Google rolling out new Reminders feature for Calendar
Google has a lot of tools that are popular for people trying to be more productive with their time and efforts, but managing tasks has not been one that gets much attention from Google. The company does offer a rudimentary to-do list solution via Tasks in Google Calendar and others have figured out how to use tools like Google Keep for this purpose. Google is showing some love for task list keepers starting this week with a new feature for their Calendar app called Reminders.
Reminders are basically to-dos created on the calendar, like making a call to someone or stopping by a store to pick up something. They are entered on a users calendar, heading up the daily list ahead of scheduled meetings or events. Google hopes they will be useful for end users through the addition of a few unique features.
Headlining the list is the ability for a Reminder to slide from one day to the next. Users who would setup calendar entries to use as part of their task list would have to constantly revise them if they did not complete them on time. Tasks suffered a similar problem. With a Reminder, if a user does not complete it, Google will just move it to the next day so that it will still be there looking for attention. Once completed, users can just swipe them away.
Google also points out that Reminders will function in a similar manner as regular calendar events in that they will pull in things like contact information or addresses. Google does this by tapping into your contacts as well as Google’s own knowledge graph. Google is also trying to make creation of Reminders easy by enabling them from a variety of sources. Users can create new Reminders from within Inbox, Keep, and Google Now in addition to the Calendar app.
Google says the new Reminders feature will start rolling out to the Calendar app for Android and iOS devices this week. Unfortunately, Reminders are not yet ready for the web interface for users working at their desktop, but Google says they are working on bringing support to that platform as well.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Google
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Google Safe Browsing comes to Android and Google Chrome in latest Play Services update
Google Safe Browsing currently protects over a billion users on the web by blocking tons of malware, social engineering, and bloated software. It’s been available on desktop platforms for years, but now Google is bringing that extra layer of security to mobile devices, too.
Google Play Services 8.1 brings support for Safe Browsing, and the first app to support it is, of course, Google Chrome. It’s on by default, and just like on the desktop version of Chrome, if you try to visit a malware-infected site with Safe Browsing on, Chrome will block the website and prompt for your permission before going any further.
While Chrome is the first official browser to support this, I’d imagine we’ll see other third-party apps and OEMs start to bake it into their own web browsers, too.
source: Google Security Blog
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Google’s new smartwatch could draw your blood without needles
Gone are the days when smartwatches used to perform only basic tasks such as timekeeping, calculation and light entertainment. Nowadays, when market is witnessing an unprecedented upsurge in wearable technology, most smartwatches come preloaded with a host of health and fitness-related functions.
Google has decided to stay a step ahead in the war of wearable technology by filing a patent for a smartwatch that is capable of drawing blood samples without the use of needles.
While the technology is still in the patent phase; once operational, it would prove to be very beneficial for diabetic patients who’d be able to monitor their blood glucose levels without having to perform the usual finger prick test throughout the day.
“Such an application might be used to draw a small amount of blood, for example, for a glucose test,” Google writes in the patent application.
If you remember, Google was earlier reported to be working on smart contact lenses for diabetics, which could check the glucose in tears thanks to a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor.
Now, let’s take a look at how this smartwatch works. According to the patent application, the wearable sends an abrupt surge of gas into a barrel that has microparticles, which in turn puncture the skin to draw a droplet of blood. The blood then goes to the negative pressure barrel situated in the chunky device for final testing.
While this innovative smartwatch may have many takers immediately, it is not likely to hit the market anytime soon, says Google.
“We hold patents on a variety of ideas – some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents.”
However, with over 9% adult human population suffering from diabetics would make us hope that the Internet giant introduces the wearable to the market as soon as possible.
Source: USPTO
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Order the Cyanogen powered Lenovo ZUK Z1 at Gearbest
“CyanogenMod (pronounced /saɪ.’æn.oʊ.dʒɛn.mɒd/) is an enhanced open source firmware distribution for smartphones and tablet computers based on the Android mobile operating system. It offers features and options not found in the official firmware distributed by vendors of these devices.
Features supported by CyanogenMod include native theming support, FLAC audio codec support, a large Access Point Name list, an OpenVPN client, an enhanced reboot menu, support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB tethering, CPU overclocking and other performance enhancements, soft buttons and other “tablet tweaks”, toggles in the notification pull-down (such as wi-fi, Bluetooth and GPS), app permissions management, as well as other interface enhancements. CyanogenMod does not contain spyware or bloatware. In many cases, CyanogenMod may increase performance and reliability compared with official firmware releases.
