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Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Confirmed: Google to launch its own mobile phone network.
Google
is planning to launch its own mobile phone network, the software and
search firm has confirmed, as it plots a major business shift that will
see the company move into supplying broadband connections across the
planet
Details of what Google insiders are calling “Project Nova” were unveiled by Sundar Pichai, recently promoted as second in command to co-founder Larry Page, at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.
Subscribers of Google’s virtual network will be able to switch seamlessly between mobile phone and WiFi signals, and between the masts of competing mobile phone networks, as their phones seek out the best signals.
Dropped calls may also become less of a nuisance, as phones will automatically try to redial the number should the communication be cut mid conversation.
Nova, which will begin life as a US project, is part of a wider move by Google from software into networks, and the company’s ultimate goal is to beam internet connections to the earth’s remotest reaches, where four billion people have poor internet connections or simply live offline.
“We are creating a backbone so we can provide connectivity,” said Pichai. “We will be working with carriers around the world so they can provide services over our backbone. We want to focus on projects which serve billions of users at scale and which make a big difference in their every day lives.”
Leaks in January suggested Google had already signed agreements for Nova with Sprint and T-Mobile in the US. Google will not put up its own masts but will buy airtime wholesale from networks and repackage it for Nova subscribers. The model is known as MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. It is used by services such as Tesco mobile and would be relatively simple to expand into Europe and further afield.
Pichai claimed Google’s intention was not to compete with existing operators like AT&T, but to improve their performance by demonstrating what was possible.
Details of what Google insiders are calling “Project Nova” were unveiled by Sundar Pichai, recently promoted as second in command to co-founder Larry Page, at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.
Subscribers of Google’s virtual network will be able to switch seamlessly between mobile phone and WiFi signals, and between the masts of competing mobile phone networks, as their phones seek out the best signals.
Dropped calls may also become less of a nuisance, as phones will automatically try to redial the number should the communication be cut mid conversation.
Nova, which will begin life as a US project, is part of a wider move by Google from software into networks, and the company’s ultimate goal is to beam internet connections to the earth’s remotest reaches, where four billion people have poor internet connections or simply live offline.
“We are creating a backbone so we can provide connectivity,” said Pichai. “We will be working with carriers around the world so they can provide services over our backbone. We want to focus on projects which serve billions of users at scale and which make a big difference in their every day lives.”
Leaks in January suggested Google had already signed agreements for Nova with Sprint and T-Mobile in the US. Google will not put up its own masts but will buy airtime wholesale from networks and repackage it for Nova subscribers. The model is known as MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. It is used by services such as Tesco mobile and would be relatively simple to expand into Europe and further afield.
Pichai claimed Google’s intention was not to compete with existing operators like AT&T, but to improve their performance by demonstrating what was possible.
He said the project would follow the same model as Google’s Nexus devices, low cost but high performance phones and tablets which are made in partnership with manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.
“We don’t intend to be a network operator at scale,” said Pichai. “All innovation in computing happens at intersection of hardware and software. That is why we do Nexus devices. We do it at enough scale to achieve impact. We are at a stage now where it is important to think about hardware software and connectivity together.”
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Parents rejoice - new YouTube app now offers parental controls.
It is touted to be "the first Google product built from the ground up
with little ones in mind" and is available for Android and iOS users.
It offers a curated selection of videos appropriate for young viewers and features a "bright and playful design" meant to grab the attention of kids.
YouTube for Kids has four sections: shows, music, learning, and explore.
The collection of videos comprise a pretty extensive vault of popular children's content from Reading Rainbow, DreamWorks TV, Jim Henson TV, Mother Goose Club, Talking Tom and Friends, and others.
Also, it comes with a number of parental controls such as, a timer to set viewing limits, sound options at your disposal to cut off music or sound effects. It is also possible to disable the search function, a move that can limit your kids programming options to what's on the app's home screen.
YouTube said that it was "just getting started" with the app and invited parents to send in feedback.
It offers a curated selection of videos appropriate for young viewers and features a "bright and playful design" meant to grab the attention of kids.
YouTube for Kids has four sections: shows, music, learning, and explore.
The collection of videos comprise a pretty extensive vault of popular children's content from Reading Rainbow, DreamWorks TV, Jim Henson TV, Mother Goose Club, Talking Tom and Friends, and others.
Also, it comes with a number of parental controls such as, a timer to set viewing limits, sound options at your disposal to cut off music or sound effects. It is also possible to disable the search function, a move that can limit your kids programming options to what's on the app's home screen.
YouTube said that it was "just getting started" with the app and invited parents to send in feedback.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Google Street View now lets you go back in time.
Every day, Google’s Street View cars capture massive amounts of data and the company then publishes them on Google Maps
at regular intervals. Until now, the only images you could see on
Google Maps were the latest images. Starting today, however, you will
also be able to go back in time and see older images.
When you’re in the Street View interface, you will now see a small clock icon on the page. Once you click that, a preview image with a timeline underneath it will appear and allow you to see the older images.
