Microsoft wants you to know that Bing is ‘bigger than you think’

Why it matters to you

It’s easy to write Bing off, but new usage data from Microsoft suggests that the search platform has managed to carve out its own niche in certain regions.

Microsoft’s search engine Bing was launched in an attempt to take on Google in 2009, but it has never really been able to muster up a serious challenge. However, the company recently released data that suggests that its search solution might be more popular than most would expect.

On Thursday, Microsoft hosted a webcast looking at the search platform’s automation features, dubbed “The Art and Science of Bing Ads.” While it was going on, the Bing Ads team tweeted out some interesting statistics about Bing usage around the world, according to a report from OnMsft.

Microsoft’s metrics indicate that Bing has a nine percent share of the global search market, handling 12 billion individual searches every month. It has a particularly strong user base in the United States, claiming 33 percent share of the overall market. It also caters to 25 percent of the search market in the United Kingdom.

These tweets were accompanied by the phrase, “Bing is bigger than you think,” which seems to be something of a slogan for this mini-campaign. From an advertising perspective, it makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to try to erase Bing’s reputation as a distant rival of the dominant Google, especially given its competitive performance in certain key markets.

Over the past 20 years, Google has become absolutely synonymous with web search functionality — the word is now firmly entrenched in the modern lexicon as a verb. Microsoft might never be able to knock Google from its perch, but the company has demonstrated time and time again that it is not going to give up on Bing.

In July, Microsoft rolled out a major update to the Android version of its Bing Search app, adding a whole host of new functionality and design refresh. Then there are projects like Face Swap, which uses a fun and frivolous photo effect in order to give users a taste of the Bing experience.

These statistics seem to suggest that Microsoft’s strategy is working. Is Bing the biggest name in search? Not by a long shot — but if it is preferred by a third of users in the U.S., it is not exactly an also-ran, either.

What is Apple CarPlay? Here’s all you need to know about iOS in your dashboard

Apple may never design a car from scratch, but the California-based tech giant is nonetheless a player in the automotive industry. Launched in 2014 after a lengthy development process, CarPlay software overlays itself on top of a car’s factory-loaded infotainment system. What is Apple CarPlay, though, and how exactly does it work? In short, it gives iPhone-wielding motorists a quick and convenient way to access the data stored on their device.

CarPlay makes driving safer by reducing distractions, at least according to Apple, and it’s more user-friendly than many OEM infotainment systems. That’s because motorists can access a wide array of features without touching their mobile device, or taking their eyes off the road. If you’re ready for iOS in your dashboard, here’s everything you need to know about Apple CarPlay.

Not an iPhone user? Curious about what Android Auto is? We’ve got you covered.

What can Apple CarPlay do?

Apple CarPlay performs many of the same functions as an iPhone. Motorists can use the software to get turn-by-turn directions, make calls, send and receive text messages, and listen to music or podcasts. The features are displayed on an easy-to-use interface with large icons that iPhone users will instantly recognize.

The bulk of CarPlay’s features can be accessed using Siri, Apple’s digital assistant. For example, the driver can say “call Alex K,” “get directions to Cafe Rio,” or “play Dropkick Murphys” and Siri will obey. A motorist whose car isn’t equipped with voice-recognition technology can navigate the software using the touchscreen embedded in the dashboard, or the various knobs and buttons typically found on the steering wheel and center console. The iPhone’s screen is locked when CarPlay is active.

A small selection of third-party apps are compatible with — and optimized for — CarPlay. These include iHeartRadio, Spotify, Pandora, and Stitcher. However, vehicle settings aren’t part of CarPlay, so the driver has to exit the application to adjust the climate control temperature, browse radio stations, or select a different driving mode.

Which phones are compatible with Apple CarPlay?

Motorists who want Apple’s operating system in their dashboard need a compatible iPhone. Every iPhone since the 5 is CarPlay-friendly, though the device needs to run iOS 7.1 or newer for the app to work.

Some cars support wireless CarPlay, too. In the ones that don’t, the iPhone needs to be physically connected to the car via a certified Lightning-to-USB cable. That means you should plan an upgrade if you’re still living with a 30-pin iPhone.

