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Oct 29

Google’s Photo Sphere creates panoramas in any direction

Today Google announced some new devices and updates, including the Nexus 4 smartphone, the Nexus 10 tablet, a 32GB Nexus 7, and an update to Jelly Bean that brings it to version 4.2. One of the new features in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is called Photo Sphere, and it allows users to take panoramas in any direction that they’d like.

The feature has you starting in a central location, then all you have to do is move your device around to capture the images you want, going in any direction that you choose, meaning that you don’t have to go from left to right, or from the bottom to the top. After you’re done capturing what you want in the photo, simply go back to your central location where it then saves the image.

We already talked a little about Photo Sphere in our rundown of new features in Android 4.2, like additional dictionary items in the speech-to-text archive and improved keyboard suggestions, but Google has been pushing out more details to us about the feature. Obviously, Photo Sphere reminds us of Street View, and that’s actually where Google got the inspiration for Photo Sphere. Users can essentially create their Street View if they want.

Photo Spheres are stored as JPEG files and can be shared easily, since all of the information required to view Photo Spheres is embedded as open XML metadata in the image itself. This means you can easily email them to friends and family, and post them up on your favorite social network, whether that’d be Facebook, Twitter, or Google’s own Google+.

[via Hugo Barra]

Google’s Photo Sphere creates panoramas in any direction is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Oct 29

What’s new in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean?

Posted in: Today's Chili

It’s time for Google‘s mobile OS to get another boost, with Android 4.1 turning to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a new set of features galore. This update is largely improving upon what was revealed with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, effectively making it more of a “full” update than an incremental one – unless of course you consider that and this as increments, of course. This software will be working on the Google Nexus 10 from Samsung and the LG Nexus 4, tablet and smartphone environments alike.

Photo Sphere / Keyboard Gestures

Photo Sphere will allow you to snap photos in every direction, making no less than an amazing Street View sort of situation that you can share with your friends around the world – traveling in space! This update also brings on Gesture Typing – a feature that’s been around with 3rd party apps for some time now, perfected to a new degree by Google itself.

This update also brings on additional dictionary items in your speech-to-text archive and is improved in its anticipatory abilities with keyboard suggestions as well. Photo Sphere may well be used in the future to help Google create one gigantic Street View map of the world – we’ll have to wait and see. Would you participate in something as wild as that?

User Logins

Next and perhaps most important is user logins – this feature is only available on tablets at the moment, but may be expanded to smartphones in the future. With this feature you’re able to have the basics, first: those being your own backgrounds, homescreens, and widgets. You’ll also have your own apps, games, and individual high scores, too! This feature does not require you to shut the device off – only that you go back to your lockscreen: simple!

Wireless Display

Android 4.2 adds wireless display to your device – no longer will you have to rely on your smartphone’s manufacturer to add this as a value-added feature: you’ll have it on every Android device running Android 4.2 or higher. You’ll need a wireless display adapter to your HDMI-enabled TV, but once you do – instant mirroring! This feature also works with another tiny item calls Daydream – this effectively being a screen saver that shows photo albums, news from Google Currents, or weather.

Notifications

Your notifications have been expanded to a degree, now allowing you to take action on each of them with a simple tap. If you’re late for a meeting, this alert will be able to connect you to your contact with a simple call button. You can email everyone in the meeting too – this being just one example of the many different situations you’ll be able to take action on.

Google Now

Google Now has been boosted with several different items and updates, starting with weather. The weather readout wont just tell you what the weather is right in the moment, but as a forecast for your day as well. If you’re at a train platform, it’ll see which train you’re likely taking and will tell you when it’ll be arriving. This update also adds popular photo spots nearby, is able to track your packages, and brings you information on movies, too!

Stick around in our giant Android portal for more in-depth details as they arise with this software update and the devices that carry it. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean will be unleashed on the Nexus 4 as well as the Nexus 10 and will likely be making its way to the rest of the Nexus family soon. As for carrier devices – we just do not know – wait and see!

What’s new in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Oct 29

Nexus 7 32GB and 32GB HSPA+ official

Posted in: Today's Chili

Google has refreshed the Nexus 7 with a new 32GB version, making the 16GB model the entry-level for under two hundred bucks, and throwing in an HSPA+ model for good measure. The 7-inch tablet, announced back at Google I/O, now has more internal storage for carrying extra music and video, while the HSPA+ version will mean getting online is more straightfoward.

Google isn’t apparently working with any one specific carrier with the 3G version of the Nexus 7. Instead, it’s offering it as a SIM-free, unlocked device – just as the Nexus 4 will be sold – for users across the world to slot a SIM into. In fact, Google says, it should work with more than 200 carriers.

Otherwise the specifications are the same, so NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 chipset, a front-facing camera for video calls (but not camera on the back), and 1GB of RAM. It’ll be loaded with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latest version, too, just like the Nexus 10.

