The most recent update to Android’s Google Now voice feature, as noted on the Android Google+ account, includes a very handy new “what’s this song?” feature.
The enhancement is reminiscent of the popular Shazam feature: simply ask your device “what song is playing?” and your device’s microphone will listen to your music, interpret it, and then notify you of the song’s name.
Additionally, the feature can even speak the song title back to you. Artist information, and pricing and download access via the Google Play music store is also available directly via Google Now.
According to comments on the Google+ posting noting the feature, it appears that it may currently be exclusive to users in the United States.
There were some questions surrounding Google’s launch of its new LG-made Nexus 4. The device quickly sold out after going on sale in the United States mid-November, followed by the same scene for international rollouts in Canada and elsewhere. Google resumed sales of the device earlier this week and last in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and other locations. Most models of the device were listed as sold out, and they continue to be shortly after Google’s relaunch. With many orders of the device shipping as late as “6-7 weeks” from now, there were many questions regarding the source of Google’s inventory problems. According to LG, the issue is simply due to the “huge demand” for Nexus 4….
CNET got in touch with head of mobile LG U.K. Andy Coughlin. He claimed the device “had proven extremely popular, and as such retailers have been met with huge demand.” He added that LG is “working closely with Google to ensure that those who wish to purchase a handset are able to do so”.
As for supply to Google Play versus other retailers, Coughlin explained:
Google announced a new Google+ feature today, dubbed “Communities”, in a post on the Official Google Blog that aims to bring people of common interests together in discussions on the network. The new Google+ Communities will be made up of both private and public groups, discussion categories for finding conversations that meet your interest, hangouts, and sharing through +1 integration. You can activate the new feature by clicking the “Communities” icon to join or create a new community.
From photography to astronomy (and everythinginbetween), Google+ has always been a place to crowd around common interests and meet new people. What’s been missing, however, are more permanent homes for all the stuff you love: the wonderful, the weird, and yes, even the things that are waaay out there. With Google+ Communities there’s now a gathering place for your passions
According to several reader tips that we have received, Google has begun selling books and movies in its Google Play store in Brazil. TecnoBlog has verified this and provided some screenshots (via TNW) of the Brazil Play store.
Simultaneously, Amazon has announced that it has opened up a version of its Kindle book store in Brazil.
Amazon today launched the Brazil Kindle Store (www.amazon.com.br) with the largest selection of the most popular books, including the most Veja best sellers and lowest prices of any eBookstore in Brazil. The Brazil Kindle Store offers over 1.4 million books, now available to Brazilian customers priced in Brazilian Reais (R$), including more than 13,000 Portuguese-language books, 49 of 60 Veja best sellers—the most of any digital bookstore—and the most free books in Portuguese. In addition, Amazon announced that Kindle—the world’s #1 best-selling e-reader for five years running—will go on sale in Brazil in the coming weeks with a suggested retail price of R$299. For more information, and to begin shopping in the Kindle Store, visit www.amazon.com.br.
Google released some Plus numbers today for the first time in a while. While Facebook has surpassed 1 billion active users, Google said its users number about half that and that is only for activations. Meanwhile, less than half of those people (235 million) are actually using the service (+1′ing apps in Google Play, hanging out in Gmail, writing reviews in Maps, etc.). Who is using the stream? Just 135 million— or 27 percent of the people Google has activated.
More than 500 million people have upgraded, 235 million are active across Google (+1′ing apps in Google Play, hanging out in Gmail, writing reviews in Maps…), and 135 million are active in just the stream.
I have to say from a personal standpoint that there was a lot of excitement and new features surrounding the launch of Google Plus, but it feels like the excitement is stagnating somewhat as Google struggles to bring itself up to feature parity with Facebook. Of particular interest is getting websites integrated into Google Plus like Facebook and Twitter with automatic feeds.
Still, 135 million users is a pretty high number for such a young service. Read more
Google just updated the Google Search app for Android today, and the most notable new feature is very Passbook-eque, as it can now pull up boarding passes via email and use QR codes for checking into airport terminals.
The check-in feature will apparently launch shortly for United Airlines, with more to come soon. Meanwhile, the updated app also includes more recommendations for things nearby, as well as weather data, summaries for walking and biking activity, etc. It even features new voice actions for posting to Google+, finding music, or scanning barcodes.
According to Google on the official Android blog, the update is especially useful when traveling during the holiday season:
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).
The update is available now for devices running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or up. Check out the full changelog from Google Play below:
