Google Maps for iOS Gains Apple Watch App
Google today updated its Google Maps app for iOS to version 4.11.0, adding support for the Apple Watch. As of today, there’s a Google Maps app that delivers directions on Apple’s wrist-worn device.
Along with a new Apple Watch app, today’s update also includes a tool for comparing estimated travel times across driving, transit, walking and biking directions, and it adds a feature for calling businesses and getting directions from a list of places. As with most updates, there are also unspecified bug fixes.
What’s New
– Easily compare ETAs across driving, transit, walking & biking
– Call business & get directions directly from a list of places
– Get directions to places now on your Apple Watch
– Bug fixes
This isn’t Google’s first app for the Apple Watch, but it will arguably be the most useful as there are many iOS users who still prefer to use Google Maps over Apple Maps.
Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
[TA Deals] Private Internet Access VPN, 2-year Subscription
Internet security is, to put it mildly, a big deal. And Talk Android wants to give you a good deal.
If you’re keen on doing work from your phone that includes sensitive information, or if you manage a lot of your personal finances from your mobile device, or you just don’t like the idea of someone invading your privacy, then you’ll want to look into using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.
With Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN, you can expect to get the best bang for your buck, even outside of using Talk Android Deals. The company itself is one of the top choices in the US for VPN’s. PIA encrypts data based on the Blowfish CBC algorithm and includes the use of a SOCKS5 proxy. The service uses approximately 2,900 servers from around the world, does not log your traffic, and prevents IPv6 leakage.
Here are some highlights of PIA VPN:
- Prevents data mining so you can browse anonymously
- Connects instantly w/ one-click installers
- Masks your location w/ IP cloaking
- Provides access to Private Internet Access’s professional support staff
- Blocks unwanted connections w/ server-grade filtering software
- Allows the use of 5 devices simultaneously w/ unlimited bandwidth
- Protects your identity w/ several layers of privacy
- Bypasses censorship filters so you are free from geographic restrictions
- Stops traffic w/ a kill switch if the VPN connection is unexpectedly terminated
This service will work on Android, PC, Mac and iPhone operating systems. And by PC, PIA states that it does support Linux/Unix distros in addition to Windows.
If this is something that interests you, head over to Talk Android Deals by clicking the link below. You’ll see that normally a 2-year subscription costs $80, but through us, you can get one at $59.95. This is a 24% discount from the typical MSRP.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Private Internet Access VPN, 2-year Subscription
Google Photos just got smarter
Google Photos, without a doubt, has made every Android owner’s life simpler. Whether you lose your smartphone or run out of device storage, Google’s cloud-based photo storing app makes sure that you never lose an important memory. By the end of this year, the free app will have more sharing and storing features.
Speaking at the Nexus launch event, Google Photos Lead Product Manager Anil Sabharwal revealed a new app feature, Shared Albums. It means that an entire group of friends or family that attended an event together can add pictures or videos to a shared album and tag people. They can even send invites to their friends to join the album and view it, so that no one feels left out. Invited guests will get alerts if a new picture is uploaded to the shared album.
The new update will let Google Photos organize the images in various categories using artificial intelligence. For example, the app will group pictures taken at a particular event and roll the album accordingly. Also, you can attach names or nicknames to people in your album as per your wish, which makes searching for images even easier.
Google assures that new sorting and sharing features won’t compromise users’ privacy at the cost of ease, and the experience will continue to be “100% private.” There is also going to be a Chromecast integration feature for Google Photos that will not just mirror the app on your TV or monitor, it will also come with a host of options for your images, videos and gifs.
Come comment on this article: Google Photos just got smarter
Nexus 2015 event: you can replay it here
Today Google brought us two new Nexus phones, two new Chromecast devices, and a brand new tablet under the Pixel brand. It was certainly an exciting event, and the first time Google has made this big of a deal out of a Nexus launch in a long time.
Missed the press event? Thankfully you can now check out a recording of the entire show. Of course, if you’d rather save yourself some time, here’s links to some of the biggest and best announcements related to today’s event:
- Nexus 5X officially announced
- Nexus 6P officially announced
- Chromecast (next-gen) and Chromecast Audio announced
- Google Pixel C tablet announced
- Google Photos adds Chromecast support
- Google announces Play Music family plan
- Android Marshmallow launches next week
What did you think of Google’s latest announcement? For those that watched (or are watching the recording now) – what was your favorite moment of the press event? Let us know in the comments!
