Saturday, June 30, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Jelly Bean brings “Liveness” to Face Unlock – Requires a blink

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 02:52 PM PDT

Google’s Face Unlock feature was met with tons of praise last year when announced along side the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but at the same time it was met with a lot of criticism for being easily bypassed or hacked. Simply use a photo of of the face and it would work, making it not too secure. With Jelly Bean they’ve taken it a few steps further.

Not only has Face Unlock improved by Google adding additional “advanced” options where the user can take up to four additional pictures with glasses, different lighting, beards and more, but they’ve also made it more secure with a “liveness” option.

Essentially this works just like we mentioned in the title. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has a new options once Face Unlock is selected under settings just click the “liveness check” option. This will make the facial detection engine also require the user to blink his eyes before getting access. It’s a small touch, but works great actually. Unlocking seems faster too. Once you blink the unlock sound effect emits and the screen turns on all so fast you feel like your blink just did something amazing. It’s rather fun to be completely honest.

It isn’t just about being fun though. Google has done this to remove all the criticism face unlock has received. Now it’s more secure, fools photos, and can even work after you get a hair cut or shave a gnarly beard. It still not truly be advanced security for unlocking, but we’ll take it.

For those that have Android 4.0 or 4.1 Jelly Bean — do you actually use Face Unlock?

P1090666 Screen Shot 2012-06-29 at 2.43.22 PM


Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Google Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"
PC Magazine
Android continues to mature with Jelly Bean, a smooth, surprisingly comprehensive upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich that cements the smartphone platform's top-tier status.
See all stories on this topic »
Google Nexus 7
PC Magazine
The first tablet with Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean," it's the most bang for the buck you can get in the market right now. It's versatile, well-built, fast, and a lot of fun to use. It basically renders every 7-inch tablet priced at more than $300 pretty ...
See all stories on this topic »
Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire or wait for something better?
CNET
The benefit for consumers, such as yourself, is that even if you own a lot of books via Kindle, you can still access your books and other reading material on non Amazon devices through an Android or iOS Kindle app. And you can even use your browser on ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android this week: Nexus 7 tablet arrives; Jelly Bean is sweet; Apple fights back
GigaOM
For the Android crowd, this was an eventful week, thanks to the many announcements at Google I/O. Here's my first look at the Nexus 7 tablet and Android 4.1 on the Galaxy Nexus, which is temporarily unable to be sold due to Apple winning an injunction.
See all stories on this topic »

GigaOM
What's new in Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean'
Christian Science Monitor
Google showed off Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean,' its latest phone and tablet operating system, at its I/O developers conference on Wednesday. Jelly Bean's new features include better support for voice commands, a smoother interface, a predictive keyboard ...
See all stories on this topic »

Christian Science Monitor
Chrome (for Android)
PC Magazine
Chrome first full release on Android is a speed demon of a browser, combining a minimalist interface with advanced HTML 5 support.
See all stories on this topic »
US judge bans sales of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus phone during Apple trial ...
Washington Post
In Apple's second victory in a week against Android devices, the U.S. District Court of Northern California said Friday that the Galaxy Nexus smartphone "likely" infringes four patents held by Apple Inc., including a patent used in the "Siri" voice ...
See all stories on this topic »
Jelly Bean Impressions: Android's Most Important Update Yet
TIME
Jelly Bean is arguably the most important new version in Android history. More than ever, Google understands what it has to do to make Android a top-notch phone and tablet operating system for ordinary consumers, not just tech-savvy users.
See all stories on this topic »

