Google’s Android emulator is ready to help developers make 64-bit apps
There’s a lot to look forward to in Android’s next major update, but hardware nerds are focusing in one one key feature: official support for 64-bit mobile chips. It’s the mobile OS’ inevitable future, and chip-makers have been preparing for it for quite awhile. Now app developers can jump in, too: Google announced today that a x86 64-bit Android L developer preview emulator image is available for developers that want to take their apps to the next generation. Not every dev will need to rebuild, however — apps built in Java will automatically benefit from the 64-bit release’s increased accessibility to memory and registers. Choose another language? Well, you’ll need to recompile: head over to the source to start testing your apps in 64-bit.
Filed under: Google
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Chromecast’s custom backgrounds are finally here
Google initially promised a summer release for Backdrops at I/O, but once we passed the autumn solstice it was anyone’s guess when the Chromecast feature would arrive. But hey, it’s rolling out now and that’s what matters, right? To use your own G+ photos, those from the Google Cultural Institute, New York Times and more as new idle screens for the HDMI dongle it sounds pretty simple. Jump into the Chromecast app on your mobile device and futz around with the Backdrop settings to choose which sources you’d like for the photos. Boom; that’s apparently it, according to the outfit. If something pops onscreen that you’re interested in (maybe a satellite image of an island you’d never seen before) and you want more info, just ask “Okay Google, what’s on my Chromecast?” into the Google app on your device. Pretty handy if you ask us. Just think: now you can use the biggest screen in the house to get people to finally check out your collection of Auto Awesome shots.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Google
Via: Google+
Source: Chrome blog
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Tour one of Earth’s grandest deserts in Google Street View
Visiting a large desert in person can be difficult. Roads will only take you so far, and you probably aren’t used to navigating gigantic sand dunes. Thankfully, you no longer have to plan a whole adventure just to see this austere beauty at ground level. Google has used camel-mounted Trekker cameras to bring Street View to Liwa, an oasis-laden desert in the southern end of the United Arab Emirates. The move gives you 360-degree panoramas of everything from massive dunes (up to 131 feet high) to date farms. This won’t compare to making the trip yourself, but it’ll probably be much more comfortable.
Via: Google Maps
Source: Google Views
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Google’s latest Chromebook update makes it easy to juggle multiple accounts
Has your company bought into Google’s pitch for a Chrome-powered office? Then this update is for you: Google just announced a handful of Chromebook features specifically for office environments, including the ability to easily switch between personal accounts and your organization’s credential-secured account. The enhanced identity features primarily focus on enabling the SAML standard used by common enterprise authorization providers, but a new multiple sign-in mode allows that security to live alongside your personal Google account — possibly enabling users to bring their own Chromebooks to the office with relative ease. The update tacks on a handful of other business-specific features too, including better IT management for network certification and web app provisions, improved virtualization solutions from Citrix and VMware and a new annual subscription plan of $50 per device per year. Sound like it could improve your work life? Forward the source link (below) to your IT manager and get the ball rolling.
Source: Google
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Google reportedly working on bite-sized app trials for Android
While Android has soared, Google Play has struggled a bit. Customers don’t buy nearly as many apps, songs or movies as their counterparts using iOS. According to The Information, Mountain View is working to change that with a new app trial program. Since users are hesitant to throw down money (even just $0.99) for an app without ever using it, Google is planning to offer free bite-sized trials. Rather than downloading and installing the entire app, you could pull down just a piece as a “micro app.” You might even be able to select which feature or part of the app you want to try. Obviously the hope would then be that you would love the app and throw some cash at the developer (which Google would get to keep a cut of). The smaller downloads would save time and bandwidth as well, making the trial a much smaller commitment. As for how it might work, we’re not sure. Though the company recently debuted a new way to update apps that only downloads the parts that have changed — again saving precious minutes and megabytes on your data plan.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
Source: The Information
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Google’s search app now reminds you to pay your bills
You might not have to set reminders to pay your bills on time in the future. After a bit of testing with a limited audience, Google has updated its mobile search app to show both upcoming and past bills it finds in your Gmail. So long as a notice mentions both the due date and the amount you owe, it’ll show above regular web results. If you’ve ever fretted over racking up late fees, you’ll probably want to start using this right away.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Via: Wall Street Journal
Source: Google (G+)
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Google offers three months free Now TV streaming to UK Chromecast owners
Every now and again, Google likes to give something back to Chromecast owners. In July, it celebrated the streaming dongle’s first birthday by offering a free 90-day subscription to Google Play Music All Access, but now it’s now decided to provide UK streamers with more of a visual treat. If you head on over to Google’s Chromecast Offers site right now, you’ll be offered a free three month Entertainment Pass for Now TV, allowing you to stream all 13 of Sky’s pay TV channels live or on-demand. Sky’s streaming service hasn’t been available on the Chromecast all that long, so now might be the time to see what it’s all about.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google
Source: Google Chromecast Offers
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Google mobile app gets updated again
It wasn’t so long ago we all downloaded the Google Search app on our phones and were excited to have a dedicated search app from our favorite search engine. But, as Google kept growing, the Google Search app grew too, in fact, it grew right out of its name. With the addition of Google Now, and the expanded role the search app was taking on our phone the Google Search name became less and less relevant.
A few weeks ago Google quietly updated the Google Search app and gave it a much more appropriate name, Google. And, just yesterday, the Google mobile app was updated again with a handy new function.
From Google,
When you can’t remember whether you’ve paid your bills—or you simply can’t remember how much money you need to pay—you can now just ask Google. Tap the mic on the Google app (g.co/googleapp) and say, “Show me my bills” or “My bills due this week.” If you have the payment due date and amount in your Gmail, you’ll see a quick summary of upcoming and past bills.
Deals, Discounts, Freebies, and More! Click here to save today!
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Google Play lets you pre-order movies before they leave theaters
A number of internet video stores (including iTunes) have let you pre-order movies for a while, but not Google Play — you’ve had to mark the release on your calendar to get a hot flick ASAP. Don’t worry about being so dutiful in the future, though. Google has switched on movie pre-orders for Google Play users in the US; you now just have to find the title you want to see and click a button to reserve it. Other countries will get the feature “soon,” Google says. It’s a pretty straightforward addition, but it could be very helpful if you’re determined to score a copy of Gone Girl while you’re still in the theater parking lot.
Excited about a film that’s still in theaters? Pre-order @GoneGirlMovie, @Guardians, and more! http://t.co/24go5ka6ye pic.twitter.com/3zppNUXwb0
– Google Play (@GooglePlay) October 7, 2014
Filed under: Internet, HD, Google
Via: Google Play (Twitter), (Google+)
Source: Google Play
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Google’s News and Weather app is now available on iOS
Dig Google’s card-based interfaces, but still in love with iOS? Don’t worry — the company has just ported another one of its Android apps to Apple’s platform: Google News and Weather is now available for iOS users. Like the Android version, this app curates headlines and weather from 65,000 sources and can be set to track weather conditions in multiple locations. It has the same swipe-able card system too, though the iOS version seems to distinguish itself with a darker color scheme. The app is available for all iOS devices running 7.0 or later, and it’s already optimized for both the iPhone 5 and 6. Check it out at the source link below.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple, Google
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: App Store
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