The Nexus 6P vs. the competition: More than just big screens
Google might not have a new 6-inch handset this year, but fans of larger phones will still be pleased with the 5.7-inch Nexus 6P. It’s got a 12.3-megapixel camera, laser-assisted autofocus and, as always, a stock version of the latest Android. But with manufacturers increasingly putting lighter, less intrusive Android skins on their own devices, what does the latest large-screen Nexus do to stand apart? We’ve matched up the Nexus 6P up against some of its biggest rivals to find out.
| Nexus 6P | iPhone 6s Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 5 | Moto X Pure Edition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $499, $549, $649 | $299, $399, $499 (on contract); $749, $849, $949 (off-contract) | varies by carrier, starts at $249 on AT&T | $399, $449, $499 |
| Known Dimensions | 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3mm (6.27 x 3.06 x 0.29 inches) | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches) | 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm (6.03 x 3 x 0.01 inches) | 153.9 x 76.2 x 6.1 mm (6.06 x 3 x 0.24 inches) |
| Weight | 178g (6.28 ounces) | 192g (6.77 ounces) | 171g (6.03 ounces) | 179g (6.31 ounces) |
| Screen size | 5.7 inches (144.78mm) | 5.5 inches (139.7mm) | 5.7 inches (144.78mm) | 5.7 inches (144.78mm) |
| Screen resolution | 2,560 x 1,440 (518 ppi) | 1,920 x 1,080 (401 ppi) | 2,560 x 1,440 (518 ppi) | 2,560 x 1,440 (520 ppi) |
| Screen type | WQHD AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 4 | IPS LCD, Retina HD | Super AMOLED Quad HD | IPS TFT LCD |
| Battery | 3,450mAh | 2,750mAh | 3,000mAh | 3,000mAh |
| Internal storage | 32 / 64 / 128GB | 16 / 64 / 128GB | 32 / 64GB | 16 / 32/ 64 GB |
| External storage | None | None | None | microSD (up to 128GB) |
| Rear camera | 12.3MP, f/2.0, 1.55µm pixel size | 12MP iSight, f/2.2, 1.22µm pixel size | 16MP, f/1.9, LED flash | 21MP, f/2.0, phase-detect auto-focus, HDR |
| Front-facing cam | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size | 5MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2 | 5.0MP, f/1.9 | 5MP, f/2.0, 1.4µm pixel size |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K at 30fps | 4K at 30fps | 4K at 30fps |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | v4.2 | v4.2 | v4.2 LE | v4.1 LE |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 | Apple A9 | Samsung Exynos 7420 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 |
| CPU | 2GHz octa-core | 1.8GHz dual-core | 2.1GHz, 1.5GHz octa-core | 1.8GHz hexa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | NA | ARM Mali-T760 MP8 | Qualcomm Adreno 418 |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB | 4GB | 3GB |
| WiFi | Dual band, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Dual band, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Dual-band, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Dual-band, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Operating system | Android 6.0 | iOS 9 | Android 5.1 | Android 5.1 |
| Standout features | Nexus Imprint, USB Type-C | 3D Touch, 2nd-gen Touch ID, Retina flash | S-Pen, fast wireless charging, accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, fingerprint sensor | Water-repellent nano-coating, TurboPower charging |
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
Comcast wants you to keep using Comcast even for web video
Comcast loves when you watch regular TV. But, it also knows that you’re also watching web-only content on YouTube and other video sites. To try to get your eyeballs always on its properties it announced the beta launch of its curated video platform, Watchable. Available for iOS, X1 and online, the service has videos from GoPro, The Onion, Red Bull, Maker, Vice and others. Watchable does require an account to view the content, but it doesn’t have to be one from Comcast. The company says its latest venture will be supported by ads and that it plans to add additional partners in the future. Of course, sites and services like YouTube already have a majority of these videos, but with curation and inclusion in the X1, Comcast is hoping you’ll stay with it for all your eyeball-filling entertainment.
http://player.theplatform.com/p/JC9BHC/MIpcoEWjAl2r/embed/select/jsPD7K_9JXz0
HTC’s first Android Marshmallow device due on October 20th
Even though HTC isn’t a maker of the new Nexus devices with Marshmallow, it’ll definitely be one of the first to release its own phone running on the latest Android build. According to the company’s announcement, its upcoming product will be launched on October 20th, and you can tune in to the live-stream (12:00 noon ET / 5:00 pm UK) on its website. There’s no indication as to whether we can expect this to be the leaky “Aero” aka “A9,” but we’d like to think that the charcoal on HTC’s flyer is hinting at the model’s “carbon gray” color option. Guess we’ll find out in three weeks’ time.
