Google announcing updates to its productivity tools on September 2
Google is looking to make a variety of changes to its productivity tools at an event set for September 2 at Google’s San Francisco headquarters. Given that the search giant is sending out invites to the media and hosting the event at its headquarters, there are no doubt some big changes underway.
Details are scarce, but these updates will primarily focus on its cloud tools–Docs, Sheets, Slides, and some changes to Google Classroom, an application that aims to help teachers better organize and create assignments.
Google says they will announce and showcase many of these changes at the event on September 2, according to an invite sent to the media.
Google is undergoing a lot of changes in many areas, making it an exciting time to be using their products and services. Be sure to stay tuned with Talk Android, as we’ll be ready to give you all of the details come September 2!
source: PC World
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New LG Nexus 5 2015 case gets listing on Oppomart, confirms leaked design
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It definitely seems like everybody is out to leak Google‘s latest Nexus smartphone whenever they get the opportunity. The latest culprit is online retailer Oppomart who has just put up a listing for a LG Nexus 5 2015 case which bears an exact resemblance to the leaks that we have been seeing of the device. We can clearly see the pigeon hole that houses the camera and fingerprint scanner as well as the hole for the flash and laser sensor. Check out a few more images from the listing:
However, even though these images fit the bill exactly, we do still have to be wary as some clever designers may have just jumped onto the frankly endless leaks and thought to get ahead of the game with a case listing for the Nexus 5 2015. On the flip side of this, the mounting evidence is that this is indeed what the Nexus 5 2015 is going to look like, something that has previously been impossible due to Google’s tight handle on development. What could be different this time – not like we’re complaining though.
What do you think about this LG Nexus 5 2015 case? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Oppomart via Phone Arena
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UK orders Google to kill links to ‘right to be forgotten’ stories
The whole point of the European Union’s “right to be forgotten” laws is to remove links to irrelevant or outdated data about a persons life from Google, but a vicious cycle of news about the removal of links to news is making that impossible. Think about it: Google removes links about your sordid past from its search engine, but then adds a news story about that link removal that still includes your name and the old misdemeanor. Yeah, it’s kind of messy — which is why a UK court is ordering Google to remove links to stories about removing links that can be found by searching for the original complainant’s name.
Google initially refused to remove search results to stories about the “right to be forgotten” law, explaining that the censorship of this content is “a matter of significant public importance.” The UK Information Commissioner’s Office actually agrees, but with the caveat that the specific case in question is hanging a non-public figure’s laundry out to dry for no good reason. “Content relating to the decisions to delist search results may be newsworthy and in the public interest,” the Commissioner’s Office writes. “However, that interest can be adequately and properly met without a search made on the basis of the complainant’s name.”
The Commission has given Google 35 days to remove the offending links, though Google has the right to appeal the order. It’s a tough issue. What’s more important — the right to be forgotten, or ensuring that access to relevant news about search censorship is available? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
[Image credit: Maurice Savage / Alamy]
Filed under:
Misc, Internet, Google
Source:
ICO
Tags: delisting, EU, google, removalrequests, RightToBeForgotten, UK
Google officially merges Google Views with Google Maps
Google Views was a lesser known place where people could upload their own photos or photospheres to Google Maps for all to see. Whenever you were in Google Maps and saw photos at the bottom of the screen, those were all taken from Google Views contributors. Unfortunately, that service has been officially shut down by Google.
The good news is Google is now moving all that Views data into Google Maps. Google Maps now has a Contributions button inside the navigation drawer where you can look over all of your Google Views photos or reviews that you have contributed over the years.
In my opinion, this was a smart move from Google as Google Views being separated, yet still a huge part of Google Maps, didn’t really make much sense. Now everything should be much smoother and cohesive. The only problem is at the moment Google does not allow anyone to contribute photos or photospheres to Google Maps. They have also taken away a lot of old features that made Views so great such as showing dots on the map that show where you took a photo.
It is unfortunate that many Views features have vanished and you can’t upload any new photos, but Google says that is only for now. Over the next year they will be slowly adding back in those features to Google Maps to create one cohesive experience.
