The new HTC One is available in Google Play and Developer editions
Do you lust after the machined aluminum body of the new HTC One but hate locked bootloaders? Would you rather vanilla Android instead of Sense? Well, good news it’ll be available in both a Developer and Google Play edition. The Developer version is the same device you’re able to get form your carrier, more or less, except that it’ll be SIM unlocked and you’ll be free to flash whatever software or ROM you want. The Play Edition obviously forgoes all that Sense business, and instead will ship with a relatively unmolested copy of Android 4.4.2. We say relatively because it will be able to take advantage of the One’s Duo Camera, which requires tapping into HTC’s APIs. Both will be available for preorder today, March 25th, with the Developer Edition selling for $650 direct from HTC’s site, while Google will be hawking the Play Edition for $699.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC, Google
Augmented reality concept uses Google Glass to make reading the newspaper more like… reading a website
As part of the Wearable Tech Expo 2014 in Tokyo, the Asahi Shimbun is looking to offer richer content to users still reading its dead tree editions. The ‘AIR’ concept uses wearable du jour Google Glass to both detect physical markers and display any digital companion content. According to Asahi’s Media Lab, the concept’s aim is to better broadcast and convey “emotional” content: a picture of Winter Olympics skater Asada Mao gets picked up and Google Glass barrels into a slideshow, alongside a stirring soundtrack. (She had announced her retirement, and apparently her many fans were very upset.)
It’s about connecting anyone who reads the (actual, physical) newspaper to everything that doesn’t make it on to the page, whether that’s more photos, related articles, or video. There’s no release date for AIR — to begin with, Google Glass isn’t even available in Japan — and it simply mimics, to a large degree, what we’ve already seen from augmented reality apps on smartphones. However, this wearable-based delivery method makes more sense, with no need to hover your smartphone camera over points of interest. The team didn’t mention who powers the detection software, although the recent news that Layar has brought its APK to the Google wearable could well be connected.
The software can also pick up physical objects, and direct users through to related video and site content, although it can be a little temperamental. Our model had a thing for the spring rolls positioned at the demo booth, even when we were looking elsewhere. Hey, we all like spring rolls.
HTC’s new One will also come as a minimalist Google Play Edition
With HTC’s big launch looming later today, some apps for the new One handset have started dropping prematurely on the Google Play Store. One of those apps, HTC Gallery, is especially interesting because its accompanying text confirms that, aside from the regular phone, there’ll also be the option of a clutter-free Google Play Edition. It looks like this edition will be available soon, perhaps coinciding with the main launch, without the lag we saw with the Google-fied version of the old One. Whenever it arrives, those who opt for this edition will be able to pick and choose from HTC’s software offerings, including Blinkfeed (the company’s news-focused homepage), Sense TV (the TV remote app) and presumably at least one camera-related app that can take advantage of the new model’s rumored selling point: a depth-sensing camera. Stay tuned at around 11am ET (8am PT, 5pm UK) for all the official news and pricing.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: Android Central
Source: HTC Gallery
Ray-Ban and Oakley are working with Google Glass
Google only recently announced versions of its Glass headset attached to conventional specs and sunglasses (shown above), but a new partnership with Luxottica — the company behind brands including Oakley and Ray-Ban — will give it a significant boost. Described as a strategic partnership to “design, develop and distribute” Glass eyewear, the promise headsets that “that straddle the line between high-fashion, lifestyle and innovative technology.” Oakley has shown off its own heads-up display equipped goggles already, and one wonders if the two projects will merge or continue separate development. Andrea Guerra, CEO of Luxottica Group, says his company is proud to “set the pace in the eyewear industry once again,” but offers few details on how or when that will happen, with more info to be released later.
The Google Glass G+ post is a bit more revealing, highlighting Luxottica’s more than 5,000 retail locations and distribution channels that will come in handy later. Of course, those big name brands will also help Glass expand beyond the 40 or so variations offered currently in its Titanium Collection (seen in the gallery below) and make the product something people don’t want to snatch off of your face. Google’s “Captain of Moonshots” Astro Teller sees the deal as a way to push “smart eyewear” forward — although wearers may want to wait for the law to catch up.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Source: Luxottica, Google Glass (G+)
Daily Roundup: NSA spies on Huawei, Google Now for Chrome and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
NSA spied on Huawei founder’s emails to implicate him as a Communist Party insider
The New York Times managed to get a glimpse of documents suggesting that the NSA was hacking into the email account of Huawei founder, Ren Zhengfei. Apparently the government has been creating “back doors” in the company’s systems since 2009.
