Google’s new Assistant Go brings Assistant to low-power phones

Android Go is growing and growing. The initiative was first launched at Google I/O in May as a way to bring the core functionality of Google’s apps to phones with low-power hardware and less available RAM. Since then, we have seen apps like YouTube Go, Maps Go, and even a lightweight version of Android, called Android Go. Now, it’s Google Assistant’s turn — Google just launched Assistant Go.

Assistant Go, like the other Go apps, basically aims to offer a similar experience as the standard Google Assistant in a much smaller package and without taking up much RAM or processing power.

Of course, the tradeoff is that the app can’t do everything the normal Google Assistant can do. For starters, it currently only supports English, and it doesn’t do certain functions, like set reminders or control smart home devices. Thankfully, it’s not just a voice interface for Search — it does still integrate with other apps on your phone, like Maps.

While Assistant Go is currently only available in English, we expect that to change. After all, the Android Go initiative seems to be largely targeted at emerging markets, where lower-power phones are more common and RAM is a little harder to come by. It’s possible the company could launch a new version of Assistant Go in each language.

Assistant Go can be found on the Google Play Store, but we’re not sure what devices are compatible just yet. Google won’t allow users with phones capable of running the standard version of Assistant to download Assistant Go.

Google is making serious efforts to bring Assistant to as many people as possible. Not only do plenty of Android phones now have Google Assistant, but Google Home is getting increasingly popular, and more smart home devices also have Assistant built in. The company has even started partnering with other companies on so-called smart displays, which offer information like the weather and can be used for video calling. It makes sense that Google would want to do the same in developing markets, where it probably can’t sell as many Google Home devices or Android TVs.

It’s also likely we will continue to see the company launch lightweight apps. Apart from the previously mentioned apps, we have also seen Gboard Go, and Files Go, which is a file management app for Android that focuses specifically on clearing away files that you don’t need in order to free up space.

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How to buy Litecoin

As one of the most popular alternative cryptocurrencies out there, Litecoin shows a lot of potential as a store of value and a potential investment option — especially since its price fell towards the end of 2017. But in order to be in with a chance of enjoying any rise in Litecoin’s value in the future, you need to know how to buy Litecoin. That’s what this guide is all about.

As with other cryptocurrencies, there are different ways to acquire them. You can mine them yourself, but if you want to buy Litecoin, these are the best ways to do so.

Buying through an exchange

For those just getting started with buying cryptocurrencies like Litecoin, or for anyone who wants to buy in the most straightforward manner, buying from an exchange is probably the best way to go. Although they are far from perfect, they do a lot of the legwork for you and give you the quickest and easiest access to a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, without you needing to be hands-on for the trade itself.

Picking an exchange might seem complicated, but it needn’t be too much of a headache. There are a lot of them out there and as with buying cryptocurrencies in the first place, you want to pick the one that’s right for you. Some of the more established trading platforms include Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp, but Bitcoin.com has a list of all major exchanges that you can sift through. Whichever one you pick, make sure it’s well-established, has insurance to cover any potential losses — and most importantly in this case — actually supports Litecoin trading.

When you’ve locked in which exchange you want to use, your next step should be to sign up. Most exchanges operate from a web address, though some also offer smartphone app compatibility if you prefer. Depending on the exchange, signing up may require you to provide some form of identification, but that’s merely to comply with anti-money laundering laws. You’ll then need to pair your bank account or debit card with the exchange — and in some cases transfer funds directly to your account. Once you’ve done so though, you’re ready to begin trading.

The actual method for buying Litecoin will depend very much on the exchange you use, but most of them will boil down to a few simple options. You’ll be looking to make a “buy order.” When you do, a certain amount of your fiat currency (USD, etc.) will be transferred out of your account, with the requisite amount of Litecoin then sent to your exchange wallet.

Basic buy orders, sometimes called market orders, make the purchase for you automatically at the best market rate. If you want to only buy at a set price, you can in some cases place a “limit” order instead, which allows you to specify a value.

If you plan to hold your Litecoin for a while or have purchased a particularly large amount, we’d recommend you transfer it out of your exchange wallet into something more secure. Although most established exchanges are well protected, DDOS attacks, busy trading periods, and hacks can cause problems with accessing your cryptocurrency. Making sure you have a firm grasp on it, whether you use a software or digital wallet, is a good idea.

