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Amsterdam judge asks Google to hand over IP addresses & more of people behind fake reviews

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 8 2016 - 4:43 pm PT
2 Comments
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In the Netherlands, Google has been battling it out in court over fake reviews on several of its sites. TechCrunch today reports that a nursery in Amsterdam has recently won the lawsuit against Google, not only forcing the company to take down the fake reviews, but also forcing it to hand over the details of those who initially posted the reviews.


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Google’s March security OTA update also has Nexus 5X performance and stability fixes

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 8 2016 - 11:47 am PT
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Update: It looks like the update also has a new “Cool color temperature” toggle for using cooler display colors.

I wrote my thoughts on the Nexus 5X all the way back in November, and the gist of it was this: the Nexus 5X is great, but its performance just leaves a lot to be desired — especially for a phone with such better-than-average specs. People familiar with its development told me that there was a lot of internal strife regarding the Nexus 5X and its performance issues, but it seems that drama has finally resulted in some good. The March security update that was issued yesterday packs some extra goodies for Nexus 5X owners…


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Chromecast made up 35% of the digital media streaming market last year

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 8 2016 - 9:11 am PT
3 Comments
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According to the latest data from Strategy Analytics, Google’s acclaimed Chromecast streaming dongle made up as much as 35% of the streaming device market in 2015, besting competing devices from Roku, Apple, Amazon, and other manufacturers. Compared to 2014, Chromecast is showing a growing dominance in the market, likely thanks in part to the launch of the 2nd-gen model…


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Latest Google app beta adds OCR image recognition to Now on Tap

Avatar for Abner Li Mar 8 2016 - 9:03 am PT
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For all the features the Google app has added, it still does not have any image recognition capabilities. Google Goggles from 2010 could recognize book covers, landmarks, and even solve Sudoku, but was ultimately discontinued due to a lack of use. However, Now on Tap has gained some of those features in a recent update.


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Report: Larry Page, other tech execs attended secret meeting to discuss how to stop Donald Trump

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 7 2016 - 6:15 pm PT
2 Comments
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Update: Elon Musk said in a tweet today that the American Enterprise Institute meeting was not secretive and that he was not there to talk about Trump.

According to a report from the Huffington Post, Google co-founder Larry Page was among a handful of tech CEOs and Republican establishment members who recently met at the American Enterprise Institute’s World Forum to discuss how to best stop Donald Trump.


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Yahoo Mail update introduces new colored themes among other features

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio Mar 7 2016 - 12:16 pm PT
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One of the reasons so many users love Android is the virtually endless customization it allows. From core modifications down to the smallest of aesthetic changes, Google‘s OS truly makes it possible for anyone to have something tailored to their needs. Among the things that are most frequently changed are the default apps for services like messaging, social media platforms and emails, among others, as well as third party clients for numerous other apps.

Yahoo’s Mail app, with well over 100 million downloads on the Play Store, can certainly be included on a list of fan-favorite email clients for Android. Today’s update will certainly make at least a few people happy, thanks to the introduction of 11 new themes for a more personalized and colorful experience, in addition to a slew of smaller but certainly welcomed features…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Galaxy S6 $400, Aukey 20000mAh Power Bank $25, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 4 2016 - 12:35 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:

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $400 shipped (Reg. $600+) | eBay

Aukey 20000mAh USB Power Bank and flashlight w/Lightning and MicroUSB inputs: $25

Anker SoundCore Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker w/ 24-hour battery life: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

This emergency flashlight can charge your phone, start your car, or help you break out of it: $80 shipped

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Free wireless charger with new Samsung Pay activation (up to $50 value)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

HDTVs: Toshiba 49″ 1080P: $280 shipped, Changhong 49-inch 4K: $299, Roku 50″: $350

How-to: Save up to $10/month on your cable bill by buying this $40 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Amazon launches more affordable Echo Dot and Amazon Tap Bluetooth speaker

New Normal blends style and PowerBeats-like design for a new take on wireless earbuds

Google joins other tech companies in filing court brief supporting Apple in FBI case

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 3 2016 - 4:57 pm PT
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Google today has joined over twenty other tech companies and filed a joint amicus brief with the U.S. federal court, expressing support for Apple in its battle with the FBI over unlocking an iPhone used by one of the gunmen in the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Google filed a joint brief with companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Snapchat. Another joint brief was also filed today by Twitter, Airbnb, and others.  Google explained its motives in a blog post, curiously never mentioning Apple by name…


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Nest will soon work with Amazon Echo, but that’s not necessarily a good sign for Alphabet

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 3 2016 - 10:45 am PT
3 Comments
Nest Thermostat

Google might just be admitting a notable defeat in its battle with Amazon, with the latter company today saying that Nest thermostats will soon work with Alexa-powered devices. According to a report from Re/code, people familiar with the matter have said that Alphabet’s Nest unit explored the idea of building an Echo-like device at some point, but eventually came to the conclusion that customers wouldn’t be able to trust such a device that was built by the search engine behemoth…


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Google commissions award-winning filmmakers to document the private race to the Moon [Video]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 3 2016 - 7:06 am PT
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If you’ve ever been bored and felt like putting together some kind of tech project, Google suggested one back in 2007 – and there’s still time to give it a go. The project? A Moon shot. A literal one.

Google’s Lunar XPRIZE offers $20M to the first team able to land a privately-funded robot on the Moon, with other prizes for hitting milestones along the way, and the company has today announced a series of short films documenting the story behind nine of the teams competing for it.