Source: Google Maps (Google+)
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iHeartRadio has a new Google Chrome extension
The popular internet radio app, iHeartRadio, makes music listening a lot easier today with the help of a new Google Chrome extension. Listeners can now control their music without needing to leave their current screen.
Once installed, you will be able to click the extension in the Google Chrome toolbar to pop out a web app in order to control your music. The extension will allow users to skip, thumbs up/down, favorites, scan and shows what’s playing in a compact widget. You can also move the widget around to place it anywhere you want on the screen.
A neat feature of the new extension is the snooze or “Zzz” feature. It allows you to pause your station for a few minutes so you can go do something else quickly, but will resume playing a few minutes later.
A little bonus info about this extension is Eric Cogan, iHeartRadio’s Associate Product Manager for Android, designed the extension during Hack Week. The extension later ended up winning first place.
Source: iHeartRadio
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Some Google apps are no longer mandatory to have installed on Android
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For the longest time, the debate over bloatware has raged over what apps are needed and which are unnecessary. While the primary focal point of this debate has been Samsung and the Samsung-branded apps it forces upon its users, Google isn’t exactly innocent in this either. There are plenty off Google apps that are decidedly mandatory on all Android devices, a fact that kind of contradicts Android’s mantra of being able to customize your experience however you want.
However, it appears that Google has started to change its tune. Most recently, it was discovered that the Google+ app does not come preinstalled on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, a big surprise seeing as how important the social media platform is to Google. But it’s actually more widespread than just Google+ – according to Android Central, Google Play Games, Google Play Books and Google Play Newsstand are also off the mandatory install list, meaning that these apps will still be available on the Play Store for those that want, but not forced upon people who don’t care for what they offer. I like this a lot as it lets people come to Google’s services when they want to use them and gives them more of a sense of freedom.
What do you think about the fact some of Google apps are no longer mandatory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Central via Phone Arena
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Google vs. Bing: why Microsoft will never dominate the search world
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Today saw the announcement that Microsoft had updated its Bing app for Android to act like Google Now on Tap. Google Now on tap is a feature that will let users instantly find information and will debut in Android Marshmallow later this year.
While this cool feature is available now instead of in a few months, there’s still one major problem with it: it uses Bing.
Bing was released in June, 2009. Since then, Microsoft has done everything they can to bring people to use it. Yet, ask anyone and you’ll likely get one of three responses:
- “Why would I use Bing when I can use Google?”
- “I only use Bing for the rewards program.”
- “What the heck is Bing?”
Despite Microsoft dumping millions of dollars to market Bing as the better search engine, it’s still not very popular.
“Wait a sec’, you’re an Editor for an Android website, of course you’re going to trash Bing and support Google! Everyone, grab your comment pitchforks and torches!”
Alright, you bring up a good point. Think I’m wrong? Let’s take a look at the data then shall we?
Search Engine Land, a website dedicated to search engines (that wasn’t obvious?) reports usage data for search engines regularly. Their most recent post regarding search engine popularity actually points to Bing’s recent 20% market share of use, based on comScore reports, while Google sits at their steady 64% market share.
However, in October, Search Engine Land felt that comScore’s reports seemed a little off, and didn’t really tell the whole story. So, they did a survey of their own. And boy were their results interesting:
“A-ha! See, I knew you were blowing smoke!”
Hold on one moment fellow citizen. Search Engine Land explains the above results were search engines users had tried. So sure, 76% of the people polled said they had tried Bing before. The next question is, how many of those same people actually use Bing on a regular basis?
Lo-and-behold, 80% of those people use Google as their primary search engine, while Bing sits at 6%. Further, the icing on the cake is, of that percentage, 87% of Bing users come from Internet Explorer (I’m not even going to go into why that matters)!
Why do you think Microsoft has to pay people to use Bing? Why do you think the term is “Googling” rather than “Binging”?
You have to give Microsoft credit: they’ve grown Bing a lot sing 2009, and have put a lot of energy into making it a more attractive option (literally) than Google. Yet, while we hear that Bing is now on your Android Wear, or now has “snapshots” (the Google Now on Tap competitor), it still won’t gain the upper hand, at least anytime soon.
