Tag Archives: Google

Skip the Google Edition, just give us the stock option

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As you know, Google took the stage at their I/O developer event last week and shocked the crowd and Android world by announcing the Samsung GALAXY S 4 Google Edition running stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Unlocked, developer friendly, and available from the Play Store. Immediately many started wondering if the same was coming from HTC. Would you buy a Google Edition HTC One?

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As soon as Google and Samsung announced the Galaxy S 4 GE on stage, rumors immediately started surfacing that HTC would be doing the same. However, we reached out to HTC ourselves and their PR confirmed they have no such plans. Without getting into details HTC basically stated they have “no plans for an HTC One Nexus or Google edition”.

So why is this a rumor again? Well, because everyone loves a good rumor. That and the usually pretty accurate HTC fan and ROM developer LlabTooFeR is claiming the device is coming this summer. Tweeting multiple times about the subject and even stating “HTC One without Sense 5 on board” in one of his comments. He mentions this isn’t official, nor does he have details or release dates, but that it’s coming this summer.

So is this just a rumor to get the idea floating around again? Who knows. He goes as far as to call it a fact, but that it’s not official information. So take this rumor with a major grain of salt, just like most. Google’s GALAXY S 4 certainly is no Nexus coming in at $ 649, and we’d probably see the HTC One come at a similar price. Would a Google Edition HTC One have beats audio to let us enjoy those front speakers, or would it truly be bone stock? There’s some aspects that make Sense better, but not many.

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Here’s what we want and have been waiting to arrive for years. The option. The option to be able to select HTC Sense, or stock Android on our device. Let us choose between TouchWiz and those impressive S-featured apps, or vanilla Android. Whether this be on start-up, in settings, or something else.

If Google and the manufacturers could manage that, then this would be a game changer. Google can’t make this a requirement as the post in the timeline below explains because of Open Source guidelines, but we’d love the option. Take notice HTC, Samsung, LG and others. For now this HTC ONE GE is just a rumor of another expensive developer friendly smartphone that may, or may not ever see the light of day.

Android Community

Galaxy S4 ‘Google Edition’ to be U.S.-only at launch

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Google edition S4

The Nexus experience device won't be available outside the US at launch, sources tell CNET

It appears that folks around the world are going to have to wait to not order their very own Google Edition Samsung Galaxy S4, as CNET says Google has confirmed the launch to be US-only. The device, which was unveiled during the Google I/O 2013 keynote presentation, is the same Galaxy S4 you all know and love, but without Samsung's Touchwiz software — or it's features. Instead the device has the same "Nexus user experience" that Google's own Nexus 4 delivers. The version shown at the I/O keynote will be penta-band HSPA+ and LTE, and will be completely compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

It was a bold, if strange, move by the two companies, and nobody is quite sure why either side wanted it to happen. Around these parts, we still think you're better served buying the "non-Google" version and doing a little software hackery if you just have to have Google Android instead of Samsung Android, allowing for an easy path back should you want or need all the features the hardware can deliver.

There was no word on when to expect the device to be sold in other countries, but we imagine Samsung and Google wants to make it available and will work out the logistics and details as fast as they can.

Source: CNET UK

    




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Google Wallet is taking over for Checkout

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google wallet

Yesterday, Google announced they would shutter the Checkouts program for online merchants. Instead, those online retailers who utilize Checkouts are urged to migrate to Google Wallet, which has made some recent improvements ahead of this announcement.

Those improvements, geared toward making life easier for merchants, include a few new APIs. The Instant Buy API is meant to allow for faster checkout, especially on mobile devices. The Wallet Objects API allows for a loyalty rewards program, like earned points.

For merchants who may not have a payment processing portal, Google has wisely approached a few of the bigger names to offer a discounted rate for those who need to sign up. Retailers can get up to a 20% discount at Braintree, Shopify, or Freshbooks just for being a new Google Wallet customer. Freshbooks is even offering a 60 day free trial for those who migrate.

There is no rush for retailers, though. They’ll have until November 20, 2013 to find new solutions for their business. Google has made the migration process as seamless as possible, which will trickle down to consumers. We only hope retailers take advantage of all that Google has on offer. A faster checkout with a rewards program sounds like e-commerce heaven.

