Tag Archives: google

Waze gets personal on iOS with custom voice prompts

“Take the second exit at the roundabout.” Sometimes a direction that makes sense on paper can be confusing on the road. But that’s OK because the Google-owned Waze is now letting iOS users record their own personalised directions. You can access the Voice Recorder feature in Waze’s advanced settings by hitting “Sound & voice.” Tap …

Read More »

The next Google Pixel XL phone might have a 6

As we approach the fall season, there are only a handful of upcoming phones that we’re excited about. Among them is the sequel to Google‘s pair of flagships, the Pixel and its larger counterpart, Pixel XL. Though both phones are expected to be officially announced in October, the rumor mill has churned out its share of predictions in the meantime. …

Read More »

Checkout these Prime Day alternative deals from Best Buy

Not to be outdone by Amazon’s big Prime Day promotion, electronics retailer Best Buy also has a bunch of high-tech deals up its sleeve. The list of discounted gear includes everything from Apple Watches, Roomba robot vacuums, iPhones, headphones, and HDTVs. The bulk of the sale kicks off tomorrow on Tuesday 11 July, though some products are already on sale …

Read More »

Google Doodle toasts Eva Ekeblad, made alcohol from potatoes

Were it not for Eva Ekeblad, our perception of vodka — and potatoes as a food source — might be much different. Ekeblad was a bit of a Renaissance woman. Born in the first quarter of the 18th century, Ekeblad was a Swedish countess, scientist and agronomist — someone who researches multiple uses for plants. She is best-remembered for discovering …

Read More »

For better or worse, Pokemon Go paved the future of AR

I still remember my walks to work last July, scanning my neighborhood’s streets for Caterpies and Pidgies. Looking around, phone in hand like a pocket tricorder. Last July, of course, everyone else joined in, too: at Starbucks, in Central Park, at zoos. It was a fad. It’s also a foreshadowing of what’s probably going to happen in mobile, and augmented …

Read More »

Facebook and Google to join net neutrality protest

Facebook and Google are throwing their weight behind preserving the Federal Communications Commission’s controversial net neutrality rules. The two internet giants confirmed Friday that they plan to participate in a mass online demonstration to defend the rules as the Republican-led FCC considers gutting the protections, according to spokespeople for the companies. Dozens of companies and activist groups, including Amazon, Netflix, …

Read More »

Chromebooks could be getting a touch

Chromebooks may be getting a touch-friendly makeover. Google’s François Beaufort posted a video Thursday showing a touch-based app launcher that is currently being tested in an experimental build of Chrome OS, the operating system Chromebooks run on. The launcher can be found on the bottom of the screen. One swipe up brings up a search box and a list of …

Read More »

Bixby, Samsung’s Siri rival, behind in releasing English

Now playing: Watch this: Samsung’s S8 assistant still isn’t ready 1:27 Samsung’s Bixby is still a no-show.  The consumer electronics giant told the Korea Herald on Tuesday that the English version of its digital assistant will be delayed — again — because it lacks enough big data to teach it to work properly. Bixby Voice was supposed to launch in late …

Read More »

Why you need a shared library from Google Photos

Although we are both equipped with an iPhone, I take many more photos than my wife, which makes me the photo keeper of the family. When the occasion arises to show a photo of one of our two kids to a friend (that we have not already posted to Instagram), she asks me to dig through the photos on my …

Read More »

Use a wheelchair? Google Maps just did you a solid

If you use a wheelchair to get around — or roll with someone who does — Google has just made it easier to know what kind of accessible doorways, elevators, parking and seating you’re going to get when you arrive. A new feature in Google Maps for Android (and Google Search results) lets you scan one of 7 million map …

Read More »