CyanogenMod is developed as free and open source software based on the official releases of Android by Google, with added original and third-party code.” – From Wikipedia
There are not many many devices that come with Cyanogen OS installed direct from the manufacturer, especially here in the U.S. But for fanatics of customization, which are many of our AndroidGuys readers, Cyanogen is a must have for you. The first smartphone from OnePlus came with Cyanogen installed directly which was one of its best features. Now gearbest.com has a full featured smartphone from Lenovo for you for the low price of $320, with free shipping and a 45-day satisfaction guarantee.
I recently have been writing about how unlocked budget and mid-range devices will rule the market in 2016 and the Lenovo ZUK Z1 is proof of why that will happen.
Not only does the unlocked Lenovo ZUK Z1 run Cyanogen OS 12.1, it also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 64GB of memory, 3GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera, dual SIM capability, 1080p IPS display, and a HUGE 4100mAh battery. What more could you ask for in an unlocked smartphone. It also comes with a built-in fingerprint reader and a gorgeous metal frame. Head on over to gearbest.com to check it out. With a 45-day 100% satisfaction guarantee and free shipping, you have nothing to lose.
Specs
| Brand: Lenovo Type: 4G Smartphone Service Provide: Unlocked OS: Android 5.1 SIM Card Slot: Dual SIM, Dual Standby SIM Card Type: Dual Nano SIM Highlight: 3GB RAM 64GB ROM |
 Hardware
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 |
 Network
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G, 4G, GPS |
 Display
Screen type: Capacitive |
 Camera
Camera type: Dual cameras (one front one back) |
 Media Formats
Picture format: PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP |
 Other Features
Microphone: Supported |
 Battery : 4100mAh Built-in Battery
|
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A fix is coming to those experiencing a slightly tinted display on their Nexus 5X, 6P or Player
If you own one of Google’s newest Nexus smartphones or a Nexus Player that’s experiencing screen issues, you’ll be happy to know that a fix is coming.
Google has finally found what’s causing the display problems on select Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X units. If you’re unaware of the issue, colors on select handsets were reported slightly washed out. The company is now on top of it and is finalizing an update containing a fix. Nexus owners are very fortunate that the issue turned out to be software related and not a hardware problem in the display itself. Google is planning to push out the update containing the fix to all Nexus 5X and 6P owners in the near future. Nexus Player owners that reported a similar issue will also be glad to know that a fix has been made and will be sent out shortly via OTA. Have you experienced any problems with your Nexus device?
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: A fix is coming to those experiencing a slightly tinted display on their Nexus 5X, 6P or Player
My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin
dbrand seriously hooked me up with some sweet skins for my Nexus 5X and 6P. Many of you tech enthusiasts are similar to the writers here at AndroidGuys, in that you love your devices and want to make sure they look good too. Looks are becoming more important as we grow more attached to our devices.
A great way to prevent scratches, cover up existing scratches and to completely customize the look of your smartphone is to use a skin from dbrand. Yesterday I wrote about a gorgeous carbon fiber skin that I put on my Nexus 5X that looks awesome. dbrand sent me a carbon fiber skin for my Nexus 6P as well, but I didn’t want to give you guys the same look. Instead I went with the brushed copper skin with a cutout for the X in Nexus.
Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.
Design
With the Nexus 5X skin dbrand I was most impressed with the high-quality materials. Those high-quality materials are sourced from 3M, and dbrand guarantees its products meet the highest standards. dbrand also make precision a primary feature, and I can say the skins I have used are so perfectly cut, that they must have been cut with space age lasers. The cutout for the microphone and fingerprint reader on the back of the Nexus 6P are so perfect that it looks like my phone was made from copper straight from the factory. The proof is in the images below.
Our Variety, Your Choice (from the dbrand website)
Installation
Installation is so easy even I could do it without making a mistake. And that really speaks volumes because I am far from a perfectionist. I typically rush through projects like this, and dbrand was ready for my shaky hands. After installing the Nexus 5X skin, the Nexus 6P installation took me all of five minutes.
