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5,707 'Google' stories January 2009 - April 2016

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Google offers $20M funding to 29 non-profits developing tech to help disabled people

Ben Lovejoy Apr 13 2016 - 8:56 am PT

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Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, has announced $20M in funding spread across 30 non-profits that are developing technology to assist disabled people. The projects range from 3D-printed prosthetic limbs through smartglasses for the blind to a low-cost way to convert standard wheelchairs into powered ones.

We’re supporting forward-thinking nonprofits with big ideas that use technology to expand opportunity and independence for people with disabilities. As part of the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities, we awarded 29 amazing grantees with $20 million in grants to help address accessibility challenges all over the world—and now, we’re helping them bring their projects to life …

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Samsung Milk VR is a huge library of VR content you can watch without a headset

Stephen Hall Apr 13 2016 - 8:41 am PT

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Samsung’s “Milk” line of apps — if not just because the “Milk” brand is just plain weird — have never been that popular. In fact, even the more-popular-than-most Milk Music is rumored to be on the chopping block. This one, though, might catch the eye of some. Launched yesterday on the Google Play Store, the reason for the app’s existence is to let owners of Samsung phones access Samsung’s huge library of 360-degree video content without a Gear VR headset…

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Proposed CA bill hopes to put Google’s driverless prototype cars in the regulatory clear

Michael Wade Apr 12 2016 - 1:46 pm PT

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Truly autonomous vehicles are poised to be an exciting technology, but as with any other technology, there are always regulatory hurdles to be cleared. As first spotted by public records sleuth Mark Harris, a bill working its way through the California legislature would require the state’s DMV to effectively legalize Google’s ambitions of having a driverless fleet of self-driving Koala cars…
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Android Marshmallow now rolling out to Galaxy S6 in Canada, LG V10 on T-Mobile

Stephen Hall Apr 11 2016 - 2:46 pm PT

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Android Marshmallow is making perhaps the slowest crawl ever in adoption, only just recently managing to find itself installed on a measly 4% of Android devices. Now, reports suggest that more handsets are finally getting the latest version. In today’s updates, we’re hearing of Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge owners getting Android Marshmallow in Canada, as well as users of T-Mobile’s LG v10…

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Google launches ‘Voice Access’ app in beta, lets you control your phone with your voice

Stephen Hall Apr 11 2016 - 12:23 pm PT

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After first planning to launch the app during Google I/O 2015 and changing its mind at the last minute, Google has finally launched Voice Access in beta, a new accessibility app that allows users to control their phone using their voice. With Voice Access, you can use a wide variety of voice commands like “open Chrome” to bring up the browser or “go home” to go to the home screen…

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Major record labels again complain of unfair YouTube deals as contracts set to expire

Jordan Kahn Apr 11 2016 - 9:20 am PT

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The major US record labels are still unhappy with the current state of their deals for YouTube royalties, leading the industry’s trade group to file a complaint as contracts with the streaming service are set to expire this year. Recode spoke with head of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Cary Sherman who represents the labels and explained why the music industry thinks the deals and negotiations with YouTube are unfair and hurting the industry and artists.

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Google Fiber drops its free basic tier in Kansas City, replaces with $50/m 100Mbps plan

Cam Bunton Apr 9 2016 - 3:28 pm PT

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When Google Fiber first launched in Kansas City, it did so with the promise of free internet, as long as customers paid for their installation. While subscribers could opt to pay $25 per month for 12 months to cover the $300 installation fee, internet usage was completely free. There was one caveat however: Download speeds were limited to just 5Mbps. Now, Google has replaced this Basic Tier with a 100Mbps plan and rebranded its two other tiers.

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Google reportedly considering possibility of Swift as programming language for Android

Greg Barbosa Apr 8 2016 - 12:50 pm PT

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Apple’s recently open-sourced programming language, Swift, may be seeing itself get adopted into Google’s Android platform in the future. Sources have told The Next Web that Google is “considering making Swift a ‘first class’ language for Android”.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 3 months of free Reddit Gold w/ app download, Mpow Streambot Mini $14, more

Stephen Hall Apr 7 2016 - 1:01 pm PT

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Reddit’s official Android app now launched w/ three months of free Reddit Gold

Add Bluetooth to nearly any speaker w/ the Mpow Streambot Mini for $14 Prime shipped

Google Nexus 5X 16GB now just $230 shipped (Reg. $349)

Green Deals: Philips hue LED Starter Bundle w/ HomeKit Bridge $170 (Reg. $200), more

Beats Solo2 Wired On-Ear Headphones (multiple colors) $90 shipped (Orig. $200), more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Audio-Technica’s best selling ATH-M50x studio headphones + FiiO A3 amp $130 shipped ($180+ value)

Smartphone Accessories: GOOLOO Car Jump Starter Power Bank $64 (Reg. $100), more
Daily Deals: Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker w/ AirPlay $160, more
LEGO Deals: Big Bang Theory Living Room $46, Minecraft Ender Dragon $49, more
Onkyo’s 4K A/V Receiver and 5.1-Ch. Speaker bundle for $300 shipped (Reg. $400)
Games/Apps: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate $30, iOS freebies more
Mojang reveals 27 new skins for Minecraft Story mode, here’s how you can get them for free
Browse reddit like a boss with a free 3-month gold membership upgrade ($12 value)
Amazon Gold Box – Reebok running shoes 50% off: Men’s Crossfit Nano Pump Shoe $70, more
Digits, the calculator for humans on iOS is now available for free (Reg. $4)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 128GB in all colors: $760 shipped (Reg. $949)
Apple 12-inch Retina MacBook 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB: $990 shipped (Reg. $1,299), more
Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (Newest Version): $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)
Apple TV 4th gen: 32GB $109 (Reg. $149), 64GB $154 (Reg. $199) w/ VISA Checkout
Cut the Rope Time Travel for iPhone and iPad goes free for the very first time (Reg. $1)
Brothers A Tale of Two Sons iOS puzzle-adventure game gets its first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5)
Transistor action RPG for iOS matching its lowest price ever: $3 (Reg. $10)
App Store Free App of the Week: CHOMP interactive storybook goes free
Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)
Apple Milanese Loop knockoff for a tenth of the price ($16 Prime shipped)
Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/718104977198198784 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Smartphone Accessories: Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III $249 shipped (Reg. $300), Aduro 2-Outlet USB Surge Protector $10, more

Storage: WD My Passport Ultra 1TB USB 3.0 Portable HDD $50 (Reg. $60), more
Learn to build amazing apps with the Apple TV Developer Course: $19 (Orig. $199)
Buy 3 accessories, save 20%: iPad Pro Keyboard $143, Apple Pencil $87, more
Aukey Aluminum USB-C Hubs w/ Prime shipping: 7-ports for $19 or 4-ports for $8
Google Nexus 5X 16GB now just $230 shipped (Reg. $349)
Discounted fans: Vornado 660 Whole Room Air Circulator $82 (Reg. $100), more
Green Deals: 25% off Natural Magnetic Wooden Block Sets from $24, more
Free Small Fry and Drink with the purchase of an Arby’s Sandwich!
Grab a free Kindle download of Jane Austen’s ‘Mansfield Park’ w/ Audible Narration
You can now live stream an MLB game every day for free courtesy of Yahoo
Home Theater: Pioneer 4K 3D AirPlay A/V Receiver $400, more
UE BOOM 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in all colors: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
T-Mobile offering $200 off any iPad when you buy an iPhone on installment plan
Green Deals: Collapsible Solar Lantern $14, more
Start programming with the ‘Learn Python 3.0 Visually’ Kindle eBook for $1 (Reg. $10)
The classic-style Doom and Destiny RPG games drop to just $1 each on iOS (Reg. $3 ea)
Game Dev Story for iOS now matching its lowest price ever: $1 (Reg. $5)
iTunes gift cards w/ free email delivery: $100 for $90, $50 for $45, more (10% off)
Amazon Fire TV 4K Streaming Media Player $85 (Reg. $100), more
Amazon is giving Prime members up to 3 magazine subscriptions for free: Wired, GQ, more
Green Deals: Etekcity 3-pack of Remote Outlet Switches $17 (Reg. $25), more
Browse the web anonymously: $60 (Orig. $80)
Samsung 48-inch Smart UHDTVs: 3D 120Hz $925 (Reg. $1,200+), Curved 60Hz $629 (Reg. $830)
Here’s how you can get a 90-day membership to BJ’s Warehouse for free
Final Fantasy XV gets a new playable demo, now available for free on PS4 and Xbox One
Green Deals: WORX WG156 2-in-1 Electric Trimmer/Edger $80 shipped (Reg. $107+), more
Kindle First eBook freebies for April: Golden Age, The Secret Healer, Blood Defense, more
Google Play Metal Albums for $0.99: Trivium’s Silence In The Snow (Orig. $11), more
iPhone SE and Galaxy S7/Edge cases in a variety of styles/colors from $3 shipped
Walmart launches iPhone SE $100 discount, other Apple/Samsung devices too!

