Daily Roundup: Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and E1, court blocks parts of FCC net neutrality rules 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.
Moto G Google Play edition
A Google Play edition of the Moto G popped up in the Play Store earlier today and is available for $180 (8GB) or $200 (16GB). Click through for details.
Court blocks parts of net neutrality rules
A Washington, DC appeals court voided anti-blocking and anti-discrimination requirements in the FCC’s Open Internet Order. Follow the link for more information.
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and E1
Sony only recently released the Xperia Z1 Compact and Z1S at CES, but it’s adding yet another two additions to the Xperia line: the T2 Ultra and E1. Click the link for specs and launch information.
Next-gen game with 5K-unit population cap
Whether it’s Age of Empires or StarCraft, there comes a point where every gamer struggles with maximum population caps. However, that might not be much of an issue for the new demo game Star Swarm. By utilizing AMD’s Mantle programming tool, the title manages a whopping 5,000 AI objects. Click on through for more details.
Google Drive’s new activity stream tracks changes to shared files
Tracking changes in those shared docs on Google Drive just got a lot easier. The folks in Mountain View have added an activity stream to the cloud-based file repository for keeping tabs on collaborative efforts. Once you’re inside Drive, clicking the ‘i’ button at the top right will make the new list appear. Inside, you’ll find the flurry of recent activity like moving/removing files, renaming, uploading, sharing/unsharing, editing and commenting. You can also select individual files or folders to view updates for only those items. Google says that the activity stream in Drive will be rolling out to users during the next week.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Google
Chrome 32 brings a Chrome OS-style ‘desktop’ to Windows 8
After a fairly lengthy beta phase, Google has released the finished version of Chrome 32 — and it’s one of the biggest updates to the browser in recent memory. Windows 8 users now get a Chrome OS-style interface (shown above), complete with its own windowing system and a web app launcher. Whichever platform you’re running, you’ll also get malware blocking and notifications when tabs are playing audio or using your webcam. Protective parents may also like a beta supervised users feature that lets them review their kids’ browsing habits. Suffice it to say that there’s more than enough here to warrant grabbing the Chrome update; visit the source links if you’d like the full release notes.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Google Chrome Blog, Chrome Releases
Moto G Google Play edition now available for $180
The Moto G now has an official Google Play Edition. The device, which just popped up on the Google Play Store, is available for $180 (8GB) or $200 (16GB). Just like we’ve seen on other Google Play edition devices, the Moto G will offer the same specs as the GSM version along with a stock version of Android 4.4 KitKat. It’ll be compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile here in the US. We’re still waiting to hear details about its availability in other parts of the world. Head to the source link to grab one of your very own.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Via: Android (Twitter)
Source: Google Play Store
Hyundai and Kia tap SoundHound to help you identify music in your car
Always pulling out your smartphone to identify a song you’ve heard on your car radio? You’ll no longer need to if you buy a new Hyundai or Kia model in the coming year. The Korean automakers have teamed up with sound recognition specialist SoundHound to bring its music discovery tools to select 2014 models in North America, Korea and China. The partnership will see Hyundai and Kia integrate music tagging directly into their infotainment systems, letting you pull up information on a song or artist with a press of the SoundHound icon. If you so choose, the app can keep a record of your searches, giving you the option to pull them up on a mobile device at a more suitable time.
One model that will definitely get SoundHound’s music discovery feature is Hyundai’s 2015 Genesis sedan, which is already set to let owners remotely lock their cars, perform maintenance updates and send Google Maps directions to the car with Google Glass. Not content with that, the car maker is also one of the six founding members of the Open Automotive Alliance. As part of the alliance, Hyundai worked with Google to develop an Android-based version of its custom infotainment system, helping the search giant expand further into the world of connected cars.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: Slashgear
Source: SoundHound (BusinessWire)
Google Image Search makes it easier to sort results by licensing rights
Google Image Search has allowed users to filter results based on how they’re licensed since 2009, but the option remained hidden under an advanced options menu where few users ever look. Now, a request by law professor and Creative Commons founding member Lawrence Lessig has changed that. Bing added the option to filter by licensing rights last July with placement front and center, and Googler Matt Cutts tweeted that his company’s search engine has a similar option, shown above. Perfect for bloggers in a hurry (cough) or anyone looking to whip up an image for a new meme, it can pick out images labeled for reuse, reuse with modification, or commercial variants of either.