Buying through direct trade

The other main way to buy cryptocurrencies of any type is directly from the owners. It’s a little more off-the-grid than exchanges, but ultimately just means that you can have a firmer grasp of price and the timing of the trade. It does mean being actively present for the trade and manually sending the funds, but it also keeps your currency (of all types) away from any platforms which may become inaccessible for whatever reason.

Direct trading with Litecoin isn’t as easy as it is with bitcoin — there just aren’t as many platforms that support it. Fortunately, Cointal handles peer-to-peer transactions for everything from bitcoin, to Litecoin, to Ripple. It also supports a wide array of payment methods, so you can buy Litecoin with Paypal, gift cards, or a direct bank transfer, among others.

To use Cointal, head to the site’s homepage and input either how much USD you’re willing to spend, or how much Litecoin you want to purchase and click the “find an offer,” button. You will then be presented with a list of available offers which you can list by buy/sell or payment method. You can also peruse sellers and look at their reputation, feedback, and location.

When you have selected a deal you like the look of, click the “buy” button on the right-hand side and you’ll be taken to the relevant deal page. Double check the details of the transaction and then hit the “Buy Now” button, and you’ll be taken to the login page, at which point — if you haven’t already — you’ll need to make an account.

The actual specifics of the transaction will be down to you and the seller, but suffice to say, it will involve you sending them a payment, which will be held in escrow while they send you the Litecoin. When everyone is happy, your new Litecoin will be sent straight to your chosen wallet.

Buying with other cryptocurrencies

The only other way to get hold of Litecoin is to trade it for another cryptocurrency like bitcoin. If you do have some alternative tokens you want to trade, you can use asset exchange websites like ShapeShift or Changelly for a more automated experience. You can also use Paxful or indeed Cointal, to make direct trades with one cryptocurrency for another.

For a full look at that process, check out our guide on how to trade bitcoin for other cryptocurrencies.

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New Microsoft patent hints at potential design of Surface Phone

In a patent application revealed today, Microsoft may have just tipped its hand and shown us what we can expect from the long-rumored Surface Phone — or some next-generation Surface device. The patent application details a “live hinge” which allows a device with two screens to be seamlessly opened flat into a tablet mode, or have one screen folded all the way around back. It’s easier just to show you.

See? The gray part in the middle is the live hinge. It connects both screens and allows the phone to have an unprecedented degree of adjustability. Folded flat, the hinge ensures that both screens connect to each other without too much of an unsightly seam. It would allow you to fold the phone closed like a pocket book, eliminating the need for a clunky protective case.

This hinge also could allow, in certain configurations, a full 360 degrees of rotation. That means the screens could folder further until the screens are “back-to-back,” exposing the touch surfaces on both sides of the device. Such a device would have three modes; closed with no screens exposed, 180 degrees open with both screens conjoined into one larger display, or 360 degrees open with one screen on each side of the device.

In the patent filing itself, Microsoft describes the potential use as a “multi-part device” but the description also includes a specific reference to the size limitations of current single-screen mobile phones. It’s a strong suggestion that this is indeed what we might see out of the rumored Surface Phone.

“Mobile phone displays have increased in size to the point where they can now consume almost an entire front surface of a phone. In some cases, further increases in display size would detract from other capabilities of the devices, such as its pocket-size form factor,” the patent reads.

As we mentioned, it’s not the first time this kind of hinge technology has been hinted at through patent filings. As The Verge reported in December 2017, Microsoft has been toying with these kinds of “live hinges” for a while now. The example in the earlier patent suggests more of a tablet-form-factor device, while this most recent filing looks more like an overlarge mobile phone — kind of like the ones used in HBO’s Westworld.

These patent filings coupled with the files which mention a forthcoming “modular device” category in the latest Windows 10 build seriously suggest that Microsoft’s Surface Phone, or at least some kind of next-generation Surface tablet, is on the horizon.

Here, we get a better look at how it could be used. The thing to really note here is how consistent these drawings are. Between this patent and the earlier one revealed at the end of 2017, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is has some very specific use-cases in mind for this technology.

