A Google Twitter account for Nexus devices (@googlenexus) actually tweeted a screenshot of possibly an update to the Google Dialer app. The Google support tweep was trying to explain a user how to see details of a call log but took a screenshot of a pre-release app.
The tweeted screenshot of the pre-release Google Dialer app
The current Google Dialer app is entirely white with minor shades but the picture tweeted showed a blue action bar.
We have all known Android to be an open source OS owned by Google, at least that’s what the case has been before the launch of Android 4.4 Kitkat where most elements were considered stock. But as Google launched KitKat we say multiple new features that were either exclusive to Nexus or Google Play Edition devices and some apps which were later pushed to the store but are still not open source.
Let’s start with the Google Now Launcher, a launcher that brings the Google Now experience closer to you, just a swipe to the left away, together with that always listening mic waiting for you to awake the Google Now ‘Genie’ in your phone by saying ‘OK Google’.
Wait there is more, Google thinks they should also need you more of your attention by putting themselves in the app you use to view your photos, Google removed the AOSP Gallery app in the Nexus 5 and replaced it with the Photos app that’s part of Google+, How clever because its then easier to share your pictures to Google+ and the images are jumbled up together in one feed and to view your folders you have to swipe then select an option. Keep it in mind that Nexus devices are supposed to have the pure Android experience.
Now Google is in your dialer too, a handy trick but they didn’t push the app code in the AOSP images for kit Kat, it’s a different app on its own, and its default integration in future versions and devices is unknown. Google also wants you to send SMS using their messaging app ‘Hangouts’. Well that’s little too much Google.
They have also made a Camera app replacing the old stock app and they have pushed the app to the Play Store. Something I have loved about Google after Kit Kat because it noticed manufacturers take long to push Android updates so they push individual apps to the store, meaning you can get features in the latest version of android before your OEM makes an update which could take months.
For those who have heavily tweaked versions of android, can return to the ‘Googlefied’ versions by installing some of the native apps Google has put on the play store. Google has also stated that it might disable Google Play Services for new devices that run outdated versions of android and considering that multiple apps by Google like Hangouts, G+, Play Games won’t work without Google Play services meaning you are in trouble, but if manufacturers push updates faster or make phones with the latest Android version then it’s a plus for us.
This is good if you love Google, you ought to if you a true android fan but when if you think its too much, then you might soon have no option.
What’s the Future of android?
With more involvement from Google, we are going to see more Google apps replace the AOSP versions and probably a change in the Android development Guideline since the latest versions of Google’s apps like Keep, Google Calendar, leaked screenshots of Gmail show that Google is actually breaking its guidelines because apps have colored action bars, flat UIs which tend to look a lot like iOS.
This is a sign that we are already seeing the future of android, perhaps through the features Google apps have or the look of recent app updates, the next version of android could get a total overall and its going to have a lot of Google.
Googlefying Android will try to create uniformity of the android experience on multiple devices since OEMs heavily modified android skins like Touch Wiz and Sense because if you don’t like the modified app, you could download the stock Google version and you will almost have the same feel like a Nexus Owner, this might take a while to happen but it has gotten the closest it has since android was launched.
It will only take a matter of time for us to tell whether Android will reach a point where it’s over saturated with both necessary and unnecessary Google apps and features that we shall hate of love.
For now, let us know in the comments below of you think of recent android trends.
Tired of your custom camera app that the manufacturer put in your phone? Google got a fix for you, alongside those who did not fancy the stock camera app that comes with stock android. Google has made a Google Camera app that works on all phones running Android 4.4 KitKat an can be got through the Play Store.
The new camera app comes with tonnes of tricks you are going to love and its pretty too. It comes with features like Lens Blur that will blur out surroundings in the surrounding of the image you are trying to take. Panaroma has been improved allowing you take higher resolution panaroma photos.
Not forgetting PhotoSphere, a featured that has been exclusive to Nexus devices can be got on non-Nexus devices. Photosphere allows you to take 3600 pictures at bout 50MP.
The new app just fights against vertical videos a feature we feel is necessary since most video formats and playback devices are landscape.
Am impressed with the new User Interface which seems rather flat, and the icons for features like News Blur, Panaroma, video and photoshere you need are always there on launching the app, on the left of the app when the phone is held in landscape.
In the advanced settings panel, you can change the resolution of your regular shots for both front and back facing cameras as well as change the video recording capacity between 720P and 1080P.
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Google Camera snaps quick and easy photos and videos, and has creative picture modes like Photo Sphere, Lens Blur and Panorama.
Features
• Photo Spheres for immersive 360º views
• Lens Blur mode for SLR-like photos with shallow depth of field
• Panorama mode with high resolution
• 100% viewfinder for getting the maximum resolution from the sensor (no dropped pixels)
• Updated UI that gets out of your way and is centered on an extra large capture button
• Works on phones and tablets running Android 4.4+ KitKat
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Get it from the Playstore if your phone has KitKat
I guess you have come across post on Facebook that entices you to share it not because its relevant or fun to read but because you conscience has been played with or the publisher is asking very mercifully.