It looks like Google’s Street View cars pass by most locations about twice per year. There is a bit of variation here, however, and some urban areas especially have more historical images available while some rural areas may have fewer. In many regions of the world, Google only started collecting this imagery in the last few years (it launched in the U.S. in 2007), so that may also limit the availability of historical images.
Google tells me this update is meant to be part of the company’s effort to “create a digital mirror and true record of the world.”
The update is going live globally today. For now, it will only be available in the desktop version of Google Maps and it is unclear if Google plans to bring this feature to other versions of Maps later.
Source: Tech Crunch
When you’re in the Street View interface, you will now see a small clock icon on the page. Once you click that, a preview image with a timeline underneath it will appear and allow you to see the older images.
It looks like Google’s Street View cars pass by most locations about twice per year. There is a bit of variation here, however, and some urban areas especially have more historical images available while some rural areas may have fewer. In many regions of the world, Google only started collecting this imagery in the last few years (it launched in the U.S. in 2007), so that may also limit the availability of historical images.
Google tells me this update is meant to be part of the company’s effort to “create a digital mirror and true record of the world.”
The update is going live globally today. For now, it will only be available in the desktop version of Google Maps and it is unclear if Google plans to bring this feature to other versions of Maps later.
Source: Tech Crunch
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Looking to purchase Google Glass? Here's your chance - today only!
Those of you who've been yearning to buy Google Glass now finally have your chance.
Today -- and today only -- any US resident with a US shipping address can buy the Google Glass Explorer Edition at the regular price of $1,500. Sorry, those of you outside the US are out of luck. But Google says it's working hard to bring Glass to other countries.
To grab your Glass, head over to Google's order page. Select your color. Choose a free accessory, such as frames or shades. Add more products to the mix if you wish, including earbuds, a charging kit, and a carrying case.
Prepare to spend $1,500 and then submit your order. Google promises to ship your Glass within 5 to 7 business days.
People with prescription glasses will need to buy the lenses for your Google Glass as a separate item.
Google announced the one-day sale last week, revealing that a limited number of US residents would be able to buy Google Glass for 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. PT on April 15. This marks the first time Google is offering Glass to anyone across the US without requiring a special invitation.
People outside the US interested in Google Glass can fill out a form on Google's Web site to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Those of you who've been eyeing Google Glass but are turned off by the $1,500 price tag may want to wait. Google has been prepping a less-expensive consumer version that reportedly will hit the market before the end of the year.
Source: CNET
Today -- and today only -- any US resident with a US shipping address can buy the Google Glass Explorer Edition at the regular price of $1,500. Sorry, those of you outside the US are out of luck. But Google says it's working hard to bring Glass to other countries.
To grab your Glass, head over to Google's order page. Select your color. Choose a free accessory, such as frames or shades. Add more products to the mix if you wish, including earbuds, a charging kit, and a carrying case.
Prepare to spend $1,500 and then submit your order. Google promises to ship your Glass within 5 to 7 business days.
People with prescription glasses will need to buy the lenses for your Google Glass as a separate item.
Google announced the one-day sale last week, revealing that a limited number of US residents would be able to buy Google Glass for 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. PT on April 15. This marks the first time Google is offering Glass to anyone across the US without requiring a special invitation.
People outside the US interested in Google Glass can fill out a form on Google's Web site to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Those of you who've been eyeing Google Glass but are turned off by the $1,500 price tag may want to wait. Google has been prepping a less-expensive consumer version that reportedly will hit the market before the end of the year.
Source: CNET
Monday, January 20, 2014
New Google contacts can measure a diabetic's glucose level.
It's important for diabetics to monitor their glucose levels, but pricking their fingers to draw blood once, twice or more often each day can literally be a pain. It's also limited in its usefulness, because glucose levels can swing rapidly due to a variety of influences. Google may have come up with a neat solution: contact lenses implanted with tiny sensors.
Google is taking the wearable tech trend to a new level. The company has announced it is working on smart contact lenses that measure the level of glucose in one's body.
Diabetes affects around one in 19 people in the world, many of whom struggle to control the levels of blood sugar in their bodies, Google said. Blood sugar imbalances can lead to issues with eyes, kidneys and hearts.
Most diabetics need to prick their finger and test blood during the day. Many check their glucose levels less often than they should, due to the discomfort and disruption associated with those tests. Given how sharply glucose levels can change when eating, exercising or simply sweating, it would be helpful for diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels around the clock.
Tears provide a way to measure glucose levels, but they can be difficult to collect. So a team at Google attempted to look at whether miniature electronics - with chips and sensors the size of glitter, and antennae thinner than human hair - could provide a solution.
The firm is now testing a smart contact lens that packs a chip and glucose sensor between two layers of contact lens material in order to measure glucose levels in tears. Prototypes the company currently is experimenting with generate readings once a second.
The team is looking at how the lenses could provide early warnings to wearers, such as through miniature LED lights that indicate when glucose levels are spiking or dropping below certain points.
Although Google has already completed several clinical research studies and has been in contact with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the project, the technology is still in its infancy, the company said.
