Google’s letting armchair monster hunters explore Loch Ness
For decades, people have searched for signs of “Nessie” in the murky depths of Loch Ness. Photos and videos have emerged over the years alongside supposed sightings, but they’ve ultimately failed to prove the mythical beast’s existence. Is Nessie fact or fiction? Regardless of where you stand, Google is making it simpler to explore the freshwater loch yourself. The company has captured the giant lake with 360-degree panoramas and uploaded them all to Google Maps Street View. It’s a beautiful place, and while you’re unlikely to find Nessie lurking in the shallows, there’s no harm in looking, right?
[Image Credit: Getty Creative/ Keystone]
Filed under: Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google
YouTube app will soon stop working on older smart TVs and iOS devices
If you own a smart TV or an iOS device that’s getting a bit long in the tooth, you may need to do some upgrading this week if you want to continue using the YouTube app. Due to certain changes in the app’s API, it’ll no longer work on a number of models released in 2012 or earlier, including second-generation Apple TVs, Panasonic TVs, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players, as well as devices running Google TV versions 1 or 2. You’ll know you’re affected if a video showing the notice above plays upon firing up the app, though most models released in 2013 or later are safe.
Now, if you want continued access to the YouTube app, you’ll have to update iPhones, iPads and iPods to iOS 7, at least. Third-gen Apple TVs need a platform upgrade, as well, while Google TV version 3 or 4 devices need the latest app update available on Google Play. Just because your product is too old for upgrades doesn’t mean you’ll have to bid your YouTube binges farewell, though. The website still loads on Safari (even on older iOS devices) or on any smart TV browser than supports flash/HTML5.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Google
Via: Android Central
Source: YouTube Help
Google wants you to download your web search history
Wondering what you were searching for online a few years ago? You now have a (relatively) easy way to find out. Google has quietly trotted out an option to download your entire search history. So long as you searched using your Google account, you’ll have a permanent record. Of course, this is something of a mixed blessing given how pervasive Google is at this stage. While the archive may help you dig up a keyword you’re struggling to remember, something tells us that it’d be all too easy to dredge up embarrassing memories — we hope you didn’t Google your classroom crush.
Via: Google Operating System, CNET
Source: Google Web history
Chrome’s push notifications reach your Android phone
Chrome’s website push notifications are no longer confined to your desktop — they now surface on your phone, too. Grab Chrome 42 for Android and you can opt into alerts from websites that show up no matter what you’re doing. You won’t have to worry about missing out on breaking news, even if your favorite sites don’t have dedicated apps. You’ll also have an easier time adding home screen shortcuts for those sites if you always want them close at hand. It’ll be a while before many of the sites you frequent can deliver notifications (eBay, Facebook and Pinterest are some of the early adopters), but it’s worth upgrading now to get ready.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: Chromium Blog, Google Play
Chrome team discusses latest Chrome 42 update for Android
Last week Google released an update to Chrome for Android taking it up to version 42. At the time it was noted that a couple new features were added, including support for push notifications and quick home screen icon creation. The Chrome developers have followed up on that release with some more information about how and why they see these additions as a step forward for the browser.
One of the main goals the Chrome team is pursuing is to increase engagement between users and the companies or individuals behind the sites they visit. The Chrome developers recognized this created a balancing situation for developers who had to decide between the reach of mobile web site and the engagement provided by a native app. The addition of push notification support is meant to augment that second criteria by saving users the effort of manually checking a site for updates. Instead, the site can function more like a native app.
According to the Chrome team, users can expect to see some early adopters like Beyond the Rack, eBay, Facebook, FanSided, Pinterest, Product Hunt, and VICE News start to roll out support for push notifications over the next few weeks.
As mentioned when version 42 was released, the Chrome team also added some new capabilities so that users can quickly and easily setup an icon on their homescreen to launch the browser directly to a site. The browser developers felt this would be an easy way for users to get back into their favorite sites, especially when they are just passing time while commuting or waiting in line. The Chrome developers do indicate that sites have to be “modern, mobile-optimized” sites, like Flipboard or Medium, to have this option available for users. If present, the browser will provide the user with a one tap button that will create an icon on their device homescreen.
source: Chromium Blog
Come comment on this article: Chrome team discusses latest Chrome 42 update for Android
Google Search history now downloadable
Last year Google started testing an option for users to download their search history instead of just viewing it in their browser. Google appears to have now rolled out this feature to all users. If you surf to your history, accessible at history.google.com, you can click on the settings icon in the upper right corner and you should see an option to Download. According to a statement from Google,
“You can download all of your saved search history to see a list of the terms you’ve searched for. This gives you access to your data when and where you want. When you download your past searches, a copy of your history will be saved securely to the Takeout folder in Google Drive. You can download the files to your computer if you want a copy on your computer.”
When Google finishes processing an account’s history, an email will be sent notifying the user the file is ready for download. Since search histories can include some sensitive information, Google advises users to use 2-step verification on their accounts and to be sure they will not be forced to leave the file behind on a computer they no longer have access to, like a work computer.
