Android N? More like Android Nougat
The next version of Android is dubbed “Nougat,” Google revealed on Snapchat this morning (because of course it did). This was the first time that Google opened up the Android naming process to the public, and Nougat beat out other n-based treat suggestions including Nutter Butter, Nutella, Nerds and Necco Wafers. Of course, offering creative rights to the entire internet ensured there were a few sour apples in that system.
Google made it clear that it wasn’t beholden to the names suggested by the wider world, lest it end up with an operating system dubbed, “Nutty McNutface.”
Introducing #AndroidNougat. Thank you, world, for all your sweet name ideas! #AndroidNReveal pic.twitter.com/7lIfDBwyBE
— Android (@Android) June 30, 2016
Samsung releases unlocked Galaxy S7 phones in the US
Waiting for the unlocked versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge? We hope you’ve been saving up. They’re now available in the US for those who don’t want to be locked into a contract with a carrier for two years and those who want the freedom to choose their plans. The unlocked devices are still the same phones you fell in love with earlier this year and will work on most GSM and CDMA carriers in the country, including all the big hitters (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and US Cellular). You can nab one straight from Samsung’s website, but you can also get either of them from various distributors and retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy and Target. As always, expect to pay more up front for an unlocked device: the Galaxy S7 will set you back $670, while the Galaxy S7 edge will cost you $100 more.
Source: Samsung
Google Keep auto-creates topics for your notes
Google Keep’s new feature will help you find notes old and new even if you never even bothered slapping a label on them. The free app now organizes your notes based on automatically created topics, such as food, places and travel. Even better, you can look for entries simply by clicking on the search bar to bring up topic shortcuts you can access. Google didn’t exactly explain how it works, but Keep likely takes cues from the words you use. If you write down “pack for trip to Paris,” the app will automatically associate that entry with travel. Useful, especially if you’re too lazy to organize your to-do lists and “notes to self” manually. The new feature is now live on Android and iOS, as well as for Keep on the web.
#GoogleKeep organized. Search automagically created topics like books, food and quotes for @Android, iPhones and web pic.twitter.com/wccSbThYpQ
— Google Docs (@googledocs) June 29, 2016
Source: Google Docs (Twitter)
Google Fit gets a colorful redesign and improved goal setting
Google has rolled out a major Fit update with a complete visual redesign, new watch face and features for Android Wear, a new home screen widget, more detailed goal-setting and more. Version 1.57.50 is the company’s biggest update to the app in quite awhile, and appears to be a big part of the Android Wear 2.0 overhaul Google promised at I/O last month. The changes are apparent from when you first open it, as the previous, rather sparse home screen now has images, charts and a lot more color.
On the app’s home page (above), Google has replaced the single activity dial graph with individual cards and dials for each goal, showing what you’ve done and how days you have left to meet it. Scrolling down will reveal a chart of your weight, recent workouts (complete with a map), and more (below). Hitting the floating action “+” button lets you set new goals, log your weight, add an activity and more.
As for the new goals, you can now get a lot more specific than before. It has more activities and more specific metrics, like steps, duration or times per week, day or month. Any goals go to the top of landing page to keep you motivated and let you know if you’re hitting the targets. There’s also a new widget that lets you put your goals on your phone’s home page or lock screen, in case you need a front-and-center reminder to get moving.
To drill down to specific activities, you now go to the “Timeline” screen, by accessing it from the navigation drawer or bottom of the landing page. Those act much like they did before, showing your activities relative to your goals, and letting you see them on a graph over time.
Google Fit also got a design revamp on Android Wear. As before, the first screen you see shows your goals, but with more information and a new white text on black look. Scrolling up shows your activities today, a chart of your heart rate and more. Touching the pink bottom bar lets you pick an activity like walking, running and push-up challenges. From there, you can select one and start your workout, all without touching your phone.
There’s also a new Android Wear watch face that looks more like an old school dial watch (above right) with readouts for calories, miles, time and the number of steps. The app is now rolling out to Android users, and if I was able to get it in Europe, you should be able to download it now in the US.
Source: Google Play
Chevrolet cuts in-car LTE data pricing in half
The ongoing cost of owning a new car just got a little cheaper for Chevy drivers who opted to trick out their new vehicles with 4G LTE data plans. As CNET’s Roadshow reports today, the automaker has cut the rates for its in-car cellular service in half.
The cheapest option starts at $10 per month for 1 gigabyte of data (down from $20 per month), while the a 10-gigabyte monthly plan will now run you $40 per month. There’s also a new goldilocks 4 gigabyte plan for $20 monthly and a flat-rate $150 annual plan that now gives you 20 gigs to spread over the course of a year.
According to Chevy, it’s the big-truck guys guzzling up the LTE data: Silverado drivers consume the most, followed by users with Suburbans, Tahoes and Traverses. Although that could change once autonomous Chevy Bolts free more drivers from the hassle of having to actually look at the road.
Overall, in-car data usage is has been steadily on the rise since it was introduced in late 2014. “With these lower prices, we expect even more customers to use 4G LTE connectivity during this busy summer driving season,” OnStar’s manager of marketing strategy Laura Keck said in a statement. Oil prices, on the other hand, just shot up.
Google Maps for mobile now handles multiple destinations
Believe it or not, the mobile version of Google Maps hasn’t had support for multiple destinations. You could plan that multi-city tour on the desktop, but you’d still have to navigate one stop at a time on your phone. You might not have to the next time around, though: Google is quietly pushing what appears to be a server-side update to Maps for Android that lets you set multiple stops. You can navigate to a tourist trap, a restaurant and your hotel without having to enter fresh directions every time.
There’s no word on iOS support yet. Also, whether or not you’ll get it on Android is arbitrary right now — just having the latest version of Google Maps doesn’t guarantee that you’ll see it. It’ll likely take a few days before the multi-point feature is widely available. So long as you can wait, however, you’ll have just the tool you need to plot that lengthy road trip.
Via: 9to5Google, The Verge
Source: Android Police
Amazon is offering deep smartphone discounts for Prime members
If you’re an Amazon Prime member in the market for a new smartphone, you might consider one of these enticing offers. The retail giant is offering exclusive pricing on select unlocked Android phones, including the BLU R1 HD for $49.99 ($50 off its retail price of $99.99) and the Motorola Moto G for $149.99 ($50 off its normal price of $199.99.)
Both phone deals are exclusively for Amazon Prime members, but you’ll have to be willing to put up with ads displayed on your phone’s lockscreen, much like the “special offers” version of Amazon’s Kindle reader. That’s where the discount comes from, so if you’re looking for an unlocked phone on the cheap and don’t mind seeing ads so much when you lock your device, it’s a good deal.
You can preorder the BLU R1 HD and Moto G starting today, though the phones won’t be releasing until July 12th. If ads aren’t your thing you can always get a regular version of either phone for full price whether you’re an Amazon Prime member or not.
VLC media player hits Windows 10 today, Xbox One this summer
At last, VideoLAN’s VLC media player has a universal Windows 10 app… and it definitely won’t be confined to conventional Windows devices for long. The developer has released a Windows 10 beta that, on a base level, embraces Microsoft’s modern OS on both PC and mobile. You’ll get recent VLC staples like a media library, a network browser and a “full” player alongside Windows 10 perks like Cortana voice commands, live tiles and Continuum support when you dock your phone. However, the real fun might come later. VLC has teased the app’s promised HoloLens and Xbox One support, and it’s clear that it won’t lose much (if anything) in translation — the features and interface will be familiar whether you’re watching on a console or an augmented reality headset.
To no one’s surprise, the VLC beta is going to be rough around the edges for a while. You won’t get Xbox One support until the system has access to the unified Windows/Xbox app store this summer, but there are also technical issues holding up support for HoloLens and the Surface Hub. And if you’re holding on to Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone 8.1 for dear life, you’ll have to wait a few weeks before the app works. Even so, it’s a big leap if you’ve wanted VLC’s play-anything flexibility in a Microsoft-friendly format.
Source: Microsoft Store, JB Kempf
Solve an FMV mystery with ‘Her Story’ on Android
It took a year, but Her Story, Sam Barlow’s mystery game, has been ported to Android. Her Story is a full-motion video game where you’re tasked with piecing together a story through watching short excerpts of interviews. The only mechanic you have at your disposal is a search tool, which lets you bring up clips that contain certain words or phrases. There are hundreds of clips to search through, and by the end of the game you’ll have unravelled a fantastic story.
Her Story won many accolades, including the coveted Aaron Souppouris award for Favorite Video Game of 2015. Less prestigious organizations like the BAFTA Game Awards also recognized the game, handing out three prizes for best debut game, best mobile game, and game innovation. It’s available from Google Play for $2.99, which is a couple of dollars less than its price on iOS.
Source: Sam Barlow (Google Play)
Google and Qualcomm are making Snapdragon chips Tango ready
Manufacturers can make their devices Tango compatible simply by equipping them with Qualcomm’s new and upcoming Snapdragon 800 and 600 SoCs. According to Ars Technica, the chipmaker has been working with Google for the past year-and-a-half to make its products ready for the tech titan’s augmented reality technology. See, when the big G showed off its Project Tango (as it was called back then) prototype, it had an extra computer vision chip. But the first Tango phone, Lenovo’s Phab2 Pro, doesn’t have one at all.
Phab2 Pro relies on its quad-core Snapdragon 652 processor to run Tango’s AR capabilities. Qualcomm even says that since its processors are optimized for the technology, Tango ends up using less processing power than a normal app and consumes less than two watts. By removing the need for extra hardware besides a depth sensor and a motion tracking camera, the partners are making it easy for phonemakers to adopt the AR tech. Tango, if you’ll recall, can superimpose images over the real world through a device’s camera. One of its applications is helping you visualize what your house would look like before you even start renovating or replacing your furniture.
Source: Ars Technica, VentureBeat
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