Google is taking the wearable tech trend to a new level. The company has announced it is working on smart contact lenses that measure the level of glucose in one's body.
Diabetes affects around one in 19 people in the world, many of whom struggle to control the levels of blood sugar in their bodies, Google said. Blood sugar imbalances can lead to issues with eyes, kidneys and hearts.
Most diabetics need to prick their finger and test blood during the day. Many check their glucose levels less often than they should, due to the discomfort and disruption associated with those tests. Given how sharply glucose levels can change when eating, exercising or simply sweating, it would be helpful for diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels around the clock.
Tears provide a way to measure glucose levels, but they can be difficult to collect. So a team at Google attempted to look at whether miniature electronics - with chips and sensors the size of glitter, and antennae thinner than human hair - could provide a solution.
The firm is now testing a smart contact lens that packs a chip and glucose sensor between two layers of contact lens material in order to measure glucose levels in tears. Prototypes the company currently is experimenting with generate readings once a second.
The team is looking at how the lenses could provide early warnings to wearers, such as through miniature LED lights that indicate when glucose levels are spiking or dropping below certain points.
Although Google has already completed several clinical research studies and has been in contact with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the project, the technology is still in its infancy, the company said.
Source: Tech News World
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Lipo for kids? There's an app for that!
Want
your 9-year-old to learn how to look "slim and beautiful" through
plastic surgery? Well, there's an app for that.
The app, called "Plastic Surgery & Plastic Doctor & Plastic Hospital Office for Barbie version," doesn't appear to be linked to Mattel, which creates Barbie.
It shows kids ages 9 and up how to "suck out fat from an unfortunate girl who has so much weight no diet can help her."
That is until Everyday Sexism, which according to its website exists to catalog sexism experienced by women on a daily basis, got involved.
It asked iTunes and Google Play on Twitter to not only take down the app, but apps like it, and the tweets sparked hundreds of retweets and outrage. Thankfully, since then, the apps have been removed.
The app, called "Plastic Surgery & Plastic Doctor & Plastic Hospital Office for Barbie version," doesn't appear to be linked to Mattel, which creates Barbie.
It shows kids ages 9 and up how to "suck out fat from an unfortunate girl who has so much weight no diet can help her."
That is until Everyday Sexism, which according to its website exists to catalog sexism experienced by women on a daily basis, got involved.
It asked iTunes and Google Play on Twitter to not only take down the app, but apps like it, and the tweets sparked hundreds of retweets and outrage. Thankfully, since then, the apps have been removed.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Gmail and Google+ implement an "email anyone" policy.
A new feature from Google will let you e-mail just about anyone with a
Google+ account, and, in turn, give them the ability to e-mail you.
The feature, announced on the official Gmail blog,
won't give your actual e-mail address to strangers. But when a Gmail
user begins typing in the address box, it will provide suggestions
including people in their Google+ network.
The idea, Google says, is
to make it easier to contact friends and other contacts when you've
forgotten, or never had, their e-mail address. But some early reactions
suggested the new change may make it too easy.
In our opinion, it's just another reason to hate Google+. They have officially turned it into a stalking tool.
Google, clearly anticipating the privacy concerns, notes that users may limit the feature, or opt out of it entirely.
While the default G+
setting will allow anyone on Google+ to contact you, users may limit
that access to people in their Circles on the network, or to nobody at
all.
There are other limits,
too. A user may only e-mail you using the system once if you don't reply
(addressing the stalking concerns, perhaps). And messages from people
who are not in your G+ Circles will go into the "Social" folder, along
with other posts from sites like G+, Facebook and Twitter, instead of
the user's primary inbox.
Google said the feature
will be rolling out to Gmail and Google+ users over the next couple of
days, when they will receive a message with a link to the feature.
Source: Gmail Email Blast
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Woman receives ticket for driving in glasses....Google Glass glasses that is.
In what might be a first, a woman in California received a traffic ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving.
Cecilia Abadie was pulled over for speeding on Tuesday in San Diego and given an additional citation for driving while wearing her Google Glass. The officer considered the head-mounted display a monitor that was visible to the driver. Shocked, Abadie posted a copy of the ticket on Google+.
Traffic laws vary state by state, but many now have broad distracted-driving laws or bans on certain monitors that could easily apply to Google Glass.
The California law cited in Abadie's case is meant to prevent people from watching television while driving. V C 27602 prohibits televisions and similar monitors from being turned on and facing the driver. There are exceptions for GPS and mapping tools and screens that display camera feeds to help the driver navigate. If a device has a safety feature that limits its display to approved uses while driving, it can be allowed.
"I think the law is broad enough to say it violates the law," said San Diego attorney Mitchell Mehdy, also known as "Mr. Ticket." Mehdy has been working in traffic law for 25 years and said this is the first case he's heard of involving Google Glass.
Abadie says her Google Glass was not turned on when she was pulled over, and that the officer said the screen was blocking her view. The Google Glass display is located slightly above the right eye, not directly in front of the eye.
