Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts

Thursday 18 June 2015

Google to Offer Mac-Friendly Version of Chrome


Chrome
Much after people reduced the use of old-school Microsoft Internet Explorer and chose the most beloved browser Google Chrome, Google finally announced Mac friendly version of the web browser, which will consume less battery and will offer better performance. It was high time for US tech giant Google to spread their wing into iMacs and Mac OS, as the company now expects the Chrome to work with its full potential in Mac computers. According to tech pundits, Google have placed a well-planned and firm bet by releasing Mac-friendly Chrome, only to triumph Apple’s own web browser, Safari. Though Safari works just perfectly as a web browser on Apple systems and offers lot additives, Google officials and developers are confident enough to beat the likes of Safari and to claim the favourite spot for Mac-freaks.

The news got proper shape when Senior chrome engineer Peter Kasting recently announced an update to Google chrome with some intelligent tweaks are coming very soon. Though Google have not announced any launch date, but the update details are coming from trusted official sources. According to official sources, Google developers’ team is currently testing the latest tweaks, which are expected to reduce the load by chrome on the processor and also promises for longer battery life and enhanced performance.

What is coming with Mac-friendly Chrome! 

Last week Casting posted on Google+ about the Chrome update for Mac users and stated that the new Chrome version will change how it processes the idle tabs, which are not in use at that point of time. In technical words, the new chrome will render the tabs differently and the unused tabs will be less prioritised further. The tests conducted have showed better browsing performance, better idle wake up time and also showed less battery consumption, which have been always a great concern on Mac systems. Google have also integrated some intelligent moves with new Chrome, like waking up from low-power mode to check necessary tasks and it will reduce idle wake time.

For Mac systems, some of the biggest problems reported for Chrome are huge battery consumption, high memory acquisition. Google tech team have been preparing Chrome for this launch for a long time now and stated that the team has been restless during this time as they could not allow their users are having issues with their product. Also the newer version of Chrome is coming with stable enabled flash service.

Vs Safari

According to the technology experts, Google Chrome is going for a direct assault with Safari by matching their performance graph on Mac systems. Certain quality check tests have been conducted and showed significant boost in performance level. For example, a test showed the consumption of processing power by new version of Chrome reduced to 0.1 percent from 0.3 percent.

According to the official source, Google will be releasing the new version of Chrome through its beta channel in a while and the final version will be launched in next month or so.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Google’s Security News: Malware’s Down, and You’re Heeding More of Its Warnings


Malware
According to the Google’s security product manager, the company defines their success in simple term- invisibility. As per Stephan Somogyi they are targeting as the main outcome when we encountered a blank browser window appearing in front of him. He was able to give some insight on the status of the online security, during the Google’s I/O conference at the half-hour presentation called the Second annual Google Security update at I/O.

Phishing and Malware Sites: 

He gave some more details on the Safe Browsing service of the company. He calls them as a collection of systems that have the ability to hunt down the badness all across the net. It has the ability to protect the visitors who are searching the web using the Google search site or even Chrome, Safari as well as Firefox. This indicates the total reach to the audience amounting to 1.1 billion people.

According to the reports released by the company, they have located that the Malware is becoming is not a huge problem anymore. But they have also found that phishing sites that are able to fool the customers into entering their details like password and more financial details are increasing in numbers.

During the last week of Mat, they were able to detect nearly 14,977 malware sites and nearly 33,571 phishing sites using the safe browsing. The Malware has shown a big drop and Phishing has shown a bigger increase. Somogyi has given all the credit to the enhanced security in all their operating system in every device. Due to this the Malware authors are now more concentrating on the phishing sites and targeting the software’s.

The much needed push for encryption: 

Google has been among the first companies who were advocating the use of encryption to avoid people from snooping on users online. The acceleration to this push came in the form of the revelations made by Edward Snowden, who confirmed that NSA has been eavesdropping on their traffic from quite some time. He further expressed his anger pertaining to the effort that is being put forth by Google to get other emails providers to try and adapt the TLS, which is the Transport Layer security encryption. Through this all the third party companies care unable to reading the messages when they are transit.

The company is hoping to reach to larger companies that work in sending email and find out the reasons why they are unable to implement TLS. But from the perspective of the company, they do not want to resort to public shaming.

They are not ready to disclose the names of the company who have still not followed or implemented TLS. Compared to TLS, Google has been able to attain much more success in terms of encouraging different websites to implement HTTPS encryption to completely secure the user visit to websites. The company is making all effort to ensure that the users feel completely safe when spending their time online.

Monday 8 June 2015

Google: Your Hands May Be the Only Interface You’ll Ever Need


Project_Soli
Project Soli – Hands Only User Interface

Wearable devices tend to get smaller and smaller and our hands and fingers find it difficult in keeping up with them. Hence gearheads at Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group – ATAP have been working on ways in controlling devices with simple hand gestures. Google ATAP is aware that the hand is the best method for interaction with devices though not everything seems to be a device. Project Soli the latest wearable is not a wearable one would think, neither a watch but ‘you’.

Project Soli intends to make the hands and fingers the only user interface that would be needed. It is actually radar which is adequately small to be fitted into a wearable like a smart watch where the small radar tends to pick up on the movements on real time, utilising the movements made to modify its signal. While the hand rests, it is actually moving slightly which tends to end as a baseline response on the radar and moving the hand away or from side to side with regards to the radar could change the signal and amplitude. Crossing the fingers or making a fist could also change the signal.

ATAP to have APIs

In order to make sense of the signal to a service or app, ATAP would be having APIs which could tap in the deep machine learning of Project Soli. However, it is still early for the new entry though it has got the people at Google I/O eager and instead of going hands-free, Project Soli would make the hands the UI which could be a better option than voice control could be. Ivan Poupyrev, technical program lead for Google ATAP comments that `should Project Soli become a reality someday, users would be able to control smart watches, fitness trackers as well as other devices with the use of gestures in utilising their smartphone, only without the phone’.