“Google was a search engine before anything else.“
Why? It’s because Google was a search engine before anything else. Sure, Google has its Ads platform, it has Android, and many web services such as Gmail; but before any of that, Google was a search engine. Bing insists that their results are better than Google’s (hence the “Bing It On” challenge), but when it comes down to it, Google’s results are more precise.
Why (my, you ask a lot of questions…)? Well, I’m not sure. Something something algorithms. I can tell you one thing: Google has their Knowledge Graph. I don’t work for them, so I don’t know how it works exactly. I do know that it’s why I can hold a conversation with Google (First asking “How far is Los Angeles?” with direction results, and then asking “What’s the weather like there?”, and then getting weather results for L.A.). Or why it can tell me how old Tom Hanks is, or why I can ask it how late the store in front of me is open. I also know that it’s why Google Now on Tap will be better than Bing snapshots by the time Android Marshmallow comes out.
“I still think you’re just a Google fanboy…”
Fine. Let’s hold our own survey, shall we? If after that you still don’t believe me, then “Bing” directions to me using my name. (Disclaimer: The author is not held responsible for any parties that get lost using Bing.)
<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/9035783/”>Which search engine do you use primarily?</a>
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Android Wear update makes watch faces come to life
Google fans already rocking Android Wear will get an update this week that enables interactive watch faces. You can tap them to show more information or launch an app. The three watch faces released today include “Bits”, which keeps the time display in the center, with circles around it displaying different things, like unread emails, upcoming meetings and the weather. The “Under Armour” face, meanwhile, adds fitness stats, allowing you to tap to see your step count, calories burned or distance. Lastly, the “Together” face turns the entire watch face into a display to share doodles, emoji, activities or photos with a loved one (yep, kind of like on the Apple Watch, it sounds like). Additionally, Google Translate is now accessible via a few swipes. You can download the Bits or Under Armour faces from the Play store now, or follow these instructions to install Together.
Filed under:
Wearables, Mobile, Google
Source:
Official Android Blog, Bits, Under Armour, Together
Tags: Android, AndroidApplication, androidwear, google, mobilepostcross, SmartWatch
Google changes the way we will interact with watchfaces on Android Wear
Android Wear is a constantly evolving platform, with Google constantly adding more and more useful features. Today, Google has announced an update to Android Wear that may completely change how we interact with our Android Wear watches.
BITS
As displayed above, tapping on various parts of a watchface can now do more than just activate voice actions. Based on how the developer implements it, tapping on a part of the watchface can now bring interactions with various features. So instead of a voice action or opening an app on the watch, the user can just interact with a watch face that has the features they’re looking for. Anything from weather, notifications, activity goals, and more.
In order to take advantage of these features on various watchfaces, you’ll need Android Wear version 1.3, which will start rolling out over the next few weeks. Once you have it, you can use any of the watch faces in this collection.
Further, Google has now added Google Translate to this update, allowing you to translate from your wrist. It will start with support for 44 languages, including with offline support. It will work similarly to the phone app, where two people just talk, and the translation will appear on the screen.
Keep a look out for more information on the update to specific Android Wear devices.
SOURCE: Official Android Blog, Google Translate Blog
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Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
Android Wear is bringing new interactive watch faces and easier translation options. A new update will be rolling out to current Android Wear smartwatches shortly. Google believes the addition of these new features will let users absorb key information in very little time.
Google’s new interactive watch faces make it easier to see key information in a timely manner and help people stay connected. With just a tap on the watch face, a new glance view will show users key information such as the weather, new emails, the day of the week, reminders, your daily step count and more. From the view, users will be able to launch a specific app with just a tap, or change your watch face in 2 easy steps. Google says the new watch faces will help people stay connected with the included feature giving users easy access to sharing emoji’s and photos with their loved ones. This can all be done directly through your home screen for quick and easy navigation. Google says the update will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
Google Translate will also get a major revamp on Android Wear smartwatches. It can now be activated via a twist of the wrist. The update brings support for more languages and will put ease of use first and foremost. The update will be hitting the Play Store shortly and will automatically push the update to your connected smartwatch. All the details on Google’s new enhancements can be seen at the source link(s) below.
Source: Android Blog, Google Translate Blog (1,2)
Come comment on this article: Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
AIVAnet 