Android now lets you search for hotels and restaurants you can actually afford
So far, Android search hasn’t been very discriminating when it comes to hotels and restaurants; finding a posh eatery one block away is no use if you can’t afford it. Google is about to provide relief to wallets everywhere, though, as it just updated the mobile search app to include filters à la Foursquare or Yelp. Ask for a place to eat or stay and you can narrow the results by price range, cuisine style, rating and hours. The upgraded search only works in the US at the moment, but it should eventually be a boon to anyone who’s looking for a cheap bite or a late-night crash pad.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: Google+
Google acquires Foxconn portfolio for undisclosed amount
It was announced on Friday that Google had purchased a number of “Communications Technology” patents from Foxconn. The company, which is based in China, manufactures hardware for a number of companies, including Apple. Reportedly, the deal centers around Foxconn’s (AKA Hon Hai Precision Industry) patents; the WSJ indicates Foxcoon is one of the top patent holders in the world.
WSJ (Subscription req’d)
The post Google acquires Foxconn portfolio for undisclosed amount appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Saudi Arabia cracking down on local YouTube producers
Saudi Arabia’s youngish population isn’t crazy about local TV, so they’ve naturally turned to a substitute: YouTube. As a matter of fact, the country features three times the per-capita viewing as the US, to the point that Google reps conducted a roadshow teaching local producers how to make money. But according to the WSJ, authorities there aren’t crazy about all that since they have no control over what gets posted on the “broadcast yourself” site. As a result, the kingdom is planning to regulate content produced in the country, with guidelines on alcohol, nudity and of course, wanton “drifting” videos (as shown below). It likely boils down to “security,” though, as the nation has previously detained producers critical of the royal family. And that, unfortunately, is a movie we’ve seen before.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Google
Source: WSJ
Google documents confirm plans for faster public WiFi in Fiber cities
Google is floating the possibility of public WiFi to upcoming Fiber cities, according to IDG News Service. In a planning document sent to candidate cities, the search giant said it will be “discussing our Wi-Fi plans,” which corroborates information we reported earlier about its US expansion plans. It already has extensive WiFi services in 7,000 Starbucks and other public places, and may soon have an app that makes it easier to log on. It could have more frequencies to play with too — thanks to its lobbying, the FCC will likely reserve extra “unlicensed spectrum” for WiFi in an upcoming auction. Finally, it might even launch its own MVNO cellphone service alongside the WiFi using leased carrier spectrum, if a report from The Information has any merit. Bear in mind that Google hasn’t publicly confirmed any of this yet, but we’ve reached out for more information.
Filed under: Wireless, Internet, Google
Source: IDG News Service
Daily Roundup: rediscovered Andy Warhol art, Google Glass available to all, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google Senior VP and head of Google+ Vic Gundotra is leaving the company
Earlier today, Vic Gundotra, the man responsible for Google+, announced he’s parting ways with Google. After eight years of service to the Mountain View company, Gundotra fittingly took to G+ and explained that “now is the time for a new journey, a continuation.”
Google Glass now available to anyone, may be prepping for public launch
Move over Google Explorers. As of today, anyone can splurge on their very own Google Glass headset, not just those with an invite. Now you can finally spend the $1,500 of cash that’s burning a hole in your back pocket.
Lost Andy Warhol artworks discovered on Amiga floppies from the ’80s
Apparently, pop artist Andy Warhol crafted a small, previously unseen collection with an Amiga 1000 back in 1985. And thanks to the collaborative efforts of several artists, archivists, curators and the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Club, the works have been recovered from a whopping 41 floppy discs.
Facebook buys smartphone fitness-tracking app Moves
Today, Facebook bought Moves, a fitness-tracking app for Android and iOS. If you’re already a user, don’t worry. The social giant says both apps will remain separate and it has no current plans to integrate them with your Facebook data.
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IFTTT Android App lands on Google Play Store! Get ready for some unique Android related recipes
IFTTT fans! It’s a great day for us. IFTTT has released their official Android app on the Google Play Store. IFTTT or If This Then That is a free service that lets you connect various web applications together through simple conditional statements.
