Iraq blocks Twitter, Google, YouTube and Facebook in effort to stifle insurgency
The Iraqi government has essentially shut off all social networking in the country in an effort to stem the rising tide of insurgent group Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The country has found itself thrown into chaos recently as the Islamist militants have overrun the cities of Mosul, Falluja and Ramadi in a march towards Baghdad. Isis, like many of the rebellions in the region recently, has made heavy use of social media for both propaganda and organization. In particular the group has spread its hard line religious and anti-western message via YouTube. Presumably prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has had the services blocked in an effort to disrupt Isis’s movement and planning, and perhaps give the government’s troops an opportunity to strike back.
Of course, it’s no surprise that the militants have turned to social media (just as it’s no surprise to see the government block it when under threat). Plenty of organizations have turned to YouTube as a means to spread their message, even if it is one hate. And uprisings that perhaps we’re more sympathetic too have relied on Twitter for organizing protests and drawing attention to government abuses. And often the response of those in power has been to block those lines of communication at any cost — even if that means taking an entire country offline. Hopefully any censorship in Iraq will prove to be short lived and citizens there can carry on Instagramming their lunch without fear of becoming yet another victim in this tireless conflict.
Update: Both Twitter and Youtube have said they are looking into the situation, confirming to VentureBeat that “some users are not able to access” the services in Iraq, according to YouTube. Facebook chimed in too, though its statement address the political situation more directly:
We are disturbed by reports of access issues in Iraq and are investigating. Limiting access to Internet services – essential for communication and commerce for millions of people – is a matter of concern for the global community.
Filed under: Internet, Google, Facebook
Source: International Business Times, VentureBeat
Google Fit in the works , possible launch at I/O
Health and fitness tracking is shaping up to become big business and we are seeing a multitude of wearable fitness devices hitting the market that can monitor and track every move you make to achieve your fitness goals. Big names are also releasing health related services with the likes of Sami, a biometric data platform… Read more »
The post Google Fit in the works , possible launch at I/O appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at the source, SmarterWatching.com
The post Google Fit in the works , possible launch at I/O appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Did Google just leak the existence of Android 5.0?
Google isn’t normally a company gives away much information before they are ready to do so, and they seem to have become masters at teasing future products with relatively inane details. One tactic that they are known to use is showing the number of the next major Android software build in the clock of Google app screenshots. The latest example of this has been when Google showed off their new World Cup features in Google Now. Perhaps only subtle enough for the people who know Google’s tactics, the clock in these screenshots shows the time “5:00″ which suggests the next build of Android will be Android 5.0.
Previous times that Google has used this method of teasing has included Gingerbread (2:30), Ice Cream Sandwich (4:00), and Jelly Bean (4:20). Current screenshots that Google uses features the time 4:40 of course representing the current build of Android, Android 4.4 KitKat. We’ve long wondered whether the next version of Android would be 4.5 or 5.0, but this latest tease from Google surely confirms that it is going to be Android 5.0, and with Google I/O just a few weeks away, it seems almost inevitable that we’re going to see something related to Android 5.0 at the event.
What do you think of the next build of Android being Android 5.0? What do you think it’s going to be called? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Source: Twitter via TalkAndroid
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Google set to launch a health-tracking platform called Google Fit
Not to be left behind by Apple, Google could soon launch its own health-tracking service for mobile devices. Forbes reports that the search giant is working on a new service, tentatively called Google Fit, which will pull in data from third-party fitness wearables and health apps and combine them into one central service. It’s not known if Fit will be delivered as a standalone app or come directly embedded inside future versions of Android, but it would likely operate as Google-made version of Apple’s HealthKit, a service that lets companies like Nike feed in fitness data, and Samsung’s own fitness framework, SAMI. An open platform would also lend itself to running on top of Google’s upcoming Android Wear platform, allowing smartwatches and fitness bands to feed data into Fit’s open APIs. Like Apple, Google is set to unveil its new health-centric service at its own developer conference, Google I/O, which kicks off on June 25th. It has a lot of wearable talks planned for the event, so we won’t have long to wait to learn more about what Google has planned.
