Google rolls out 3D maps for Tokyo and other Japanese urban hubs
As ubiquitous as 3D city maps might be these days, they typically don’t cover Tokyo — quite possibly due to the massive size of Japan’s megalopolis. Google, however, has just taken on that daunting task. Fire up Google Maps or Google Earth and you’ll now see 3D imagery for the greater Tokyo area, including landmarks like the Tokyo Sky Tree (that giant tower you see above). The expansion also brings 3D to the major population centers of Chiba, Kanagawa and Sendai. We’d advise against exploring the entirety of Google’s enhanced Tokyo map unless you have a couple of hours to kill, but you can at least take a quick tour at the source link.
Source: Google Asia Pacific Blog
Spam fighting Impermium Joins Forces with Google
Is there nothing Google won’t buy? I am waiting for them to buy a city, or a small island, just because they could. Seriously though, Google has picked up Impermium and the announcement was less than extravagant. A small G+ post from Bradley Horowitz coupled with a landing page at Impermium is all that I have seen about it.
Impermium was launched three years ago and was out to help filter and keep the wonderful spam from gracing social channels, bogus comments on blog posts and more. Needless to say, this is going to be a pretty great deal for our inboxes, our Google hosted blogs and anywhere else that spam can attempt to annoy the crap out of us.
Via Venture Beats
Daily Roundup: FuelBand SE Silver Edition, privacy-focused Blackphone 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.
Facebook may launch a reader app
A report from Re/code says Facebook may be working on its own news aggregator called Paper. The app is apparently based off a failed News Feed project, but the social giant has yet to confirm any plans. Follow the link for details.
FuelBand SE Silver Edition hands-on
The FuelBand SE Silver is Nike’s latest addition to its fashion-centric Metaluxe Collection. Priced at $169, this fitness tracker may cost a bit more than its predecessors, but it’s got the bling to back it up. Click through for our hands-on.
Chrome data compression for iOS
Google Chrome is inviting iOS users to enable its new data compression feature, reducing data usage and improving security. Click through for more information.
Privacy-focused Blackphone
Spanish manufacturer Geeksphone says it’s working on a privacy-focused smartphone for release at MWC. The Android-based handset, called Blackphone, will utilize a “PrivatOS” skin to secure calls, texts and web browsing. Follow the link for details.
Filed under: Misc
iOS users can now buy, rent or stream content from Google Play
Apple’s iTunes has long been the de facto virtual storefront for iOS users looking to buy or rent digital content, but now Google’s elbowing its way into that tidy ecosystem. The search giant just dropped an iOS version of its Google Play Movies & TV app onto the App Store, giving users an alternate media library to browse. The service will also allow users to purchase films and TV shows from the desktop and view them from any iDevice. Just don’t get too jazzed about the Chromecast streaming side of things. We’ve seen the service hiccup more than we’d like in our time using it. Your mileage may vary, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, HD, Mobile, Apple, Google
Source: iTunes
You can now star Google Contacts, just like important messages in Gmail
Need a way to easily access that select group of contacts you converse with frequently without manually creating groups? Well, the same star action that’s used in Gmail to flag important correspondence now appears in Google Contacts. Those folks you affix the gold mark to will be added to the “Starred” group for easy access. Android users’ selections will also sync with Android Contacts to stay organized across desktop and mobile. Of course, you can also use Google+ circles as another organizational alternative.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Gmail (Google+)
HP Chromebook 11 with Verizon LTE now available at Best Buy for $379
HP’s Chromebook 11 is one of the better Chrome OS devices on the market, power adapter woes notwithstanding, but it hasn’t had a cellular version to please those who want always-on data. That won’t be a problem after today, as Best Buy has quietly started selling a model with Verizon LTE. The 4G link boosts the ARM-powered laptop’s price to $379 without otherwise changing the specs; if you attach it to a shared Verizon data plan, you’ll also get a $50 rebate. The new computer probably won’t change your mind if you didn’t like the Chromebook 11 in the first place. Still, it’s one of the cheapest LTE laptops on the market — that’s no doubt appealing to at least a few budget-conscious road warriors.
Filed under: Laptops, Wireless, Google, Verizon, HP
Via: Liliputing
Source: Best Buy, Altair Semiconductor
Chrome updates bring data compression to all Android and iOS users
Google has been testing data compression in mobile versions of Chrome for what seems like ages, but today it’s finally ready to bring that efficiency to the masses. Both the Android and iOS versions of the browser now let all users squeeze website content to reduce their data use — and, in some cases, their phone bills. There’s also a pair of platform-specific upgrades in the pipeline. Android fans will get to create web shortcuts on their home screens, while iOS users will see the automatic translation bar that has been available on Android since last year. Whichever version of Chrome you’re running, you’ll want to grab its latest update through one of the source links.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: App Store, Google Play
James Frey and Google team up to fuse interactive teen novels with AR games
We knew Google’s Niantic Labs was planning to use its Ingress tech to power other augmented reality games, but we didn’t expect this. In an announcement today, Niantic announced it has teamed up with publisher HarperCollins to create a location-based game for ENDGAME, a new book trilogy for young adults by bestselling authors James Frey (of A Million Little Pieces fame) and Nils Johnson-Shelton that has already been optioned by Twentieth Century Fox. Niantic will play a significant part in the interactive project, which is lovingly referred to as an “innovative omni-platform endeavor,” by developing a virtual-meets-real-world game that allows mobile users to solve virtual puzzles to advance parts of the story.
Google’s involvement doesn’t end there, either. The company has secured the rights to exclusively distribute six of fifteen original e-books on the Play Store and will also use YouTube videos, search and image results and maps to build the story, mirroring elements of Niantic’s Ingress campaigns. So when can we expect the project to bear fruit? HarperCollins says the first first book in the trilogy, ENDGAME: THE CALLING (yes, it appears someone’s Caps Lock got stuck), will be published on October 7th, along with Niantic’s official iOS and Android games. To mark the occasion, gamers will be asked to solve a virtual puzzle to claim a quantity of gold secured inside bullet-proof glass case. If that’s got you excited, there is a catch — that case is on public display and Google plans to stream the event live on YouTube.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: HarperCollins (PRNewsWire)
Check Out this Video ‘What If Google Was A Guy?’ [Hilarious]
We have all seen it. You go to type something into the Google search bar, and Google will suggest some pretty out there suggestions. Scary fact about that is, people have actually searched for those abnormal suggestions, and many times. So what if Google were a guy? College Humor answered that very question in a hilarious video of people showing up to the office of the guy who is Google. It is pretty hysterical, so check it out, and tell us what you thought about it.
Google shuts down its bucket-list service, Schemer
Not long after rumors of Google shutting down Schemer (its goal-sharing service) arose, confirmation has appeared. On its website, Schemer notes that user data will be wiped after February 7th, but you have the chance to download your saved plans ahead of that. Furthermore, the note suggests giving Field Trip and the explore function in Google Maps a shot to attempt replicating some of the now-terminal app’s functionality. If those don’t work and you need some company for your grieving, however, we’re positive there are at least a few Google Reader users that know your pain.
Via: PhoneArena
Source: Schemer
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