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Ryobi’s new Ultra Quiet Garage Door Opener has a Bluetooth speaker and more

Roku introduces a new quad-core streaming stick with a slimmed down design
Apogee releases its most affordable full-featured Mac recording interface yet
The Yecup 365 travel mug uses your iPhone to heat or cool your drink
ROAM-e follows you around in the sky and takes selfies on demand
Sprint customers can now (but probably shouldn’t) pay monthly for Amazon Prime
Seagate unveils the “world’s first” USB-powered 8TB desktop hard drive
Sony’s new RX10 III digital camera goes big with a 24-600mm lens and 4K capabilities
Unboxing the awesome, pricey C-3PO and Stormtrooper Bluetooth speakers [Video]
QWERKYWRITER is a mechanical Bluetooth keyboard that takes us back to simpler times
Build an Alexa-enabled device using a Raspberry Pi
Review: Fitbit Alta pairs smart fitness tracking with a small and beautiful design
The Kuvée smart wine bottle brings the Internet of Things to grapes near you
This Kickstarter project allows up to 10 people wirelessly listen to nearly any source
TCL’s new 4K Roku-enabled UHDTVs hit every price point
The Tovala iOS-connected oven scans and automatically prepares your dinner

Google’s Access group, which includes Fiber, is working on a new product called ‘Accelerator’ [Update: Nope, just YouTube Accelerator]

Stephen Hall Apr 7 2016 - 10:57 am PT

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Update: We’ve now been told that his LinkedIn profile is referring to YouTube Accelerator, although YouTube is not within the Access group at Google.

Back in November of last year, Re/code’s Mark Bergen profiled Google’s/Alphabet’s ‘Access and Energy’ group, which includes a lot of projects and products focused on helping bring people online. Of course Google Fiber falls into this category, but so does Project Link, a RailTel partnership, Project Sunroof, Project Titan, as well as the consumer OnHub router product. Now, the recently updated LinkedIn profile of Global Operations head Joe DeMike at the Alphabet group might have accidentally revealed the name of another product: Accelerator…

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Google funding efforts to bring more renewable energy to Asia

Cam Bunton Apr 7 2016 - 6:34 am PT

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In a blog post this morning, Google has announced that it plans to provide seed funding to the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), with the aim to begin rollout of effective energy certification programs across Asia, starting in Taiwan.

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Google’s self-driving cars headed to Phoenix to see how they handle ‘extreme temperatures and dust’

Ben Lovejoy Apr 7 2016 - 4:55 am PT

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‘Extreme temperatures and dust’ may not be the most flattering description of Phoenix, Arizona, but it’s the reason Google cites for naming the city as its fourth testing ground for its fleet of self-driving cars.

Reuters reports that Google is currently using four Lexus RX450h SUVs to create the detailed map of “streets, lane markers, traffic signals and curb heights” needed to allow the self-driving cars to operate.

‘The Phoenix area has distinct desert conditions, which will help us better understand how our sensors and cars handle extreme temperatures and dust in the air,’ said the project’s head of business operations Jennifer Haroon.

There is, though, a second – and more flattering – reason for the choice …

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Huawei P9 vs. Huawei P9 Plus specs compared — which would you pick? [Poll]

Stephen Hall Apr 6 2016 - 9:29 am PT

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Huawei today announced two new flagship smartphones for several countries outside the US, namely the P9 and P9 Plus. The two phones, while obviously pulling a lot design-wise from Huawei’s previous Nexus 6P, are definitely attractive offerings from the up-and-coming Chinese manufacturer. And with it comes a definitely flagship-level spec sheet including 64-bit Kirin processors, a powerful set of cameras (including a Leica dual-camera set up), and a respectable price point.

Read on for the complete rundown on the phones’ specifications, and don’t forget to let us know which of the two phones you would prefer in the poll below…

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Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs wants to build a city from the ground up to test its ideas

Chance Miller Apr 5 2016 - 6:43 pm PT

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Alphabet is known for aiming for the moon with a lot of its efforts, and its Sidewalk Labs initiative appears to be no different. Sidewalk Labs has been around for about a year now and aims to improve WiFi availability and traffic in cities, but it looks like its plans don’t stop there. Sidewalk CEO Dan Doctoroff hinted that the company may be looking to build a city from scratch while speaking in New York at an event held by The Information.

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Google patent points to device for controlling drones with onboard medical equipment

Edoardo Maggio Apr 5 2016 - 5:41 pm PT

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Drones have become very popular among consumers over the last few years, with various applications mainly in photography and videography, but their potential suggests that there soon could be a slew of additional uses that normal people could benefit from. Particularly, drones could turn out to be very helpful for delivery of physical objects or perhaps an Internet connection.

According to Quartz, a new Google patent filed recently is all about a potential medical use. While last year the idea of medical equipment-carrying drones had already been patented by the search giant, it looks like the company may have found a viable method via which users could contact the devices…

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Report: Google’s main focus in the long run is augmented reality, not VR

Chance Miller Apr 5 2016 - 4:13 pm PT

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According to a new report from The Information, behind closed doors Google is much more interested in augmented reality than it is in virtual reality. Google of course has publicly marketed its Cardboard VR product heavily, but that’s apparently not the end-goal for the company — augmented reality is.

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Google self-driving car project nabs an ex-Apple global supply manager w/ experience delivering millions of iPhones and Watches

Stephen Hall Apr 5 2016 - 1:45 pm PT

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Reuters last month reported that Google has been bolstering its self-driving car team as of late, and now as April rolls in, we’ve uncovered some more information on new hires as the team continues to expand. In one case, Google has added an ex-Apple global supply manager for the iPhone and the Apple Watch to the self-driving car supply management team…

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WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encryption for all messages, photos and videos shared on the service

Benjamin Mayo Apr 5 2016 - 8:53 am PT

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Today, WhatsApp is announcing that all messages, photos, phone calls and videos sent over its messaging app will be encrypted end-to-end. This means that no one can access any communications apart from the people in the conversation. This means if WhatsApp is subpoenaed by government for information, WhatsApp will not be able to help them as it simply cannot help them.

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Google can now play animal sounds directly from search

Stephen Hall Apr 5 2016 - 8:20 am PT

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Very often, Google realizes that there’s a common search query that it can make more convenient for users by adding its own content directly to the search engine. The perfect example was last year, when Google effectively sherlocked dozens of lyrics-dedicated websites by adding its own lyrics directly to the top of search results for many songs. I don’t think as many websites are going to feel the brunt of this change, but Google has now added animal sounds to Search…
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Google’s tool for measuring touch and audio latency on Android and Chrome OS is now open source

Chance Miller Apr 4 2016 - 5:16 pm PT

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Google has announced on its Android Developers blog that it is open sourcing its WALT Latency Timer. The company says that it has been using the tool in its Chrome OS and Android divisions to measure and minimize touch and audio latency, but now all developers will be able to take advantage of the tool.

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Google announces new faster API for Google Cloud Datastore

Stephen Hall Apr 4 2016 - 12:48 pm PT

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Today Google has announced a new faster API for its NoSQL database for web and mobile apps. It goes without saying that this is read as a foreign language to anyone without a development background, Google says that it has “redesigned the underlying architecture that supports the cross-platform API for accessing Datastore outside of Google App Engine, such as from Google Container Engine and Google Compute Engine“…

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E (2nd gen.) $36, PNY 128GB MicroSDXC Card $30, more

Stephen Hall Apr 4 2016 - 10:14 am PT

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Boost Mobile Motorola Moto E 8GB: $36 shipped (Reg. $60) | Best Buy

Daily Deals: PNY 128GB MicroSDXC Card $30, Wireless AC1900 Router $160, more

Amazon’s popular Kindle e-readers are up to 37% off for Prime members w/ prices starting at $50 shipped

Smartphone Accessories: Poweradd Solar 10000mAh Dual 2.1A USB Battery/light: $12, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Browse the web anonymously with a Private Internet Access VPN 2-year subscription: $60 (Orig. $80)

