While we are inclined to believe Google when they say that some residents have already requested that their streets be included in the Street View service, it is hard to ignore the many others who are pretty much against having the service available in the first place.
Though not exactly embarrassing, Google had to take down an image of a naked male toddler being guided by what appears to be a parent and a nanny to the bath. Thus sight is one of several thousand captured by the Google car as it made its rounds through UK’s busy streets in order to obtain street level visual information of the location that will be uploaded into the service which will in turn be accessible to anyone online.
Complaints regarding the availability of such information has been condemned by many critics as it raises not only direct privacy concerns, but also the possibility that such information could be used by malicious individuals intending to rob from houses. Having this service automatically makes the concept of casing much easier and risk free for burglars.
At the same time, there are many people who would also like to have Google’s Street View to cover their locations (such as the above stated example). More importantly, the service will definitely be beneficial to commercial locations where getting more publicity and marketing is always important. The UK is one of the last big cities to get Street View available. Many other countries have already implemented the Google service which many users claim to be very helpful.
Google has stated that it takes privacy concerns seriously and will be willing to remove any so called offensive images and content which owners of locations upon request.
Read more information and details about the functions and limits of Google Street view at the Telegraph UK.
Archive for the ‘Google Phones’ Category
Google Street View in the UK gets Mixed Reactions
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010Nexus One Launching on Mid April
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
The Google phone is finally heading to the UK and while we love Google and HTC’s work on this device, it is hard to say that the Nexus One will be a sales hit when it finally launches.
Mobile network operator Vodafone could help soften the blow on Google as they also offer the device to their customers but with the device exclusively available online, it is hard to see folks passing up the HTC Desire just to get the Nexus One –particularly when the two devices are quite similar.
And similar is a bit of an understatement, both devices come with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, the latest Android operating system, a 5 mega pixel camera and of course, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. The only difference on the Desire is that the camera can shoot videos in 720p while the Nexus One has advanced voice recognition system that even enables speech to text.
The mid April launch also places the device precariously between two major launch dates. The HTC Desire, the HTC Legend and the XPERIA X10 are all expected to come out by the first two weeks of April while Apple’s budget killing iPad touch screen tablet is expected to be on shelves by the end of April.
Despite the high end hardware and amazing features of the Nexus One, the phone has not fared so well in terms of sales due to Google’s choice in distribution methods. In what some call a move to keep on good terms with their Android partners, Google has also painted itself into a corner by making their device available only online. Original estimates of a possible 3.5 million sales have been reduced to just a million units.
For more info about the UK launch of the Nexus One other details go to the Guardian UK.
Vodafone to get Google Phone
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010The Google phone has been around for quite some time now, but not that many people are familiar with the device. The problem with this is with the phone’s availability. The only way to get the smart phone is to order the device online through Google’s online store. Not that bad when you live within the United States, but having to ship the device to the UK is a completely different matter altogether.
A matter that rings around the cost of an extra £30 for shipping and the additional UK adapter needed for the charger. A little steep considering that this would be so much easier if Google had a shipping office within the UK.
That is what we are hoping to hear with the resurfacing reports popping out lately that the Nexus One is heading to Vodafone. We all caught the memo last January; Vodafone will be getting the Nexus One. So the news this past few days have not been surprising. What remains to be confirmed is to know where the Vodafone Google phones will be shipping from.
It has already been reported before that Vodafone will not stock the device within their stores. Vodafone customers will be referred to the Google online store in order to purchase the device.
Despite the fact that it is pretty troublesome to obtain, the Nexus One is a pretty spiffy Android smart phone that is worth the effort. It runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and has a large 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen. It also runs the latest Android OS and uses high end speech recognition software that enables voice to text messaging and other similar functions. Did we mention that it looks really good as well?
Get to know more about the Nexus One heading to the UK via Vodafone at GSM Arena.
Google’s Buzz: A Security Threat
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
If there is one thing about Facebook and Twitter that people are certain about, it is the fact that their accounts were made, by themselves.
Last week. Google released the Buzz social networking tool and much to the dismay of all Google Mail users, they have all been signed up, whether they want to or not.
A small link on the bottom of the Gmail page will let you turn off Buzz, but not before finding out that you are following X number of people and that Y number of people are already following you. Even worse is the fact that the Buzz’s default settings are not set to ensure your privacy.
The thing about signing up for social networking websites is that before your account goes active, you are given the chance to set your settings to ensure that you are visible to the people you want to be visible too. You can also set whether you will receive admin messages on your email or have your status and other information available and most important of all, if you really want an account in the first place.
