Google's Gboard App for iOS Finally Comes to Android as an Update to Google Keyboard

Google recently rolled out Android 7.1.1 Nougat update to the supported Nexus and Pixel devices. One of the key features that came along with the update was the support for GIF images directly from the keyboard.

Although Google already provided support for GIF images from its Gboard keyboard app on iOS, this feature was absent on Android devices until the latest update. Now the feature can be used on even more devices as Gboard app has finally made its way to other Android devices as well, as an update to the Google Keyboard app.

Ironically, the search giant's well-received Gboard keyboard app was exclusive to iOS and absent from its own mobile platform till now. Now, Gboard has come to Android as a version 6.0 update to Google Keyboard app. Along with the name change, Gboard brings along the G button for quick search from the keyboard. When the G button is disabled, you will see a pop-out toolbar for access to themes, settings, and one-handed mode.

The GIF button is always visible but is disabled in apps that don't support the feature. Other features on Gboard include Glide typing, emoji search, optional dedicated number row, and more. Gboard supports multiple languages and users can choose up to three active languages with a preference for one.

Like most updates, Google is expected to roll out the v6.0 update for Google Keyboard app in phases over the next few days via the Google Play. However, if you are too impatient to try out the new Gboard keyboard from Google, you can always download an APK installation file via APK Mirror.

Source: 9to5Google

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Google Daydream View VR Headset Now Available

Google's Daydream View virtual reality headset is now available in US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. Announced last month at the Google Pixel launch event, the Daydream View VR is the first headset based on the Daydream platform by Google, which was unveiled at Google I/O this year. As of now, Daydream View works only with the Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.

Along with the Daydream View, Google has also launched a few supporting Android apps - the Daydream app and the YouTube VR app are now available for download via Google Play.

The Daydream app follows the Daydream Keyboard and VR Services that are already available on the Play Store. The Daydream app houses a collection of apps and games for Daydream-ready phones. Google is also launching exclusive content for the Daydream View. The company has partnered with video-game producers and sports leagues to boost its virtual-reality initiative. Google has also launched the YouTube VR app, which will let you watch 3D or standard 360-degree videos with the Daydream View headset. Google is collaborating with YouTube content creators for producing 360-degree videos for Daydream View.

Daydream users can search for videos in YouTube VR through voice or a keyboard much like the standard YouTube app.

More Daydream-ready apps are being launched apart from Google's own apps. The company's partners like Warner Brothers and CNN have also launched apps supporting Daydream like CNN VR, Fantastic Beasts, and The Guardian VR, among others.

Setting up the Daydream app will be straightforward and users will need to add a payment option to complete the setup.

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Google kills Map Maker; To Integrate it with Google Maps

Google Map Maker is the latest Google product to be discontinued. Before you begin grieving, the good news here is that it'll be integrated with Google Maps, which means that just the standalone Map Maker tool will be discontinued. In a blog post, Google said this change will be carried out in March 2017.

If you don't know, Map Maker is Google's tool that lets you edit data in Google Maps. This is what allowed Google's community to update Google Maps much faster than any one entity can manage. Google's blog post reads: "Starting today, edits made on Google Maps will no longer be available for moderation on Map Maker. This will allow us to streamline our efforts, speeding up the time for an edit to get published."

The move intends to consolidate all maps data under one product and the Map Maker tool appears to have endured its usefulness for Google. "This update will enable us to focus on providing the best editing and moderation experience within Google Maps on both desktops and on mobile. We'll continue to roll out new features to make sure you're able to do most of the things you've grown accustomed to doing in Map Maker - like edit roads - leading up to March 2017 and after," the blog post adds.

If you want to continue to help improve Google Maps, Google says you should join the Local Guides program.

Source: Google Product Forums

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Google Buys Eye-tracking startup, Eyefluence to Boost VR Efforts

Eyefluence, which is working to enable eye movements to control digital screens, announced through its blog post on Monday that it's joining the search giant Alphabet Inc. The three-year-old startup, which had reportedly raised $21.6 million in funding, didn't disclose a price.

Jim Marggraff, the creator of the pioneering LeapPad tablet computer, started Eyefluence after buying up assets from neurological research firm Eye-Com.

