Google Now update brings new cards for TV shows and Google Offers

        

Google improves location-aware and voice-controlled features for Now

An update to Google Now is bringing two new types of cards, TV shows and Google Offers, to users starting today. For those who have an internet-connected TV on the same network as their mobile device, Google Now can now listen to the show you're watching and offer more information -- such as actor or show details -- right on your device. For Google Offers users, Google Now will show reminders for upcoming saved offers when you're near a store that you can use the offer at, which expands on Google's current location-aware shopping and research cards.
Additionally, the latest update also includes a new voice action to play music from Google Now. You can now say "Play [artist name]", and a prompt will pop up letting you select your preferred music app from the ones you have installed. The app will then open and begin playing from the artist you asked for.
The new TV show card is U.S.-only for the moment, but the other new features should be available for everyone. You can grab the latest updated Google Search (which is Google Now) app from the Play Store link above.

Google Play edition device kernel sources now available for download

Sources required to be available under the GPL are now ready for devs to take a look at

Right on time, the full kernel sources for both the HTC One and Galaxy S4 Google Play edition devices are ready for download courtesy of links from JBQ on the Android Building Group. For the enterprising developers that want (or need) it to work with for a deeper understanding of these two devices, the kernel source is a big resource to have available. This isn't at all unexpected, however, as the terms of the GPL require that it be made freely available.
It should also be noted that the availability of the kernel source for these devices doesn't mean that we have a full ROM or any proprietary binaries available. Things in this area are understandably still a little murky, and while we surely hope that those additional files that would give users a complete working ROM will be offered, nothing is guaranteed.
If you are someone who has a need for the kernel source and want to get right into it, you can grab a direct download for both devices from the "download" links below. HTCdev is also hosting an independent download from its own site for the HTC One.

Android 4.2.2 for Galaxy S3 Firmware Leaked, Download it Now

The Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S3 has leaked online ahead of its official release date – and you can download it here! To note: there have been Android 4.2.2 update leaks in the past, but this is the most complete yet.

Samsung Galaxy s3's Android 4.2.2 update features a lockscreen with a new "light effect"/ © SamMobile

SamMobile is the first site to get its hands on I9300XXUFME7 - Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean test firmware for the Galaxy S III. It includes a number of software enhancements, like a new Galaxy S4-esque lock screen, support for multiple widgets, an additional "light" unlock effect, improved ripple animation and the ability to change the clock size and post a personalized message. 

According to SamMobile, the official update can be expected in July or August, although we don't yet know for sure. Previously, SamMobile reported that the final version was supposed to be released in June.
This new firmware also features Adapt Display mode which optimizes colors based on ambient light conditions, a new Daydream mode, actionable notifications and the addition of voice control settings. Not only can you see a video of the update in action, read about all of its features, but you can also flash it on your device!

Android 4.2.2 Build ID: JDQ39 Features:

- New S4 Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, two Unlock effects (Ripple and Light), improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
- New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
- Daydream
- Driving mode
- Actionable notifications
- New Additions in Notification Center
- Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the S4)
- Addition of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
- Gallery modes have white background (When changing gallery modes to 3D the background changes to white)
- Full screen Samsung apps
- New S-Voice (from S4)
- New smart switch widget
- Found more? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Here are the full firmware details:

Android Version: 4.2.2 – JDQ39 (Jelly Bean)
PDA: I9300XXUFME7
CSC: I9300OXAFME7
MODEM: I9300XXUFME7
Region: Open Europe
Carrier: Unbranded
Changelist: 702147 (Previous leak: I9300XXUFME3 = 611730)
Build Date: 21 May 2013

Here's What it Looks Like On Video:

Finally, here's how to download and install the update on your device (warning: it involves wiping your device):

• Download the firmware here.
• Unzip the file
• Open Odin 3.04 (already included in the firmware package)
• Restart phone in download mode (Press and hold Home + Power + Volume down buttons)
• Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
• Add I9300XXUFME7_I9300OXAFME7_I9300XXUFME7_HOME.tar.md5 to PDA
• Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
• Start flash, sit back and wait a few minutes.
• If you encounter any issues with the firmware (Any FC, Bootloop etc)
• Boot into recovery mode (Home+ Power + Volume Up)
• Choose to wipe/factory reset. (THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR DATA INCLUDING YOUR INTERNAL SD CARD!)
• Then choose reboot and you should be good to go!

