| Google Search turns 15, celebrates by adding cross-platform sync and more Sep 26th 2013, 18:38, by Cory Gunther In case you don’t follow the official @Google Twitter account, or their comments over on Google+, the company is proud to be celebrating the 15th birthday of Google Search. The company has come a long way from operating in a small room, to being the giant powerhouse it is today. Along with some bragging rights we’re also getting some new features which we’ll talk about after the break. 
To help celebrate the 15th birthday of Search, Google posted a bunch of awesome details and reminders about Google Search on the web, and mobile, over at their official Search Blogspot. One that is important for many, but not us Android fans, is they’re bringing the voice commands of “OK, Google” to iOS with the Google Search app. That’s no longer exclusive to Android. From adding auto-complete, the knowledge graph, to Google Search and Google Now in the pocket of billions of Android and iOS users, things surely have grown beyond anyone’s expectations. One of the biggest new features is cross-platform notification and reminder sync. This means if you tell Google Now (search) on your Nexus 7 something like, “Ok Google, remind me to stop at the bank” and it sets a reminder, you’ll get that same reminder at the desired time on your Android tablet, phone, or even your iOS device of choice. They’re adding both the OK, Google phrase and sync to their mobile apps. Awesome. Google’s added comparisons and filters with the knowledge graph, and much more. It really is one of the most powerful tools on a mobile device to date. Asking questions like “compare butter to olive oil” in Google Now will get a detailed comparison, although this feature is still extremely limited. I tried multiple other comparisons without the same result. It’s a work in progress.    The Google Search update that hit Android yesterday probably brought more of these features to the platform, even if many of the changes are on the backend, so be sure and check for updates if you haven’t received the latest Google Search (now) app quite yet. Google probably has a lot more exciting news for us this week and next, like KitKat, so stick around for the latest and greatest news. |  | Google Glass XE10 expected to bring official third-party app support Sep 26th 2013, 18:01, by Robert Nelson Google has been rolling out updates for Glass every month with the previous being XE9. That one arrived earlier in the month and it removed the need for a tethering plan. Anyway, there is still a few weeks before the next update is expected to arrive, but it looks like some details have already begun leaking. Following the pattern, this update will be arriving as XE10 and according to new reports, it will focus on third-party apps. 
It was said that Google will be allowing users to install third-party apps with the XE10 update. The details are coming by way of Geek.com who are reporting how this update will be “the most significant update yet for both developers and users.” Basically, we are talking Glassware. Further details here point towards the update as offering developers access to the sensors for motion tracking and development. It was also said that developers will be able to set their own voice commands which in turn, means the user will be able to launch the app using the “Ok Glass” menu. Based on previous history, these Glass updates tend to arrive around the middle of the month. Looking back and the XE9 update arrived just after the 15th and the XE8 update arrived just before the 15th. Aside from simply rolling the XE10 update to Glass users, Google is expected to do a bit more this time around. Details suggest the XE10 update will include a launch announcement with Google that allows some of these developers to showcase their apps. Time will tell if these details are accurate, however either way, it looks like the XE10 update will be arriving fairly soon. | | Samsung Galaxy Gear support coming to Galaxy S4 next month Sep 26th 2013, 17:45, by Cory Gunther The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and new Galaxy Gear smartwatch are quickly approaching, and now we’re starting to get a few more details on what we can expect. The watch will initially only be supported by the Note 3, which was a bad decision if you ask us, but we’ve now learned the Galaxy S4 is next in line. 
Well, you’ll need the Note 3 or the new Galaxy Note 10 2014 edition to work with the Gear. That will be changing next month though. Courtesy of The Korea Times one Samsung exec has reportedly confirmed that next month, so sometime in October, an update will rollout for the Galaxy S4 with full support for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. While this wasn’t confirmed until now, it was basically something we all knew because it is their flagship device and all. Supporting the Gear with one of their most popular and best selling handsets is logical. The exec goes on to state the Galaxy S3 and Note II will be up next, but that support won’t arrive until December. One interesting point to take away is the fact that we’ll need Android 4.3 Jelly Bean to fully operate and use the Gear to full potential. Does that mean the Galaxy S3 and Note II might not see that update til late November or December? We hope not. We’ll have to wait and see what Samsung has planned, but for now it looks like only a select few will be able to enjoy their new smartwatch. | | Nexus 7 with LTE is coming soon to Best Buy Sep 26th 2013, 17:02, by Cory Gunther ASUS and Google’s new 2013 Nexus 7 with 4G LTE hasn’t been the easiest tablet to get, but we are finally getting more good news. After initially being held back over a month while the WiFi only flavor shipped, Google finally unleashed the LTE model earlier this month. It quickly disappeared from the Play Store, then came back with T-Mobile and AT&T options, and now Best Buy will have them next. 
We received a quick tip from an eagle-eyed reader that Best Buy now has the 4G LTE model listed as “coming soon” and we’re assuming that will be in all variants. Support for T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. As a reminder, there’s only one device, and it works with all three of those carriers, even if Verizon isn’t playing very nice. The 32GB Nexus 7 LTE is available as we speak from the Play Store bundled with a SIM from all but Verizon, and should be hitting Best Buy and likely Amazon soon. If you haven’t played with the new slate yet, you’ll be able to walk into Best buy and get you’re hands on that sleek design for a test run. In case you missed the news. The Nexus 7 LTE will get certified for use with Verizon 4G LTE soon enough, and is currently going through the carriers rigorous testing before they officially allow it on their network. So keep calm and Nexus on. It’s coming. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment