Hidden Goo.gl Links Offer Up The Chance To Buy Google I/O Tickets

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Tomorrow is the last day to submit your registry for the Google I/O 2014 lottery, which is the first time Google has decided to actually hold submissions to attend the developers conference instead of just letting anyone go and buy up the tickets. The lottery doesn’t guarantee you a spot, but rather puts you in a pool of applicants who are also interested in going to this massive event held every year by the worlds largest Search company. The funny people that Google are though, have decided to offer up tickets in another way, by hiding them through out the Google Developers website in various spots which if found, will actually guarantee you the opportunity to buy a ticket. The cost of the tickets is still $900 as one would expect, but if someone were to end up finding one, than they wouldn’t have to end up worrying about the lottery.

The hunt for the tickets basically comes down to stumbling upon found goo.gl links that were spread across the Google Developers website. They are supposedly hidden everywhere, and if you find one and click on it you’re seemingly taken to a quirky little webpage that has you play out a sort of funny little text based game, which eventually leads you to finding out if the code was valid or not. It’s a hilarious little way to give out some stuff like the guarantee of entry to an event, and the way it was done is all Google. We’d expect nothing less.

Plenty of codes have already reportedly been redeemed, but we’re also told that Google is constantly adding these all the time, although with the amount that has already been found it might be a bit harder to track them down. The goo.gl links are hidden everywhere from text, source code, Google Dev YouTube videos you name it. If it has to do with the Google Developers site, there’s a chance that there might be a hidden goo.gl link. This is certainly a little bit of an odd way to guarantee at least some people a spot at I/O, but as odd as it is whoever ended up finding unused codes is probably more than excited. If you’re particularly adventurous, feel free to hunt for one yourself.

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Samsung May Implement Android Wear with the Galaxy S Fitness

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Wearable tech has gotten a lot of news lately. The tide has turned for the desire for wearable technology and it shows no signs of slowing. Even Google has realized the demand for wearable tech and has released Android Wear for OEMs to implement into their devices. This Android Wear release has given Samsung yet another operating system to play around with. Earlier this year, Samsung’s Gear 2, and Gear 2 Neo were released with Samsung’s Tizen OS while the Gear Fit was released with RTOS. This was expected by the tech community because it could be believed that Samsung wanted to try and get its content and various services out in the forefront and therefore rely less on Google’s services. Not only that, but it also allowed the tech Giant to put light-weight OS’s in lower powered hardware and get great performance and battery life out of the devices.

Samsung’s Senior VP of Product Strategy, Yoon Han-kil, went on the record with Reuters to discuss Samsung’s future use of Google’s Android Wear. He did not give a great deal of detail but he did divulge that Samsung has plans to use the Android Wear OS on a smartwatch sometime later this year. Yoon also disclosed that a high-end Tizen Smartphone is on the horizon for launch as well. This is pretty good news for a company this is trying to keep its dominance in the mobile space.

With the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit Samsung is currently trying to occupy the general public’s minds while working effectively to empty their wallets. This being the case, it can be assumed to be a doubtful chance that Samsung will put the Android Wear OS on a wearable and announce it any time soon. The company will more than likely want to make sure that their newly released product gets into the hands of as many consumers as possible before they push a new fully Google supported wearable out to the masses. I think this would be a wise decision as too much too soon can hurt profits. Having choices is good but having too many choices can spread your profits thin.

Samsung recently filed for a trademark this week on devices called the Galaxy S Fitness, Galaxy Now and Galaxy Solo. It is unknown which of these would have Android Wear OS on the inside but, if the past is any indication, the Galaxy S Fitness stands a good chance of being the one since the current Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo have no Galaxy in their name and run Tizen OS. Time will tell what Samsung decides to do. It does make for some interesting speculation and something to watch in the future.

So, what do you think about the possibility of seeing an Android Wear OS Smartwatch from Samsung this year? What features would you like to see it have? What do you think the devices’ name should be if it is not called the Galaxy S Fitness? Please leave your interesting comments in the section below or on our Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus pages. Keep it locked to Android Headlines for more news and reviews.

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Google Wants Potential Explorers To Try Glass On At Home Before They Purchase

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Just in case you haven’t had the opportunity to try Google Glass on for yourself, and you aren’t willing to pony up the dough it’ll cost you to actually buy it, you may be in luck if you were looking forward to seeing how you look when your face is adorned with Glass. Google is reportedly setting up and deploying home try-on kits to potential Glass explorers, so that they can test each one on and see how it looks, fits and might function if they were to enter the program. As most of you probably already know, the cost to be a Glass Explorer is $1,500, which is no small fee and thus the reason many have shied away from the opportunity, waiting until the price comes down which is suspected to be sometime at the end of or near the end of this year with Google Glass going full production ready in consumer launch.

