Now Everyone can use Google's New YouTube Player !!

A little while back some YouTubeusers began reporting that the YouTube desktop video player had received a visual overhaul. There was indeed a new version of the YouTubedesktop video player rolling out, but it turns out that it was just an experiment. Because of this the new player only rolled out to a handful of users. Those who did not receive the new video player were pretty upset due to the new video player looking much nicer and having extra functionality compared to the current one. Well, the folks over at YouTube decided to change that today.

The YouTube TestTube website is a place for the YouTube team to discuss all of the cutting edge projects that they are currently working on. Today you will notice the newest addition to this website is YouTube's “redesigned YouTube player.” This is the first time that Google has officially acknowledged the existence of the redesigned player, they gave it the following description. “Our new player design has a bit more polish, gets out of the way of your video playback, and scales to any screen or embed size. Give it a spin while we continue to add features and refine the look and feel.”

On the TestTube website, where it mentions the new video player users can also opt-in to use the “experimental” player. All users have to do is simply visit the TestTube website while logged into their Google account, find the post pertaining to the new video player and then click on the “Get the player” button. A much simpler solution to the one users had before, which included downloading a third-party extension. Also, if you decide to try out the new video player and decide that you aren't too fond of it, all you have to do is go back to the same button on the TestTube site that will now say “Restore original player” and click it. The new video player has a much more clean look to it and also provides a much smoother experience. On top of that it has a little more functionality than the current player with things like the ability to scale to any screen or embed size. So, if you want to try it out for yourself, just follow the steps in the paragraph above.

Why an android addict is not excited for Android M

Android M, the next version of Google's operating system for smartphones and tablets, was just unveiled at the company's annual I/O developer conference.

And I couldn't care less.

As a longtime Android fan I should have been excited for this moment. After all, I've been addicted to the platform since I purchased the Droid Erisback in 2009 -- I even have little green Android figurines scattered across my desk. But excitement wasn't my first reaction.

Android M isn't exactly revolutionary, but it's promising a lot of interesting features. The Google Now personal assistant will be better with contextual searches (Now On Tap), app permissions will be revamped, and battery life will (allegedly) be better. Those all sound appealing -- especially the battery life improvements -- but I'm not as excited as I should be for one big reason:

I know I'll probably never even see Android M on my current smartphone.

How do I know? Because six months after its debut, I don't even have the most recent version of Android (5.0 Lollipop), either.

The Apple way: Instant OS updates

When Apple releases a software update to their phones, all compatible devices -- regardless of location or carrier -- can download the update at the same time. Given that Apple has sold more than 700 million iPhones to date, and that all new models starting with 2011's iPhone 4S are compatiblewith the latest version of iOS, that means that hundreds of millions of phones around the world can get the latest operating system on the same day that it's released.

Even Microsoft -- albeit with far fewer phones on its Windows OS -- offers the same day and date software updates, regardless of phone carrier.

Unfortunately, this isn't the case with Android. Despite (or, perhaps because of) being the biggest phone operating system in the world, updating Androidphones is a rather long and complicated process.

Google first pushes its updated Android software to the members of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a consortium of more than 80 companies. Each manufacturer will then tweak the code for their respective devices. For example, Samsung must build TouchWiz -- its unique skin, which modifies the look and feel and adds various distinguishing features -- around each new version of Android. The same goes for HTC (Sense UI), LG, Sony and Motorola.

(For manufacturers that use a totally customized "fork" of Android -- such as Xiaomi, Amazon and others -- the customization road is an even more extensive process, but not really relevant to this conversation.)

If you have an unlocked (non-carrier specific) phone, that's the end of the process -- you get the update once the manufacturer distributes it. But for most of us (in the US, at least), the phone is bought through a wireless carrier, adding yet another layer of bureaucracy to the software update process.

Each wireless carrier gets its own further customized version of the manufacturer's Android software, which it then subjects to network compatibility testing. The carriers are the ultimate arbiter of when which update goes live for which devices on their networks. That's why many times you will see an Android OS update hit, say, an AT&Tphone, while that same device languishes on an older version on Verizon or Sprint.

Google to host Ubiquitous Computing Event !

Google's biggest developer conference of the year, Google I/O, just ended. Now it looks like Google is already planning their next developer-focused event, only this time it will be completely focused on “ubiquitous computing.” The event, while it has no set date yet, is going to be taking place in San Francisco and focus on getting developers to develop software that will run on all types of devices.

This information comes from the folks over at SlashGear who are saying that a Google developer advocate discussed this with them. SlashGear also says that the same advocate told them Google will attempt to get developers creating “context-aware” apps at this ubiquitous computing event. What Google likely means by context-aware apps is apps that actually understand what their environment is and what situation they are being used in. For instance, if you are on a run and open the music app on your phone, the music app will know that you are running and begin playing your running playlist automatically.

While apps being able to understand what context they are being used in would be great, what is also important here is something that was mentioned above. That is developers creating software that will run on all types of devices, whether that be a phone, tablet, wearable, car or home. Many technology companies, such as Microsoft have been promising software and apps that run across different types of devices for years, but sadly none ever quite delivered on that promise. Other developer advocates at Google also told SlashGear that they don't want developers to have separate apps for different types of devices. Instead, they would like developers to create a single app that would run perfectly well on all types of devices.

