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Google Chrome and Android Event Scheduled for July 24

Google Invite

Google is hosting an Android and Chrome event next Wednesday, July 24 hosted by OS honcho Sundar Pichar. Very little is being revealed right now, but the timing is rather interesting in light of the Google I/O event in May and Apple's WWDC event in June. But sure enough, Android will get some much needed attention this time around as it's upgraded to 4.3 (or straight to version 5.0.) Hopefully, it will get some legit support for Bluetooth 4.0 along with the expected new features and UI tweaks. The event kicks off at 12PM EST (that's 9:00 AM for you folks in the west coast.) It will also be live-streamed on YouTube. Stay tuned here at Gear Live as we analyze, synthesize, and slice up the Key Lime Pie.


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Google Maps 2.0 for iOS brings iPad support, indoor maps, and more

Google Maps 2.0 iOS

This evening Google released Google Maps 2.0 for iOS, and with it comes a bunch of new features, including full iPad support. That's a welcome change to owners of Apple's tablets, but the new Google Maps brings a bunch more with it.

Enhanced turn-by-turn navigation now includes live traffic updates and incident reports. When you are looking for something specific, Google Maps now drills down into popular categories like restaurants, playing, shopping, and sleeping. Google now owns Zagat, and as such, Zagat ratings are included and listed within the results. Google Offers also gets integrated into Maps, showing you results that have deals as well.

What may be seen as the coolest addition to the Google Maps app is the inclusion for indoor mapping. That means that you can now launch Google Maps to get indoor directions at places like malls, airports, bus and train stations, and more.

You can download Google Maps 2.0 for iOS now from the App Store.

Click to continue reading Google Maps 2.0 for iOS brings iPad support, indoor maps, and more


Moto X phone will always be listening for voice commands

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Google, Rumors, Videos,

Moto X Always Listening

Looks like Google's goals for the Majel project is coming to full fruition with a Star Trek-like Always Listening mode on the upcoming Moto X smartphone. In a leaked video from Canadian wireless carrier, Rogers, we see that the passive voice command feature added allows Google Now use without the user having to press a button in order to prompt a request--all you have to do is say "Ok Google Now," to get the phone to listen up and do your bidding. Yep, just like Google Glass. In the video, the Moto X has an additional buttonless feature that allows a user to open the phone's camera with two flicks of the wrist. Additionally, we see that you can tap anywhere on the screen to snap a photo instead of just a specific UI button. The Moto X is expected to go on sale this summer. Check out the video after the break.

Click to continue reading Moto X phone will always be listening for voice commands

Read More | Ausoroid

HTC One with stock Android arrives June 26 for $599

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Software,

Sundar Pichai HTC One Stock Android

The HTC One is a highly impressive Android device, but many users wish that they could get the beautiful hardware with stock Android Jelly Bean software. Luckily, that wish is becoming reality, as Android head Sundar Pichai announced during his D11 talk that the HTC One with Nexus UI will go on sale on June 26th on the Google Play store, and will work on both AT&T and T-Mobile.

Be sure to check out our HTC One review as well.


LG Nexus 4 now available in white

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

White LG Nexus 4

The LG Nexus 4 is arguably the best Android phone on the market right now (if you don't care about LTE,) but if you were bored by the black hue, you can now get it on the Google Play store and T-Mobile in white. In fact, if you buy it from Google Play directly, you also get a free bumper case thrown in for good measure. It should be stated, though, that the only difference here is the color--otherwise, it's the same Nexus 4 that was released over six months ago, running the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2.2.

Read More | Google Play Store

Watch this: Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 90-minute D11 interview

Tim Cook D11 interview

Yesterday evening, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the state at the 11th annual D: All Things Digital conference, and spoke about many topics relating to Apple. During the D11 interview, Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher hit Cook with tough questions, most of which were answered with just enough information so as not to give away specific future plans. Talking points include wearable computing, changes coming to iOS, Apple stock price, taxes, and more. We've got the full 90-minute interview video for you after the break--check it out.

Click to continue reading Watch this: Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 90-minute D11 interview


‘The Internship’: A Watered Down ‘Wedding Crashers,’ Mostly Bores

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in 'The Internship'

The Internship is one of those comedies you keep hoping will be better but deep down in your heart you knew all along that it was really just a quick cash grab.

At least that's what I felt while sitting through the latest Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugh vehicle where they try to revive their struggling careers by taking on internships at of all places, Google. The central characters are mid 40's and after being fired from a sales company that has gone belly up, they embark on a trip to California to take internships at Google, the internet search king.  Running gags ensue and much of the slang the kids use is meant to be seen as over the heads of Wilson and Vaughn. Almost all of the slang used by the young co-stars is very popular and the look of bewilderment on their faces would lead one to believe that the two actors were portraying characters in their 70's rather than 40's. This running gag gets old pretty quickly.

Click to continue reading ‘The Internship’: A Watered Down ‘Wedding Crashers,’ Mostly Bores


You can now attach money to your Gmail messages

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Internet,

Send Money in Gmail with Google Wallet

Google is making the practice of sending money to friends as easy as attaching a document to an email. Using Gmail, you'll be able to attach cash money to your emails using your Google Wallet account, for free. The nice thing is that you don't have to have funds on your account to do this--you can just have a bank account attached to your Wallet account. Recipients of your paper won't need to have a Gmail account, which is one more thing you don't need to worry about, and anyone you send money to can return it to you as well. Google is rolling out the feature now to Gmail users over the age of 18. Check out a video that explains it all, after the break.

Click to continue reading You can now attach money to your Gmail messages


Google Hangouts now live, brings together Google Talk, Voice, Messenger

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google, Internet, Software,

The new Google Hangouts has arrived, bringing together Google's Talk, Hangouts, Voice, and Google+ Messenger under one app and umbrella. Google Hangouts offers unified, synchronized chat that retains history across all devices, allowing you to dig into your history wherever you are, delete messages, and check out files, photos, etc. Hangouts naturally includes the previous Google Hangouts video chat features, which allows multiple people to video chat with each other, again, from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Hangouts it now available on iOS, Android, Chrome, and within the Gmail web client. Get a look at the video promo after the break.

Click to continue reading Google Hangouts now live, brings together Google Talk, Voice, Messenger


Google Play Music All Access is now live with free 30-day trial

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Music,

Google Play Music All Access trial

Google Play Music All Access is now live and official. Just head on over to Google Music and you can sign up for the absolutely free 30-day trial. Remember, if you sign up before June 30th, you lock in $7.99 per month pricing. After that, it jumps to $9.99 per month.


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