Google

Chrome 32 for Mac: noisy tab indicators, supervised users, stronger malware protection

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 16, 2014

If you prefer Google's Chrome over Apple's Safari on your Mac desktops and notebooks, good news: the search monster yesterday updated the browser with a few new features that help restrict kids' use of the Internet while boosting their parents' protection from malware.

I was instantly sold on the incredibly useful noisy tab indicators that make it easier to figure out which tab sound is coming from.

Now, why didn't I think of that? Chrome 32 for Mac, Windows and Linux is now available for download and there's a detailed description of the new features right below...

Check out Google Now integration on your Mac in latest Chrome Canary release

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 16, 2014

CNET reported last summer that Google Now cards were heading to Google’s Chrome browser for the Mac. Six months later, Google releases a brand new Google Canary build with Google Now cards functionality nested right inside the browser's notification center which sits in your Mac's status bar.

Although not all Google Now cards are available in this alpha release of Chrome, the search company has integrated a few of the most popular ones like sports scores, real-time weather updates, and travel information...

Google Play Movies and TV app hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2017

After Google Play Books and Google Play Music, the Internet giant Google on Wednesday has finally released the official Google Play Movies and TV application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

A free download from the App Store, the software allows you to access those purchased or rented movies and television shows you bought in Google's Play Store.

With this move, Google has completed a trio of software offerings that make it easier for people on the Apple platform to enjoy media bought from Google's content store. Die-hard Apple fans may not care much, but those who happen to use both iOS and Android will appreciate that Google is catering to Apple users with these apps...

Judge approves anti-poaching agreement suit against Apple, Google and others

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

A few years ago, if you were a Silicon Valley engineer in high demand, landing a job at Apple, Google, Intel or other technology titans likely meant your career was stalling as a result of these companies conspiring to fix wages by not hiring each others’ employees. A probe by the Justice Department into these 'no solicitation' agreements led to a class-action lawsuit.

And after a federal appeals court refused to let the defendants appeal a class certification order, the affected Silicon Valley software and hardware engineers, programmers, animators, digital artists, web developers and other technical professionals have won clearance to pursue the collusion case as group, Reuters reported Wednesday...

Chrome for iOS updated with data compression, Google Translate

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Google announced an update for its mobile Chrome browser today, which will bring the app to version 32. The update brings about a handful of new features including data compression, Google's popular Translate feature and more.

The search giant says that the new data compression feature can reduce data usage by up to 50% while browsing the web on your device, using Chrome. And with Google Translate for iOS, you can translate full webpages on the go...

Some theories on why Apple didn’t buy Nest…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Google's acquisition of the smart thermostat and smoke detector maker Nest Labs, which came out of the blue yesterday, has certainly set tongues wagging. And when you think of it, the shock and awe didn't stem from the business side of things - it came from buying users of a lovable service in a non-physical space, but whose relationship with the service is part physical.

And to think it all began like a fairy-tale...

Here's a cutesy little startup led by Tony Fadell, a former Apple engineer who used to lead the iPod's development over seventeen generations before leaving Cupertino amid feud with design guru Jony Ive and iPhone software head Scott Forstall to co-found Nest Labs, along with fellow Apple staffer Matt Rogers.

"Starting a business focused on the lowly thermostat seemed like a crazy idea at the time," Fadell wrote yesterday in a blog post. Turned out a lot of people fell in love with his smart thermostat. Just as Nest was about to complete another round of funding, Google swept in and bought the company outright for $3.2 billion in cash.

Sources claim Google was the only serious bidder and Apple was not in the mix. Heck, the iPhone maker didn't even bother to put up a fight. But why? Here are some of the more popular theories floating around (feel free to add your own in the comments)...

And just like that, Google buys smart thermostat and smoke detector maker Nest Labs

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2014

The Internet giant Google has announced that it has bought Nest Labs, the maker of a family of iPhone-controlled smart thermostat and smoke and carbon monoxide detector devices for connected homes. Nest will continue to operate independently of Google and won't share customer data with them. Nest was founded by the brilliant engineer Tony Fadell who used to work at Apple where he was charged with the iPod music player project.

Yes, the iPod Godfather now works for Google! The transaction is valued at a whopping $3.2 billion in cash. Google paid quite handsomely to buy Nest, didn't they? Considering Nest raised about $80 million in venture funding, the acquisition qualifies as one of the most profitable exit strategies among Silicon Valley startups.

iDownloadBlog's Jeff Benjamin reviewed the Nest learning thermostat and was impressed with its sleekness and functionality, the $249 price point be damned...

US appeals court: Apple did not violate Google’s Motorola push notifications patent

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said on Friday that Apple does not use patented technology owned by Google unit Motorola Mobility in making its iPhones. This means Apple is off the hook in regard to Motorola's assertion of patent infringement.

The appeal court's ruling upheld a decision by the International Trade Commission in April, which also concluded that the iPhone didn’t violate Google’s patents...

YouTube for iOS finally gains iOS 7 keyboard support, improved search and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 7, 2014

Google's YouTube app for the iPhone and iPad has been lacking in many requests and could definitely use a little help from the user interface design standpoint.

For instance, why do I have to tap the magnifier icon in order to search whereas there should be a tappable search bar instead, which is more or less the norm in iOS app design these days?

A new update, now available in the App Store, leaves those questions unanswered.

On the other hand, the release improves upon other lacking areas. For starters, it's finally gained the stock iOS 7 keyboard (what took so long?), immediately bringing YouTube more up to date with iOS 7 aesthetics. Search capabilities have been improved upon and there are also other improvements concerning captions and subtitles...

CES 2014: Google’s in-car plans unmasked as Open Automotive Alliance reveals itself

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 6, 2014

In a long-rumored move, the Internet giant Google hopes to repeat its success with Android on smartphones and tablets by announcing Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), a take on its Open Handset Alliance, but for in-car Android integration.

With Apple's iOS in the Car initiative conspicuously failing to materialize yet, Google decided to waste no time and at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas flexed its muscle by signing up car makers Audi, General Motors, Honda and Hyundai, along with chip giant Nvidia.

OAA aims to accelerate auto innovation with an approach that offers openness, customization and scale. If Android's success in mobile is any indication, Apple should be worried...

Google to demo 4K YouTube streaming at CES via its new royalty-free VP9 codec

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 3, 2014

Google's hasn't enjoyed much success with VP8, a video codec it developed back in 2010 as a H.264 replacement for efficient video streaming. The Chrome browser supports VP8 codec out-of-the-box (so no plug-in required), but Google's plans for VP8 domination were shattered by literally non-existent support from major industry players.

As a result, VP8 has never gained hardware-acceleration because chip makers opted to stand firmly behind H.264, an industry-standard video codec Apple's devices support natively and on the silicon level.

At next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Internet giant will be showing off YouTube streaming in a 4K resolution of 3,840 pixels by 2,160 lines via its brand new royalty-free video codec, VP9.

This time around, Google has lined up an impressive list of industry players who will back the new format. Notably absent: a certain fruity company...

Export your data: Google-owned Bump and Flock are shutting down effective January 31

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Back in September 2013, Google announced it was buying the popular mobile file-sharing apps Bump and Flock for an undisclosed sum. It was a typical acqui-hire (a talent-focused acquisition) so we were expecting the Internet giant would phase out these apps from the App Store and fold their functionality into Android.

Sure enough, the Bump team last night issued a notice informing users that the service will shut down effective January 31, 2014.

Customers are given a chance to export all their data ahead of the shutdown, including photos, video, contacts from both Bump and Flock and more...