Google Photos tests “Explore Map” to view your photos by location

Google Photos is finally preparing to add a long-requested feature: the ability to see a map view of all the photos and videos you’ve taken by their location. A third-party application released last year called “Photo Map for Google Photos” enabled this feature, but now Google is making this a native feature.

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

Google Photos 4.52 started rolling out earlier today on the Google Play Store, and Android developer Alessandro Paluzzi was first to spot the new “Explore Map” feature in the latest version of the app. We also enabled this feature in the latest version of the Photos app. Here’s how it works.

When you open up the Photos app and switch to the “Search” tab, there will be a new map widget underneath the “Places” section. You can either tap on the “Explore Map” button to launch the feature or tap one of the suggested location chips underneath the widget in order to filter photos by that location. If you’re launching the Explore Map feature for the first time, you’ll be greeted by a dialog introducing you to the feature. The feature is designed to help you “relive the places you’ve been by exploring your photos that have location info, including shared photos you’ve saved.” The map uses location info from your camera’s GPS, Google Location History, and detected landmarks (that are seen in the photos themselves.)

You can pan around the map to find other locations where you’ve taken photos. These locations may be marked by a heatmap to show you areas where you’ve frequently taken pictures. For example, Google Photos is showing me heatmaps in Las Vegas, Nevada, as that’s where CES took place this year.

If you tap on an individual photo, you’ll see the map view of exactly where that photo was taken (if location data was saved with the photo).

This feature is fully working in Google Photos version 4.52 but is not yet enabled for users. Once it starts rolling out, we’ll let you know.

Google Photos (Free, Google Play) →

Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.

The post Google Photos tests “Explore Map” to view your photos by location appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2BZZ5wf
via IFTTT

[Update: Google Countersues] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology

Update (6/11/20 @ 5:00 PM ET): Google is countersuing Sonos for alleged patent infringement.

The smart speaker space is one of the hottest battlegrounds in the tech world right now. These devices have slowly made their way into millions of homes across the globe, giving the companies behind them ecosystem lock-in power and access to tons of information. Google has become a major player in this market, but Sonos is claiming that Google stole their technology in order to do so.

The New York Times is reporting that Sonos has filed two lawsuits against Google. Sonos claims Google stole its multiroom speaker technology after a 2013 partnership. On top of that, the company is asking for a sales ban on the products that have benefited from Google’s alleged IP theft, which includes phones, laptops, and speakers.

The 2013 partnership allowed Sonos speakers to support Google Play Music, but Sonos is claiming Google used patented technology in the Chromecast Audio, Google Home devices, and Pixel devices. Sonos also says Google subsidized the products that used their technology, greatly undercutting Sonos’ more expensive products. The company says it warned Google about this in 2016, 2018, and last year, accusing the company of infringing on 100 patents.

In the lawsuit, Sonos points out similarities between new Google products and its existing technologies. They mention things like synchronizing audio across speaker groups, adjusting group volume, and setting up services on a local wireless network. Sonos is also accusing Google and Amazon of sabotaging their attempts to make a device that would have allowed users to use both Google Assistant and Alexa. In fact, Sonos claims Amazon has also violated its patents, but the company doesn’t want to be “battling two tech giants in court at once.”

Google and Amazon have both already responded to the lawsuit, denying infringement. Google says they dispute the claims and “will defend them vigorously.”

Sonos v. Google by Russell Brandom on Scribd

Source: New York Times | Via: The Verge

---

Update: Google Countersues

After Sonos sued Google in January for stealing patented speaker technology, Google is now countersuing. Google accuses Sonos of infringing on 5 patents related to mesh networking, echo cancellation, DRM, content notifications, and personalized search.

In the filing, Google says: “While Google rarely sues other companies for patent infringement, it must assert its intellectual property rights here.” Google describes the support they gave to Sonos to integrate Google’s music services and Assistant as “significant assistance in designing, implementing, and testing.”

Google points to how they helped Sonos integrate Play Music in 2013 and Google Assistant in 2016. “This effort again involved substantial Google engineering resources, including significant months of employee work time,” says Google in the filing. In addition, Google says that they are “proud of its more than five-year partnership with Sonos, and has worked constructively with Sonos to make the companies’ products work seamlessly by building special integrations for Sonos.” As an example, Google says that “when Google rolled out the ability to set a Sonos speaker as the default option for Google Assistant, it was the first time Google had done that for any partner company.”

In a statement to The Verge, Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, said that “we are disappointed that Sonos has made false claims about our work together and technology. We are reluctantly defending ourselves by asserting our patent rights. While we look to resolve our dispute, we will continue to ensure our shared customers have the best experience using our products.”

Source: The Verge

The post [Update: Google Countersues] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2unqlAU
via IFTTT

Google brings more Assistant features to Sonos and Bose smart speakers

When most people think about Google Assistant smart speakers and displays, they think of Google’s own devices. There’s no question that Google’s Nest Mini and Nest Hub are hot-sellers, but there are also many non-Google-made Assistant devices out there as well. These devices have typically lagged a bit behind in getting the same features as Google’s products. Today, Google has announced that Sonos and Bose smart speakers with Google Assistant built-in are getting some of these features.

Voice Match is a feature that allows people to get personalized responses when Google Assistant recognizes your voice. This is great for calendar events and reminders. You can add up to six people’s voices to a single speaker or display. Many Assistant devices already have this feature and have had it for quite some time. Google says it’s rolling out to Sonos and Bose smart speakers now.

Next up is a feature in the Google Home app that allows you to adjust the “Hey Google” sensitivity on specific speakers and displays. This feature was only formally announced a couple of months ago and it’s apparently available for Sonos and Bose speakers now.

Lastly, the ability to choose a default speaker is now available to Sonos and Bose speakers with Google Assistant. This allows you to pick a preferred speaker for playing music/podcasts. You can ask for music on the kitchen speaker and have it play on your default speaker in the living room. This can be set up for supported speakers in the Google Home app under “Device settings.”

Google’s blog post is vague about which devices are actually getting these features, but a Google spokesperson reached out to inform us that this announcement is targeted at Sonos and Bose smart speakers with Google Assistant built-in. As always, Google loves to announce things several times and take their time to roll things out. You’ll have to check the Google Home app and hope that these features are now available for you.

Google Home (Free, Google Play) →

This article was updated at 4:35 PM EST shortly after publication to reflect that these new features are available for Bose and Sonos smart speakers with Google Assistant built-in.

The post Google brings more Assistant features to Sonos and Bose smart speakers appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2BZC9x9
via IFTTT

Android 11 adds 84 new mappings for Xbox, Razer, PDP, Mad Catz, and other gaming controllers

Something you may not know about your Android phone is that it can likely connect to a gaming controller that wasn’t designed for it. There are hundreds of different gaming controllers on the market from dozens of different peripheral makers, and not all of them will work with your Android device out-of-the-box. Google has slowly added support for more controllers in Android over the years, though. The first Android 11 Beta was just released and we found 84 new controller mappings for Xbox, Razer, PDP, Mad Catz, and other gaming controllers.

We’ve seen Google bring more support for controllers in recent versions of Android. Android Pie brought controller mapping support for the Xbox One S wireless controller and PlayStation DualShock 4, among others. Controller mapping eventually came to the Xbox Elite Controller (Series 1) over USB and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller. Now, we’ve spotted an additional 84 new controller mappings that are coming with Android 11.

What exactly is “controller mapping,” anyway? Essentially, it’s how Android maps the controller’s physical buttons to virtual inputs that the OS and games can react to. If you press “A” on the controller, Android’s controller mappings will ensure that the “A” translates to the “A” KeyEvent, and so on and so forth. We compiled the below list of new controller mappings based on the presence of new key layout files in Android 11 Beta 1 versus Android 10. Expand the toggle below to see the full list of 84 new controllers.

