Google Chromecast Ultra deals with big 4K streams the ‘old-school’ way

One of the many products Google released at its #madebygoogle event is a new Chromecast dongle. While it looks similar to what Google has released in this category before, what sets it apart is it supports both 4K and HDR streaming. Google claims the Chromecast Ultra can also start streams 1.8x faster this time around and it has better Wi-Fi reception, too. The Ultra is powered via microUSB and can be charged off TVs that provide enough power over USB or through the included AC adapter. But how does it handle the high-bandwidth needed by 4K videos? Google’s answer is an Ethernet adapter. Simply plug it into the device and you don’t have to worry about the Wi-Fi connectivity you have at home.

Source: The Verge

‘Actions on Google’ to open Google Assistant to third-party developers

If Google plans to unseat the Amazon Echo in its own category, it’ll need all the help it can get. And that’s what it is planning to do with the Actions on Google program launching in December. This program will allow developers to build “Actions” for Google Assistant (akin to the 3,000+ “skills” of Amazon’s Alexa). There will be two flavors to this: Direct Actions and Conversation Actions. Direct is similar to what you can do with Siri, Alexa, and even Google’s own Google Now voice assistant. You ask it for information, schedule a meeting, etc.

Conversations, on the other hand and as its name suggests, is more of a back and forth. One example given at the Google event is when Scott Huffman tried to get an Uber and had Google Assistant pass the conversation off to Uber to finalize the request. And that’s where developers would need to work with Google. Aside from the Google plans to release an Embedded Google Assistant software development kit to let tinkerers load Google Assistant on things like Raspberry Pi as well as for other hardware manufacturers to have Assistant in other products.

Source: The Verge

Comixology to introduce its own line of original comics

Exclusivity is a game that isn’t limited to certain industries. To get people to use and stay with your products, you have to offer them compelling content (think Netflix). And so Comixology is introducing its own original comics aptly called comiXology Originals. The new line will feature content from creators and publishers such as Boom! Studios, the late cartoonist and Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman, and Valiant Entertainment. Some of the new titles include Adventure Time Marshall Lee Spectacular from award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki and a finished version of Harvey Kurtzman’s Marley’s Ghost. The digital-only original titles will be available to both Comixology and Kindle customers.

Source: The Verge

Google aims to democratize VR with Daydream View

Google revealed various new products and solutions today. Their Daydream View is an attempt to democratize Virtual Reality (VR) experiences and make them more accessible to everyone who doesn't see any sense in spending thousands of dollars on more expensive PC-powered VR rigs or expensive add-ons like the Playstation VR.

A huge step up from Google Cardboard, the Daydream View is a soft case for compatible smartphones that is lightweight and can easily fit most people's heads even with eyeglasses. The device uses NFC to intantly connect with smartphones and even comes with its own remote that doubles as a pointer, mouse and trackpad and which fits nicely inside the headset when not in use.

I tried a demo of the Daydream and found it did fit quite easily and wasn't uncomfortable, at least for the three minues I had it on. The remote seems a bit off or needed calibration since it was not accurate. The experiences I tested worked well, were immersive and lag free on the Pixel devices I was looking at. The Daydream View has to be the most comfortable VR headset I have tried, I'm just not sure how that fabric will live up to regular wear and tear.