Google Hangouts now takes advantage of iOS native-calling features

Why it matters to you

CallKit support in Hangouts makes it easier to replace the default iOS phone app.

Last year, Apple introduced CallKit, a software hook that lets developers tap into iOS’s native calling features, but apps were a bit slow on the uptake. That changed with the debut of Facebook’s CallKit-enabled Messenger in late September, and Google, not to be outdone by one of its biggest rivals, is following suit with CallKit support for Hangouts.

Hangouts, Google’s texting and internet-based calling app, is a lot more capable with CallKit in tow. When a call comes in, Hangouts can answer from iOS’s call UI (user interface) and display it on the iPhone’s lock screen. Hangouts can ring any person from iOS’s contact list, and can even interface with Siri — calling someone with a voice command rings them via Hangouts.

It is comparable to Facebook Messenger’s CallKit implementation. In Messenger, incoming calls take up the full screen and show the caller’s name and call controls. Answering a call pulls up Messenger, which you can dismiss, and maximize resume, like the native iOS phone app. And it works in CarPlay, Apple’s dashboard-optimized interface — you can answer call using Messenger while driving.

To enable CallKit integration in Hangouts, install the newest app from the iTunes App Store. Then launch it, tap Settings, and toggle Answer on lock screen. 

CallKit is capable of more than just voice-call integration. It can transcribe voicemail messages and serve up callback buttons alongside visual voicemail notifications, and a specialized set of APIs lets Hangouts and other apps tie into iOS’s favorites, recents, and lockscreen features.

And that is just the tip of CallKit’s iceberg. A second component, Call Directory, enables call-screening services to cross-reference a pre-defined list of known spammers when calls come in. With an app like Truecaller installed, for example, phone calls from unfamiliar contacts display information from the Truecaller database — including whether the number is from a known fraudster.

Huge collection of Carl Sagan’s personal correspondence up for auction

Why it matters to you

This is a unique chance to own a piece of your favorite astrophysicist’s legacy.

Carl Sagan is one of the most adored scientists to have walked the Earth. Thanks in large part to his ability to communicate complex concepts to an amateur audience through many media, from documentaries to novels, Sagan inspired a generation to take up science, pioneered the United States space program, curated NASA’s Pioneer Plaque, and helped legitimize the search for extraterrestrial life.

For a few years in the 1970s and 1980s, one of Sagan’s assistants at Cornell University, Shirley Arden, collected documents that passed through the scientist’s office, including notes, letters, and books bearing his signature. Now, those documents are being auctioned off by RR Auction with an estimated sale price of $3,000.

Among Arden’s collection are 20 letters, cards, and notes signed by the scientist, many also signed by his wife, Ann Druyan, a novelist who co-wrote many of Sagan’s most well-known works. For example, the couple collaborated on Contact, a novel that was later adapted into a film staring Jodie Foster, which helped shed light on the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life.

One of Sagan’s autographed letters reads, “This has been quite an extraordinary year! Without your help and support, initiative, intelligence and general commitment to excellence it might have been much less successful for me … My own senses of your remarkable abilities and dedication are confirmed every time I visit [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory] or give a lecture at some university or corporation where you played some role in making the arrangements.”

Three books signed by Sagan are also in the collection, including first editions of Cosmos and Comet, also co-written by Druyan. Sagan and Druyan actually dedicated Comet to Arden.

There are hundreds of pages of typed notes dating from 1975 to 1981, which give some details on Sagan’s day-to-day activities.

The collection also includes a couple candid photos of Sagan, over 200 photos from the Voyager and Viking programs he worked on, and 40 color slides with audio.

Benchmark shows Vega-based AMD card running like a demon in ‘Doom’

Why it matters to you

Whether this benchmark is real or not, the anticipation for AMD’s next-generation graphics cards based on its new Vega design is clearly high.