Google’s Photowall for Chromecast lets you doodle on photos, beam them to your TV
Google’s new app, called Photowall, lets Chromecast owners beam images and doodles straight to their TV. The iOS and Android apps are available now, so download away. And don’t worry WP8 users, there’s a web app too.
Google Now officially lands in Chrome
The power of Now has finally landed in Google’s Chrome. Basically, it works the same way that it does on your smartphone, though cards pop up from your OSes notification area.
iTunes Radio now streams the news, thanks to NPR
Earlier today, NPR announced that it joined iTunes Radio as the music streaming service’s first news channel. It may be the exclusive station for iDevice users at the moment, but we expect that won’t last for long.
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Google Search on Android now warns you when traffic grinds to a halt
Your Android phone can now warn you when traffic is likely to crawl to a standstill on the drive home. Google has updated the platform’s search app to send Google Now notifications if road work, accidents and other incidents might create major delays. The alert system won’t be as slick as having your very own traffic drone, but it should help you find an alternate route before you’re caught up in gridlock.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Mobile, Google
Source: Google (Google+), Google Play
Google Now officially lands in Chrome
If you’re the adventurous type, you’ve probably been enjoying Now notifications in Chrome for a little while now. But starting today, those running the stable version of Google’s browser will be able to enjoy the benefits of Now’s preemptive search and virtual assistant. The desktop version works more or less the same as it does on mobile, except that the cards pop up from the system tray or notification area in your OS. You’ll get access to voice search, reminders for events flights etc… and you’ll even get some location-based cards like commute times. Interestingly, some of those alerts are based on the location of your phone, not your laptop or desktop. All you need to do to start using Google Now on your computer is make sure you’re signed into Chrome with the same account you use on your mobile phone. If you’re not seeing it just yet, don’t panic. As is the case with most of Mountain View’s products, it’ll be rolling out gradually over the next several weeks.
Source: Google Chrome (Google+), Google
Google Play Store prices likely to increase in the UK
The UK Chancellor George Osborne has delivered his budget and an interesting change included within it means that the Google Play Store prices could potentially increase.
The reason being is that digital content downloads will now have to be charged tax for the country they are sold in, instead of where the company selling the content is registered. That means all content distributed through the Google Play Store in the UK will be subject to an increased rate of VAT of 20%.
The rules are set to come into effect on January 1st, 2015, so we shouldn’t see any immediate changes in the UK, but no doubt the increase in taxes will be passed onto the consumer come next year.
The post Google Play Store prices likely to increase in the UK appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google’s Photowall for Chromecast lets you doodle on photos, beam them to your TV
Photowall for Chromecast is one of those rare official Google apps that makes its debut on iOS instead of Android. In fact, we can’t even say for sure it’ll be coming to Mountain View’s mobile OS, but there’s no reason to assume it won’t. The app itself is pretty simple: one or more people are able to beam photos from their iDevice to a Chromecast creating a collage of memories. If you want, you can even doodle on your images before putting them up for all to see. While you’ll need the app to actually send the Photowall to your TV, not everyone needs the app to add photos to the collection. There’s a simple web app for uploading pics to share. Oh, and when you’re done, you have the option of exporting the montage to a YouTube clip for passing around between friends. You can download Photowall for Chromecast for free at the source link.
Via: 9to5Mac
Android KitKat 4.4.3 could already be in testing, allegedly addresses Nexus 5 camera Bug
We know that Google is always working on something new, so we knew it would only be a matter of time before news of the next iteration of Android software come out. It’s not quite official, but LlabTooFer (who has a pretty good record of leaks) has suggested that Android KitKat 4.4.3, allegedly called build KTU72B, is currently already going testing, which suggests that it is going to be coming out sooner rather than later.
Along with the suggestions that the new build of KitKat is going through its pre-release paces, LlabToofer has said that one of the things that they update will address will be to fix a “known camera bug”. We can only assume that is the bug on Android 4.4.2 which causes unwarranted CPU usage during camera app operation on the Nexus 5; no doubt Nexus 5 owners will be happy to hear this.
Hopefully we hear more about Android 4.4.3 as it will be interesting to learn what else the update will aim to address. What would you like to see in the next Android update? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Twitter via Phone Arena
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