Samsung 48-inch UHDTVs: 3D 120Hz $925 (Reg. $1,200+), Curved 60Hz $629 (Reg. $830)
Games/Apps: Far Cry Primal (PS4/Xbox One) $45, iOS freebies, more
Amazon Gold Box – Schlage Camelot keypad flex lock $82 shipped (Reg. $119+)
Here’s how you can get a 90-day membership to BJ’s Warehouse for free
Fashion: 40% off Perry Ellis – Slim Fit Twill Chino $33 (Reg. $55), more
AT&T buy 3 accessories, save 20%: iPad Pro Smart Keyboard $143 (Reg. $169), more
olloclip 4-in-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 6/s & Plus $50 shipped (Reg. $80)
Walmart launches iPhone SE $100 discount, other Apple/Samsung devices too!
App Store Free App of the Week: CHOMP interactive storybook goes free
The classic-style Doom and Destiny RPG games drop to just $1 each on iOS (Reg. $3 ea)
Game Dev Story for iOS now matching its lowest price ever: $1 (Reg. $5)
Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)
Take It Easy iOS puzzler/brain teaser goes free for the first time in years (Reg. $2)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

UE BOOM 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in all colors: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)

Final Fantasy XV gets a new playable demo, now available for free on PS4 and Xbox One
Green Deals: WORX WG156 2-in-1 Electric Trimmer/Edger $80 shipped (Reg. $107+), more
Kindle First eBook freebies for April: Golden Age, The Secret Healer, Blood Defense, more
Google Play Metal Albums for $0.99: Trivium’s Silence In The Snow (Orig. $11), more
Buy Galaxy S7 from AT&T & get a FREE 48” Samsung TV ($500 value) w/ DirectTV (or U-verse)
iOttie Car Mounts for iPhone: Easy One Touch 2 $13 (Reg. $20), w/ Qi Charger $40 (Reg. $55)
Headphones: AKG Tiesto DJ-style $30 (Reg. up to $80), earbuds from $14, more
Amazon adds over 70 products to its Dash Button lineup: Doritos, more
Free MP3 Albums: Black Sabbath Paranoid, Chris Janson Buy Me a Boat
Twelve South HiRise Apple Watch Dock: $40 shipped (Reg. $50)
Free PS Plus Games for April: Dead Star, Zombi, more
T-Mobile offers buy one, get one half off for the new iPhone SE (& 6s/Plus, more)
Green Deals: Stanley 10W Rechargeable LED Flashlight $37 (Reg. $54), more
Bluetooth Speakers: Sony w/ AirPlay $350 (Reg. $500+)
Best Buy: $50 gift card w/ iPhone SE purchase & up to $350 off iPad Pro 9.7 on Verizon
Apple iPhone 6 16GB (certified pre-owned, unlocked): $385 (Orig. $649), more
Media: Zootopia + Batman v. Superman pre-order deals, more , more
SNES30 Bluetooth Controller brings old-school buttons to touchscreen games: $35 (Orig. $45)
Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

ROAM-e follows you around in the sky and takes selfies on demand

Sprint customers can now (but probably shouldn’t) pay monthly for Amazon Prime

Seagate unveils the “world’s first” USB-powered 8TB desktop hard drive
Sony’s new RX10 III digital camera goes big with a 24-600mm lens and 4K capabilities
Unboxing the awesome, pricey C-3PO and Stormtrooper Bluetooth speakers [Video]
QWERKYWRITER is a mechanical Bluetooth keyboard that takes us back to simpler times
Build an Alexa-enabled device using a Raspberry Pi
Review: Fitbit Alta pairs smart fitness tracking with a small and beautiful design
The Kuvée smart wine bottle brings the Internet of Things to grapes near you
This Kickstarter project allows up to 10 people wirelessly listen to nearly any source
TCL’s new 4K Roku-enabled UHDTVs hit every price point
The Tovala iOS-connected oven scans and automatically prepares your dinner

Google Drive down for some users this morning, fix incoming

Jordan Kahn Apr 4 2016 - 10:09 am PT

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Google Drive is experiencing down time for some users this morning, Google has confirmed on its app status page that tracks service disruptions and outages for the company’s various web services.

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Google’s March self-driving car report details mapping system, a boring accident in Austin

Stephen Hall Apr 4 2016 - 8:45 am PT

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Google/Alphabet published its self-driving car report for March over the weekend, and besides of course the latest numbers (including the number of cars in each city, the total number of autonomous and manual driven miles, etc.), there are also some new details on the system the company uses to map the cars’ surroundings, and mention of a mundane accident that happened in Austin, Texas involving one of the company’s Lexus vehicles…

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