Google starts showing auto insurance comparisons in search results

At its core Google has always been about putting people in touch with information. It started with searching the web, and has since ballooned to many other things. The latest is a handy tool for comparing auto insurance. If you live in California you should start seeing comparison tools when searching for auto insurance. They’ve also made the tools accessible on a new website.

All you have to do is enter your zip code, car details, and some other information to get results. You’ll see a list of quotes from a variety of insurance companies. From there you can head to the provider’s website and finish your purchase. Right now the service is only available in California, but it will be rolling out to other states soon. With all the different commercials and ads from auto insurance companies it’s nice to have a place to compare them all.

[via Google]

When fanboyism goes too far: Android vs iOS argument results in two friends stabbing each other

There’s nothing wrong with being a mobile fanboy, for the most part. Sure, your bias sometimes keeps you blind to the positives provided by the other side and you make excuses for the fault of the platform you prefer, but at least arguments are typically lighthearted, healthy  and harmless.

The same can’t be said for two Oklahoma roommates. In what appears to be the resultant of drunken stupor on both sides, an Android user and his iOS faithful buddy began a conversation about which platform was better. Only, what started out as a conversation ended up in bloodshed as the two ended up stabbing each other with broken beer bottles, according to Tulsa, OK’s Channel 8 ABC news.

There’s no word on how the exact conversation went down, but it’s hard for us to believe that these two felt so strongly and passionately about their preference that they were driven to try and kill each other. This scenario is likelier:

Roommate 1: iOS just works! Rah!

Roommate 2: Oh yea? Well, Android phones have higher resolution displays and more RAM! Hoo!

Roommate 1: What did you say about my grams?

Roommate 2: What?

Commence brawling. Really, it’s hard to think it went any other way considering alcohol was involved. Whatever the case may be, we’ll use this opportunity to remind you that these phones and tablets are only slabs of metal, glass, plastic and silicon made by companies who want your money — they often aren’t worth arguing about, and they certainly aren’t worth dying for.

Real-time tweets making their way into Google search results, but only on mobile

It’s official: starting today, you’ll begin seeing tweets sprinkled into your Google search results. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. We told you guys about the deal Twitter struck with Google back in early February in hopes of bringing fresh, new meat to the social network. What better way to do that than by teaming up with the internet’s biggest search giant?

Don’t worry about seeing Twitter results for any search query, only specific keywords will pull them up. Google says only things like “NASA Twitter” or “#MadMenFinale” will display tweets as they appear in real-time. Oh, and keep in this mind content from Twitter is only being displayed on mobile for now, which includes searches performed in the Google app or in your browser.

That being said, you might be careful what you tweet. Wouldn’t want a prospective employer Google searching your name and pulling up tweets about how wasted you and your friends got the night before.

[Google]

OnePlus One’s CyanogenMod 12.1 nightlies now have touchscreen fix, and early results seem good

OnePlus mentioned they’d be working on a final fix for the OnePlus One’s touchscreen issues, and it seems they’re further along than they let on. The fix can be found in the latest CyanogenMod 12.1 nightlies for the device.

The early word from those who have already flashed it seems overwhelmingly positive, with many folks suggesting their touchscreen issues have completely evaporated as a result. There’s a small group who remain skeptical, saying they’ll see how things fair once their device is used in warmer conditions (the issue is apparently magnified in heat).

So what do you do from here? Well, if you’re comfortable flashing custom ROMs and need this fix as soon as possible, the May 15th nightly (and any nightlies thereafter) should have the fix. Otherwise if things go well with testing in the early going it might not be long before the OTA is on its way to your handset. Let us know if you notice the change if you flash it!

[via Reddit]