Google does warn users about running afoul of traffic laws in its Google Glass FAQ: "Most states have passed laws limiting the use of mobile devices while driving any motor vehicle, and most states post those rules on their department of motor vehicles websites. Read up and follow the law!"
However, in another section on navigation, it says Glass can give turn-by-turn directions, "whether you're on a bike, in a car, taking the subway, or going by foot."
Glass fans defended the technology in comments on Abadie's post, saying that a voice-activated screen close to the eye could actually be safer than trying to check a smartphone or other monitor while driving.
"Glass is far safer than any other means of information delivery. It is out of your view and not distracting," said Aaron Kasten, who compared it to checking speed and other information on a car's dashboard, which requires taking your eyes off of the road.
The turn-by-turn directions on Glass can be turned on with a voice command. The display will show a map view, but for extra safety the screen can be turned off while driving so there's only voice navigation.
A Google Glass spokesperson didn't address the ticket directly but emphasized responsible Google Glass usage, saying, "As we make clear in our help center, Explorers should always use Glass responsibly and put their safety and the safety of others first. More broadly, Glass is built to connect you more with the world around you, not distract you from it."
State laws are always adapting to new technology, and Google Glass is still a somewhat rare sighting. The device is only available as part of a beta program and is not yet sold commercially. According to Mehdy, new technology is a tempting target for law enforcement looking for new ways to bring in money.
Law enforcement is increasingly enforcing distracted driving laws. During the month of April, there were more that 57,000 distracted driving tickets issued in California as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Source: CNN
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Do you have a Google / Google Plus account? You may be featured in inappropriate advertising. Here's how to opt out:
You may have seen a warning
at the top of your Gmail or Chrome browser explaining that Google is changing its privacy policy. What Google is actually
doing is starting a program where it takes things you’ve “liked” (or
+1′ed, or rated) around the web, then use your name and face in
advertisements that show up in other people’s Google search queries.
Remember when Facebook introduced a similar program, one unlucky guy became a spokesman for a giant barrel of lube (story link)? For the vast majority of people, this use of data is unacceptable.
The good news is that Google is giving you a one-click way to opt out of this sort of invasive use of your likeness.
Here's how to do it:
Remember when Facebook introduced a similar program, one unlucky guy became a spokesman for a giant barrel of lube (story link)? For the vast majority of people, this use of data is unacceptable.
The good news is that Google is giving you a one-click way to opt out of this sort of invasive use of your likeness.
Here's how to do it:
- Follow this link: https://plus.google.com/settings/endorsements.
- Now uncheck the box. Congratulations, you’re now opted-out of Google’s endorsement program.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Looking for a job? Interview slots available, just solve this mathematical conundrum first.
Everyone wants to hire clever people. So one Australian startup called Bigcommerce thought it would separate the wheat from the hapless by posting ads that included a mathematical conundrum.
Solving it would allow the wise to access its special "Batphone," where eager people were waiting.
However, as Australia's News.com reports, prospective engineers seem to be having trouble solving the puzzle.
Below the message: "We only hire Software Engineers who can solve complex problems" is a math problem. (See image below).
Soren Harner, vice president of engineering, says it shouldn't be hard. Some of his current employees have already solved it.
It is said that Google interviewers used to ask extremely clever questions of candidates in order to make themselves feel intelligent. The company insisted a few months ago that it had ceased this fine practice
But this would seem to be a legitimate riddle...
Solving it would allow the wise to access its special "Batphone," where eager people were waiting.
However, as Australia's News.com reports, prospective engineers seem to be having trouble solving the puzzle.
Below the message: "We only hire Software Engineers who can solve complex problems" is a math problem. (See image below).
Soren Harner, vice president of engineering, says it shouldn't be hard. Some of his current employees have already solved it.
It is said that Google interviewers used to ask extremely clever questions of candidates in order to make themselves feel intelligent. The company insisted a few months ago that it had ceased this fine practice
But this would seem to be a legitimate riddle...
Source: CNET
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The end of driving as we know it...welcome Google's robo car.
Google's self-driving car initiative is moving into a new phase: reality.
Three years after first showing the world what it was up to - rolling out a Toyota Prius with laser scanning hardware awkwardly perched on the roof - Google is moving its big idea out of the lab and into the real world.
Consider recent developments: A spokesman confirmed to CNET that the company was in what were described as productive talks with automakers involving Google's self-driving technology.
Separately, Google is reported to be crafting a partnership with auto supplier Continental. And there's even the possibility of Google-powered robo-taxis sometime in the future.
Where is this all leading? The answer, naturally, is complicated. After all, we're talking about an effort to force the biggest change in the auto industry since the first Model A drove out of Henry Ford's factory a century ago. And the automakers aren't about to let Google plow through their turf unless it helps their businesses. They have their own plans with self-driving cars, and some execs scoff at Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wide-eyed remarks about making self-driving cars commercially available by 2017.
"We do not think someone will have a fully autonomous production vehicle that soon," said Daniel Flores from General Motors' advanced technology group. "Vehicles that can drive themselves are years - maybe decades - away. The technology will develop in steps to allow the vehicle to do more and act incrementally as sensors get more robust and costs come down."
