Google Just Opened Its Wi-Fi First Smartphone Plans to Everyone. Here's Why It Matters

You don't need an invitation to be a part of Project Fi anymore, and that could spell trouble for wireless carriers.

Alphabet's (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google launched its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) last year when it launched its cellular service called Project Fi. 

Essentially, Google's been selling smartphone plans to users that connect first to Wi-Fi networks for calls, texts and data, and then switch over to Sprint (NYSE:S) and T-Mobile's (NASDAQ:TMUS) networks only when Wi-Fi isn't available.

Google charges $20 for the service, and $10 for each gigabyte of data, and it will pay you back for data you don't use. And if you go over your data plan, you're only charged for the exact amount of data you use.

This service used to be available by invitation only, but now the company has opened it up to everyone in the U.S. This gives Google even more opportunity to steal away cell phone customers, and it could eventually push wireless providers into a position of simply renting out their cellular towers.

Same cell service, superior customer experienceOne of the main differences between Project Fi and T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon is that Fi customers call Google if they have a question, they receive bills from Google, and they are 100% Google customers, despite being on Sprint and T-Mobile's networks. 

This takes all of the customer control out of the hands of wireless carriers and puts it into Google's. And, according to a review by The Verge last year, Google does an amazing job with Fi customer service. Project Fi even offers 24/7 customer support. Google Fi customers interact only with Google from the beginning of their service to the end of it.

Most Project Fi users will use both Sprint and T-Mobile's networks without even knowing which one they're using. This should be at least a little scary for wireless providers. Sprint and T-Mobile get paid by Google for use of their networks, of course. But losing the actual customer is a big deal. 

It's similar to how Apple is taking over the iPhone experience with its iPhone upgrade program. Apple sells the device to a consumer, switches it on to the carrier of their choosing, and then allows them to upgrade each year to a new device, and helps them switch carriers as well. And it does all of that without customers having to interact with their cellular providers.

Google Fi is a different approach, of course, but its outcome pushes cellular carriers to the outskirts even more than Apple's iPhone upgrade program does. 

What will hold Project Fi back for now
Despite Google's service now being open to everyone, it's not likely it'll take off like gangbusters right now. The problem is that the Wi-Fi calling experience can be pretty bad with services like this. Project Fi reviews have noted this before, and my own experience with Wi-Fi first calling (from FreedomPop) was pretty terrible. 

The switching between cellular and Wi-Fi networks isn't very seamless right now, and call quality via Wi-Fi can be unusable at times. Project Fi users can always switch to cellular networks for their calls, but manually switching back and forth negates the point of having a device that automatically switches to Wi-Fi by default to save on data usage. 

Also, Project Fi only works on three phones. But if the company ever opened up Project Fi to other phones, or let you bring your own, then I think think this service could start posing a real threat to the major carriers. Wi-Fi calling would have to improve first, but that's a technical problem that can likely be overcome. 

If that happens, wireless providers will get paid more by Google to user their networks, but they'll lose their customer relationship and the ability to sell them more data and devices. That could be a very bad thing for the wireless industry, but it's something wireless customers might celebrate.

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How to work offline with Google Drive files

The mystery of how to work offline with Google Drive files is revealed in this tutorial for desktop, laptop, and mobile users.

If you're a Google Drive fan, you will be interested to know that you don't have to be online to work with the cloud-based tool. Since this trips up some users, I will explain how to work offline with Google Drive files.

The platform you use will dictate the steps to take for working offline. To keep things simple, I show how to work offline in Google Chrome (which works the same way on Linux, Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS) and on the Android platform.

Working offline via Chrome

I assume you are using Chrome on a desktop or a laptop. Although a desktop would rarely go offline, there are occasions that it could, and you certainly don't want to lose work or lose the ability to work.

In order to work offline with Google Drive files via Chrome, you must set up Google Drive to sync. Unlike on the mobile platform, you must turn on offline access to the entire drive and not just specific files. (You need to be connected to the internet in order to set this up.)

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To enable offline access to Google Drive, follow these steps.

1. Open Chrome.
2. Make sure you are signed into your Google account.
3. Go to Google Drive Settings.
4. From the popup, check the box for Offline.

You should receive a warning that Google is syncing your work to the computer — allow this to happen. Once the offline sync has finished, you can edit Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings files.

