Google Search to sidestep app installation for in-app results
Google never ceases to amaze in coming up with neat ways to retrieve information that you care about. Today, Google shared something cool in-work that will expand the reach of Google Search on your mobile device.
There is often valuable information buried within apps that many users miss out on because they don’t know about that app or have installed. Google partially addressed this in the past, by indexing the content of apps so that the web search could provide similar pertinent information. However, if a match to the app’s results could not be found on the web, then the information wouldn’t get to the user.
Google has been trying to patch up that hole and has developed a way for Search to tap into app content and output the in-app results, without the user having the app installed.
“For example, if you need a hotel for your spur-of-the-moment trip to Chicago, search results will now include results from the HotelTonight app. Or if you’re thinking about visiting Arches National Park, you will now find details about the 18-mile scenic drive from the Chimani app.“
This is certainly pretty cool. Everyone has a different set of apps they regularly use. So this method will take away that factor that could inhibit us from getting useful information.
But that’s not it, Google wants to also be able to “stream” apps (allow users to navigate app content without having it installed). Using that HotelTonight app example, Google says you’ll even be able to complete a booking via streaming it, just as if were using the app itself.
You may have a question over app compatibility, which would be rightly so. This project is in the early stages. Google states, “This uses a new cloud-based technology that we’re currently experimenting with.” There are only a small group of partners at the moment – HotelTonight, Chimani, Daily Horoscope, and New York Subway. But look out for expansion of the feature in the future.
Source: Google Blogspot
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Garmin’s working on an Android streaming stick for your TV
Although Garmin is mostly known for its GPS navigation systems, the company recently started expanding its scope to other things like wearables. Now, according to FCC documents, Garmin looks to be ready to introduce an Android-powered media stick. As Liliputing reports, Garmin’s Vivohub 2 (pictured below) is described as a device that can turn your dumb TV into a smart one — similar to products such as the Google Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick. Strangely enough, the leaked user’s manual suggests the Vivohub 2 runs 4.2 Jelly Bean, which is far from being the freshest version of Android. In addition to that, the stick is said to come with a 1GHz Amlogic AML826 dual-core processor, ARM Mali-400 graphics, 1GB of RAM and support for both Bluetooth and WiFi.
Source: Liliputing
Google search can stream apps to your Android phone
Ever found something on the web that would be better-served by an app, but didn’t relish the thought of downloading the app to give it a shot? Google clearly has: as part of a broader mobile search revamp, it’s introducing app streaming on Android phones. Search results from certain sites (such as Chimani or HotelTonight) will give you streamed versions of their mobile apps that let you do everything you need without a permanent download. Think of it as Nextbit’s cloud-based app management taken to the next level — you only need to ‘install’ that app for that brief moment when you really need it. The feature is still in beta testing with a handful of titles right now, but Google is promising to expand the selection over time.
Source: Google Inside Search
Google Search can now dive into app data
Search is one of the foundation functions of Google and recently the company has been working to make improvements to this basic feature. Earlier this week Google revealed that Search could handle complex questions and figure out the meaning of what is being asked. Now they have revealed a tool for the other side of the equation that helps provide better answers. This will be accomplished by being able to dive into the data that is locked away inside of apps instead of just relying on what is available on the web.
Google says they have compiled over 100 billion deep links into apps in their search index to help respond to the 40% of searches that Android users perform on their mobile devices. The apps include platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb and Pinterest. The data that Google taps into is no longer limited to information that was also available via matching web content. Even if the information is only in the app, Search can still find it.
Even better, users do not even need the source app installed for Search to be able to find it. If a user is on a good WiFi connection Google can now “stream” an app so that users can dig down and view the results as if they had the app installed. Of course, users who like what they find will have easy access to install an app, so there is some incentive for developers to be part of this new tool. At this time, Google has partnered with HotelTonight, Chimani, Daily Horoscope and New York Subway on this new feature, but they expect more partners to come on board.
source: Google Inside Search
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Google+ gets fully redesigned around Communities and Collections
Google yesterday announced that the Google+ experience is getting an overhaul. Effective immediately, Google+ has been given a full redesign based around Collections and Communities. In other words, this is not the social network or sharing tool launched a few years ago.
Indeed, Google+ now caters to people with like-minded interests so that they can communicate, collaborate and have discussions around their favorite topics.
“ Collections let you immerse yourself in content about topics like surfing or tiny tilt-shift photography scenes. Communities enable groups of people with the same interests to join up and geek out on anything from Game of Thrones to Painting.“
The new Google+ has already started for the web version and the mobile apps are falling in line as well. In addition to the new focus, Google+ is now easier to post to, search, and keep up with content. A big part of this comes from the redesigned homepage. According to Google, the change came about as a result of feedback from users and, presumably, from listening to industry trends.
To me, this is a smart move that separates Google+ from other social broadcast and sharing services. I get the sense that the user base cares more about coming together around topics instead of just updates and short-form blurbs.
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Google to challenge Russian antitrust watchdog’s ruling on preloaded apps
Google has decided to challenge a recent ruling by Russian antitrust agency that it violated the country’s competition law by forcing Android smartphone vendors to use its own apps such as Google Search.
Russian watchdog FAS ruled in September that the Alphabet Inc-owned company should stop abusing its dominant position and let device manufacturers to install third-party apps such as Russian search app, Yandex.
Google was given the deadline of December 18 to amend its agreement with smartphone manufacturers to facilitate fair competition.
However, the US company now has decided to contest the ruling.
“We intend to contest this decision and explain in court why we consider it unfounded,” Google stated in its Russian blog.
Meanwhile, Yandex has taken its fight against Google to the European Union urging the EU Commission to investigate unfair Android contract.
