At the Google I/O conference this year, we were treated to news that the latest version of Android would also come with a new Material Design UI --complete with an updated look and feel that would persist through to most of Google's apps as well. A full tour of the design changes won't be possible until the fall, but until then we will have to have our curiosity satiated by … [Read more...] about Sneak Peek at Google Play Store Material Design Update
google i/o 2014
Leo’s Fortune 2D Platforming Adventure Game Now Available
We saw a lot of cool things at Google I/O 2014, not the least of which was a 2D platforming adventure game called Leo's Fortune from a development house with an incredibly cool name (l337 Game Design, pronounced 'leet' for those of you slightly less nerdy than me). The star of the game is a fluffy hairball (with a wicked-cool mustache) named Leopold --and you get to slide … [Read more...] about Leo’s Fortune 2D Platforming Adventure Game Now Available
Razer Teams With Google To Create A Gaming Console
It didn't take long to start hearing about the hardware options headed our way that will take advantage of Android TV --with one of the first big announcements coming from Razer (a company best known for high-end gaming PCs, laptops and tablets). Together with Google, Razer intends to introduce a micro-console later this year, running the new platform but with a core-focus on … [Read more...] about Razer Teams With Google To Create A Gaming Console
Android For Work Courts Business Users
The corporate world is a little bit lost right now when it comes to mobile devices. Once upon a time, BlackBerry was the logical (and only) choice --Research in Motion (RIM) was highly security conscious and their smartphones were seemingly very single-purpose. Flash forward and the marketplace isn't quite so cut and dried: Apple is a crowd favourite in many ways because their … [Read more...] about Android For Work Courts Business Users
Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments
How many times a day do you unlock your smartphone? I'd be willing to wager that for a great number of you, the answer is in the hundreds. Having your phone locked is responsible and pretty much required, while unlocking it is annoying and frustrating. Fortunately, Google gave the answer during their I/O 2014 keynote: Personal Unlocking. Under the new Android "L" release, … [Read more...] about Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments
Google Now Offers System-Wide Hotword Detection
Everybody would like a personal assistant, and for many of us, Google Now is the closest thing we are going to get. Recently, with the app up, you could summon this digital Jeeves with the phrase: "OK Google." Now that hotword works throughout the entire phone instead of just when the app is running (even if you are on the lock screen)! Once you have the update, in order to … [Read more...] about Google Now Offers System-Wide Hotword Detection
Google Search Goes Live With App Indexing
Among the announcements at this year's Google I/O conference was the news that App Indexing would be expanded to all developers and their apps. This update brings the concept of contextual and meaningful search to a whole new level by blurring the lines between web-based content and native apps. Consider the possibilities: search for a restaurant in Google and open up the … [Read more...] about Google Search Goes Live With App Indexing
Google Maps Updates Search, Transit Results and Terrain View
We are expecting to see more Google Maps announcements very soon with enhancements that include an entirely redesigned interface and clearer images, but the flagship navigation app wasn't left out of the Google I/O conference excitement. Updates to the app were pushed out yesterday that included updates to search, transit results and terrain view. When searching in the app, … [Read more...] about Google Maps Updates Search, Transit Results and Terrain View
Netflix Updates UI In Time for First Original Anime Series
Fellow Netflix addicts will have already noticed that the icon has changed colour (from red to white), but a few other things have changed as well. The UI has been updated on Android to be a little darker (showing more shadowy tones), but it also appears that performance has been improved with even smoother video playback. These updates may seem less significant for anime … [Read more...] about Netflix Updates UI In Time for First Original Anime Series
Google Play Games Unifies Gaming on All Devices
Mobile gamers rejoice: Google Play Games was not left out of the spotlight yesterday at Google's annual I/O conference. With several enhancements and additions, Google plans to take gaming to a whole new level (as well as rivaling all of the good things that Apple had to announce with their upcoming iOS update). First on the list was the new Games Profile: behaving as a … [Read more...] about Google Play Games Unifies Gaming on All Devices
Hotel Tonight App Adds Mobile Check-In and Keyless Entry
One of the best things about the annual Google I/O conference is that many of the biggest and most active development houses save their coolest updates to share with that group. To that end, Hotel Tonight announced yesterday that they feel they are the first online travel agency to offer mobile check-in as well as keyless entry to guests of hotels using their service. The … [Read more...] about Hotel Tonight App Adds Mobile Check-In and Keyless Entry
PayPal App Released For Android Wear
Wearables are among the hottest topics at this year's Google I/O conference, with apps designed to work with them being some of the most exciting developments. One of the first to emerge is the availability of PayPal on your wrist, letting us check in to pay at participating stores, redeem offers, and receive payment notifications. PayPal has long been a friend to Android … [Read more...] about PayPal App Released For Android Wear
Android “L” Promises to Increase Your Battery Life
Any smartphone or tablet user knows that few things are as terrifying as a low-battery indicator; something many of us see entirely too often. During the keynote at the annual Google I/O conference, we learned that the upcoming Android "L" release will have a Battery Saver (under the codename "Project Volta") --but how exactly will it do that? Google claims to have a few … [Read more...] about Android “L” Promises to Increase Your Battery Life
New Google Fit Platform Announced
Care and concern for our health is one of the few things that we all share with each other --everybody has fitness goals of one sort of another and we all want to be the healthiest version of ourselves that we can (at least in theory if not in practice). Google announced their effort to help us achieve these goals in the form of Google Fit: an open platform that includes a … [Read more...] about New Google Fit Platform Announced