Google Earth, the mapping software from the tech giant, was updated last year with Virtual Reality capabilities. This time around, another update brings Street View to Earth VR.

With the VR upgrade, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift owners could fly around various cities and mountains across the world. It was as easy as turning their gear-mounted heads.

With this new update, VR users can now explore Street View images from 85 countries around the world. If the location supports the Street View on Earth VR, a button will pop up (same as the one seen on classic Google Maps) when flying at that location towards ground level. You can then click that button using the hand-held controller to enter the immersive 360-degree photographic view of the place.

If you own a VR headset and unsure about what you should look at first, take Google's advice and look at San Francisco's AT&T Park, or at the Old Port in Dubrovnik, Croatia (the King's Landing in HBO's Game of Thrones).

The update is available for the owners of Vive and Rift, and also via the Street View app for Google Daydream and Google Cardboard.

At this year's I/O keynote, the company has announced three updates for Google Home, its voice-based virtual assistant for homes.

Google Home (Credit: Google)

Hands-free calling

With the help of Google Assistant, Home shall be able to call any number in the US and Canada. The best part is that Google will not charge any additional fee for the same. Hands-free calling supports multiple users as well, so Home will perform the personalized action depending on who is requesting for it.

Increased entertainment options

Google Home now supports HBO Now, CBS All Access, HGTV (Netflix is already added) and also Spotify's free service along with Soundcloud and Deezer, hence increasing the number of available entertainment options. Bluetooth is supported as well.

Visual responses via Chromecast

Adding interfacing with other devices like smartphones and TV screens (via Chromecast), Google Home will now 'show' information instead of just speaking it out. For instance, when asked for driving directions, Assistant will route it to the smartphone. If connected via Chromecast, appointments and search results can be viewed on the big screen.

Google Lens and standalone Daydream VR headsets are also announced. Stay tuned for more announcements from the Google I/O event.

The Google Daydream mobile Virtual Reality platform is getting an interesting expansion. In this world of smartphone-based VR headsets, Google has announced at the I/O event that standalone VR headsets will be manufactured.

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What this effectively means is that the new headsets will not rely on any device whatsoever, be it a console, PC, or smartphone.

Even though there is not much information regarding how this is supposed to work, Google has hinted at the use of WorldSense to achieve the same. The technology will not require any external sensors. It will employ inside-out positional tracking instead.

As far as motion control is concerned, the sketches presented by the company at the keynote hints at a controller just like the one that ships with Daydream View.

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Google has partnered with HTC and Lenovo to produce such devices. HTC's Vive branded standalone VR headset is expected to hit the markets sometime later this year. Exact release dates or pricing information is not revealed yet.

Google Lens and updates to Google Home are also announced. Stay tuned for more announcements from the Google I/O event.

Google I/O keynote for the year 2017 is underway, and the first new product coming out of their stable is Google Lens.

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As the name suggests, the technology makes use of the device's camera. It is a combination of artificial intelligence, image recognition, machine learning, and the existing Google platform, coming together to understand the surroundings. One can just launch Lens, point the phone's camera at an object, and it will automatically provide more information about the same in real-time.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai presented a few use cases to explain the usage of Google Lens: find the type and background information about an unknown flower; locate a business, find its working hours, and read reviews just by pointing the Lens at a brick-and-mortar storefront; or automatically connect to a WiFi network by pointing the Lens to its credentials.

Google Lens will be incorporated with Google Photos and Google Assistant. In combination with the Assistant, the Lens can perform a variety of tasks including adding events to the calendar, buying tickets for the same, or translating stuff across languages.

Standalone Daydream VR headsets and updates to Google Home are also announced. Stay tuned for more announcements from the Google I/O event.

It is a well-known fact that HTC developed Google's Pixel smartphones. How does their latest flagship, the HTC U Ultra, stand against the Pixel XL? We try to find out.

Battery capacity

Google Pixel XL boasts a 3,450 mAh battery, while the HTC U Ultra has a 3,000 mAh battery. Thus, the Pixel XL has 15% larger battery capacity.

Color options

Black and blue are the standard color options across both the devices. Apart from that, Pixel XL offers a silver variant, while the U Ultra also comes in white.

Design

Pixel XL features an aluminum unibody, while the U Ultra boasts of a glass aluminum design. HTC seems to have taken a cue from Samsung since the U Ultra looks almost the same as Galaxy S7 Edge. (Read the comparison between Google Pixel XL and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge).

