WSJ: Google will roll out its wireless service starting tomorrow
The Wall Street Journal has just reported that Google plans to launch its very own phone service starting tomorrow. The plan was first announced over a month ago at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the WSJ has since unearthed more details about it. The service will initially only be available on Nexus 6 handsets and will piggyback on Sprint and T-Mobile networks — it’ll switch between the two depending on which has the strongest signal. Most intriguing, however, is the revelation that the wireless service will let customers pay only for the data they consume per month. What’s more, it’ll also let you route calls and data through WiFi, which could reduce bills even further. There’s not much else we know about Google’s first stab at running its own phone service, but if its goal is to shake up the wireless industry, it looks like it certainly will.
Filed under: Google
Source: Wall Street Journal
Google brings multiple teacher function to Classroom
Google built Classroom to make education more efficient with technology and computers. They’ve slowly been adding new and useful features every once in awhile, and today the platform is getting a few new tricks.
The biggest update is the option to have multiple teachers for courses. Not all classes have just one teacher, and in many instances there will be a teacher’s assistant or something similar in a classroom. This update will allow administrators to have more than one instructor per class, each with teacher-level access.
The platform is also getting a handful of other new features, including the option to save assignments as drafts before sending them, grades that autosave as they’re entered, and better notification support for private assignments.
source: Google for Education
Come comment on this article: Google brings multiple teacher function to Classroom
Google is bringing Security Keys to Google Drive for Work users
For folks who are looking for a more intense security platform for their Google accounts (even more so than 2-factor authentication), Google has created a way to help keep your personal information away from thieves. It’s called Security Key, and it’s basically a physical USB key that instantly verifies your credentials without the need to input a passcode on your account.
We first heard about Google’s Security Key initiative back in October, and it looks like product will begin rolling out to more users over the next few weeks. Google has just announced that Google Drive for Work administrators will be able to deploy, monitor and manage the Security Key tool in their Admin console without installing any additional software.
Google explains:
IT admins will see where and when employees last used their keys with usage tracking and reports. If Security Keys are lost, admins can easily revoke access to those keys and provide backup codes so employees can still sign-in and get work done.
Administrators can order Security Keys from multiple online retailers or directly through manufacturers. Prices start at just $6 per key and range up to $120. Security Keys come in all different sizes, so be sure to let your Drive for Work admin know that there are many different options to choose from.
Google will now let you hunt for the Loch Ness Monster
Have you been in pursuit of the elusive Loch Ness Monster? Google will now help you look for this legendary creature through its interactive Street View maps. You can even go underwater and look for Nessie courtesy of Google’s partnership with Catlin Seaview Survey.
You can get a detailed view of the Loch Ness lake in these Street View images. Google has even managed to bundle in a bit of humor here by showing a Loch Ness Monster on the map every time you’re close to the mythical creature.
Click here to view the embedded video.
So if you’ve been looking for the Loch Ness Monster for long now, your search should get a lot more easier with these Street View images. Google started this off to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the popular “Surgeon’s photograph” which was said to be the first sighting of the monster.
This image was later revealed to be a hoax by several sources, but it is still highly regarded by many as the photo which started the debate in the first place. Head over to the link below for more details on what Google has done.
Source: Google-Latitude Longitude
Via: Pocket-Lint
Come comment on this article: Google will now let you hunt for the Loch Ness Monster
EU Commissioner denies any personal grudge against Google
Google is in the middle of an antitrust battle with the European Union, and the lawsuit has the potential to cost the company billions. It’s not a giant leap to assume the EU has a vendetta against Google for some reason, especially when other major government agencies like the FTC in the US have dismissed all of their antitrust investigations against the search engine, but the EU commissioner says that’s simply not the case.
Margrethe Vestager, competition commissioner of the European Union, says that she personally has no grudge against Google. She’s only interested in pursuing the company over their purported consumer domination.
