Today is Google Day

Today is all about Google!

We realize that there is a lot of things in the world that are all about Google, but today Google had there big meeting thingy ( The 6th Annual Google I/O Developer Conference in San Francisco).

As always, we’re here to tell you all the things you might need to know, and all the things you didn’t even know you needed to know! (About new Google products and updates).

Frankly, it’s a lot of words, so we’ve organized it into bite sized, coffee break readable, lovely little Googly parcels of information.

Enjoy!

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

The conference continues over the next three days, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the goings on!

Image courtesy of Mashable.

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

So, Google has this thing called Hangouts, available to Google + users, where a group of people (up to ten) can get together in an online ‘place’ and video chat, for free, with the option to share Youtube clips.

The program started online, and grew to iOS and Android usability.

Now, it’s been updated to a standalone App with integrated video, chat and multimedia sharing that many think (and Google hopes) is going to be a force in the video & chat industry- up against Skype, Facetime, iMessenger, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, etc.

According to Google:

“Today we’re launching a stand-alone version of Hangouts that combines text, photos and live video across Android, iOS and your computer.

Now that Hangouts spans modalities and devices, you can finally fuhgeddaboudit (the technology, that is), and focus on what really matters: creating lasting relationships. And that, we think, is a plus.”

I’m not sure what kind of relationships they think we should be creating, but, with most video chat products, it has the potential to be an excellent way to sustain relationships, from business meetings to family get togethers’, to taking shots with your buddies in the Australian outback.

In Hangouts, you have the ability to save your video chats in the cloud with multi-user access, (which can also be turned off). This could serve business and family video interaction well, possibly less useful for the inter-country shot takers out there amongst us.

Here at iPhone Antidote, we’re pretty partial to Skype, so we’ll be testing this app pretty thoroughly over the next few days ( shots anyone?).

We’ll let you know how Hangouts stacks up against the loyal favorite!

You will need a Google account to participate ( which you will upgrade to Google + upon setup of the App). Check it out for free from the App store, Google Play and the Chrome Web Store.

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

Photo courtesy of Engadget.

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

This summer, Google will be releasing a new version of Google Maps, as well as an App for the iPad. The update aims to be ‘fully interactive and tailored to you’. Nice.

Google intends to do this by including the ability to see ratings and read reviews from Zagat when searching for restaurants, as well as gaining access to coupons and discounts for retailers such as Starbucks through Google Offers.

Within the app, you will have the option to ‘star’ a location on your map or write a review, which the map will remember and create ‘smart’ recommendations based on this activity.

The update includes access to live traffic information, with alerts of traffic incidents and dynamic re-routing capability, making sure you always get to work on time. Um…winning? Also helpful for getting home on time. Winning.

The new version will have an updated design as well as added functionality, with edge-to-edge maps on screen, as well as the addition of their new ‘Earth View’ which takes what’s great about Google Earth and places it nicely into Google Maps. 3D greatness, that is. Like our eyes.

This Summer will also bring about the Google Maps App for the iPad, which includes a feature called ‘Experience’ which is basically an indoor version of maps, in case you’re one of those ‘I get lost in shopping center’s kind of people’, which… there’s nothing wrong with. Just saying.
You can sign up now through your Google account if you want to try the new Google Maps on your computer, ( or, wait, be invited to try it I should say), but you’ll have to wait until Summer to try the redesigned mobile Apps and the iPad App.

We’ve asked for an invitation. We’ll let you know how it goes!

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

Image courtesy of cnet.com

3. Google Play Music All Access

Google has today launched it’s new music subscription service, Google Play Music All Access, which (apart from being an annoyingly long name) is apparently aimed squarely at Spotify’s place in the market.

The service, like Spotify and others, aims to provide songs on demand that can be streamed to a computer, tablet or mobile device.

It’s built on the existing Google Play Music Store and recommends songs based on user preference, and then guiding the user towards similar music they might not have discovered yet.

You also have the ability to store 20,000 of your own tracks in the cloud alongside the All Access tracks.

Here’s the tricky part- Google think of this as a premium service and there is no free tier- it will cost $9.99 per month. Worth it? Maybe. Luckily you can check it out for yourself with a 30 day free trial.

If you get in early, Google is offering a discount if you begin the free trial by June 30. Those keen enough will pay just $7.99 per month.

Go to google.com/music and you’ll be invited to sign up if you’re keen!

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

Photo Courtesy of Macrumors. 

4. Google Play Game Services

Another product released by Google today, with the very real intention of knocking another product out of top place, is Google Play Game Services (another annoyingly long name, get catchier Google!).

This one is designed to compete with Apple’s Game Center with the promise of integrating your gaming experience across all platforms and devices.

Available on Android, iOS and the web, the center has leaderboards, the ability to save to cloud, and real-time game playing against multiple users, ( this part- not so much available on iOS yet, sorry folks).