Working offline via Android

The mobile version of the Google Drive app works quite differently. If you open Google Drive on your mobile device and swipe right (from the left edge of the screen), you will see the Google Drive sidebar. From within the Google Drive sidebar (Figure A), tap Offline.

Figure A

Image: Jack Wallen

A Verizon-branded Nexus 6 showing the Google Drive sidebar.

Within the Offline section of Google Drive, tap the + button and select the type of file you want to create (the options are folders, scans, Docs, Sheets, or Slides) and do your work. Once your device returns to online status, that file will sync with your account and appear in the root of your Google Drive account.

If you need to enable a specific file (i.e., a file that is already within your Google Drive account) to be available offline, follow these steps.

1. Open Google Drive on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to the folder that contains that file.
3. Tap the info button associated with the file (a small "i" in the bottom left corner of the file icon).
4. Tap the Available Offline switch to enable (Figure B).
5. Allow the file to download.

The file should appear in the Google Drive Offline folder on your mobile device.

Figure B

Image: Jack Wallen

Enabling offline access to a file from within Google Drive.

Now you get it

You see how easy it is to use Google Drive files while working offline on your desktop/laptop or your mobile device. Now...get back to work!

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iPhone 7: The Photos You Need to See

Even though Apple is having a special "in the loop" event on March 21, the iPhone 7 release date will likely be during Apple's September 2016 event. Some media sources have expressed concern that the iPhone 7's launch date might be delayed even more if Apple's legal battle with the FBI continues to heat up, but there's been no official mention of this happening. Apple's March 21 event will likely feature a new 4-inch iPhone tentatively called the iPhone SE, not the iPhone 7. One source is hinting that the release date for the iPhone 7 might be even sooner than September, but there are no more details to that one.

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Apple fans are excited and hoping that come September, the iPhone 7 will bring a big leap in technological advancement far past the iPhone 6s. There's been a lot of news about what to expect from the new iPhone, including size changes, dual camera options, new screens, waterproofing, and more. We've got all the specs and details about the upcoming iPhone 7, along with concept photos attempting to capture what we might find in Apple's newest phone.

---

For example, this gorgeous iPhone 7 concept includes a virtual home button, edge-to-edge curved screen, and a stunning display. The photo is from a concept video created by Samistream, which you can watchhere. It envisions a curved, edge-to-edge screen with a 20 mp camera, six built-in speakers, and a glass body. While the concept phone is absolutely stunning, it's not likely to be part of the iPhone 7. Click through the gallery to see these photos and read more details about the iPhone 7.(Facebook)

Next Image: Gorgeous iPhone 7 with virtual home button

Google provides early peek at next Android operating system

In this Nov. 12, 2015, file photo, a man walks past a building on the Google campus in Mountain View, Calif. Google is previewing the next version of its Android operating system two months ahead of schedule in an effort to get the upgraded software on more mobile devices.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

Associated Press

Published: 10 March 2016 05:43 PM

Updated: 10 March 2016 05:44 PM

SAN FRANCISCO — Google is previewing the next version of its Android operating system two months ahead of schedule in an effort to get the upgraded software on more mobile devices.

The upgraded software, known as “Android N” for now, offers a split-screen feature so users can toggle between apps more easily. Android N also enables users to reply directly to notifications, something already available on the software that Google makes for smartwatches running on Android Wear.

Another change is being made to reduce the battery power drawn by apps when the device’s screen turns off. Devices running on Android “Marshmallow,” a version released last year, shift into a battery-saving mode called “Doze” only when they’re stationary.

The new edition initially is being recommended only for mobile app makers and will only work on a few smartphones and tablets.

Google typically hasn’t released test versions of Android until its annual developers’ conference, which begins May 18 this year. The head start is designed to get Android N the hands of mobile device makers earlier than ever, according to a Google blog post , to give them more time to set up the new software on their latest models.

By the time phones running on the software hit the market this fall, Android N is expected to eventually be named after a sweet food beginning with “n” in the tradition of all the previous versions that Google has made.

Although other improvements could be added before the software is released to consumers later this year, Android N doesn’t appear to breaking any new ground. Both the split-screen and reply-to-notifications features, for instance, are already offered in the operating system running Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

The absence of a “gee-whiz” factor underscores the challenges facing the smartphone industry as its market matures and it becomes more difficult to come up with new ideas nearly a decade after Apple revolutionized mobile computing with the iPhone’s debut.