TIME
Google Exec Explains Android Shift, Online Sales Effort
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Google is moving to provide a more level playing field for hardware manufacturers that build smartphones and tablets using Google's Android software by giving all of them earlier access to software updates.
See all stories on this topic »
Gadget Lab Show: Android Jelly Bean, Nexus 7 and Nexus Q
Wired News
This week on the Gadget Lab Show, the gang takes a look at the spoils of this year's Google I/O conference: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Nexus 7 tablet, and the Nexus Q.
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Android Army: US soldiers to leverage portable battlefield network ...
By Andrew Munchbach
Smartphones: the future of wartime communication? That is the goal of the US Army through the development of its portable wireless network, dubbed.
Engadget
Watch Android Jelly Bean Transfer Photos and Videos with a Tap ...
By Emily Price
With Jelly Bean, Android now offers the ability to transfer photos and videos between devices using NFC and Android Beam.
Mashable!
Final Fantasy 3 now on Android | Joystiq
By Jordan Mallory
A remake of 1990's Final Fantasy 3, based on the DS version, is now available on Google's Android operating system, boasting "3D visuals and story sequences only for Android," as well as improved browsing functionality for the monster ...
Joystiq
Google Analytics App for Android gets launched | Ubergizmo
By Gene Ryan Briones
Google Analytics, a service from Google that generates detailed stats of websites, has just been launched on Google Play. Google Analytics App for Android will allow users to access the same accounts and profiles they will see when they ...
Ubergizmo
Jelly Bean brings "Liveness" to Face Unlock ... - Android Community
By Cory Gunther
Google's Face Unlock feature was met with tons of praise last year when announced along side the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but at the.
Android Community


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Chrome arrives (crippled) on iOS. Even so, it becomes the #1 free app in the App Store within a day

Posted: 30 Jun 2012 02:55 AM PDT

The stable version of Chrome has finally arrived on the Play Store a couple of days ago, but Google has also made Chrome available for the iOS platform the next day.

Within a day, Chrome for iOS managed to become the most installed application in Apple’s store. This probably surprised some, but considering that Chrome is now the most popular browser in the world (not counting IE7, IE8 and IE9 in aggregate), and has  310 million users, it’s guaranteed to have a lot of Apple users who also love using Chrome, so they wanted to try it out as soon as possible.

Unfortunately for iOS users interested in Chrome, they get to experience once again how Apple’s restrictions on iOS can hurt them. First off, Apple doesn’t allow any third party application, including other browsers, to become the “default” app on iOS, even though the option would be a huge benefit for many users who prefer using other apps instead of Apple’s products. Some good examples that come in mind are Gmail, now Chrome, and Google Maps (if Google decides to release a Maps app for iOS).

Second, and even more annoying, is that Apple doesn’t allow UIWebView (used by Chrome) to use the Nitro Javascript engine used in Safari, which can increase performance by 3x. UIWebView is Apple’s own embedded browser that can be used by developers who want to make “native” apps with Javascript instead of Objective-C.

To spell that out, they allow developers to make Javascript apps, and yet, they keep those “native” JS apps three times slower compared to how the same web app would run in the Safari browser. That’s crazy, and it makes the UIWebView useless and pointless. Apple got a lot of criticism for it last year when they introduced Nitro in Safari, because people thought, and for good reason, that Apple is just trying to slow down the Javascript apps from competing with their App Store apps.

Why is  this relevant? Because of another very annoying App Store policy, which says that third party apps can’t have similar core functionality with Apple’s own apps. This means that Chrome can’t bring its own rendering engine (which is the same Webkit that Apple uses, although Chrome’s version is usually more recent), and it also can’t bring its own V8 JavaScript engine. So Chrome (and other browsers) are forced to use whatever Apple provides them for the back-end.

All of this seems pretty anti-competitive and anti-user to me, and the DoJ should probably take a look at this. The only reason they aren’t is probably because they don’t think the problem is big enough for them to interfere. But it’s not like the Government hasn’t tried to keep Apple responsible before, with the privacy issues. Maybe it’s just an issue about public outcry. Apple usually responds to huge user outcry if it turns into a big PR problem for them.

For now, Chrome users on iOS can still use it without having an absolute terrible experience. In fact, some are even saying that Chrome feels faster than Safari. That’s because, especially on a mobile, you will not usually get very heavy Javascript pages, so you won’t feel much of a difference in experience. Plus, Chrome can pre-render the pages as soon as you start typing, and that can make it feel like the pages load faster than in Safari. There are other features that users can find very useful, such as sync with the desktop version, search in the Omnibox, tabs like on the desktop on the iPad, plus a very slick user interface.

