Google will launch dedicated search results for mobile

Google is on the verge of releasing dedicated search results for mobile, according to a report from Search Engine Land. Currently, Google searches featuring the same criteria reveal identical results no matter which platform is used, but this may change within 'months'.

The news arrives from the digital marketing conference Pubcon where Gary Illyes, a webmaster and trends analyst at Google, disclosed the plans in his keynote speech. The outcome of this change hasn't yet been defined, but it should lead to more relevant results for mobile when searching on a mobile operating system.

See also: Pixels bought from Google will ship with unlockable bootloaders7

Searches made from mobile platforms like Android and iOS have now overtaken those of desktop and laptop platforms, but results have until now remained uniform despite differences in how information is consumed on the disparate systems (such as the typical viewing experience on mobile being in portrait format rather than landscape as with desktop).

It's said the desktop index would remain in place but that it would not be as up to date as the mobile one, though to what extent is unclear.

Google has seemingly had this plan in mind for some time, with Illyes tweeting about it just over a year ago warning that the company hadn't ruled out the possibility of separate mobile indexing.

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Pixel dump Google Camera v4.2 now available for Nexus 5X and 6P

For those of us not lucky enough to have one of the new Pixel devices on pre-order, you can still enjoy some of the software benefits the device brings.

Developers have already been able to extract the new Google Assistant from the Pixel that was included as an exclusive to the new devices. Now, thanks to the Pixel and Pixel XL system images and some clever under-the-hood stuff, the Google Camera app version 4.2 has now been ported to Nougat devices. The device requires the latest version of Android Nougat 7.0 and only works on ARM64 devices, so only Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P owners will be able to benefit from it.

The new Google Camera app won't install over the existing one and it's worth pointing out it won't work on non-Nexus devices.

The modified Google Camera app version 4.2 comes courtesy of XDA Developers and they have confirmed that the only thing changed in the APK is forcing it to run on 7.0. They've also uploaded a security scan from VirusTotal and NVISO's APKScan to confirm it's safe.

It seems everything works as expected as if you were running it on a Pixel, and you'll notice the manual exposure, and long-press to lock the exposure is also present.

Download Google Camera v4.2

Leave us a comment below if you've loaded the APK onto your device and let us know what you think of it.

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Pixels bought from Google will ship with unlockable bootloaders

With Verizon looking to have a much more notable role in supporting Google's new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, many potential customers, especially previous owners of the developer friendly Nexus range, have been wondering whether the phones will be rootable and support custom ROMs. Google has now confirmed that both the new handsets bought from the Google Store will be rootable and will ship with an unlockable bootloader.

Many users still like to root their phones to install applications that require additional system permissions, but the practise has waned in popularity as rooting causing compatibility issues with official updates, such as the monthly security updates from Google. With Google promising "seamless updates" for the new Pixel phones, rooting probably won't be a top priority for many owners.

Even so, rooting and unlockable bootloaders are essential for those who want to install third party operating systems, or custom ROMs, on their devices. It's reassuring to know that those who loved the openness of the Nexus line-up will still be catered for, albeit not with every model.

Pixel owners who purchased the device from the Google store will be able to root their devices. Pixel phones purchased from the Google store will ship with an unlockable bootloader. – Iska Saric, Google Spokesperson

Reports have already alluded to a completely locked down bootloader on Verizon's version of the Google Pixel and Google's announcement seems to confirm that this is the case. Consumers and developers will have to be quite careful about where they buy their phone from if they want to root their phone and install customized versions of Android.

So, if you are looking to root or test out some custom ROMs on your new Pixel, but sure to purchase your phone directly from the Google Store.

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SwiftKey Beta update brings incognito mode, text expansion and more

The high level of customization is one of the things I love about Android. That includes the ability to change the default keyboard to SwiftKey. A new update to the beta version of the third-party keyboard is bringing a number of new features intended to help users modify their Android experience even further.

SwiftKey Beta debuts an Incognito mode, a privacy feature that hides the words you type in from the keyboard's memory. By opting to prevent SwiftKey from learning your input, you can maintain a certain level of privacy and security for sensitive data such as passwords and banking credentials. You can activate the Incognito mode from the keyboard's quick settings, which will then change the color of the background to a dark theme with a mask.

See also: Type in 5 different languages at once with latest SwiftKey Beta17

Another important and useful addition to SwiftKey Beta is the text shortcut, designed to let users store a string of texts in the keyboard's memory for later use. This feature helps you save time when frequently typing the same phrases – for instance, if you often type "Android Authority" you could assign it the shortcut "aa." Next time, just type "aa" and the keyboard will offer "Android Authority" as a suggestion.

