Remember that two minutes when Google was down?
— Ed Bott (@edbott) August 16, 2013
We’re canceling the apocalypse. As soon as http://t.co/ct7qzncVWU comes back.
— Dan Benjamin (@danbenjamin) August 16, 2013
Google went down because it was told it could no longer have 20% time and didn't like it
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) August 16, 2013
Google's Hangouts chat service was meant to unify messaging experiences across all of the company's services. Hangouts is getting one step closer to that, as Google shuts down Google+ Messenger. Messenger will leave the Android Google+ app in an update today, and the chat service will be leaving iOS at a later date. Users can remove their old conversations via Google Takeout.
Today's Google+ app update is bringing some other features on Android. Users can grab photos and videos from their Google Drive and share them on Google+. The update also allows users to switch between multiple accounts without having to sign in and out. Pull-down-to-refresh is also coming soon to Google+.
Thank you for your recent Chromecast purchase. Earlier today, you received an email indicating an incorrect estimated order delivery of late October. We are actively fulfilling orders weekly based on customer order date and all customers who placed orders prior to August 7 should receive their orders in the coming weeks and into mid-September. We will notify you as soon as your item ships and apologize for the confusion.
Google's new Nexus 7 may be great in terms of pricing, but buyers are encountering a hitch: issues with GPS performance. Many complaints have been coming up at XDA-Developers, Android Police, and Google's own discussion group since the tablet has launched. According to these sites, after a short amount of time, from two to 30 minutes, the Nexus 7 loses its signal and cannot connect again.
Not that many people use the Nexus 7 for GPS, so the issue may even go unnoticed by consumers. Google has acknowledged the reports and says that the Android team is working on it.
"Starting today, the link tool now offers you suggestions based on the text you are hyperlinking just in case you don't have the URL you need offhand. To try it out, select the text you want and click the "Insert link" icon from the menu bar (or use Ctrl K)."
As announced on the official Android blog today, Android owners will soon have the option to track their devices. Later this month, an update will hit Google's Android Device Manager, allowing Android users to track their devices on a map in real time, activate the ringer, and wipe their information. The new service will work on all devices running Android 2.2 and up, which covers most of the Android population. All you have to do is hook it up to your Google account.
For Google, this new service has been awaited for many years. iOS and Windows Phone users have already had a similar service for years. Some Android device manufacturers have tried to create a device tracking service, but they haven't always worked out; HTC created one, but it ended up being shut down. Sony has its My Xperia, which appears to be prospering for now.
AT&T has landed a HUGE exclusive. At launch, you can only get a customized version on AT&T. To customize the phone, you have to use the Moto Maker online. Also, you can only pick between 16 back cover options, not 18. AT&T will be carrying only black and white versions at its retail stores.
The Exterior
You make your phone
There are 504 versions of the Moto X. Start out by picking one of 18 back covers, either a black or white front panel, and seven colors for the side buttons and rear camera lens. You also pick between 16 and 32 GB for storage. To wrap it up, you can engrave the back of it.
Made in the USA
To permit for the custom design process, Motorola has based the entire Moto X operation in Fort Worth, Texas. Bits and pieces come from 16 startes and countries from around the world, and around 2,000 workers or so assemble the phones. Motorola claims that you can order your phone, and then it will get to you in 4 days or less.
The Interior
