Google is planning to shut down reader by July 1, 2013

As part of an annual "Spring Cleaning" post- one that seeks to help the company focus on the features that need the most use., Google casually has said that it is killing the Google Reader service effective July 1, 2013.

Read more on Google Reader Official Blog

More content @

Mashable
http://mashable.com/2013/03/13/google-kills-google-reader/

The Next Web
http://thenextweb.com/google/2013/03/14/google-to-axe-google-reader-on-july-1-as-part-of-larger-round-of-app-closures/

Engadget
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/13/google-reader-shut-down-spring-cleaning/

Gizmodo
http://gizmodo.com/5990454/google-is-killing-google-reader

Android Central
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-killing-google-reader-july-1-2013

Google is encouraging web content in Arabic

Arabic guys enjoy!! A month long awaited initiative has been launched by Google to promote the Arabic Language. The program has the name "Arabic Web Days". The focus of the project is to enhance the use of Arabic language on internet, which is under represented.

On December 2012, Google is organizing offline as well as online events, an infographic making competition, Google+ hangouts and the celebration of Arabic Web Day.

“It’s all about the users,” said Maha Abu Elenein, Google’s head of communications in the Middle East and North Africa. “We want the internet to be relevant for Arabic speaking users.”

A post written on Google's official blog says that: "Arabic content on the web represents just 3 percent of the total digital content online. Yet Arabic speakers make up more than 5 percent of the global population.”

Over the next month, Arabic Web Days will feature several challenges, encouraging creative users to create content and share it via various channels, with the idea that “it’s better in Arabic.” Audio content will be shared on SoundCloud, videos on YouTube, tweets on Twitter, articles on Wikipedia and Wamda, and translations on TED.

Google has also launched a dedicated Arabic blog and a video promoting Arabic Web Days.

Here's the promo video

Jelly Bean updates are available for Nexus devices to download

A good new for Nexus owners. You are getting the new Jelly Bean flavor. 

The Galaxy Nexus and Google Nexus 7 tablet are scheduled to receive the Android 4.2, JellyBean update by mid-November.This software upgrade will also come pre-installed on many devices included in Google's new Nexus line-up such as the Nexus 4, 7 and 10.

The update brings some new features to Android products including improvements to the gesture keyboard, sphere camera and new notifications style.

If you're a Galaxy Nexus owner and are ready to buy Google's latest flagship phone Nexus 4, no need to worry because you still have the option to upgrade your Galaxy Nexus to Jelly Bean. You can download the necessary file and flash the ROM. However, this update will not bring the new hardware updates present in Nexus 4.

Save Email attachments to Google Drive

Now you do not need to worry about your email attachments if your system gets crashed. Because a Google Chrome extension "Attachments.me" helps you to save it to your Google Drive directly. The most cool thing is that it works automatically, so there's no need to manually move every attachment there. 

It is easy to set up the app. When you're done, the attachments from the upcoming E-mails will move to your Google Drive. Keep in mind that it will also fill your Google Drive storage. 

Download app here

Do you like it? Put your views in comments. 

Screenshots

Create music with JAM with Chrome

Do you want to create your own music with your friends? Now, Google has given a solution to it by releasing the new "Jam with Chrome".  Chrome users can invite up to three friends to join in a practice session, controlling synthesized instruments straight from the browser. You don't need to rely on Garageband to create music with friends.

Go to: Jam with Chrome

On opening Jam with Chrome website, users can pick from 19 music instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, drum kits, drum machines and keyboards, and then they click again to start playing. Interface is not much easy as other Google services, but there is always Help feature there to help you.

With this step Google is developing a new wave of music composers, without need to buy instruments.

Google Chrome has now Do Not Track feature

If you use Google Chrome and don’t want your online behavior tracked by marketers, today’s your lucky day. Chrome, currently the world’s most popular browser, just got an update with the much-requested “Do Not Track” feature — which Google promised it would release earlier this year.

Do Not Track is an increasingly widespread option. Its goal is to block cookies that give marketers some idea of how you live your life on the Internet. It’s generally used in aggregated data about consumer behavior, although many advertisers — including Google itself — use cookies to target ads to individual users.

The update will be applied automatically for most Chrome users over the next few days.