List of 84 new controller mappings in Android 11

• Afterglow AX.1 Gamepad for Xbox 360
• Afterglow Gamepad for Xbox 360
• Afterglow Prismatic Wired Controller
• Batarang Xbox 360 controller
• BigBen Interactive XBOX 360 Controller
• Elecom JC-U3613M
• FUS1ON Tournament Controller
• Gamestop Xbox 360 Controller
• GPD Win 2 X-Box Controller
• Harmonix Rock Band Guitar
• Harmonix Xbox 360 Controller
• Hori Co. DOA4 FightStick
• Hori GEM Xbox controller
• Hori PadEX Turbo
• Hori Real Arcade Pro VX-SA
• Hori Real Arcade Pro.EX Premium VLX
• Hori SOULCALIBUR V Stick
• Hori XBOX 360 EX 2 with Turbo
• HoriPad EX2 Turbo
• HORIPAD ONE
• Joytech Neo-Se Take2
• Keyboard map for the android virtual remote running as a gamepad
• Logic3 Controller
• Logitech Chillstream Controller
• Logitech Gamepad F510
• Mad Cats Ghost Recon FS GamePad
• Mad Catz Beat Pad
• Mad Catz Call Of Duty
• Mad Catz GamePad
• Mad Catz JOYTECH NEO SE Advanced GamePad
• Mad Catz MicroCon Gamepad
• Mad Catz Portable Drum
• Mad Catz Street Fighter IV FightStick SE
• Mad Catz Wired Xbox 360 Controller
• Mad Catz Xbox 360 Controller
• Mad Catz Xbox controller – MW2
• Mad Catz GamePad
• Microsoft X-Box 360 pad v2
• Nacon GC-100XF
• PDP AFTERGLOW AX.1
• PDP Afterglow AX.1
• PDP Battlefield One
• PDP Controller for Xbox One
• PDP EA Sports Controller
• PDP Marvel Xbox One Controller
• PDP Titanfall 2
• PDP Versus Fighting Pad
• PDP Wired Controller for Xbox One – Camo Series
• PDP Xbox 360 Controller
• PDP Xbox One Controller
• Pelican PL-3601 ‘TSZ’ Wired Xbox 360 Controller
• Power A Mini Pro Elite
• PowerA FUSION Controller
• PowerA FUSION Pro Controller
• PowerA MINI PROEX Controller
• PowerA Pro Ex
• PowerA Xbox One Mini Wired Controller
• PowerA Xbox One wired controller
• Razer Onza
• Razer Onza TE
• Razer Sabertooth
• Razer Wildcat
• RedOctane Controller
• RedOctane Guitar Hero X-plorer
• Rock Candy Gamepad for Xbox 360
• Rock Candy Gamepad for Xbox One 2015
• Rock Candy Gamepad for Xbox One 2016
• Rock Candy Gamepad Wired Controller
• Rock Candy Wired Controller for Xbox One
• Saitek Aviator Stick AV8R02
• Saitek Cyborg Rumble Pad – PC/Xbox 360
• Saitek P3200 Rumble Pad – PC/Xbox 360
• Saitek P3600
• SteelSeries Stratus Duo
• Street Fighter IV FightPad
• Street Fighter IV FightStick TE
• Super SFIV FightStick TE S
• Thrustmaster Gamepad GP XID
• Thrustmaster, Inc. GPX Controller
• Tron Xbox 360 controller
• Xbox 360 Pro EX Controller
• Xbox 360 Wired Controller
• Xbox Airflo wired controller
• Xbox ONE spectra

We determined that these controllers are now supported based on the key layout files in the Android 11 Beta 1 GSI, which is based on the Android Open Source Project. That means that these new controller mappings will be present on all devices running Android 11 and not just Google’s own Pixel phones. Android 10 only had around 50 controller mappings, so an additional 84 controllers is a considerable bump in support for third-party gaming controllers. Many controllers made for mobile devices simply use a generic mapping layout, but now many controllers that aren’t made specifically for Android should work better in the next Android release. This is exciting news for anyone who wants to use a controller they already own with their Android device.

