Hands on with Project Tango at Google I/O 2015
One of the projects Google has been working on long term is Project Tango, a technology designed to replicate the way we sense the three dimensional world on a computer device. Google has been using a tablet to pack in sensors and cameras that feed the Project Tango software. The end result is an ability to create a digital map of the world on three dimensions.
Google notes that this technology could be used for mapping buildings for use by others who cannot be present in the building or for something a little less serious, like gaming. Given the virtually “live streaming” speed that the software can map a space, Google could also use it for applications that need the ability to sense the world in real-time – think driverless cars or maintenance bots in space.
TalkAndroid got to spend some hands on time with the latest version of Project Tango at Google I/O 2015. Check out the video below and then look back at Google I/O 2014 to compare where the technology was a year ago.
Be sure to continue to watch TalkAndroid for more coverage from Google I/O 2015.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Burned out retinas rejoice as Android M has dark theme
If you are one of the Android fans who is irked by the extensive white screen real estate used by the operating system, Google has a little treat in store for you when Android M is finally released. Developers already poking into the new operating system have discovered Google has added a new dark theme.
Currently the setting for a theme is buried in the Developer Settings and appears to only work on the settings screens. However, we have seen how Google’s Material Design is able to change colors for several screen elements in Android L already, so it is not a stretch to see themes extend to the whole operating system.
For now, in addition to the new dark theme, Google also included an Automatic setting that will switch the theme based on the device’s clock.
Stay with us for more Google I/O 2015 coverage.
source: ArsTechnica
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Google Photos app now available in Play Store
Earlier today Google took the wraps off the new, standalone Google Photos app. Since then, lots of users have been hitting the new web site for all of the uploaded photos, photos.google.com, to see if the service was available yet. As the site has started to light up for users, Google has also pushed the updated app out to the Google Play Store.
The new app mirrors features from the web interface, like the “Assistant” feature for creating and customizing photos and video. Most users will likely want to ensure the photos from their device are set to auto backup as a way to protect the images against loss. Except for possible privacy concerns, Google has made it easy to backup by providing unlimited storage through the new service, although images are limited to 16MP and videos are limited to 1080p.
Check out the promo video below for Photos along with some images from the Play Store. You can hit the links below to check for the update or install the app if you have not already done so. Keep an eye on TalkAndroid for more news from Google I/O 2015.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Feds to overhaul program that delivers broadband to the poor
While 95 percent of American households earning six figures annually have access to broadband internet, just 48 percent of homes making under $25,000 enjoy the same benefit. Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to reduce that internet inequality gap by subsidizing the broadband access for America’s poorest families. Specifically, the FCC is looking to revamp its existing Lifeline program, which already provides both phone and prepaid wireless service, to now include broadband as well.
“Broadband access is essential to find a job — more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 job openings are online,” FCC chairman Bob Wheeler explained in a blog post. “Americans need broadband to keep a job, as companies increasingly require basic digital literacy skills. We rely on broadband to manage and receive healthcare, and to help our children do their homework.”
And while Republican lawmakers like Louisiana Senator David Vitter have railed against the program as “one of the most corrupt federal programs in recent memory” (which subsequently led to comprehensive reforms eliminating waste and fraud in 2012), it should be noted that the program actually began way back in 1985 during the Reagan administration. The program expanded in 2005 to include pre-paid wireless service because, as Wheeler explained, more than half of low-income Americans have had to cancel (or at least suspend) cell service due to financial hardships.
[Image Credit: The AP]
Via: Yahoo
Source: FCC
iPhones can be Google VR viewers, too
As we walked out of today’s Google I/O keynote, we — and all other keynote attendees — were handed the second-generation version of Cardboard, Google’s low-tech effort at a VR headset. As was announced at the keynote itself, the new Cardboard is designed to fit phones that are 6-inches or larger, which makes sense given the size of Google’s own Nexus 6. It’s also now much easier to set up; in just three easy steps. Another improvement is that it no longer has the magnetic ring trigger of the original, which apparently didn’t work with all phones. Now it has a simple top button that when pressed, activates a lever coated in capacitive tape — think of it as a cardboard finger touching the phone’s screen. This, of course, makes the Cardboard viewer compatible with a lot more phones — including, yes, the iPhone.
