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Tweet about your favorite things in the Play Store for a chance to win some prizes from Google

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by Jared Peters on
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To kick off the big Play Store redesign, Google has launched a little contest to raise awareness about your favorite things in the Play Store. Simply tweet one of your favorite items, it’s link in the Play Store, and the hashtag #favoritethings. You’ll have to be following the Play Store’s Twitter account, obviously, and there’s a separate page where you’ll need to submit your proof to enter the contest, but it’s a pretty simple way to grab some cool prizes.

What prizes are there, exactly? Ten Nexus 10s, seven Nexus 7s, and four Nexus 4s, as well as a hundred $10 Play Store gift cards. Now, before you start tweeting off everything you love about the Play Store (and inevitably losing a few Twitter followers in the process) each person is only allowed one entry, so make sure to pick that one thing that you really consider your favorite. Just don’t take too long to decide, as the contest ends on the 24th. Hit the break below to check out the full rules for the contest.

source: Google

Download black themed Play Store and other Google apps

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by Jared Peters on
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If you’ve decided that you aren’t a fan of Google’s color scheming in the latest Play Store redesign, we might have the answer for you. A “blacked out” themed version of the Play Store has surfaced on RootzWiki, and it definitely has a stylish appeal to it, especially if you aren’t a fan of all the white that Google uses.

Installation is simple, but you’ll need to be rooted to be able to flash the file in a custom recovery. For those unfamiliar with the process, you’ll download the packaged zip file on your phone, then reboot to recovery, flash the zip, and reboot. If you’re a little more tech savvy, you can manually push the modded .apk to your device, but recovery flashing does the trick.

In addition to the Play Store, tons of other Google Apps have gotten the sleek, dark redesign, so if the idea sounds interesting to you, hit the link below to check out the other apps.

source: RootzWiki

Google Voice to be included in Google Babel, but not right away

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Google Voice is one of those Google apps that seems to be ignored by Google, and I often wondered if it might suffer the same fate as Google Reader. With the news that Google is readying a new unified messaging service called Google Babel, I became hopeful that Google Voice would be included and might not be doomed after all. Well it appears that Google Voice will indeed be included in Google Babel, but not right away. At launch, Babel will only include Talk, Hangouts, and Messenger.

We can also expect to see notification syncing, which means once you have read a message on one of your devices, the notification will disappear from your other devices. This is huge as I always have GTalk notifications on several devices for messages that I already read. The introduction of sending pictures would also be nice since I can’t think of how many times I wish that ability was there. Unsurprisingly, Babel will launch on iOS as well, but Google is saying this is the first time they are building a first class iOS experience. Lets hope we see Babel at I/O.

source: Droid-Life

New redesigned Google Play Store (version 4.0.25) now available to download

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Well that didn’t take long did it? Google officially announced the redesigned Google Play Store earlier, and the APK is already available to download for manual updating. All phones and tablets with Android 2.2 or higher will get the new update over-the-air, but unfortunately it will take roughly 3 weeks to hit every device. If you’re like me, you’re impatient and don’t feel like waiting around, so all you have to do is grab the APK from the download link below and install it just like any other APK. In case you’re not familiar, just make sure you have “unknown sources” checked under settings/security. Then from your phone/tablet, tap on the download link below, then tap Download (5.9MB) and it will save it to your phone/tablet. Tap on “com.android-vending-4.0.25.apk” in your notification panel, answer OK to replace system application, and tap Install. After it’s installed, just tap open to start enjoying the new card-themed Play Store. Enjoy!!

Download Link

Thanks to all that sent this in

WhatsApp says no deal with Google is in the works

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by Jeff Causey on
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Yesterday we reported on rumors that Google may be looking to purchase the popular messaging app WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp business guy Neeraj Arora, sales talks with Google are not being held. Arora says there are no plans, or even discussions, at this time around Google buying WhatsApp for approximately $1 billion. Other than denying the rumors, Arora provided no other information. Next week WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum is schedule to speak at a conference in New York City. Hopefully he will be able to share some new information about the future direction and plans of the company in light of these recent rumors as well as last December’s rumored buyout by Facebook.

source: AllThingsD

Google Play Store gets fresh new look starting today

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by Robert Nazarian on
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The new version of the Play Store that leaked last month is now official. Google didn’t specify the version, but the overall look is identical with the new card-based theme. Google is touting the redesign as a simple and clean interface that helps you find great entertainment quickly. We have become a visual world so images and icons are much bigger and purchasing is now simplified so we can enjoy those apps, magazines, or movie rentals in quick fashion.

The new Play Store will start rolling out today to all Android phones and tablets running Android 2.2 or above. Unfortunately it will take a few weeks to get to every device, so chances are slim that you will get it today. However, the apk will most likely leak, which will let you manually upgrade. Stay tuned as we will post it as soon as it’s available.

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source: Android Blog

Google in the hot seat again as Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle file new antitrust complaint with the EU

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Looks like Google might be in the hot seat again because competitors filed a new antitrust complaint against them in the EU alleging that the Android OS gives an unfair advantage for Google apps. The complaint was filed by Fairsearch Europe, which consists Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle. Lead lawyer for Fairsearch said that Google is using Android “as a deceptive way to build advantages for key Google apps in 70 percent of the smartphones shipped today,”  He is referring to the fact that Android OEM’s have a contractual obligation to place Google-branded apps such as Maps, YouTube, and Drive in “prominent default placement on the phone.”

» Read the rest

Record high 60,000 apps deleted from the Google Play Store in February

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Android competitors like to point to Google’s Play Store as a source of spam. There’s no question that Google’s approach of vetting apps later does provide an environment in which spam can enter into the equation, but Google isn’t a company that tolerates such apps. Turns out there was some serious purging in February as nearly 60.000 apps were removed from the Play Store. This is the highest such number for a month ever, and we have no idea how many of these apps were actually deleted by Google themselves. The total represents apps that were deleted from publishers as well, but since the number is so high, you have to assume Google played a big role in them.

Why the deletions? Google isn’t going to tell us anything about it, but it could be from spam as well as other violations from their Terms of Service. It probably isn’t all about spam, but Google does have a section in their TOS regarding spam:

» Read the rest

Austin, Texas added to the list of cities to receive Google Fiber

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by Jared Peters on
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Google Fiber, the ridiculously fast 1 gigabit internet/phone/television service provided by our favorite search giant, now has a new city on its list. Austin, Texas will be next in line to receive Google Fiber, joining Kansas City and the Missouri Metro. No official rollout date yet, but you can bet we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear something. Hit the break for the full press release. » Read the rest

Revamped Google Chat screenshots leak, further confirms that Babel is coming soon… very soon

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by Roy Alugbue on
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We already know that Google’s revamped all-in-one chat service is very much real and definitely on the way, but we finally have a concrete idea of how it will look when it is unveiled to the masses, courtesy of some leaked screenshots obtained by the gang at techradar. As you can see in these screenshots, the new version of Google Chat service will feature a complete revamped to its UI by including a more threaded messaging style and the use of newer graphics which include the use of new emoticons to be used by both Babel chat and a Hangout within Google+. Oh and Google seems to be intent on getting feedback as quickly as possible by including a “What do you think about Babel in Gmail?” notification when you over over the Feedback button.

Unfortunately, there are no additional details to confirm anything else (such as what Google is doing with WhatsApp) for now, though all indications point to the arrival of Babel sooner than we think.

source: techradar

 

 

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