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New Microsoft patent hints at potential design of Surface Phone

In a patent application revealed today, Microsoft may have just tipped its hand and shown us what we can expect from the long-rumored Surface Phone — or some next-generation Surface device. The patent application details a “live hinge” which allows a device with two screens to be seamlessly opened flat into a tablet mode, or have one screen folded all the way around back. It’s easier just to show you.

See? The gray part in the middle is the live hinge. It connects both screens and allows the phone to have an unprecedented degree of adjustability. Folded flat, the hinge ensures that both screens connect to each other without too much of an unsightly seam. It would allow you to fold the phone closed like a pocket book, eliminating the need for a clunky protective case.

This hinge also could allow, in certain configurations, a full 360 degrees of rotation. That means the screens could folder further until the screens are “back-to-back,” exposing the touch surfaces on both sides of the device. Such a device would have three modes; closed with no screens exposed, 180 degrees open with both screens conjoined into one larger display, or 360 degrees open with one screen on each side of the device.

In the patent filing itself, Microsoft describes the potential use as a “multi-part device” but the description also includes a specific reference to the size limitations of current single-screen mobile phones. It’s a strong suggestion that this is indeed what we might see out of the rumored Surface Phone.

“Mobile phone displays have increased in size to the point where they can now consume almost an entire front surface of a phone. In some cases, further increases in display size would detract from other capabilities of the devices, such as its pocket-size form factor,” the patent reads.

As we mentioned, it’s not the first time this kind of hinge technology has been hinted at through patent filings. As The Verge reported in December 2017, Microsoft has been toying with these kinds of “live hinges” for a while now. The example in the earlier patent suggests more of a tablet-form-factor device, while this most recent filing looks more like an overlarge mobile phone — kind of like the ones used in HBO’s Westworld.

These patent filings coupled with the files which mention a forthcoming “modular device” category in the latest Windows 10 build seriously suggest that Microsoft’s Surface Phone, or at least some kind of next-generation Surface tablet, is on the horizon.

Here, we get a better look at how it could be used. The thing to really note here is how consistent these drawings are. Between this patent and the earlier one revealed at the end of 2017, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is has some very specific use-cases in mind for this technology.

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Motorola’s latest Moto Mod Style Shells are constructed from Gorilla Glass

When Motorola first announced its Moto Z line and accompanying Moto Mods in 2016, it sounded like a pretty risky bet for consumers. Who would want to spend money on a line of magnetic accessories that are tethered to one device?

Well, as the Moto Z line comes up on its two-year anniversary, it appears those concerns were largely unfounded. This week, the company announced its newest collection of Moto Mod Style Shells.  The Style Shells are just the latest addition to Motorola’s growing collection of Moto Mods, and are aimed at allowing you to customize your phone without adding the extra bulk of a case.

The new Moto Mods Style Shells are constructed entirely of Gorilla Glass and come in five different festive and quirky designs. Joining Motorola’s current lineup of nylon Style Shells, the new collection offers a more fashion-forward selection. Of course, the interesting designs come at a price — you’ll have to shell out $30 to get one for yourself, which is up from the $20 price tag on the nylon shells.

According to Motorola, making the mods out of Gorilla Glass essentially causes them to be “damage resistant,” but in the end, even though Gorilla Glass is pretty tough, its still glass. If you end up with one of these mods, we would recommend still being careful to avoid any drops.

The new lineup shows that Moto Mods can be pretty versatile. While some people prefer to use functional Mods, they’re also a great opportunity to customize the look of your device. When it comes to functional Mods, we’ve seen quite a few — including a projector, Hasselblad camera mod, and more. At CES, the company unveiled even more Mods, like the Vital Mod, which allows users to track five vital signs in a matter of only a few minutes. Sure, it’s probably not something that everyone needs — but it could be very helpful to those that want to keep a close eye on their health.

If you’re interested in picking up one of the new Style Shells, or any other Moto Mod, for yourself, head to the Motorola website.

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Google wants to peer into your past to predict your future browsing habits

In a patent filing revealed on February 1, Google outlined a system that aims to shave precious seconds off of your everyday web browsing. By looking into your past behaviors, Google’s proposed system for “predicting user navigation events” would begin pre-loading links it thinks you’ll click on. This doesn’t sound new, Google has been doing search prediction ever since its early days, but the method here is novel.

