Google tipped to spin Google+ Photos into its own service

Google might soon be fiddling with its photo gallery, but this time in ways that go beyond just a corner to stow and share pictures on Google+. According to insider sources, the search giant is planning to yank its Photos service out of Google+ and offer it as a separate and independent service for hosting and sharing everything from cats to selfies.

Think how Instagram works inside Facebook's business. Or even closer to home, how YouTube operates. Though acquired by larger companies, the two media web services have remained largely independent, retaining their own brand and, therefore, loyal fan base. The biggest, and perhaps only significant, difference this separation will make is that Photos would no longer require a Google+ account to use, though of course it will still work with it. Given how Google has so far failed to bring in fresh new blood into Google+ by forcing its social networking service down anyone's throat, this might indeed be a wiser move.

That said, this rumored business venture is also surprising and a bit perplexing. For those who remember, Google already had a photo hosting service in the past, Picasa which was poised to rival Flickr, which is now owned by Yahoo. But in its effort to consolidate its services and try to coax users into Google+, it virtually deprecated Picasa in favor of Photos. To drive this point even deeper, it replaced the default AOSP Gallery app on its Nexus devices with an app that specifically ties into that service. In retrospect, this move might have already been a sign of a independent Photos service.

According to those sources, Photos would be rebranded, possibly without the Google+ prefix, which might be for the best. Google+ hasn't exactly been the hot social brand that Google might have hoped it would be and is now experiencing some rather major shakeup from within. If Google wants to drive more traffic, and therefore more ad revenue, to a photo sharing service, then this might be the only way indeed.

SOURCE: Bloomberg

VIA: SlashGear

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Devious Dungeon’s random levels keep you coming back for more

Ever fell in love with a game and wished you could repeat it over and over again without it getting old? If replay value is something you hold dear more than any other game mechanic, then Devious Dungeon might tickle your fancy. Though spread across only 5 worlds, its level randomization will keep you guessing every time.

Not all mobile games, even those that desperately try to relieve you of your real-world cash, are designed to be both long lasting and at the same time interesting. Most either have a singular plot with a single ending, while others don't have an ending at all and become boring. By making each level different each time, Devious Dungeon gives you a new experience every time, keeping each encounter fresh and exciting. That said, it also makes it quite harder to make walkthroughs and guides since things change a lot.

Devious Dungeon also has your staples of classic platformer hack and slash games. The premise of the game is a no-brainer actually. You slay monsters, collect treatures, level up, and dress your character with epic loot. Rinse, repeat, and enjoy.

That said, if you're quite sick of all those mobile games that try to relive a past golden age of gaming, you might want to skip this one as Devious Dungeon is unabashedly retro in its visuals. Of course, that mostly never gets in the way of some good old fashioned monster hacking fun. The in-app purchases that comes with this free download, however, might.

Download: Devious Dungeon on Google Play Store

LG to roll out G Watch update after corrosion complaints

LG’s G Watch was a perfectly usable smartwatch, with features that you can easily acclimatize to, but that was before people started noticing corrosion issues on the five exposed contact points behind the watch, which was for charging via the dock. People were also complaining about irritation while wearing the smartwatch, again from the said contact points. The upcoming OTA update for the device looks like a solution for this issue.

The corrosion issue was a major complaint for G Watch users, and it happened because of the current that was running continuously in two of the five contact points behind the G Watch. What happens in this case is technically called galvanic corrosion – this occurs when an electrical current runs through metals (like the contact points) and reacts to an electrolyte (like the perspiration from the user’s skin). Because of the corrosion buildup, some users have complained about having charging issues.

Also, because there is current running through the contact points, some users have testified to feeling irritation on their skins behind watch because off the electric charge. The update from LG, once it rolls out, will supposedly turn off the electric current running continuously on two of the five docking points – and therefore solve both issues.

The problem will be for some users who have G Watch units whose docking points have been corroded before this update – we suggest you bring them over to a service center to have them cleaned out. Corrosion might still happen to the exposed points even after this update – via the salt content in the user’s sweat, for instance – but it will surely be a slower process than when there was electric current present.

VIA: Android Police

Story Timeline

• LG G Watch hands-on


• LG G Watch custom ROM Gohma promises a better G Watch


• TWRP descends on LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live

Ooloo app gives a human “face” to virtual voice-search

While virtual assistants like Siri and Google Now have made our lives a little bit easier (that is, if you have a smartphone), there is still a struggle to actually get the results that you want when using it as a voice-search engine. It can get a bit frustrating when it doesn’t understand what you’re asking for, and of course since it’s technically not human, you cannot properly explain at times. The Ooloo app is bringing a human face (sort of) to the search, creating old-school customer service but in a digital format.

The process may take a bit longer and is not as real-time as Google Now, but Ooloo promises to bring better results because of a dedicated team of actual humans that will help you get the answers you need. Through the app, you send a voice-search inquiry, for example, “Is there a Greek restaurant in my neighbourhood?” and with a single app, you send the question to the server, where a real person will search for what you’re looking for. You can even add tags to easily categorise your question and the answers will then be sent through the app as well.

