Google

Google reportedly tried to buy WhatsApp for $10 billion

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

The entire Internet is abuzz right now with this whole Facebook and WhatsApp deal. For the few that haven't heard yet, the social network announced yesterday afternoon that it has agreed to acquire the cross-platform messaging giant for a staggering $16 billion.

Since the announcement, details of the buyout negotiations between the two companies have begun to slowly trickle in, and as you might expect, some of them are rather interesting. Fortune, for example, is reporting that Google actually offered to buy WhatsApp first...

Google’s Project Tango: phone that maps 3D environments, senses depth and geometry

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 24, 2017

Imagine directions to a new location not stopping at the street address, or never getting lost in a new building again. Or, how about playing hide-and-seek in your house with your favorite game character or competing against a friend "for control over physical space with your own miniature army"?

That's the promise behind Project Tango, a new Google initiative which seeks to give mobile devices "a human-scale understanding of space and motion".

The brainchild of Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group, Project Tango is, on the surface, an unimpressive Android phone with a five-inch display and a four-megapixel camera.

But scratch deeper and you'll find custom hardware like two Computer Vision Processors, sensors for measuring geometry and seeing in three dimensions, a camera which tracks motion and other goodies that basically turn this handset into a device that can map your environments, track its motion in full 3D space and much more...

Google Wi-Fi app being tested, takes the pain out of accessing public hotspots

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2014

Google is testing a new iPhone application which aims to make it easier to access public Wi-Fi hotspots on your handset, Engadget reported Thursday.

The software will make it simple to automatically authenticate and connect users to Google's free hotspots inside Starbucks stores "or wherever they are available".

The publication has learned that the Google Wi-Fi app could even tap users' Google Account to “install a dedicated security certificate on their device to automatically authenticate devices when a connection is available,” bypassing the need to go through the clunky login process when joining public Wi-Fi hotspots...

Google I/O Developer Conference slated for June 25-26 this year

Cody Lee ∙ February 19, 2014

Google senior vice president Sundar Pichai just announced via Google+ that the company's annual I/O event is scheduled for June 25-26 this year. For those unfamiliar with the conference, it's a lot like Apple's yearly WWDC gathering in San Francisco.

The timing is particularly interesting in that Google held I/O in May last year, well before Apple's WWDC event. It would seem that this time the search giant is hoping to get a glimpse at what Apple has cooked up this year before divulging all of its own secrets...

Google Translate updated with iOS 7 keyboard, support for more languages

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Google posted an update for its popular Translate iOS client today, bringing the app to version 2.1. The update includes various UI improvements, including the new iOS 7 keyboard and status bar, as well as support for new languages.

The new keyboard is great, as it brings the app in line with other iOS 7 apps, and the same goes for the transparent status bar. And as for the additional handwriting languages support, it includes Arabic, Hebrew, Maltese, and more...

Apple may call Android creator Andy Rubin to testify in Samsung case

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2014

Andy Rubin is one of the original creators of Android and Apple may summon him to testify in a new trial set for late-March as part of the ongoing Apple v. Samsung legal battle. According to a report by TUAW, a witness list Apple filed with the court last week has revealed the iPhone maker is considering calling Rubin to testify on the potentially sensitive topics of the development of infringing Android features. He may also be asked to comment on "Google documents relating to such development"...

Google to automate production lines at iPhone manufacturer Foxconn with advanced robots

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 11, 2014

Future iPhones could be built by Google robots as The Wall Street Journal reports that the search monster is working with Apple's favorite contract manufacturer, Foxconn of Taiwan, on automating production lines.

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou reportedly met with Google's Andy Rubin in Taipei to talk new robotic technologies meant to "speed up robot deployment" at Foxconn plants. The machines would run Google's upcoming robotic operating system for manufacturers. The two men have reportedly been collaborating since last year to carry out Google's vision for robotics.

Eagled-eyed readers will remember that Google's boss Larry Page in March 2013 put former Android head Andy Rubin in charge of a moonshot project to create a new generation of robots...

Google launches new Admin iOS app to manage Google Apps domains

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 10, 2014

Google's official Enterprise Blog today announced a new iPhone and iPad app to manage your Google Apps domain. Google Admin, available free in the App Store, lets you manage Google Apps users on your domain, change passwords, access support, review and filter logs, access group management features such as adding and viewing group members, deleting individual group members and more.

If you're an administrator hosting your domain on Google Apps, the app should be a no-brainer, but keep in mind you're still going to have to access the web interface to use some of the more advanced features...

Tim Cook on bigger iPhones, ‘crappy’ Android experience, not making junk and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 7, 2014

Following notable excerpts from Daisuke Wakabayashi’s interview with Tim Cook in The Wall Street Journal, the financial newspaper has now posted the whole thing on its Digits blog.

The full interview gives us a more detailed insight into the mindset of Tim Cook's Apple as the CEO discusses recent topics of interest, including Lenovo's $2.9 billion purchase of Google's Motorola Mobility unit and additional information regarding Apple's share buyback program.

He also took time to touch upon the ongoing discussion concerning supposedly bigger iPhones in the pipeline, the current products not yet hitting the ceiling and lots more. I've included the best quotes and tidbits for your reading pleasure after the break...

Senate asks Apple and other tech companies for distracted driving solutions

Cody Lee ∙ February 7, 2014

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation host a daylong summit yesterday to discuss the growing problem of distracted driving. Drivers texting and doing other phone-related activities are now causing more than 1 million accidents per year.

A number of representatives from major tech companies attended the summit, including executives from Google, Samsung, AT&T, Sprint and Apple. The Senate is asking that they all work together to come up with more robust technical solutions to distracted driving...

Google Wallet updated with loyalty card scanning, notifications for local merchants

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 4, 2014

Released last September following the public launch of iOS 7, Google's Wallet for iPhone application has since seen one major refresh and a couple maintenance updates.

In December, for example, the app gained the ability to authorize users using Single Sign-On and add a credit or debit card to Wallet by taking a picture of the physical card using the iOS device camera.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could add loyalty cards by scanning? Now you can, thanks to a new Google Wallet version 2.0.13611 update, now available in the App Store...

Google Maps app updated with new ‘faster route’ feature

Cody Lee ∙ February 3, 2014

Despite being kicked off iOS in the fall of 2012, Google Maps has managed to maintain a high profile on Apple's platform. Released as a standalone app that same year, Google's Maps app offers a solid alternative to the stock application.

And it gets even better today. Google posted an updated for its iOS Maps app this morning that adds a new 'faster route' feature. Now, when you're heading towards a destination, you'll get notified when a faster route becomes available...