Author: Preetish Gumber

Google Fined $1.2 Million By Spain For Violating Privacy Laws

Spain on Thursday fined Google for breaking the country’s data protection law. The charge by Spain authorities claim Google for combining personal information from its many different online services and also failing to inform users clearly on how Google uses their data.

Earlier, Google’s new privacy policies were questioned by six European countries, but Spain is the first of them to charge Google with a fine. Spain fined Google €900,000 which is $1.2 million for violation of data protection laws.

The AEPD has found that Google does not give users enough information about which data collected and for what purpose uses, combines those obtained through different services, preserved for an indefinite time and impedes the exercise of the ARCO rights

“Inspections have shown that Google compiles personal information through close to one hundred services and products it offers in Spain, without providing in many cases the adequate information about the data that is being gathered, why it is gathered and without obtaining the consent of the owners,” said the Spanish Agency for Data Protection in a statement.

However, this is not a huge amount for a company like Google, but it is not about the money here. Google will probably have to make privacy policies that will work for every country’s law and not target on any individual’s privacy.

December 20, 2013
San Francisco to Deliver Free High-Speed Outdoor Public Wi-Fi Access

Ruckus Wireless today announced a partnership with the City and County of San Francisco to deliver free, high-speed outdoor public Wi-Fi service. This service will be available in the City’s world-famous Market Street corridor.

However, initially this service will be available in an approximate area of 5 kilometers between the Embarcadero and Castro Street. This was first proposed in the year 2007, but as it is said better late than never, Sans Francisco now has Free High-Speed Outdoor public WiFi access. San Francisco now offers free internet of speeds upto 50 Mbps, but only limited in the above mentioned area. The free WiFi will show up in your device as ‘_San_Francisco_Free_WiFi’.

Because San Francisco is at the world’s epicenter of technology innovation and use, residents, visitors and even businesses now have a fundamental expectation for pervasive wireless connectivity,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “We have gone to great lengths to build the foundation to deliver on these expectations with the best Wi-Fi technology we could find right in our own backyard.”

This service will not only be a boon for the locals but will also be great for the visitors as they would probably not have to rely on hotel’s WiFi.

Our goal was to identify and install some of the world’s best Wi-Fi technology that could deliver an exceptional experience to some of the world’s most discerning users,” said Marc Touitou, Chief Information Officer and director of the Department of Technology for the City and County of San Francisco. “We’ve found that technology right in our own backyard, and have worked hard with Ruckus Wireless to build the foundation of what we believe is one of the country’s premiere public Wi-Fi services.”

December 17, 2013
Skype 4.5 for Android Tablets Brings Video Calls Anywhere and More
Skype has again updated its Android application specially for tablets. The company seems to have focus on optimizing its application for Tablet users. The Skype 4.5 for tablets brings some new features like picture in picture window and new pinch to browse feature.

Skype is the first Android application to offer a picture in picture window that lets you see the video call even when you switch away to other applications. Which means, users can simply use the tablet for anything, surfing the web or playing games while the video call is still active. Skype is trying to create the Snap View type of experience that is currently used by Windows 8 users.

On the other hand, the company has also added a new scrolling feature to jump from one contact to another quickly. Users now just have to pinch the contact list to zoom out to an alphabet and tap on the letter to jump to that section. The company claims that this is alot faster than actual scrolling.

Alongside the addition of these two new features, Skype has also added some improvements to this version:
- Improved Video Instant Messaging functionality overall, including fixes on latest Samsung phones
- Added compatibility for the Hudl tablet
- Fixed crashes on the Nexus 5
- Drop down filter selections on the people tab are now persistent
[Skype]
December 14, 2013
Samsung Merges Camera and Mobile Divisions

Samsung has recently merged two of its major divisions. The company has merged its digital imaging division with its mobile phone business. The reason for this reshuffle is not shared by the company yet.

Merging of these two divisions might not show any drastic impact in the coming years, but it clearly shows the company’s interest to work on better cameras for its mobile phones. Nowadays, consumers are mostly worried battery life and camera of the smartphone they buy, and for cameras the connectivity options are something which adds a drastic difference. With this reshuffle it seems that Samsung has some future plans to work on this.

In a statement to ET News, Samsung also says that the primary goal is to “integrate the technical know-how of the two business divisions into competency for differentiating our smartphones.”

We will have to wait and see what are the plans for the company in the future. However, it will not be wrong to expect camera improvements in the Samsung smartphones, much like HTC’s ultrapixel and Nokia’s pure view. What do you think ?

[Source]

December 14, 2013
Google Maps Now Available in 25 More Countries
Anyone who has used Google Map Navigation will probably know how important it can be at some point or other. Be it searching a good place for a meal or searching the way to home from an unknown place, Google Maps has helped in most cases.

