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Cool Features on Android 8.0 Oreo

By Paul B. Kaiser on August 30, 2017

Android 8 has officially launched with the name OREO. Not a huge surprise, but everyone loves the cookie. Now will we love the Android operating system? I think so. I was a beta tester for the “O” system and I can tell you that the notifications, speed and battery life were greatly improved. I think Google has made some nice refinements to a good operating system.

My first impression is that there are not huge changes but some very nice tweaks to the system. It’s faster, extends the battery life, improves your notifications, WiFi is improved, and it’s already on Verizon for Pixel and XL – that’s the best news. There are a a few features I’d like to highlight but you can check out most of the features in the video below.

New Look for Settings Menu

The most obvious visual change is a revamped Settings menu, which features subtle dark gray text on an all-white background. Strangely, the side navigation menu introduced in Android Nougat is gone, but all of the various menus have been reorganized to make the Settings area as simple and straightforward as possible.

Notifications

Android Oreo will group notifications into channels, giving users greater control over their app notification categories. Google says:

“Users can block or change the behavior of each channel individually, rather than managing all of the apps’ notifications together.”

Another new feature will be notification dots, which are visual indicators on app icons that’ll show if you have any waiting notifications. This is a feature that iPhone users will be familiar with, as it’s been part of Apple’s iOS software for years. This could be the best feature. Being able to see whether you got email or a text or a message, this is a time saver. See the dot on my Gmail below.

Of course you can disable the notification badges with a long-press on the home screen, followed by a tap on Settings. Next, slide the switch next to All notification dots to the Off position.

Snooze that Notification

Google is also making it possible to snooze individual notifications, which is seriously useful given the persistence of some Android system notifications. You’ll be able to snooze notifications for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or one whole hour. It hides away from view, but will pop up again at a later time to remind us that we have unfinished business.

Picture-in-Picture mode (PiP)

One of Android 8.0’s flagship features, this was previously available on Android TV and has made its way to the smartphone. PiP lets you keep watching what you’re doing in a small floating window while you venture into other apps. It’s a pretty cool feature.

You can drag it around the screen and tap it to access playback controls or make it full screen. Of course, you can also disable this feature on an app by app basis if you don’t like it. Just o to the App Info page for the app in question, or visit the Special app access section in Apps and Notifications to see all apps with support for PiP.

Emojis around the house

Yes the emoji has been elevated. The stock Android blob emoji are now officially gone. The good news is that Google also released the new EmojiCompat library, which helps Android phones to “translate” new emoji and read them, instead of displaying an empty box with an X.

Wi-Fi improvements

Are you always in the habit of disabling Wi-Fi to save battery when you’re away from home? Android Oreo allows your device to automatically turn Wi-Fi back on when it detects you’re home and reconnect to your home network to save on mobile data.

Camera app improvements

Google is spending some time reworking the camera app, offering a new double-tap feature that lets you quickly get to 50% zoom. There’s also a new dedicated button that lets you switch between photo and video modes; previously, users were forced to swipe, which some may have found unintuitive.

The Android Oreo Promo Video

Apple’s HomePod – Is this the next big thing? A robot without legs?

By Paul B. Kaiser on June 15, 2017

As expected, Apple has announced their version of the Amazon Echo and Google Home, a voice assistant – called the HomePod (releasing in December). Announced at the WWDC 2017 show, Apple has added quite a few hardware to their ecosystem besides the Homepod, but that’s for another story. The voice assistant, HomePod, will hopefully put Apple in the game. While they missed all the excitement of this technology, the question is can they do it better? One would hope so with all the money Apple can throw behind it. However, their voice activation software “Siri,” has fallen from grace since it first debuted in 2011. I mean you could make the case that Apple had the voice activation technology in the household first, but it had no purpose. Amazon had provided more purpose, Google has provided more depth in data, and maybe Apple will combine the 2 and wrap it in a futuristic look.

So to be clear, Apple has released this technology as a great “connected speaker,” and not a voice activated command center. This rivals the Sonos type speakers that have been out for some time and connect well throughout the house. Sonos is expensive and so is Apple unfortunately – $349. Although, the smart marketer in me says this is a way to incorporate it into your home under the guise of a speaker with a purpose. And then let the concept of a sound device become a necessity for the home. I mean who can live without 7 tweeters?

At the end of the day this supports Apple iTunes which has been falling out of favor as well. But those die-hard Applers who live for Apple’s ecosystem, this will provide a new channel for the consumer to interact with the ecosystem. And of course buy stuff. I think this is a big question for Apple. Can someone use it outside the ecosystem? Or does this divide the Apple/Android market even more?

“Apple is a technology company that leads innovation with their products and software platforms, providing seamless experiences across devices, and empowering people with breakthrough services.” – Interbrand 2016

The answer is yes and no. For music, it will be tied into iTunes and the apple store. Control of your home can use third party devices but Apple will make it very attractive to use everything tied into their Home Kit. And again when you stay in the Apple ecosystem it can be a great experience. One that usually edges them over the competition from a user experience standpoint. My gut feeling is that Apple will won the race on sound and compatibility.

If Siri, doesn’t get way better, Amazon and Google will continue to dominate the information/data feedback to consumers. People love to ask questions to their robots. Even silly stupid stuff. In 2016 it was “What is Pokemon Go?” But there is so much more you can do with your robot without legs. Here is a list of commands from a previous story.

So, to all the robots without legs out there, “there’s a new sheriff in town.” Well in December anyway. The HomePod will add a rich sound in your house, provide answers to those silly questions, and lock the doors on your house. For me, this Apple utopian ecosystem and robot that controls my life – this idolizes the future as described in Ray Bradbury books. We’ll reconvene in December to ask Siri the hard questions.

HomePod as explained by Apple

HomePod Sexy Pictures

New Google Photos features announced at I/O 2017

By Paul B. Kaiser on May 19, 2017

It’s hard to believe that Google photos was introduced only two years ago, but that’s the fact. At “I/O ’17” Google made some announcements around Google Photos enhancements. Google Photos is no joke saying that it now has more than 500 million people use it every month. And they are backing up more than 1.2 billion photos and videos per day. How crazy is that number? Their ads should read “we have a Gazillion photos!” Google Photos is announcing three new ways to help you “share and receive the meaningful moments of your life.”

If you are not using Google Photos, these 3 new features may entice you, But to be honest, Google Photos was solid out of the box 2 years ago. These are nice additions and I highly recommend you see what else Google Photos can do. Just being able to search your thousands of photos with image recognition is enough. And yes you can get it on iOS too. Download the iOS version here or the Android version here.

“500 million people using Google Photos a month”

Photo Books

Apple folks will recognize this feature as they have been doing this great for some years. Google can think them for paving the way. Not sure if Google will do it any better but it’s a nice feature.

Photo books are incredibly easy to make—even on your phone. They’re beautiful, high quality, with a clean and modern design. And thanks to our powerful search technology, your photos are already organized by the people, places, or things that matter. Once you select the photos, Google Photos will find the best shots for you—removing duplicates and poor quality images. All that’s left for you to do is make a few tweaks and place your order. Soon, we’ll even suggest photo books just for you, like your trip to the Grand Canyon, time with family during the holidays, your puppy, or even your kid’s artwork.

Photo books are rolling out in the U.S. on web, and on Android and iOS next week, starting at just $9.99 for a 20-page softcover book and $19.99 for a hardcover book. We’ll bring photo books to more countries soon.

Suggested Sharing

How many times have you forgotten to share that group shot with everyone else in it? Or how often do you have to ask your spouse to send those cute pictures of the kids?

With Google’s new sharing suggestions, you can finally share and receive all the photos that really matter to you, without the work. Using machine learning technology, Google Photos will not only remind you to share—it will automatically select the right photos, and even suggest who you should send them to based on who was in the photos. Just tap send, and your friends and family will see all your photos, and get a reminder to add theirs too. Now all the photos of that birthday dinner or weekend trip are in one place, including—and especially—the photos you didn’t take.

Shared Libraries

Share with that special person you share just about everything with, like your spouse, partner or best friend? Wouldn’t it be easier if you could automatically share relevant photos with them? For example, I would love it if every photo I ever took of my kids was shared with my wife.