    




Android Authority

Samsung GALAXY S 4 ‘Google Edition’ will be a U.S. exclusive

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When Google took the stage last week at their annual Google I/O developer event, many were extremely excited to see they’ll be offering a stock Nexus-like Samsung GALAXY S 4 in the Play Store. We’re sure many of you Android faithful around the world were quite excited to hear the news as well, but sadly it looks like the device might end up being a U.S. exclusive. At least for the first few months.

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The device will hit the Google Play Store next month starting at $ 650, which certainly isn’t cheap, and today we’ve learned from CNET that it will be a US exclusive. They state that it will be in the states only, at least for now, but we don’t have any additional details to confirm Google and Samsung will offer the handset elsewhere.

With previous Nexus phones, they’ve rolled out to the majority of the world eventually, and everyone had their chance at a Nexus. With the Google Edition GS 4 that won’t be the case. Hopefully users worldwide will be able to get one from eBay, or import the handset otherwise it will just be a dream that came true they couldn’t touch.

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We managed to catch up with Google’s own Hugo Barra for a first hand eyes-on look at the G edition Galaxy S 4, but he didn’t have much he could say about the device. We know it was a last minute project that came together, and that’s why it still won’t be available for another month. Could Samsung and Google work together and offer it outside the US? Sure. You’ll likely be waiting at least a few more months though.

HTC denied the idea of doing the same with a HTC One Google Edition, but anything is possible at this point. This is essentially a developer phone, since it isn’t priced as friendly as a Nexus, and we’ll have to wait and see how things play out. Do you guys like this approach, or does the price put it out of reach for most?

VIA: Phandroid

Android Community

Diner Dash Android game now available in the Google Play Store

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diner dash android

The Diner Dash Android game is finally available in the Google Play Store, and you can get both a free and a paid version.

The time management game, already present on a lot of platforms, including PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and iOS, is now making its appearance in the Google Play Store. It allows you to control Flo, a young restaurant owner, as she grows her business from a small diner to a five-star restaurant. Diner Dash is not a cooking game, but rather a game in which the way you organize tasks is essential, and I must warn you that it’s incredibly addictive.

You’ll have to manage the experience your customers have in your restaurant, from seating them (and getting bonuses for putting them at a table with which their clothes match), to taking orders, serving them and cleaning up the tables. Prioritizing your tasks is essential in order to avoid keeping your customers waiting.

If you’re new to Diner Dash, the free version is perfect to open your appetite, but you must keep in mind that the Deluxe version comes with ten additional levels and is available, for a limited time, at a special 50 percent launch price. That means you can buy it for $ 0.99.

Whether you buy the Deluxe version or not, you should know that the game relies on in-app purchases quite a bit, and it might not be as easy to advance if you don’t buy some boosts or upgrades along the way.

Are you planning on helping Flo manage her restaurant in Diner Dash? If so, will you get the free version or the Deluxe one?

    




Android Authority

Opera browser leaves beta, stable version now on Google Play

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Opera browser

New WebKit-powered Opera 14 stable now available for Android

The Opera browser for Android has exited beta and arrived on the Google Play Store as a fully-fledged stable app. The mobile version of the long-running browser is based upon the WebKit rendering engine — the same software used by the stock Android browser and (for the moment) Google Chrome.

But it's user-facing features rather than technical details that Opera's counting on to help it compete on Android. Speed Dial has long been part of the desktop Opera browser, allowing quick access to frequently visited bookmarks. The "Discover" tab provides a summary of news items. The "Off Road" mode uses data compression to make the most out of slow or expensive connections. And text reflow is included in the initial release, too.

Opera for Android is available now on Google Play at the Play Store link above. If you decide to take it for a spin, be sure to hit the comments and let us know what you think.

    




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Google Trolls IO13 Attendees with Android Key Lime Pie Teasers

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Android-Key-Lime-Pie-Troll

During Reto Meier’s “Android Protips 3: Making Apps Work Like Magic” session at Google at IO13, Google did what they do best, tease their fans with upcoming Android release juicy nuggets. His session teaches developers how to use advanced Android techniques to build good apps. Apps so good, users will think they’re magical. Besides learning the tricks of the trade, at about 25 minutes in, there’s an Android wearing an magicians cap, eating a piece of Key Lime Pie. Oh, Google. We love it when you tease us like this.