On the subject of how regulations would be similar in other countries, Vestager said she wants to strengthen ties with other agencies to keep similar regulations in place so no one country would favor its own companies. Depending on how this ruling pans out, though, the US and Europe may have different stances on Google’s search engine tactics.
source: re/code
Come comment on this article: EU Commissioner denies any personal grudge against Google
Chrome for Android now supports push notifications
Many websites nowadays offer mobile apps to accompany their website, which allows them to be able to stay in touch better with their audiences. We do live in the information age after all, so it’s nice being able to get a notification when the latest Android news hits right on our homescreen or lockscreen. How else will we know when the latest flagships come out!?
Google though, being the game changer that it is, has announced a substantial update to the mobile version of Chrome, update 42, that is going to streamline the process of getting notifications from your favorite websites, that will, in time, make having to download a separate app a thing of the past.
Users will now be able to opt in to receive push notifications straight from Chrome, which will show up on the lockscreen (for lollipop users) or on the homescreen, just like any other kind of notification. Awesome, right?
As of right now though, not all websites are supported, as only some early adopters have updated their websites to support this feature. Some examples of early adopters are Beyond the Rack, eBay, Facebook, FanSided, Pinterest, Product Hunt, and VICE News. While this is a short list, many other websites are sure to follow within the new couple of months.
Another notable feature that comes with Chome 42 will be the ability to quickly add homescreen shortcuts directly from mobile-optimized website. Now you can quietly access your favorite sites without having to keep a tab open with it at all times.
Source: Chromium Blog
The post Chrome for Android now supports push notifications appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google’s mobile search prioritizes sites optimized for phones
Google announced in February that it would start highlighting mobile-friendly sites on phone searches — today, that update is finally here. Now, when you search Google on your phone, you’re more likely to see results that are optimized for smaller screens, rather than desktop sites that require a lot of tapping and zooming. Basically, it’s a kick in the pants to lazy web developers who haven’t yet catered to the growing number of mobile internet users. The update only applies to phones — not tablets — and Google notes that it affects individual pages, not entire sites. It also won’t stop desktop sites from showing up in mobile searches if they rank highly enough. You can test the mobile friendliness of your site with this test, or by running the Google’s Mobile Usability Report on your site. Naturally, if you don’t spruce up your site, you can expect a drop in mobile traffic from Google.
Source: Google
14 best Android apps for artists
Being an artist is a lot of fun. You can choose your medium and most platforms have support for most mediums. It’s also one of the few hobbies and jobs out there where you can express yourself how you want. Believe it or not, you can produce art from your Android devices with these great Android apps for artists.
Adobe Lightroom Mobile
[Price: Free (requires Creative Cloud subscription)]
There are many photographers who use Adobe Lightroom and now you can also use it on mobile. Adobe’s Lightroom app acts as an extension of the desktop version which means you’ll also need the Creative Cloud version of Lightroom to fully enjoy the mobile experience. That’s sure to chase some people away, but if you happen to use that software already, the app will let you edit raw files along with files from your Android device’s gallery. You can also use a limited number of Lightroom tools to enhance images. You can also sync everything to your desktop so you can use the Lightroom desktop application too.
Adobe Photoshop Touch
[Price: $4.99]
Adobe does have a Photoshop option for Android as well. Much like their Lightroom mobile app, the Photoshop app can’t hold a candle to the desktop version. However, it does contain some tools and effects that can enhance images to your liking. The app comes with painting effects, filter brushes, text effects (such as drop shadows), and syncing to the desktop version for heavier editing if need be. It also comes with a bit of Creative Cloud storage (2GB).
ArtFlow
[Price: Free / $4.99]
ArtFlow is a paint application that lets you, well, paint. It features a GPU-accelerated paint engine with over 70 brushes and tools, multiple layers, PSD/PNG/JPEG support, NVIDIA DirectStylus support, and many, many more features. It’s a very powerful paint app with a lot of features that you can use for free but you’ll have to pay to use everything. There is also Samsung S-Pen support for those rocking Samsung devices. It’s a lot of fun and worth a shot for painters.
