The Engadget Podcast Ep 26: The Sounds of Science

Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O'Brien on the latest episode. First Dana and Nathan face off in the latest installment of Flame Wars, tackling the latest news around Google Voice, struggling streamin...

ICYMI: Driving fails, global warming bacteria fix and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: AAA and the University of Utah teamed up to collect data on how well driver's fare while using voice commands. The results are pretty terrible: Apparently it takes a full 27 seconds for a driver to fully concentrate...

Google Voice update adds short code support, warns you when you text 911

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An update to Google Voice today brings a useful, if not earth-shattering, new feature: support for SMS short codes. If your primary phone number is the one associated with your Google Voice account, this means you'll finally be able to use these codes for online banking and other services without your message showing up as sent from your carrier number. Today's update also adds a warning message whenever you type the 911 short code -- a handy safeguard, if you ask us. Nab the Android app update via the source link below.

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Via: Android Central

Source: Google Play

Outbound calls from desktop Gmail are back, with free calling to the US and Canada

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Today Google has brought back the ability to make phone calls from desktop Gmail, Google+ and via its Chrome extension, and also announced that calls to the US and Canada are free (from countries where Hangouts calling is available. The feature disappeared when Google introduced its new Hangouts setup, but a post on the Gmail blog claims that now it's better than ever. According to the company, "Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice," with making and receiving calls just the beginning. For now, users can enjoy new features like adding multiple phone numbers and video participants to the same call, and using sound effects from the Google Effects app. Current Hangouts users should see a new phone icon in Gmail, or a "call a phone" menu item in Google+ and the Chrome extension.

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Source: Gmail Blog

CyanogenMod tweak lets Google Voice SMS work through other apps

CyanogenMod mascot

Many Android-based Google Voice users don't like having to use the official Google Voice app for text messaging, especially when its performance can be flaky. They now have some choice courtesy of experimental code from ClockworkMod's Koushik Dutta. His test release lets those running CyanogenMod nightlies send and receive Google Voice SMS through any suitable Android app as long as Google's software is present. The project should be helpful, although there's no question that there's some risk involved -- it's a beta that requires an unstable custom ROM, after all. If that's no deterrent, though, you can get Dutta's code and instructions from the source links.

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Via: Droid-Life

Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+), (2)

Hangouts upgrade disables outbound Google Voice calls in desktop Gmail, company promises it will return ‘soon’

Hangouts upgrade disables outbound Google Voice calls in desktop Gmail, company promises it will return 'soon'

Anyone who's tried out the new Hangouts feature in Gmail in place of the traditional Google Talk option got a bit of surprise when they went to make an outbound call from their computer. That feature gets disabled when the new Hangouts replacement is switched on, leaving folks looking to make calls with no other option than to revert to the old Google Talk in Gmail or seek out another alternative. That's apparently just a temporary change, though, as Google's Nikhyl Singhal has now confirmed that both outbound and inbound calls will "soon be available." Unfortunately, he's not getting any more specific than that for the time being. He did, however, reiterate that "Hangouts is designed to be the future of Google Voice," and that "making/receiving phone calls is just the beginning," further adding that "future versions of Hangouts will integrate Google Voice more seamlessly."

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Source: Nikhyl Singhai (Google+)

Gmail phone calls remain free of charge in 2013 for US and Canada

Gmail phone calls remain free of charge in 2013 for US and Canada

It may be an expected holiday gift, but it's still a nice one: Google's VoIP service in Gmail will remain free of charge for calls within the United States and Canada in 2013. A note on the Gmail Blog announced as much today; the news ushers in a thrilling third year of free Google Voice service for US and Canadian customers, right through the standard Gmail interface. Of course, we prefer the retro-inspired phone booth that Google showed off back in 2010 when the service was first announced, but free is free. Now, what to get for the megacorporation that has everything. We're thinking ... Furby? Probably a Furby.

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Source: Google

Google Voice update cures Android 4.2 compatibility woes

Google Voice Android crash

Google Voice callers who lean heavily on the Android app got an unwelcome side dish of predictable app crashes if they upgraded to Android 4.2 very quickly. Thankfully, the developers in Mountain View have been quick to get us back to the main course: a newly available update patches the relevant bug and lets us get back to messaging as usual. Anyone who held off on a firmware upgrade (or a Nexus purchase) for fear that they'd miss an important call has just been given the all-clear signal.

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Google Voice update cures Android 4.2 compatibility woes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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