Dimensions

Google Pixel XL is 154.7 mm in height, 75.7 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. HTC U Ultra is 162.4 mm in height, 79.8 mm in width and 8 mm in depth. Thus, U Ultra is around 5% taller and wider, and around 10% thicker in comparison.

Display pixel density

Pixel XL boasts of a pixel density of 534 ppi, while U Ultra has only 513 ppi. This is evident since Pixel has a smaller display.

Display size

Pixel XL features a 5.5-inch display, while U Ultra sports a 5.7-inch display. Hence, U Ultra has a 4% bigger screen than that of Pixel XL.

Display type

Google Pixel XL uses AMOLED technology, while the HTC U Ultra employs Super LCD 5.

Dual screen

Pixel XL has only one screen, while the U Ultra features a second smaller screen above the main display, just like the one seen in LG V20. Not so Samsung-like, eh HTC?

External storage

Pixel XL does not have the option to expand its storage capacity by any means. U Ultra, on the other hand, can widen the memory up to 2 TB via a micro SD card.

Fingerprint sensor placement

Pixel XL has the fingerprint module at the rear, while the U Ultra has the sensor embedded in the physical Home button in the front.

Headphone jack

While the Google Pixel XL comes with the standard 3.5 mm jack, HTC U Ultra has taken a leap and removed it.

Home button

Pixel XL comes with an on-screen Home button, while the U Ultra has a physical off-screen button located below the display.

Internal storage options

Pixel XL offers a base variant with 32 GB memory, while U Ultra starts with 64 gigs of storage. There is an additional 128 GB model for the Google Pixel XL.

Optical image stabilization

Google Pixel XL does not come with OIS, while the HTC U Ultra has this feature.

Price

Pixel XL is available at $769 (for 32 GB variant), $869 (for 128 GB variant). U Ultra is available at $749 (for 64 GB).

Primary camera aperture

Pixel XL has a rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0 while the U Ultra's primary camera has f/1.8 aperture size. Hence, more light is allowed to pass through in case of the HTC U Ultra.

Secondary camera

Google Pixel XL comes with a 8 MP front camera. HTC U Ultra has a 16 MP front shooter. Thus, U Ultra has double the megapixels in its secondary camera.

Other common features

• Weight (170 g approx.)
• 2560x1440 pixels (QHD) screen resolution
• 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.15 GHz
• 4 GB RAM
• Single lens 12 MP primary camera
• Android 7 Nougat

Verdict

HTC U Ultra does not sound like a big deal. It seems to be inspired from features already available in other brands. Moreover, although it does come with Android Nougat, it is likely to receive no or very slow updates when compared to the in-house Pixel XL. With almost similar features and a proven camera record, Google Pixel XL definitely wins over the HTC U Ultra.

We already compared Google Pixel XL with Huawei Nexus 6P. In this post, Korean giant's flagship Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is pitted against Google's latest offering.

Battery capacity

Google Pixel XL has a 3,450 mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge boasts a 3,600 mAh battery. Thus, the S7 Edge has around 4% larger battery capacity.

Charging interface

Pixel XL comes with the reversible USB Type-C port, while the S7 Edge sticks to the good old micro USB port.

Color options

Black and silver are the standard color options across both the devices. Apart from that, Pixel XL offers a new blue variant, while the S7 Edge also comes in gold.

Curved display

Pixel XL does not come with a curved display, but the S7 Edge boasts a curved screen at the front edges of the device, thus giving it a unique look.

Dimensions

Google Pixel XL is 154.7 mm in height, 75.7 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is 150.9 mm in height, 72.6 mm in width and 7.7 mm in depth. Thus, Pixel XL is around 3% taller and 4% wider in comparison.

External storage

Pixel XL does not have the option to expand its storage capacity by any means. S7 Edge, on the other hand, can widen the memory up to 256 gigs via a micro SD card.

Home button

Pixel XL comes with an on-screen Home button, while the S7 Edge has a physical off-screen button located below the display.

Internal storage options

Pixel XL has only 32 and 128 GB models. S7 Edge offers an additional 64 GB variant.

Mobile payments support

Pixel XL is Android Pay ready via NFC (Near Field Communication), while the S7 Edge is Samsung Pay compatible via both NFC and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission).

Operating System

Pixel XL comes with Android 7 Nougat out-of-the-box. S7 Edge currently runs on TouchWiz UI based on Android 6 Marshmallow. The Korean giant already promises an update to Nougat, but the exact dates are not known.

