The idea of being able to modify and upgrade your phone’s hardware as you please almost sounds too good to be true, but Project Ara aims to offer just that. But in addition to being able to pick and pull your device’s camera and battery, the director of Google’s modular smartphone program, Paul Eremenko recently revealed that you’ll be able swap even more modules around.
Today, TiVo announced an update for its Android app that adds streaming support for live and recorded TV shows. This brings the Android application up to speed with its iOS counterpart, which received this functionality nearly a year ago. Compatible with most mobile gadgets running Jelly Bean or later, this software won’t work with Intel’s chips.
The latest Chrome Dev Channel update adds the ability to check how much of your Chromebook’s battery power is being used by an individual app or website. To access this slick new feature, visit the Settings window and select the “Battery” option under the device section.
Microsoft updated OneDrive for Android today with some new features that change the way users view photos saved to the company’s cloud storage service. Bringing the app up to speed with its counterparts, the software maker added All Photos View to its mobile application, along with some new search features that make it easier for business customers to locate specific files.
Despite the shaky launch of OnePlus’ first smartphone, the startup is currently working on a follow up device. During a recent Ask Me Anything on Reddit, Carl Pei, Director of OnePlus Global revealed that a OnePlus 2 was in the works and that the company is targeting a release during Q2 or Q3 in 2015. In addition to confirming plans for a new smartphone, Pei said that OnePlus is entertaining requests for a smaller device, but he didn’t get into details.
AT&T recently launched a new promotion that doubles the data offered on Mobile Share Value plans equipped with 15GB or higher. The offer is valid from now to October 31st and subscribers who sign up for service with an eligible plan will be able to retain their data rates permanently.
The Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact still aren’t official in some areas, however the devices have already received root and custom recovery for those of you who wish to experiment with your new handset on day one. Thanks to a crafty XDA developer going by the handle “DooMLoRD,” people who purchase Sony’s new smartphones will be able to load custom ROMs and make other tweaks to their device as long as their respective gadget ships with its original firmware.
The Moto 360 is one of the most attractive Android Wear devices on the market, however owners of Motorola’s new smartwatch have had mixed feelings about its battery life. Last week the company pushed out a new software update that focused on Bluetooth connectivity and bug fixes, with the latter possibly improving the device’s power management.
Google is in the process of developing a new feature that lets users mute the audio notifications in Chrome’s browser tabs. This new feature is available to Chromium users and could eventually come to Chrome’s Canary platform, which means that a stable release probably won’t be happening anytime soon.
Vine for Android received an update today that introduces a handful of new editing features to the quick video sharing software. You can now import existing videos from your phone, as well as preview clips of any length and pare them down to six seconds or less. There’s also an undo last recording option, along with a flashlight mode that can be used to capture video in dark settings.
LG appears to be working on a new smartwatch, according to a set of recently discovered FCC documents. While it’s unclear if this device will run Google’s Android Wear operating system, the filing revealed that it will feature support for CMDA 3G network connectivity, meaning that it won’t necessarily need to be tethered to a smartphone for a data connection, however 3G isn’t exactly blazing fast.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIf9GdCzY_Y]
Sony’s new Xperia Z3 is coming and while it’ll most likely make its US debut on October 9th, you can see it get unboxed right now. Unlike the usual “hey, look at this phone” approach, European retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a creative spin on an internet pastime by performing an underwater unboxing of Sony’s durable smartphone.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHEmO-kRCSs?feature=player_detailpage]
Apple’s new iPhones have sold quite well, but their launch hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. From hardware issues to botched software, the Cupertino-based software giant has had a lot on its plate over the past few days and of course critics have been quite vocal about the company’s recent challenges. Recently, late night TV funny man Conan O’Brien joined in on the Apple ribbing by putting together a bogus Samsung ad that offers a solution to troubled iPhone owners.
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Google chairman Eric Schmidt and company advisor Jonathan Rosenberg recently sat down with Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist of MSNBC’s Morning Joe to promote their new book, How Google Works. During the brief segment, the two executives talked about Google’s unconventional approach to projects. Schmidt went on to talk about how in his early days as CEO, another employee moved into his office due to their space being too crowded.
Last week it was a rumor and today it’s now truth! The new Moto X is coming Verizon on September 26th. Compatible with Big Red’s XLTE setup, the 16GB version of Motorola’s new smartphone will be priced at $100 with a two year service commitment. Furthermore, for a limited time, the carrier will also offer the white and bamboo themed second-generation Moto X for a $100 with a new subscriber agreement (normally $150).
Google’s augmented reality game Ingress started out as a closed beta title, way back in 2012. Now officially up and running, the game has been downloaded by over 7 million players in the past year. In an effort to keep things fresh, the game’s developer Niantic Labs added a new feature to the title today that lets its community members create their own missions to challenge other players.
After months of teasing, Angry Birds Transformers is now available in select parts of the world. Gamers in New Zealand and Finland can now sample Rovio’s mashup of fowl and robots, with Canada and Australia set to follow soon afterwards. In addition to a soft launch for its new title, Rovio released a new gameplay trailer, revealing that this won’t be your typical Angry Birds title.
Google has a history of leaving small Easter eggs in its products and recently the search giant snuck a small gem into its Chrome browser. Discovered by Chrome evangelist François Beaufort, there’s a small endless runner game hidden in the latest version of Chrome’s Canary build. In order to launch the game, you’ll need to take your system offline and attempt to connect to a webpage.
Google chairman Eric Schmidt and former product manager Jonathan Rosenberg are currently on tour promoting their new book How Google Works, and as the co-authors continue making their rounds, they’ve been engaging in some rather assertive interviews. This time around the duo stopped by Bloomberg’s Market Makers with hosts Erik Schatzker and Stephanie Ruhle. The group talked about the search giant’s biggest competitors like Apple, Yahoo, Amazon and others. Here are a few highlights from the 15 minute segment.
Today, Google announced an update for its search app for Android that adds airfare price drop alerts to your list of Now cards. Currently, only available in the US, this new feature likely monitors flights that you’ve been searching for and notifies you when a price drop has occurred.
Samsung is reportedly working on three new LTE-capable smartphones under the Galaxy A moniker that will range between $300 to $500. Citing an unnamed source, SamMobile claims that this trio of unannounced devices will be called the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7, with the latter phone seeing a limited release in select countries.
Two sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth Turner are currently suing Evan Spiegel, the co-founder of the popular photo messaging app Snapchat. They’re claiming that when you perform a Google search for the term “Snapchat sluts” (definitely not safe for work) their pictures come up in the results. The sisters are also claiming that in 2011 Spiegel approached them in hopes of using their likeness to promote a new mobile application that he was developing called “Picaboo.”
Despite the Fire Phone’s unfavorable reception from critics and consumers alike, Amazon isn’t scaling back its hardware efforts. The company’s Lab126 division that develops Amazon’s mobile products is reportedly increasing its staff in order to further pursue its interests in home automation and wearables. According to Reuters, Amazon is in the process of testing a WiFi device that can be added to a closet or cupboard, allowing consumers to order relevant products like detergent with the press of a button.
Google chairman Eric Schmidt recently sat down with ABC’s Rebecca Jarvis and discussed topics ranging from immigration to snack foods and reading interests. The Google executive also spoke candidly about Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent letter on privacy and WikiLeaks frontman Julian Assange, who’s publicly referred to Google as “the private NSA.”
