Facebook truce with Google helps you find info on your phone
Facebook and Google are calling a partial truce in their longstanding feud, and that’s good news if you’ve ever tried to track down a contact or status update. As of Friday, Facebook is letting Google index some of the public information within its mobile app, helping you search for that content on your phone. If you find someone’s profile on Google, you’ll now get a direct link to their page in the app instead of on the web. This won’t help if you’re looking for anything you’d only see while signed in (such as a privately shared post), but it’ll make life a lot easier if you hate jumping back and forth between a browser and Facebook’s native software.
Source: Wall Street Journal
One Google Glass follow-up reportedly ditches the screen
Google Glass (aka Project Aura) might not include so much actual glass the next time around. Sources for The Information understand that there are three next-generation headsets in development, and that one of them doesn’t have a screen at all — it’s an audio-focused model meant for the “sport” crowd. That sounds like an amped-up Bluetooth headset to us, but we’ll reserve judgment until there’s something to see… or rather, hear. Don’t worry if you still want that signature eyepiece, though — there’s talk of at least an enterprise-focused model with a display, Things are reportedly still up in the air (Google may cut its three models to two), but this could give you an idea of what to expect when Project Aura arrives sometime next year.
[Image credit: AP Photo]
Source: The Information
Complex questions can be answered by Google Search
Serving basic, straightforward questions to Google Search has always returned solid results. Need scores to that Houston Rockets game? Wondering when Eddie Murphy was born? Easy. Rarely has the search engine faced difficulties answering questions that require simple facts. Complex questions, though, have been troublesome as Google Search wasn’t drawing upon different areas to supply a direct answer. Most of the time, a complex question would return a myriad of generic search results. Google announced today that complex questions are now welcome to Google Search.
The Google app is starting to understand the meaning of what you’re asking.
Google’s piecing it all together
Google Search is now able to respond to superlatives, ordered items, particular points in time, and complex combinations.
Try out these example complex questions:
- Who are the tallest Mavericks players?
- What songs did Taylor Swift record in 2014?
- What was the U.S. population when Bernie Sanders was born?
Since this feature is completely new and rather complex itself, Google understands there will be mistakes. The Knowledge Graph is always growing and Google is working hard to make sure that your searches and questions have a clear answer.
Source: Google
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T-Mobile preparing band 12 support for the Nexus 6P
Owners of the Nexus 6P on T-Mobile’s network should prepare themselves for a software update that will enable the handset’s band 12 support.
On the carrier’s dedicated page for Extended Range LTE (700MHz spectrum), T-Mobile listed the Nexus 6P as one of the devices compatible. But being compatible does not mean that the handset is operating on band 12 at the moment. Google will need to push a software update to the Nexus 6P that will activate functionality. It’s very likely that band 12 support for the Nexus 6P is included with Google’s next security update for all Nexus devices.
The Nexus 5X has not been listed by T-Mobile; however, that does not rule out its chance to receive a software update activating band 12 support.
Band 12 support is very important for consumers because it allows them to expect solid coverage in buildings and rural areas. Just ask buyers of the OnePlus X how disappointed they are about OnePlus’ decision to not include band 12 support.
Source: T-Mobile
Via: /r/Android
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Droid Turbo 2 review: What it lacks in style, it makes up for in power
Verizon’s line of Droid phones just celebrated its sixth birthday, and what better way to celebrate than by releasing the best device to ever bear the Droid title? I jokingly called Motorola’s Droid Turbo 2 “a Moto X Pure on steroids,” but there’s no denying it packs even more power than its predecessor into a body that’s built to take a beating. Throw in a battery rated for 48 hours and we should be left with a phone that will make Moto X owners rue the day they whipped out their credit cards, right? Turns out, the answer’s a little more complicated.Slideshow-341298
Google ready to jump back into China’s mobile market against stiff competition
Google stepped out of the Chinese mobile market years ago, and since 2010 China has seen a ton of growth for many other manufacturers which puts Google in a sticky situation and six years behind some of its competition. However, the Chinese market is too big to ignore and we’ll likely see Google push its mobile app store back into the country sooner rather than later.
A mobile analytics firm measured how much of the market some of China’s most popular app stores currently hold, and Google’s own Play Store sits at number 10 with barely 3.5% penetration rate. Compare that to Tencent’s 18% penetration rate for its own app store, and even rates from competitors like Oppo, Huawei, and Xiaomi, and Google would have a long road ahead to get things back in full swing.
