How to send a place from Google Maps from your PC to your mobile phone

Search giant Google has announced a new feature on Google+ by which you can search for a place on Google Maps on your PC and send the location directly to your mobile phone. This feature is available for both Android phones and iPhones that are running the Google Maps app.

 

Google also explains how to do this in their Google Maps Help document. Here are the step by step instructions:

1. First make sure that you have the latest Maps version installed on your mobile and that Wi-Fi and notifications have been turned on. Also, if you have the “lite mode” Google maps in your PC, you will not be able to send the place from it to your mobile.

2. Sign in to Google Maps with the same account on your PC as well as your mobile.

3. Open Google Maps on your PC and search for the place you want.

4. A place card will pop up. Click on the “Send to device” link present on the lower left corner of the card.

5. A list of all your devices will appear. Click on the device where you want to send the selected place. You will receive a notification showing directions to that place on your mobile.

6. You can navigate directly to the place via the Map widget on the status bar or tap on the pop-up to open the place in the Maps app.

Way back in April, Google had introduced a web feature by which you could send map directions via Google Search from your PC to your Android Phone

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How to send a place from Google Maps from your PC to your mobile phone

Revealed: Some Sony Xperia devices have hidden FM transmitter feature

Do you know that some of the Sony Xperia smartphones have a hidden FM transmitter feature which could be enabled? The old Nokia N95 was a great smartphone and among other features, it also boasted of a built-in FM transmitter. One could broadcast music through it or play music from it on the car stereo wirelessly by tuning the radio to a certain frequency. Unfortunately, today’s smartphones lack this feature.

However, a few of the Sony Xperia smartphones have been found to have a hidden FM transmitter functionality inside them. Phones such as Sony Xperia Z and Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact, Xperia T and Xperia SP are among them. Their hardware allows for enabling the FM transmitter feature.

To do that, you have to first install the FM Transmitter app called SpiritTransmit available on Google play Store and it costs $19. However, support and updates for a few years is included in that cost. A free trial version is also available.

         

Its salient features are as under:

• The app works only on rooted Sony devices from late 2012 to early 2014 using Qualcomm FM chips and an internal FM antenna pin is used.


• The Spirit Transmit version v2 is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop.


• Headphones need to be plugged into the Xperia smartphone because their wire acts as the antenna for transmission. You can send music from your smartphone to your car stereo or home radio this way.


• Audio range is limited and for best results, the transmitter antenna (headset cable) and receiver antennas must be close. You can even wrap them together.

Well, if you have any of the above mentioned Sony Xperia phones, you can give it a try if you want.

Revealed: Some Sony Xperia devices have hidden FM transmitter feature

Microsoft working on OneClip, a cross-platform cloud clipboard app

Microsoft is said to be working on a new virtual clipboard app called OneClip and as its name suggests, it will allow the user to copy stuff on to a clipboard and then access it on any other device running on any platform- Windows, Windows Phone, iOS or Andrroid.

OneClip is currently being tested internally by Microsoft in Beta and its versions for Windows and Windows Phone have been leaked out by WalkingCat (@h0x0d) on Twitter.

According to WalkingCat, you can copy any stuff you want on the clipboard like a phone number, an address, a screenshot or any text that you have come across and want to save. Then OneClip will make all the copied stuff available to you on all your devices, whatever platform they may be running on.

Microsoft OneClip, the cross-device cloud clipboard for Windows/WindowsPhone/Android/iOS pic.twitter.com/HdlY8iZ6y6

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 22, 2015

The beta version of the app that has been released internally, has bagged a 5-star rating from 12 reviews on Windows Phone Store. It is not known when Microsoft will be releasing the OneClip app for the general public but in view of the high rating, it may be quite soon.

Since people are increasingly using multiple devices these days and often move between devices, OneClip looks like a very useful app to have in your device.

It is interesting to note that Microsoft has been using ‘One’ branding for its cross-platform products – OneDrive, OneNote and now OneClip. Microsoft has also recently released Microsoft Office preview apps for Android.

