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After months of waiting, Google is finally showing off the final version of Android Wear 2.0. Since the announcement last year, not much has changed, Android Wear 2.0 is still focusing on simplifying the core experience which is interacting with notifications and tracking fitness data. To showcase the new features of Android Wear 2.0, Google has partnered up with LG to create two new smartwatches. The LG Watch Syle and LG Watch Sport will be the first to run Android Wear 2.0.

Probably the biggest addition to Android Wear 2.0 is the Google Assistant which has been available on several other google devices like the Pixel phones and Google Home hub. The Google Assistant on Android Wear 2.0 works like it does on other devices meaning that saying 'ok google' will activate it.
Besides that, Android Wear 2.0 is finally capable of downloading apps directly from the watch interface without the need of accessing a phone application to download an app. What this means is that, iPhone users will be able to download third party apps and watch faces when they pair their Android Wear 2.0 device to an iPhone.

Google says that Android Wear watch makers will begin rolling out the Android Wear 2.0 update to compatible devices in the coming weeks. Below is a list of devices currently eligible for the update.

Android Wear 2.0 compatible devices:
— Asus ZenWatch 2
— Asus ZenWatch 3
— Casio Smart Outdoor Watch
— Casio PRO TREK Smart
— Fossil Q Founder
— Fossil Q Marshal
— Fossil Q Wander
— Huawei Watch
— LG G Watch R
— LG G Watch Urbane
— LG G Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE
— Michael Kors Access Smartwatches
— Moto 360 2nd Gen
— Moto 360 for women
— Moto 360 Sport
— New Balance RunIQ
— Nixon Mission
— Polar M600
— TAG Heuer Connected

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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Google has introduced several hardware products in the past but they were mostly just individual product but the introduction of the Google Home hub is probably going to be a game changer. When it hits the market later this year, the Google Home will be Google's vision for a smart home similar to Amazon's Alexa speaker.

Related: My doubts about the Smart Home

Powering Google's upcoming Home hub is the Google assistant which is one of the highlight features of Google's two new Pixel phones. Basically, the Google Assistant is a spruced up version of Google Now that is more personal and still features the same natural language search that Google Now pioneered. 

Additionally, the Google Home comes with a dual passive radiator design that is designed to produce Hi-Fi sounds. Also included in the Google Home Hub is a microphone that is used to activate the Google Assistant with the "Ok Google hotword". The Google Assistant will be able to do things like turning on lights, playing music, looking at calendar appointments and setting timers. 

As expect, the Google Home will support existing smart home appliances like the Nest thermostats and also Google's new Chromecast Ultra streaming dongle. But that's not all, since it was previewed during Google I/O 2016, Google has been working with other companies like Philips and Samsung to enable their smart home products to work with the Google Home hub.

The Google Home hub will be launching in the United States on November 2016 for US$ 129 (~MYR 530) and will be available in multiple metallic and fabric base(s). 

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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About a year ago, Google introduced the second generation Chromecast dongles and today at their massive hardware launch event, they unveiled Chromecast Ultra. This new Chromecast doesn't necessarily replace the existing Chromecast dongle, rather it is more of an extended version as the Chromecast Ultra now supports 4K and HDR video streaming.

Related: Google Chromecast (2015) Review

This is thanks to the faster processor and Wi-Fi that Google is adding to the Chromecast Ultra and when it next month, Chromecast Ultra will support streaming 4K video from services like YouTube, Hulu and Netflix. Beyond that not much has changes in terms of the Chromecast hardware, it still features a puck design but this time around the Chromecast Ultra only comes in black.

Google will begin offering the 4K capable Chromecast Ultra beginning November 2016 in 16 countries including the US. But unlike existing Chromecast models, this new Ultra model will cost $69 (~MYR 280). On the upside, Google is including a special power adapter with the Chromecast Ultra that includes an ethernet port for a wired connection.



ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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Google is continuing their massive rollout of hardware during their special October event with a new product called Google Wi-Fi. This tiny puck is the spiritual successor to the OnHub router that Google introduced last year. Like the Pixel phones and Daydream View headset announced today, the new Google Wi-Fi comes with Google branding.

Basically, Google Wi-Fi is an intelligent wireless router that can pair up with other modules in order to provide your home or office with the best wireless network possible. At it's core, the Google Wi-Fi is a dual band router that supports AC1200 speeds. Google says that they have built Google Wi-Fi to be a scalable network depending on your needs and just like the OnHub router, this Wi-Fi access point is controlled through a dedicated app available on both Android and iOS.

Google says they have also included their Network Assist software which helps you configure the fastest possible connection without you doing anything at all. The Google Wi-Fi will be available in the US beginning November 2016 for US$ 129 (~MYR 530) for a single pack and US$ 299 (~MYR 1,200) for a three pack.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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At Google I/O earlier this year, Google showed off their vision for a unified virtual reality platform for Android devices called Daydream VR. Today, alongside the announcement of the new Google Pixel phones, the company is taking wraps off the Daydream View, the first Daydream VR headset and controller. 

Weighing in at 200g and officially priced at US$ 79 (~MYR 330), the new Daydream View VR headset is by no means affordable when compared to the uber-affordable Google Cardboard VR viewers but Google says that the controller and headset has been designed to work perfectly with any Daydream VR compatible smartphones. Right now, only the Google made Pixel and Pixel XL phones are officially compatible with this headset. 

As for the design of the Daydream View, it looks like any other mobile VR headset but Google constructed it out of soft fabric to ensure comfort and the bluetooth controller used to interact inside the Daydream VR platform can be stored inside the headset itself. The controller in the other hand is not just for the buttons, there's sensor in the controller that enables it to act as a stylus in VR. 

In terms of functionality, the Daydream View is only compatible with Android 7.0 Nougat phones that are certified Daydream VR compatible by Google and the headset works similarly to the Google Cardboard viewers but the twist is that there is an NFC label that automatically launches the Daydream VR interface once the phone is placed in the headset. 

Google will begin accepting pre-order for the new Daydream View headset beginning October 20 in the US, UK, Canada, Germany and Australia. The headset itself will officially be available sometime in November and initially Google is only releasing the gray model picture above and the white and red models will only arrive in early 2017



ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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The day has arrived and Google has just announced the first two smartphones that come with the Google branding and these new 'Pixel' phones will be replacing the existing Nexus lineup. The hardware itself is built by HTC but Google is branding it as a phone my by themselves and the most notable thing about the new Pixel and Pixel XL is that Google says these new smartphones are built from the ground up to support Virtual reality.

Read more: The iPhone effect, when two is better than one

The new Pixel phones from Google might not be the first to run on Android 7.0 Nougat (LG's V20 claims that title) but it is the first to come with the Google assistant software which is a spruced up version of Google Now made to compete with other virtual assistants like Siri and Cortana. Google says that the Google Assistant on Pixel and Pixel XL is deeply integrated with the software on these phones .

Google Pixel Key Specifications

— 5-inch 1080P AMOLED display
— Snapdragon 821 SoC
— 4GB RAM
— 32/128GB memory
— 12MP f2.0 rear camera
— 8MP f2.0 front camera
— 2,770mAh battery w/QC3.0
— Android 7.1 Nougat
— 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6mm
— 143g
— Quite Black, Really Blue, Very Silver

Google Pixel XL Key Specifications

— 5.5-inch 1440P AMOLED display
— Snapdragon 821 SoC
— 4GB RAM
— 32/128GB memory
— 12MP f2.0 rear camera
— 8MP f2.0 front camera
— 3,450mAh battery w/QC3.0
— Android 7.1 Nougat
— 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6mm
— 168g
— Quite Black, Really Blue, Very Silver
Beyond the hardware specifications, the new Google Pixel phones have a premium take on design. The phones themselves are constructed out of aluminium but the twist is that the top half of the back is glass which presumably helps in cellular connections and is also the place of the Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor.

Speaking of the back, Google says they have engineered the best camera experience ever on a mobile camera with the 12.3MP f2.0 camera on both the Pixel and Pixel XL, the camera does however lack optical image stabilization. According to DxO, the cameras on these new Google Pixel phones are the best they have ever tested and that is due to its large 1.55 micron pixel size and large aperture.

In addition to that, Google has tuned the software to make the photo taking experience the fastest one of any mobile camera out there. And to top things off, Google will be giving all Pixel and Pixel XL users unlimited Google Photos storage at original resolution. This means that 4K videos shot on the Pixel phones will be uploaded to Google Photos in it's original size and the same goes to photos, they will not be down-sampled.

What does all of this mean, well for starters, the new Google Pixel phones are being priced like a flagship phone. The 32GB Google Pixel starts at US$ 649 (~MYR 2,700) which is identical to the iPhone 7 price and goes up all the way to US$ 869 (~MYR 3,600) for the 128GB Pixel XL. The Google Pixel phones are available for pre-order beginning today in the US, UK, Canada, Germany and Australia.

In addition to that, both Pixel phones will come with Google's 24/7 tech support courtesy of Care by Google, it will also support Google's Live cases and their Fi network. And in case you were wondering, both the Pixel and Pixel XL comes with USB-C ports that support fast charging and also a 3.5mm headphone jack. Learn more about the new Google Pixel phones here.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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There is no denying that Google's YouTube video platform is the the best video sharing network on the market and Google has been working to improve the viewing experience in the last couple of years. In 2014, YouTube Red was announced as a premium ad-free version of YouTube which drops advertisements and adds exclusive YT only content from popular producers.

At the same time, Google also launched YouTube Offline for developing countries like India and today, the company is spinning off that concept into a dedicated application called YouTube Go. According to Google, this new YouTube Go app was tailored specifically for the Indian market. When available, this application will allow users to download videos for offline viewing.

The feature to download videos is important for markets like India where high speed data connectivity is still not widely available. But as of right now, Google isn't saying when this application will be available for download but interested (Indian) users can sign up to be the first to try out this app here
ORIGINAL SOURCE: YOUTUBE
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For most people, Google Chrome of Mozilla Firefox is their choice for a web browser but today Opera is shaking up the game. The browser based on Google's Chromium project is gaining a brand new VPN feature. The company says that Opera 40 will be the first major browser to come with a built-in VPN service.

And if you know something about a VPN service, it usually costs money but thanks to Opera's acquisition of VPN company SurfEasy last year, they are making VPNs free. At launch, the VPN service on Opera 40 will allow users to virtually represent 5 different countries namely United States, Canada, Germany, Netherlands and Singapore.

VPNs have several uses and one of them is accessing location specific websites like Hulu or streaming US-only Netflix shows. While the VPN feature is included with Opera 40, it is not turned on by default. In order to get the free VPN service to work on Opera 40 "Go to “Settings” (or “Preferences” on Mac), choose “Privacy & Security” and then toggle the free VPN. An icon labeled “VPN” will appear in the browser, from which you can toggle VPN on and off, and choose a location."

Beyond the added VPN feature, Opera 40 also introduces an automatic battery saving feature and also brings the browser to the latest version of Google's Chromium 53. Download the latest version of Opera here

ORIGINAL SOURCE: OPERA
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Xiaomi makes a lot of things but one thing that the company does not make is a Virtual Reality device. But that changes today as they have just announced the Xiaomi Mi VR Play which is a simple Google Cardboard-like VR headset. Opposed to being made out of cardboard, Xiaomi opted to make their VR headset out of spandex which is a clothing material.

The headset itself will support phones with screens 4.7 - 5.7-inches and Xiaomi has implemented a zipper design to lock the smartphone in the headset while in use. In addition to all of that, Xiaomi is also introducing several stylish designs for the Mi VR Play. Another unique thing about the Xiaomi's VR headset is the Mi VR app which is used to view 2D/3D content. The app itself bundles in the functionality of several video streaming services in China.

But beyond that, Xiaomi's VR headset is just another affordable VR headset. Currently, Xiaomi is publicly testing the Mi VR Play in China and expect to see it come out of China eventually. 


ORIGINAL SOURCE: XIAOMI
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During a special session at Sunway University this morning, Google Malaysia launched a new campaign for the Malaysian market called the YouTube Broadcast Box. During the campaign, Google will be setting up mobile recording studios across Malaysia complete with lighting, camera equipment, editing stations, a green screen and a crew to help creators with their filming and editing

YouTube creators and passionate filmmakers will be able to take advantage of the temporary filming space for free. The first YouTube Broadcast Box will be at Sunway University from the 1-5th August 2016 and the space will be open from 10am to 6pm daily. After that, Google will be bringing the YouTube Broadcast Box to Penang and Sarawak.

This free recording space is made possible with the help of Sunway University and Maxis.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: AMANZ
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You might have already noticed this one if you are a frequent Google Maps user. In the latest version of Google Maps, Google is introducing a new color scheme, an updated typography and an improved layout that helps users to easily identify popular places on the map.
Previously, Google Maps was only showing the names of popular places on the map but with the new update, Google is implementing a new color scheme that will enable users to easily locate the places with high traffic and as you can see in the image above, places like Suria KLCC and Quill City Mall is colored in yellow which indicates that the location is an 'Area of Interest'

According to Google, they are using a specific Algorithm to highlight areas of interest on the map. You can check out the new Google Maps look on the web or through the Android or iOS app.

Old (left) vs New (right)
ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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After briefly teasing the next major release of Android before and after Google I/O 2016, today Google is officially naming the next version of Android. Up until today, the next release of Android was simply called Android N (and also briefly known as Android Namey McNamface) and throug Snpachat, Google officially revealed the Android Nougat name.

This name is the result of the naming poll which Google had a couple of weeks back that gave fans the opportunity to name the next version of Android. While we do have a definitive name for the next major release of Android, we still don't know whether it'll continue the Android 6.x build number or jump straight to Android 7.x. 

Andoid Nougat will be officially known as Android 7.0 and is expected to be released by the end of the Summer in time for the release of new flagship Android phones in the Fall. Nougat will comes with features like Daydream VR, native split view multitasking, better battery optimizations, etc.


---UPDATE 1/1/16 11:13---
Article updated to reflect Android 7.0 version number.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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The next version of Android is poised to receive a name within the next couple of weeks and alongside that, we are also expecting to see a new Nexus phone. But if you are looking for a modern smartphone that is capable of the latest and greatest without the high price tag, the Nexus 5X by LG might be your best bet.

LG Nexus 5X Key Specifications

— 5.2-inch 1080P IPS LCD display
— Snapdragon 808 SoC
— 2GB RAM
— 32GB expandable memory
— 12.3MP f2.0 rear camera
— 5MP front camera
— 2,700mAh battery
— Android 6.0 Marshmallow
— 147 x 72.6 x 7.9mm (136g)
— White, Black
— USB Type-C

The Nexus 5X was announced alongside the Huawei made Nexus 6P last fall and the Nexus 6P has been available in Malaysia since December of last year. But according to a report by Amanz, the source confirms that Brightstar (the distributor of LG phones in Malaysia) will begin offering the LG Nexus 5X in Malaysia beginning July 2016.

In terms of pricing, the LG Nexus 5X will be officially priced at RM 1,199 in Malaysia and will be available through official distributors in July 2016. Compared to budget android phones that have been coming out recently, the Nexus 5X might look a little expensive but you do get stock Android in return. It is also worth to note that the Nexus 5X will be guaranteed at least another year of official updates.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: AMANZ
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Lazada has been getting exclusive products lately and we can now add another product to that list. The 2nd generation Chromecast released late last year is now officially available in Malaysia and Lazada is the exclusive distributor of both the 2015 Chromecast and Chromecast Audio. Both devices are priced at RM 199 and while it is a little bit more than the US$ 35 (~MYR 142) price, Lazada is throwing in a 12 month subscription of iflix worth RM 96. There's also a 1 year warranty.

In case you don't know what the Chromecast is, it is basically a dongle that enables you to stream media to your TV through the Google Cast app. It's also cool to know that the Google Home hub that Google recently showed off during Google I/O is also based off the Chromecast technology.

The 2015 Chromecast is an improvement over the original Chromecast dongle and the new model features a simple design and new color options. Unfortunately, Lazada will only be offering the black Chromecast and Chromecast Audio in Malaysia because the yellow and red models are exclusive to the Google Store. You can learn about the improvements made to the new Chromecast in my recent review of the 2015 Chromecast here

Buy the 2nd generation Chromecast and Chromecast audio here

ORIGINAL SOURCE: SOYACINCAU
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At CES this year, Lenovo revealed that they will be releasing the first Tango (formerly known as Project Tango) smartphone by Summer 2016 and today at Lenovo's Tech World 2016, the company did just that. Enter the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, the first smartphone that packs Google's Tango technology designed to bring augmented reality into our pockets.

The focus on this new phablet from Lenovo is definitely the optics on the rear of the device. The Phab 2 Pro comes with 4 lenses on the back that includes the main 16MP sensor paired alongside wide angle cameras and also a depth sensing module. All of these combine to make the base of Google's Tango technology that enables augmented reality experiences.

According to The Verge, there will be at least 25 new applications alongside the release of the Phab 2 Pro later this year and by the end of the year, both Google and Lenovo are expecting over 100 applications to be available. These applications ranging from location based and games will take advantage of the Phab 2 Pro's array of cameras.

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro Key Specifications

— 6.4-inch QHD display
— Snapdragon 652 SoC
— 4GB RAM
— 64GB memory
— 16MP rear camera
— 8MP front camera
— 4,050mAh battery
— Android 6.0 Marshmallow
— 179.8 x 88.6 10.7mm
— Gold/Gray

Lenovo says that the Phab 2 Pro will be available globally by the end of the year but will begin it's journey in the US beginning September 2016 for US$ 499 (~MYR 2,020).



ORIGINAL SOURCE: LENOVO
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Android Wear was first announced back in Google I/O 2014 and to celebrate the second anniversary, Google is announcing Android Wear 2.0 which includes updated features. The biggest changed with Android Wear 2.0 is that watches can now act independently without the need of a smartphone and apps in particular can now directly utilize the Wi-Fi or LTE modem to get information.

With this new release of Android Wear, Google has streamlined the UI to make it more easier to use. That includes a new way to interact with notifications, particularly, messages. Android Wear 2.0 also includes a new system design that includes Material Design elements and also a new launcher and watch face editor to make the experience more personal. 

Android Wear 2.0 also puts some specific focus on being a standalone wearable with the integration with Google's Fit Platform that enables any Android Wear device to be more like a fitness tracker with automatic activity tracking.

At the moment, Android Wear 2.0 is available for developers only and Google will only push out the official update later this year. Learn more about Android Wear 2.0 in the source link below.


ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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Google is preparing to launch Android N in the coming weeks and while they are still trying to find a name for it, the company did reveal a couple new features coming to this new release on Android. To no surprise, Google is baking in VR right into Android N and they are calling the VR experience on Android N as Daydream.

According to Google, Daydream is designed to be a seamless VR experience and alongside a custom UI that Google is building into Android N, they are also introducing a couple of hardware specifications that make an Android device Daydream-Ready. The first batch of these Daydream-Ready smartphones will be coming by the end of the year by companies like Samsung, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, Huawei, ZTE, Asus and Alcatel.

Learn more about Google' Daydream platform here


ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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The theme for Google I/O this years seems to be focused more on the real world implementations of Google's proprietary technologies. Allo and Duo is Google's two new messaging app that is the first to take advantage of what Google Assistant has to offer. These two applications, one being a text based messaging app and another being a video calling app.

Unlike Google Hangouts, Allo and Duo will not be tied to your Google account, rather it will be relying on your phone number like WhatsApp. The app which will be available in the coming weeks will be on both Android and iOS.



What makes Allo (the messaging app) unique is that Google has baked in a couple of new features that revolve around Google's Assistant. The biggest feature is called smart reply which suggests replies for your conversation, Google says that Allo will learn how you reply to messages and over time, it will provide you with replies based on your personal style.

In addition to that, Allo is also deeply integrated with Google's search functionality just like the Gboard keyboard for iOS. What this means is that you will be able to directly utilize Google search quries in your messaging app. But that's not all, Google also included some cool features like being able to interact with the Google Assistant to play games or ask questions.

And last but not least, Google says that Allo is built with security in mind and messages are end to end encrypted. There is also a cool incognito mode that works like the incognito mode on Chrome. Once you close a chat in incognito mode, it will be gone forever.


The second messaging app is called Duo and Google says that they built the app to create a unique one to one video experience. Just like Allo, Duo is also based on your phone number and will be available for both iOS and Android phones in the coming weeks.

What differentiates Duo from other video calling apps is that Google says they have streamlined the video calling experience to works smoothly even with a slow network. There is also this feature on Duo called Knock Knock that gives you a live stream of the caller before you decide to answer it. Check out the video below to see what I'm saying.


ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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Google I/O 2016 has kicked off and the opening keynote this morning has seen several new innovations being announced. One of them is Google Home which is the only hardware product Google unveiled this morning. The product which is designed to be a direct competitor with Amazon's Alexa assistant will only be available later this Fall.

Google says that Google Home is designed to be the central hub for Google's vision for a smart home and the core engine powering the Google Home is Google search itself. It is basically a speaker with a microphone that is also customizable in terms of design. The company says that their prowess in voice recognition and contextual searching with Google will allow the Google Home to be a seamless experience. 

Google Home will work as a standalone device connected to the internet but the possibilities are endless as it will also support hardware like Google's Chromecast and the Nest Thermostat. No word on pricing or availability outside of the US yet but expect to hear more about Google Home later this year.


ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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Third party keyboards are an easy way to personalize and iOS device. While there are a ton of options these days, Google's new Gboard keyboard is probably the most innovative one yet. Building upon features like gesture typing and advanced auto-correct, GBoard puts a twist to the idea of a smartphone keyboard by integrating Google search directly into the keyboard.
Available exclusively for iOS devices right now, the Google search bar on the keyboard allows users to easily send google search results like a movie trailer or an address. You could also easily search for emojis. No word as to when this keyboard will be available on Android but given that Google I/O is just around the corner, expect to see it coming to Android sooner than later. Download Gboard today


ORIGINAL SOURCE: GOOGLE
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