Rather than just pre-loading the first couple search results, or guessing which URL you’re about to type, the system Google outlines in this patent filing would leverage your previous behavior — including cursor location, browsing habits, history, context clues, all sorts of minutiae all poured into an algorithm to determine the probability that you’ll click certain links. The system could even start pre-fetching a website when you start moving your cursor toward one link or another.

“The methods describe a variety of manners of predicting the next navigation event, including examining individual and aggregate historical data, text entry prediction, and cursor input monitoring,” the patent reads.

Essentially it’s a new way to do something Google’s been doing since the very beginning — trying to predict your behavior. If the search engine, or your browser, has a better understanding of your browsing habits it’s in a better position to not just serve you relevant results, but start pre-rendering websites you’ll want to visit. Even though today’s internet speeds make web browsing near instantaneous, Google claims that even a slight boost in page-loading speed could mean regaining thousands of productivity hours each year.

“When a user selects a link on a page or enters a URL in a text field, there is a delay while data is requested from the host, sent to the client, and rendered in the browser,” the patent reads. “The user is typically idle while waiting for their requested site to load. While high-speed internet access may limit this delay to a few seconds, even this short delay can add up to thousands of man-hours of lost productivity each year.”

Of course, it also means Google will have yet another tool to analyze and predict your behavior based on the data the search giant collects on all of its users, like the data collected by Google Assistant. At least in this case, that data will only be used to make your browsing experience a bit quicker — for now that is.

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How to delete voice recordings from Alexa-, Google Assistant-enabled devices

With the rapid growth of technology over the last several years, privacy has become a hot-button issue in terms of security. Simply put, the idea that an Orwellian “Big Brother” presence in the government or a large corporation can listen in on our daily conversations and monitor our online happenings doesn’t sit well for many.

All isn’t lost, however; there are safeguards in place that, at the very least, can semi-protect us from the government’s prying eyes. These safeguards are baked into a variety of software, allowing you to quickly clear your search history from your browser or your interactions with a host of smart speakers.

Both Google Assistant– and Alexa-enabled devices record your interactions with them, and then upload these exchanges to their respective databases in the cloud. This may be worrisome for anyone who chooses to use these types of devices, but the good news is that these recordings are easy to delete.

How to delete recordings from Alexa-enabled devices

To delete the recordings from an Alexa-enabled device, launch your favorite browser from your desktop and navigate to amazon.com/mycd. It’s important to use a desktop machine when doing so, since the deletion process doesn’t work as smoothly on mobile devices.

Once there, follow the steps below:

Log in with the Amazon account your Alexa device is linked to.
Click the Content and devices tab in the upper-right corner.
Click the Your Devices tab in the center of the page.
Click the three dots beside the device you want to clear history for.
Click Manage voice recordings.
Read the disclaimer and click the yellow Delete button.

Repeat these steps as necessary if you have other Alexa-enabled devices that you want to delete the recordings for.

How to delete recordings from Google Assistant-enabled devices

For Google Assistant-enabled devices, the deletion process is just as painless. It’s similar to the process you would use for an Alexa-compatible device, and as such, it’s crucial that you use a desktop computer.

To delete Google Assistant recordings, launch your favorite browser from your desktop and navigate to myactivity.google.com.

Once there, follow the steps below:

Click Delete activity by on the left side of the screen.
Specify a time frame. Selecting All time will allow you to delete all activity.
Select Voice and audio from the resulting drop-down menu.
Click the Delete button located below the date range.
Click Delete in the pop-up window to confirm your decision.

Following these steps for either Alexa or Google Assistant-enabled devices will allow you to clear your saved recordings and give you an extra layer of privacy.Who doesn’t want that?

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

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Apple beats revenue forecast in first quarter, but iPhone sales took a hit

Despite reports that Apple hadn’t sold as many iPhone X units as it may have hoped, the iPhone and iPad maker has beaten its revenue forecast for the fiscal first quarter of 2018. The company raked in a massive $88.4 billion in revenue, topping the forecast of between $84 billion and $87 billion.

Apple’s fiscal first quarter of 2018 includes the last three months of the 2017 calendar year.

According to the report from Apple, it sold 77.3 million iPhones, 13.2 iPads, and 5.1 million Macs, which drove an increase in revenue compared to the same quarter the previous year, when it earned $78.4 billion.

