Google’s latest science camp for kids starts on July 13th
If you want your kids to learn something while they’re out of school but would rather not ship them to some distant summer camp, Google is about to come to your rescue. It’s kicking off the latest edition of its annual Camp Google on July 13th, and this year’s virtual educational event promises themed weeks that might just sate your young ones’ curiosity on big scientific subjects. They’ll learn what the ocean is like through underwater panoramas, for example, and watch live video chats with astronauts. The whole shebang is free, so it won’t hurt to tune in if you want your children to go back to school knowing more than they did when they left.
Filed under: Science, Internet, Google
Source: Camp Google
Google’s Waze to test carpooling program for commuters in Israel
Waze, the now Google-owned navigation service, is beginning to make its way into the carpooling business. Through a new application called RideWith, interested commuters in Tel Aviv, Israel will be able to pay drivers a small fee for gas and wear-and-tear to hitch rides to and from work. The app, which uses Waze’s navigation system, will be able to learn the routes which drivers most frequently take to work and pair them up with a commuter looking for a ride in the same direction.
Unlike other popular services like Uber, RideWith drivers won’t be able to earn a salary from this new service. Drivers are limited to just two journeys per day, and at least at the start, will only be paid a small amount to cover gas and other small auto-related expenses. Drivers will also only be able to pick up other people if they’re leaving from their home neighborhoods and heading to work, or the other way around.
Google of course plans to take a cut of the driving cost, but that price has yet to be determined.
Waze told Reuters that there might not be enough drivers to meet commuter demand at the start, but the company remains confident that as more drivers sign up, it will be much easier to hitch a ride to work.
Android OEMs worried about Google/Oracle copyright lawsuit
Late last month, Google was ordered to pay Oracle 1 billion in damages over its infamous Java copyright lawsuit. This ruling has worried some of Android’s manufacturer partners, especially since some of them are already being forced to pay royalties to Microsoft for patent infringement. Margins for Android phones are already getting thinner and thinner, so having to shell out more money to another party would make that situation even worse for Android OEMs.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Android OEMs are going to have to start paying royalties to Oracle, especially since this Google/Oracle lawsuit was over copyrights, not patents. Typically, legal disputes between companies over copyright infringement are handled only between the two companies in the legal battle, so if that holds up, Google’s Android partners wouldn’t have anything to worry about. Google’s still on the hook for the legal damages, but that at least won’t upset the Android ecosystem very much. We’ll have to wait for this ruling to make its way through the inevitable rounds of appeals and overturned ruling before we can really see the effect this will have, though.
source: Business Korea
Come comment on this article: Android OEMs worried about Google/Oracle copyright lawsuit
Google’s Waze testing carpooling program in Israel
Google’s navigation subsidiary Waze is getting into the carpooling business via a pilot program in Israel, according to Reuters. The application, called RIdeWith, will use the company’s traffic reporting system to figure out popular routes and match drivers with users going the same direction. Unlike contentious ridesharing services from Lyft and Uber, however, Waze’s program won’t allow drivers to earn a salary. Instead, they can only claim two trips a day, and collect just enough from riders to cover gas and vehicle wear-and-tear.
Both Lyft and Uber have also been testing a form of carpooling, but both just allow riders on the same route to split the cost of a regular fare. By contrast, Waze’s service sounds more like UK’s Carpooling.com, letting fellow drivers share the exact cost of a ride and no more. Waze didn’t give any other details like what kind of fee (if any) it’s collecting, and just said it’s “conducting a small private test in the greater Tel Aviv area.” It added that it might be hard to find a ride in Tel Aviv at first, but that the problem should ease as new drivers sign on. Google acquired Waze some two years ago for an estimated $1 billion.
[Image credit: RonAlmog/Flickr]
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Source: Reuters
Google launches its first Android One smartphone in Pakistan
Earlier today, Google launched its latest Android One smartphone in Pakistan. The QMobile A1 is available to purchase right now from the Play Store in either black or white for 11,500 PKR ($110).
With regards to internals, the handset packs a 4.5-inch IPS display, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable internal storage, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1,700mAh battery.
Straight out of the box, the QMobile A1 runs the latest version of Android (Lollipop 5.1.1), so users have access to the new Material Design user interface, smarter notifications and quick access to data controls.
If you’re based in Pakistan, like the sound of the QMobile A1 and would like to pick one up — hit the source link below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google launches its first Android One smartphone in Pakistan
Android One QMobile A1 arrives in Pakistan
Android One may not have shot to success, but Google isn’t giving up on its long term plan for the project. Responding to requests from social media, Google has announced that the new QMobile A1 smartphone is now available to purchase in Pakistan.
In a bit of a change from previous Android One releases, the QMobile A1 will be available in retail stores up and down the country, rather than placing a heavy emphasis on e-commerce. The lack of a shelf presence is suspected to be one of the reasons why Android One hasn’t been able to grab a notable market share so far.
Hardware wise, the handset’s specifications remain firmly in the budget category, but that’s what we should expect for Rs. 11,500. The QMobile A1 comes with a 4.5-inch 854×480 display, unspecified 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, 2MP front facing camera, and 8GB of storage with a microSD card slot for a further 32GB.
There’s also dual SIM support, a 1,700mAh battery and Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. Sadly the A1 is not 4G compatible, but the phone still matches up with other handsets at this price point.
The QMobile A1’s selling point is being touted as lightning fast updates to the latest version of Android as soon as they are available. A promise made with previous Android One phones. We’ll just have to see if updates appear faster this time around.
In other Android One news, a second wave is rumored to be heading to India. Local smartphone company Lava is expected to unveil a new smartphone on July 14th.
Do you think that the QMobile A1 will help Google shift more Android One smartphones this year?
“Did you mean” corrections start showing up in Google Search app
We have all seen those “did you mean” corrections Google offers, right? These word suggestions usually come up when a search query was written with a typo or error. They tend to show up mostly in PC and web search results, but I bet you have probably never seen it appear in the Google app for Android. I say probably because a few of you may have by now.
New reports claim the Google app for Android has been suggesting corrections using the dreaded “did you mean” phrase we all know way too well. The Android app is said to apply this feature in a very peculiar way, though. It seems these corrections are showing up in the drop-down menu that appears when one is still typing a search.
This is very odd, considering no other version of Google Search does this. Not the web version, not the other apps, none. All other instances of the “did you know” suggestions occur after the search is done, in the results page.
Is this the future of Google Search? Is it just Google going crazy and testing out some things sooner than they should have? We are not sure, but it would be lovely to see something like this coming to more Google services. Little upgrades like this one may seem insignificant, but they save users time, and one can no longer live without them after they enter your life.
I wasn’t able to recreate this, but we would love to know if any of our readers are beginning to see this “did you mean” section in the Google app. Please let us know in the comments!
Thomas’s Musical Day for Percy app free this week, courtesy of Google
Google made a promise to give us a free weekly app from the Family section of the Play Store soon after it was introduced. So far they have done great and users have been freely enjoying apps they would normally have to pay for. It may be exclusive to the Family app selection for now, but we are glad Google is at least running these promotions, which is not customary behavior from the Search Giant.
Regardless, it’s another week and the kiddos need to play something that is both entertaining and educational. This week’s free app is Thomas’s Musical Day for Percy. It normally costs $4.99, so this is no cheap giveaway!
The game revolves around Thomas trying to find great sounds to put together a musical show for Percy, who’s whistle broke. It’s more like an interactive story, which is what developer Speakaboos is all about. They mix reading, music and story-telling to help your kids improve the skills they need to advance in their education.
It’s a good app and your kids will likely find it amusing. I know I used to find this cartoon amusing when I was a kid… mostly because it was so surreal. Either way, you can go straight to the download link and install the app on your Android device or you can simply head to the Family section of the Play Store and click on the green banner that reads “Free App of the Week”.
These will continue to change every week, so make sure to sign up for your free apps as soon as possible. And stay tuned to see which application Google will be giving us next. Hopefully one day they can take this offers outside just the Family section. It would be a hit!
LG to build its third Nexus 5?
We received word earlier today that LG is in charge of building the next Nexus smartphone. However, it will not be based on the LG G4 but an undisclosed prototype. This is according to an anonymous source who spoke to AndroidPit whose identity could not be revealed since the device is still in development.
It is not known why this is the case when the Nexus devices until now have been based on a particular manufacturer’s current flagship. Nonetheless, AndroidPit believes that the 2015 Nexus 5 will at least be smaller and cheaper than the Nexus 6. Sales for that device probably were impacted by its size and high cost in comparison to the Nexuses that came before it.
Lastly, there is no word yet on when this new Nexus 5 will come out. Although, it is expected to coincide with the release of the next version of Android, Android M.
The post LG to build its third Nexus 5? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Rumour: LG Nexus 5 2015 won’t be based off the LG G4
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The rumoured LG Nexus 5 2015 is getting its fair share of news lately, and the latest one deals with the expected design of the device. While previous Nexus devices made by LG have been wholly or loosely based on equivalent LG devices – LG Optimus G became the LG Nexus 4, the LG G2 became the LG Nexus 5 – it’s expected that the Nexus 5 2015 is going to be built from the ground up as a new device and won’t be based on this year’s LG G4 at all.
This is the same strategy that Google and Motorola took with the Nexus 6, with mixed success – the device itself was breathtaking, but its premium price tag and size was just a little too much for some to swallow. Only time will tell whether this all-new Nexus 5 2015 (name is only indicative at this point) is going to be like the Nexus 6 or more of a budget offering that people are clearly a fan of.
What do you think about the LG Nexus 5 2015 not being based on the LG G4? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: AndroidPit.de via Phone Arena
The post Rumour: LG Nexus 5 2015 won’t be based off the LG G4 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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