Category: Gooooogle

Who should make the next Google Nexus smartphone?

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Google IO is coming in a week, and while we’re expecting Google Glass, few unconfirmed Motorola rumors, and the next iteration of Android OS, there’s also the Nexus line.

Let’s have a brief recap; a Nexus is a smartphone made by Google which runs on the latest version of Android, and partly sets the bar higher for Android hardware. They give the opportunities to manufacturers who offer the best hardware as of the moment of creation, and on the software side of things, it will be the first to get the updates for up to 2 more years or so.

nexus +

HTC did the first with the Nexus One, Samsung followed it up with the Nexus S & the Galaxy Nexus, and LG topped it with the Nexus 4. Asus manufactured the first Nexus tablet, the 7-inch Nexus 7, while Samsung made the 10-inch Nexus 10.

Rumors have been very sharp and hard to argue with. There are recent reports that LG has been tapped by Google once again to manufacture the next Nexus phone – hoping that they can meet the demand this time. The current Nexus 4 is said to be facing a refresh this Google IO, with 4G LTE in tow with 32GB of storage. Also, it could possibly reel in the white version that we never heard of again ever since.

NEXUS 4

But if we put the decision on you guys, the consumer, who would you pick for the next Nexus? Do you think the current lineup will be succeeded with a Nexus 5, Nexus 8 & Nexus 11?

We have to say that it is entirely possible since phones are now in the 5-inch trend, the iPad Mini is on the 8-inch side looking for competition and there are also reports stating that Samsung is indeed working on a Nexus 11.

THIS IS NEXUS

If you’d ask me, I’d opt for HTC/Sony or Nokia - since I’m a Nexus 4 owner, I became a fan of high quality builds and great software – only extra thing I’m craving for is a great camera.

What about you? Which manufacturer would satisfy your needs for a Nexus phone or tablet?

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Android 4.3: What We Want To See & What To Expect

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Several reports are circulating that the next version of Android will actually be Version 4.3 and will still be called Jellybean. So, what happened to Key Lime Pie? Indulge us for a bit, and join in the discussion. Here are the things we want to see and the stuff that you can possibly expect in Android 4.3.

Jellybean vs Key Lime Pie

Through server logs, Android Police has been able to identify that the next version will be indeed 4.3 Jellybean. This has been confirmed by more reports such as the leak of an LTE Nexus 4 running Android 4.3.0.

LTE

But where’s Key Lime Pie? We don’t know. But something tells us Google IO will be more evolutionary than revolutionary, since we’re not even expecting to see a new Nexus phone – only a refresh and possible tablets. Key Lime Pie might arrive in the holiday season or so, but for the meantime, it looks like Google is busy trying to name and update all devices to Jellybean. They might not be of the same version number, but the effect of having majority of Android devices on Jellybean is bigger than you think.

Enhanced Gaming

Google just hired a Chief Game Designer, Noah Falstein, in which we don’t really hear much about Google when we’re talking about games. However, another report hints that the next version of Android will have Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Open GL ES 3.0 – which is a graphics specification which will allow better shades and all.

Google’s Unified Messaging App

We’ve talked about this before in our article  Google I/O 2013: What To Expect. However, new speculation states that it will only be called “Hangout” – and that remains yet to be confirmed.

It’s probably going to be competing with iMessage and the like, and you can only imagine the users it will get especially with all the Android users out there. Communication will be a lot easier.

Here’s what we want to see:

So basically, that’s it. Those are the only clues that we have on the next version of Android. To make the list longer and a little more interesting, here’s what we want to see in Android 4.3 Jellybean.

  • A Better App Drawer - The app drawer is pretty much tinkered with in every Android skin. Also, it’s gone a little stale in stock versions of Android. We’d like to see better customization here, such as to hide unwanted apps, make folders and etc.
  • Full Android Backup - When switching Android devices, you have to customize it all over again – widgets here, shortcuts there. Yes, you can go to the Play Store or root for that matter, but we’d like something easier and built-in to the system.
  • Battery Percentage - This one is a small want as well, since you can go to the Play Store to solve this, but it would be nice if the option to display the battery percentage on the notification bar was native.
  • A “close all” button at the task switcher - When opening the task switcher, it’s a little hassle to swipe all of the apps away – so, Google, why not add a small “close all” button somewhere; manufacturers are doing it with their skin, so why not stuff it in?
  • Task & File Manager - As a stock Android user, I didn’t see any native apps that worked like a task manager or a file manager. I still had to download AndroZip and all. I know Google can make better designed software than those who make third-party apps, so… yeah. I’d like that.

Don’t worry guys, if you didn’t like the list or the expected features, you can wait for Windows Phone 9 or iOS 7 – which is said to be packing a major overhaul as well. So, are you buying into Android with all of that said? What features would you like to see in Android’s next? Leave a comment in the section down below.

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Google Glass tech specs released

Louie Diangson Leave a comment

Google’s first foray into wearable technology is Google Glass. While it is yet to go mainstream, we have to admit that this is a really cool tech that everyone would like to try. So if you’re curious to find out what this device is packing inside its slim body, then take a look at the recently published spec sheet below.

glass

Fit:

  • Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face.
  • Extra nosepads in two sizes.

Display:

  • High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.

Camera:

  • Photos – 5 MP
  • Videos – 720p

Audio:

  • Bone Conduction Transducer

Connectivity:

  • WiFi – 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth

Storage:

  • 12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.

Battery:

  • One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.

Charger:

  • Included Micro USB cable and charger.

While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.

Compatibility:

  • Any Bluetooth-capable phone.
  • The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.

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GMail turns 9, started the growing 1GB Inbox

yuga Leave a comment

In April 2004, Google launched GMail as invite-only and introduced one of the biggest (if not the biggest) Inbox in all of the free email world. The default storage size of the inbox was 1GB and increases algorithmically everyday.

Here’s an infographic of the Evolution of GMail, outlining the development of one of Google’s most widely used services. With 1GB right out of the inbox, it was among the biggest with other existing services only giving 50MB to 250MB back then.

Before GMail, most people were either using Yahoo!, HotMail and other similar services. GMail practically stole the limelight in free email and is now among the top 3 email services in the world.

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