Chance currently writes for both NewGeekGuide and 9to5Mac, in addition to 9to5Toys. He has previously written for several other online publications. He uses a Nexus 5, iPhone 5s, iPad Air, Hackintosh, and Macbook Air.
Google’s Opinion Rewards surveys are home to a variety of different types of questions, but Google+ user Hugo Seijas today received a question that was a bit puzzling. The question reads, “Do you have a Google monthly movie pass?,” even though Google offers no such thing as a monthly movie pass.
The Galaxy S6 Active has been leaked several times already, but now the well-connected Evleaks has posted another press render of the device. The first press render shared last month showed the device with a camouflage backing that, while lending credit to the rugged nature of the device, didn’t exactly come across as the most well designed look for a smartphone.
In addition to updating its iOS app, Imgur this morning has also unveiled an entirely new version of its Android app. Imgur says that this is its first ever fully native app for Android users and was built completely from scratch. The app features a redesigned card-based gallery that offers large and easily viewable images. Users can navigate throughout the interface by swiping left or right to view more content.
Google this evening has started rolling out an update to the stable channel of Chrome OS that bumps it to version 43.0.2357.81. The update brings a handful of new features that are certain to please Chrome OS users. First off, Chrome OS can now autofill credit card information from Google Wallet to browser fields that ask for such information. Other browsers, such as Safari on OS X, offer features similar to this.
More than a year ago, Google became one of the first tech companies to share data on the diversity of its workforce, and now it has released an updated version of the data. In a post on Google+, the company revealed some of the changes that it has made to improve diversity and the results of those changes. Last month, Google revealed plans to spend more than $150 million on diversity initiatives over the next year.
Google’s Tango tablet
Earlier this week, Google made its Project Tango tablet available to everyone via the Google Store for $512. While many expected this price drop and public availability to lead to a successor at Google I/O, the company kept quiet and didn’t address its Tango initiative. Nevertheless, Qualcomm this evening has taken the wraps off of its own Tango smartphone platform powered by the Snapdragon 810.
Earlier this month, details regarding Google’s upcoming “hackable” headquarters in Mountain View emerged, suggesting that the building will be built partially by “crabots.” The crabots are a mash-up between cranes and robotic machinery and will be used extensively in designing the interior of the company’s new headquarters. The Sillicon Valley Business Journal now reports that Google has submitted plans at Mountain View City Hall for these headquarters. The translucent domed building is expected to be 595,0000-square-feet and located near the company’s existing headquarters.
https://vine.co/v/ebTvvF7577K
Earlier today, Google unveiled its highly anticipated Android M update. One of the highlight features of Android M is the support for standardized fingerprint recognition, which Google says developers will be able to take advantage of via new APIs in the operating system.
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Originally revealed at Google I/O 2015 earlier today, Google Play Services 7.5 adds a handful of new capabilities for developers to take advantage of. In an effort to further break down what’s new in Play Services 7.5, Google has published a blog post detailing all of the new features. First off, Play Services 7.5 adds Smart Lock for Passwords. This feature builds on the Chrome Password Manager and adds a new API and UI for Android users that saves credentials for later use on other Android devices and browsers.
Dodocase has long been a supporter of Google’s Cardboard initiative, and at I/O this morning a variety of new features were announced concerning the VR platform. Dodocase has now revealed two new virtual reality viewer designs this evening following Google’s announcements earlier. Dodocase is now offering the G2 Viewer and the P2 Viewer for $24.95 each.
Hidden among the other news announced at Google I/O today, Google has also added the ability for developers to use the Google Maps API directly on Android Wear. The feature, which comes as part of Play Services 7.5, aims to offer users a wearable-designed Google Maps experience and was detailed in a blog post.
Google’s Project Tango initiative was originally introduced last year alongside a tablet with “advanced vision capabilities.” Until today, the tablet had only been available with an invite, but now the device is listed on the Google Store for anyone to purchase (via Android Police). Google dropped the price of the tablet for invitees to $512 earlier this year and that’s also the price for which the device is available on the Play Store.
Samsung earlier this week officially introduced an Iron Man edition Galaxy S6 Edge, but also noted that it would be available only in South Korea, Hong Kong, and China, leaving fans everywhere else out to dry. Nevertheless, popular accessory company SlickWraps has introduced an aftermarket skin/wrap that gives any Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge the Iron Man design.
According to a new report from The New York Times, Google is planning to announce an overhaul of its mobile payment solutions at Google I/O this week. As part of the overhaul, Google reportedly plans to introduce a new service called Android Pay and reintroduce Google Wallet with a new focus.
Earlier this year, a report emerged claiming that Google was planning on giving Android users more control over app permission settings. At the time, it was rumored that Google would add the ability to give users the ability to manually select what pieces of information to which apps have access. Android Police today corroborates the report from earlier this month and offers up a few more details…
<a href="http://recode.net/2015/05/27/google-confirms-buy-button-is-coming/">Image via Re/code</a>Â
Speaking at the Code Conference in California, Google’s chief business officer Omid Kordestani confirmed that the company is in fact planning on adding a “buy” button to search results. This feature has been rumored for several months and is a way for Google to compete more seriously with the likes of Amazon and eBay.
The companion app to Google’s $35 Chromecast dongle received an update today with a handful of improvements and changes. Bumping the app to version 1.11.4116, the update brings several interface tweaks. First off, the devices view of the app has been redesigned with a card-like interface. The devices screen also now lists what backdrop is currently being displayed along with casting status.
Following the leak of a Sprint document claiming that its Nexus 6 model would receive Android 5.1.1 on May 26th, T-Mobile announced today that it will begin to rollout the update to its variant this weekend. T-Mobile employee Des Smith made the announcement via Twitter and confirmed that Android 5.1.1 on the Nexus 6 will include support for WiFi calling.
Earlier this month, Google began sending the first invites to users for its Project Fi wireless carrier initiative. Users receiving invites have been rare so far and this evening Google sent an update email to those who requested an invite at launch. Unfortunately, the email being sent to users today doesn’t include an invite, but rather only an update on the process of the rollout.
Google today updated its Hangouts Chrome app with an entirely new interface. Perhaps more notably than that, the app has support for Mac OS X users in addition to the trio of Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS. The UI has been refreshed to be more similar to the Android version of the app, a trend that has been increasingly common for Google services over the past few months.
Earlier this week, users discovered an issue with Google Maps that centered around typing in a racial slur and being directed to The White House. This evening, Google has issued an apology on its official Maps blog. The company says that it is “deeply upset” by the issue and is currently in the process of fixing it.
Logitech, maker of the popular Harmony series of remotes, announced in a blog post today that it is partnering with Google-owned Nest for deeper integration between their respective products. Logitech says that owners of the latest Harmony remotes can now have all of their entertainment devices automatically power off when a Nest Protect alert begins to sound.
Rumors regarding the successor the popular OnePlus One smartphone began emerging earlier this year and now a mysterious device from the company has appeared in GeekBench test results. While the results don’t reveal much, the show what is likely the OnePlus 2. The device appears to be running Android 5.1 and features an 8 core processor, likely in the 4+4 setup, clocked at 1.55GHz.
Earlier today we shared the over-the-air images for Android 5.1.1 on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5. Now, Google has posted the Android 5.1.1 factory images for the 2012 and 2013 mobile Nexus 7 models, the Nexus 4, and the Nexus 5. Google shared the factory images for the Nexus 10 and WiFi-only 2012 and 2013 Nexus 7 models last month.
