Google+ Gets a UI Overhaul! Gmail Updates to 4.8! – App Updates
Happy hump day to you all. Time to see what important apps got an update this past week. Google+ sees a major update that changes the UI for the better. Gmail got a nice little update as weel, so if you don’t have those updates yet, get them on your device by clicking the links below.
Gmail Update
Box update
Google+ update
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LG Shows Us the Circle Case for the LG G3 [Video]
Seems that when an OEM puts out a new flagship, a new kind of flip case comes along with it. LG is about to unveil to us the LG G3 on the 27th, and today, they posted a video showing off their new Circle Case for the LG G3. It is a pretty fancy little flip case, and I think it fits the G3 pretty well. I still think HTC wins the flip case battle with their case they launched with the HTC One M8, but I am digging this one too.
You can perform all sorts of functions when the flip case is close, like play music, view notifications, and take photos. So check out the new video below and let us know what you think about it.
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Engadget Daily: Ads on your thermostat, eBay’s password breach and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours – all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google ads could be coming to thermostats, refrigerators and car dashboards
A Google filing with the SEC hinted that it’s considered displaying ads on a variety of devices that include “refrigerators, car dashboards, thermostats, glasses, and watches.” The company has since commented on the issue, saying that, “Nest, which we acquired after this filing was made, does not have an ads-based model and has never had any such plans.”
eBay asks all users to change their passwords following cyberattack
eBay looks like it’s the latest company to suffer a security breach after it alerted users that an attack had “compromised a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data.” Change those passwords, stat!
Oculus VR and Palmer Luckey being sued by CTO’s former employer
Zenimax Media, owner of id Software, is suing Oculus VR co-founder Palmer Luckey, alleging that Luckey and Oculus VR stole and misappropriated trade secrets related to virtual reality technology. Oculus VR responded and said this lawsuit has no merit.
Old console, new tricks: Getting the most out of your Xbox 360
If you’re still holding on to your Xbox 360 but feel like it’s getting a bit long in the tooth, don’t fear! Engadget’s own Richard Lawler has a few tips that will ensure you’re getting the most out of your favorite game console.
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LG’s ‘QuickCircle’ G3 case opens a window into your phone
LG hasn’t officially revealed the G3 yet, but its new QuickCircle case gives you a pretty good idea of what the device can do. The QuickCircle, which the South Korean company just announced, features a circular cutout in front so you can access the UI’s lock screen, take pictures, listen to music and even make calls even if you don’t open up the case. It has other things going for it other than its tiny window, as well, such as Qi wireless charging standard compatibility and a Smart Lighting feature that emits a soft glow within the cutout whenever you get a call or a message. Next month, LG’s also releasing an SDK for the case, and if you’re lucky, someone out there has a brilliant idea just waiting to be made.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Source: LG
Report: Google targeting businesses with subsidized WiFi routers
Google is readying a plan to provide heavily subsidized, commercial grade WiFi routers and equipment to businesses, according to The Information. The idea is to give companies like doctor’s offices and restaurants easy internet access while letting Google mine the data for targeted ads. Insiders say that would also allow such businesses to set up a website and even learn about customers buying habits. That lines up nicely with other rumors about Mountain View’s WiFi plans in Google Fiber cities and public spaces like Starbucks. There’s even talk of an app to let you manage your myriad WiFi connections — so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Google’s master plan soon.
Filed under: Wireless, Internet, Google
Via: Reuters
Source: The Information (subscription)
New Segway Patroller gives mall cops a third wheel
When you think of a Segway, usually a self-balancing, slightly dorky two-wheeled contraption comes to mind, right? Well, forget all that. The company has just committed heresy by launching the SE-3 Patroller, a three-wheeled, front-steering model. It’s targeted exclusively at law-enforcement officers, meter enforcement types and, ahem, security personnel — which make up the company’s most lucrative market by far. It’s highly visible in order to deter crime with headlights, brake lights, sirens, emergency lights and a rather non-functional-looking (but adorable) visor. It also packs rider detection to shut the vehicle off when not occupied and a 4.3-inch data screen. All of that comes in at $12,000 for a vehicle you can’t even sit down on — unlike arch-competitor T3 Motion’s model. Still, there’s very little chance cops’ll tip the thing over, a common Segway blunder that doesn’t exactly shock and awe the bad guys.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: CNET
Source: Segway
Apple Planning Expansion to Seven-Building Sunnyvale Campus
Apple has agreed to lease a new seven-building campus in Sunnyvale, CA, where it could move up to 1,450 employees, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Image via San Jose Mercury News
In the most recent expansion, Apple intends to occupy a 290,000-square-foot office complex known as Sunnyvale Crossing that is near the corner of Central Expressway and North Wolfe Road. Menlo Park-based Lane Partners bought the complex and then proceeded with a renovation to transform the decades-old buildings into a state-of-the-art office center.
