Today, YouTube announced that it’s deploying a new process to improve the accuracy of subscriber accounts on user channels. On June 16th, Google’s video sharing platform will start pruning suspended accounts from channel subscription counts. Although this will cause a drop in subscribers for some YouTubers, it shouldn’t have any type of impact on their video views, because suspended accounts aren’t active.
The forthcoming update for Minecraft Pocket Edition is said to be the game’s biggest patch to date and judging by developer Mojang’s recent blog post, there’s a whole lot of change on the world builder’s docket. Some of the new features for this mega-release include: unlimited worlds, a new culling algorithm, updated falling mechanics for gravel and sand, along with new insta ticking for water and lava.
CyanogenMod 11.0 M7 is now rolling out to download servers for supported devices. Based on Android 4.4.2, this updated software introduces a new calculator app and some performance improvements for low-memory devices rocking 512MB of RAM or less. Here’s a look at the complete changelog:
An 11-year-old girl from New York has earned money towards her college education thanks to her creativity. Google’s 2014 Doodle 4 Google contest challenged children in grades K-12 to draw an invention that would make the world a better place. Contest winner, Audrey Zhang created a device that tackles one of the world’s biggest issues, the need for clean drinking water.
“To make the world a better place, I invented a transformative water purifier,” Zhang told Google. ” It takes in dirty and polluted water from rivers, lakes, and even oceans, then massively transforms the water into clean, safe and sanitary water, when humans and animals drink this water, they will live a healthier life.”
The US isn’t the only country making preparations for self-driving cars, the UK is in the process of revamping its laws to allow driverless vehicles to cruise its roads. Science minister David Willetts recently told Mail Online that he has started talking with the Department for Transport to help British companies develop their own self-driving cars, with efforts currently underway in Oxford.
A recent ruling by the European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) determined that people had “the right to be forgotten” and mandated that Google remove outdated, unflattering information about them from search queries if requested by an individual. In response to the court’s ruling Mountain View created an online form for people to formally file requests to have old links removed from web searches.
If you frequent public transportation, Google Now’s latest addition might help you during your next outing. The behavior studying software can now alert you when it’s time to exit a bus or train ride. Not exactly foolproof, Google Now may sound an alarm for saved locations like home or work and all you’ll need to do is tap it to activate it.
The integrated alarm notification appears to be separate from Android’s stock clock application and since public transportation support isn’t available in all areas, you’ll still want to keep an eye on your surroundings. However, like most of Google Now’s features, we expect that this will get better with time.
(via Android Police)
Today, Microsoft announced the availability of its OneNote Clipper extension for Chrome. Released earlier this year, this point and click app lets users snap bookmarks of just about anything on the web, making them available to be viewed at a later time. Kind of sounds familiar, huh? To download this software visit onenote.com/clipper while using Chrome and click the install button.
Motorola Mobility really wants you to try its Moto X smartphone and next week you’ll have a chance for an insanely low premium. On Monday, June 9th, for just one penny, Motorola will build you a custom off-contract Moto X and send it to you for a two week trial run. While most retailers and wireless carriers have similar return policies, they typically require a full upfront purchase. The offer is valid for one day only and Motorola warns that quantities will be limited.
After June 30th, Yahoo will completely remove Google and Facebook sign-in options from Flickr. As the company transitions towards its own login system, it’s sending out emails to users of its photo sharing service offering them a chance to make the switch before it closes these two doorways. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a major company attempt to cut its ties with Google and it probably won’t be the last. A few weeks ago, Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer was reportedly trying to persuade Apple to drop Google search in favor of Yahoo’s engine for the company’s iOS platform. So Yahoo distancing its own products from Mountain View’s reach definitely to make sense.
Although T-Mobile is rumored to be betrothed to Sprint, the magenta-hued carrier appears to have some prenuptial activities going on. Today, the company teased a new program called The Underground aimed at “true enthusiasts” looking for the latest and greatest the wireless world has to offer. As suggested by its name, this new initiative isn’t for any and everyone, but the carrier has yet to disclose what it takes to get in on the action.
In case you didn’t know, Google can help you plan your next meal. No, the search behemoth isn’t using its Zagat-owned tech to recommend a restaurant, it’s helping you in the kitchen. Perhaps dormant or maybe new, Google recently outed a filter that lets you pull up an ingredients list when searching for food or a recipe.
