Google Voice was recently updated to give users more control over how to respond to certain groups of people and members of their Google+ Circles. A new update rolling out now will also gives users control over how to handle calls from people outside of your address book or from a private number.

The new group management system, accessible through the Google Voice website, provides additional options on how to treat calls from people who are not in an address book. This allows Google Voice users to create a setting that will forward calls from those numbers only to an office phone or voicemail. It can also make those callers hear a custom greeting or automatically screen calls from people outside of your Google contacts.

The real gem is that Voice also addresses Anonymous callers. If a number doesn’t have caller ID information, like when the ID says only “Private” or Unknown,” it is marked as an “Anonymous Caller.” Voice users can then set to have such calls automatically blocked, screened, forwarded to voicemail, etc. This will be good news to anyone ducking weirdoes, shady ex girlfriends/boyfriends, bill collectors, and telemarketers who just won’t take a hint.

Visit Google Voice and click the “Groups & Circles” tab in the settings area to set-up how you want these changes to affect your account. At the moment, Google Voice is currently available only in the United States.

[Google Voice Blog]

The Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 is bringing its pebble curves and a “healthy dose of swagger” to the Lenovo tablet line of products. And it will do it all for $349.

Lenovo has announced today that the IdeaTab S2109 will go on sale at select Office Depot locations and at Lenovo.com beginning in early June. The tablet will cost $349, quite the bargain considering what comes in the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet.

The IdeaTab (henceforth called just the IdeaTab) is powered by a TI OMAP 4430 dual core CPU with 1 GB of system memory. THe tab has a 9.7-inch IPS HD display capable of 720p HD video playback, or 1080p HD via Micro HDMI output. SRS surround sound speakers, which has dual bass and four speaker placements to increase sound effects, further enhances the media quality.

Lenovo promises 10 hours of battery on video and web browsing. In addition to providing highlighted tablet-oriented apps in the Lenovo App Shop, the tablet will come with full support for the Google Play Store. That’s encouraging, but the IdeaTab also has Lenovo’s UI, which is probably not what fans of stock Android want to hear. (Though from what we’ve seen, the changes are very minimal.) Look out for more news on an exact launch date shortly. Here’s a little promotional video to get your beak wet in the interim.

Getting out of bed in the morning is such a struggle that there are apps that force you to scan your orange juice to prove that you are awake. Alarm Clock Ultra doesn’t require that you get out of bed, but the app packs enough features to make damn sure that you’ll wake up on time – or on your own time if that’s what you prefer.

Alarm Clock Ultra, available for Android 2.1 or higher, is packed to the brim with features and even goes as far as to have a pretty exterior, too. In addition to playing personal music stored on the phone, Ultra offers several wake up tones, including jazzy or Latin piano music, traditional alarm clock ringing, tranquil music, and even a rooster. Users can also set volume level and make the sound gradually play, so there’s less of a shock when woken by sudden chiming from your phone.

But what if sound isn’t enough to get you out of bed? Well, then you can set Alarm Clock Ultra to not stop playing music until you solve a couple of math problems or a puzzle. You can also prevent accidental snoozing by requiring those features or shaking the phone with a pre-defined sensitivity.

Alarm Clock Ultra also features:

• Home screen widgets that display the time
• Multiple alarms, repeating alarms, and vacation mode
• Quick sleep to wake you up from a nap
• Stopwatch, countdown, and egg timers
• Night mode that can keep the screen on consistently, turning your phone into a bedside clock

The app is available for free in Google Play, but if you like it, upgrade to the paid version. The full-featured version of Alarm Clock Ultra allows adds more alarm sounds, the Ultra Sleep System that plays relaxing music when you try to fall asleep, and morning weather and social media reports. This is a hell of a way to wake up in the morning.

Up until now, most of the reports regarding the Google Nexus Tablet have been rumors and whispers based on people in the industry.  Today, the Google Nexus Tablet showed up in an online benchmark test and reveals information that confirms previous speculation as well as ignite new speculation.

To begin, the Google Nexus 7 will feature a 7 inch display with a 1280×768 resolution and the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor.  Google is looking to compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire with its 7 inch display, but hopes that increased processing power will be a hit with the tech crowd.