There's also an option to switch to the Latin layout when in an email or password field. Furthermore, tablet users can now access all arrow keys on the main layout. The update also supports Android 7.0 Nougat. SwiftKey Beta brings bug fixes to address the red underline issue encountered by some users.

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As a beta version, SwiftKey Beta v6.4.5 may not be super stable, so expect to encounter a few problems every now and then. If you want to give it a shot, head over to Google Play Store by clicking the link below and let us know in the comments your impression of the beta update.

Get it from Google Play Store

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HTC and HP are offering a Vive VR bundle for $1,499

This article originally appeared on our sister site, VR Source.

The cost of entry is still a sticking point for many looking to grab themselves a powerful virtual reality setup, but HTC and HP have teamed up to offer a Vive VR bundle that will save customers a few hundred bucks. The package contains a VR-ready PC, a Vive headset, motion tracking base stations, and two wireless controllers, for a cost of $1,499.

The PC powering the Vive VR bundle is the HP ENVY 750-415VHR. The tower comes equipped with an Intel i5-6400 CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 128GB solid state hard drive and 1TB hard drive, Windows 10 Home edition, a keyboard and mouse, DVD burner, and built in Wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity. The GPU provided is the Radeon RX 480, AMD's mainstream virtual reality ready graphics card, which features an HDMI out and 3 DisplayPort connectors.

If that isn't enough, the bundle also throws in two free virtual reality games: theBlu: Encounter by developer Wevr and The Lab by HTC partner Valve. You can already check out the package over on the Vive website, but it won't go on sale until sometime "this holiday season".

See also: Hands on with HTC Vive's Front Defense at Computex 2016

This PC spec would typically cost somewhere between $800 and $1000, and combined with the $800 HTC Vive price tag, you're looking at a saving of between $100 and $300 with this bundle. If this package doesn't suite your tastes or needs, the website also states that more Vive ready HP computer bundles are on the way soon.

Of course, $1,499 still isn't cheap, but the very best virtual reality experiences are still going to be rather expensive to get into for the time being. Don't forget, you'll also need enough living room space to set up those motion tracking "Lighthouse" beacons as well.

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Galaxy Tab S3 WiFi and LTE models hopefully coming Q1 2017

Samsung was scheduled to launch its Galaxy Tab S3 tablet back in September, but the date has been and gone without so much as a mention of the device from Samsung. It now appears that the tablet's launch may have been pushed back to ensure that both a WiFi and LTE version can be launched simultaneously.

According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Tab S3 will arrive in two variants, the LTE modem equipped SM-T825 and the WiFi only SM-T820 model. The Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 arrived with numbers SM-T815 for the LTE model and SM-T810 for WiFi, so there's a confirmation pattern going on here.

We don't have any leaked information about the Galaxy Tab S3's hardware specifications yet, but if the tablet is anything like the Tab S2 range, we can expect some pretty high-end components. Apparently, the tablet will ship with some new innovations to set it apart from the S2, but these are being kept close to Samsung's chest for now.

Impressions: The Galaxy Tab S2 is a curious "top tier" tablet57

Both of these Tab S3 models are now stated for a release sometime in Q1 2017. Let's see if Samsung can hit its launch target this time around.

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Pre-order link for Google Pixel phones spotted on Google homepage

While many Google Pixel phones have already been sold out through pre-orders, the search giant is stopping at nothing to promote its new flagships. Google is reportedly displaying a popup ad on its homepage that shows a link to the Pixel pre-order page on the "Made by Google" website.

The popup, while less aggressive than past Nexus ads, indicates how the Mountain View company is taking advantage of the ubiquity of its search engine to push the Pixel phones to as many consumers as possible. Many users of Google are allegedly starting to see the ad on their desktop and mobile devices, though it's not clear in what countries the popup is visible.

Clicking the "Yes Please" button brings individuals to the Pixel product page on Made by Google, instead of the traditional Google Store website. In India, the popup ad reportedly shows a list of retailers including Flipkart, where the Google Pixel phones are available for pre-order.

Read Also:

• Telstra Australia accidentally shipped some Google Pixel phones early
• Google Pixel after-sales service in India will be provided by HTC

The popup ad comes hot on the heels of two video ads released by Google to promote the Pixel phones. You can watch one of the video ads below.

Prior to that, Google put up billboards and posters in New York City and London as part of its bold marketing campaign for the Pixel. When a company like Google deploys all the resources at its disposal to advertise a product like Pixel, there's no way you're going to miss it. That said, this new popup certainly won't be the last.

Don't miss: Google Pixel XL International Giveaway!312

Have you seen the popup yet? Did you place a pre-order for the Pixel phones? Let us know in the comments down below.

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