Google and Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical and health company, have signed a deal for Novartis to license Google’s smart contacts when they come to market. We first caught wind of the Google[x] project last year, when Google revealed that it was working to develop smart contacts that could track glucose levels and relay the findings to a smartphone. The technology in smart contact lenses has potential to be game changing, but won’t go anywhere if Google doesn’t have partners.

By combining Alcon’s leadership in eye care and expertise in contact lenses and intraocular lenses with Google’s innovative ‘smart lens’ technology and groundbreaking speed in research, we aim to unlock a new frontier to jointly address the unmet medical needs of millions of eye care patients around the world.Jeff GeorgeAlcon

Novartis is an established brand with a great record in the world of ocular devices. Partnerships with companies like Novartis will allow Google’s smart contacts to make it to market and also have some medical clout behind them to help get them into the eyes of consumers. Novartis also has bigger plans for the device than simply helping diabetics. A primary focus will be working to use the contacts to restore the natural autofocus of the eye, allowing the contacts to help diabetics and those with eye problems.

Smart contacts still have a long way to go before they make it to market, but this partnership is a step in the right direction. With Google and other companies working hard on new technologies to simplify life, the future could be quite bright.

Show Press Release

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There are now more Android Wear apps than there are apps for Google Glass, commonly called Glassware. Within the first three weeks of its launch, Android Wear already has more supported apps than Google Glass has received in over a year of existence. The significance of this can’t be understated, as we’ve seen time and time again that a platform simply can’t thrive without good app support (Windows Phone, anyone?).

There could be numerous reasons that explain why this has happened, including better public reception of Android Wear. Larger than that, though, Android Wear is much easier to develop for. Devs can easily add Android Wear support for their apps or design an entirely new app for Android Wear. Rolling an app out on Android Wear is vastly simplified from Glassware, as an Android Wear app rolls out in the same way as an Android app. Glassware requires careful consideration by Google and is often sent back to the developer for revisions, thus filtering the curated Glassware that’s available.

While a growing app scene is no guarantee that Android Wear will succeed, it gives it a much better chance at doing so. Without that app support, Android Wear would have very little going for it.

Have you purchased an Android Wear smartwatch?

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Remember last week when we learned that the Motorola Droid Ultra would soon begin receiving Android 4.4.4? Well it looks like that’s indeed the case, because both Moto and Verizon have posted changelogs for the Android 4.4.4 update for the Droid Ultra, Maxx and Mini.

The update will bump this Droid trio up to software version 21.11.21 and includes a handful of goodies like camera improvements, ISIS Wallet Mobile and Motorola Alert. Verizon’s full changlog looks like this:

ANDROID 4.4.4 KIT KAT

• Stability, framework and security improvements
• Bluetooth connectivity has been improved

CAMERA

• Improved camera picture quality
• Improved photos in fluorescent lighting
• Enhanced dynamic range
• Ability to pause video recording
• Offers pause/resume button on the viewfinder

VERIZON APPLICATIONS

The latest versions of these apps have been added:

• VZ Cloud
• Visual Voicemail: View caller, voicemail details andaccess messages on-screen

ISIS WALLET

ISIS Wallet Mobile app has been added

• Process contactless payment

And Motorola’s looks like this:

• Android™ 4.4.4, KitKat®: Android 4.4.4, KitKat, is the latest release of the Android platform. This release includes accuracy improvements to the power profile, several stability, framework and security fixes including update to OpenSSL.
• Camera – Improved image quality: Improved camera image quality including better consistency of exposure, more realistic flash coloring, improved photos in low light conditions using front camera.
• Camera – Pause video recording: Added the ability to pause video recording with a convenient pause/resume button on the viewfinder.
• Updated Verizon applications: Added the latest versions of 2 Verizon applications: VZ Cloud and Visual Voicemail application (VVM3.)
• Added Isis mobile wallet application: Added the Isis mobile wallet application for contactless payment for Droid Ultra users on Verizon.
• Fixed Bluetooth connectivity issue: Fixed a bug that could cause issues with Bluetooth connectivity for some users.
• Enables Motorola Alert Application download: New Motorola Alert application sends periodic alerts with your location to your selected contacts

Android 4.4.4 has only been official for around a month, so it’s awesome to see Verizon’s newest Droid devices getting this update, especially after they were promised an Android 4.4.3 update that never materialized.

If you’ve got a Droid Ultra, Maxx or Mini that call your pocket or purse “Home,” then head into About phone > System updates > Yes, I’m in to manually check for your own Android 4.4.4 update.

Via: Droid-Life
Sources: Verizon, Motorola

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Time and time again, we hear about the wonders of aluminum phones. I’ll admit, I’ve joined the masses in singing aluminum’s praises. But is the metal perfect? No! Does it have problems? Yes! And which phone can’t be mentioned without reference to its aluminum design? The HTC One (M8). In this brief rant, we take a look at why this design has flaws and what HTC can do to fix them.

