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December 6, 2017So one of the things I have noticed since using my Google Pixel 2 is Audible on Android is very much different than the Audible App on iOS. To start I can actually purchase books through the app which is something you cannot do and probably will never be able to do in Apple’s ecosystem. The next thing I noticed was that there are more buttons on Android that you do not have on iOS. The Apple interface has the same forward and backward 30 seconds buttons, speed changing button, and volume buttons. Android adds forward and backward rewind buttons which are a nice touch which Audible on iOS does not include. Audible on Android adds one feature I like adding buttons to go back and forth between chapters which Audible on iOS does not have on their interface. Both apps include the table of contents chapter selection button which can be used but I find buttons more a convenient addition when switching between chapters. The one thing I really do not like is that Audible on Android does not have is a volume button right on the main interface which Audible on iOS has and is very handy, I think the Android interface could really benefit from that addition. The Audible on iOS interface includes on the main screen the sleep timer button which Audible for Android has but it’s an extra click on the menu button. The same thing goes for the share button which the Apple version of the app has on the main screen but on Android it’s an extra click to share which is not a big deal but again it’s an extra click, the same thing applies to the share a clip feature. Both the Android and iOS interfaces are different in the color scheme. Android...
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December 5, 2017I want to highlight the Stamp App on today as it recently has helped many readers and users who at one time had no way to move their ready built playlist to new streaming music services. Like all great apps, the Stamp App solved that real-world problem of moving playlists between different music platforms an issue that many music lovers have when they switch music streaming services. First of all, I need to say like most reading the site I love music. I was for the longest time a diehard Spotify guy but now that I have YouTube Red I am loving Google Music more and more with its more convenient interface but that’s another post for another day. Around summer time I was experimenting with different music services and for me having my playlists is key. This even became more relevant to me as readers of the site were emailing me because Groove was shutting down and readers wanted a way to move there playlist from Groove to Google, Pandora and other services besides Spotify which Microsoft offered to help users move to from them shutting down Groove. The Stamp app easily allows you to download their app which is available on almost all platforms and for $9.99 “You pay only ONCE and get lifetime updates and support.” And you can move playlists from any music service anytime you want. The app is so simple you log in to service you want to move from and then you Login to the service you want to move to then pick the playlists you want to copy to the new service and hit go. The app is such a great tool and lives up to the slogan on the website “FREE YOUR MUSIC”. I would like to point out that...
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December 3, 2017I have been using the Google Pixel 2 for about two weeks and so far, so good when it comes to using the phone. I really enjoy the Google Pixel 2 and how well it works. I am really getting into using the Android interface which has been kind of different being a die-hard iPhone user for several years. The main thing that has been a hard thing get used to is the idea of having a back button being an Apple user you are used to having the button in the top left-hand side and not always having it depending on what you were doing with on your iPhone. The Google Pixel 2 using Android you can always go back to whatever you are doing because there is always a back button its standard button always available The other interesting button I am enjoying on the Google Pixel 2 is the task manager button you hit and can close unwanted windows from there. I came from the Apple iPhone world where you need to double tap the home button for that kind of thing. One thing that’s been different is using the pull-down bar from the top on Google Pixel 2 which is more convenient than having to get out of the app your using go into Apple settings app make a settings change then go back into your app. Apple has kind of addressed this issue with the new launcher in iOS 11 from the bottom to a certain point I still say they need some work in this area compared to Android and the Google Pixel 2. The Google Play store updates have been nice I come for again the Apple world where you need to ok all app updates. With the Google Play store, they automatically...
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November 20, 2017I have been a die-hard Apple user for over 10 years. I need a phone on both platforms (iOS and Android) for work reasons. I decided to purchase a Google Pixel 2 not the XL just the regular Pixel 2. I went with the Google Pixel 2 because the appeal of how Google is designing and handling the Pixel 2. Unlike Samsung, Nokia and Motorola Google is doing business the way Apple does things they are designing both the hardware and software which to me is a big deal as that is what has always appealed to me about Apple. Moving From iOS To Android Unlink other Android manufacturers the Googles Pixel 2 makes breaking up the iPhone very easy walking you through turning off iMessage and providing an adapter for the iPhone and a build in a wizard to move your apps, photos, videos, contacts, and messages over in a few minutes. This very much impressed me as my previous try at moving to a Samsung Phone was not a huge success. Security and Location The next thing that really impressed me about the Pixel was the fingerprint sensor it was so much more conveniently located behind the phone then using your thumb on the iPhone home button I think anyway. As I was playing with Android I noticed that the Pixel 2 has a software-based home button very much like the iPhone there is also a back button and square button for app management the equivalent of Apple home button double tap which is very Apple-like in design. Dongles Are In This Year Just like iPhone 7 and newer, there is no headphone jack and you need to use an adapter to listen to music. So again, no charging and listening without wireless headphones which is fine for...
