Google optimizes web versions of Play Movies and Music for Chromecast

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/12/google-play-movies-music-chromecast-optimized/

The Chromecast is the tiny dongle that just keeps on giving. A mere couple of days after announcing support for a number of new applications, Google has let it be known that its $35 streamer is now compatible with Play Movies and Music on the desktop in a more native way. What this means is you will no longer have to rely on casting a Chrome tab to watch videos or listen to tunes ; instead, a Cast icon shows up within the Google Play web player and allows content to seamlessly be pushed to the device. Of course, there's still a requirement to have the Google Cast extension installed on your Chrome browser -- but this is a small price to pay in exchange for such useful functionality.

Filed under: Google

Comments

Source: Google

Google launches Tips to help you get more out of Gmail and its other services

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/googles-launches-tips/

Though we're sure Google tries to keep its products like Now and Docs as easy to use as possible, who has the time to learn every single feature? That's likely why Google just launched Tips, a site that uses its info card trope to help you dive more deeply into all 13 of its consumer products. For instance, a card for Google+ suggests you can "make your still photos not so still" and reveals a tutorial for supported devices when you click it. You can even submit your own idea for a tip, though you'll need a Google account for that and other functions. It's only available on desktop browsers for now, but if you want to give it a spin and see all the supported products, hit the source.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Comments

Source: Google Tips

LG and Google tweak Nexus 5 production to fix speaker and loose buttons

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/google-nexus-5-improved-speaker-and-buttons/

Owners of brand new Nexus 5 handsets are starting to notice a few subtle differences compared to the version that sold at launch. The mono speaker grille holes are slightly larger, for a start, which could potentially offer a decibel or so of extra volume and prevent buyers from having to go all crazy with a hot needle. The volume and power buttons seem to have been made stiffer too, suggesting that complaints about excessive rattling noises reached receptive ears at LG and Google. None of this will help those of us who bought launch day models, of course, unless there's the option of seeking a replacement, but we reckon the Nexus 5 remains the best $350 option on the market even with all its original foibles.

[Photo credit: shinral]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LG

Comments

Via: TalkAndroid, PocketDroid

Source: XDA

Amazon tipped to launch online wholesale store called Pantry in 2014

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/amazon-pantry-wholesale/

While Amazon has no shortage of rivals, it's now reportedly gearing up to take on big players in the warehouse store business, like Costco. According to USA Today's anonymous sources, Amazon is prepping the launch of an online service called Pantry that'll initially carry around 2,000 common grocery items to be sold at low cost. As long as you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll be able to fill a box up with Pantry goods that the retailer will ship for a nominal fee, assuming you're within the weight limit. Amazon hasn't commented on the report, so while there's no firm word on when you can start shopping in your bathrobe for month-long supplies of canned goods, sources say it'll be sometime in 2014.

[Image credit: Mike Seyfang/Flickr]

Filed under: Misc, Amazon

Comments

Source: USA Today

ARM buys graphics company Geomerics to improve gaming on its mobile chips

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/arm-acquires-geomerics-gaming-graphics/

ARM has just purchased a gaming graphics technology outfit called Geomerics -- a name which may not ring a bell unless you're a particularly inquisitive gamer. Geomerics' so-called global illumination engine, Enlighten, has been used to create real-time, photo-realistic lighting for triple-A games like Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed: The Run. ARM hasn't specified exactly how the tech will be used, but did say that "it'll help bring the next generation of graphics experiences to mobile platforms." That could mean the acquisition will eventually improve gaming realism on its in-house Mali GPUs, or even help fine-tune the chips themselves for better gaming performance. Regardless, ARM has also said that it'll let Geomerics run independently and continue to service existing customers like EA, which gave the deal a hearty seal of approval.

Comments

Samsung promises 'differentiated' smartphones based on its camera expertise

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/13/samsung-moves-digital-imaging-into-mobile-division/

Samsung has instigated a small corporate reshuffle that could potentially have big implications for its future smartphones. The company has shunted its digital imaging unit sideways so that it sits under the giant umbrella of the mobile division, in the hope of combining "technical know-how" in these two areas and ultimately "differentiating" its smartphones with better camera technology. At the same time, Samsung expects expertise to flow in the opposite direction, allowing its engineers to create cameras with better wireless connectivity. It's a move that makes plenty of sense given the recent spate of Galaxy-branded hybridized products, such as the slightly awkward Galaxy S 4 Zoom and hugely over-priced Galaxy NX mirrorless shooter. It also suggests that Samsung has paid attention to what Nokia has achieved by re-thinking mobile camera technology for its PureView phones, instead of using standard off-the-shelf parts.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile, Samsung