Which cars are compatible with Apple CarPlay?

A wide variety of models from all over the automotive spectrum are compatible with Apple CarPlay. They range from relatively basic cars such as the Chevrolet Spark to high-end supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador S. Volvo, Honda, Chevrolet, Ford, and Porsche are among the dozens of brands that offer CarPlay compatibility, all . Note that some companies make customers pay extra for the tech, while others include it as standard equipment.

The notable exception is Toyota, which continues to resist CarPlay — and Google’s rival software, Android Auto — due to safety and privacy concerns. Instead, the Japanese brand has turned to a small, California-based company named Telenav for its brought-in infotainment system. However, Toyota might reconsider its decision once it has evaluated how CarPlay protects customer data, and whether it truly helps drivers stay focused on the road ahead.

All told, if you’re in the market for a new car, it’s not difficult to find one equipped with Apple CarPlay — there are hundreds if you live in North America and we recently put together a guide outlining all the cars that can currently be equipped with CarPlay. The story is different in Europe, where auto-makers have been slower to adopt the technology.

The list of used cars compatible with CarPlay is still relatively short because the software hasn’t been on the market for very long. However, Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, and Sony all sell CarPlay-compatible aftermarket systems that bring smartphone integration to the world of winter beaters and classic cars.

How to connect your iPhone to Apple CarPlay

Whether you’ve purchased a vehicle equipped with Apple CarPlay from the factory or found a suitable aftermarket system that includes the software, you’ll need to connect your iPhone. Fortunately, the process couldn’t be simpler.

Depending on the vehicle or aftermarket system, you can connect your device either via USB or Bluetooth (or both). If your car only supports USB connection, try this:

Plug your iPhone into the USB port. For most vehicles, any USB port will do, but some have a specific port labeled with an Apple CarPlay icon or a smartphone icon. If the Apple CarPlay Home screen doesn’t appear, select the CarPlay logo on your car’s display.

If your car supports Bluetooth pairing, follow these steps:

Press and hold the Voice Control button on your steering wheel,  or make sure that your car is in wireless or Bluetooth pairing mode. Then, on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay > Available Cars and select your vehicle.

That’s it! Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to use Siri voice commands for any Apple CarPlay functions and will have essentially transformed your infotainment system into a giant iPhone screen. Now get out there and CarPlay!

Update: Added instructions on how to connect your iPhone to Apple CarPlay.

AT&T and Sprint waive calling fees to Barcelona after deadly attack

AT&T and Sprint allow subscribers to call and text Barcelona for free.

AT&T and Sprint have announced that their subscribers will be able to make free phone calls and send free SMS messages to users in Barcelona following yesterday’s deadly attacks.

AT&T will be extending the free service through August 19th, while Sprint did not specify when fees would be active again for those calling the Barcelona area. While AT&T did not mention its pre-paid offerings, Sprint stated that Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile subscribers would also be able to call or text the Barcelona area for free. Sprint subscribers will need to enable international calling in their My Sprint account.

Source: Android Police

Galaxy Note 8 shown in clearest images yet

The Galaxy Note 8 leaks in stunningly clear photos.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is expected to be announced on August 23 in New York City, and as that date has grown closer we have been getting more and more leaked images of the device. The latest images come courtesy of a Weibo user and these images are stunningly clear.

The design looks just like the Galaxy S8, from the minimal bezel to the awkwardly placed fingerprint sensor. There are no clear images with the S-Pen silo, but that is expected to be along the bottom of the device as in previous years. Here is a gallery of the rest of the images:

Are you excited about the Galaxy Note 8? Let us know down below!

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

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• Rumored Galaxy Note 8 specs
• All Galaxy Note 8 news
• Should you buy the Galaxy S8+ or wait for the Note 8?
• The buttonless future of Samsung phones
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

LG shows a behind the scenes look at creating the V30’s wallpapers

The announcement of the LG V30 draws near, and LG has shown off its process for creating device wallpapers.

