Russia finds that Google is abusing its mobile dominance
Remember how Russian search firm Yandex claimed that Google was abusing its lead in mobile by making Android phone makers pre-install some Google apps, and precluding some third-party apps? Well, Russia agrees. The country’s anti-monopoly regulator has determined that Google’s app policy violates national competition law. The exact penalty won’t be decided until sometime after September 28th, but Google will at least have to alter its approach to apps. It may also have to cough up as much as 15 percent of its Russian revenue from 2014.
Google’s Russian branch is declining to comment on the decision, but it’s hard to imagine that the internet giant will simply accept the outcome and move on. If it does, it may have to let phone designers install more competing apps (such as Yandex’s search app and store) on devices that support Google Play, and allow more prominent positions for those third-party titles. Those changes would undoubtedly cut into Google’s bottom line — it’s not going to make much money from search ads or Play purchases if the relevant software stays buried in your app drawer. Not every country shares Russia’s views on Google’s market position, but it’s a large enough nation to deal a serious blow.
Filed under:
Internet, Mobile, Google
Source:
Reuters (Yahoo)
Tags: alphabet, android, antitrust, google, internet, mobilepostcross, monopoly, regulation, russia, search, smartphone, yandex
Rumor: Google to offer extended warranties for Nexus devices?
Insurance for your phones can be a challenge. Carriers offer insurance, but at at around $10 a month, plus a deductible when you make a claim, it can be almost the same price as buying a new phone. You can buy a cheaper option from a company like SquareTrade or if you’re an Apple device owner you can get AppleCare+ from Apple themselves.
Now it looks like Google is getting into the warranty game too.
Our friends over at AndroidPolice have discovered references to “Nexus Protect” in the page source on Google’s device pages. The exact toast message shows up as this:
“You can’t add this phone unless it has the same Nexus Protect choice as other phones in your cart. You can update your choice or purchase this phone in your next order.“
The assumption we’re going to make is that Nexus Protect is an AppleCare type product. Currently AppleCare+ for iPhone 6 and earlier models offers you two years of hardware coverage, support and up to two “incidents” claims (with a $79 deductible).
We have no concrete evidence of what Nexus Protect will offer, but we hope it’s in the same range as Apple’s services where you can swap out a broken phone for a nominal fee. HTC recently released Uh Oh protection where they’ll swap out your HTC One M9 in the first year no questions asked, so it looks like this is a growing trend.
We expect to see two new Nexus devices in the coming months so it seems like that would be a logical time to launch such a program.
Source: AndroidPolice
The post Rumor: Google to offer extended warranties for Nexus devices? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google names auto industry exec to head up self-driving car project
Google has announced another new move in their slow march to bringing driver-less cars to the general public. Following news about a recent visit by Google X’s Sarah Hunter to the California Public Utilities Commission to update them on the project, Google has appointed John Krafcik as the CEO of the self-driving car project.
Krafcik will be moving to Google from his position as president of TrueCar, an online auto sales company. Krafcik has a background as a mechanical engineer and has worked in the past with both Ford and Hyundai.
A statement from Google notes:
“We’re feeling good about our progress, so now we’re investing in building out a team that can help us bring this technology to its full potential. John’s combination of technical expertise and auto-industry experience will be particularly valuable as we collaborate with many different partners to achieve our goal.”
Krafcik is scheduled to start with Google later this month. Chris Urmson, who was leading the project, will take over the lead role on the technical development side.
Google has not announced plans yet to spin off the project into its own company, but that seems like an imminent move as the concept continues to gain momentum.
source: CNET
image via: Reuters
Come comment on this article: Google names auto industry exec to head up self-driving car project
Eric Schmidt: Apple Music’s human curation is ‘elitist’
Every now and again, executives from the world’s largest tech companies like to throw some thinly-veiled shade in the direction of their rivals. Depending on who you ask, Eric Schmidt’s editorial for BBC News can be taken as a stinging attack on Apple Music, which he calls “elitist” and out-dated. The Alphabet chief was writing about the benefits of artificial intelligence, specifically talking about how machine learning can benefit various projects including speech recognition and self-driving cars.
“In the future, we need to do even more blending of AI research with solving real-world challenges.
In the next generation of software, machine learning won’t just be an add-on that improves performance a few percentage points; it will really replace traditional approaches.
To give just one example: a decade ago, to launch a digital music service, you probably would have enlisted a handful of elite tastemakers to pick the hottest new music.
Today, you’re much better off building a smart system that can learn from the real world – what actual listeners are most likely to like next – and help you predict who and where the next Adele might be.
As a bonus, it’s a much less elitist taste-making process – much more democratic – allowing everyone to discover the next big star through our own collective tastes and not through the individual preferences of a select few.“
After a while, the executive gets onto the subject of a digital music service (quoted) and how “a decade ago,” it would have required hiring a “handful of elite tastemakers” to build it. You’ll get no prizes for guessing the approach that Apple took when constructing Beats 1, snagging elite tastemakers DJs like Zane Lowe to curate Beats 1’s selection. When the channel launched, Eddy Cue spoke of his distaste for internet radio, saying that it was merely a “playlist of songs,” and praising human curation.
Of course, Schmidt may have the excuse that he was only reacting to provocation, since Tim Cook threw a sharp elbow towards Google Photos back in June. The CEO was speaking at a privacy non profit about a product that took your family’s photos and “sold [them] off for god knows what advertising purpose.” The big lesson here, folks, is that even two of the tech world’s most powerful people can’t resist in a little bit of high school drama every now and again.
[Image Credit: AFP/Getty]
Filed under:
Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Apple, Google
Via:
Re/code
Source:
BBC News
Tags: Alphabet, apple, AppleMusic, EricSchmidt, google
‘Nexus Protect’ reference spotted at the Google Store
An intriguing new reference has been spotted over at the Google Play Store, which points to something called the ‘Nexus Protect’. However, the listing isn’t out in the open on any of the product pages, instead it is tucked away in the page source, possibly waiting for use.
The reference can be spotted hidden away in numerous product page across the Google Store, although the message could be left system wide rather applying to every product. Mention of Nexus Protect is apparently set to appear as a toast-style pop-up, which contains the following message:
You can’t add this phone unless it has the same Nexus Protect choice as other phones in your cart. You can update your choice or purchase this phone in your next order.
It’s not fully clear what this Nexus Protect is at this stage. From the wording, we can surmise that it is some sort of protection program that applies to a range of phone or products. Perhaps it is an extended protection plan, possible in the same vein as Apple Care and other warranties, which is applied to a selection of products ordered together. The message seems to suggest that this will be limited to particular products or order types, most likely just the Nexus branded range of smartphones.
Despite the hidden reference, there hasn’t been any official word about Nexus Protect from Google, and this is certainly not confirmation that the company is planning to launch such a program. Google may have something to announce in the near future, possibly when the new Nexus handsets from Huawei and LG arrive.
Google hires auto industry veteran to run self-driving car project
Google already has someone running the technical side of its self-driving car project, but what about making sure the spreadsheets and such match up? That’s a job for a serious business type, which is why the firm has hired auto industry veteran John Krafcik to become CEO of its autonomous vehicles division. Krafcik comes with some pedigree, having previously worked at Ford and ran Hyundai’s US car business for five years. Those with long memories will recall that Krafcik was responsible for replacing owners manuals with a tablet in the Hyundai Equus, before reversing that decision a year later.
Yes, true: I’m joining the Google Self-Driving Car project in late September.
— John Krafcik (@johnkrafcik) September 14, 2015
When Krafcik left Hyundai, he went to run TrueCar, an online shopping site that helps buyers find deals when buying a new car. As Re/code reports, while the self-driving car project now has its own CEO, it’s not yet ready to become its own company, away from Google’s X Lab. A spokesperson told the site that it’s “not becoming an Alphabet company at this stage,” cheekily adding that “it’s certainly a good candidate to become one” in the future.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under:
Transportation, Google
Via:
WSJ
Source:
John Krafcik (Twitter)
Tags: Alphabet, Autonomous, ChrisUrmson, google, JohnKrafcik, SelfDrivingCar
Ex-Hyundai CEO to steer Google’s self-driving car project
Google has hired its first chief executive for its self-driving car project. The division will be under the supervision of ex-Hyundai CEO John Krafcik, a 25 year industry veteran. Krafcik takes over the lead role from Chris Urmson, who is moving over to a technical director on the project.
Krafcik has plenty of experience in the automotive industry. He us currently president of TrueCar, an online platform for automobile purchases, was CEO of Hyundai Motor America for five years, and worked in product development at Ford for 14 years before that.
“This is a great opportunity to help Google develop the enormous potential of self-driving cars … This technology can save thousands of lives, give millions of people greater mobility, and free us from a lot of the things we find frustrating about driving today. I can’t wait to get started.” – John Krafcik
Google appears to be stepping up its self-driving car and Android Auto initiative. However, it is interesting to note that, despite now having its own CEO, the self-driving car project will remain under Google’s X labs for now, rather than becoming its own company under the new Alphabet umbrella. Although Google says that it is “a good candidate to become one at some point in the future.”
See also: Google’s driverless car prototypes are now cruising the streets of Mountain View
Google has been testing its self-driving cars in a few locations across the US over the past few months. The company also ordered additional prototypes just last week, suggesting that it is preparing to ramp up testing next year. Google has previously stated that it won’t be producing any vehicles itself, but will instead be looking to partner up with other manufacturers.
Sphero BB-8 Android app updated with voice command capabilities
Did you get yourself a nifty Sphero BB-8 Star Wars droid? The app-controlled spherical robot is about the coolest tech toy we have seen hit the market in a long time. And using your phone to move the android around is only the basic feature; this thing is smarter than one would imagine. One of its perks is the ability to recognize your voice and react to it. There was only one issue – though this was a very widely advertised feature, it wasn’t a capability that was available to Android users at launch.
Sphero is ready to give us voice commands with the latest update to the official BB-8 application. This upgrade brings the application up to version 1.0.1, and it also offers UI tweaks, connection fixes and compatibility for more devices.
Those who want to start ordering their Sphero BB-8 robots around can now go to the official app’s settings and turn the “Voice Commands” option on. After this, you can tell the Sphero BB-8 to go into patrol mode, move forward or backward, and one can even yell out “it’s a trap” to have the robot go away speedily.
This little toy is every Star Wars geek’s dream. It packs so many features, which is why it’s no surprise to see it priced at $149. I say it’s worth every penny, though!
Have you guys been able to test voice commands yet? Hit the comments to let us know how it works.
Download the BB-8 app from the Google Play Store!
Android Authority this week – September 13, 2015
The world of Android never stands still, so after a brief post-IFA respite, this week brought us exciting reports about the Moto X Force, the first real look at the Android-powered Nokia C1, and more images of the Nexus 5X; Apple announced a very tame upgrade to Android’s biggest rival; we heard the first enticing rumors about the Galaxy S7; and Google finally launched Android Pay.
Inside AA HQ
All the big news happened the week before, but Josh, Lanh, and Nirave actually stayed in Berlin until Wednesday, continuing to bring you coverage from Europe’s biggest tech event. One of the last things they did at the show was hand out the Android Authority Best of IFA awards for the five most impressive products launched at IFA. See the award winners here.
Now that IFA is behind us, we’re all looking forward to the next big event of this autumn. Google will unveil the next Nexus devices at the end of September, and just like every other Android fan, we’re very excited to see them in action. Until then, we have a bunch of hot devices in our labs, including the Moto X Style and the Mate S – reviews are coming soon, so stay tuned.
OnePlus has a hit a snag or two in bringing the OnePlus 2 to market, but you won’t have to deal with all that invite hassle, provided you’re lucky enough! Check out our international giveaway for a shot at winning a brand new OnePlus 2!
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Bailey puts the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 up for testing
- Hands-on: May the force be with you! We go hands-on with the Huawei Mate S
- Hands-on: Is the Huawei Watch still worth your attention, six months after its announcement?
- Opinion: Andrew looks at the strategies of the major Android OEMs: who’s winning and who’s losing?
- Feature: Xiaomi: it’s time you learned more about the Chinese company taking over most markets that it enters
- Unboxing: Moto X Style or X Pure: whatever you call it, it’s a hell of a device
Top news of the week
Moto is out in Force
The true Nokia Android is coming
All about Nexus 5X
- (Update: new image) LG Nexus 5X shows up in clearest image yet
- You can get a good idea of what the Nexus 5X looks like from these case renders
New iPhones: lots of yawns and a few cool features
- By the numbers: iPhone 6S vs the Android competition
- iPhone 6S and 6S Plus announced: what you need to know about Apple’s latest
Galaxy S7: the rumor mill is working
Android Pay is here
- New Google Wallet app launched, may signal the impending Android Pay release
- Google officially rolling out Android Pay starting today (Update: Grab the APK now)
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Nexus Protect getting mentioned around the Google Store; is it a form of extended warranty?
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When it comes to extended device warranty, Apple pretty much has everyone beat – for better or worse. However, it looks like Google might have some tricks up its own sleeves as the name Nexus Protect has started to be thrown around. According to Android Police, Nexus Protect can be found in several parts of the page source of the Google Store, and suggests that it’s some kind of extended warranty, the kind that gets you a free screen replacement or something of that nature. There also appear to be some weird restrictions, such as buying multiple devices requires all devices to have Nexus Protect, otherwise none will get it – the only thing I can think of this stopping is people who buy multiple devices at launch with the idea of selling them off.
Even though the service is called Nexus Protect, it also appears that it will be available for every device on the Google Store, including Android Wear, Android TV and Chromebook, though that’s just speculation based on the source code at this time. If Nexus Protect turns out to be an actual thing – and Google’s rumoured event on September 29th seems like a good time to announce it – Nexus devices could become just that little bit more attractive to prospective buyers.
What do you think about a Nexus Protect warranty? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
The post Nexus Protect getting mentioned around the Google Store; is it a form of extended warranty? appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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