| Google search now shows TV listings, lets you set Google Now reminders Oct 9th 2013, 23:02, by Nate Swanner Google Search has begun listing the air times of TV shows in search results. When searching for a show, IMDB info, as well as show air times and a list of past episodes, will show on the right side of the screen. 
Each show is hyperlinked to give further details, and pulls up a simple Google search on the show title. You'll also be able to access info on actors the same way, with the full cast as well as related shows being listed.
You can also ask that Google remind you of upcoming episodes, so you don't miss a thing. The reminders will pop up in Google Now, though the confirmation when selecting "Remind Me" doesn't offer a way to edit notifications. For those of us who are wary to miss an episode of our favorite show, the reminder function could prove handy. If the show has a Google+ profile, you'll have the option to follow them. Currently, not all shows we searched for are listed, but that's probably an issue with networks not reporting the info. VIA: Lifehacker
|  | Android 4.4 could bring a refreshed 'Downloads' app Oct 9th 2013, 22:44, by Nate Swanner Though the move to cloud storage solutions is fast becoming the new normal, we still encounter the occasional automatic download on a mobile device. While the Downloads app has sat untouched for some time, that all could change with Android 4.4 KitKat. 
According to Android Police, the Downloads app is set for a refresh, bringing a lighter interface and improved functionality. The first thing users will notice is the HOLO light theme, rather than the black background we've come to find since the early days of Android.
The now familiar action bar will make it's move to the top right, which follows the new design philosophy set forth with apps such as Maps and Gmail. Users will also get what appears to be a view toggle, allowing us to switch between grid and list views. We wonder if grid view will also give us a preview of a document, much like Drive does. Underused, and obviously forgotten, Downloads is one of the few remaining apps designers have on their list. As other, more utilized apps saw updates first, we can hope this signals an end to design tweaks within Google apps for a while.
| | Lenovo and HTC have been in takeover talks since August, report suggests Oct 9th 2013, 22:08, by Nate Swanner As HTC comes off their first quarterly loss ever, many wondered if they were prime for a buyout or merger. Though Chairwoman Cher Wang said HTC was moving in the right direction, their continued slide proves troublesome for observers and investors alike. 
News out of Taiwan is that HTC has been meeting with Lenovo since August, and those talks center around an acquisition. Much like Lenovo did with the ThinkPad when they purchased the brand from IBM, Lenovo wishes for HTC to keep the brand alive.
If true, it's a smart strategy for Lenovo, who has a limited worldwide presence when it comes to mobile technology. Nearly absent in the U.S., keeping the HTC brand may prove a wise choice. However, with a downtrending market share, the problems for HTC don't begin or end with branding. Terms of the discussions — or any news of a pending deal — were not disclosed, but that's not surprising. For now, it's all innuendo and chatter. For one of the worlds largest PC makers, it could prove a good inroad into the mobile market, so long as they can revive the once powerful HTC. VIA: AndroidBeat
| | Themer hands-on: the newest launcher for Android Oct 9th 2013, 22:07, by Nate Swanner Themer, the popular new app/launcher, has a waitlist approaching several hundred thousand people. The promise is simple: theme your device easily, making it appear fresh on a whim. Accomplished via a link to their MyColorScreen site, which houses various themes for you to use (as well as a tool to build your own!), Themer wants to make the fussy task of theming a device as simple as looking through a picture gallery. No wonder the wait list is so long. 
They've succeeded in their mission, too. In my hands-on with the newest darling of the Android world, I can safely say I'm wholly impressed. While I'm still a dyed-in-the-wool Nexus user, I find the ease and function of Themer a pure joy. Right now, the Themer team is doling out about 5,000 invitations a day for their closed beta product, which is meant to alleviate some pressure on their servers and create an overall great experience for everyone using it. It also gives them a better chance at responding to complaints and bugs, of which there are plenty. If you're lucky enough to get the invitation code, you'll have to make a quick choice: Themer is only good for one device, so if you have more than one you'd like to try Themer on, choose wisely. After entering the invitation code into my Nexus 4, Themer took a second to start up. You're initially taken through a few screens (seen below), which give you insight on how to use the app/launcher. After that, you're directed to the gallery, and free to peruse the offerings they have. 