Note: I’m a proud owner of an HTC One (M8) who has oft sung praises to its metal design. In case you haven’t noticed, I love/hate it.

Right off the bat, HTC needs to balance its phone. The One (M8) is a tall, tall phone that’s also narrow. To use it comfortably and reach all parts of the screen, you have to do some hand yoga. Flipping the phone around raises the probability that you’ll drop it, so this issue needs to get sorted out with the next device in the series. Just shrink the phone vertically and perhaps make it a touch wider and it’ll be good to go.

But here’s the biggest problem: the One (M8) is like a slippery bar of soap. The Gunmetal Gray model in particular struggles with this issue, slip-sliding out of your hand all the time. And it doesn’t have to be your hand; whether it’s on your desk, your pocket, your bed, the phone just slides around.

The problem is quite clear: it’s easy to drop the One (M8) when it practically shoots itself out of your hand. So what’s the remedy? Well, you could get a case to put on the phone, but you then lose out on the upsides of metal. You could try and rub off some of the finish and coating, but you probably won’t have much success. In fact, the only real answer lies with HTC. While the One (M8)’s metal design is great, it’s impractical if HTC doesn’t change things up.

HTC first needs to balance out the height and width of the One (M8). Then it needs to either add some texture to the back or switch to a different coating that makes the phone less slippery. In short, HTC needs to get a grip.

How many of you have experienced this problem?

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We have seen some amazing stuff come from Google X. I think self-driving cars may be my favorite (though as a car guy, I’d never own one), but there have been other achievements as well. Google Glass is one that graduated to a product that’s currently being sold in a sort of “public beta test.” Google Contact Lenses are another that sported circuitry that can monitor blood glucose levels.

Unfortunately, the creator of both Google Glass and Google Contact Lenses has left Google. Babak Parviz gave no reason for the departure, but it looks like his new job will be at Amazon. While both are excellent companies, it’s hard not to think that people like that would do much better at Google thanks to its ability to create some crazy things, but maybe Amazon has its own team of crazy inventors.

We wish Babak Parviz the best at his new job and hope he can achieve some more amazing things. Google Glass is undoubtedly an impressive device, so it’ll be interesting to see what comes next. And if anything, Amazon has the power to pull off some crazy stuff just like Google does.

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The S Pen has been an iconic feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 that many people love. It uses a special digitizer and active stylus made by Wacom, which Samsung owns part of. But Samsung is looking at ways to make the S Pen both better and potentially cheaper with a newly-filed patent.

This patent describes a stylus working on ultrasound waves. There will be sensors in the corners of the devices to detect the ultrasound waves the stylus produces, calculating its position based on its distance away from the sensors. This would lower the cost of the digitizer and maybe even allow it to be thinner.

This has been seen before, as Qualcomm showed off similar technology on a tablet earlier this year. This tech was shown off as built into the Snapdragon 805, requiring no extra hardware, so Samsung implementing it seems pretty likely. Maybe the Galaxy Note 4 will feature the ultrasound stylus, as it’s been rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 805.

Though the ultrasound stylus isn’t all that exciting and won’t change much for the consumer, it might make the next Galaxy Note cheaper, and that’s alright by me. On the other hand, Samsung invested so much money into Wacom, it’s hard to imagine the company dumping its technology. Do you think we’ll see ultrasound-based S Pen styli soon? Leave a comment!

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Samsung could finally be prepping a metal smartphone for launch next month. South Korean site ETnews is reporting that Samsung has a metal smartphone dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Alpha that could be coming soon. While specs and details of the phone aren’t known, the Galaxy Alpha will reportedly be a premium offering that will stray from Samsung’s typical plastic design and instead feature a metal outfit.

We suggest taking this with a grain of salt, as rumors of a metal Samsung phone have been around for years and we never end up seeing such a device materialize. The time frame also doesn’t line up with Samsung, which usually launches a flagship in spring and in fall. If Samsung did launch the phone, it would likely be a niche device — like the Galaxy Round — that would only be sold in certain markets like South Korea.

If it does become reality, will you be interested in a metal Samsung smartphone?

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I’ve been a happy Pebble user for over a year. I wore it everywhere. If by some crazy mistake I forgot to bring it with me on an outing, I felt naked. I’m quick to admit that I’m a huge nerd, but I really enjoyed the functionality that the Pebble gave me to always be connected. No matter where my phone was; in my pocket, on the charger, on the car mount, or under the couch cushion, I could be notified of emails, texts, and phone calls. I think Pebble did a few things really well by keeping it simple. I’m not sure Android Wear is keeping it simple, but it offers so much more.