Courtesy: Mashable

Android growth chart: Nov 2012

Google has released the growth chart of Android Versions, with new Jelly Bean.

At merely 2.7%, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean usage has jumped just 0.9% compared to September, 2012. The OS debuted exactly 6 months ago, in Jun 2012, and despite Samsung and HTC's best efforts to update their high-end devices, Jelly Bean still needs help.

Ice Cream Sandwich distribution is also on the rise clocking in at 25.8%, almost 2 points up from last month. With most manufacturers having completed their scheduled ICS updates, we don't expect this number to continue to climb. Especially with the majority shifting their attention to Jelly Bean.

Finally, Gingerbread is continuing to drop from 55.8% in September to 53.9% in October. With most devices comprising this number being low-end droids that would never see an update in their life, this number isn't likely to plummet anytime soon.

Courtesy: GSMArena

Google announces new Nexus tablets and smartphone

Google announced lots of new hardware today via blog post, after an event in New York was canceled in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. The major announcements are:

Google Nexus 4: Nexus 4 is Google's latest smartphone, developed together with LG. It has a quad-core processor which means it's super fast, a crisp 4.7" (320 ppi) display that's perfect for looking at photos and watching YouTube, and with wireless charging you just set the phone down on a charging surface to power it up, no wires needed.

• Google Nexus 4 smartphone: Developed with LG, it features a quad-core processor, a 4.2-inch display, 8 MP Photo Sphere camera and a wireless charging feature that lets you power the phone by setting it down on a charging service. It runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and a feature called Photo Sphere for creating 360-degree panoramas. The phone goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

• Google Nexus 7: Nexus 7 now comes in new Wi-Fi models that are 16GB (for $199) and 32GB (for $249). Google also is making a version available with an HSPA+ cellular connection -- $32GB for $299. It's on sale Nov. 13.

• Google Nexus 10: developed with Samsung, offers what Google calls the highest-resolution screen in the tablet marketplace at 300 pixels per square inch. That 2560 by 1600 pixel display will still get nine hours of video playback, Google says. And it has an account-switching feature that lets multiple users share the tablet more easily. The 16GB model goes for for $399; the 32GB model costs for $499. It's available from Nov. 14.

Google also announced updates for Google Now and Google Play

• Google Play: More entertainment, more countries. A ton of great new entertainment items are added to Google Play, such as movies and TV shows from Twentieth Century Fox. Earlier this year the service was expanded service beyond movie rentals and now you can purchase movies and build a library of your favorites in Google Play. Movie purchasing is available in more countries - Canada, the U.K., France, Spain and Australia.

• Google Now: Its predictive-search feature that presents information on a series of cards without the user having to search. In addition to weather and traffic information, cards will now display flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and shipping details. 

Courtesy: CNET

Due to Hurricane Google Android event canceled

Google has cancelled a major Android event planned for Monday in New York City due to Hurricane Sandy.

The event was rumored to revolve around the launch of Android 4.2 “Key Lime Pie” and a 10-inch “Nexus 10″ tablet running on the brand-new OS. However, it’ll be at least a little longer before we see that Android update and tablet.

Google sent an email to the the people who have booked their tickets:

“We are canceling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more."

It's the second time Google has postponed a launch event in recent memory — last year it moved its Ice Cream Sandwich event after the death of Steve Jobs.

However, it won't make a loss because Microsoft is going to launch Windows Phone 8 on Monday, 29 Oct 12. 

Get your Google back [video]

Got Windows 8? Find yourself missing your Google functionality with all that Bing on board?

Although Windows 8 ships with Internet Explorer and Bing installed in, Google is taking measures to keep users loyal to Chrome and Search, releasing a new instructional video to explain how to install the apps on Microsoft's new OS. 

Titled "Get Your Google Back," the video directs users to go to GetYourGoogleBack.com, which quickly accesses the download pages for Search and Google's browser.

Courtesy: The Verge, Mashable

Watch the video below:

Acer Iconia Tab A110

The Nexus 7 demonstrated that consumers have an appetite for powerful yet affordable 7-inch tablets, and now Acer is making its own play in the same space. The Acer Iconia Tab A110 features a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage, all running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The screen may fall short of the Nexus 7, but Acer has seen fit to include a microSD card slot for up to 32 GB of additional storage. 