CEOs from massive tech companies like AOL, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google recently issued an open letter to the US Senate regarding the growing concerns about internet surveillance. Normally competitors, this unusual alliance agrees that change is needed and that the version of the USA Freedom Act that recently passed through the US House of Representatives needs some work.
Typically when a consumer electronic is a hit, it’s eventually rewarded with a follow up. While we probably wouldn’t label NVIDIA’s Shield a runaway success, it managed to make a few waves in world of gaming. So we’re not too surprised to see what looks like a sequel to the chip maker’s Android-powered gaming device passing through the FCC. Listed as the “P2570” (the originally Shield was the P2450) this device bears a strong resemblance to its possible predecessor.
Google Public Alerts recently incorporated tweets from locations affected by natural disasters. These notifications will be pushed from places like the National Weather Service and will help keep residents informed during times of duress. The idea behind using tweets is to quickly address public concerns like school closures and community evacuations. Google spreads this type of emergency information through several of its platforms, including Google Maps, Google Now and its Public Alerts website.
Google has issued a fix for a mobile search bug that would redirect people to a website’s homepage instead of the results displayed. This would occur if a website wasn’t properly optimized to handle requests from smartphones and as a result a user would be redirected to mobile version of a site’s homepage instead. Starting today, Google will provide users with a warning that their search “may open the site’s homepage,” but will still offer a chance to try to visit the results displayed.
Google updated its Hangouts Android app today with a fresh set of customizable features. Users now have access to a hidden contacts list that lets them hide people from their group without blocking their messages. In addition to adjusting your chat list, you can now assign custom notification tones to individual contacts. This nifty new feature will let you know who’s messaging you without having to look at your device. Another new feature in the latest version of Hangouts for Android is an SMS list that provides fast access to the people you’ve blocked. This new feature also makes it easier to unblock people in the event that you have a change of heart.
Lastly, a battery draining issue linked to Hangouts is expected to be resolved with this new update, according to an ongoing Google Groups thread. Google has yet to update Hangouts’ changelog in Google Play, however version 2.1.223 is now available and may take a little time to reach your device.
The Android 4.4.3 update spree continues. Today, Google’s new software started rolling out to the Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and Google Play edition of the HTC One M8. These files have been captured and are available for manual installation if you’re comfy with that sort of thing, however you’ve been waiting this long, so a few more days probably won’t kill you.
Last month, Sony started accepting pre-orders for its Xperia Z2 Tablet, but absent from this announcement was support for any US wireless carriers. Apparently this exclusion doesn’t mean that Sony’s slim slab will be avoiding its the US of A, as @evleaks recently posted renders of the Z2 with Verizon branding. With an entry-level price of $500, this waterproof slate features a 10.1-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS display, a 2.3 GHz Qualcomm APQ8074AB quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, S-Force Front Surround, a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, an 8-megapixel rear-facing shooter and Android 4.4 KitKat.
When engaged in a firefight, soldiers often have t0 break cover to take a shot at a target. This almost always puts them in harm’s way and can possibly result in severe injury or even death. There has to be a better way, right? Precision guided firearm maker TrackingPoint sure seems to think so. The company is currently tinkering with Google Glass and is working on pairing its ShotView mobile app with Mountain View’s wearable.
Today, Microsoft released a highly anticipated update for its SmartGlass mobile apps for Xbox One. Following suit with a full system update for Redmond’s newest game console, this refreshed companion app adds fast access to all of your TV and app channels with the introduction of OneGuide support. Also new to SmartGlass are the abilities to compare Achievements, filter recorded game clips and organize your console’s pins remotely. But the standout new feature here is the addition of a universal remote that can be used to control your cable, satellite box or TV.
Yesterday, Google released the factory image of Android 4.4.3 for a fleet of Nexus devices. This was all good and well, but not everyone was comfortable with the idea of manually flashing a device. Thankfully, the folks from Mountain View didn’t leave people waiting too long and as of this very moment, Google is in the process of pushing out an over-the-air update of Android 4.4.3 for last year’s Nexus 7.
The Android 4.4.3 train has no signs of slowing down. After hitting several Nexus devices and Motorola announcing its release schedule earlier today, the Google Play editions of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One (M7) are joining in on the fun. Owners of these special edition handsets are slowly but surely receiving an over-the-air update that moves their device to Android 4.4.3.