 He informed the audience at Google I/O that their hands tend to be always with them and are ergonomic and could be the only interface ever needed in controlling wearable devices. Nevertheless, gesture based interfaces tend to already exist and several of them such as the Kinect or PlayStation Move utilise camera in detecting the hand movements. Thus they work only when there happens to be clear lines of sight which are worthless in the dark.

Flares out Radar Signals – Numerous Antennae

The Soli chip is said to flare out radar signals from numerous antennae, thousands of time each seconds creating an arena that could measure the minute movements of the fingers, detecting when the fingers are crossed or record signals at once from both hands. It is a kind of software developers generating a vocabulary in interpreting each gesture, translating it into action similar to deleting a message or taking a call on the smartwatch.

The latest radar chip has the capabilities of a range of 5 feet or more, enabling it to be integrated to all types of devices which include the walls of the home. Probably there may be a time in the near future that one may be capable of turning on the lights on snapping the fingers or turn up the volume on Sonos by turning an imaginary dial in the air. Presently Project Soli is just a research project.            



Saturday 6 June 2015

Google's 'Smart' Food Diary Is Actually Kind Of Dumb


food
Google – Automated Food Diary to Estimate Calorie Count

Google has been building an automated food dairy which could help to estimate calorie counts from the images taken of our meal according to a report in Popular Science. Named Im2Calories, the project is said to utilise technology from DeepMind, which is an AI start-up Google acquired in 2014. Google has filed a patent for Im2Calories, however there is no mention yet on when the service is likely to be made available.

Meanwhile, several other companies are making similar attempts on the projects like Im2Calories which are being supported by equally questionable science. Im2Calorie is said to measure the size of the food, in absolute terms as well as relative to what is on the plate and could also identify the condiments. According to the report, it does not even matter if the picture tends to be high resolution or not. Presently, the technology is still imprecise in estimating calorie counts.

According to Kevin Murphy, a researcher at Google acknowledges as much to Popular Science stating that `it’s okay fine, maybe we get the calories off by 20%. It does not matter’. The focus for Google is in minimizing those inaccuracies over a period of time, claims Murphy. There does not seem to be any doubt in Google’s ability in collecting and processing data from large section of users though the company would still have to solve a big problem for the function of Im2Calories – calorie counting could be unreliable.

Counting Calories – Look at Kinds of Calories Eaten

A main study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2011 observed that the quality of food is a main contributing factor than quantity. Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author of the study informed the New York Times - `Conventional wisdom – to eat everything in moderation eat fewer calories and avoid fatty foods, isn’t the best approach.

Just counting calories won’t matter much unless you look at the kinds of calories you’re eating’. However if calories seems to a good measure for health, food labels, - the basis of Google’s date, has also considered to be inaccurate. In 2010, there has been much uncertainty with regards to calorie counting where David Kirchoff, the CEO then of the Weight Watchers acknowledged that `calorie-counting has become unhelpful’ for those intending to lose weight. Since then the company is said to have abandoned its calorie first approach.

Im2Calories – A Potential Tool

Im2Calories, which is the potential tool, had been announced at the Rework Deep Learning Summit, recently. Murphy had unveiled a project that utilises `sophisticated deep learning algorithms to analyse a still image of food, estimating how many calories could be on the plate. In one instance, the system viewed an image and counted `two eggs, two pancakes and three strips of bacon.

Although the food stuff does not seem to be a universal unit of measurement, the system could scale the size of each piece of foot with regards to the plate together with the condiments. Murphy has no intention of shaming users with this new system but wants to have the `process of keeping a food diary and awareness of foods and this seems to be much easier than feeding information manually to a food app which could include portions of food items, types of food and much more.

It is assumed that the latest tool Im2Calories could be popular especially in the US since obesity tends to be a crisis. However, even if Im2Calories does not seem to be accurate, Murphy is of the opinion that the new system will tend to have an impact on the users.

Friday 5 June 2015

Google's Project Vault Is a Security System Disguised As a MicroSD Card


Google's_Project_Vault
The search engine giant is coming up with new project where it is planning to use make phones much more secure than ever by the use of microSD card which will act as the security powerhouse. In present both web and mobile security is the primary concern of consumers and enterprise companies because both have to secure their personal information such as; financial detail, clients detail and other very sensitive data, so it is expected that Google’s Project Vault will be much useful in future.

Recently, at the I/O developer conference, Google unveiled its latest projects. In Project Vault, Google is trying to make phone more secure, without changing the way to manufacture the Smartphones. On last Friday, the company announced its Project Vault, which will enable the microSD card to act as the the digital security system apart from traditional use where computers and phones was recognizing it as the storage device.

According to the statement of Regina Dugan, who is Team lead for ATAP or Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group, Project Vault will make your mobile devices more secure than ever which is also known as big security in the small package. Google is trying to cater the need of consumers where due to advanced technology today users are able to get each and every service at on their Smartphones, but still the cyber security is their primary concern. It is expected that Project Vault will be useful for all the platforms such as; Android, iOS, Windows and OS X.

The Vault card will be the secure way to protect the data and personal information of phone or computer users. For an example:- It will be able to encrypt the chat messages which will be on app and by doing this it will provide the extra levels of security or secure authentication, so that device will be able to identify your correctly. In industry, the Google will be the first company to develop this kind of technology for personal use as well as for the use of enterprise companies.

According to Google officials it will easily meet the standards of consumers and high bar of well known companies. The card will have the NFC or near-field communication, chip for communication to contact to the nearby devices and 4 gigabytes of storage as well.

According to experts, unfortunately the consumer segment will not able to secure their mobile or other device anytime soon because in present, Google is developing its microSD card for enterprise companies and later it will focus on the consumer segment.

The idea behind this concept is that enterprise companies need to secure the data of their customers, clients and product information as well. Project Vault will provide the secure way to communicate and store data as well for free services such as; Gmail email service, Google Maps, Chrome Web browser and more. Officially, Google has not stated that when it will launch the SD card as this tech giant is involve in several other projects.

