Google explains how it handles Europeans’ requests to be forgotten online
Google has previously offered a little bit of insight into how it handles (and occasionally mishandles) the EU’s “right to be forgotten” (RTBF) requests, but it has largely been a nebulous process. How do you know whether or not you’ll be scrubbed from search results? Well, things just got a little bit clearer: the company has published a letter to the EU explaining how it manages those demands for obscurity. The internet firm says it weighs both the nature of targeted sites and prominence of a person against the “general economic interest” to provide an accurate search engine. It’s likely to remove results for an embarrassing blog post, for example, but it will likely turn you down if you’re trying to hide court rulings or censor less-than-flattering news.
The company also bends over backwards to justify why it tells sites about delisting actions. Google contends that these heads-up notices are important both for transparency and restoring links that shouldn’t have been hidden. It notes that some requests are leveled against the wrong people, or omit ‘inconvenient’ facts (such as relevant news stories) that would lead to rejections. Google already deals with fraudulent copyright takedowns from companies trying to erase their rivals from the web — supposedly, this abuse might get worse if firms could exploit privacy laws.
There are some areas where Google doesn’t have answers, such as the average time it takes to honor submissions. It will be a while before the backlog clears up, the company says. Also, the letter’s publication likely wasn’t just a kind gesture toward users. Google has long been a vocal opponent of censorship and anything else that hurts its data-driven ad business — it may hope that the document pressures the EU into narrowing the scope of its rules. Whatever the motivations, the info should be helpful if you’re wondering just what Google does when you ask to be wiped from its memory.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo]
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google Docs
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Catching waves with Rip Curl’s SearchGPS surf watch
“Track every wave and know every tide.” That’s the concept behind Rip Curl’s SearchGPS, a location-tracking wristwear that combines your typical fitness-tracking features with a waterproof, wave-counting watch for surfers. The final hardware will arrive in black and white color options this October for $400, but we managed to get our hands on a pre-production unit just in time for a little summer fun.
First off, the SearchGPS looks like one chunky slab of a watch. And that’s exactly what it is, though it doesn’t feel that way on your wrist — it’s surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to wear. The straps and outer casing are fashioned out of a buoyant silicone polymer, the only exception being the underbelly which is outfitted with a carbon fiber shell and contact plates for recharging the battery. Water literally rolls off the SearchGPS in beads, and it has an almost jelly-like feel when wet. I wore it casually for two weeks in and out of the water and experienced no chafing at all. Obviously, that’s pretty important to someone who surfs frequently (or really, anyone who’s gonna spend $400 on a watch). As for battery life, I charged the device once, moments after it arrived on my doorstep. Thirteen days later, its power indicator finally dropped below 100 percent. Yes, really — that impressive performance is partly due to the watch’s power-sipping monochrome LCD display, which is easy to view in direct sunlight or while submerged in murky, particle-filled waters.
Between three buttons — one on the left side of the device and two on the right — you’ll navigate the home menu for tide information (courtesy of Magicseaweed), alarm functionality, backlight control, and, of course, a time face. Once you’re in the water, it’s time for the “go surf” mode. When initiated, the SearchGPS gathers your wave count, distance traveled, top speed and GPS location. Then, after syncing your data with Rip Curl’s Search app (iOS, Mac and Windows) via Bluetooth or the USB charging cable, those stats are translated into a map of your entire run, as well as a detailed report for each wave you caught, your longest wave and your “surf rating.” Minus the map, you can also cycle through a less detailed recap on the watch itself.
The Search app has a minimalistic social experience — there’s no way to comment on your buddies’ rides or chat with followers — but the sheer simplicity is kind of refreshing. Basically, it’s a river of streamlined stats. With one touch of the glass, you can envy Tyler Wright’s 32-wave run in the waters of Latigo Point, California or Mick Fanning’s top speed of 19.6 mph off the coast of South Africa. And if you’re really serious, you can start a club and compete against your friends or even set up a trip or event.
How does the SearchGPS fare in the wild? In short, it’s accurate, precise and telling of the wearer’s skills. The swell in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina isn’t exactly known for its killer waves, especially right after a storm. But, thanks to a buddy of mine (who’s admittedly a much better surfer than me), we managed to catch six decent beach breaks in about 26 minutes — all of which updated the wave count instantly. I did try to fool the watch by bodysurfing several times, but thanks to its well-calculated wave-counting algorithm, I failed to dupe it. And I’m a very decent body surfer, honest.
