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Latest Gear Live Videos
A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Facebook Home [Video]
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software, Videos,
Take a gander behind the curtain of how Facebook designers created the Facebook Home launcher for Android. The forty-five minute video essay shows the evolutionary process of cover feed, chat heads, and the premise of mimicking the real world experience with a software operating system not based on apps, but focused rather on people.
On May 8th, the designers behind Facebook Home (Justin Stahl, Francis Luu, Joey Flynn and Mac Tyler) presented a behind-the-scenes look at their work at the Bluxome Street Winery for a small crowd. In this four-part talk, they discuss how they combined their high-level goals with an iterative process and interactive design tools such as Quartz Composer to bring the first version of Home to launch.
Click to continue reading A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Facebook Home [Video]
Gallery: A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Facebook Home [Video]
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Google’s Motorola Moto X event set for August 1 in NYC
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Google, Handhelds,
Motorola fans, mark your calendars for August 1st, as that's the date set for the Moto X event in New York city. Some details of the device have leaked, such as the "always listening" mode for Google Now, snapping the phone to activate the camera, and giving customers customization options of the design of the smartphone like colors on the sides and rear. There is some speculation that the device will be budget-friendly, costing around $199 off-contract and available on all major US carriers. Perhaps the idea is to take on the highly-rumored technicolored low cost iPhone. Motorola is looking for a winner this time around, as previously the subsidiary of Google has posted a quarterly loss $342 million on the top of massive $12.5 billion acquisition. Curiosity here at Gear Live if the Moto X will run Google's latest and greatest Android software as they are hosting thier OS Android and Chrome event on the 24th of July.
Gallery: Google’s Motorola Moto X event set for August 1 in NYC
FireFly Online iOS and Android Coming in 2014
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Google, Video Games,
FireFly, the popular television series with a cult following, is now set to debut as an online RPG social role-playing game for iOS and Android in 2014. It may come with a desktop version, and possibly even appear on game consoles as well. Here's a sneak peek trailer of the game, after the break, along with details:
In Firefly Online, players assume the role of a ship captain as they hire a crew and seek out adventures, all the while trading with and competing against the millions of other players to try to survive in the Verse: find a crew, find a job, keep flying.
FFO provides a variety of gameplay activities and systems so that players can fully experience life in the Verse.
- Assume the role of a ship captain - create a crew and customize a ship
- Aim to misbehave in space and planet-side adventures
- Cross-platform player experience across devices (pick-up and play from anywhere)
- Unique social features connecting Firefly fans
- Create a shiny ship and explore the Verse
If you want more info on the game, sign up at the source URL below!
Click to continue reading FireFly Online iOS and Android Coming in 2014
Read More 
| KeepFlying
Gallery: FireFly Online iOS and Android Coming in 2014
Apple, Microsoft, Google & others petition US government for transparency in data requests
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Google, Microsoft,
Several big named tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft are publicly requesting that the National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) allow them to transparently publish more information regarding the controversial data mining operations and surveillance programs held by US government agencies.
Dubbed SpyGate, the legitimate controversy has made headlines over legislation of section 215 of the Patriot Act and section 702 of the FISA amendment ACT. Not to mention the whistleblower saga that has ensued after former NSA employee and current on the run globetrotter, Eric Snowden, leaked details about the covert operation infamously known as Prism. Many of the allegations summarized in the massive leak state that the US government has backdoor access to the servers of many leading private industry companies and direct access to major US telecommunication carriers. With such access, the government collects and monitors millions of American's information not limited to just metadata. Many private companies have signed a petition of transparency that includes Apple, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Skype and many others. Below is the petition letter in its entirety.
Read More | The Next Web
Gallery: Apple, Microsoft, Google & others petition US government for transparency in data requests
Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Google, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,
The alleged next-generation Nexus 7 tablet showed up in the retail inventory at OfficeMax with a SKU placeholder that points toward a starting price point of $229 for the 16GB storage capacity, and $269 for the 32GB version. The sale of the device is said to coincide with Google's Chrome and Android event scheduled for the 24th of July. The new Nexus 7 is rumored to have an astonishing 4GB of RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 5 megapixel rear camera, and 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera. There's also some speculation of a 1080p display, all which is yet to be confirmed. Check out the video of the purported next generation Nexus 7 tablet below.
Click to continue reading Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Read More | Androidcentral
Gallery: Purported leaked Next Generation Nexus 7 launch date is nigh [Video]
Google Chrome and Android Event Scheduled for July 24
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Google, Software,
Google is hosting an Android and Chrome event next Wednesday, July 24 hosted by OS honcho Sundar Pichar. Very little is being revealed right now, but the timing is rather interesting in light of the Google I/O event in May and Apple's WWDC event in June. But sure enough, Android will get some much needed attention this time around as it's upgraded to 4.3 (or straight to version 5.0.) Hopefully, it will get some legit support for Bluetooth 4.0 along with the expected new features and UI tweaks. The event kicks off at 12PM EST (that's 9:00 AM for you folks in the west coast.) It will also be live-streamed on YouTube. Stay tuned here at Gear Live as we analyze, synthesize, and slice up the Key Lime Pie.
Gallery: Google Chrome and Android Event Scheduled for July 24
Moto X phone will always be listening for voice commands
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Google, Rumors, Videos,
Looks like Google's goals for the Majel project is coming to full fruition with a Star Trek-like Always Listening mode on the upcoming Moto X smartphone. In a leaked video from Canadian wireless carrier, Rogers, we see that the passive voice command feature added allows Google Now use without the user having to press a button in order to prompt a request--all you have to do is say "Ok Google Now," to get the phone to listen up and do your bidding. Yep, just like Google Glass. In the video, the Moto X has an additional buttonless feature that allows a user to open the phone's camera with two flicks of the wrist. Additionally, we see that you can tap anywhere on the screen to snap a photo instead of just a specific UI button. The Moto X is expected to go on sale this summer. Check out the video after the break.
Click to continue reading Moto X phone will always be listening for voice commands
Read More | Ausoroid
Gallery: Moto X phone will always be listening for voice commands
If you own an Android phone, you can now get in on the Vine action that iPhone users have had access to for over four months now. The app is Twitter's answer to video sharing, allowing users to share six-second video snippets with each other. Interestingly, the iOS version and Android versions each have features that the other doesn't. For example, the iOS version includes support for the front-facing camera, mentions, hashtags, and search. The Android version doesn't--but it does have a zoom feature, something that's not found in iOS.
Vine for Android works with any device running Android 4.0 or higher, and you can download it now from the Google Play Store.
Read More | Twitter
Gallery: Vine now available for Android
HTC One with stock Android arrives June 26 for $599
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Software,
The HTC One is a highly impressive Android device, but many users wish that they could get the beautiful hardware with stock Android Jelly Bean software. Luckily, that wish is becoming reality, as Android head Sundar Pichai announced during his D11 talk that the HTC One with Nexus UI will go on sale on June 26th on the Google Play store, and will work on both AT&T and T-Mobile.
Be sure to check out our HTC One review as well.
Gallery: HTC One with stock Android arrives June 26 for $599
LG Nexus 4 now available in white
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
The LG Nexus 4 is arguably the best Android phone on the market right now (if you don't care about LTE,) but if you were bored by the black hue, you can now get it on the Google Play store and T-Mobile in white. In fact, if you buy it from Google Play directly, you also get a free bumper case thrown in for good measure. It should be stated, though, that the only difference here is the color--otherwise, it's the same Nexus 4 that was released over six months ago, running the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2.2.
Read More | Google Play Store
Gallery: LG Nexus 4 now available in white
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