Hasta La Gadget!

Google has rolled out a new Search update for Android, and it includes a handful of new features for Google Now. This means that if you’re not running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, you’re going to have to sit this one out, sadly. Those who are running Android 4.1 will probably want to give this update a look, as it adds a few interesting features.

There are three new features to note in this Google Now update: for starters, users can now find showtime information for movies playing near them through Now. Support for emergency messages has been added in this update as well, giving you severe weather warnings and other emergency alerts right on your Now page. This will undoubtedly come in handy for the more turbulent areas of the world, and it could potentially save a few lives, so it’s good to have it along.

The third feature Google has added gives users the ability to “follow” their favorite sports teams. In all, users can choose from “140 soccer, football, hockey and baseball teams to follow in real time,” unfortunately Google’s lineup only features professional teams for now – college fans will have to wait. Still, with the kickoff to the NFL season just around the corner and the NHL and NBA seasons not far behind, this feature is definitely one that will garner some excitement.

As an added bonus, Google has also included support for users in Korea with this latest update, and you can snag it now from the Google Play Store. So there you have it – one of Android 4.1′s more compelling aspects just got a little better. Sure, there aren’t a ton of new features to be found in this new update, but the ones it does add are important and/or awesome. Be sure to have a look at our story timeline below to find out more about Google Search and Google Now!

[via Google]

Google Now update brings emergency alerts to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Couldn’t make it out to Berlin for Samsung’s Unpacked event? No worries — Sammy has re-packed its deluge of tablets, phones and Android-powered cameras for your viewing pleasure. Go ahead and relive Sammy’s self-proclaimed magic at the outfit’s Facebook page or with the embedded video after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012: watch it online now

Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012: watch it online now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A slightly less than simple to install version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available from Google for you Verizon Galaxy Nexus users – straight from the source. If you’ve never heard of “AOSP” before, you may want to avoid this situation – but if you’re perfectly willing to break your warrantee and unlock your bootloader, you’re welcome to make it work. Here with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus you’ll finally be able to do all that awesome Google Now and voice command and search action you’ve heard so much about – and the notifications pull-down menu is updated to the max as well!

This version of the software goes by the name of JRO03O and is what’s known as an incremental update. You’ll find that this version has not yet been approved by Verizon – if it were, this would be easier – and that you’ll be flashing zip files straight from Google to make it all happen. This build isn’t a whole lot different from what we’ve seen thus far from developers in the wild making AOKP work for this device, and it’s certainly nothing like CyanogenMod 10, that’s for certain.

If you’ve hacked your device before, released it from its software bonds in so many ways, you’ll have a relatively simple time changing over to this new version of Android. ClockworkMod Recovery will make the process so simple your ears will be burning. Custom build users already working with odd software should of course wipe out all data and install the IMM76Q package you should be more than familiar about before doing anything else. Flashing this new JRO03O build on top of that will hopefully do the trick.

And if it’s not been clear enough up until now, the process you’ll be going through here includes “safety not guaranteed” as all software modifications do. You can access both the IMM76Q package and the JRO03O update from Google now – and be cautious! SlashGear assumes no responsibility for your actions with the software linked here! You can also get a rooted version of this software over at Droid Life with instructions on how to use it.

Have a peek at the Jelly Bean timeline below to get more information on how Android 4.1 will be working with your Galaxy Nexus – and enjoy!

[via Android Community]

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Jelly Bean available from Google now is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

An update to your Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 are right around the corner in the form of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean – so says Samsung. It’s at IFA 2012 that the company made the announcement that the software would be hitting both devices “very soon” as it were, with the Samsung Galaxy Note II having been announced earlier in the event they spoke at as coming with Jelly Bean right out of the box. This duo of devices currently works with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

While the first Galaxy Note still also works with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at this very moment, it would appear – though Samsung hasn’t confirmed – that Jelly Bean will be arriving there soon as well. Unless of course there’s some unforeseen set of circumstances, of course. Generally an update to the international versions of these devices comes first while the carrier-specific devices get a software update of this magnitude several weeks later.

Samsung Galaxy Note II video demo:

In other words, you can expect an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on your Samsung Galaxy S III and Note 10.1 – that brand new tablet we just saw for the first time less than a month ago – to come before the end of the year. This software update will bring expansions to Google’s search capabilities as well as some next-level Samsung-added perks as well. For a preview of what’s to come, it’s a good bet that you’re glance at our hands-on with the Galaxy Note II from earlier today will do you some good – have a peek at a hands-on video here as well.

Also check out the rest of our IFA 2012 coverage as well as our timeline below of Jelly Bean updates and features – get to know Google’s latest and greatest mobile offering!

Jelly Bean set for Galaxy S III and Note 10.1 “very soon” says Samsung is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Most likely you all just noticed that Samsung finally took the covers off of their new super-sized Samsung Galaxy Note II phablet. The first question most of you probably have is regarding US availability. The Galaxy Note II will be launching internationally first, and as usual the folks across the pond in the states will be waiting a bit longer.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Note II this morning and you can see the full details from our announcement post. Then to see just how awesome this 5.5-inch Android 4.1 Jelly Bean powered Android device actually is you’ll want to immediately take a peek at our Galaxy Note II hands-on. Once you get all excited prepare yourself for a little bit of bad news.

As we mentioned in the announcement post, Samsung won’t be launching the Galaxy Note II in the US right away. Rest assured however that it will be coming, and coming soon. Hopefully from multiple carriers including Verizon. Here’s the official statement from Samsung US themselves:

“Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy Note II, which will be available later in 2012. Building on the success of the original Galaxy Note, we’re confident that the Galaxy Note II continues to redefine what consumers should expect from their smartphone and delivers a powerful, innovative and unique experience. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time, we will continue to share information as it becomes available”

So there you have it! The Galaxy Note II is here, it’s awesome, and it won’t be available in the US until later this year. Hopefully they’ll have it out sometime late October and if the Galaxy S III was any indication of how they’ve managed to work with US carriers we could see it launch on multiple carriers. AT&T received the original first, but we aren’t sure how round deuce will play out. Enjoy our hands-on video below and we’ll update the minute we know more about the Galaxy Note II in the US.

Samsung Galaxy Note II heads to the US “later in 2012″ is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.