If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of learning to code, the process can be a little daunting: there a dozens of languages, thousands of variables and few newbie-friendly places to get started. Google’s Made with Code project is one of many organizations dedicated to changing that — and the group’s latest effort to make programming fun leans heavily on the appeal of Disney magic: specifically, Pixar’s Inside Out.
The coding tutorial challenges users to animate scenes from the Pixar film using Blocky, a visually illustrated mini-game that requires players to drag and drop code snippets together to solve simple problems. “Inside HQ” puts players in the place of Riley’s emotions from the film Inside Out to help the teen slide down a handrail and play a game of hockey.
The experience lasts for only three short levels, but its mostly just meant to be a primer — something to entice kids into exploring Made with Code’s larger library of tutorials. It’s a good start for Pixar fans who want to get started in programming — and could help them move on to bigger, more challenging projects.
For the last few months, I’ve been staring out a rainy window, sighing and leaning on the dulcet tones of Phil Collins to help me through my Marshmallow-less existence. Now it looks like the clouds are parting a bit. As Google updates their distribution numbers, a sliver of sunshine crashes through my apartment, illuminating empty bottles and discarded ramen packaging.
It’s a small sign, mind you. But when you’re desperate, it’s the small signs you cling to. This fresh look at the Android ecosystem shows that Marshmallow made a strong push since last month, hopping up from .3% to .5%. That’s not quite doubling, but it’s still a significant jump. Marshmallow still only represents a thin sliver of the Android ecosystem, but that sliver is ever-widening, bringing the joys of Google Now On Tap and dozens of other features to more and more users with each passing day.
Lollipop also saw a mild increase in usership, rising from 25.6% to 29.5%. KitKat shrank a bit, which is to be expected, falling from 37.8% to 36.6%. Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich also shrank, falling from 29% to 26.9% and 3.3% to 2.9% respectively. The geriatric Android versions Gingerbread and Froyo didn’t see much movement since November because they are arthritic and very tired.
What version of Android are you currently running? Marshmallow? Rub it in my face in the comments.
Google teamed up with TP-LINK to create a better looking router, called the OnHub Router. It’s a little expensive, but it looks way better than your typical messy, wired, blocky routers that most of us are currently using, and that means that it’s a little more acceptable to keep it out in the open where it can perform better for your wireless devices.
Today, Google is taking things one step further and releasing customizable shells for the OnHub router that will give you some room to experiment and create your own design for the cup-shaped device. In addition to the shells, there’s a new OnHub Makers gallery to show off what others have done to customize the router. You can browse through some of the creations which include things like lamps, clay designs, and even a slinky, all of which look way better on a shelf in your living room than a rectangular black box with wires and antennas sticking out of it.
You can purchase the shells later today for $29 to $39, and Google has released 2D and 3D models if you want to make your own.
This holiday season, Google has a new tablet for you to consider. The Pixel C debuted earlier this year at Google I/O, surprising everyone by separating itself from the Nexus line. Google is positioning the Pixel C as a high-end tablet focused on productivity. While it’s not quite a laptop, the Pixel C is like Microsoft’s Surface and the very confused Apple iPad Pro. Utilizing a physical keyboard attachment is vital to get the most out of the Pixel C. Like Microsoft and Apple hope for with their premium tablets, Google says the Pixel C merges portability and productivity.
This is far from any device Google has ever released when it comes to design, though it does resemble the two previous Pixel Chromebooks. The tablet, which comes is only silver, is made of anodized aluminum.
The Pixel C is a beast on the inside while being one of the most attractive tablets ever released. Here’s the rundown on the tablet’s specifications:
10.2-inch (2560×1800) display
NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor; Maxwell GPU
3GB of RAM
32GB or 64GB of internal storage
8MP / 2MP cameras
34.2Wh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Although the battery is not being measured in milliamp hours, Google is saying the Pixel C should run for around ten hours before needing to be charged. And like the last Pixel and the recent Nexus devices, Google is using a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfers.