Optical image stabilization

Google Pixel XL does not come with OIS, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has this feature.

Primary camera aperture

Pixel XL has a rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0 while the S7 Edge's primary camera has f/1.7 aperture size. Hence, more light is allowed to pass through in case of the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Processor

Pixel XL boasts of 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.15 GHz. S7 Edge runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor clocked at 2.15 GHz. In markets other than China, Japan, and the US, Galaxy S7 Edge has an octa-core Exynos 8890 chipset.

Secondary camera

Google Pixel XL comes with a 8 MP front camera. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has a 5 MP front shooter. Thus, Pixel XL has 60% more megapixels in its secondary camera.

Virtual Assistant

Pixel XL comes with the new Google Assistant. S7 Edge features the junior Google Now assistant as well as the proprietary S-Voice.

Virtual Reality support

Pixel XL is Google Daydream ready out-of-the-box, while the S7 Edge is Samsung Gear VR compatible.

Water resistance

Pixel XL is not water resistant, while the S7 Edge comes with an IP68 rating. This means that the Galaxy S7 Edge can stay in up to 1.5 meters of water for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Weight

Pixel XL weighs 168 grams, while S7 Edge weighs 157 grams. Thus, Pixel XL is almost 7% heavier.

Wireless charging

Google Pixel XL does not support wireless charging, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge does.

Other common features

• 5.5-inch display size
• 2560x1440 pixels (QHD) screen resolution
• Pixel density of 534 pixels-per-inch
• Pressure insensitive AMOLED display
• Single lens 12 MP primary camera
• Fast charging supported
• 4 GB RAM
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensors available

Verdict

Both the devices give neck-to-neck competition to each other in most of the cases. Google Pixel XL seems to be leading regarding operating system, camera, and virtual assistant. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has an edge in external storage, water resistance, and a whole lot of content for the Gear VR. However, now that even the Galaxy S7 Edge seems to be following the blasting spree of its Note sibling, we expect our readers to make a wise decision.

Google has launched the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones to take the Apple devices head-on. This also means that the Nexus brand of devices is now officially discontinued. Now that the bandwagon of Android flagships is passed onto the new devices, it is high time we see how the new products fare against their predecessors. In this post, Google Pixel XL is compared with last year's Huawei Nexus 6P, which was launched in India in October last year. It was also one of the most googled devices of the year.

Color options

Black and silver are the standard color options across both the devices. Apart from that, Pixel XL offers a new blue variant, while the Nexus 6P comes in gold and white as well.

Dimensions

Google Pixel XL is 154.7 mm in height, 75.7 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. Huawei Nexus 6P is 159.3 mm in height, 77.8 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. Thus, Nexus 6P is around 3% taller and wider in comparison.

Display pixel density

Pixel XL boasts of a pixel density of 534 ppi, while Nexus 6P has only 518 ppi. This is evident since Pixel has a smaller display.

Display size

Pixel XL features a 5.5-inch display, while Nexus 6P sports a 5.7-inch display. Hence, Nexus 6P has a 3.5% bigger screen than that of Pixel XL.

Internal storage options

Google Pixel XL has only 32 and 128 GB models. Huawei Nexus 6P offers an additional 64 GB variant.

Price

Pixel XL is available at $769 (for 32 GB variant), $869 (for 128 GB variant). Nexus 6P is available at $499 (for 32 GB variant), $549 (for 64 GB variant), $649 (for 128 GB variant).

Processor

Google Pixel XL boasts of 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.15 GHz. Nexus 6P runs on 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor clocked at 2 GHz.

RAM

Pixel XL offers 4 GB RAM, while Nexus 6P only has 3 GB. So you get an extra gigabyte of RAM in the former.

Virtual Assistant

Pixel XL comes with the new Google Assistant. Nexus 6P features the junior Google Now assistant.

Virtual Reality support

Google Pixel XL is Google Daydream ready out-of-the-box, while the Huawei Nexus 6P is not.

Weight

Pixel XL weighs 168 grams, while Nexus 6P weighs 178 grams. Thus, Nexus 6P is almost 6% heavier.

