Google rolled out an update for its mobile Chrome browser today, bringing the app to version 34.0.1847.18 (c'mon Google). The update includes a new 'feature tour,' which offers new users an overview of the browser, and other minor enhancements.
Among those enhancements is a tweak to Chrome's omnibox. Autocomplete in the omnibox now supports right-to-left languages, which should appease some international users. There's also the standard cluster of security, stability, and bug fixes...
Reuters is reporting this afternoon that Apple, Google, Adobe, and Intel have reached a settlement in their long-running antitrust lawsuit filed by employees who claim the companies agreed to not hire employees from one another.
The settlement comes just a month before the trial was slated to begin in the US District Court of northern California. The lawsuit covered more than 60,000 workers, and damages from the trial were expected to exceed $9 billion...
There's a big shakeup at Google on Thursday as Vic Gundotra, the man charged with leading Google's social efforts and one of the creators of Google+, is departing the company after eight years.
Gundotra announced the news on none other than his Google+ profile, saying he is proud of what the Facebook-competing Google+ team has accomplished despite skepticism in the industry. Gundotra didn't offer any details as to why he's leaving.
We've known pretty much all along that Google was going to be more involved this time around in the Apple-Samsung trial. Many of the features Apple claims infringe on its software patents are baked right into Android, so of course it would be in the Mountain View company's best interest to become much more involved.
But I'm not sure anyone knew the extent of Google's involvement until yesterday, when a lawyer for the tech giant said that it had reached an agreement with Samsung to foot the bill for a large portion of its legal fees. It also told the Korean firm it would cover much of the damages, should it be found guilty of infringement...
If you're among early adopters who dropped $1,500 for a Google Glass when Google for a single day opened up its Glass Explorer program to everyone, you'll be delighted to learn that your pricey smart googles will soon be able to display notifications for incoming iPhone text messages in your field of vision.
In addition, a new Calendar card will also launch later this week, allowing you to interact with calendar items on your timeline.
Google's recently upgraded its Glass software to Android KitKat, allowing them to "bring you faster updates" so these upcoming goodies are part of the new rapid development and roll-out process...
Google has beat Apple to the punch by using PrimeSense's Capri PS1200 3D imaging system-on-a-chip in the Project Tango smartphone, before Apple could in its iPhone line-up, the teardown specialists over at iFixit found.
PrimeSense is the 3D technology sensing company Apple acquired for $350 million late-November 2013, and its chips weren't expected to be found in Google's Project Tango smartphone given the fierce competition between the two companies. Only Movidius Myriad 1 3D-sensing chips were expected, but Apple's PrimeSense showed up as well...
Although the patent battle with Samsung is far from over in northern California, Apple's legal team has to start preparing for another high profile trial coming up next month. The iPad-maker, along with Google and others, is being sued over no-hire agreements in Silicon Valley.
This week, those companies in a joint court filing asked that witnesses in the upcoming suit not be allowed to offer evidence that Steve Jobs was "a bully." Emails regarding the case are fine, but excerpts from the Isaacson bio and other sources should be barred from admission...
Google this afternoon launched an iPhone client for its growing learning and tutorial service called Helpouts. The app gives users the ability to find and schedule Helpouts, start their own free Helpout, read reviews and listing details, and send other users messages.
For those unfamiliar with Google's 'Helpouts' service, it's a website that connects you to experts from various fields including cooking, health and Art & Music. These experts hold video classes teaching you how to do everything from playing the guitar, to editing photos...
Google will hold a one day sale on Tuesday, April 15, for anyone who wants to pick up the Explorer edition of Google Glass, the wearable headset that can take photos, beam apps into your eye, and more.
Until now, Google has limited the sale of Google Glass to customers who received an invitation from another Explorer or directly from Google, but starting Tuesday at 6am for 18 year old US customers, it's your chance to finally check out what's going on with this wearable hype. To buy a pair, you must go to the Google Glass website, but don't think they'll come for free...
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey's other business venture, the mobile payment startup Square, has a cozy relationship with Apple.
As a case in point, not only does Square develop for iOS first, Apple itself is happy to carry Square's $9.95 credit card reader for the iPhone and iPad and the $99.95 Square Stand for iPad on its web store.
Moreover, some of Square's talent comes straight from Apple, including director of engineering for the iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories, Jesse Dorogusker, who recently left the company to join Square.
After allowing Google to buy smart thermostat and smoke detector maker Nest Labs back in January, pundits have observed that Apple should be wise enough to avoid repeating the same mistake twice. Be that as it may, Apple is said to have mulled an acquisition offer for Square.
The possibility of such a deal has been floated on Wednesday as rumors of both Apple and Google discussing a possible acquisition with Square continue to persist. Although CEO Jack Dorsey would reportedly prefer selling the company to Apple, not Google, a deal with Apple is wishful thinking for now...
In 2011, Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said that, "by the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded." But here it is, 2014, and a quick search of BestBuy.com confirms that the lofty goal never came to fruition.
The company hasn't given up on the living room though. In fact, according to a report from The Verge, it's readying a new Android-based set-top right now. The site has obtained screenshots and other documents outing the project, which is apparently named Android TV...
Last October, Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, then a subsidiary of Google, announced an interesting partnership with PhoneBloks with the goal of creating highly modular smartphones that customers could build and update themselves much like LEGO bricks.
Basically a free, open hardware platform, Project Ara calls for a structural metal endoskeleton frame designed to hold a bunch of different items in place.
Swappable parts would include commonly used phone components like a display, keyboard, battery, electrical components, cameras and custom 3D-printed module enclosures. The audacious idea behind Project Ara is to allow folks to easily swap out malfunctioning modules or replace components with better parts as technology evolves.
Those who custom-build PCs will know what I'm talking about. It's interesting that the 100 engineers strong ATAP group, led by former DARPA director Regina Dugan, was not included in Google's sale of Motorola to Lenovo and instead got folded into Google’s Android team to work under the direction of Android's new head, Sundar Pichai.
Today, Google posted a video providing a glimpse into the DIY smartphone project, ahead of the first Ara Development Conference which runs April 15-16 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California...