The decline in innovation extends beyond the mobile software to the devices themselves, reducing the incentive for consumers to buy new smartphones. That’s one of the reasons that Apple is bracing for its first-ever quarterly decrease in iPhones sales during the opening three months of this year.

Google doesn’t make smartphones, choosing instead to give away Android to device makers. The software is designed to highlight Google’s search engine, maps and other features, giving the company more opportunities to sell the digital ads that generate most of its revenue.

The strategy has established Android as the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, but it also has limited the amount of control that Google has over how the software is used.

That has turned Android into a fragmented system that has become a source of frustration Google. Among other things, about 56 percent of Android devices are still running on versions of the software that were released in 2013 and 2014, according to Google’s tabulations. Only 2 percent of Android phones are on Marshmallow, last year’s model.

In contrast, about 79 percent of iPhones are already running on iOS 9, the operating system that Apple released six months ago. Unlike Google, Apple exerts sole control over the software on its mobile devices.

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Waze 4.0 Hits Android, Sporting A Fresh New Look: Live Now On Google Play [Video]

Waze 4.0 is now available for Android users. The newly-released version delivers a brand new look, enhanced driving experience, a faster way to share ETA, easy access to frequent destinations

Google has launched Waze version 4.0 to Android users, which promises to bring several exciting and useful features.

Waze 4.0 brings Android users a fresh new look, enhanced driving experience, easier way to share ETA with family members and friends and faster access to the user's frequent destinations, among other features.

"Waze is the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app," says Google. "Join drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info to save time, gas money, and improve daily commuting for all."

Other advantages of using Waze include real-time traffic-sharing within the local community; on-the-spot reporting of accidents, police traps and other road dangers; road alerts found along the user's route; the cheapest gas prices as shared by the community; easy navigation to Facebook and Calendar events in just a single tap; turn by turn voice-guided navigation; the ability to add friends and one's location details; and the privilege of earning points as a form of reward for contributing road info.

Users who have made significant contributions are also given the opportunity to climb the ranks within the community.

"Waze is all about contributing to and benefiting from the common good, so hop on board and get involved," adds Google.

The fresh new design in version 4.0 is meant to deliver easier navigation, sharing and reporting. It also brings a significant reduction in battery consumption.

Users also need fewer taps to start a drive or for sending locations and directions.

Moreover, Waze 4.0 features a new ETA panel that is a one-stop place for viewing reports, checking alternate routes and even assigning stops along the way. Users can also instantly send ETA to family members and friends through the panel. 

Lastly, users can receive smart reminders that can help them leave on time to make it to their Calendar appointment. The app uses information such as traffic conditions and estimated drive times in order to send useful reminders to Android users.

The new Waze 4.0 for Android seems to have taken a number of cues from the app's iOS version, which was released in October.

The updated Waze for Android is now available at the Google Play Store, so check out the video below to get a better idea of what it has to offer.

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Google surprises with early preview of Android N

GOogle unexpectedly announced the Android N Developer Preview today. And to make things even easier for developers — and adventurous users — the preview is available as an over-the-air update.

The expectation was that Google wouldn’t start talking about Android N until itsI/O developer conference in May. Instead, it decided on a very different approach.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s SVP for Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast, writes on Medium today (yep, Medium and not Blogspot) that the team decided it wanted to release the preview earlier in order to get more feedback from developers earlier in the process and get the final N release into the hands of device manufacturers this summer. Google’scurrent plan calls for five preview releases and a final release in Q3 2016.

“As we look to the next release of Android, N, you’ll notice a few big changes aimed at you as developers: it’s earlier than ever, it’s easier to try and we’re expanding the ways for you to give us feedback. We hope these changes will ensure that you are heard and reflected — that’s what makesAndroid stronger,” Lockheimer writes. He also notes that this early release will help developers add support for the new features in Android N.

Google stresses that this release is very much a work in progress. Google will probably add a few more features over time, but for now, it is talking about just a few of the highlights of this new release (and chances are we’ll find a few more after we install the preview).

Among the changes in Android N are improved notifications. Using “direct reply notifications,” for example, means developers can now allow their users to reply to incoming notifications right from the notifications shade. Developers can now also bundle notifications from the same app together.

For the first time, Android will also offer a split-screen view. Apps that support this will be able to run side-by-side with other apps on both tablets and phones (and developers can set the minimum allowable dimensions for their apps). Multi-windows support is something users have long asked for — especially on tablets. Google’s own Pixel-C, for example, would make a far better productivity device with this feature.

Besides a basic side-by-side mode, Android N will also offer a picture-in-picture mode so video apps can play in the corner on Android TV devices, for example.

CrunchBase

• Android

  • DESCRIPTIONAndroid is a software platform for mobile devices based on the Linux operating system and developed by Google and the Open Handset
  • WEBSITEhttp://code.google.com/android
  • Full profile for Android

• Google

With Android Marshmallow, which is currently only running on 2.3 percent of Android devices, Google introduced its Doze feature, which puts a device into a deep power-savings mode when it’s stationary for a while.

In Android N, Google is pushing this concept a bit further by allowing Doze to also save more battery power when the screen is turned off. In addition, Google says it continues to work on making Android less memory-hungry and making apps that run in the background work more efficiently.

One other new aspect of Android N that developers can look forward to is improved Java 8 language support. Thanks to this, developers can now use the Android Jack compiler to use features like lambdas, which reduce the amount of boilerplate code they have to write.

This is available for all versions of Android from Gingerbread up, but Android N developers will also be able to use default and static methods, streams and functional interfaces.

So how can you get your hands on Android N today? If you don’t mind things not working or randomly breaking, Google will let you sign up for an over-the-air (OTA) update (though as a Google spokesperson told us, that link won’t go live until later this afternoon). That is, of course, if you own a Nexus device.

The update is available for Google’s Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 9 and Pixel C devices. The one missing device here is the older Nexus 5. Once you’ve updated your device, Google will also continue to push new updates to it as they are released.

In addition to the OTA updates, Google will also continue to make system images for all of the supported devices and the Android emulator available.

Given that Marshmallow isn’t even on 3 percent of devices yet, it’s a bit of a surprise that Google seems to be in a bit of a rush to get Android N out. Chances are, though, that there are still a few more user-facing changes in this preview of Android N, as well, and that the next couple of releases will bring new features, too. For now, however, Google is putting the emphasis on just a few new features for developers.

The one thing the company definitely isn’t revealing yet, though, is what dessert/candy that the ‘N’ will stand for once it releases the final version. I’m going with ‘Nutella,’ given that Lockheimer’s post says he’s “nut tellin’ you yet.”

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Google releases developer preview of Android N operating system

San Francisco: Google on Wednesday let developers have an early look at the next version of Android in a move that could get the software into a wider variety of devices.

The US Internet colossus behind the world's most popular mobile operating system broke from its tradition of releasing new versions of Android at its annual developers conference, which will take place in May this year.

The US Internet colossus behind the world's most popular mobile operating system broke from its tradition of releasing new versions of Android at its annual developers conference, which will take place in May this year.

"We're doing something a little different this year by releasing the preview early really early," Google vice president of engineering Dave Burke said in a blog post.

"By releasing a 'work in progress' build earlier in development, we have more time to incorporate developer feedback."

The developer preview of the "N release" of Android, versions of which have historically been named after sweet treats, should help Google have it ready for device makers by the middle of the year, according to Burke.

New features touted by Google included the ability for applications to launch split-screen modes on smartphones or tablets.

"In addition, activities can also go into picture-in-picture mode on devices like TVs, and is a great feature for apps that play video," Burke said.

Android is also continuing to invest in Project Svelte, which aims to reduce the amount of memory space required so it can run on a broader range of devices.

An updated software developers kit allows for testing on Google-branded Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices.

"As we get closer to a final product, we’ll be inviting consumers to try it out as well," Burke said.

Google makes Android software available free to device makers. The latest version known as Android 6.0 Marshmallow began rolling out late last year.

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Facebook will soon let you Like and share 360-degree videos in the Gear VR

If you've got a Samsung Gear VR, you can soon connect your Facebook account to "Like" and share 360-degree videos from inside it. There are already Facebook 360-degree clips in the Gear VR's video app, but next week, Oculus Video will start letting users sign into Facebook and get a personalized feed based on pages and people they follow. In the "coming weeks," they'll also be able to add reactions to the videos or share them while inside VR.

