Google almost made an actual ‘Star Trek’ communicator badge
Google is always working on new and innovative technologies to bring to market, but some ideas get a little crazier than others. One of those ideas was basically a Star Trek communicator badge.
Amit Singhal, the senior vice president and software engineer at Google said:
“I always wanted that pin. You just ask it anything and it works. That’s why we were like, ‘Let’s go prototype that and see how it feels.’”
The device used Bluetooth to connect to another device in-order to process the user’s voice commands. However, unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, the prototype never made it to production. The reason mainly came down to poor voice command recognition. Currently, it is just too difficult to understand the human language. Humans can use context to apply multiple senses and draw on vast past experiences to interpret what other people are saying. This is one area Google is working on, but hasn’t mastered yet.
Source: TIME
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Apple and Microsoft’s advocacy group is against encryption backdoors
Following Tim Cook’s lead, the advocacy group behind Apple, Google, Microsoft and plenty of other big tech firms has come out against calls to weaken encryption, which authorities argue would make it easier to track criminals. “Weakening encryption or creating backdoors to encrypted devices and data for use by the good guys would actually create vulnerabilities to be exploited by the bad guys,” said Dean Garfield, the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Counsel (ITIC), who also represents Facebook, Twitter and AOL. It “would almost certainly cause serious physical and financial harm across our society and our economy,” he added. The backlash against strong encryption is particularly heated today, following the recent Paris attacks. While secure communications are generally a good thing for consumers, governments (including the US and UK) have argued for backdoors that would allow them to intercept encrypted data. Naturally, that would make life easier for intelligence agencies, but it defeats the point of having encryption at all.
Via: The Guardian
Source: ITIC
Google Street View gives you a tour of ancient Jordan landmarks
Jordan is home to some extremely significant historical and religious sites. However, visiting those landmarks in person is no mean feat — which is why Google just added many of them to Street View. Fire up your web browser and you can get virtual, 360-degree tours of more than 30 ancient locations, including the city of Petra (above), Jerash and legendary castles from the Crusades. We suspect that this will pale in comparison to the grandeur of seeing these relics first-hand, but you should at least have an inkling of what the experience would be like.
Source: Google Maps
Hidden data sent by many popular Android apps isn’t necessary, MIT says
It’s not shocking to hear that Android applications consume a lot of data, but you might be surprised to hear that much of that data isn’t necessary. A group of MIT researchers have revealed that a large amount of the hidden data found in the 500 most popular Android apps isn’t necessary to the applications overall functionality.
In their report, MIT researchers use the Walmart Android app as an example. The application allows the user to scan bar codes of products at Walmart to get pricing info, but in the process of that, the application also sends information to a server associated with eBay. MIT says this isn’t a necessary connection, and severing it has no effect on the functionality of the Walmart application.
MIT modified 47 apps to see if they were all indistinguishable, and as it turns out, only 30 of the 47 were. Still, the remaining 17 didn’t lose any core functionality either, as the only real noticeable difference was missing ads.
There isn’t any misconduct on this hidden data. On the contrary, much of it is analytical data that provides developers with crash and performance reports. Not only that, but much of this data is also to add a layer of optimization, helping the application work when you don’t have access to a connection. However, the concern is that all of this extra hidden data could be privy to a malicious breach, putting the user at risk.
source: MIT News
via: Engadget
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Google experimented with a Star Trek-style Communicator badge
Did you ever watch Picard’s Star Trek and hope that someday, we too might communicate with just the touch of a lapel-worn gadget? No, we didn’t really, either — Bluetooth headsets quickly poured water on that fire. But, Amit Singhal, senior vice president and software engineer at Google did, and the company even made a prototype. In a report in Time, Singhal describes the never-before-known wearable as a simple Bluetooth device controlled by touch, just like on the show. Once activated, your voice command would be passed to your handset, with feedback delivered by either a small speaker, or headphones.
Via: The Next Web
Source: Time
Awaken your Light or Dark side as Google plays Jedi mind tricks with your favourite apps
So. Star Wars. The new film (The Force Awakens) is being released next month, and the excitement is ramping up quite nicely. As I was never a fan of George Lucas’s sequel prequels, I can’t wait to see the old (and I do mean old) gang back together. There’s tons of merchandising available already, along with games on all sorts of platforms (check out Brad’s review of Star Wars: Uprising here), and now Google is getting in on the act allowing fans to choose the light, or go over to the dark side.
Regardless of which side you choose, your favourite Google apps such as Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, etc. will take on a Star Wars theme. From the Gmail loading animation changing into a light sabre to the background image on your Gmail account showing the landscape from Planet Jakku.
Clay Bavor, Google’s VP of Product Management, has said that this is just the beginning of the tie-in with Disney for Star Wars, with a virtual reality Millennium Falcon just one of the goodies to look forward to before The Force Awakens hits cinemas next month. The ability to Google Translate Wookie Speak and other Star Wars languages maybe also become a reality in the coming weeks.
You can choose your side by visiting google.com/starwars, and if you aren’t sure which side to join, the Light side would appear to be a little light (bad pun) on numbers. Come on, how many of you haven’t dreamed of piloting the Millennium Falcon with Chewy roaring by your side?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Google
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How to set up Nexus Imprint on the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X
One of the standout features from Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the fingerprint API. It allows Android devices to take advantage of built-in fingerprint scanners have a higher level of authentication for purchasing apps, submitting transactions, and securing a phone or tablet.