Google has decided to do without giving Gmail users this choice. People suddenly find themselves members of the Buzz network. John Naughton of the Guardian UK has pointed out that the networking tool is a serious security list for anyone who uses an email account for very private correspondences.
As Buzz will instantly show other people your links, it can potentially leak the client and suppliers lists of companies, contacts of public personalities, information about activists and of course, political leaders.
This latest move by Google is a major blunder. They have done away with the old process of inviting users to try out new services (such as Labs) and instead, forces people to use the new tool.
Read the John Naughton’s informative article at the Guardian UK.
Buzz and More: Will Google Change the World?
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Google is brand, a verb and a staple in modern technology. But how much of Google do we really need in our lives? Several years ago, it seemed like all things tech revolved around Microsoft and Apple, now plenty of new players have entered the field of digital electronics and no other company has become socially penetrative as Google.
Looking back, the company started out with a simple yet highly effective search engine that had millions of us doing away with Yahoo!, Ask Jeeves, Altavista and dozens of other search engines. While plenty of people still use other search engines, only Google’s brand had become synonymous to the act of web searching. To this date, many refer to the act of searching as Googling; even if it does not necessarily mean using Google’s search engine.
Now, Google has grown to offer services in both the internet and beyond. The company already has plenty of web based services we commonly use, such as Picasa, Google Talk, Gmail, Google Maps and more. They have also ventured into mobile phones and net books with the Android and Chrome operating systems.
Just a few days back, Google has started to use its own social networking tool, the Google Buzz in a hope to get into the market currently dominated by Facebook and Twitter. With such competition, the current public view on the buzz is that of doubt and rejection. Even Yahoo! is stating that they are already offering a service very much like the buzz for over a year now. Microsoft stated that we do not need a new social networking tool now.
So far, Google’s services have been hit or miss. While they have had very successful, they also have some services that never really got socially accepted. As for the Buzz, things are looking very much uphill for now.
Read more about the Google Buzz on Pocket Lint.
A Quick Look at Google Buzz
Thursday, February 11th, 2010It comes as to no surprise that Google is venturing into the social networking market. The company that grew on its search engine has expanded to deliver services for email, instant messaging, VOIP, and taken in sites such as YouTube under its network.
Buzz may be new, but Google is not just offering some fancy new gimmick. Everyone know that right now, Facebook and Twitter are the two largest social networking services online, and for Google to compete against that, it would mean that Buzz is offering users something entirely new.
Buzz is a part of Gmail, Google’s email service and it will give users the ability to post updates, share links and files with friends and contacts through Gmail. As to whether this will be associated with an existing Facebook and Twitter account or will be a standalone network remains to be seen.
Considering that Google has a large network, it is not surprising to know that the service will be available from within websites such as YouTube, Picasa and Flickr.
So far, Facebook and Twitter have been the most often used websites of last year, and the numbers are still growing. There is also no doubt that a vast majority of people going online using their mobile phones are doing so to check for updates or to post Tweets. Devices with integrated features for social networking sites and instant messaging are very much in demand, as well as specialized applications for micro blogging site Twitter.
Google will also be taking the fight to mobile phones with a made for mobile version of Google Buzz. This also take advantage of GPS features on mobile phones by giving users geo-specific updates and posts from nearby Buzz users and sites.
Find more information and details about the new Google Buzz at the Times Online UK.
What did the Nexus One Go Through Before Release?
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
There’s a simple question, and one that you can probably apply to many mobile phones. While the testing sequence for the Nexus One and other high profile devices might be a tad more intensive than what lower end phones go through, it is not hard to imagine that the quality tests for mobile phones are in many ways similar to each other.
Engadget has links to a series of videos that demonstrate the various spec tests that the HTC Nexus One Google phone had to go through before it was approved and declared ready for commercial launch. The tests were designed to determine the limits of each of the device’s different components and how well they function together as a whole. Parts such as buttons are tapped repeatedly, the phones are put to bent, tumble and drop tests to ensure product quality.
Another great video in the news post showed the assembly of the Nexus One. It highlighted the creation of the board, and final assembly details. Both video clips are deeply engrossing to watch and enjoy and they are less than four minutes each.
For those who are not familiar, the Google phone came out early this January in a small event held at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California. The device sports a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5 mega pixel camera. It has an impressive new speech to text software that can allow you to easily dictate text messages and even do specific voice commands.