That might be, but such talk isn't about to diminish Google's ambitions. Google is leading the charge on this one. It's prodding the auto industry - not to mention regulators and the insurance business - to push the whole effort at a Silicon Valley pace.
Already Nevada, Florida, and California have legalized driverless car testing on public roads, with a lobbying nudge from Google. And although plenty of other efforts are under way - from GM to Nissan and Audi - Google has the highest profile, something that surely rankles the old guard.
"Google's embarrassed the car industry by getting out ahead on this and getting all the attention," said Roger Lanctot, an automotive analyst with Strategy Analytics.
"They're trying to free people's time so they can dedicate themselves to the Internet and Googling around," said Alberto Broggi, an autonomous vehicle researcher and professor of computer engineering at the University of Parma in Italy. "They're motivated by great innovation, but the bottom line...is business."
Source: CNET
Three years after first showing the world what it was up to - rolling out a Toyota Prius with laser scanning hardware awkwardly perched on the roof - Google is moving its big idea out of the lab and into the real world.
Consider recent developments: A spokesman confirmed to CNET that the company was in what were described as productive talks with automakers involving Google's self-driving technology.
Separately, Google is reported to be crafting a partnership with auto supplier Continental. And there's even the possibility of Google-powered robo-taxis sometime in the future.
Where is this all leading? The answer, naturally, is complicated. After all, we're talking about an effort to force the biggest change in the auto industry since the first Model A drove out of Henry Ford's factory a century ago. And the automakers aren't about to let Google plow through their turf unless it helps their businesses. They have their own plans with self-driving cars, and some execs scoff at Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wide-eyed remarks about making self-driving cars commercially available by 2017.
"We do not think someone will have a fully autonomous production vehicle that soon," said Daniel Flores from General Motors' advanced technology group. "Vehicles that can drive themselves are years - maybe decades - away. The technology will develop in steps to allow the vehicle to do more and act incrementally as sensors get more robust and costs come down."
That might be, but such talk isn't about to diminish Google's ambitions. Google is leading the charge on this one. It's prodding the auto industry - not to mention regulators and the insurance business - to push the whole effort at a Silicon Valley pace.
Already Nevada, Florida, and California have legalized driverless car testing on public roads, with a lobbying nudge from Google. And although plenty of other efforts are under way - from GM to Nissan and Audi - Google has the highest profile, something that surely rankles the old guard.
"Google's embarrassed the car industry by getting out ahead on this and getting all the attention," said Roger Lanctot, an automotive analyst with Strategy Analytics.
Let's not lose sight of something else: Anyone who's watched Google's swift rise in its 15 year history knows there's also a big potential side benefit. Google talks about making the roads safer, but the company's core business has plenty to gain from freeing up drivers from that task of, well, driving. How much? Americans on average spend 18.5 hours a week in a car, which adds up to a lot of time they could be checking Gmail, editing Google Docs, watching YouTube videos, and clicking ads.
Source: CNET
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Do you save passwords in Google Chrome? Maybe you should reconsider...
You might want to think twice before you let someone borrow your computer.
The most obvious risk of allowing someone else access to your desktop is that they can impersonate you, using any app where you’re already signed in. They could send prank messages using your default email client, or profess your undying love for Justin Bieber using your logged-in Twitter account.
That’s annoying, but far from fatal.
But the situation becomes considerably worse if you use Google Chrome to save and sync passwords for easy logins at your favorite websites. An intruder who has unrestricted access to your computer for even a minute can view and copy all of your saved passwords just by visiting an easy-to-remember settings page: chrome://settings/passwords.
That link opens the local copy of your saved password cache, which is synchronized to every machine where you sign in with your Google account.
And the funny thing is, anyone who visits that page can see the plaintext version of every saved password just by clicking a button.
The saved password list shows the web address, username, and password for each saved set of credentials. Initially, the saved password is displayed as a row of asterisks. But if you click the masked password, you see a “Show” button that you can click to immediately display the saved password.
A malicious or spiteful intruder who can lure you away from your computer briefly can see your saved passwords, then close the settings page. And you have no idea that your credentials have been compromised.
Source: ZD Net
The most obvious risk of allowing someone else access to your desktop is that they can impersonate you, using any app where you’re already signed in. They could send prank messages using your default email client, or profess your undying love for Justin Bieber using your logged-in Twitter account.
That’s annoying, but far from fatal.
But the situation becomes considerably worse if you use Google Chrome to save and sync passwords for easy logins at your favorite websites. An intruder who has unrestricted access to your computer for even a minute can view and copy all of your saved passwords just by visiting an easy-to-remember settings page: chrome://settings/passwords.
That link opens the local copy of your saved password cache, which is synchronized to every machine where you sign in with your Google account.
And the funny thing is, anyone who visits that page can see the plaintext version of every saved password just by clicking a button.
The saved password list shows the web address, username, and password for each saved set of credentials. Initially, the saved password is displayed as a row of asterisks. But if you click the masked password, you see a “Show” button that you can click to immediately display the saved password.
