Starting this month, users will be experience an increased bit of quality in their Google+ Hangouts video chat as result of the company switching over to a new form of video codec. The video codec itself isn’t new, it having been released all the way back in 2010, but it’s new to this Google system, […]
When we need to know how to cook a certain meal, or how to fix up our bicycle, YouTube can only do so much when offering up how-to videos. However, Google is currently testing and will soon launch a new service called Helpouts that aims to connect experts with those who need help using Google+ […]
For Facebook users, when a comment or a status is made in a language other than the one set in the user’s preferences, a translation option is made available that will provide an alternative in the user’s language. Such is now also a feature available on Google Plus, with the translation service being powered by […]
The Google+ Photos app has been the exclusive domain of the Pixel for a while now, with that changing today as Google expands the app to all Chromebooks. With the Google+ Photos app, Chromebook users can take advantage of the convenience of the Google+ photo features, as well as the Google+ Photos app’s specific functionality, […]
On August 14, the Google+ app for Android updated to version 4.1, bringing with it a variety of new features and the elimination of Messenger. Now the same update has rolled out for the iOS app after a couple day delay, this particular one taking Apple users to version 4.5 and likewise doing away with […]
In an effort to bring about changes as requested from the Android community, Google has issued an update this week to the Android version of Google+, complete with a full axing of Google Messenger. While some may hold a torch for said service, it’s been fully translated – transformed, even – into Hangouts, a service […]
If you spend much time on Google+ for Android, then we hope you follow the app’s Tech Lead, Virgil Dobjanschi. He’s just shared that version 4.1 will be available on the Play Store today, and brings — he claims — five big hitting updates with it. First on the list, account and page switching gets even easier, much like it did in Android’s Gmail app. There’s also full support for Google Apps for Business, which brings public sharing when enabled. For regular users, the ability to access files from Google Drive, and additional location controls will be welcome additions, with the last update being a bit of house keeping — Messenger is out, Hangouts remain. Beyond the “big five,” there’s a tease of other updates for you to “discover.” Or you could just read the “What’s new” tab when it rolls out starting today.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Via: Virgil Dobjanschi (Google+)
Source: Google Play
Hear some amazing new song you’ve just got to share with your Circles? After introducing a Google+ sign-in, way, way back in May, SoundCloud and Mountain View have teamed up to offer music embedding on the social network. Now you can share a song that’s playable directly in Google+, with no need to open a new tab. Click the share button, add some optional text and voila, the widget will appear on your page — that is, if the song’s original poster is cool with it. Sharing only works on songs when the functionality is enabled. More info in the source link below.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: SoundCloud Blog
Google has launched Google City Experts, a new program aiming to take on Yelp and other local review sites by promising perks and praise for those regularly writing up their experiences at restaurants, theaters, and other locations around select cities. The scheme, which ties together Google Maps and Google+, promises “Local Insiders” access to an […]
Google may have a new version of Google Maps to be excited about, but it’s also goodbye to some old features along the way, with the search giant announcing plans to retire Latitude and hopefully shift users to Google+ instead. Latitude has a month left to live and is in fact completely absent from the new version of Google Maps, but users won’t be able to avoid the shutdown by bypassing the upgrade since Google is axing server-side support – and Latitude friends lists – too. Meanwhile, offline mapping for Google Maps has been buried away as a bizarre “Easter egg” in the newest version.
Whereas before, Google Maps supported easy offline caching of a section of a map through the settings, now that option has been removed. Instead, Google says, offline support is being treated as a non-official feature in v.7 for Android; according to Abby DeBellis, Google Maps community manager, you’ll need to turn it on in a different, hidden way.
You can “pre-load an area of the map you need offline simply by going to that area in the app and typing “OK Maps” in the search box (or speaking “OK Maps” into your Android device)” DeBellis says. “That area will then be pre-loaded to your device cache and accessible when you don’t have a connection. Just return to that area of the map, and it will be available to you.”
It’s unclear why Google opted to remove the more readily-accessed support for offline caching, though a general reluctance to see users turn off data might be one reason. Having a persistent data connection means Google can serve up more promotional offers, for instance, which are now embedded right into the map itself.
For Latitude, meanwhile, it’s an attempt to shift users of the location-tracking service to Google+. Location sharing is supported in the Google+ Android app now, and will be enabled in the iOS app soon, Google says; any Latitude widgets you’re using will stop showing your location as of August 9.
“We’ll delete your list of friends on Latitude. You won’t be able to see or manage friends. Any existing friends will no longer see your location in Google Maps for mobile on Android, Latitude for iPhone, the public badge, the iGoogle Gadget, and the Latitude website at maps.google.com/latitude, if you continue to use these products” Google
More concerning, perhaps, if you’ve made good use of Latitude so far, is the fact that Google won’t be allowing any of the friend data built up in the service to be exported. If you’ve had Location History enabled then you’ll at least be able to suck out the list of places you’ve been using Google Takeout.
Third-party apps and services that currently use the Latitude API will lose access to users’ location too, though they’ll be allowed to keep their databases of positioning data.
Google kills Latitude and buries Google Maps offline is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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