The 16GB Nexus 7 is priced at $199, while the 32GB version comes in at $249. As for the HSPA+ version, there’s a single 32GB model with 3G inside, priced at $299 and offered unlocked.

Google will be offering the WiFi-only tablet via Google Play in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, and Japan, in addition to in-store sales at Gamestop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, and Walmart in the US. The 3G version will be sold in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, and Canada, online through Google Play from November 13.

Nexus 7 32GB and 32GB HSPA+ official is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Oct 29

Nexus 10 detailed as “highest resolution on the planet” tablet

Posted in: Today's Chili

This morning Google has gone through with announcing their full set of devices and software even without the accompanying event – hitting it all off with the Nexus 10, a tablet with a rather sharp display. This device has a 10.1-inch display with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution (300ppi by Google’s count) and a battery they say will last 500 hours on standby – or 9 hours playing video. This unit works with a front-facing set of stereo speakers not unlike the Galaxy Note 10.1 or Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and is indeed made by Samsung.

This device is what Google calls the “first truly sharable tablet” as its using Android 4.2 which works with multiple users that can be switched from the lockscreen. Each user has his or her own email, apps, bookmarks, and settings. Your own home screens, music, and gaming scores, too! This unit will be appearing on the 13th of November for a set of different prices depending on the internal storage in the USA, UK, Australia, France Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan.

Also note that the Nexus 10 has a PLS display – that meaning plane-to-line switching. It’s both absolutely bright and sharp as a tac. We’ll certainly be getting more hands-on time with this device as well as the Nexus 4 and its wireless charger soon. Google will have this device ready for the wi-fi seeking market first, then 4G LTE sooner than later – no word on exactly when quite yet!

Prices will be $399 for the 16GB version and $499 for the 32GB version, and inside with the newest version of Jelly Bean (that being essentially Jelly Bean+,) it would appear that Google has created another rather interesting value proposal, right alongside the Nexus 7 – also updated in price and specifications today – and the Nexus 4. Stay tuned for more via our Android portal! (Update: UK pricing is £319 for the 16GB model and £389 for the 32GB)

Nexus 10 detailed as “highest resolution on the planet” tablet is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Oct 29

Google LG Nexus 4 official: $299 unlocked from November 13

Posted in: Today's Chili

Google and LG have officially announced the Nexus 4, the latest Android smartphone, running 4.2 Jelly Bean on a quadcore processor. The LG-made smartphone has a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 True HD IPS+ display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset running at 1.5GHGz paired with 2GB of RAM; Google plans to sell it unlocked for use on GSM/HSPA+ networks worldwide, as well as via T-Mobile USA with a contract. However, there’s no LTE support, which will disappoint many.

Instead, you get regular 3G and HSPA+, along with a choice of 8GB or 16GB of storage. There’s also an 8-megapixel main camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a 2,100 mAh battery good for up to 15.3hrs talktime or 390hrs standby, and all squeezed into a 139g device measuring 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm.

Google has included NFC, unsurprising given it wants to push adoption of Google Wallet, along with wireless charging. The update of Jelly Bean adds Swype-like Gesture Typing in an update to the keyboard, and Photo Sphere, which allows 360-degree images to be shot and shared on Google+ or embedded into Google Maps.

The Nexus 4 will be available at $299 for the 8GB and $349 for the 16GB, unlocked and SIM-free from November 13. It’ll be offered via the Google Play store in US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada. Meanwhile, the 16GB version will also be offered through T-Mobile USA, priced at $199 with a new, two-year agreement.

Update: UK pricing is £279 for the 16GB, unlocked model, and £239 for the 8GB.

Google LG Nexus 4 official: $299 unlocked from November 13 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Oct 29

Google bumps Android to 4.2, keeps Jelly Bean moniker

Posted in: Today's Chili

Well, it’s no Key Lime Pie, but Android 4.2 is certainly a treat in its own right. The latest version of Google’s mobile OS makes a number of evolutionary improvements to its already impressive repertoire, including a new quick settings menu that can be accessed from the notification pull down and support for multiple user profiles. The multiple user support is especially handy for tablets like the new Nexus 10, which are much more likely to be shared, and now offer quick and easy user switching right from the lock screen. If you don’t want to share your tablet, just what’s on it, the new support for Miracast makes will allow you to wirelessly beam movies, games or anything else to a compatible display.

Google has also overhauled the photo experience and added Photo Sphere — a 360-degree panoramic shooting mode that captures everything around you. Obviously, you’ll be able to post those shots to Google+, but you’ll also be able to add them to Google Maps, basically creating your own personal Street View.