A malicious or spiteful intruder who can lure you away from your computer briefly can see your saved passwords, then close the settings page. And you have no idea that your credentials have been compromised.
Source: ZD Net
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Forget .com - .lol and .google is where it's at!
Internet addresses are about to expand way past .com and .org, and Google wants in. It applied to grab not only .google, but also fun suffixes like .lol.
The company said it would like to operate "domains we think have interesting and creative potential," citing .lol as an example.
Google is just one of the hundreds of companies that have applied for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) -- the ".com" part of website addresses -- in an upcoming massive expansion of the Internet's infrastructure. The full list of applicants, and their proposed new domains, will be announced on June 13.
Google revealed some of the gTLDs it's applied for -- .google, .youtube., .docs and .lol -- in a blog post published on Thursday. The company said last month that it had applied for some new domains, but it didn't go into specifics at that time.
In an interview earlier this month with CNNMoney, a Google representative said that the company expected to be one of the biggest applicants in the domain expansion process.
Other organizations that have gone public with their interest include groups proposing .nyc, .paris, Unicef, Hitachi and Canon.
Google's top brass has a close relationship with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit, global coordinator of the Internet's naming system. Vint Cerf, Google's "chief internet evangelist" and the author of Google's Thursday blog post, is the former chairman of ICANN's board of directors.
Expanding domains is no simple task...ICANN had for years been kicking around the idea of suffixes for brand names, cities and general keywords. Last June, the organization approved a plan to open for submissions and review thousands of applications for new gTLDs.
Supporters of the move say dot-brand sites will help companies market themselves and ensure security. HSBC, for example, could tell customers that a purported HSBC site isn't legitimate unless it ends in .hsbc. And a company like Verizon could market products at cellphones.verizon and store locations at losangeles.verizon.
Critics counter that expanding domain suffixes will be confusing for consumers -- cnn.cnn, anyone? -- and not worth the effort.
But ICANN's plan is surging forward -- even though the application process has been fraught with technical issues and delays.
ICANN began accepting applications for new domains on January 12 through a web-based system, and planned to unveil the applicant list on April 30. But on April 12 -- the original deadline for submitting an application -- ICANN took the system offline after a "glitch" allowed some users to see others' data.
The organization planned to have the system back within a few days, but the issues persisted for weeks. ICANN finally re-opened the application system on May 21 and accepted entries until May 30. The application list will be announced next month.
As of May 30, ICANN said it had received about 1,900 applications.
ICANN has gradually rolled out a handful of new domains over the past decade, including the controversial .xxx domain that got the green light in March 2011. The new proposed expansion will be far bigger than anything done previously.
But for interested companies, the new domains don't come cheap.
ICANN charges $185,000 per domain application, a extensive paperwork bundle that requires scores of policy documents. The technical setup and upkeep on a single domain will cost additional thousands -- or even millions -- per year.
It's a slow and painstaking process. With domains like .law and .sport, many suitors are expected to battle for the same coveted keyword. So if multiple applicants want a single domain, and ICANN deems them equally worthy, the name goes to auction -- which could end up costing millions for the winning bidder.
Even if two keywords aren't exactly the same, "confusingly similar" domain suffixes are forbidden. For example, if an apple farmers' union grabs .apples, then iGizmo maker Apple would be blocked permanently from registering .apple.
Source: CNN
The company said it would like to operate "domains we think have interesting and creative potential," citing .lol as an example.
Google is just one of the hundreds of companies that have applied for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) -- the ".com" part of website addresses -- in an upcoming massive expansion of the Internet's infrastructure. The full list of applicants, and their proposed new domains, will be announced on June 13.
Google revealed some of the gTLDs it's applied for -- .google, .youtube., .docs and .lol -- in a blog post published on Thursday. The company said last month that it had applied for some new domains, but it didn't go into specifics at that time.
In an interview earlier this month with CNNMoney, a Google representative said that the company expected to be one of the biggest applicants in the domain expansion process.
Other organizations that have gone public with their interest include groups proposing .nyc, .paris, Unicef, Hitachi and Canon.
Google's top brass has a close relationship with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit, global coordinator of the Internet's naming system. Vint Cerf, Google's "chief internet evangelist" and the author of Google's Thursday blog post, is the former chairman of ICANN's board of directors.
Expanding domains is no simple task...ICANN had for years been kicking around the idea of suffixes for brand names, cities and general keywords. Last June, the organization approved a plan to open for submissions and review thousands of applications for new gTLDs.
Supporters of the move say dot-brand sites will help companies market themselves and ensure security. HSBC, for example, could tell customers that a purported HSBC site isn't legitimate unless it ends in .hsbc. And a company like Verizon could market products at cellphones.verizon and store locations at losangeles.verizon.
Critics counter that expanding domain suffixes will be confusing for consumers -- cnn.cnn, anyone? -- and not worth the effort.
But ICANN's plan is surging forward -- even though the application process has been fraught with technical issues and delays.