Saturday 30 May 2015

Google I/O Rumours: Android M will Aim to Improve Battery, RAM Usage


Android
Google I/O began on 28th May and a lot of rumors have started making its way out in the open. Most of it center round the new development and features integration in the Google’s latest and upcoming Android iteration which is termed as Android M. Rumors have indicated the effort is given towards boosting battery usage and RAM performance in the upcoming Android M.

Better Battery Life and Flawless Multi Tasking For Android Users In Store

These reports had been first publishing on the Android Police which has maintained that Google has some extraordinary plans to impeccably improve the battery in Android OS along with improving the RAM performance. The battery performance will be improved through cutting the number of “location checking.”

Google is focusing its energies towards reducing the RAM usage, which will bolster the multi taking on the Android devices. Improved RAM usage will make the device to run a wide number of apps with ease at the same time without any glitches and freezing. Google is also seeking to keep the activities to minimum when the device’s screen is off in order to save the battery for a longer period.

Set Privacy Controls In New Android M

An earlier report has affirmed that Google also has plans to bring new advanced feature in its Android OS to make it more secure and user friendly. Google will be reintroducing the feature to tweak the privacy controls in Android M. This feature will give the users the much-needed option of deciding what information they are willing to share with apps.

Apple’s prominent and much popular iOS already possesses this feature which allows its users to control which app will get access to which permission. Google’s plans of bringing a similar kind of feature will make Android OS at par with Apple’s iOS. But currently Android OS doesn’t have any such feature to restrict permissions like locations, contacts, messaging etc. during the installation of the app.

Android M To Make Debut In August 2015

The latest Android OS will make a debut in August, which is quite early by the Google’s standards. Moreover, it should be noted that new OS rollouts for the Android devices that do not come underway much earlier than the December. So most probably Android users will get the taste of the advanced OS no sooner than next year and it even depends on the manufactures to bring in updates after its release. This inconsistency in getting updates over a longer period of time rather than quick deployment can be blamed upon the fragmented ecosystem of Android.

However, one should not get too excited about these reports and rumors at the moment as it might even end up being a hoax. If these rumors happens to be true then Android users will be sure-shot winners wherein there device will become much more powerful and robust with its given specification. Users should wait for the time when Google Android M is revealed and launched. And it might happen the name of the Android may change at the last moment just like in case of Lollipop.

Monday 18 May 2015

Atmosphere With Google: Think Creatively and Innovate Boldly


 
Atmosphere
Atmosphere With Google – An Event Platform


Google has recently planned an event platform called `Google Atmosphere’, at the Googleplex for around 300 technology professionals largely for CIOs and CTOs of leading organizations to discuss how the technology will evolve in the near future and how to mainstream it. It is considered to be an economic forum for the leading decision makers of the world. Atmosphere is about how Google Enterprise could be a game changer for enterprises.

 It is said to be a conference wherein Google would be displaying its top innovations and provide glimpses of what would be in store for the future. Some of the highlights in the past few years were Driverless cars, Cloud, Google Glass, Maps. Google Atmosphere was first held in 2008 in London and what began as a conference with 250 CIOs has now turned into a global event which is held annually at numerous cities. This grand event, this year will be organized in London, Paris, Munich, Sydney and several other places are tend to be the hub of technology. Google would be having bright minds to speak at this event and has also invited some of the most innovative brains to express their thoughts.

First Time in India – 19th September

Some of the geniuses like Nicholas Carr, Marc Benioff (SalesForce), Werner Vogels (Amazon), Amit Singh; Nikesh Arora had conferred the event in the past. Google Atmosphere, for the very first time is coming to India and the grant event would be held in Delhi on 19th September at ITC Maurya. Those intending to have glimpses of the future and be part of the event could register at – http://goo.gl/wIWZxf. Seats would be limited and hence registering early with MediaAgility - Premier Google Enterprise partner could be done, to avoid disappointment.

 It would be a great privilege in getting to hear from Google executives, experts as well as customers and get to envisage the latest innovations transforming business.For business operations, HR executives, marketing and sales, one could learn about Google’s vision in enabling employees to work out the way they live and get things done in a quicker and innovative way. In case of finance and IT, they could get deep into the financial as well as operational benefits of Google Apps, the leading communication and collaboration solution in the cloud.

Foundation of Cloud Computing Boils down Application/Platform/Devices

On stage, Google Enterprise President, Dave Girouard, had called cloud computing a `fundamentally disruptive’ technology, stating that it brought about a bit of emotion from anyone talking about it. At one end of the range there are some who tend to consider cloud as a computing nirvana while on the other end there are those who do not trust it.

It would be a day which would be filled with plenty of discussions together with debate on the cloud and some even making light issues at the close mindedness of some technology leaders who try to down play the cloud, which could be some of the executives from Oracle, Microsoft and IBM. Girouard has offered smart presentation which would break down old school business IT where everything is behind the firewall. He has commented that the foundation of cloud computing boils down to application, platforms and devices. He has pointed that a couple of key app have long broken out of the wall like mail (Gmail etc.) and CRM (sales force).

Thursday 30 April 2015

Google’s Project Fi

Project_Fi
One of the most exciting information that was revealed on Wednesday has to be from Google. The confirmed announced their plan for launching their wireless service called Project Fi. The information highlighted that this service will be leveraging the obtainable Wi-Fi networks and only switch to another carrier’s network like Sprint on T-mobile in the absence of Wi-Fi accessibility.

Looking at the current approach towards the mobile communications, market experts have named the same as “Wi-Fi first”. Although this is an approach, which is being followed by many companies like FreedomPop, Republic and even scratch Wireless. Recently Freewheel was launched by the Cablevision Company with the sole aim of providing only the Wi-Fi service.

Impact on the Wireless Industry: 

This announcement from the web giant has comes as a boon for the wireless industry, for the Wi-Fi First industry and not to forge the customers who are associated with the company. As if now it has been reported that typically a customer has to pay around $10-20/GB for data usage however we all know that the conventional cell phone service cost around $140 per month for every subscriber and according to the study conducted by Validas in 2013, every smartphone user ends up wasting nearly $28 worth of unused data each month. Contrary to all charges we do not, want the cell phone service is not supposed to be costly.

Reports released by Cisco in 2014 indicated that the company saw nearly half of their total mobile data traffic indicating the usage of Wi-Fi. With the increasing, number of updated and options for Wi-Fi, the company can certainly expect the numbers to go up high to nearly 90 percent. With the 1GB of mobile data costing around $10 to the customers, most of them have shifted to Wi-Fi and thereby saving nearly $700 billion every year.

If the system will get implemented properly, so it’s clear that the Wi-Fi model will have a capability to fill all the gaps and regulate the cellular networks and also end up hurting the business of both Verizon and AT&T around the world.

Google has been able will help the customer saves, so that they can trillions of their money through the Wi-Fi First model. The new project of Google will be able to increase the adoption of this new model through few of the critical steps whereas; the first step is to ensure that all Android devices have built in Wi-Fi First intelligence at outset. This is to ensure that the phones rely on the Wi-Fi system and incase of unavailability switch to the cellular services.

The second step is to ensure constant Wi-Fi connectivity. Although it is available everywhere not every customer uses the same for taking the maximum advantage. Google is aiming to make the entire experience seamless and more towards mainstream. We know that Wi-Fi is a critical part of every industry and given the excellent track record of Google, the has potential of taking down both Verizon and AT&T.

Monday 27 April 2015

Google Changing its Influential Search Engine


mobile friendly
Google is planning to change the way its influential search engine endorses websites on tablets and smartphones which is expected to control where most of the individuals shop, eat and obtain information. The formula to be revised is scheduled to be released soon and would be favouring websites which Google considers as `mobile friendly’.

Websites that do not tend to fit into the description would be demoted in Google’s search results on the tablets and smartphones and those qualifying for the same would be more likely to appear at the top of the rankings which will be a prized position enabling them to translate into more visitors and money.

Though Google’s latest formula would not be affecting searches on the laptop and desktop computers it would be having a large effect on how and where individuals spend their money, now that most of them have been relying on their smartphones while comparing products in stores and in locating restaurants. Hence, Google’s new rating system is being billed by some of the search experts as `mobile-geddon’.

According to CEO of websites building service Duda, ItaiSadan, comments that `some sites will be going to be in for a big surprise when they find a drastic change in the amount of people visiting them from mobile devices’.

A Substantial Change to Its Mobile Search Rankings

As per Matt McGee, editor-in-chief for Search Engine Land, this could be the most substantial change which Google Inc. has made to its mobile search rankings, a trade publication which follows every tweak that the company makes to its secured guarded algorithms. A little more information on why Google is doing it and what is happening –
  • Websites need to be designed in order to load quickly on mobile devices to stay in Google’s good style. The content also needs to be accessible easily on scrolling up and down without the need to swipe left or right. It would also be helpful in making purchases or taking other functions on the website could be seen easily and touched on small screens.
  • Websites, if designed only with PC users in mind, graphics would take long time to load on mobile devices where the columns of text would not accommodate on the small screen making the reading a bit uncomfortable. Google has been advising websites to cater to mobile devices for several years since it is where individuals are progressively navigating for information
  • The strength of mobile searchers in the U.S. has increased by around five percent wherein inquiries on PCs have been decreasing as per research firm comScore Inc. It estimated that around 29 percent of most of U.S. search requests, about 18.5 billion, in the final three months of last year, were made on mobile devices. The bulk of searches was processed by Google with two thirds in the U.S. and more in many other countries
Websites to Comply with Google’s Mobile Standards

Google has revealed its plans almost two months back, to reduce complaints. It also created a detailed guide and a tool to test compliance along with the new standards. The company faced disturbance over the past changes in its search formula.

In 2011 and 2012, two of the bigger revisions done were focused on clearing out misleading websites. Though the attempt sounded reasonable, several websites complained that the company’s changes unfairly demoted them in the ranking and made their content difficult to locate. Though most of the major merchants as well as big companies have websites which tend to meet up with Google’s mobile standards, it is considered that the new formula is likely to hurt millions of small businesses which do not have the money or incentive to familiarise their sites for smartphones. McGee is of the opinion that `a lot of small sites do not really have reason to be mobile friendly till now and that it would not be easy for them for these changes’.

Search Formula – Variety of Factors 

The Search formula comprises of a variety of factors in determining the rankings of its results. One being the most important consideration is that whether a site contains the most relevant information pursued by the search viewer. New striking order in Google’s mobile search could demote some sites to the back pages of the search results inspite of their content being more relevant to a search request than the other sites which tend to be easier to access on smartphones.

White Andrews, Gartner analyst states that this could be a very unfortunate significance though justifiable since the viewer would not be inclined to view other sites which would take a long time to open or difficult to read on mobile devices.

He adds further that `availability is part of relevancy and a lot of people are not going to think something is relevant if they cannot get it to appear on their iPhone’. Neil Shah, research director for devices and ecosystems with Counterpoint, a technology market research firm comments that `in the end, Google is an advertising platform company and its success is based on the success of its digital marketing customers’.

Saturday 11 April 2015

Limited Access State for Inadvertent Inputs



Patent

Google Inc. – Patent Application – Limited Access State for Inadvertent Inputs



It has been reported by a New Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week, from Washington D.C. VerticalNews journalist report that a patent application filed on October 28 2013, by inventor Mittal, Sanjev Kumar from Bangalore had been made available online on February 12, 2015 and the patent assignee is said to be Google Inc.

The news editor gained the quote from the background information provided by the inventors – Computing devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers etc. can generally perform various functions like executing applications stored thereon and outputting information like documents, emails, pictures etc.; for display. Some of the computing devices could include limited access state which could prevent an unauthorized user from accessing and viewing applications as well as information that could be stored at the computing device resulting in effectively locking the computing device.

These computing devices helps the user to provide a specific input for instance the passcode, pattern or biometric information in order to unlock the computing device to gain access to the information or application which could be stored in the device. The locking techniques does provide some kind of security ensuring that only users knowing the specific input needed to unlock the computing device could access the application and information that is stored in the computing device.

