Prometheus, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, much more

Cut the cord for good w/ the AmazonBasics Ultra Thin 50-mile HD Antenna for $32 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

The Vuze Camera brings an affordable point-and-shoot design to virtual reality

Review: Samsung’s KS9500 65-Inch curved 4K TV is pretty amazing [Video]

Android Pay UK launch appears imminent, date could be announced at Google I/O

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio May 13 2016 - 6:31 am PT
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Few things have made the case for an interesting use of the NFC chips inside our phones like contactless payments. Revived by Apple with the introduction of Apple Pay in late 2014, mobile-based transactions have seen an interesting resurgence ever since.

Companies like Samsung and LG have come up with proprietary solutions, but Android users have all found a home under Google‘s very own rooftop with Android Pay. Initially launched in the US alone, the service is now expanding, and after recent promises of a forthcoming launch, it looks like the green light for the UK may be imminent (via Telegraph)…


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Google is postponing support for its 3D Touch-like feature for Android

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio May 12 2016 - 12:15 pm PT
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With the announcement of the Apple Watch‘s “Force Touch” first and the iPhone 6s‘ 3D Touch after, Apple introduced a new, intriguing way to interact with our screens, matching interesting software features with the pressure-sensitive panel behind the actual display.

Predictably, despite some devices like Huawei‘s Mate S or ZTE‘s Axon Mini already supporting some sort of similar, proprietary technologies, Google was rumored to be working on a system-wide implementation for all Android OEMs to use. However, as Recode reports, the support for such a feature seems to have been put momentarily on hold…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: HTC One M8 (refurb) $110, Google Play $1 MP3 albums, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 12 2016 - 10:10 am PT
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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:

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage (refurb): $110 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Google Play $1 MP3 albums: Goo Goo Dolls, Pantera, more (Reg. up to $10 ea)

New Google Express customers can grab a $40 credit for $15 with email delivery (42% savings)

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+) | eBay

Sony 128GB Class 10 UHS-1 Micro SDXC: $33.49 shipped (Reg. $47) | Amazon

Apple’s just-released 13-inch 256GB MacBook Air w/ 8GB of RAM gets its first price drop: $1,000 shipped (Reg. $1,199)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,040 (Reg. $1,299)

Cut the cord for good w/ the AmazonBasics Ultra Thin 50-mile HD Antenna for $32 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Audio Upgrades: Beyerdynamic DT-770 Over-ear Headphones $139 (Reg. $200), Apogee Groove DAC $235 (or less), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/730778613180727296 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

iFixit 64-Bit Screwdriver Kit lets you open phones, tablets, laptops, games consoles, and more: $35 (Orig. $50, CA Tax only)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

The newest Garmin Fitness Tracker delivers a ‘Suffer Score’ after each of your workouts

Report: U.S. House blocks access to Google services amid fears of ransomware attacks

Avatar for Chance Miller May 11 2016 - 6:25 pm PT
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According to a report from Reuters, the U.S. House of Representatives’ information technology team has blocked members from accessing any services hosted by Google. The move comes in an effort to prevent hacking aimed at lawmakers and their staff. Earlier this week, Yahoo Mail was blacklisted as well in fear of ransomware infiltration.


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Samsung Galaxy Note 6 to be released the week of August 15th

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 2:40 pm PT
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Just like pretty much every other Android handset ever, we already know — or think we know — a lot of specifications and other details about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 6. Now, via Evan Blass, it looks like we have pretty solid confirmation of when the phone will be hitting shelves in the United States: the week of August 15th…


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Nest teams up w/ ARM, Qualcomm, others to open-source Thread networking protocol

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 1:05 pm PT
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Thread, the low-power mesh network protocol that Alphabet-owned Nest built in tandem with Samsung, ARM, and other companies, is now going open-source. Since it opened membership in October of 2014, the not-completely-open “Thread Group” has grown to have over 30 products. But this OpenThread release takes things a step further in the name of openness…


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AT&T’s HTC One M8 and M9 to get Marshmallow starting tomorrow

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 12:12 pm PT
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There’s a reason that Marshmallow is only on 7.5% of Android devices — the rollout for the “new” (that’s in parentheses because it was announced almost a year ago now, and its successor is already in developer preview) version of Google’s mobile OS has been horrendously slow. The wait for a lot of phones has finally been coming to an end as of late, however, and now it’s time for the HTC One M8 and M9 on AT&T to get M.

The word comes from good ol’ Mo Versi, VP of Product Management at HTC. He’s the source of most news on the update front for HTC’s myriad of devices. The tweet follows his other most recent update on the update, say that it would have “approval within the next couple weeks.”

And here we are:

The update is set to start rolling out over-the-air tomorrow, so keep an eye out for a popup on your phone. This will likely be a pretty big update, so try to have just as much patience while it’s installing as you have had waiting for it to arrive.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Nexus 5 (unlocked) $149, $40 Google Express credit for just $15, Moto 360 (refurb) $80, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 9:57 am PT
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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:

New LG Nexus 5, unlocked with 32GB storage down to $149 shipped (Reg. ~$280)

New Google Express customers can grab a $40 credit for $15 with email delivery (42% savings)

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+) | eBay

Sony 128GB Class 10 UHS-1 Micro SDXC: $33.49 shipped (Reg. $47) | Amazon

iFixit 64-Bit Screwdriver Kit lets you open phones, tablets, laptops, games consoles, and more: $35 (Orig. $50, CA Tax only)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,040 (Reg. $1,299)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Dell 27-inch 1080p Curved Monitor w/ two HDMI inputs: $220 shipped (Reg. $300+)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Spring cleaning: Essential products for an organized and clutter-free bathroom

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

The Thin Ice wearable cools your body in hopes of burning an additional 1,000 calories per day

Google to ban ads for ‘payday loans’ and other lending at extortionate interest-rates

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 11 2016 - 6:44 am PT
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Google Adwords will be banning ads for so-called ‘payday loans’ and other lending at very high interest rates. As of July 13th, Google will no longer accept ads for loans that have to be repaid within 60 days, or any loan with an APR exceeding 36%.