At the very least, Google’s Chrome on iOS will be a “trojan horse” that gets iOS users hooked on Chrome, and some of them might want to switch to an Android device to experience the “real Chrome”, just like many professionals today can’t give up their Android phone because of the much better Gmail experience.


This article, Chrome arrives (crippled) on iOS. Even so, it becomes the #1 free app in the App Store within a day , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Authority On Air – Episode 18 – Google I/O12 Recap

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:01 PM PDT

Tonight on Android Authority On Air – Google #IO12  Recap

We’ll recap Google I/O 2012 by hitting the Jellybean feature list, give a run down on the Nexus 7 and the Nexus Q. We’ll look into Drive, Maps, Google+ and Chrome and whatever announcements come out of IO today!

Tune in tonight at 9:30pm ET and watch us LIVE on our Google+ Page!

Anything you’d like us to comment on? Let us know and we’ll answer them tonight on Episode 18!

UPDATE: Episode 18

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8tJTUDHcbQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8tJTUDHcbQ</a>

Links:


This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 18 – Google I/O12 Recap , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

MiHome Launcher: Bringing MIUI looks to your Android without rooting or flashing MIUI ROM

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

Ever noticed how Android users have these different types of settings on their devices? Some techies are really good with these things since they know how to tinker with the User Interface (UI). Developers have created different ROMs to compliment Android devices, and one of them has made a name for itself for being user-friendly.

MiHome Launcher features a unique style of UI that makes Android users personalize their device with ease and convenience. The thing about this launcher is that once you install this on your device, it’s considered plug and play. You can even see thousands of themes and it can support over 10 screens where you can change settings with just one touch.

The MIUI ROM developers recognize the fact that not everyone using Android wants to tinker with his or her device extensively, so they developed this launcher, offering some of the ROM’s applications and features. The current version on the Google Play Store is especially tailored for devices running at least Android 4.0.

The MiHome Launcher app is getting mixed reactions from different users because of the compatibility of the launcher with other devices. Most users say that it’s not as smooth as the developers say it is, though the same users have given fair compliments to the launcher as far as the overall performance is concerned.

Currently, with this launcher,  you can modify the global audio settings such as volume and routing. It would also give permission to the app to take pictures and videos with the camera; this would allow the application to collect images at anytime that the camera is seeing.

These are just some of the many possibilities that MiHome Launcher is capable of. This could very well be just a prototype from its developers, so expect more improvements on the next update for this launcher.

The MiHome Launcher is now available for download through the Google Play Store.  If you’ve tried using it on your phone, tell us what you think of it.  We’d love to hear your thoughts in our comments section.


This article, MiHome Launcher: Bringing MIUI looks to your Android without rooting or flashing MIUI ROM , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


aCheckin: A social network for games and gamers

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

If you’re looking for something to keep your hands busy during those dull moments in the day, browsing pages upon pages of games in the Google Play Store can be very overwhelming. Which ones could best suit you and keep you entertained for hours? Playing the games yourself could answer your question but playing every one of them is an impossible task.

The best way to find the game for you is to be part of a gaming community where everyone shares what games they are playing. aCheckin is an app that lets you do just that, keeping you abreast of all the latest and hottest games so you’ll never be left behind.

You may have observed that in Facebook there is a ticker showing what sort of games your friends are playing. aCheckin works similarly, except that it’s been compressed into a gaming social network app just for avid and serious gamers. Through aCheckin you can check out what their favorite games are, get game recommendations, earn badges, and more. All you need to do is authorize the app to access your Facebook account to enjoy its features.

Using aCheckin

aCheckin has a very neat interface that features a fairly limited number of buttons to use, though effective enough to give you ample information on what games you need to check out.

Upon launch, the app’s homescreen shows you what games your friends have been recently playing. Tapping the Friends button at the top will narrow down the featured games to the ones played by your Facebook friends while switching to the Global option shows you what games gamers across the globe are immersed in.

