Category: Google

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
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
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
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
Google Sets Extra Password Security For Chrome On Windows

Extra password security for Google chrome is not new, as it has already been available to Mac users lately. Now even windows users will be able to secure Chrome with extra password.

As spotted by François Beaufort who is an open-source Chromium evangelist, this features will ask users to authenticate themselves before they can access any saved credentials inside their browser. Earlier, Chrome users could access a plain text list for saved passwords, simply by visiting chrome://settings/passwords. Which could have given easy access of the credentials to unwanted people.

This new version is still not official, but users can still download it. However, when you make an attempt to download, it will say that this is a raw build of Chromium for Windows, right out of the trunk. Google recommends Chrome Canary of Dev Channel for a build that regularly auto-updates to the latest.

The download page clearly says this may be tremendously buggy. If you would like to download and explore it further, you can check out the source below.

[Chromium]

December 5, 2013
‘Ok Google’: Voice Search On Google Chrome For Desktop
Sometime back, Google launched voice support for its browser allowing users to push the microphone icon for voice search. This new way to search was helpful, but as Google is always keen on updates, the company has added a hotword for completely hands-free search.
```
How to get started
1) Download the extension.
2) Click “agree” to give your permission to use your microphone. 
3) Visit Google.com on Chrome and give it a try.  Just say “Ok Google” and then ask your question.
```
Google has released a free plug in on its browser, which will set a search hotword ‘Ok Google’ which will allow hands-free search on the web. Users simply have to download the plugin and it is ready to use. The extension is ready to download through the Chrome web store, or you can simply click the source below.

It’s not a major update, but atleast Google is trying to innovate and make the user experience better rather than taking out campaigns to blame rivals, if you know what we mean.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNBBijn4JuY”]

[Chrome Store]
November 27, 2013
Google+ Update On iOS Now Gets Full Resolution Photos and Dedicated Search Box

The Google+ app for iOS has been updated, and finally brings some long missing features. The new update for Google+ adds features like full size backup of your photos and more.

The version 4.6 update for Google+ on iOS now alos lets users to upload images and videos at its original resolution, as long as there is enough cloud storage. Other features that add up with this update are location sharing (already available for Android users), inline translation of posts and comments and a single search box for posts, people, photos and communities. Update your app from the link below.

[App Store]

November 23, 2013
Microsoft Launches ‘Anti-Google’ Cups, T-shirts and More

Microsoft’s anti-Google campaign ‘Scroogled’ is started a few months ago, when in February Microsoft pointed a finger at Google for not respecting users privacy. It seems that Microsoft wants more revenge pie, as the ‘Scroogled’ campaign is back with a bang.

Microsoft has assigned a whole section of latest merchandise on its anti-Google campaign. The products, which range from caps to T-shirts to mugs, most of them saying Google is collecting personal data on its users. The prices vary, but for $7.99 you can buy a mug that has a moniker “keep calm while we steal your data.” This is a bold approach from Microsoft and another direct and odd attack at Google.

The description of the Anti-Google mug on the Scroogled section of Microsoft’s website said:

Put 15-ounces of your favorite beverage into this stoneware mug to let the world know that even though Google is trying to make money on almost every aspect of your digital life, you’re still calm. And fully caffeinated.

Most products include the logo for Chrome, Google’s popular web browser. Check out the gallery below and for more information on the product you can check out the source. Do not forget to tell us what is your take on this move from Microsoft ?

[Microsoft]

November 21, 2013
Google To Pay $17 Million For Unauthorized Web Tracking in Safari

Google has agreed to pay $17 million to settle an investigation of unauthorized tracking software on Safari Web browsers. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the agreement on Google’s “unauthorized placement of cookies on computers using Apple Safari Web browsers during 2011 and 2012.”

The settlement includes 37 states and the federal District of Columbia. New York will receive $899,580, Schneiderman said. “Consumers should be able to know whether there are other eyes surfing the web with them. By tracking millions of people without their knowledge, Google violated not only their privacy, but also their trust,” Schneiderman said. “We must give consumers the reassurance that they can browse the Internet safely and securely. My office will continue to protect New Yorkers from any attempts to deliberately expose their personal data.”

A Google spokesperson confirmed the agreement and said in a statement: “We work hard to get privacy right at Google and have taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple’s browsers. We’re pleased to have worked with the state attorneys general to reach this agreement.”

[wsj]

November 19, 2013
Google’s Eric Schmidt Announces Search Result Ban On Child Abuse

Eric Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman announced how his company is taking a big step to block child pornography from appearing in search results.

Eric says that he has broke down the measures in various categories, of which one is cleaning up and will clean out more than 100,000 search results. And will generate a warning that will appear on more than 13000 results that are on the same topic. The Google chairman said he hired a 200-strong team to work out a solution over the last three months and that their work has already fixed up to 100,000 potential queries.

Eric Schmidt says “There’s no quick technical fix when it comes to detecting child sexual abuse imagery.” Instead, Google will use humans to review the images to discern the difference between “genuine abuse” and “innocent pictures of kids at bathtime.”

For now, Google’s newest improvements are limited to few countries including the UK and US, although Google says it will roll out its adjusted search globally over the next six months, covering 158 more languages.

[DailyMail]

November 18, 2013
Google Chrome now Shows Which Tab is Playing that Unwanted Music

Unwanted music from websites is that one possible thing that annoys almost everyone. But when you have multiple tabs open, finding the culprit is almost impossible. Google Chrome’s new 32 beta update fixes that by adding a small speaker icon on the tab that’s playing the music.

It also lets you know which tabs are using your webcam, or streaming to your TV over Chromecast. Additionally, the Safe Browsing features now automatically blocks malware files, instead of advising you to merely proceed with caution.

Interested ? We have linked the download page below, check it out!

[google]

November 12, 2013
Google Will Ban Windows Chrome Extensions Which Don’t Belong to Web Store

Google will block third-party browser extensions that aren’t hosted in the Chrome Web Store, in order to battle malware.

“We’re announcing a stronger measure to protect Windows users: starting in January on the Windows stable and beta channels, we’ll require all extensions to be hosted in the Chrome Web Store”, states Erik Kay, Engineering Director at Google.

Usually, Chrome will ask for permission before installing extensions on a user’s browser. But scammers have figured out how to silently install extensions without a user knowing.

These extensions can “override browser settings and alter the user experience in undesired ways, such as replacing the New Tab Page without approval,” Google said in a blog post. “In fact, this is a leading cause of complaints from our Windows users.”

Google recommends that developers who have extensions hosted outside the Chrome Web Store migrate them “as soon as possible.” If developers don’t make the change, their users will not be able to install their extensions nor will they be able to keep using extensions that have already been installed.

“Protecting our users is a key priority, and we believe this change will help those whose browser has been compromised by unwanted extensions.”

The news comes shortly after Google said it will add automatic malware blocking to Chrome and the option to reset browser settings.

November 8, 2013