Category: Google

Exclusive: Google Nexus 6 Will Launch in India End 2014 for Rs. 42,999

This will be a shocker of mammoth proportions, especially for those waiting for this handset. Agreed that on paper, and mostly in reality, the Nexus 6 is expected to be a monster, but this will be Google’s most expensive handset yet.

According to our source at Motorola, the Google Nexus branded Moto phone will be available later this year for a whopping price of Rs 42999 for the 32 GB variant. The Nexus 6 is also expected to go on sale by the 11th of December, however with the past track record of Nexus devices in India we can’t be too sure. Granted that for a QuadHD display and Snapdragon 805 one would be willing to shed out that much, the Nexus 6 however has not been Google’s best attempt at making a budget flagship. Which was the case with devices like the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 5, which were essentially cheaper variants of their expensive counterparts, i.e. the LG Optimus G and the LG G2.

This is the first time the Nexus device is actually more expensive than the device it is based on, and that due to mostly the bumped up specs, and Motorola’s already tight margins.

Motorola in India may not have the right alignment for the Nexus 6, however it may be a great opportunity for the company to initiate tie-ups or payment schemes to help users buy this device. This could also be a great opportunity to talk network tie-ups and contracts in India, which might become a big thing starting 2015.

Either way you look at it, the Nexus 6 will miss out most of its prospective buyers in India, and Google may need to work really hard to sell the one the the very price conscious Indian audience.

The Nexus 6 was announced along side the Nexus 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop and features a 5.96” 1440×2560 display (493 ppi) a 3220 mAh battery. Camera is a 13MP rear-facing with optical image stabilization and a 2MP front-facing. The Nexus 6 runs a CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 – Quad Core 2.7 GHz processor along with GPU: Adreno 420 and the storage options are 32 GB and 64 GB.

October 15, 2014
Google’s Nexus Player , Plays Games and Runs Apps for US $99

Google has announced the Nexus player along with its launch of the Nexus 6, the Nexus 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Apple TV-esque box is a lot more. It handles streaming, games and run Android apps all for US $99 as the price tag.

The gaming controller however, is an extra $39 at the time of purchase, and a must for any and all gaming fans. Just like the chrome cast , the Nexus Player can stream and function with Android devices, however you can also load apps and the player will natively work with Google’s Android TV. For options you get Netflix, Hulu, Food Network, Travel Channel and few more, however Sports Packages and HBO Go have been left out. What this also means is that most con tries apart from the US and UK may not get the Android Player.

The device goes for pre-order on the 17th of OCT, however will not be available until November 3rd. Stay tuned for India bound news.

October 15, 2014
Android 5.0 is Lollipop

After monte of initial release the Android 5.0 version has been made official and its called Lollipop (sorry not ladoo). The OS was mostly known as Android L since its announcement and now it has finally been named along with the launch of the three flagship products, the Nexus 6, the Nexus 9 and a $99 Nexus player.

Google has been kind to confirm that Android 5.0 Lollipop is coming to the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 along with Google Play edition devices, in the coming weeks.

Motorola gets dibs on first lineup, as Motorola’s most new launches will get Lollipop almost as soon as Nexus devices.these include both generations of the Moto X and Moto G (including the US LTE model), Moto E, and US based Droid Maxx, Droid Mini and Droid Ultra.

Expect to hear from other companies in a while, although HTC’s new launches including the HTC Desire 820, new Desire Eye will ship with Android L out of the box later this month, hence the delay in launch.

October 15, 2014
Nexus 9 Goes Live, HTC Made, Steel Frame Tegra K1 Tablet

Google and HTC have finally announced the new Nexus 9 tablet. Just like the rumors, it is a 8.9 inch tablet with a Nvidia Tegra K1 chip on the inside. The Nexus 9 is superbly well made, which became evident with a few minutes of hands on time wis had with the device.

It features a stainless steel frame and robust finish, a beautiful example of HTC’s craftsmanship and also their welcome back into the tablet world. You get a 16 and 32 GB variant along with a LTE based 32 Gb variant, along with 2 GB RAM in all units.

The camera at the rear will not do 4K video because it is just an 8 MP snapper, but its a wide lens and a great module and clicks great pictures. The aperture is f 2.4 and the sensor is a BSI sensor.

For power you get a 6700 mAh battery that should last you through the day and then some. The Tegra K1 chipset has 2 x 2.4 GHz cores on 64 bit architecture. The front has a 8.9 inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 px giving it a 4:3 aspect ratio.

