Google app for Android now features some offline voice commands
Google Search is a very powerful tool for most Android users. It puts a a world of information right at our fingertips. And now that voice commands are just some pronunciations away, we can really take advantage of our smartphones without even touching them. The only issue is that voice commands haven’t really been available once that internet connection drops.
Remember, not everyone has the privilege of always being online, but some commands don’t really need the internet either. Google wants to make sure you can get the most out of the Android app, even when offline. The Search Giant has quietly turned a very interesting feature on. Offline voice commands are now supported, allowing you to do a plethora of things, even on Airplane Mode.
As you would expect, this feature is limited only to actions with no need to an internet connection. This means you can do things like open applications, change the volume, toggle WiFi, turn the flashlight on, toggle Bluetooth and more.
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Of course, you can test this for yourself now. Simply turn on Airplane Mode and try to make any search. You will get a “something went wrong” message, but right below it there will also be the “offline voice tips”. Take a look at them to see what you can and can’t do when missing a data connection.
Also worth noting is the fact that these tips are not 100% specific on all the capabilities. For example, it fails to mention that whatever one can turn on can equally be turned off. In addition, you can pretty much open any application by voice, not just Gmail. It’s also possible to call or send messages to your contacts. And keep in mind some of these commands will need some additional interaction.
Really, it seems unreasonable that many of these voice commands weren’t available offline in the past. Better late than never, I suppose! Have you guys tested any of these offline commands? Let us know how they work for you!
Microsoft will deliver low-cost broadband to 500,000 rural Indian villages
A major partnership with Google putting free Wi-Fi in 400 train stations wasn’t the only major network news coming from India today. The Indian government also announced on Monday that it will pair with Microsoft to bring low-cost broadband connectivity to half a million villages throughout the subcontinent. That should help at least some of the estimated 4 million people that go without internet connectivity every year
“We believe that lost-cost [sic] broad band connectivity coupled with the scale of cloud computing intelligence that can be harnessed from data can help drive creativity, efficiency and productivity across governments and businesses of all sizes,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during a news conference. The plan will work the same way as Microsoft’s previous efforts in Africa, leveraging unutilized white-space spectrum to deliver a broadband connection. Further details on the plan’s implementation and rollout are expected to be announced in the coming days.
[Image Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Via: NeoWin
Source: Times of India
Konami’s canceled ‘Silent Hills’ featured a horror manga master
Konami didn’t just waste the talents of famed director Guillermo del Toro when it canceled Silent Hills — it also tossed aside a legend of the comic book world. Del Toro has revealed that horror manga master Junji Ito (of projects like Gyo and Hellstar Remina, above) was supposed to be collaborating on the project. It’s unclear just what he was working on, but his tastes for unnerving imagery and warped storylines are likely good clues as to what you were going to get. And that’s a real shame: Ito’s approach is a perfect fit for the psychological horror of the Silent Hill series, and he might have helped the new title escape the common tropes of the genre. Let’s just hope that Ito shapes other games in the future.
JUNJI ITO, undisputed master of horror in Japan (along with Hino and Tsubaki) and our collaborator in SILENT HILL (S) pic.twitter.com/D9ypKBhVk5
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) September 27, 2015
Via: The Verge
Source: Guillermo del Toro (Twitter)
Google Expedition, their latest Cardboard solution, heading to the classroom
Imagine being a student studying Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and your teacher is able to transport you to Verona, Italy, the setting for the play. While there you are able to examine up close a location like a centuries-old building known as “Juliet’s House” which is home to the supposed inspiration for the Capulet family. Such a field trip would be cost prohibitive for most classes and a logistics nightmare, but virtual reality can get students close. Although it is not yet to the level of stepping onto a holodeck, Google is helping make this happen through a program to provide their virtual field trip system called Expeditions that uses Cardboard free to schools.
The virtual reality kits from Google are another step as the company tries to get a foot in the door of schools and their younger, captive audiences. Indirectly Google has had much success as their low cost Chromebook devices from various manufacturers are popular with school systems. In addition, there about 45 million students that use Google’s Apps for Education platform thanks to their school’s decision. The addition of Expeditions may be yet one more “touchpoint” for Google.
