European carriers could block internet ads for their own benefit

While advertising has become a necessary evil, some companies have become specialists in helping you rid yourself of it. If you live in Europe, you could soon find help from an unlikely ally, after a Financial Times report noted that some operators are ready to block ads from Google, Microsoft and Yahoo on your smartphone. According to the newspaper, one European carrier has already installed ad-blocking software in its data centers, with the intention of deploying it before the end of the year. Other providers have reportedly indicated that they may do the same and would ask customers to opt-in to the service.

Although you’d hope that carriers were acting in your best interests, that is (almost) never the case. The software is developed by an Israeli company called Shine, which just so happens to have received investment from Li Ka-shing, the world’s richest man and owner of telecoms giant Hutchison Whampoa. As the biggest internet ad company, Google is the obvious target, and by stripping its ads from webpages and some apps (Facebook and Twitter’s in-feed units would be unaffected), the unnamed carriers in question could then force the company to share some of its revenue with them.

It’s a dangerous game, especially because it would go against the very notion of net neutrality, which ensures that all traffic is treated equally. Google is obviously against the idea, intimating to the FT that without ads, it could affect the development of its free apps and web services. However, Google, Amazon and Microsoft may have set a dangerous precedent when they paid to have some of their sites unblocked in Adblock Plus — now they may face even greater pressure from companies with a lot more influence (and much bigger budgets).

[Image credit: Adam Fagen, Flickr]

Filed under: Mobile, Google

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Source: Financial Times

Google’s unique self-driving cars will hit public streets this summer

Almost a year after it unveiled its first self-driving bubble car prototype, Google is finally ready to take it off the test track and let it loose on California’s public roads. In fact, the search giant says it has a “few” models ready to embark on the next phase of testing, which will see vehicles with removable steering wheels, accelerator and brake pedals undergo the same testing that its modified self-driving Lexus RX450h SUVs went through.

After its safety practises were called into question earlier this week, Google is keen to reinforce the amount of testing it’s already performed. For starters, the prototypes have already racked up “nearly a million autonomous miles” on its test tracks and have recently been driving 10,000 miles on their own each week. Although the idea is for the cars to operate completely free from human interaction, Google says the removable controls are there for a safety driver to take over if things get a bit hairy.

When they do hit the streets of Mountain View, the prototypes will be limited to 25mph. Although they’re controlled by the same systems already in use inside its Lexus test models, Google says it wants to “uncover challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle.” This will certainly include monitoring stopping distances and whether it can navigate its way through a congested area, but it will also help the public familiarize themselves with the vehicles. Google may have already overcome the technological obstacles, but ensuring they’re accepted by Californians may be an even bigger challenge.

Filed under: Transportation, Google

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Via: Re/code

Source: Google Blog

Google says mobile Chrome browser not getting support for extensions

Part of the power of Chrome on the desktop are the extensions that add to the functionality of the platform. Google made it possible for the extensions to sync across devices so users have the same tools available to them whether on a work computer or a home computer. One shortcoming surfaces as soon as a user opens Chrome on their mobile device. Although accounts and bookmarks will sync to the mobile version of the browser, extensions do not and the Chrome team says this is not expected to change.

According to a member of the Google Chrome team, they have looked at trying to implement this functionality on the mobile version of the browser. However, they claim they have not been able to figure out how to do it “and still have it be a good user experience.” In the same statement, the team member indicates there are “no plans” add support for extensions, although the statement does not go as far as to say extensions will never be added.

Would you like to see extensions available in the mobile version of the Chrome browser?

source: 9to5Google

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LG Watch Urbane charging cradle now available for $20 through the Google Store

Chargers break–they go through wear and tear just like anything else, especially when your constantly using them with your smartphone or smartwatch. That said, those of you that are rocking an LG Watch Urbane can now get extra charging cradles for your wrist bling at the Google Store for $20.

Of course, you are subject to the wretched sales tax, but on the bright side, Google is offering free shipping with your charging cradle. If you’re interested, hit the source link below.

source: Google Store

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Download and install latest Google Play Store 5.5.11 APK (Material Design)

The Google Play Store has just received a version bump, bringing it to version 5.5.11 and few minor changes, only a few days after version 5.5.9 was released.

What’s New

– There doesn’t seem to be anything major included in this version, and giving the small bump in version number appears only to be a patch to pick up some loose ends from 5.5.9.

Of course, there could be more undisclosed under the hood performance enhancements not immediately noticeable.

If like me you like to be on the cutting edge of developments, you can go ahead and grab the latest Google Play Store 5.5.11 APK from here.

Notice anything else different in the newest version of the Google Play Store? Drop us a comment below.

The post Download and install latest Google Play Store 5.5.11 APK (Material Design) appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Google got some ‘right to be forgotten’ decisions wrong, says UK

It’s been almost a year since the European Union ruled in favour of the “right to be forgotten,” giving anyone permission to request that specific links be removed from Google’s search results. Since then, the company has dealt with over 250,000 applications from the public (and rejected 59 percent of them). Now, the BBC reports that the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is talking to Google about 48 cases it believes were ruled incorrectly. It’s a small number, but one that highlights the difficulties that Google faces with interpreting the EU’s ruling and judging individual requests.

The company handles each application on its own — first, they go to a team of lawyers, paralegals and engineers who rule on comparatively “easy” cases. The more difficult ones are sent to a group of senior Google employees, who debate and vote on each case. The ICO says it’s received over 183 complaints from people in the UK who are unhappy with Google’s decisions. In the majority of those cases, the regulator has agreed with the company’s response, which should balance the right to privacy and freedom of expression. But in 48 cases, the ICO believes Google hasn’t got it “quite right.” It’s now asking the search giant to revise those decisions, and should it refuse, the regulator could impose fines or a legally binding enforcement notice. It’s far from a perfect system, but it seems the EU ruling is here to stay, so all parties involved have to make the best of it.

[Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Filed under: Internet, Google

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Source: BBC

Google I/O 2015 app now available in the Play Store

Google I/O is only two weeks away so it’s time to start planning your schedule whether you will be there in person or not. The official mobile app is just the thing you need to get that done and it’s now live on Google Play.

Not only will you be able to see the full schedule, but it also includes a video library from past I/O events. Based on whether you will be attending in-person or not, the app will show you relevant content. For example, if you’re on site, you will be able to view the venue map and your WiFi will already be configured by the time you arrive at Mascone West.

As always, the app integrates with your Google calendar so your schedule can be viewed along with your personal stuff. Plus you will also be able to see all the social interaction via Google+ and Twitter while the conference is taking place.

New this year is the Explore screen that aggregates content in Google Now-like cards, and of course, let’s not forget that it complies with the new Material Design guidelines.

Here’s the full rundown of all the features…..

• Explore the conference agenda, with details on themes, topics and speakers
• Add events to a personalized schedule
• Get reminders before events in “My schedule” start
• Watch the keynote and sessions live stream
• Sync your schedule between all of your devices and the I/O website
• Guide yourself using the vector-based conference map
• Follow public social I/O related conversations on Google+ and Twitter
• See I/O content from previous years in the Video screen
• Use the Widget to check your upcoming events directly from your home screen
• Take advantage of facilitated pre-event WiFi configuration (in-person attendees only)

The Google I/O 2015 app works on both phones and tablets and syncs with the web app. The update is rolling out in stages so it could take as much as 24 hours for everyone to see it.

Play Store Download Link

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