Aside from adding 360-degree Facebook videos at all, this is the first big tie-in between Oculus' Gear VR platform and the social network. Facebook bought Oculus in 2014, but it was slow about making its influence seen. Last month, though, it announced that a dedicated social VR team was figuring out how to use virtual reality to "connect and share." It also integrated new streaming technology to improve performance of 360-degree video.

Outside the Facebook integration, the Gear VR has some other new social components this week. As of tomorrow, users will be able to create profiles through Oculus' Gear VR app, where they can find friends or leave app reviews. Users can create rooms to watch Twitch or Vimeo streams with friends, and there's a group trivia app, along with a cooperative multiplayer version of the Gear VR's third-person hack-n-slash gameHerobound.

We're still a long way from "Facebook in VR," but adding actual social features makes the Facebook 360-degree feed less like just another video channel. It's plausible that Facebook is working on dedicated apps as well, for either the Gear VR or the high-end Oculus Rift that's being shipped on March 28th. And Samsung, for its part, is pushing the Gear VR hard — the headset will ship free with all orders of Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge until March 18th.

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Facebook Reactions Much More Than a Like

The Facebook “like” button was one of the social media website’s most popular features.

Facebook Reactions

But now Facebook has added more emojis that users can click on to quickly express their feelings about a post.

The five new buttons, called Reactions, are love, haha,wow, sad and angry.

Facebook has been working on the feature for more than a year. The company looked at how people commented on posts and used emojis to share their feelings.

The company tested some possible reaction emojis with some users. It said it found most people liked the addition.

How to Use Reactions

Reactions are available both on the Facebook website and on the app.

Right now, users can add Reactions to posts, photos and videos but not comments.

To use Reactions on Facebook just click the Like button. All of the possible Reactions appear. Choose one and click on it.

There is also a video that explains how to use Reactions, if additional help is needed.

If you do not see Reactions in the Facebook app, close the app and then reopen. Reactions should appear.

Viewing Others' Reactions

Now Facebook shows the top three Reactions people have used on a post, photo or video.

Clicking on Reactions show how many people posted them and who those people are.

Looking Ahead

The new feature helps users react more sensitively to the nature of posts, especially when they report unwelcome news.

Now, friends can share sadness with the sad Reaction.

You can also go beyond Like and add the heart Reaction to show your love. Might romances start with a Love Reaction?

The new feature may be helpful during the current U.S. presidential election season. However, Reactions could also create confusion.

For example, a user might post about a candidate with a political position he or she disagrees with. A Facebook friend might react with the Angry emoji. Is that friend angry about the candidate, the position, or the person who posted?

I’m Marsha James.

Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Are you excited about the new Facebook feature? Do you think you will move beyond the Like button? Give us your reaction on our Facebook page!

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

haha - exclamation used to represent laughter

wow - interjection used to show that you are very surprised or pleased

romance - n. an exciting and usually short relationship between lovers

confusion - n. a situation in which people are unsure about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly

ambiguous - adj. able to be understood in more than one way; having more than one possible meaning

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Microsoft High On Office 365 Success

Summary

Do you know how popular Office 365 is compared to Google Apps for Work? You'll be surprised!

Microsoft's sales strategy for Office 365 has been aggressive and controversial, but it has been extremely effective.

The ball is now in Google's court. Can they respond with an equally aggressive strategy and astonish us with their numbers over the next few quarters?

When I first read about how Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) was slowly edging out Google (GOOG, GOOGL) Apps from the office suite space, I was a little surprised. To be honest, I didn't really know the numbers, but I had a bias towards Google Apps. I'd been using it for quite a while and everyone I knew used it as well, so in my mind it was the best option in the business.

But the moment I started digging for the facts, I was shocked by how cleverly Microsoft has been going about decimating Google's position in the top three - along with salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) and Box (NYSE:BOX). I also found several interesting things about both Google Apps as well as Office 365.

A Primer on Office Suite from Google and Microsoft

An office suite from a cloud application perspective is a set of tools designed for businesses to operate more efficiently and with a much lower investment in IT infrastructure. It's not an infrastructure service as much as an appealing cloud environment, where company employees can collaborate more effectively, access their files from anywhere without major security concerns and access the tools they need to do their jobs.

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