Twitter has just pushed out version 5.0 of its Android app to those that are part of its Android beta program. With the new release comes a brand new design that introduces a new slide-out menu on the left hand side, while still keeping the familiar tabs along the top of app and adding a few new ones for Trending, Activity, Find people. You’ll notice other areas of the app have been streamlined as well, but there’s not yet an iPad optimized version of the beta. There’s also a few features missing from the previous versions– like the ability to mark all tweets as read– but we’d imagine they will return before the redesigned app comes out of beta.
If you’re interested in joining up for the Twitter beta tester program, you can learn how to do so here.
Following an app update earlier this week to the Twitter mobile apps that introduced a somewhat controversial conversation view in the app’s timeline, Twitter is now making a beta of its app available for those interested in testing out the latest beta. It’s likely not a direct response to the backlash Twitter received with the latest update, but at least those interested in testing out the latest new features and UI changes will have the ability to give feedback prior to the public release of future updates. It’s worth noting that the beta will replace your current Twitter app, rather than installing a separate beta version like some Google’s beta apps, but you can return to the public build at any time.
Smartphone makers these days seem to be in the habit of drip-feeding leaks about new products so steadily that there’s almost nothing we expect to surprise us by the time a model actually launches.
About the only thing we didn’t yet know about Sony’s new handset codenamed the Honami was the official name. We knew it was an Xperia model, but both Z1 and i1 had been suggested as model names. From the “3..2..what comes next?” tweet on the Sony Xperia Twitter account, we’re going with Z1 …
Just like it did with its iOS app, Twitter has just released an update to its Android app that adds several new features and enhancements. First off, the login verification process has been improved and made a lot simpler. While SMS verification use to be required, the app now supports login verification from directly within the app. Also new is an improved photo gallery for when you search. You now have the ability to view all photos that relate to a specific search, while before you could only swipe through thumbnails and select images to view full screen.
There are some projects that are so cool they send a little shiver down your spine, and for me this is one of those. It shows OpenGlass testing two Glass projects aimed at visually-impaired users.
Question-Answer allows someone to ask what an object is, receive an answer from Twitter users and then hear that answer spoken. Memento allows a sighted user to teach Glass to recognise objects, and will then tell a visually-impaired user what they are looking at … Expand Expanding Close
Just a quick note that we’ve moved our comment system to WordPress. You can log in with your WordPress, Twitter or Facebook accounts and you will need manual approval by mods the first time you comment (so prepare to wait a few minutes/hours). Previous stories will continue to contain previous comment archives.
Why didn’t we go to Disqus or Livefyre? If it was only comments, we probably would have. But we’re building something kind of cool behind the scenes with WordPress and this is just the start.
As always, we read and appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
On Twitter, HTC’s UK division has just posted a teaser for an announcement it has coming tomorrow. The company says that it will have a “little bit of news tomorrow.” This seems like a not-so subtle hint that the HTC One mini will be the center of attention, especially when given the image, which shows an HTC One variant just barely sticking out of someone’s pocket.
Alongside the iOS and Mac update that rolled out earlier this afternoon, Twitter for Android has also been updated with several new features. Most notably, direct messages now sync across all of Twitter’s official apps (Mac, iPad, Web, Tweetdeck, mobile web, Android). Before today, if you read a direct message on your desktop, it would still be marked as unread on your phone.
Now when you read a Direct message it will be marked as read in all of your official Twitter apps (including twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com, Twitter for Mac, Twitter for iPad and TweetDeck) and vice versa.
As you search you can now see user avatars and clear past searches from the dropdown menu
Richer search results indicate when there are new Tweets for your query and show account results with bios and social context
Missing from this update is the new reply field that iOS devices got, but hopefully that feature comes sooner rather than later. Expand Expanding Close
Twitter’s Vine has pushed out an update for its Android app today that brings the video app to parity with its iOS counterpart. The update adds front-facing camera support as well as a new upload manager for all compatible devices.
In addition to these two new features, Vine for Android has also gotten some all-around speed improvements and support for more Android devices, although Twitter wouldn’t explicitly specify which ones.