A problem that comes with facing many of these other manufacturers is that they’re all heavily invested in their own app stores and wouldn’t be likely to lend a hand to get Google Play on consumer devices. On top of that, Google Search hasn’t been available in China for years, so Google’s brand name won’t be doing it many favors in that particular situation.
Despite all of these road blocks, China is one of the most profitable countries in the world due to its large population. Google Play also offers more than just apps, bringing music, movies, and books along with games and apps. That’s something that very few other manufacturers bring to the table, which could give Google an edge on their competition.
However and whenever Google decides to move forward with getting the Play Store back into consumer hands in China, it’ll be an interested situation to watch.
source: re/code
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PSA: Avoid OnePlus’ USB Type-C cable
Earlier this month, Google employee Benson Leung embarked on journey to test all USB Type-C cables in order to help consumers know which are safe to use. It makes sense for him to do so considering Google’s Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Chromebook Pixel (2015) all use USB Type-C for charging and data transfers.
Over the weekend, Leung told the world — or at least all 7,067 people connected to him on Google+ — that OnePlus’ very own USB Type-C cable is no good.
Practice safe charging!
The cable sold by OnePlus that is meant to work with its own flagship can be harmful for your devices. Leung says that OnePlus’ USB Type-C cable isn’t safe to use because it “uses a 3A indentifier resistor instead of the ‘Default USB Power’ one.”
https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js
OnePlus currently sells its USB Type-C cable in 100cm and 150cm sizes, both at a price of just $5.49. The price seems attractive, but it’s probably not worth the potential damage it can do to your beloved phone.
Source: Benson Leung (Google+)
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Frequent Google Maps contributors can get 1TB of free Drive storage and other perks
Google is offering anyone and everyone a chance to earn 1TB of Drive storage, for free. But that’s not all there that they are offering.
Under the Local Guides program for Google Maps, the Mountain View company is rewarding its users who regularly add new locations, leave reviews for various locations, upload new photographs, update outdated information, or contribute new and useful info in many other ways.
The entire system has been gamified to achieve an increased level of user participation. So, the more a user contributes as a Local Guide, the higher their rewards. Google will filter out poor quality reviews, so people who are thinking of gaming the system to earn 1TB of storage might be in for a surprise.
While Google doesn’t specify it, it looks that the free terabyte of Drive storage is valid for one year. After the free period expires, you will still be able to access all your files, but you won’t be able to add new files until you sign up for a higher tier or remove existing files.
The updated Local Guides platform has 5 different levels of rewards:
- Level 1 (0 – 4 points): Enter exclusive contests (think new Google devices!) in select countries.
- Level 2 (5 – 49 points): Get early access to new Google products and features.
- Level 3 (50 – 199 points): Show up in the Google Maps app with your official Local Guides badge.
- Level 4 (200 – 499 points): Receive a free 1 TB upgrade of your Drive storage, allowing you to keep all the stories, photos, and videos from your travels in one safe place.
- Level 5 (500+ points): The very top Local Guides will become eligible to apply to attend our inaugural summit in 2016, where you’ll be able to meet other top Guides from around the world, explore the Google campus, and get the latest info about Google Maps.
As it turns out, one doesn’t need to achieve Level 5 in order to receive 1 TB of Drive storage (otherwise $9.99/month) for free. For the very best Local Guides who score over 500 points, Google will be hosting an inaugural summit next year. The company has promised to release more information regarding this summit next year.
Can’t wait to get started as a Local Guide? Here’s the sign-up page, which is open to everyone. Once you’re signed up and good to go, make sure to update to the latest version of Google Maps on your Android or iOS device to be able to track your contributions and earned points.
For more details regarding Local Guides, check out the program’s official support page here.
Google rewards restaurant reviewers with 1TB storage
Did you know that Google has its own, homegrown rival to services like Yelp and TripAdvisor? You do now. The search engine is hoping to improve the quality of its offering by handing perks to its unpaid contributors that keep everything updated. Before, they’d simply be provided recognition for their efforts, but now the firm will hand out some pretty tasty bonuses to those who make the most effort. Every review that you write will earn you a point, as will uploading photos, adding new locations to the database, fixing old errors and answering people’s questions.
Via: Android Police
Source: Google
Thief caught selling smartphone on Craigslist – don’t let this happen to you!