The two accessories made specifically for the Pixel are two physical keyboards, both of which cost $149 each. One is a keyboard that also includes a stand for positioning the tablet between 100 and 135 degrees. The other, a folio keyboard, wraps around the Pixel C for instant access. It offers protection in addition to enhanced productivity. The Pixel C attaches to either keyboard by a magnetic connection while communicating through Bluetooth. Unlike the keyboard folio that was made by HTC for the Nexus 9, the Pixel C’s charges automatically when closed with the tablet. Google wanted a silent charging method for the keyboards so that users never have to think about its battery life.
From the Google Store, the Pixel C starts at $499 for 32GB of internal storage. Upping that to 64GB raises the price tag to $599. Keep in mind that no physical keyboard is included, so the Pixel C is at least $648 to get started with in its proper setup. By comparison, the Surface 3 and iPad Pro start at $499 and $799, respectively.
Although this is the busiest time of the year to be shipping things, Google says that ordering today will guarantee that the Pixel C arrives on your doorstep in time for Christmas.
At the most recent Google Nexus release event in San Francisco, we were introduced to the Pixel C and were not given a release date. Well Google just put the Pixel C up for sale starting at $499.00 for the 32Gb model. If you recall the latest tablet from Google runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, comes with a 10.2″ display with 308ppi, is rather svelte at .517kg, is powered by the super powerful NVIDIA Tegra X1 with Maxwell GPU, and has 3GB of RAM. The Pixel C is made from anodized aluminum giving it an ultra durable and premium feel, has stereo speakers and has a USB type C port.
The Pixel C is Google’s take on a tablet with a keyboard and was designed from the ground up alongside its keyboard, so you can switch in an instant between swiping and typing. Plus, the screen adjusts to different angles, so you can work or watch comfortably wherever you want.
The new Pixel C is available now for $499.00 with free shipping. The Play Store has them in stock and will ship them in 1-2 business days.
When Apple rolled out its latest handsets, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the company took great pains to highlight a snazzy feature called “3D Touch“. With the help of a pressure sensitive screen, users can more efficiently access the phone’s various menus and options. Turns out, Instagram is working on a very similar feature for its Android app, no pressure sensitive screen required.
Honestly, it’s really just a glorified long-press menu. When looking at another user’s image grid, you can press and hold on a thumbnail to pull up a near full-size preview image. Conversely, drag your finger to the edge of the screen to shrink it back down. Hold and swipe down towards the Share and Like buttons to activate them — all without lifting the finger. This feature is currently in beta but is expected to migrate to the official app within a few update cycles.
Google is considering installing Fiber, its 1000 Mbps internet service, in Chicago and Los Angeles. Fiber is live in three cities across the US — Austin, Provo and Kansas City — and it’s heading to six more for certain, from Salt Lake City to Raleigh-Durham. Los Angeles and Chicago join eleven other cities on Google’s radar, including Portland, Phoenix, San Diego and Tampa.
“As we kick off our usual checklist process, we’ll work closely with city leaders to collect detailed information about each metro area,” Google writes. The blog post continues, “While we can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to bring Fiber to Chicago and LA, this is a big step for these cities and their leaders. Planning for a project of this size is a huge undertaking, but we’ll be sure to keep residents updated along the way.”
Google X’s Life Sciences group has grown up to become a full-fledged member of Mountain View’s Alphabet Inc., and it’s even taken on a new (and curious) name: Verily. Yes, that’s an archaic word for “truly” and “certainly,” chosen because the group wants to “reveal a true picture of health and disease.” It’s still the same team that was originally formed to create those contact lenses that can track diabetes, except it’s bigger now, with more doctors, engineers and even a staff philosopher to understand why people do what they do.
In the video below, one of the scientists insinuates that we know more about our cars than our own bodies at this point, and the spinoff wants to change that. The “Baseline” genetics initiative Life Sciences launched in 2014 wants to define what it means to have a healthy human body. It aims to determine how to offer personalized medicine, such as having the ability to predict what makes you, in particular sick. It also wants to be able to develop techniques to better prevent diseases before they spread or to diagnose a patient before a condition does irreparable harm, so the medical community can take a proactive approach when fighting off illnesses.
Verily is already working on more wearables, including those that can detect cancer at very early stages, and other projects to reach its goals. In the future, the spinoff plans to join forces with external companies to be able to make the technologies it develops available to people who verily need them.
