Hasta La Gadget!

This week Hugo Barra spoke up at Google I/O 2013 on the devices that make Android a unique and powerful system, including the HTC One and the Samsung GALAXY S 4. This introduction moved quickly to a Google Edition of the Samsung GALAXY S 4. This version of the device will be working on AT&T and T-Mobile 4G LTE with a 16GB internal storage and a vanilla flavoring of Android. This will be sold through the Google Play and will receive updates straight from the company.

This device will be sold straight through Google Play, this implying an unlocked bit of greatness – and indeed that is what it is. The Google Edition of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will cost users a cool $649 USD and will be coming up on the web starting on June 26th. It should be made clear that this device is not branded with the word Nexus, but is essentially that: unlocked, basic Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and updated by Google.

This device works with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor that the normal edition does, and it’ll be coming with essentially the same set of hardware from top to bottom that the normal edition has. This release marks the point at which Google begins selling 3rd-party hardware for Android on their website. Of course you’re able to purchase Chromebooks made by Samsung and Acer direct from Google Play, but this is the first Android to come without Nexus in its name.

Stay tuned as we see how well a relatively expensive device such as this does on the Google Play online store. While the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 7 – and the Nexus 10 to a lesser degree – have been successful in Google Play due to their relatively high value and low price, this GALAXY S 4 might see not quite so easy a time at a price that’s double the Nexus 4. We shall see!

GALAXY S 4 Google Edition made real with Vanilla Android is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week at Google I/O 2013, Ellie Powers stood on stage to speak about Google Play’s advancements for developers. Several different updates have been made for the developer on the back-end of the store, allowing them to take their publishing of apps to a new level. The first of these updates comes with a built-in App Translation Services feature.

With App Translation Services, developers will be able to purchase translation services straight through Google Play. A translation company will translate text through the developer’s own set of APK strings, paying through Google as with all other systems inside the Google Play store.

Referral Tracking was also added go Google Play’s back-end for developers. Google Play will be showing the user how and from where users are coming from, much like Google Analytics shows how, from where, and why visitors come to webpages. This system allows many of the systems – lots, if not all the metrics available in Analytics will be available in one single place – the developer console.

A system called Fortune Teller will also be part of this Referral Tracking environment, allowing the developer to gain a better understanding of where their cash comes from. Staged Roll-outs are also coming this week for developers – Beta Testing included.

This whole system will be rolling out to developers starting this week – stay tuned while we’re here all week at Google I/O 2013 through our own Google I/O tag portal!

Google Play developer console gains Beta Roll-outs and Analytics insight is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the 6th annual Google I/O 2013 developers conference began with a series of Android announcements, picking up on Google Play game services as a central element in the future of the system – both cross-device and cross-platform. The keynote began with Google’s Vic Gundotra speaking about how important it is that they reach out to this community year after year. He handed the mic over to Sundar Pichai almost immediately, who made the case for the ever-changing world with a photo of Google I/O compared to last year’s event: a “sea of smartphones” compared to a single flip phone (guess which is which.)

Pichai spoke about The Journey of Personal Computing, noting that Android and Chrome remain two separate systems. Android began, he said, as an open system that is now the most popular operating system in the world. Chrome as a web browser, he reminded the audience, is now the world’s most popular web browser. It’s through this web browser and with this system that Google Play game systems will come to life.

Pichai showed the current level of Android activations in the world – 900 million strong. Comparing this number to 2012′s activations at 400 million, it was plain how the operating system was making waves. 48 billion app installs were announced for Google Play by Google’s Hugo Barra. Google’s Vice President of Android Product Management announced further that the company had already paid out more this year to developers through Google Play than they had the entirety of 2012.

Barra continued with updates for the developer community on Google Services updates with APIs for Google Maps. Activity Recognition, power saving, and ease in integration bring this system into the future. Also on tap was Google+ sign-in. This system allows users to log in with Google+ on-the-fly through a series of websites – and all, in the near future, if Google has their way.

Google+ Cross-device Single Sign-on was made clear – Google+ will now be as easy to sign in with as Facebook is in both apps and on your desktop. Signing in on your desktop computer will also have you signed in on your tablet or smartphone if the app is compatible with this system.

But it was Google Play game services that knocked out the most important update to Android without a doubt. Here you’ll find users able to save their game on one device and pick it up from another place without a problem.

This system is both cross-device and cross-platform. It works for both Android and iOS – Apple devices as well as those made by LG, HTC, and all the rest. Connecting through Google+ and the users’ Google account, multi-player games will also be made a snap over the web – more-so than before, that is.

Google Play game services will be rolling out starting this week and we’ll be having more of a close-up look at it each day. Stick around our Google I/O tag portal to see it all, start to finish.

Google Play game services launched cross-device and cross-platform is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Today we’ve just officially kicked off Google I/O, and to start things off Google’s own Sundar Pichai is on the stage talking about the past, the future, personal computing and more. And right out of the gate we’re already getting to the good stuff. Talking Android, Chrome, numbers and of course Android. Today Google is proud to announce that they’ve nearly reached the 1 billion mark.

Sundar Pichai has just confirmed that with nearly 400 million Android activations by the end of 2012, here mid-way through 2013 we’ve already more than doubled that massive number, and Android’s ecosystem has reached 900 million. Talk about a big number. Android developers and manufacturers are an important part of that, obviously, and their proud to announce they’ve paid out developers more in 4 months this year, than all of 2012 combined.

Along with the confirmation of nearly 900 million Android activations, there has also been over 48 billion (yes with a B) billion Android app installs. Not only that, but there has already been 2.5 billion in the past month. It’s safe to say Google’s Android OS is only speeding up, and showing absolutely zero signs of slowing down.

It’s also worth noting that just last month Google Android activations was sitting around 750 million. So in the past month or so that’s grown to over 900. We’re expecting this to only increase, and by the end of 2013 Android could be topping 1.5 billion. Next up we’re talking Android, Google Play, locations data and more. Stay tuned and follow our Google I/O Portal.

Google confirms over 900 million Android activations, 48bn app installs is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google has Glass, but Recon Instruments is kicking off Google I/O today with a wearable computer of its own, the Recon Jet. Integrating a microdisplay into a set of sports sunglasses, the Recon Jet floats a virtual widescreen in the lower corner of your right eye, with controls integrated into the side, and most of the connectivity you’d expect from a current phone or tablet.

Inside, there’s an unspecified dualcore processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS, along with ANT+ fitness connectivity. Sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter, magnetometer, and a thermometer, while an HD camera pokes out the front.

There’s still some wiggle-room in the specs, though. For instance, Recon Instruments hasn’t said what resolution the display runs at, though our guess would be that the impressively-detailed renders in the demo video below aren’t quite what the Recon Jet itself can manage.

Obviously the glasses themselves are somewhat less discrete than Google’s Glass, though they’re intended to provide protection during sports like skiing and snowboarding. What the company is aiming to do at I/O is publicize its SDK, which will allow developers to hook their apps and services into the headset.

Recon Jet overview:

Potential uses include activity tracking and fitness monitoring, showing your health performance for instance, as well as streaming music and video. The Recon Jet could also be used as a remote display for apps running on your phone or tablet, and the company says it’s working with “some of the top fitness companies and communities” to cook up titles in time for the eventual launch.

Recon Jet will be available later in 2013, Recon Instruments says. Pricing and specific launch dates are not confirmed, though there’ll be a limited-availability initial production run which will seemingly be offered on an invitation basis to developers, similar to how Google has managed the Glass Explorer Edition roll-out.

Recon Jet takes Glass-style wearable computing to the slopes is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.