CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 18:43:30 (14 comments, 8 reshares, 49 +1s)

Kinda weird that the week of CTIA is the quietest week we've seen for mobile tech news in months. 

It's almost eerie -- feels like the world is just shut down today.

2013-05-22 20:57:28 (18 comments, 18 reshares, 137 +1s)

A whale of a fail

Twitter turned on two-factor authentication today. Two years late is better than never, right?

One issue: The company's authentication setup requires you to connect your account to a cell phone number -- and every cell phone number can be connected to only one Twitter account. 

If you use multiple Twitter accounts, as many people do, that's a problem. The cell number is where your verification code is sent every time you try to sign in. Unless you have multiple cell phones at your disposal 24/7, then, you're basically limited to using two-factor authentication on just one of your accounts and leaving the others unprotected.

Come on, guys. Two years, and you can't do any better than this? Utilizing something like Google's Authenticator app would have been a far better solution. 
more »

2013-05-22 20:11:34 (28 comments, 16 reshares, 73 +1s)

My mini opus on why your desktop in a year may look the same as mine does today. Hint: I use a Chromebook.

2013-05-22 16:31:03 (12 comments, 23 reshares, 103 +1s)

Very nice update rolling out for the Google Drive Android app right now.

Here's the change log:

• New grid view makes it easier to find your files
• New quick preview lets you view photos and other files from within the app
• Scan documents, receipts and letters for safe keeping in Drive; then search by contents once uploaded
• Download a copy of files to your local device (Honeycomb+)
• Spreadsheet editor now supports changing fonts, colors and cell alignment
• View properties of files from within the editors
• Bug fixes and visual improvements

More details here: http://googledrive.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-smoother-drive-app-for-android.html

And the app, if you don't already have it, is here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs

2013-05-22 16:03:04 (58 comments, 20 reshares, 179 +1s)

In case you were wondering...

2013-05-21 21:37:16 (9 comments, 4 reshares, 104 +1s)

"Google Glass didn't make me a dork" *

My pal +Sharon Gaudin and I had the chance to check out Google Glass at I/O last week. It was definitely a different experience from what either of us was expecting. 

Sharon put together some thoughts based on our brief time with the device. I agree with pretty much everything she said; when you start using Glass, it's immediately clear that it's still a work in progress -- but it's also immediately clear that the seeds of something new and special are in place. I'm looking forward to seeing how the technology evolves as we inch closer to its consumer release.

You can check out Sharon's blog here:

http://blogs.computerworld.com/android/22231/google-glass-didnt-make-me-dork

(And yes, for anyone wondering, I am the unnamed "friend" responsible for getting us losti... more »

2013-05-21 16:04:18 (48 comments, 14 reshares, 96 +1s)

The new Google Play Music app is full of fresh features -- and not just the big stuff. Here are six things worth checking out.

2013-05-21 02:38:07 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 35 +1s)

For those interested, there are a few references to Jelly Bean MR2 (aka Android 4.3) in the most recent version of the Support Library.

These particular comments state that a new API function has been added ("setHomeAsUpIndicator") so that developers can change the appearance of the Up button. This was (presumably) added so that there is a nice interface for using the new hamburger button on a navigation drawer.

Of course this new hamburger button works on earlier versions of Android, but that occurs via a hack. But it will only work if an OEM hasn't 'messed' with things.

The appearance of this code really does suggest that 4.3 was pulled from I/O at the very last minute, but that's another topic of discussion entirely.

2013-05-20 21:53:20 (35 comments, 20 reshares, 82 +1s)

Yahoo's new Flickr redesign and 1TB lifetime storage offer are pretty impressive at a glance. Best I can tell, though, the Android app doesn't currently offer any sort of auto-upload functionality or in-app photo-editing. Compared to the competition, those omissions could be dealbreakers for a lot of folks who might think about switching.

2013-05-20 18:02:13 (28 comments, 16 reshares, 116 +1s)

We may not be exploring a new version of Android this week, but don't think for a minute that we left I/O empty-handed.

2013-05-20 15:55:56 (12 comments, 12 reshares, 93 +1s)

Hangouts, phone calls and Google Voice

Thanks for all of your feedback on last week's Hangouts launch. I wanted to quickly talk about 1) making/receiving phone calls in Gmail, and 2) Google Voice support more generally.

1) Today's version of Hangouts doesn't yet support outbound calls on the web and in the Chrome extension, but we do support inbound calls to your Google Voice number. We're working hard on supporting both, and outbound/inbound calls will soon be available. In the meantime, you can continue using Google Talk in Gmail.

2) Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice, and making/receiving phone calls is just the beginning. Future versions of Hangouts will integrate Google Voice more seamlessly.

2013-05-20 15:13:50 (21 comments, 12 reshares, 77 +1s)

Hey, nice -- the new Google+ Android app is on its way today:

2013-05-16 22:39:43 (8 comments, 8 reshares, 106 +1s)

The Google Store at I/O 2013

Lots o' Google goodies for sale. And yes, the I/O shirt really does smell like maple syrup (I checked). 

2013-05-16 22:01:44 (18 comments, 3 reshares, 69 +1s)

What's behind the black wall? An #io13 mystery.

2013-05-16 17:43:07 (26 comments, 3 reshares, 48 +1s)

The giant white elephant in the room...

#io13

2013-05-16 01:24:43 (16 comments, 17 reshares, 179 +1s)

That's a lot of Pixels.

#io13

2013-05-16 00:01:58 (26 comments, 65 reshares, 272 +1s)

Despite the unusual start, it's been a busy day at Google I/O. And some of the most interesting announcements have slipped in under the radar.

Here are 11 things you should know about right now:

#io13  

2013-05-15 21:34:54 (13 comments, 19 reshares, 37 +1s)

Since several people have asked about this: If you want to see posts in a single column in the new Google+ UI, instead of in multiple columns, scroll to the top of your stream. To the right of your circles is a "More" menu. At the very bottom of that menu there's an option to switch between single- and multi-column mode.

#googleplustips

2013-05-15 21:07:13 (27 comments, 12 reshares, 133 +1s)

Whoa -- the new G+ desktop experience is one seriously nice upgrade. Very slick new interface.

If you haven't gotten it yet, try hitting refresh in your browser. Seems to be actively rolling out right now.

#io13  

2013-05-15 19:11:44 (55 comments, 26 reshares, 152 +1s)

The new Google Music streaming service is now live in the U.S., if you want to try it.

https://play.google.com/music/listen#/now

#io13

2013-05-15 15:29:29 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

All right, gang -- it's go-time. The Google I/O keynote starts in half an hour. I'm inside Moscone Center now; join me for live play-by-play commentary and streaming video here:

2013-05-15 15:02:25 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 68 +1s)

Getting closer...

#io13

2013-05-15 14:34:55 (9 comments, 4 reshares, 66 +1s)

The view from inside.

#io13

2013-05-15 13:57:49 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 52 +1s)

No signs of helicopters on the roof yet this year. Unless they're super awesome invisible ones...

#io13 #conspiracytheory

2013-05-15 00:10:17 (50 comments, 53 reshares, 395 +1s)

At Google I/O, even the name badges are high-tech

This year's I/O badges are all NFC enabled; when you hold someone's badge near the back of your phone, you're instantly taken to his or her Google+ profile.

#io13  

2013-05-14 23:27:05 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 50 +1s)

Signs of I/O. Just registration today; the real action starts tomorrow morning with the keynote at 9:00 a.m. PT.

#io13

2013-05-14 21:46:31 (10 comments, 7 reshares, 82 +1s)

How you know you're at Google I/O: You see data-collecting "sensor motes" everywhere you look.

#io13

2013-05-14 16:26:51 (27 comments, 15 reshares, 196 +1s)

Hello, I/O.

#io13

2013-05-13 15:10:35 (18 comments, 2 reshares, 44 +1s)

All right, gang -- just 48 hours to Google I/O. Here are some thoughts on what we might see:

2013-05-10 23:10:49 (49 comments, 26 reshares, 275 +1s)

This seemed appropriate to reshare tonight.

Happy weekend, everyone. Lots of exciting stuff ahead next week.

2013-05-10 20:28:11 (13 comments, 8 reshares, 51 +1s)

Bye bye, Scratchpad

If there was any doubt remaining...

(See also: http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3061306&p=scratchpad_transition)

2013-05-10 15:42:11 (158 comments, 45 reshares, 332 +1s)

Some comparisons are easy to make.

2013-05-09 15:57:23 (15 comments, 4 reshares, 49 +1s)

My full Optimus G Pro review is now online. If you're thinking about a supersized phone, you'll definitely want to consider this device.

Check it out here:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9239028/Optimus_G_Pro_deep_dive_review_A_supersized_smartphone_done_right

2013-05-08 22:49:00 (44 comments, 25 reshares, 67 +1s)

This is completely silly but somehow mesmerizing: Go to https://developers.google.com/events/io and click around on the giant "I" and "O." 

Make sure your speakers are turned on.

UPDATE: Click in the following combination for pure awesomeness: IOOIOOOO

2013-05-08 19:15:31 (21 comments, 10 reshares, 61 +1s)

And the award for Most Laughably Sensational Glass Coverage of the Day goes to...

2013-05-08 15:42:35 (11 comments, 2 reshares, 53 +1s)

LG vs. Samsung: Let the smartphone camera battle begin!

Can LG's latest smartphone camera keep up with Samsung's best? I pitted the companies' flagship phones against each other to find out.

Check out the gallery and see what you think:

http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/22165/lg-vs-samsung-smartphone-camera-battle

2013-05-08 03:08:43 (13 comments, 3 reshares, 65 +1s)

This is how an Android news app should be done! Grab it while it's hot.

Congrats on the awesome launch, +Android Central.

2013-05-07 17:04:41 (21 comments, 2 reshares, 44 +1s)

LG's Optimus G Pro software, as I mentioned before, is one of the few manufacturer-modified takes on Android that doesn't make me want to gouge my eyes out. In terms of UI, it's actually quite usable -- far more so than the convoluted messes other OEMs have been making out of Android lately.

The one area that bugs me is the notification pulldown. While it's far less visually offensive than what we've seen on certain other phones (cough, cough, http://goo.gl/GPZy2), there's just a bit too much going on there. As a result, the actual notifications -- you know, the things you're looking for and interacting with the majority of the time -- don't show up until halfway down the screen.

Having the option for extra stuff in the notification pulldown is great, but it sure would've been nice if LG had made it an option -- which you could easily disable --... more »

2013-05-06 21:16:14 (19 comments, 2 reshares, 42 +1s)

The Optimus G Pro's Home button is pretty spiffy. It glows a rainbow of colors when the phone boots up and then functions as an LED indicator during regular use.

Would I rather have a phone with no physical Home button at all? Absolutely. But if I had to have that button there, I'd want it to do this. :-)

[Full story: http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/22158/lg-optimus-g-pro-first-impression]

2013-05-06 17:39:50 (22 comments, 8 reshares, 85 +1s)

The Optimus G Pro may not get as much attention as other recent Android devices, but it's actually one of the most interesting phones I've used in a while. 

Here are some initial thoughts and impressions:

2013-05-05 23:50:08 (30 comments, 4 reshares, 62 +1s)

One of the most interesting features of the LG Optimus G Pro is the QuickButton -- an extra physical button on the upper-left side of the phone. 

By default, pressing the button activates the phone's QuickMemo function, but what's particularly cool is that you can change it to suit your needs. You can make the button activate the Camera app, for example, or any other app you want. Pretty nice idea.

I've been using the Optimus G Pro for a few days now. More thoughts on the phone soon.

2013-05-05 16:55:51 (12 comments, 5 reshares, 53 +1s)

One way to see all of the recent changes in consumer computing is as a linear progression, but that’s not the whole story.

Mobile and tablet computing are here to stay but some members of the tech press and the enthusiast community have taken a very black and white message from this. Some believe that these new devices threaten to replace or take away things about computing that they love today.

In modern mobile apps we acknowledge that software is not one size fits all. We now have software that has returned to the Unix ideal of doing one thing well in the form of small, single-purpose apps. There’s an app for your favorite social network. There’s an app to see a map of where you are. There’s an app to book a table at a restaurant. There’s an app to order a pizza. There’s an app to split a check and calculate a tip. There’s an app to control your thermostat at home.There’s an ap... more »

2013-05-03 18:04:01 (34 comments, 16 reshares, 45 +1s)

Are you a total tech douchebag?

Take the quiz if you dare.

[An oldie but a goodie, brought to mind by a certain person's recent sharing of a disturbing shower pic (my eyes are still burning).]

2013-05-02 19:43:38 (28 comments, 3 reshares, 55 +1s)

Is it just me, or does this new implementation -- not to mention the choice of screenshots -- suggest Google Keep is being groomed to replace Scratchpad in Chrome OS?

Just a thought.

[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-keep/hmjkmjkepdijhoojdojkdfohbdgmmhki]

(See also: "Scratchpad development has been paused" -- Nov. 2012: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100132233764003563318/posts/3bg9dfLGx8H)

2013-05-02 17:04:13 (39 comments, 9 reshares, 138 +1s)

Hear ye, hear ye, citizens of the smartphone world...

2013-05-01 21:43:29 (9 comments, 30 reshares, 99 +1s)

Hangouts Remote Desktop: tech support with a personal touch

For those of you who play tech support for friends and family, there’s now a Hangouts app to make things easier -- powered by the same technology behind Chrome Remote Desktop. 

Hangouts Remote Desktop lets you help others by controlling their computer remotely (with their permission, of course). And because you’re both in a Hangout, you can talk with and see each other during the session.

To get started, just start a Hangout and click View More Apps > Add Apps > Hangouts Remote Desktop. 

Let us know what you think, and please keep the feedback coming!

#googleplusupdate

2013-04-30 16:29:38 (131 comments, 80 reshares, 314 +1s)

By popular demand, a step-by-step guide to figuring out which phone is the right one for you.

2013-04-29 20:12:17 (26 comments, 9 reshares, 83 +1s)

The Galaxy S4 "S View" cover is actually pretty cool. A cut-out window at the top lets you see through to the display to view the date, time, and any missed calls or notifications. And when you get an incoming call, you can see the caller's info along with swipeable icons to accept or reject it.

If you decide to get the GS4, it's worth checking out. That said, it isn't cheap -- seems to be 40 to 60 bucks, depending on where you look.

2013-04-29 16:26:25 (50 comments, 20 reshares, 78 +1s)

My full Galaxy S4 review is now online.

A lot of people are gonna like this phone -- but me? If I were to make a general recommendation, the GS4 wouldn't be it. 

Read through my real-world evaluation and you'll see why:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9238721/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_deep_dive_review_A_real_world_evaluation

2013-04-28 22:56:43 (35 comments, 24 reshares, 138 +1s)

How not to sell a computer

Spotted at Staples earlier today.