It weighs only 425 gm for the Wifi only and 436 for the LTE variant, keeping it light and extremely portable. The tablet is easily held with one hand and the back panel feels great as well.

October 15, 2014
Google Outs Nexus 6 – Pre Order it for US $ 649 on Oct 29th

Google has just made the Nexus 6 official and yes it’s a Moto X on steroids. The Nexus 6 is the first phone to run Android 5.0 Lollipop, yes it’s called Lollipop. For whatever reason, everything that you wanted in the Moto X has actually been given in the Nexus 6. You get a 5.9 inch QuadHD, screen a faster Snapdragon 805 chipset and a heftier 3220 mAh battery.

Regretting buying that Moto X yet? You get the Moto logo along with a Nexus badge at back and the same 13 MP snapper with the ring dual LED flash.

The phone will be available in the following sizes 32 GB and 64 GB in either the Cloud White or the Midnight Blue colors. The Pre-Orders are set to begin on the 29th of October according to The Verge.

The phone has the same metal structure of the Moto X and also presumably will have the same strength. The button locations are the same, and thanks to the minimal bezel design, the Nexus 6 should look a lot less big.

As far as India is concerned, there is no news on arrival but we are in talks, so stay tuned.

October 15, 2014
Google Finds Web Security Flaw Which Makes Browsers Prone to Hacking

Engineers at Google have unearthed a major flaw named POODLE in Web encryption standard SSL 3.0. POODLE is a new security hole in Secure Socket Layer (SSL) 3.0 that makes the 15-year-old protocol nearly impossible to use safely, said Google security engineers Bodo Möller, Krzysztof Kotowicz and Thai Duong in a new report published on Tuesday.

This flaw allows encrypted information to be exposed by a hacker with access to the network. POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) has become an issue for experts because it’s used by websites as well as web browsers, so POODLE remains a problem as long as SSL 3.0 is supported.

However, the good news is that not much of the internet is entirely dependent on SSL 3.0 anymore, the reason it remains a problem is that hackers can force the browser to downgrade to SSL 3.0.

Experts have advised business and computer users to stop using SSL 3.0 technology on their servers and browsers. Google security experts Adam Langley has advised Chrome users to disable SSL 3.0 right away, and has advised to add this command to the browser: ssl-version-min=tls1

Mozilla security engineer Richard Barnes has advised Firefox users to install a Mozilla security add-on to disable SSL 3.0. There’s also an option if users do not want to use an add on, they can go to about: config and set security.tls.version.min to 1. Firefox 34 will include the fix when it launches in about six weeks.

Meanwhile, in Internet Explorer 7, users need to go to Internet options, click Advanced tab, uncheck SSLv3 and then click on the OK button.

Rumors of this new bug in OpenSSL software have been making rounds on Twitter and tech websites in the past few days. Google security expert Adam Langley states that the POODLE issue relies on a common exploit design in SSL and TLS. “SSL got encryption and authentication the wrong way around,” he said, “it authenticates before encrypting.”

If you don’t have the technological skillsets to do the above mentioned steps yourself, you can wait around for the next browser updates and be sure to update them.

October 15, 2014
Nexus 9 to Reportedly Feature Expandable Memory

According to Forbes, both the LTE as well as the Wi-Fi version of the Nexus 9 will have expandable storage. It is one feature that Nexus fans have repeatedly requested for and Google has not delivered in the past. It will also be the first device to run on Android L.

Forbes has revealed some of the key features of the HTC built Nexus 9, and it would be nice to see the Taiwanese manufacturer bring this feature in this widely popular device. Sources have revealed that the Nexus 9 sports an an 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, weigh 480 gm, have a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. The 16GB version is said to cost $399 and the 32GB LTE version will retail for $499. Both devices will have expandable memory.

There are also reports of HTC’s trademark BOOM sound to be featured on Google’s next tablet including the dual front facing features, something we saw on the One M8 and Desire EYE. Along with that, there are also reports of an an origami magnetic stand case that will be available with the tablet, that can bend in any shape and fold in multiple directions.

Since the original HTC built Nexus One, no devices of the Nexus product range came with expandable storage, we’ll find out more of this long awaited feature today. So stay tuned for more updates of this highly anticipated device.