Nvidia produced its fastest GeForce-branded card to date, the Titan XP, in April. It replaced the company’s previous Titan-branded card with the same $1,200 price tag, cranking up the core count from 3,584 to 3,840, and the boost speed from 1,531GHz to 1,582GHz. Right now, AMD doesn’t have a graphics card to compete with Nvidia’s titanic-priced Titan XP. But based on a leaked benchmark, AMD plans to take the monstrous Titan XP down this summer when it finally reveals its Radeon RX Vega lineup during the SIGGRAPH conference at the end of July.

The leaked benchmark pits an unknown Vega-based graphics card against Nvidia’s recent Titan XP and the original GeForce GTX 1080 (nope, no GTX 1080 Ti here). It used Doom to benchmark their performance along with the Vulkan graphics API, which essentially enables an application to safely speak directly to a graphics card during the rendering process. The highly used DirectX 12 does the same thing although it wasn’t the chosen renderer for this test.

As for the game itself, the benchmark set Doom at a super-high 3840 x 2160 resolution, Ultra settings, and TSSAA (8TX). That’s short for Temporal Super Sampling, a method of smoothing jagged edges that aren’t in a complexly straight line, such as any object in perspective and curved surfaces. Simply put, TSSAA (8TX) is the highest setting for that specific feature in Doom, producing the best, smoothest visuals possible, and no illusion-breaking “jaggies.”

So here are the purported numbers:

Card
Average framerate
Radeon RX Vega
142 frames per second
GeForce GTX Titan XP
117 frames per second
GeForce GTX 1080
62 frames per second

We should point out that the Vulkan API will favor AMD’s card due to its roots. AMD introduced a graphics rendering API called Mantle in 2013, which gave game developers better, “deeper” access to Radeon-branded graphics cards for improved visuals and performance than what was experienced with DirectX11 and OpenGL. Mantle now serves as the foundation for Vulkan, which works on AMD and Nvidia-based graphics chips, but will favor Radeon chips due to that very foundation. Microsoft’s DirectX 12 is now just as low-level, but doesn’t have a favorite.

Outside the Mantle aspect, we don’t know the testing environment of this benchmark, or whether it’s even official. The fact that “TSSAA” is misspelled in the leaked benchmark slide indicates that the numbers could be bogus, but as we’ve experienced over the years, people handling company press materials aren’t always perfect, so it could be a simple typing mistake.

One thing is for certain: AMD plans to burn fiery red this summer with the official reveal of its Radeon RX Vega cards. AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su said that the company will “launch” its new family of cards during the SIGGRAPH conference, which probably means an official hardware reveal and pre-order opportunities. The Vega-based Radeon Vega Frontier Edition card will be the first to hit the market in June, but it will target the professional market. We wouldn’t be surprised if that was the card used in the purported Doom benchmark.

Can’t afford the DJI Inspire? Win one in this aerial video contest

Why it matters to you

Drone enthusiasts could win a number of potential prizes — or find inspiration in the contest that is already piling up entries.

Drone enthusiasts could win a $15,000 prize package in Skypixel’s first contest of the year. Submissions for the 2017 SkyPixel Video Contest opened on Friday and continue through August 2.

The worldwide contest, run in conjunction with DJI, is looking for aerial videos between 30 seconds and five minutes long in three categories: Nature, city, and sports. Entries will be vying for one grand prize package, which includes a DJI Inspire 2 Premium combo, a Nikon D750 body, a 24-70mm VR 2.8mm lens, a Suunto Spartan Ultra Copper Special Edition HR Watch, LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 Hard Drive, Oakley Latch Prism Sunglasses and a Tourism Australia travel package.

Along with the grand prize, category winners will also take home prize packages, ranging from a DJI Phantom 4 Pro and Nikon D500 to the new DJI Spark. Videos with the most public votes will receive the Winner’s Choice package, which includes the DJI Osmo Mobile.

SkyPixel is an online community for sharing aerial photos and videos, launched in 2014 with support from DJI. While DJI is hosting the contest, entries can be shot from “any type of aerial platform,” according to the contest rules. Additional sponsors include Nikon, Adidas, and Raffles City.

