Evidence says the Pixel C wasn’t designed to be an Android device
When the Pixel C surprisingly hit stores on Tuesday, initial reviews came out pretty glowing. The hardware looked impressive, after all, and many users praised the sturdy construction and gorgeous 10.2-inch display. They physical keyboard promised that this tablet would be the kind of machine you could really get work done on as well.
However, software issues soon began to make themselves apparent, and public perspective of the Pixel C rapidly shifted. It almost seemed like the software hadn’t been finished, and the development team held a Reddit AMA in order to try to explain the devices shortcomings. The team promised that the software was going to continue to be developed, but they didn’t really offer any answer regarding why the Pixel C was rushed into release with so many problems still present.
Now a new theory has arrived that seems to completely explain the Pixel C’s shortcomings. Specifically, the device wasn’t supposed to be an Android tablet at all, but rather a Chrome tablet.
See also: Google Pixel C hands-on and first look
In a piece of damn fine journalism, Ron Amadeo over at Ars Technica wrote up an exposé detailing development of the Pixel C and organizing a body of evidence that’s very difficult to argue with. It seems the tablet was originally conceived to run as a flagship for a touch-centric version of the Chrome OS codenamed “Project Athena.” The hardware aspect of the device, called Ryu, was left stranded in no-man’s land when Project Athena was cancelled in December 2014. After an arduous attempt to combine Chrome OS and Android to create a dual-boot “Frankenboard,” the development team seems to have given up and flashed Android to push the device out before Christmas.
So perhaps the reason the Pixel C is something of a disappointing Android tablet is because it was never supposed to be an Android tablet. It was supposed to be a flagship Chrome tablet. The result is software living in the wrong hardware, a reanimated corpse doing its damnedest to pass itself off as human. Maybe over the coming months, tweaks to the software will let Android take better advantage of the Pixel C’s hardware capabilities, but in the mean time, we’re left with a device that seems to fall in the tablet version of the uncanny valley.
Any Pixel C owners care to chime in here? Does this explanation match your experience with the device so far? Let us know in the comments.
Next: 10 best Android tablet apps that all tablet owners should have
Google introduces Shared Albums with Google Photos just in time for the holidays
Google is on a roll this week. Offline navigation is now available for Google Maps, family plans for Google Play Music are here for just $14.99, searching within Google Drive just got simpler, and now Google Photos just announced Shared Albums – a fast and simple way to pool your photos and videos that makes it easier to bring everyone’s memories together.
I think Google secretly worked through the Thanksgiving holiday to bring us these updates before Christmas.
Shared albums allow friends and family to add their own photos and videos to your collection making it a shared story. There’s no setup, all you have to do is select photos, make an album, and share the link with whomever you’d like. It doesn’t matter if that friend is using a tablet, desktop, laptop or smartphone running Android or iOS – everyone can add to the shared album if they are included through the link you provide. Try it out.
Create an album
Mobile app
- Open the Google Photos app
.
- At the top right, touch Create
.
- Select Album.
- Select the photos and videos you want to include.
- Touch DONE.
Share
- Open the Google Photos app
- To share individual photos or videos: Tap and hold an item to select it > select any other items
- To share an album, story, or movie: Open the album, story, or movie.
- At the top right, touch Share:
- Android:
- iOS:
- Android:
- Choose how you want to share:
- To an app.
- Copy link or Create link to send someone a link.
- Shared album to create an album that you can allow anyone to add to.
The post Google introduces Shared Albums with Google Photos just in time for the holidays appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Pre-order the all new Android Lollipop XiaoMi Mi Pad 2 for less than $250
Xiaomi is becoming a well known Chinese brand in the U.S. with devices like the all new Mi Pad 2. For less than $250 you can pre-order the all metal, ultra thin, Android 5.1, 64-bit, 7.9″ 2048 x 1536 (326 ppi) IPS Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 at Gearbest.com. The days of spending $400-800 on tablets are far behind us with examples like this.
7.9″ hits the sweet spot for tablets – The iPad Mini is exactly the same size as the Mi Pad 2 but is twice the price with an identical IPS high resolution display. Why pay more for less? The Mi Pad 2 runs Android 5.1 which is the same version that Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Tab S2 Android tablets run. There really is no longer any reason to pay outrageous prices for tablets these days. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 even comes with the latest USB type-C standard which Google’s most recent Nexus devices come with.
If you want to look for a weakness with the Mi Pad 2, you simply will not find one. At $250 you will get 64GB of internal storage, or for about $50 less you can get the 16GB version. It comes in Gold and Silver.
Gearbest.com offers free shipping to the U.S. and and 45 day 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of its products.
Check out the specs below. You can pre-order the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 at gearbest.com.