October 15, 2014
Nexus 9 to Launch Today, Will be the First Device to Run Android L

As we reported earlier, the Nexus 9, codenamed the HTC Volantis, will launch today and it will be the first device to run Android L. Apple in an another big event is expected to launch new gen iPad and iMac, however, taking the lead Google is expected to launch the new Nexus device quietly, via a blog post.

Unlike Apple, Google will apparently eschew a big press event and will instead announce the new platform and the new devices via an official blog post. The company is apparently still fine tuning Android L and it doesn’t want to have a major event for a platform that still needs some refining before its release.

According to several reports that surfaced last week, the Nexus 9 will be available for pre-order on 17th October and available to purchase on the 3rd November. Although there’s no information on when Android L will be available for other Android devices, and the pre-order and purchasing dates are subject to last minute changes. The 16GB version will cost $399 and the 32GB LTE version will retail for $499. Both devices will have expandable memory.

Various reports have also hinted that the new Nexus 9 tablet will have an 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, weigh 480 grams, have a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. HTC and Google have also opted for a “brushed aluminum” frame, instead of an all metal design, to keep costs down.

It is also said that some popular HTC features will come with the new tablet including HTC’s boomsound and the dual front facing speakers, both of which featured on the One M8 and Desire EYE.

However, there is no word on when the Nexus 6 is going to release. According to the previous leaks, the device will feature a QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (498 pixels per inch), a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,200mAh battery and Android L.

Today’s launch will put Google in direct competition with Apple as the iPhone 6 maker is widely expected to reveal its updated iPad on October 16th. Rumours have been circulating around that Apple’s event on Thursday will see the launch of a 9.7-inch ‘iPad Pro’ and possibly a refreshed version of the iPad Air. The larger tablet is likely to see the introduction of Touch ID and both will have the same A8 processor that powers the iPhone 6.

October 15, 2014
Google Reportedly Set to Unveil its New Nexus Tablet Tomorrow

This year’s Nexus offering from Google is expected to be the Nexus 9 which is said to be built by HTC. It seems like the new Nexus tablet could get an official launch before Apple releases its new iPad.

According to a report published in an online portal called Bright Side of News, Google’s Nexus 9 manufactured by HTC will launch on 15th October, just a day before Apple is slated to launch newer iPads. It was earlier said that the Android L update and the new Nexus devices could be released for the public on November 1st, but the new reports say otherwise.

The report also states that one can buy the Google/HTC Nexus 9 from 3 November, the day when Nexus 9 is expected to be up for purchase through physical retail stores. Also, the new report added that Nexus 9 will cost $399 and its the mod highly anticipated tablet of the year, apart from iPad.

It is also said that unlike previous versions of Nexus devices, the new HTC-made Nexus 9 will not be sold exclusively though Play Store and that it “should be widely available on November 3rd.” Also, that the pre-orders will begin the day the device will be announced, i.e October 15.

If the rumors are to be believed, the Nexus 9 will arrive with some amazing specifications. The tablet is reportedly packing an 8.9-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio, while being underpinned by Nvidia’s 64-bit Tegra K1 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The rumor also added that the device will come with an 8 MP primary camera with OIS and a 3 MP selfie camera.

October 14, 2014
According to IDC, India Will be a Tough Market for Android One

Google launched Android One handsets with great promises by not just the company, but also the home grown players that collaborated with the search giant and came out with inexpensive handsets. Though the Android One smartphones, which are priced Rs 6,399 onwards, have been advertised more than any other handset launched by the three companies, they have failed to get the sort of response they expected.

“Despite significant marketing spend already in evidence on Android One, IDC believes India will be a tough crucible for Google. Blocked out of China, Google has no choice but to make a large downstream investment in the Next Billion consumer segment in India,” the research firm said.

The Android One initiative was expected to be an instant success and their manufacturers were expected to make huge profits on the ‘exceptional’ handsets that the company launched last month. They also got good reviews and Micromax’s Android One handset was called the best handset that the company had ever launched.

India is the first country where the California-based firm’s Android One devices have been launched. Roll out across other markets like Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka will follow in coming months. The reports added that the Android One will go further and effectively create a bipolar environment where the high-end will be dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung with their iPhone and Galaxy flagship devices and the low-end will increasingly close around Rs. 6,000 average selling price.

