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Almost all of your notifications can now display on Samsung's Galaxy Gear
Another day, another phone gets update post. But this time, it's a smartwatch -- Samsung's Galaxy Gear -- that's party to a software refresh and it's going to bring you closer to that Go! Go! Gadget dream. According to Sammobile, an update to the Gear Manager app now lets you add nearly every type of notification for display on your wrist. So, you won't need to trawl forums any longer for an unofficial workaround. There's even an option to open a particular notification on your associated smartphone. In all, it's really nothing revolutionary and it in no way makes the case for a smartwatch purchase. But if you took the plunge and bought a Gear, it's just one more thing you can do for $300.
Pebble's iPhone app with iOS 7 notification support is available for download now
It's a big day for Pebble-sporting iOS 7 users. The smartwatch's latest iPhone and iPod app update brings a heck of a lot more functionality than the previous iteration, thanks in no small part to the mobile operating system's expanded Notification Center. After installing Pebble version 1.3 on your handset, the app will begin pushing updates from Google Maps, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare, Google+ and a variety of other services directly to your watch. Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky detailed the refresh over the weekend at Engadget Expand, explaining that the new version uses power-efficient Bluetooth LE for all notifications, so battery life shouldn't be an issue despite the potentially huge number of additional pings the wearable will receive when paired with iOS. As for delivering similar support on Android? Migicovsky says that iOS is the company's priority for now, and while the third-party Pebble Notifier solution will help tide those users over for a while, an Android equivalent may be in the works.
Pebble smartwatch to offer more iOS notifications, enable gesture-based controls
Just a couple weeks ago, Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky told us that his company is solely focused on cranking out new software to improve the watch's user experience. Today he's making good on the promise by announcing two enhancements to the product's ecosystem: an iOS 7-compatible app and a new developer kit that will give third parties a lot more access to the watch's internal components and sensors. As an added bonus, the company also announced that it's working with partners like Foursquare, Yelp and GoPro to produce new apps for each. Starting with iOS, the new and improved iOS 7 app expands the watch's current notification capabilities. Previously, users have only been able to receive alerts for calls, texts and emails, but iOS 7 integration will broaden the Pebble's capacity to include any notifications enabled in your Notification Center, which fortunately includes Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, and the list goes on. Pebble's also updating its SDK to version 2.0, which will give developers more access to the hardware and software within the watch itself. An accelerometer API will open doors for gesture-based controls and fitness-related apps. A data logging API enables apps to store sensor data and other info (motion trackers and game scores are examples) when you're away from your phone, and a Javascript API will make Pebble apps compatible on both Android and iOS by only inserting a few lines of code (there are currently a lot of apps that are only compatible with one or the other, so this will help trim down unwanted fragmentation). Migicovsky tells us that the new developer kit is going to start rolling out as a beta over the coming weeks, which will give third parties the chance to get their feet wet before it's time to push their apps live.
Google Now updated for iOS, brings notifications, reminders, new cards and hands-free voice controls
Google Now's been bringing all kinds of handy new features to Android in recent months, and now its time for iDevice users to get a slew of new functions too. With today's update to the Google Search app, the iOS version has gained notifications, reminders and several new types of cards. Plus, iPhone users can now simply say "OK, Google" to their handsets to start a Now-powered search. Among the new cards are those showing your event tickets, flight updates, car rental reservations and public transit info. Along with those very useful additions, the app's also received a revised, simplified homepage, some UI tweaks and one touch sign-in should you already be using other Google apps on your device. Sound good? You know what to do, hit the source and grab the update.
Google gives search a new engine and card UI for mobile, reveals new iOS search app
Google's feeling a bit nostalgic lately: in fact, today is the company's 15th anniversary. However, its look at the past is a fleeting thing, and Big G is very much focused on the future. To that end, Senior VP of Search, Amit Singhal just revealed a host of new features for search. First up, tablet and mobile users will be seeing a new card-based UI that's been making its way across all of Google's services, and has defined the look of Google Now since its inception. In addition to providing a consistent brand appearance, the new look arrives in tandem with an improvement to the Knowledge Graph that delivers an easier way for folks to drill down on answers to their queries. For example, when searching for a particular band, a card will pop up at the top with a list of songs that you can scroll from side to side. In another example, search answered a comparison query with an expandable, columned chart card that displayed pertinent info about the two things asked to be compared. Plus, you'll be able to see other cards with web and other results at the same time, instead of needing to navigate between pages to see all the results. In keeping with the updated aesthetics on Android, Google's also rolling out a new-look version of its iOS search app. The new app version will put users directly in a Google Now interface that'll feel familiar to Android users, and brings notifications, reminders and hotwording to Apple-philes. Furthermore, the search app is now cross-platform, so if you add a reminder in iOS, it'll show up on Android and vice-versa.
