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Google launches Cloud Datalab, Cloud Shell for Cloud Platform customers

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 13 2015 - 12:21 pm PT
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Google has today launched a couple of new products for Google Cloud Platform customers: Google Cloud Datalab, and Google Cloud Shell. Both of them are available via the web today in beta form…

Here’s the scoop on Cloud Datalab:

Google Cloud Datalab, available today in Beta is a web-based interactive developer tool that allows you to get insights from your raw data and explore, share, and publish reports in a fast, simple and cost-effective way. Cloud Datalab combines the power of Google BigQuery and Google Cloud Storage with familiar data science ecosystems built around IPython, removing the need for complex integration between products.

And here’s the gist on Cloud Shell:

Our customers want to be able to easily manage their infrastructure and applications when running on Google Cloud Platform no matter where they are.  Building on the ability to SSH from the browser we released for Google Compute Engine VM instances last year, today we’re launching Google Cloud Shell Beta, which extends from just VMs to all aspects of the platform.

These announcements are certainly irrelevant for the vast majority of regular users, but for those of you out there that are running apps on Google’s Cloud Platform, you have a couple of new tools. On a somewhat related note, an Amazon Web Services VP accidentally showed a picture of Google’s data centers at re:Invent last week.

 

Google has registered two delivery drones with the FAA for testing over US soil [Updated]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 13 2015 - 9:16 am PT
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Update: A report out of Re/code says that these drones aren’t actually Project Wing drones. They’re rather being registered for the company’s other drone project, Project Titan, which intends to provide internet access to remote or disaster-stricken locations. Google’s Project Titan is not to be confused with Apple’s Project Titan.

A couple of months ago, a report surfaced suggesting that Google was sidestepping FAA regulations by getting special approval from NASA to test its Project Wing delivery drones in the US. Now, it looks like the company (via Engadget) is actually getting approval for at least a couple of drones, as evidenced by a couple of entries in the FAA’s official registry…
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Amazon Web Services VP accidentally showed a picture of Google’s data centers at re:Invent

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 12 2015 - 3:15 pm PT
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This is kind of humorous. At Amazon’s AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas last week, Amazon Web Services Vice President of Infrastructure Jerry Hunter accidentally showed a generic picture of one of Google’s data centers. This is the kind of minor mishap that usually goes completely unnoticed, but not this time. Google’s Urs Hölzle came out on Google+ late yesterday to point out the mistake, taking the opportunity to brag about Google Cloud Platform as “the world’s best infrastructure”…
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Google Cardboard expands to 39 languages in 100 countries as SDKs get updates

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 12 2015 - 11:15 am PT
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Google is going global with its affordable Virtual Reality platform. The Mountain View company has announced today that its Google Cardboard app is now available in 39 languages across 100 countries, and that the Cardboard developer documentation is also now published in 10 languages to help even more developers build Cardboard experiences…
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YouTube continues global expansion w/ versions of its site in 7 new locales

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 12 2015 - 9:35 am PT
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Google has announced today that the number of countries with local versions of YouTube is growing to 85, with the additional of 7 new territories and countries. As of today, there is now a localized version of the web’s most popular video streaming site in the Adriatics, the Baltics, Bulgaria, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus…

The news comes from Google’s official YouTube blog:

We want to make sure the videos you see when you fire up YouTube are relevant to you, wherever you’re watching. That’s why we’re launching even more local country versions of YouTube, connecting fans with creators in their home countries and giving those creators a way to earn money from their popularity. With the addition of the Adriatics, Baltics, Bulgaria, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Belarus, YouTube now has local versions in 85 countries.

While it’s easy to have a biased perspective on the world when you live in the US, Google says that more than 80% of YouTube’s views come from people outside the US. And with content creators and consumers speaking dozens of languages and creating an unthinkable amount of content, it makes sense to be able to connect to the community in your physical vicinity.

Google takes part in $100 million funding round for secure messaging startup Symphony

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 12 2015 - 7:33 am PT
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Reports surfaced last week suggesting that Google was in talks to invest in secure messaging startup Symphony, and a new report out Monday morning (via Re/code) suggests that the company is about to announce $100 million in funding raised in a recent round from several investors including — as was reported — the Mountain View company…
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Google’s app indexing links coming to Safari on iOS by end of month

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 9 2015 - 12:38 pm PT
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Google first introduced app indexing for iOS apps in search back in May, allowing in-app content to appear in search results with links that send users directly to an app. The feature was originally only available in the Google app and Chrome browser, but now Google is launching an updated version of the framework that will make the app links also appear in Google search results in Safari.