The LG V30 will be announced on August 31st at this year’s IFA conference in Berlin, and as LG tends to do, the company is releasing bits and pieces of information ahead of the announcement. LG has already confirmed the device will have a 6-inch OLED display, a unique haptic engine and a fantastic low-light camera.

Today, LG has also shared how it makes some of the device wallpapers. The video shows the company working with different colors of lighting, cutouts of the letter “V” and other methods for creating the wallpaper shown in the leaked image above. The aspect ratio of the video is 18:9, the same aspect ratio as the screen on the G6 and presumably the V30.

Are you looking forward to the LG V30? Sound off in the comments!
Learn more about the LG V30!

Boost website traffic with a lifetime sub to Webtexttool Personal Plus, now just $40

Running a successful website takes a lot of work, and there are many angles that must be covered. One important aspect is search engine optimization (SEO), but learning the ins and outs takes a lot of time and usually costs a decent chunk of change.

What you need is a tool that can handle SEO on its own, and ultimately boost readership on your site. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Right now, Android Central Digital Offers has a deal on a lifetime subscription to Webtexttool Personal Plus, which analyzes the data of all users contributing to a website and provide SEO optimization tips in real time. Instead of paying the regular price of $986, you’ll pay instead just $40. That’s 95% off the regular price.

Webtexttool Personal Plus is a proven way to move your website up the search list, providing you with way more readers. If your site is suffering, or if you just want to be the best possible, take advantage of this deal!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Android O will be revealed via livestream on Monday Aug 21

Get ready to see a new tasty treat unveiled on Monday.

The next major version of Android, Android O will be completely unveiled Monday, August 21 to coincide with the solar eclipse. Google announced it would be live streaming the Android O announcement, appropriately enough, via its Eclipse homepage, which is typically used for its Eclipse developer documentation.

The page has links to NASA’s own live stream of the Total Eclipse, which will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET, with the Android O reveal coming at 2:40 p.m. ET. For those of us that enjoy both space and Android, it’s nice that we won’t have to divide our attention. Now we just need to place last-minute bets on what the name will be.

Are you looking forward to the total eclipse or Android O reveal more? Let us know down below!

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Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week

How we’re spending our leisure time.

Everyone has a bit of quiet downtime once in a while. Whether you’re sitting quietly at home or trying to relax on a plane or just giving your busy mind and hands a break, it’s important to relax.

A good way to do that is to read a book, listen to some music or watch a movie or show. See what’s caught our attention recently!

Ara Wagoner

Oooh boy, let’s get started. What have I been watching? The VICE News piece on Charlottesville, the truth to power being spoken by late-night comedy, been getting my anime on with some Log Horizon, Knights and Magic, and Restaurant to Another World, and I’ve been scratching my nostalgia itch with Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, and the free first episode of the DuckTales reboot.

I haven’t had much time to read outside news and research lately, but I have been listening to a lot of music. I could list all the albums and artists out, but I’ve done enough of that, so here’s one giant Google Play Music playlist I’ve been rocking out to. Hit shuffle and jam out with me! And to anyone who says it’s too early for Christmas music, I’m gonna listen to it now, because who knows what’s gonna happen between now and December and I’ll listen to anything that keeps my spirits up right now!

Oh, and I’ve been listening to the No Midnight Podcast because they are freaking hilarious.

Tom Westrick

I just moved into a new apartment, and one thing I really wanted to do was set up a projector and screen instead of using a TV. My upstairs neighbor was kind enough to help me mount the screen itself, and the projector, (an Optoma GT1080 Darbee) itself was set up Monday. As a closer look at the photo will show, I’m still working on getting a 100% perfect placement of the projector, but even now it’s an awesome way to watch content.

Speaking of that content, I’ve been on a few different kicks. My go to relaxation show for this week has been the 1966 Batman series. Once I’m through that, I plan to re-watch the second season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend before its third season premiere. I’ve also been reading through Ms. Marvel Vol 1, which will be followed by Halo: Tales from Slipspace. For music, I’ll listen to anything and everything. Just today, I listened to Styx: Greatest Hits and Carter Family: Country Legends.

