Computerworld Google News

Google Now, Hangouts feel here, there and everywhere

(Mike Elgan) — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Google this week unleashed a blizzard of updates and improvements that fundamentally change -- and radically improve -- how we get information and communicate.

Even without big Apps news at I/O, small changes matter

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:57:00 GMT

Apps, Google's flagship product for enterprise IT, had a minor presence at this week's I/O developer conference, but some announcements at the show and in prior weeks deserve attention from customers of the cloud email and collaboration suite.

At Google I/O, developer services hogged the spotlight

(Zach Miners) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:37:00 GMT

Forget Glass, self-driving cars or a smartwatch. Developers, not physical consumer products, were Google's darlings at the company's annual I/O conference this week.

The 4 Best Things About the Google+ Redesign

(Kristin Burnham) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:20:00 GMT

Google announced a complete overhaul of its social network, Google+, at this week's I/O conference in San Francisco. Here's an in-depth look at all the changes and why they make Google+ better.

Google woos developers as software gains importance

(Mikael Ricknas) — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:43:00 GMT

Google did its best to court developers at this year's I/O conference with a much-needed integrated developer environment, API for better games and the ability to more easily translate apps.

Early Google Glass users finding 'sense of freedom'

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

People new to wearing computers on their faces are walking around Google I/O, exaggeratedly nodding their heads to activate the devices, and taking pictures and video. They're also reading email, checking weather reports and reviewing flight schedules -- all without taking their smartphones out of their pockets.

At Google I/O, Glass wearers say 'trust us'

(Zach Miners) — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:50:00 GMT

Google is facing some tough questions from Congress over the privacy concerns raised by Glass, its fledgling augmented reality system for recording and receiving information on the fly. But on the ground at the company's I/O conference for developers, attendees are largely enthusiastic about the technology.

Lawmakers press Google on Glass privacy

(Martyn Williams) — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:16:00 GMT

Members of a U.S. congressional group on privacy wrote Thursday to Google CEO Larry Page requesting information on how the futuristic device handles privacy issues.

Google steals march on Apple in music subscription

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:00 GMT

Google beat Apple to the music subscription service punch this week, perhaps the doing of record labels who wanted to put Apple in its place, an analyst said

Google Glass ecosystem grows with Twitter, Facebook and CNN apps

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:22:00 GMT

Google is working to build out the app ecosystem for its upcoming Glass, showing off work today at Google I/O from partners like Twitter, Facebook, CNN and Elle.

Google IDE eases Android app development

(Joab Jackson) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:10:00 GMT

Google has introduced an integrated developer environment (IDE) aimed at easing development of Android apps.

Google issues YouTube ultimatum to Microsoft as Hatfield-McCoy feud heats up

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Google yesterday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, demanding that its rival remove the YouTube app built for the Windows Phone platform.

Google weaves Larry Page's social strategy into Maps, Search

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:46:00 GMT

It became clear at Google I/O this week that Google is quietly but assuredly implementing CEO Larry Page's strategy to use Google+ to transform the entire Google experience.

Google takes Quick Action on Gmail

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:38:00 GMT

In the middle of its annual developers conference, the Google unveiled updates to its popular Gmail service.

German case on embedding YouTube videos referred to EU court

(Loek Essers) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:51:00 GMT

Embedded YouTube videos don't infringe copyright under current German law, but they could violate European rules, the German Federal Court of Justice said on Thursday.

Google dives headfirst into streaming music pool

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

At Google I/O on Wednesday, Google unveiled a streaming music service that will compete directly with the likes of Pandora and Spotify -- in what is said to be a growing market, however.

Google has 'lapped Siri' with sci-fi-like search

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Google laid out its plan for the future of search at Google I/O, talking about a search engine for mobile and desktop that not only answers your questions but has a conversation with you and offers information before you even ask for it.

How to keep the feds from snooping on your cloud data

lmearian@computerworld.com (Lucas Mearian) — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:49:00 GMT

A growing number of SaaS providers offer secure encryption log-in to Dropbox and other cloud storage vendors, meaning even they can't access the data you store. And neither can the government.

German online copyright law to take effect in August

(Loek Essers) — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:43:00 GMT

A German online copyright law that will give publishers the exclusive right to the commercial use of their publications on the Internet will come into effect on Aug. 1.

Copyright owners denied class status in YouTube suit

(John Ribeiro) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:59:00 GMT

A federal court in New York has denied class certification to copyright owners in an infringement lawsuit against YouTube over unauthorized hosting of content, stating that copyright claims have only superficial similarities.

Google Wallet makes payments possible through Gmail

(John Ribeiro) — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:04:00 GMT

Google is integrating Gmail with Google Wallet so that users can send payments as a mail attachment, even if the recipient doesn't have a Gmail address.

Larry Page wants to see your medical records

(Martyn Williams) — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:57:00 GMT

A day after breaking an almost year-long silence on a medical condition that had affected the way he speaks, Google co-founder Larry Page said Wednesday that people should be more open about their medical histories.

Google allowing Android app vendors to illegally collect user data, lawsuit alleges

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:38:00 GMT

Several users of devices running Google's Android operating system have filed an amended version of an earlier lawsuit accusing the company of illegally collecting, and allowing others to collect, extensive amounts of mobile user data without proper notice or consent.

Google to boost speed, cut data use on mobile devices

(Zach Miners) — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:45:00 GMT

Google has shown off new features that can reduce data consumption and improve Web performance on Android-powered mobile devices, drawing partly from capabilities already supported in the Chrome desktop OS.

A soft-spoken Larry Page makes surprise appearance at Google I/O

(Zach Miners) — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:52:00 GMT

Google CEO Larry Page made a surprise appearance Wednesday at the Google I/O conference, where he overcame problems with his throat to take questions from developers in the audience for almost an hour.

Google CEO on innovation: 'We're at 1% of what's possible'

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Google CEO Larry Page took the stage today to wrap up a nearly four-hour long keynote that kicked off the Google I/O developers conference in San Francisco.

Google previews upcoming Maps features

(Martyn Williams) — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:29:00 GMT

Google is adding a new level of personalization and a cleaner interface to its popular Maps product.

With 'Okay Google,' voice-enabled search hits the desktop

(Zach Miners) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:54:00 GMT

Just by saying "Okay Google," people will soon be able to search using voice commands on their Chrome-powered desktop and laptop computers, Google said Wednesday.

5 New Gmail Tips for Power Users

(Kristin Burnham) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:45:00 GMT

Gmail's newest features include ways to search for old emails, quickly add meetings to your calendar, send large files and more. Here's a look at five of Google's latest email features to help you make the most of the popular Web-based service.

Google adds 41 features to Google+, tweaks UI and photos

(Martyn Williams) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:39:00 GMT

Google is adding 41 new features to its Google+ social network on Wednesday, including a richer interface that works better on mobile devices and some major enhancements to photo sharing.

Syrian Internet service comes back online

(Grant Gross) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:16:00 GMT

Internet traffic in and out of war-torn Syria has been restored after a disruption of nearly eight and a half hours, according to Internet traffic charts.

A stock Android Galaxy S4 from Google will cost you $649

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:57:00 GMT

A special edition, stock Android version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone will go on sale June 26 on the Google Play store for $649, Google announced at its annual Google I/O conference.

Google brags that it has 900M Android activations

(Zach Miners, Martyn Williams) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:51:00 GMT

Google's Android OS has more than 900 million users, the company said Wednesday at its I/O event began in San Francisco.

Mozilla to Firefox: 'Browser, heal thyself'

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:39:00 GMT

Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 21, adding more social media connections, tweaking the Do Not Track privacy setting and rolling out a new tool that long term, aims to create a self-healing browser.

Mobile management morphs

rmitchell@computerworld.com (Robert L. Mitchell) — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Customers are pushing the limits of the software -- asking it to manage and do many more things than it was originally created to do -- and vendors are happy to oblige.

At Google I/O, attendees compete to save the world, virtually

(Zach Miners) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:35:00 GMT

Google I/O has not officially started, but the developers' show is already seeing some action. Two warring factions, the Resistance and the Enlightenment, are vying for control of various "portals" at key landmarks throughout San Francisco, which are leaking dangerous amounts of radioactive energy, to determine the fate of the city and ultimately the world.

Google makes Go faster

(Joab Jackson) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:44:00 GMT

Google has updated its Go programming language, making it faster and more suitable for multicore processors.

Hours before I/O, Google's Page opens up about his hoarse voice

(Zach Miners) — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:46:00 GMT

Less than 24 hours before Google kicks off its annual I/O developers confab in San Francisco, Google CEO Larry Page is revealing why his speaking voice is so soft.

Windows 8 app store fails Top 10 test

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:50:00 GMT

Microsoft's Windows 8 app store failed a test touted by a former Microsoft manager and distinguished engineer as a way to determine an ecosystem's relevance.

Data centers show signs of 'green fatigue'

(James Niccolai) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:43:00 GMT

A new survey from the Uptime Institute suggests fatigue is setting in when it comes to making data centers greener, and it may be partly due to overachievers like Google and Microsoft.

Google rival Foundem urges EU to reject remedies

(Jennifer Baker) — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:27:00 GMT

A Google competitor that filed a complaint against the search giant said on Tuesday that the company's proposals to address the European Commission's antitrust concerns do no such thing.

Outlook.com to let users engage in IM chats with Gmail users

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:53:00 GMT

Microsoft is upgrading its new Outlook.com webmail service so that its users can communicate with Gmail users via instant messaging.

Does your cloud vendor protect your rights?

(Thomas J. Trappler) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:57:00 GMT

When an organization's data is in the cloud, requests to provide access to it for legal reasons are more complicated.

Google has to delete offensive autocomplete results, German federal court rules

(Loek Essers) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:46:00 GMT

Google has to remove search suggestions from autocomplete in Germany if the results are offensive, the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled Tuesday.

Google triples free storage to 15GB

lmearian@computerworld.com (Lucas Mearian) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:03:00 GMT

Google said it is increasing the amount of free storage for users of its Google Drive cloud storage service to 15 GB.

No Chrome-Android merger, at least in the next year or two

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:26:00 GMT

Android's new boss hinted of an eventual merger of Chrome and Android but said the two will remain separate "for the short term," in an interview posted prior to Google I/O's opening keynote on Wednesday.

Lookout will intercept privacy-invading mobile ad networks, apps

(Lucian Constantin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:14:00 GMT

Mobile security vendor Lookout plans to start flagging as adware mobile apps that use aggressive ad networks if they don't obtain explicit consent from users before engaging in behavior that potentially invades privacy.

Lifelogging gets real

(Mike Elgan) — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

As privacy-invading technologies and location-aware applications become commonplace and accepted (and they will), and more products like Saga, Memoto and Glass become pervasive, the idea of lifelogging will become more appealing.

At Google I/O, expect Android, Chrome, and some privacy questions about Glass

(Zach Miners) — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:34:00 GMT

Google kicks off its I/O developer conference next Wednesday and if there's one thing that could steal the limelight from Android, Chrome and all the other Google projects, it's Glass.

Microsoft sends gamblin' Pete Rose to the plate in swing at Google Docs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Microsoft today took another shot at rival Google, calling its rival's online application suite, Google Docs, "too big a gamble."