Google releases standalone apps for Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Up until today, Google Drive would be the go-to app to find anything stored in the cloud. Editing documents has always been pretty difficult through the app, and that’s why Google has just released Google Docs and Google Sheets as standalone apps.
These work just like you would imagine. They’re the mobile-friendly version of desktop site, and neither of them are really sacrificing any functionality when it comes to the new apps. They even come with Offline Mode, much like we’ve seen in Google Drive.
Drive will also begin to prompt users to download the respective apps if they try to do any editing from Drive. So, to save yourself some trouble, get to downloading!
Google also note that a standalone Google Slides app is on its way.
Hit the download links below!
Source: Google Drive
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Google releasing standalone apps for editing word docs, spreadsheets and presentations
Google’s long had a Drive app for both Android and iOS, but who knows, maybe you just can’t handle that many features in one program. If for some reason you’re the kind of person who only wants to edit word documents and never see another spreadsheet again (not that we blame you), Google just released standalone Docs and Sheets apps for Android and iOS. In addition, the company is coming out with a Sheets app for presentations, though that isn’t available just yet. If all you want is a text editor or spreadsheet repository, though, you’ll find the appropriate download links below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Google, Google Play (1), (2), App Store (1), (2)
Google’s Nexus 6 is said to be based on the LG G3
The LG G3 may not be released just yet, but it seems that the upcoming flagship device by LG may be forming the basis for the next Nexus 6 by Google if recent reports are anything to go by.
Whilst the Nexus 6 is touted for the second half of 2014, not much else is known about the device, but it seems LG will continue their partnership with Google and the hardware will be based around the LG G3, with the addition of an integrated fingerprint sensor.
If true, the Nexus 6 could follow the design language of the LG G3 with the slimmer bezels, but is likely to only feature a 5.2-inch screen at 1440 x 2560 resolution, as opposed to the rumoured 5.5-inch of the LG G3, which would give sufficient room for a fingerprint sensor placed on the front of the device much like the Galaxy S5, without increasing the size of the device too much.
It’s also thought that the Snapdragon 805 SoC with a quad-core 2.7 GHz 450 CPU and Adreno 420 GPU will power the Nexus 6, as Qualcomm state their chips will be seen powering devices in the second half of 2014.
If all this is true, the Nexus 6 is shaping up to be one mighty device.
SOURCE: AndroidGeeks
The post Google’s Nexus 6 is said to be based on the LG G3 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sony’s Evolution UI tries to make learning Android fun
Ever get “ghost hands,” where you’re always trying to take the smartphone away from a novice to show them how it’s done? Well, Sony is working on something a little more polite. The company has announced Evolution UI, an intentionally hobbled Android launcher that forces you to perform perfunctory tasks before you can properly use the device. For instance, when you first launch the system, you’ll only be able to access the dialer, SMS app, browser and camera. If you wanted to open the app drawer, however, you’d have to earn it as an achievement by starting and closing five apps in quick succession. The idea is to turn discovering your phone’s features into a series of console-style achievements and unlocks.
At the moment, Evolution UI is just a research project that’s been kicking around Sony’s headquarters. That said, the company has released the launcher to GitHub for others in the open source community to play around with. In practice, it feels as if the system could frustrate anyone but the most green technology users. That’s why if it ever does come to retail hardware, we’d be looking for the off switch — if we had to go through all of these hoops every time we opened a new device, we’d quickly develop a condition far worse than “ghost hands.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Sony, Google
Via: Android Beat
Google no longer mining student Gmail accounts for targeted ads
Google makes no bones about scanning our emails for advertising purposes, but the company has suddenly become a bit more timid when it comes prying into students’ messages. According to the WSJ, Google has stopped scanning the 30 million accounts that are registered under its free-of-charge Google Apps for Education program. These users — including students, teachers and administrators — were never actually shown ads, but their personal information was still collected so that Google could make use of it for targeted advertising elsewhere on the web. The decision to stop collecting this data could well have something to do with a lawsuit started in California last year, in which students claimed Google’s monitoring violated wiretap laws. Even if the search giant isn’t too worried about that specific case, it may well fear the bad PR that has started to stem from it.
Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: WSJ
Google Glass can now tell when you take calls using only your phone
Google isn’t done upgrading Glass this month just because the KitKat update is out the door. It’s rolling out another release this week that should be huge for frequent callers and photographers. The wearable tech will at last be smart enough to know when you’re using your phone to make or receive a call, even when Glass itself is idle; you won’t miss out on a chat just because the eyepiece is sitting on your desk. It’ll also be possible to back up photos and videos when away from WiFi, and you can clear those shots from your timeline when you’re done. There should be more voice commands to accommodate third-party apps, as well. It’s not clear exactly when the update hits, but it should give the surge of new Glass owners one more thing to look forward to.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Source: Google Glass (Google+), Google Developers
You can now use Chromecast to share your Google Drive Presentation
Google’s inexpensive dongle can do a lot of things. Whether it be streaming music or a variety of video programming, the Chromecast is capable of handling it all — and don’t forget live TV is coming soon, too. But while having these entertainment options is nice, sometimes you have to be, you know, productive. Thankfully, it looks like you can start using the $35 dongle to send some of your work to a separate screen near you.
As spotted by Android Police, Google has quietly added an option within Drive that lets you push your Presentation to Chromecast. We looked into it ourselves and can confirm that said feature is indeed there, via the “Present on another device” menu. Technically, you could already do something similar by simply casting the entire browser, but this gives you an alternative that’s actually optimized for Presentations. And don’t be surprised by the fact there hasn’t been a formal announcement, since Google’s been known to do things unexpectedly from time to time. Either way, you can give it a try now — just be sure to have the Cast extension installed, as you’ll need that in order for this to work.
Source: Android Police
Spotify for Android welcomes a darker theme in latest redesign
Earlier this month, Spotify let it be known that it would be implementing a redesign across its desktop and mobile properties, which it described as being the most dramatic change since 2008. As part of this, those of you with an Android device can now, finally, see what iOS users have been enjoying for the better part of April. Aside from featuring a darker theme, Spotify’s latest redesign is also about putting more content in front of you, meaning that albums and tracks are now better highlighted throughout the application.
Back when it was announced, Spotify said the philosophy behind the cleaner design was about getting it “just right,” so it was important to get a consistent (and flat) look on every platform on which its music service is available. The Android update is said to be rolling out as we speak; if you don’t feel like waiting, however, you can grab it directly from the Spotify website.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google Play
EU prevents Motorola and Samsung from suing over standards-based patents
The patent wars are about to cool down in Europe… a little bit, anyway. The European Commission has revealed measures that prevent both Motorola and Samsung from using lawsuits over standards-based patents as offensive weapons against competitors, rather than last-ditch options when negotiations fail. To start, the regulator has ordered Motorola to cut out any “anticompetitive” terms in patent licensing deals with Apple and other companies. Motorola is allegedly abusing its control of cellular patents by forbidding companies from contesting those patents’ validity; companies and their customers shouldn’t be forced to pay for licenses that might not hold up in court, the Commission says. Motorola won’t pay a fine for the claimed violation since there’s no precedent, but the phone maker now can’t threaten a lawsuit simply because Apple wants to challenge the patents it’s licensing.
Samsung, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for the EU to take unilateral action. The tech giant has made an agreement with the Commission that prevents it from demanding injunctions over standards-essential patents for the next five years, matching a proposal it made in October. Samsung now has to negotiate royalty rates with any would-be licensee for up to a year. If there’s still no deal after that, an arbitrator or court makes the final call.
Neither the Samsung pact nor the Motorola decision will affect European lawsuits over regular patents, including those that arguably prompted the standards-related suits in the first place. They also won’t help with any related claims in the US. However, the EU’s steps should have firms thinking twice before they add more legal disputes to the ever-growing pile — and that’s good news for those of us who’d rather see companies duke it out in the marketplace instead of the courtroom.
[Image credit: European Parliament, Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Google
Source: European Union (1), (2)
Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition $200 off right now, get one for $449
It seems there is a hefty debate underway around the web about the future of the Android Silver program that is apparently headed our way. The whole concept is to bring premium flagship handsets (insert HTC, Sony, LG, Samsung) to consumers with a pure Android experience and none of the carrier bloat or OEM bloat (with the exception of certain things that are needed for specific hardware to work ie duo-camera) We have been watching that seemingly unfold when the Galaxy S4, HTC One M7 and Sony Z Ultra made their way to the Play Store in Google Play Editions. The concept is good, but it is being met with push back from Nexus lovers everywhere. If the talks aren’t enough to get the juices flowing though, how about this little gem of information. The Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition just went on sale.
The Sony Z Ultra GPE, as you can see, is a pure Android powered device that was sitting pretty hefty at $649. Right now it is only $449. Tie that in with the Android Silver program and you could see how this could really work out for us all.
The Z Ultra is a pretty slick little device too. A 6.4-inch 1920 x 1080 full HD screen, all the best of Sony technology, Snapdragon 800 Quad Core processor at 2.2 GHz, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage and micro SD card slot. Oh, and it is on Android 4.4, of course.
It certainly seems that if Android Silver is what is to come, that Google has more than enough ability to bring it to consumers the right way. $449 isn’t a bad price at all for an unlocked GPE device with these specs. This could just be a way to clear out inventory and make way for something new too though. Perhaps a Xperia Z2 GPE? In my dreams. Either way, check it out in the Play Store.
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