As currently configured, the Expeditions toolkits come with Cardboard viewers and an ASUS smartphone. Teachers can tap into a variety of existing tools like Street View as they guide their students. Google is also working with a 16-camera system built by GoPro to produce custom content for use in the classroom.
Thus far about 100 virtual trips have been developed by Google in collaboration with teachers. Locations include places like the Great Wall of China, Independence Hall and El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Google is currently providing the kits for free to schools. However, they could start charging at some point in the future.
source: The New York Times
via: Engadget
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PayPal’s new Here Chip card reader supports Android Pay for payments
Today, PayPal introduced their new “PayPal Here Chip Card Reader” for the U.S. with the aim of making on-the-go payments for small businesses easier. The reader works with the iOS and Android PayPal apps, chip card transactions, magnetic stripe, and NFC transactions including Android Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay.
As companies such as Apple and Samsung, and now Google started the movement of mobile payments, PayPal came up with their own response to the trend, focusing on the ability to accept more payment options within the same point of sale system. In addition, as banks are slowly moving away from magnetic card readers in the U.S., PayPal believes that chip card technology will help update point of sales systems and bring new advantages to small businesses.
“The PayPal Here EMV reader has been available in the UK and Australia for almost two years, so we understand the market dynamics and impact of EMV on merchants. Beyond the need to accept chip card payments, merchants should view the liability shift as an opportunity to upgrade and modernize their Point of Sale systems with the latest technology that enables them to sell online, on mobile and in-person all with the same account. Future-proofing with a solution that already accepts multiple forms of payment is key to being prepared for new technologies – like contactless payments.”
The PayPal Here Chip Card Reader will be available in the U.S. on September 30th.
Source: PayPal
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Google to launch an Android-powered Pixel tablet, report claims
Google’s event tomorrow is shaping up to be action-packed. We’re expecting a duo of Nexus smartphones to launch (debuting Android Marshmallow), new Chromecast devices, and now we have word of a new tablet – the Pixel C.
The report comes via Android Police and they’re fairly confident on the details they’ve managed to dig up. But of course, take this leak with a grain of salt. Fortunately, we only have to wait a day’s time to find out the deal.
What’s interesting is that this new tablet will be marketed as a “Pixel” device, but will run Android as opposed to ChromeOS. Recall that the Pixel moniker as been historically used for Google’s premium Chromebook laptop. If you haven’t heard of it, it may be because the steep price makes it out of most people’s reach.
The Pixel C will reportedly have a 10.2″ display (with 308ppi). Being a “Pixel” device, it will carry over Google’s premium quality through-and-through. So we’re expecting an all-metal chassis and exceptional screen. It is also said that there will be two keyboard accessories, one aluminium and the other leather.
The Pixel C will also supposedly have power to back up the looks, boasting Nvidia’s latest X1 chipset (quad-core processor, Maxwell GPU, and 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM).
If you were a fan of that lightbar on the back of the Pixel Chromebook, you’ll be happy to hear that it will be carried over to the Pixel C. It would also be foolish for USB Type-C to not be on-board, so expect that as well.
It looks like all the surprises for Google’s big event tomorrow have been spoiled (I hope I’m wrong). If the price of the Pixel C isn’t too far out, would you consider buying one?
The post Google to launch an Android-powered Pixel tablet, report claims appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Easily transfer files to your device with Web PC Suite (App Review)
Transferring files between your Android device and your computer can SOMETIMES be a pain. Usually not when you have at least a USB cable, but there are times that you’re on the go and leave the USB cable behind. Or maybe, you are using someone else’s computer and want to transfer some files between your device and their computer.
Web PC Suite aims to help alleviate any issues that may arise when trying to quickly and easily transfer files. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you will be asked to navigate to the Web PC Suite website so that you can connect your device.
Setup
If you are trying to transfer files between devices, without a Wi-Fi connection, you are prompted to create an account. In order to create an account, you must use either Google, Facebook, or Twitter, and you’re account is created. Once the account is created, and you have navigated to the web site on your computer, you need to sync the devices. There is a QR-code displayed on the web page, and your camera is activated to be able to read it.
Now I ran into my first issue when I tried connecting my Galaxy Note5 to my computer. The first time I scanned the QR-code, the app and the web client just froze. However, the second go-round, everything loaded up perfectly, without an issues. Mind you, I was not using Wi-Fi transfer, instead, I was using the experimental mobile network transfer.