The full Vine 1.2.0 for Android changelog is as follows:
Front-facing camera.
New upload manager for unsubmitted posts.
Improvements to settings.
Improvements to camera loading time and support for more devices.
Speed improvements overall.
Bug fixes and UI improvements.
You can download the new version now directly from Google Play.
Smart watches have become a trend over the last few years, and Sony wants everybody to know that it was the first company to release a wearable computing device. The company posted a string of tweets over the last few days, teasing the successor to the Android-powered SmartWatch it released last year (via Xperiablog.net). All of the tweets carried the #itstime hashtag, as well as the #MAE13 hashtag, which stands for Mobile Asia Expo, an event Sony will be present at next week in Shanghai. One of the tweets claimed that “One in three smartphone users want smart wrist wear”, while another teased that Sony’s focus has always been around wearable technology reading, “Wearable tech is in our DNA. Remember WALKMAN, now…?”
The tweet that really gives it away, however, is one that simply reads “Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock” and includes an image of a Sony SmartWatch.
Sony has already scheduled a media event in Shanghai for next week, during which we all expect the 6.4-inch Togari to be unveiled, but if these tweets are anything to go by, the company certainly has more up its sleeve.
Twitter announced today on its blog (via The Verge) that its video capturing and sharing app Vine is launching today for Android.
Vine was acquired by Twitter before it debuted publicly and was only available on iOS prior to today’s announcement. Twitter also announced today that it has topped 13 million users of its video app, something we imagine will jump astronomically now that it is available on a plethora of new smartphones.
Much like when Vine launched on iPhone, it doesn’t support front-facing cameras just yet but we expect Twitter will add more features based on the rate at which it has updated the iOS variant. However, as Erica Ogg reports, Vine for Android does one-up its iPhone companion with its ability to zoom.
Adam Bell (@b3ll), a well-known developer for many software platforms, has figured out a way to route all notifications from an iOS device through Google Glass. The implementation, even in its early stage, seems to work quite well. Bell notes that all notifications, such as iMessages and Tweets automatically are shown via the Google Glass interface. Video and more details below:
Twitter today officially launched its own official client for Google Glass. The app has a focus on sharing photos, but also allows you to keep up with your mentions and DMs.
With Twitter for Google Glass, you can share photos to Twitter. The Tweet will automatically include the text, “Just shared a photo #throughglass.”
In addition to sharing photos, you can also keep up with the people you follow on Twitter through notifications — for mentions, DMs and Tweets from users for whom you’ve turned on notifications. As always, you can reply to, retweet or favorite these Tweets.
In addition, Google today announced an official SDK for Google Glass. The software development kit will allow offline apps to be created for the device. The company also shared that Facebook, Tumblr, CNN, and Elle apps are on the way.
International digital-rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation has delivered its annual report card of which tech companies best protect its consumer data.
Some may be surprised that both Google and Twitter top the list of companies offering the most consumer protection from governments accessing your data and transparency toward data management.
While Dropbox and LinkedIn also fair well this year, the same cannot be said for Apple, AT&T, or Yahoo.
These companies miss the mark on data protection almost across the board with exception to protecting your rights in courts or Congress.
Read the full “Who Has Your Back” report at EFF.org.
Robert Scoble isn’t mincing words on Google Glass. He thinks it will be big, big, big. His review after having Google Glass for two weeks reads like he’s had an epiphany and the only thing preventing these from ruling the universe is Larry Page’s inability to price these things as low as $200. His 6 points:
1. I will never live a day of my life from now on without it (or a competitor). It’s that significant.
2. The success of this totally depends on price. Each audience I asked at the end of my presentations “who would buy this?” As the price got down to $200 literally every hand went up. At $500 a few hands went up. This was consistent, whether talking with students, or more mainstream, older audiences.
3. Nearly everyone had an emotional outburst of “wow” or “amazing” or “that’s crazy” or “stunning.”
4. At NextWeb 50 people surrounded me and wouldn’t let me leave until they had a chance at trying them. I haven’t seen that kind of product angst at a conference for a while. This happened to me all week long, it is just crazy.