Perhaps even more important is the fact that Apple has reported an active install base of 1.3 billion devices. In other words, there are 1.3 billion Apple devices that are regularly used by customers. That, of course, doesn’t mean that 1.3 billion people use Apple devices — many Apple users own multiple devices. Some even probably own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

Reports of lackluster iPhone sales have some weight — though lackluster is hardly a word many would use to describe 77.3 million units sold. The company reported iPhone sales of 78.3 million units in Q1 2017, so while Q1 2018 was better for overall revenue, the fact is that the company sold fewer iPhones during the most recent quarter. It will be interesting to see how the company responds. Reports indicate that the company could launch as many as three phones with iPhone X-type designs in 2018.

This year could also be interesting for the company as it’s gearing up to launch the HomePod, its Siri-powered smart speaker. It’s also rumored to be prepping a new Mac Pro, though it’s unlikely the Mac Pro will have a huge impact on its overall revenue.

Still, despite the slip in iPhone unit sales, Apple says that Q1 2018 was its biggest quarter ever — and that’s no small feat. Not only that, but the iPhone is still provides Apple’s biggest revenue stream by far.

“We’re thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple’s history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement.

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Google says device shipments more than doubled in 2017, passed $100 billion in annual revenue

Google made a heap of cash in 2017.

Google is huge, and as you’d expect, pulls in money from a lot of different sources. The company just shared its latest financial report that showcases numbers for its performance in Q4 and all of 2017, and there’s a mixture of growth and loss.

Looking at Google’s total revenue in 2017, the company generated $110.9 billion – an increase of 23% compared to its total earnings in 2016. As for Q4 alone, revenues of $32.3 billion allowed for a year-over-year increase of 24% compared to Q4 2016. Also, of that $32.3 billion in quarterly revenue, a whopping $27.27 billion came from ad revenue. But due to a one-time $9.9 billion (yes, billion) tax charge on foreign earnings resulting from the recent tax bill in the U.S., the company actually lost just over $3 billion in the quarter.

Google hardware sales and Play Store revenue are way up year-over-year.

Google’s hardware sales – such as the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, Home Mini, etc. – are grouped under a category called “Other Revenues.” Along with hardware, this also includes sales from the Play Store and Google’s enterprise ventures. Google reported revenue of $4.69 billion, which was up 38% compared to a year earlier. Google didn’t share the number of phones it sold, but Google in its earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai said device shipments more than doubled year-over-year. It also sold “tens of millions” of Chromecasts, Chromebooks, and Google Home speakers.

On the hardware front, 2018 should be an interesting year for Google. With the company’s purchase of HTC’s top hardware talent now completed, expectations are high for the Pixel 3 and whatever other gadgets we end up getting.

Elsewhere in the earnings announcement, Alphabet announced that John L. Hennessy will be the new Chair of the Board at Alphabet, replacing Eric Schmidt, who announced his change of role at the end of December 2017. The Board also announced that Alphabet will be buying back over $8.5 billion in Class C stock, effectively increasing the value of remaining shares for those who hold them.

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Snapchat’s in-app Snap Store peddles memetastic merch

It’s no secret that Snapchat has struggled a bit when it comes to attracting users and generating revenue. And earlier this month, reports surfaced that Snap had laid off 22 employees and consolidated its content operations. Now, as TechCrunch reports, Snapchat has launched an in-app Snap Store, and it could be a sign of where the company will seek revenue going forward.

Currently, there are five items for sale, a dancing hot dog plush toy, a hat, two sweatshirts and a t-shirt. But according to the store itself, items will come and go, so if you’re really into that dog lens t-shirt, you should grab it when you see it.

Snapchat has sold things before — last October, the company sold a dancing hotdog costume based on its filter and of course there’s Spectacles. But this is a bit different, as Snapchat is now selling these things directly through its app rather than through Amazon or other retail partners. Snapchat merch probably isn’t going to save the company (how many people are really going to buy a $50 Winkface sweatshirt?), but it also probably isn’t meant to. As TechCrunch notes, if the company can show that this sort of storefront can work well and engage its user base, other brands may join in. And if other brands’ stores are successful, Snapchat could generate some revenue by charging for the service. However, only time will tell if this will be a successful venture or another flop like Spectacles.

You can get to the Snap Store through the Discover section of the app or head here for the Snapcode. The next round of merch drops on February 8th.

Via: TechCrunch