A possibly profitable theft didn’t go very well for teenager India Carmouche from Slidell, Louisiana. After stealing a smartphone from a distracted customer at Walmart, who had left his gadget on top of a drink cooler while searching through other items, she quickly put the device up for sale on Craigslist. But she never expected the original owner to come across her listing while searching for a replacement handset (and he probably didn’t think he would see that, either).
Needless to say the victim quickly alerted the local police, an act which was followed by an investigation from an undercover officer pretending to be an interested customer. The potential buyer then revealed his identity as a police officer, to which the thief responded by running away, something that obviously never ends well. She was apprehended and arrested for possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.
These stories are always interesting, and we are glad to see the police is keeping up with the times and adopting new ways to stop theft in the tech realm. It’s a big step forward, and definitely a victory against an issue so many of us have suffered from.
“We quite frequently warn legitimate buyers and sellers about the dangers of Craigslist, but rarely do we issue a warning to criminals. So let this be a warning to all the criminals out there. You may also become a ‘victim’ on Craigslist when trying to sell stolen property.” -Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith
This specific event turned out to be victorious for the good guys, but keep in mind this will not always be the case. In fact, recovering a lost smartphone is a bit of an oddity. It has never happened to me or anyone I know, so you must be cautious to avoid being another victim.
After all, Lookout Mobile Security’s study shows that 3.1 million smartphones were stolen only in 2013, a number that happens to double the statistics from 2012. One in every 10 smartphones were stolen that year, and while we haven’t see more recent details, this proves that smartphone theft is a problem which should not be ignored.
How to stay safe from smartphone theft
Of course, you can always go back to our guide on recovering a lost/stolen smartphone, but that is not exactly what we will focus on today. Following this story’s nature, we would like to give you some tips on how to be a smarter used phone buyer and avoid buying stolen gadgets.
Remember, Android Device Manager is now a complete kill switch method, which means that stolen phones could be reported, locked and deemed unusable whenever the rightful owner wishes. In addition, people could report them lost to the carrier, which efficiently blacklists any mobile handset. You need to be careful with who you buy from! Let’s show you how to buy a used smartphone with little to no risk.
Buying tech on Craigslist
Remember, Craigslist is like the Wild West of trading. It’s not really monitored, and can be used with full anonymity. I could post anything in there, with very little evidence of who I am and how to contact me. I’m not saying Craigslist is a bad platform, but you definitely do need to be more careful.
If interested on buying any device, make sure to ask questions about the situation. Does it have a clean ESN? Why are you selling it? Do you have the original box and accessories? Answers to any of these questions can serve as red flags.
I also like meeting people at a very public place. Just don’t go into a dark alley with them. You should opt for a restaurant or store, but I usually go the extra mile and tell them to meet me at a carrier store location. I never give them a penny until I realize the phone is working and not blacklisted. And since we are already at the store, I can just tell any representative to check up on it. If you are not at the store, though, you can always call customer service to check if any phone is blacklisted or not.
The key is to not really trust everyone, which could be an uncomfortable feeling to many of you. This is why we only advice the adventurous to deal with expensive gadgets through this platform.
Buying tech on eBay
eBay has plenty of horror stories that would make any fire camp plenty entertaining, but the good thing about the popular online trading point is that the company has much more control over what’s going on. Customer support will always have your back and you can file any issues to get them resolved. In addition, eBay and PayPal have a full record on both buyers and sellers. Reviews and comments are also put in place, so it’s hard for a thief to just get away with things. Sure, eBay can be slow and a little unreliable sometimes, but it beats going with Craigslist.
Swappa!
Swappa is actually my favorite website for buying and selling used smartphones. It has a solid system! Users can easily report if someone is selling a stolen phone, altering ESNs or screwing you over in any shape or form. You will then get your money right back to your PayPal account, shall you report any issues.
But people are not the only ones doing all the work here; Swappa actually verifies every single listing, so there’s a much lesser chance of someone trying to rip you off or sell you a stolen device. And if it happens to be, you get your cash back. Simple, safe and clean.
Conclusion
I would honestly say eBay and Swappa are about the safest ways to deal with used smartphones, just because these sites have a better level of control with their sellers and buyers. If you really want to buy a used handset and stay on the safe side, we would advice that you stick with those two. And if you are willing to step into the wild side, just make sure you do your homework before handing out the money.
AIVAnet 