Other common features

• Aluminum unibody design
• Not water resistant
• 2560x1440 pixels (QHD) screen resolution
• Pressure insensitive AMOLED display
• Single lens 12 MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, and 8 MP secondary camera
• Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) missing
• 3,450 mAh battery capacity; fast charging supported
• USB Type-C interface
• No wireless charging
• Non-expandable storage
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Rear fingerprint sensors
• Onscreen buttons instead of capacitive touch ones
• NFC enabled. Hence Android Pay supported
• Android 7 Nougat

Verdict

Huawei Nexus 6P is, without a doubt, an excellent phone. On paper, the Google Pixel XL sounds very promising. Also, since it is the first phone to bear the Google banner, I expect it to bridge the gap between software and hardware that is visible in other Android flagships. Google Assistant and Google Daydream also sound promising. A detailed review should clear out the picture soon.

Google has finally launched the newest version of Google Chromecast and Chromecast Audio in India. Note that these devices were first unveiled sometime last year.

The new Chromecast comes with a sleek design, and can hence easily fit into TVs with crowded ports. It is expected to make streaming faster since it supports the latest WiFi standards. The device is priced at ₹3,399 ($50 approx.) on the Google Play Store. It is expected to hit the usual online marketplaces in the coming months.

Chromecast Audio is a device that plugs into speakers to stream radio, podcasts and music over WiFi. The small device can be plugged into your speakers. With the multi-room feature, multiple speakers can be connected together to create a perfect home-entertainment system. It is also priced at ₹3,399 ($50 approx.).

The Chromecast app has been updated to make it easier to search for content. Functionality for improved search and personalised suggestions has been implemented.

Technology has touched our daily lives to such an extent that each one of us wants to own a smartphone as well as a wearable device. But our budgets are limited! What if I told you that you can buy both in the price of one? Or rather you can buy a device that can act as a smartphone, and can also be worn around the wrist if need be? Yes, you heard it right! 91mobiles.com, India's gadget research website for mobile phones and personal technology, has come up with the Google Nexus 360 concept phone, a creative visualization that offers a glimpse into the future of smartphones, imagining how these devices will evolve in the coming years. The idea is to showcase a concept that pushes the envelope when it comes to what is possible, but is still rooted in reality, and can become commercially viable in just 3-4 years down the lane.

Google Nexus 360 (Credit: 91 Mobiles)

Key issues at hand

• With the flood of mobile computing devices, users now prefer carrying a single device that can take on multiple roles and adapt as per needs.
• Wearable technology is evolving rapidly, but the approach is still very fragmented since most existing products can't be used standalone.
• Device security and multiple notifications.

The approach behind Google Nexus 360

The idea then, was to come up with a concept of a single device that can tackle all the above issues in one shot. For this purpose, the team factored in user suggestions, studied various prototypes and innovative technologies (from the likes of Molex, Dai Nippon Printing, Solicore and LG), to come up with an ideal yet achievable concept. This design is an amalgamation of several successful smartphones and technologies that exist today, and takes their use to the next level.

Watch the following video to know more about this awesome concept.

Google Nexus 360 features

A phone that converts into a watch

Google Nexus 360 can convert into a watch (Credit: 91 Mobiles)

Use it as a conventional phone, or wear it as a wristband; with the full range of features available in both modes.

Flexible yet scratch resistant materials are currently available in prototype phase from Dai-Nippon printing, and utilize flexible circuitry that has been around for years thanks to brands like Molex who specialize in creating flexible circuits for devices we use today.

Flexible polymer OLED display

Offers great usability and vibrant visuals. Earlier seen on the LG G-Flex smartphone; is being mass produced by LG Electronics for global consumption.

Embedded Bluetooth headset

Google Nexus 360 with embedded Bluetooth headset (Credit: 91 Mobiles)

Can be docked on the side of the device, and draws power from it for charging. Indian mobile device maker Micromax first came up with the idea of an embedded Bluetooth headset and offered it with the Van Gogh feature phone.

An integrated fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor

Take care of security, health monitoring and sleep tracking. Integrated sensors and apps capture related data.

A tube camera that's on your wrist

Google Nexus 360 camera (Credit: 91 Mobiles)

Makes shooting easy, and allows snapping pics from different angles. The same high-resolution camera doubles up as primary camera, along with shooting selfies.

Always-on e-ink display on the side

Google Nexus 360 headset and aux display (Credit: 91 Mobiles)

Makes sure users don't miss out on notifications; a feature adopted by Notion Ink for their Adam tablet.

Designed for all-weather use

IP67-certified for resistance to the elements.

Why Google?

The Google brand was chosen for this concept since the search titan has always been at the forefront of innovation, and has the flexibility to partner with a specific hardware manufacturer that can build according to its specification.