On Tuesday night, The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Google would indeed unveil some hardware to launch Android TV. This would give the company a set-top box platform to fight against Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and other devices. The hardware to be unveiled at Google I/O will carry not Google’s name or branding. Instead, another manufacturer is stepping forward to lead the way for Android TV.
Google will be following a familiar path by constructing a platform for hardware manufacturers to take advantage of. But we would not count out Google going ahead and designing its own hardware at least once or twice to show everyone how things should be done. A source also says that games will be the focus for Android TV and Google would like to have a seamless gaming experience from Android TV to its other form factors.
Click here for our Google I/O 2014 coverage.
Source: The Wall Street Journanl
Come comment on this article: Initial Android TV hardware ready to be unveiled at I/O, set-top box belongs to another company
With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That’s why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day’s hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!!
Apps
Deezer gets Chromecast support
PBS KIDS Video app hits Play Store with Chromecast support
Emoji support added to Google Voice
Carriers
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 coming to Verizon on June 26
Chromebooks
Google comes to the rescue, offers $150 in credits for Verizon / Chromebook Pixel debacle
Chromecast
Deezer gets Chromecast support
PBS KIDS Video app hits Play Store with Chromecast support
Gaming
NVIDIA Shield 2 could be globally released on July 22
Screenshots belonging to Android ‘L’ surface from Chromium Issues Tracker
Sundar Pichai confirms Google will preview next version of Android tomorrow with a fall release
Google+
Google+ adds Auto Awesome Effects and the ability to adjust previous edits
Google Glass
Google Glass welcomes 12 new Glassware services
Google Glass gets upgraded just before Google I/O
Home Automation
Nest announces access to new API for third-party developers
Phones
HTC Desire 610 leaks with AT&T branding
Huawei Honor 6 announced: 5-inch display and Kirin 920 octa-core SoC
LG G3 to begin rolling out on June 27, excluding the US
New leak reveals Motorola Victara coming to Verizon
Nokia X2 from Microsoft with Android announced today
Smartwatches
LG G Watch to go on sale in 12 countries on July 7
Minuum designs circular keyboard for Android Wear
Tablets
Google issues Android 4.4.3 update for Nexus 7 (2013) with LTE
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 coming to Verizon on June 26
Updates
Screenshots belonging to Android ‘L’ surface from Chromium Issues Tracker
Sundar Pichai confirms Google will preview next version of Android tomorrow with a fall release
HTC speculates what Android ‘L’ will be called
Google issues Android 4.4.3 update for Nexus 7 (2013) with LTE
Miscellaneous
Sundar Pichai responds to Tim Cook’s comments regarding Android’s security and user turnover
New study names Samsung the leader in smartphone patents
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Daily Dose for June 24, 2014
As the Google Glass Explorer Program becomes more widely available, so do the upgrades. With Google I/O kicking off in just a few hours, the Glass team announced some really nice upgrades, on top of the 12 new apps that were just announced.
Performance has been a little lackluster, so all new shipments of Glass will sport 2GB of RAM, as opposed to 1GB. Google Now has been the focal point for Glass, so they have added two more cards. Now you can easily find where you have parked your car and know when that package will be hitting your doorstep. Finally, they have added a viewfinder for pictures. Just say, “OK Glass, show the viewfinder” and you will see white L’s in the four corners. You can then say “OK Glass, take a picture,” with a wink, or by pushing the camera button.
Do these new features make you more likely to cough up $1500 for a pair?
source: +Google Glass
Come comment on this article: Google Glass gets upgraded just before Google I/O
We've been hearing rumors about Android TV, Google's push to get Android into the set-top box market, for a while now, with the most recent leaks pointing towards a Google I/O announcement. Looks like we're definitely going to see Google take the wraps off of it tomorrow, as the Riptide GP2 dev prematurely posted a changelog that all but confirms it:
Unfortunately, the log has since been pulled, but not before an eagle-eyed Android fan could grab a screenshot and toss it onto Google+.