Microsoft working on OneClip, a cross-platform cloud clipboard app

Samsung Flow Beta akin to Apple’s Continuity, hits Google Play

Samsung Flow, that allows you to move your activities between devices, is now available on Google Play in Beta version. Samsung has first introduced Flow in September 2014 at its developer conference.

Samsung’s Flow app lets users shift their activities seamlessly between various Samsung devices just like Apple’s Continuity. The devices used may range from PCs, laptops and tablets to smartphones and even wristwatches.  The main idea behind it is to have a single platform that enables users to transfer files and move between devices smoothly and easily without any interruption.

In today’s digital era, people have more than one devices and during the course of the day they are using different devices at different points of time. While performing a particular task on your smartphone, you may feel that a bigger screen would be better. In that case, you can use the Samsung Flow app to shift to a tablet and continue with the task from where you left off in the smartphone. Or if you start reading an article on your smartphone while commuting, you can pick up from where you left off on your tablet when you reach home.

You can use Samsung Flow to:

“• Transfer an activity to the right device for a task. Pick up right where you left off rather than starting from scratch on the new device.

• Defer an activity when the right device is not immediately at hand or there just isn’t enough time to finish up a task. Resume it when you’re ready.”

Flow works with existing applications through Android’s Share menu. Developers will be able to add Flow actions in their apps to allow smooth transitions between devices for a better user experience.

The Samsung Flow app in Beta version is currently available for free download in the US for following Samsung Android devices:

Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 4 edge and Galaxy Tab S.

The following video shows how the Samsung Flow app works:

Samsung Flow Beta akin to Apple’s Continuity, hits Google Play

Layout Photo Collage app from Instagram now available on Android

Instagram had launched its Layout app for iOS in March this year and now, the Facebook-owned company has launched it for Android as well. The Layout app allows you to combine several photos into a single collage easily. You can save it in your smartphone and send it to your friends and family, and you can even share it on social networks like Facebook, Google+, Twitter or Instagram.

Layout from Instagram for Android can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store  in all phones running Android 4.1 OS and higher. Basic features of the app for Android are the same as in iOS.

When you open Layout and choose photos, it shows you previews of layouts depending on the number of photos selected by you. You can choose up to 9 photos at a time from your phone’s photo gallery. You can drag and drop, pinch and zoom or flip and rotate the photos to get the layout of your choice.

You can use the ‘Faces’ option to see all the photos in the gallery that have people in them. The Layout app shows you last 30 photos present in your ‘Recents’ tab. There is also the ‘Photo Booth’ feature by which the photos you capture with your smartphone’s camera can be instantly seen in a layout. You can use Instagram’s fillers and creative tools to give a great finishing to your photos.

You can download the Layout app and start using it. You don’t have to signup or have an account with Instagram for sharing the collages on whichever network you want.

Layout Photo Collage app from Instagram now available on Android

Microsoft launches Hyperlapse Mobile app for Windows Phone and Android

The research team at Microsoft has been working on a mobile app for creating Hyperlapse videos for quite some time now. The company has now launched the Hyperlapse Mobile app for Android and Windows Phone. This app helps to convert first-person videos into shake-free smooth timelapse videos called the hyperlapse videos. The app is similar to the Hyperlapse video app from Instagram which at present is available only for iOS devices.

The app is free and available for download on a few select Android and Windows Phone devices. Devices running Windows Phone 8.1 and Android 4.4 or higher (KitKat and Lollipop) are supported.

Main features of the Hyperlapse Mobile app are:

• Users can select a timelapse speed while capturing video which gives timelapse with a smoothly moving camera.


• Users can import an existing video from the phone and hyperlapse it to get smooth and stabilized videos.


• The app allows the user to hyperlapse a video at speed rates from 1x to 32x.


• It allows user to create selfie timelapses.


• It has a simple user interface.

Windows Phone devices where the Hyperlapse app can be installed are Lumia 435, Lumia 530, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 640 and 640 XL, Lumia 730, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 as well as HTC One M8. Wndows Phones below 8.1 are not supported and Phones with 512 RAM cannot record at HD resolutions.

