Google I/O is like Christmas for smartphone fans. At their annual developer's conference, the Mountain View search giant gave us a glimpse of what they've been working on over the past year—and they've been quite busy, to say the least.
Google kicked off I/O 2016 by debuting Assistant, a next-level version of Google Now. While you could search the web by voice before, now you'll be able to have a conversational interaction with Google. In short, it's a smart chat bot.
Android phones may soon be able to send and receive iMessages thanks to a new open-source app called PieMessage.
Facebook just added another feature to Messenger as part of its quest to have their service become an all-encompassing communications app. This feature lets you make free group calls using Messenger's VoIP service, and you can chat with up to 50 people at once.
Google has added some fun Easter eggs to Hangouts that'll give you a few more ways to procrastinate throughout your day. All of them (except for one) work on the web browser version, the Chrome app, and the mobile apps for Android and iOS, and are activated by sending a specific message.
Facebook just keeps coming up with more and more diversions to help you ignore your responsibilities. At least this diversion is a little more intellectual than most of the other things that can easily distract you on Facebook.
Out of all the new features in iOS 9, the two most important ones specific to iPads are split screen multitasking and floating video windows. The latter is truly great, since you can watch movies or use FaceTime while you use different apps. The feature is called Picture in Picture, and here's what you need to know about it.
Group chats can get annoying real quick if the people in them are sending rapid-fire texts without hesitation, especially if none of them are any interest to you specifically. Luckily, it's easy to mute notifications for specific message threads. You can even leave a group chat if everyone is using iMessages, but that could lead to you missing an important message.
We all have those moments where we're bored or lonely, and in those times, just having anyone to talk to would be awesome. But maybe your friends are all busy, or everyone you know is at work and nobody's responding to your text messages.
Emojis, smilies, emoticons—whatever you prefer to call them, these fun little guys can bring a text-based conversation to life. If you're worried that someone's sarcasm meter might be broken, just toss in a wink at the end of your message. Or perhaps you can't quite put your sentiment into words, but one of these little graphics suits the moment perfectly.
Eye contact is key in conversations, job interviews, and honesty, and it can help you access others' thoughts and spot heavy drinkers. Locking eyes with someone can even help you fall in love, whether you know them or not.
If I told you that people who use emojis in their conversations have more sex than plain-text users, would you believe me? According to a recent study launched by Match.com, men and women that use emojis have more sex than those who do not. If you were looking for an excuse to increase your emoji output, you may not find a better one than that. To make your emoji typing as smooth and seamless as possible, I'm going to show you how to create shortcuts in iOS 8 for all your favorite use cases. ...
With over 500 million downloads on Android alone, I find it safe to assume that most of us use the Chrome Browser on our mobile devices; it's great for reading articles with Reader mode enabled, syncs open tabs and bookmarks across all your devices (as long as you're signed in to your Google account), and is regularly updated with new features and optimizations.
When it comes to subscription-based music streaming services, the conversation doesn't go much further than Spotify and Google Play Music (previously called "All Access"). Both services are essentially the same aside from slightly different catalogues and social options, and they both run ten bucks a month for unlimited music streaming and offline track saving (although Spotify does have a free, ad-supported service).
While chatting in Hangouts on Android, inserting an emoji or animated sticker can instantly make the conversation more fun, but they'll eventually lose their charm, as most things do. Even if you add GIFs to your texting arsenal, things could get stale. That is, unless they're personalize GIFs you actually make yourself (the process is really simple).
While stickers have long existed in the messages section of Facebook, they've only just recently rolled out sticker capability in comments for events, groups, and timeline posts. That means you can now reply with a cute sticker of a cat eating a slice of pizza on someone's status instead or writing something more thoughtful. While an animated sticker can show off enthusiasm and excitement that words or a too-simple emoji may not be able to convey, you can bet that your comment section will qu...
Lending someone your phone to make a call is always an awkward situation, as you closely monitor them to make sure they stick to a phone call rather than wandering off into private applications like your photo or messaging apps. You don't necessarily want to eavesdrop on their conversation, but trusting people with your phone is difficult, especially if you have some risqué or embarrassing pictures stored on it.
In today's world of ordering food from your PC or hailing a cab with an app, it almost seems archaic when we have to actually use our vocal cords to contact a local business. It sure would be nice if we didn't have to use our smartphones as, well, you know...phones.
Screenshots are all the rage. From sharing high game scores with friends to placing conversation threads online for the world to see to secretly capturing Snapchats, this function of smartphones is prevalent through modern society.
A huge chunk of my life revolves around my computer, and whenever I'm on my laptop and get a text message notification on my phone, I find it extremely distracting to stop whatever I'm doing to hunt it down. That's why I'm a big fan of text messaging via my computer.
