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google

Google Announce New Mobile OS “M”

May 29, 2015 By In Technology

Yesterday, Google unveiled their latest Android operating system. In keeping with the alphabetical naming they’ve had since the beginning, the system’s name will start with “M”, but we’re not sure of what it stands for just yet. More of an evolution than a revolution, Android M comes with new additions like Android Pay (what it sounds like), fingerprint recognition like on iPhone, and a new “dozing” mode which is meant to increase battery life.

We haven’t seen much of Android M in action yet, but we do know about almost every feature that’s coming. Arguably the biggest addition is Google Photos, it’s a replacement to your gallery app but it backs up your photos and videos, just like Dropbox. The kicker here is that you get unlimited storage for pictures up to 16MP and 1080p video. We don’t know how Google are going to pull that off, but we’re looking forward to trying it out. As of yesterday, it’s on the Android App Store.

Dozing is supposed to increase battery life by using the motion sensors to detect when the phone is not in use. If you leave your phone for a bit, it will run with less power and at a cooler temperature. Coupled with the powerful new batteries companies like LG and Sony are putting in their phones, we hope that this will finally break the one day charging cycle.

Smaller additions include things like new app permissions, but that’s more for people developing apps for Android, as well as a new chrome custom tab. The tab will open on top of apps where you clicked a link, for example Facebook or Twitter. The phone won’t open Chrome itself. It’s a nice addition, albeit a simple one. Finally, following the release of M, Android phones will use USB-C, a more effective, smaller version of USB that will decrease charge times and boost battery life.

There’s no word about when M will launch other than “later this year”, but we expect any device launched this year or last to be in line to get the update. Google’s Nexus phone’s are usually the first, but it remains to be seen. Even now, phones are still only just getting their Android Lollipop Updates.

Google’s self-driving Buggies, coming soon

May 19, 2015 By In Motoring, Technology

Self-driving cars. We know the techs not fully there yet, but Google have gotten the go-ahead for their self driving cars none-the-less. And it’s Google. They know what they’re doing. Right?

Whatever the readiness, there’s no denying that there’s something sexy about being able to finish that episode of Game Of Thrones during your commute to work.

Google’s new buggy is small, has only two seats and is about 3/4 the size of a regular hatch, and more impressively, Google has built them from the ground up. No more Priuses or Lexus SUVs, Google is now a car manufacturer.

They dertainly don’t look very good, but they’re not supposed to. Rumours have been circling that the cars will be used to provide a service akin to Uber, rather than being able to buy one for yourself.

Since the cars are only in the testing phase, they will need a human driver inside at all times. But, as an indication of their plans, the steering wheel is removable and the brake and accelerator have been attached on specifically for the test cars.

The cars will still run autonomously, but the driver is inside just to make sure no malfunctions happen. All the data gathered from Google’s fleet is being programmed into the buggies, so we doubt anything will happen.

Google currently claims that every accident their fleet has been involved in has been due to human error, so we imagine countries will soon be falling over themselves to give the Google Buggy the go ahead soon. And when asked why would anyone get into a car without a steering wheel, Google is insisting that these new Buggies will surely reduce accidents, cut down traffic congestion, help those with mobility problems and offer many more adaptations.

After you Google.

Is this Google’s new Smart Watch? Teasers below…

March 21, 2014 By steve In Technology

According to EvLeaks.com https://twitter.com/evleaks it is and it’s being made by LG.

The specs we have been teased with are:
1.65 inch IPS LCD display
512MB RAM and 4GB internal memory
Will be based on Google Now (Google’s Siri)

Should know more at the Google conference in June.

NEW Google Nexus 7 tablet. Starting at $200 (or between R2000 and R3000, Euro crisis dependent)

July 6, 2012 By steve In Technology

Scratch everything else I’ve ever said about cheap tablets. Sadly everyone who’s bothered to make something affordable for the tablet market is about to get blown out of the water by Google. The Nexus 7 is coming.

A cheap tablet for me is not even about the specs, it’s about the experience. You’re not paying what you would for a top end device like an iPad, so you’d assume that the experience is going to suffer proportionately. But at least from looking at this video they’ve released, this device looks like it’s going to be as good as the big boys on the market. Of course we know to be cautious of manufacturer released fluff, so only time will tell.

The main feature that I consider important with any touch device is response lag. Nothing frustrates me more than having to wait a second before my device does what I want. Little lag shown here.

Probably down to the Quad Core Tegra 3 Processor on board that will be running Android’s newest version Jelly Bean. A 7-inch Asus screen with Corning Glass and an 8GB or 16GB version.

This is also Google’s big move at teaching everyone that everything they need in the media world will be in their Google Play store for purchase and download. It’s this reason that the Nexus 7 has no expansion slots like USB ports. But it will carry Near Field Communication in the form of Android Beam.

I cannot wait to play with this device.

Get it: www.google.com/nexus
For: $200 for 8GB and $250 for 16GB

Google Map Maker launched in South Africa

June 27, 2012 By steve In Technology

First thing to note is that Map Maker is not the same as Google Maps or Google Earth. Although, Map Maker is found inside the Google Maps tools.

Come I explain.

You look for a location in Google Maps, and you notice that your house has not been plotted on the map. So you click on the Google Map button at the bottom right and you start plotting your property out.

You can draw a line, a shape or a place. You contribution then gets uploaded to the community for review. You can also review other peoples contributions.

Obviously the implications are pretty great especially for less developed and thinly populated areas where roads have never been mapped. This is one of the reasons SA is one of the last African countries to go live with Map Maker. In areas like Malawi, Gabon and Nigeria, individual Map Maker users have added thousands and thousands of points over a relatively short time. These people have literally mapped out their entire neighbourhood and surrounding area.

The other benefit is for small business owners and shop keepers to make sure their businesses are found on Google Maps.

The once criticism I have of the Map Maker tool is that some of the functionality is and has been available on some Tom Tom GPS devices for some time now. Your Tom Tom in fact can learn of a new road just by people driving on it, and can suggest routes around hazards based on feedback from the devices. An easier way to get the roads mapped. Doesn’t help much with the shops and parks features though. Hmm.

Here’s some guy with an Indian accent explaining how it works: