Google Now gets a conversational search upgrade, learns to use OpenTable
Nothing makes voice-recognition software shine more than good conversational algorithms — and the natural-search function in Google Now just got a minor upgrade. Not only can use your hotel confirmation to find nearby restaurants, but also now you can casually ask it to show you the restaurant’s menu or book a reservation via OpenTable. You’ll still have to do a little work to complete the reservation, however (Google only gets the booking started), and it’s still not perfect: If a given restaurant doesn’t support OpenTable or doesn’t have a menu online, the process kind of falls apart. Still, it’s a nice upgrade, assuming you’ve already come to terms with the fact that Google’s algorithms are skimming your email.
[Image credit: Google]
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google
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Engadget Daily: Amazon’s first store, HTC’s new selfie phone and more!
Today, we go hands-on with HTC’s Desire Eye, learn about Amazon’s first brick-and-mortar store, create a comic strip from text messages, and more. Read on for all our news highlights from the last 24 hours. You know you want to.
Filed under: Misc
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Motorola Camera app updates, adds Android Wear remote shutter support
An update to the Motorola Camera app has landed on the Play Store today. The app brings in the usual listing for performance and bug fixes. However, there is a much more exciting addition that the joint owners of a Motorola device and a Android Wear powered device will be excited about. Now you can use your watch as a remote shutter.
This is just for Motorola devices and the Motorola camera app. If you use the Google Camera, you have had that ability for a while. Head to the Play Store and grab the app update. Give the remote shutter a test run and let us know how it works out for you.
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WSJ: 5.9-inch Nexus 6 “Shamu” will launch this month
If there was even any shred of doubt that Google was going to release a 5.9-inch beast of a Nexus device, I’m pretty sure you can now put it to rest. According to the Wall Street Journal and its three anonymous sources, Google is indeed going to release a Motorola manufactured 5.9-inch phablet, referred to by names like Nexus 6, Nexus X or Shamu, and could do so as soon as this month. Previous rumours have placed the release in early November but this latest news gives us more confidence that we might just be seeing the device before the end of the month.
WSJ also mentions that Google intends to release an operating system, what we know as Android L, at the same time as the Nexus 6, and that the phablet device is trying to capitalize on the 24% of the market that now uses phablets, though we’re a little dubious as to where that statistic came from. Still, for those who are phablet-inclined, the Nexus 6 represents an opportunity to jump on the stock Android train with Google’s most powerful smartphone yet with a Snapdragon 805 and 3GB under the hood.
What do you think about seeing the Nexus 6 by the end of October? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Wall Street Journal via Droid-life
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NASA video outlines plan for Orion’s first unmanned spaceflight
After years of development and launch delays, NASA’s Orion spacecraft is almost ready for its first unmanned flight, and the space agency just outlined the capsule’s flight path. The unmanned launch will take place in December, and will serve as a test run of the capsule’s radiation protection, heat shield and parachute system. NASA will use a Delta IV heavy rocket to launch the craft 100 miles above the Earth’s surface where, after completing its first orbit, upper stage rockets will take it 3,600 miles out into space — just far enough to pass through the Van Allen radiation belt.
We’ve sent astronauts and countless pieces of hardware through the Van Allen belt before, but it’s still a high radiation area that needs to be tested before we start running manned missions. NASA says the capsule has been outfitted with sensors to take new readings on the belt and ensure that it doesn’t interfere with any of the capsule’s onboard electronics. The Orion will pass through the belt twice and then return to Earth to make a final decent. This will put the craft’s heat-shield — the largest ever built — to the test and put the already-tested parachute system through its paces once again. Want a break down of the entire flight plan? Check out the video below.
Filed under: Transportation, Science
Source: YouTube
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Sony cuts the price of its ‘Digital Paper’ and now it’s only $1,000
If the only thing keeping you from Sony’s electronic paper replacement was the price, you’re in luck. According to The eBook Reader, these days anyone can grab the flexible 13.3-inch E Ink display from Sony’s online store (previously it was restricted to legal or banking professionals), and the price just recently fell $100. We’re still not sure if dropping under the $1,000 barrier is enough to make reading PDFs and signing A4-sized documents is enough to make it worthwhile, but there are probably some folks who will find a use. Sure it doesn’t do color, but the display is high res (1,200 x 1,600) and it has a three week battery life. Who needs two Xbox Ones anyway?