For Android, beta version of the Hyperlapse app is available on Google Play Store and for this you have to join the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile for Android community on Google+ and become a tester.  The app works on following Android devices:

• Samsung:  Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge;


• Google:  Nexus 5,  Nexus 6, Nexus 9 tablet;


• HTC One M8 and M9;


• Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact;


• OnePlusOne; Xiaomi Mi4 and Motorola Droid Turbo.

Check out some videos made using the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile app:

Microsoft launches Hyperlapse Mobile app for Windows Phone and Android

Commandr app enhances the power of Google Now by adding many useful voice commands

Many of us are used to saying ‘Ok Google’ and command Google Now to do so many cool things for us like checking a flight, setting alarm, initiating calls, sending messages or asking any questions for which we want to know the answers. Well, the Commandr app makes it even better.

Commandr does not use any advanced algorithms but it simply adds several triggers or commands to Google Now. Ryan Senanayake, a 16 year old developer has created the Commandr app which when installed, toggles several commands. These include Wi-Fi on/off, GPS on/off, flashlight on/off, Bluetooth on/off, Wireless Hotspot on/off, Play/Resume music, Previous/Next song, Raise/Lower Volume, Silence/Unsilence ringer, Lock/Unlock phone, take a photo/Selfie, enable/Disable rotation lock, sync, Airplane mode or car mode, and many more such functions that are useful to us in our day to day life.

Commandr is integrated with the Tasker which enables you to add the custom commands you want.  All you need to do is turn Commandr into the default note-taking app so that when you say “Ok Google” and then “note to self”, you will be giving a command to the Commander.For example, if you say “note to self, turn on the WiFi”, your WiFi will turn on. The commands also work offline but for that you have to type them out.

You can also use this app on Android Wear smartwatches as they support Google Now. You can either say “ok Google” and the command which you want executed or you can open the full Android Wear app and tap the command.

You can download the free Commandr app from the Google Play Store.

Commandr app enhances the power of Google Now by adding many useful voice commands

Google acquires Timeful, plans to integrate it into Inbox and Calendar

Google announced on Monday that it has acquired Timeful Inc., a startup that has made the Timeful time management app for iphone. The mountain View giant will be integrating this app into its products like Inbox, Calendar and others to “make our life easier”.

Timeful received funding from Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Data Collective, Ashton Kutcher’s AGrade and others, and the app was launched in July last year. The Timeful app was released only for the iOS platform and will continue to be available to users for download and use. However, after the acquisition, active development for iOS will stop and the team will focus on developing new projects for Google only.

The Timeful Calendar app analyses your schedule and helps you to fulfill your tasks by suggesting free time slots. Your tasks could be anything from visiting the bank or going to gym. It is different from other calendar apps. After registration, it asks you what kind of things you would like to do and then tries to fit them into the free slots in your schedule. It gives equal priority to both your personal and professional work and will also add things like spending time with kids or helping them with homework to your schedule apart from the work stuff.

Alex Gawley, director of product management at Google writs in his Gmail Blog:

“The Timeful team has built an impressive system that helps you organize your life by understanding your schedule, habits and needs. You can tell Timeful you want to exercise three times a week or that you need to call the bank by next Tuesday, and their system will make sure you get it done based on an understanding of both your schedule and your priorities. We’re excited about all the ways Timeful’s technology can be applied across products like Inbox, Calendar and beyond, so we can do more of the work for you and let you focus on being creative, having fun and spending time with the people you care about.”

Google acquires Timeful, plans to integrate it into Inbox and Calendar

Microsoft announces Carrier Billing for Apps across all Windows 10 devices

Microsoft’s Build 2015 saw another important announcement made by the Redmond tech giant. During the keynote address, the company revealed that it will expand its carrier billing facility to support all the Windows 10 devices including Windows Tablets and PCs. Currently, carrier billing is available only on Windows smartphones.

You will soon be able to make digital purchases from the Windows marketplace by charging them to your smartphone bill provided your carrier supports it. For this, Microsoft has partnered with 90 mobile operators and their number is expected to grow with time.

Carrier billing is convenient for people who don’t have a credit card for making purchases. This is especially true for emerging markets such as Asia where most of the people have mobile phones but not necessarily a credit or debit card. Carrier billing will make it easy for them to purchase apps and games from the Windows store. Since the price of the apps purchased is charged to your phone bill, these items show up in your phone bill.