5. Most of the privacy concerns I had before coming to Germany just didn’t show up. I was shocked by how few negative reactions I got (only one, where an audience member said he wouldn’t talk to me with them on). Funny, someone asked me to try them in a bathroom (I had them aimed up at that time and refused).
6. There is a total generational gap that I found. The older people said they would use them, probably, but were far more skeptical, or, at minimum, less passionate about the fact that these are the future, than the 13-21-year-olds I met.
It is important to keep in mind the context of his perspective. He’s a uber-geek who spends his life immersed in technology. Some people will find the idea of wearing a computer on your face unsettling and there undoubtedly will be backlash. The wow factor will wear off and they will have to produce some value. Right now image and video taking are the key apps. As Scoble mentioned, other apps are coming fast and furious.
And, no, I don’t believe they won’t be $200 (unless there is a subsidy like phones). If Google is charging developers $1500/pop, there is no way Google can make them for $200, at least in the near future.
All of those disclaimers aside, I really do see a lot of opportunity for Google here. They’ve thought forward and this bet on the future of technology is going to change things. Expand Expanding Close
On top of rolling out support for new Twitter cards for developers that will allow users to launch and install apps directly from within tweets, Twitter today released an overhauled Android app that finally follows the Android 4.0+ Holo design theme:
We just released a new version of Twitter for Android. Its new design reflects a native Android experience: wider and taller timelines that fill the screen, a flat navigation bar, tap and hold for quick actions, and more. You can now quickly navigate between tabs by swiping across your screen. And as you type your Tweet or search, you’ll see username and hashtag suggestions, making it easier to connect with friends and join conversations.
Other improvements in the updated app include @username and #hashtag auto suggestions when typing in search for composing a new tweet, as well as the ability to install and launch apps from developers that support a new mobile app deep-linking feature Twitter outlined on its developers blog.
Today only, eBay deals has the Wi-Fi variant of Samsung’s latest 11.6-inch Chromebook for the cheapest price we’ve seen at $239 + free shipping. We rarely see these Chromebooks go on sale, and, if you’re not going to pick up the new Chromebook Pixel, this is definitely the best value for your money in the Chromebook space.
Google Senior Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra, who is also known as the man behind Google+, admitted at the SMX Social Media Marketing conference last night that “his boss” asked him to stop tweeting on Twitter.
Many reports assumed Google CEO Larry Page is the boss in question and further surmised that the above tweet is probably the reason behind his request. Gundotra’s tweet occurred around the same time Microsoft landed a strategic mobile partnership with Nokia that would replace Symbian with the Windows Phone operating system. The timing led to speculation that the tweet was a dig at both companies.
The Next Web published a transcript of Gundotra’s explanation:
No, actually I was asked not to do that by my boss. I tweeted a tweet about two companies that went viral, went very very viral and made a lot of headline news. And honestly, I didn’t anticipate that my comments would be interpreted in the way they were interpreted.
I thought I was speaking to a relatively small number of people who followed me, a developer-oriented group, and instead it went mainstream. And so, uhm, I’ve curtailed my usage since then.
Verizon just revealed the Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD would soon upgrade to Android’s latest operating system, Jelly Bean, starting next week in phases.
Check out Verizon’s page for more details on next week’s rollout.
Google made an announcement on its official Europe Blog today to confirm it is reactivating the Speak2Tweet service following Internet access being completely shut off in Syria yesterday. It originally launched the service two years ago to allow Egyptians without Internet access to send tweets using only a voice connection. Google noted in the post that since yesterday its “transparency Report has shown that Internet access is completely cut off in Syria.”
For those interested in using the service… Google explained:
Unfortunately we are hearing reports that mobile phones and landlines aren’t working properly either. But those who might be lucky enough to have a voice connection can still use Speak2Tweet by simply leaving a voicemail on one of these international phone numbers (+90 212 339 1447 or +30 21 1 198 2716 or +39 06 62207294 or +1 650 419 4196), and the service will tweet the message… No Internet connection is required, and people can listen to the messages by dialing the same phone numbers or going to twitter.com/speak2tweet.