Before you start using the app, it will request permission to use your location since most of the inquiries can be answered better if they are localised. You can also easily rate the answers they gave you, depending on whether you were satisfied with the options given to you or they were just “meh.”

For now, the app is limited to US residents only, but who knows, if it becomes a hit, then it might expand to other territories as well. You can download Ooloo for free through the Google Play Store.

YoWindow Weather reflects conditions through landscapes

Haven’t you ever wished that your weather app would show you what the actual weather conditions are outside instead of just giving you the temperature? Well it isn’t exactly the same thing, but a new Android app called YoWindow Weather gives you artwork and landscapes that reflect what it’s really like outside, depending on the time, day and place that you want to see, in lieu of actual live pictures.

The purpose of the app is simple enough. It gives you a glimpse of what the weather is like through carefully designed animated landscape art that will show you whether it is snowing, raining, sunny or windy. The artwork also changes depending on the season (Come on and sing with me, “Winter, spring, summer or fall…”) so all throughout the year, you’ll get to see new images. You have the option also of choosing the landscapes that best fits where you are actually staying.

You can even fast forward and see what the weather will be like a few hours or a few days from now. You just swipe through the screen until you get to the timeline that you want to check out. So if you’re planning a trip later this week, not only will you get the weather forecast, but a nice animated artwork showing what it might actually look like.

YoWindow Weather gets its forecast from leading meteorogical sources, yr.no and NWS. The paid version will remove the advertisements from the app, but if you’re content with having ads pop up every once in a while, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

VIA: XDA Developers

Flappy Bird is back with more obstacles, multiplayer fun

We still maintain that it’s all your fault, all of you casual gamers out there who continually played (and cursed) while playing that massively popular game Flappy Bird, because now it’s back. As app developer Dong Nguyen has promised, the game is now officially back with new features, but this time – or initially, maybe? – exclusively via Amazon’s Appstore.

The app will now be a very fun offering for Amazon’s Fire TV where it will be a free download. And since the app is now embedded with a fun multiplayer, split screen, person-vs-person mode, it should be great fun for the family. Of course, that’s why it’s now called Flappy Birds Family. Pretty smart, huh?

The game still features the most cursed and anger-inducing bird in the history of mobile gaming and you will still need to tap your way through those 8-bit Mario-style pipes. There are now additional obstacles – as if the game was not difficult enough on its own – in the form of ghosts that float around randomly.

Nguyen has remarked that the game will now add a few elements of satisfaction – as opposed to the unforgiving nature of the original game – so as to limit the frustration (and broken device screens). That will also lessen the addictive nature of the game, he says, but we doubt that. There is still no word of when the game is jumping over to Android and iOS, but it should be that long a wait. Meanwhile, have you met the Timberman?

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• Flappy Bird is returning, and it's all your fault


• Flappy bird wanna-be Flopsy Droid now on Android Wear


• Timberman is here to frustrate you, waste your time

Nokia rumored to be mulling over an Android future

Although Microsoft has practically divested Nokia of it's smartphone-making business, that doesn't mean that the former Finnish giant is completely out of the running. Pretty soon, it might actually be making a comeback to the device-making business, but this time with Android as its platform of choice, at least based on speculation about the company's recent job postings.

To some extent, the theory behind this rumored move makes so much sense that it almost feels like a done deal. It would only be natural for Nokia to still want a piece of the smartphone market pie, considering how well established its name is in that industry. But it will likely stay away from Microsoft's mobile platform. Nokia's romance with Microsoft wasn't exactly the most popular even from among Nokia's own ranks, some of which left the company and started their own: Jolla. So other than striking it out own their own again, which they already tried and failed, their only recourse is to really go with Android.

Speculation that Nokia might be considering getting back into the mobile device business comes from a few items spotted on the company's LinkedIn job list. It seems that Nokia is hiring people with the engineering and design skills for future mobile devices. The Android factor comes via a very specific skill requirement: the ability to write camera drivers for Android. Taken together, it seems that Nokia might have a few ideas for future smartphones. Either that or it plans to simply harness those skills to improve or create its own mobile apps and services.

That said, if you're one of the remaining Nokia fans dreaming of the return of a legend, don't start holding your breath until after 2 or so years. Due to the Microsoft acquisition, Nokia is practically prohibited from making mobile devices bearing its name at least until 2016, just to give time for the world to get used to seeing Microsoft's brand plastered everywhere. But even then, we can never be sure what old Redmond has planned to ensure that any threat from its former vassal will never come to pass.

VIA: phoneArena

Story Timeline

• Nokia's went with Windows Phone to survive, avoid Samsung


• Nokia pre-beta tests Z Launcher for Android


• Select Nokia X designs to become Windows phones