Computing Devices Constructed to Execute Action 

Some of the computing devices are constructed to execute an action in response to receiving greater than a threshold number of ineffective unlock efforts, for instance, the computing device could prevent extra unlocking efforts for a predetermined amount of time.

In such instances, the device could delete some or even all information that may be stored in the computing device in response to the attempts made of unsuccessful unlock which could be greater than a threshold number and in some other instances, information could be unintentionally deleted from the device.

As an enhancement to the background information to the patent application, VerticalNews correspondents also gained the summary information of the inventor for the patent application and in one instance; the disclosure was directed to a system which included receiving by a computing device functioning in a first limited access state which was an indication of a first input.

Procedure Focussed on Managing Access State

Procedures of this disclosure are focussed on managing access states of computing device and in some applications, it could operate in a first limited access state for instance a first locked state.

At the time of operating in the first limited access state, the computing device could be arranged to compare received user input to certain input which may be needed for transition of the computing device in operating in an access state – an unlocked state.

Receptive to receiving input from user which does not tend to correspond to the certain user input needed to unlock the computing device, it may switch from operating in the first limited access state to a second limited access state.

For instance, in response to defining that the received user input could most likely not be an attempt to unlock the computing device from first limited access state, the device could be constituted to switch to operating in the second limited access state.

Sunday 15 February 2015

Google Agrees Privacy Policy Changes With Data Watchdog


It is after the pressure put on Google by the UK Information commissioner’s office (ICO) that they have decided to rewrite their privacy policy.

Following this similar reviews are being conducted around Europe, where the firm must make it easier for its users to get to know how and for what the data is collected and used and need to submit a two year review which is the outcome of an investigation done by the regulators. It has come to the attention of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) that the personal data collected from the web services and products of Google are being too unclear. The outcome of this, made Google plan to implement the same with other European regulators.

The process involved in the inquiry: 

It all triggered off when the Mountain View company started being noticed by the regulator and its continental counterparts following their controversial policy which was updated on March 2012 that pooled 70 existing documents. This was later also joined by other data regulators who form the European Article 29 Data Protection Working Party. The investigation held made Google not only to agree, but also ensure that the accessibility to the privacy policy is easy as well as to redesign their account setting features in such a way that it allows the users to find its controls more easily.

Appeal: 

Apart from these clarifications, the company will also have to provide information pertaining to the anonymous identifiers, which are similar to that of cookies. Google has been given time till 30 June 2015 to put into practice all the changes and according to the rumors the company will be rolling out a single policy across the EU with the aim of satisfying each and every regulators who has opened the investigations. Google has also dropped the appeals related to these investigations which are being undertaken by the Spanish and French watchdogs.

According to Steve Eckersley, the ICO's head of enforcement, this step which has been taken will mark a very important step towards a long standing investigation and also the extended dialogue. He also added, while their investigation summarized that this case has not brought out any substantial distress and damage to the consumers, it is still very important for the organizations to accurately understand the influence of their actions and the need to meet and comply with the requirements of the data protection law. According to the spokesperson of Google, the company is very happy that the ICO has finally decided to close and put an end to the investigation. Google has agreed that they need to make improvements in their privacy policy and vowed to continue to work constructively along with the commissioner and the team in the near future.

As the result of closing this investigation, the company will not be fined for any of their actions in the United kingdom, this is completely opposite to the fine and penalties imposed on the company in France and span.

Friday 13 February 2015

Once $399 A Year, Google Earth Pro Is Now Free


Earth
Recently Google has announced that now onwards Google Earth Pro will be available in free, as earlier it was available in $399/year. We all know that Google Earth is one of the geospatial software applications, which displays a virtual globe that has an ability to capture and analyze almost all of the geographical data. Google Earth was comes in existence when in 2004 Google was acquired CIA funded Keyhole Inc, under the brand name of Keyhole the application was known as the Earth Viewer 3D, whereas; in October 2011 Google Earth desktop client has recorded the billions download.

Difference between Google Earth and Google Earth Pro: 

If you will use the free version of Google Earth and Google Earth Pro, so you will find the several differences, as free in free version you can only print the screen resolution images and in Google Earth Pro you will be free to use premium high resolution photos.

In free version of Google Earth you need to manually geo-locate the any GIS (geographic information system) images, but in Google Earth Pro you will find them automatically and free version of Google Earth will allow you to import image files, which are up-to the max texture size, whereas; Google Earth Pro provides SIO (Super Image Overlays), which are more than the any max texture size. Google Earth and Google Earth Pro use the same imagery, however Google Earth Pro offers many additional tools, which are very helpful for any business such as; to create animation movies and to measure the areas of circles or polygons. Google Earth Pro will help you to ma the multiple points in one sitting and it will let you to access the graphic, demographic and traffic data layers.

From past 10 years, businesses, researchers, scientists, individuals and hobbyists are using the Google Earth Pro in all over the world for different purposes such as; to place the solar panels on rooftops and more. Google Earth Pro has many easy to use feature, which offer the detail imagery of Google Earth with the advantage of additional tools, which help to measure 3D buildings and to print high resolution images for reports, presentations and to record HD movies of virtual flights in all over the world, stated by the Stafford Marquardt, Product manager of Google Earth Pro.

For U.S. you can find the most compelling data in Google Earth Pro for example you can find the demographic information in reference to age, gender education, employment status and income for the current year and as well as for the five-year projected and these data can be more useful to conduct the marketing research.

It will be better deal for users as pro version offers additional features such as; it is capable to print the images with the resolution of 4,800 x 3,200, which offer the standard version that maxes out at 1,000 x 1,000. It is for sure that some users will enjoy this new offer because all you need to sign up for a key to use Google Earth Pro, whereas; existing Pro users need not to do anything and no longer they will have to pay the charges.

