Tag: google
Just days ahead of Google IO, news of the next version of Android has leaked via an unlikely source: Google’s very own Play Store. Jellybean will officially be Android 4.1 and will apparently be with us soon, according to the listing for the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus. Not much …
While Android OEMs have continually shown a tendency to not support their handsets with updates, either promptly or at all, Apple have just announced that the 3GS will receive its 3rd major update with iOS 6. The fact that only 7% of devices accessing the Play Store are …
It’s not the mosy surprising news in the world, especially when the Android kernel is based on his creation, but the BBC interview with Linus Torvalds is well worth a read. Linus talks about the birth of Linux and why, in his opinion, Linux hasn’t cracked the desktop …
Before I start I want to make clear that I am an Android user. I’ve had a play on iOS for a while in its various guises both jailbroken and not and on iPhones and an iPod Touch. I am not a particular fan of Apple devices but …
Following the beta launch of their overhauled Android app a few months back, Spotify have now officially released the app on the Google Play store for devices running Eclair (2.1) and higher. The app features an overhauled UI that’s more in line with the Holo ICS theme, and …
Google big-wig Andy Rubin doesn’t tweet much, but when he does we’re all shouting about it. He has no plans to leave the big “G” and claims that 900,000 Android devices are now activated every single day. Oooo.. wouldn’t you like to have growth like that eh? Now, …
On the whole, it’s safe to say that Android tablets haven’t done as well as the iPad. The Android “carpet bomb” approach just doesn’t seem to have worked all that well as far as tablets are concerned. Sure, the Galaxy Tab range has done fantastically well but Google …
Google held an event today to announce new features coming to their Google Maps service, 3D and Offline. The process of saving offline maps was demoed and it looks quite simple. The user selects “Make available offline” from the menu, selects the area needed and it downloads to …
Google have today announced the acquisition of Quickoffice, the office productivity company. Google say: We’re happy to announce that we have acquired Quickoffice, a leader in office productivity solutions. Today, consumers, businesses and schools use Google Apps to get stuff done from anywhere, with anyone and on any …
At first there was the US Department of Justice, then there was the European Union. More recently there have been battles with HTC, Samsung, Motorola and now a war of attrition seems to be building with Google. Microsoft’s lawyers must be laughing all the way to the bank. …
Google have today release an update for their social networking app, Google+. The app has now been updated and the following features have been added: Initiate a Hangout from the main menu Support for ringing hangout notification Support for post editing Messenger suggestions for people you may know …
News just in from the courts of California says that Google has won the second phase its patent trial against Oracle. Oracle filed a suit in October 2010 alleging that Google’s Android operating system infringes on patents relating to its programming language Java. Google responded by saying that …
Since Nokia chose to depart from their ex-partner Intel, the pair’s love child, Meego, was expected to become a somewhat neglected entity. But, it wasn’t long before Samsung, amongst many others, picked up the buck and started building Tizen and it seems they haven’t looked back yet. …
The WSJ and The Verge are reporting that Google will open up the Nexus program to 5 manufacturers’ this Autumn, allowing each to build a Nexus device which Google will then sell directly. This news comes amidst growing concern regarding the possibility of Motorola being given preferential treatment. …
A new version of Google maps has today been released to Google Play. The new version includes the ability to discover nearby Google Offers (US only), indoor walking directions (beta) for Japan and the US and enables the viewing of 360 degree panoramas inside restaurants and stores. The …
The latest figures released by Google on the Android Developers site have shown a sharp increase in the number of devices that have Ice Cream Sandwich using Google Play. It has been revealed that ICS (Android version 4.0.x) now accounts for 4.9% of all devices, an increase powered …
No sooner has the rumour mill died down around the Samsung Galaxy SIII than the merry-go-round starts all over again, this time the handset in question is the next Google Nexus. In a patent application filed by one Andy Rubin, Google’s VP of Engineering, it would appear that …
Have you got a spare half hour today? Of course you have…it’s raining right? Google have just launched ‘Cube’, a browser based 3D game, which requires you to roll a ball round a Google 3D texture map to find some locations. It certainly seems pretty smooth, and a …
Google released a beta version of Chrome for Android back in February, but according to the Senior Vice President of Chrome and Apps for Google, Sundar Pichai, Chrome for Android will leave beta status “in a matter of weeks”. He didn’t reveal anything more precise about this date, but its …
If you are one of the many that has experienced issues with the Google Play Store such as disappearing apps, apps not downloading or purchases not going through then suffer no longer. It would seem that the Play store in the United States actually has 24 hour, 7 day …
