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
HTC’s clock app for Sense 6 hits the Play Store for easier updating
Amazon adds ‘hundreds of thousands of songs’ to Prime Music service
[APK Download] Chrome Beta for Android adds a little Android L Material Design
Carriers
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 now available on Verizon
Chromecast
Google rewarding Chromecast owners with 90 days of unlimited All Access
Gaming
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stealthily places a game in the Play Store
You can now make Google Voice calls through Hangouts on your computer, all without a Google+ profile
Report: Google’s YouTube reaches deal to acquire Twitch for $1 billion
Phones
Motorola launches Back to School Sale with discounts of over $100 on all Moto X variants
Galaxy S 5 HDR capabilities showcased in Samsung’s ‘Sunrise to Sunset’ video
Updated version of Sony Xperia Z3 pays a visit to the FCC
Alleged Sony Xperia Z3 images show its side and back
Smartwatches
HTC denies that smartwatch that appears in recent promotional video is an actual device
Moto 360 to include ambient light sensor, a first for Android Wear
Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 now available on Verizon
Virtual Reality
Miscellaneous
LG ships record 14.5 million smartphones, experiences strong financial growth during Q2
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Daily Dose for July 24, 2014
A couple of days ago, the Play Store app was updated with Material Design, and now the Chrome Beta app gets a little lovin as well. It’s not full blown because the tabs don’t show up in the Android L recents like we saw at Google I/O, but there are other changes such as the tab switching interface, a bigger omnibar, and an action overflow menu.
You will also get a simplified sign in for multiple accounts along with other bug fixes. The version is 37.0.2063.39 and is rolling now. You can hit one of the Play Store links after the break, but if your device isn’t eligible yet, you can opt for the APK download link from XDA.
Come comment on this article: [APK Download] Chrome Beta for Android adds a little Android L Material Design
Back in May, it was reported that Google was exploring the purchase of Twitch, the premier game streaming service. Although not officially announced, today it was revealed that a deal has been reached for roughly $1 billion.
Apparently both companies started talking back in September, but nothing leaked until May. It’s also expected that Google’s YouTube division will be the ones swallowing Twitch. YouTube was purchased by Google for $1.65 billion back in 2006.
Twitch has grown considerably over the years. Back in 2011, Twitch had just 3.2 million active users, but today that total tops 50 million.
source: Venture Beat
Come comment on this article: Report: Google’s YouTube reaches deal to acquire Twitch for $1 billion
The Google Glass developers are at it again; they keep coming up with new ways to burn through that tiny battery. Today, the Glass Development Kit changelog was updated to detail the addition of USB webcam support for developers looking to add access to views outside of the standard forward-facing perspective. Webcams must be attached via On-The-Go (OTG) cable, and Plug 'n Play isn't supported, so Glass must be rebooted before the attached camera can be recognized.
Google Glass Gains Support For USB Webcams, Because Two Head-Mounted Cameras Are Better Than One was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Verizon launched a survey earlier this month that asked it’s customers about bloatware and how they felt about the pre-installed apps. Now, Verizon has announced that they are taking the survey into consideration, and testing out a new approach to bloatware on the LG G3. Big Red’s version of the LG G3 will not come with pre-installed apps (bloatware), instead they will be downloaded during the set-up process. The apps that are preset to download will not count towards any data usage. While the apps are still going to be downloaded to the device, they will also be completely and 100% uninstallable.
The bloatware will be added to the app drawer as if they were pre-installed, but since they have been downloaded in a traditional sense, they can be removed the same way. Verizon told Droid Life, “The applications can be completely and entirely uninstalled by the consumer via the standard uninstall process.” Though after hearing about the new process Verizon’s testing when it comes to bloatware, a test was done on the Verizon version of the LG G3.
After trying to uninstall all of the bloatware, it was found that not everything can be uninstalled. Verizon’s own suite of apps couldn’t be removed. It seems as though Verizon is just allowing certain apps to be uninstalled, like Clash of Clans and Hotels.com apps. This is a small step for the ultimate goal of completely removing all bloatware in a no-root-required manner, and while not the solution we were hoping for it’s a step in the right direction. A new survey could be sent out to find out how the changes have been received by the consumer so keep an eye out for that if you’re on Verizon’s network. As far as the future of bloatware from Verizon, little else is known. Hopefully, other carriers will catch on to the idea of allowing users to completely rid their devices of bloatware. In the meantime, what carrier are you on, and what apps came pre-installed on your newest device? Do you find that you use any of them, or do you just hide them from the app drawer? Let us know down below, or on our G+ page.
The post Verizon Launches New Bloatware Process on LG G3, Complete With Uninstall Capabilities appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
Valve's Portal and Half-Life 2, despite being quite old in terms of PC games, are two of the best showcase titles for the SHIELD right now. Naturally NVIDIA (which publishes both games in the Play Store) is eager to highlight them for the shiny new SHIELD Tablet. Actually, it's not shiny - the tablet is quite matte. But anyway, both games have been updated with SHIELD Tablet support, a week before the device is released.
Android Ports Of Half-Life 2 And Portal Updated With NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet Support was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Material Design was one of the main stars at Google IO’s stage. Just like Ice Cream Sandwich promised a pristine tablet experience, Android L offered a far greater pledge. The new interface would allow Google to merge all screens into one familiar interface, making the transition between gadgets and form-factors a breeze.
The new design is flatter, giving it a touch of elegance, but it is also very playful in its colors and animations. How did these new design elements come to be? Google based its unique style in more than Matias Duarte’s colorful t-shirts!
Google Search designer Jon Wiley held a very interesting AMA (ask me anything) session at Reddit, a practice that has become very popular. Topics from every category are covered, but there was one section that caught our attention – an explanation of the origins of Material Design.
It turns out this design philosophy is something Google has been working on for about two years. Jon once asked what something was made of, to which people hesitantly responded: “what do you mean? It’s just pixels.” Of course, this answer didn’t satisfy him, and that is where Material Design was born. The whole idea is that they want their services to look and feel as natural as possible.
“Also, in many ways I think the technology will become more invisible – it’ll fade into the background. Think of plumbing – you just turn on the tap, and voila, water! I think information technology will start feeling that way too: on-demand but unobtrusive otherwise.”
Google Search is only part of the Material Design movement. This design language is to reach every Google service across platforms, making for a seamless experience unlike we have ever seen before. Will other developers follow suit? That is yet to be seen, but we will tip our hats to those who do.
Everything does suddenly make more sense, though. Material Design looks and feels natural. It’s all about the experience and not what you are using to experience it. In a good motorcycle ride, for example, you becomes one with the vehicle and suddenly there is no consciousness of its very existence – it’s just a rider soaring through thin air. That is the feeling Google wants to accomplish with Material Design.
Google Glass hasn’t even hit an official consumer release (although bleeding edge tech enthusiasts can beta test it… for a price) and already the headset has hit another roadblock. Google’s smart eyewear seems to have found itself banned from one of the biggest events of the year: San Deigo Comic-Con.
Well, to be fair, the wearable has been authorized for use on the showroom floor, but in an email recently sent out to Comic-Con attendees, the Comic-Con International board is letting everyone know “Google Glasses” cannot be worn or used at any time during any of the show’s panels. This is typically where movie companies show off very confidential new trailers and it seems anywhere where camera recording is prohibited — the same goes for Google Glass whether powered on or off.
“Google Glasses/Video Recorders/Camera Phones
Remember recording of footage on the screens during panels is prohibited. This includes Google Glasses. You cannot wear Google Glasses during footage viewing in any program room. If your Google Glasses are prescription, please bring a different pair to use during these times.”
It makes sense. Where, in most cases, it’s easy to spot someone recording video footage with their smartphone or camera, Google Glass is far more discrete with its always forward facing camera lens. Comic-Con recommends anyone who is planning on wearing prescription Google Glass bring an spare set of specs for the panels if they hope to see everything clearly.
The newest place to ban Google Glass may come as a shock as it’s attendees are more than likely the part of the population who have adopted the technology with open arms-Comic Con. Though Comic Con has only banned Glass from being worn during any of the video screenings.
The majority of places that ban Google Glass are places where movies are being watched, or screened by the public. The idea is obvious, ban Glass and prevent pirating from happening easily. Same applies for Comic Con movie or show screenings. This is where big studios give their biggest fans a taste of movies or shows to come-even if the movie isn’t complete. Sometimes the footage is raw and unedited, and other times it’s refined. In either case, the footage is meant to be a gift of sorts to attendees. Not a preview for the public to watch in anticipation of the movie or show. Since this is the case, there are a set of rules in place, that have always been in place, the only difference is that Glass has been considered into the rule.
Here is Comic Con’s policy when it comes to “Google Glass/Video Recorders/Camera Phones” which shows that Glass isn’t being singled out. “Remember recording of footage on the screens during panels is prohibited (see below:No Video or Audio Recording of Movie and TV Panels). This includes Google Glasses. You cannot wear Google Glass during footage viewing in any program room. If your Google Glasses are prescription, please bring a different pair of glasses to use during these times. Also, please turn off your device’s (phones, tablets, etc.) screens and put them away during the screening of panel footage. Not doing so interferes with everyone’s viewing quality and causes security to think you’re recording the clip.” While this may be an inconvenience, it’s a necessary one. More often than not the footage shown during these periods of Comic Con are copyrighted, and could cause serious legal issues if leaked. Also Comic Con isn’t banning Google Glass from the entire event. So while walking around to different booths, hanging out with friends or just enjoying the views, Google Glass will be allowed.
The post Comic Con Adds Screening Rooms to List of Places That Don’t Allow Google Glass appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
Tynker made waves back in March when the developers released the teaching app on the iPad. It introduces children (or anyone, I suppose) to the basic principles of coding and programming. Tynker was available on the web before that, teaching extremely basic programming with a puzzle-style visual interface and pre-made tools. The Android app is only available on tablets, which makes sense given the format, and it costs $4.99 with no in-app purchases.
[New App] Kid-Friendly Programming App Tynker Lands On Android Tablets With An Extra Game-Making Mode was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