After reviewing the stats on my iPhone, I found both the GPS information and surf time right on track and quite interesting to investigate. But what about top speed? At an earlier date, I wore the SearchGPS while shredding water on a Yamaha WaveRunner VX Sport… and I went very fast. The watch recorded my top speed as 49.2 mph, which was impressively just three miles per hour lower than listed on the jet ski’s speedometer.
So, let’s say you’re an adequate surfer with some cash to spare. Should you buy Rip Curl’s watch this October? Maybe. If you plan to take your game to the next level, it might be a worthy investment. In the right hands, the SearchGPS can be a powerful learning tool (and convenient way to track your undisclosed surfing sweet spots, right down to their GPS coordinates). Otherwise, as in my case, it’s a $400 gadget that quantifies exactly how mediocre your wave-ripping skills are.
Filed under: Wearables
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Apple Continues App-Focused TV Ad Campaign With ‘Dreams’ Spot
Apple launched a new television ad in its “You’re More Powerful Than You Think” campaign, this time called “Dreams“. The song in the ad is “When I Grow Up” by Jennifer O’Connor.
It is the fourth ad in the series, with previous spots “Powerful“, “Strength“, and “Parenthood” focusing on the sheer variety of apps on the iPhone, workout apps, and apps for parents.
Like the other ads, “Dreams” shows the iPhone used in various situations in everyday life, extended with apps from the App Store. Apps and accessories featured in the spot include:
– Vaavud Wind Meter, an anemometer that plugs into the iPhone’s headphone jack
– Response Deck, an app for fire and EMS first responders
– iTranslate Voice, a near-real time language translation app
– Veterinary AliveECG, a portable heart monitor for pets
– ForeFlight Mobile, a civil aviation mapping and weather app for pilots
– SAM-1, an appcessory for measuring water pH and other data
“Dreams” debuts just over a month after the previous spot, “Parenthood”, was released at the end of June.
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Feedback Loop: Camera advice, smartphone battery life and more!
Happy Saturday! Here’s a fresh edition of Feedback Loop for your reading pleasure. This week we talk about suggestions for the best point-and-shoot cameras, battery life in the Nexus 5 and Moto X, streaming shows through TiVo’s mobile apps and using Bluetooth with multiple devices at the same time.
Best digital camera to use in auto mode?
There are many digital cameras on the market with all sorts of bells and whistles. But what if you truly just want a point and shoot? Which camera takes the best photos while in auto mode? Head over to the forums and help Dignan17 search for a new camera.
Nexus 5 vs. Moto X Battery Life
Mcduo wants to upgrade his Moto X but is worried that a new Android phone will force him to compromise on battery life. Which devices should he look at that have a lot of horsepower and can hold a charge all day? Let him know right here.
Streaming shows through TiVo’s mobile apps
I love baseball. I love it even more when I can watch it in my backyard! That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by the viewing experience using TiVo’s iOS app. Are you using any streaming services provided by your TV provider? Sound off here.
Bluetooth with multiple devices?
Let’s say you have one of those fancy new Android Wear smartwatches that’s paired to your smartphone through Bluetooth. HasanH007 wants to know what happens when you try to make a call using your car’s Bluetooth calling feature instead of the Wear watch on your wrist? If you’ve got some insight, head here to share it.
Other discussions you may also like:
- RX100 M3: New wrappers for 1080p video, will it work with iOS?
- 1Password shows off their iOS8 app extension, and it looks awesome!
- Halt and Catch Fire S1E9: Party Rock
That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion.
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Recommended Reading: Snapchat celebs and the birth of Auto-Tune
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
Snaps To Riches: The Rise Of Snapchat Celebrities
by Ellen Huet, Forbes
There’s no denying the popularity of the disappearing-photo prowess of Snapchat. So much so that companies are paying proven snapping pros to leverage their screen-swiping art. Brands like Taco Bell and Major League Soccer see the ephemeral content as a new way to reach a demographic that’s prone to ignoring more traditional marketing. Forbes sits down with Shaun McBride, or “Shonduras” as he’s know in the app, for a look at how the tactic has taken hold and how it’s building celebrities through little more than trendy social sharing.
