Motorola debuted the Moto G LTE almost five months ago. Today, however, AT&T announced that it will begin selling the budget-friendly handset on Friday, October 10th for $180 outright. If you feel that over 200 bones after taxes is too much of an upfront cost, you can spread out your purchase by paying $7.50 or $9 a month through AT&T’s Next program, or buy the device for $80 with a one year service commitment.
Google recently made some behind the scenes changes to Google+ and today the company gave its social media platform’s Android app a cosmetic overhaul, aligning it with its new Material Design gospel. The revamped software features a flat layout with bright almost Kool-Aid red accents that really pop.
From keeping soldiers safe to assisting doctors during surgery, Google Glass is slowly transitioning from being a cool tech demo to a useful real world tool. Soon to contribute to the wearable’s mainstream appeal is a new text captioning app developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology that transcribes spoken word via a companion Android app.
Google is in the process of developing a new mobile messaging app that will likely be tested in several emerging markets, according to a report from The Economic Times. Not to be confused with Hangouts, this new platform will be a standalone service and will not require a Google account.
The 2014 “Pure Edition” Moto X is now available in the UK via Motorola’s Moto Maker. The entry-level 16GB model will set you back £420, while the 32GB variant carries a price tag of £460.
Nokia recently revealed plans to bring an Android-friendly version of its HERE Maps app to licensed partners, starting with Samsung, however a preview version of the software has recently hit the web and it appears to be working with handsets running Ice Cream Sandwich or higher. Reports are claiming that the application is fully functional, with HERE’s hallmark features remaining intact.
Selfie-themed smartphones are starting to gain momentum and despite being a novelty, this new fad may come with some benefits. Pictured above is an alleged photo of an unannounced HTC handset referred to as the “Desire Eye.” Revealed via Twitter by up-and-coming phone leaker @upleaks, this handset reportedly packs an intriguing dual 13-megapixel camera setup, with the device’s front-facing shooter being accompanied by an flash for those nighttime selfies.
Open source software developer Cyanogen Inc recently met with Android frontman Sundar Pichai, who expressed interest in acquiring the startup, only to be turned down, according to The Information. Based in Palo Alto and Seattle, the software maker is mostly known for its CyanogenMod platform that’s compatible with multiple Android-based devices. Recently, the company partnered with Chinese manufacturer OnePlus, providing the stock software for its first smartphone.
A group of ex-Googlers led by former Google Voice product manager Craig Walker have teamed up to create Switch.co, a cloud-based business phone system that stretches across multiple platforms such as desktop, mobile and landlines. Built with Google Apps for Work in mind, users can also view messages from Gmail, access their Calendar, Drive documents and even start a Hangout directly from a phone call.
The Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are the company’s first handsets to gain screen mirroring support for Google’s Chromecast. A recent update to the search giant’s support page added Sony’s two new top-shelf smartphones as officially compatible with the company’s affordable media dongle.
Android L’s official release is getting closer and while some tech enthusiasts are tinkering with Google’s latest mobile operating system, OEMs are already preparing their hardware for Mountain View’s new software. Quite possibly the busiest of the bunch, Samsung appears to be testing Android L on its Galaxy S5 and the folks at SamMobile have managed to get their hands on a rough build of the forthcoming software.
After a proper pilot program, Dubai police detectives will soon receive Google Glass as standard issued gear. The idea is to pair Mountain View’s wearable computer with facial recognition software developed by the wealthy Arab emirate’s law enforcement to help cops spot bad guys when out in the field. In addition to equipping its gumshoes with high-tech eyewear, Dubai traffic officers will use Glass to track vehicles involved in moving violations.
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After receiving a lot of pressure from a group German publishers, Google is changing the way its search engine handles news articles. The company is now removing excerpts and image thumbnails from its web search results for sites like bild.de, bunte.de or hoerzu.de and replacing them with headlines and story links.
After watching its competitors loosen up their data rates, Verizon has decided to get in on the action. Starting tomorrow the carrier will begin offering increased data allowances to customers committed to its More Everything service plans at no additional cost. Subscribers signed up for Big Red’s $110 12GB data plan will be bumped up to 15GB, while the carrier’s $130 16GB monthly setup will jump to 30GB.
Android 4.4.4 has been going strong for a few months now and while Google has released factory images for most of its Nexus devices, there’s been one purebred tablet excluded from the festivities. However, this changed today, because the search giant finally pulled the trigger and published the complete factory image for the LTE version of the Nexus 7.
After several requests, Dropbox for Android users can now export files to their device’s SD card. This new feature will help keep important items like documents and photos accessible whenever offline or switching from one device to another.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsek9-KwIHo]
During its Atmosphere Live event, Google’s Sundar Pichai announced that the company’s Drive cloud storage platform has over 240 million active users, up 190 from million since June. The Google executive also revealed that Chromebooks are the largest selling EDU device in the US approaching a 50 percent share compared to 5 percent 18 months ago.
Google recently announced a new audience editing tool for Google+ that lets members of its social network set viewing filters based on age and location. Ideal for businesses with questionable content, this feature helps companies using Mountain View’s social network stay in compliance with foreign laws. In addition to helping companies keep their nose clean, this optional account setting helps Google make a case for a kid-friendly internet.
Today, Sprint announced a new promotion that gives its customers “double the data” offered by AT&T and Verizon for the same price. The carrier’s 32GB, 40GB and 60GB Family Share Pack plans will change to 60GB, 80GB and 120GB at no additional charge. Similar to AT&T’s newest promotion, Sprint’s deal also comes to an end on October 31st.
Google is in hot water in Germany, with the Hamburg Data Protection Authority warning the company that its user profiling practices violate the Telemedia Act and Federal Data Protection Act. A continuation of the search giant’s ongoing problems in Europe, the German regulatory organization is stating that spreading a person’s information across multiple services such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube is unnecessary and a violation of the country’s privacy laws.
If you missed your chance to pick up a Moto 360 when it first went on sale, here’s your chance to score. Motorola just restocked its new smartwatch, but there’s no telling how long it will last.
Android L Build LRW87D
A new version of Android L has surfaced in the Chromium issue tracker, along with a video of build number LRW87D in action. The short clip shows an issue with crashing videos, giving us a closer look at Google’s latest developments.
Better late than never, US Cellular is finally getting the LG G3. The regional carrier announced today that it will offer the South Korean electronics maker’s latest flagship smartphone next month for no money down. The LG G3 made its US debut back in July across America’s big four carriers and now it’s extending its reach to customers in additional coverage areas.
Today, Google announced Drive for Education, a new part of its Apps for Education platform that will offer unlimited storage. Similar to Drive for Work, Drive for Education supports individual file sizes of up to 5TB, along with automatic encryption. “Every file uploaded to Google Drive is encrypted, not only from your device to Google and in transit between Google data centers, but also at rest on Google servers,” wrote