Winners will be announced on August 31, with the top videos being chosen from a panel of judges with some serious videography experience, from Phil Pastuhov, the aerial director of photography for The Lord of The Rings trilogy, and Ryan Hosking, the youngest feature film Aerial Director of Photography for titles like The Revenant and American Sniper, to Time Multimedia Editor Josh Raab and Conde Nast Traveler Digital Director Brad Rickman. Additional judges include Ning Hao, Filipe DeAndrade, Robin Mahieux, David Etienne, and Andy Best.

Entries are submitted on the SkyPixel platform and are due by August 2. The video contest is one of several hosted by SkyPixel throughout the year. Last year, the aerial photography contest was the largest of its type in the world.

Google is reportedly canceling Andromeda, its Chrome OS/Android mash-up

Why it matters to you

If you’ve been pining for Andromeda, Google’s mashup of Chrome OS and Android, then you can stop waiting. It’s reportedly been canceled.

If you’ve been chomping at the bit for a new notebook that combines the benefits of Google’s Chrome OS and Android into a unified operating system, then chances are your hopes were pinned on a project code-named Andromeda. Unfortunately, it appear your waiting has been in vain.

Andromeda has been rumored for a while now to be Google’s effort to create a unified OS that would compete with Microsoft’s Windows 10 — which already runs on numerous device types — and Apple’s continued efforts to make MacOS more like iOS. According to an editor at 9to5Google, however, Andromeda has been canceled.

Techradar picked up the rumor via Stephen Hall’s twitter account:

So yeah, got a second source on this now: Andromeda was shelved. Some of the work being moved to other things, though. Trying to learn more.

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) June 4, 2017

Google was apparently hard at work on not only Andromeda, but also hardware to run the new OS. Tablets and the notebook code-named “Bison” were two possibilities, and apparently those are making their way into the dustbin as well.

Fuchsia, a separate project that you are all aware of by now, is not dead and effectively serves as Andromeda's spritual successor.

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) June 5, 2017

All isn’t lost, however, as Google does appear to be replacing Andromeda with another project, code-named “Fuchsia.” Unlike Andromeda, which was a sort of fusion of Chrome OS and Android, Fuchsia is looking more like a brand-new OS that Google is building from scratch. It’s also highly experimental and so probably isn’t going to be released anytime soon. When it does arrive, it will likely look a lot like Windows 10, powering a host of devices from smartphones to tablet to notebooks.

In the meantime, Chrome OS still awaits the widespread release of Android apps on a number of Chromebooks, providing something of a stopgap measure. Google might not be in too much of a hurry to release something new, given that Chromebook is so successful that it’s pushed Microsoft to release Windows 10 S, which is aimed at more competitive, lower-cost, and easier to manage machines. But if you really wanted a Chrome OS and Android mashup, it looks like you’re going to be disappointed.

Google likely canceling Andromeda, its Chrome OS/Android mash-up

Why it matters to you

If you’ve been pining for Andromeda, Google’s mashup of Chrome OS and Android, then you can stop waiting. It’s reportedly been canceled.

If you’ve been chomping at the bit for a new notebook that combines the benefits of Google’s Chrome OS and Android into a unified operating system, then chances are your hopes were pinned on a project code-named Andromeda. Unfortunately, it appear your waiting has been in vain.

Andromeda has been rumored for a while now to be Google’s effort to create a unified OS that would compete with Microsoft’s Windows 10 — which already runs on numerous device types — and Apple’s continued efforts to make MacOS more like iOS. According to an editor at 9to5Google, however, Andromeda has been canceled.

Techradar picked up the rumor via Stephen Hall’s twitter account:

So yeah, got a second source on this now: Andromeda was shelved. Some of the work being moved to other things, though. Trying to learn more.

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) June 4, 2017

Google was apparently hard at work on not only Andromeda, but also hardware to run the new OS. Tablets and the notebook code-named “Bison” were two possibilities, and apparently those are making their way into the dustbin as well.

Fuchsia, a separate project that you are all aware of by now, is not dead and effectively serves as Andromeda's spritual successor.

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) June 5, 2017

All isn’t lost, however, as Google does appear to be replacing Andromeda with another project, code-named “Fuchsia.” Unlike Andromeda, which was a sort of fusion of Chrome OS and Android, Fuchsia is looking more like a brand-new OS that Google is building from scratch. It’s also highly experimental and so probably isn’t going to be released anytime soon. When it does arrive, it will likely look a lot like Windows 10, powering a host of devices from smartphones to tablet to notebooks.

In the meantime, Chrome OS still awaits the widespread release of Android apps on a number of Chromebooks, providing something of a stopgap measure. Google might not be in too much of a hurry to release something new, given that Chromebook is so successful that it’s pushed Microsoft to release Windows 10 S, which is aimed at more competitive, lower-cost, and easier to manage machines. But if you really wanted a Chrome OS and Android mashup, it looks like you’re going to be disappointed.

Touch typing in Windows 10 — Windows Phone keyboard is coming to PCs

Why it matters to you

Better text input options for Windows 10 tablet users should make typing on touchscreens much easier.

Microsoft’s lauded Windows Phone WordFlow keyboard is reportedly coming to all Windows 10 PCs, including tablets. While that latter group will no doubt appreciate it more, as Microsoft continues to unify its software platforms, it is now bringing its on-screen keyboard to Windows 10.

No official announcement has been made for this move but Microsoft accidentally released build 16212 for Windows 10 and phones and it includes a number of the features that are necessary for on-screen inputs. As MS Poweruser explains, one of those features was Composable Shell and one of its components is TextInput, which is the basis for the Windows keyboard.

The purpose of Composable Shell, or CShell, is that it can scale Windows 10 to the device and display type you are using. Using technology developed by Microsoft acquisition, Swiftkey, the on-screen keyboard should be able to work with any device of any configuration, as long as it is running Windows 10. It will also support swipe inputs, much like the Windows Phone keyboard.

While none of this will be of huge interest to desktop users, those using tablets or 2-in-1 systems will likely see some benefit from it. The Windows Phone WordFlow keyboard is well liked by Windows Phone users, so could find a much larger receptive audience on Windows 10 tablets.

Unfortunately, though, nobody knows when we can expect to see this feature added to a new Windows 10 build for consumers to enjoy. As of now, it is believed the internal build was rolled out sooner than planned to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring, so it may be some time before it is leaked out further to the Slow ring.

However, Microsoft has not even acknowledged that the text input feature exists yet, so we will likely need to wait for that to happen before making any major speculation about when we can expect to enjoy it. Until that happens, know that it will need to proliferate through the Insider rings before seeing the light of day.

Touch typing in Windows 10 — Windows Phone keyboard is coming to PCs

Why it matters to you

Better text input options for Windows 10 tablet users should make typing on touchscreens much easier.

Microsoft’s lauded Windows Phone WordFlow keyboard is reportedly coming to all Windows 10 PCs, including tablets. While that latter group will no doubt appreciate it more, as Microsoft continues to unify its software platforms, it is now bringing its on-screen keyboard to Windows 10.

No official announcement has been made for this move but Microsoft accidentally released build 16212 for Windows 10 and phones and it includes a number of the features that are necessary for on-screen inputs. As MS Poweruser explains, one of those features was Composable Shell and one of its components is TextInput, which is the basis for the Windows keyboard.

The purpose of Composable Shell, or CShell, is that it can scale Windows 10 to the device and display type you are using. Using technology developed by Microsoft acquisition, Swiftkey, the on-screen keyboard should be able to work with any device of any configuration, as long as it is running Windows 10. It will also support swipe inputs, much like the Windows Phone keyboard.

While none of this will be of huge interest to desktop users, those using tablets or 2-in-1 systems will likely see some benefit from it. The Windows Phone WordFlow keyboard is well liked by Windows Phone users, so could find a much larger receptive audience on Windows 10 tablets.

Unfortunately, though, nobody knows when we can expect to see this feature added to a new Windows 10 build for consumers to enjoy. As of now, it is believed the internal build was rolled out sooner than planned to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring, so it may be some time before it is leaked out further to the Slow ring.

However, Microsoft has not even acknowledged that the text input feature exists yet, so we will likely need to wait for that to happen before making any major speculation about when we can expect to enjoy it. Until that happens, know that it will need to proliferate through the Insider rings before seeing the light of day.