Harish Jonnalagadda

I didn’t have any free time over the last three weeks as I moved houses and was busy setting everything up, but I’m looking forward to watching the tenth season of Doctor Who this Saturday. I generally prefer waiting until a particular season is finished, and then just binge-watch it over a weekend.

I’m also behind on my reading quota (I try to read a hundred books every year), so I’m cheating by going through a lot of thrillers. I finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch — a techno-thriller that leverages the idea of a multiverse to great effect — last month and loved it so much that I started reading else he’s written. I had a lot of fun reading the Wayward Pines trilogy, and am now mid-way through Abandon. After that, I’m going to get started with Alan Moore’s sprawling time-traveling epic, Jerusalem. Oh, and I’m listening to Metallica’s Ride The Lightning all week.

Andrew Martonik

Now that the English Premier League is back in swing, I’m back on two different podcasts: Men In Blazers and ESPN FC. The former is a roughly weekly show with hilarious hosts, covering soccer around the world (yes, including the U.S.!) but primarily focusing on the EPL during the season. The latter is a daily segment that’s just an audio rip of the ESPN FC TV show, recapping news and events. Between the long Men In Blazers episodes and short daily ESPN shows there’s always something soccer-related in Pocket Casts for me.

Considering the amount of traveling I’ve been doing lately I haven’t had much long-form stuff to read or watch, but I have been jumping into watching a whole lot of episodes of Ignition and Head 2 Head from Motor Trend on YouTube. If you’re casually into cars, but not a super nerd about them, you’ll enjoy the great production value and insight on a bunch of cars you’ll never be able to afford. It’s interesting how some YouTube channels can really feel more like TV stations with proper full episodes rather than just one-off clips and short videos.

Jen Karner

I’m absolutely terrible at being up to date on my music or books, but when I dive in, I really dive in. I watch Vice News Tonight every week, but right now I’m also bingeing my way through Supernatural, and The Walking Dead to prep for the new seasons.

When it comes to reading, I just finished Ruth Ware’s “In a Dark, Dark Wood” which is a supremely creepy thriller, along with Final Girls by Riley Sagan. I’m about to dive into Stephen King’s memoir/writing manual, “On Writing” and after that, I’ve got “The Winter People” by Jennifer McMahon to dive into.

Marc Lagace

I recently binge-watched the first season of Ozark on Netflix and OOO BOY, is it ever good. I’ve been waiting years for a show that hits the same tone and themes as Breaking Bad and I think I’ve found it. The only issue is that that I watched it all too fast and must now wait until next summer for season two.

In terms of reading recommendations, I have to give the nod to the tongue-in-cheek, self-sabotage book “How to be Miserable: 40 Strategies You Already Use” by Randy J. Paterson Ph.D. It’s an easy read and hits on a lot of common modern behaviors and habits that will lead us towards a life of misery. This CGP Grey video made in collaboration with the author gives you a great idea of the “advice” given in the book. It’s available via Kindle, Audible, or old-school paperback, so choose the version that’s most convenient for you.

Finally, as a “Friend of the Pod”, I’ve been listening to Crooked Media podcasts, most notably Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It, which has helped this Canadian make some sense of what’s going on in The White House and U.S. Capitol these days.

Russell Holly

Every minute of my free time is being spent in three places right now.

For video, I’m watching Marvel’s Defenders on Netflix. I loved what Marvel did with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, and the group series is everything I imagined it would be and more. As for Iron Fist, well let’s just say I’m looking forward the real Danny Rand showing up in Defenders and not the weak imitation we got in that sad first season.

My latest book is Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. I don’t find myself frequently needing to really know enough about the topic to hold a conversation, but I love the stars and could always stand to learn a little more about them. It’s a great read that doesn’t get too terribly into the weeds, so if you’ve been curious I’d recommend it without hesitation.