Imagine this: You're driving on the freeway in Canada, enjoying the view and sipping Tim Horton's, when all of the sudden you see something out of the corner of your eye. You expect it to be a moose, obviously, but instead you see a robot with his thumb hitched up. So, after insuring that you didn't accidentally take some hallucinogens a few miles back, do you pick it up?
It looks like Snapchat, it feels like Snapchat, but after using it for a few minutes, you realize there is a huge difference between Facebook's new Slingshot app and the Snapchat we've all grown so accustomed to.
Often, when you crack open a beer with friends, your buddies are more focused on texting and Snapchatting than what's happening right in front of them. Smartphones have wedged their way into bars around the world—but an innovative new beer glass is encouraging patrons to put down the phone and engage with friends.
The latest iOS 7.1 update is going to be coming out soon, but from what we can tell, there are still a lot of basic options and settings missing that we iPhone users should have. Some of them are pretty obvious, like being able to delete all of something at once, like notifications, running apps, and messages.
Texting can be difficult sometimes. When you're browsing the web or playing a game on your iPhone and need to respond to text message real quick, you have to exit your current app to do so. Not exactly efficient, especially if a quick "K" is all you need to say.
Like what iMessage is to iOS, Google Hangouts is to Android—allowing users to share messages instantly, as if quickly wasn't good enough. With Google Hangouts, you can share locations and send maps, receive and send SMS, share animated GIFs, make video calls, and chat not only with your phone's contacts, but also your Google+ and Gmail buddies.
The most recent version of the iPhone Software (iOS 5) has the ability to utilize emoticons by use of the native keyboard and software, no third-party app or jailbreak required. Just follow these simple steps for unlocking the emoticon keyboard:
In this tutorial, we learn how to lose weight using yoga with Tara Stiles. Start off by stretching out your body, then go into a downward facing dog position. Now position yourself so that your hands are on the floor and your are bringing your leg in and out, while stretching it into the air and up against your body> do this again wit the other leg when you're done. Next, go into a warrior position and stretch your body on both sides. After this, stretch out your legs and bring them into diff...
Kids have an infamous reputation for thinking vegetables are icky. After all, when compared to more fatty and grease-loaded foods like Hot Cheetos and french fries, it seems veggies just taste too...healthy. Which is apparently not a good thing in the eyes of a sugar and salt-obsessed child.
If you want to learn how to Jerk or Reject dance first you have to skip backwards with your feet! Your first move will be to start off by jumping forward with your right foot and then come back with your right foot in the air. Next jump forward with your left leg and bend up your right leg. Then put your right leg down and your left leg up. Now repeat this same step over but with your other side. This is the simple easy jerk! Another way is to put your right leg up bent to the side and bring ...
In this video, Jeff Cavalier demonstrates how the viewer can obtain six pack abs in just twelve weeks while training at home. He begins by explaining that he will show the viewer five separate work outs techniques. The first exercise is called a X-man crunch. To complete this exercise you must lay on your back, with your body in an "X" shape. You then tighten your stomach muscles and bring your legs and your arms together towards the middle. The second exercise is called Heels to the Heavens....
Most pasta salad is very "American" and full of fatty things like mayonnaise. By adjusting a few ingredients and adding some yummy veggies, you can transform your salad and have a healthy addition to your outdoor summer party menu!
Want to learn a valuable skill? Well, just watch this video tutorial to see how to cross one eye or speak with an echo.
Learn how to do step-ups. Presented by Real Jock Gay Fitness Health & Life. Benefits
In Gears of War 3, Horde Mode 2.0 brings back several of the hard boss fights that you had to play through in the campaign. For example, this gameplay footage showcases the steps you'll need to beat the Brumak in Horde Mode.
If you hit the FN + F10 keys on your Nokia Booklet 3G, you'll see the available internet connections methods for your netbook including Bluetooth, wifi, and 3G.
Bring a bit of 8-bit Mario magic to your Terraria world. Watch this video to learn how to use common items to make incredible pixel art. Follow along and you'll have a Green Koopa in your Terraria world in no time.
Check out this Terraria guide to learn how to bring a hellforge straight from the underworld to your house. This video contains instructions for finding hellforge brick and building a hellforge in your own house in Terraria. Watch and learn.
Looking to bring some cozy warmth into your Minecraft home? Watch this video to learn how to build a fireplace. Worried about your cozy fireplace burning down your Minecraft home? Watch this video to learn how to build a sprinkler system.
Impress the rest of the Terraria world with one of the most out of this world dance moves of all time: the Moonwalk. Michael Jackson made it famous, but you can be the one who brings it to Terraria after you watch this video.
