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YouTube Turns 7 with 72 Hours of Video a Minute

By
khoward
– May 21, 2012Posted in: Google, Internet Trends, News

Seven years ago this month, YouTube was unleashed on the world, turning everyone and their cats into movie stars.  The site shows no sign of its age slowing it down – last year’s upload rate of 48 video hours every minute is now up to 72 hours of video every second.  According to the YouTube blog, that’s the equivalent of “61 Royal Wedding Ceremonies, 841 Bad Romances, and 1,194 Nyan Cats.”

While some have speculated that other video apps may prove stiff competition for YouTube, the video sharing site continues to see an incredible amount of content added (including rentals from five major film studios).  YouTube also isn’t afraid to branch out in features, like the head-to-head competition of YouTube Slam or America’s Got Talent YouTube Auditions.  To celebrate the past seven years as well as a future of fun, quirky, and sometimes unexplainable videos, check out YouTube’s own birthday video or your favorite Keyboard Cat or Pop Hit Cover – or upload one of your own.

(Via the YouTube Blog, Image via Black Dog Studios)

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The More Social Search

By
khoward
– April 23, 2012Posted in: Apps, Bing, Facebook, Google, Internet Trends, News, Tech

Since Google’s “Search Plus Your World” left something to be desired at its launch earlier this year (namely social results that weren’t from Google+), other groups have tried to fill in the social search pieces.  One such startup, Wajam, is working hard at this new kind of search with a redesign and new service integrations.

The service features social status updates and links from Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, which, with the update, appear next to regular Google search results.  Support for Bing and Yahoo with this new Wajam format is expected later this week, while users should expect integration of LinkedIn results before the end of the year.

Along with social search results that can now be filtered by network or category, Wajam now features further integration with sites like Amazon and Wikipedia.  If Google’s attempt at social search didn’t entirely turn you away – and you prefer your search to be more social, Wajam may just be the search tool for you.

(Image and Story via TechCrunch)

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Google Augmented Reality Glasses Being Tested

By
khoward
– April 4, 2012Posted in: Gadgets, Google, News, Tech

According to rumors back in February, Google was preparing to release augmented reality-powered glasses some time this year.  Now we have an actual view of the glasses –and through them – as Google has finally released information on “Project Glass.”  The voice-activated glasses can make voice and video calls, “check in” to places, share photos, and offer real-time information like weather and appointments.

Project Glass is still in development, but Google is hoping the promotional images and video will stir up some enthusiasm for the technology – as well as spark ideas for new applications the company can incorporate into the final version.  There’s no official release date for Project Glass yet, though it sounds like that day may be farther away than previously expected.   You can view the concept video for Project Glass here.

(Image and Story via Engadget)

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The Android Market Becomes Google Play

By
khoward
– March 6, 2012Posted in: Apps, Google, Internet Trends, News, Tech

Google opened a new media hub today, designed to put the company’s music, app, game, and e-book offerings all in one central location.  Along with the Android Market and the Google eBookstore, Google Play includes Google Music, which just launched in November.

The branding and organization move could be the result of revenue issues with Google Music as well as the Android Market – though Google’s director of digital content states that the music service is up to 4 million users.  The bundling of these services into Google Play won’t affect current libraries and playlists – though it could become strong competition for Apple’s iTunes and Amazon.

(Story and Image via CNET)

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Key Lime pie, anyone?

By
kduffy
– March 5, 2012Posted in: Google, News, Tech

Over the weekend, sources close to Google announced Android was already teasing their next next mobile software—as if we weren’t hungry enough for Jelly Bean—and it’s said to arrive sometime in 2013.

Continuing on with Android’s alphabetical theme (3.0 Honeycomb, 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean 5.0), attributing “Key Lime Pie” for Android 6.0 would only make sweet sense.

Though this is only another unconfirmed rumor, we like the thought of Google needing a year’s time to create technology that could be potentially groundbreaking. But who knows, everyone hyped up the iPhone 5, and we were left there with, well, the 4S and 5.01 upgrade—which was still a good upgrade—just not the upgrade that had been so highly anticipated.

So among the Jelly Bean expectancy to make up for Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich disappointment, we also now have some more dessert to look forward to with Android’s Key Lime Pie 6.0.

There is a forecast of some interesting upgrades, features, and software from the top 3 players this year and in 2013. With Jelly Bean the Android community will hopefully see a combinatory notebook/netbook software scenario, much like how the up and coming Windows 8 platform, but not much information has been released.

Until then, contain your hunger for these sweets that sound so delicious, we can only expect the forthcoming upgrades to be good.

(source: Android Community)

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HTC One Series debuts at Mobile World Congress

By
kduffy
– February 27, 2012Posted in: Gadgets, Google, News, Tech

This year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona has showcased some pretty hefty announcements in the mobile market, including the HTC One Series: The HTC One X, HTC One S, and the HTC One V. Take a first-look here.

