Google

Watch Google’s I/O Keynote Right Here, Right Now

It may just be a timer countdown for now, but at noon today the video above will turn into a livestream of Google’s I/O keynote. We’ll be liveblogging here as well—the stream usually lags, and doesn’t come with jokes—but for your full A/V experience, check the above. What are we expecting? You can get the…

WSJ: Google Is Going to Announce an Android TV Set-Top Box at I/O

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google will announce “at least one” set-top box running its Android TV operating system at today’s I/O event. While we already know for sure that Android will announce its Android TV OS, the Journal claims that a set-top box, branded by its manufacturer, will also make an appearance.…

Google Glass Hardware Just Got a Spec Bump

Google has announced that Glass is getting a hardware update following its extended Explorer testing feedback—but current owners won’t get upgraded. https://gizmodo.com/watch-the-daily-show-hilariously-troll-six-glassholes-r-1590364537 Google has decided to double the RAM in Glass from 1 to 2GB, as well as giving it a slightly bigger battery. Google claims that Glass will now last 15 percent longer between…

Android’s Next Named Release (Lollipop?) Will Be Announced at Google I/O

Going into Google’s big developer conference, one of the biggest questions was whether or not we would see a whole new version—the “L” version—of Android. The answer is yes, and it comes from Android frontman Sundar Pichai via Bloomberg Businessweek. From Businessweek: This year, Pichai will preview the next release (Lollipop? Lemonhead?) for the first…

The 8 Coolest New Tricks Your Nest Can Do

Late last night, Nest announced its Developer Program: An initiative that’s going to allow more than 5,000 developers to tinker and build new Nest functionality. To kick things off, it’s launching with a handful of partner-enabled features, from your Benz telling your thermostat when you get close to home to your LIFX bulbs flashing red…

Nokia’s Updated Android Phone Takes Two SIMs for $135

Nokia has just announced an update to its first Android handset. The X2 is brightly colored, cheerfully specced, cheap—and even accepts dual SIMs. https://gizmodo.com/nokia-x-the-first-nokia-android-1529525060 Weighing in at $135 or so off-contract, you might not expect much from this evolution. But in fact the specs aren’t too bad: you get a 4.3-inch WVGA ClearBlack LCD screen,…

Nest’s New Developer Program Will Connect All Your Gadgets In One Place

In an announcement made late this evening, Nest announced the project that seems all but inevitable: The Nest Developer Program, a project that will open up Nest’s platform to developers—and connect existing Nest products to a broad array of other smart devices, from smart watches to washing machines. The program is launching today in conjunction…

Our Google I/O 2014 Liveblog Starts Right Now

Today, Google will kick off its annual I/O developer’s conference, likely replete with goodies like Android Wear, Glass for the everyman, and maybe some updates on that modular phone and those self-driving cars. We’ll be there covering it all for you live. While we’re not expecting anything quite as dramatic as the Great Glass Skydiving…

Google’s Getting Ready to Sell You Domain Names

Google just announced a new service called Domains. It does exactly what you’d imagine it would: Helps you buy and manage domain names. Google Domains also helps you build your site, set up email addresses, and manage hosting. In effect, you can run an entire website without ever leaving the Google ecosystem. This sounds both…

Report: The Genius Behind the iPod Is Now In Charge of Google Hardware (UPDATE)

If you’re curious about the future of Google hardware, just look at Nest. That’s according to the Verge and the Information, which published a piece today claiming that Nest CEO Tony Fadell has been put in charge of Google’s consumer hardware division. Fadell, it bears mentioning, was the lead designer of the iPod. Fate is…

Wristbands That Translate Sign Language Into Speech Would Be Awesome

A student team working with Google has come up with an ingenious way to translate signing into spoken word: electronic wristbands that measure the wearer’s muscle activity, recognizing sign language symbols and speaking them through an Android device. It could quite literally give signers a voice. Update: As it turns out, this concept is completely…

Nest Just Bought Security Camera Company Dropcam For $555 Million

It looks like it’s full speed ahead at Nest: Just a few days after putting its Protect smoke and CO alarm back on the market, the company announced it will acquire Dropcam for $555 million. Eventually, Dropcam could become the eyes and ears in Nest’s constellation of smart home systems. The five year old Dropcam,…

Three New Chrome Games Quench Your Soccer Lust Between World Cup Games

Even after waiting four years for it to roll around again, the World Cup isn’t wall-t0-wall matches. There are breaks in-between the games that need to be filled while you wait for the action to start up again. Drinking the hours away is one solution, but Google has a more sober suggestion: A collection of…

Google just added a handy feature for Android users: now, when you Google musicians or bands, you can hear their music in your favorite player app with just one click. [Google Blog]

New Zealand Just Mistook Google’s Project Loon for a Crashing Airplane

Filling the skies with whimsical, internet-providing balloons is bound to have the occasional hitch—and down in New Zealand, one of Google’s Project Loon balloons was just mistaken for an airplane crashing, causing emergency services to flock. https://gizmodo.com/google-wants-to-use-balloons-to-cover-the-world-in-wi-f-513537918 The Wall Street Journal reports that New Zealand’s emergency services were dispatched today—including a rescue helicopter—after onlookers believed…

Google is investing investing $50 million in projects designed to help get more females involved in the field of computer science, by encouraging girls to code. Good work, Google.

How To Turn Your Android Phone Into The Ultimate GPS Navigator

Ever wanted to use your phone as a GPS navigator in the outdoors? Here’s a step by step guide to finding the maps, creating trails and waypoints and then using them on your Android phone. Editor’s Note: This guide might look impossible at first glance, but Henry walks you through the steps so thoroughly that…

Stolen Credit Cards, Drugs, and More Are All Up for Sale on YouTube

There’s no need to go to the dark web to search for illegal products, YouTube has it covered. A 13 page report from a group called the Digital Citizens Alliance shows YouTube is lax when it comes to removing videos showing how to acquire illegal content including stolen credit cards, prescription drugs, fake passports, and…

Rumor has it Google will unveil a new in-car Android interface at I/O next week. Dubbed Google Auto Link, the setup would let drivers control their Android phones via the car’s built-in controls and display screen, not unlike Apple’s CarPlay. [Auto News]

Google’s adding the ability to make a Hangouts call directly to phone numbers that show up in your search results. Click on the number, and Google will connect you. Neat.