Google

Gmail iOS update brings Google apps integration, full screen image attachments

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Wow, you have to give it to Google for trying to take over the experience by creating a nice little ecosystem right inside Apple's iOS.

See, the Internet giant has been quite diligent about integrating its popular iPhone and iPad apps to work seamlessly together.

Take Gmail, for example.

Not only has today's update enabled a prettier attachment experience, but it's also brought out tight integration with Google apps. This is quite handy as links in email messages to Google Drive and Google+ content can now go directly to Google's native iOS apps, if installed...

Google posts Chromecast iOS management app

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 27, 2013

Google today released a brand new iOS app which allows owners of its Chromecast media streaming dongle to manage their $35 gadget from their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad devices. Available now on the App Store, the free Chromecast app lets you set up a Chromecast device to work with your Wi-Fi network and manage your Chromecast settings such as changing your device name, Wi-Fi password and so forth....

Siri pans Google Glass

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2013

Once again, Apple has tweaked its digital personal assistant Siri to give the "right" answers when asked about a competitor's product.

This time around, Apple has re-calibrated her to give amusing responses to the "Okay Glass" prompt Google Glass owners use to issue commands to their Android-driven eyewear.

Though playful, Siri's responses disparage Google Glass, with one response calling Google's head-worn accessory "half empty" and telling users they've "got the wrong assistant". We have all the responses and a nice video right after the break...

Apple and Google push Nintendo and Sony into No. 3 spot in mobile gaming

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 22, 2013

We've seen how mobile killed traditional music, draining sales from retail CD stores. Console games appear headed for the same fate. Worldwide revenue for handheld console makers fell during the second quarter of this year, pushing companies like Nintendo and Sony into third place behind the first-place Apple App Store and No. 2 Android-based Google Play.

According to a joint report by research firm IDC and app analytics company App Annie, consumers spending on mobile games in the Google Play store rose during the quarter as Android games picked up 1.6 percent of the market between the first and second quarter of 2013. The Google Play store has taken steps to attract more gaming dollars by tailoring its service for developers...

Google reportedly eyeing rights to NFL games

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 21, 2013

The $99 Apple TV set-top box may be the most popular streaming device out there (not if you ask Roku), but Apple's got some catching up to do in terms of content availability. Figuring as much, the company's recently added WatchESPN and HBO Go streaming apps to the Apple TV's home screen. Moreover, we're now hearing that 24/7 Vevo music video streaming via the Apple TV could become a reality as early as later this week.

Apple's strides in the TV space don't resonate well with the Internet giant Google, whose Google TV platform is struggling to catch on with couch potatoes and cable-cutters. According to AllThingsD, this could change as Google's boss Larry Page today met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other execs...

YouTube app updated with picture-in-picture and deeper Chromecast integration

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

Yesterday, Google announced that it was bringing a new version of its YouTube app to Android, but it didn't say when it would be reaching iOS. Well it looks like the answer is today. The search giant just posted a big update for its standalone iOS YouTube app.

The update, which brings the app to version 2.0, brings about a number of improvements, including a new 'picture-in-picture' feature, which lets you watch a video in the bottom half of your device's screen while you continue to explore content on the site...

Google Maps app now includes Waze incident reports

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 20, 2013

Putting its June acquisition of the popular social mapping and location startup Waze to good use, the Internet giant Google today announced that crowd-sourced incident reports from Wazers will be soon available through the Google Maps mobile apps for iOS and Android.

This means when Wazers report accidents, construction, road closures and more on Waze, their updates will also appear in real-time on the Google Maps mobile apps in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, UK and the US...

Google searches, now with flights, reservations, package delivery info and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2013

Regardless of the devices you happen to favor, chances are high you're using Google Search, the default search engine on iOS gadgets and Mac notebooks and desktops.

It's been awhile since we covered Google Search improvements here on iDB and I didn't want to pass on the opportunity to fill you in on today's pretty important round of enhancements to the good ol' Google Search.

Folks using Google Now on iOS on Android have been loving the way the feature automatically serves relevant information pertaining to their flights, reservations, appointments and more. Now all of that is available in standard Google Search on desktop and mobile devices, right in your browser...

Google removing Messenger from Google+ apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2013

Another Google service has bit the dust as the Internet giant announces it will be removing Messenger from Google+ for Android and iOS over the coming days. OBviously, as the focus turns to Hangouts, Messenger is no longer needed. Granted, the writing's been on the wall ever since Google released Hangouts for iOS and Android back in May, its answer to the unification of the many Google chat services under a brand new moniker...

Gartner makes it official: smartphones are outselling dumb phones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Smartphones - once the preserve for geeky first adopters - are now the norm. You notice the change on the street, on television and now with such traditional research firms as Gartner. Sales of smartphones in the second quarter reached 51.8 percent, compared to an astounding 21 percent decline in feature phones, or dumb phones as they're also called, according to the researcher. At the same time, the Asia/Pacific region marked the highest smartphone growth, reaching to 74 percent...