You may also know that Google gave anyone in the U.S. an opportunity to buy glass just a couple days ago for one day only, just in case there were some people who haven’t previously gotten invites to the Explorer program and wanted to buy. With that day come and gone, users are left with no way to actually purchase Glass at the moment, but there will likely be more opportunities in the future. Until then, it looks like users will at least potentially be granted the chance to try on the advanced eyewear, with the home try-on kits coming in four of the five colors: Shale, Sky, Charcoal and Tangerine.

The deal with the home try-on kit is fairly simple. You would essentially call the number listed in the image we have below that shows the message from the Glass team, upon which you would let them know you’re interested in the kit. They place a hold of $50 on your credit card while they send out the kit, and you receive it in the mail shortly to put on the non-functioning units with destroyed micro USB charger ports(to prevent charging of the device and getting them to power on)and see how they fit. Not only do you get four non working units of Glass to try them on, but the kit apparently comes with a set of all the frames to test out the style and fit of those too. If you’re actually interested in buying Glass but have wanted to try them on first, this isn’t a bad way to do it, provided you’re actually able to get in on the try-on program.

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Google Glass And Commercial Air Drones Get less Optimism Than Future Tech

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According to a study done by Pew Research, Americans were asked a series of questions that pertained to their feelings over matters like scientific and technological advancements in the future. More specifically over the span of the next fifty years. Surprisingly some were quite optimistic about certain things while others were less so over stuff that is already here and making its way to the consumer market for purchase. The study asked some 1,000 Americans for their opinions on such advancements, and the final report by Pew Research stated that they found that the American public anticipates that the coming half-century will be a period of profound scientific change, as inventions that were once confined to the realm of science fiction come into common usage.

What was interesting about the study shows that people are more in high spirits and had a more positive outlook when it came to questions about technological advancements that were set out to be 50 years from now, with 59% saying they were optimistic that technology would help improve the quality of life in 50 years, while an astounding 81% think that we could have the capability to grow organs in a lab for people that need them in that same 50 year timeframe. The funny thing, is that those ideas of technological advancements are more openly accepted and yet so far off, compared to things like Google Glass which is a hit or miss.

There are plenty of people who love Google Glass, but it seems like there is an almost equal amount that have negative feelings towards it. According to the survey done by Pew, 53% said that wearable devices-like Google Glass for example-which kept us in a state of constant connection would make things worse. An even larger number-63%-think it would be a bad idea if commercial and personal drones, like the ones that Amazon is trying to get approved for super fast delivery, became something that was possible and mainstream. While it is cool to think about some of the technological advancements that we could be looking at 50 years from now, it’s interesting to find out what people think of the things that are being researched now and are almost here. What will people think in 50 years of the same technological advancements that they’re currently intrigued with? Will they have just as much of a positive outlook then?

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Deal: Lepow Moonstone 6000mAh External Battery for $19.99

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Today, Lepow Moonstone External battery pack is on sale for $19.99. Now it’s a 6000mAh battery pack, so it’s not all that big, but it’s big enough to charge your device in a pinch when needed. It has two USB ports, one is a 1A and the other is a 2A, obviously the 2A is for tablets while the 1A is for smartphones and such. It’s a really nice looking external battery pack and it comes with a ton of accessories though. It works with just about every device. This includes iPhones, the Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1, 12.2, Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 and everything in between. If you’re interested in picking one up, check out the links down below.

• Lepow Lepow Moonstone 6000mAh External Battery for Smartphones and Tablets – Battery – Retail Packaging – Glossy Black


• Lepow® Moonstone Series 6000mAh External Battery (Power Bank, Portable Charger) with Dual USB Ports and Lithium Polymer Battery – Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S4, S3, Note 2, Note 3, HTC One, Moto X, Nokia Lumia 1020, LG Nexus 5, Blackberry Z30, (Apple Adapters – 30 pin and lightning, not included). Different fashionable colors available – Ivory White


• Lepow® Moonstone Series 6000mAh External Battery (Power Bank, Portable Charger) with Dual USB Ports and Lithium Polymer Battery – Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S4, S3, Note 2, Note 3, HTC One, Moto X, Nokia Lumia 1020, LG Nexus 5, Blackberry Z30, (Apple Adapters – 30 pin and lightning, not included). Different fashionable colors available – Sunfire Yellow


• Lepow® Moonstone Series 6000mAh External Battery (Power Bank, Portable Charger) with Dual USB Ports and Lithium Polymer Battery for iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 4S, 4, iPad, iPad 2, iPad Mini, iPods, Samsung Galaxy S4, S3, Note 2, Note 3, and other USB Charged devices (Apple Adapters – 30 pin and lightning, not included)-RoseRed