This will also help to boost sales of Microsoft’s apps and in-app content. In fact, it has been found that sales of digital content in emerging markets grew eight- fold after carrier billing went live for Windows phones. Developed markets saw a three-fold growth. This number is expected to go up when all Windows devices including Windows-based laptops and PC start supporting it. So apart from the benefit to users, this will also provide an opportunity for developers to make more money.

Microsoft announces Carrier Billing for Apps across all Windows 10 devices

Microsoft makes it easy to port Android and iOS apps to Windows 10

Microsoft has been steadily losing ground due to its “app gap” and software developers have been moving towards the more accommodating Google Android and the Apple iOS. Windows store comes a poor third after the big two. App gap is the main reason why Windows Phone is not able to grow its market share.

Although Microsoft has claimed that it is a non-issue, it is now working hard to address the issue and get software developers interested in the Windows platform. The company plans to overcome the app gap this year with its universal Windows 10 platform by making it easy for developers to run their Android and iOS apps on Windows and fill up its mobile app store.

Microsoft announced at its BUILD 2015 developer conference, that their new technology will allow developers to re-work their Android or iOS apps with just a few simple lines of code and make them work with Windows 10. Developers will be able to take their Android apps written in Java/C++ code or iOS apps written in Objective C and port them over easily to Windows universal apps that will work on Windows 10 phones, by using Microsoft SDK. They will not have to rebuild their whole apps for the Windows platform.

Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group President Terry Myerson told The Verge, “We want to enable developers to leverage their current code and current skills to start building those Windows applications in the Store, and to be able to extend those applications,“

Developers will also be able to easily integrate their Windows projects with Windows extensions and services like the navigation buttons, virtual keyboard or the location API. The modified Android apps would run in a safe Windows security container that will offer better security.

Microsoft has been testing its new tools with some major developers, for instance King, the developer of the famous ‘Candy Crush Saga’. They have successfully ported the game on Windows phone by converting it’s iOS code using Microsoft’s new technology and with very little modifications. On the stage, the company also showed the Android app for Choice Hotels working well on a Windows Phone with only some minor tweaks.

Well, this is only a beginning and we may soon see Microsoft’s app store filling up and bridging its app gap with two major competitors, Android and iOS.

Microsoft makes it easy to port Android and iOS apps to Windows 10

You can now send directions to your Android phone from your computer via Google Search

Google has introduced a new web feature with which you can send map directions to your Android phone even before you start out from your office or home.  If you are going someplace and don’t know how to get there, you can now send directions from Google Search to your Android phone in advance before you start.

For this, your phone must be linked to your Google account. Once you have made sure it is, you have to just type “send direction” in the Chrome omnibox or Google’s homepage. After that, type out the address where you want to go. If you have multiple devices, check at the top right corner to see that you are sending directions to the correct phone. You can use the prompt to select the correct Android device. Choose the route and click on the “Send directions to my phone” link present at the bottom.

The Google Maps app in your Android phone receives the directions. When you get in your car, open Google Maps in your phone and it will show you the map with the location you have typed. When you click the navigation icon, you will get directions to your destination.

Readers may recall that Goggle has recently introduced the “Find my phone” feature on Google Search to locate your misplaced or lost phone.

 

 

You can now send directions to your Android phone from your computer via Google Search

Google Keep allows you to ‘Take notes on the go’ on your Android Wear Smartwatch

After a major Android Wear update recently, it is now the turn of the Google Keep app which will now allow you to much more from the gadget on your wrist. The new update contains changes in the User Interface. It allows you to view your notes such as the shopping list right from your Android Wear smartwatch. You won’t have to take out your smartphone out of your pocket or purse to do it.

On top of it, you can do it hands-free. You can either start Google Keep from the app list or you can just say “Ok Google, open Keep” and the Keep will open up, allowing you to check your notes on your wrist itself.  You can browse through all your notes and reminders through Google Keep by swiping up or down and when you want to see a particular one, just tap it and it will open. You can even add a new note by tapping the plus sign and saying “Ok Google, take a note.”