According to city records, Apple is currently only listed as a tenant in one of the buildings, but plans to occupy the six other buildings as well. Additionally, building permit applications have been filed for all seven of the buildings for “interior improvements”, though those must be approved by Sunnyvale’s city planning commission.
The new Sunnyvale campus is yet another part of Apple’s plan for expansion, alongside a new two-building Santa Clara campus that would hold 1,200 employees and Apple’s already iconic Spaceship Campus, which will hold around 14,000 employees and is currently under construction.
California’s new self-driving car regulations prohibit falling asleep at the wheel
California is fine with car makers test-driving autonomous vehicles on its roadways, but the DMV now has some rules on exactly how. Under new regulations, drivers (or riders as the case may be) will need to be official testers on a manufacturer’s payroll and go through a special training program to get a yearlong permit. They’ll also have to remain attentive behind the wheel — so no napping on the way to work yet — and notify the DMV if they’re in an accident or have to override the car’s manual controls for any reason. When it comes to cars, it’s not a free-for-all. Manufacturers will need to apply for a permit for each individual vehicle, and cars are required to have at least five million dollars worth of liability insurance.
Autonomous vehicles aren’t exactly new to California. They’ve been legal in the state since 2012, and Google has already started testing cars in its hometown of Mountain View. The new regulations created by the DMV are designed to put a few boundaries on that testing. While they’ve already been adopted, applications for the program won’t be accepted until July 1st, with the regulations officially going into effect September 14th.
[Image credit: Flickr/Stanford Center for Internet and Society]
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Via: Ars Technica
Source: CA DMV
Engadget HD Podcast 399 – 5.21.14
Things are heating up in the HD world this week, but definitely not enough to cook a pizza properly. AT&T is making a bid to buy DirecTV for a hefty sum, unless the company’s NFL Sunday Ticket portion doesn’t pan out, leaving them with an escape clause. Other deals afoot include the Comcast and Time Warner Cable merger, both of which are some of the most hated names in the industry. As for Pioneer’s beloved Kuro displays, it seems Ben’s had one in his home for longer than he’s willing to believe, leaving him in a nostalgic lurch. This gives Richard a chance to dish out all the new content that’s popped up on Hulu Plus and run down some Must See HDTV — don’t worry, no Game of Thrones spoilers. As always, there’s a ton of info to feed your brain with, so click on down to the streaming links and join us for this week’s episode!
Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh
Producer: Jon Turi
Hear the podcast:
02:54 – AT&T to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion
12:33 – AT&T’s multibillion dollar DirecTV purchase could hinge on… football?
20:46 – Comcast and TWC voted most-hated ISPs in America’s most-hated industry
22:47 – FCC votes in favor of new Net Neutrality rules, leaves room for ‘fast lanes’
32:45 – Virtual Joey app arrives with satellite TV for your PS3
34:33 – Brazilians will see every blade of World Cup grass on outdoor 4K screens
36:10 – Gadget Rewind 2007: Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD plasma
40:55 – Sony’s $700 4K streaming box gets a much needed pre-order discount
42:27 – Watch ‘Game of Thrones’ mysteries explained (or disproved) with science
47:01 – Sailor Moon arrives on Hulu Plus in its full, uncensored glory
49:04 – ‘Halo 5: Guardians’ and live-action Halo TV show set for fall 2015 launch
50:33 – Upcoming Xbox history show will let you ‘play TV’
55:24 – Must See HDTV for the week of May 19th: Indy 500, Monaco GP and no Game of Thrones
Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS – AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS – MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator.
Contact the podcast:
SingStar for PS4 employs your smartphone for belting off-tune renditions
When SingStar arrives on PlayStation 4 consoles later this year, it won’t require shelling out extra dough for a shiny new microphone. Instead, the title will allow you to use your smartphone or tablet as the mic thanks to a free app for iOS and Android. The newfangled software will play nice with both PS3 and PS4 versions of the game with support for custom playlists built in. There’s also improved social sharing and song downloads from the SingStore. Heck, they’ve even added Bruno Mars tunes, so get your pompadour wig ready.
Source: PlayStation Blog
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