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Nov

Android 4.2 Feature Highlight: So, What Is This Miracast Thing And How Does It Work, Anyway?

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Features, News

Android 4.2 is out now and it brings a bunch of new goodies. Multiple users on a tablet, photospheres, and gesture typing are all pretty neat. What about this Miracast thing, though? If you're part of the majority of Android users out there, you know that it involves screen sharing and something vaguely to do with WiFi. Well, here. Let's clear some of that up for you.

So, Uh... What Is Miracast?

At its most basic level, Miracast is a video streaming specification created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It allows a user to share whatever is displayed on their device's screen with another compatible product.

Nov

[Updated] WSJ Reports Google And Dish Network Have Had Talks Discussing Possible Wireless Service

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Carriers, News

If you thought Google Fiber sounded like a game changer, you may want to keep an eye on this story. According to the Wall Street Journal, which has a history of having well-placed sources, Google has held talks with Dish Network discussing the possibility of partnering on a wireless carrier to compete with AT&T, Verizon, and all the rest. At first, it sounds like a pipe dream. The kind we've been hoping for since the G1. Thing is, this time, it has a shot of not being complete bupkis.

Before we get into why this might be true, though, let's take a look at why it might be false: for starters, according to WSJ's own sources, the talks are not very advanced and "could amount to nothing." Keep in mind companies talk to each other all the time without releasing products.

Nov

Let The Nexus Hit The Floor: HSPA+ Nexus 7 Is Now Sold Out On The Play Store, Too [Update: It's Back]

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Android OS, News, Nexus 7

Update: It looks like the HSPA+ connected Nexus 7 is back in stock at the Play Store, at least for now. Those of you still hoping to get your hands on one would be well advised to claim yours now.

If the newly-released Nexus devices were people, then what we've been seeing is nothing short of that Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel Cameron can't wait for. Both versions of the Nexus 4 have already dropped like flies, as well as the 32GB Nexus 10. Now, the 3G-connected version of the Nexus 7 is also sold out. Not too shabby.

Nov

Some Customers Are Receiving Backorder Emails From Google, Indicating Nexus 4 Will Ship 'Within Three Weeks'

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 4

You thought the Nexus Chainsaw Massacre was bad? You don't know the half of it. Today, many users are receiving emails that the Nexus 4s they've ordered from the Play Store are backordered and won't ship out for another three weeks. For those counting, assuming the absolute worst and no additional delays, that will result in phones in brown boxes heading to your door by early December, so if you've got holiday plans for them, don't panic. If, however, you're given to fits of hysteria when you have to wait for things, well, go ahead and panic.

Our own Cameron and Ron have both had their orders delayed and confirm their cards have already been charged.

Nov

[New Game] Google's Niantic Labs Releases "Ingress" In Closed Beta - A Virtual Reality MMO, Or Geotagging Game, Or Something

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Games, News

We've heard very little out of Google internal team Niantic Labs. Before today, their sole public presence was Field Trip, a mash up of Google Now and various hyperlocal points of interest. The team'' latest creation, Ingress, defies description: it's a virtual reality game in which players are tasked with going to real-world locations to harness a fictional energy source. Also there are two "teams" and every player in the world is one one or the other. Think Alliance versus Horde.

The premise seems pretty nebulous at the moment. A new source of energy has been discovered, and it's got the potential to control people's thoughts.

Nov

Gmail Advanced Search Options Expanded, Search By Size, New Date Options, And More

Posted by Matt Demers in Apps/Games, Google, News

Google announced today on the official Gmail blog that advanced search in Gmail has been expanded. You can now scour your mail with more flexible date search options, by attachment size, exact query match, and more.

The new syntax works in any version of Gmail, including the Android app, allowing you to use flags like 'size:value' and 'older_than:value' in order to pare down results. For example, below we've used 'size:5m' and 'older_than:1y' to search for mail with attachments of 5MB and that are older than a year, respectively. You can find the full list of advanced search flags here, including the new ones.

Nov

T-Mobile Starts Selling The 16GB Nexus 4 For $200 Today, Just In Case You Really Want That Subsidy

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 4

One of the downsides to Google's Nexus sales model is that, if you want to get your hands on a Nexus 4, you have to order one. Thankfully, T-Mobile is also going to be carrying the newest flagship phone. If you want to save some money up front in exchange for a 2-year contract, you can pick up the device for $200. It's currently available online here, as well as in select stores.

Oddly, if you want to buy the phone off-contract from T-Mobile, it's going to run you a jaw-dropping $500. The handset is the exact same hardware that's being sold by Google, so there's no real reason to spend the extra $150 unless you really like T-Mo and feel like being generous.

Nov

Now You Can Install Android Apps Directly From Google+ Play Store Links

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

One of the neatest things about the Play Store is that, as long as you're signed in to your account on the web, you can install apps directly to your device without ever picking it up. Now, Google has integrated this functionality into Google+. If a user shares a link to an app on the Play Store, that friendly blue "Install" button will now be embedded directly in the post. A-like so:

This is a nifty new addition to Google+. Of course, the embeds don't include ratings, user reviews, or any of the other key information that everyone should probably at least glance at before installing apps on their devices.

Nov

Android 4.2 SDK (API Level 17), SDK Tools r21, NDK Released Along With API Docs

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Development, Jelly Bean 4.2, News

Today, with the official release of the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and Nexus 7 HSPA+, Google has released the Android 4.2 SDK, "a new and improved Jelly Bean."

Along with the SDK release, Google has made available SDK Tools r21, the Android NDK, and of course some helpful API documents. Highlighting some of the benefits of the new SDK (and, by extension, Android 4.2), Google touts "Renderscript computation directly in the GPU" for the Nexus 10, "a first for any mobile computation platform," lock screen widgets, Daydream, incredibly enhanced support for external displays, and optimizations for international users.

A full list of changes (specifically those pertinent to developers) can be found in the API docs, linked at the end of this post.

Nov

Nexus 4, 10, and Nexus 7 HSPA+ Orders Now Open To Customers In The US And Canada

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Google, News, Nexus 4

Update: At the time of last update, the 16GB Nexus 4 is consistently listed as "Coming Soon," with the 8GB version going up and down. The 32GB Nexus 10 is also consistently listed as "Coming Soon." If we receive any word that these device's are again available, we will update this post.

Just a few (long) hours after Australians got their shot at being the first kids on the block with a brand new Nexus device, it looks like orders have opened up for the US and Canada as well. Note: Since these devices just became available, you'll likely notice some errors or inconsistencies in availability.