Academy Award-nominated director Orlando von Einsiedel, Executive Producer J.J. Abrams, Bad Robot and Epic Digital have joined forces with Google and XPRIZE to create a documentary web series about the people competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE … 


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Google searches for ‘How to move to Canada’ spike in response to Super Tuesday results

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 2 2016 - 2:26 pm PT
2 Comments

It goes without saying that the American people aren’t exactly ecstatic about the prospective options for the US presidency, but just how unexcited are they? In response to the Super Tuesday results, which showed both Republican frontrunner Donald J. Trump and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton both winning 7 of 11 states, it looks like many Americans are looking for a way to jump ship. And by jump ship, I mean head north to Canada…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 64GB Moto X Pure w/ $25 GC $400, Nova Launcher Prime $1, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 2 2016 - 1:15 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:

Moto X Pure Edition 64GB Smartphone (unlocked) w/ $25 GC: $400 shipped (Reg. $525)

Nova Launcher Prime for Android drops to $0.99 (Reg. $4.99)

Aukey USB-C 4-port USB chargers w/Prime: Power Strip $14, USB-C Hub $9, Gig Ethernet $14, more

How-to: Save up to $10/month on your cable bill by buying this $40 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem

This emergency flashlight can charge your phone, start your car, or help you break out of it: $80 shipped

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Snag one of these discounted HDTV antennas and finally cut the cord, deals from $13 Prime shipped

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Studio Over-the-Ear Wired Headphones $150 shipped (Orig. $300)

MFi Apple-Certified Lightning + microUSB Braided Cables: 6-foot $13.50, 3-ft. $12.50, more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

DJI’s Phantom 4 drone is coming later this month with a new obstacle avoidance system

Grovemade’s new wooden MacBook Dock offers a Made in America home for your device

Brooklyn’s own Grado Labs introduces its first Made for iPhone earbuds w/ Siri control

Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers

Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt chosen to lead Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Advisory Board

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 2 2016 - 10:26 am PT
1 Comment
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Today, United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced plans to establish a Defense Innovation Advisory Board made up of about a dozen technology leaders from Silicon Valley and beyond. Representing “Secretary Carter’s enduring commitment to building lasting partnerships between the public and private sectors,” the board “will provide advice on the best and latest practices in innovation that the department can emulate.”

And who better to lead such a group than Alphabet Chairman and ex-CEO of Google Eric Schmidt?


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Google celebrates female YouTubers with two new programs

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 2 2016 - 9:11 am PT
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Today, Google announced ahead of International Women’s Day two new initiatives the company is using to “champion” female voices on YouTube. The first of which is a partnership with the United Nations that puts some female content creators in place to be “Change Ambassadors” for gender equality in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Action campaign, and the second is a “global production program” that puts women in front of and behind the camera at YouTube Spaces…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 $180, LG Watch Urbane $180, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 1 2016 - 1:05 pm PT
0 Comments

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:

Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (5.5-inch) is down to $180 (originally $249)

LG Smartwatches: Urbane in gold or silver: $180 shipped (Reg. $230+), more

Daily Deals: LG 55-inch 1080p LED HDTV $450, CYBERPOWER 1000VA / 600W Pure Sine Wave UPS System $100, more

Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Studio Over-the-Ear Wired Headphones $150 shipped (Orig. $300)

This emergency flashlight can charge your phone, start your car, or help you break out of it: $80 shipped

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

MicroUSB braided cables for Android and iPhone: 6-foot $13.50, 3-ft. $12.50, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Free PS Plus Games for March: Broforce, Galak-Z, Super Stardust HD, more

Free Xbox Live Gold Games for March: Borderlands, Lords of the Fallen, more

Grab the best-selling GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera for $299 (Reg. $330+), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Brita’s new Wi-Fi Infinity water pitcher automatically orders new filters from Amazon

Raspberry Pi 3 hits with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth after four long years

Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers

Google self-driving car strikes public transit bus in its first at-fault accident

Avatar for Stephen Hall Feb 29 2016 - 1:23 pm PT
1 Comment

Update: Video of the damage has surfaced on YouTube, see below.

In what is likely to become its first accident to be officially documented as at the fault of Google, one of the Mountain View company’s self-driving cars struck a public transit bus earlier this month while trying to get around a sandbag in the road. According to the accident report filed with the California DMV, the car was “traveling at less than 2 mph”  and struck the bus as it passed on its left side…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy S7/Edge cases from $5, UE MEGABOOM Bluetooth speaker $208, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Feb 29 2016 - 12:54 pm PT
0 Comments

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:

Spigen Galaxy S7/Edge Cases in a variety of styles and colors for $5 shipped

UE’s popular MEGABOOM waterproof Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $208 shipped (Reg. $250+)

Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Studio Over-the-Ear Wired Headphones $150 shipped (Orig. $300)

This emergency flashlight can charge your phone, start your car, or help you break out of it: $80 shipped

Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Amazon Gold Box – Monitors, Wi-Fi routers, Storage & more up to 60% off: Dell 23-inch monitor $120 (Orig. $200), more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Grab the best-selling GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera for $299 (Reg. $330+), more

Aukey USB Accessories w/ Prime shipping: Bluetooth car audio receiver and charger $17, Dual USB solar charger $39

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Victronix teases its new Cyber Tool fitness tracker for the popular INOX watch

Pokémon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS confirmed, pre-orders now live

Check out these screenshots of super-clean TouchWiz on the Galaxy S7 [Gallery]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Feb 29 2016 - 10:52 am PT
7 Comments

TouchWiz was once a complete mess, believe it or not, but the Android skin got much better with the release of the Galaxy S6 and Samsung’s move to using Android Lollipop. Now, most agree that the skin has gotten even better with the Galaxy S7. Thanks to some screenshots (via XDA) shared by one Daniel Marchena (who was lucky enough to already have his S7 delivered), we now have a detailed look at the modified version of the OS we saw running on the Galaxy S7 last week…


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