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Sprint this morning announced that it has started rolling out an update to Android 4.4.3 for its HTC One (M8) variant. The update today carries the build number 2.16.651 and packs a variety of enhancements and changes. The biggest change, however, is the addition of WiFi calling for customers. Sprint has been gradually rolling this feature out to new devices since the beginning of this year, so it’s certainly nice to see it finally hit the One (M8).

Google announces ‘Project Zero,’ wants to put an end to online targeted attacks

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2014 - 7:14 am PT

Google today announced a new initiative it is calling “Project Zero,” a broad attempt at reducing the number of internet users that are harmed every day by a variety of different types of targeted attacks. Google believes that everyone should be able to use the internet without constant worry that attackers might use software vulnerabilities nefariously, and due to that, the Mountain View corporation has assembled a team of experienced security researchers to help improve security across the internet.

Talking Schmidt: Disgusted and Embarrassed by leaks

9to5 Staff Jul 15 2014 - 5:44 am PT

The massive employee wage-fixing antitrust lawsuit between several Silicon Valley companies is only getting more interesting. An email exchange involving former Google CEO Eric Schmidt surfaced last week, shining light on Mountain View’s attempt to prevent Facebook from poaching its employees.
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Google’s smart contact lens one step closer to reality as licensing deal signed

Ben Lovejoy Jul 15 2014 - 5:32 am PT

Google’s vision (sorry) of smart contact lenses that monitor glucose levels in diabetics are one step closer to reality as it signed a commercial licensing deal with Alcon, the eyecare division of the pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

The lens uses sensors to measure the glucose content of tears and transmit that data to a smartphone app that automatically alerts users if their levels are too high or too low. Google reported back in January that it has completed several clinical trials, and that it would be partnering with other companies to manufacture the devices …
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Google now flags Flash content in search results on Android/iOS devices, saving clicks

Ben Lovejoy Jul 15 2014 - 5:03 am PT

If you’ve ever been frustrated by visiting a website on your smartphone or tablet and finding it won’t work because it uses Flash, you’ll welcome the latest Google initiative: it is now flagging Flash content in its search results, warning that the site may not work on your device.

Starting today, we will indicate to searchers when our algorithms detect pages that may not work on their devices. For example, Adobe Flash is not supported on iOS devices or on Android versions 4.1 and higher, and a page whose contents are mostly Flash may be noted

As Google notes, Android abandoned Flash support as of Jelly Bean due to reliability, security and performance concerns. Adobe has been forced to issue a succession of security updates to Flash, the most recent being two emergency updates earlier this year. Google says it hopes the move, coupled to Web Fundamentals and Web Starter Kit initiatives for developers will encourage the use of HTML5 in place of Flash.

Leaked screenshots show off revamped Play Store designs – bigger, bolder, clearer

Ben Lovejoy Jul 14 2014 - 4:26 am PT

Here’s what the Google Play Store is likely to look like when it gets its ‘Material Design’ revamp based on the new look and feel of Android L. Google has already started rolling out the new design language on the web in the form of new pages for Docs, Sheets and Slides.

The screenshots were obtained by Android Police, which says that the redesign of the Play Store is “well underway” …
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Google launches augmented reality game Ingress on iOS

Chance Miller Jul 13 2014 - 8:33 pm PT

After becoming available to all Android users back in December, Google this evening finally launched its popular Ingress game on iOS. The game originally launched in a closed beta all the way back in 2012, but has slowly been expanding to gradually larger audiences ever since.

Former Google [X] director and head of Glass Babak Parviz joins Amazon

Stephen Hall Jul 12 2014 - 7:22 pm PT

Google X director Babak Parviz founded and led both the Google Glass and contact lens projects at Google, but it appears he has now left the Mountain View corporation in favor of Amazon. This news comes shortly after just two months ago stepping aside to let former Old Navy and Gap marketing VP Ivy Ross take the Google Glass helm.

Nova Launcher updated with new design and animation options inspired by Android L

Chance Miller Jul 11 2014 - 2:03 pm PT

The talented TeslaCoil developers this afternoon updated their insanely popular Android app Nova Launcher with a variety of new features and enhancements. We just told you how to install Android “L” on your Nexus 5 or Nexus 7, but if you don’t have one of those devices or don’t want to put up with the bugs, today’s Nova Launcher update will certainly keep you satisfied.

Google starts incorporating ‘Material Design’ on Docs web pages

Stephen Hall Jul 11 2014 - 1:51 pm PT

Google showed off its new “Material” design language alongside Android “L” at Google I/O 2014. And while you can follow our guide to get a glimpse at Android L in its full glory on your Nexus device, you can also simply load up a few new web pages that Google has redesigned in Google Docs.

Google reveals ‘Right to be forgotten’ criteria and announces advisory panel

Ben Lovejoy Jul 11 2014 - 4:42 am PT

Google’s chief legal officer David Drummond has revealed in a Guardian comment piece some of the criteria the company is using to decide whether or not to act on ‘right to be forgotten‘ requests, and says that it is creating an independent advisory council to assist it in making these decisions.

[The criteria] include whether the information relates to a politician, celebrity or other public figure; if the material comes from a reputable news source, and how recent it is; whether it involves political speech; questions of professional conduct that might be relevant to consumers; the involvement of criminal convictions that are not yet “spent”; and if the information is being published by a government …

Google services again facing outages in China after brief restoration this morning

Chance Miller Jul 10 2014 - 8:53 pm PT

Earlier today, access to Google’s variety of web services was finally restored in China, after weeks of them being offline. This evening, however, Reuters reports that once again, the Mountain View company’s services are being disrupted in China. This includes tools such as Google Search, Maps, Gmail, advertising services, and more.

Google Keyboard update 3.1.19 moves location of Voice Input button

Chance Miller Jul 10 2014 - 10:42 am PT

Google this morning started rolling out a minor update to its Keyboard app on Android. The update bumps the app to version 3.1.19 and is pretty small. The only notable change is that the Voice Input button has been moved to the top row of the keyboard, on the right side of the auto-complete suggestions. Previously, the button was located next to the spacebar. This change is definitely useful, as many users would previously accidentally tap the voice button when aiming for the space bar.

The update is available on the Play Store now, although it is rolling out slowly.

FTC now alleging Amazon is also unlawfully billing parents for children’s in-app-purchases

Mark Gurman Jul 10 2014 - 9:53 am PT

Amazon is now a part of the Federal Trade Commission’s investigations into technology corporations with mobile application marketplaces unlawfully billing parents for in-app-purchases. Both Apple and Google have been tangled in the allegations with Apple settling earlier this year and Apple telling the FTC to investigate Google. The FTC today announced it is filing a complaint against Amazon, saying that children have been able to buy goods and extras within apps without the consent of parents. The full release from the FTC can be found below:

Google launches YouTube Creator Studio app for iOS

Dom Esposito Jul 10 2014 - 8:42 am PT

Following the release of YouTube Creator Studio for Android, Google has now made the app available for iOS devices. What’s the Creator Studio, you ask? Well, Google has finally created an all-in-one app hub for YouTube creators to access channel/video-specific information. Basically, it’s only helpful if you actually make (or plan to make) YouTube videos.

Google Play Games updated w/ level-up notifications, interface tweaks, more

Chance Miller Jul 10 2014 - 8:38 am PT

Google last night started rolling out an update to Google Play Games that bumped the app to version 2.0. The update includes several new features, some of which were confirmed in the recent Google Play Services 5.0 update, as well. The update today introduces Level-up notification controls, XP rankings, and a few UI tweaks.

Yelp is convinced that Google is manipulating search results to promote its own products

9to5 Staff Jul 9 2014 - 4:45 pm PT

TechCrunch has obtained leaked documents from within Yelp that accuse Google of manipulating search results to promote Google+ content over Yelp content. The report alleges that Google is boosting its own products on its search engine in the United States, but not in Europe where it is being slammed with antitrust complaints from European Union regulators.
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Google executive Regina Dugan appointed to Zynga’s Board of Directors

9to5 Staff Jul 9 2014 - 3:57 pm PT

Zynga announced on Wednesday that it has appointed Google’s Vice President of Engineering, Advanced Technology and Projects Regina Dugan to its Board of Directors. Dugan joined Motorola Mobility in March 2012 to oversee the ATAP group, a skunkworks-inspired team tasked with coming up with breakthrough innovations in mobile computing. That team now falls under Google’s Android, Chrome & Apps division.