October 13, 2014
New Reports Reveal Nexus 6 Will Arrive Sooner Than You Expect

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Google will announce its next flagship Android smartphone, the Nexus 6, by the end of this month. While it didn’t say the handset will be sold as the Nexus 6, the publication confirmed its internal code name, “Shamu” adding that the handset will have a 5.9-inch high-resolution display and will be sold under the Nexus brand.

The Wall Street Journal hasn’t heard an exact release date, it has heard that the Google Nexus 6 will arrive this month, and will be bigger and cheaper than the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy Note 4 with a 5.9-inch display. The same features have been mentioned in countless leaks that detailed Google’s first Nexus-branded phablet. Previous reports also claimed the phone will arrive by late October or early November.

Google Nexus 5

“Shamu,” or Moto S, depending on which website you follow, but those are most likely just code names, much like Hammerhead was for the Nexus 5. As you might already know, it’s been suggested that Google might shake up the naming convention. The most popular replacement for Google’s numeric tradition is to simply call it Nexus or even Nexus X.

The new Nexus device is said to be a super-sized, more powerful version of the Moto X. While there are a lot of photos and videos leaked regarding the new Nexus device, the reports illustrate that the appearance of the device is basically going to be a scaled up 2nd generation Moto X with some minor tweaks to make the larger size easier to use. It is also said that it’ll have the same aluminum frame, and the company has apparently relocated the phone’s lock and volume buttons down to make them more reachable.

Nexus devices are known for proving pricing rumors wrong every time they debut in the market. They often seem much cheaper than what the specs and user experience would demand. The only price leak we’ve seen is a relatively sketchy one from TKTechNews, who reportedly spotted a listing for a Nexus X device for $420 for 32GB and $450 for 64GB without contract.

October 11, 2014
Everything We Know About Google’s Upcoming Nexus Device

The Nexus series are Google’s star Android devices which showcase true stock Android power every year. As we get closer to this year’s Nexus launch, rumours are flooding our feeds illustrating what the Nexus 6 might look like. Much like the older Nexus devices, the new will most likely showcase the very latest Android L build. Here’s what you can expect from the Google’s next:

Nexus 6 or Nexus X?

The device has been named “Shamu,” or Moto S, depending on which website you follow, but those are most likely just code names, much like Hammerhead was for the Nexus 5. It is also said that the Moto S is a reference to a likely Verizon-exclusive Droid-variant of the upcoming Nexus. As you might already know, it’s been suggested that Google might shake up the naming convention. The most popular replacement for Google’s numeric tradition is to simply call it Nexus or even Nexus X.

Who is making it?

All leaks and rumors have claimed that the new Google Nexus will be made by Motorola. Considering Google’s decision to sell Motorola Mobility to Lenovo in January this year, while retaining many of the company’s patents, this comes as a small surprise. Though, it seems both companies have a healthy relationship, as Motorola handsets are one of the first ones to get Android updates. Earlier it was believed that Google will rope LG or HTC to make the new Nexus Device. Instead, recent rumors illustrates that HTC got the nod for the Nexus 9 tablet.

Design

The new Nexus device is said to be a super-sized, more powerful version of the Moto X. While there are a lot of photos and videos leaked regarding the new Nexus device, the reports illustrate that the appearance of the device is basically going to be a scaled up 2nd generation Moto X with some minor tweaks to make the larger size easier to use. It is also said that it’ll have the same aluminum frame, and the company has apparently relocated the phone’s lock and volume buttons down to make them more reachable.

Others speculate that Google might consider releasing two separate Nexus devices—a 5.9-inch and a 5.2-inch, but the rumors about any smaller version have been remarkably thinner than those about the bigger one. One of Moto X’s main draws is Moto Maker, the smartphone’s dedicated customization site that lets customers pick specific colors, accents, and materials. However, Google is possibly planning its own Nexus-based design tool that can personalize your phone to an even greater degree with your own photography or maps of specific places.

Nexus X Concept

Innards

A Nexus 6 benchmark has appeared, showing it’ll outperform top phones like the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy S5. The information leaked in the listing suggests the phone will have a 2.65GHz quad-core CPU, almost certainly the Snapdragon 805, and 3GB of RAM. The listing for the Nexus 6 has appeared on Geekbench, one of the top benchmarking utilities. It shows the Nexus 6 or Nexus X will offer more power than the current crop despite, with any luck, costing significantly less. The Nexus 6 scores 3,199 points in the Geekbench 3 test, roughly 10% more than top phones like the Samsung Galaxy S5. The phone may come to need that extra power as the Nexus 6 is believed to have a 2560 x 1440-pixel screen.

