Google speeds up mobile web search, introduces expandable sitelinks and quick view badges

Continuing its efforts to speed up the way we find things when searching the web from our smartphones, Google is rolling out expandable sitelinks. Instead of wasting time sifting through a website trying to locate a specific page, this new feature generates a list of related quick links that allow you to jump directly to what you're looking for. Already available in desktop results, expandable links are hit or miss when used on mobile. Not stopping there, Google also announced the release of its new Quick view badges. This experimental project produces highlighted links from Wikipedia, which offer snippets of information relevant to your query. Pictured above are results for different types of poker hands. It won't stop you from losing your money, but now you'll always remember a flush beats a straight. As of now Quick view is only available in English search results, but Google is working on adding support for additional languages.

Source: Google

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By: Unknown On 11:42 AM

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Evernote for Mac gets redesigned Menu Bar Helper, now with Quick Note feature

Evernote may not have shared the best of news a few days ago, but that's not stopping the notetaking service from giving its Mac application a boost in the features department. Evernote's quick to point out that while this release might not be the biggest it's ever pushed out, it truly believes today's revamped Menu Bar Helper to be "one of these little things that we think you'll really enjoy." With the newly added Quick Note functionality, Evernote for Mac will make it extremely simple for users to create notes at any time, simply by clicking the renowned elephant that's living in the menu bar or by triggering a keyboard command (Control-Command-N, to be more specific). Better yet, Quick Note can handle more than just typed words, with items such as images and audio attachments also being able to be added and saved. Evernote says the App Store update should be coming as soon as it gets the stamp of approval from Apple, though folks eager to try it now can grab it straight from the source link below.

Source: Evernote

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By: Unknown On 7:50 PM

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LG outs Quick Cover case for the Optimus G Pro

LG's just pulled back the curtains on Quick Cover: a magnet-infused case for the Optimus G Pro. Thanks to a Smart Cover-like design, the jacket turns the smartphone's screen on when its front flap is lifted, and off when it's shut. The sleeves come in black, blue, lime green, pink and white hues reminiscent of Samsung's own flip covers, and are accompanied by a reflective cube pattern option that comes in shades of black and white. By the sound of LG's press release, wireless charging and NFC capabilities should go unhindered when hardware is dressed up with a Quick Cover. South Korean online stores and brick-and-mortar shops will soon have the solid colors available for 43,000 won ($40), while the patterned variety will ring up at 39,000 won ($36). There's no word of a release in other territories just yet, so you'll have to sit tight if the accessories strike your fancy.

Source: LG (translated)

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By: Unknown On 7:54 PM

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Android 4.2.2 update reveals minor changes to Quick Settings and more

Android 4.2.2 began arriving on an assortment of Nexus devices yesterday with "performance and stability" improvements listed as the only changes, but Android Police dug into Google's change logs and compiled a list of small tweaks. With the update on board, Play Store downloads now display the time left to their completion, and Android Debug Bridge security is shored-up with the addition of a whitelist. Now, WiFi and Bluetooth tiles can be toggled by a long press in the notification Quick Settings. The release also makes hardware play a tone when it begins to charge wirelessly with less than 95% juice left, and uses new low battery and cord-free charging chimes for the Nexus 4. Reports about possible Bluetooth fixes are mixed according to Android Police, and a reference to patching them up hasn't been spotted just yet. If you'd like to take a look at Mountain View's code commits, give the neighboring source link a jab.

Source: Android Police (1), (2)

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By: Unknown On 9:32 PM

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OUYA promises quick game approval process, reviews start by the end of February

OUYA CEO Julie Uhrman's promising a quick, simple approval process for games on her company's upcoming Android-powered game console, the OUYA. She told us in an interview this week:

"It's similar to mobile: they'll submit their games, and we'll review for intellectual property infringement, and malware, and excessive pornography. But ultimately it's a quick review and you're in the storefront in one capacity or another."

That's not the only mobile model OUYA's following; Urhman already said the OUYA hardware will iterate on an annual basis, similar to the mobile market.

Despite the console's impending March launch to Kickstarter supporters, OUYA's yet to begin reviewing games for its storefront. "We literally just opened the ability for developers to upload their games into the store," Uhrman explained. The review process isn't too far off, however -- she's predicting a "middle-to-end of this month" timeframe. "We're building that right now," she said, when asked who's staffing that approvals process. "We are a start-up like any other start-up, it's just-in-time business."

The first consumer-ready OUYA consoles are planned for a March launch, with availability at retail to follow in June. The $99 console made a big splash on Kickstarter, eventually raising over $8.5 million when the original goal was a meager $950K.

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By: Unknown On 7:46 PM

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