The app also lets you find which users have been checking into games more often via the current badge status displayed alongside their avatar. Tapping on the avatar of a particular user lets you send a friend request to that user, as well as view the games that user has recently played through her/his check-in stats.

Want to be updated on the latest games? Just tap the game button below and you will find four buttons. Just tap on the respective buttons to find what you are looking for in a flash.

You can either find fresh games through the Trending and Hot option, peek into the suggested games through the Suggested button or see what your friends are playing by tapping on Friends. Also, alongside every game, you will find relevant stats that can help you determine how famous a game is, making it easy for you to decide whether to check in or not.

Show how much of a gamer you really are by checking in games and obtaining badges in the app. Checking in games more often helps the app determine what type of games you are into, making it more accurate and more effective in finding games that you might like.

If you play games on your Android device often, aCheckin really is a wonderful app, allowing you to find friends with the same interests as you. The best thing about it is that it’s free to download so you can check in all you want. You can download aCheckin from the Google Play Store.

What kind of games do you want to find with aCheckin?


This article, aCheckin: A social network for games and gamers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Video: Day 1 footage of Google I/O conference

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:38 PM PDT

Lost your invitation to Google I/O conference? Fret not fellow Android enthusiasts, because you can now watch video of the conference's first day keynote online right from your parents' basement. The first day of the conference, of course, was when all the cool announcements were made.  One by one, Google executives did their thing to enthrall the 6,000 something audience. And we dare say they did an excellent job at keeping the event exciting throughout.

Here are some highlights of what happened on day 1 (not necessarily in the right order):

We suggest you prepare some cool refreshment and find a comfy spot, because the video runs for a little over 2 hours.  Feel free to later share with us your favorite moments from the keynote.

No related posts.


This article, Video: Day 1 footage of Google I/O conference , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google’s Chrome Experiments to arrive on mobile devices

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:33 PM PDT

Google has made the Chrome Experiments site to allow developers to showcase their HTML5 demos, where they’re made with Javascript, CSS or even WebGL. These demos are meant not only to show what you can do with Chrome, which has very fast Javascript and WebGL performance, as well as very good HTML5 support, but also so developers can push the envelope with their creations, and push Chrome’s developers to make it even faster.

I think this is why Google is bringing Chrome Experiments to the mobile version as well. They want to show the world what the Chrome browser on Android can do, and in the same time they also want developers to make projects that are as impressive and intricately crafted as possible. If you want to take a look at the future of HTML5, even on mobile devices, which have weaker hardware than a PC, take a look at the video below:

You can also try the Chrome Experiments for Mobile directly on your mobile device, but you might need Chrome to view them properly. The ICS Browser doesn’t support all the latest HTML5 features that Chrome does, and it’s not surprising considering Google has abandoned that project and is now making Chrome the default browser in Android 4.1 and later.


This article, Google’s Chrome Experiments to arrive on mobile devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Currents gets updated, slicker and more beautiful than ever

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:25 PM PDT

It's no coincidence that many Google apps have been updated in the last few days. Google wants to make sure that their native apps really shine on the brand new Nexus 7 tablet. The latest to receive a makeover is the news reader app Google Currents.

Merely reading the change log that Google has posted won't do the improvement any justice, as you need to see it for yourself. But here it is anyway:

  • User interface – updated to Android standards
  • Top navigation bar – auto hide, touch to show
  • Library/trending toggle – moved to navigation bar
  • Performance enhancements
  • Bug fixes

There's no question that Google Currents has undergone some serious transformation from the first version.  The revamped UI adds to a better reading experience. Aside from the obvious logo change and bigger icons on the starting page, there's now a fast-forward button in articles, which allows you to go directly to the end of article. The home button that lets you go back to the front cover seems to be missing, but you can just use the Android back button.

And we've always been a fan of the Tablet of Contents feature, as it saves us from swiping endlessly to get to the article you actually want to read, as one usually has to go through on Flipboard. Then again, Flipboard does have its strong points as well.

All told, we dig the updated Google Currents. It's currently – pun intended – our favorite way to read news, blogs, feeds and more in style. Of course, it does more than that. Google Currents is something that you wouldn't mind showing off to your non-Android friends. As a tip, you may want to choose the smallest font setting for that magazine-like reading experience.

