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Mar

Launch Of Play Gift Cards In UK Imminent? Google Updates Help Files With UK-Specific Information

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

A mere seven months ago, we saw the launch of Google's Play Store gift cards, a much wished-for addition to the store front that made gifting the store's digital content almost as easy as it should be. Unfortunately for international users, though, the cards were only destined for the US at launch. When "redeem pages" popped up in the UK's online and device-based stores in mid-December, many thought the cards would hit retail stores in time for the holidays. Alas, the holidays came and went with nary a peep from Goog on the subject.

Now, however, we seem to have another promising development that should return hope to UK Play patrons – Google has updated its "Gift cards & Google Play balance" help files with UK-specific information.

Mar

[Achievement Unlocked] Google: Nexus 4 And Nexus 7 Are The First Ever AOSP Devices That Have 100% Of The Proprietary Binaries Available

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Development, Google, News, Nexus 4, Nexus 7

As an addendum to the announcement of Google completing AOSP rollout for Android 4.2.2, I wanted to highlight a big milestone for the Nexus program - something that has never been the case before today.

After asking JBQ (not to be confused with JDQ39) a follow-up question, I was able to get some clarity on his earlier post and confirm that as of today, with the release of Android 4.2.2 binaries, we have for the first time ever Nexus devices that have 100% of proprietary binaries available. These devices are the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 7.

Previously, even Nexuses marked as AOSP-supported were missing at least one driver that needed to be ripped out of live devices in order to build a fully working ROM.

Mar

Google Completes Android 4.2.2 Rollout - Nexus 4 And Nexus 7 3G Now Fully Supported By AOSP

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Development, Galaxy Nexus, Google, News, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7

As the old saying goes, "when it rains, it pours down binaries for Nexus devices." That old idiom is proven true once again today, as Google has just uploaded the latest batch of binaries to the Nexus Device download page.

The binaries essentially contain the proprietary hardware drivers that you won't find in AOSP for their specific devices. This go around it's for Android 4.2.2 (build JDQ39) for all of the latest Nexus gadgets: the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 Wi-Fi, Nexus 7 3G, Nexus 10, GSM Galaxy Nexus, and VZW Galaxy Nexus.

More notably, this marks the first time that up-to-date binaries have been available for all current-gen Nexus devices.

Feb

Google's CFO Says New Moto Products Not ''Wow' By Google Standards' After Being Injected With Truth Serum

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, Motorola, News

Sometimes, getting companies to admit what we all know is a huge game of cat and mouse. We all know, for example, that Motorola was still making phones before Google bought the company and still has to release some of those phones. We can also guess, based on the most recent Googorola announcements, that the hardware is good, but not really up to the standards we have come to expect from, say, the Nexus line. Well, in a stunning display of candor, Google's CFO agrees.

During a session at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, the Chief Financial Officer for the software giant said that the products that Motorola is currently working on "aren't 'wow' by Google standards." That's not just speaking about past devices (which companies are typically more willing to be honest about).

Feb

Paid Apps Return To The Taiwan Play Store After Kerfuffle With Local Laws

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

Around a year and a half ago, Google removed access to paid apps from the Taiwanese Play Store after a complaint was issued claiming that the company violated a local law demanding a seven day return window. A surprisingly short court battle ensued and 8 months later Mountain View walked away with a $34k fine (you read that right), and a losing appeal. The company opted, at that point, to simply remain out of the Taiwanese market. Until now.

We reached out to Google to confirm that it was, indeed, offering paid apps again. The company had this to say:

“Google Inc.

Feb

Matias Duarte: "If I Were To Start Poking You, You Wouldn't Like It. But When You Start Stroking, It's A Totally Different Message" [Video]

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Google, Off-Topic, Videos

I had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't Eric Schmidt talking. The interview is pretty mediocre and feels scripted and robotic otherwise, but just watch what he says around 1:50.

It's now officially my #1 favorite Matias Duarte quote.

Update: Looks like the CNNInternational's YouTube video is not available in the U.S. of all places (I did not notice this as I was posting from Barcelona). Here's the version you can view: CNN, or try the 2nd embed below from another channel that happened to mirror it.

Feb

[MWC 2013] Andy Rubin, Finger To The Side Of His Nose, Says Google Has No Plans For Retail Stores

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

Andy Rubin, you coy devil. I suppose we could ignore those rumors about Google retail stores if you ask nicely and bat your eyes at us. That's what the head of Android would like us to do, anyway, as he spoke at Mobile World Congress stating that "Google has no plans [for a retail store] and we have nothing to announce."

Why not, though? This sure sounds like a good idea to a lot of us in the Android fan world. Well, according to Rubin, people are able to make decisions about which phone they'd like to buy without actually seeing the hardware.

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

[Rumor] Google Said To Be In Talks With Record Labels To Expand GMusic With A Spotify-Like Streaming Service

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Google, News, Rumors

Well, this is exciting. We knew it was only a matter of time before El Goog decided to get into the music streaming biz, and according to the Wall Street Journal, the company is currently in talks with several record labels to fire up a Spotify-esque service.

If true, the service is said to become part of Google Music, which only makes sense. Currently, Music allows users upload their own music libraries and stream them from any web browser or Android device, and the addition of a streaming service would likely give users access to unlimited music outside of that collection for a monthly fee.

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.