Google allows for full-sized photo backups — including the newly launched functionality from desktop — on its social network, something it says results in a lot of Google+ users storing RAW photo files. When RAW photographs are viewed, a RAW-to-JPEG conversion takes place so that file size is kept low and the speed of the […]
Late last month, a tip surfaced claiming that Target would be opening its Target Ticket video service to the general public soon, taking it out the previously closed beta it was in. Fast forward a few weeks, and such has proved to be the case, with the new video service officially exiting beta and being […]
If you’ve been paying much attention to Google+, you already know that the social network is doing its damnedest to become the go-to destination for photographers. Accordingly, it’s attracted a number of RAW format enthusiasts — thanks to the ability to store full-size photos — and to make their lives a little better, Google+ is introducing a new RAW-to-JPEG conversion method that offers noticeably better results. Over 70 cameras from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony are supported as of today, and Google says that it’ll add additional models over time. Since Google+ automatically converts RAW photos to JPEG for viewing purposes (while retaining the original), the new conversion method should be readily apparent. You can view the complete list of supported cameras after the break, and as for the improved quality of conversions, go ahead and have a look for yourself. Hopefully your eyes agree with Google’s claim.
We heard whispers just a few weeks ago that Target was about to open up its video-on-demand service to the general public. Turns out, those rumors were on the money: Target Ticket exited its closed beta today, and is now live for anyone to try out. Like Amazon Video on Demand, it offers a mix of movies and TV shows, with a choice of rentals and the option to buy outright. At a cursory glance, too, it looks like all the most popular stuff is included. (All six seasons of Breaking Bad? Check.)
As for pricing, there’s no consistent rule here, and we can’t totally explain why some shows are more expensive than others, either ($15 for the third season of Downton Abbey seems like a steal, if you ask us). It’s the same thing with the movie selections: there are lots of recent titles on tap, with prices generally ranging from $13 to $20. We’ve included the link below, along with a link to Target’s new online-only subscription service for buying the same items over and over again. Unfortunately, though, that last one is limited to baby supplies for the time being, so unless you need to stock up on diapers, there’s not much to see there.
Source: Target (1), (2)
Conventional data transmission techniques rely on two-dimensional signals to carry the information down a pipeline, but there’s only so much potential bandwidth to go around. There are only so many signals you can pack into a given plane before they begin to overlap and interfere with another. But if we were to add an additional third plane, science could conveniently sidestep that technological roadblock. And that’s exactly what a team at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) has done.
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Today’s the day for updates to Google’s Android apps. The latest to get a revision is the company’s main Search app, which sees a slew of new features and minor tweaks. That includes the ability to display a related website based on your current location, as well as offer sports and flight updates in realtime instead of on a 15-minute delay. Beyond that, you’ll now be able to set reminders based on things like album or book releases, view event tickets from select websites, and see additional Smart TV cards (which require an actual smart TV) for news and music that’s currently on your TV. Another feature that’s said to be “rolling out gradually” is the ability to automatically tell others when you’ve left work. You can find the full rundown of all the new features (and the app itself) in the Google Play store.
Update: We’ll have to cool our jets for now — while there is a fresh APK for Google Search in the Play Store, it appears the features in the changelog are just hanging around from the last update. We’ll let you know if anything new and interesting surfaces (with the pace of updates rolling out today, a Google change-tracker dashboard would be nice).
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Google
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google Play
Internet services provider C Spire announced this week it will begin rolling out gigabit Internet service to homes in Ridgeland, Mississippi sometime in 2014. Billing the move as a step towards creating the “Silicon South”, C Spire chose Ridgeland because government officials and civic leaders had stepped up to welcome the company in. That model […]
One of the major gripes users have had since the Google Hangouts platform and apps rolled out is that they could no longer actually see if their contacts are active before sending them a message. A new update for the Android app is ready to fix that, and is rolling out over the next few days. As shown in the image above, green icons on the photo mean they’re available, grey icons mean they aren’t. Another change is that when you start a hangout it lists People you Hangout with, Suggested People and then Other Contacts (as shown above). Finally, Hangout invites have popped to the top of your conversations so they’re easy to find, and you can hide people from the New Hangout screen by long-pressing their name and then selecting “Hide Contact.” So, are all of the old Google Talk features you needed back in action (outbound calls from the desktop returned in July), or is there anything else still missing?
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: Randall Sarafa (Google+)
Google began testing its new same-day delivery service, Shopping Express, with a limited trial for San Francisco customers back in March, and it’s apparently proven successful enough for an expansion. Starting today, residents of the greater Bay Area — from San Francisco to San Jose — can streamline their to-do list by having local stores deliver straight to their doors. Included on the list of participating retailers are national giants like Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, Staples and Whole Foods (just to name a few), though some smaller businesses will also take part. The service is also expanding to mobile phones, as Google is launching a new Shopping Express app for both Android and iOS devices; with it, you can search for items, browse different stores and place orders from your phone. For more information, check out the source link below.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: All Things D
Source: Google
The latest way Google is working social media into its search engine is with the use of familiar hashtags, but at least for now that doesn’t include direct results from competitors like Facebook and Twitter. Available initially to users in the US and Canada, searches that include hashtags (like #ExpandNY, for example) will gain a right rail display relevant Google+ posts that were either shared publicly or to you. Even if you’re not an avid user of the #, since Google+ autogenerates hashtags for many posts, it should be easy to find related info for pretty much any topic. According to Zaheed Sabur, there are also links to search said hashtag on other social sites, although which ones weren’t specified. Even if you’re in the right area you probably won’t see the new feature just yet, as it’s going live “within the next few hours.”
Source: Zaheed Sabur (Google+)
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