Developing…

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google

Google bumps Android to 4.2, keeps Jelly Bean moniker originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 29

Google’s Nexus 10: 2,560 x 1,600, 300 ppi display and Android 4.2, shipping November 13th $399

Posted in: Today's Chili

Weather? What weather? Google has announced the Nexus 10, a Samsung-made 10.05-inch tablet that appears to share a lot of DNA with the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Android chief Andy Rubin revealed that the device will be packing a 2,560 x 1,600 display, promising a pixel density of 300 ppi. Google has also indicated that the Nexus 10 will crank out nine hours of continuous video playback and 500 hours of standby on its 9,000mAh lithium polymer battery. Of course, no new tablet would be complete without a new operating system, and while we’ll still be calling it Jelly Bean, it’s now been bumped all the way up to Android 4.2.

The official specifications match those that were leaked late last week, and inside the device is a dual-core, Cortex A15-based 1.7 GHz Samsung Exynos 5250 CPU. In addition, there’s a Mali T604 GPU, stereo speakers, 2GB of RAM, NFC, 802.11 b/g/n (MIMO + HT40) WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, with front-and rear NFC (Android beam) radios. ‘Round back you’ll find a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel forward-facing shooter. Weighing 603 grams, it’s 8.9mm thick and offers microUSB, Pogo Pin, microHDMI and the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. It’ll be available from November 13th on Google Play in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan — with the 16GB edition costing $399 (£319 in the UK) and the 32GB version setting you back $499 (£389).

Gallery: Google Nexus 10 Press Gallery

Continue reading Google’s Nexus 10: 2,560 x 1,600, 300 ppi display and Android 4.2, shipping November 13th $399

Filed under: Tablets, Google

Google’s Nexus 10: 2,560 x 1,600, 300 ppi display and Android 4.2, shipping November 13th $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 29

LG Nexus 4 stars in new leaked video

Posted in: Today's Chili

We were supposed to get a reveal of the LG Nexus 4 today, but thanks to the threat of Hurricane Sandy, that won’t be happening. Fortunately, the delay of Google’s Android event leaves more time for leaks, and today we’ve got a pretty big one to share with you. The folks over at Swedroid have posted an intriguing new video that not only gives us a look at the sleek Nexus 4, but also shows it running Android 4.2.

We have to say that we’re pretty impressed with what we see in the video. Android 4.2 looks great, and runs nice and smooth to boot. We also get a glimpse at a couple of the new features found in Android 4.2, including the new Quick Settings menu, which is accessed by pressing a button in the notifications menu.

There’s also a button for user profiles in the notification menu, which seems to confirm the rumors that claim Android 4.2 will come with support for multiple user profiles on the same device. That’s something to get excited about, as are the more general changes to the UI – the new clock, for instance, looks pretty sleek. All in all, this video does a lot to get us really excited about Android 4.2, and even better is the fact that it’s running on the Nexus 4 in this video.

Now we just have to wait for the official reveal. Google hasn’t announced when it will be holding its event, and we’ll probably be waiting at least a few days before we get word on a new date. Head down to the comments section to tell us what you think of the Nexus 4 with Android 4.2, and if you’re on the east coast, stay safe in these coming days!

Oct 29

Sandy stops Google (but new Android news was hardly a mystery)

Posted in: Today's Chili

It would appear that the force of nature named Sandy did not want her good friend Microsoft to be washed out by Android news just one week after the fact, as today’s Google event was cancelled on account of her rapid approach. That’s all well and good, and Google is certainly going to have a replacement event, but what we know already of the event is… well… more than likely basically everything. Start your journey down this path of explosive news with the release – regardless of a lack of announcement – of the 32GB version of the Nexus 7, out in stores right this minute if you know where to look. From there it’s all software and a few surprises in the Nexus universe, too.

For those of you ready for a whole new tablet environment, have a peek at the Google Nexus 10 in a short hands-on video. This device will have a 10.1-inch display, the same processor we saw in the Series 3 Chromebook we love so well, and will be running Android 4.2. We’ve seen this device snapping photos on a beach as well as in several hands-on photos from all angles.

The LG Nexus 4 has been leaked several times and has appeared quite likely to be taking on many of the features of the LG Optimus G (see our review here). This device has been left at a bar as well as in a full user handbook and specifications layout. This device will have a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor under the hood and more than enough juice to last you a day or two – with Android 4.2 under the hood once again.

We’ve not actually heard one whole heck of a lot about Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean+), believe it or not, other than a few feature points. We’re expecting multiple users to be able to log in on an Android device, different user accounts depending on who is using the phone – separate file systems for each, and some enhanced usability features for the tablet environment. This release of both the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 10 is more than likely about to bring about wireless charging as a standard for the whole Android-toting world, too.

It will likely be less than a week before we see these items all come to fruition, but it’s hard to say how Google will run this show now that the initial event has had to be cancelled. Stick around SlashGear as we catch Microsoft’s second show in the meantime – Windows Phone 8 starts today!

Oct 28

Refresh Roundup: week of October 22nd, 2012

Posted in: Today's Chili

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of October 22nd, 2012

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Samsung, HTC, Google, LG

Refresh Roundup: week of October 22nd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s Photo Sphere creates panoramas in any direction