Google Glass updated with 2GB RAM and other software updates

Google has ramped up its hardware offering on Google Glass. The company has doubled the RAM in Glass and now the devices will ship with 2GB RAM which was earlier only 1GB.

The upgraded hardware will ensure that Glass can handle more applications simultaneously. Increase in RAM should lead to improved faster and reliable performance with Google’s wearable. All future Glass models will ship with this upgrade, although it appears that current Glass Explorers will not get a free upgrade to the new model containing 2GB RAM. Google also said that is has improved battery life by over 20%, made voice search 10% faster to Glass.

Google Glass is also getting a number of software updates that will enhance its usage. For starters, Glass will boast of  a viewfinder, that pops up when you say, “Ok, Glass, show the viewfinder.” A viewfinder will appear to help you better frame your shots, at which point you can take a picture by either using a voice command, pressing the camera button, or simply winking. 

Finally, Google is adding new Google Now cards to Glass that will remind you where you parked your car and let you know when packages are being shipped to you.

The update to Google Glass comes only a day after Google launched them in UK.

Google Glass gets 12 new apps including Shazam, Runtastic, Zombies and more

Along with doubling the RAM on the Glass, Google has also added a number of popular apps. The Glassware family is a total of 12 apps that are a mixture of music, fitness and media apps.

Google Glass is getting apps like music discovery app Shazam, personal fitness trainer Runtastic, popular game Zombies Run and 94Fifty Basketball. Moving on there are apps like The Guardian for latest news update, StarChart for astronomy, foreign language tool Duolingo, football news app Goal.com, Livestream app that lets you broadcast live shows. There is also musiXmatch”, an app that identifies music and displays lyrics across Glass

Here is the official list of all the 12 apps

• Allthecooks
• GuidiGo
• Runtastic
• Shazam
• musiXmatch
• The Guardian
• Duolingo
• Zombies, Run!
• Starchart
• Goal.com
• Livestream

Facebook Slingshot now available globally

Facebook officially launched its self destructing messaging app Slingshot last week. The app which enables users to send and receive photos and 15 second videos that disappear after they are viewed was only available in the US. Today, the app has gone global is available for download worldwide for Android(Jelly Bean and KitKat) and iPhone (iOS 7).

Touted as a Snapchat rival, Facebook Slingshot is a bit different. Unlike Snapchat, whose messages disappear after being viewed, users of Slingshot will have to reply with a message before they can see the intended original message.

Since we launched last week, we’ve heard from lots of people around the world who are excited to give Slingshot a try. Starting today, we’re expanding our initial launch and making Slingshot available internationally!

announced Slingshot in a company blog post.

One of the unique features of Slingshot is that is allows users to add captions on photos and videos before sharing them. You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Google unleashes Android L developer preview

After series of leaks and speculations, Google finally announced Android ‘L’ at the ongoing I/O developer conference. As of now the officials are calling it simply L and it is a developer preview and not a final product.

The preview reveals that Google is putting more focus on new design elements including sleek color effects and animations. Android L boasts of a revamped UI, with refreshed and colourful status bar, dialer that has a  ripple touch effect when you touch each tab and much more. Google is also updating the Roboto font so that it works better across different device sizes.

Most important or the heart of the Android L is the brand new “Material Design” which is a cross platform design language that was introduced by Google’s VP Design, Matias Duarte. The Android L is characterized by this Material Design which adds a virtual texture to it thereby making it more intuitive. The entire interface is based on what Google calls a “unifying theory of a rationalized space and a system of motion.

Android L will also boast of enhanced notifications and they are available at one go on the lock screen.  They can be swiped to dismiss them or tapped to open the relevant apps. It will also get a new keyboard UI, a do-not-disturb mode. Apps like Gmail, calender are also getting a new look in this latest version of Android. Moreover, L will have new battery enhancements and optimizations along with a special battery saver mode for optimal battery life.

Google says Android L will have 5,000 new APIs and a fresh new design that will carry Android across not only on phones and tablets, but many other device categories as well. The company is claiming this release the biggest in Android history. The Android L preview SDK will be available at developer.android.com starting June 26th, along with system images for the Google Nexus 5 and Nexus 7.

Check out the video released by Google to know more about Material Design

Micromax, Karbonn and Spice are the first Android One program members

Google just unveiled its new program called “Android One” at their I/O developer event today, in San Francisco. This program, which involved creating attractive low cost Android smartphones using reference hardware and stock software, already has three members. The three OEMs who are the first companies to sign up for Android One are Karbonn, Micromax and Spice, all Indian smartphone manufacturers well versed in making budget smartphones running Android.

The phone we see in the above image is from Micromax, with a 4.5″ screen, Dual SIM functionality, FM radio and SD card support. It has “Android One” written on its back, featured more prominently than the Micromax logo, which indicates how much of an important role it plays. With a retail price of under 100$, which is roughly less than 6,000 INR, this phone is built on reference hardware and stock Android, but also caters to OEM requests like App bundling and consistent update cycles. This will lead to unified experiences on budget Android devices, which is something you can’t get right now. Also, reference hardware will make these smartphones cheaper to make for OEMs, which is just another win for consumers.

Google showcases Android Wear, announces Samsung Gear Live smartwatch

Along with announcing the the developer preview for Android L, Google showed off its much awaited Android Wear OS for wearables at the I/O conference.

Announced in March earlier this year, Android Wear was demonstrated by David Singleton, director of engineering for Google. He said that the wearable platform supports both round and square screens. Also, the Android Wear will be available in “wide variety of fashionable designs.

Android Wear is designed to work closely with Android smartphones, while responding to voice commands from users and showing “glanceable notifications” from apps. With an aim to ensure seamless  transitions between smartphone and smartwatch, Google has incorporated many design elements from Android L into Android Wear.

Singleton said that people check their Android phones an average of 125 times a day, hence watches make it much easier to quickly access notifications and saves time. It pulls notification from your phone and you can tap each one to view more information. The watch can display phone calls being recieved on the user’s Android phone, then give the wearer an option to skip the call, or to send and SMS saying “I’ll call you back.”

Android Wear also supports voice commands and ask for almost anything using “Ok Google”. Users can use music controls on the smartwatches to activate the music app on their Android phones. The full SDK for Android Wear has now been released, so devs can write apps that run on the smartwatches themselves.

Google also announced details about smartwatches running on Android Wear by LG, Motorola and Samsung. As reported earlier, the company revealed Samsung smartwatch dubbed as Gear Live.The devices from LG and Samsung will be available for order in the Google Play Store today, while Motorola’s watch will launch later in the summer.  Google did not provide any details and specification about the Samsung smartwatch.

In addition, Android Wear OS supports handful of health applications like accelerometer that counts steps. In watches that hve sensors, Wear can measure the heart rate of the user.

Google debuts Android Auto for in-car connectivity

In addition to Android L and Android Wear, Google also unveiled its in-car connectivity OS. Dubbed as Android Auto, the voice enabled platform is especially designed for cars.

The platform which was anticipated to be announced at the I/O developer conference will enable users navigate, communicate and listen to music in their cars.  Google says Android Auto is contextually aware and bringing you the information you want when you need it. This essentially means that users can access their Android phones from their car’s dashboard by using touch screen or voice commands thereby ensuring safe driving.

It works similar to Google Now and display’s information based on your moves and needs. So if you going to the office, Android Auto will offer the route home, including an estimated travel time, and your favorite music playlist. It is fully compatible with the dials, knobs, and buttons on your dashboard and steering wheel. The driver can also speak and reply to incoming text and email messages using Google’s voice input and text-to-speech systems.

Major car companies  including Google, Audi, Honda, GM, Hyundai, and chipmaker Nvidia have been collaborating to bring Android safely to the car in 2014 under the Open Automotive Alliance. The first cars compatible with the system will be available by the end of the year.Google’s Android Auto is similar to Apple’s CarPlay that was announced in March this year. The service will be available with the public “L” Android release alter this year.

The SDK of Android Auto is not available but Google said it will be ready in near future.