• Lepow® Moonstone Series 6000mAh External Battery (Power Bank, Portable Charger) with Dual USB Ports and Lithium Polymer Battery – Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S4, S3, Note 2, Note 3, HTC One, Moto X, Nokia Lumia 1020, LG Nexus 5, Blackberry Z30, (Apple Adapters – 30 pin and lightning, not included). Different fashionable colors available – Yellow Duck

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New Patent Application Reveals Apple is at it Again

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Well Apple is at it again folks. Still in courtrooms fighting Samsung. Still trying to make their case that Samsung has infringed their patents. While all of that is going on, they are filling for a new patent. Nothing out of the normal here yet, until you see what they are trying to patent. An unlock gesture that is essentially the same as an Android version of the same. Though in Apple’s defense, they did add a thing or two to make it their own.

Too bad changing a few things isn’t making it your own in any world. Apple’s or Android’s. This new patent application(complete with photos) is an obvious rip off of Android. The most interesting part, is that this unlock gesture is not something new to Android. Instead it has been around for years. If you haven’t caught on, the gesture we are referring to involves grids of dots. On Android, you slide your finger-in a preset pattern- over the dots to unlock your device. Essentially playing connect the dots.

So how can Apple get away with something like blatantly copying Android gestures? Simple really, they change it up in even the smallest way and then apply for a patent. Let’s take a look at what Apple thinks is a fair chance to patent their “new” idea.

First, on Android these dots are not customizable, (though there didn’t seem to be a need for that) Apple has made them customizable. This means you can move them around, changing the way the pattern would look. That’s not the only change here. Apple has also made “invisible” dots. These “dots” are essentially the empty spaces between the visible dots. The other way Apple has changed things up, is by adding speed and stops into the pattern. Meaning you can go from the first dot to the second dot fast, then stop for a second before continuing. The speed and stops will be configured into the code, and if not done correctly, will not unlock the device. These changes do seem more secure, but they also make things more confusing for the common user. The last thing Apple has added is a password strength bar. That is all they needed to do to apply for a patent.

Patents are a natural aspect of the industry. It is only fair that everyone has the right to own their ideas. However the question we all are asking is why would Apple apply for this patent. Let’s not forget Apple is the first company to introduce the fingerprint scanner on their device. The main purpose-and biggest selling point-was for security on your device. This is how Apple sold the fingerprint scanner. As a security measure-and if we aren’t lying to ourselves-that was well received. On Apple it is called Touch ID, and should be an end all security unlock feature for the iPhone. So what’s the deal?

Let’s go back to that courtroom that Apple is in with Samsung currently. Slide to unlock seems like a basic and almost essential part of any smartphone. However, Apple had a patent, therefore have the right to pursue Samsung legally. It is entirely possible that Apple has only came up with this patent, to make sure that Android can’t go any further with the unlock pattern. Not to use the patent-but to hold it. If Apple’s new patent application makes it through the US Patent Office, it will essentially be like Apple has a toy. This toy is not something they will play with, instead they just don’t want anyone else to play with it. This is a common practice, and the only people who are truly affected, is the consumer.

What do you think? Will Apple make it through the USPTO with a patent filing on something that so closely resembles Android? Let us know down there in the comments or on our G+.

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Frontback, Dual Camera App Now Available on Android

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It seems as though the camera aspect of our smartphones has become more popular. We loved the idea of a camera on our smartphones, but with social media and sharing moments of our lives-the camera has become more important. With such a popular piece of hardware that is (for the most part) included with our smartphones; it is no wonder why apps utilizing the camera have become more popular. One such app is called Frontback, and it is finally available on Android devices.

So the use of the word “finally” is loose, since the app is about eight months old. Still, Frontback has been available on iOS for those eight months. During that time it has gained over 1 million downloads. This growth was slow in the beginning, though in the last couple of months downloads have doubled. Frontback hopes that with an Android version they will see a huge boost in downloads. However Android users expect a bit more from their apps than iOS users. Naturally, Frontback has added some a new feature just for Android-for now.

Firstly, you may not have heard of Frontback, so lets cover what it did on iOS. You may have guessed from the name, that the app uses both the front and back facing camera- see what they did there? Yes, this is much like dual capture mode that we are already used to seeing. The app just seems to have a different way of providing the finished product. The front picture ontop and the back picture on bottom. Then you can share across all your social media, easily adding hastags and short descriptions. That’s it, but for Android users they have added a feature.

The new feature is an offline mode. This will allow you to take a picture using their app, and then save it to share later. Could come in handy sometimes, and will be a feature going to iOS at some point down the line.

If you feel the need to check out this app, a download link is provided below. If you are using or have tried this app, let us know what you think. There is space down there in the comments section and on our G+ page.

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