Today, Facebook has announced that it will be ridding your NewsFeed of spammy posts, like-baiting posts, posts where publishers have asked for comments and likes and posta that like to content that is different from what they claim to be linking to.
So to avoid all this, publishers have to make sure they don’t ask uses for like or share returns, post links to spammy websites or to unrelated content, and repeatedly posting the same content.
And as a punishment, publishers who break thia conduct might not appear in user’s NewsFeed again.
This is Facebook’s struggle to see that spammy content doesn’t overshadow the information you want to see say a photo from a friend.
However Facebook says majority of publishers are not spammers so you shouldn’t be worried about your Facebook page.
Thank God I no longer have to see pictures of wounded dogs, animals, or posts asking me to like them “If I Love God”. Many of which have been popularity stunts.
We also promise not to post spammy posts on pur Facebook page
The micro-blogging platform never seems to run out of changes and new features to roll out after a total android app UI interface overhaul, a Facebook like profile page and more changes.
Today Twitter posted that it will be rolling put pop-up notifications for users who visit the desktop version i.e twitter.com. The notifications will appear similarly to Facebook notifications for messages.
Users will get interactive notifications for Tweet replies, Retweets, new followers, favourites and direct messages. You will be able to respond to a particular notification from the pop-up without having to click on a new page.
Twitter knows you might not like the service so they have added options on the settings menu for you to manage which notifications you get for what.
We loved Twitter for being this simple platform, however it seems to be adding new features some that users will love and other we might not like that much. However as this feat rolls out, I have a feeling we will like it.
Orange Telecom is organizing its 4th annual Community Innovation Awards (CIA) this year on and is calling developers to submit in their apps before 25th May 2014.
Orange, a telecom we have found to be a big supporter of mobile innovations, holds these the CIA awards to recognise and support the best locally developed apps in the agricultural, health and education sector.
All finalists will win Android phones, internships and cash prizes as shown in the announcement that appeared on Orange’s Google+ page as seen below.
[quote_box_center]
Submit your app in the fields of health,education and agriculture before 25th May to ciawards@orange.com and stand a chance to win.
1st prize: 10 million shillings towards the application pilot and internship for 12 months.
2nd prize: 5 million shillings worth of support towards the deployment of the application and internship for 12 months.
3rd prize: 2.5 million shillings worth of support towards the deployment of the application and internship for 6 months
Note: each of the 20 finalists wins an android phone.
innovation changes with Orange.
Today changes with Orange.
#OrangeCIA
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Please share this with anyone you think is concerned
We have tested using WhatsApp without having data bundles on our Airtel numbers both 070 & 075 only to be shocked to see notifications from the popular messaging app.
Several users on the network have now confirmed to us that they have been able to send and receive WhatsApp messagea free of charge despite having no active Internet packages subscribed on their mobile phones.
The service has not been formally announced but it has been going on for about a week now though access would sometimes be denied or too slow.
However Airtel users without access active internet bundles cannot not send or download images, voice and videos sent using WhatsApp without mbs. Otherwise you could load the social pack or regular data bundles to gain full access.
Free Txts but no free image, audio and video download
We pray this isn’t a mistake in the Telecom but rather an offer. We also hope that the offer actually lasts a long or reasonable amount of time.
Go ahead and text like no man’s business if you are on airtel
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey had ordered the blocking of Twitter in Turkey previously after exposing corruption in his government.
However after the constitutional court passed a ruling that found blocking the Micro-blogging website as an infringement of the right to free speech.
This was after Turkey’s Gazelle published the court rulling which put telecoms on pressure to unblock Twitter. Erdogan’s office also released a statement saying the ban had been lifted.
After the court’s decision, President Abdullah Gul, who has opposed the bans, was quoted as saying both websites should be made available in Turkey once more.
When the Twitter was unblocked thousands took to the platform tweeting with the hashtag #TwitterFree.
However Google’s video sharing service is still unaccessible in Turkey after videos of illicit recordings of a high-level meeting about sending troops into Syria began to go viral.
Legal challenges against YouTube’s blocking are still going on and we shall let you know of any developments.
During, Microsoft’s Build Conference yesterday, The made several announcements such as the Windows Phone 8.1 and windows 8.1 Update 1. Microsoft released its voice assistant to the world, and their have named her ‘Cortana’, a name that comes from a Halo video game character. Cortana will be powered by Bing, Microsoft’s search engine together with collaboration and information from other web services like Yelp.
Cortana’s welcome screen
Cortana is deigned to look like a circle and its colour will resemble the accent color you set for your Windows Phone and Microsoft says they are working to improve on the gestures and voice tones when she is giving different messages for example, Giving you scores of your team winning and being beaten will sound and Cortana’s look will be different. I like this move where they are taking this assistant emulation to the next level but since the feature has been dubbed BETA, we just have to keep waiting for updates.
