Andy Rubin, the father of Android, looks like he wants back in the mobile game
Andy Rubin, one of the co-founders of Android, has been away from the operating system for quite some time. The programmer-engineer-entrepreneur left the Android division of Google back in 2013 to help out with some of Google’s new robotics tech. A year later, he left Google completely to pursue his own hardware investment incubator Playground. Now Rubin says he’s thinking about coming back to the Android world by starting his phone company.
See also: Andy Rubin’s Playground Global invests $15 million in CastAR augmented reality startup
Rubin might be bringing some very interesting things to the Android ecosystem. Although he hasn’t released anything specific about his intentions, Rubin has had his hand in a number of developing fields over the last two years. He’s been involved in everything from augmented reality technology to new computing platforms to artificial intelligence.
If Rubin throws the weight of Playground’s hardware investments into this proposed phone company, we might start seeing some previously disparate technologies start shaking hands on mobile devices. This could be a step toward improving smartphones’ ability to interact with a wide array of devices simultaneously, a capability that is currently somewhat limited.
See also: Andy Rubin is leaving Android… but for what?
Of course, this is all speculation. Nonetheless, Andy Rubin is an icon in the tech world, so you can expect some definite rejoicing if this phone company becomes a reality. Always an innovator and ever an ally to upstart tech, Rubin would make a valuable re-addition to the Android landscape. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope some of that Rubin magic is coming back to the mobile world.
What are your thoughts on this development? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Songza folds into Google Play Music in early 2016
More than a year ago, Google acquired Songza to bolster its music streaming efforts with personalization. But Songza continued to operate the same despite being owned by Google; however, today the music streaming service announced its fate. Although it will indeed disappear for good, Songza will be folded into Google Play Music early next year.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Songza’s final day of operation will come on January 30, 2016. The following day, Google Play Music will absorb Songza accounts so that users will not lose their favorite playlists and listening history. Existing users of Songza just need to agree to the company’s new Terms of Service and Google’s Privacy Policy. Songza’s founders are making it clear to their loyal fanbase that moving over to Play Music has relatively few changes. Play Music costs nothing to use, though a paid subscription exists, and elements of Songza already live within it. The Concierge feature, which matches moods with music, was designed by Songza.
Source: Songza
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What’s coming to Nexus devices next week? New emojis!
What do you normally seek in a software update? Probably bug fixes and security patches, but also new features could show up if you’re lucky. Next week’s software update for Nexus devices might get you really excited or really annoyed.
It’s all about emojis. 🙌
Look! New emoji coming to #Nexus next week. Fonts and tech details shared with OEMs to include in their updates too. pic.twitter.com/GwvKw2d67p
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) December 3, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Once Google’s own hardware has the latest and greatest set of emojis, everyone else will be able to get their users access. Motorola is the only major company I’ve come across that uses the same emoji style as Google. Samsung, LG, HTC, and others prefer to utilize their own take on these characters. And, to be honest, they just don’t evoke the same fun as Google’s. At least the others will be able to have the same set of emojis even if it’s not of the same quality.
Did I just judge emojis? 😎
Source: Hiroshi Lockheimer (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: What’s coming to Nexus devices next week? New emojis!
Android’s new emoji arrive next week on Nexus devices
Android head Hiroshi Lockheimer said new emoji were on the way, and now they’re right around the corner. The Google exec revealed that next week Nexus devices will be updated with the new taco, unicorn and lion face emoji that are part of the Unicode 8.0 standard. The change will require a “new keyboard, new font, new code” so it means a full system upgrade is on the way (as far as any other changes, Lockheimer is declining to “ruin the surprise”). If you don’t have a Nexus phone, you’ll have to wait for your manufacturer to push the upgrade… eventually. No matter how long that takes, emoji addicts will be happy to see Android picking up the pace on its Unicode support, following Apple which added the latest standard to iOS 9.1 and OS X El Capitan.
Source: Hiroshi Lockheimer (Twitter)
Googles denies EFF allegations that it has violated student privacy
In a recent complaint to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has alleged that Google is violating student privacy by collecting and data mining student information obtained through Chromebooks used by schools. The EFF says the Chrome Sync feature, which is turned on by default on Chromebooks and is available through the Chrome browser, is being used improperly in violation of Google’s promises and FTC prohibitions against deceptive business practices. Google says the EFF is off base with their allegations and Chrome Sync is a benefit for students with no connection to advertising or data mining on Google’s part.