1. Get a hair dryer or heat gun and pull out your skin materials.
2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
4. After completing the bottom installation and wiping down the edges with the included cloth, the X is ready for its inserts. Yellow goes on the bottom left, blue top left, red top right and green on the bottom right. You could make your X all green, blue, red, or yellow as dbrand does provide you with four of each color for the X.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Even C3PO is awestruck.
Summary
The look and feel of my Nexus 6P has dramatically changed for the better, all for less than $12. dbrand’s skins are unique, great looking, reasonably priced and easy to install. It makes my wonder why manufacturers of smartphones just don’t offer skins direct since customers do love choice. Many of us really are tired of the same old gold, silver, white and black colors that our smartphones come in.
As you can see from the images above, the skins on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P are so perfectly cut that they look like they came in actual carbon fiber and copper from the assembly lines. I was even stopped by three people today, while I was out, asking what phone I was using because they had never seen a copper phone before. I love the skins from dbrand as they do protect my all metal Nexus 6P from scratches, and gives it a nicer feel too.
And one last thing, and I really do mean this, if I can install these skins there is no doubt in my mind you can too. My eyes are not quite perfect anymore and my hands are shaky. dbrand offers a huge range of skins so check out their website to see if they have a skin for your device. They even have skins for laptops, smartwatches, tablets and game consoles.
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Nexus device displaying washed out colors? You are not alone and a fix is coming
Did you happen to notice washed out colors in your Nexus device after the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update? You are not alone. Plenty of reports regarding this issue have surfaced online, and Google has even recognized the problem.
See also: Poll: how is Android 6.0 Marshmallow treating you?
There is a bug in the Android 6.0 software for the Nexus Player, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. In a way, this is good news, as many of you probably thought this was a hardware issue and not something you can easily fix with an update.
Google goes on to mention that the issue with the Nexus Player is not the same as the one with the smartphones. The cause seems to be different, and the Search Giant has actually fixed the smartphone bug already, they just need to send it out in a future update.
Also read:
As for the Nexus Player, Google is already working on a fix, we just don’t know when, exactly, it will be hitting your Android TV devices. There also doesn’t seem to be any kind of workaround to fix this, so your best bet is to wait for whenever Google gets to updating your Google devices.
Are any of you experiencing these issues? How bad is the problem? We would be curious to learn about your experiences regarding this matter.
Bits of a New England Patriots practice get filmed in virtual reality
If you have a Google Cardboard VR headset, you can watch selected clips from of a recent New England Patriots scrimmage in 360-degrees.
Courtesy of Visa and Bank of America, owners of Google Cardboard can live the experience of a New England Patriots player for a few minutes. Film was taken in 360-degrees scattered throughout a typical day of practice. If you don’t have a compatible virtual reality device, you can still watch the scrimmage in 360-degrees on YouTube, however you’ll have to scroll using the mouse to see the full view. This is the first of its kind, so maybe, just maybe, it’s glimpse of what could be big plans for the future.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Needle-less system to draw blood patented by Google
Google has an active branch within the organization that works on a variety of life science issues, like the contact lenses that are being developed that may include a means to monitor glucose levels. Although not “sexy” the work could be some of the most important the company pursues. A new patent application for a needle-free system to draw blood shows yet another project Google has been working on.
The patent application describes a device that fires a microparticle into the skin using a gas-powered mechanism. Negative pressure would then enable the collection of a small amount of blood from the point where the microparticle enters the skin layer.
The description provided by Google indicates the microparticle could penetrate to a distance of .25 mm to 2 mm. This is sufficient to induce a “micro-emergence” of blood released by the impacted tissue, an amount described by Google as what you might get from a mosquito bite. Although this is a small amount, it would be sufficient for medical testing purposes in a variety of situations.
Google’s application explains part of the success of the system is the fact that the size of the microparticle is below the threshold that would trigger a pain sensation for a patient. Google notes that the use of lancets of increasing smaller sizes is that they become too weak to pierce the skin, which was part of the reason for working on a different solution.
Google describes devices using this new technology that are designed for single use as well as multi-use devices that may be worn similar to a smartwatch. However, it is not clear whether Google would be able to produce and get the necessary approvals to make this device an actual product. Anyone who does not enjoy having to give up a small amount of blood via a pin prick certainly hopes so.
Come comment on this article: Needle-less system to draw blood patented by Google
Holiday survival guide: how to make the most out of your Android device this season
The holiday season is full of joy and sharing, but it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. We turn into frantic shoppers and run around all day, every day, taking care of all the preparations. Despite this being one of the longest vacation times of the year, it is also a main source of frustration. Good news – that nifty little computer you carry in your pocket could make everything so much better!
