Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Google begins testing answers in auto-complete suggestions
- Moto Voice update adds features for Moto 360 users
- This is the Nexus 9 keyboard case
- Get your wallet ready, Moto 360 to be back in stock tomorrow
- Offline playback is coming to YouTube, starting in India
- Panasonic shows Samsung how to make an Android cameraphone
- A Chinese city has made a special sidewalk for phone addicts
- Android One devices go on sale in India, more countries later this year
- Get $50 off the new Moto X if you have a .edu email address
| Google begins testing answers in auto-complete suggestions Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT There was a time when Google didn’t try to guess what you were searching, or show your results instantly as you type. It’s hard to believe that Google hasn’t always had these important features. They’ve become so essential to what people expect from a Google Search. A new feature is being tested by Google that takes auto-complete and instant results to the next level. You can type certain questions in to Google and get a pretty little answer on top of the search results. Unlike the results that show up while you type, answers only show once you press enter. With this new feature enabled you can see answers to questions while you’re typing too. So if you type “Weather in New York” it will start showing before you complete the search. Here’s how to enable this.
Now when you do a search in the omnibar you will see answers included in the suggested results. This feature further cuts down on the amount of time it takes to get an answer from Google. Getting your answers accurately and quickly is what makes people come back to Google every day. Are you going to enable this feature? [via omgchrome] |
| Moto Voice update adds features for Moto 360 users Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:18 PM PDT One of the best reasons to own a Motorola device is the excellent Moto Voice capability. Simply put, it’s like Google Now on steroids. You can talk to your phone when it’s in your pocket, create your own personalized “OK Google” command, get a readout of all your missed notifications, and much more. It’s pretty cool. Moto Voice was just updated with some interesting additions for Moto 360 users. After you get this update you will notice that Moto Voice knows if you have a Moto 360 connected, and it will adjust its behavior accordingly. Saying “OK Google” won’t wake up your phone and watch. The Moto 360 becomes your main device for voice commands. You will even see a toast notification on your phone if you try talking to it with your watch connected. This is obviously a very nice feature. As we get more devices that are always listening we will need features like this. Download the Moto Voice update below if you have a Moto X (1st & 2nd gen), Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, and Droid Ultra. |
| This is the Nexus 9 keyboard case Posted: 15 Sep 2014 12:29 PM PDT Last week NVIDIA spilled the beans on the upcoming HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet. The leaked document stated the Nexus 9 will be released in the third quarter of 2014, which we are currently in. One of the exciting features of the Nexus 9 is the rumored Microsoft Surface-like keyboard case. We’ve heard rumblings of this accessory in the past, but now we can see it in the flesh. It’s an interesting keyboard to say the least. At first glance it appears to be upside down. The area where a trackpad would normally be is above the keys. The reason for this is the tablet will fold out and cover that empty space. The benefit of a built-in kickstand, like the one on Microsoft Surface, is that space can be used for a trackpad. You can also notice some special keys for Android functions, such as a voice command button in place of Caps Lock. That way you can scream instead of SCREAM. One thing we can’t see in these photos is the charging mechanism. Are you excited about the 9-inch Nexus 9 tablet? Will you buy this accessory to go along with it? Thanks everyone! [via Chinese VR-Zone] |
| Get your wallet ready, Moto 360 to be back in stock tomorrow Posted: 15 Sep 2014 11:17 AM PDT Earlier today Motorola announced pre-order availability for the new Moto X. They also sneaked in word that the Moto 360 will be back in stock. When the 360 went up for sale just over a week ago it quickly went out of stock. In 30 minutes time it was back-ordered on Google Play, Best Buy, and Motorola.com. We’re not sure if this was more due to popularity or stocking problems, but Motorola is hoping to have enough this time around. The pre-orders for the new Moto X start at 11am Central. Motorola did not give a specific time for when the Moto 360 will be back in time, but we’re guessing 11am is a good starting point. We’ll keep you posted on availability. If you’re looking to buy the watch from Google Play or Best Buy you’ll have to wait a little longer. Who is ready to buy this device in round 2? Or have the battery and performance reports scared you off? |