Doing what Google hopes to push and encourage developers to do at this ubiquitous computing event is by no means an easy feat. Designing and creating an app that will not only run, but run good and look good on all types of different devices with different screen sizes is a huge challenge. But, maybe Google will be able to work a little bit of their magic and figure something out with their loyal developers to make this type of app a reality.

US military testing a Tinker-Bell sized

There's no standard set for the shape or form of drones, and the US Special Forces plans to use that to its advantage. Here's where the Black Hornet Nano comes in. This micro drone, designed by Norway-based firm Prox Dynamics, is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, measuring in at a mere 4 x 1 inches and weighing only around 0.04 lbs. What's more, the PD-100 UAV features regular as well as thermal cameras and has a range of roughly 0.6 miles -- in other words, it's perfect for those missions that require stealth surveillance.

According to Defense One, the US Army has "a handful" of these drones in its possession, which it began testing back in March. That said, the tiny, $40,000 Black Hornet Nano has been part of the British military's arsenal since 2013, so the US is a slightly behind on adopting the device.

Google improve Maps this year...

While today's announcement from Google's I/O event have circulated around newer products and services like Android M, Android Pay and Google Photos, that does not mean that there were not important announcements coming through for the more veteran Google features, services and apps. In fact, one of those which has now been commented on is the Google navigational tool, Google Maps.

While Maps is one of the more fundamental and widely used Google services, it has been missing suitable and effective offline use. To be clear, Maps is usable in an offline mode, but as with many things that go offline, many of its staple and best features and abilities are greatly reduced or non-existent. Well, during today's announcement, Google have confirmed that a much more functional offline use of Maps is en route. In fact, it will be here before the end of this year. As such, with the newly enhanced offline Maps there will be some very helpful additions. Of course, the biggest and most noteworthy addition, will be the ability to make use of turn by turn directions while offline. This means that without a data connection, users will still be able to make use of Maps in all its glory. This will include using voice commands during turn by turn navigation. However, that is not all, In addition to offline turn by turn directions, Google has also confirmed that Maps in offline mode will offer users the option to get on-the-fly information on places. For instance, without a data connection, pull up additional information like restaurant reviews, shop opening hours and so on.

This new more functional offline mode for Maps will be a great benefit to those who regularly enter low-quality data areas or for those who just tend to use their apps in a more offline manner. However, although Googleconfirmed that the newly improved offline mode will become available later on in the year, there were no specific details on when exactly. Either way though, Maps, like so many other Google features and services are seeing some massive improvements this year.

Need for Speed Reboot comming later this year..

Electronic Arts has announced Need for Speed will be released this fall on PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC.

It's confirmed that the latest entry to the franchise will be a reboot and, according to the press release, will deliver "deep customization, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that pulls you through the game."

This will be the 22nd Need for Speedgame released since the original in 1994. The franchise stopped numbering the games after the third installment, and began to lose its way with a number of spin-offs and sequels that failed to have the same impact as the originals.

The 2015 Need for Speed, which is in development at Ghost Games, will have the same street-racing focus that made the games so fun. Let's hope it's like the good ol' days; customizing cars, drifting, drag racing and packing dangerous quantities of NOS.

"Need for Speed is one of the most iconic names in gaming, and we're returning it to greatness in this reboot," Marcus Nilsson, executive producer at Ghost Games, said in a prepared statement.

"Pulling on our 20 years of history, and then taking a year out from releasing a game, we are making the game we've always wanted to. We're listening to the fans and delivering an experience that will capture their imagination and unleash their passion for cars and speed."

Dragon Ball Gets 1st New TV Anime in 18 Years in July !!

Dragon Ball Super, a brand new television animeinspired by Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga, willpremiere on Fuji TV and other channels in July on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. This will be the first new DragonBall television series since Dragon Ball GT, which aired from 1996 to 1997.

The story of the anime is set a few years after the defeat of Majin Buu, when the Earth has become peaceful once again. The voice of Goku, Gohan, and Goten, Masako Nozawa commented on the new anime, saying, “We've always used the word 'chō' (Super) with Dragon Ball in commercials, games and the like, but the fact that the series titled Dragon Ball Super is beginning is the best thing ever.”

Fuji TV producer Osamu Nozaki commented on the new series as well, saying, “As I read the plot [of the series] I've already received from Akira Toriyama, my dreams for this begin to expand. An enemy even stronger than Buu or Freeza may appear...”

Toriyama is credited as the original creator, as well as for "original story & character concepts." Toei Animation's Kimitoshi Chioka (Hakaba Kitarō, Kamisama Kazoku) is the series director, and Naoko Sagawa (Yomiko Advertising, Inc.) and Atsushi Kido(Toei Animation) join Nozaki as producers. Kido entered Toei just as the company was animating the Dragon Ball Z anime's Freeza arc.

A new film taking place after the Majin Buu Saga, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (key visual seen right,) premiered in Japan earlier this month. The film will eventuallyscreen in 74 countries worldwide. Funimation hosted the North American premiere of the film on April 11 in Los Angeles. The company plans to release the film in more theaters with an English dub this summer.