Hasta La Gadget!

A patent application has just revealed that Google is going to be implementing rear-touch controls for its future Android smartphones. The patent is similar to a patent filed by Apple in 2006, which it planned on using to implement the rear-touch feature in its future iPads. However, it’s been 7 years since Apple was granted the patent, and yet there are still no iPads with rear-touch controls. Perhaps Apple will begin production on that project now that Google is gunning for it too.

The rear-touch controls will allow users to navigate through various content. They will be able to flip through pages in a magazine or an e-book, navigate through their music selection by skipping or replaying their songs, scroll around through web pages, and more. There are a ton of possibilities that can come with rear-touch controls, and most will be utilized in order to create a much more pleasant one-handed user experience.

While Google has just received its patent, and Apple had the patent since 2006, they’re still way behind Sony. Sony was the first to implement rear-touch controls in its PlayStation Vita device. The device utilizes the rear-touch feature in many games. The touch-pad is used in many games to perform tasks like lobbing grenades, performing silent kills, controlling the camera, selecting multiple targets, navigating through maps, and more.

Google will not be limiting rear-touch controls on just Android smartphones however. It says that it may bring it to its Android tablets and Chromebook as well. Hopefully Google follows through with implementing its rear-touch controls, unlike Apple. We could see the use of rear-touch controls be used in so many ways other than just flipping a page. Developers would probably have a field day with the feature, integrating it within their apps and their games for a much better user experience.

[via Patent Bolt]

Google patents rear-touch controls 6 years after Apple is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s undeniable Google has been making an absolute killing with its suite of iOS apps. Google’s Maps, Search, Gmail and YouTube apps are probably all considered must-have applications if you’re an iOS user and it looks like their once Android-exclusive Field Trip may just be another hit for the iOS community.

Google describes Field Trip as a “guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you” that has a number of big name partners supporting the service like Zagat, the Public Art Archive and Dezeen. Field Trip is able to provide relevant information and points of interests based on your current location. And this goes beyond simply providing information on the tastiest cupcake shop in your town, instead, you’ll be able to learn about the world around you like the history of a particular street or venue. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: AT&T Reminds Its Customers They Can Unlock Devices For You, Google Cutting 1,200 Motorola Mobility Jobs,

For many years Apple’s iPad has been considered the king of tablets, although Android manufacturers have been doing a pretty good job so far by releasing tablets with impressive specs, features and low price points.

However recent studies by Chitika and Egnyte have revealed that Apple’s dominance is still strong, although in the case of Chitika, while their findings show that the iPad reigns supreme, they have also discovered that Android tablets have seen an increased in usage. Egnyte’s study however reports that Android tablets have started to see a decline in the corporate sector. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Marvel Unlimited Subscription-based Comic Book Service Comes To iOS, Incredimail Makes Email Easy With Its New iPad App,

Skype has rolled out version 4.6 of its iPad and iPhone app, bringing with it several improvements, fixes, and a newly redesigned calling “experience.” General improvements and fixes aside, users will find that some common complaints have been corrected as well, including the issue with dial pad/in-call buttons displaying incorrectly during a call.

The updated call screen features a more polished design that is easy on the eyes and appealing while the functionality is mostly the same as what users are familiar with. Those who have used the app regularly will notice the change immediately, while others who haven’t used it for awhile will notice that things “feel” cleaner and more modern.

The redesign aside, there have been a number of problems solved, such as conversations now showing up in the correct order. Messages in conversations won’t be listed as edited unless they actually have been when the save button is pressed, making it easier to keeps tabs on things. In addition, the popover being dismissed from the incoming call screen, and cursor focus has been fixed for text editing in the profile.

VoiceOver is now applicable for reading more than before, including unread message labels (only for the iPad, however), as well as the “+” button, the “Show side bar” button, and “Skype Terms of Use.” Another nice tweak deals with picture preview with file transfer; the image will be displayed in the proper rotation for both incoming and outgoing.

There are a few issues, however, two with conversations and three with VoiceOver. In conversations, the last scroll position isn’t saved and users have to log in again to see the Chat/SMS button if the contact added a phone number to its profile during a chat. With VoiceOver, there are problems with incorrect readings of chat text labels, background items can be selected when the left side bar is at the top, and unread messages can’t be read on the iPhone. Fixes are in progress for all of them.

[via Skype]

Skype 4.6 rolls out for iPad and iPhone, offers calling redesign is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Many of us whose parents discovered the internet in the past decade are all too familiar with Incredimail, mostly through the excessively cute stationery that would come attached to virtually every message. It’s time to shake some of those old preconceptions now that an iPad version is here. The tablet port has stationery for anyone who craves it, but it’s more focused on becoming a one-stop shop for everything associated with communication: it centers on a unified inbox for IMAP-based email accounts (POP3 soon) that shows quick peeks of both mail and any included links. Users won’t have to leave the app at all for a few common non-messaging tasks. There’s both an integrated web browser as well as a photo inbox that currently shows Facebook images, with plans to support Flickr, Instagram and Picasa in the long run. Those on Android devices or the iPhone will have to wait for their eventual turns at Incredimail, but everyone using Apple’s tablet can give it a whirl today, for free — even if they have no intentions of sending messages that could be confused with greeting cards.

Filed under: Tablets, Software

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Via: The Next Web

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