Google’s Location-Discovery App “Field Trip” Arrives On The App Store

Long an Android only app, Google’s Field Trip finally arrives on the App Store today. The app works by silently running in the background all while finding interesting and unique things around you. When it finds something, it will alert you about it and bring up relevant information regarding the find via a digital card. If you’re a bluetooth headset user no worries, the app will read the information to you wirelessly. What makes Google’s Field Trip app work so well is that it aggregates information from a variety of sources like Arcadia and Historvius for local history and Thrillist, Zagat, and Eater for some of the best places to eat and drink. In addition to history and restaurants, it also aggregates information to you for unique stores and little hidden gems near your location. One of the more unique features is that it can sense when you are driving and can “talk” you through some of the nearby interesting places almost like a virtual tour guide. The app is free and is available on Apple’s App Store now.

Google+ Sign-In To Challenge Facebook Connect

Today Google+ introduced Sign-In, their version of the widely adopted Facebook Connect in an effort to expand and widen its reach on the web. Google has already partnered with several companies including: Fancy, Fitbit, OpenTable, and Flixster. The concept is pretty much the same as Facebook Connect with you signing in to your Gmail, Youtube, or other Google Service account and having that information save as your login. An interesting feature that Sign-In has is that if the company has an Android app (like Fancy), you can remotely install it when you sign in on their website. Another feature that Sign-In has is the ability to share links with specific Circles on your Google+ account in addition to allowing them to view the post in a special “interactive” layout. Google has been on a roll as of late, introducing Glass to the public, a new Chromebook, and now an easier way to sign in to your favorite websites and apps. For more details and full list of companies participating in Sign-In, please visit their announcement page.

Update on 2013-02-27 06:53 by Jed Wu

Update: Fancy posted this photo on their Twitter account of the cake Google sent them for the launch of Google+ Sign-In.

Google Now Allowing Public To Get Early Access To Glass

Last summer Google announced at their Google I/O conference their “Explorer” edition of its Google Glass project allowing early buyers an opportunity to pre-order one for $1500. For those who think they are, “...creative individuals who want to join us and be a part of shaping the future of Glass,” Google is now taking open applications to allow the public to purchase their bold new headset. For those unfamiliar with the Glass project, it is an augmented reality head-set display that would display smartphone like information. Examples of what it could do include: taking a photo or video, allowing others to see what you see in real-time, give directions or even translate text for you. To apply, you’ll need to submit an application via Google+ or Twitter being 50 words or less describing what you would do if you had Glass and begin it with hashtag #ifihadglass. You can include up to 5 photos and a short 15 second max video also. If you get accepted you’ll still need the $1500 but you will be able to attend a, “special pick-up experience,” in Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco. Good luck because the deadline is February 27th.

Google's Nexus 4 Bumper

Google's $300 unlocked Nexus 4 handset goes on sale tomorrow, and with it customers will have a very dull choice of protective case accessories. The official Nexus 4 Bumper is Google's shameless Apple iPhone 4 Bumper copy, only less appealing and pretty much available in no color choice at all even though Google claims you can customize the look of your Nexus 4 using the Bumper case. Typical of Google, the're no saying what the Nexus 4 Bumper case is actually made from or what it actually features. But as far as we can tell, it looks to have integrated volume and power buttons with the obvious port cutouts. And at just $20, it's safe to say the Nexus 4 Bumper is made from a standard TPU plastic material that should give you a decent amount of protection to help avoid cracking the front and back glass panels in case you drop it.

If the Nexus 4 Bumper looks too boring to you, don't fret because companies like Spigen are already working on brining their great case offerings designed to encase the Nexus 4.

Google Pushes Nexus 7 Tablet With 32GB, HSPA+ At $299

Following today's announcement of the Nexus 10, Google has also released an updated Nexus 7 tablet with 32GB of storage and HSPA+ wireless data for $299 without contract that quickly overshadowed Apple's WiFi-only $329 iPad mini with 16GB of storage. The Asus-made, 7-inch Nexus 7 tablet will still be available in a 16GB and 32GB WiFi-only variants for $199 and $249, respectively. Expect the new 32GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ to go on sale on November 13.

Google's New Nexus 10 Tablet

Google's scheduled New York announcement event was canceled due to severe weather setbacks, but that didn't stop Google from announcing a few of its new gadgets today, notably its greatest flagship tablet. Meet Google's new Nexus 10 tablet starting at $399 with 16GB of storage. The Samsung-made Nexus 10 is Google's answer to the iPad 4, a slick and powerful 10-inch tablet with a enormously sharp screen resolution of 2560x1600 boasting a pixel density of 300 ppi that rivals if not beats Apple's 9.7-inch iPad 4 with a screen resolution of 2048x1536 (264 ppi).

The Nexus 10 will run a highly updated version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and features a 8.9mm thick form factor with a matte grippable backside and 9 hours of battery life with the following specs - 2GB of RAM, dual-core 1.7GHz Cortex A15 processor, Mali T604 graphics chip, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (MIMO+HT40), stereo speakers, NFC, Gorilla Glass 2, magnetic charging, micro-USB and HDMI ports. And who can forget about cameras right? With the 10-inch tablet comes a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera as well a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. So it really has all the bells and whistles.

Google's Nexus 10 tablet will come in a 16GB WiFi-only model and 32GB WiFi-only model for $399 and $499, respectively. Both will become available on November 13 in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.