Google a few moments ago introduced that amazing new changes are coming to Google Now with a new software feature Google is calling ‘Now on Tap’. ‘Now on Tap’ brings Google Now functionality to the next level by leveraging context awareness to bring you even more information super quickly.

As a quick example demonstrated by a Google engineer, imagine that you are listening to Skrillex on your device. With ‘Now on Tap’, you can simply ask the device “What’s his real name?” With Android M, your device will be able to understand the complete context of the situation. Specifically, Android will recognize that you are listening to a Skrillex song and will comprehend that the query is related to that. Consequently, asking “What’s his real name?” will yield Sonny John Moore as an answer.

As another example, if you happen to be returning a rental car, Google Now will understand the context and will alert you to nearby gas stations so that you can return it with a full tank.

Throughout the demonstration, Google engineers kept on stressing that the overarching goal of “Now on Tap” is to be more assistive to users by giving them information before they know they need it. In short, the software aims to provide users with quick answers to quick questions when and wherever they happen to be their phone.

In describing how ‘Now on Tap’ is designed to function, Google engineer Aparna Chennapragada explained that there are three things the software needs to do well in order to work as intended.

1) Understand your context

2) Bring you answers pro-actively

3) Help you take action

With that in mind, Sundar Pichai explained that Google has made tremendous strides in not only building up its natural language engine, but also its contextual engine. For instance, imagine you are at Disney World: Android M will not only know where you are in a geographical sense, it will be able to seamless provide you with information about when the park opens, when their busiest hours are, and which rides are the most popular.

The Computer Science involved in processing such information and spitting it back out to users so quickly is complex and is clearly something Google is proud of.

Developing…

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Google isn’t just putting its software on phones anymore. The company on Thursday unveiled a new platform called Project Brillo that will be its operating system for the so-called “Internet of things,” which is an industry buzzword for having several different household devices that are connected to the Internet and can communicate with one another.

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Compared to Gmail, Google’s Inbox app is a complete reimagining of email. Sure, it borrows plenty of features from earlier services like Mailbox, but it brings new features to the table as well, and it wraps them in a gorgeous user interface similar to the UIs found in other Google apps.

Well, Google announced on Thursday that it’s releasing a big update for its new “email killer,” and it’s also tossing out the invite system and opening Inbox up to all users.

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Google on Thursday kicked off its 2015 edition of the Google I/O developers conference, announcing a bunch of interesting new products, including the new Android M operating system, but also new features for its smartwatch platform, Android Wear.

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It’s that time of year, folks. Google I/O is upon us and the search giant, per usual, has a number of big announcements on hand. Just a few moments ago, Google announced a new payment platform dubbed Android Pay that will be coming to Android M.

As one would expect, Android Pay will seemingly operate much like Apple Pay, with fingerprint authentication as well if desired. As for how it works, it’s rather simple. Simply unlock any NFC enabled Android device and hold it in front of a NFC terminal. Notably, your actual credit card number will not be shared with any store.

Notably, Android Pay will reportedly work with devices running KitKat as well.

In keeping with Google’s bread and butter, Android Pay is slated to be an open platform, which is to say that users will be able to add and activate their credit card into Android Pay either via Google’s built-in method or via each individual bank’s own application.

What’s more, Android Pay will also allow app developers to integrate such payment functionality into their own apps. For instance, apps like Lyft will now include an Android Pay payment option that will save users from having to tediously enter in their credit card information.

At launch, Google boasts that Android Pay will work at over 700,000 stores, including Best Buy and McDonald’s. As expected, Android Pay will work with all of the major credit card companies; Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Developing…

For the latest breaking news from Google’s event, be sure to check out our event hub!

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Google I/O 2015 is just getting started and Google kicked off the conference with an announcement about its highly anticipated Android M. As expected, Google has added new app permissions controls for Android so users have more control over what data they share with developers. The biggest change here is that Android apps will ask for permissions whenever you use specific features within the app instead of before you install the app.

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Comedy Central on Thursday finally revealed the date it will bring back The Daily Show following host Jon Stewart’s departure. The network said that Trevor Noah will take the helm on Monday, September 28th. That date is about a month and a half after Stewart’s final episode of the show will air; the popular comedian confirmed last month that his final show as host will air on August 6th.

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Just over two months ago, I wrote about how happy I am that Google is taking over my iPhone. The company had just released Google Calendar for iOS, adding yet another crucial piece of the puzzle that I hope will someday completely replace all of the stock Apple apps on my iPhone. Today, however, an interesting twist has thrown me for a loop, and I’m not sure I’ll ever use the Google Calendar app on my iPhone again.

Meet Timepage, the shockingly beautiful and wonderfully comprehensive new calendar app from Moleskine.

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We’re moments away from the Google I/O 2015 keynote, where Google is expected to unveil the next generation of Android, discuss the future of Android Wear and possibly provide a few updates on the exciting modular phone known as Project Ara. Who knows what else Google might have in store for us today? Since this is the company’s biggest event of the year and it’s I/O keynotes have been known to run for several hours, you can be sure there will be plenty of surprises on stage at the Moscone Center today.

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We might be entering a whole new era of malware, one where even those who lack any semblance of deep technical expertise will be able to acquire and disseminate viruses and the like on the fly.

Speaking to this point, security researchers at McAfee recently discovered a new piece of software which makes it exceedingly easy for anyone to create their own ransomware. The online software, which runs on TOR, is called Tox and, believe it or not, is completely free to use. The developers of the software aim to make money on the back end by taking a cut of any successful ransomware campaigns its users run.

Here’s how it all works.

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