Android 11 News on XDA

The post Android 11 adds 84 new mappings for Xbox, Razer, PDP, Mad Catz, and other gaming controllers appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2AsJB3h
via IFTTT

Google Stadia adds mobile touch controls, per-device resolution settings, and now works on any Android device

Google Stadia is one of the hottest new cloud gaming services on the market. Google has already added popular games from series like Destiny and Assassin’s Creed with more titles being added each month. The best part of cloud gaming is that, with a simple server-side and app update, the user experience can be drastically enhanced. With today’s updates, Google has announced loads of anticipated features!

Mobile Touch Controls

In today’s “This Week on Stadia” blog post, Google announced a few new features for Stadia. The first and one of the more interesting ones are mobile touch controls. Google is adding a virtual controller overlay to the Stadia mobile app so you no longer need to use the Stadia controller connected with USB, third-party controller connected through USB or Bluetooth, or a hack like TouchStadia or Cloverplay. This on-screen controller makes the Android gaming experience more mobile rather than an extension of a console or PC.

Official Support for more OnePlus phones

With this update, Google has also added a few new OnePlus phones to the officially supported device list. These include the OnePlus 5/5T, OnePlus 6/6T, OnePlus 7, 7 Pro 5G, 7 Pro, 7T, 7T Pro, and 7T Pro 5G. These are added to the list of others including Samsung’s flagships from the Galaxy S8 to the Galaxy S20, the ASUS ROG Phone 1 and II, Google Pixel 2 through 4, and the Razer Phone 1 and 2.

…and experimental support for any Android device!

If your phone isn’t one of the 38 fully supported Android devices, then don’t worry. Google Stadia is adding a new “Experiments” section in settings that will allow you to enable support on any Android device that you can install the app on. Those with large phones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate 20 X will now be able to use Stadia on their phones. It is worth noting that Stadia still requires Wi-Fi to play. Mobile data through 5G NR or LTE are, unfortunately, still not supported yet.

If you’re daring, you can even install Google Stadia on an Android TV device! As @AndroidTV_rumor points out on Twitter, Stadia works after you sideload the app. The app runs in portrait mode, so you’ll need to plug a controller in and use a mouse or remote app to accept the prompts.

Google Stadia on Android TV. Credits: @AndroidTV_rumor

Per-Device Resolution Settings

Along with these changes on mobile, Google is also adding support for a per-device resolution setting. That means you can have a different resolution set on your Chromecast Ultra, PC with Google Chrome, and phone. Before this, whatever resolution setting you had set was synced across all devices. If you only had a 1080p TV but a 4K monitor, you would have needed to switch between 1080p and 4K every time you play the game on your TV and PC. Luckily, this is no longer an issue.

To learn more about this feature, check out the instructions here.

Bonus!

As a nice bonus, Google is also giving all Stadia Pro subscribers, past and current, a $10 discount on their next game purchase, no matter the game. And anyone who signs up for Stadia will now receive one free month of Pro! This month’s free games include 5 titles: SUPERHOT, Get Packed, Little Nightmares, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, and Panzer Dragoon: Remake, so be sure to claim them!

These are all really great improvements and what Google Stadia needs to keep it in the minds of its subscribers and consumers in general. I should note that none of the improvements mentioned here has rolled out to my devices, but these features should be rolling out soon.

Stadia (Free, Google Play) →

The post Google Stadia adds mobile touch controls, per-device resolution settings, and now works on any Android device appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/37k08mk
via IFTTT

Light, the company behind the Nokia 9’s crazy penta-camera system, quits the smartphone industry

Smartphones with multi-camera arrays of 4 and even 5 lenses have become quite commonplace these days, but this is actually only a recent trend that’s come about. Light is a camera company that is one of the innovators in multi-camera smartphones, and their technology can be found in HMD Global’s Nokia 9 PureView. Unlike other penta-camera phones like the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 where each lens serves different purposes, the Nokia 9 PureView featured five 12MP lenses (three monochrome lenses and two color ones) that work in conjunction to produce a better photo. Before their entry into the smartphone space, Light made a name with the Light L16 camera which featured a crazy 16 lenses and was hyped as a threat to DSLRs. But now, Light has confirmed to Android Authority that it is quitting the smartphone industry.