The file that Google delivers is a zip file that contains JSON files. Based on a sample, it appears Google packs three months worth of data into each JSON file.
source: Google Operating System Blog
Come comment on this article: Google Search history now downloadable
Android Wear getting big update with Wi-Fi, always-on apps, and more
Google is expanding the feature set of Android Wear with Wi-Fi support, always-on applications, support for drawing emoji, and changes to the way you access apps and contacts.
Here are the features and changes listed in a post on Google’s Android blog:
Always-on apps
You could always set a watch face to be always-on, so the screen doesn’t turn off when you’re not looking at it, and now Google is extending the same functionality to all apps. This means you will be able to set an app (e.g. Google Maps or Keep) to keep the screen on in a special black-and-white dim mode, designed to save battery life. Now you won’t have to turn the display on each time you want to glance at, say, your groceries list.
Wi-Fi support
Android Wear now supports watches with built-in Wi-Fi and the good part is the watch doesn’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as the smartphone. That means that, for instance, you can leave your phone on the charger on your desk and go out and about, and still get notifications from it, as long as both devices are connected to the internet.
New gesture for apps and contacts
Previously, accessing the apps on your device required several swipes and taps, which made it feel a bit cumbersome. Now getting to the app screen is as easy as tapping on the time, while accessing contacts is done by swiping to the left. Voice commands are accessible through another swipe.
Emoji drawings
You know that neat handwriting app that Google just launched in the Play Store last week? It lets you convert your scribbling into emoji, not just letters, and now the same features is available on Android Wear. So, for instance, you can doodle a heart or a smiley face to quickly answer to a message with the respective emoji. Sweet.
New way to flick through cards
For those times when you can’t use two hands, but you still need to go through your Google Now cards, a new wrist twist gesture lets you do just that.
Google says these new features will be hitting all seven current Android Wear smartwatches, “over the next few weeks,” with the swanky LG Watch Urbane being first in line. Stay tuned for a hands-on as soon as the update hits one of our devices.
Let us know your thoughts on these new features!
Android Wear gets major update with Wi-Fi support, always-on apps, emojis and more
All Android Wear watches will be receiving a major update over the next few weeks, and there are a lot of goodies.
The first one, which was already expected is the support for Wi-Fi. There are often times when you might forget your phone at home or you walk too far away from it within your own house. Now with Wi-Fi support, your watch will always have a connection so you don’t have to worry about missing any notifications.
With many watches offering an always-on display for watch faces, Google is adding support for always-on apps as well. There might be times in which you need to see an app for a longer period of time and that’s exactly where this new feature will come in handy. You even get full color. I am not sure exactly what Google is adding to the code because there are already apps that stay on all the time until I close it. Examples of such apps include Wear Codes and Coffee Time.
Next up seems Apple-watch like with the ability to draw emojis that you can send via message or text.
One of the biggest complaints with Android Wear has been the process in starting an app without voice. Google has added an adjustment in that when you tap on the watch face, you will get a list of apps that you can open right away. Swipe to the left and you will see favorite contacts, and swipe one more time, and you will see the familiar “Speak Now” screen that you get now.
All in all, this looks like a pretty good update. As I mentioned already, the update will roll out to all seven watches in the next few weeks. The LG Watch Urbane will be the first to get the update though.
source: Google
Come comment on this article: Android Wear gets major update with Wi-Fi support, always-on apps, emojis and more
Your Android Wear devices will work even when your phone’s at home
There’s a new kid on the smartwatch block, which means that Google needs to make sure that its own gear is ready for the challenge. That’s why the company is pushing out new features to its Android Wear devices in the coming weeks. The biggest addition is probably WiFi support that’ll let you connect to your smartphone even if it isn’t in your pocket. Should you, for instance, head out to the coffee shop and leave your phone at home, then you’ll still receive notifications as long as both are connected to the internet.
As you can see in the GIF above, another big addition is the ability to cycle through cards without getting fingerprint marks on the screen. Simply flick your wrist away from your body to move forward and do the opposite to take a step back should you miss anything. Google has also enabled apps to take advantage of the always-on display and you can respond to messages with emoji straight from your wrist. The rollout will begin with LG’s Watch Urbane and will spread across the rest of the range in the next few weeks.
Filed under: Wireless, Software, Google, LG
Source: Google
Elon Musk nearly sold Tesla to Google in 2013
Tesla frequently comes across as a fiercely independent automaker, but that wasn’t always the case… at least, if you ask Bloomberg. Its sources claim that Elon Musk almost secured a deal for Google to buy Tesla in early 2013, when vehicle sales were tanking so badly that Tesla closed its factory. Reportedly, the deal would have kept Musk in charge of his company for eight years, or until Tesla’s mainstream electric car (the Model 3) was on the road. It fell apart simply because Tesla became successful — a last-ditch effort to close Model S sales paid off during the negotiation period, eliminating that need for a lifeline.
Spokespeople from either side aren’t willing to comment on the rumor. Google chief Larry Page, who supposedly shook hands with Musk on the tentative agreement, even goes so far as to claim that a car maker is “far from what Google knows.” That’s an ironic statement given Google’s heavy investment in self-driving electric cars, though, so we wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss talk of a failed buyout.
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Source: Bloomberg
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