Google

Remix OS will bring Android to your Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 7, 2016

Are you itching to see for yourself what life is like on the “other” mobile platform, Google's Android, but the very thought of switching sends shivers up your spine? Enter Remix OS, a software platform founded by three ex-Google employees that lets you boot straight to Android on your Mac or Windows PC.

Unlike similar solutions that let you run Android apps in a windowed mode, Remix OS has a dedicated desktop user interface, runs a custom engineered version of Android Lollipop with Google Play services, meaning you can download and run just about any Android app no your desktop, including Microsoft Office, YouTube, Google Maps and many more.

Google reportedly working on a brand new messaging app to take on Facebook

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 24, 2015

As reported on by The Wall Street Journal two days ago, citing people familiar with the matter, the Internet giant Google is allegedly working on a brand new messaging app to take on the growing popularity of apps for keeping in touch, namely Facebook-owned Messenger and WhatsApp.

In addition to messaging capability, the app is said to put a big emphasis on so-called chatbots, smart personal assistants that will scour the web and other sources to answer a question.

Google Maps for iOS updated with business hours and gas prices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Google today updated its native Maps application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, adding two nice-to-have features: gas prices in the United States and Canada and business hours for millions of points of interest around the world. Now when searching for gas stations in the US and Canada, the application will display up-to-date gas prices so you can better decide between the nearest gas stations and those that potentially offer the lowest prices of gas.

Google’s search app gains 3D Touch support, Split View multitasking on iPad & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2015

The search monster Google on Friday issued an update to its mobile search application in the App Store, adding support for 3D Touch gestures on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and iOS 9's new multitasking modes on select iPads, while improving search results for places and local businesses.

With 3D Touch, hard-pressing on the Google app's icon on the Home screen brings up quick shortcuts for Search, Voice Search and Image Search features.

Google Play Movies & TV gains HD and cellular streaming, AirPlay support, revamped UI & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2015

Just in time for the holiday season, Google has issued a major update to its official video streaming application in the App Store, Google Play Movies & TV, with several much-needed features and a fresh new design. For starters, you can now stream movies and TV shows rented or purchased on the Play store over your carrier's cellular data network. Moreover, the app has gained the ability to stream video in high-definition.

And if you own a third-generation Apple TV or higher, you can stream your Google Play entertainment right to the big screen with official support for Apple's AirPlay wireless media streaming technology.

Google Photos launches shared albums

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2015

As promised back in September, Google Photos has now begun rolling out shared albums on the web and in its mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Arriving just in time for the holiday season, a shared album allows friends and family to add photos to it. Those who have joined a shared album will receive a notification about any changes and newly uploaded photos.

If it sounds similar to Apple's own iCloud Photo Sharing, that's because it is, with one crucial difference: shared albums on Google Photos aren’t designed for a social world—you can't like, comment on or caption them.

OS wars in education: Chromebooks take lead in US classrooms

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 4, 2017

Chromebooks, a family of inexpensive, Internet-dependent notebooks powered by Google's Chrome OS software, have taken the lead in the lucrative education technology market, reports CNBC.

These notebooks accounted for more than half of all classroom devices sold in the third quarter in the US.

According to a Futuresource Consulting survey, that's a huge increase for Chrome OS-driven machines that accounted for just one percent of K-12 sales in 2012.

Chrome for Mac nixes notification menu bar

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2015

Google's Chrome browser was updated yesterday to version 47 on Windows, Mac and Linux. The latest stable release of the browser includes bug fixes and removes a rarely used feature: the notification center in the Mac's menu bar.

Chrome for iPhone, iPod touch iPad also received an update yesterday in the App Store, bringing out support for 3D Touch shortcuts on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and enabling more shortcuts via external wireless keyboards.

Chrome for iOS gains 3D Touch shortcuts and support for more Bluetooth keyboard shortcuts

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 1, 2015

Google today updated its Chrome browser for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad in the App Store with two new feature additions: 3D Touch shortcuts on the Home screen via the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and expanded support for shortcuts when the app is used with a Bluetooth keyboard.

Pressing firmly on Chrome's Home screen icon on your iPhone 6s will now bring up a 3D Touch menu with Voice Search, New Incognito Tab and New Tab options.

Hangouts for iOS now supports Apple Watch, gains quick-replying from notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 1, 2015

Google Hangouts, the search giant's instant messaging and VoIP mobile client, was updated in the App Store last evening with several new features and refinements.

For starters, Apple Watch owners can now respond to instant messages received from other Hangout users directly on their wrist and also from the notification banner on their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad (provided they use iOS 9.1).

Google Docs and Play Books gain new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Several of Google's applications in the App Store—including Docs, Slides, Sheets, Play Books and YouTube—have gained new features or bug fixes in a barrage of updates this morning. The company's productivity and Office replacement app, Docs, will now render your comments and suggestions in Print layout, show line spacing and strikethrough in Office's Compatibility mode and let you control paragraph directionality for right-to-left languages.

Cool Google promotion asks you to join the Dark or Light sides of the Force

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 4, 2017

Tons of Google properties are getting Star Wars-themed Easter eggs today in an interesting new promotion celebrating the arrival of Disney's highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, which opens on December 18, 2015.

Just point your browser at google.com/starwars/ and log in with your Google Account.

You'll then be asked to choose between the Dark or Light sides of the Force. Depending on your choice, a number of Google's most widely used web properties will be skinned and themed accordingly, including Gmail, Chrome and Google Maps.