Google and five others agree to new privacy policy standards for mobile apps

Jordan Kahn

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced today an agreement with Google and five other tech companies including Apple, Amazon, HP, RIM, and Microsoft, that will see all companies implementing new standards for displaying privacy policies for apps that collect personal data. This took place multiple state attorneys general sent letters to Google CEO Larry Page expressing concerns over the companies new unified privacy policy rolling out March 1. The press release described the agreement:

The agreement with the platforms is designed to make sure that mobile apps comply with the California Online Privacy Protection Act. The Act requires operators of commercial web sites and online services, including mobile apps, who collect personally identifiable information about Californians to conspicuously post a privacy policy.

The new agreement will force Google and the other companies to implement a method of displaying a privacy policy to the user before an app is downloaded. The announcement noted all platforms would include the feature in a consistent place on the “application-download screen.” The news followed a FTC report criticizing privacy issues about mobile apps for children and lawmakers issuing a letter to Apple following privacy concerns over Path’s use of contacts in the iPhone’s address book. The Attorney General plans to meet with the companies in six months to assess the progress of the agreement, and we will wait to hear from Google on exactly how developers and the Android Market will carry out the privacy policies. The press release said a recent study found only approximately 5 percent of all mobile apps have a privacy policy. Attorney General Harris talked about the agreement:

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Microsoft asks EU antitrust regulators to probe Motorola Mobility, says Google is killing Web video

E. Betters

Microsoft requested European Union antitrust regulators to probe Motorola Mobility on claims that the United States phone manufacturer is blocking sales of Windows and Xbox products.

“Earlier today, Microsoft filed a formal competition law complaint with the European Commission (EC) against Motorola Mobility and Google,” wrote Microsoft’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel David Heiner in a blog post this morning. “We have taken this step because Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products.”

Microsoft’s post, “Google: Please Don’t Kill Video on the Web,” lambasted Motorola Mobility for not making industry standard patents available on reasonable and fair terms, and for using those patents to block competitors from shipping products.

The industry apparently agreed many years ago to define common technical standards for everyone to use and build compatible Wi-Fi and video products. However, Heiner contended, Motorola is backtracking on its word and attempting to use standard patents for “killing video on the Web.”

More information is available below.

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Feature

NYTimes: Google X Glasses will be sold by year end with augmented reality interface

Seth Weintraub

In what seems to confirm our earlier reports, (here and here), The New York Times’ Nick Bilton offered more information today on the Heads Up Display Glasses that Google is building. Some of the new bullet points are as follows:

  • The glasses are not designed for constant wear; although, Google expects the nerdiest users to wear them a lot. However, they will be more like smartphones—used when needed.
  • Internally, the Google X team is actively discussing the privacy implications of the glasses, and the company wants to make sure that people know if someone wearing a pair of glasses with a built-in camera is recording them.
  • One of the key people involved with the glasses is Steve Lee, a Google engineer and creator of the Google mapping software Latitude.
  • The other key leader on the glasses project is Sergey Brin, Google’s cofounder, who is currently spending most of his time in the Google X labs.

On a personal note, I think this will be the most exciting technology product release this year.

 

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LG announces ‘L-Style’ Optimus smartphone line for MWC

Jordan Kahn

Just ahead of Mobile World Congress set to take place in Barcelona, Spain from Feb. 27 to March 1, LG has unveiled a new line of ‘L-Style’ smartphones including the 3.2-inch LG Optimus L3, the 4-inch Optimus L5, and the 4.3-inch Optimus L7. LG is calling the line its “new design identity” and plans an official unveiling for MWC later this month. As for the new design concept, a translation of LG’s press release mentions a ‘leather back cover’,  a thin design with squared angles, and a “metal feel of sophistication”.

It looks like the L3, which is landing in Europe this March, will most likely be the entry-level device for the new line, as its the only one not shipping with Ice Cream Sandwich. The two other devices, the L5 and L7, will both run Android 4.0 out of the gate but specifics on specs and pricing for all three devices will have to wait for MWC. Check out LG’s press shot of the devices after the break.
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Barnes & Noble launching 8GB Nook Tablet, coming to Walmart Feb. 22

Jordan Kahn

It looks like Barnes & Noble plans to release a new 8GB model of its Nook Tablet that is only available in a 16 GB version for $249. The proof comes from documentation acquired by The Verge, and as the publication pointed out, it is pretty much safe to assume the new 8GB Nook Tab will come in closer to the price tag of its biggest competitor the Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire. At the launch of the Nook Tablet, B&N CEO William Lynch claimed the Kindle Fire is “deficient for a media tablet” due to its 8GB of storage (6GB available for user content). According to the document, the 8GB Nook Tablet will be landing in Walmart this Wednesday, Feb. 22.

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Google quietly releases Foursquare-like leaderboards baked into Latitude

Jordan Kahn

As pointed out by AndroidWorld (via Engadget), Google’s latest update to Maps for Android only listed minor performance improvements. However, some report it seems to have introduced a new Foursquare-like global leaderboard integrated into Latitude that ranks Google+ users based on points earned by checking-in. Many report having to check-in before being able to access the feature, and it does not appear to have rolled out to everyone as of yet. Google has not made any official announcements, but we will keep you posted when we get official word from Google on the new feature.
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