The change was announced on Google’s Public Policy Blog.

When reviewing our policies, research has shown that these loans can result in unaffordable payment and high default rates […] This change is designed to protect our users from deceptive or harmful financial products.

Google also shared a stat on action taken against harmful ads in general …


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This is Google’s proposal to address emoji gender inequality

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio May 11 2016 - 4:35 am PT
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As messaging becomes an increasingly more important part of our daily lives, so do the particular languages that we use to communicate on our digital platforms — and few “particular” things have become as influential as emojis.

However, up to this point, most of them have been designed with generally male-like physiognomies, and to address this issue, Google has proposed that Unicode add up to thirteen new emojis to the existing characters to “highlight the diversity of women’s careers”…


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Google Hangouts on the web now has a dense mode without the clutter

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 1:03 pm PT
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You may know that you can access Hangouts via classic Google+ and Gmail, but did you know it also has a standalone web client over at hangouts.google.com? Now, Google has announced that you can show the list of conversations at all three sites in a new denser view.

This might be particularly enticing if you were a long-time GChat user, as it ditches the profiles images and frills to provide an experience that’s straightforward and simple…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto 360 (refurb) $80, Sony 128GB Micro SD $33, Logitech Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $25, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 10:39 am PT
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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:

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+)

Sony 128GB Class 10 UHS-1 Micro SDXC: $33.49 shipped (Reg. $47)

Amazon Gold Box – Logitech keyboards & mice up to 50% off: Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $25, more

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/730068269982429184 align=’center’]

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Headphones + $30 Vudu Credit & 3-mo. Rhapsody Service: $50 shipped (~$93 value)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

This Hybrid Tube Amp system for Raspberry Pi is ideal for DIY Audiophiles

Vans and Nintendo team up for epic new line of NES-themed sneakers

This woman is basically using Google’s logo to run for U.S. Congress

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 8:50 am PT
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I have to admit, when I first saw Sue Googe’s name in this font, I thought her name was Sue Google. That made me think at first that maybe this had something to do with the ongoing Oracle dispute. But it’s not, and it has nothing to do with Oracle. Her name is just Sue Googe, she’s running for North Carolina’s 4th District seat in the U.S. Congress, and she’s pretty much using Google’s logo to do it…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G4 (unlocked) $275, Retina MacBook Pro 256GB $1,200, Solar Bluetooth Speaker $40, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 9 2016 - 10:21 am PT
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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:

LG G4 smartphone w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $275 shipped (Orig. $575)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Amazon Gold Box – Eton Rugged solar-powered Bluetooth charging speaker: $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $77)

Smartphone Accessories: Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones $45, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/729699932920229888 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

NERF’s upcoming Terrascout RC Drone Blaster is going to be a menace in your home

Google Opinion Rewards expands to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 6 2016 - 1:15 pm PT
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If you’re fond of purchasing new apps, movies and music on your Android smartphone, you might be interested in a less-than-well-known app from Google called Opinion Rewards. You’re obviously not going to get rich quick, but it’s a great way to earn small amounts of Google Play Credit a quarter at a time by answering quick 2-5 question surveys. Today, Google has expanded the app to three new countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden…


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9to5Toys Last Call: Samsung Galaxy S7 (unlocked) $530, Nextbit Robin $299, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 6 2016 - 9:55 am PT
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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:

Last Call Updates:

Huawei Google Nexus 6P (refurb) w/ 32GB storage: $350 shipped (Reg. $400+)

Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB (unlocked) for $530 shipped (Reg. $695)

Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)

LG G5 Smartphone w/ 32GB flash (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)

Apple MacBook 12-Inch Laptop (Newest Version) with Retina Display Rose Gold: $1,199 shipped ($100 off, tax in NY)

Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (latest version) for $700 shipped (Reg. $899)

Apple 12-inch MacBook (Early 2015) 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB $930 shipped (Orig. $1,299)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Take to the skies w/ DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399 (Reg. $499), Professional $779 (Reg. $999)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful

Google I/O invites are still being sent out last-minute

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio May 6 2016 - 5:56 am PT
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Google‘s upcoming I/O event gathers a lot of anticipation from developers all over the world. Likewise, Android enthusiasts that are not directly involved in coding still very much look forward to the event.

That means — despite their relatively hefty price tag — when tickets become available, they generally sell out in minutes. However, as an Android Police tipster shows, it looks like Google is still pushing out last-minute invites to some lucky applicants…


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HTC reportedly sold only 251 HTC 10 units in China so far, plans to spin off its VR division

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 5 2016 - 2:11 pm PT
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And it seems as if HTC’s downward spiral continues. The latest in its seemingly never-ending doomsday news cycle comes today in the form of a pair of reports from Focus Taiwan, with the former suggesting that the lower-specced HTC 10 has been an absolute flop in China and the latter saying that the company has formed a completely separate company for its VR ambitions…


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April’s Google self-driving car report details 2 minor accidents, one test driver’s story

Avatar for Stephen Hall May 4 2016 - 3:20 pm PT
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In case you’re unaware, Google publishes a sometimes interesting but usually mundane report on its self-driving car project every month. Last month the company detailed its mapping system and a minor accident in Austin, and this month the April report describes the experience of one of its test drivers as well as two more accidents — neither of which were Google’s fault.


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