Our devices can really make the holidays jollier. In this post, our main goal is to help you figure out how you can harness the power of Android and make Santa seem like a snail. We have curated a comprehensive list of apps, services, products and other tools to give you the boost you need, so let’s get started.
Finding the best deals
Groupon
Groupon is one of the most popular Android apps for finding good deals on the daily. With support for over 500 cities, it is almost guaranteed many of you will be covered. And these deals range from tech to food, clothes, entertainment and more. They do have themed collections for holidays and special occasions, so you can be sure you will find a Christmas gift or two.
See Groupon in the Google Play Store
DailySteals
DailySteals is actually a very popular website for finding deals, but they have joined the mobile realms and now cater to everyone on-the-go. These are mostly tech-related offers, and as the name entails, they usually last only one day. Maybe you could just download the app and check for cool deals once a day – you might find something you like!
See DailySteals in the Google Play Store
Woot
Woot.com is another very popular website that switches its deals around once a day. It’s always a hit or miss with these sites, so you best be prepared for when those cool offers do show up. You can download the app and keep track of everything that goes up on the site.
See Woot in the Google Play Store
Slickdeals
If you are a fan of finding deals online, you have probably heard of Slickdeals. This site is huge, and for very good reasons. I really can’t think of another site where you can find as many deals as in here. This is because Slickdeals happens to be a community-driven site. Its users share, rate and find deals any time of the day, every day of the year.
See Slickdeals in the Google Play Store
Amazon Shopping
Amazon has always been a good source for low prices, something their app clearly showcases. Not only because it allows users to find a sea of products available for purchasing, but Amazon also has its Gold Box Deals, which you can easily navigate through, using the app.
To make matters even more interesting, the Amazon Shopping application makes it easy for you to see what online prices for other products are. Just grab any product at a store, scan it (or the bar code) and see how much it would cost to get it straight from Amazon. It’s also very helpful if you go to stores that happen to price match Amazon (like Best Buy).
See Amazon Shopping in the Google Play Store
Best Buy
Talking about Best Buy, you can also grab the popular retailer’s app and keep track of all the tech you need. They also happen to have their daily deals, and you can even see if products you need are available at your local stores. I use this app at least once a week and it always works like a charm!
See Best Buy in the Google Play Store
Walmart
Are you a frequent Walmart buyer? You can find these stores pretty much anywhere in the country (and many parts of the world). They tend to have some of the best prices around, which makes it a good download already, but the reason why I really like this app is the Savings Catcher feature.
Savings Catcher allows the customer to scan his/her receipt after a purchase. The service will then search for local competitors’ prices and price match them by giving you the difference in the form of a gift card. This is pretty awesome, if you ask me, and it takes little to no work from your part.
See Walmart in the Google Play Store
Use Android Pay for your purchases
During the holidays, time is not only money, it is also precious moments you could spend enjoying with your loved ones. Forget about the cash and searching through all your pockets for cards. Your phone is always conveniently available, so take advantage of it by using mobile payments.
Of course, our favorite contact-less payment service is Android Pay. Pretty much any NFC-clad smartphone can use it, and merchants continue signing up to support the service. It will save you time and awe plenty of people. It’s actually still one of the best conversation starters, in my experience.
By the way, you could also use Samsung Pay if you have a Sammy smartphone. Sometimes they’ll even give you freebies if you sign up! Definitely check them out too.
See Android Pay in the Google Play Store
Finding your way home for the holidays (or visiting somewhere new)
December is one of the busiest times for airports and other transportation services. Not all of us can jump in a car and drive days to go visit family across the country, so you will definitely need some help getting home for the holidays.
Google Keep
Want to make sure you don’t forget anything before jumping on that plane? I love using Google Keep for keeping track of all my to-dos. It’s Google’s official app, so it works great with all Android devices, and it happens to be super simple. Just create a list of all the things you need to take and check them off as you pack them. Then make another list of errands you have to take care of before leaving!
See Google Keep in the Google Play Store
Google Maps
Many of you are probably going to places you are not familiar with. Some say the best tool is the one you always have with you, and for Android users the pre-installed location & navigation app is Google Maps. By the way, this is also arguably the best option around, so it’s a win-win situation. I mean, people from other platforms go out of their way to download Google Maps!
