Google will certify Chromebook accessories under new “Works With Chromebook” program

We have a lot of gadgets in our lives, but for every laptop and smartphone, there are even more accessories that go with it. Choosing the right accessory in a sea of options can feel daunting at times. How do you know which accessories will work the best with your device? To help consumers make better decisions, Google is starting a new “Works With Chromebook” program.

Soon, you will begin to see accessories such as chargers, cables, keyboards, and mice with the “Works With Chromebook” logo on the packaging. These accessories have been tested by Google and they have ensured they comply with Chromebook compatibility standards. You will know without a doubt that the accessory will work with your Chromebook.

The “Works With Chromebook” logo will be found on accessories from leading brands such as AbleNet, Anker, Belkin, Brydge, Cable Matters, Elecom, Hyper, Kensington, Logitech, Plugable, Satechi, StarTech, and Targus. You will be able to find these certified accessories at Amazon.com, Best Buy (U.S. and Canada), Walmart.com, and Bic Camera (Japan) (more retailers and countries coming soon).

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Source: Google

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GitHub for Android is now available on the Google Play Store

Update (3/17/20 @ 4:25 PM ET): GitHub for Android is now available for anyone to download from the Google Play Store.

GitHub is probably one of the most beloved products in the developer community. It is the most popular code hosting platform, which makes working on big projects easier for a lot of users. GitHub is where most of the source codes for custom kernels or ROMs from our own forums are hosted. The platform was acquired by Microsoft back in June of 2018. By now, we can tell that the acquisition has played out nicely for developers. Just now, GitHub has released its first-ever official Android app to the Play Store, as promised couple of months ago.

The GitHub for Android app is currently in beta testing, so you should expect more features and stability when the final version is released. As of now, the functionality of the app is quite limited. You can browse repositories, read their ‘readme’ files and view and create pull requests and issues. Unfortunately, you can’t currently view or edit the code, though I’d expect this feature in the stable build.

GitHub for Android also has a dark theme. You can turn it on manually in the settings. By default, the application’s theme will match system settings, as all apps should. The search and notifications features are also integrated, making it easier to browse the repositories and/or developers. Per GitHub’s promise, the app should soon let you review code and share feedback with contributors.

You can sign up for the beta version of the GitHub for Android app through the Play Store. The app is compatible with Android 5.1 and above.

GitHub (Free, Google Play) →

Source: The GitHub Blog

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Update: Now Available

GitHub for Android has left beta and is now available for everyone in the Play Store. The company has made several changes during the beta period. VentureBeat highlights three main features of the app:

• Organize tasks in a swipe: Swipe to finish a task or save the notification to return to it later.
• Give feedback and respond to issues: Respond to comments while you’re on the go.
• Review and merge pull requests: Merge and mark pull requests to breeze through your workflow.

GitHub didn’t initially think people would want to read and review code from their phones. That changed pretty quickly when one of their Android engineers prototyped the ability to comment on individual lines of code. The company has a “pretty detailed roadmap full of features” to come in the future as well. You can download GitHub for Android below.

GitHub (Free, Google Play) →

Via: VentureBeat

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[Update: Indefinitely Delayed] Google Cloud Next 2020 is now an online-only event over coronavirus fears

Update (3/17/20 @ 4:00 PM ET): Google Cloud Next 2020 has been indefinitely delayed.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak, now called COVID-19, has infected over 89,000 people globally with the global death toll surpassing 3,000. Not only has the virus had an adverse effect on the global supply chain, but it has also resulted in several major events being canceled. For instance, the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona this month was canceled due to the growing coronavirus threat, with a number of companies pulling out of the event even before it was officially canceled. Earlier this month, Chinese OEM Xiaomi hosted an online-only launch event for its flagship Mi 10 series as a preventive measure and that seems to be the only course of action for other companies going forward. As per a recent blog post from Google, the company’s upcoming Cloud Next 2020 event will also be an online-only affair.

The event, which is scheduled for April 6-8, will now feature streamed keynotes, breakout sessions, interactive learning and digital “ask an expert” session with Google teams without the risk of travel. Google has also waived off the registration fee for the event and all the attendees who had already registered will be getting a refund. The in-person bootcamp at Next 2020 stands canceled and those who had registered for it will also be getting a full refund from the company. Those who had registered for certification testing are now required to contact Google’s dedicated certification support team and reschedule their certification visit or arrange a refund as needed. Additionally, Google will also be canceling all attendees’ hotel reservations made through the conference website. As of now, the company is planning a packed agenda with “hundreds of sessions” for the upcoming Google Cloud Next ’20: Digital Connect event and will be releasing additional details about the sessions on the Next ’20 website in the coming weeks.

Source: Google Cloud (1,2,3)

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Update: Indefinitely Delayed

After changing the event to be online-only to help slow the spread of coronavirus, Google is now delaying Cloud Next 2020 indefinitely. The original event was scheduled for April and Google initially said they would hold a multi-day “digital-first” event in its place. Google is now saying it is “fully committed to bringing Google Cloud Next ‘20: Digital Connect to life, but will hold the event when the timing is right.” We will update this post when there is news about when that might be.

Source: Google

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Google and other tech giants are joining forces to fight coronavirus misinformation

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global pandemic, one that is grinding societies to a halt. To limit community transmission of the virus, health experts recommend that people engage in “social distancing” by staying at home as much as possible and avoiding any public gatherings. If one believes they may have been exposed to the virus, it is recommended for users to self-quarantine to see if they develop any flu-like symptoms. Because the COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus is still being studied by epidemiologists, that gives room for conspiracy theorists, grifters, and opportunists to take advantage of the chaos, giving rise to a flood of misinformation or outright fake news on the web. To stem this tide, Google and other technology giants are joining forces to combat misinformation.

In a joint statement, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, and Twitter have declared that they are working closely together to reduce misinformation about COVID-19. Each company will use their respective platforms and self-operated channels to inform users on the actual, verified facts that we know of so far. Reddit, for instance, guides users to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website if they search for “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” in the official app. Google recently updated its Discover service to allow users to report misleading or sensational news. Most people today get information and news through the Internet and social media, the largest of which are owned by these aforementioned companies. Given how important it is to be informed on the virus in order to contain its spread, we believe that such a measure is absolutely necessary.

The technology industry is working closely together in coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world on COVID-19 response efforts. Read our full statement. pic.twitter.com/Xn0fhyJLXm

— Google Public Policy (@googlepubpolicy) March 17, 2020

Misinformation regarding the ongoing pandemic can, and already has, contributed to mass panic, which can have a negative effect on effectively containing the outbreak. Being well-informed is really important right now, so you should always refer to sources backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other official sources such as your local government agencies and trusted news outlets regarding the outbreak. We’re glad to see major tech companies doing their part to help.

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Google Translate’s real-time translation feature is rolling out now

A few months ago, Google started work on a new feature in Translate called “Continuous Translation.” This feature was eventually shown off to the public in January earlier this year, but now it’s finally ready for primetime. The feature is now called “Transcribe” and it will be rolling out to Google Translate for Android in the next few days.

In a nutshell, Transcribe allows you to record spoken words in one language and have them translated on your phone in near real-time. The use cases for this are easy to see. You can translate your own speech, someone who is speaking to you, or hold it up to a computer speaker or TV. The translation happens without any noticeable processing delay.

This differs from Google Translate’s current transcription feature that requires you to input text or voice and then wait for a translation. Google says that “wasn’t well suited to listen[ing] to a longer translated discussion at a conference, a classroom lecture or a video of a lecture, a story from a grandparent, etc.”

Using the new feature is pretty straightforward. When you open Google Translate for Android, you’ll see a new “Transcribe” button under the text box. Tap this and you’ll be brought to the Listen page where you can select the languages. Just tap the microphone icon to start listening or to pause translation. At launch, Transcribe supports English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.

Google Translate (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google

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Motorola reveals the new Moto E6s budget smartphone

Motorola’s strongest asset for close to 7 years has been its ability to make solid mid-range and low-end smartphones. In 2013, they took the world by storm with the original Moto G, which many would argue was the first smartphone that proved that cheap smartphones didn’t necessarily have to suck. Then later came the Moto E line which raised the bar on decent affordable phones even more. Moto E phones are still serious contenders in the entry-level marketplace these days, even though competition in the value segment has dramatically increased. Now, Motorola has launched a new Moto E6s device aimed at budget smartphone buyers.

If you think you’re having déjà vu after reading that name, you aren’t alone. Motorola did actually launch a Moto E6s about 6 months ago, but that was a rebranded Moto E6 Plus for the Indian market. That decision has led to confusion around this new phone which is an entirely different device as evidenced by its looks, yet internally they are still very similar. The glossy backplate is swapped for a matte one with a gradient, and the camera mount is replaced from a single module to a bifurcated one similar in aesthetic to Motorola’s newest devices, despite it still being a dual camera mount.

Otherwise, the device packs a MediaTek Helio P22 processor, but unlike its Indian counterpart, this new phone has just 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is barely enough to get you places these days. The India-only Moto E6s, which, again, is a different device, comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. To make matters worse, this phone is launching with Android 9 Pie while we’re well into 2020. Android 10 has been out for several months and Android 11 is already on the horizon. It is hard to see the point of this device as it is pretty much a slightly different Moto E6 Plus.

Specification	Motorola Moto E6s (2020)
Dimensions and Weight	155.6 x 73 x 8.5mm; 160g
Display	6.1-inch Max Vision IPS LCD, HD+ (1560×720), 19.5:9, 282PPI
SoC	MediaTek Helio P22 @ 2.0GHz
RAM and Storage	2GB RAM + 32GB storage (expandable via microSD card)
Battery and Charging	3,000 mAh; 5W wired charging
Ports	microUSB, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Single or dual nano-SIM 4G LTE Wi-Fi n Bluetooth 4.2
Rear Camera	13MP, f/2.2, PDAF (main) 2MP, f/2.4 (depth sensor)
Front Camera	5MP f/2.2
Android Version	Android 9 Pie

Motorola says that the phone will be available in the coming weeks in select Latin American, European, and Asian markets. Pricing is not available yet, however. The phone will go on sale in Peacock Blue and Sunrise Red colors.

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Source: Motorola | Via: Android Police

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HMD Global rolls out the Android 10 update for the Nokia 2.2

Google’s Android One ecosystem is still alive thanks to HMD Global, as the Nokia brand has earned a very good reputation among Android purists. Nokia phones receive regular security updates regardless of the price tag, and Android 10 is already available for a bunch of mid-range Nokia phones, such as the Nokia 6.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, and Nokia 7 Plus. As per the revised update schedule shared by the company earlier this month, HMD Global has now started rolling out the Android 10 update to the entry-level Nokia 2.2.

HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas has announced on Twitter the arrival of the Android 10 update for the Nokia 2.2. It is worth noting that this particular phone was launched with a promise to be the cheapest phone to secure the Android 10 OTA in due time. The Nokia 2.2 is also eligible to get three years’ worth of monthly security updates and two years of OS upgrades, which means that owners of this phone should be able to get a taste of Android 11 as well in the future.

Nokia 2.2 users, now is your chance to update to Android 10! All performance-enhancing features are now available! Stay tuned for the same update for our other Nokia phones #nokiamobile pic.twitter.com/0eTzk9hvF6

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) March 17, 2020

The version number of the new firmware is V2.300, which is a steep hike from the last Android Pie-based build (V1.63E) for the Nokia 2.2. It is about 1.1GB in size and the update brings all the new features introduced with Android 10, including enhanced dark mode, gesture navigations, and privacy controls. However, HMD Global decided to ship one-month-old February 2020 security patches with this OTA, which is a rather disappointing move.

The Nokia 2.2 already has a successor, the Nokia 2.3, which is scheduled to receive the Android 10 update very soon. Both of them are powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 chip, which is apparently vulnerable to a critical security exploit dubbed as MediaTek-su (formerly known as CVE-2020-0069). Fortunately the vulnerability can’t be exploitable under Android 10 due to a new SELinux policy, thus the Nokia 2.2 is now out of the danger zone.

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Thanks to Nokia Community user Lai@Ali@@@5254 for the screenshot!

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