IFTTT Android App
Users can create unlimited ‘recipes’ from nearly 100 different web services including social networks, cloud storage products, sharing services, sports score providers and Android as well as iOS related channels, etc. IFTTT has been praised by a lot of tech experts and publications such as Forbes, Time, Wired and the NYTimes.
IFTTT Android App Screenshot
You can use it to duplicate files between Dropbox and Google Drive or send a text to yourself when it is going to rain. IFTTT for Android allows adding even more Android related channels such as location, SMS, notifications, calls and photos. You can use these new channels in collaboration with other already existing web services to create your custom recipe as per your need. It would be great if IFTTT works in collaboration with Tasker, yet another Android app which makes possible condition based results.
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Tech firms agree to settle lawsuit over no-hiring pacts
Silicon Valley’s tech giants aren’t going to face that class action lawsuit over no-hiring deals, after all. Adobe, Apple, Google and Intel have all reached a settlement in the case, which would have otherwise headed to trial in late May. The terms of the deal haven’t been revealed, but we wouldn’t be shocked if a significant amount of cash traded hands. The truce is mostly symbolic at this stage — the companies are already required to let headhunters operate freely, so it’s more about compensation than a change in recruiting policies. Still, it’s good news for tech workers who may have been denied better careers and the bigger paychecks to match.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc, Apple, Google, Intel
Source: Reuters, CNBC (Twitter)
Google Senior VP and head of Google+ Vic Gundotra is leaving the company
Vic Gundotra, who is known for his role in building Google’s social network, has announced that he’s leaving the company after a tenure of eight years. Appropriately, Gundotra made his intentions known in a post on Google+, saying that “now is the time for a new journey, a continuation.” He was careful not to mention any specifics about what lies ahead, other than stating that he’s “excited about what’s next.” Gundotra came to Google in 2007 and helped pioneer the company’s push into the mobile space by leading the mobile and developer relations teams. He headed up the Google+ project after Buzz was scrapped, which at the time was considered a risky move.
We’re unsure of the circumstances behind Gundotra’s departure, but an anonymous person recently posted on Secret that he was interviewing elsewhere (probably not Microsoft/Nokia). Regardless of what happened behind the scenes, the show must go on; what’s in store for the social network now? Reports from GigaOm and Re/Code say that Dave Besbris, VP of Engineering for Google+, will fill the vacancy. (Update: Google has confirmed to us that this is true.) CEO Larry Page also took to G+ to offer his thanks for Gundotra’s efforts over the years, mentioning that “we’ll continue working hard to build great new experiences for the ever increasing number of Google+ fans.”
[Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Google’s Take Your Classroom to Work Day takes kids on virtual field trips
Take Your Child to Work Day gives a sense of what parents’ jobs are like, but Google knows that kids can’t always afford go to the office. Accordingly, the company is bringing the office to the kids through its first-ever Take Your Classroom to Work Day. The April 24th initiative uses Hangouts video chats to show workplaces that even the luckiest students might never see in person, such as the Chicago Bulls’ locker room and the Stan Winston School of Special Effects. The first internet-based field trips are already underway, but you can check out Google’s schedule for upcoming excursions. Suffice it to say that we’re a little jealous — where were these educational adventures when we were in school?
Source: Google Official Blog, Connected Classrooms
Google Glass now available to anyone, may be prepping for public launch
Google offered Glass to the public as part of a one day sale not long ago. Now it seems that anyone can order one again without an invite. There’s been no announcement so far, no fan fair — a few Redditors just happened to discover that you can head straight to the order page and add one to your cart. We’ve tried it from multiple accounts that we can confirm did not sign up for the Explorer program, so it appears that Glass is legitimately available to anyone with a Google account. We’ve reached out to Mountain View for comment and we’ll let you know as soon as we hear back. In the meantime you can go order your own Explorer Edition unit now. So long as you’re comfortable coughing up the $1,500 asking price, of course.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Via: Google Glass Geeks
Source: Reddit, Google Glass shop
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