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September 15, 2017
Google Deletes Android Backups after Two Months of Inactivity
It’s not really news that Google will automatically schedule deletion of your Android Backups after your Android device is inactive for more than two months. After two weeks of activity, Google puts the timer on for the two months. Google backup is just like Apple they backup the standard Apps, Call History, Device Settings, Contacts, Calendar, Text Messages, and Pictures. Google allows for backups of your Android mobile device to be saved on Google Drive makes sense since both the phone OS Android and Drive are both Google products. The issue becomes the backups will only be retained as long as you are active on your device. After two weeks of your device being inactive Google Drive will then display an expiration date below the backup, showing a countdown of how much longer you have until the backup gets automatically wiped. If you use an Android device during the two months that expiration date would go away. After two months of inactivity, it will delete the backup. All this came to light recently after a Reddit User discovered while his Nexus 6P was sent for a refund claim. While waiting to find an Android replacement device, he glanced at his Google Drive Backup folder and found his Nexus 6P backup missing. In Google support documentation they say “Your backup will remain as long as you use your device. If you don’t use your device for 2 weeks, you may see an expiration date below your backup.” But what really gets to me about this is if I delete a file I can go in the trash and recover the file, in this case, there is no recovering the deleted backup. The other thing with this I don’t like is Google deletes unused backups after two months and all that app and... -
August 8, 2017Uptime is the latest messenger from Google in their latest effort to win the mobile messenger wars. I have been using a lot different messengers lately and I started noticing how many messengers Google is supporting. Unlike Facebook or Microsoft who are working to perfect one messenger, Google has several all with different user bases and features. Google has been trying to see what catches on with users in the app messaging space over the last several years. Google announcement yesterday of Uptime messenger for YouTube adds another messenger Google needs to support so you need to ask yourself. How many messengers does Google need? Let’s take a look at what Google is offering in the message space. Google Hangouts Google Hangouts is built into Gmail and YouTube and I would think Hangouts has the largest most frequent user base due to the huge popularity of GSuite, YouTube Live and Gmail users. Hangouts integration with YouTube Live and Google Hangouts Group messaging appeals to many users both personally and at the business level. Google Duo Google Duo is aimed more towards video chat and reminds me a lot of Skype with the look and feel. Google Duo lets users make video calls in high definition and points out it’s End-to-end encryption to users concerned about security. Google Duo is based on phone numbers, allowing users to call someone from their contact list. Due has the “Knock Knock” feature which lets users see a live preview of the caller before answering. Google Allo Google Allo is a more advanced messenger then Hangouts or Due allowing users to exchange messages, files, voice notes, images and using Google AI for a virtual assistant. Google Allo uses phone numbers as identifiers, not social media or email accounts which make Allo capable of being the default...
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July 29, 2017YouTube Red and Google Play Music Will Merge To Create a New Service YouTube’s head of music, Lyor Cohen, confirmed with The Verge that the company is planning on merging its Google Play Music service with YouTube Red to create a new streaming offering. “The important thing is combining YouTube Red and Google Play Music, and having one offering,” Cohen said. He goes on to say there may be a plan to include YouTube TV as well down the road. Apple Discontinues iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle Apple removed the iPod nano and iPod shuffle from their website and online store around the world this week. Apple has yet to make an announcement but this suggests the iconic portable media players may be discontinued. Beyond new colors and storage capacities, Apple had last updated the iPod nano in October 2012 and the iPod shuffle in September 2010. Apple continues to sell the iPod touch. Apple last updated the iPod touch in July 2015 with an 8-megapixel rear camera. Microsoft Launches Windows Bug Bounty Program Microsoft has many Windows-specific bounties but the Windows Bounty Program will include Windows 10, Windows Insider Preview, Hyper-V, Mitigation bypass, Windows Defender Application Guard, and Microsoft Edge. Kaspersky Launches Free Antivirus Software The free antivirus will be available in the US, Canada, and most Asia-Pacific countries over the next week or two. The software was only available in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, China and in Nordic countries during its trial run. Adobe Is Finally Killing Flash Adobe announced they are going to kill flash by 2020. Adobe is working with Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla to put that last nail in Flash’s coffin over the course of the next three years. Microsoft Not Killing Paint There was a lot of buzz at the beginning of the week...
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July 25, 2017G Suite for Education is in for a big change on August 1, 2017. Google will be disabling additional services for G Suite for Education. Google additional services are YouTube, Google Maps, Blogger, Google Analytics and any others Google service not defined as a G Suite Core Services which are Gmail, Calendar, Classroom, Contacts, Drive, Docs, Forms, Groups, Sheets, Sites, Slides, Talk/Hangouts, and Vault. Not all accounts are being affected just G Suite for Education domains created before April 22, 2016. Google support states “If you have such an account and you don’t want these services disabled, you need to set up manual control for user access to these services before August 1. Unless you do, these services will be automatically disabled.” You will have 3 options to pick from Manage Services myself, Turn off the services specified above for all users or Turn off the services above for all users, except for Google Play Google goes on to say “For accounts which don’t select one of the 3 options above, Google will forcibly disable the Additional Services on their domain on August 1, 2017.” This is something really for Google administrators or IT admins to worry about but if you’re an educator that uses these additional services and you notice they’re not working contact your IT department.
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June 16, 2017Verizon closes $4.5B acquisition of Yahoo and Marissa Mayer Resigns As CEO I am surprised this went through I figured with massive Yahoo email hack that this deal would have fallen through. For Yahoo’s sake, I am glad it did not considering this is a lifeline for them since they turned down Microsoft’s offer years ago. Marissa Mayer who has impressive credentials I am sure will find her footing at another company. I don’t blame Marissa Mayer by the time she came on board Yahoo was already on life support. Mozilla Announced Firefox 54 I have not seen this much buzz around Firefox in a long time many users including myself feel the browser is much better than the last version which used to slow my machine down to a crawl. Mozilla’s Nick Nguyen explains. “Our new version of Firefox nails the ‘just right’ balance between memory and speed.” Microsoft Finally Brings Office 365 To Windows Store I am not sure why this took so long but Microsoft has finally added their own apps to the Windows Store. “Windows 10 S runs the rich desktop Office apps including popular productivity apps like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook,” Microsoft goes on to say. “The full suite of Office apps in preview are currently available to download today with Office 365 in the Windows Store for Windows 10 S. On Surface Laptop, you can simply open the Start menu and click on any of the Office app icons like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to launch the download from the Store.” Big Patch Tuesday For Microsoft As Microsoft does on the second Tuesday of every month they release updates named Patch Tuesday. The number of supported operating system versions shrank by one as Vista support ended back in April 2017. The same is...