Autodesk Sketchbook
[Price: Free / $3.99]
Autodesk is a well-known supplier of creative software and their Sketchbook Pro app is a long time mainstay in the artistic community. It boasts professional grade features including full-screen work spaces, up to 2500% zoom, more than 10 brushes, Dropbox support, and more features are unlockable by creating a (free) SketchBook account. If you pay for premium, you’ll have over 100 brushes, pencils, pens, markers, etc, layers, more advanced settings, and far more extra stuff. It’s about as close to a pro art tool as you can find on Android and it’s worth a shot.
Clover Paint
[Price: $7.56]
Clover Paint is another app that self-identifies as a professional grade drawing app. It features a rather complex layering system, plenty of drawing implements, selection tools, transform tools, and even custom hot keys. The only (potentially) negative thing about Clover Paint is the admittedly difficult learning curve. However, once you learn how to make your way around the app, it’s a fantastic and deep art app that has the potential to help you draw some excellent stuff.
Handy Art Reference Tool
[Price: $2.99 with in app purchases]
Okay, admittedly this one is a little bit niche. Handy Art Reference Tool is a tool that artists, colorists, and other artistic ventures can use to draw hands. The app shows you a hand (in various positions). You can then rotate the hand and change the lighting to get the proper lighting and shadows. This is useful because hands are admittedly difficult to draw and this helps you plan and reference a hand for you to draw. It’s been recommended by Tony Moore, co-creator of The Walking Dead, ImagineFX, and more professionals and $2.99 isn’t expensive for a good hand reference tool.
LayerPaint and LayerPaint HD
[Price: $2.00 / $8.00]
LayerPaint and LayerPaint HD are a couple of semi-pro animation applications. LayerPaint is for phones while LayerPaint HD is specifically made for tablets with 7-inch screens or larger. Both versions have various tools and brushes to create amazing pieces of art although this seems to be more of an animation app than something for painters. The tablet version comes with some additional features including support for NVIDIA and Samsung styluses. Some people have said that the phone version still isn’t great on the phone, but it’s almost universally enjoyed on tablets.
NVIDIA Dabbler
[Price: Free]
NVIDIA Dabbler is the stock painting app that comes on the NVIDIA Shield Tablet. It has direct support for its stylus and includes a decent selection of brushes, canvas types, and more. It has some fun effects like realistic watercolor and oil painting. It also has some unique features like the ability to record sessions and share/save for future reference. It doesn’t have the sheer feature set that you’ll find in something like LayerPaint, Clover Paint, or SketchBook Pro, but it’s good for hobbyists and those who own an NVIDIA Shield Tablet.
Pose Tool 3D (3 total apps)
[Price: $6.99 each]
The Pose Tool 3D collection is a reference tool that artists can use to draw various things. The regular Pose Tool 3D focuses on the human body. You can contort, change, and move things around to get the pose you want so you can draw it in your comic, drawing, etc. The other two are for Manga (anime and manga style character poses) and Horse (for horses). The apps for a little expensive but they are considered the best 3D reference tools on Android and we agree with that assessment. If you draw, these are worth a second look.
RoughAnimator
[Price: $2.99]
RoughAnimator is a long time favorite here at Android Authority and it even made our list of the best indie apps of 2014. This is an animation application where you can draw each frame and then combine the frames to create a cartoon. Drawings can be as complex or as a simple as you want. You have unlimited layers, onion skinning, and even the ability to import audio so you can incorporate voice overs. It also comes with S-Pen support (and other pressure sensitive styluses and devices) and you can export to QuickTime video, GIF, or image sequence. It’s not 100% pro grade, but it’s definitely more than good enough for most people.
Silk paints drawing
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Silk paints drawing isn’t a professional grade art app like others, but it’s still a lot of fun for those who want to do something a little bit different. It has direct support with Samsung’s S-Pen and PEN.UP apps so this is best suited for those running a Touchwiz device. Some other fun features include the ability to create, animate, and set your own live wallpaper, multiple brushes, and more. As stated, this isn’t professional grade, but it’s still fun to get a project started if you want something a little less intense.
