Google spruces Android Market app, adds Movies and Books tabs

Android 2.2 and above user? Strap in and get ready to have an updated Android Market experience. Google have a new version of the Android Market coming, a version that adds tabs for easy access to Google Books and Movies. From $1.99, you'll be able to start watching movies virtually instantly, offline access is also available which will allow users to download the movies to their devices for later viewing.

Books is now integrated also, saving the hassle of having to launch the app, which required one to open the browser to actually buy any digital books. The new design is also cleaner, finger-friendlier (Engadgets wording!! haha) and the addition of Editor's Choice apps should make your experience easier than ever. The update is rolling out over the next few weeks.
artcal sourse:http://www.tweaktown.com/news/20157/google_spruces_android_market_app_adds_movies_and_books_tabs/index.html

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Gmail gets a new look

Google are on a rampage this week, not only launching their social networking extravaganza Google+ (which is awesome btw) but now a new look Gmail is out and being previewed. The new look is virtually identical to Google+ which helps keep an overall theme for Google and has cut the clutter away and still keep it as a powerhouse e-mail solution. Google have stated it's a Google-wide effort to bring you, the user, an experience that is more focused, elastic and effortless across all of their products.

They've said that they are not going to change everything at once and will work on the upgrades gradually over the next few months which will allow users plenty of time to get used to it and incorporate feedback that will go into the ever-evolving design. Google are starting with two new themes for users to try as a sneak peak of things to come. Currently there's "Preview" and "Preview (Dense)" themes in the Themes tab in Gmail Settings.

Once you take a look around you'll realise it looks cleaner, with a more modern look yet has a few rough edges. Labs features will also look strange as they're not built for the current themes (yet). Google plan on fixing these issues once the changes are rolled out over the next few months. New themes will be released and will include the same design principles but are better suited to working in a dark environment (yay! I enjoy my dark Gmail background and will wait for this).

Google Calendar is also getting a new look, with users seeing the new change automatically over the next few days without needing to turn it on.




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Google+ launched, Social Networking Gets Rebooted

 Google+ has been launched today and it is quite the bundle of joy. Included are multiple parts which create one large social networking web of connectivity, social fun and constant information on friends and more specifically the friends you want to know your whereabouts or specific posts.

Included are four major sections, +Circles, +Sparks, +Hangouts, +Mobile. First off +Circles is all about sharing what matters, to those who mean the most to you. Not all relationships and friendships are equal, +Circle allows you to create a "circle" which allows you to add the people you want to it and share what's new or something cool you found online. Instead of going out to all of your friends at once.

+Sparks allows you to strike up a conversation about, well, pretty much anything. Sparks delivers a feed of content from the internet in any topic you want across 40 languages. All you have to do is add your interests and Sparks will find relavant links and info on what you want to look at, again with the right circle of friends.

Next up is +Hangouts. +Hangouts is somewhere you can go when you're bored, alone, or just want some quality time with people in your +Circle. +Hangouts allows face-to-face video chat, also included is multi-person video for that bored group of friends. Want to catch up for a drink but live too far away, maybe interstate or overseas? Grab your +Circle of friends and +Hangout!

+Mobile is probably the most obvious, especially since Google have their Android-based smartphones and tablets available. Most people have a phone and they really are the perfect sharing accessory, it's always with you, it's always online and allows Google+ to give you some very cool things to do. Google+ adds your location to every post, so people will know where you are in case they may be walking by, or want to catch up.

Instant Upload allows you to take pictures on your smartphone and it adds your photos to a private album in the cloud. They're available on all of your devices, ready to go whenever you want.

+Huddle is a group messaging service that lets everyone within your circle to know what's going on, right now. It's handy as most people are usually on different schedules, families, time zones or in totally different places. +Huddle allows quick communication amongst your circle.

Google+ is available on the Android Market and the mobile web and will be available on the App Store soon. Right now it's a Field Trial and is by invitation only. Google, can TweakTown get some hookups please? ;)

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