Google

Google+ for iPhone gets 'Awesome' photo features

Google+ for iPhone was updated Tuesday with a smattering of features, including automatic photo creations called "Auto Awesome," to make the mobile social-networking application match, in style and function, the revamped desktop experience released two weeks ago.

With version 4.4, iPhone owners get a collection of photo options for improving, viewing, and backing up shots stored in the device's camera roll. Specifically, the app can automatically back up camera captures, auto-enhance them, and group them into smart photo albums Google calls "Highlights," before you ever have to lift a finger.

The refreshed application also … Read more

EU likely to push Google to concede more on antitrust

European antitrust regulators could seek further concessions from Google that may delay its settling of anticompetitive charges in the region.

The search firm landed itself in hot water in late 2010 after rivals and competitors complained to the European executive body for allegedly infringing EU-wide antitrust law by abusing its dominance in the search market. 

After formal charges were issued and Google laid out settlement proposals to avoid hefty fines in the region, those same complainants are knocking on the EU's door demanding more be done.

According to Reuters, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia warned that Google may … Read more

Google Maps rolls out bike routes in six European countries

Google announced Monday that it is rolling out extensive bike directions on Google Maps in several European countries, including Germany, France, Poland, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.

If only this had existed six years ago, I could have avoided my best friend wanting to ring my neck.

When we decided to ride our bikes on a 500-mile tour around the south of France in 2007, my one job was to map our route. I got a paper map, highlighted a loop adjoining several country roads, and off we went. Easy.

Actually, not so much.

While our ride started out pleasant, we … Read more

Google said to deploy Wi-Fi blimps in Africa and Asia

How can the Internet be brought to areas that have no infrastructure for high-speed wireless? Beam the Wi-Fi networks down from flying objects, of course.

Google is reportedly working on creating wireless networks for more remote parts of the world, such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, with sky-bound balloons and blimps, according to Wired.

Dubbed "high-altitude platforms," these mechanisms will reportedly be able to connect roughly a billion more people to the Internet worldwide, according to Wired. The blimps signals are said to be able to reach people in areas that are hundreds of square … Read more

Beware the coming of the Google Glass photographer

As you head off to your Memorial Day weekend getaway with smartphone or digital camera in hand, keep in mind that by this time next year, there could be a whole new breed of technophile attending the holiday festivities: the dreaded Google Glass photographer.

In the chuckle-worthy video below, the folks at online app training company Grovo offer a glimpse into a horrifying future. An obnoxious, photo-obsessed Glass owner gets all up in everyone's grill to record everything with many, many blinks of the eye. … Read more

Google Translate says 'Hola!' to Chrome

Not only is Google Translate not dead, its powers of mildly accurate, often-amusing, and on-the-fly translations are in the process of being gifted to Chrome 28 Beta for Android.

If you load a foreign language Web site in the beta, which landed in the Google Play Store on Thursday, a bar will appear at the bottom of the screen with a button to translate the site. Tap the button, and voila! It will appear in a different language.

The accuracy of the translation is another issue. However, Google spokeswoman Roya Soleimani said, "Google Translate works through statistical machine translation. … Read more

Android 4.3 pops up in the wild after skipping Google I/O

After failing to appear at Google I/O, evidence that Android 4.3 is forthcoming soon has been leaking out slowly. Now, the first photos of the next sweet iteration of the mobile OS running on a device have been spotted. It looks to be a new flavor of Jelly Bean rather than the whole slice of Key Lime Pie.

Photos that appear to show a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 at the 2013 Thailand Mobile Expo have surfaced on the xdadevelopers forum, home to many an Android leak, hack, and more.… Read more

Google mapping Waze takeover, says report

Google may be driving forward with a plan to purchase Waze for $1 billion or more, according to a new report.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that Google is considering a bid for the mobile mapping and navigation company. The search giant perked up to the idea only after learning that Facebook was in talks to buy Waze, Bloomberg reported.

When reached for comment, Waze spokesperson Julie Mossler said that the startup does not comment on rumors or speculation.

Waze, founded in 2007, makes a mobile application for getting directions and routing around traffic with the help of other drivers. The app … Read more

Google may face antitrust inquiry over display ads -- again

Google has reportedly returned to the display ads hot seat with the Federal Trade Commission, after avoiding disciplinary action following an antitrust probe that concluded in January.

Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg is reporting that the investigation is "in the preliminary stages and may not expand into a larger probe." At issue is whether Google is using its role in the online display ad industry (which overall sees $17.7 billion in annual revenue in the U.S.) to force companies to adopt other Google services. The practice can violate antitrust laws, Bloomberg's sources said.

Requests for comment … Read more