ICANN began accepting applications for new domains on January 12 through a web-based system, and planned to unveil the applicant list on April 30. But on April 12 -- the original deadline for submitting an application -- ICANN took the system offline after a "glitch" allowed some users to see others' data.
The organization planned to have the system back within a few days, but the issues persisted for weeks. ICANN finally re-opened the application system on May 21 and accepted entries until May 30. The application list will be announced next month.
As of May 30, ICANN said it had received about 1,900 applications.
ICANN has gradually rolled out a handful of new domains over the past decade, including the controversial .xxx domain that got the green light in March 2011. The new proposed expansion will be far bigger than anything done previously.
But for interested companies, the new domains don't come cheap.
ICANN charges $185,000 per domain application, a extensive paperwork bundle that requires scores of policy documents. The technical setup and upkeep on a single domain will cost additional thousands -- or even millions -- per year.
It's a slow and painstaking process. With domains like .law and .sport, many suitors are expected to battle for the same coveted keyword. So if multiple applicants want a single domain, and ICANN deems them equally worthy, the name goes to auction -- which could end up costing millions for the winning bidder.
Even if two keywords aren't exactly the same, "confusingly similar" domain suffixes are forbidden. For example, if an apple farmers' union grabs .apples, then iGizmo maker Apple would be blocked permanently from registering .apple.
Source: CNN
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Every wanted to go to space? Here's your chance...and for as little as $25.
Planetary Resources, an asteroid mining company, ultimately wants to build a fleet of Arkyd telescopes that can find asteroids -- then launch robotic spacecraft that can mine those asteroids for raw materials like precious metals and water.
To garner interest in its mission, the first Arkyd is focused on education and public access. In order to get that first telescope into space in 2015, the company wants to raise $1 million on Kickstarter by June 30.
A donation of $25 scores a backer a "space selfie," in which a user sends in a picture to be uploaded to a screen on the side of the telescope. The company then snaps a photo of the picture with the telescope and Earth in the background.
Other rewards: Giving $200 allows the donor to point the Arkyd at any celestial object. For $1,000, backers will get a tour of the company's Bellevue, Wash., facilities. Support for various education initiatives is available for a few thousand dollars, depending on the project.
As of this moment, the company has already raised more than $609,000.
Planetary Resources' mission has attracted high-profile backers including Google's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, and Ross Perot, Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate. Company advisers include filmmaker James Cameron and former U.S. Air Force chief of staff Michael Moseley.
According to the company, members of its technical staff have worked on every recent U.S. Mars robotic rover including Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.
Source: Kickstarter, CNN
To garner interest in its mission, the first Arkyd is focused on education and public access. In order to get that first telescope into space in 2015, the company wants to raise $1 million on Kickstarter by June 30.
A donation of $25 scores a backer a "space selfie," in which a user sends in a picture to be uploaded to a screen on the side of the telescope. The company then snaps a photo of the picture with the telescope and Earth in the background.
Other rewards: Giving $200 allows the donor to point the Arkyd at any celestial object. For $1,000, backers will get a tour of the company's Bellevue, Wash., facilities. Support for various education initiatives is available for a few thousand dollars, depending on the project.
As of this moment, the company has already raised more than $609,000.
Planetary Resources' mission has attracted high-profile backers including Google's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, and Ross Perot, Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate. Company advisers include filmmaker James Cameron and former U.S. Air Force chief of staff Michael Moseley.
According to the company, members of its technical staff have worked on every recent U.S. Mars robotic rover including Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Google will bring the Internet to hard to reach locations in Africa and Asia via Wi-Fi blimps.
How can the Internet be brought to areas that have no infrastructure for high-speed wireless? Beam the Wi-Fi networks down from flying objects, of course.
Google is reportedly working on creating wireless networks for more remote parts of the world, such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, with sky-bound balloons and blimps, according to Wired.
Dubbed "high-altitude platforms," these mechanisms will reportedly be able to connect roughly a billion more people to the Internet worldwide, according to Wired. The blimps signals are said to be able to reach people in areas that are hundreds of square miles.
Google is reportedly working on creating wireless networks for more remote parts of the world, such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, with sky-bound balloons and blimps, according to Wired.
Dubbed "high-altitude platforms," these mechanisms will reportedly be able to connect roughly a billion more people to the Internet worldwide, according to Wired. The blimps signals are said to be able to reach people in areas that are hundreds of square miles.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Happy April Fool's Day from Google's Gmail...
This April Fool's, Google had a little fun at Microsoft's expense. The search giant has concocted a page about a product called Gmail Blue, a dig at Microsoft's upcoming Windows Blue update and
Windows 8 in general.
A spoof video for Gmail Blue features a straight-faced "Gmail Blue project manager" who says that "in trying to bring e-mail into the 21st century, we are faced with a challenge: how we do completely redesign and recreate something while keeping it exactly the same? The answer is Gmail Blue."
Touting the new e-mail program's reliance on blue fonts, blue colors, and blue buttons, the project manager says that "it's Gmail, only bluer." The Gmail team claim that inspiration for Blue came from nature but is "better than what nature created."