Don Mattrick, CEO of Zynga, calls Dugan an “incredible addition” to Zynga’s board:

“I have admired Regina’s work and visionary thinking for years and believe she will be an incredible addition to the Zynga Board of Directors and a true catalyst for creative thinking at Zynga,” said Mattrick. “Regina is a dynamic leader who embraces new ideas and inspires teams to reimagine how technology and tools can positively disrupt the world. As we focus on growing and sustaining our leading franchises and creating new hits, Regina’s expertise and counsel will put us in a better position to deliver consumers next generation entertainment experiences that span categories, platforms and devices.”

Dugan on how Zynga makes games that help people connect, share and energize:

“I believe we need to play. Zynga is full of creative thinkers who embrace the power of play. Einstein famously stated that ‘combinatory play seems to be the essential feature in productive thought,’ and this spirit is embodied in Zynga’s products, which have brought new technology to games. Games that help people connect, share, rest and energize through play. I look forward to working with Don and the board on the company’s next chapter,” said Dugan.

Dugan will retain her position at Google.

Google to join forces with Dropbox, Canon, others to fight patent trolls

Chance Miller Jul 9 2014 - 1:18 pm PT

Photo: Associated Press

According to a new report out of Re/code, Google will be joining forces with a variety of other tech companies to fight patent trolls. The Mountain View company will join Canon, SAP, Newegg, Dropbox, and Asana to ward off the trolls. Between the six of them, the companies hold more than 300,000 patent assets. The companies aren’t licensing their patents to one another, but rather joining the License on Transfer network. With this network, the companies promise to grant licenses to one another whenever one of their patents is sold, preventing it from being used against them by a troll.

Alleged escort arrested in connection with Google exec’s drug overdose

9to5 Staff Jul 9 2014 - 11:01 am PT

Image: Alix Tichelman (Source: USA Today)

The Associated Press reports that the Santa Cruz Police Department has arrested Alix Catherine Tichelman, reportedly a well-known prostitute from Georgia, on suspicions of second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Forrest Timothy Hayes. Tichelman is accused of injecting heroin into Hayes while on his yacht, and then fleeing the scene when he overdosed on the drug.
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Android smartphone and tablet screen mirroring to Chromecast now rolling out

Chance Miller Jul 9 2014 - 9:52 am PT

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At I/O last month, Google announced that Android users would soon have the ability to mirror their device’s screen to their TV via a Chromecast. Today, thanks to an update to the Chromecast app, the feature is finally live. In a post on the official Android Blog, Google explained that the feature is still in beta and warned users not to be alarmed if it didn’t work properly 100% of the time.

Dropcam updated with all-new activity feed, customizable activity categories and more

9to5 Staff Jul 9 2014 - 9:26 am PT

The official Dropcam companion app has been updated with an all-new activity feed, customizable activity categories and alerts, and fast mobile setup. Dropcam users can now view and filter recorded video based on activities, manage labels and alerts for activity categories, and setup Dropcam Pro wirelessly using an Android device.

Devices supporting wireless mobile setup are the Nexus 5 and all Samsung devices running Android 4.3 or later. The new version of the Dropcam app also has a more polished design, performance improvements and bug fixes. The update is available now through the Google Play Store.

Dropcam is a cloud-based Wi-Fi video monitoring service based on a wireless security camera. The company was acquired by Google-owned Nest for $555 million last month.

The full changelog:

What’s New
In addition to a more polished design, performance improvements and bug fixes, this version features:
– An All-New Activity Feed:
View and filter recorded video by the activities you care about
– Customizable Activity Categories and Alerts:
Manage labels, colors and alerts for all of your activity categories
– Fast Mobile Setup: Set up Dropcam Pro wirelessly using your Android device.*
* Devices that support wireless mobile setup: Nexus 5 and all Samsung devices running Android 4.3 or later

Former Glass head says Google’s wearable not the “definitive answer”

Ben Lovejoy Jul 9 2014 - 5:16 am PT

Google X director and former head of Google Glass Babak Parviz said at the Wearable Technologies Conference that the company’s product is “one answer” but “not necessarily the definitive answer,” reports CNET.

Parviz, who last month stepped aside from leading the Glass team in favor of the more fashion-focused Ivy Ross, described the product as a first step in the right direction.

This is a nice first step to where we want to go. We can see glimmers of how this might work out …

You’ll soon be able to install paid apps on Android Wear as Google offers ‘workaround’

Ben Lovejoy Jul 9 2014 - 4:11 am PT