I’m not a big podcast person, but Alice Isn’t Dead has been an amazing story voiced by the ridiculously talented Jasika Nicole. It’s a little weird, and then it’s a lot weird, but it’s also an amazingly fun way of imagining the rural parts of America. I’m totally hooked, so my highly biased opinion says you should give it a listen.

Daniel Bader

I seem to be on a dystopia kick. I’ve been voraciously reading Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, which is about a troupe of Shakespeare actors touring around the country twenty years after a devastating flu wiped out much of the earth’s population. It’s gripping and surreal and funny and relatable and oh-so-good, and I can’t wait to finish my work every day so I can get back to reading it.

On a similar vein — a little less fun but no less addictive — is The Handmaid’s Tale, a Hulu show that my wife and I are devouring on Crave TV. It’s a show based on the popular 1985 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, and it depicts a world upended by climate change and an unspecified mass fertility problem that leads to part of the U.S. being overrun by militant theocrats. While the larger story certainly has elements of real-life foreshadowing to it, it’s the characters, especially the lead Ofred, played by Elisabeth Moss, that makes it so watchable and addictive.

Finally, back in the real world (but no less disturbing), I wake up every morning to NPR’s Up First, which distills the three or four most important daily news stories into a 12-minute show that I can consume in its entirety while I prepare breakfast.

Oh, and when I actually want to laugh (because everything is dark enough these days), I’m watching season four of Brooklyn 99 on Netflix, which I think is one of the most consistently funny shows being made right now.

Jerry Hildenbrand

I’m actually not consuming much good stuff this week. I’m in the middle of “redoing” my office space so I’m fiddling with wires and knocking holes in walls when I’m not working.

I do have a book on the way from Amazon, though. I’ll be reading Diana Walstad’s Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise because part of the moving/rearranging/remodeling involves breaking down a 6-foot long aquarium. That’s not going to be fun and I only want to do it once so I want to make sure I do it right.

Once everything is moved and hooked up, I can go back to listening and reading and watching!

Your turn

What are YOU reading, watching, or listening to this week? Let us know in the comments!

Bluetooth functionality now live for Google Home

Google Home adds Bluetooth functionality, allowing users to pair their phones to the smart speaker.

While a lot of music services integrate Google Cast, not all do, particularly fan favorite music players such as Poweramp. While streaming music to an ordinary Bluetooth speaker would work fine with those apps, the Google Home did not work with any music service that did not integrate Google Cast.

That changes today. Users can now pair Bluetooth devices to the Google Home, opening the speaker up to be used with any media application. Google announced the feature at this year’s Google I/O, and like the new hands-free calling, the feature is now live. Users are able to initiate Bluetooth pairing from inside the Google Home app. In addition to just playing music, Bluetooth pairing would also be useful for using Google Home with Android’s Smart Lock feature.

Have you been waiting forever for this feature, or is it something you are barely going to notice?

Google Home

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• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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Microsoft brings some Cortana magic to Skype Preview for Android

Microsoft has brought a little bit of Cortana magic to the Skype Preview app on Android.

If you use the Skype Preview app for Android, then you can now interact with Cortana alongside all of your other chats — so long as you call the U.S. home. The latest update to the app, which acts as sort of a beta testing ground for new features, adds Microsoft’s digital assistant as a bot, along with a couple of other notable features.

Cortana in Skype Preview acts much as you’d expect if you’ve already used it on other platforms. Once you’ve granted Cortana access to the requisite permissions, the digital assistant can offer help in completing tasks like navigation, general facts, and weather. Skype even helps things along by offering up some sample phrases to ask Cortana.

Alongside Cortana, Skype Preview has also picked up other goodies like panoramic photos. Here’s a look at all of what’s new:

• Panoramic photos – share panoramic photos with friends via chat or your highlights.
• Sprinkles – simply tap on the wand to add fun Sprinkles to your photos.
• Cortana – We’re bringing the intelligent assistance of Cortana into Skype (US only).
• General performance and reliability improvements.

Like so many other things when it comes to new features from Microsoft apps, Cortana is currently only available in Skype Preview for U.S. users. If you want to give it a shot, however, you can grab the latest version of Skype Preview from Google Play now.