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Google Play Movies expands to Jamaica, New Zealand and ten other regions
If your local Blockbuster just shut down or you can't get Netflix in your nation, there's always Google Play Movies. It's now available in nearly double the countries it was yesterday and 27 total, having added a dozen more nations to its rota. Notable new regions include New Zealand, Hong Kong, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. If you're seeking a flick fix there or the other nations (at the source) and have Google TV, Chromecast or an Android device, now's the time to grab the app.
Google adds info cards to Play Movies, helps you become a trivia wizard
Are you a bit rusty on your trivia? Now you can brush up on your movie knowledge more easily before you make a fool out of yourself at parties, thanks to new info cards that are now being integrated into Google Play Movies. When you pause the cinematic masterpiece you're currently watching, you'll notice some Google Now-like cards pop up on the side of the screen that are filled with information about the actors, actresses, the movie itself or even the soundtrack. To access these fancy chunks of cognitive enhancement, you'll need to live in the US, use a tablet running Android 4.0 or higher and be updated to the most recent version of the Google Play Movies & TV app. Since Google is just rolling the feature out, the cards may not be available for all of your favorite titles at first; fortunately, the company's adding them to more movies every day, so hopefully you won't need to wait too long. As for other countries and devices, Google's working on expanding its reach sometime soon.
Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)
The Android Market has morphed significantly since its inception, which now allows users to purchase books, music and rent movies, all from within a hub that was originally designed for just apps. To recognize this fundamental shift -- and emphasize the availability of content for sale -- Google is launching a new platform known as Google Play. The move hints at a strategy shift from just Android to the cloud as a whole, and establishes an umbrella brand for the diverse content sold by Google. For example, its Books, Music and Videos apps will now become Play Books, Play Music and Play Movies, while the Android Market itself will take on the moniker of Play Store. Users of Android 2.2 (and above) should notice the software update within the next few days, although other than the new name, initial changes should be minimal. We're also to be on the lookout for a new "Play" tab within the top toolbar of Google's website. To mark the occasion, the company has announced a promotional "Seven Days to Play" sale, which will tease would-be shoppers with discounted apps, books, movies and music throughout the week. For an additional peek at what's in store, you'll find the gallery below and a video after the break.%Gallery-149774%
Google I/O Galaxy Tabs get Google Movies update, VIP treatment
Lucky enough to snag one of those coveted white Galaxy Tab 10.1s from Google I/O? If so, tablet life is about to get a little bit sweeter. Google Movies is now an update away, making video rentals from The Goog mere moments from reality on your slate. Don't get your hopes up though... this isn't an update to Android 3.2, nor is it the TouchWiz UX update that will be rolling out at a NYC event later this week. Keep in mind these Google-fied Galaxy Tabs are Wifi-only devices, which typically receive updates like this far later than their 3G brethren -- making this download a bit peculiar. Regardless of its irregularity, those with the limited edition tablet can now catch up on all those Harry Potter flicks on the go, before their jealous pals with the standard model can.
Google Videos rental app makes fleeting cameo in Market, portends of an imminent release
The original Google Videos is going to be mighty huffy about this. Not only has it endured repeated attempts on its life following Big G's acquisition of YouTube, but now its very identity has been humiliatingly copied and pasted onto an entirely different service. The new Google Videos is a movie rental app that will give Android users in the US mobile access to the 3,000+ premium titles that are already available to rent on a desktop. So far, no one has been able to break out the popcorn except a few lucky Xoom owners, but last night the app mysteriously became available to everyone else in Android Market, too. Unfortunately, those quick triggers who managed to install the app before it disappeared were rewarded with a riveting succession of server errors, but at least it gives us hope that the real-deal will be with the masses in short order. Google Videos is dead, long live Google Videos.
Motorola's WiFi Xoom gains access to Google Movies, just in time for the weekend
Hard to say why Google chose to roll its Movies app out first to 3G-packed tablets sporting Android 3.1 (a smaller testbed, perhaps?), but it looks as if it won't matter for much longer. We've received a number of tips this evening suggesting that Google Movies can now be downloaded from the Android Market by WiFi-only Xoom tablets, though some are seeing a litany of server errors when trying to actually use the service. That said, we didn't see any issues here at Engadget HQ, so it's possible that a few kinks are still being worked out on select servers. Give it a whirl and let us know how it turns out in comments below, and if you're a proud owner of a Galaxy Tab 10.1... well, we guess you're also the proud owner of a trait called "patience." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Google I/O 2011 recap: Chromebooks, Music Beta, Movies and more
And that, as they say, is a wrap. We've departed a shockingly sunny San Francisco, but not without a huge helping of Google news to mull over on the long ride home. In typical Goog fashion, the outfit served up a double-dose of keynotes this year, both of which seemed to delight both developers and media alike. Sure, no new superphones used the show as a launching pad, but plenty of other nuggets were unearthed. From the reveal of Music Beta to the official introduction of the world's first commercial Chromebooks, the 2011 edition of Google I/O packed plenty of punch. If you missed even a second of our continuous coverage, we've got you covered -- the best of the best is recapped below. We'll see you next year, I/O... you bring the tiramisu, we'll bring the Ice Cream Sandwich. Keynotes / liveblogs: Day 1: Music Beta, Android 3.1, Ice Cream Sandwich, Open Accessory, ADK Day 2: Chrome, Angry Birds, Chrome OS, Chromebooks Editorials / previews: Google Music Beta walkthrough: what it is and how it works (video) Editorial: Engadget on Google Music and Movies for Android Google Music Beta versus the titans of the streaming music space: a chart Editorial: Google clarifies Chromebook subscriptions, might have just changed the industry Hands-ons: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition (white) hands-on from Google I/O! Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS laptop hands-on at Google I/O Fossil Meta Watch wrists-on at Google I/O (video) Hasbro's experimental Nexus-powered robot toy hands-on at Google I/O (video) Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on) Google's Arduino-based ADK powers robots, home gardens and giant Labyrinth (video) LifeFitness exercise bike interfaces with Nexus S, makes fitness marginally enjoyable (video) iRobot Ava mobile robotics platform hands-on at Google I/O (video) Groupme's group messaging app demoed at Google I/O, complete with data / location (video) Head on past the break for more!
YouTube and Google Movies rentals can be consumed on either platform
Remember those 3,000 movies from Universal, Sony and Warner Bros. that were added to YouTube yesterday? Turns out, that same library is also being pushed to Google's newly announced Movies service. We learned as much during the outfit's executive Q&A session following the keynote this morning, and furthermore anything purchased / rented via Google Movies will be available to consume via YouTube, and vice-versa. Not a bad gesture!
Android Market adds e-books; movies and music soon to come?
The Android world's been a-buzz this last week over a few new Android Market URLS, including http://market.android.com/music/ and http://market.android.com/movies/. In case you thought there was nothing to this tip, guess again: the third member of this trifecta (http://market.android.com/books/) has gone live. That's right, visitors to the Android Market can pick up Glenn Beck's mile-a-minute thrill ride The Overton Window for a mere $9. We hope that takes some of the sting out of the fact that a Google Music launch wasn't part of this month's Honeycomb event -- although if we had to wager a guess, we'd say that the company will have Music and Movie offerings soon enough.