Tumblr adds push notifications to Android app, iOS version to follow suit
A barrage of apps might've just gotten an iOS 7 refresh, but there's one for Android that's left its iOS counterpart in the dust: Tumblr. The microblogging site's Android app now boasts push notifications, adding blog follow and comment pings to the mishmash of Facebook and Twitter replies you get. Of course, if you like suspense and would rather see interactions when you're on the Yahoo-owned site, you can alway turn notifications off via Settings. Despite this notable feature, the new version's changelog is quite short -- the only other item is the activity screen redesign that you can see in the image above. Have fun lording these changes over your iOS-using friends while you can, though -- Tumblr says an update for iPhones and iPads is "coming very soon."
Windows Phone 8.1 rumors hint at personal assistant and notifications tile
Windows Phone's future may involve more than just a few more home screen tiles. Elaborating on rumors from the summer, ZDNet claims that the next version of Windows Phone (possibly 8.1) will focus on Cortana, a personal assistant that goes beyond the likes of Google Now or Siri. The Halo-inspired component is reportedly more of a shell than an app, and would integrate the OS with Microsoft services like Bing. Ultimately, Cortana would find its way into versions of Windows and the Xbox One's Dashboard. The assistant might not be the only major feature in 8.1. Windows-Phone.pl has posted what it says are photos of the OS running on a smartphone. They suggest that the previously leaked notification center would reside in a Live Tile, and that users could group-select tiles like they can with Windows 8.1. There's no guarantees that the images or the Cortana rumor are authentic, although they're consistent with Microsoft's publicly stated desires for both a notification center and a "service-enabled shell." We may not get any official details for a while, however -- if real, Windows Phone 8.1 might not ship until sometime in early 2014.
Google Calendar for Android gets cross-device notification sync
The simplest updates are sometimes the best. See the latest update to Google Calendar for Android as an example: the release adds notification syncing between Android devices, saving the trouble of clearing multiple alerts while hopping from tablet to phone and back. That's the only major addition, but it could represent a big time saver for anyone with a busy schedule. If you're in that camp, you can grab the new Calendar now through Google Play.
Chrome for Windows gets richer pop-up notifications, Mac version coming soon
Back in May, Google outlined improved notifications for the beta version of Chrome, and now the feature's finally ready for prime time, if you're a Windows user rocking the browser. The refresh brings a revamped interface to the pop-ups, featuring text and images. Actions can also occur inside the notifications, so users can do things like respond to e-mails without clicking out of the window. If you miss a bunch of notifications, you can open them all at once -- and if you get annoyed, you can just disable them. The Windows version is available now. Mac users will get the update "soon," as per the blog post below.
Android 4.3 may let third-party apps take control of notifications
Now that a leaked build of Android 4.3 is in the wild, curious users have been poring over the code to see exactly what's new. Kevin from TeslaCoil Software may have found one of the first real gems: there's now a notification listening service under the hood. The feature would let third-party apps read notifications and perform common notification-level tasks. While we don't have new software to show exactly how the service will work, it's possible that future apps will have limited control over each other without relying on the hacks that we see today. We'll know the full story when Google makes Android 4.3 official -- whenever that is.
Google+ gets notification improvements across devices, new Android app
Today, Google announced it's making some improvements to its social network, both on the web as well as on the Android and iOS apps. The company's own Vic Gundotra has -- appropriately -- taken to Google+ to share that notifications have been improved all around, making them "much easier to use across mobile and desktop." Additionally, these notifications now tout a new bell icon which lets users know when stuff is waiting to be glanced, plus there's a tray that manages read and unread items -- in other words, they've become a lot less obtrusive and cumbersome. The Android application, meanwhile, has been updated with the option to delete pics from within the "Photos" view, while other under-the-hood improvements were added to the menu in order to make it "more consistent with other Google apps." The rejuvenated notification system is expected to be rolling out over the next few days, however the Android app is available now at the Google Play link below.
Mac OS X Mavericks to integrate iOS notifications
If you have a Mac and use an iOS device, Apple just announced an enjoyable feature to go along with the new version of OS X, also known as Mavericks: the ability to push iOS notifications directly to your Mac, regardless of whether or not Safari is open. The alerts show up as a banner in the top right corner of your display, much the same as any other Mac-related banner; additionally, any missed notifications will pop up in your lock screen any time you wake up your device. %Gallery-190864% Follow all of our WWDC 2013 coverage at our event hub.
Screenshots from eBay-bought Windows Phone hint at notification center, interface tweaks (updated)
You know how it goes, you buy a phone on eBay, and it comes with a developer / pre-release version of a major mobile OS. Well, if these images are to be believed, that's at least what happened to one bargain-hunting Windows Phone fan. The screenshots -- said to be taken from a Nokia 920 -- show Windows Phone 8, but with a few new tweaks and features. Most notable, will likely be the notifications, but other tidbits include App list ordering based on frequency of use, week view in the calendar and the option to kill apps from the multitask screen. The phone reports a build number of: 12084.WPMAIN(wpbldlab).20130509-1407 leading some to infer that this version could have been compiled sometime in May. A tease of something to come? As always, hard to tell, but expect the price of second-hand 920s to bump up a little, for the next few weeks at least. Update (06/09): The Verge got in touch with the buyer of the phone and it just so happens that Microsoft requested it be returned in exchange for a what was paid and a pro bono device. Looks like the resale value of 920s just dipped a bit earlier than we expected...