Comments

Via: GforGames, The Verge

Source: Yonhap News, ET News

Mirror app for Android can record your screen or stream it to Apple TV (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/12/mirror-android-beta-airplay-mirroring/

CyanogenMod developer Koushik Dutta has followed up his CM 11 Screencast display recording app with one for a wider range of Android users with an extra feature. Mirror for Android can not only record whatever's happening on your tablet or phone's screen, but it can also display it wirelessly, AirPlay- or Miracast-style, on an Apple TV. Currently it requires Android 4.4.2 and root access, but Dutta says there is a non-root solution on the way. If you'd like to try it out and have the appropriate hardware, just click here to join the Google+ community, click here to join the beta and then download the app from Google Play. That may not be possible for individuals without a Nexus device and / or CyanogenMod 11 nightly build, so if you just want to see what it's like, check out a quick video demo embedded after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Apple, Google

Comments

Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+), Google Play

Dell unveils education-focused Chromebook 11, arriving in January for under $300

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/dell-chromebook-11/

As promised, Dell has taken the wraps off its first Chrome OS device, the Chromebook 11. The 11.6-inch, 2.9-pound laptop is built with the classroom in mind, and it should ship in tandem with a Wyse PocketCloud app that should make it easy for students and teachers to share their work online. Its 1.4GHz Celeron processor and 16GB solid-state drive are no great shakes, although the system could be the Chrome OS longevity champion -- Dell estimates a 10-hour battery life that could beat out Acer's long-lived C720. Educators who want the Chromebook 11 will have to be patient, though. A version with 4GB of RAM will ship to the US and UK in January. There will also be a 2GB model for cost-conscious schools, but Dell is only promising that it will launch sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Dell expects to sell at least one model under $300.

Filed under: Laptops, Dell

Comments

Source: Dell

LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play edition hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/lg-gpad-83-google-play-edition/

If you've been eyeing the LG G Pad 8.3, your decision just became more difficult. Yesterday Google announced -- and began shipping -- a Google Play edition of the tablet for $350 in the US, which makes it the very first slate to receive the stock Android treatment. What does this mean, exactly? Google Play editions come with Android 4.4 KitKat without any manufacturer or carrier customizations, so it looks precisely the way Google intends it. This can be good or bad, because there are a couple tradeoffs you need to consider: The good news is that these types of devices typically get upgrades to the newest version of Android far earlier than the vast majority of smartphones and tablets, but you also need to give up a few features that were unique to their skinned counterparts.

In the case of the G Pad 8.3, this means you won't be able to enjoy the Knock On (aka, "double-knock") feature, nor will you have Slide Aside or access to a litany of LG's Q-branded functions like QPair, QRemote or QSlide. None of these missing services are crucial to the functionality of the G Pad, although we must admit that we've grown rather fond of Knock On. The camera interface is also quite different, but the only thing that might frustrate you is the lack of manual settings; if you only rely on automatic mode to make the photo magic for you, this likely won't be an issue of concern. Just like we saw on the Z Ultra Google Play edition, the G Pad also doesn't come with the native Android gallery app, as it appears that the Google+ Photos app has taken its place as the default. You'll also have the stock camera UI to deal with, rather than LG's, so you won't be able to make many manual adjustments. Of course, this probably isn't a huge concern for a lot of tablet users who may only use their camera for basic needs.

Aside from software changes, you're not going to see anything different on the outside. The dimensions are all the same as the original model, as are the actual hardware components. It's only available in black (the back strip is fitted with brushed metal, with black plastic ends), but it's offered for the same price as the model we reviewed last month. We've got a bunch of images for you to behold below.

Filed under: Tablets, Google, LG

Comments

Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/sony-z-ultra-google-play-edition/

Sony's gargantuan phone, the 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra, is finally getting some quality time in the United States, but not exactly the same way we had envisioned at first. For $650, you can now grab a Google Play edition of the device (in the US, anyway), which is compatible with AT&T's and T-Mobile's LTE and HSPA+ networks. Essentially, this means that the unlocked phone features a stock version of Android 4.4, is free of Sony's software tweaks and carrier bloatware and it'll (in theory) get updated to the latest and greatest version of Android sooner than most other devices.

Since the Z Ultra (no Xperia branding this time) doesn't come with Sony's user experience, this means that it's missing some features you normally find on flagship Xperia devices, such as the Bravia Engine. You'll get a stock camera UI, rather than Sony's proprietary interface, which means you won't have access to as many manual settings as you'd probably prefer; that said, at least it comes with a standard HDR setting, so its software algorithms may be a little different from Sony's, and may affect the final image somewhat. Also gone is the native Android gallery that we've grown to love or hate over the years, and in its place is the new Google+ Photos app that was introduced in Android 4.4 KitKat and featured on Nexus devices.