Cortana comes prebuilt into Windows Phone 8.1 and will come preinstalled on new WP 8.1 devices and come as an update on Windows Phones that will get the WP 8.1 Update this summer. Cortana is designed to have a notebook in which she stores your private information and just like an assistant she first asks you whether its you permit her to store this information. I mean every real life assistant carries a notebook with her Boss’ private information such as favourite places and her Boss has to permit or deny her access to some information.
This is a better move and Microsoft developers focused on this because other assistants like Google Now and Siri that track your information without your notice which might be creepy.
Cortana’s Notebook is stored on the cloud and acts like a settings page on Google Now but lets you remove or add information that you might want her to know or remove the information you don’t. Items in your notebook may include your favourite Football team, restaurant, birthday, Questions that she asks you the first time you ask her.
Cortana’s Note Book
Cortana displays notifications similar to the Tiles in Google Now that appear in the Notification centre in Windows Phone. These include soccer from your Football team, stocks, location based cards, weather, flight details and more a feature we have already seen in Google Now.
Cortana goes ahead to highlight main phrases in your emails and text messages such as Flight K780 or Lets Meet at 2.30 am and asks you whether she should set reminders of appointments extracted from this text or give your more details on a Flight she found in your email messages.
Microsoft also boosts that Cortana understands your requests better by returning results based on whether your query was singular or plural. For example if you asked for the Best restaurant in Spain, Cortana will return only on Restaurant based on the highest rating by users on Yelp. However asking for the best restaurants in an area returns a list of the highest ranking restaurants in an area. This feature imitates a real-life assistant who can not give his boss a list of places when he asked for the best place to have coffee.
Cortana also knows when you are travelling and once you arrive in a new country, Cortana will greet you with weather details for the new country, Forex rates, and destination routes.
Cortana Travel Notifications
Cortana will allow third party app integration, other apps can get information from Cortana as well as share it with Cortana through a developer API just like rivals Google Now and Siri.
Cortana further acts like a guard to the Boss, in this case you by asking you for your quiet hours where she will snooze all notifications except a few people in your inner circles just like a real-life assistant know when her Boss is busy or resting and lets in only a few people. Cortana will let you choose notifications from a list of people you choose like your wife, hubby, nanny or Boss.
You can also ask Cortana to remind you to do something when a particular action is triggered for example you can ask Cortana to Remind you to ask your Mom about her dog when you Call your Mom or your when your Mom calls you. This will appear onto of the Call UI or on top of Live Tiles. This feature is really awesome because its just like your assistant telling you ‘when to do what’ properly.
Cortana reminders on Live Tiles
Cortana which is in Beta will roll out to the US and UK in June and will gradually roll out to China and other countries after the Windows 8.1 update is rolled out to existing phones with WP 8 in June.
Well lets wait and see how it fairs with competition like Google Now and Siri
Samsung and HTC took Fool’s Day pranks to another level by posting images about products they had ‘launched’. Unfortunately the two Tech manufacturers pulled the same prank in different ways though. Their websites showed images and length blog posts of new Tech gloves with Samsung portraying Samsung Fingers and HTC showcasing HTC Gluuv. And its no parody post the companies actually posted the following statements.
[quote_box_center]Samsung Fingers is the slimmest (0.2mm) and lightest (1g) wearable glove by Samsung and comes with a wide 3 inch flexible UHD Super Emo-LED display. Combined with an advanced 16 megapixel camera, Samsung Fingers offers the best-looking selfies you get your hands on. Samsung Fingers also supports the latest, fastest networks including 5G and Wi-Fi 902.11wz so you can keep in touch with the latest. Boost your creativity with dedicated features such as Finger Painter and S-tut[/quote_box_center] Samsung went ahead to show gimmicky features like S charge using solar energy and what killed me were the gestures as seen in the featured image. They even joked more by saying that Samsung Fingers came in several variations. Samsung Fingers, Samsung Fingers Class and Samsung Fingers touch.
Samsung Fingers VariationsOne of the Images on the Samsung Tommorow microsite with image of the prankTalk to the Hand is Supposed to be a multitasking featuredS charge lets you charge your Samsung Fingers
HTC Showcases the HTC Gluuv The Gluuv is supposed to be an accessory for the HTC One M8 and it boosts of an 87.2 MP camera on its selfie arm a Boom bass handle to take your music experience to the next level, and has wierd features like actually giving a thumbs up to like a Place on Facebook and comes with apps such as HTC Hi5, ProTekt, and NoMous
HTC GluuvGluuv Features
The story goes UNTIL you see a small message at the bottom of the website saying “Actually, as most of you will have noticed, this is not a real product or concept by Samsung at all – at least not yet. Happy April Fool’s!”