You can sign in using Google + the program will track your scores and saves across a range of devices.

The Google Play Game Service is available today across a smattering of games.

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

Photo courtesy of Venturebeat

5. Updates and the future of the Google Search Engine.

Today, Google previewed what they are building in terms of the future of their search engine. As they correctly observe, people don’t communicate or gain knowledge based on key words. A lot of the time, its based on spoken, flowing, sentence based communication.

So this is what they’re working on. They see us in the future, asking (aloud) our computer/tablet/mobile/shoephone questions such as, “What is the weather like in San Francisco?”

Alongside the spoken and correct answer they see the search engine already creating answers to follow up questions, like the weather in other places nearby, how long it would take to drive to San Francisco, traffic conditions, event information etc.

Google is also building their ‘Knowledge Graph’ which as of today means that answers to your searches on Google will drastically improve if you speak Polish, Turkish, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

Your searches will also include more in-depth answers to questions.

Their example- ” What is the population of Canada?”

This search, as of today, will not only be answered by a number, but the history of Canada’s population growth and the ability to compare populations with other countries.

More information in the world, more knowledge in the world, can only be a good thing. Happy searching!

…Except for us. iPhone Antidote might just have Googled ourselves out for the day. We’ve been Googlified.  Now where are those shots?

1. Google Hangouts (Integrated, multi- platform video & chat product)

2. Google Maps update and iPad App

3. Google Play Music All Access

4. Google Play Game Services

5. Updates and the future of the Google search engine.

Photo courtesy of Moxieinteractive.

Future App of the Day- Smart Food Scale

A kickstarter project that looks amazing is the Smart Food Scale with accompanying iOS App. This kitchen tool and health and nutrition tracker could be revolutionary in the industry in its ability to track what you are eating and cooking, and helping you out along the way.

The device, created by ‘Chef Sleeve’ of San Francisco, will connect via Bluetooth and when a food item is placed on it, it will be able to tell you all the information about that item.

For example, it will tell you the weight (eliminating the need for measuring spoons and cups) and it will tell you all the nutritional information about the food down to calories,  fats, sugars, protein etc.

The target for money pledged is $30,000 before May 31^st and currently they at $19,868 with  246 backers.  Go to Kickstarter to check it out.

Image Courtesy of Kickstarter

App of the Day – Unicorn Robot Attack 2

Robot Unicorn Attack 2.

Originally released in 2010 as an Internet based game by Adult Swim, the sequel was released 25^th April this year.

The game is an ‘endless running’ side scrolling platform game, where you basically control a robot unicorn to collect fairy’s, crash through stars, and stay on the cliff-spotted path, whilst the game gets faster and faster. So, basically it’s really, really cool.

With the sequel, although the core gameplay remains the same, almost everything is fully fleshed out and/or improved.

Included in the sequel is added maneuvers, the ability to fly, the addition of enemies to combat and missions which once completed allow you to unlock further content or receive additional abilities.  The visuals have also been improved, and overall this sequel is pretty magic to play.

So, wait, what’s better than really, really, cool?

Free from the app store.

Image courtesy of ign.com

Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2013

For Apple Fans,users, and developers, apart from product release days, the most important and exciting time of year usually occurs in June.

June is when product announcements are made. June is when new and future products are described in fair detail by the people who make them, June is when we get to listen to people like Tim Cook and Jonathon Ive and hear  their ideas and what they really think.

June is when the surprises and secrets of Apple… some secrets of Apple… are released into the world. June is, of course, the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco ( June 10-14).

Tickets for this event went on sale on April 25^th at 1:00pm- and sold out in ninety second. NINETY SECONDS!

For those counting, or for those who think that Apple is somehow losing their place in the world to other smartphones, this is by far the fastest tickets have ever sold out.

In 2008 they sold out in 61…days.  Proof that people are still excited about Apple and their products, still loyal, and I’m glad, because, well, they should be. D’uh.

Now, what exactly will be happening at the WWDC 2013?

Only time will tell, but until then, we can countdown every day with a rumor- will they announce the iWatch? iPhone 5S? iPhone 6? Will iOS 7 be ready to be previewed? Will it have surprises? Will it be hard to use or even better? What will be the highlight? The surprises, the secrets of Apple released?

We’ll be talking about the likelihood of all of these possibilities and more in the coming weeks, so, if you’re a betting human, get ready to start placing your bets!

Twitter app update for iOS

As of yesterday, Twitter has updated its app for both Android and iPhone.

There were a few improvements in this latest update of the app, the most flashy being the ability to change the location of trending tweets to anywhere in the world. Now, Twitter users have the ability to view what is trending on Twitter outside their home location using the Discover tab.

Added improvements include improved playback of videos from Vine, the changing of retweet handling which shows the tags of both author and retweeter, the ability for users to send out invites from within the Twitter app, and the usual bug fixes.

The Twitter app can be downloaded for free from the App store.