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How an Oil Engineer Discovered Auto-Tune & Changed the Music Industry Forever If you’re like me, you probably assumed that the auto-tuning tool that took the music industry by storm was likely developed by an ace producer, experienced recording engineer or label exec. Nope, all incorrect. The tool was stumbled upon by an oil research scientist and trained flautist who realized the tools used in the crude industry could also fix off-pitch talent. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”);
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At Patagonia, the Bottom Line Includes the Earth Patagonia is a highly recognizable name for those exploring the great outdoors. The wilderness-trekking outfitter has developed a new material for wetsuits that’s more environmentally friendly, not relying on petroleum-based neoprene for its construction. What’s more, the company is encouraging its competitors to use the new Yulex rubber, and surfwear giant Quiksilver already has its own offering in the works. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
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Hitchbot thumbs rides across Canada, makes human friends
Hitchbot, the yellow glove- and Wellies-wearing robot, has started bumming rides across Canada, and by the looks of it, its hosts are having a blast ferrying it to its next drop-off point. The machine with a perpetual LED smile began its journey in Halifax, and it’ll travel 4,000 miles until it reaches Nova Scotia, British Columbia. People who pick up Hitchbot are pointed to a website where they can find instructions on how to handle it and where to drop it off. On the way, Hitchbot chats with its host, thanks to its speech recognition capability, or chatters away on its own in case its tablet-and-Arduino brain can’t parse what its companion’s saying. It also takes pictures every 30 minutes or so to send back to headquarters and upload to its social media accounts.
When university researchers David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller made Hitchbot, they wanted to know if robots can trust humans. Based on the photos people have been uploading on social media, the answer seems to be yes — for now. Hitchbot’s got a lot more ground to cover, including a boat trip to reach its final destination, so follow it on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with its adventures
Thanks Sharon and David for letting me ride in your trailer and for showing me Blue Heron campground in Charlo, NB. pic.twitter.com/MiV43n7w9J
– hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) July 30, 2014
Look at the great pic Margot sent of our time together – I’m just glowing! #hitchbot pic.twitter.com/WLgVkcPNWF
– hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) August 1, 2014
A big thanks to Margot for dropping me off with my family in Toronto! Now it’s time for a #botnap pic.twitter.com/IJaqwJtaOt
– hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) July 31, 2014
[Image credit: Hitchbot/Instagram]
Via: Hitchbot
Source: Hitchbot (Twitter)
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Flappy Bird Family makes your Fire TV five times as fun
A family that flaps together, stays together. As promised, the creator of Flappy Birds — you know, the insanely viral and addictive game that enjoyed massive success before quickly being removed from the iOS and Android app stores — is bringing a new version of his prized title to the Amazon Fire TV. Not only will you be able to relive the wonderful memory of topping your high score of 14, you can do so while pitted against other players in a multiplayer, dual-screen setup. There’s no word on if the game will make its way to iOS or Android eventually. But in the meantime, get grandma, the kids and your cousins into the living room, power up the Fire TV and see which one is the best at navigating an 8-bit bird through a series of Mario pipes. (Our vote’s on grandma.)
Filed under: HD, Mobile, Amazon
Via: Polygon, Laughing Squid
Source: Amazon
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Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster for Samsung Galaxy S5 Review: Leather just raised the Bar
I’m not much of a leather guy. I’m not much of a belt clip holster type of guy either. However, all that changed when I saw the Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster. Blacksmith-Labs is a company born from a Kickstarter and still appears to be going strong. Their philosophy is “based on the concept of modern minimalist, focusing on the fundamentals of the design without unnecessary elements” and you’ll definitely get a sense of that once we take a close look at the holster. The case we’re looking at today is for the Samsung Galaxy S5, but Blacksmith-Labs also has the case available for Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and Samsung Galaxy S4.
What’s in the box
Opening the box of the Bruno holster, you immediately get the sense you’re about to experience something unlike most other phone accessories. The box is lined with velvet, which you unfold to reveal the Bruno holster.
Blacksmith-Labs calls the Bruno Collection the “ultimate expression of our design philosophy”. The body of the holster is created from a single piece of leather and hand-stitched where required. As you might expect from a holster/pouch accessory, where the phone is always completely shielded, there isn’t anything extra included in the box besides the holster itself; no screen protector, no screen cleaner. As you can probably tell, even just from the photos, the Bruno holster is absolutely made from real leather, which gives it both a very distinct look and distinct smell.
On the rear of the holder, there is a 360-degree rotatable belt clip, which you can use to hook the holster onto yourself. We have the Gunmetal Grey variant of the belt clip here, but you can also choose to have the clip in Brushed Gold. Speaking of finishes, the Bruno holster that we have here is the Chestnut Brown, but you can also get it in Black, Burgundy, Blue, Dark Cognac and Natural Leather. The holster we have here will set you back $79.95 USD, while some of the other leather finishes, depending on the leather used, will cost up to $119.95 USD.