On a more interesting note, the code “JRN51B” shows up in the build number implying it will launch with Android 4.1, also known as Android Jelly Bean.  Of course, much of this information is coming from the benchmark test, which could have been fabricated, but much of the information is falling nicely in line with previous rumors.

The Google Nexus 7 Tablet is expected to be announced by Google at the I/O developer conference in late June.  According to an earlier report, it won’t launch until July with a possible $199 price tag.

[AndroidPolice] [RightWare Benchmark]

Remembering people is a pain, especially if you are in an industry that requires meeting new people often. Evernote Hello, a new app from the same people who help you remember the tasks and notes that you enter into a phone every day, is a new Android 2.2+ app to help remember faces and encounters.

Evernote Hello is a new app launching later today that creates a “rich, browsable history of individuals, encounters, and shared experiences.” The app works by entering a new contact’s details and taking their photo. The person is then added to a contact database that can be updated with notes and tags every time you encounter the person. So if you meet Jane at a party or trade expo, you can then add more information – switched jobs, relocated to nearby city, etc. – when you see them at the airport.

I’m lucky enough to be able to see a face and instantly remember their name and affiliation, but attending events pushes that talent to the limit. Having something like Hello, which can provide reminders and contextual updates to the people with whom you meet, could be a big help to some people. Similar apps like Hashable have proven useful to some of the people I’ve met at conferences, but this has the unique benefit of linking with Evernote and other services. Here are few features available in Evernote Hello.

LinkedIn: by connecting your account with ‘Hello,’ you can quickly build rich profiles
Calendars, call history, SMS: Hello uses other functionalities (calendar, recent calls, texts) on your phone to intelligently predict a new contact
Emails from ‘Hello:’ reinforce the new connection by sending an email from ‘Hello’ with your information and a photo

[Download from Google Play]

Though S Voice is an evolutionary update to voice search and commands features available on Android long before Apple stepped into the fray, the “Siri for Android” comparison were bound to happen when Samsung announced the feature earlier this month. Just as inevitable was the desire to get S Voice on non-Galaxy S III phones.

S Voice is available officially only to Galaxy S III owners, but a very basic version of the technology it is based on is available in some capacity through Vlingo Labs. Available for Android 4.0 and higher, Vlingo Labs is a beta application that can search the web or perform limited tasks through voice prompts. Users can say “Hey, Vlingo” and become the commander of their phone, so long as they only want to command a few features.

In theory, it’s fantastic; in practice, it’s less impressive. Like all Siri for Android apps – and Siri itself – the app feels a little incomplete at times. Vlingo Labs supports only North American English (for now) and can misunderstand someone who doesn’t speak perfectly enunciated commands. The “Hey, Vlingo” wake up command only works when the user opens the Vlingo app, and there are a couple of missing features from the year-old Vlingo Virtual Assistant. So why should I use this app again?

At the moment, Vlingo Labs can schedule appointments, search the Internet, send text messages, and call contacts. It’s simple and intentionally basic because Vlingo wants users to try out the app and provide feedback on its most basic design and performance. There’s nothing distinguishing about the app just yet, but Vlingo Labs is a “test kitchen where [Vlingo will] try out new ideas,” so it’s a chance to see the new features that will make it into future iterations.

Vlingo Labs (Beta) requires Android 4.0 or higher; it is available only in the United States and Canada.

Google+ is slowly swallowing whole or integrating with the many services of Google. The latest hook comes in Google+ Local, a new feature that finds places to visit based on a user’s location, friends’ recommendation, and Zagat ratings.

Avni Shah, director of product management at Google, announced today that Google is making use of its Zagat acquisition by incorporating the 30-point scale to rate locations. Curating reviews sourced from professionals and users, Google+ Local rates food, decor, service, and cost for restaurants, helping users make an informed decision about the places they would like to visit.

As seen with Search Plus Your World, the web update that brings in Google+ postings on search results, Google+ Local also incorporates your friends’ activities into the search process. People in your circles who have recommended or rated a nearby location will be pushed to the top of the results. So someone searching Google Maps for Android for a nice Argentine Steakhouse will see plenty of reviews, but their friend who appreciates a good steak and liked one restaurant over another will get top billing.