The new update supports recurring reminders as well. So you can now set up recurring reminders from your smartwatch. You can even add labels to the notes in the Google Keep’s Android app and also on the web. You can use labels like “To-dos”, “Important” etc. This will help you to stay more organized. The labels will appear on your Android Wear smartwatch.

You can download the Google Keep app. from Google Play for free. It works on Android devices with Android 4.0 Ice Cream version and above. You can get the web version from the Chrome Web Store.

Google Keep allows you to ‘Take notes on the go’ on your Android Wear Smartwatch

Android Wear App updated with new design and features

Google has announced updates for its Android Wear app which is now available on Google Play Store. Android Wear is Google’s operating system for smartwatches. Google had earlier announced a major Android Wear firmware update which includes Wi-Fi support, always-on app support and other usability upgrades. Your smartwatch will first have to receive this firmware update for some features of the new Android Wear app update to take effect. The firmware update will be rolling out for all the Android Wear smartwatches starting with LG Watch Urbane.

The new Android Wear app update comes with several changes to the settings of your smartwatch.  General settings will be just a click away and through them, you will be able to block notifications and choose which calendar you want shown on the watch. You can adjust settings to show card previews. Your watch will remain always-on although its battery life may decrease somewhat.

In the settings, there will also be a new “Cloud Sync” feature which you can opt for, but it will work after you have installed the latest firmware on your Android Wear watch as it will enable Wi-Fi connectivity on it.  If you enable the Cloud Sync feature, you can receive notifications and also search even though your watch may not be connected to your Android phone via Bluetooth. If you disable Cloud Sync, the Wi-Fi connectivity will be turned off on all the Android devices you have. On turning Cloud Sync again, your watch will get back its WI-Fi connectivity.

You can install the Android Wear app update on your Android phone through Google Play Store.

Android Wear App updated with new design and features

Samsung trimming down TouchWiz, removing and making most of its apps downloadable

Over the years, Samsung has tried to offer more and more software features in its phones and tablets. As a result, the software has become quite bloated and heavy. Of course, Samsung realized this and began trimming its TouchWiz since Galaxy S5.

The company removed some apps and features in the TouchWiz to make it lighter but made some of the apps downloadable so that users could access them when they wanted. Now as Samsung is gearing up for the Galaxy S6, it wants to optimize the handset’s software by getting rid of unnecessary features and streamlining the UI. According to Sammobile, the company wants to optimize TouchWiz so that it will be “as fast and smooth as stock Android on the Nexus 6.”

Now Sammobile has received info from sources that all the add-on features that could be downloaded as apps are being removed by the company, which will trim down the software to a great extent. At the same time, Samsung will also optimize the code to simplify the UI and make it more manageable.

It is not known which apps and features will be removed. Samsung integrates some functions like Smart Stay in the settings menu and builds some features as standard apps. The integrated functions will most likely remain but separate apps such as S Voice, S Translator and Story Album might be offered as downloadables and not be pre-loaded on the device as is currently done. Most people rarely or never use all the pre-loaded stuff and those who want it will be able to download it whenever they want.

 

Source Sammobile

Samsung trimming down TouchWiz, removing and making most of its apps downloadable

Microsoft officially launches Outlook for iOS Android, it is actually a rebranded Acompli

Looks like Microsoft is unleashing one app after another on iOS and Android phones and tablets in a bid to push its apps beyond the Windows Phone. After making its popular Office freely available for the two platforms, the Redmond-based giant has released its Outlook app for  iOS and Android devices.

The app is available for iOS on iTunes and as a preview for Android on Google Play. You can download and use this email service for free. Microsoft had acquired the popular email app Acompli in December last year and has quickly turned it into an Outlook app for iOS and Android.

“We have been and we’ll continue to update the app weekly,” Julia White, Microsoft’s general manager of Office told The Verge. “So in a very short period time you’ll start to see variance from the Acompli app that will not be updated after that point.”

As some may have expected, Microsoft has not removed the integration of Acompli with Google Drive and Dropbox, but has retained them. Another important feature of Acompli is that you can swipe to quickly archive or delete emails and you can even schedule the messages to a convenient time when you can come back and read them or send a reply. The inbox removes clutter and surfaces emails that are important.