Price

Nexus devices are known for proving pricing rumors wrong every time they debut in the market. They often seem much cheaper than what the specs and user experience would demand. The only price leak we’ve seen is a relatively sketchy one from TKTechNews, who reportedly spotted a listing for a Nexus X device for $420 for 32GB and $450 for 64GB without contract.

When will it be available?

Google has never made a big deal about its Nexus releases. Last year, the Nexus 5 got a press release and a silent-yet-immediate rollout in the Google Play store. It is believed that google is planning to do something similar this time around with the release date being near the end of October.

October 10, 2014
Image of Google’s Upcoming HTC-Built Nexus 9 Tablet Leaked

After a slew of rumours regarding Google’s Nexus 9 tablet, we now have an image to see what we can expect from this new device built by HTC. Famous leakster @Upleaks, which has a track record for getting its hands on products ahead of launch dates, tweeted a picture of what appears to be the next generation Nexus tablet yesterday.

Leaked image of the new Nexus tablet, which the leakster referred as T1, features the same model number shown in earlier leaks in the past months. The new device is expected to launch this m0nth, however there is no credibility to this rumor.

T1 pic.twitter.com/yfxumLP1J7
— @upleaks (@upleaks) October 6, 2014

While it’s uncertain whether or not the product is legitimate, the photo is in line with earlier rumors about Nexus 9’s design and built. The device, which appears to be more square than other Android tablets we’ve seen, has the HTC logo at the bottom of the back casing.

It is said that Google is dropping the Nexus 8 which was expected to come after Asus built Nexus 7 in favour of Nexus 9, more likely because of its 9-inch screen. It is believed that the Nexus 9 could be the first device to get Google’s new mobile operating system Android L. Other features include a rear-camera with LED flash, a microUSB port and a possible NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip.

October 7, 2014
Google to Take on Whatsapp with its own Messaging App

There is no shortage of messaging apps for smartphones. For whatever operating system you are using, there would be multiple messaging app options for you. Now internet’s Godzilla, Google will be making its foray into the market. The app is expected to be put to test in India and other emerging markets.

The report published by Economic Times said Google sent its top product manager Nikhyl Singhal to India for a recce of the messaging app ecosystem in the country. The app is currently in the developmental stage and is expected to be launched in 2015.

The app will take on the likes of Whatsapp, Hike and Others

The app will be free to use and will not require users to use a Google account for login. It will also free to use in comparison to Whatsapp’s freemium model. Google might give the app some autonomy just like Facebook gave Whatsapp.

Google is paying heightened attention to India because the country is expected to become the second biggest mobile market by 2019. It is also expected to have a 500 million strong internet using population by 2018. There appears to be a huge scope for the tech giant to cash in on these users.

Coming to the app at hand, Google really has to bring something convenient and unique on the table as there is a massive user-base in India which has grown comfortable with Whatsapp. To lure them the company has to put in some serious effort otherwise it will also turn into a ghost town like Google Plus.

October 3, 2014
Today Google Bids Farewell to its First Social Networking Site Orkut

Internet giant Google confirmed it be will shutting down Orkut. Ten years ago, Orkut helped start conversations and forge connections. Well, it started what we call social networking today.

Even though Orkut is still very popular in India and Brazil, it lost to rivals like Facebook and Twitter. In a blog post, Google commented, “Over the past decade, YouTube, Blogger and Google+ have taken off, with communities springing up in every corner of the world. Because the growth of these communities has outpaced Orkut’s growth, we’ve decided to bid Orkut farewell (or, tchau). We’ll be focusing our energy and resources on making these other social platforms as amazing as possible for everyone who uses them.”

“We will shut down Orkut on September 30, 2014. Until then, there will be no impact on current Orkut users, to give the community time to manage the transition. People can export their profile data, community posts and photos using Google Takeout (available until September 2016). Starting today, it will not be possible to create a new Orkut account.”

Orkut was launched in 2004, the same year when Facebook was founded. Facebook is now the world`s largest social network with 1.28 billion users. Google, of course, switched its attention to Google+ in 2011, leaving Orkut to largely fend for itself, and in June decided to pull the plug on September 30.

Here’s a highlight reel infographic to remember it by, created by One Productions:

September 30, 2014