Google Play for Education: Developers now welcome

Google announced their intention to get into the education market last month during their I/O with Google Play for Education. Unfortunately, that was about all we saw of their service at the time as its been under wraps since then. Today, however, that changes as Google has put out the call for application submission for their education service.

© Google.com

As of today, developers that want their applications to be considered for Google’s educational storefront can mark them via the Play Developer Console.  One thing to take note, that unlike the normal Google Play Store and their “greenlight everything!” policy, Google will probably be a little more stringent on what passes on.  Each application that is marked to be used in the Google Play for Education store gets passed onto a third-party network of educators that performs a first-pass qualiftication of the apps. Not only that, all applications will need to follow the guidelines set out by Google.

 © Google.com

So, developers, do you think you’ve got something good for the K-12 environment?  The process follows a standard process: Test your app and ensure it’s optimized for Android tablets, upload your new/updated app, mark it for inclusion in Google Play for Education, and publish. The process itself should take about 3-4 weeks to complete. For more information on all the requirements, check out Google’s “Getting Started”.
And so, Google starts moving forward with their Educational portal, taking on the likes of Apple. While many schools would love to see the inclusion of modern technology into the classroom, they’re often constrained by tight budgets and other priorities.  Not only will this provide better options for teachers to use, but also provide them in a more affordable package and controls.

Huawei-made T-Mobile Prism II now available for $116 on PAYG

Those of you looking to buy just a phone without putting your signature on a carrier contract may like the new T-Mobile Prism II. Made by Huawei, it’s a solid entry-level Android smartphone with specs that include a 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel camera on the back, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, while Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is running the show. Off contract, T-Mobile asks $115.99 for this phone, making it one of the best choices around. Alternatively, you can pay just $19.99 and $4 for the next two years.

The carrier’s website already lists the Prism II along with all other details. If this is something you want to consider, proceed to this page the answers you’re looking for.

Apple releases second iOS 7 developer beta, now with iPad support

Apple has just rolled out the second beta preview of iOS 7 to developers. Unlike the first release distributed shortly after WWDC, beta 2 has been optimized for the iPad in addition to iPhone and iPod touch. Aside from a few screenshots from Apple and unofficial simulator hacks, we've yet to get a good glimpse at how Apple's revamped mobile operating system will look on the larger device — until now. 9to5Mac has posted screenshots of the new beta running on Apple's tablet. An all-new Voice Memos app is also revealed in the images.

With the help of a transition guide outlining the design philosophy behind iOS 7, app makers will now be able to see how their iPad software looks before the public update reaches consumers this fall. Despite welcome additions like Control Center and the removal of skeuomorphic UI elements, Apple has faced some criticism for design and iconography choices seen in the first beta, though its work on iOS 7 is by no means complete.

Galaxy Note 8.0 Now Available in Brown

These days, our electronics are coming in lots of colors. Tablets and phones come in the standard black and white, metallic variants,red, blue and even gold. Now Samsung is giving the American consumers what they’ve been clamoring for: a tablet that comes inbrown!

Like coffee and chocolate, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 joins the ranks of brown things that you’ll you want to use every day. The warm, rich tone of the case will make you feel like an artisan of old, plying your trade on a slab of fresh walnut -every stroke of the stylus a masterful etching, revealing the grain below. Samsung knows what the people want.

Kidding aside, it’s a great tablet whatever the color. Enter our contest with CSR today, for your chance to win a (not brown) Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0!

Yes folks, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is available in brown today. You can get your hands on one at Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H. Just be sure to wash the chocolate off your fingers before you use it!

Windows Phone market share now in third place worldwide as BlackBerry slips

According to new market share numbers from IDC, the International Data Corporation, Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system is now in third place worldwide. It snatches the position previously held by BlackBerry which is now in fourth place; or in other words, the land of mediocrity.

This past quarter, IDC reports that Windows Phone accounted for 3.2 percent of worldwide phone shipments. BlackBerry accounted for 2.9 percent. That’s pretty sad for a company that practically dominated the industry not too many years ago. Windows Phone growth is slow, but hey, at least it’s growth. In fact, it’s better than what IDC predicted. Behind BlackBerry is Linux with 1 percent market share and Symbian with 0.6 percent.

Meanwhile Android and iOS continue to run the world. Combined, they add up to 92.3 percent of the market share. Android, of course, has a wide lead internationally, claiming 75 percent of all smartphones sold last quarter, leaving iOS with the remainder of 17.3 percent.

Symbian actually saw the greatest decline percentage-wise. In the first quarter of 2012 (the year-ago quarter) it held at 6.8 percent share. Technically, Windows Phone actually saw the most growth by percentage, because it grew 133 percent. However that’s only moving from 2 percent to 3.2 percent. The biggest overall leap made was by Android — from 59.1 percent to 75 percent. Though iOS shipment volume increased, market share decreased from 23 percent to 17.3 percent.

HBO GO, ESPNWatch Now Available on Apple TV

Apple TV users will soon be able to watch their favorite HBO shows on the device, as Apple has announced the availability of HBO Go and Watch ESPN. Also available for Apple TV are content providers Sky News, Crunchy roll and Qello, who provide live news and sports programming.

HBO GO and Watch ESPN are some of the top downloaded apps for iOS, and will surely be a welcome addition to Apple TV’s content lineup.

In addition to the new content coming to Apple TV, Apple will be rolling out its new iTunes Radio service beginning this fall, which will provide Apple TV owners with personalized radio based on iTunes purchases and listening history.

While Apple hasn’t announced any big updates for Apple TV, these additions will have surely make Apple TV fans happy.

WhatsApp now has more than 250 million monthly users

There's been little doubt that WhatsApp is one of the most-used cross-platform messenger apps out there, but the company has been rather coy about revealing specific user numbers. Back in April, the WhatsApp CEO did claim his service had a bigger userbase than Twitter's 200 million users and processed 18 billion messages per day (more than Facebook), but now the company's giving more concrete details. According toThe Wall Street Journal, WhatsApp has a userbase of over 250 million active users every month, exceeding the 200 million users that Twitter cited on its seventh birthday. While there's no doubt that WhatsApp is one of the most dominant players in the smartphone messaging space, it's an increasingly crowded one — but there's no doubt that it's keeping up with major players like Facebook and Skype, which is a pretty notable achievement for an app that's only four years old
.

Nexus: The best of Google, now in three sizes

People increasingly have more than one device, and they switch between them many times a day. Nexus—Google’s hardware line for Android devices—gets rid of the hassle. Just sign in with your Google Account and everything is there ready to go, whatever device you’re using: photos, emails, contacts, bookmarks, even your entertainment on Google Play.

Today, we’re excited to announce three great new Nexus devices … in small, medium and large. And they all run Android 4.2, a new flavor of Jelly Bean—which includes the latest version of Google Now and other great new features.

Nexus 4 with Google Now and Photo Sphere 
Nexus 4 is our latest smartphone, developed together with LG. It has a quad-core processor which means it's super fast, a crisp 4.7" (320 ppi) display that's perfect for looking at photos and watching YouTube, and with wireless charging you just set the phone down on a charging surface to power it up, no wires needed. While Nexus 4 is incredibly powerful under the hood, it also features the latest version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.2—the simplest and smartest version of Android yet. Starting with the camera, we've reinvented the photo experience with Photo Sphere, which lets you capture images that are literally larger than life. Snap shots up, down and in every direction to create stunning 360-degree immersive experiences that you can share on Google+ with friends and family—or you can add your Photo Sphere to Google Maps for the world to see.

Android 4.2 brings other great goodies like Gesture Typing, which lets you glide your finger over the letters you want to type on the keyboard—it makes typing fast, fun and a whole lot simpler. Android 4.2 also adds support for wireless display so you can wirelessly watch movies, YouTube videos and play games right on your Miracast-compatible HDTV. 

Learn more about all of the new features in Android 4.2, Jelly Bean, here. 

Google Now—even more useful 
We designed Google Now to make life simpler by giving you the right information at just the right time in easy to read cards, before you even ask. And the feedback has been awesome. So today we’re adding more cards that we hope you’ll find useful. Flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and shipping details—how often have you found yourself wading through your email to get this information at the last moment? So next time you book a table for dinner, you’ll get a reminder with all the details without ever having to lift a finger. You’ll also get cards for nearby attractions, interesting photo spots, movies times at nearby theaters or concerts by your favorite artists.

Nexus 7: Thin, light and now even more portable
Nexus 7 brings you the best of Google–YouTube, Chrome, Gmail, Maps–and all the great content from Google Play in a slim, portable package that fits perfectly in your hand. To give you more room for all that great content you can now get Nexus 7 with 16GB ($199) or 32GB ($249) of storage. But we also wanted to make this highly portable tablet even more mobile. So we added HSPA+ mobile data. Nexus 7 is now also available with 32GB and HSPA+ mobile ($299), which can operate on more than 200 GSM providers worldwide, including AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. 

Nexus 10: Powerful and shareable 
Nexus 10 is the ultimate tablet for watching movies or reading magazines. We wanted to build a premium entertainment device, so we partnered with Samsung to do just that. Nexus 10 is the highest resolution tablet on the planet with a 10.055" display at 2560-by-1600 (300ppi), that's over 4 million pixels right in your hands. It comes with a powerful battery that will get you up to nine hours of video playback and more than 500 hours of standby time. With a set of front-facing stereo speakers, you can watch movies right from your Nexus 10 and they simply sound awesome. But what makes Nexus 10 unique is that it's the first truly shareable tablet. With Android 4.2, you can add multiple users and switch between them instantly right from the lockscreen. We believe that everyone should have quick and easy access to their own stuff -- email, apps, bookmarks, and more. That way, everyone can have their own home screens, their own music, and even their own high scores.

Google Play: More entertainment, more countries
We’ve recently added a ton of great new entertainment to Google Play, such as movies and TV shows from Twentieth Century Fox. Earlier this year we expanded our service beyond movie rentals and now you can purchase movies and build a library of your favorites in Google Play. Today we’re bringing movie purchasing to more countries - Canada, the U.K., France, Spain and Australia.
We’re also excited to announce two new partnerships. We’re now working with Time, Inc. to bring you even more magazines like InStyle, PEOPLE, TIME and others. And we’ve partnered with Warner Music Group who will be adding their full music catalog with new songs coming each day. We’re now working with all of the major record labels globally, and all the major U.S. magazine publishers, as well as many independent labels, artists and publishers.

On November 13, we're bringing music on Google Play to Europe.  Those of you in the U.K, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be able to purchase music from the Google Play store and add up to 20,000 songs—for free—from your existing collection to the cloud for streaming to your Android devices or web browser. We’re also launching our new matching feature to streamline the process of uploading your personal music to Google Play. We’ll scan your music collection and any song we match against the Google Play catalog will be automatically added to your online library without needing to upload it, saving you time. This will be available in Europe at launch on November 13 and is coming to the U.S. soon after. This will all be for free—free storage of your music, free matching, free syncing across your devices and free listening.

Great value
We’ve always focused on building great devices at great value.  And we think today’s devices offer the very best that money can buy. Here are more details on when and where you can pick up your next Nexus device:

• Nexus 4: 8GB for $299; 16GB for $349; available unlocked and without a contract on 11/13 on the Google Play store in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada. The 16GB version will also be available through T-Mobile for $199, with a 2-year contract (check here for more details).
• Nexus 7: 16GB for $199 and 32GB for $249; available in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan, and also through our retail partners Gamestop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and Walmart.

• Nexus 7 with 32GB and mobile data: $299 and unlocked, on sale 11/13 in the Google Play store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and  Canada.

• Nexus 10: 16GB for $399; 32GB for $499; available on 11/13 in the Google Play Store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan. You'll also be able to purchase the 32GB version in over 2,000 Walmart stores in the U.S.

A Nexus device is much more than simply a phone or tablet. It’s your connection to the best of Google—all of your stuff and entertainment, everywhere you go with no hassle.  Now you have three new Nexus devices, a new improved version of Jelly Bean and more entertainment than ever before—all available on Google Play. The playground is open.

New Google Now: the perfect travel companion for the holidays

Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! For Santa’s holiday travel this season, Google Now is just the prescription.

As you head off this holiday season, the latest update to Google Now makes it even more useful for traveling. Before you even leave your house, Google Now will tell you what the weather will be like at your destination (just in time to make sure you remember to pack those mittens). At the airport, your boarding pass is automatically pulled up, helping you breeze through to the gate (launching shortly for United Airlines, with more to come). And once you've arrived at your destination, Google Now can help you uncover some great activities, by showing you events happening around you, suggesting websites for you to explore as you research things to do, or allowing you to learn more about specific pieces while you’re at a museum (using Google Goggles).

All of this builds on top of some of the other cards designed for travel, like the currency conversion, translation, and flight status cards -- hopefully taking a little bit of the stress out of holiday travel so you can focus on family and fun.

We're also making Voice Search even more powerful: you can find out the name of the song that’s playing (“What’s this song?”), quickly find product info (“Scan this barcode”) and post updates to Google+ simply by using just your voice.

These goodies are waiting for you in the updated Google Search app, available on Google Play for devices running Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, or higher.

Acer's 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet now up for preorder

Consumers looking for a small Windows 8 tablet can now preorder the Acer Iconia W3 through Amazon or Staples.

Dubbed the world's first 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet, the 32GB flavor of Iconia W3 is going for $379 through both Amazon and Staples. Amazon also lists a 64GB version for $429.

Staples promises a delivery date of anywhere from Tuesday, June 11, to Wednesday, June 19. Amazon isn't nearly as quick, listing an estimated delivery time of three to five weeks for both models of the tablet.

Beyond the built-in 32GB or 64GB of storage, a microSD card slot can handle an additional 32GB. Other slots include a Micro-USB port, a Micro-HDMI connector, and an audio jack. Acer promises up to eight hours of battery life per charge. The Iconia W3 also comes with Microsoft Office preinstalled.Equipped with Windows 8, the Iconia W3comes with an 8.1-inch LED-backlit LCD multitouch screen sporting a resolution of 1,280x800 pixels. The tablet is powered by an Intel Atom 1.5GHz dual-core processor, includes 2GB of memory, and features 2-megapixel cameras in the front and back.

Facebook Now Lets US Users Pay $7 To Promote Posts To The News Feeds Of More Friends

Facebook is expanding to the U.S. the controversial Promoted Posts feature that lets users pay to get their posts more visibility in the news feed. It will cost $7 per post and Facebook hopes it will be used for garage sales, parties, wedding photos and other important announcements.

Promoted Posts has already been rolled out to 20 other countries and is available to people with fewer than 5,000 total friends and subscribers. Promoted Posts could help surface important announcements and earn Facebook money. However, I worry that Promoted Posts could change the atmosphere of Facebookfrom one where the most beloved content gets seen most to one where the rich can dominate the news feed.

Facebook first began testing the product, then called Highlight, in May in New Zealand. It’s still testing price points for the U.S. so it could go up or down from $7, and cost varies across international markets to sync with what’s appropriate for local economies.

HOW PROMOTED POSTS GET THE WORD OUT

After you publish a post, a Promote button will let you pay to bump up its rank in the news feed — making it appear both higher in the feed, and to a larger portion of your friends. Unpromoted posts are typically only seen by 12-16 percent of your friends.

After you Promote a post, it will be marked “Sponsored,” and you can check to see how many more people saw it because you paid. For example, you’d see “So far your post has had 3.8x as many views because you promoted it.”

IS PAY-TO-PLAY OKAY?

Facebook is becoming a critical one-to-many communication medium for people. Often we’re just sharing fun things that we don’t desperately need eyeballs on, but other times a better news feed position could really help. If I’m trying to sell all my possessions before moving to Thailand, Promoted Posts could be a cost-effective way of making sure more friends know about my garage sale. Raising money for charity or looking for bone marrow donors are some other clearly positive applications.

But as with anything on a sandbox service like Facebook, the success and impact of Promoted Posts will depend on how people use it. A friend with a trust fund could promote every post he publishes just because he has the money. In that way, the feature could distort the news feed’s meritocracy, where posts that get lots of likes and comments are shown to more people.

It could turn into a big money maker, though. Since the $7 is essentially all profit, Facebook could nearly double its revenue per user if it could get each US user to promote just one post a year.

If Facebook isn’t careful, Promoted Posts could offend and marginalize financially-strapped users. If it makes sure to minimize overuse, though, it could give people a powerful way to identify what their most important content is: putting their money where their mouth is.

HTC offers a $25 Google Play gift card to U.S. citizens buying HTC One between now and July 15th

After testing the free $25 Google Play gift card offer with three of Canada’s largest carriers, HTC is bringing it to the United States. Under the deal, anyone who bought the HTC One and activated it in the U.S. between now and July 15th will get a $25 voucher to use for apps and games.

There is a limit of one registration per email account, and codes will be delivered to registered email address within 72 hours of registration.

So if you do grab the HTC One, head over to this page to leave your email, and expect a response with a voucher that you can redeem for some free stuff. It’s that easy. 

And we want to know – what will you spend that money on?

Samsung Galaxy Ring Now Available on Virgin Mobile For $179

Virgin Mobile is adding another Samsung Galaxy device to it’s pre-paid mobile network today, announcing the availability of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The new Galaxy device has a 4-inch display and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and is available for purchase off contract for $179.99, giving Virgin Mobile customers a more affordable option to theGalaxy S3.

The Galaxy Ring is powered by a 1.4GHz processor and has 4GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 1.3MP front facing shooter, and a 1,750mAh battery. The device utilizes Virgin Mobile’s 3G network, and has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

While the Galaxy Ring doesn’t have the most impressive specs, it is an affordable and functional option for Virgin Mobile customers. The device is available for purchase on Virgin Mobile’s website.

Nexus: The best of Google, now in three sizes

People increasingly have more than one device, and they switch between them many times a day. Nexus—Google’s hardware line for Android devices—gets rid of the hassle. Just sign in with your Google Account and everything is there ready to go, whatever device you’re using: photos, emails, contacts, bookmarks, even your entertainment on Google Play.

Today, we’re excited to announce three great new Nexus devices … in small, medium and large. And they all run Android 4.2, a new flavor of Jelly Bean—which includes the latest version of Google Now and other great new features.

Nexus 4 with Google Now and Photo Sphere 
Nexus 4 is our latest smartphone, developed together with LG. It has a quad-core processor which means it's super fast, a crisp 4.7" (320 ppi) display that's perfect for looking at photos and watching YouTube, and with wireless charging you just set the phone down on a charging surface to power it up, no wires needed. While Nexus 4 is incredibly powerful under the hood, it also features the latest version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.2—the simplest and smartest version of Android yet. Starting with the camera, we've reinvented the photo experience with Photo Sphere, which lets you capture images that are literally larger than life. Snap shots up, down and in every direction to create stunning 360-degree immersive experiences that you can share on Google+ with friends and family—or you can add your Photo Sphere to Google Maps for the world to see.

Android 4.2 brings other great goodies like Gesture Typing, which lets you glide your finger over the letters you want to type on the keyboard—it makes typing fast, fun and a whole lot simpler. Android 4.2 also adds support for wireless display so you can wirelessly watch movies, YouTube videos and play games right on your Miracast-compatible HDTV. 

Learn more about all of the new features in Android 4.2, Jelly Bean, here. 

Google Now—even more useful 
We designed Google Now to make life simpler by giving you the right information at just the right time in easy to read cards, before you even ask. And the feedback has been awesome. So today we’re adding more cards that we hope you’ll find useful. Flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and shipping details—how often have you found yourself wading through your email to get this information at the last moment? So next time you book a table for dinner, you’ll get a reminder with all the details without ever having to lift a finger. You’ll also get cards for nearby attractions, interesting photo spots, movies times at nearby theaters or concerts by your favorite artists.

Nexus 7: Thin, light and now even more portable
Nexus 7 brings you the best of Google–YouTube, Chrome, Gmail, Maps–and all the great content from Google Play in a slim, portable package that fits perfectly in your hand. To give you more room for all that great content you can now get Nexus 7 with 16GB ($199) or 32GB ($249) of storage. But we also wanted to make this highly portable tablet even more mobile. So we added HSPA+ mobile data. Nexus 7 is now also available with 32GB and HSPA+ mobile ($299), which can operate on more than 200 GSM providers worldwide, including AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. 

Nexus 10: Powerful and shareable 
Nexus 10 is the ultimate tablet for watching movies or reading magazines. We wanted to build a premium entertainment device, so we partnered with Samsung to do just that. Nexus 10 is the highest resolution tablet on the planet with a 10.055" display at 2560-by-1600 (300ppi), that's over 4 million pixels right in your hands. It comes with a powerful battery that will get you up to nine hours of video playback and more than 500 hours of standby time. With a set of front-facing stereo speakers, you can watch movies right from your Nexus 10 and they simply sound awesome. But what makes Nexus 10 unique is that it's the first truly shareable tablet. With Android 4.2, you can add multiple users and switch between them instantly right from the lockscreen. We believe that everyone should have quick and easy access to their own stuff -- email, apps, bookmarks, and more. That way, everyone can have their own home screens, their own music, and even their own high scores.

Google Play: More entertainment, more countries
We’ve recently added a ton of great new entertainment to Google Play, such as movies and TV shows from Twentieth Century Fox. Earlier this year we expanded our service beyond movie rentals and now you can purchase movies and build a library of your favorites in Google Play. Today we’re bringing movie purchasing to more countries - Canada, the U.K., France, Spain and Australia.
We’re also excited to announce two new partnerships. We’re now working with Time, Inc. to bring you even more magazines like InStyle, PEOPLE, TIME and others. And we’ve partnered with Warner Music Group who will be adding their full music catalog with new songs coming each day. We’re now working with all of the major record labels globally, and all the major U.S. magazine publishers, as well as many independent labels, artists and publishers.

On November 13, we're bringing music on Google Play to Europe.  Those of you in the U.K, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be able to purchase music from the Google Play store and add up to 20,000 songs—for free—from your existing collection to the cloud for streaming to your Android devices or web browser. We’re also launching our new matching feature to streamline the process of uploading your personal music to Google Play. We’ll scan your music collection and any song we match against the Google Play catalog will be automatically added to your online library without needing to upload it, saving you time. This will be available in Europe at launch on November 13 and is coming to the U.S. soon after. This will all be for free—free storage of your music, free matching, free syncing across your devices and free listening.

Great value
We’ve always focused on building great devices at great value.  And we think today’s devices offer the very best that money can buy. Here are more details on when and where you can pick up your next Nexus device:

• Nexus 4: 8GB for $299; 16GB for $349; available unlocked and without a contract on 11/13 on the Google Play store in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada. The 16GB version will also be available through T-Mobile for $199, with a 2-year contract (check here for more details).
• Nexus 7: 16GB for $199 and 32GB for $249; available in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan, and also through our retail partners Gamestop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples and Walmart.

• Nexus 7 with 32GB and mobile data: $299 and unlocked, on sale 11/13 in the Google Play store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and  Canada.

• Nexus 10: 16GB for $399; 32GB for $499; available on 11/13 in the Google Play Store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan. You'll also be able to purchase the 32GB version in over 2,000 Walmart stores in the U.S.

A Nexus device is much more than simply a phone or tablet. It’s your connection to the best of Google—all of your stuff and entertainment, everywhere you go with no hassle.  Now you have three new Nexus devices, a new improved version of Jelly Bean and more entertainment than ever before—all available on Google Play. The playground is open.

Sound Search for Google Play widget, now available on Google Play

What's this song?” Starting today, the Sound Search for Google Play widget is available to download from the Play store, so you can start identifying music playing around you, directly from your Android device’s homescreen.

 

Sometimes, you hear a song you like while you’re out and about but don’t want to download it right at that moment. The Sound Search widget syncs across all of your devices, so that song you recognized with your phone in the coffee shop can be quickly purchased from your tablet at home.

For devices running Android 4.2, you can add the widget directly to your device’s lockscreen, letting you recognize songs without even unlocking your phone, making it even easier for you to catch that song at the club. 

The Sound Search for Google Play widget is available on Google Play for devices in the U.S. running Android 4.0 and above. After you’ve installed it, go to the widget picker and drag the Sound Search widget onto your homescreen. You can click on the widget at any time to start recognizing music around you.

New Google Now: More of the information you need, at just the right time.

When computers do the hard work, you can get on with the things that matter in life.Google Now helps you do just that, giving you the information you need, before you even have to ask. Like updating you with flight times, pulling up your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport, or showing you the weather at your next travel destination. Today, we’re making Google Now even more useful by integrating new partners and making all your information even easier to access.

Going to the movies? Movie cards now include the latest ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, so you can pick the right movie. Purchase your tickets through Fandango, and Google Now will remind you when you need to leave for the theater, and pull up your tickets once you arrive.

In the market for a new home? Google Now can provide you with nearby real estate listings from Zillow. Plus, when you are checking out that remodeled kitchen at the open house, Now will automatically pull up more information about the listing.

Of course, all of this information is most helpful when it’s front and center and ready when you are. The new Google Now widget brings all your important Now cards to your home or lock screen, so you don’t even have to open the app.

When Google Now first launched last summer, we promised it was just the beginning, and it would continue to get better at delivering you more of the information you need, before you even ask. This is the fourth update since launch, and we’re just getting started!
To try out these new cards, get the latest version of the Google Search app for Android, available on Google Play for devices running Android 4.1 and above.