The upside is that it's easy as sin to use, and the themes are great. Themer has done a fantastic job of having a good selection of really diverse themes available for use straight away. Loading them onto the device is done in a few clicks, and you can change as often as you like. The utilities within the themes can be changed as well: choose your browser of choice, or music service — even the RSS feed can be switched. Any changes still keep the same look and feel of the theme you're using. The pitfalls come from Themer being a beta product. In an attempt to resize a widget, it went wonky and settled itself halfway between two screens. I had to reload the theme, which of course didn't take long at all, but it was frustrating. Once reloaded, the same thing occurred, so it wasn't a one-off error. I can't say this happens with every theme, or even every time, but it happened a few times with a few different themes, so I'm willing to say it's just part of the beta growing pains. It was, happily, the only issue I encountered which made a theme unusable. There were other small issues, like an app not wanting to be deleted when drug up to the "X" at the top of the screen. Using the notification bar often required two swipes, and it remained hidden — a problem if you use it to see who’s trying to reach you. The widget lock/unlock situation is also clumsy right now (you have to unlock widgets in a theme to change them, then lock them again to set the theme), but these are beta issues, and should be appreciated as such. 
Another little tweak I'd like to see is Themer supporting more than one service. If, while in a theme, you click on the weather app or widget, it takes you to The Weather Channel app, or the Play Store link if you don't have it. That's just not adequate, considering there are so many good weather services, and Google Now is fast becoming my weather info source. Like the Google Now widget takes me to the weather card within Now when I click on it from the widget, I'd like to see Themer do the same. The gift and curse of Themer is its subjectivity. While the themes are pretty cool, and can be changed, doing so is a bit fussy. It's good for those who wish they had a different background or want to resize widgets, but it can still get very detailed and tricky. This is easily maneuvered by being careful about which themes you choose for your device, and sticking close to the design they offer, but even if you screw it all up, a new theme is only a few clicks away. 
For my "I didn't even pay for this" money, it's a whole lot easier to work with Themer than rooting a device, flashing a new ROM, and/or navigating through a cumbersome website to get a new theme. This all happens via an app, and the offerings within are pretty great. I don't have wade through the Play Store, or a website. I don't have to invest a lot of time, and can change my mind about my theme at any point. It really is as simple as window shopping, and that makes me more apt to use — and keep using — Themer. The line for Themer is long, but worth it. Still beta, and still being tweaked and fiddled with, Themer is already one of the better launchers around. The list of desired fixes is long, and I'd love to see some tablet support, but it's really a very unique concept backed by a well thought out user experience. | | Google Maps update allows for multiple destinations, improved search results Oct 9th 2013, 21:41, by Nate Swanner Good news for Google Maps users today, as the Mountain View search giant announces a few updates for Maps. Since updating Maps after this years' I/O conference, Google has been in a bit of beta testing for the popular service. Today's announcement brings updates to search queries within Maps, and a better method for planning trips. 
First, users will be able to plan a route with multiple destinations. After choosing a stop, users can select "+" to add destinations. The new destination can be chosen by typing into the search box, or clicking on the map.
For those destinations with a lot going on, Google will now show you which events are coming up in Maps. Much like Google Now does for your area, Maps will show you what's coming up for any destination you search (should they have anything public planned). Google will also show you details on what you may have planned when you search for a restaurant, or an airport where you may be leaving from or arriving at. Just by typing the name of your destination into the search box, you will be shown all activities you have coming up at that location. Of course, you have to be signed into Google to see personal results. The update is rolling out gradually, so keep your eyes peeled. | |
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