I had the chance to try out the new viewer with both a Nexus 6 and an iPhone 6, and well, it certainly is easy to put together. Just snap out the velcro, fold the pre-scored pieces of cardboard, put in your phone, and voila — you’ve got a VR headset. The top button is also far easier to push down, giving it a very ViewMaster feel. As for content, Google also announced the new Cardboard app for iOS today, along with an updated Cardboard SDK for developers to build VR apps for Apple’s mobile OS as well. The demo apps for iOS are a little different — there’s an Exhibit app of different museums plus a colorful kaleidoscope — but the experience is very similar to the one on Android. Images are surprisingly colorful and sharp, though I did experience a bit of lag when transitioning between different screens.
As ever, Cardboard won’t have the same fidelity and immersiveness as something like the Oculus Rift or Gear VR — there’s no danger of light leaking through, for example — but it’s pretty great for what is essentially just a piece of cardboard and some lenses. If you want one for yourself, you’ll have to either make it yourself from Google’s own specs, or get one from Dodocase for around $25. Oh, and that Cardboard app for iOS? It’s out already, so go on and try it out if you have an iPhone and that new Cardboard viewer lying around.
Filed under: Google
Source: Cardboard (iTunes)
Google wants you to buy Big Macs with your face
Google may have been the first big tech company to push NFC payments, but it was Apple Pay that got the public excited about buying things with your smartphone. At a Google I/O session for Android Pay, the search giant announced that it was partnering with McDonalds and Papa John’s Pizza to launch Hands Free, a payment system that looks suspiciously like the Pay with Square app (later called Square Wallet and discontinued). Customers walk in to a store and say, “I’d like to pay with Google,” and the cashier will see a photo of the customer and their name on their point-of-sale system. The service is initially launching in San Francisco in the coming months and those interested can sign up for the beta here. Details about the geofencing payment service are sparse, but it should use cards stored in the upcoming Android Pay.
Source: Google
Google refreshes Cardboard with support for iOS, larger devices
Expeditions and Jump should kickstart adoption and content curation
One year after its initial launch Google on Thursday released a new version of its Cardboard virtual reality device.
Key among the changes in the unit is that it can be assembled in a much quicker manner. The whole process is pared down to three steps.
Additionally, Cardboard now offers support for devices up to six inches in display size. Perhaps more importantly, it’s also compatible with iOS devices; it’s included in the latest Cardboard SDK.
In an attempt to get Cardboard into the hands of more users, Google has introduced a program called Expeditions. In short, it’s a way for teachers to take students on virtual field trips to just about anywhere in the world.
Working with a number of partners, including the American Natural History Museum and Planetary Society, it’s Google’s way of enhancing education.
On a related note, Google teased a new product called Jump which is essentially a rig for sixteen cameras. Designed to capture 3D, stereoscopic imagery, it’s a way to jumpstart the videos and content which will be available to Cardboard. Google says that GoPro is already on board and plans to release something later this year.
The post Google refreshes Cardboard with support for iOS, larger devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Maps offline with turn-by-turn navigation
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Well it’s like Christmas morning for every Android fan out there today as we have just got through Google’s keynote at their annual Google I/O developers conference. One of the big ones that won’t be available until later this year is offline navigation for Google Maps. This has been a very requested feature and if you’ve ever been on a road trip while using GPS on your phone you know the tortures of losing signal and not being able to navigate until you get one again. Thankfully Google has heard our pleas from between the mountains and will be giving us the ability to have turn-by-turn navigation without the need for a data connection.
Not only do you get turn-by-turn, but you can also search maps that are saved offline and navigate directly to said location all while being completely offline, or in the case of the demo, Airplane mode. This will definitely come in handy when traveling abroad or just driving through the mountains while on your way to San Francisco from Los Angeles. Whatever the use case, this is definitely one feature that I have been anxiously waiting for.
