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May

[Don't Panic] Google-Branded H840 Media Player Appears In The FCC, Bearing Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy References

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Google, News

Normally we're a bit wary of reporting on the certification filings that go through the Federal Communications Commission, because frankly, they don't often mean anything. But an entry spotted by the fine folks at TabletGuide.nl caught our attention purely on its geeky merit. There's very little information available about the "H840 DEVICE" - it's made (or at least submitted) by Google, it's listed as a Digital Transmission System and "functions as a media player," it has a WiFi connection, and it runs on AC power. Oh, and the model number is H2G2-42.

Douglass Adams fans will recall H2G2 as shorthand for The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series, a much-loved collection of five books and innumerable spin-offs that lampoons science fiction (and just about everything else).

May

Google Glass FAQ Updated To Permit Loaning Explorer Edition Unit, Still Forbids Selling As It Is Not "In The Explorer Spirit"

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Glass, Google, News

Just ask our own Ron Amadeo and he'll tell you there are a myriad of reasons Google Glass isn't like other computing devices. It changes the way you interact with data and contextual information, but it's also not a true consumer product just yet. The Google Glass Explorer Edition was released with a number of caveats, including the stipulation that owners were forbidden from selling or loaning the device to someone else. Well, Google has lightened up a little on that last count. The FAQ has been tweaked to allow sharing your Explorer Edition.

Google's original FAQ clearly stated that users were not permitted to "resell, loan, transfer or give [Google Glass] to any other person." That's a little totalitarian, even for what is essentially a developer device.

May

Here's How To Enable The New Hangouts In Gmail, But Only If You're Ready To Lose Phone Dialing

Posted by Kyle Wiggers in Google, News, Tips & Tutorials

Google may've said during Wednesday's keynote that it planned to roll out Hangouts to Gmail users gradually, but if you just can't wait to integrate the new messaging service into your e-mail dashboard, there's a way to gain early access. Simply log into Gmail, ensure you've signed into Google Talk (if you're having trouble enabling Talk, try installing the browser plugin), click on the thumbnail associated with your account in the Talk sidebar, and select the "Try the new Hangouts" option.

If you don't see the option right now, you can trick Gmail into giving up the goods by clearing your cache and cookies.

May

AutomateIt Becomes First App To Introduce New Activity Recognition Features

Posted by Bertel King, Jr. in Applications, News

The new activity recognition features introduced in the latest Google Play services update are just two days old, but SmarterApps has already released an AutomateIt update in the Play Store that takes advantage of the new functionality. The latest version touts the ability to make your phone smart enough to automate different tasks depending on if you're walking, running, biking, or driving.

The new sync adapter brought in via Wednesday's Google Play services update introduces a location reporting API, a task that previously was performed within apps themselves locally. Apps can now request location data from the new, more efficient fused location provider that's a part of Google Play Services, rather than having to work through Android's built-in location APIs that call on GPS / Wi-Fi / network location.

May

Sending Money With Gmail Is Live, You Just Need To Be Invited - Here's How (US Only)

Posted by Ron Amadeo in News

A few days ago Google announced this crazy new feature that allows you to attach actual money to Gmail messages. We've discovered the feature is actually up and running, you just have to be invited!

To get invited, someone just has to send you some amount of money over Gmail - a penny will do fine. So, find someone who has access to it, give them your email, receive a penny, and you're in!

If you happen to find someone who has access, and they send you a penny, you'll get an email like this. Clicking on "claim money" will take you to the special wallet site that gives you access.

May

[International Giveaway] Win An Unlocked International Galaxy S4 And Various Otterbox Cases From Android Police And Otterbox

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Contests / Giveaways, Galaxy S4, News

When it comes to device protection, Otterbox has long been a trusted name in the case scene. It offers cases with varying levels of protection – everything from the rough-and-rugged Defender Series to the lighter-weight Commuter and Reflex cases – so there's something for just about everyone.

But with the most recent releases for devices like the Galaxy S4, the company is also offering something a bit different: colors. Why be stuck with boring black just to make sure your device has the best protection it can get? With each series there are a variety of colors to choose from to better suit your personal style – be it Wild Orchid, Berry, Glacier White, or some combination in between, there's a color option that should scream "me."

Here's a look at just a few of the new offerings Otterbox currently has going for the GS4:

Like I said, those are just a few of the choices!

May

PSA: The New Hangouts App Should Now Work On All Android Tablets - Go Grab Your Update And Leave Google Talk Behind

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Google, News, Tablets

There is no arguing that the new Hangouts Android app, which replaces Google Talk and aims to unify several communication methods, has had a rough start. One of the main issues we've run into from the very beginning was wonky tablet support. In fact, most people couldn't install it at all because instead of the Update button, only a lone "Open" button would show up on tablets. Dan Morrill, one of our favorite Android engineers (HOLOYOLO! No really, he yelled that at yesterday's Android Fireside Chat), has explained that this happened due to an unfortunate bug with telephony-related permissions, and that a fix would be rolling out shortly.

May

Google Play Games Feature Badges For Multiplayer, Achievements, And Leaderboards Rolling Out In The Play Store

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Games, News

It's been barely 48 hours since Google's brand new Play Games management system went online, and already dozens of high-profile games have been updated to include its features. But how do you tell which titles use Play Games and which don't when browsing the Play Store (without, you know, actually reading the descriptions)? The big G has you covered. Badges for the various features of Google Play Games are now automatically appearing in the relevant Play Store pages.

App tearer-downer extraordinaire Ron Amadeo spotted this feature in his leak teardown, though the lower right corner badge doesn't seem to be implemented yet.

May

Sony Posts Android Open Source Project Code For The Xperia Tablet Z To GitHub

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Android OS, News, Sony, Xperia Tablet Z

There's a lot to like about Sony's latest generation of Android devices. One od the things that most people don't like is the custom interface that Sony puts on pretty much everything. If you want to do away with it and get some sweet, clean Android Open Source Project code running on your shiny new Xperia Tablet Z, Sony is happy to oblige. They've posted an AOSP 4.2 build for the Tablet Z to GitHub, following their surprisingly open approach to other devices, most recently the Xperia Z flagship.

Sorry ROM aficionados, there's no flashable ROM package posted. Developers will need both the AOSP code and the binaries for their specific device (which you can find here) to build a working ROM, and end users need an unlocked bootloader, with the voided warranty that comes with it.