I’ve had my hands on the LG G Watch for almost a week now. Here are my first impressions of Android Wear via the LG G Watch:

What I love:

• I can talk to my watch. This is a miracle feature when driving and while my phone is charging. It’s a little uncomfortable to use in other places, however, like the office or the grocery store.
• I love having a color touchscreen display. The e-paper display on the Pebble saves battery, but I’m over it. And the Pebble’s four hardware buttons feel like very dated equipment now.
• Dismissing notifications on the watch dismisses the notifications on the phone. Awesome.
• Also, you can see more of your emails or text messages than you were able to with Pebble, which is far more functional.
• Games. There aren’t many of them yet, but the potential to have some awesome games is there. Am I the only one enjoying Flopsy Droid?
• It’s running Android. Developers are already coming up with some awesome solutions to not so perfect operating software. I know Google will improve it. I know developers can make it awesome.

What I hope improves:

• Bringing the watch out of its non-listening dimmed state is not  as reactive as I would have hoped. I feel like I have to twist my wrist in an unnatural position to get the watch to wake up.
• On that note, Android Wear is a little too easy to activate by touch. I often find myself almost changing my watchface with my underarm when folding my arms during a conversation. I know an app has already been developed to combat this, Baby Time, but I’d enjoy a prettier, more mature solution. Baby Time is definitely on the right track, though.
• Voice recognition is nowhere near as good as on a phone. I feel like I have to yell at the watch and it correctly gets what I’m saying about 50% of the time. It makes me feel like I never want to use the voice commands in public.
• Not having a light sensor is a mistake. I think the LCD display could do better in the light than it does, but brightness needs to be adjusted manually and the brightness settings are buried in the menus. Fortunately, Mini Wear Launcher just got an update this morning with a quick brightness slider. I haven’t gotten the update yet, but color me stoked.
• Accessing apps is fairly ridiculous. You either need to launch it with voice controls, which may or may not work, or access them by once again going through a maze of menus. I just found Mini Wear Launcher a couple of nights ago and it’s a great solution so far.
• Watch faces! Where are the custom ones!? I WANT MOAR OPTIONS! The stock options are pretty lame. I’m sure our beloved themers out there will come up with some amazing stuff. Roman Nurik is already making a Muzei watch face that will be on the way as soon as Google releases a public API for custom watch faces. Hopefully other devs are following suit and working on some. I’m left asking, what are you waiting for Google?
• I wish I could adjust the timeout time. You have to act fast with Android Wear. Frustratingly, it also goes back to the clock home screen if it times out instead of picking up where you left off.

So, I’ve obviously listed quite a few things I’d like to see improved with Android Wear. I think a lot of them can probably be improved on this first generation Android Wear hardware. I’ve loved the simplicity and battery life of the Pebble, but I honestly can’t see myself going back to it. The possibilities of what can be done on Android Wear are so much greater. I’m excited to see the platform develop and grow.

Let us know your thoughts and questions regarding the Android Wear platform by commenting below. We’d love to hear from you and answer your questions!

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Back at Google I/O, Google introduced us to Android L and its new Material Design UI, which is expected to infiltrate most of Google’s own apps. We’ll likely have to wait until Android L’s public launch this fall before we get a good look at these updated apps, but the rumor mill isn’t going to make us wait that long for a peek at Google’s new Play Store.

The folks over at Android Police have shared what is is said to be screenshots of an updated version of the Google Play Store. The images show a new-look Play Store that has much more white space, large header images when compared to the current Play Store and colored review bars.

This Material Design-ified version of the Play Store looks pretty spiffy, with the white space and large header images making it easier for users to learn more about the content that they’re looking at. Of course, it’s worth noting that this updated app marketplace is still being cooked in Google’s kitchen, so it’s possible — heck, even likely — that the final version of the app will differ from the one that we’re looking at today.

Speaking of final versions, Google hasn’t made any official announcements regarding a refreshed Play Store or when such an update might roll out. El Goog has said that Android L should begin hitting consumers this fall, though, and so it’s possible that we could see this update available by then since the Play Store is a pretty major part of Android.

While we wait for more details on this update to surface, you can find many more screenshots at the link below.

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Sony’s anticipated Xperia Z3 smartphone has leaked out again in new pictures. While the Xperia Z2 is still hard to come by if you’re stateside, Sony is already prepping its successor, the Xperia Z3. In these new pictures, we can see that the Xperia Z3 is a little more curved than its hard-edged predecessors, The sides are slightly rounded and feature a variety of ports including microSUB, microSIM, microSD, 3.5mm headphone, and a magnetic connector for docking and such. A dedicated camera button is also included.

Speaking of the camera, a picture of the back shows us the same 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS sensor camera that came with the G2. A speaker can also be seen, but a second one, as on the Xperia Z2, is nowhere to be found. A picture sizes up the Xperia Z3 next to the original Samsung Galaxy Note and they look pretty similar in size, with the Z3 having a narrower body. Other specs are still unknown, but as the leaks continue, we should begin to know more.

Check out the via and source links for some more photos.

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