Google brings your Keep notes directly into Docs

Google’s handy notetaking app Keep is getting bumped up to official G Suite status. According to a blog post today, Google has made Keep a part of the core lineup of cloud apps so users can pull in write and share their notes and doodles within their work domains. And while they’re at it, the company is adding some additional functionality to make Keep even more useful inside of Google Docs.

In a separate blog post, Keep product manager Mario Anima laid out the new features, which easily let users drag and drop note snippets from Keep directly into their open Google Doc. Like the contextual Explore tab, the Keep tab is found in the Tools menu and allows users to search their notes in a side panel. Search results show up as cards that can be dropped into the main edit window and preserve their formatting. It also works in reverse: users can now add Keep notes directly in the sidebar of their open Google Doc, or just by highlighting text and right-clicking to select “Save to Keep notepad.” The new notes will be linked to the original doc.

According to Google, the new Docs-Keep integration should roll out to everyone on G Suite over the next few days.

Source: Google Blog

Verizon Offering Up to $500 Back in New VZW and Fios Cross-Promotion

Verizon today announced a new promotion that’s designed to encourage its customers to sign up for both Verizon Wireless cellular service and Verizon Fios internet and TV plans.

Verizon Fios customers who activate a new service on Verizon Unlimited will receive $250 in bill credits (applied as a $10 discount over 25 months), while Verizon Wireless customers can get a $250 Verizon Wireless gift card when signing up for a qualifying Triple Play Fios TV, internet, and phone package with a two-year agreement.

New customers can take advantage of both of the offers simultaneously for a total of $500 back during the promotion period.

Verizon’s Triple Play Fios plans start at $80 per month for 150/150Mb/s internet, phone, and custom TV package. Verizon’s new Unlimited cellular plan is priced at $80 per month for a single user.

Tag: Verizon
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Hands on with the Nubia N1 Lite

While the flagship launches at MWC are understandably the stars of the show, the lesser known OEMs take advantage of the general fanfare surrounding the event to showcase their offerings as well. Nubia just took the wraps off their latest entry-level smartphone, which, like a lot of other affordable smartphone out there, is a “Lite” iteration of one of their more premium devices. We go hands on and give you a quick look at the Nubia N1 Lite!

Despite what this smartphone is called, the Nubia N1 Lite doesn’t really share a whole lot with its higher-end namesake, apart from the size of the display. In terms of design, while the latter features a full metal unibody construction, the N1 Lite comes with a primarily plastic build, with a soft touch finish on the back that allows for a lot of grip.

The camera has been moved from the top left corner to a more central location, with the fingerprint scanner right below it, for a more symmetrical design. Even the signature capacitive red circle home button up front is longer to be found, with Nubia favoring on-screen navigation keys with the N1 Lite.

In terms of specifications, the device comes with a 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution, a quad-core MediaTek MT6737 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. On the camera side of things, the N1 Lite features an 8 MP rear shooter with a f/2.0 aperture, and a 5 MP front-facing camera, with both cameras able to take advantage of a LED flash.

Unfortunately, the Nubia N1 Lite will launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and given its low-end nature, the chances of an update to Nougat is somewhat slim. A new phone being released with Marshmallow is certainly disappointing to see, regardless of how budget-friendly it might turn out to be.

Speaking of budget-friendly, the pricing and of the Nubia N1 Lite is still unknown, but considering its specifications and features, it will definitely have to be on the really inexpensive side to able to compete in this space. The N1 Lite is slated for release in March in various European and Asian markets, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

So, there you have it for this quick look at the Nubia N1 Lite! This entry-level smartphone may be an appealing starter device for some, or for those who are budget conscious. Stay tuned with Android Authority as we continue to bring you more great coverage from MWC 2017!

Google pulls the plug on its Pixel laptops

Although its new flagship phones have been doing brisk sales, Google’s high-end, $1,299 Pixel-branded Chromebooks won’t be seeing much love from the search giant in the near future. According to TechCrunch, reporting from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today, Google’s SVP of hardware Rick Osterloh has announced the second version of the Pixel laptop will be the last of its kind.

As TechCrunch notes, Google is trimming down the Pixel line to just the smartphones and the Pixel C tablet for now. Although there may be other devices carrying the name in the future, Osterloh said it was unlikely that its own laptops would be one of them. And don’t hold your breath if you were in the market for a Pixel 2 yourself: the company sold out of them back in August and has no plans to restock them. Chrome OS is staying put, however, and users will still be able to buy third-party Chromebooks. “Google hasn’t backed away from laptops,” Osterloh said. “We have the number two market share in the U.S. and U.K. — but we have no plans for Google-branded laptops.”

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Source: TechCrunch

Cog Systems’ custom, super-secure HTC One A9 phone protects against malware

Why it matters to you

Truly secure smartphones are difficult to find these days, but a customized HTC One A9 from Cog Systems might just fit the bill.

When you’re handling documents that require security clearance, you obviously want a smartphone that’ll shield you from the most common forms of malware. Sure, Android and iOS boast built-in security features, but they sometimes fall short of providing the degree of protection required for enterprise and government users. Luckily, Sydney-based security firm Cog Systems has a solution: An HTC One A9 phone equipped with the firm’s super-secure D4 platform.

