Some of the largest tech companies are working together to make a new video format
Almost all the biggest tech companies are joining together to create a new royalty free video format. Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix plan on making this new format to revolutionize the internet.
The new company formed is called Alliance for Open Media. The new video format will probably mean the final end to Adobe Flash. Flash video has been around forever and has only caused trouble in recent years. Apple was the first company to stop using Flash altogether when it’s iPhone came out, interestingly enough, Apple is not a part of the alliance. However, Apple, Facebook, Sony, Twitter and other major tech companies, which are not a part of it, are welcome to join according to Mozilla CTO David Bryant.
“The initial members are just a start. We invite anyone with an interest in video, online or off, to join us.”
The new video format does not have a name currently, but will be specifically designed for streaming video. It will also need to able to work well with low powered mobile devices. A notable feature is the video format will support copyright protection.
The new group will operate under W3C patent rules and release code under an Apache 2.0 license. This means the new video format will be royalty free, any company can build software to support it.
A Mozilla blog post by Mozilla CTO David Bryant details the participants’ reasoning and concerns.
“One of the biggest challenges in developing open standards in a field like video codecs is figuring out how to review the patents. The Alliance provides a venue for us to share the legal legwork without having to worry about it being used against us down the road.
That distributes the load, allows us to innovate faster and cheaper, and gives everyone more confidence that we are really producing a royalty-free codec.”
Personally, I think there are already many other excellent video codecs out there to use and this seems to be more about creating a copyright protected one. However, share with us your thoughts in the comments.
Source: Alliance for Open Media
Via: TNW News
Come comment on this article: Some of the largest tech companies are working together to make a new video format
Pokemon Shuffle makes it to the Google Play Store
Fans have been begging for a Pokemon game to make it to mobile for years. Today we can finally report that a release is here, but it’s definitely not what you were hoping for. Nevertheless, it should be a fun title for your casual gaming sessions. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s not only the first Pokemon game to officially hit mobile devices, it’s also the first title to be ported from Nintendo consoles to mobile!
So, what is this Pokemon Shuffle all about? You will understand the game right away, as it is really nothing new. In essence, it’s the same as Bejeweled (or Candy Crush)… except with Pokemon faces instead of jewels or candy.
Your goal is to solve puzzles by matching identical Pokemon figures. You get a limited amount of moves, as well as lives. Each game costs one life, which is regenerated in 30 minutes. Of course, you can also buy game currency via in-app purchases, which can help you buy power-ups and speed up your advancement.
Admittedly, this is not really a Pokemon game. It’s just using the franchise’s image to try and get more users. Regardless, it’s still fun, and it represents something much larger. Nintendo is entering the mobile market and this happens to be one of the first steps into this transition. More is coming, and maybe even actual Pokemon games are to follow. Not to mention other amazingly popular franchises like Zelda, Mario Bros and more.
Good things are to come, guys! Just let this game be a good reminder of that. Also, who doesn’t like matching figures?! Go download Pokemon Shuffle from the Google Play Store!
Google has a beautiful new logo
After getting a new CEO last month, Google also has got a new logo. Google’s reasoning behind the new logo is that people are using Google differently today than they were 17 years ago. In the past the only way to use Google was through a desktop computer Today you can interact with Google in a variety of ways – mobile device, TV, watch, car dashboard, and even a desktop.
The new logo has more meaning today than ever. The new colorful microphone helps you identify and interact with Google, whether you’re talking, tapping or typing. The standard blue “g” in google has been replaced with a four-color “G” to match the new logo. The new logo is supposed to represent all of the ways Google works for you across Search, Maps, Gmail. Chrome, and others. This logo is the Google of today and the future.
Google also posted a history of their changes to their logo over the years. Check it out in the video above. Expect to see the rollout of the new logo across all Google products soon if you haven’t seen the changes yet.
The post Google has a beautiful new logo appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google’s new branding is slowly coming to web and Android icons
Earlier today we told you Google has updated their logo and would be bringing the design change to all of it’s products. They have already started updating some of their major apps with new logos on web and Android.
The new upper case “G” will be carried over to any apps that previously had the old lower case “g”. Web apps, so far, with changes are: Google+, Maps, Translate, News, and Search. On Android, only Maps and Translate have made the change. Maps also got an update with some new changes too.
We are not sure when all the other Android apps will see the new icons changes, but we would imagine it won’t be long. What do you think of the new icons?