Google points out that Chromebooks or the Chrome browser used in an educational setting are configured to use the Google Apps for Education suite of tools. Those include items like Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar and Sites. Google spokesperson Jonathan Rochelle notes that “There are no ads in these Core Services, and student data in these services is not used for advertising purposes.” Instead, the feature is made available so that students can seamlessly move between school provided laptops and their own personal computers.
The EFF complaint does not appear to include any specific allegations that data mining or advertising has actually been conducted against student data. The EFF seems to be more concerned with the fact that student information is transmitted to and then stored on Google servers, which Google could then access for the nefarious purposes the EFF alleges.
Meanwhile, one of the creators of the Student Privacy Pledge that Google is a party to, along with Microsoft and Apple, has come down on the side of Google in the dispute. The Future of Privacy Forum executive director Jules Polonetsky issued a statement saying,
“We have reviewed the EFF complaint but do not believe it has merit. Chrome Sync is a setting within the control of the school IT administrator, and can also be changed by parents or students. This feature allows students to log in at home or at a library and have access to their school bookmarks, favorites and other settings. We don’t believe the complaint raises any issues about data use that are restricted by the Student Privacy Pledge.”
Do you think the EFF has a legitimate gripe in this case?
source: Fortune
Come comment on this article: Googles denies EFF allegations that it has violated student privacy
Google is shutting down Songza’s music service on January 31st
It’s been more than a year since Google bought Songza and started integrating its mood-savvy streaming into Play Music. And now, it seems, it’s time for the service to ride into the sunset — Songza has announced that it’s shutting down all of its offerings on January 31st, 2016. From then on, you’ll have to use Google Play Music to get those familiar features. You’ll get to import your playlists and listening history before the fateful day, but there’s otherwise no going back.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Songza
Former Android boss Andy Rubin could be coming back to phones
It’s been a little bit over a year since former Android boss Andy Rubin left Google entirely to start a hardware startup incubator called Playground Global. Now, it sounds like Rubin is going to get back in the Android game, albeit indirectly. A report from The Information claims that Rubin is trying to recruit people to start a new smartphone company, likely funded through Playground Global. It’s not clear if Rubin would be an advisor or play a more active role in managing and operating the company, but either way his vast experience with Android would be helpful for a new hardware company trying to get off the ground.
Source: The Information
Google uploads official Contacts and Phone applications to the Play Store
Google has uploaded another two of its internally developed applications to the Play Store for easy updating. This time round we’re looking at Contacts and Phone, which will only work on Nexus, Android One and Google Play Edition devices powered by Marshmallow, but compatibility is expected to expand to other handsets in the near future.
If you don’t possess a currently supported handset, it’s more than likely, you won’t have seen the stock Contacts and Phone apps yet — so be sure to check them out in the gallery below as they could be making their way to your smartphone sometime over the course of the next 12-months.
Play Store Download Link (Google Phone)
Play Store Download Link (Google Contacts)
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The ‘Star Wars’ VR experience for Google Cardboard is here
The Star Wars hype machine’s rolling at full force. But that shouldn’t surprise you, considering the new film from the world-famous franchise is debuting soon, on December 18th. As part of Disney’s promotional efforts leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ILMxLAB (Lucasfilm’s, Industrial Light & Magic’s and Skywalker Sound’s immersive entertainment laboratory) has created a virtual reality experience for Google Cardboard. Enter Jakku Spy, a VR project that ties directly into the latest installment of the movie series. The experience, available for iOS and Android, is designed to take you into another reality and put you in the role of a Resistance secret agent on Jakku, a desert environment derived out of The Force Awakens.
Source: App Store, Google Play
Star Wars Cardboard viewers are being given away to subscribers at select Verizon locations
Verizon is offering a limited amount of Star Wars Cardboard VR headsets free for subscribers.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, can’t wait for the new movie release and are a current subscriber of Verizon, you can head out to select Verizon stores and obtain a Cardboard reader free of charge. There are four variants available, Stormtrooper, R2-D2, BB8, and Kylo Ren. Each headset will have different content giving users an early look at the upcoming movie.
The VR headsets are quite similar to that of the traditional Google Cardboard. They work the same way and are made of the same materials. Users can download the Star Wats app from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store and use either an Android or iOS device for the experience. To find a location that has available stock, click the source link down below and then hit “find a store.”
Word is that Verizon only has 200,000 of them, so get one while supplies lasts!
Source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Star Wars Cardboard viewers are being given away to subscribers at select Verizon locations
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