LINK – 64GB
Specs
CPU: Intel Atom X5-Z8500 64bit Quad Core 2.2GHz, 14nm process
GPU: Intel HD Graphics
RAM + ROM: 2GB + 64GB gets the best out of gaming and HD videos with 2GB LPDDR3 RAM and 64GB eMMC 4.5 flash storage
Android 5.1 OS
7.9 inch screen: 2048 x 1536 (326 ppi) IPS display
6190mAh Lithium-ion Polymer Battery supports both 5V 2A power inputs
Dual cameras: With 1080P Full HD video recording and excellent low-light performance with back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors, videos and photos look outstanding captured from either the 8MP rear or 5MP front cameras. A huge f/2.0 aperture also lets you get more background blur and bokeh out of your images
Bluetooth 4.1: Supports fast transmission of data, pictures and files
Type-C: The Mi Pad 2 supports the new USB Type-C port with its transmission speed 10 times faster than the traditional USB 2.0. The USB plug is reversible. You can connect it to the phone in whichever way you want.
Sensor: Hall Sensor, Gravity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Gesture Sensor, E-compass, etc.
The post Pre-order the all new Android Lollipop XiaoMi Mi Pad 2 for less than $250 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Wallet transactions can now be made using only one’s cellphone number
Google has pushed out a major update to its Wallet application today. With the update, users can send payments using one’s cellphone number rather than using one’s full email address that was previously required.
The update for Google Wallet is rolling out to those living in the United States first, with others to come at a later date. Starting now, the only thing required to transfer money is one’s 10-digit cellphone number. Users will have the choice to send money from their Wallet balance and/or a supported debit card. Best of all, the recipient in which you’re sending the credit too doesn’t even need the Wallet application installed to claim the money. All is done through a simple text message notification, which opens up a secure link to claim the credit. The recipient will then be prompted to enter the account information in which they want to attain the credit. The update should be hitting the Play Store shortly so keep a close eye. 
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google Wallet transactions can now be made using only one’s cellphone number
Google tracks India’s internet revolution
Small and medium businesses (SMBs) in India are really starting to bloom thanks to the internet. There are already over 300 million internet users in the country and another 200 million Indians set to join by 2017. India is actually number three in the world when it comes to tech startups.
Google is very impressed by these numbers and has decided to help even more Indian businesses get online. According to Google, it has already helped 2 million SMBs obtain an Internet presence with the Google My Business initiative. It has also launched a new website to track how this digital revolution is unfolding in India.
Rajan Anandan, VP & Managing Director, Sales & Operations, Google SEA & India said:
We have launched an initiative to build Internet presence for 20 Million SMBs in India – which can be accessed by anyone, anywhere on their mobile phones. Two million SMBs have already found a home on the Internet, through Google My Business.
Not only that, but Google will invest $20,000 of cloud credits for 1000 startups in 2016 – 120 crores in a single year for startups. This is the largest investment Google has ever made for Google Cloud Services.
Source: Google India Blog
Come comment on this article: Google tracks India’s internet revolution
Google Wallet now lets you send money over text messages
If there’s anything that makes you feel like you’re living in the future, it’s sending and receiving money over your smartphone. Tap, tap, bing… Capitalism! Now Google Wallet is making it even easier than before by letting you send and receive cash over text messaging.
See also: Google Wallet now supports multiple bank accounts
In a blog post today on Google Commerce, the company announced their app’s new update enables you to make a payment to someone even if the only information you have about them is their phone number. All you have to do is tap the contact, enter an amount, and Google Wallet does the rest. The recipient receives a text message with a secure link, and after entering a debit card number, money will appear in their bank account within just a few minutes.
This comes on the heels of Facebook Messenger’s relatively new ability to send and receive money through the popular instant messaging platform. Some decried the feature as risky, citing security concerns and the fear that cyber criminals would manipulate it to drain bank accounts. However, since the feature’s debut in March, there have been no major scandals to match these worries. It looks like mobile currency is here to stay, and may even become the primary transaction medium for some people in the years to come.
If you want to give Google Wallet a spin, click the button below to download it from the Google Play Store. What do you think of Google Wallet and Facebook Messenger’s payment features? Security risk or wave of the future? Let us know in the comments!
Next: 10 best texting apps for Android
Soon Google Wallet will send money via text messages
A forthcoming update to Google’s Wallet app will drastically change how users send and receive money using it. Instead of needing the recipient’s email address, the app now only requires a phone number. When sending money this way, the recipient will receive a text message with a secure link. They then simply enter their debit card number to receive the funds, which transfer to their checking account in minutes. That seems a heck of a lot easier than the current method where both parties have to have the app installed on their phones and have a bank account linked to it.
