Google Hangouts is getting new invitation settings
Google Hangouts is getting new invitation settings to make sure it’s as easy as possible for users to communicate. Once the features are enabled friends with your verified phone number or email can get in contact with you directly.
The update should be out by the end of today as long as you have the newest version.
Source Jordanna Chord (Google+)
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Android M Developer Preview 3 is officially delayed until further notice
If you have been waiting for your 3rd installment of the Android M developer previews, originally slated by Google to be released at the end of July, you can go ahead and take a moment to relax: it’s not happening anytime soon.
According to Android Developer Advocate, Wojtek Kaliciński, the preview has been indefinitely postponed.
Google had intended for each of the three developer previews to be released at the end of each month since Android M’s announcement (May, June, and July), but for various reasons, Developer Preview 2 was a few weeks late and not reaching devices until mid July. Maybe it has been this particular setback that’s delayed Developer Preview 3 or a whole new set of unforeseen problems that’s made it unready for release.
Android M Developer Preview 3 is expected to be the final developer preview before the official launch of the yet unnamed Android M sometime in late Q3. As is customary, the official launch will more than likely coincide with the announcement of the 2015 Google Nexus devices.
Stay tuned to Talk Android and Google’s official Android Developers page on Google+ to find out when the 3rd preview is available.
Source: Wojtek Kalicinski (Google+)
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New reports suggest Google Glass Enterprise Edition already in developers’ hands
Last week word came out that Google’s focus on making Google Glass enticing for enterprise users had resulted in some changes to the device to make it more suitable for the workplace. Although actual examples of the revamped units have yet to surface, reports coming out this week suggest Google has already shared some units with development teams that participate in the company’s Glass At Work program.
Sources indicate Glass At Work partners have been in regular contact with Tony Fadell, the leader of Google’s Nest Labs unit that took over Glass development earlier this year. That should not be a surprise based on the reported changes to Glass, like foldable frames and beefier construction, which were likely prompted by feedback from enterprise users. Google appears to be on track to officially rollout the Enterprise Edition no later than this fall.
Meanwhile, a new consumer version of Glass appears to still be at least a year off. Previously Fadell has stated that it is “going to take time to get it right” in reference to an updated consumer version. If there is any consolation for buyers interested in a new version, it is that Google appears to understand the price tag will need to be reduced by a significant amount from the $1,500 the original Glass units cost.
Amidst all the rumors about the pending Enterprise Edition, news has also surfaced indicating Google placed a freeze on employees in the Glass unit from transferring out to other parts of the company. Apparently there was a lot of interest on the part of employees, perhaps not surprisingly, in moving out of the team after it was announced Google was shutting down the Explorer program earlier this year and ending sales of the original Glass units.
sources: Wall Street Journal (paid), Re/code
via: Engadget
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Google rejects France’s demand for a global ‘right to be forgotten’
When French regulator CNIL told Google it must apply “right to be forgotten” requests globally last month, it gave the company 15 days to comply or face further action. That deadline came and went without a whisper from the search giant, but it’s taken another 34 days for it to muster a reply. In a blog post, Peter Fleischer, Global Privacy Counsel at Google, called CNIL’s order “disproportionate and unnecessary,” arguing that if it had obeyed its demand, France would essentially set the standard for internet regulation.
After the European Court of Justice ruled that it must accept requests to delist search results, Google says it has dealt with over 250,000 removal requests. CNIL argued that successful applications, which stand at around 41 percent, should apply “on all extensions of the search engine” and extend them beyond Google.fr to all of Google’s search websites.
“The overwhelming majority of French internet users – currently around 97 percent – access a European version of Google’s search engine like google.fr, rather than Google.com or any other version of Google,” says Fleischer. “As a matter of principle, therefore, we respectfully disagree with the CNIL’s assertion of global authority on this issue and we have asked the CNIL to withdraw its Formal Notice.”
The regulator confirmed to Reuters it had “taken note” of Google’s arguments, which it says are “mostly of a political nature” rather than being based on “strictly legal reasoning” like it’s own. It’ll now assess the appeal and decide whether it will accept it within “two months.”
[Image Credit: shutterstock]
Via: Reuters
Source: Google Europe Blog
Microsoft wins case against Google in patent royalty battle
Google’s nose has been bloodied slightly with the news that Microsoft has emerged victorious with a court ruling in a case that has been dragging on since 2010. The ruling could result in a decrease in royalty payments paid by electronics manufacturers for patents pertaining to Wi-Fi and video downloads. The case was a tit-for-tat move on Motorola’s part because of the lawsuit that Microsoft filed a month before claiming Motorola infringed on several Microsoft patents in Android smartphones.
The San Francisco Appeal’s Court upheld the $14.5 million jury verdict stating that Motorola had breached its obligation to offer wireless and video patents at a reasonable cost. Instead, according to Microsoft, Motorola unfairly demanded billions of dollars for using the patents involved, with a figure of around $4 billion per annum being bandied around. This has been in the mix for since 2010 before Google purchased Motorola Mobility even. One of the consequences of this case resulted in Microsoft having to move its Xbox distribution facility out of Germany so it could avoid an import ban that came about because the Redmond company refused to pay a percentage of its sales to Motorola. While Google sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo, it kept hold of the majority of Motorola’s patents, which means it kept the court case as well. Thanks to the ruling, Microsoft is due restitution for the relocation of that Xbox facility as well as its legal costs. Neither Microsoft nor Google has commented on the ruling.
