Google I/O 2016 website goes live, registration begins March 8

Google will soon open registration for its 2016 I/O developer conference, which is scheduled to take place between May 18 to May 20 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. The I/O 2016 website has gone live and registration windows open from March 8, and ends March 10.

The general admission tickets costs $900 (Rs. 61,000), while an academic admission tickets cost $300 (Rs. 20,000). Google will select applicants randomly after the registration period is over, and will send them an email with further details. Applicants can only buy one ticket if selected and can request for a refund any time before April 29.

For the rest, who are not able to attend the I/O event, Google will have a live stream of the event - I/O Live.

Every year, Google at it I/O reveal it plans for the upcoming years, and introduces the next version of Android, this year's version being Android N.

Android N leak indicates redesigned notification shade, quick settings panel, Hamburger Menu, and absence of app drawer

Google's I/O is a few months away, and now there are rumors of what we can expect from Google's next Android OS, Android N.

First up, an official video of Google Maps app has revealed a major design change in Android N - the app drawer. The mock up video shows the absesnce of app drawer on the bottom panel instead there are three apps - Dialer, Contacts and Camera.

Google has denied the changes, stating the that the video showed an inaccurate version of its UI and does not relate to future software changes. However, the removal of app drawer might be a trend being followed., the recently launched LG G5 did not have an app drawer, and Chinese smartphone makers such as LeECo, Huawei, Xiaomi and Lenovo's proprietary skins and ROMs don't have app drawers.

Meanwhile, Android Police says that Google's next Android OS version will have more than just cosmetic changes. The publication has shared a few-mock up screen shots of Android N, showing tweaks in notification tab and quick setting panel. As per the screenshot, the notification tab will show more details, while the quick settings panel gets an edit tab, so that users can make any changes to the toggles. One thing missing is the expandable WiFi and Bluetooth option.

Lastly, a recent finding on the Android's official developer site, reveals a screenshot showing Day-Night theme in the system settings and Hamburger Menu in settings app. The Hamburger Menu when tapped, open up side drawer, and displays all additional settings that can be accessed. The Day/Night theme mode lets users to change the background color of native applications. This featured was included in the Android M preview 1, but was removed in the final release.

Note that, the screenshots and shared video claimed to be from Android N, may be an early version of the OS and is not the final build. We can expect Google to bring a lot of changes to the OS in the final build. Earlier rumors also claimed the Android N will get split screen multi-tasking support

Google starts Selling Cardboard and Other VR Headsets on Google Store

Google is now selling Cardboard VR viewer on its Official U.S store. You can now purchase it from the new dedicated VR section of the online Google store. Each unit costs $15, and there is also a 2-unit pack that will cost $25. The Carboard viewer holds Android and iOS devices with screen sizes ranging from 4-inch and 6-inch.

Google is also selling Mattel View-Master VR and Goggle Tech C1-Glass VR viewer on the store. Matter; View-Master VR is designed for kids and includes kid-friendly VR apps and videos and YouTube. The View-Master starter kit cost $29.95 and works Android and iPhone models that have 4-inch to 6--inch screen. It also includes a sepecial adapter for the iPhone 5, 5s and 5c.

The Goggle Tech C1-Glass VR viewer has a lightweight, portable design. It clips on to your smartphone to offer you with VR experience. It also works with Android and iOS handsets with screen sizes 4-inch to 6-inch. The viewer costs $14.99. 

Google Cardboard Viewer - $15, Pack of 2 - $25  

Mattel View-Master VR Starter Pack � $29.99 
Goggle Tech C1-Glass VR Viewer � $14.99

Via 

Gmail for Inbox app gets updated snooze features

Gmail for Inbox app last year got custom snooze time option so that you can set up custom times for morning, afternoon and evening snooze. Now Google has added two new features to Gmail for Inbox - 'Later this week' and 'This weekend'. 

Google says that these snooze options have been added based on user feedback's and the new features aims to "save you some time, and decrease the need to use custom snooze,".

Now you'll be able to customize your weekend day(s) (Saturday-Sunday, Friday-Saturday, Thursday-Friday, Friday Only, Saturday only, and Sunday only) in Snooze settings, just like you set your preferred morning time days to receive emails.

This features is useful for people living in places where weekend spans different days of the week.

Download Inbox by Gmail v1.18

Gmail for Android gets rich text formatting and instant RSVP

Google has updated its Gmail app for Android with new features. The update bumps the Gmail app version to 6.0 and add rich text formatting and instant RSVP.

The inclusion of rich text formatting will let you add bold , italic, underlined, colored and highlighted text to your email within the app itself. You will now see a new toolbar that lets you format the text while composing the email.

With instant RSVPs, you now have the ability to quickly RSVP to calendar invitation. Now when you get a calendear invite from GooGle Calendar or Microsoft exchange, you can see the schedule for that time frame, and with just one tap RSVP instantly. This saves time from moving back and forth between two different apps.

The Gmail has been getting new features to its app regularly, since the beginning of this year. Earlier this month Google tightened security for Gmail, to alert users about unsecure email, and added a new feature called Gmailify for non-Gmail accounts. 

Source

Android Jelly Bean Users Keep Growing While Gingerbread Tend To Descending

Android 4.1 and 4.2 are now running about 10 percent of Android devices, mean while Gingerbread gradually reduce the number of its users. According to recent figures from Google, the latest version of Android is now sitting at about 10 percent of all Android devices, while Gingerbread drops below 50 percent.

Android 4.1 and 4.2 or so-called Jelly Bean, after the last two weeks on January 3, 2012, Android 1.4 users began to climb (see the graph below). These surges occur from the first two weeks of December when Jelly Bean, released in July 2012 while still in 6.7 percent of all active devices. In such devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3, The X HTC, and Google Nexus Tablet Nexus 7 and 10.

Gingerbread, which was released in 2010, probably not going to disappear any time soon, though. The number of users finally dipped below 50 percent to 47.6 percent. However, this operating system will probably continue to be used for a cheaper smartphones.

Finally, Google and Motorola Collaborate Work On 'X Phone' and Tablets

In addition to acquiring thousands of patents, what will Google do with the acquisition of Motorola is highly anticipated, especially by fans of Android.

Finally, an answer came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Google and Motorola mentioned working on a smartphone called the 'X Phone' and tablets. The devices are reported to be released next year.

Related to this project, is not yet widely known. Only mentioned that the device will be the Google�s devices, and apart from what worked with Motorola RAZR and its other devices.

The former product manager at Google, Lior Ron reported as the person responsible for the product. Lior Ron himself is known as part of the mapping team. The project will focus mentioned to provide users with high-quality cameras and photo software, something that is not present in the Nexus line of smartphones today.

Other technologies are also said to have been explored as part of the project 'Phone X' is a flexible screen and a ceramic material that will make the device more durable. Image and gesture recognition software from Viewdle has acquired Motorola Mobility last October, also said the smartphone will be integrated into it.

What kind of shape and final design of the X Phone, we wait for its development.

Android Continues to Win 'Mobile War' Against Apple

Towards the end of the year, a lot of reviews and reviews about smartphones this year. However, the most interesting is how Android continues to dominate the smartphone market. Quoting from bloomberg.com, according to Eric Schmidt (Google Chairman), Google Inc.'s Android. (GOOG) still beat the greatness of Apple Inc. (AAPL) in the mobile application market when compared to what have experienced by Microsoft Corp.. (MSFT) currently dominate the desktop software in 1990.

Speaking during an interview session at Bloomberg headquarters in New York, Eric Schmidt confirmed that the explosion in demand for Android smartphones helped Google to continue to dominate the market compared to other software providers. Even Android dominate 72% in the third quarter with an activation of 1.3 million devices while Apple only got 14% only. If the past 20 years the fight just happened about Microsoft versus Apple, Android is now only able to bring great change to win the fight unanimously.

Schmidt explained how Google attract users and advertisers to trust in the devices used and turned away from traditional computers. By presenting Android, Google provides revenue to the partner hardware makers like Samsung for example. The sacrifice was not in vain because it is done for the purpose of profit from advertising and internet services. Core strategy is finally making a larger profit. Another strategy, Google did not make the full control and there are no full advantage with an open OS goodness.