Source: Google Wallet
Tim Cook throws more shade at Google because Apple can’t win the classroom
Once he and his company is threatened by an outsider, Apple’s Tim Cook heads straight to the press and drops a quote that gets attention. The latest victim of a frustrated outburst from the Apple CEO is the Chromebook, the family of computers that runs Google’s Chrome OS. This comes as Google expects there to be more Chromebooks distributed in schools than all other devices combined.
While not naming Chromebooks specifically, Cook was clear in targeting them indirectly.
“Assessments don’t create learning. We are interested in helping students learn and teachers teach, but tests, no. We create products that are whole solutions for people — that allow kids to learn how to create and engage on a different level.”
Cook referred to Chromebooks as “test machines” even before providing that little bit on allowing students to learn and teachers to teach. Are students and teachers not benefiting from Google’s efforts in education? The company has continuously built up its Classroom platform since launching in 2014 and introduced virtual reality to the classroom as well. Meanwhile, Apple is trying to sell school districts iPads, but that hasn’t worked out very well for and the Los Angeles Unified School District legally went after the company in April. The two parties reached a settlement of $4.2 million in September. This is all while Google can get hardware manufacturers to produce low-cost Chromebooks for schools at a rapid pace.
And this still doesn’t feel as feisty as the time Cook called Android a “toxic hellstew,” to which Sundar Pichai defended Android’s security and pointed out that Google’s mobile operating system is being adopted at faster pace than anything else. You’re going to have to try harder next time, Tim. Because none of the millions of people using Chromebooks around the world are feeling like they have “test machines” in their hands. Perhaps Apple could do better in education if they released accessible products. A glorified iPad that starts at $799 and is way less productive than a mountain of Android and Windows devices probably shouldn’t have been Apple’s most recent move if education is such a big deal to the company. Who knows, maybe the next “one more thing” at an Apple event will be a low-cost MacBook.
Source: BuzzFeed News
Come comment on this article: Tim Cook throws more shade at Google because Apple can’t win the classroom
Google Photos’ new albums make it easier to share memories
When the time comes to collect photos from your weekend camping trip, Google Photos now has a way to do so with ease. With the image repository’s new shared albums, all you have to do is share a link with the folks you’d like to contribute. If this sounds familiar, Google first detailed the updated sharing at its Nexus event back in September. You and your fellow collaborators can also receive notifications when new photos or video are added to the library. Of course, Google Photos offers unlimited storage, so you won’t have to worry about eating up your allotted space.
You can also download files added by others to your personal Google Photos collection, should the need arise. You know, if you’re concerned a member of the crew may try to get rid of some embarrassing memories. The new shared albums work a lot like sharing photo and gallery links have since the service split off from Google+, only now you can let folks add photos to the albums, too. If you’re looking to give it a go, shared albums are rolling out today across Android, iOS and the web.
Source: Google Blog
Google Pixel C team holds Q&A session on Reddit
Google added a new device to the Google Store this week, the Pixel C, an apparent mashup between an Android tablet device and a Chromebook. With a price tag of $499.99, many people are trying to figure out whether the device is something they want to invest in. Part of that decision-making process is trying to understand just what the device is supposed to be and where Google sees it in the future. To help address some of these issues, members of the team behind the Pixel C engaged in a question and answer session via Reddit.
The participants in the Q&A session included:
- Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President Android and ChromeOS;
- Andrew Bowers, Director for Consumer Hardware;
- Glen Murphy, Director of UX for Android and Chrome;
- Kevin Tom, Product Manager for Pixel C;
- Puneet Kumar, Software Director for Pixel C; and
- Benson Leung, Software Engineer.
One topic that came up and was addressed was the naming chosen for the device. The team explained the “C” stands for “Convertible” while the “Pixel” part of the name was selected because Google designed the hardware themselves instead of working with a partner. Nexus is the name used for partner designed hardware as opposed to what Google comes up with in-house.
The team did reveal that some features that many have noted should be present in a device that is so focused on productivity are in the works. For instance, the “OK Google” hotword activation is in the works. Likewise, the team is working on support for DisplayPort over USB-C technology.
Although some manufacturers have figured out how to do split screen on their devices, such capability is not present in the Pixel C. The team said they wanted it to be part of the device at launch, but for now they will have to wait for Android N which is expected to support split screen as part of the operating system. The team also noted they are aware of the problem many users have with developers not designing apps to take advantage of the larger tablet screen.
Overall, it seems the team is aware that putting Android on a convertible tablet device has introduced some limitations for what seems to be the target audience of productivity workers. That awareness should lead to improvements down the road for those who are patient. The question will remain whether it is worth the investment now.
source: Reddit
Come comment on this article: Google Pixel C team holds Q&A session on Reddit
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