Monday 9 February 2015

Why Google Is Making Human Skin


Skin

As per the authentic sources, Google is making the artificial human skin as the part of special research projects which is “wristband that can detect cancer, impending heart attacks and many other diseases”. It is well known fact that Google is trend setter and now this search engine giant is developing the synthetic human skin only to test cancer-detecting nano-particles, which can work with a combination of wristband. Currently, Google is working on many health related and as well as non-health related projects to give better and comfort life to humans.

In the press conference, last year Google has announced that they are working on magnetic nano-particles, which can be the helpful to find the cancer cells in the bloodstream and it will have the ability to report back to a wristband. And in present, Google is working on synthetic skin so that they can develop the technology.

As per one of the employee, “New technology will use the light signals to talk to the wristband and it will provide the superficial veins for the wrist, which will be underside. Shining lights means it will use the skin on the different factors such as; colors and skin types and more, so that team of researchers in Google can built the fake arms with same as original biochemical components and auto-fluorescence.

As per the statement of Andrew Conrad, who is the Head of Google's Life Sciences department, “We all know that cancer cells are floating through our body, which constantly trying to kill us”.

Researchers of Google’s life sciences division are working in Google X laboratories in California to make every possible effort to test the technology. This project will help to theoretically detect the diseases and diagnosis it long before appearance of physical symptoms, in short it will us to reduce the fatality rate of illnesses.

The main idea behind this project will identify slight changes in the person's biochemistry, which could act as the early warning system. Google X lab is dedicated to investigate these potentially revolutionary innovations, so that many ideas can be implemented to make it more effective before being made public.

Google has believe that with this technology it is possible to make the cells light up with magnetic wristband and this magnetic wristband will help to detect the them as soon they will pass through the arm in the bloodstream. But still there is question that “Is people will be comfortable to have monitoring system in their body”.

In the research patients would be swallow a pill¸ which will contain the nano-particles and that will be tailored to attach the makers for different conditions like; chemical levels or cancerous cells linked to disease. Previous researches has included that research in to glucose measuring contact lenses, so that patients with diabetes and a spoon can counteract the tremors that can caused by Parkinson's disease. Google has also some non-health related projects such as; Google Glass, delivery drones, self-driving cars and internet balloons in the stratosphere.

Friday 6 February 2015

Google and Uber May Become Rivals


Google_Car
After the problems faced due to drivers in Delhi Uber has begun plans on researching self driven cars which would not require any drivers. In fact any company that had to go through what Uber went through a couple of months ago would logically do this.

However, the real problem is that Google has already launched driver less cars long ago in 2010. It is postulated that such cars have already been given to its staff and might come up with an idea of enlarging the service as a business venture soon.

Logger Heads

Google in 2013 has invested around $250m in Uber, owing to its worldwide operation in more than 200 cities, however the Delhi controversy of drivers has brought a small decline in its operation. Uber at present announced its plans in self driving cars teaming up with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, which is actually expected to fund the Uber Advanced Technologies Center, according to its post in a blog.

Google with experience in the field also seems to have considerations on rolling out its own car- hailing service, if reports in Bloomberg are to be believed. An Unnamed source claiming to be close to Uber’s Board of Directors seems to hint about screenshots of app-based car rental service, which is already on roads for its staff.

Google’s Denial

However when Google has been asked for a response on this by BBC, they got a reply “think you'll find Uber and Lyft work quite well. We use them all the time."

This somehow sounds indistinct and does not give any clear cut idea whether Google would want to begin a new driver less cab service. Of course, Since the ground work is already over and Google has gained enough experience to run the show on its own its mulling over such an idea cannot be ruled out altogether.
However, speculations are still on stake because Google holds a fair share in Uber and going into business on its own might turn ruinous to Google too. Thus it is expected that Google would surely be testing the water before taking the plunge.

Uber’s Research Partner

Carnegie Mellon University which has partnered with Uber to assist in the research and technology aspect of this new venture has not left any stones unturned. They have proposed to develop newer technologies that would give proper safety while travelling and to look at maps also.

The University has enough learned and experienced faculty and staff who would surely be enthusiastic to assist such an endeavor. Research in the areas of mapping, safety while on the road and autonomy technology are planned to be conducted with combined effort of the University and National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC). Uber is very positive with the new project and is planning to take it ahead all the way.

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Google's Epic Space Documentary Hits YouTube


Space
Google had recently released an adaption of its own short documentary which chronicles the history of space exploration in order to stimulate its efforts for creating new space race. Google had titled it Back To The Moon For Good-The New Space Race, a 24 minute film which is enhanced with Google’s indigenous special effects which makes it more real and awesome in every respect. This mini-documentary would inspire the competing teams in their effort for landing the spacecraft on the moon’s surface for its Lunar XPRIZE Contest.

Splendid Documentary with Enriching Special Effects

This documentary was first made for the planetariums as well shown in many of those in U.S. This documentary has been narrated by the reputed film and television start Tim Allen and it has been adapted for the YouTube by Google. This film shows the entire history of human lunar exploration from the beginning till today. This uses the 3D imagery, color infographics and superb animations which makes it much more real and authentic in appeal and cinematography.

Space Documentary Opens A New Avenue For Google
Better graphics along with use of infographics and animations helps in taking the viewer right in the middle of action as well as makes the watching entertaining and interactive rather than boring and preachy. It covers all the dull topics like how the moon’s resources are valuable for future missions and others through the use of live imagery.

This documentary is expected to give a dramatic recap of an epic adventure which translates all the even from the early space exploration days to the current advancement without few short minutes.

Inspiring the Contestants for Lunar XPRIZE

Google is trying to give much needed motivation to its contestants of its Lunar XPRIZE. It is a Google backed competition for the privately funded teams and they will be required to develop their own vessels capable enough of reaching the Moon’s surface.

Contestants not just have to get their vessels on the lunar surface but also had to transmit video and pictures from the surface after making it travel at least 500 meters.

The team which would be able to accomplish this incredible feat by December 31 deadline will be able to claim the grand prize of $20 million. The narrator justly has said in the epic discovery video that a large number of children had once played the role of astronaut while growing up but now they would be given opportunities to make it reality.


