Here’s how Google’s modular phone will get its 3D-printed parts
Google’s modular Project Ara smartphone is all about customization, but that creates a challenge: how are manufacturers supposed to build so many uncommon (and possibly unique) parts? The crew at 3D Systems is more than happy to tell you — it just outlined the 3D printing techniques it’s using to make Ara a reality. The company is dropping the conventional printing process, which bogs down due to frequent changes in speed, in favor of a continuously moving system that’s fast enough to cope with mass production. The technique should generate “millions” of parts, even when some components need special treatment.
The manufacturing technique should be very flexible, to boot. We already knew that 3D Systems would be making conductive ink (with the help of Carnegie Mellon University and X5 Systems) to print working parts, like antennas. However, it will also print parts in a “full spectrum” of colors, including transparencies; there’s a possibility that you’ll get parts for your Project Ara phone in the exact hues you want. You’ll still have to wait until 2015 to get a modular mobile device of your own, but you’ll at least know how it came into being.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: SlashGear
Source: 3D Systems
Popular login services have a security hole, but Facebook and Microsoft can’t fix it
The recent Heartbleed scare caused a huge stir, even though it was effectively fixed before it even happened. There are other sorts of security hole, however, which can’t be plugged so readily, and which affected companies therefore have less incentive to publicize. A researcher in Singapore, Wang Jing, claims to have uncovered a potentially serious example of this, involving the widely-used login services OAuth and OpenID. He says that he’s tried to alert major web services that rely on these platforms, including Facebook, Microsoft and Google, but they’re refusing to take responsibility for the issue.
If exploited, the vulnerability inside OAuth and OpenID could reportedly allow a malicious website to use a genuine website — such as Facebook.com — to authorize its illicit requests for personal information. Any pop-ups shown to the user, asking for their approval, would also appear to be coming from the genuine site. According CNET, Google says it’s “tracking the issue,” Facebook says it’s aware of the problem but solving it is “something that can’t be accomplished in the short-term,” and Microsoft says it can’t fix something that “exists on the domain of a third party.”
Other security analysts have corroborated Jing’s central finding, but some have described it as a “known WONTFIX” or as a fundamental problem with web security as a whole. Either way, the best advice is to be wary of following links that immediately ask you to login to Google or Facebook, and to close the tab if this happens, in order to prevent redirects. As ever, just don’t assume that the sites and services you use every day are necessarily safe — in the future, we could well look back on these years as the Wild West era of the internet.
[Image credit: Gamma Man/Flickr]
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft, Google, Facebook
Source: CNET
Apple, Facebook and Google will tell you when the government wants your data
The companies that asked the US government for permission to publish federal data requests last year have apparently lost their patience waiting for a reply. Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft are updating their privacy policies to expand the types of disclosure notifications they give individual users about how often and when the government requests their data. As The Washington Post tells it, the tech companies will only reign themselves in in the event that they receive gag orders from a judge or someone else with legal authority. Naturally, the government isn’t too keen on this and the Department of Justice worries that this could give criminals under investigation ample time to flee or even destroy any evidence that could be used against them.
Google updated its policy this week, adding that data is only withheld when there’s “imminent risk” of physical harm to a potential crime victim, while an Apple spokesperson said that later this month the company will update its policies so it can notify customers in “most cases” when law enforcement requests their personal information. Neither Apple nor The Social Network or Redmond, however, have finalized their updates just yet. If it helps you sleep a little better at night, the Post reports that companies that notify their users have a little more sway with the fuzz: apparently investigators would rather drop their data requests entirely rather than suspects learn they’re being watched.
[Image credit: Google/YouTube]
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook
Source: Washington Post
Google Glass community goes on charm offensive, plans a #glassnightout
Glass has gotten a bad rep over the past few months, particularly in bars where other patrons think mistakenly think Explorers are recording their every move (or they actually are). To help improve that image, Google is encouraging owners to go out on the town this Saturday night wearing their high-tech glasses. To some, a bar full of Glass wearers might sound like the Worst Saturday Night Ever, but the hope is the cyborg masses will be able to educate the public a little better than when they’re flying solo. The #GlassNightOut also offers the opportunity to mix and mingle with other Explorers — a rare experience if you’re living somewhere outside of San Francisco, and probably a lot more fun than going on Field Trip by your lonesome. If you’re interested in checking out one of the Meetups this weekend, hit the source link for a full list of participating cities and locations. Not a people person? Well, Google Glass might be the wingman you’ve been looking for.
Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Source: Google+
Google will also stop scanning business and government Gmail inboxes for ads
Student Gmail accounts aren’t the only ones safe from Google’s prying eyes. Apparently, the company’s also pulling its targeted ad scanners from Gmail inboxes for businesses and government, as well as from free legacy accounts. Mountain View’s confirmed to TechCrunch that it’ll completely kill the enable/disable toggle for targeted ads for those users. These lucky people will just never see another link hawking Viagra (hey, show me a Spam folder without at least one of those emails) on their interface by default. Google didn’t explain why it has decided to stop scanning these accounts after years of doing so. But this development’s probably linked to the same lawsuit that prompted the company to stop mining students’ inboxes.
Source: TechCrunch
Redbox Instant for Android arrives on Chromecast
If you’ve been hoping for Redbox Instant to come join the Chromecast party, then your wish has just been granted. The Android app’s latest update gives you the power to beam whatever flick you want to watch from a phone or tablet to the biggest display in your house. Sure, you’ve been happily casting Netflix movies, as well as HBO Go and Hulu Plus shows for months, but it’s a nice bonus if you also use Redbox Instant regularly, despite a comparably smaller library. As for those who couldn’t care less about this app, don’t worry — it’s only a matter of time before more apps add Chromecast compatibility.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, HD, Mobile, Google
Via: Android Central
Source: Google Play
Cox wants to hop on the gigabit internet bandwagon this year
In case there was any doubt that gigabit internet access is spreading like wildfire in the US, Cox has revealed plans to introduce an ultra-fast service of its own. The cable provider tells Bloomberg that it hopes to have 1Gbps speeds available by the end of the year, with news of the initial markets coming in the next two to three weeks. CEO Pat Esser notes that gigabit has been on the cards for a long time, but admits that news from rivals like AT&T and Google tipped Cox’s hand — the company wants to let its customers know that they won’t be left in the slow lane.
The news will no doubt cheer customers who otherwise wouldn’t get speedy data, but pricing and coverage haven’t been announced so far; it’s too early to tell if gigabit access will be within your reach. While AT&T and Google both price their service aggressively at around $70, cable providers like Comcast can charge $300 per month for a 300Mbps connection. That’s not exactly accessible, and there’s no certainty that Cox will undercut those rates. The firm will also have to deploy service quickly if it wants the new offering to be seen as more than an experiment.
[Image credit: Ed Shadid, Flickr]
Filed under: Networking, Internet, HD, Google, AT&T
Via: CNET
Source: Bloomberg
Google adds standalone Docs and Sheets apps for your Convenience
The Google Drive app has never been the most streamlined app out there; I know my personal Drive homepage is completely cluttered with documents. Well, it looks like Google may be trying to help us with our messes as they have released standalone apps for Google Docs and Google Sheets which gives your documents and spreadsheets a much simpler, bespoke home.
These apps also have offline support right out of the box which means you can use them like any other document apps and create documents on the go which sync when you finally do have connection. Google also says that a Slides app is also on the way which will add a home for errant presentations. Now all we need is Chromecast support for these apps. Pretty please?
You can pick up the Docs and Sheets apps from the Google Play Store now for free (links are below) but note that the Google Drive app will still be hanging around if you’re perfectly happy with it. Let us know what you think about these standalone apps in the comments.
Application: Google Docs
Price: Free
Application: Google Sheets
Price: Free
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Sunrise Calendar updated with widget and performance improvements
At AndroidGuys, we’re huge fans of Sunrise Calendar for Android. It’s a feature-packed, beautifully designed calendar that makes planning easy to bear. Though it’s still in Beta, you can grab the update today, just as long as you’re a member of the Google+ community.
First of all the update offers a few bug improvements and performance enhancements. Most notably, though, is the addition of a widget!
The new widget is exactly what you’d expect – a simple agenda view with no frills.
There isn’t much more in this update, but the biggest hurdle to jump over was the addition of a widget. It’s pretty and functional… what more could you want?
Interested in joining the community of Sunrise Calendar testers? Head to the Google+ community here.
The post Sunrise Calendar updated with widget and performance improvements appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Now for Android remembers where you parked
You probably have a trick or two up your sleeve to remember where you’ve parked amidst a sea of other cars. But if you’re still prone to forgetting your parking spot, Google’s refreshed Android Search app might be able to help you out. The update adds a new Google Now parking card that lists the address of the place where you left your car, along with a map that shows how far you are from that location. In case the card got it wrong the first time (ever got lost because Google Maps gave you faulty directions?), it can also offer alternative places that you can check. Yes, that’s a nightmare if you’re in a massive parking lot, but it sure beats going around in circles for hours. Update not showing up for you? You download the APK from Android Police instead.
Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Google
Via: 9to5 Google
Source: Google Play, Android Police
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