The usual radios are onboard too, including Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, with ports including Micro USB and Micro HDMI. A 2-megapixel front-facing camera, meanwhile, handles video-calling duties. Acer says battery life on the tablet should be good for up to seven and a half hours.

The company says that the A110 will begin shipping on October 30th in the United States and Canada, with the price set at $229.99. Acer hasn’t quite managed to match the Nexus 7 on either price or specs, and paired with Google’s admission that its own tablet is sold through at cost, it raises questions as to how viable Nvidia’s Kai program really is for manufacturers.

Specs

• 7" 1024 x 600 screen
• Nvidia Tegra 3 processor
• Android 4.1 JellyBean
• 1.2 Ghz processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB internal memory
• Micro SD Card: Upto 32 GB

Courtesy: The Verge

Gallery

Next Android event will be on 29 Oct

Google has an Android event planned for Oct. 29. Invites have begun to flood in-boxes around the Web, with a tagline that says, “The playground is open.” It might be the Android 4.2.

An invitation from Google just landed in media in-boxes for an event at 10 AM in New York City, and while the invite is light on specifics aside from a tagline reading "the playground is open," the design is unmistakably a reference to the company's Google Now interface. 

Over the past few weeks rumors are being seen building for an LG Nexus phone running stock Android and based on the company's Optimus G hardware, but leaked images purporting to be of a Sony Nexus device lend credence to months-old talk of an expanded, multi-manufacturer Nexus program.

Courtesy: The Verge

500 Million Android Activations

Google’s Director of Product Management for Android, Hugo Barra, has posted on Google+ this morning to announce that 500 million Android devices have now been activated globally.

It’s a huge milestone for the company, but it’s one that will quickly be surpassed. Barra also reaffirmed that a whopping 1.3 million Android devices are now being activated every single day. That means that by the end of the year, that total figure should look a lot more like 600 million — especially with the lucrative holiday season coming up.

Barra also announced on Google+ that the company’s Jelly Bean statue (above) is now sat outside of its Mountain View headquarters again. The figure was removed after its plastic head melted in the Californian sun over the summer, but it’s now been fixed.

The milestone is a steady improvement from the announcement of 300 million Android activations back in February and 400 million at June's Google I/O conference. 

Apple used to take part in this game, regularly announcing daily iOS device activations up until 2010, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that Android surpassed iOS in 2011.

Galaxy S3 Jellybean: 29 August

Samsung Galaxy S3, meet Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean, meet the Samsung Galaxy S3. The hottest update for the hottest phone around is rumored to be taking place this month, as the popular Galaxy S3 is upgraded to the latest version of Android.

The Samsung fans at Sam Mobile report that the S3's Jelly Bean update is in the final stages of testing, and will be revealed on 29 August. That's the start of IFA, the annual European trade show where the world's tech manufacturers, distributors, press and general hangers-on gather in Berlin to eat sausages, quaff from steins, and fondle the best kit hitting shops for the rest of the year and beyond. Samsung is expected to unveil a new Galaxy Note at IFA. 

Could we see some Jelly Bean action too? Word on the street is that the code for the Jelly Bean update is fully baked and has been submitted to Google for certification. When the big G gives the thumbs up, Samsung can start to push the update out to you and your S3.

It's unusual that no code has leaked yet, but we already know that security around the S3 is intense. One engineer who worked on designing the phone described the security as "torture" -- so that could extend to the Jelly Bean update too.

It's unusual that no code has leaked yet, but we already know that security around the S3 is intense. One engineer who worked on designing the phone described the security as "torture" -- so that could extend to the Jelly Bean update too. Let's hope the Jelly Bean update goes rather more smoothly than the last upgrade.

[Thanks to: CNET]

YouTube kicked out from iOS 6

Slowly but surely, it seems as though Apple’s mobile OS is being stripped of search giant Google’s influence. Apple’s redesigned Maps application — due to make its debut in iOS 6 — no longer makes use of Google’s map data, and that trend continues with another recently spotted change.

The latest beta version of iOS 6 no longer includes the YouTube app, which has been a mainstay of iOS homescreens since the original iPhone.

Google is already working on a replacement app – which this time it will maintain and distribute itself – while Apple highlights that YouTube video playback already works within Safari and doesn’t demand the standalone software anyway. However, rather than just pushing Google’s services further to the periphery, there’s also the chance that Apple could move to fill the ensuing gap with a video offering of its own.

Apple's entire statement is below.

• Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.

Those sticking with older versions of iOS – either by choice or because their Apple gadget won’t support the new OS – won’t have to worry. Phones and tablets on iOS 5 and earlier will keep the existing YouTube app, as Apple’s license with Google apparently continues to cover it; the player won’t be deleted remotely or disabled.

For the end-user, it means YouTube won’t be at their fingertips from the get-go, though it also means Google can update and improve the app more frequently.

Adobe will no more support Flash for Android

Adobe has announced it will not support Flash Player browser plugin for Android 4.1 and onward.

“There will be no certified implementations of Flash Player for Android 4.1,” writes Adobe on its official blog, adding that it recommends “uninstalling Flash Player on devices which have been upgraded to Android 4.1.”

It all started with Steve Jobs, though, who famously called Flash a “relic” from another era in an open letter in April 2010. Apple then said it would not support Flash on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and for a while Flash support was seen as a competitive advantage for Android.

As it turned out, Jobs was right about Flash. We knew that in November 2011, when Adobe said it would stop development of the mobile browser version of Flash, admitting that HTML5 is the future for rich multimedia content on mobiles.

Now, it’s really the end of the line for Flash on mobile devices, as Adobe will disable fresh installs of Flash from the Google Play store after August 15.

[Courtesy: Mashable]

Watch Google I/O 2012 day 1 keynote

If you’ve missed out on some of the action from the first day of Google’s I/O conference, here’s a chance to relive it: Google has made available the video of the entire 2-hour opening keynote. Here is the link to it

http://youtu.be/VuC0i4xTyrI

Brief summary: 

Software

• Android

In this event, Google released new version of Android code-named as JellyBean 4.1. They also displayed Project butter for increasing the graphic quality and rendering. It provides silky smooth acceleration to the devices. New Android also contains new Google search, camera, notifications, display, lock screen, play store etc. Download preview from here.

• Chrome

New version of Chrome has been released and it will be available for all platforms that means Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Chrome OS and iOS. Yes you read right. Chrome will be available on App store (Download). And it has been updated for all platforms. Download chrome from here.

Hardware

• Nexus Phone

Nexus smartphone is the device to get the JellyBean update. It has the same hardware, but the new OS. It will get update OTA (on-the-air) soon. On the 1st Attendees were gifted Nexus Phone. 

• Nexus 7

Nexus 7 tab provides the smart browsing and full reading experience. It is developed by ASUS and will be available directly from Google Play. As the name shows it is a 7 inch tablet having Quad core CPU and 12 core GPU.

• Nexus Q

Nexus Q is marketed by Google as the world’s first social Music streaming device. It connects over wifi and you and your friends can enjoy the playlist.

• Google Glass

And finally Google Glasses were unveiled by some skydivers who logged in a Google+ hangout and dived from a helicopter. They landed above the Moscone Center, where the event was taking place. It was unveiled by Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google on day 2.

Attendees were gifted Nexus devices at the end of Day 1 event.

Watch the Day 1 event keynote video

                          

Android Jelly Bean rumors

Google's amazing event known as Google I/O will kick off by 5 hrs by now, and Engadget has done all preparations to stay updated with the keynote with it's live blog. A lot of developers. media persons from all around the world have registered. We are expecting that here new Android will be unveiled. 

We think that new Jelly Bean will have such features:

• New browser with new UI
• Voice assistant but more powerful than Siri
• New lock screen
• Support for more devices
• New Play Store
• More powerful integration of Cloud 
• New UI, of course
• Chrome as Default browser
• Support for both Tabs and Smartphones without too much change in OS
• Memory Usage with Data consumption tool
• Powerful Video editor
• More powerful image editor, free of cost
• Can be installed on low level Android Devices running earlier Androids
• Support for more languages
• Updated voice search and voice input
• Facebook, twitter integration
• Instant data backup
• Effective Sandboxing
• Google+ connection

and more...... (as the greed increases)

Catch all the action (and thanks to Engadget to provide live blog) of keynote here

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/google-io-2012-keynote-liveblog

You can also watch the videos from Google YouTube channel (or embedded below)

Google Jelly Bean displayed

Google posted on it's Google+ page having a photo displaying up the model of Android's next version, Jelly Bean. This statue is standing at the same place where earlier Android's statues are standing. Yes you got it right, It is Android Building in Mountain view. 

