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Jul

Jelly Bean Factory Images Are Now Available For Several Nexus Devices, Including GSM Galaxy Nexii And Nexus 7

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

The time has come friends. Factory images are now available for several Nexus devices. The current factory image (JRO03[C-E] depending on the device) is available for most Nexus S variants, though the Korean and Sprint versions are conspicuously absent. Similarly, the Verizon-branded Galaxy Nexus is still off the list, but all other Galaxy Nexus versions are accounted for. And, of course, the carrier-less Nexus 7's factory image is available.

For those who prefer bullet points, here are the devices with factory images available as well as the build number for each:

Nexus S (soju): Android 4.1.1 (JRO03E)

Nexus S (sojua): Android 4.1.1 (JRO03E)

Galaxy Nexus (yakju): Android 4.1.1 (JRO03C)

Galaxy Nexus (takju): Android 4.1.1 (JRO03C)

Nexus 7 (nakasi): Android 4.1.1 (JRO03D)

If you need to get back to the way things were when you first got your device, you can download the images from Google's download site right here.

Jul

Google Adds Handwriting Recognition To Search In Your Mobile Browser, Makes Search More Awesome

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

In its endless attempts to make searching easier for everyone, Google has introduced yet another way to search via its mobile site at google.com: handwriting recognition. If you go to Google's search page from your phone or tablet's mobile browser and enable the feature via settings, you can now scribble your searches on the screen, even after receiving results. It's pretty fancy!

Of course, this does raise the question of whether this input method is any faster. In the video above, in an attempt to show how this might be used, we see a man who has had nearly all of his fingers broken scribble the words "ski lessons" on the screen.

Jul

Google Gigabit Fiber's Kansas City Rollout Includes Free Internet Or A Free Nexus 7, Nationwide Envy At No Extra Charge

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Google, Google TV, News, Nexus 7

To the residents of Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri: we hate you. Sincerely, every Internet user in the United States.

We've known about Google's plan to roll out its very first fiber optical Internet and cable service in the twin Midwestern cities for months, but today the full scope of Google's plans has been revealed on the fiber.google.com page. The options are staggering, the technology is drool-inducing, and the extras are enough to make even Google I/O attendees jealous. Beginning in September, Google will begin to roll out its fiber to neighborhoods in both cities that have rallied enough residents to request the service on the Google Fiber website.

Jul

PSA: Your Android Devices Appear In Google Dashboard, Find Out Which Apps Have Backups Available

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News

The Google Dashboard is a handy tool for keeping up with what information Google has stored for you in its various different products. One piece of the handy information, though, has taken a while to become available but it's there now: your Android devices. It's unclear if this feature has been around for a while, but either way, it's useful. If you'd like to see which devices are registered with Google, and more interestingly, which apps on those devices have backups stored on Google's servers, you can do so from your dashboard.

Unfortunately, as with a lot of information on the Dashboard, you can see this info, but you can't do much with it from here.

Jul

[Weekend Poll] In A Perfect World, Who Would Manufacture The Next Nexus Phone?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Will You Buy Magazines From The Play Store?

Google usually releases a new Nexus phone in Q4, and we're already firmly into Q3 - which means the rumors should start heating up any day now. In fact, given just how little we've heard on the subject (presumably because everyone is too busy gushing over the Nexus 7), we should probably (hopefully) be hearing something any day now.

Our question to you is, if you could pick the manufacturer of the next Nexus phone, who would you choose?

Jul

16GB Nexus 7 Is Now Listed As "Coming Soon" On The Play Store, Likely Backordered Into The Next Century

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 7

The Nexus 7, everyone's newest favorite tablet, has already had more than its share of problems shipping from the Play Store. Today, the new shenanigans are that the 16GB model is currently unavailable from the Play Store at all. The best Google has to offer is a "coming soon" button that offers to let customers sign up to be informed when the device comes back in stock.

The 16GB model, so far, has been particularly hard to find from Google, and particularly easy in retail locations. The best we can assume is that Google allotted more 16GB models to be shipped out for retail shipment, since the margins are higher on the 16GB model.

Jul

Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OTA (JRO03E) Now Available For The Nexus S i9020A [Download]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Jelly Bean 4.1, News, Nexus S (Crespo/Soju)

After owners of the Nexus S i9023 and i9020T got an official 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OTA last night, the update has become available for the Nexus S' i9020A variant as well.

Just like before, the update can be downloaded straight from Google's servers, though Google has indicated that the OTA should be rolling out to Nexus S phones on "a number of carriers," meaning the wait for an automatic update prompt shouldn't be long.

RT @googlenexus: We've started rolling out Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, to Nexus S phones on a number of carriers with more to come. Enjoy!...

Jul

[Deal Alert] OfficeMax Has The 16GB Nexus 7 In Stock For $219.99 With Phone Order Coupon Plus Free Shipping

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals, News, Nexus 7

UPDATE: Many readers are reporting that the Nexus 7 is now on backorder from OfficeMax and that the coupon may not work any more. That being said, the website still indicates that the tablet will ship in 1 to 3 days. Let us know if you have any luck getting the discount.

There's no doubt that Google's Nexus 7 has been exceedingly hard to find since its launch. From nebulous shipping schedules to stock problems at brick and mortar stores, customers everywhere have had a hard time getting their hands on the device.

Luckily, it has been discovered that OfficeMax has Google's hit 7" tablet in stock (shipping in "1 to 3 days") for $219.99 when you apply a coupon code over the phone.

Jul

Google Provides Official Update On Nexus 7 Pre-Order Shipments

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, News, Nexus 7

Just after giving the 8GB Nexus 7 "In Stock" status, Google has published an official update on the 7's pre-order shipping situation. The statement, which should placate users who have felt in the dark about the status of their Nexus 7 orders, explains that all standalone 8GB Nexus 7 orders (without cases or other accessories) have been shipped, and that by the end of the day July 19th, all standalone 16GB orders placed through July 11th will be shipped as well (including upgraded overnight shipping).

Those who ordered their tablet with accessories (or a Nexus Q) should expect the 7 to ship this week with overnight shipping, with accessories potentially coming in separate shipments.

Jul

Google's New Voice Assistant Pitted Against Siri: If You'd Like, I Can Search The Web For Pictures Of A Stallion

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

The uninformed consumer (read: not you, dear readers) may be forgiven for not realizing Google's voice search/voice assistant/Google Now thing is attempting to compete head-on with Siri, what with lacking a name and not being nearly as anthropomorphized. However, Google's voice powers are, indeed, aimed squarely at making the act of finding and using information far easier than Apple's automaton. In this video, the two go voice-to-voice and...okay, let's not beat around the bush. Siri gets thoroughly trashed.

Now, let's be perfectly clear. When dealing with voice searches and natural language assistants, your mileage will always vary. However, in this head-to-head comparison, it is no contest.