The startup enables users wearing head-mounted virtual reality or augmented glasses to use their eyes as a mouse and making selections only with their eye movements. Functional eye-tracking is a widely desired feature in virtual reality and augmented reality, which lets digital images interact with the physical world.

As Google launches its Daydream VR platform next month with its Daydream View headset, there is already attention being directed to its next-gen headset efforts. Google has also invested directly in Magic Leap, a startup that has also claimed to be working on an eye interaction technology.

Source: Eyefluence

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Google buys API management company Apigee for $625 million

The tech giant Google has acquired the rising API startup Apigee in a $625 million deal. Both companies reached an agreement this past Thursday, September 8. Diane Greene, Senior Vice President of Google's corporate branch, published a post with the announcement back on Thursday at the Google Cloud Platform Blog.

Most recently, the Alphabet subsidiary bought the cloud software company Bebop back in late 2015, the cloud video startup Anvato, and the enterprise-focused platform Orbitrera on August for $100 million.

The search giant Google has slowly but consistently been gaining presence in the corporate services industry with the announcements of various tools. The California-based company wants to compete with the likes of Amazon and Microsoft.

In an interview with Recode following the Apigee purchase, Greene stated she was excited about the integration of her division finally fitting into place at Google and the significance of their work with the tech giant.

"The addition of Apigee's API solutions to Google cloud will accelerate our customers' move to supporting their businesses with high-quality digital interactions. Apigee will make it much easier for the requisite APIs to be implemented and published with excellence," said Greene.

Apigee's customer base lists big names in various industries, including Walgreens, AT&T, Live Nation, First Data, Burberry, and Bechtel. The API management startup is responsible for developing the supporting structure for some of Walgreen's core services like prescription refills and photo printing.

Google intends to put Apigee in the front line of digital interaction solutions for businesses in the future. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft continue to be the lead providers in the cloud enterprise services industry.

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Google's Chris Urmson Quits Self-Driving Car Project

Chris Urmson, who was instrumental in building Google's self-driving car project, said on Friday he is leaving the team after seven and a half years.

Alphabet Inc's Google had named Urmson chief technical officer of the project after it hired former Hyundai executive John Krafcik to be chief executive of the project.

Urmson, who joined the project when it was launched and has been a public face of Google's autonomous vehicle efforts, testified before a US Senate panel on autonomous cars in March.

Krafcik confirmed Urmson's departure in a tweet on Friday afternoon.

Chris is an incredible colleague & leader. Thank you for your passion & humility. Good luck on your new adventures! https://t.co/i3qFmfhfm3

— John Krafcik (@johnkrafcik) August 5, 2016

Urmson, in a blog post late Friday, said he was "ready for a fresh challenge." He said he was not sure what he would do next.

Urmson had said earlier this year that self-driving cars are coming. "I've gone from hoping this would happen to thinking it might happen to knowing it will happen," Urmson said.

Google self-driving car project spokesman Johnny Luu confirmed Urmson's departure and praised him.

"Seven years ago, the idea that a car could drive itself wasn't much more than an idea. Chris has been a vital force for the project, helping the team move from a research phase to a point where this life-saving technology will soon become a reality," Luu said.

Google's project has had other significant departures, even as it has hired dozens of new employees. Earlier this year, Anthony Levandowski, who was product manager for Google's self-driving car programme, left the project to co-found a startup with two other former Google employees.

Google's self-driving car project is expected to become a standalone company this year. In July, the project appointed its first general counsel.

Google has logged more than 1.8 million miles of autonomous driving in testing in Texas, California, Arizona and Washington state. It has said it has no timetable for making self-driving vehicles available to the public.

Officials have said Google is preparing to make its self-driving car unit a separate company. The programme is now part of its X research laboratory unit.

"The self-driving car project is in the middle of graduating from X and this is sort of a gradual process," Astro Teller, who heads the X programme, told NBC News in April.

In May, Google and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said they had agreed to work together to build a fleet of nearly 100 self-driving minivans, the first time a Silicon Valley firm had teamed up with a traditional car-maker to develop an autonomous vehicle.

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