Cog Systems, which designs and implements secure mobile software for select governments, debuted a customized phone from Tiawanese-based manufacturer HTC at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona. The tailor-made HTC One A9 packs Cog Systems’s D4 mobile development kit, a suite of advanced security features that includes an encrypted storage module, a non-bypassable virtual private network that routes internet traffic through a secure server, and more.

More: Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?

The announcement comes at a time when mobile devices are under siege. In the second quarter of 2016, Kaspersky Lab detected more than 3 million harmful app packages, or 1.7 times more than the previous quarter. And at the RSA security conference in San Francisco earlier this year, Android developer Google said that Verify Apps, a feature of Android that automatically scans devices for infected software, checks more than 6 billion apps a day for malware.

“With 73 percent of all Americans having fallen victim to some type of cybercrime, everyone needs a secure device, not just select government agencies,” Cog Systems CEO Daniel Potts said in a press release. “Our [software] is about to upgrade the level of mobile security available to the enterprise market for the first time.”

The customized One A9 is available through select carriers and resellers, and priced “consistent with [HTC’s] existing commercial pricing.” Cog Systems notes that it’s already drawn attention — the U.S. Department of Defense acquired the first round of devices for internal use.

Cog Systems has its eyes set on more than just phones. “Our D4 [software] is just the beginning,” Potts said. “We are expanding the [platform] to other connected devices beyond mobile, including gateways and IoT devices. This broad reach will allow for a compete ecosystem approach to unlocking the true potential of connected devices while gaining a level of security that can be trusted.”

Amid restructuring, GoPro to expand software with new office in Romania

Why it matters to you

GoPro’s software largely stems from acquisitions and outsourcing, but the action camera company will now be developing software in-house.

GoPro may be restructuring and cutting 200 jobs — but the action camera giant is also opening a new office in Bucharest, Romania, to develop its own software.

Announced on Monday, the new office is expected to hire from the area’s talent pool to develop software, including web and ecommerce platforms. According to the company’s job listings for Bucharest, “GoPro is building tools that allows our user community to easily manage their content, watch what others have created and tell their personal stories.” The move will mean up to 100 additional hires this year for GoPro, which is in the midst of a restructuring to return to profitability after falling camera sales in its dominant markets.

More: GoPro stays king of the slopes, halfpipes and trails with the Hero5

“The decision to expand GoPro’s software engineering operations into Bucharest aligns with our top priorities for 2017: Strengthening execution and managing costs,” chief operating officer CJ Prober said in a press release. “The area is rich with diverse talent from prestigious colleges and universities, as well as Fortune 500 technology companies. We have the opportunity to leverage this talent and consolidate our outsourced software and IT contractors into one centrally located, highly efficient team.”

GoPro’s current software lineup includes several programs acquired from buying out smaller companies. Both the Quik mobile app for automatic video edits and Splice for more custom edits were repackaged from earlier apps bought out from Stupeflix and Vemory. The company also acquired VR startup Kolor, and rebranded its VR viewer under the GoPro name.

“GoPro is focused on making the best products and services in the world, so expanding our engineering team to an international technology epicenter makes perfect sense,” said vice president of engineering Joe Bentley. “We are excited to hit the ground running in our new office and continue to deliver a terrific user experience to our customers around the globe.”

The Bucharest office will open on March 1, with an open house for potential new hires next week, March 8 and 9.

Must-have Chrome extension Breather turns away your most annoying co-workers

Why it matters to you

Sometimes, you can’t be bothered with workplace banter. That’s where this handy new Chrome extension comes in.

We’ve all been there: Your annoying co-worker from across the hall sends you a treatise of an email and wants to talk about it. You, meanwhile, want nothing more than to clear the pile of paperwork leering intimidatingly over your desk. But luckily, there’s now an app for that.

It’s called Breather, and it’s a decoy for workplace distractions. Once you’ve installed the extension for Google’s Chrome browser and saved your cellphone numbers, using it’s as easy as pressing the giant “Nope” button in your Chrome browser. A call is placed to the number you’ve saved, and when you answer your ringing phone, a 60-second audio file plays.

More: Tune out distracting workplace noise with the Orosound Tilde earphones

“Anyone who works in an office can agree: It’s hard to focus in a modern workplace setting, especially those that house chatty co-workers. And nothing is worse than finally getting into the zone, only to be interrupted by that co-worker asking: ‘Hey, do you have a minute?,’” a spokesperson told Digital Trends. “Breather created the NOPE button with the belief that your workspace should empower you to do your best work, not be full of unwanted distractions.”

Breather may sound a little excessive, but workplace distractions are a widespread problem. In a survey of 2,060 employed adults conducted by Ask.com, 63 percent cited “loud colleagues” as the most common distraction in the office, and 40 percent say they’d get a lot more done if co-workers would quit stopping to chat. And according to personal financial management service Think Money, up to a third of workers are distracted for up to three hours a day — which adds up to a total of 759 hours each year.