The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are the first two handsets to feature Nexus Imprint, Google’s term for such technology. Although we’ve seen manufacturers include fingerprint scanners of their own, this is the first time Google is officially them for Android.
First off, you’ll want to head into Settings and locate Security. The process will be the same whether you have a Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X. If you’re in the correct place, the fifth option from the top should read “Nexus Imprint.”
Once you select that option, your device will make you agree to the terms that follow. Then you’ll be asked to provide a backup password, PIN, or pattern. The next step is when you’ll scan your finger. For both the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, the sensor is mounted on the rear side of the device in a little circle just below the camera. On-screen prompts will help you to locate it. Now you’ll have to place and lift up your fingertip on the sensor multiple times while varying your finger placement slightly each time. This ensures the device captures the best possible image so that you can scan your finger quickly and accurately without any issue. For me, the fingerprint scanner on the Nexus 5X seems to register correctly almost always and has been more reliable than the majority of competitors.
Once you’ve added your fingerprint you’ll be good to go! You’ll also have the option to repeat the process and add another finger (but no more than five) and even give a name to each finger added. You’ll notice the addition right away on your lock-screen. Near the bottom you’ll see a small fingerprint icon indicating that your device can be unlocked with your fingerprint. You can also use your backup password, PIN or pattern at anytime by swiping up from the bottom of the lock screen. Google occasionally asks for your backup security method (the password, PIN or pattern) when booting up your smartphone for the first time.
One of the best things about Nexus Imprint is that you won’t even need to touch the power button prior to unlocking your device. When the device is on standby, you can wake it by placing your finger on the sensor to bypass the lock screen altogether. Google says that everyone’s fingerprint is secure and not shared with anyone; therefore, your data is kept safe at all times.
Click here to view the embedded video.
If you got lost in the process or have any questions regarding Nexus Imprint, please feel free to drop a comment down below and we’ll do our very best in assisting you.
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Nexus 6P is finally available in Google Stores across Europe
Weeks after the Nexus 6P was offered for sale in the United States, Google is finally making it available to customers across Europe.
Per several Reddit reports, and our own checks via VPN, the three configurations of the Nexus 6P are now listed in the Google Store in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
As for the price, it’s as high as we initially thought. The base 32GB model is €649, the 64GB model 699€, while the 128GB model is 799€. The €649 starting price translates to $690, compared to $500 in the US. That’s a big difference that can’t be explained solely through exchange and tax differences, but that’s the price we Europeans have to pay for staying on the Nexus edge.
It appears that the 128GB model is not yet available for sale, while the availability of the other storage and color combinations may vary from country to country.
Get the Nexus 6P from the Google Store
Europeans have been able to able to purchase the LG-made Nexus 5X from the beginning of November.
Is the Nexus 6P a good deal? It definitely is, in the United States. In our review, Josh was thoroughly impressed with the premium build, great performance, and excellent camera. But it remains to be seen whether Europeans will be able to stomach the engorged price of the Nexus 6P.
So, EU readers? Will you shell out €649+ for the privilege of rocking a Nexus?
Choose a side in Star Wars and Google’s apps will follow your path
If you’re a big fan of the Empire’s policies, if Darth Vader is your personal role model, if you think Stormtroopers are totally underrated, Google now lets you paint your allegiance all over your apps.
Just go to Google.com/StarWars and join the Dark Side. You can also choose those goody two-shoes Jedi, but that would be a waste of perfectly good Force, wouldn’t it?
Regardless of the side you lean towards, Google now makes it easy to give your apps a Star Wars-y flair. Pick a side and the following apps will be updated to show your loyalty:
- Android Wear – Install the Star Wars app
- Google Calendar – Add the dates of Star Wars events to your calendar
- Chrome – Install the Awaken The Force Within extension to see cool Star Wars images every time you open a new tab
- Chromecast – Get a Star Wars-themed backdrop
- Gmail – Get a Light Side/Dark Side Gmail theme
- Inbox by Gmail – Get a Light Side/Dark Side Gmail theme
- Maps – Your position marker is now a X-Wing or TIE Fighter
- Waze – Let C-3PO guide your drive
- YouTube – The progress bar will turn into a blue or red laser saber
- Google Search – ??
- Google Translate – ??
Choose your allegiance wisely, but, in case you realize the futility of fighting the Dark Side, you can always change your mind.
Some of the changes will take a few hours to be applied to your apps, as per this Google FAQ. With the exception of Google Search, Google Translate, and Waze you must be signed in with your Gmail account to use the full power of the Force.
Google says that all changes are strictly esthetic, though the FAQ doesn’t promise you won’t be humming a ppor rendition of the Imperial March, while your coworkers give you funny looks. Speaking of which, the Star Wars makeover only works for personal accounts.
The Star Wars experience works across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac, though the transformations to Chrome, Gmail, and YouTube only take place on desktop.
So, what is your favorite side in Star Wars, and why is it the Dark Side?
‘Star Wars’ promo turns your Google account to the dark side
One downside of being a billion-dollar movie studio that owns one of history’s most popular film series is that it’s hard getting the word out about new releases. Take Disney, which is struggling to inform the population that there’s a seventh episode of the Star Wars saga coming out in a few weeks. Thankfully, the folks at Google have noticed the studio’s plight, and decided to help out by offering customized themes for everyone’s favorite internet services.
Source: Google Blog, Google Star Wars
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