While, some people enjoy using Google Maps Navigation others do not have access to it yet. This will soon change as Google has added 25 new countries to take an advantage of this features. Here are the countries which recently got access to Google Navigation:
- Andorra
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Croatia
- Djibouti
- Gabon
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of Congo
- Samoa
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
The Google Maps Navigation is now available on approximately 100 different countries. However, few countries like Algeria, Bahrain and Russia do not support the navigation in all regions. The company says’s they are trying to bring the Navigation Beta to more countries gradually. Google Maps Navigation (Beta) requires at least Android OS 1.6 and comes included as part of Google Maps for Android v3.2 and higher. For more information you can check out the source:

[Google]
December 14, 2013
Twitter For Mac Users Gets Updated to Version 3.0, Brings Detailed Tweets and More

Not very long ago, Twitter updated its mobile application with in-line media previews. And now, the company is doing the same with Mac computers. The Twitter application for Mac users gets updated with some new features.

The Twitter 3.0 for Mac users bring in-line photo views and detailed tweets. The Timelines now display previews for Twitter photos, making it easier to go through new Tweets. Whereas, now when you click a Tweet, you’ll be taken to a detailed view that includes photos, favorite and retweets , and other Tweets in the conversation.

Other than adding new features and some tweaks the company has also changed the design of the application to make it cleaner and more modern.

[App Store]

December 13, 2013
UC Browser For iPad Gets Updated With New Features

UC Browser updates its application for iPad users in order to enhance the user experience. Not very long ago, the company updated the Android version to 9.4 adding great speeds and now the UC Browser+ HD 2.3 brings new features to the iPad.

The latest update for iPad brings in features like Social Links and an upgraded Floating Video Player. These new features are added by the company to ease user’s social life, and to give them a different online video playing experience. The Social Links feature fetches posts in all of the users social streams that contain url links from popular social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and displays them in a pop-up widget.

One of the other features added in the update is the Floating Video Player which allows users to play videos in full screen or in an adjustable window that can be placed anywhere for viewing. Furthermore, the browser comes with multiple wallpaper options which can help users to personalize according to the mood.

Whereas, there are few features that can are user friendly and useful in daily routine like the Gesture control feature and the inbuilt Evernote feature.

December 13, 2013
Investors Gives $75 Million To Oculus Rift Makers For Finishing Consumer Model

Ever since its launch the Oculus Rift has always been one of the most talked about product for the future of Gaming Gadgets. The wearable gaming tech is still in the hands of developers which does not allow everyone to get a hands-on experience with it.

This might change soon, as Andreessen Horowitz, an investment firm known for funding companies like Jawbone, Facebook Twitter and Skype has funded the makers of Oculus Rift with $75 Million. With this investment, Mark Andreessen, owner of Andreessen Horowitz will join Oculus Rift as a member in the companies Board of directors. Mark said in a statement:

We believe Oculus will not only alter the gaming landscape, but will redefine fundamental human experiences in areas like film, education, architecture and design”, ‘We’re incredibly excited to help them change the world.”

This funding might help Oculus Rift to bring the consumer variant of the gaming wearable soon for everyone. Furthermore, company’s CEO Brendan Iribe said in a statement:

This additional infusion of capital, as well as the leadership and experience of Marc Andreessen, will help us take the final steps toward our ultimate goal: making virtual reality something consumers everywhere can enjoy.”

December 13, 2013
YouTube Will Now Allow Live Streaming For All Verified Channels

YouTube is no doubt one of the most visited website on the internet today. The company announced the Live Streaming feature last year itself but it was not available to everyone by then. YouTube claims to have seen creators across music, gaming, sports and more categories using the power of live videos and creating an amazing experience for their audiences.

Now, Google wants the rest of the world to take advantage of Live Streaming. YouTube will now soon allow all verified accounts and accounts with good standings to use the Live Streaming feature. You can check if you have access to this feature by visiting the account feature page or simply by checking if it is available on the video manager. Users can also launch Google+ Hangouts directly on YouTube streaming live.

The Live Stream feature might bring in a flood of videos as it gets available to everyone. For now, YouTube says this should be available in next few weeks.

December 13, 2013
Gmail for Android Gets Updated With Universal Attachment, Vacation Responder and More

Smartphones are full of applications, and almost every morning we get an update for one or other applications. Following the tradition, Google today updated its mailing application for Android, Gmail is now updated with some more features.

Gmail application for Android has now got additional useful features. Today’s update add features like Vacation Responder, which can be set using the application from the mobile itself and will notify everyone who sends you an email that you are out on an vacation. Furthermore, Google has also added an universal attachment feature which will allow users to attach any kind of file through email(documents, PDFs, zip files).

Other features include enhanced performance of the application on low memory devices. Google has also update the application adding an option to print your emails, but this option is however available only to users on Android KitKat. The update is spreading gradually, so be patient for your turn.

[Gmail]

December 12, 2013
Now You Can Create Your Own Google Street View, Even With a Smartphone Camera

Google’s Street View has shown us various places closely, and it seems now Google wants us to see even more places. In order to capture images for the Street view, Google uses various techniques one of them is called the trekker. We saw the trekker(image below) when Google launched Street view for the Indian Monuments.

However, Google wants people to now submit there own Street View, which means users can now now take multiple pictures of the place they like and put in Street View. To get started, users just need to create photo spheres using Android phone or a DSLR and then share them on Views, which is a special section made for these kind of images. After that, users simply need to connect them on a map.