More: On Facebook at work? Turns out, that should be the least of employers’ concerns

The core idea behind Breather — an escape button for awkward social situations — isn’t exactly a new one. Last year, Chelsea Handler launched Gotta Go!, a new iPhone app designed to get you our of bad dates and boring meetings. You can schedule a call for anywhere between one minute to two hours, at which point the app shoots you a text or gives you a ring. When you pick up, a series of voice prompts guide you through what to say.

Breather may not be quite as robust, but when the colleague who never seems to leave you alone is making a beeline for your desk, it’s salvation.

Psychonauts in VR is a pretty great nostalgia trip

This review is going to be a little biased.

I love Psychonauts. I’ve played through the original more times than I can count, and have a deep appreciation for the world and its characters. If it were possible to camp out behind Double Fine’s offices and watch everyone work on Psychonauts 2, I would do so. Yeah, I’m one of those people and I jumped at the opportunity to play Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin through PlayStation VR. After all, what could be better than being fully immersed in a game world you already know you love?

Truth is, this game is not simply “Psychonauts in VR”. When you put the headset on, you’re stepping into the weird and wonderful world of Psychonauts, but the way you interact with this world and the unique new way you interact with each of these characters creates an incredible new experience.

Read more on VR Heads!

Huawei Watch 2 Classic hands-on: Metal and leather make for a less sporty smartwatch

The Classic lacks LTE connectivity, but looks prettier than the regular plastic Huawei Watch 2.

I’m not a huge fan of the Huawei Watch 2’s plasticky feel and gigantic bezels. In aesthetic terms, it’s a step backward from the universal style of the first Huawei smartwatch — one of the compromises involved in bringing LTE connectivity and a boatload of other features to a wearable in 2017. The Watch 2 Classic, on the other hand, has a slightly more fashionable look. It’s still big, and bulky, and undeniably not for everyone. But unless you absolutely must have LTE on your wrist, this is the Huawei wearable you’ll want to consider.

Most of the Classic’s spec sheet carries over from the regular Watch 2. You get NFC payments through Android Pay — with an antenna embedded in the bezel, not the strap — together with fitness tracking through the built-in heart rate sensor and other metrics, and all the core functionality of Android Wear 2.0, including the Play Store and the ability to install apps directly on the watch. But because there’s no 4G connectivity, the watch itself is a little smaller and slimmer, while still packing the same Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip and 420mAh battery.

More: Huawei Watch 2 hands-on

Huawei promises up to three days of battery life with the Classic connected over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a claim which would put its longevity far ahead of other Android watches.

From a distance, the Watch 2 Classic doesn’t look dramatically different. The body itself is slightly less angular, with a more reserved, rounded bezel and piston-style buttons. And the form factor and screen size are almost identical, as are the dimensions, though the metal-bodied Classic is four grams heavier.

The difference in build quality becomes apparent when you actually wear the Classic — leather and metal make for a refreshing change after using the plastic-clad, and rather cheap-feeling Watch 2.

But these premium materials don’t come cheap. Huawei Watch 2 Classic will sell for €399 in Europe, up from €379 for the LTE Watch 2, or €329 for the non-LTE model — and significantly more than LG’s Watch Sport.

More: Huawei Watch 2 vs. LG Watch Sport

YouTube TV is a slick full cable television replacement

For $35 a month, you can watch a variety of broadcast and cable networks on the same app you use for adorable animal videos.

Google has announced YouTube TV, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a $35-a-month TV service that packages a bundle of channels from the broadcast networks and various cable networks. The networks includes Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as their affiliated cable networks, including Fox News, ESPN, and Bravo.

The base package will include roughly three dozen channels. Operators like Viacom (MTV, Nickelodeon) and Time Warner (HBO) will likely not be broadcast since these are either still considered exclusives for pay TV or have successful standalone services already. Showtime is noted on the YouTube TV site as being available for an extra free, but that price hasn’t been revealed yet.

Unlike, say, conventional cable, which is typically watched on a television set, YouTube TV will be pivoted as “mobile first.” The company expects its subscribers will spend a majority of the time consuming content on smartphones, though they’ll also be able to watch it through all the other mediums — including the traditional TV in the living room.

YouTube also heavily pushed the notion of better service to Recode recently. We’ll let Peter Kafka explain it:

What YouTube is really pushing, though, is the notion that while it may have the same programming as its competitors, it will have a better service. YouTube product chief Neal Mohan says the company has been working on YouTube TV for two years; he promises that you’ll see the results when you actually get to play with it.

Since you can’t do that yet, here are some of the features Mohan has talked up:

A cloud DVR with unlimited storage space, included in the base package. (That’s a feature Hulu has been talking about selling as an add-on to base package.)

A recommendation system powered by Google’s AI.

“Reliability and scalability” — a not-veiled reminder that other digital TV services have had technical struggles when they first launched.

Kafka makes some other noteworthy points about YouTube TV, which will launch later this spring, including the fact that the service is likely to directly compete with Hulu, the other anti-cable streaming service.

Anyone eager to jump on this new way to catch television from your phone can sign up to be notified as soon as the service is available here. Are you signing up for YouTube TV? Drop us a line in the comments!