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Feb

Google Intros Google+ Sign-In: 'Simple And Secure, Minus The Social Spam'

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Google, News

Google, in a bid toward continued competition with the other social networks, today announced Google+ Sign-In, a unified login that can be utilized across the web, as well as Android and iOS apps to make sign-in and sharing much simpler. Think Facebook connect but, in Google's words, "minus the social spam."

Google, in a post to the Google+ Developers Blog, emphasized four key points of focus for Sign-In's first release, the first of which being the idea that "simplicity and security come first." Basically, the sign-in process will work like that of Facebook – choose your G+ account, review the permissions the website or app wants access to, approve, and you're set.

Feb

Google I/O Registration Date And Pricing Announced: March 13th For $900/Ticket

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Google, News

Well, it's that time of year again, folks: Google has just announced the official registration date for the 2013 I/O conference, and it looks like you better be on the ready bright an early at 7AM PT on Wednesday, March 13th. Like last year, the tickets will go for $900 for general attendees and $300 for academic. Of course, a Google Wallet account is required to pay, and a Google+ account is also requisite.

It looks like the company is shooting for May 15-17 this year, so mark you calendars. Oh, and if you plan on trying to get a ticket – you better be ready, because they usually sell out in minutes.

Feb

Google Unveils The $1,300 Chromebook Pixel That Doesn't Run Photoshop, Steam, Or Much Else You Care About

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

Google just launched a $1,300 laptop. That's a pretty big deal. In fact, it's a pretty huge deal. In double fact, if our team wasn't about to get on a podcast (see you at 8PM EST!) I'd be sharing all manner of reasons why that's a monumental deal. Unfortunately for you, that will have to wait until tomorrow. For now, we can only talk about the device itself. So, what is it?

It's a high-end laptop with an incredibly dense display. 2560x1700 in a 12.85" screen for 239 ppi. Let me put that in layman's terms: holy mother of crap this screen is awesome.

Feb

Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Review: The Best $60 You Can Spend On A Wireless Charger Right Now

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Google, LG, Nexus 4, Reviews

Google's Matias Duarte elicited some knowing chuckles when he revealed the existence of a wireless charging orb shortly before the Nexus 4 launched. Duarte came over to Google from Palm, which developed a similar accessory for the Pre called the Touchstone. The Nexus 4 Orb took its sweet time showing up in the Play Store, but it's finally on sale for $60.

Is there any universe in which spending that kind of cash on a phone charger is reasonable? Well, maybe.

Design

The Orb is true to its name – it looks like a spherical object that's been flattened on one end, or a Nexus Q that has been cruelly sliced in half.

Feb

[Rumor] Wall Street Journal Corroborates Report Of Google Retail Stores In The Works

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Google, News

There have been a few items in the rumor mill about Google either investigating or planning retail stores, not unlike the Apple stores that famously dot malls and upper-class shopping areas around the world. 9to5 Google reported a tip from "an extremely reliable source" citing a 2013 rollout schedule for a Google store. Then the Wall street Journal, itself a pretty reliable reporter of the inner workings of Google, reported the same thing. The WSJ omitted a time frame, and noted that the 2013 claim may not be accurate.

Australian carrier Telstra's Androidland in Melbourne. Photo credit: Wired

A Google store would naturally focus on Google hardware, such as it is: you could definitely imagine Nexus phones and tablets, Chromebooks, and maybe even a few Google TVs littering a showroom.

Feb

[APK Teardown] Google+ 3.5.3 - An "Apps" Main Menu Icon? A "Manage Apps" Settings Section? What Is Going On Here?

Posted by Ron Amadeo in APK Teardown, Features, News

Last Updated: February 26th, 2013

In the recent weeks, Google+ has had 2 pretty low-profile updates. The first one added a notification tray, and the most recent one was supposedly just a bug fix release, but they've both been adding new things, presumably for a coming update. Yes, it's teardown time.

These teardown sessions seems to get more and more mysterious and strange as time goes on, and frankly I'm really not sure what's going on with these updates. I'm just going to lay out the facts first, and I'll throw some theories at you at the end. So put on your investigation hats - this should be fun.

Feb

Quick Tip: Long Press Google Search Suggestions To Pop Them Into The Search Bar

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, Tips & Tutorials

Remember that little diagonal arrow that used to appear next to suggestions in the Google Search box as you typed? The arrows could be used to insert suggestions into the search bar, while you kept typing away. For a while now, though, the arrows have been missing from Google Search. Those that want that feature back are in luck, however – astute Redditor Foxsbiscuits notes that a simple long-press will fling search suggestions into the search bar, providing essentially the same functionality with a slightly more discreet UI.

^{Before and After}

Keeping this handy tip in mind, your searches can be as quick and efficient as ever.

Feb

Google Search App Updated, Adds Google Now Widget, Movie Ratings, Real Estate Listings And More

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

Google just pushed an update to its Search app (which, as you know, includes Google Now). Among the new additions are the Google Now widget that we've all been hearing so much about, movie ratings, the ability to pull up movie passes purchased from Fandango, and real estate listings from Zillow when Google thinks you're in the market for a home. Now that's fancy.

Additionally, the update also adds a music button when a song is playing in voice mode, though that feature is currently limited to the U.S. only. It also adds support for U.S. college sports. We've seen some of this integration before, but now it's official.

Feb

'Messaging + Google Voice' (Mostly) Combines Android's Stock Texting App With GV Integration

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

Google Voice is a great service burdened by a lack of support, integration, and easy way to sign up (unless you're on Sprint, of course). Those who do decide to jump the hurdles and either get a brand new number—or port their existing one to Google—will find themselves in an uncomfortable paradise. On the one hand, you can text from your desktop, tablet, or phone completely for free which is awesome. On the other hand, you have to use the Google Voice app, which is not that great. 'Messaging + Google Voice', however aims to alleviate that problem a bit.

Feb

Silence Updates To Version 2.0, Gets New UI, Calendar Integration, Recurring Events, And More

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Handy volume control app Silence got a nice update today to version 2.0. The update, besides introducing a new (holo) interface, adds a ton of new functionality. So much, in fact, that the app's functionality now overshadows its simple name.

For starters, the update adds Google Calendar integration (for Android 4.0+), and support for recurring events, each with their own volume profile. Users can configure the events to repeat until a given date, and the app can control notification, media, and alarm volumes with individual levels for each. Oh, and Silence can toggle mobile data, though that feature is currently in beta.