Google

Google Drive iOS app can now open links in Chrome or Safari

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2013

Google is building a nice little ecosystem around Apple's iOS by feverishly updating its iPhone and iPad warez with deep cross-app integration. For example, earlier this month the Internet giant refreshed its Chrome iOS browser with the ability to open URLs for YouTube, Maps, Google+ and Drive in Google’s native iOS apps instead of the browser.

Notably absent from that update: the Google Drive client for the iPhone and iPad. Well, Google saw to that with today's Drive iOS release which can now open links in Google's Chrome or Apple's Safari browser. Google Drive version 1.5 also adds support for inserting rows and columns using the “+” button in Google Sheets...

Motorola introduces the Droid Maxx with 48-hour battery life

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2013

Despite the fact that it's gearing up to launch the Moto X next week, Motorola joined Verizon on stage this morning at a very low key event in New York City to introduce a trio of new Droid smartphones: the Droid Mini, the Droid Ultra, and the Droid Maxx.

All 3 handsets seem like decent offerings, but the Mini and the Ultra were most decidedly overshadowed by the Droid Maxx. In addition to its 5-inch, HiDef OLED display and 8-core processor, the Maxx promises up to 48 hours of 'typical use' battery life...

‘SmartSearch’ places Google results directly within Spotlight

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

What would it be like to receive instant query results from Google directly from within iOS's stock Spotlight search? A new tweak entitled SmartSearch provides a few clues as to what that might be like. It's far from a perfect execution of the idea, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless. Have a look at our video walkthrough, which shows SmartSearch in action.

Android device activations unofficially surpass 1 billion mark

Joe Rossignol ∙ July 20, 2013

A few months ago, Google announced at its Google I/O developer conference that lifetime Android device activations had reached the 900 million mark. At the time, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt also confirmed that those activations were occurring at a rate of 1.5 million devices per day, a number that Google CEO Larry Page echoed during the search company's second quarter earnings call on Thursday.

At that rate, there have been approximately 100,500,000 Android devices activated since the Google I/O keynote on May 15th, meaning that total activations should have exceeded the 1 billion plateau as of this weekend. An important caveat to remember, however, is that Android activations presumably fluctuate each day, meaning that these numbers are just approximate measures. There has been no official word yet from Google, but this is big news…

Google to take Apple’s iPhone head on: August 1 Moto X media event is a go

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 19, 2013

Several big media reporters and technology blog editors confirmed receiving invitations from Google concerning the long awaited Moto X announcement.

The invitation-only event will be held in New York City on August 1, cunningly a few weeks ahead of Apple's rumored iPhone and iPad refresh.

The "Moto X" tagline on the invite leaves no room for ambiguity. The teaser graphics even shows Motorola's actual Android flagship in black and white, down to its distinctive curved top ridge. At any rate, this will be a watershed moment for the struggling handset maker.

The upcoming super phone, as Google CEO Larry Page likes to call it, is thought to feature an always-on assistant, a staggering 4,000mAh battery, a ten-megapixel camera and either a 4.3-inch of five-inch screen...

Google shamelessly lifts Apple’s patent illustration

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

I was shocked learning about the extent of Google's copying this morning. Apparently one of Google's patent filings with The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) uses a familiar-looking illustration to depict a generic computer.

Let me jut say it: Google's drawing is an exact replica of an illustration accompanying an older Apple patent filing. You'd have thought with all the commotion surrounding Google's plagiarism and Samsung ripping off Apple wholesale that the search giant should know better...

Google’s $14B quarter falls on deaf ears as Motorola continues bleeding money

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 18, 2013

In an earnings call nearly devoid of specifics, Google announced its Motorola Mobility unit continues to be in the red, while revenue from its search business fell six percent compared to a year ago. Search revenue fell four percent during the first quarter amid declining ad rates.

Overall, the Mountain View, California headquartered Internet giant announced $14.11 billion in second-quarter non-GAAP revenue, up nineteen percent from $11.81 billion a year ago - and yet below Wall Street's expectations.

Google's CEO Larry Page announced the company saw 900 million cumulative Android activations worldwide, with more than 1.5 million units being activated each day, which is precisely the same data point he gave at Google I/O 2013 back in May...

Flurry: average iPhone app costs 19 cents, 50 cents for iPad

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

When it comes to apps, free is best. New research finds consumers are willing to accept ads in their apps to avoid paying for their favorite iOS or Android apps. According to Flurry, the number of free apps available in the App Store and Google's Play store continues to rise.

Matter of fact, the trend toward free apps has grown to comprise 90 percent of applications in Apple's App Store. The overwhelming vote for free means the average iPhone app cost nineteen cents, with iPad apps averaging fifty cents.

For Android apps, the fascination with free is even greater, driving the average cost of apps using Google's mobile software down to just six cents...

NYT spells out Apple’s living room strategy

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 18, 2013

Apple's plans for the living room have rested largely on the Apple TV the company's leadership continues to call "a hobby project." While there's been talk that the tech giant could unveil its own television set, rumors of revamping the television experience have been greeted with industry concern and fruitless negotiations.

However, now comes word Apple wants to be friends with Time Warner, Disney and other content producers - and along the way improve some of the worst aspects of current television viewing.

One result of the partnerships is an upcoming Time Warner Cable Apple TV app that would turn Apple's $99 set-top box into a channel guide for live and on-demand programming much superior to the clunky software now offered by the distributor...

Apple joins alliance of tech companies in push for better NSA transparency

Cody Lee ∙ July 17, 2013

Apple is reportedly teaming up with Google, Facebook, Microsoft and a number of other tech companies that will demand dramatically increased transparency from the US government regarding surveillance by the NSA and other agencies.

In a letter to be published tomorrow, the alliance—which includes 63 companies, investors, and non-profit orgs—will call upon President Obama and congressional leaders to allow them to report more specifically on security requests...

Google to refresh its Nexus 7 tablet next week

Cody Lee ∙ July 17, 2013

Despite the fact that Apple showed up to the 7-8-inch tablet game late, it has taken the lead in the space. Admittedly, Amazon doesn't offer sales numbers and Apple doesn't break up iPad sales, but it's widely believed that most of them are minis.

But it appears Google is looking to de-throne the Cupertino company next week, by introducing a new version of its Nexus 7. The search giant issued media invitations to a July 24 event this morning, and there's been several leaks since then...

Google’s new Maps SDK brings Street View and Indoor Maps to iOS apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2023

Google yesterday pushed a major 2.0 update to its native Maps iOS app.

The software has brought native iPad support, offline maps, a much cleaner interface, improved navigation, indoor maps of building floors and other enhancements.

By the way, today's Chrome iOS update lets you open map links in the Google Maps app instead of the browser.

To go along with the new Maps app, Google yesterday issued a version 1.4 of its Google Maps SDK for iOS. The new frameworks make it easy for Apple's registered iOS developers to write apps that incorporate such new features as Street View, Indoor Maps, and a new look and feel...