With Shared Libraries, you can effortlessly and automatically send and receive photos with one other person. You can give them access to your full photo library or, if you prefer, only photos of certain people or from a certain date forward. And when they share their library with you, you can automatically save the photos you want so they also show up in search and in the movies, collages and other fun creations Google Photos makes for you. Gone are the days of begging your partner for those special pictures only stored on their phone.

Google Lens

At Google’s I/O developer conference, CEO Sundar Pichai announced a new technology called Google Lens. The idea with the product is to leverage Google’s computer vision and AI technology in order to bring smarts directly to your phone’s camera. As Google explains, the smartphone camera won’t just see what you see, but will also understand what you see to help you take action.

Google showed off how you could point your camera at something and Lens tells you what it is — like, it could identify the restaurnat your in front of and provide more information. In another example, Pichai showed how Lens could do a common task — connecting you to a home’s Wi-Fi network by snapping a photo of the sticker on the router.

The Google Lens features aren’t ready for Google Photos yet, but the machine learning engine is coming later this summer. Google Lens will be able to understand what’s in an image, identify what you’re looking at, and help you edit photos on the fly. It’ll even get rid of obstructions in an image — in the event you actually catch your finger ruining an an otherwise amazing photo, for example.

The promo video by Google Photos

A new Perspective for Google Earth

By Paul B. Kaiser on April 18, 2017

Google released a new version of Google Earth today, just in time for Earth Day. And it is awesome! Their blog says “today we’re introducing a brand-new version of Google Earth—on the web and Android—two years in the making. (Don’t fret – IOS is coming soon.) With the new Earth, we want to open up different lenses for you to see the world and learn a bit about how it all fits together; to open your mind with new stories while giving you a new perspective on the locations and experiences you cherish. It’s everything you love about Google Earth, plus new ways for you to explore, learn and share.”

Download the app on Play store – Google Earth

Zoom in and see what adventures await you in the new Google Earth.

Google made some substantial upgrades as well as some user behavior modifications. For instance Google said, “nearly everyone who’s opened Google Earth in the last decade does the same thing first: they search for their home. Home is how we orient ourselves—it’s where we start from. Then we zoom out. We see our neighborhood, then our city, our province, our country, our continent, and eventually: our blue marble. Out in space, our planet looks impossibly small. But improbably, it’s home to all of us.

On the eve of Earth Day, I’m reminded of something I’ve learned watching people use Google Earth over the years: Home is not just how we understand our place in the world—it’s a means to connect to something bigger than ourselves.

So, what’s new? – There are 3 main areas, besides the incredible photos and graphics, that are even better. Voyager, Explore and 3D effects are the main updates. One note though, you need to have WebGL graphics acceleration in your browser. So for instance, my MacBook Pro from 2013 does not work with the recent version. You need a recent device. My Android Pixel XL runs everything though. Google says updating to all browsers will be ongoing.

Broaden your horizons with Voyager

Google joined up with some of the world’s leading storytellers, scientists and nonprofits to bring the planet to life with Voyager, a showcase of interactive guided tours.

Explore and learn about anywhere

Uncover hidden gems the world over with “I’m feeling lucky,” a new feature that takes you somewhere unexpected with the click of a button. Once you’ve landed on a point of interest, open a Knowledge Card to learn history and facts about that place and see more pictures of it. To add a dash of serendipity to your travels, flip through the stack of cards and discover related places.

Share the beauty you find

Click the new 3D button to see any place from any angle. Swoop around the Grand Canyon and see geological layers, or check out the majestic architecture and pristine grounds of the 500-year-old Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley in France.

How do they make those 3D Graphics so cool? Let Nat & Friends explain in the video below.

In this video, learn about the pixels, planes, and people that create Google Earth’s 3D imagery.

Also of note is that Google Earth is no longer a download-only program — it can now be accessed from any computer with Google Chrome installed, with support for the other big browsers coming soon. Now go check out your house.

The tech race to glucose monitoring will be a Win-Win

By Paul B. Kaiser on April 13, 2017

It was reported today that Apple has a secret team working on sensors that will monitor and assist in the treatment for diabetes. Actually it has not been a secret as they have been working on this for a couple years, but it sounds like they may be closer. The rumor is that Apple has hired a small team of biomedical engineers to work at a nondescript office in Palo Alto, California, miles from corporate headquarters. They are part of a secret plan, initially envisioned by Steve Jobs, to develop sensors that can non-invasively and continuously monitor blood sugar levels to better treat diabetes. Jobs envisioned wearable devices, like smartwatches, being used to monitor important vitals, such as oxygen levels, heart rate and blood glucose.