Filed under: Wearables, Internet, Google
Source: Forbes
Google Now tests calendar event suggestions based on Gmail convos
Google knows many, many things about you, perhaps even that you can be a bit forgetful sometimes. To help you remember your plans, the company has started testing a feature that takes possible events from Gmail or other Google services and turns them into Google Now cards. For instance, if it infers that you’re planning a day out based on an email thread, the new feature will automatically turn it into a card and will ask if you’d like to add the event to your calendar. It’s really not that much different from Now pulling flight or hotel reservation info from your Gmail account. According to Android Police (who first reported its existence), you can choose whether to continue getting event suggestions on Google Now’s settings page. So, when you do get the feature, you can switch it off if it starts feeling creepy and turn it back on if that calendar’s looking suspiciously empty.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Android Police
Google tweet has Android fanboys thinking 5.0 for Google I/O
Get out your tinfoil hat, kids. The latest round of chatter says that Google will debut Android 5.0 at Google I/O this month. Why, you ask? Because a tweet from Google’s official account yesterday says so.
If you happened to catch the tweet on June 11 about getting ready for The World Cup then you might have overlooked the clue that allegedly smacks us in the face. See the time on the clock up there in the top right? It’s 5:00… 5.0…Android 5.0 confirmed. Well, not really.
Would we like to see Android 5.0 announced? Sure… maybe? It depends on what’s in it, really. We’re totally content with the KitKat stuff we’ve been using the last few months and don’t feel like there’s anything missing from the experience.
It is worth pointing out, however, that there is actual consideration that goes into these press render images. After all, the clock does have to have some time on it, right? Check out some of the previously released images from Google that show times that kinda sorta do match up with a version of Android.
If interested, you can get in on the conspiracy theory over at Reddit.
The post Google tweet has Android fanboys thinking 5.0 for Google I/O appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google reportedly wants in on Virgin Galactic’s space business
Fresh from its $500 million acquisition of satellite imaging specialist Skybox, Google appears to be ready to make another space-related investment. Sky News reports that the search giant is in advanced talks to take a minority stake in Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic business with a view to getting its internet satellite project off the ground. Google may invest around $30 million into the company, which is set to begin commercial flights to space later this year, forming a joint venture that would see Virgin Galactic offer up its technology in return. Reports suggest Larry Page and co. are already preparing to build 180 small satellites that will be placed into a low orbit to provide internet connections to remote areas of the globe. That, coupled with the acquisition of drone maker Titan Aerospace, suggests Google is steadily moving forward with its space project. Virgin Galactic could provide the thrust, so-to-speak, helping get Google’s satellites exactly where they need to be.
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Source: Sky News
Chrome tool lets you see what web apps are really doing
Ever get the nagging feeling that a Chrome web app or add-on isn’t entirely above board? You now have an easy way to prove it. Google has posted a new version of a Chrome developer tool that lets you see just what your apps and extensions are up to. While it’s meant for programmers, it should be helpful if you’re simply concerned about privacy or security; if a weather app is inexplicably changing pages or sifting through your history, that may be your cue to uninstall it. The tool isn’t all that vital now that Google is starting to cut off extensions that don’t come from the Chrome Web Store, but one additional safety net won’t hurt.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Chromium Blog
Outlook Web App finally debuts on Android, but only for ‘small’ devices
Been looking forward to a native Outlook Web App for your Android device? You just might have to wait a little longer: the freshly launched OWA Android app is only available on ‘select devices.’ Microsoft says this pre-release version can do everything its iOS counterpart can and automatically update its address book whenever the user makes a chance to their device contacts, but it’s not ready for a full roll-out. Still, if you’re sporting a device with Android 4.4 KitKat and Google’s OS standards categorize your phone as “small” or “normal,” the app’s inaugural releases is yours for the taking. Have something else? Check out OWA’s support page: Microsoft is taking suggestions on what devices to support next.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Google Play, Office 365
New plug-in allows Outlook users to join Google Hangouts
Google has released a new plug-in for users of Google Apps that allows them to use Google Hangouts for video conference calls from within Microsoft Outlook.
Users of the email client can now initiate or join a Hangout directly from Outlook if they have a Google Apps account.
Simply download the Hangouts plug-in for Outlook on your Windows machine and you’ll then see a new icon in both Outlook Mail and Calendar that will allow you to participate in Hangouts.
Head on over to this link to download the plug-in now.
The post New plug-in allows Outlook users to join Google Hangouts appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 