Now you can slice/dice Google image searches by usage rights under “Search tools. Thanks to @lessig for the request! pic.twitter.com/8mQxxebTHJ
– Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) January 14, 2014
Filed under: Internet
Source: Matt Cutts (Twitter)
Motorola’s Moto X is coming to the UK on February 1st for £380
When Motorola returned from Google’s wilderness, it came back with a new approach to phone design and customization. The Moto X was the subject of plenty of envious glances from the other side of the pond, and while the Moto G is an excellent low-end smartphone, it couldn’t entirely scratch that itch, you know? That’s why it’s to our delight that the flagship is now coming to the UK, albeit without the choose-your-own-body options that are available in the Moto Maker, at least not at launch. According to CEO Dennis Woodside, the company will launch the service just as soon as it can work out how to deliver the units within the same four-day window as it does in the US. It’ll be priced for £380 unlocked, or for around £25 a month when it lands in stores on February 1st.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Motorola
YouTube gets a daily highlight reel courtesy of DreamWorks
YouTube can already recommend related videos, but it doesn’t necessarily show the best videos; you have to rely on outside help to separate the wheat from the chaff. However, that search for quality clips is about to get a lot easier. The streaming giant is teaming up with DreamWorks to launch YouTube Nation, a five-minute daily show that will highlight its more interesting content, and promises Ultra HD quality for properly-equipped viewers. The production will draw attention to everything from professionally-made series like Video Game High School (above) to amateur footage. While it’s doubtful that the show will spot the next big viral hit, it could save a lot of time for busy viewers when it launches on Tuesday at 11AM ET (new episodes will follow each weekday at 9PM ET) and might just get visitors coming back for more.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Google
Source: YouTube Nation
With Motorola Assist’s latest update, you can now reply to texts with your voice while driving
Motorola Assist, the contextually aware app that lets you set triggers and actions for a wide variety of tasks, is smart enough to determine when you’re driving, sleeping, in a meeting or in other situations. In that first scenario, however, the app was only able to read texts out loud to you as you drove, leaving you without a way to respond aside from pulling over and doing it manually. The latest update to the app fixes that, as it promises to let you reply to incoming messages using your vocal cords. Additionally, Assist can also launch your music app of choice as soon as you begin driving. Assist is available on the Moto X and the trio of Verizon’s latest Droid devices, so text-happy drivers should check it out post-haste.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Via: Android Central
Source: Play Store
Daily Roundup: Google aquires Nest, SimCity goes offline, Mark IV hands-on 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.
Sprint abandons its ‘One Up’ program
In the shadow of T-Mobile’s UnCarrier endeavor, Sprint’s “One Up” early upgrade plan is being replaced with a new program that rewards users for adding lines to their account. Click the link for more details.
SimCity soon to gain offline mode
SimCity’s troublesome online reboot in early 2013 left users seriously disappointed. In an effort to remedy the situation, EA Maxis announced this morning that an offline mode will be available soon. Follow the link for more information.
GameFace Mark IV hands-on
The Mark IV is a prototype VR headset that, unlike the Oculus Rift, runs wire-free. Click the link for the hands-on and watch as Engadget’s Ben Gilbert takes it for a spin.
Google acquires Nest
Today, Google acquired Nest’s line of home automation products for a whopping $3.2 billion. iPhone users have no need to fear, however, as Google has pledged to continue support for both iOS and Android. Click on through for the rest of the story.
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