Posted by: Brett
Apple’s app download count hit 50 billion today nearly two weeks after beginning the count. The grand prizer winner of the $10,000 gift card, which goes to the lucky user who downloaded the 50 billionth app, has yet to be announced. The same goes for the lucky 50 users who downloaded the 50 apps after the 50 billionth, all which will receive $500 App Store gift cards.
Source: Apple
Posted by: Brett
Google has announced a complete redesign of Google Maps for both the desktop and Android. First off, Android will be receiving the same design and functionality of Google Maps for iPhone. Zagat reviews are integrated into the app and users can provide their own ratings for restaurants. It also integrates Google Offers and will include deals from various retailers and restaurants and traffic alerts will provide info on accidents. Maps will also offer a new route if something happens on your current route. Additionally, Google will be launching an iPad version of Maps alongside the reworked Android version “this summer”.
In addition to Maps on Android being reworked, Google has also rebuilt the desktop version of Maps from the ground up. The idea behind the new version of Mapsfor the desktop is tailoring the experience to the user. The entire map, which is now vector-based, constitutes the user interface so clicking anywhere will get you more information such as related places and reviews. Many features from Google Earth are built right in and things like photo tours and Street View are integrated right into the map itself. Maps will also tell you the best way to get to your destination, whether it be by car, bike, walking, public transit, or by train. In addition to those modes of transportation, you can now get flight information such as ticket prices, flight options, and estimated travel times. Lastly, Google Maps will adapt to the things you like and where you go most often to get better over time.
You can sign up to test out the new maps at the source link below, as well as find out everything that’s new in the latest version of Maps.
Posted by: Brett
Google is bringing it’s Google Now voice assistant to the Chrome browser. While the browser has featured voice search for some time, it merely typed in what you said and brought up search results. Starting today, you can speak using natural language and with the help of the Knowledge Graph, you’ll receive a voice response by the same woman voice from Google Now on Android and iOS. You can use all the commands you’d expect and you can also get personalized results such as being able to email someone.
Additionally, Google has updated Google Now on Android with voice reminders, suggestions for moviews, books, video games, and music, and public transit data.
For Android 4.1+ (Jelly Bean):
- Reminders (e.g. say “remind me to buy milk this evening”, “remind me to take out the trash when I get home”)
- Upcoming books, music albums, tv shows and video games you may like
- Real time public transit updates (select cities)
- Last train home (Japan only)
Source: Google, Play Store
Posted by: Brett
Google has completely redesigned Google+, giving the Stream, Hangouts, and Photos all new looks and functionality. First, Google refreshed the Stream, the main page where you view posts by others. They’ve removed the staggered layout of posts and replaced it with a Google Now-esque card view. Depending on the size of your screen, you’ll see one, two, or three columns of posts which look like Google Now cards, all of which are sized differently and fit together cleanly. In addition, they’ve added new animations and made it it so that photos and videos can fill the entire width of the news stream.
Google has also redesigned Hangouts by making it cross-platform and by releasing an standalone Hangouts app on Android, iOS, and the web. You can make video calls, have group conversations, send pictures and emojis, and when you view a notification on one platform, it will be cleared from your account on the others. The application is available now on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store.
Finally, Google has added some new functionality to Photos. Google has upgraded the free storage for full size images from 5GB to 15GB, they’ve added Auto Enhance which will automatically enhance any picture upload, Auto Highlight to only show the best photos rather than the blurry ones, and Auto Awesome which will make an animated GIF out of similar photos uploaded in a small amount of time (same idea with panoramas and more). All of the new features will be rolling out over the next few weeks. The Hangouts app is available at the links above.
Source: Google
Posted by: Brett
Google has announced Google Play for Education which is a special, curated app store with apps specifically designed for students and teachers. The program also allows teachers to control Nexus 7 tablets which students are given by installing specific apps on all the tablets at once. Google is urging developers to sign up in order to begin designing and submitting their applications for when the program begins this fall.
Source: Google
Image courtesy of Droid-Life
Posted by: Brett
Google has just reintroduced the Galaxy S4 at I/O 2013, but this time it’s running completely stock Android 4.2.2. Google touted the device as having a “Nexus user experience” and “prompt system updates” as well as an unlocked bootloader. It has the exact same specs as the regular Galaxy S4 – a quad-core 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera, and a 5-inch 1080p HD display – so it should run stock Android flawlessly. The device will be sold exclusively through the Google Play Store for $649, with support for T-Mobile and AT&T, and 16GB of storage, beginning on June 26th.
Source: Google
Posted by: Brett
Googlew announced it’s new music streaming service and they’ve called it Google Play Music All Access. The service is baked right into the current Google Play Music service which allows you to store your own songs or purchase them right from Google Play. All Access works just like Spotify and Rdio in that you can stream any song you want. All Access is not free and will run you $9.99 a month, but if you begin your 30-day free trial by June 30th, then the monthly fee will be lowered to just $7.99 a month.
Google has been rumored to be working on a subscription-based music streaming service for awhile now, and The Verge reported yesterday that Google had completed deals with the three major racorb labels and that the service would be announced today. The Play Music app has been updated in the Play Store to support the All Access service. You can sign up for All Access beginning today either online or within the updated app.