Getting your app content found on Google just got easier. App Indexing is now compatible with HTTP deep link standards for iOS 9, as it has been on Android from the beginning. That means that you can start getting your app content into the Search results page on Safari in iOS, simply by adding Universal Links to your iOS app, then integrating with our SDK.

Developers simply need to support the Universal Links standard to get their apps to show up in search results. Users will begin to see the app indexing links showing up in Safari on iOS by the end October.

Devs can read more on how to support the feature here.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Sony Bluetooth headphones $135, USB-C accessories for your new Nexus phone, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 9 2015 - 12:19 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:

Over-Ear Headphones: Sony Bluetooth/NFC $135 (Reg. $199), Beyerdynamic from $170 (Reg. up to $270), more

USB-C roundup: Aukey 3-Port USB Hub w/ Gigabit Ethernet $17, Aukey USB Adapter $7, more

Moto E & 1-Yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text: $50 shipped (Reg. $70 + plan) | FreedomPop

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage, 4G LTE, GSM (unlocked): $165 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Amazon Student Days: free $5 credit w/ Gift Card purchase, Kindle Paperwhite $100, Halloween costumes extra 25% off, more

Refurb LG G3 32 GB for Verizon 32 GB: $160 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB: $300 shipped (Orig. $650)

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: Bloodborne from $25, Kirby Rainbow Curse $32, Shades Puzzle Game free, more iOS freebies

More deals still alive:

Sony announces official PlayStation 4 price drop, bundles now start at just $349

New products & more:

DJI’s new Osmo 4K camera is one expensive selfie stick

The latest littleBits DIY electronics kit turns any kid into an inventor

The guy who managed to buy Google.com got a huge reward from Google, but he gave it all to charity

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 9 2015 - 11:57 am PT
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Last week, we told you that a former Google employee managed to buy the Google.com domain name via Google’s own Domains service. While Sanmay Ved may have only owned the world’s most-visited domain for just a minute or two before the Mountain View company caught on and cancelled the transaction, it appears at least some good came of this story.

Once Google acknowledged the mistake, they rewarded Ved with some unknown sum of cash — but the company decided to double the reward when Ved generously suggested it go to charity instead…
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Android father Andy Rubin says AI is the next computing platform, but it’s at least 10-20 years away

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 8 2015 - 8:53 am PT
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Largely heralded as the creator of Android (and as of last year, no longer at Google), Andy Rubin yesterday took to the hotseat at the Code/Mobile conference to talk the future of computing. Now founder and CEO of tech startup incubator Playground Global, his job is to know what’s coming in tech “after mobile” — and he had some very insightful comments indeed…
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Google now owns abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.com

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 8 2015 - 6:59 am PT
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Apparently owning abc.xyz isn’t enough for the newly-formed conglomerate headed up by Google’s co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Thanks to a recent change in DNS registrant info, we now know that Google has (via DomainInvesting) acquired abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.com, a site that was first registered all the way back in 1999…

Prior to Google’s new ownership, the domain was privately owned and wasn’t being used for anything. We don’t know yet — and probably won’t ever know — what Google paid for the name, but it’s likely to be a hefty amount if it was acquired after the Alphabet announcement. We also don’t know what Google will use the domain for, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see it redirect to abc.xyz.

Google announced the major restructuring of its entire organization just a couple of months ago, starting with the creation of a brand-new company called Alphabet, Inc., which is now the parent company of Google and many other now-separate divisions of the company. Previous SVP of Android/Chrome/Google Apps Sundar Pichai now serves as CEO of Google.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Unlocked 32 GB Nexus 6 $300, Bose around-ear headphones $100, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 7 2015 - 12:31 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:

Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB: $300 shipped (Orig. $650)

Over-Ear Headphones: Bose SoundTrue $100 (Reg. $120), Sennheiser HD202 $15 (Reg. $25), more

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Sweat Proof Headphones $90 shipped (Reg. $130), more

HP AirPrint Wireless All-in-One Printers: InkJet $35 (Reg. $60), LaserJet $304 (Reg. $400+)

Amazon Student Days: Fire TV (4K model) $60, free $5 credit w/ Gift Card purchase, SanDisk 64GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive $45, more

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

Amazon Gold Box – 50% or more off Halloween Costumes: Darth Vader $17, Thor $30, Supergirl $12, more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651729413374087168 align=’center’]

More deals still alive:

USB Power Deals: KMASHI 15,000mAh USB $14 (Reg. $20), Aukey 2A Wall Charger $8 (Reg. $16), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651126504156368896 align=’center’]

New products & more:

Logitech’s new Harmony Home Hub Extender lets the pizza man in with your remote

Roku’s new streaming media player supports 4K and finds your remote control for you

Google launches experimental Delhi Public Trasnport Offline app

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 7 2015 - 12:19 pm PT
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Google has today released a new app called Delhi Public Transport Offline and, well, most people probably don’t need it. But if you do happen to live in Delhi and would like a very simple app to help you get around town via public transportation, today’s your lucky day — it’s free, and it’s packed with lots of features that might make a quick download worth your time…
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PSA: Google no longer allowing tap and pay through Google Wallet

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 7 2015 - 11:20 am PT
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If you’re an Android Pay holdout, you might have found this morning that tap and pay has stopped working with the old Google Wallet app. Google has been warning users since Android Pay first became available three weeks ago that they need to update to the new app to keep using tap and pay, and now the Mountain View company is requiring it…

This is unfortunate for users who prefer to keep their device rooted for a variety of reasons. While rooted devices worked fine with tap and pay through Google Wallet, Android Pay — touting its high levels of security and all — doesn’t play along very well. The new Google Wallet app doesn’t offer tap and pay functionality at all.

If you’re seeing this message and need to update to Android Pay, head over to the Play Store. And if you’re looking for the new Google Wallet (which is available through a completely new listing), you can find that over at Google Play as well.

Nexus 6 price drops further to $299, but not for long

Avatar for Cam Bunton Oct 7 2015 - 9:21 am PT
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With Google having recently announced the brand new LG and Huawei-made Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, it could be the perfect time to pick up last year’s “Pure Android” flagship. The Motorola Nexus 6 recently got dropped to just $349 on Amazon, but a third-party reseller on eBay has just undercut that price by a cool $50. You can buy last year’s stock Android flagship for just $299.

As far as specs go, the Nexus 6 still holds up really well. In fact, it’s still my daily driver. That’s mostly to do with how smoothly it runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow which I’ve been running since Dev Preview 2. It has a huge 5.9-inch QuadHD display, stereo front-facing speakers, 3220mAh battery with QuickCharge and Qi charging support along with Snapdragon’s powerful quad-core 805-series processor.

The eBay listing notes that quantities are limited, so if you’re wanting to snag the N6 as cheaply as possible, you should do so before inventory vanishes.

Google launches Accelerated Mobile Pages Project, its plan to speed up the mobile web

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 7 2015 - 8:07 am PT
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With the debate over ads and the speed of the mobile web growing every day, many web companies like Apple and Facebook have pushed for publishers to hand over their content in the name of a better experience for users. But content creators — for the most part — don’t want to do that, and Google knows that. So today, the Mountain View company has announced the Accelerated Mobile Pages initiative, a plan it’s leading to make the mobile web faster…
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Google, Apple & Microsoft called out on “pretend” overseas tax arrangements by Citizens for Tax Justice

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 7 2015 - 6:32 am PT
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Lobbying group Citizens for Tax Justice has called out Google, Apple and Microsoft and others for what it described as “accounting tricks” in which companies “pretend” to be based overseas for tax purposes. The claims were made in a report entitled Offshore Shell Games 2015.

Many multinational corporations use accounting tricks to pretend for tax purposes that a substantial portion of their profits are generated in offshore tax havens, countries with minimal or no taxes where a company’s presence may be as little as a mailbox. Multinational corporations’ use of tax havens allows them to avoid an estimated $90 billion in federal income taxes each year.

Google’s overseas tax arrangements came under fire in the UK back in 2013 when it was revealed that the company paid just £6M ($9.4M) on a UK turnover of £395M ($620M), claiming that all its advertising sales were made by staff in Ireland (a claim later challenged) …


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E 2015 for Verizon $40, Wireless Laser printer $25, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 6 2015 - 12:48 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:

Verizon Wireless Prepaid Moto E 4G w/ 8 GB flash: $40 shipped (Reg. $70) | Fry’s

Daily Deals: Pantum Wireless Mono Laser Printer $25, EnerPlex Solar Case for iPhone 5/5s $15, more

USB Power Deals: KMASHI 15,000mAh USB $14 (Reg. $20), Aukey 2A Wall Charger $8 (Reg. $16), more

PS4 Destiny Taken King Limited Edition Bundle $350, Xbox One Gears of War bundle + 40″ HDTV $470 w/ .EDU, more

Roku’s new streaming media player supports 4K and finds your remote control for you

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

Beyerdynamic A200p Portable DAC Headphone Amp for iPhone/Android $160 shipped (Reg. $200)

More deals still alive:

Philips hue Lux LED Starter Kit $60 shipped (Orig. $80), 750-Lumen 9W LED Light Bulb $15 (Orig. $35)

