Google I/O 2015 – Google Updates Photos App with Unlimited Free Storage

At their developer conference today Google unveiled a new Photos app focused on improving search and organization.

Without having to tag or manually identify faces, the new Photos app will group photos for users automatically based on people in the photos and locations pictures were taken.

Editing tools will be built in to the experience, and users can produce videos out of the content shot from their phones easily.

New sharing features will deliver full resolution pics to anyone regardless if they use Google Photos or Google Plus with no restrictions on who or where you can share those photos.

Most exciting is the support on the back end for these cloud sync services. Starting today Google Photos will enable unlimited storage for free on iOS, Android, and on the web. Pictures are saved at up to 16MP quality and video will be saved at 1080p.

This makes Drive and photo sync on Android a lot more valuable and makes Google Photos more competitive against OneDrive and Flickr photo sync.

You can see Google’s teaser vid, and read their full press release below!

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Smartwatch and Projector Phone Concepts Showcased at Lenovo Tech World

lenovo-new-logo-2015-bgLenovo wrapped up their Tech World conference by talking about the future and showing off some concept products.

As we throw around buzz words like “Internet of Things” the tech industry is actually facing it’s next major hurdle in how we can better integrate data and services into people’s daily lives. Products like smartwatches are another step in that conversation.

smartwatch concept front2Lenovo’s Magic View concept takes the standard smartwatch face we all understand (which looks a lot like the display found on the Moto360), and adds a second virtual screen. That small rectangular patch below the watch face is a virtual privacy display which can project content up to 20 times larger than the watch face.

concept phone with projectionProjection was a hot topic for phones too. Smart Cast is the world’s first laser projector in a mobile phone. Not only will it display the contents of your screen onto a flat surface, but it will also allow you to interact with the UI through the projection.

Lastly, Lenovo announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring exclusive features to Cortana on Lenovo PC’s. REACHit will provide cloud search and sync access to Cortana for popular services like DropBox and Google Drive. Files in the cloud and on various PC’s, Tablets, and Phones will all be accessible to users regardless of where they are or which device they’re using.

As Lenovo continues their lead in the PC space, most of the talk at Tech World focused on a future where services and information are a bit more fluid than the traditional PC experience. Buying Motorola was certainly a step in expanding their influence in the mobile market, and now “Internet of Things” is looking like the next arena they want to play in.

You can see more from the conference on Lenovo’s Youtube channel.

SomeGadgetGuy Plays Family Feud on Buzzr!

The episode is finally live!

youtube buzzr family feud somegadgetguy juan bagnell game showI had the honor of joining Trisha Hershberger and Katers from You Fight Like A Girl on a Youtuber themed round of Family Feud for Buzzr! Easily one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking experiences of my life.

Did we persevere? Did we reign supreme? Check out our episode below!

Microsoft Windows 10 Announcement: OS Updates, XBOX Gaming Cross Platform, and HoloLens Augmented Reality!

Back in September we got our first look at the next version of Windows. It was a somewhat underwhelming affair, detailing the next steps Microsoft will take to retain their lead in corporate computing, and the gist of that announcement was focused on how to make their current version of Windows feel more like their last version of Windows.

But there’s a whole wide world of devices out now, and manufacturers are starting to deliver on hardware that blurs the lines between consumer tablets, laptops, desktops, and workstations. Microsoft windows 10 keynote announcement somegadgetguy (1)Taking the stage, Terry Myerson, Executive VP of Operating Systems, thanked the Windows Insider participants for their interactions with the Windows 10 BETA. Microsoft is working hard to make this version feel like it’s been built from a community perspective.

The focus moving forward is on ecosystem and tying data and devices together. Being able to move seamlessly from device to device with data and apps intact, for both business and consumer solutions, creating a “global” platform. Continue reading “Microsoft Windows 10 Announcement: OS Updates, XBOX Gaming Cross Platform, and HoloLens Augmented Reality!”

SomeGadgetGuy’s Favorite Finds from CES 2015

CES this year saw a tremendous number of “evolution” announcements. There weren’t any mind-blowing reveals, but we saw an entire industry looking to iterate and improve on products far faster than previous entries into new territory. Where wearable tech and home automation were buzzwords last year, we saw real practical application this year.

Every show, my goal is to find something I think is cool. It might not be the most practical, or revolutionary, but I want to see a company try something different, something novel. Here are a few of my favorite finds from this year’s show floor!

Click on ANY of the pics below to watch our video coverage from the show floor!

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Samsung Donates $50,000 to LA Habitat for Humanity at #DITCHtheDSLR Event in Hollywood

I finally said goodbye to my old Canon Rebel. Samsung made the pain of giving it away easier by allowing me to trade it in for a new NX30 mirrorless camera. The event in Hollywood also featured a Guinness World Record selfie chain, and showcased Samsung’s charitable side with a $50,000 donation to the LA chapter of Habitat for Humanity!

Shop the Samsung NX30 on Amazon.
Shop the Samsung NX Mini on Amazon.

First Impressions: iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus – AT&T Launch Day Event in Pasadena!

Here we go folks! AT&T was kind enough to open a store early for me to go hands on with the new iPhones! Here are my initial thoughts on Apple’s newest flagship phone and their first phablet!

Continue reading “First Impressions: iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus – AT&T Launch Day Event in Pasadena!”

My Fave Find from CTIA! The Skyroam 3GMate International Hotspot with Virtual Sim

At every show I try to find something cool. Something I wasn’t expecting. Something that nails a niche.

This year Skyroam totally nailed it, and for you folks who travel a lot (and internationally) definitely be on the lookout for this portable WiFi hotspot. The 3GMate uses a virtual sim to enable 3G data in 45 countries, and it’ll only cost you $10 a day!

Shop the 3GMate on Amazon.
More info on Skyroam and the 3GMate.