This documentary has been lauded and appreciated by large number of viewers and other analysts alike for its great video rendering and superb animation and special effects. It even firmly sets the Google against the major competitors like Amazon and Netflix which are actively moving into movie creation business. This incredible and stunning movie also show might of the Google in movie production and Google might itself think into investing in this avenue.

However watching in the 2D basically enhanced version on YouTube isn’t as great as the dome projection which was initiated in the planetariums earlier. But this documentary still have enough marvels to glue the audience.

Monday 2 February 2015

Google Takes Fiber Strategy to Mobile with Nova



Google_Fiber
In present, Google is in news because of its Fiber network and according to recent reports, fiber Google’s Nova will become the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) as per Google’s fiber strategy. Google is a company, which has its hands on every service which is essential for regular life like; each and every pie on this planet earth and it ranges from GPS service to automated cars, from Smartphones to other swappable components and from best internet service to Android platforms. It is a well known fact that as a developer Google is the biggest mobile operating systems and it also has its own Smartphones, if you will believe, recent rumors so Google is going to enter into carrier market. According to same rumors, Google has just picked up steam services known as NOVA on the platform of T-Mobile and Sprint infrastructure.

As per reports, Google’s Nova is going to be the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) and it is third part that uses a carrier’s network for availing their own internet service. Google’s report from Android Police suggests and explains that Google Voice can be the lynchpin of the strategy because it is possible to make the phone calls from Google Voice via data connection or Wi-Fi and it can be the used to make regular calls.

To make the internet plan more attractive, reports are stating that Nova will provide unlimited data, which can do wonder in the market of carriers and it is an obligation of you will make the phone calls through the data connection. Same as other unlimited data plans NOVA will be available for Wi-Fi also.

Fighting over spectrum can be the main reason behind taking the MVNO approach as it is possible that Google can lose battle over spectrum and due to that company can avoid maintaining and building of its own towers in all over the nation which can be big headache for company, apart from all this MVNO approach can be nice option for consumers as well. In normal way, MVNO doesn’t offer contracts, but this time nothing is going to stop Google as it could also be the perfect way for Google to offer its Nexus line of devices on affordable price or subsidy.

Nexus is cheaper than other phones, which are high profile and non-subsidized, as for Nexus 6 $199 is much better than $649 for Nexus 6 in the Google Play store. It could be good for customers because in simple terms it will add the competition into market, if you will be able to get subsidized and unlocked Nexus 6 from Google Play store with their own SIM card, it means AT&T and Verizon can feel motivated to compete on lower prices.

It will be not surprise, if in future Google will control its own provider, it can be both hardware and as well as software distribution. It is expected that Google Fiber will be turning point for internet and phone services provides and customers as well.

Sunday 1 February 2015

Google Reportedly Wants To Sell Wireless Service


Google
Soon the day will come when people will buy Android smartphone not from T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T or Verizon, but only with Google Wireless. As we all know that Google is going to start cell phone service with Android phones, as multiple news portals are reporting same. From past few years Google has been trying to assemble all the pieces, which is necessary to become the mobile provider.

On the records this search giant has already made the maximum number of used software for mobile platform, it designs as well as sells mobile phones online and now it become a Internet service provider (ISP) with its Google Fiber network. Apart from all this it has its own VoIP phone service known as Google Voice that allows users to get a Google phone number for making the call through Hangouts or Gmail over Wi-Fi.

The missing links between all these services are the cell phone towers, and soon you will the Google’s cell phone towers in all over the nation. It is better to establish a wireless network rather than spending billions of dollars, and as per reports Google will carry its all services over T-Mobile's (TMUS) and Sprint (S) networks, but Google officials declined the comments. Google is planning to pay these carriers in $2 only, as per the statement of Macquarie Securities, who is analyst in Kevin Smithen. It means in near future Google is going to provide very affordable services and it can be worry situation for Verizon and AT&T.

We all know that Google is already in competitive field which and now Google is going to land in between the price war of major players. In these price wars big carriers are very happy while small carriers such as; T-Mobile and Sprint are helping the Google to recover their losses. Sprint and T-Mobile are keeping the cautious about this deal and Sprint has worked in usage cap into its contract with major search engine Google, which will allow the wireless companies to renegotiates its deal, if Google is going to signs up for ton of customers, as per the WSJ (Wall Street Journal).

According to Smithen, Google will pay $750 million to Sprint, whereas; $250 million to T-Mobile, which means if Google will choose to break even, so Google have to sell more than $1 billion wireless services in next three years. But if you are thinking that Google will surprise top four wireless carriers, so chances are nil, but existing carriers didn’t want to make the wireless service as commodity.

In present Google is making huge money from Android platform by licensing the different software’s to smartphone makers by driving traffic and usages on their apps and search service. if Google will be able to implement its own strategy successfully, so it will be on the way for Apple to sell its own wireless services with iPhones. But we all know that there are a lot of risk is associated with wireless carriers, if the service will inevitably go down or connections fail so customers will blame Google not T-Mobile or Sprint for the disruptions.

Monday 26 January 2015

Microsoft Slams Google for Revealing Windows 8.1 Bug


Microsoft
It has been just another example of a competitive business world when Google has revealed the bug involved in Windows 8.1 by Microsoft. Both giant companies Google and Windows got on the wrong sides with each other on 11th of January 2015 when Google as a part of their Project Zero revealed a Windows 8.1 bug to the entire public. (Project Zero is a 90 day grace period that Google gives any software company compelling them to rectify or improve the flaws to improve the web or computers to be more secure to use and also to users.

Now if that is not met by the software companies, Google makes the flaws pubic). In this instance Google pre notified Microsoft of the flaw or the bug as we say on the 11th of October 2014 allowing Microsoft to get the bug fixed by 11th of January 2015 after which Project Zero would be what Google would resort to however since this was not fixed Google made the flaws pubic. Despite all this Chris Betz who is the chief of Microsoft Security Response Centre was found stating in a blog that Microsoft asked Google to hold off revealing the mistake/flaw for a couple of days more as they needed to develop a fix for the issue.