Aside from these differences, there isn't much else to the experience; the look, feel and dimensions of the device are all the same, so if you thought the original Z Ultra was too big (and too expensive) for your tastes, there's nothing about this new edition that will change your mind. Still, this is the best option for anyone who wants an official stock Android experience on such a large handset (without venturing into loading ROMs, at least), so perhaps a handful of you may be looking at the Z Ultra in a completely new way now. Either way, we've got some pictures below for your viewing pleasure.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Sony, Google

Comments

Nokia Normandy rumored to be low-end Android-based phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/nokia-normandy-android/

The image you see above is the rumored Nokia Normandy, which Twitter leakster @evleaks revealed at the end of last month. While not much was known about the device at the time, the lack of hardware shutter button, capacitive buttons and LED flash indicated that this mystery phone was likely an Asha device intended for emerging markets or budget-minded users. Yet, if a report from The Verge's Tom Warren is accurate, there may actually be a lot more to the Normandy than what we had originally assumed. Warren has checked with multiple sources who claim that the phone is an Android-based device due for a 2014 release.

This may seem like a stretch, given the fact that Nokia's device division is currently awaiting an acquisition with Microsoft, but Warren offers a few points of clarification. First, he says, the Normandy is meant to be a low-end Asha equivalent that features a forked version of Android that isn't associated with Google services, which means Nokia would be able to fully customize it however it wants, much like Amazon does with its Kindle Fire. Doing this would still give Nokia full control over the device ecosystem, while giving users the chance to enjoy full smartphone apps -- something the company has had a difficult time figuring out how to do on the Asha line. The question is, would Nokia rely on a third-party app store or try to set up one of its very own? That's still an unknown, but this is assuming the Normandy even sees the light of day; if the rumor is true, our guess is that this project was already underway before Microsoft's acquisition, and will probably be released before the merger is complete -- if it gets released at all.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia, Google

Comments

Source: The Verge

Ubuntu gets its first smartphone deal, comes to high-end devices in 2014

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/ubuntu-gets-its-first-smartphone-deal/

Canonical's smartphone-sized Ubuntu distribution hasn't had an official device to call home since release, but it won't have to live that nomadic existence for much longer. CEO Mark Shuttleworth tells CNET that his company has just signed its first Ubuntu handset deal; the Linux variant should ship with higher-end smartphones sometime in 2014, he says. While Shuttleworth isn't naming this initial customer, he adds that Canonical is negotiating phone deals with four "household brands." It's too soon to say whether or not Ubuntu will get enough support to compete against other mobile platforms, but the agreement suggests that the publicity from the ill-fated Ubuntu Edge campaign is paying off.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Comments

Source: CNET

Google Glass mod gives you control over home appliances with one touch pairing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/google-glass-mod-gives-you-control-over-home-appliances/

The beauty of Glass is that we're just barely scratching the surface of what Google's smart eyewear can, and eventually will, do. Leave it then to the brainiac undergrads at UC Berkeley's CITRIS lab to show us one possible direction that sees the wearables modded for at-home convenience. By adding an IR emitter to the side of Glass, the Berkeley team was able to demonstrate remote control of home appliances by pairing them with an Xbee 802.15.4 WiFi radio and microcontroller.

The controls for the setup are simple. A user need only look at the intended appliance to bridge a connection -- made possible by an IR-transmitted device ID -- and view toggles for control. We know what you're thinking: how does Glass select one appliance from a cluster of nearby devices? To accommodate for this hassle, the team's made it so that the heads-up display will show the user a numerical range of selectable devices and a blinking, blue LED on the intended target when pairing is successful. Users can also swap between appliances by swiping down on Glass' touchpad or allowing for a connection timeout. Yes, it's still early days for cumbersome Glass prototypes like this one, but we'd bet the farm you'll be turning on the AC with the blink of an eye before long. You can check out the demo video after the break for proof of this Glass concept.

Filed under: Wearables, Science, Google

Comments

Source: UC Berkeley

Google Chromecast adds ten new apps to its streaming arsenal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/google-chromecast-adds-ten-new-apps-to-its-streaming-arsenal/

For users of Google's $35 Chromecast dongle, the inclusion of HBO Go was pretty much the final piece of the holy streaming trifecta (the others being Netflix and Hulu Plus). Now, however, Google's opting for quantity over quality and adding ten new apps to its Chromecast-friendly suite. So what's in that grab bag of apps? Well, beyond just supporting its own Chrome browser, Google's now made media casting easier by supporting Plex, RealPlayer Cloud and Avia. But there's also a host of music and video content hubs, like Revision3, VEVO, Red Bull.TV, Viki, Songza, PostTV and BeyondPod, that can now cast straight to your HDTV. Don't fret if you're not seeing the apps update just yet -- Google's said the roll out should take place over the "next few days."