Source: Android Central
Come comment on this article: Google’s new branding is slowly coming to web and Android icons
Google to start downranking sites with huge app install ads
If you’ve ever tapped on a search result on your phone only to see a giant ad imploring you to install the site’s app, you know how annoying that can be. Google realizes that too, thanks to its own internal study that showed users often don’t click through when they encounter these ads. Now Google wants to change that by downranking sites that pull such a stunt. Starting November 1st, any site that uses large app install interstitials will no longer be deemed “mobile-friendly” by Google, which could spell disaster for the site’s SEO. Other interstitials will still be okay, however, and Google is encouraging the use of less obtrusive app install banners instead. While ads aren’t going away entirely — this is Google, after all — at least it looks like they’ll be less aggravating in the future.
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Google
Tags: appinstall, google
Google to start downranking sites with huge app install ads
If you’ve ever tapped on a search result on your phone only to see a giant ad imploring you to install the site’s app, you know how annoying that can be. Google realizes that too, thanks to its own internal study that showed users often don’t click through when they encounter these ads. Now Google wants to change that by downranking sites that pull such a stunt. Starting November 1st, any site that uses large app install interstitials will no longer be deemed “mobile-friendly” by Google, which could spell disaster for the site’s SEO. Other interstitials will still be okay, however, and Google is encouraging the use of less obtrusive app install banners instead. While ads aren’t going away entirely — this is Google, after all — at least it looks like they’ll be less aggravating in the future.
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Google
Tags: appinstall, google
Google, Microsoft and Netflix team up on free video formats
It’s no secret that many tech companies hate video formats that are closed, cost money or both — enough so that they’ll drop popular standards and develop their own codecs. There hasn’t been a concerted attempt to tackle this problem, however, which is why several industry giants have just launched the Alliance for Open Media. Founding members Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix are working on a future video format that should be royalty-free, open to anyone and playable on just about any modern device. It’s still extremely early (the group hasn’t even said how others can join), but you should hear more about their efforts later this year.
While it’s not stated, the Alliance is effectively trying to make an end run around MPEG LA, the group that licenses big video formats like H.264 and H.265. If the Alliance can create a standard that catches on, it’d eliminate one of the common costs for offering video playback on devices and through the internet. However, that’s a big “if.” The tech industry is notorious for developing formats that either take ages to arrive or quickly fizzle out. Also, Apple isn’t one of the founders. Unless the Alliance can convince Apple to hop aboard, it may have trouble reaching the widest possible audience — just look at what happened when Cupertino refused to support Flash on its mobile hardware.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Alliance for Open Media
Tags: allianceforopenmedia, amazon, cisco, google, hdpostcross, intel, internet, microsoft, mozilla, mpeg-la, mpegla, netflix, streaming, video, web
Google gives us a good look at what its new visual language will look like on mobile
Earlier today, Google revealed a brand new logo and visual language that better reflects the company as a whole, no matter what screen size you’re using. We knew the revamped logo would begin rolling out to various products starting at some point today, and thanks to a new blog post, we’re getting a good look at the new visual refresh coming to mobile devices.
As you can see from the images attached above, search results on mobile devices will soon begin to look much more refined and modern. Google Now cards are getting a visual refresh, as well. Now they’ll be grouped together by category so you can find what you need more quickly, and they’ll also shift around and change sizes so the most important cards stand out.
Moreover, some big changes will also start to make their way to the home screen Search experience on Android devices. Take a look at the video below. As you can see, the Google logo and microphone have been updated to sport the iconic four color scheme. When the user taps the microphone, four colored dots appear on the screen and morph into the Google logo when the voice search is completed.
We’re not sure when all of these changes will come to mobile devices, but we’re hoping they do sooner rather than later. What are your thoughts on these new visual changes? Are you a fan, or do you like the way things look already?
Check out one of Google’s biggest logo redesigns ever
Every so often, Google tweaks and changes its logo. We’ve seen subtle shifts in fonts, colors, and shading, but for the past 15 years or so the logo has stayed pretty much the same without seeing any kind of major redesign.
Today marks a relatively massive redesign of Google’s logo, complete with a brand new font and some new identity branding. You can see the new main logo above, but Google is also changing the small blue G that we’re all used to into a multicolored G that matches the logo.
This new redesign is supposed to reflect a new Google that’s on every screen you own, not just your desktop or laptop web browser. In just the past few years, we’ve seen Google dive head first into the smartphone market, the wearable sector, and even things like connected vehicles and televisions. The company has grown exponentially since the previous logo came into existence, and the new logo symbolizes that.
What are your thoughts on the new logo?
source: Google
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Check out one of Google’s biggest logo redesigns ever
Google Officially Changes their Logo
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Google announced last month their big plans for the future, which a lot of you saw that was Alphabet. So with a new and bright future must come a new and fresh logo for Google, and I must say I dig it.
The video below shows us how much Google has evolved, as well as how much the logo has evolved. The new logo is simple, plain, and still has those colors that make it seem familiar, but the new font will be something to get use to. Check out the video below and let us know what you think about the new logo.
The post Google Officially Changes their Logo appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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