Given the testy relationship between Microsoft and Google, their April Fools' pranks could have easily been more vicious. But in keeping with the spirit of the day, I think the companies poked a few holes in each other without doing any permanent damage.
A spoof video for Gmail Blue features a straight-faced "Gmail Blue project manager" who says that "in trying to bring e-mail into the 21st century, we are faced with a challenge: how we do completely redesign and recreate something while keeping it exactly the same? The answer is Gmail Blue."
Touting the new e-mail program's reliance on blue fonts, blue colors, and blue buttons, the project manager says that "it's Gmail, only bluer." The Gmail team claim that inspiration for Blue came from nature but is "better than what nature created."
Given the testy relationship between Microsoft and Google, their April Fools' pranks could have easily been more vicious. But in keeping with the spirit of the day, I think the companies poked a few holes in each other without doing any permanent damage.
Source: CNET
Monday, April 1, 2013
Is it Google or is it Bing? Happy April Fool's!
Yesterday, Microsoft's Bing search engine poked a little fun at Google.
Yesterday, Bing users found if they typed "Google" in the search field, a Bing page pops up spoofing Google's pure white and stark home page (screenshot below). Hovering over the small boxes that populate the Bing page displays tips that take a few more swipes at Google.
One tip asks if you're having trouble seeing this picture of an arctic fox eating marshmallows in a snowstorm. A second one says that when there's nothing else to look at, you may take drastic measures. Clicking on that tip brings up a Bing video results page of watching paint dry. And a third tip says that if blank space is your thing, you could go low tech. That tip displays a Bing images results page of plain white paper.
Even the familiar "I'm feeling lucky" button has been replaced by an "I'm feeling confused" button that takes you to a Bing blog touting the benefits of Microsoft's search engine.
Yesterday, Bing users found if they typed "Google" in the search field, a Bing page pops up spoofing Google's pure white and stark home page (screenshot below). Hovering over the small boxes that populate the Bing page displays tips that take a few more swipes at Google.
One tip asks if you're having trouble seeing this picture of an arctic fox eating marshmallows in a snowstorm. A second one says that when there's nothing else to look at, you may take drastic measures. Clicking on that tip brings up a Bing video results page of watching paint dry. And a third tip says that if blank space is your thing, you could go low tech. That tip displays a Bing images results page of plain white paper.
Even the familiar "I'm feeling lucky" button has been replaced by an "I'm feeling confused" button that takes you to a Bing blog touting the benefits of Microsoft's search engine.
Source: CNET
Friday, February 22, 2013
Google seeks test subjects for new smart glasses. What's the catch? You have to pay them $1,500!
Google has announced that it plans to release a small number of Google Glass products....the glasses that do everything. (As they should for a whopping $1,500 + tax).
Interested in becoming a tester (or "explorer" as Google puts it)? In order to be a Glass tester, you need to get noticed. How? Of course through social media. But that's not all you need. If selected, you'll have to cough up $1,500 (plus applicable taxes) and attend a "special pick-up experience," in person, in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles (at your expense).
Definitely a great piece of technology anyone would want to have. But personally, at $1,500 for just a test pair, I'll pass.
From the Google Glass website:
We’re looking for bold, creative individuals who want to join us and be a part of shaping the future of Glass. We’d love to make everyone an Explorer, but we’re starting off a bit smaller. We’re still in the early stages, and while we can’t promise everything will be perfect, we can promise it will be exciting
Using Google+ or Twitter, tell us what you would do if you had Glass, starting with the hashtag #ifihadglass.
Interested in becoming a tester (or "explorer" as Google puts it)? In order to be a Glass tester, you need to get noticed. How? Of course through social media. But that's not all you need. If selected, you'll have to cough up $1,500 (plus applicable taxes) and attend a "special pick-up experience," in person, in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles (at your expense).
Definitely a great piece of technology anyone would want to have. But personally, at $1,500 for just a test pair, I'll pass.
From the Google Glass website:
We’re looking for bold, creative individuals who want to join us and be a part of shaping the future of Glass. We’d love to make everyone an Explorer, but we’re starting off a bit smaller. We’re still in the early stages, and while we can’t promise everything will be perfect, we can promise it will be exciting
Using Google+ or Twitter, tell us what you would do if you had Glass, starting with the hashtag #ifihadglass.
- Your application must be 50 words or less
- You must include #ifihadglass in your application
- You can include up to 5 photos with your application
- You can include a short video (15 secs max)
- Be sure to follow us on Google+ (+ProjectGlass) or Twitter (@projectglass) so that we can contact you directly
- You must be at least 18 years old and live in the U.S. to apply
- For more details, please see our full Terms and FAQ
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Have you been Scroogled by Google? (Yes, scroogle is a real word).
"Think Google respects your privacy? Think again.
Google goes through every Gmail that's sent or received, looking for keywords so they can target Gmail users with paid ads. And there's no way to opt out of this invasion of your privacy. Outlook.com is different—we don't go through your email to sell ads."
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