Get the latest Google Currents now on Google Play Store if you haven't already done so.


This article, Google Currents gets updated, slicker and more beautiful than ever , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Nexus 7 available for pre-order from GameStop

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:18 PM PDT

Google’s low-cost but high-specced tablet, the Nexus 7, has been making waves since its announcement a couple of days ago. The 8GB and 16GB versions of the device are already up for pre-order from the Google Play Store (only for consumers in the US, UK, and Australia so far) and we know that the initial pre-order numbers are already huge. While we expected the Nexus 7 to reach electronics store at some point, Gamestop already has the Google game-changer available for pre-order online.

Gamestop will be selling only the 16GB version of the Nexus 7. True to form, Gamestop has come up with a few good deals to reduce the already low cost of the device. Let’s take a look.

  • You can avail a 30% trade bonus on all items traded towards the Nexus 7 pre-order. This includes video game hardware, software, accessories, iDevices, and eligible Android tablets. In case you’re confused, this is not a 30% discount, but a 30% boost to the value that you would have received for your trade-in product.
  • Apart from the special Nexus 7 deal, Gamestop’s regular trade-in program is also applicable. You can receive up to $250 in in-store credit or $200 cash if you trade-in Android tablets from top brands. Trade values are based on model, memory size, and physical condition.

GameStop looks to be a better option if you’re looking to trade-in any old hardware you have lying around. Of course, if you’re looking for the 8GB device, then the Google Play Store is your only option for now. If you would like to pre-order the Nexus 7 from GameStop today, you can do so here.

I’m sure we all have the Nexus 7 specifications memorized by now, but as a quick recap, so you can see again what an amazing device you’ll be getting for $249, here they are:

  • 1.3 Ghz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor
  • 7″ back-lit IPS display
  • 1280×800 resolution
  • 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.1 Jellybean out of the box
  • 16GB internal storage, no microSD expansion available
  • 1.2 MP front camera
  • 4325 mAH battery

You can also find out more about the Nexus 7 and Android 4.1 from the handy guidebook that is now available on the Google Play Store.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any old hardware that you would be looking to trade-in to pre-order the Nexus 7 from GameStop? Let us know in the comments section below.

Show full PR text

GameStop Taking Pre-Orders on New Google Nexus 7 Tablet

Trades of popular Android tablets now accepted in all U.S. stores

GRAPEVINE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest multichannel retailer of video games, has again expanded its mobile electronics business with new trade-in and pre-order programs. The company is now accepting trades on a wide range of Android tablets and is taking pre-orders on the brand new Google Nexus 7 tablet (16GB). The Nexus 7, which was just announced at Google’s I/O developer conference, is the first tablet to feature the latest Android OS – Jelly Bean – and will be available for $249 in mid-July.

“With the increasing popularity of Android tablets and the emerging multiscreen gaming trend, this is the ideal time to expand the program to meet the needs of our hybrid customers.”
Beginning tomorrow, consumers can pre-order the Nexus 7 at all U.S. GameStop stores. GameStop customers can also take advantage of a 30% trade bonus on all items traded towards the pre-order of the Nexus 7. This includes trades of video game hardware, software and accessories as well as iDevices and eligible Android tablets.

“We’ve seen great consumer enthusiasm for our recommerce initiatives, particularly our iDevice trade program that launched last fall,” stated GameStop president Tony Bartel. “With the increasing popularity of Android tablets and the emerging multiscreen gaming trend, this is the ideal time to expand the program to meet the needs of our hybrid customers.”

For consumers looking to trade in an Android tablet, all U.S. GameStop stores are now offering instant cash or in-store credit for Android tablets from a variety of top brands. Trade values, ranging up to $250 in-store credit or $200 cash, are based on model, memory size and physical condition. GameStop also offers a recycling option to help consumers properly dispose of non-working or damaged tablets.

To learn more about GameStop’s latest tablet offerings, visit www.GameStop.com/Tablets.