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google

Comments

Source: Google Chrome Blog

Microsoft updates Photosynth with ultra high-resolution and 360-degree objects

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/microsoft-updates-photosynth/

Microsoft's Photosynth software has its fair share of fans. The high-tech panorama capture has always excelled at stitching together stunning images. The latest beta update brings a host of enhancements to the table that ensure Redmond wont be eclipsed by its competitors in short order. For one, the new Spin Photosynth allows you to walk around an object, snapping pictures that are then pieced together in a 360-degree 3D model. The servers doing all the heavy lifting are even able to identify moving objects, such as the birds in the spin around Haystack Rock after the break, and smooths the transition between pictures. Microsoft has also added support for ultra high-resolution imagery. In the second example after the break, a flight to Everest, you're able to glide your way through the Himalayas. Each full-size frame is a stunning 60 megapixels, which allows you to zoom in and view the glaciers and rocky crags in stunning detail.

If you're interested in checking out the new features before they hit prime time, you can sign up for the technical preview here. But, be warned, it's on a first come first serve basis, so there's no guarantee you'll get into the program.

Filed under: Cameras, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Photosynth Blog, Photosynth Preview

New Study Finds That More Attractive Students Have Higher GPAs

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/new-study-finds-that-more-attractive-students-have-higher-gpas-2013-12

Students who are considered to be attractive are more likely to receive higher grades and go to college, according to a new study reported in Time.

The study — which comes from the Society for Research on Child Development — is based on an analysis of the GPAs and attractiveness of 9,000 adolescents, some of whom have been tracked since 1990, Time reports. A student's attractiveness was determined by an interviewer who met with each study participant.

"It's not exactly clear whether the attention and praise increased a child's confidence and hence he or she took extra credit classes and felt more emboldened to ask teachers for help, and that led to the higher grades, or whether teachers ... simply favor attractive faces more," according to Time.

Additionally, there does not seem to be a difference in the grades of average looking and unattractive students. 

While a briefing on the study states that unattractive students may have "poorer mental health and fewer friends because of below average looks," they were also "less likely to be sexually active or involved in the heavy drinking party scene" — which, Times notes, may give them more time to study. 

Join the conversation about this story »

Applebee's Just Killed One Of The Most Annoying Things About Eating Out

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/applebees-installs-tablets-in-stores-2013-12

Applebee's is addressing customers' least favorite thing about eating out—waiting for the check. 

The casual restaurant will have tablets in all its stores by the end of 2014, according to a USA Today report. 

Today, the CEO of Applebee's parent DineEquity told CNBC's Carl Quintanilla why the move to tablets was important. 

"Customers have told us 'I don't like to wait for the check,'" Julia Stewart told CNBC. 

When the tablets are installed, customers will be able to order appetizers and desserts and pay for their meal via the devices. 

Tablets are common in restaurants in Europe and Asia. 

Applebee's is ahead on a trend that will likely become common. 

"Looking out over the next decade, it will become fairly routine for consumers in table service restaurants to use tablets to view menus, place orders and pay bills," Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research at the National Restaurant Association, told USA Today. 

The tablets could benefit the company because customers won't walk away annoyed that they had to wait for a check. 

Here's the CNBC interview: 

SEE ALSO: 20 Items Under $20 Everyone Should Own

Join the conversation about this story »

This New App Will Let You Stream Cable TV To Your Phone Or Laptop

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stream-cable-shows-on-nimbletv-2013-12

Beginning today, NimbleTV has launched its new streaming service for New Yorkers.

The service is a cloud-based DVR that lets customers with a cable subscription watch TV on the iPhone, iPad, and all Android gadgets. 

It only works if you already have a cable or satellite subscription. If not, customers can work with NimbleTV's concierge service to create a TV subscription package of their choice that will work with the company's technology.  The available content varies based on the cable providers you choose from though.

You then pay a monthly fee on top of your normal cable fee. This lets you stream cable channels to your device and record shows in a virtual DVR. The plans start at $3.99 per month, but cost more if you want to add more storage space.

NimbleTV is planning to expand nation wide, but wants to hear from community members first before picking its next city.

There's no app to install. Just navigate to NimbleTV's site on your device to get started

Select the location as New York City.

NimbleTV gives you a one-month free trial. You can choose to watch with your existing cable/satellite subscription or sign up for one.

If you don't have currently subscribe to cable, NimbleTV has a concierge service that helps customers create their own packages. The cheapest choice is $29.98 a month, but the plans have access to over 130 channels.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider