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Google+ for Android update brings search and notification improvements, holiday cheer
Following last month's update to enhance locations and photos, the folks in Mountain View are rolling out version 4.2.4 of Google+ for Android today. Added features this time around include the ability to search everything from the same box and content browsing by category from the What's Hot stream. Notifications get a tweak as well, allowing users to control who's able to buzz them immediately by adjusting "Who can notify me" in the settings menu. Finally, to show you're in the proper seasonal spirit, shaking your device now adds animated snow to an open photo via Auto Awesome. A second shake will save the image for posterity. The updated software is making its way to Google Play "gradually," so check back later if it's not snowing... er, showing up just yet.
Billy Steele12.12.2013
Google Play Store update brings better social app recommendations to Android
Just when it appeared Google's recent run of Android updates had come to an end, a new version of the Play Store pops up with new features in tow. Android Police got its hands on the app, running it under a microscope to find new social and recommendation features that make finding and downloading the best apps less of a hassle. To that end, Google now warns you when an app you're about to download contains in-app purchases, also making it easier to review apps with a larger star selector and dedicated edit and delete buttons. Opting for improved social recommendations, a new activity feed combines your +1s and ratings and connects them to your Google+ profile, letting you peek at those made by your friends to find apps you might otherwise have missed. Google's already begun rolling out the Play Store update, but if you can't wait for it to come over-the-air, hit up the source below to get the jump on everyone else.
Matt Brian12.06.2013
Google+ for iOS gets full-res photo backups, lets you share your location
After nearly a month, Google is delivering on its promise of bringing full-size photo and video backups to Google+ on iOS. The app's version 4.6 update now lets iOS 7 users upload imagery at its original resolution as long as there's enough available cloud storage. Photographers aren't the only ones who benefit from the new software, though. It also introduces the location-sharing option from the Android release, translates posts in-line and unifies search. Socialites eager for more detail in their pictures (or their whereabouts) just need to visit the App Store for an upgrade.
Jon Fingas11.22.2013
Stable Chrome OS update notches movable Shelf, Braille display support
Google has just released a stable version of Chrome OS, and while it's (sadly) not as huge as Chrome OS 32, it still comes with feature boosts for your device. Perhaps most notable is its newly added initial support for USB-connected Braille displays. Other than that, this stopgap follow-up to OS 31 tweaks the platform's looks, starting by letting you drag the Shelf (or the app dock) from the bottom to either side of the screen. The company has also moved the launcher icon to the bottom left and made it, along with the app icons and status tray, more touch friendly for Pixel users. What's more, if you use an avatar for either Chrome OS or Google+, you'll find your profile picture preferences synced between the two. Almost everyone can now download these changes, which come bundled with the usual security and performance fixes. If you own an Acer C7, an HP Chromebook 11 or an HP Pavilion Chromebook, however, you're going to have to sit this update out -- better luck next time.
Mariella Moon11.22.2013
Feedly turns to Google+, Twitter and Facebook for easier logins and sharing
After leaning heavily on Google authentication to transition millions of users from Google Reader, Feedly wants to make it even easier to log into its RSS reader. In an official blog post, the company says it will soon transition from Google OAuth to Google+, simplifying access across different devices and laying the foundation for improved social sharing. Feedly says it has also been testing Twitter, Facebook and Wordpress login options and plans to roll them out "over the next seven weeks." Don't expect to wait too long for the new Google features to take effect though: they're coming to the Feedly website today and will be added to its iOS and Android apps in "a couple of weeks."
Matt Brian11.08.2013
YouTube flips the switch on its new conversation-style comment system powered by Google+
Back in September, YouTube revealed its plan to overhaul comments on the video site with the helping hand of Google+. Now, that new system has gone live. Conversation-style commenting that ranks based on a number of key factors (like people you know), allows private notations solely for those in your Circles and serves up easy moderation in order to quell the naysayers like word filters and auto-approval. The new Google+-powered system should be popping up on YouTube channels that you frequent soon as the global roll out has already begun.
Billy Steele11.06.2013
Google will soon display your Google+ photo when you call an Android phone
Google's desire to integrate social features into its mobile OS will soon see it use Google+ profile photos to identify Android callers. The new feature comes as an update to the new caller ID service in Android 4.4 KitKat, allowing the company to automatically match phone numbers from incoming and outgoing calls with names and profile photos associated with a registered account. Google staffer Attila Bodis notes that the feature will be enabled in "early 2014" but can only display names and profile photos if the user has verified their phone number and has discovery switched on. While the idea is to bring a sense of familiarity to phone calls, not everyone will see the merit of sending a headshot to people they call -- so Google is offering a way to opt out. Simply head on over to this link, untick the checkbox and all of your Android-toting friends will no longer be able to see your beautiful face (unless, of course, they add it themselves).
Matt Brian11.06.2013
Google+ Connected Classrooms offers virtual field trips with the help of Hangouts
Field trips are usually restricted to points of interest that can be easily reached by bus during regular school hours. Now, Google has a tool for enabling virtual visits to educational stops near and far via Hangouts. The folks in Mountain View have launched Connected Classrooms through Google+: a project that brings destinations students may never have the chance to experience in real life within reach inside their classrooms. Trips to the Seattle Aquarium, Minnesota Zoo and Solar Impulse hangar are the first three stops for the program, and soon enough, teachers will be able sign up for virtual tours with over 20 partners. There's also the ability to collaborate with fellow educators and access content all within the confines for Google+. For a glimpse at the potential, head on past the break for a quick video teaser.
Billy Steele11.04.2013
Google+ expands custom URLs to more people, commoners included
You no longer need to be a star athlete or a pop diva to get a vanity URL on Google+. Even if you're but an Average Joe, you can now get a custom link that's possible to memorize, so long as you meet a handful of (easy) requirements. If you have a profile photo, have 10 or more followers and an account that's at least 30 days old, simply visit your profile to bid the random string of characters on your URL farewell. Brands and businesses, however, need to link to their websites or be verified to enjoy the perk. In case you've yet to see the claim option on your page, sit tight -- Google's rolling the feature out to more accounts throughout the week.
Mariella Moon10.30.2013
Google+ updates Auto Awesome with video highlight reels and action shots
It was only at this year's I/O that Google introduced a new feature it calls Auto Awesome, which lets you edit your photos in Google+ and even create your own GIFs. The company's not done enhancing this ability, however, as Vic Gundotra has announced that video capability is coming to the tool as well. Called Auto Awesome Movies, you'll now be able to set up an HTC-like video highlight reel. Now, you can add multiple video clips, throw in some music (with your choice of different styles) and have Google+ sync your footage to go well with the background tune. You can select the duration of the movie, and Google will recalibrate which video clips and music should be used to fit your particular needs. However, it's not just video getting the update treatment -- you'll now be able to create action shots and erase other people out of your pictures. That said, we've seen all of these features implemented in specific OEM interfaces -- Movies is quite similar to HTC's Video Highlights, Action looks a lot like Samsung's Drama Mode and Erase is, well, akin to Samsung's Eraser mode -- but Google's option will eventually be available on a wider variety of devices. We're told the functionality will be limited in compatibility to Android 4.3 or higher, so it may be a while before there are a significant number of devices able to take advantage of them. For those who are lucky enough to have the right firmware, Action and Eraser should begin rolling out today, while Movies will be a part of the next major Google+ update that's destined for devices in the next few days. We spent a few minutes getting some hands-on time with the new features, so check out our video below the break.
Brad Molen10.29.2013
Google to unveil Auto Awesome feature that creates stories from your videos
Putting aside the small matter of launching a new Nexus smartphone and Android OS, Google also plans to unveil new Google+ features and improvements. Sources aware of Google's plans tell us that today's media-focused event will include the introduction of Auto Awesome for videos, an expansion of its impressive photo improvement service, which allows users to record video and have Google+ integrate transitions, music and effects with little or no input. We're told that the new video feature is similar to HTC's Video Highlights in that it uses smart editing, cutting and sequencing techniques to splice a professional-like highlight reel using different types of media. While we don't know exactly how these new features operate, Google SVP Vic Gundotra teased today's announcement with the tagline "#momentsthatmatter," suggesting we won't have long to wait to see the new Auto Awesome feature in the flesh.
Matt Brian10.29.2013[1].jpg.cf.jpg)
The Jony Ive-designed limited edition Leica M for (RED) camera
Last month we told you that Jony Ive was working on a limited edition Leica M camera to be auctioned off for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Well, that very limited edition camera -- there is only one -- has been unveiled. According to Leica's Google+ post, the camera took 85 days to create and required a total of 561 models and nearly 1,000 prototype parts. Ive was assisted by his good friend and fellow designer Marc Newson on the project. The camera "features a laser-machined aluminum body and an anodized aluminum outer shell," and has "a full-format CMOS sensor, high performance processor and new Leica APO-Summicron -M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens." Provided you have very deep pockets, you can participate in the auction at Sotheby's on November 23, 2013 and the one-of-a-kind camera could be yours.
Steve Sande10.08.2013
YouTube teams up with Google+ to turn comments into conversations
Comments on the internet: often a haven for trolls and axe-grinders, but comment threads also give rise to some insightful and entertaining commentary. In an effort to encourage the latter and to provide users with an improved experience, YouTube's rolling out a new commenting system that integrates deeply with Google+. What does that mean, exactly? Much like that other social network's News Feed, comments in YouTube will be based on relevance, not how recently they were posted. So, comments from people you know, celebrities and video creators, plus positively rated comments will percolate to the top of comment threads according to Big G's ranking algorithms. Additionally, replies will be nested beneath original comments to better enable conversations. Like Facebook, should you find the idea of automated comment curation unsettling, you can always switch back to the old way of having the most recent comments show up first. The integration with Google+ also broadens your commenting boundaries; post a comment on YouTube, then share that video on on G+ and comments and replies made on either site will show up in both places. You can also control who gets to read comments you make by choosing which circles will see them, so you can even have private conversations. As for content owners, the system borrows features from many other commenting platforms. To deal with comments at scale, channel admins can build user whitelists and blacklisted words and phrases to make moderation easy. YouTube Product Manager Nundu Janakiram tells us that the comments system has been in the works for over a year, and that these features are only the beginning. His team plans to provide even better tools for users and content creators to let them filter out the noise and increase the quality of comments. Initially, folks will be able to test out the new comments in the discussion tab on any YouTube channel's home page, after which it'll roll out to individual videos in the coming months -- and we'd be shocked if these G+ enabled comments don't make their way into many other Google properties eventually, too.
Michael Gorman09.24.2013
Google+ adds embedded posts and expands authorship in search results
Following in the footsteps of Twitter and Facebook, Google announced today the introduction of embedded posts for Google+. As you can see in the picture above, the drop down menu at the top of each G+ post now offers the option to embed; clicking the "Embed post" link summons a pop-up screen with an easy-to-use code. Text, photo and media posts are fully supported, and embedded content comes with the full range of Google+ functions, so you can +1, follow and comment with relative ease. Additionally, the company is integrating Google+ with its authorship program, starting with Wordpress and Typepad. So, the content you create for either platform will be linked to your G+ account if you sign in with Google, and your profile will be linked to in search results. To read more about today's update, head on over to the source link below.
Melissa Grey09.09.2013
Gmail for iOS nets improved Drive and Google+ integration
Sure, Gmail on iOS was completely redesigned in June, but Mountain View's just pushed out a fresh update with a few features to polish things off. Version 2.4 of the email app bakes in improved integration with Drive and Google+, making links to the platforms open in their respective apps. Of course, if you'd rather continue following links to the web, the application's settings can be tweaked accordingly. Rounding out the release is a spruced up attachment system with larger image thumbnails that can be opened up in a full screen mode. To grab the refreshed app, head to the neighboring source link.
Alexis Santos08.27.2013
Google+ Photos app now available for all Chromebooks, no longer limited to the Pixel
Aside from the super high-res display, the Pixel has also had something else other Chromebooks didn't: the Google+ Photos app. Starting today, however, Google's changing that and bringing the application to the rest of the Chromebook family, making it accessible outside of its sleek, pixel-packed laptop for the first time. The Google+ Photos app, which is available in 52 languages, remains unchanged otherwise, and users can download it now via the Chrome Web Store.
Edgar Alvarez08.20.2013
Google+ gets Translate for foreign language posts, comments
While other Google products have lain fallow, the company has been tinkering with Translate quite a bit lately. Now, the search giant is "gradually" rolling out functionality to translate desktop Google+ posts and comments into users' native tongues. Below each foreign language post there should be a clickable "Translate" link that will convert the text inline; another click will undo the translation. The latter should be handy if that comment in French turns out to be an insult about your mother -- not like that's ever happened on the internet before.
Timothy J. Seppala08.20.2013
Hands-on with the Google Chromecast
The backordered TUAW Chromecast finally arrived yesterday evening from Google. We apologize for the delay in this write-up, but we simply didn't have a unit to test with. I felt, that for the sake of celebrating our native blog culture, I had to give it a proper unboxing. The Chromecast ships in a rather nice box, with the cast unit on top and the power cord and "bits" underneath. An internal flap offered getting started directions, while a firm plastic insert held the dongle itself. While not quite Apple-level of packaging (and despite a rather odd smell that pervades the box), the packaging was clean and professional. Getting the $35 unit working involved several quick and easy steps. First, I plugged the dongle into a HDMI port. Google provides a small HDMI extension cord -- and I mean small, perhaps 3" long -- in the box. Use this if you need to keep plugging and unplugging your dongle on a regular basis, so you can travel with it. The cord provides an easier access point, especially when reaching around the back of large television sets. Next, I plugged the unit into power. You must supply that power through a micro-USB port, the standard these days for many devices especially in Europe. Google provided an in-box wall plug for this, but I tested as well with a USB hub and with a portable battery pack. In fact, the reason I ended up using these workarounds is that in the heavily tech area of my office, I experienced major interference when using the plug. Switching to battery or hub cleared up the reception immediately. Testing on our family TV, which is where I performed the initial setup and exploration, offered no similar charger issues. It was only when I brought the unit down to explore iOS development that I encountered problems. I'm using a standard USB 3 hub to power the now office-based Chromecast. You must, of course, switch your TV input to the dongle's active HDMI port to begin setup. There you're greeted by a screen prompting you to connect to google.com/chromecast/setup. I did this on my Mountain Lion Mac, downloading both a standalone Chromecast configuration app and a Chrome browser specific plugin. I had to confirm a 4-character connection code, as you might with a Bluetooth connection, provide my SSID and password details, and was quickly ready to rock and roll. I honestly am not quite sure how the unit was able to announce itself and connect without using my Wi-Fi network, which is password protected. The Wi-Fi setup was the last part of the setup and my upstairs TV was well out of what I consider normal Bluetooth range when communication first began. It's a mystery that I'd love to unravel. [Update: Commenter SaintNicster unpacks this process for us. "The Chromecast, when first initialized, creates an ad-hoc WiFi network with the device you're using for setup. The setup process breaks the current WiFi session temporarily and then connects to the Chromecast. The setup then copies the previous WiFi information and sends that to the device. Once it has this information, the ad-hoc network is disabled and it reconnects to the normal WiFi." Thanks!] In all, the entire setup process took maybe a few minutes. It was really quick and very easy to get through to the "ready to cast" screen that greets you. As an OS X user, you'll want to work in the Chrome browser, for which I installed a Cast extension. After adding this, a Cast button appears at the top-right of every browser page. This button lets you select a Chromecast unit (yes, ours is called "Maisy"; my son picked the name), choose playback options and reach a help menu. The in-browser options are pretty simple. This is where you choose a projection quality and enable or disable fullscreen zoom and browser resizing. As you cast, your active Chrome browser tab mirrors to the Chromecast unit, appearing on the connected TV. You switch tabs or end casting using the browser pop-up. I found this feature to be occasionally buggy (yes, it's a beta). I found that when Chrome is experiencing too many yellow warnings for this pop-up, you can try quitting and restarting the browser and unplugging/replugging the dongle. When working properly, the Stop casting and Cast buttons apply instantly. At times, you do want to stop casting to reduce the load on your local Wi-Fi network. The Stop casting button enables you to do this. The Cast this tab button lets you switch between tabs without closing them. To test, I loaded up a variety of media including movies, music, and PDF documents into Chrome. They all played over quickly without issue and minimal delay. That said, if you cast over text, I recommend using the Extreme 720p high bitrate option. Without it, text looks unacceptably jaggy, especially when displayed on large screens. Movies worked far better. My son happily watched Hotel Transylvania over Chromecast until bedtime. Since I casted a browser, the audio file I opened and played appeared as an embed. Similarly, when I visited Spotify, I had to watch the static web page. I'm pretty sure this isn't an ideal experience for my TV's screen health, assuming if I had kept listening over time as I did chores or used the treadmill. As I mentioned earlier, one of my first tasks involved creating a custom iOS app to play to my Chromecast. I initially assumed I could use the Elgato EyeTV as I do with my Apple TV. EyeTV enables me to place the HDTV input side-by-side on my desktop with my dev work. For whatever reason, I could not get it to work with the Chromecast. EyeTV went into an infinite "adjusting to new mode" loop, attempting to display 1080p at 60fps, and never synced to or displayed the cast data. Although I tried down-streaming to 480p and up-streaming to 720p, I just couldn't get this to work. Instead, I ended up using my second monitor in normal TV mode. Although prettier than a squeezed and delayed EyeTV, this made it impossible to take direct screenshots of the device in action. The final piece of the OS X-based Chromecast puzzle is the standalone app that enables you to manage your devices from a single place. Here, you can set up Wi-Fi, name your Chromecast, set a time zone, force a reboot, and factory reset a Chromecast (for return to Google or resale). It's also where you find one-button access to download the Google Cast browser extension. To my surprise and delight, I discovered my iPhone was already cast-ready. The latest version of the YouTube app easily found and transmitted to my Chromecast. I was able to set up a not-for-distribution sample app using Xcode and the developer API and start sending data that way as well. After finding my unit's MAC address, I quickly discovered (courtesy of OS X command line port scanning) that it communicates on port 8008. That discovery led me to the Chromecast hacks community on Google plus. With several weeks head start, these (mostly Java) developers have been pushing the Chromecast's capabilities, mostly on Android. They've reversed the Remote Application Media Protocol (RAMP) used by the device to the point where they have custom apps running: Sample Java source code for general device access is now available on github. Hopefully this will be quickly ported to standard C, enabling Mac-based casting. I'm particularly excited about potential VLC extensions. On the iOS side of things, now that I have an actual device to work with, it will be interesting to explore (time permitting!) how to push development beyond the grab-and-send-a-URL point I"m currently at. From a consumer-only point of view, for just 35 dollars, I found the Chromecast to be a really nice receiver solution for our family. I plan to use it extensively with my Mac/EyeTV setup. Instead of having to watch my recordings on the Mac in my office, I can now transmit those through the Chrome browser up to our (much nicer) HDTV. I can also see this being used for travel, as I mentioned in an earlier post. The video transmission quality was excellent, except when eldest daughter decided to start watching Crunchyroll episodes simultaneously over the same Wi-Fi network. A bit of shouting and bribery helped us negotiate those waters. Unlike Apple TV, Chromecast does not offer an Ethernet port. While we could watch and transmit Amazon Prime videos from Chrome (we're not Netflix subscribers, which offers its own iOS app with built-in support) with their somewhat dubious transmission quality, we could not get iTunes rentals to play over without extreme hackery. (I will spare you the details of the hackery. Suffice it to say that it involved Apple TV, Eye TV, and a lot of time.) In the end, was it worth the $35? Yes. Will I keep using this device past the review period? Yes. Is it as good as Apple TV? It's not a real competitor, and it fills its own niche quite nicely. The Chromecast extends desktop media playback to an external HDTV and it does that well.
Erica Sadun08.13.2013
Google Latitude shuts down August 9, but Google+ location sharing will go on (and on)
Checking in to your favorite places is a great way to let people know when you're somewhere important, but there are plenty of in-between times when you might want close acquaintances to know where you are so they can tell when you got stuck in traffic or got home safely. That's when Latitude comes in -- or, perhaps we should say, came in. As part of its Maps redesign, Google is sending its Latitude service the way of Google Reader. Latitude gets lost on August 9th, less than a month from now, and all of its various location-centric APIs will wander offline at the same time. Additionally, Google is removing check-in functionality from Maps, asking that you use Google+ instead, which is also where you'll have to turn if you want to share your location with friends -- a feature not currently enabled in the iOS version of the app. Google promises that functionality is "coming soon," so in the interim please tell your significant other the same when they ask what time you'll getting home from work.
Tim Stevens07.10.2013
Maker Camp 2013 kicks off six weeks of DIY fun for teens (video)
Ah, summer camp. Those halcyon days of imagining every creepy nighttime sound is a hungry, angry bear. Starting today, Google and Make (the brains behind Maker Faire) are launching a different kind of summer extravaganza with Maker Camp, a free six-week program open to Google+ users between the ages of 13 and 18. The online camp will offer daily DIY activities -- like a bike-powered phone charger -- with a live Google+ Hangout to discuss the project with expert makers. Additionally, campers will go on virtual field trips every Friday to places they otherwise might never see, like NASA's Ames Research Center. This year, Maker Camp will also include affiliate campsites at local libraries and youth centers, stocked with nifty gadgets like soldering kits, LEDs, Raspberry Pi boards and Arduino microcontrollers. For more info, check out the video after the break or register by following Make on Google+. Hungry, angry bears need not apply.
Melissa Grey07.09.2013