How does it perform
The function of the Bruno holster is as simple as you would expect; after you insert your Galaxy S5, you secure it inside the pouch by pulling down a leather strap and fixing it to the metal stud that adorns the front of the holster. It’s not the most secure mechanism you have ever seen, but it does do the job. For everything else that isn’t your phone, there is also a front pocket which can hold a whole number of things as it is quite wide including your credit and business cards, cash or even a charging cable.
The fit of the pouch is actually pretty loose so you can stick your fingers right into it to to fish your Galaxy S5 out. As for whether you can fit in your Galaxy S5 and a case: you might be able to get away with a very thin case, but anything thicker won’t cut it. But not to worry as Blacksmith-Labs also offers a version of the holster specifically for a Galaxy S5 and case (this appears to only be available for the Galaxy S5 so far) which will give you that extra leeway to fit in your device with protection.
While the Bruno holster is handcrafted, the workmanship is of a very high standard. I initially had concerns about how strong the stitching was, particularly the stitching around the belt clip, but it looks to be of good quality and should last quite a while (assuming you don’t start getting into extreme sports). And the great thing about a handcrafted accessory is that you know that it is unique, which is pretty special. As you might expect from a full body pouch, the Bruno holster is reasonably protective, and if you’ve chosen to get a holster made of real leather, chances are it’s going to be enough for your purposes.
You might be questioning the use of a stud to keep down the only strap that is keeping your Galaxy S5 from jumping out of the holster, but it employs a very simple locking system where you just pull the strap further down and the stud gets locked in a smaller notch that will keep the strap from coming loose. Simplicity is the key after all.
What I like about the Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster
There’s definitely something refreshing about seeing a case made from leather and made so elegantly. Sure, it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but if it is, you’re unlikely to be unhappy. I’m a big fan of how simple it is and how it looks so unassuming, which really highlights Blacksmith-Labs’ mantra of “less is more”.
Leather pouch aside, I really like the construction of the belt clip. It’s meaty, touch and goes well with the overall theme of the Bruno holster. Furthermore, I really like how Blacksmith-Labs have secured the belt clip, making sure that it won’t fall out, even after time and stretching of the leather.
What I don’t like about the Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster
I never like saying that price is something I don’t like about a product, particularly when I think it is worth it, and in this case, I do. However, the prices of the Bruno holsters (either $79.95 or $119.95), particularly the higher grade leather ones, are expensive, so unless this is definitely something you have been looking for, it’s not likely to be your first choice. Having said that, this is what real leather costs, which fans of the material will definitely associate with.
Final Thoughts
The Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster for Samsung Galaxy S5 is a testament to simplicity and function. It uses leather to great effect, which is a welcome contrast given the world of compounds and plastics we live in. If you’ve been looking for a leather holster, or something elegant to store your Galaxy S5 in, the Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster is definitely one accessory you should consider.
If you are interested in picking up the Blacksmith-Labs Bruno Belt Clip Holster for Samsung Galaxy S5, you can find the product page here, or if you want to see what else Blacksmith-Labs has on offer, you can visit their homepage here.
Gallery of photos
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HP Smartwatch Looks Quite Sexy! Leave Your Phones and Get Out! – The ManDroid Show
It is time to talk some Android with you folks. HP greeted us today with a smartwatch design that looks pretty sexy in my eyes. A sad story came about this week that resulted in a woman’s death because she couldn’t let her phone burn in her burning house. Your life is more important than your phone my friends. Enjoy the show!
Android News
HP smartwatch
Flexible leather phone concept
Woman dies saving her phone
Instagram with Material Design
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The post HP Smartwatch Looks Quite Sexy! Leave Your Phones and Get Out! – The ManDroid Show appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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Salons of the future: New hair coloring technique etches patterns in your hair
The technology sounds like it’s tailored for the young and the hip, but its creators believe that it has other, more significant potential applications. For instance, soldiers can periodically be issued patterns printed on tape for their armor that reflects a specific color under a special light that higher-ups can check to look for spies or the like. Airlines can also plaster these patterns on the underbelly of an aircraft to look invisible from below, and hence serve as a camouflage for dangerous situations. Since it could take many, many years before we even see this technique in salons, check out the researchers’ paper published in the Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications to read more about the technology.
Filed under: Science
Via: Gizmodo
Source: The University of New Mexico, Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications
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AIVAnet 