Mr.Betz also said that they have specifically asked Google to work in protecting customers by holding on to details till 13th Jan which is when a fix for the issue will be released. Mr.Betz added that they are aware with the fact that revealing flaw is consistent by Google's Project Zero guidelines, but also deliberately makes Microsoft less impressive to the security of Windows 8.1 customers' devices.

Mr. Betz criticized Google in this instance further adding that the action taken by Google is more of expressing pleasure at catching someone rather than the principles eventually leaving customers to suffer. Mr.Betz came back stating that what is right for Google may not always be the same for the customers and would want Google to make customer protection as the entire collective and primary goal.

With all this said and done Microsoft took a step ahead and notified that its Advance Security Notification System as also known as ANS will not be available for public and this step has been taken as a part of evolution from Microsoft’s side. This in future will be available only for paid premier support contracts and companies who are involved in the security programmes to access ahead of a fix.

This brought about mixed opinions in the technical communities where in a few were with Microsoft understanding that fixing a patch is not instant as they need to keep in mind various other facts like not to hamper other processes just by getting the broken patch fixed for Windows 8.1 eventually causing customers to suffer with the existing process. While on the flip side there were also customers who were on the same page with Google indicating that Microsoft is a giant but they are very slow or too dainty who could not fix the bug in time.

Thursday 25 December 2014

Google Glass To Return With Intel In 2015


Google_Glass
According to the WSJ (the wall street journal), Google is expected to launch a completely new model of their Glass handset in 2015, which will offer longer battery life than the present explorer edition and will be powered by an Intel chip inside. Looking at the current edition, the company has already made a couple of small upgrades, which includes the addition of compatibility of the device with prescription lenses and the other of being the decision to double the RAM. However, if the company is looking to make changes to the processor, then it means that the company will be required to overhaul the entire range of wearable.

Changes expected in the new edition

As far as Google Glass’s adoption is concerned, the issue of limited battery life and a threatening four-figure price has acted against the company. While on one side, Intel is very excited about the whole concept and is very much interested in promoting Google glass as the perfect workplace companion, Google is expecting to increase the interest of the customers through a refreshed design and a new modern processor.

At present, not much information has been revealed by either company, but going by the rumors, as far as Intel hardware is concerned, the most likely option for powering the Google glass will be the low-power chip, which is at the center of Intel's MICA bracelet. As far as MICA is concerned, it is from the Intel's New Devices Group. This group aims at understanding and examining as to what kind of new devices will be able to push the microprocessor revolution to the next stage. One of the most prominent features of the new glass edition is expected to be battery life, which according to Intel can last up to 2 days. If the company is able to recreate the same in smaller dimension glass, then it means the battery life will get doubled up.

Although the experimental gadget has gone through some iterative changes, the major ones are expected to be rolled out next year. According to the Wall Street Journal report, the partnership between Intel and Google for Glass will include the marketing of the device to the hospitals apart from offices. The journal has also highlighted the Google has got a new patent in the form of biometric authentication. The users will have the option to either chose a single iris or both their iris for the purpose of authentication. The report stated that Intel will be providing the electronic brains for the new version of the Google Glass. The new Intel chip will be replacing the existing processor from Texas Instruments Inc used in their very first version.

Although post the launch in 2012, Google glass was subjected to criticism due to privacy issues and being too nerdy, still it was being considered as a workplace-computing device. Google is expecting the device to be an evolution from the previous version and become useful for organization, but still being a crossover device for consumers.

Monday 22 December 2014

Google Aiming To Go Straight Into Car with Next Android


Google_Car
Google – A Version of Android, directly in Cars

Google is gearing for a version of Android which would be built directly in cars enabling the drivers to enjoy the benefits of the internet without the need of plugging to their smartphones, a version known as Android M, which would probably show up in a years’ time.

This would be a big step from Google’s present Android Auto software in its latest version of its smartphone operating system which needs a phone to be plugged into a compatible car with a built in screen to access streaming music, maps, together with other apps.

According to Vice President and Automotive Practice Leader of industry research firm Gartner, Thilo, Kowlowski, comments that it provides a strong hold for Google to be part of a vehicle instead of being an add-on, noting, that he was unaware of the latest plans of Google in this regard.

Should Google succeed with Android M, it would be the standard system in empowering a car entertainment system, navigations features and also access valuable data collected by the vehicle. This would strengthen Google’s position in a new market with its arch competing rival Apple Inc's CarPlay.

Google Services with Android Auto/Android M

With the help of direct integration, it would enable the driver to use Google services each time they turn on the ignition without the need of their phone, thus enabling Google with much better use of the cars sensors, camera as well as internet connection which are available in some new models.

According to a source which refrained from being identified and unauthorized to discuss the plans publicly, revealed that Google plans to roll out the next version of its operating systems which is expected in a year or so, though they have not provided any details or time frame for its long term plan of putting Android Auto, dubbed Android M, directly in the cars.

Google plans according to analysts, state that they could face several technical as well as business challenges which would include convincing automakers to integrate their services in their vehicles. Automobiles stand a better attractive prospect taking into account that technology companies are now designing appliances, wristwatch together with other gadgets which can now be connected to the internet. Besides this, according to U.S. Census data, majority of the individuals spend on an average around 50 minutes a day on their commute.

Embedded – Always `On’/Available 

With Android being built in cars, Google services would not be at risk of switching off whenever a smartphone battery tends to go off. For instances, with embedded, it is always on and available, and one does not have to depend on the phone being available there or to be `on’, comments a source, referring to the Android Auto, the built-in version.

This software could connected to other car components such as a built-in navigation system – Google Maps in order to indicate when the fuel content is low and also provide direction to the nearest available gas station. Besides this on tapping on to the car’s components, Google would also avail important information to feed its data hungry advertising business model according to some sources.

The source also informed that Android would need major improvements in performance as well as stability for car maker especially Android Auto which will need power-up instantly whenever the driver starts the car, instead of having to wait for over 30 seconds, as in the case of many smartphones.