Of course, it’s not limited to just restaurants. Google+ Local also supports bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, malls, boutiques, and any other establishment with a rating. It’s probably not limited to Google Maps either. TheVerge reported last week that the recently-updated Google+ Android app contains a not yet activated “Local” tab, so don’t be surprised if an update appears shortly containing these features.

For now, keep your eye on the Google Play store for when Google Maps updates. You can also explore Google+ Local by clicking the desktop version of Google+.

[Google Local]

Sony has forced its way back into the headlines by unveiling two new Android phones today. Joining the Xperia family of products are the new Xperia Go and Xperia Acro S, both slated to arrived in Q3 2012 for yet to be disclosed price.

The Sony Xperia Go is a phone built for users with an active lifestyle. The phone is water-resistant and has “extra durability” to take more of a beating than the average smartphone. The 3.5 inch screen uses Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine – brava! – and the software comes with Android 2.3 – haha! – with plans to upgrade to Android 4.0 later. But given Sony’s backtrack on the Xperia Play, I wouldn’t buy this phone expecting Ice Cream Sandwich later.

The Xperia Acro S on the other hand is more of a premium phone. Like the Go, it features durability enhancements like scratch-resistant mineral glass, as well as dust and water resistance. However, the Acro S actually runs up to the date software and will launch with Android 4.0. THat will go good with its 4.3-inch 720p HD screen, PlayStation certification, and 1.5 GHz dual core processor.

Both phones will come preloaded with Sony Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited to provide access to Sony’s entertainment streaming services. Price and regional availability have yet to be revealed.

Xperia Go Specs

• 3.5” Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity
• 5MP fast capture camera goes from sleep to snap in just over a second
• Scratch resistant mineral glass display with wet finger tracking
• Highest level of dust and water resistance in a smartphone – IP67 Rating
• 1Ghz dual core processor gives consumers super fast performance
• Launching on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Available in black, white and yellow colours

Xperia Acro S Specs

• 4.3” 720p HD Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity
• 12MP fast capture camera goes from sleep to snap in just over a second with a single key press
• PlayStation™ Certified
• Full 1080p HD video recording and 720p HD front camera
• Scratch resistant mineral glass display with wet finger tracking
• IP55 and IP57 Ratings for dust and water resistance
• 1.5Ghz dual core processor gives consumers super fast performance
• Launching on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Available in black, white and pink colours

Customers interested in the latest Galaxy S III in the pebble blue finish will have a hard time finding it available in stores for the next several weeks.  After numerous rumors indicating that Samsung’s special colored Galaxy S III SIM-free version was delayed, Samsung officially came out with a statement confirming the delay.

Citing low quality, Samsung requires the Galaxy S III in pebble blue must meet certain standards and until they are met it will not launch.  Basically, Samsung expects a 2-3 week delay until the pebble blue version of the Galaxy S III will launch in multiple markets worldwide.

It’s nice to see Samsung being forward about the production issue facing the GS3, and hopefully the Korean based company can rectify the remaining issues in an efficient manner.

Samsung’s statement can be read below:

“Samsung’s Galaxy SIII Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyper-glaze material.

In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality Galaxy SIII to customers, a short supply of Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next 2-3 weeks.

Samsung is working hard to ensure that customers will get the Pebble Blue coloured devices as soon as possible.”

 

[MobileFun]

Sony has been slower than anticipated with its roll-out of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades, but it’s finally starting for many of the Xperia line of devices released in 2011.

Ice Cream Sandwich updates are now available for the Xperia Arc, Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo, Xperia Neo V, and Xperia Ray. Owners of those devices can get the update by visiting the Sony Talk page of each and searching for the SI-number, which shows the phone model and market numbers that are compatible with the update. If their SI number is listed, the users can then download the Xperia PC or Mac companion desktop software for their phone and apply the update.

Not all devices are available because of operator and market changes. In other words, an Xperia Arc sold on a UK carrier may not be ready for an update while one sold in France is compatible. Sony has detailed how to determine the SI tracking and know if your phone is ready for an Android 4.0.4 upgrade. You can get more information by clicking the links to the phones mentioned in the previous paragraph. Click the link below to see the update list of available phones.

Those of you who are still waiting and looking to get a quick idea of what to expect from the update, take a look at this video detailing Xperia UI on an ICS-powered Xperia S. Early signs point to a clever experience. Let’s just hope practice matches perception.

[Sony] via XperiaBlog