The Outlook app gives you quick access to contacts, mail, calendar and files. Outlook for iOS and Android will support Outlook.com, Office 365, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Exchange and other major email services.

Via The Verge

Microsoft officially launches Outlook for iOS Android, it is actually a rebranded Acompli

Pic Scanner app can help you to scan old photos and store them digitally by using only your iPhone

If you have a lot of old photographs, fading, crumbling, many of them black & white, lying around gathering dust but don’t have a scanner at home, there’s good news for you. The Pic Scanner app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is here.

The Pic Scanner app makes scanning of old photographs quick and easy. You can scan max. 4 photos at a time and if you have loads of photos, it will save you a lot of time. The photos get automatically cropped and straightened. You can also rotate and enhance them and apply various filters for a vintage or atmospheric look. You can even add captions, dates and locations to the photos and organize them into albums. The cameras of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus are quite efficient to give you some great results.

The Pic Scanner has been developed by App Initio Limited. The developers have also included leveling and perspective adjustments in the app so that you won’t have to worry if you hold your iPhone slightly off-kilter while taking the snaps. You can preserve these memories in your iPhone/iPad or archive them in your Dropbox. The Pic Scanner even allows you to share these pics with your family and friends on all major social media networks.

The app works on iOS 6.1 or later and is available on Apple’s itunes store for only $2.99, seems like a small price to pay for capturing and preserving your precious old memories.

Via PhoneArena

 

Pic Scanner app can help you to scan old photos and store them digitally by using only your iPhone

HTC’s RE Camera gets support for live video streaming on YouTube

HTC had launched its super wide angle handheld RE Camera at its ‘Double Exposure’ event in October last year. The “remarkable little camera” as dubbed by HTC has now got support for live video streaming on YouTube. Users will be able to stream videos directly to YouTube and “share moments as they happen”.

The Taiwan-based giant revealed at this year’s CES that Android users will get this feature via an RE app update immediately from the next day. iOS devices will get the RE camera app update for the live YouTube streaming feature later, but in Q1 of 2015 itself.

The live streaming feature of the RE Camera is easy to use. After you get the RE app update, you have to sign in to your YouTube channel and then activate its live streaming feature. After verification, live streaming from RE is easy. Live footage that you wish to share will be sent from your RE camera to your smartphone, which then transmits it to your YouTube channel. You can send the broadcast link via social networks or text and invite people to view your event live. They will also be able to see the broadcast after it ends as the link remains active. The live streaming can be broadcast in private mode for selective audiences or in public mode for anyone to see.

RE Camera’s main competitor GoPro is also capable of streaming live footage but its process is not so simple. The live streaming feature is also available in many of Sony’s high-end Xperia devices.

Source PRNewswire

HTC’s RE Camera gets support for live video streaming on YouTube

Peel Smart Remote app turns your smartphone or tablet into a ‘Smart’ TV Remote

You reach for your TV remote and can’t find it? Well, you can use your smartphone or tablet if it has an IR blaster. Peel Smart Remote app turns your smartphone or tablet into a smart remote control. It also acts as a TV guide and is available on both Android and iOS devices.

With this app, you won’t have to flip through channels as in an ordinary remote control. Peel Smart Remote app shows you the local TV channel and Netflix, giving detailed information about various TV shows. You can see cover art thumbnails, look up upcoming programs, get personalized recommendations, browse for TV shows by categories, save them as favorites and set reminders to watch them. You can watch the show of your choice with just a tap and also share whatever you are watching on social media like Twitter and Facebook or get to know what your friends are watching.

Peel Smart Remote app is free and works in more than 200 countries and its program guides are available in 110 countries. The company boasts, “Global. (We’re even in Nauru.)”, Nauru being the world’s smallest republic located in Micronesia in South Pacific.

Peel Technologies is a California-based startup that offers a smart TV remote app that turns your smartphone or tablet into a smartphone. The company was founded in 2009 and has over 100 million live users.

 

Source PhoneArena

Peel Smart Remote app turns your smartphone or tablet into a ‘Smart’ TV Remote