The trolling didn’t stop there either. Later on during the session, Google showcased a crude game (Is that some sort of Cthulhu?). The boss attributes include Chrome, Jelly Bean, and Key Lime Pie.

Android Game Key Lime Pie

Rumor has it that we’ll see Android 4.3 launch on June 10th, along with a white Nexus 4. Will the next version of Android be Jelly Bean or Key Lime Pie? We’re not entirely sure. To be honest, names and numbers really don’t matter as long as we’re getting new features. Android 4.3 is rumored to bring Bluetooth Low Energy support (BLE) and additional graphics enhancements. Until then, check out the video below to see the above teasers for yourself.

    




Android Authority

Google Maps goes underwater, here’s how that’s possible

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Untitled image

Google Maps is a go-to source for finding just about anything. The service is so well designed and built, you can go just about anywhere, virtually. Curious if that new restaurant has enough seating for your party of ten? Go inside the establishment via Maps! Everything from street views of local neighborhoods to standing at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial is covered in Google Maps. The only thing we don’t see much of are the great oceans of our planet.

Teaming up with Catlin Seaview Survey, Google is working on mapping the Great Barrier Reef, and has six locations overall currently in the works. Of course, this promises to be just the beginning. The mapping is currently done by humans, taking shifts diving to capture images. The team hopes to create a diverless system that can stay under the ocean surface for 12 hours or better. Driverless cars, diverless dive mapping. How Google-y!

What about the camera? Do they just take a street view backpack system and throw it into a waterproof housing? Not at all. The underwater cameras are specially designed and built for this task, costing about $ 50,000 each. There are currently four in existence, and Google hopes to map much of the ocean someday. Think of all the interesting photos that would come of underwater mapping! You think a donkey laying down on the side of the road is fun, wait for the giant cephalopods to make their appearance.

    




Android Authority

Google Voice coming to Hangouts

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At Google I/O last week, we were formally introduced to Hangouts. The messaging app, meant to replace and cobble together all of Google’s various apps of a similar nature, has been well received. There was only one problem, and it was a pretty big one.

With Google Talk, users could make calls from the app inside of GMail. Hangouts ended that functionality, concerning some who used it for business, or to handle a bulk of their calls. Of course, you can simply choose not to activate Hangouts inside of GMail until the problem is fixed, but many users didn’t know that function was going away, and chose to opt-in. Thankfully, they were also able to revert back to Talk if they chose to.

Today, Google has confirmed that Google Voice will fall under the Hangouts umbrella. This accomplishes the main goal Google has set forth, which is to have one app that rules them all. With Voice, we’ll get our call functionality back, and one less app to worry about.

While Google confirmed the Voice-Hangouts news in a Google+ posting, there was no timeline set for full integration. Rolling Google Voice into Hangouts would also take care of that pesky SMS functionality many want with the service, which is curiously mentioned in the permissions for the app. We’d like to see Hangouts do it all. As it stands, Hangouts is little more than a Google Talk reboot, and that’s just not good enough.

 

    




Android Authority

Hangouts to integrate Google Voice ‘seamlessly’ in the future

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Hangouts

'Making/receiving phone calls is just the beginning', says product manager

Since Google's introduction of the new Hangouts chat service, members of the team responsible for deploying it have been working to reassure people that it will eventually include Google Voice as a component. And for good reason, as there was no mention of Google Voice at Google I/O even as the ability to make outbound Google Voice calls via the desktop Chrome extension was unceremoniously removed in the update to Hangouts from Google Talk. Product manager for real time communications at Google, Nikhyl Singhal, reassured everyone today that outbound calling for Google Voice is still available via Gmail, and took a moment to reveal more information about the future of the service. In a Google+ post, Singhal went on to explain that not only will Google Voice be seamlessly integrated into Hangouts, but that "Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice". The team also intends to bring back full inbound and outbound calling functionality from the Chrome extension going forward.

While it's not completely understood why it had to remove the ability to make outbound calls on the desktop all together in this process, it's great to hear directly from Google about possible new features. Building on initial thoughts of what Google had up its sleeve for a unified chat service that would fully integrate calling and SMS, these bold statements have us cautiously optimistic about upcoming releases of Hangouts.

Source: +Nikhyl Singhal

    




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