Via: The eBook Reader
Source: Sony Store
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NFL fines 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick for wearing Beats over Bose
Less than a week after the NFL confirmed that players would no longer be allowed to wear Beats headphones during interviews, the league is already handing out fines for noncompliance. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was fined $10,000 for opting to wear pink pair of Dr. Dre’s wares over the NFL-approved Bose cans for his post-game press conference last week. After the Bose deal to become the official headphone and headset of the NFL this spring, the league confirmed last weekend that players couldn’t wear another brand during interviews — including those before, during and up to 90-minutes after a game. As we mentioned before, Beats was also banned on match days and at media events at the World Cup this summer, too. If you’ll recall, Kaepernick was one of the main players in Beats’ “Hear What You Want” commercials during last year’s NFL season. It’s also worth mentioning that the NFL makes a big push for players to wear pink gear in support of breast cancer awareness during the month of October every year.
[Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Via: Deadspin
Source: CSN Bay Area
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Lenovo Product Engineer Ashton Kutcher ‘Not Concerned’ About Upcoming iPad Launch
Lenovo today launched the Yoga Tablet 2, which comes equipped with either Android or Windows 8. Available in three different sizes ranging from 8 to 13 inches, the tablets are priced from $249 to $499. On the smaller end, the 8 and 10 inch tablets (Windows or Android) have a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, while the larger 13-inch Pro version (Android only) has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440.
The tablets come equipped with a 180-degree kickstand and the 13-inch Pro model comes equipped with a built-in pico projector that can project an image up to 50 inches on a wall as its defining feature. The tablets and two new two-in-one Yoga laptops have been created by Lenovo in conjunction with Ashton Kutcher, a “product engineer” at the company. Along with serving as one of Lenovo’s product engineers, Kutcher also famously starred as Steve Jobs in “Jobs,” the biographical movie directed by Joshua Michael Stern.
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro image courtesy of Engadget
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kutcher sat down to talk about the creation of the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro and give his thoughts on Apple’s upcoming iPad lineup. According to Kutcher, he traveled to China to brainstorm a product consumers want. with the aim of making a “great entertainment device.”
For that reason, the Pro tablet comes equipped with a subwoofer and an 8-watt speaker, along with a 13-inch screen. “Because people use it in the home, we don’t need to create this super portable device,” Kutcher said. And with the projector, users don’t need to look for an HDMI cord or use AirPlay, because there’s a “built-in 50-inch screen.”
When asked about the upcoming iPad, Kutcher said he wasn’t worried about the competition as it would be unlikely to approach the features found in the Lenovo tablet.
Not at all. I’m not concerned about it in the least bit. Maybe it will be an iPhone Plus Plus. I think Apple has their fingers in a lot of things. We are really focused on this space and this product. I will be really surprised if they launch anything that approaches what we have here.
While Apple is said to be working on a larger 12.9-inch iPad, its upcoming October 16 launch event will focus on new versions of its already existing tablets, the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini. Rumors have suggested the new iPad Air will receive an updated A8 processor, an improved camera, a gold color option, a new anti-reflective screen, and possibly 2GB of RAM.
Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad, meanwhile, is currently on hold with production delayed until Apple can meet demand for the iPhone 6 Plus. Lenovo’s smaller Android Yoga tablets are available now, while the larger projector-equipped version will launch later in October.
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Lenovo intros the Android-powered Tablet 2 and Tablet 2 Pro
Lenovo has just announced a few premium tablets to their YOGA lineup. Let’s take a look to see what they’ve just released.
Lenovo YOGA Tablet 2
The YOGA tablet lineup has long been a frontrunner in unique design, offering a kickstand with the majority of the offerings. The Tablet 2 is no exception, now with a kickstand that can rotate almost 180 degrees for maximum comfort. The big feature here is the new Hang Mode, which basically means it can be positioned anywhere comfortably. The Tablet 2 also offers two big front-facing Dolby Audio speakers, a 1080p display, and an Intel Atom quad core processor.
The YOGA Tablet 2 comes in two different sizes: 8 or 10 inches. Both tablets also have an 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.6MP front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB on board storage, with MicroSD card support for up to 64GB. Check out the full list of specs below.
Processor: Intel® AtomTM Processor Z3745 (2M cache, 4 cores, up to 1.86 GHz)
Operating System: Android 4.4 KitKat
Display/Resolution: 8-in or 10.1-in Full HD (1920×1200) IPS display with 10-point multitouch & 178o wide viewing angle
Color: Platinum Silver
Memory: 2GB LP-DDR3 memory
Storage: 16GB, Supporting Micro SD card up to 64 GB
Audio: 2x front large-chamber speakers, Dolby® Audio, Wolfson® Master Hi-Fi
Ports: Micro USB (OTG), 3.5 mm audio jack, Micro SD card
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) , Optional 4G (in select countries, not US): WCDMA (900/2100 MHz)1, GSM/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz)1, Integrated Bluetooth® 4.02
Camera: 8MP f2.2 rear camera with Auto-focus, 1.6M HD front camera
Battery: Extended battery life with up to 18 hours on a single charge
Weight: 8-in model: 0.92 lbs (419 g), 10-in model: 1.36 lbs (619 g)
Dimensions: 8-in model: 8.3 in x 5.9 x (.1 – .3) in [210 mm x 149 mm x (2.7 – 7.0) mm], 10-in model: 10.0 in x 7.2 in x (.1 -.3) in inches [ 255 mm x 183 mm x (3.0-7.2) mm]
Lenovo YOGA Tablet 2 Pro
The YOGA Tablet 2 Pro aims to give users a unique home theater experience. It offers a 13.3-inch Quad HD screen, along with a built-in projector to create a 50-inch home theater experience on any wall. The Tablet 2 Pro also has the same kickstand as the Tablet 2 offerings, able to rotate almost 180 degrees. These new kickstands aim to give users more options while using it. The included “modes” that are possible are Hold, Stand, Tilt, or Hang.
The Tablet 2 Pro has an 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.6MP front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage, with MicroSD card support for up to 64GB. Let’s take a look at the official spec list:
Processor: Intel® AtomTM Processor Z3745 (2M cache, 4 cores, up to 1.86 GHz)
Operating System: Android v4.4 KitKat
Display/Resolution: 13.3-in Quad HD (2560×1440) IPS display
Color: Platinum Silver
Memory: 2GB LPDDR3
Storage: 32GB, Supporting Micro SD card up to 64GB
Audio: 2x front large-chamber speakers with 1.5W output each, plus a 5W rear JBL®subwoofer for a total 8W surround system. Dolby® Audio, Wolfson® Master Hi-Fi
Ports: Micro USB (OTG), 3.5 mm audio jack, Micro SD card
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) , Optional 4G1 (in select countries, not US): WCDMA (900/2100
Camera: 8MP f2.2 rear camera with Auto-focus, 1.6M HD front camera
Projector: 40-50 Lumen Pico Projector with WVGA (854×480) Resolution
Battery: Extended battery life with up to 15 hours on a single charge
Weight: 2.09 lbs (950 g)
Dimensions: 13.1 in x 8.8 in x 0.1-0.5 in (333 mm x 223 mm x 3.7-12.6 mm)
Check out more coverage on the Lenovo YOGA Tablet lineup in the future here at AndroidGuys!
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Google+ are adding the ability to add polls to your posts
It seems Google has been listening to the community and are in the process of adding a long asked for feature to Google+.
Finally users will be able to add polls to their posts, meaning you no longer have to link to an external poll site to gauge your friends’ opinion on important matters.
Google say that the functionality is being phased in gradually and will be distributed in stages starting with Android devices and the web in the next few days, before eventually being pushed to iOS.
Will you be using the new poll feature?
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AIVAnet 