“Yandex is confident in every point of its position. We are ready for the appeal and welcome the most open trial,” Yandex was quoted as said.
Source: Reuters
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Google Photos update helps free up precious phone storage
Running out of storage space on a phone is a major pain point that affects millions of Android users across the world. Google understands that, and has come up with a simple solution that helps free up storage space on one’s phone.
Google has pushed a major update for Google Photos, which introduces two new features to the gallery app. While one feature helps free up space from your phone’s internal storage, the other allows users to downgrade previously uploaded “Original” images to “High quality”.
First up, Google has introduced the “Free up space” feature, accessible from within the app’s settings menu. Simply activate the feature and Google Photos will remove from your device copies of photos and videos that have already been backed up on the cloud. Alternatively, Google can keep a close eye on when phone’s storage space runs low, and then proceed to remove backed up copies of photos and videos that are older than 30 days.
Users can still access their entire media collection from within the Google Photos Android or iOS apps, or using the web app, as long as they are connected to the internet.
Version 1.9 of the Google Photos app also introduces a simple way to downgrade all your original quality photos, which you have uploaded before, to compressed high quality photos. Before this update, users had no way to have their previously uploaded photos get compressed to the smaller “high quality” standard. Do keep in mind that storing original quality photos still count against your storage space, whereas high quality photos have free unlimited storage.
Apart from adding these two features, the updated Google Photos app fixes a bug that prevented users from deleting photos stored on the microSD card, resulting in a frustrating experience for users who would continue to see photos in the gallery despite having deleted them.
Previous updates to Google Photos added features such as Chromecast support, labels and sharing, etc. The gallery app was originally released in May 2015, and has since surpassed 100 million active users, a metric that’s even more relevant than app downloads.
The latest version of Google Photos for Android is already rolling out, and is coming soon to iOS.
The YouTube Kids app launches in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK
Just in time for all the kids receiving smartphones and tablets as Christmas presents next month, YouTube’s kid-friendly app has launched in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. The YouTube Kids app offers a selection of filters for parents to choose from to shield adult or inappropriate content from being seen by the little ones.
Besides filtering videos and channels, the YouTube Kids app also removes the ability to upload content as well as comments. The app has a handy built-in timer that parents can set to decide how long children can view videos while inappropriate search terms are also blocked. And if parents are in any doubt whether a video or channel has somehow slipped past YouTube Kids content restrictions, they can flag the relevant video, alerting YouTube to the content in question. Another handy feature is that it can also connect to your Chromecast.
Local UK channels such as Wallace & Gromit, The Magic Roundabout, and Little Baby Bum are featured in the app. You can download the YouTube Kids app to your child’s device by clicking the Play Store link below. Once installed, you (or another grown-up, will be required to set it up. This which involves setting a pin number, deciding what content is appropriate for your child as well as setting the timer function.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: The Guardian
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Google lowers minimum Android app price in 17 countries
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Apps on Google Play can get pretty cheap, but Google is now allowing apps to get even cheaper in some regions. In 17 countries, the minimum Android app price is being dropped after a successful pilot in India whose minimum price is being dropped to 10 Indian Rupees or about 15 cents. Bargain.
Google says that these pricing options have been changed to “adapt Google Play pricing options to better suit local consumers and make content more accessible”. A full list of which countries are getting the changes is below:
- Brazil: R$ 0.99 (US$0.26) — was R$2.00
- Chile: CLP $200.00 (US$0.28) — was CLP $500.00
- Colombia: COP$ 800.00 (US$0.26) — was COP$ 2000.00
- Hungary: Ft 125.00 (US$0.43) — was Ft 225.00
- Indonesia: Rp 3,000.00 (US$0.22) — was Rp 12,000.00
- Malaysia: RM 1.00 (US$0.23) — was RM 3.50
- Mexico: MXN$ 5.00 (US$0.30) — was MXN$ 9.90
- Peru: S/. 0.99 (US$0.30) — was S/. 3.00
- Philippines: ₱15.00 (US$0.32) — was ₱43.00
- Poland: zł1.79 (US$0.45) — was zł2.99
- Russia: руб 15.00 (US$0.23) — was руб 30.00
- Saudi Arabia:﷼ 0.99 (US$0.26) — was 4.00﷼
- South Africa: R3.99 (US$0.28) — was R10.00
- Thailand: ฿10.00 (US$0.28) — was ฿32.00
- Turkey: ₺0.59 (US$0.21) — was ₺2.00
- Ukraine: ₴5.00 (US$0.21) — was ₴8.00
- Vietnam: ₫6,000 (US$0.27) — was ₫21,000.00
What do you think about Google lowering the minimum Android app price? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Developers, Google Support via engadget
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Google Photos is getting updated with feature to help you clear backed-up photos
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I’ve always found it interesting that cloud-based services were always happy to back up your photos and other junk, but never offered to get rid of the local copy when it was done doing that, particularly on mobile devices. Well, Google Photos now has that functionality after an update today. The Photos app will now have a “Free Up Space” button that will allow you to bulk delete photos that have already been synced with your account. As a nice related feature, Google Photos will now alert users when their device is nearing their storage limit.
There’s also a small number of other features that people will find useful, such as deleting photos from SD card and downgrading photos from Original quality to High quality after they’ve been uploaded. Apart from the “Free Up Space” feature, I don’t think this update will affect my life that much, but I’m sure there are lots of Photos power-users out there who will appreciate the update. As always, don’t freak out if you don’t have the update available yet – it could take a few days for the update to become available for your device.
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.jsWhat do you think about the Google Photos update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google+ via Droid-life
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