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Sweat Proof Headphones $90 shipped (Reg. $130), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651126504156368896 align=’center’]

New products & more:

Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android

Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive with refreshed gameplay, new songs & updated hardware

 

Google reportedly nears investment in secure messaging startup Symphony

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 6 2015 - 10:32 am PT
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According to recent reports from both Re/code and The Wall Street Journal, Google is in the later stages of talks to invest in Symphony, a startup building a secure messaging platform. While the exact terms of the investment, including its value, have not been determined, WSJ’s report said that the deal will value Symphony at $650 million…
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Porsche rejects Android Auto for new 911, saying that Google demands access to too much data

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 6 2015 - 4:55 am PT
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Update: While Google has not commented directly on Porsche’s reported rejection of Android Auto, the company made a statement to The Verge in which it denied that it currently collects any of the data mentioned in the original report. It does not go as far as saying that it has not requested access to such data.

“We take privacy very seriously and do not collect the data the Motor Trend article claims such as throttle position, oil temp, and coolant temp,” Google said in a statement to The Verge. “Users opt in to share information with Android Auto that improves their experience, so the system can be hands-free when in drive, and provide more accurate navigation through the car’s GPS.”

Sportscar manufacturer Porsche has rejected Android Auto for the 2017 version of its famous 911, saying that Google demands access to too much data, reports Motor Trend.

As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, certain pieces of data must be collected and [sent] back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically Google wants a complete OBD2 dump whenever someone activates Android Auto.

Porsche has approved Apple’s CarPlay, as this requires access to only a single piece of data: whether or not the car is moving.

Porsche’s parent company Volkswagen is, however, pressing full speed ahead with Google’s in-car infotainment system, stating back in July that almost every 2016 Volkswagen model in almost every trim level will get Android Auto support.

Android Auto got a user-interface refresh back in August.

T-Mobile details its Android 6.0 Marshmallow update strategy for 17 devices

Avatar for Chance Miller Oct 5 2015 - 5:24 pm PT
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On the same day that Google released the factory images for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, T-Mobile has updated its Software Updates support page with details on its plans for the rollout. T-Mobile has listed the 17 devices that it plans to update to the latest version of the Android operating system.

T-Mobile says there are three main stages to its update process. The first is “Manufacturer Development,” which means T-Mobile and the manufacturer have agreed to support a software update. The second stage is “T-Mobile Testing,” during which the carrier itself tests the latest build of the operating system. Finally, the final stage is “Completed” and is when the update starts to rollout to users.

You can view T-Mobile’s Software Updates page here and track the progress of an update to your device. Below are the 17 devices on T-Mobile that will receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow:

  • HTC
    • One M8
    • One M9
  • LG
    • G3
    • G4
    • G Stylo
  • Nexus devices
    • Nexus 5
    • Nexus 6
    • Nexus 7
    • Nexus 9
  • Samsung
    • Galaxy Note 4
    • Galaxy Note 5
    • Galaxy Note Edge
    • Galaxy S5
    • Galaxy S6
    • Galaxy S6 edge
    • Galaxy S6 edge+
    • Galaxy Tab S2

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Mattel’s VR View-Master now available for $30, Bluetooth audio adapter $8, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 5 2015 - 12:37 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:

Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android

Add Bluetooth/mic to any Aux speaker or headphones for $8 Prime shipped

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive with refreshed gameplay, new songs & updated hardware

More new gear from today:

Add a TiVO Roamio OTA HD DVR w/ Lifetime service to your Cord Cutter setup for a one-time $300 fee

More deals still alive:

First-gen LG Watch Urbane smartwatch: $225 shipped (Reg. $280)

New products & more:

The Sondors eBike is loaded with features and surprisingly affordable

 

Review: Chromecast Audio brings new life to dated speakers for just $35

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 5 2015 - 11:17 am PT
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I’m an Apple guy. I have enough Apple hardware around my house to serve as a mini-museum and I use Apple’s software and services every single day. But when Google makes something interesting like Chromecast Audio, I can’t help but want to try out the new toy.

Sold for just $35 (Google Store, Best Buy), Chromecast Audio lets you stream audio over the Internet from services like Spotify and NPR to old speakers. This varies from Apple’s AirPlay in that audio streams directly to the Chromecast Audio rather than from device to device, using your iPhone or iPad only as the remote. In practice, Chromecast Audio is most similar to Sonos, but with Google’s accessory selling at a much lower, irresistible price as it relies on your existing speakers rather than all-in-one units.

So what exactly is Chromecast Audio and what can it do? Read on for details…
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