About GameStop Corp.

GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the world’s largest multichannel video game retailer. GameStop’s retail network and family of brands include 6,614 company-operated stores in 15 countries worldwide and online atwww.GameStop.com. The network also includes: www.Kongregate.com, a leading browser-based game site; Game Informer(R) magazine, the leading multi-platform video game publication; Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company; and a digital PC game distribution platform available athttp://www.GameStop.com/PC.

General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company’s corporate website. FollowGameStop on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/GameStop and find GameStop on Facebook @www.facebook.com/GameStop.

 



This article, Google Nexus 7 available for pre-order from GameStop , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Comodo Anti-theft Free: Using SMS commands to protect or find your lost phone

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Since your Android is your personal phone, you undoubtedly have optimized your experience by storing your personal information and credentials on your smartphone. If something bad happens to your phone, that means your personal data are also at risk.  What can you do when your phone gets lost or stolen?

It’s necessary to take action when your phone gets stolen or lost. Thankfully, there’s an app specifically for that scenario. Anti-theft Free, developed by COMODO, provides the necessary actions for certain accidents like when your phone is misplaced, lost, or stolen.

Anti-theft Free provides ways to help you find your phone and protect your personal data. It can also give you options to find your phone, lock it, wipe it, and sound a security alarm.  You only need to send SMS commands to your phone, and Anti-theft Free (assuming it is installed on your lost or stolen phone) does the rest.

You can find your phone by sending an SMS command for locating your phone on a map. You can instruct Anti-theft Free to lock your phone by sending a simple text message to your phone, after which your phone will be locked down with your password and the thief won’t be able to unlock your phone’s homescreen.

Afraid that your sensitive personal info, data, and files on your phone might risk being exposed to a complete stranger?  Tell Anti-theft Free to completely erase all phone and SD card data (e.g., contacts, emails, SMS, files, bookmarks, etc.).

One of the features I like most about this app is that you can take a picture of the thief. Just send a text message to your phone and once the thief responds to that message, the phone will automatically take his or her photo while the person is looking at the screen.  You’ll instantly get the photo via email.

Will changing the SIM card ensure that you won’t find your phone anymore?  Anti-theft Free also includes a feature that alerts you whenever your phone’s SIM card is changed.  If the latter happens, the app will send SMS to your friend’s phone alerting you of the SIM card change and the new SIM’s number.  That way, you can continue sending locate, lock, or wipe commands to your phone via SMS.

Last of all, Anti-theft Free also has an alarm feature.  When activated via SMS command, your phone sounds a super-loud alarm (even if the phone is on Silent Mode) and displays a warning message on the screen.

Protect your phone and data from thieves.  Download Anti-theft Free now and strengthen your security through its useful features.

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This article, Comodo Anti-theft Free: Using SMS commands to protect or find your lost phone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Glass to arrive for consumers early 2014

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 11:44 AM PDT

It seems that Google Glass is not as close to reality as we were led to believe earlier this year when they first showed their promo video.  At least for consumers, it seems that the project has been delayed by a year, and it won’t be available on the market until early 2014. There is however an “Explorer Edition” that will be available to the tech press for $1500 each, but they can only get that early next year.

The Google Glass technology is a very futuristic one, not only because of its future capabilities, but because of its small size, compared to early prototypes of similar devices that can augment your reality. Google Glass should be running a version of Android, although don’t expect to see the ICS UI or anything like that on the glass. The UI and UX will be heavily optimized for that type of device, to make the experience as good as possible.

I also imagine the device is going to make heavy use of new voice-related technologies from Google, like the recently announced Google Now, offline voice, and also GPS, Maps, digital compass, and cameras, paired with a smart AI to which you can give voice commands. It can help you navigate through the city, or it will recommend you stuff to do (much like Google Now) based on your location.

That sort of thing sounds not only like the future in general, but also the future of a Google search that is always with you, helping you find all kinds of information based on where you are and what you want to do. But unfortunately, we’ll have to wait 2 more years for that future to arrive.


This article, Google Glass to arrive for consumers early 2014 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.