Google's most important event of the year is coming near. Google I/O 2012 will take place from 27 June 2012- 29 June 2012, that means one extended from it's usual schedule. We hope that Google Jelly Bean will be unveiled in it.

Some other rumors are also evolving such as Google is building a new Tablet named as Nexus Tab to defeat all other Tabs, focusing on Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire. The Nexus tab is supposed to hold the all new Jelly Bean. It is also said that Nexus Tab will have it's own app store, other than Google Play. 

We think that Google I/O will bring updates to Android, Chrome, Google+, Cloud service: Drive. However we don't know what Google's new OS will have, but we are eagerly waiting to have a look on the stuff that will be displayed in Google I/O.

You can catch out all of the action from Engadget's live blog system. Here is the link:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/google-io-2012-keynote-liveblog

#googleio2012  #android  #jellybean

What will be new in iOS 6

As is always the case with every Apple event, there's really no way we can know what the company will announce at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference keynote next Monday, June 11.  Apple is set to show off its latest mobile operating system next week, iOS 6. According to reports, Apple will focus primarily on major improvements to apps, while most functions of iOS will remain unchanged. iPad 3 owners will be happy to know that Siri is expected to launch on their devices with the release of iOS 6. So what does iOS 6 have in store for the rest of us?

• Camera and Photos App Upgrades
  Perhaps to dovetail with expected iPhone 5 camera improvements, Apple will make significant changes to iOS 6 default Camera and Photos apps. Not only will videos synchronize with iCloud, but photo sharing and social networking functionality will be added to the apps. Apple will also add Facebook sharing functions directly into the apps for easy posting to friends.

• Do Not Disturb
  Notifications will feature a simple toggle to indicate the iOS user does not want to be bothered. This is different from silencing the device or entering Airplane Mode. A do not disturb switch could hide all incoming notifications and cut off sounds until a later time, after the user switches the mode off to catch up.

• Facebook Integration
  System-wide Facebook integration was rumored in previous versions of iOS, but now the addition is confirmed for iOS 6. Apple has made a deal with Facebook to add the social networking service to iOS much like Twitter came to us in iOS 5. Expect similar functionality, with Facebook features starting small and ramping up over time.

• Google Maps Replaced by Apple 3D Maps
  Believe it or not, Apple is ditching Google Maps with iOS 6 and replacing the Maps app with its own mapping software developed in-house. These maps include fully 3D renderings of places and may even include turn-by-turn navigation instructions. The new Maps is certain to be a major focus of Apple's demos at WWDC next week.

• Mail VIPs
  Several Mail app improvements are coming your way. Most notable is an iCloud-synced list of VIPs that would screen your email automatically. Messages coming from a VIP will be starred so they can be easily found among other incoming mail.

• Redesigned Stores
  The App Store, iBookstore and iTunes Stores will all get redesigns. Besides Facebook integration coming to the iTunes Store, other social features will accomodate content sharing and interaction across the board. The new designs are also intended to improve the purchasing experience, and are expected to land on Apple's Mac OS X stores after the iOS 6 launch.

• Safari iCloud Tabs Support / Omnibar
  Mobile Safari web browsing will get more convenient, with an iCloud Tabs button provided on iOS 6 devices. Clicking the button will sync your browser tabs to iCloud, so they can be picked up later on another mobile device or a Mac OS X computer. Also, Safari will get an all-in-one search/address bar just like Chrome. Pretty handy.

• Siri Improvements
  Apple is always working to make Siri better, but there have been sporadic reports that the company plans to allow third-party app developers to interact with Siri's servers. This could provide a whole new take on what makes Siri useful with new apps across the board. Although this feature is not certain, we can be sure Apple will improve Siri beyond simply letting iPad 3 owners in on the fun.