Light L16 camera and Nokia 9 PureView. Credits: Light.co

We haven’t seen a lot of Light’s technology in the smartphone space. The only phone that we know of to release to the market with their technology was the Nokia 9 PureView. While the phone’s penta-camera array seemed incredible on paper, it didn’t quite deliver. It got a score of 85 from DxOMark when the phone was reviewed back in September, which is far below the current leader at 128, the Huawei P40 Pro, as well as dozens of other devices. The Nokia 9 PureView’s major selling point was its camera (hence the “PureView” in the phone’s name), so that’s where we start to run into problems.

Light’s confirmation to Android Authority means that we likely won’t be seeing any more of their camera technology in any future smartphones. Light says that they are “no longer operating in the smartphone industry,” but we don’t know exactly when they decided to call it quits. Interestingly, the front page of the company’s website promoted the use of its technology in smartphones until July 31, 2019, after which the front page was updated to promote automotive applications.

Besides HMD Global, Light also announced partnerships with Xiaomi and Sony in early 2019. The partnership with Xiaomi meant we would have seen Xiaomi smartphones with Light’s camera tech in the future, while Sony’s partnership would’ve meant the two companies would work to integrate Light’s technology with Sony sensors. But we haven’t yet seen anything actually come out of these partnerships, and today’s news mean that we probably never will.

---

Source: Android Authority

The post Light, the company behind the Nokia 9’s crazy penta-camera system, quits the smartphone industry appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3hjhoNe
via IFTTT

NVIDIA GeForce NOW adds 19 games, expands Highlights, and reopens Founders memberships

Cloud gaming services are becoming more popular and NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW has been at the forefront. Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about the service as it has been adding a lot of new games and is coming to more Android TV devices. Today, NVIDIA is announcing 19 new games along with the expansion of the Highlights feature and reopening of Founders memberships in Europe.

First, let’s talk about games. NVIDIA added a bunch of games to GeForce NOW last month and they continue to be committed to bringing more to the platform each week. 19 games in total are coming to GeForce NOW this week. Satisfactory was already released on Monday and six games are being brought back to the platform after opting-in to streaming.

1. Satisfactory (released 6/8/20)
2. Black Squad (returning)
3. Farm Together (returning)
4. Minion Masters (returning)
5. SCUM (returning)
6. Terminator: Resistance (returning)
7. XERA: Survival (returning)
8. Anno 2070 (Uplay)
9. Cloudpunk
10. Far Cry 4 (Epic Games Store)
11. Far Cry 5 (Epic)
12. Left 4 Dead
13. Rayman Legends (Epic and Uplay)
14. Rules Of Survival
15. South Park: The Stick of Truth (Uplay)
16. South Park: Fractured But Whole (Uplay)
17. Tale of Wuxia
18. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist (Uplay)
19. Totally Reliable Delivery Service

“Highlights” is a GeForce Experience feature that many developers have implemented into their games. It makes it easy for players to capture and share moments from gameplay. The full list of GeForce NOW games that support Highlights can be found here. The latest update adds smart pattern and image recognition from NVIDIA’s cloud servers. It can now automatically detect and save key moments for you.

When GeForce NOW was made available to everyone in February, it launched with two tiers: Free and Founders. The Founders tier includes longer session lengths, front of the line access, and RTX ON for supported games. New memberships were later paused in Europe, but now sign-ups are back with a limited-time introductory price of £4.99/5,49€ per month for the first 12 months. You can register here.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW (Free, Google Play) →

The post NVIDIA GeForce NOW adds 19 games, expands Highlights, and reopens Founders memberships appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/30vwTvq
via IFTTT