The post Google Maps offline with turn-by-turn navigation appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Diving into M: You can now rearrange and delete quick settings
Now that the keynote is over and the day is winding down a bit, I have time to play around with Android M as much as my heart demands (well… or until my wife says to eat dinner..). So far, I’m liking what I see with M, though obviously it’s still early days. We’ve already talked about dark/light themes and a new app drawer layout — now it seems that there’s yet another interesting change hiding in developer options.
The new setting must first be turned on in developer options, from there, you can launch “system UI tuner”. What exactly is that? In short, you can now move around or even delete quick toggle settings you don’t use. You can also re-add ones you’ve deleted and perhaps, someday, it’ll even be possible to add new third party ones. Okay, the latter statement is pure speculation, but one can wish.
With Android M, Google says the goal is less about dramatically re-inventing the wheel (that was more or less Lollipop’s job), and is instead about refining the overall Android experience to make it the very best it can be. Little features like this aren’t major deal changers, but they still help along Google’s goal at least a little. Of course, it’s hard to say if these will even make their way into the final version of Android M.
What do you think of the new option? Share your thoughts in the comments.
A quick look at the new Google Photos app
Google I/O 2015 is well on its way, and we’ve already gotten a quick overview of everything Google announced during its keynote. Among the many announcements including Android M, Project Brillo, Google Now on Tap, Android Nanodegree and many others, we’ve also taken a first look at Google’s new photo backup service. Now available for free in the Google Play Store, the new Google Photos app aims to be an all-in-one media backup application, so you can access all of your pictures and videos from wherever you are in the world. Since this new app is kind of a big deal, we thought we’d walk you through the setup process to ensure your experience is hassle-free!
Since the new Google Photos app is just an update to the old Photos application (the one that was attached to Google+), you can grab the new version by simply updating your old Photos app. Once the app has been updated, it’s pretty easy to set up.
Upon opening Photos for the first time, you’ll be asked if you’d like to backup your photos and videos. For all of you folks worried about other people seeing your photos, don’t worry – Google Photos is now completely decoupled from Google+, so there’s no need to worry about other people seeing your private pictures.
Once you choose to backup your photos and videos (or not), you can choose a couple different upload options. The new Google Photos offers completely unlimited content backup, so you can upload as many images and videos as you’d like without it counting against your Google Drive storage space, like it did with the old app. However, there are a few caveats when it comes to the term ‘unlimited’. Photos have a cap of 16MP, and videos have a maximum resolution of 1080p, so keep that in mind before you take advantage of Google’s unlimited backup option.
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By far the most important feature in Google Photos is that the app will automatically organize your photos for you. The app can recognize faces, pets, landscapes, locations and more, and will group together like photos for your convenience. After all of your photos are uploaded to the service, the app will pretty much have all of your content organized automatically.
Clicking the ‘search’ floating action button at the bottom will give you quick access to all of your categories. Take a look at the screenshots below. As you can see, Photos automatically separated my media into categories. But don’t get me wrong, Photos isn’t perfect. If you see an image that is filed incorrectly, you can easily move it to another category.
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Moving on, there’s a new feature in the app called ‘Assistant’, which is basically just like a rebranded Autoawesome. It can still create stories for you, but now you can take matters into your own hands and create albums, collages (mixes), movies, custom stories and animations. Now you don’t have to wait for the app to automatically generate them for you, which will likely be a welcome change for most users.
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With the new photos app, you can also easily share photos and videos privately. Once you select a picture, click the Get link button in the sharing menu, and the link will automatically copy to your clipboard. I’ve been waiting for this feature for quite some time, and I’m sure many other users will be happy to use it as well.
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So, there you have it – a first look at the new Google Photos app! It’s now live in the Play Store, and you can also access all of your photos on the desktop by heading to photos.google.com. Let us know how you like the new service!
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