The HTC One series’ “Mighty quad-core Performance,” will all run on Ice Cream Sandwich and will have the cloud-based service via Dropbox, giving owners 25 GB of free space for 2 years. The 8 megapixel camera will allow for continuous shooting so there’s no way to miss a shot; HD video shooting will also “grab high-res photos.”

Audio-wise, the HTC One Series offers authentic sounds fueled by Dr. Dre’s Beats Audio—whose philosophy is simple: “Most headphones can’t handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics. Bottom line, the music doesn’t move you. With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear, and listen to the music the way they should[,]” so the sound quality can only be expectantly good.

The only difference between the three models is the screen size: The HTC One X at 4.7”, the HTC One S being slightly smaller than the One X, measuring 4.3”, then the HTC One V, measuring 3.7”.

Look out for HTC’s “essential smartphone” One Series in the next coming months.

(via HTC & The Washington Post)

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The Great Wall of Google: Google builds a firewall between Android and Motorola

By
kduffy
– February 27, 2012Posted in: Google, News, Tech

A couple of weeks ago Google officially acquired Motorola Mobility after a highly anticipated approval from the European Union and The US Department of Justice, leaving us wondering just what will be next for the two after the significant $12.5 billion deal. Shortly after the convergence, Google’s own Dennis Woodside took charge, and former Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha will step down.

At Mobile World Congress the man in charge of Android, Andy Rubin announced that there are no plans to make Motorola the #1 Android carrier, after Rubin announced statistics that showed it would be “completely insane” to try and convert a “single digit” Android headset market shared manufacturer, and “the way Android’s going to continue to be successful is to be neutral.”

The company has even gone so far as to build a firewall between the two teams, believing the two working together would make bettering Motorola impossible.

There are a lot of exciting things in store for Google, including a “Google-branded Android device” that is said to coincide with the “post-PC era,” interacting all “the 20 screens in your home,” that have been in the works long before the Motorola acquisition.

Along with the inheritance of Google, comes a whole series of patent issues Motorola was battling with Microsoft and Apple, and as Google notes, the “patent system can’t keep up,” considering the rate at which companies are inventing and reinventing technology in the market.

(via The Wall Street Journal; photo via Android Community)

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Google’s Street View Hits Underwater Routes of the Great Barrier Reef

By
khoward
– February 24, 2012Posted in: Apps, Google, Tech

For those who are kept from making the trip themselves (whether from a lack of diving experience or the cost of travel), seeing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef may still be a possibility.  That’s thanks to a joint effort of Google, the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute, the Underwater Earth organization, and the Caitlin Seaview Survey.

Unofficially being called “Google SeaView,” the project will take Google’s Street View service into the ocean, with photographs and detailed maps of the reef.  A special underwater camera will be used to take more than 50,000 360-degree panorama shots that will be available to anyone with access to Google Earth and Google Maps.

As well as providing a unique (and more accessible) look into the Great Barrier Reef, “Google SeaView” will be an educational tool – highlighting environmental issues and providing navigational information to the captains of large cargo ships that pass over its coral formations.  The photography for the project is set to begin in September.

(Story and Image via Dvice)

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Google’s Dennis Woodside will replace Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha

By
kduffy
– February 23, 2012Posted in: Google, News, Tech

A couple of weeks ago Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion after long awaiting approval from the European Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, and when these two merged for what seemed like a “natural fit,” it is said Google will be replacing Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha altogether.

Dennis Woodside, who has previously lead Google ad campaigns, acted as the Managing Director and VP of Google UK, Director of Business Operations, and Director of Emerging Markets will take over Jha’s position.

Since 2008 Jha has been working for Motorola, after leaving Qualcomm. The “fading handsets” needed a transition, and Jha knew that by turning to Google’s Android platform there could be more of a potential for future success. And after the company’s insufficient profits continued, there came the $12.5 billion price tag Google was willing to throw down.

With the acquisition, Google will receive over 17,000 patents that will help fight off legal challenges the Android software faces. A Motorola spokeswoman Jennifer Erickson told Bloomberg that “we’re focused on running the business and getting the deal closed,” and wouldn’t indulge on any of the specifics, but before anything can go further China will also need to approve the merger.

(via CNET,  PC Magazine, & Bloomberg; photo via Android and Me)

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2012: The Year of AR HUD Glasses

By
khoward
– February 22, 2012Posted in: Gadgets, Google, News, Tech

According to a New York Times report, Google could be releasing Android-powered heads-up-display glasses before the end of the year.  The glasses would stream real-time information to a screen on the glasses using augmented reality software, sensors, and a 3G or 4G data connection.

The rumored Google glasses would be priced about the same as a smartphone ($150 to $600), which indicates a mass market intent.  The navigation system requires “head tilting to scroll and click” while a low-resolution camera monitors the users environment.

For now, it seems the information sent to the glasses would incorporate Google services such as Google Latitude and Google Goggles, recreated as augmented reality.  Intended to be used only as needed, these futuristic HUD glasses might see more use than expected as they make information even more immediately available than your smartphone.

(Story and Image via Mashable)

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