We are excited to see the different types of Street View experiences that everyone will contribute. For example, this feature can now enable environmental non-profits to document and promote the beautiful places they strive to protect. It also opens up a new tool for photographers to showcase diversity in a specific location — by times of day, weather conditions or cultural events — in a way that Street View currently doesn’t cover.

Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps & Photo Sphere, shared a self made Street View for a location visited in a vacation. The Street View shown below is made with help of a Nexus 4 and DSLR.

Views: Dunluce Castle Stairway by Evan Rapoport

For more information check out the source below.

[Google Blog]

December 10, 2013
Scroogled: Do You Hate Google Chromebooks ? May Be Not, But Microsoft Does

Microsoft’s Scroogled(anti-Google) campaign might not be loved by everyone, but that does not stop the company to do even more. After the launch of Anti-Google merchandise the company is now targeting the Google Chromebook.

Microsoft, has something new for viewers in its Scroogled campaign. Microsoft hates Google Chromebooks and wants you to feel the same. We all know the merits and demerits of a Chromebook, it does not work on most of things when offline, cannot run Microsoft Office and few more applications. Microsoft released a video highlighting these facts, but is it worth the hate ?

Check out the video below:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wAgB5J1gSQ”]

What do you think ? Windows 8 or Chromebook ? it is your choice completely, as these videos can not change the mind of a person who wishes to buy a Chromebook. Somehow, this video is another attempt from Microsoft which is not liked by people.

Just few days back, the Scroogled campaign got famous with a video featuring the famous Pawn Star Rick Harrison. The video shows a lady trying to sell her Chromebook in the Pawn shop in order to get a ticket to Hollywood. Rick Harrison says, ‘When you are not connected(to the internet), it pretty much is a brick’. You might want to watch the video below:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y2mqoDjQXI”]

These kind of advertisements are not new for Microsoft, remember the less talking, more doing? Microsoft targeted iPad in its Windows 8 advertisement. What do you think of these ads from Microsoft ?

December 9, 2013
Microsoft, Facebook & Google Says ‘Current Laws and Practices Need to be Reformed’
Microsoft, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Yahoo and AOL have together asked the world’s governments to reform its current laws and practices.

All of these companies have issued a letter to the government directly and also posted it in various publications to spread it worldwide. This is what the letter says:

The undersigned companies believe that it is time for the world’s governments to address the practices and laws regulating government surveillance of individuals and access to their information.

While the undersigned companies understand that governments need to take action to protect their citizens’ safety and security, we strongly believe that current laws and practices need to be reformed.

Consistent with established global norms of free expression and privacy and with the goals of ensuring that government law enforcement and intelligence efforts are rule-bound, narrowly tailored, transparent, and subject to oversight, we hereby call on governments to endorse the following principles and enact reforms that would put these principles into action.

All of this will work on five principles as per these companies:
1. Limiting Governments’ Authority to Collect Users’ Information
2. Oversight and Accountability
3. Transparency About Government Demands
4. Respecting the Free Flow of Information
5. Avoiding Conflicts Among Governments
All these companies have openly acknowledged the government’s need to take actions for the public good. Here is what the CEO’s of these company have to say:

Reports about government surveillance have shown there is a real need for greater disclosure and new limits on how governments collect information. The US government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right.”

—Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook

People won’t use technology they don’t trust. Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it.”—Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft

The security of users’ data is critical, which is why we’ve invested so much in encryption and fight for transparency around government requests for information. This is undermined by the apparent wholesale collection of data, in secret and without independent oversight, by many governments around the world. It’s time for reform and we urge the US government to lead the way.”

—Larry Page, CEO, Google

[Reform Government Surveillance]
December 9, 2013
Google Voice Search Will Now Speak French, German and Japanese on Android and iOS

Google voice search has improved with time for its voice recognition capabilities. Google voice is successful to recognize the universal language ‘English’ very well, specially with different accents of people all around the globe.

In the journey to improve the voice search, Google has expanded the voice recognition capabilities of its voice search by adding new languages to it. Which means, Google voice search will not be limited to English and will now speak languages like French, German and Japanese.

This new add on will recognize any of these languages and reply back accordingly. It is not clear when Google will add other languages but it seems Google has already started the journey. Lastly, this new update is available both on Android and iOS devices. If your device did not update yet, check the links below.

[Android, iOS]

December 6, 2013
Apple: 74% of App Store Users Are Using iOS 7

Three months back, Apple launched its latest OS – iOS 7 in the market. Ever since then, users have treated the iOS 7 with mix reactions, as for some it is improved and for some it lags and freezes.

Despite of the mixed reactions from users, the iOS 7 is now on 74% of Apple devices registered in the App Store. Apple has mentioned this on its developer page. This is a 10% increase in iOS 7 users from the month of October. Coincidentally, Google also announced that in just a month of release, 1.1% of Android users are on KitKat OS.

However, alongside the iOS 7 other iOS versions are still in use. As per the report from Apple, 22% of users in the App Store are still on iOS 6 and 4% users are still on older versions of iOS. The rest 26% might want to know what is iOS 7 all about from the video below:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5-KmW1QhcE”]

[Apple]

December 6, 2013