Latest Chrome beta for Windows and Chrome OS brings richer notifications, coming soon to Mac and Linux
It's not quite ready for the stable release of the browser, but Chrome beta users can now get a taste of a new notification system that should be rolling out to everyone sooner or later. Currently limited to the Windows and Chrome OS versions of the browser (Mac and Linux support is promised "soon"), the new notifications offer richer options than before, including formatted text and images, as well as the ability to incorporate actions directly inside the pop-up -- Google offers the example of responding to an email right away. A new notification center will now also let you view a list of all notifications you might have missed, and you can thankfully disable notifications from as many sources as you like.
Push notifications come to Chrome and Chrome OS with battery life as a focus
The push notifications on our mobile devices aren't just for convenience's sake -- they let apps stay idle and conserve precious battery life. That would explain why Google Cloud Messaging is now integrated with all versions of Chrome and Chrome OS, then. While both platforms are usually online as a matter of course, GCM lets developers refresh a web app or extension only when there are noteworthy changes, such as new chats. All end users have to do is sign in. Developers will have to build the feature into their apps before anyone sees the benefits, but we wouldn't be surprised if our Chromebooks last for just a little bit longer in the near future.
Apex Launcher 2.0 hits Google Play, puts notifications on app icons (Updated)
Apex can honestly claim to be one of the more popular launchers on Android, with over a million installs and 44,000 ratings over at Google Play. The stock-like skin has just been updated to version 2.0, with the biggest addition being support for Apex Notifier. This feature enables better control over iOS-style notifications on individual app icons, but you'll have to fork over $3.99 for Apex Launcher Pro to make it work. In the proper spirit of Android, however, you'll also get to pick which apps get notifications and which don't, from a list that includes Phone, SMS Messages, Gmail and many others. If you're getting bored with the stock launcher or just want to hide the cartoonish visage of TouchWiz, hit up the source link to download Apex for yourself. Update: We amended the post to clarify that version 2.0 brings better control over icon-based notifications, which the Pro version of Apex actually already supported.
Pinterest revives classic features, revamps notifications and search
When Pinterest unveiled its big redesign last month, it took the sort of gamble on feature trade-offs that we've seen before: some big leaps forward at the expense of a few leaps back. Much to the relief of many, the company is already doing what it can to restore what was lost while still forging ahead. Veteran users can once again see pins they've just posted, mention friends and find would-be contacts on Facebook on Twitter. As for the less nostalgic among us? The progress isn't as dramatic, but it's there: Pinterest has reworked notifications to show their history, and searches now include as-you-type keyword suggestions. More updates are on the way, including notifications for new pins, so we wouldn't worry that Pinterest is spending most of its time mending broken fences.
Managing Notification Center annoyances
Reminders is either one of the most useful apps in OS X 10.8 or one of the most annoying, depending on who you talk to. I use Reminders on my iPhone a lot, but not so much on my Mac. Part of the reason is because I assumed that once a Reminder notification popped up on screen my only options were to leave it there, close it (thus disabling the reminder for good) or "snooze" it. But there's actually a hidden option I never knew about. As Lex Friedman points out in a new OS X tips video over on Macworld, you can actually click and hold on a Reminder notification and then flick it off to the side of the screen. Doing this will tell the reminder to reappear in 10 minutes' time. It's a great option when you want to clear a reminder from your screen -- say, to access a window the the desktop underneath -- but don't want to totally forget about the Reminder. Lex shares several other Reminder tips in his video, so be sure to check it out.
Qualcomm's AllJoyn P2P software framework adds audio streaming and notifications, we go eyes-on
Qualcomm revealed that it was expanding its AllJoyn software platform today with some new services designed to help create a network of connected devices. Essentially, these services take the AllJoyn P2P software framework and package it in a way that makes it easier for hardware makers to implement. Qualcomm sees these new services enabling a kind of hub and spoke organization where myriad devices -- from coffee makers to stereos -- connect to a single internet gateway. With such a framework in place, users can control those devices and receive notifications from them on a smartphone or tablet. To get an idea of what AllJoyn can do, imagine a world where your washing machine sends you a text when the laundry's done and you can tell your coffee maker to start brewing using your smartphone. In addition to an appliance and gadget connectivity network, AllJoyn's also rolling out a open source, wireless audio streaming protocol. Like AirPlay or Sonos' wireless technology, it allows users to stream music from mobile devices to any set of AllJoyn-enabled speakers. But, unlike those closed competitors, AllJoyn's solution is open source and freely available to speaker and stereo manufacturers. Intrigued? You can see an AllJoyn-enabled coffee maker and the AllJoyn-compatible DoubleTwist app do some music streaming in our video after the break.
Hack brings all iPhone notifications to Pebble watch
Pebble watch owners have a good reason to jailbreak their iOS device. A new jailbreak app from developer Conrad Kramer lets the smartwatch accept all incoming notifications, not just the ones from native iOS apps, like messages and phone calls. This hack is available to most iPhone owners now that the iPhone 6 and iOS 6.1 is jailbroken. Pebble owners with a jailbroken device can download the BTNotificationEnabler tweak for free from Cydia. [Via BGR]