We knew that Google Play carrier billing would be available “in the coming weeks” for Verizon customers when Google confirmed on Twitter earlier this month. Today direct billing is officially rolling out to Verizon users with the new payment option now available form the Google Play store billing page pictured above (via AndroidPolice). Direct carrier billing is already available to most other Android users in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. No word yet on whether or not Verizon will employ the rumored $25 limit for direct billing. Expand Expanding Close
StubHub is the latest company to join the 3D craze with updated maps for its online and mobile apps counterparts.
The 12-year-old online ticket reseller, bought by eBay in 2007, allows users to buy and sell tickets for sports, concerts, theatre, and other live entertainment events. It acquired Peekspy, which is a company that leverage’s Google Earth’s technology to create 3D products, in early 2012 for an undisclosed amount. Fanvenue, Peekspy’s website, further builds 3D interactive seating maps for venues and stadiums.
With Peekspy in its pocket for the last six months, StubHub is preparing to roll out 3D maps. The tech is for both online and mobile, but StubHub said it is working toward a consistent experience on both platforms. The first phase is onsite only, but upcoming rollouts will simultaneously land for both Stubhub.com and mobile.
StubHub Product Director Mats Nilsson announced at a media event in New York City recently that StubHub for Android would soon sport the tech, although an exact launch date has not been announced, so folks could find seats in a more easier and entertaining way. For instance: Users on either Android, iOS or Windows Phone will be able to hover over a desired seating section, tap to zoom, and then closely inspect desired seats, interior views, stage setup, bathroom locations, and more.
Only a few venues are now launch-ready for mobile apps, such as Yankee Stadium, but Nilsson said StubHub is diligently working with many arenas to get 3D maps into full swing. With that said, MLB stadiums are now live online as part of the “first phase” previously mentioned by StubHub.
In related news, StubHub CTO Raji Arasu revealed plans to completely open APIs in the coming months. The limited StubHub API already allows some partners, such as ESPN, to gain information and functionality, but the ticket reseller hopes full read-and-write access for all will further encourage development.
We told you earlier this month that a judge in the Google/Oracle case ordered the companies to disclose any payments it made to journalists, bloggers, and other members of media who made commentary or reported on the lawsuit. It was no secret at the time, but even paid blogger Florian Mueller of Foss Patents admitting previously that Oracle, in addition to other companies such as Microsoft, funded some of the posts on his blog.
While the majority of the people listed by Google include former interns, copyright lawyers, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, The Verge noted Mark Lemley, a Stanford professor who is often quoted by Google with no mention of the relationship, appears on the list as Google’s “outside counsel” for unrelated cases. Another name mentioned in the document is Google employee Tim Bray. The document cited tweets made by Bray from his personal Twitter account related to the case:
The U.S. Patent and Trademark office just published a Google patent for “Speak to Tweet,” which is a service that allows users to communicate on Twitter by dialing an international phone number and then leaving a tweet by way of voice message. Google developed “Speak to Tweet” in response to the 2011 Egyptian revolution Internet shutdown.
In January 2011 Google acquired a small company called SayNow. Google, with the assistance of their newly acquired SayNow team worked night and day with Twitter so as to quickly develop a product called “Speak to Tweet.” The service was developed to help people stay connected in times when they were unable to find a viable Internet connection. The inspiration for this application was born during the Egyptian revolution. As a reaction to protests in Cairo, the Egyptian government shut down the Internet throughout that country on January 26, 2011. Technically, Speak to Tweet (or speak2tweet) is a communications service that allows users to leave a “tweet” on Twitter by calling a designated international phone number and leaving a voice message. Recently, the US Patent Office published the patent that’s behind the Speak to Tweet service.
Head of the Google Cultural Institute Steve Crossan originally filed the patent application in Q1 2012. Check it out here.