Interface
So you’ve got everything set up and ready to go, now how do you go about transferring those files? It’s actually REALLY simple with the Web PC Suite. Navigate to the file or folder you are trying to transfer and simply drag and drop within your browser, and the file will automatically start uploading.
There won’t be much activity seen via the app on your Android device, and there isn’t even a notification on your device once the file is transferred. So you’ll have to be sure to keep an eye on the web client to check the status of the transfer. The only information that you’ll see within the app on your Android device is the amount of data that has been transferred.
As for the other options within the Web PC Suite application, you really won’t find much. In the top right hand corner, there is a “Store” icon that takes you to an application in the Play Store that seems to just be a random app that was selected. Possibly for ad-revenue purposes. The next icon is the “Contact” which takes you into your account information. From here, you will find your email and your ‘Used Traffic Statistics’. Finally, there is an overflow menu button on the far right, next to your Account Information.
The overflow menu drops down and shows you a few more options. You can head to Personal Hotspot, Settings, Feedback, Help, Share, or About. The others are self-explanatory, but the one that caught my eye was the Personal Hotspot functionality. This option within Web PC Suite seems to make it easier for users to connect their phones to their other various devices from the app. In order to access the Personal Hotspot with your device of choice, you will need to open a specific URL, and enter the login information, then your device is connected to the hotspot from your phone.
What We Like
- Easy to use interface
- Able to transfer files over mobile data connection
- Personal Hotspot functionality built-in
- No intrusive ads
And not so much…
- “Store” icon takes you to random apps in the Play Store
- Connecting can be a little finicky
Summary
Web PC Suite is another option on the Play Store for you to easily transfer your files between devices. Add in the fact that you don’t need to install any third-party software on your computer, and can just do this within the browser, and you have a compelling argument against PushBullet and others. While I’m not sure how long I’ll use Web PC Suite on my device due to the likes of PushBullet, I do know that I’ll keep it there for a little while just to have in case I need to quickly transfer something without PushBullet.
Let us know what you think about Web PC Suite, and if you aren’t using this already, what you use to transfer files, wirelessly, between devices.
The post Easily transfer files to your device with Web PC Suite (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces
When a new Android version gets announced, it can be both an exciting and frustrating time. Not everyone has the cash to upgrade phones frequently, so we can be left holding our breathe to know if we’ll be able to taste the sweetest treat from Google.
Fortunately for a multitude of HTC users, you can let out a sigh of relief. That is, if this recent leak is accurate. Thanks to the frequent HTC leaker LlabTooFer (via Twitter), we now have a list of HTC devices that will be brought up to speed with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
Note that although the Android version will be updated, the Sense UI version will still be 7.0. That isn’t to say there can’t be new features.
Have you been satisfied with HTC’s software support?
The post List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces appeared first on AndroidGuys.
List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces
When a new Android version gets announced, it can be both an exciting and frustrating time. Not everyone has the cash to upgrade phones frequently, so we can be left holding our breathe to know if we’ll be able to taste the sweetest treat from Google.
Fortunately for a multitude of HTC users, you can let out a sigh of relief. That is, if this recent leak is accurate. Thanks to the frequent HTC leaker LlabTooFer (via Twitter), we now have a list of HTC devices that will be brought up to speed with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
Note that although the Android version will be updated, the Sense UI version will still be 7.0. That isn’t to say there can’t be new features.
Have you been satisfied with HTC’s software support?
The post List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces appeared first on AndroidGuys.
List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces
When a new Android version gets announced, it can be both an exciting and frustrating time. Not everyone has the cash to upgrade phones frequently, so we can be left holding our breathe to know if we’ll be able to taste the sweetest treat from Google.
Fortunately for a multitude of HTC users, you can let out a sigh of relief. That is, if this recent leak is accurate. Thanks to the frequent HTC leaker LlabTooFer (via Twitter), we now have a list of HTC devices that will be brought up to speed with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
Note that although the Android version will be updated, the Sense UI version will still be 7.0. That isn’t to say there can’t be new features.
Have you been satisfied with HTC’s software support?
The post List of HTC models expected to see Android 6.0 updates surfaces appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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