| Offline playback is coming to YouTube, starting in India Posted: 15 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT In the age of limited data plans you have to choose wisely when it comes to streaming away from the friendly confines of your home WiFi. Many Android apps allow you to download media for offline enjoyment. This is common among streaming music apps and podcast players. What if you could do the same with YouTube videos? Along with the launch of Android One in India, Google has announced offline playback for YouTube. Within the coming weeks much of YouTube will be available offline in India. Users will be able to download videos and keep them on their device to play whenever they please. This is a huge deal for India, but we can’t help but feel a little jealous. There is no official word on whether this will come to other countries. Hopefully if all goes well in India it will become a standard feature. |
| Panasonic shows Samsung how to make an Android cameraphone Posted: 15 Sep 2014 09:35 AM PDT Cameraphones are a small, but growing, part of the smartphone market. I’m not talking about simply a phone with a camera on it. No, these are cameras with a phone inside. Samsung was one of the first Android OEMs to do it with their Galaxy Camera line. The problem with those devices is they are bulky and not that great at being a camera. Panasonic is trying to do both of those things better with their new Lumix CM1. Panasonic doesn’t make smartphones anymore, but the Lumix CM1 is much more a camera first. It has a 1-inch sensor like you would find on a full-blown camera. It has 20MP resolution, a f/2.8 Leica lens, mechanical shutter, manual control ring, oh, and Android 4.4 KitKat. The phone side of things is powered by a 2.3GHz Snapdragon processor, and it has a nice 4.7-inch 1080p dispaly, 2GB of RAM, 16GB built-in storage, microSD card slot, and it’s not ridiculously thick. The Lumix CM1 is 21mm thick, which is actually thicker than the Galaxy Camera 2. The Lumix is boxier, which makes it look thinner and less like a camera. Panasonic says it will go on sale in France and Germany this November at a price of around 900 euros. If all goes well in those countries we could see it here in North America. We love the look of this cameraphone. Would you be interested in buying this device? [via The Verge] |
| A Chinese city has made a special sidewalk for phone addicts Posted: 15 Sep 2014 08:05 AM PDT Walking with your head down looking at a glowing screen has become a symbol of our times. Everyone has a smartphone, and for some reason we feel the need to constantly check them. Every moment of free time is filled with screen time. All of this walking around with eyes down can cause accidents. One city in China is doing their part to try and solve the problem. You’ve heard of bike lanes, but what about phone lanes? Chongqing City in China has created a special sidewalk lane for phone zombies. One side of the sidewalk is clearly marked “Mobile Phone Sidewalk,” and the other side is for normal pedestrians. Now all of the accidents can happen in one lane. This idea was actually tested here in the U.S. earlier this summer. Back in July a group from National Geographic painted similar lanes on sidewalks in Washington D.C. However, a funny thing happened. People who were consumed by their phone didn’t notice the lane markings. I guess it’s hard to tell a zombie where to walk. What do you think about this idea? Is it silly or a good idea? [via Engadget] |
| Android One devices go on sale in India, more countries later this year Posted: 15 Sep 2014 07:21 AM PDT Back at Google I/O we heard about Android One, a new initiative to get Android devices in the hands of the 5 billion people without smartphones. Since then we haven’t heard much about this program, but today Google is finally announcing the first batch of devices. Today in India the first Android One devices from Micromax, Karbonn, Spice and chipmaker MediaTek are available starting around just $105. This is just the beginning for Android One. Today Google has also announced partnerships with phone manufacturers Acer, Alcatel Onetouch, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo, and chipmaker Qualcomm. Later this year we can expect Android One devices to be available in Indonesia, the Philippines and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Even more countries will be announced in 2015. The importance of Android One devices are huge. Markets like India can provide a huge boost for a platform. One recent example is the original Moto G. Here in the U.S. the Moto G was not a big deal, but because of emerging markets it became Motorola’s most successful phone ever. Android One will help our favorite little green robot continue to spread across the globe. |
| Get $50 off the new Moto X if you have a .edu email address Posted: 15 Sep 2014 06:53 AM PDT Tomorrow is the big day for Moto X (2nd gen) pre-orders. The “Pure Edition” (unbranded and unlocked) and the AT&T model will be available for $499 to $99, depending on your contract situation. However, if you have a current or old .edu email address lying around you can get a sweet $50 discount.
To get this deal you can head over to Motorola’s website and fill in your information. You will need to be able to access your .edu inbox in order to get the discount code. When the pre-order goes live tomorrow at 11AM Central you can put in your code and reap the rewards. If you’re still waiting for Verizon, or other carriers, just hold on to the code for a little but longer. Motorola did not mention when the devices will begin shipping. Do any of you plan on pre-ordering the new Moto X tomorrow? What color/material options will you be choosing? |
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