Pick up a Chromecast Ultra for $10 off at select retailers right now

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a $10 discount on the Chromecast Ultra from various retailers!

If you’ve had your eyes on the Chromecast Ultra but have been waiting for it to drop in price a bit, you won’t want to miss out on this. Right now select retailers are offering $10 off the streaming media player, dropping the price down to just $59. With the Chromecast Ultra you can stream Netflix, YouTube and other media in 4K on a compatible TV set, something that previous generations were not able to do. If your wireless connection isn’t the greatest and may not be able to handle 4K video properly, you can also use the built-in Ethernet port to get a more stable connection.

You can pick one up from Walmart, Best Buy, the Google Store, B&H Photo, and Target for the discounted prices right now. You’ll need a 4K TV to take advantage of all the benefits, and if you don’t already have one you can pick up a great set for around $350 these days.

Everything you need to know about streaming 4K on the Chromecast Ultra

For more great deals on tech, gadgets, home goods and more be sure to visit our friends at Thrifter now!

HTC is learning a tough lesson in mobilizing a fan community to fight U11 reviews

This may not be as bad as first thought, but HTC should know better than this.

HTC is at the center of a disappointing kerfuffle today surrounding its use of the private “Elevate” enthusiast community to dispel misconceptions about the just-launched HTC U11. But as is so often the case, there’s far more to the story than a single slice of a screenshot and lots of jumping to conclusions.

For a company like HTC, its dedicated community of fans are its eyes and ears in the extremely competitive smartphone world. By knowing what these generally knowledgeable fans want in a smartphone, HTC gets seriously valuable feedback on this enthusiast market craves and can make genuine product decisions based on that discussion. Members of HTC Elevate tend to be more knowledgeable about the products and enthusiastic about what they offer, too, and want to advocate for the brand by default. They’ll go out of their way to tell people — both friends and complete strangers alike — about the merits of the HTC phones they genuinely enjoy using.

HTC Elevate has been around for a long time, and though it’s technically a private group it’s not secretive nor shady — far from it. The premise of today’s worries is a screenshot showing that HTC is aiming to “mobilize and combat” negative things written or said about the U11, “particularly from those that have never seen the device in person.” This is pretty typical stuff for a community to want to accomplish — the only truly questionable part is the call to action that requires proof of your engagement sent back to HTC in order to be in the running for “swag and goodies.”

That’s … not a great look. But the context of seeing the full Elevate post (embedded here) gives you a better feeling for what HTC was actually attempting to accomplish. Its goal, in plain writing, was to fight against negative comments from “those that haven’t spent time with the phone” — but that “constructive criticism is welcome” (hey, they even bolded that part).

While HTC’s intentions may be pure, the outcome of such a stern directive for the community can only go sour eventually. There’s no doubt that tasking your community to fight against blatantly false or irresponsible reporting about a device is a good goal. The issue is that by providing the incentive of “goodies” in return and requiring documentation of the volume of outreach you do, you create a situation in which generally respected and well-researched opinions and constructive criticism of the U11 are also subjected to the same sort of amazing flood of negative comments.

While its intentions may be pure, the outcome of such a stern directive can only go sour eventually.

Our own coverage of the HTC U11, though generally and genuinely quite positive, has been met with what seem to be this crowd of dedicated followers intent on nitpicking at every single point that could be construed as negative. Despite my review ending with, “The U11 has everything it needs to be a challenger to the top crop of phones in the market today.” I still faced an amazing volume of comments intent on discrediting my opinion. And Android Central is hardly an exception — speaking with my media colleagues, this seems to be the case across various websites and platforms that have written about the phone.

Though it really shouldn’t be overstated how much this type of community engagement actually hurts the launch of the U11, it’s hard to say it had a net positive effect. Having a loyal and dedicated base of fans who are happy to promote your products genuinely is worth so much more than an expensive TV commercial running in prime time — but when you push things too far, you can hit a situation in which your “combat” mentality garners the wrong kind of response.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 review
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

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