It’s what many consider to be the biggest legal battle in the technology industry at the moment and it all kicked off this week. Oracle Vs Google are in dispute over the licensing and use of Java and whilst I’m not here to break down the legalities of …
A few days ago I wrote about Google Currents now being available internationally. Well, the good news is that Coolsmartphone.com is available to view on the excellent newsreader resplendent with all its images. So, heres how to add everyones favourite smartphone site to your list of subscribed sites …
Following this report earlier in April, a draft release from one of Google’s partners reveals details of the upcoming challenger to Dropbox, Google Drive. Rolling out with 5gb of storage for all, and operating from https://drive.google.com this could be all set to be a major competitor to Dropbox. It …
If like me you have an Android phone, the chances are that your life is inextricably linked to Google. You probably have a Gmail account. Your contact book is stored on Google’s servers, if you are one of the 100million users that signed up to Google+ or use …
In December 2011 Google released Google Currents for Android and iOS in the United States. This app let users explore online magazines and other user generated content. Since the release users have requested that the app be made available internationally and that the speed of updating increases. From …
18 months after its release on iOS, Instagram has finally come to Android. For those of you unfamiliar with the app, Instagram popularised the use of applying various filters to photos, making quick edits and then sharing them online. Although the concept has been copied to death, Instagram …
Been to Google recently? You may have spotted this new link on the top bar which appears even when you’re not logged into the Googleplex. When clicked it’ll take you straight into the Android Market Play Store and is effectively a big advert for the Android OS. Linl …
Recently we published an article about how most of the power usage of free Android apps actually goes towards displaying the ads. Angry Birds, for example, apparently uses “70% of it’s power draw to upload information and download ads”. Presumably it’s an even higher percentage for other less …
This afternoon we went for a stroll around the Google Android stand. They’re giving away Ice Cream Sandwiches, drinks and the usual Android key-chains. It is extremely busy. Around the stand they’re showing off apps and services that use the Android platform, plus you get to pick up …
If you’re looking to get the Galaxy Nexus then eXpansys is worth a visit right now. The Nexus is available for £399.99, but it’s for today only. They’ve only got limited stock at this price, so you’ll have to be fairly quick. We’ve got a full review to …
If you’ve got an Android handset then you may have noticed a new version of Google Maps today. Inside there’s bug fixes and battery improvements. The battery performance change should be particularly noticeable if you’re a Latitude user and, if you’ve not upgraded already, you can click the …
Google+ for the iPhone got an update yesterday. Instant uploads is one of three new features added in the update. Take a photo or shoot a video and the app automatically uploads it to a Private album. Useful as a backup, working alongside iCloud’s Photo Stream you’ll never …
For me, one of the stand out features that Google presented to the world when they announced the Google Galaxy Nexus, was Face Unlock. My thoughts ran wild with ideas about how this technology could be useful… at least for me. Shortly after their announcement, various people demonstrated that …
HTC have released an update on the progress of their ICS upgrades for various devices. The first round of updates will hit the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G and HTC Sensation XE by the end of March, with the Sensation XL following soon after. It’s also announced some other …
In something of a surprise move, Google have today released a beta of Chrome for Android onto the Market. Unfortunately for you non-Nexus/non-flashing folks, it’s only available for ICS. At least for now. I’ve been having a play around with it and am really liking some of the …
If you have Google Docs installed you may have noticed an update in the last day or so. The big news on this is that the Google Docs app now has an Offline mode. There are also enhancements for tablets and the combination means you can now download …
While we’re talking fourth quarter numbers, Google have just announced another stonking set. There’s now 250 million Android activations around the world and 11 BILLION Android app downloads. Now, you may remember that back in November Android had 200 million activations.. so.. you can see what’s happening here. …
Watch out now, because this is probably going to descend into a rant. Task – Windows Phone. Microsoft. Discuss. Most of my day is spent looking around the web to try and get a handle on the “vibe” and what’s going on in the mobile market. Now, I’ll …
You may have received an update on your Android phone this morning which improves the Google Search functionality. There’s now a clearer and faster interface with enhanced search suggestions as you type. Google have also added better local suggestions and you can long-press on older items to hide …
Storage. There’s just never enough. Cast your mind back to 2005 when the Samsung SGH-i300 came out. Powered by Windows Mobile it had a hard drive on board. Yes, you heard right… a hard drive on a phone. Now, try not to laugh here, because this seemed like …