If you’re like me, then you are always forgetting to complete certain tasks, often needing a reminder to set up a reminder, and even if the reminder has actually been set, it probably doesn’t show up on the calendar, which means, the task doesn’t get done. Thankfully, there is help at hand for scatter-brained folks such as myself, because Google is adding the ability to create reminders in its Calendar app, allowing you to view your reminders alongside your scheduled events.
Whether you are adding your reminders from Google Now, Google Keep, or Inbox, the reminders will show up in your Google Calendar, showing useful information such as addresses or phone numbers. And, if, like me, you make a reminder and forget to complete it, reminders that haven’t been completed will stick around to nag you, appearing at the top of the calendar the following day. Once you’ve finally completed the task, you can just swipe it away, moving on to the next item.
The Reminders feature is rolling out this week for both Android and iOS, so keep an eye out for the update appearing on your device. Google has stated it is working on bringing Reminders to the web as well, which will be pretty useful. You can check out exactly how the Reminders feature works by watching the video below.
Google has announced its comprehensive list of the best movies, apps, music, TV shows and games. From Interstellar, to Adele, Fifty Shades of Grey and to my favorite of all Game of Thrones, Google’s best of lists are pretty spot on. Although I take issue with The Interview as I found that movie to be downright horrible, but I’m clearly in the minority. And the best books of the year were graced four times by Fifty Shades of Grey for 200 total shades, although I can’t argue with those selections as almost half of the females I know could not stop blabbering about the series.
Here are Google’s top five lists for Movies, TV shows, Albums and Books.
BUILD THE PERFECT VAULT
Create a brighter future…underground! Select from a variety of modern-day rooms to turn an excavation beneath 2,000 feet of bedrock into the very picture of Vault Life.
From rage-filled Barbarians with glorious mustaches to pyromaniac wizards, raise your own army and lead your clan to victory! Build your village to fend off raiders, battle against millions of players worldwide, and forge a powerful clan with others to destroy enemy clans.
DomiNations is an epic combat strategy game of advancement, exploration, and conquest from legendary game designer Brian Reynolds. Choose your Nation from among the greatest civilizations of the world, and lead it to ultimate victory throughout all of human history – from the Stone Age to the Space Age! Build a capital city, train your army and dominate rival Alliances to become the most powerful ruler on the planet!
Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.
Welcome to Empires & Allies, an all-new modern military strategy game that puts the weapons of modern war at your fingertips in a never-ending battle to conquer the world.
Alphabear is an original word puzzle game by Spry Fox, the developer of the award winning game Triple Town.
In Alphabear, you spell words by selecting letters on a grid. When you use letters that are adjacent to each other, bears appear! The more letters you use, the bigger the bear gets, and the more points you earn!
HBO NOW is the new standalone streaming service that gives you all of HBO—every season, every episode of HBO’s original series—plus more of the biggest and latest movies than any other streaming service. All you need is the internet.
YouTube Gaming keeps you connected to the games, players, and culture that matter to you. Featuring videos and live streams with chat — including let’s plays, reviews, speedruns, trailers, and more from your favorite gamers and publishers — you can explore the games you care about more deeply than ever before.
With videos covering Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto, League of Legends, Call of Duty, Garry’s Mod, and tens of thousands more, it’s all on YouTube Gaming.
Retrica is a simple photo taking and sharing app with a near infinite combination of live filters, layout, editing, social and secret sharing options. You can shoot the same moment a million ways and share it with the world, that special someone or anyone you want.
Looking for a more powerful and flexible launcher that oozes Material Design? Action Launcher 3 to the rescue! Action Launcher 3 replaces your homescreen with a colorful, customizable and speedy app you’ll quickly learn to love.
The highly customizable, performance driven, home screen
Accept no substitutes! Nova Launcher is the top launcher for modern Android, embracing full Material Design throughout.
Google Photos is the home for all your photos and videos. Automatically organized and searchable, you can find photos fast and bring them to life. It’s the photo gallery that thinks like you do.
The apps and games listed above are just a sampling from the best of 2015 lists. As the year winds to an end and you take some time off of work, check out some of these apps, games, movies, books and more. Google’s lists really are quite good.
AIVAnet 