SketchBook Express
[Price: Free]
SketchBook Express is the totally free version of Autodesk’s SketchBook Pro. As such, it has some of the features of the full version including up to 2500% zoom, layer support (3 layers), 15 preset brushes, and more. Obviously, the pro version is better but this one is totally free to use. That makes it not just a good app for artists on a budget who don’t need all the features, but also a good way to preview the software in case you’re thinking of buying it.
Sketcher PRO
[Price: $0.99 (on sale)]
Sketcher Pro is another sketch app for those artists with a light wallet. It doesn’t have the gargantuan number of features that others have, but there is still a decent selection. There are 12 brushes, basic tools, multiple modes, and you can even order physical prints of your artwork sent to your door for an extra cost. It’s a tad more simple than most but completes well with something like SketchBook Express. It’s on sale at the time of this writing so the $0.99 cost will go up after a while.
Sketch Master
[Price: Free]
Last on our list is also one of the few free options and it’s called Sketch Master. Much like the other free selections, Sketch Master is a bit limited but still has seven brushes, unlimited layers, various editing tools, import from various places, and various color options. Pros will likely need something more complex and deep but semi pros and hobbyists should see enough here to keep them engaged.
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android apps for artists, let us know in the comments! Recommendations are always welcome. If you use a Samsung or NVIDIA device (or any other device with an integrated stylus), don’t forget to check out the stock sketch and drawing apps for those devices because they may have some features that support that specific stylus that these others may not!
To see our complete list of Android apps and games lists, click here!
YouTube app support pulled for old Google TV versions
Google has announced that it has begun shutting down YouTube app support for older Google TV devices as of yesterday, which will complete by the end of the month. Specifically, devices running Google TV versions 1 or 2, as well as some older smart TVs, will be affected.
Select devices manufactured in 2012 and earlier, including Sony TVs & Blu-ray Discs, Panasonic TVs & Blu-ray Discs, older iOS devices, and devices running older versions of Google TV will all be affected by the change. However, you can probably still access YouTube through your TV’s web browser, as long as it supports HTML5. If you’re affected by the change, a notification, like the one above, will pop up when you next launch the app.
As we upgrade the YouTube Data API to bring more features, we’ll begin shutting down the old version on April 20, 2015. This will result in the current YouTube app not working on certain device models from 2012 and older.
The drop in support comes as Google is updating its YouTube API, which will bring new features to the platform. Users with more modern Google TV devices and SmartTVs produced after 2013 will be able to update to a new version of the app. Newer Android TV devices are also unaffected by the change.
Google’s post also contains some tips on how to update your device to the latest software version.
Retirement of old API results in Google TV versions 1 & 2 losing access to YouTube app
YouTube is an app that many of us take for granted, it seems to be available on virtually every electronic device from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and smart televisions. According to an updated support document, though, the range of supported devices will shrink a little from the end of April thanks to the retirement of YouTube’s old Data API.
YouTube’s old Data API will start shutting down from April 20th. The range of devices that will be unable to access the YouTube app include selected devices manufactured in 2012 or earlier. The list includes:
Sony TVs & Blu-ray Discs, Panasonic TVs & Blu-ray Discs, older iOS devices, and devices running older versions of Google TV.
The support document does offer a few solutions if you own one of the affected devices. If you have a Google TV device running version 3 or 4, you can simply upgrade the YouTube app via the Google Play app. Google TV devices running version 1 or 2 are sadly out of luck.
If your smart TV or game console has a web browser that supports Flash or HTML 5, you should be able to carry on using viewing the site’s content simply by visiting YouTube.com.
This also affects our friends using Apple devices. If, for some reason, you are using an Apple TV version 2 or older, you are also out of luck. iOS devices with version 7 or above can simply update the YouTube app or visit m.youtube.com via the browser.
It’s always a bummer when your device gets kicked to the kerb, buts it’s the price of progress, I guess. One positive is that it gives you a reason to go out and buy a shiny new gadget, and that’s a great excuse to have, isn’t it?
Source: YouTube
Via: AndroidCentral
Come comment on this article: Retirement of old API results in Google TV versions 1 & 2 losing access to YouTube app
AIVAnet 