-Googlicious.
Googlicious.
-What's up?
Brian Tong here and welcome to Googlicious for everything Google that we could pack inside of a show each week.
And we start the show off with the Nexus 5 rumor that started last week and is coming out to play again.
The latest tweet from EveWeeks shows a full high-res version of the rumored White Nexus 5 on the backside with the expected black front and it also mentions
November 1st as the possible launch date.
Now previous rumors have targeted October 31st as the official launch date, but it looks like it's happening this week and that's not a trick on Halloween, that's a treat.
Now on other Android news, the Nvidia Shield Android hand-held gaming device gets the Android 4.3 Jellybean update but it brings a few new and powerful features.
The big one is console mode, which allows it to plug the shield directly into your TV via HDMI and then you can use the Bluetooth gamepad as your controller.
The update also add support for
thousands of Android games that allow you to map the touch screen controls of games to the hardware controls with the button mapping out.
Now it's still a niche product that $300 is that it lacks the big Blockbuster games even if you can stream some from your PC.
But I like the fact that Nvidia keeps pushing to add new features in content.
Now Samsung has said its officially rolling out its own Android 4.3 Jellybean update and that will let US phones like the Galaxy S4, S3 and Note 2 work with the new Galaxy Gear Smartwatch that previously only paired with the Note
3. Now this alleged grid of release dates shows Verizon will get first dips with the S4 right away and it will roll out through other carriers and phones all the way through December 2nd for the T Mobile Note 2. And LG's G Flex phone is official after all the rumors over the past couple months.
The 6-inch Quad-core smartphone that features a curve touch screen and rear control buttons will hit Korea in November by US pricing and availability remains unknown.
Now the screens pixel density is a little disappointing for screen buffs at 244
pixels per inch, which isn't the end of the world.
But it's coolest feature though might be the G Flex's curve booty that sports an elastic self-healing coating that LG says, mends and protects the phone from day to day scuffs and scratches.
You know, they should have just call this phone, The Wolverine.
That would have been much better.
All right, let switch gears and check out our app of the week.
It used to
be called mini tasker but it's now called Condi, but let see how it can help you out.
-I'm Dan Graciano and I'm going to show you how to automate your Android device with an easy-to-use app called mini tasker.
Unlike many of its competitors that is free in the Play Store for devices running Android 4.0 or higher.
Many taskers designed to automate different Android actions, say you want music to start playing when you're plugging you headphones or maybe you want the brightness to be turned down when your battery is low.
All of this and more can be set up in just a few steps.
Open mini tasker and click on the plus icon.
Select the launching app option and choose the app you wish to use.
For me, it's Pandora.
Next, click on headset connected and choose which kind of headset you're planning to use.
One with the mic, without a mic or any type.
For automating the brightness, once again, click on the plus icon.
But this time select the screen brightness option and set it to your liking.
After hitting OK, scroll to the bottom of the page and select low battery.
Mini tasker can also be
used to silence a call from the unknown number, send a text message at later time and even change settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at a specific time or place.
All of this can be done by clicking the plus icon.
But be warn, setting up automated test based on your location may affect your battery life because your phone will constantly check your coordinates.
You may have notice the Cloud icon next to the plus symbol.
Clicking this will reveal a list of [unk] tests that you can enable on your device.
You can also share automated test that you've created with a long
press and selecting the three dot symbol.
-All right, thanks for all that Dan and we'll wrap things up with two-- what I call different stories surrounding Google.
Now, CNET exclusively reported last week that Google has set up shop in the Bay Area and has building a large structure made from shipping or cargo containers on a barge.
Now, some evidence even suggests it might be a floating data center and Google already has a pan for the concept.
Now the big googs-- comment and the Portland press Herald in Maine also ran a story recently with a
structure that look similar to the one being built in the San Francisco Bay.
Now there also both owned by the same company.
Now, other follow up reports claims it's gonna be a floating Google Glass store but that makes no sense at all.
Also, we'll just have to wait and see what Google is up to.
And a new report from MIT Technology review says, data gather from Google's self-driving cars shows up they are safer and smoother compared to when a human takes the wheel.
The reports come from two studies of data from the hundreds of thousands
of miles, Google vehicles have logged in California and Nevada.
Google has already been testing its cars on public roads since 2010 and to sum it up, driverless cars are already testing better than us, in contrary to popular stereotypes, I'm actually a very good driver.
Yeah, I know, no one else.
So look, I know what get you on the mood.
I know how you like that [unk], I put a little [unk] mint leaves on it.
I know, yeah.
But look, we'll put a little bit that with some champagne on it.
Asian drivers, anyways baby, check this out.
All right, that's gonna do for this week's show.
E-mail us at googlicious@cnet.com or tweet me @BrianTong and we'll answer what we can.
I'm Brian Tong.
Thank so much for watching all the Google goodness this week and we'll see you next time for another taste of Googlicious.
-Googlicious.