Charles Duan, a lawyer with the Public Knowledge consumer group, had this to say about the ruling:
“This ruling is a win for consumers, competition, and innovation. It keeps prices reasonable for old products and allows new products to come to the marketplaces.”
Besides being a win for Microsoft, it could help other electronics manufacturers such as HP, Apple and Intel that have campaigned against the high royalty fees they pay to access patents allowing devices to accepts calls, download videos and access Wi-Fi. The ruling could also guide other technology companies on how much access to a payment is actually worth. Although it has to be said that the ruling won’t make pleasant reading to some companies such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Nokia, that require recompense for the resources they pour into researching fundamental technologies that are used throughout the mobile industry.
It appears to be a result that divides opinion, what do you make of the ruling?
Source: Mercury News
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Google makes it even easier to test Android apps
For developers, allowing the public to evaluate apps before general release is paramount — it helps weed out the bugs that could derail an otherwise successful launch. Both Apple and Google offer the capability, but TestFlight features have only been baked into iOS for the better part of a year and Android owners have typically had to jump through a number of hoops in order to sign up. With that in mind, Google has made some welcome changes that take the hassle out of the process.
First up is a new open beta option that lets developers share a link and let you sign up with a single click. No groups, no step-by-step processes, just follow the link and start testing. Next up is email testing. App makers conduct a private test, but can choose to share their creations with participants via email. Similar to an open beta, click the link and you’ll immediately be opted-in.
Creators can still use their old Google+ communities or Google Groups, but they’ll now have the option to move across to an open test without losing their existing user base. For developers that like to give their apps some air before unleashing them on the world, the extra choice will be welcome. If you enjoy testing apps, it means you’ll still be able to try out cool new features, but it’ll now be easier to do so.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Android Developers Blog
ICYMI: Street View pollution hunt, Easier Amazon and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: Google Street View cars are rolling through U.S. cities to measure pollution, measuring harmful compounds like methane and carbon monoxide. Amazon’s new Dash buttons are now available, which let consumers instant-order basic household items with a push of a literal button. And NASA is crashing planes to help improve the reliability of Emergency Location Transmitters, so that the signal actually turns on when something goes terribly wrong.
The bonus video today looks like a robot horror movie for a couple seconds (52 seconds in!) and is well worth the view. We wanted to also show you this haunting video of a robot as ribbon dancer but simply ran out of time. Enjoy!
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
Filed under: Household, Peripherals, Robots, Transportation, Internet, Google
Report: Google’s second-gen Glass headset is being aimed exclusively at businesses
We may have heard some rumors about Google’s second-generation Glass headset coming with a larger prism display, a higher performance Intel Atom processor and moderately improved battery life, though we may not be able to get our hands on it anytime soon. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Google is quietly pitching the new headset exclusively to businesses. And more specifically, the sources claim, the next-gen headset is aimed at businesses in industries such as healthcare, energy and manufacturing.
Instead of launching this new version of Glass to consumers, the company is supposedly distributing the new model to software developers so they can create programs to be used in business settings. Google also plans for businesses to be using these new models sometime this fall.
Moreover, the report claims that the new Glass, while sporting a curved-rectangle shape that’s similar to the first-gen headset, will not include a wire-like frame this time around. Alternatively, it will feature a “button-and-hinge system” that allows the mini-computer to be easily attached to different glasses. The new model will also have a faster Intel processor, improved battery life by up to two hours, as well as improved wireless connectivity, the report said. In addition, the cube-like glass prism will have the ability to move vertically and horizontally, rather than just horizontally.
The report goes on to say that Google is remaining committed to the technology and has plans to release another consumer version, though we might not see that consumer-ready product until at least a year from now.
Google is launching a new version of Glass, but only for workers
Good news, wearable fans: there’s a new version of Google Glass on the way. Only… it’s not really meant for you. Both Recode and the Wall Street Journal hear that Google is handing out a new, work-oriented version of its smart eyepiece to its enterprise partners’ development teams. As for what it entails? Like 9to5Google hinted earlier, its a mix of performance and accommodating the demands of the working world. There’s a hinge to attach it to different glasses, and the wider, thinner prism (aka the display) can move both vertically and horizontally. It also touts a faster Intel Atom processor, better wireless and longer-lasting battery packs that attach to the headset through magnets.
If everything goes according to plan, Google will have businesses actively using this version of Glass by the fall. You may have to wait much longer for the fabled consumer-friendly device, though. If you ask the WSJ‘s sources, the mainstream version is “at least” one year off. The one consolation is that it might not be nearly as expensive as the $1,500 Explorer Edition. The enterprise unit is expected to cost “well below” the Explorer’s price point, and we can’t imagine that a less exacting standard model would sell for more.
[Image credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images]
Filed under: Wearables, Google, Intel
Source: Recode, Wall Street Journal
Google Play Movies and Newsstand are expanding to more countries
Google looks to be expanding its Google Play Services to more countries. Today, Google announced that Play Movies, in addition to the Newsstand app, is coming to new countries around the world.
- Countries getting Google Play Movies: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
- Countries getting Google Play Newsstand: Poland, Philippines, Taiwan, Ukraine
People in more than one hundred companies now have access to Play Movies while Newsstand’s reach covers twenty-two.
Source: Google Play (Google+)
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