The Nexus One recently got a major software update that fixed several issues with 3G connectivity and added a few extra features such as multi touch, a new Google Maps and the Google Goggles.
Get the rest of the details and watch the videos on Engadget.
Nexus One Gets 3G Fix, Multi Touch and More
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Google has been listening to its critics over the past couple of weeks and have managed to bring out a much awaited fix for the HTC Nexus One.
While the Google phone is indeed an impressive piece of work with its 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 mega pixel camera, enhanced speech recognition software and more, it still suffered from many flaws and bugs that stopped it from becoming the iPhone killer that many thought it would be.
The first major hurdle of the device came in the form of 3G connection issues. It was shown that the Nexus One has the tendency to switch to EDGE networks instead of 3G even if 3G was available. It would also register weak 3G signal strengths in an area where other device did not have problems. Looks like Google has been focusing on the fix they announced that they were working on last week. The new update will be addressing this 3G issue along with some other concerns.
A new addition to the device is the activation of multi touch functions. While the hardware supported multi touch, no system functions supported it. It is not the first time and Android phone capable of multi touch did not have the function activated. This also happened with the Motorola DROID (though it was not an issue in the UK version, the Milestone).
Another update included in the new patch is a quick version update for Google Maps. This patch will update the device with version 3.4 of the impressive navigation application. Lastly, Google Goggles has been added as part of the features and is accessible from the main menu. With this, you can just point and shoot to find more information on your subject.
Get the full details on the new Nexus One update from GSM Arena.
Google Preparing to Challenge the iPad
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Flash back to early January, many people were eager to finally see the unveiling of the HTC-made Nexus One “Google phone”. Thanks to the hardware specs on the Nexus, it was undoubtedly the most powerful Android mobile phone of its time, featuring an AMOLED touch screen, a Snapdragon processor and more. But the real excitement was not just for the device, but for what the Nexus stood for, it was the promise of a new phone that would take the place of the iPhone in society, an iPhone killer.
Within a week after the launch of the Google phone, it was clear that it was far from anything but an iPhone killer. Despite the device’s superior specifications, it lacked the mass appeal and availability to sell well. In the end, the device’s world launch sold only 20,000 units in the first week. A paltry amount compared to the 200,000 iPhone unit Vodafone sold in its re-release of the device in the UK.
Just a week ago, Apple unveiled its new tablet device, the iPad. Looks like Google will not just be challenging the iPhone, but the iPad as well. A recently uploaded video showcased a demonstration of the Chrome user interface on a full touch screen display that looked a lot like a tablet device. The video was made by Chrome OS developer Glen Murphy.
So far, the device looks capable of some of the major things that the iPad cannot. The first thing we noticed is the presence of multitasking. The different windows each display different tasks running at the same time. While the iPad has the hardware to support multi-tasking the feature is currently not present. Reports also indicate that HTC might be teaming up with Google for this ambitious device.
Get the full details of the Chromium from the source.
T-Mobile UK also to get the Nexus One
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Aside from Vodafone, it looks like T-Mobile will also be offering the Google phone pretty soon.
Early this January, Google unveiled and launched their very first self branded mobile phone, the Nexus One. Manufactured by HTC, this amazing mobile phone featured an AMOLED capacitive touch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5 mega pixel camera as well as advanced voice recognition software, speech to text capabilities and enhanced voice call quality using dual microphone filtering technology.
The device has been the subject of constant news and rumors from its initial debut in news leaks until the device itself finally had its official launch in a small event held at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California.
The distribution of the Google phone has been pretty discouraging for non-residents of the United States. Currently, the only way to get the device is to purchase it from the Google Online store and have t shipped to the UK. An additional £30 will be spent of shipping and the UK adapter. Having T-Mobile and Vodafone subsidizing the device would definitely help in this crucial factor.
Aside from availability, the Google phone has also been reported as having problems with connecting to 3G networks. While the problem is not consistent with all devices, it is prevalent enough to get interest. Some users have reported that their devices would switch to EDGE instead of connecting to 3G networks. On a side by side comparison, a G1 Android phone was shown to be able to connect to a 3G signal while the Nexus One could not.
With the device’s poor sales performance and overall lack of circulation, it is easy to see that the Nexus One is not the iPhone killer many thought it would be. Hopefully, by the time Vodafone and T-Mobile release the device, the bugs would have been ironed out.
Go to Stuff TV for the rest of the details.