Riptide GP2 Developer Prematurely Publishes Changelog, Basically Confirms That AndroidTV Is Coming Tomorrow was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Google IO is almost upon us, making tomorrow one of the most noteworthy days of the year for Android/Google fans across the world. The Search Giant’s yearly developer conference will last two days, but we will mostly have our eyes on the keynote, taking place this June 25th at 9 AM Pacific (tomorrow).
Google IO is the home of some of Google’s biggest announcements. It is where Google tells developers where the company is headed, along with its products and services. There will be no lack of news and freebies to show you all about. The keynote’s announcements are still uncertain, but we can assume some of the latest rumors and related news will make it to stage.
Wearables, wearables, wearables. It seems the tech world revolves around them, as they continue to crowd the internet with so many devices, operating systems and form factors. It’s a bit of a mess, but we have hopes that Android Wear will come to unify smartwatches and other types of wearable devices.
Android Wear could be the answer, announced last march as an operating system designed for the minute screen wearables will tout. We will likely be hearing a lot about Android Wear tomorrow, as well as the LG G Watch and Moto 360. In fact, we recently reported that the LG G Watch may be one of this year’s Google IO freebies for attendees.
LG and Motorola may not find themselves alone at Google’s Android Wear announcements, though. Rumors say Samsung could be releasing an Android Wear device at the developer conference, as well as HTC and ASUS.
Rumors of a Nexus 9 have recently emerged. To make matters more interesting, the tablet would be made by the mighty Taiwanese manufacturer. The HTC Volantis is expected to be an amazing tablet, and a quick look at the rumored specs will tell you just that.
This rumor is very recent and we are not sure if it will make it to Google IO. Murmurs give us a Fall release window and the rumor is very recent, but there is a bit of hope in our hearts. There are better chances that we will see a new Android version, though.
We are not talking about a minor Android 4.4.3-like update, this would be one of those major, name-changing upgrade. Whatever the number and name the “L” update brings, it might be shown off tomorrow, even if it might not be released until the Fall, like other major Android upgrades.
We don’t know much about Quantum Paper and rumors are scarce, but it’s said to be a new Google project that revolves around design. To be more specific, it should bring together Google’s services and apps across platforms. The idea is to make Google’s services on the desktop and mobile apps look and act the same, bringing a more uniform experience to users.
We may also see Android TV… the platform that is here to replace Google TV and give Google another chance at breaking into your living rooms. Of course, this has already been accomplished with the popular Chromecast, but Android TV is said to be a completely different monster.
Image courtesy of The Verge
Leaks and images show a very intuitive and simple interface. It is rumored to offer a bigger focus on content, as opposed to services and apps. For example, you would no longer need to open Netflix and then search for your favorite movies and shows. Instead, you will first look for your show and Android TV will let you know where it’s available.
Also expected to make an appearance at Google IO is Google Auto Link. This new platform would open Google’s doors into the automotive market, with partners including major car manufacturers like Audi, GM and Honda.
Details are a mystery, but we have heard Google is opting for a lightweight platform that would highly rely on a tethered smartphone. You would be able to control your smartphone from your dashboard, as well as the other way around. More to come very soon!
With so many options in the basket, Google has more than enough content to surprise us with. Personally, I am most excited about wearables and Android TV. With Chromecast already in the market, it should be interesting to see how Google plans to differentiate Android TV from the HDMI dongle.
What are you most excited about? Also, remember there is much more Google could have up its sleeve. Project Tango, Project Ara, Nest and Chrome OS are but a few other programs Google could give us more details on.
Once the CyanogenMod team found and implemented the hidden Heads Up notification mode, it was basically inevitable that all the other major custom ROMs would follow suit. The unicorn-powered Android Open Kang Project has done so with their first nightly based on Android 4.4.4. They've also thrown in the usual bug fixes, as well as settings for automatic Immersive mode, disabling the full-screen keyboard, lockscreen orientation, and a few other goodies.
AOKP 4.4.4 Nightlies Add Support For The Nexus 7 LTE, Galaxy S4 Mini, And Oppo Find 7a, Plus Heads Up Notifications was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