“In the US there are 30 million people with diabetes”

Make no mistake, a breakthrough like this would be a huge money maker. Just in the US there are 30 million people with diabetes – maybe not all Apple watch owners, but you get the picture. It could turn the Apple Watch into a “must have” rather than a “nice to have” for people who would benefit from an easier way to track their blood sugar – no more pricks to the finger.

google glucose
Apple isn’t the only technology company eyeing opportunities in the space. Verily, Google’s life sciences team, is currently working on a “smart” contact lens to measure blood sugar via the eye, and it partnered up with DexCom in 2015 to develop a glucose-sensing device no bigger than a bandage. Verily is also working with Sanofi to do the same thing. Sanofi announced the end of last year that “the company will leverage Verily’s experience in miniaturized electronics, analytics, and consumer software development, with Sanofi’s clinical expertise and experience in bringing innovative treatments to people living with diabetes.”

Whether or not its not all about the money, a tech breakthrough like this will positively affect so many people. Having known so many people with the disease myself, I can say that even simplifying the task of measuring your blood everyday, will be a big relief for diabetes patients. May the best tech company win – as well as patients. Win-Win.

The glucose monitoring software is already there.

Your new TV has arrived – Is YouTube streaming TV right for you?

By Paul B. Kaiser on April 6, 2017

That’s right – YouTube has launched it’s Live streaming TV service that could replace your cable service. Or can it? YouTube TV officially launched April 5th in 5 cities and surrounding areas. (I was able to sign up for the 30 Day Free Trial 25 miles outside New York City.)

NY
LA
San Francisco Bay area
Philadelphia
Chicago

Personally, I’m excited for this. It may not be perfect, and there my not be an abundant amount of channels, but moving forward, this is the model in which people will watch TV/movies/shows. YouTube TV has the potential to work well for all the cord cutters who don’t want an entire cable subscription. But it is one step and cost in the mix of media you will want – see article on media strategy.

Users will have access to over 40 channels by default, but they can also add a few others for a few extra bucks, like Showtime. Anyone who wants to simply record their TV programs can do so via digital DVR, which comes with unlimited storage, so that’s cool. However, the biggest advantage that YouTube TV has over its competitors like DirectTV appears to be the reliability of the streaming, which certainly adds to its appeal.

To get started with live streaming TV:

Check out tv.youtube.com today to start your free trial.
You can also sign up on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
If you’re not in one of the initial launch markets but want to find out when YouTube TV is coming to your area, you can sign up here.

Heres the stuff you get with a YouTube TV membership, you’ll get:

Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports Networks, Comcast SportsNet and dozens more. YouTube TV gives you the best of live TV, from must-see shows like “Empire,” “The Voice,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Scandal,” to the live sports you want from the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NCAA. Based on where you live, you’ll get your local broadcast TV stations covering local sports and news. You’ll also get dozens of popular cable channels, including FX, USA, Disney Channel, Bravo, MSNBC, Fox News. And you can add Showtime or Fox Soccer Plus for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV will give you more than 50 networks, listed below.
A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without ever running out of storage. You can keep each of your recordings for nine months.
TV when it matters, where it matters. You can watch YouTube TV on your phone, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV (we’ll be supporting even more connected TV devices later this year). And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever you want and wherever you go in the U.S.
YouTube Red Originals. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right in the new YouTube TV app.
Six accounts included. You can share your YouTube TV membership with your family and roommates, and each account will receive its own unique recommendations and cloud DVR with no storage limits. Your household can watch up to three streams at a time.
More networks coming soon. We’re excited to announce that AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, WE tv, and BBC World News will be included soon at no additional charge. These networks will join Telemundo and others listed below as networks coming to YouTube TV soon after launch. This means you’ll be able to watch shows like “The Walking Dead,” “Doctor Who,” and your favorite telenovelas. And you’ll also be able to add Sundance Now or Shudder for an additional charge.