See Google Maps in the Google Play Store
HERE Maps
Yes, I just went there… a mapping app that is not from Google! But why would an Android-focused website recommend that? Because we know other manufacturers and developers can do great products, as well.
I happen to like HERE Maps for a couple of reasons. The first is that they offer offline maps for over 100 cities. Google has a way o save mapping information too, but it’s not nearly as convenient and straight forward. I also love that HERE Maps knows the speed limits for all streets. I’ve never actually encountered a situation in which the app doesn’t know how fast I should be going.
See HERE Maps in the Google Play Store
Google Translate
Tired of all them Google apps yet? We are not, and it’s because the Search Giant truly has some of the best services around!
We know some of you will be traveling to foreign countries this holiday season, which can be a challenge if you don’t know the local language. Google Translate is totally awesome. Aside from supporting over 90 languages, it can serve all your needs. Easily type into a word box or speak to the phone and have it translate your words.
Not cool enough? How about live text translation by using the camera? Yes, that is possible too. Just point your camera at any writing and see it convert to your language of choice.
See Google Translate in the Google Play Store
Kayak Flights, Hotels & Cars
Kayak is one of the most popular apps for finding flights, booking hotels and renting vehicles. The application has a 4.5-star rating in the Google Play Store, and for good reason. Kayak makes it easy to find all your accommodations while traveling. The app is simple and very clean, and it will do the job with no issues. If you are not staying with the parents this holiday, you could always go with this one!
See Kayak in the Google Play Store
Airbnb
Surely, hotels are not for everyone. Maybe you want something a bit more homey and less crowded for your holiday stay, and Airbnb is great at finding just that. Airbnb is a platform people can use to rent their homes to interested members. It’s safe, comfortable, easy and sometimes even more affordable than traditional hotels.
See Airbnb in the Google Play Store
Uber
You probably won’t have a car during your travels either (unless you rent one), so Uber will definitely be a great tool to keep around. Yes, we know there are plenty of other awesome ride-sharing apps out there, but Uber happens to be the one most available; not only in the USA, but also in may other countries. This is the main reason why we decided to pick this one for the list.
Uber is a service in which people can call upon a private driver to take them anywhere. It’s cheaper than a cab and service tends to be awesome. I use it all the time for my weekend adventures!
See Uber in the Google Play Store
GasBuddy
Did you end up taking your car (or renting one)? You will need to gas up at some point, and we all know how pricey that can get! Using GasBuddy you can find the cheapest gas prices within your vicinity. It’s crazy how quickly those cents of difference can add up! The app sure needs some work when compared to the sweet 2015 designs we see nowadays, but it works.
See GasBuddy in the Google Play Store
Google Search & Google Now
This one is going to sound a little obvious to many of you, but many others have no idea how helpful Google Search and Google Now can really be. Google Search’s knowledge graph is immense, so you could ask a bunch of information about key locations and buildings. In addition, Google can compute tips, work as a calculator, make money conversions, translate between languages and more. Google Now will even give you information on your flights, which it pulls from Gmail. It’s a total life-saver; the only downside is that it does need an internet connection.
See Google in the Google Play Store
See also: Google Now on Tap quick look
Finding the best gifts for Christmas
Need help finding the best gifts for your friends and family? If the apps listed earlier in this article are not good enough for you, we have a plethora of comprehensive best gifts lists for every type of person. Here are some of the most popular ones!
- Best tech gifts under $250 (2015 holiday guide)
- Best tech gifts under $100 (2015 holiday guide)
- Best tech gifts under $50 (2015 holiday guide)
- Black Friday 2015 – best deals
- Best Android phones
- Best Android tablets
- Best cheap Android phones
- Best cheap Android tablets
- Best Verizon phones
- Best AT&T phones
- Best T-Mobile phones
- Best Sprint phones
- Best U.S. Cellular phones
- Best portable projectors of 2015
- Best wireless chargers
- Best Android compatible car accessories
Conclusion
So there you have it. These are all the tools you can have in your smartphone to become the holiday hero your family needs you to be. We hope they make your days at least a bit easier, and please do hit the comments to share your own tips for saving the day with Android during the season! Are there any apps, services or products you would recommend your fellow Android smartphone bearers?
AIVAnet 