As for HTC’s existing devices, most of the hero models from last year up to now will get the Android 6.0 update, according to an official tweet. These include the M8, M8 Eye, E8, Desire 816, Desire 820, Desire 826, M9, M9+, ME, Butterfly 3, E9 and E9+. Subject to regional and carrier requirements, the M9 and M8 will be the first among the lot to get the goodies — before end of the year.
Source: HTC
The After Math: Google Nexus 2015 press event
Google held a press conference in San Francisco this morning to announce a slew of new and updated devices. We saw two powerful new mobile phones, the Nexus 5x and 6P, as well as a new iteration of the Chromecast (and its new audio-only cousin). Google also unveiled its take on the Microsoft Surface with its Pixel C convertablet. Here’s how all these new products stack up, by the numbers.
Slideshow-323786
The new Chromecast vs. the competition: Which will you watch?
The original Chromecast stood out for how it offered a cheap, easy way to get content on your TV in a super small form factor. Its successor adds even more features like Fast Play, an integrated HDMI cable and even a redesigned app. However, the digital set-top player arena has gotten a lot more crowded since 2013, with heavyweights like Roku and Amazon offering their own streaming sticks to compete. With so much shared content and affordable prices across the board, we took a look at what each player has to offer in terms of specs and features to see if it’s more than just the Chromecast’s new shape that makes it stand out.
| Chromecast (2015) | Roku Streaming Stick (2014) | Fire TV Stick (2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 | $50 | $40 |
| Dimensions | 2.04 x 2.04 x 0.53 inches (51.9 x 51.9 x 13.49mm) | 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches (88.9 x 88.9 x 25.4mm) | 3.3 x 1.0 x 1.5 inches (84.5 x 25 x 11.5mm) |
| Weight | 1.38 ounces (39.1g) | 5 ounces (141.75g) | 0.9 ounces (25.1g) |
| Output resolution | 1080p | 720p, 1080p | 720p, 1080p |
| RAM | NA | 512MB | 1GB |
| Internal storage | NA | 256MB | 8GB |
| WiFi | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | NA | None | v3.0 |
| Ports | HDMI, Micro-USB | HDMI | HDMI 1.4 |
| Remote | No | Yes | Yes (voice control option available) |
| Video codecs | casts from device; limited by what your phone or browser supports | H.264 1080p, H.264 720 x 480, MPEG-4 | H.264 |
| Audio codecs | casts from device | AAC-LC (CBR), AC3 (passthrough) |
AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV, Vorbis |
| Photo formats | casts from device | JPEG, PNG | JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
| Available content | Google Play, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora and more | Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Pandora, HBO Go, Hulu, ESPN, NFL Now, CBS, Showtime, Sling TV and more | Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Pandora, HBO Go, HBO Now, Hulu, ESPN, NFL Now, MLB, Sling TV and more |
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
Microsoft VR Kit is a more colorful Cardboard for Windows Phones
If Google Cardboard is just a little too cheap looking for your tastes, you’re in luck: Microsoft is making its own foldable VR headset. And it’s purple. The Microsoft VR Kit, as it’s called, was announced as part of Microsoft-hosted virtual reality hackathon happening in Russia next month — developers will presumably use the headset to prototype VR content on Lumia devices.
What’s that? You’re not going to be in Russia next month? Then you’ll have to sit tight — Microsoft hasn’t said anything about the device outside of the hackathon’s event page, but there’s a chance the VR Kit could show up at the company’s Windows 10 event on October 6th. Will it be part of a push to get developers working on hololens content? The prototype for a Windows-based Gear VR competitor? Just a nice freebie for folks who attend? We’ll be there, and we’ll let you know.
Via: USA Today, Windows Central
Source: Microsoft
