Category: Google

All news related to Google.

  • Google Chrome Now Has More Than 3 Billion Users

    Google Chrome Now Has More Than 3 Billion Users

    Google Chrome has catapulted in popularity since its debut, and now has more than 3 billion users worldwide.

    Internet Explorer was once the most popular browser, with Mozilla’s Firefox second. Once Google entered the fray with Chrome, the entire market was turned upside-down, and Chrome quickly become the most popular browser.

    Recent research by AtlasVPN, however, puts Chromes market share at a whopping 3,258,256,887 users, or 41% of the population.

    “The key reason for such browser popularity is the fact that it has been created by the tech giant Google,” writes AtlasVPN’s Anton P. “In addition, many people praise it for various customizable options and speed compared to other browsers.”

    Safari comes in second, with 944,576,100 users, thanks largely to its base of iOS/iPadOS devices, as well as the Mac . Firefox comes in third place with 181,435,430 users. Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet and Opera round out the top six with 171,327,607, 166,779,086 and 112,196,840 respectively.

  • Google Officially (and Quietly) Launches Fuchsia OS

    Google Officially (and Quietly) Launches Fuchsia OS

    Google has released its third major operating system, Fuchsia OS, although most people probably missed it.

    Google has been working on Fuchsia OS for several years. The OS is an all-new undertaking, built from the ground up, without being based on Linux, UNIX or any other OS. The company has been unusually secretive about the project, leading many to conclude it could bring together the company’s OS strategy, eventually replacing both Android and Chrome.

    One of the factors in Fuchsia’s favor is Flutter, the programming language used for it. Because Flutter creates cross-platform apps, apps that are created now will be able to automatically run on any Fuchsia-powered devices once they debut.

    It appears Google has finally released Fuchsia, although to an existing device, rather than an all-new device, or as part of a wider release. According to 9to5Google, Fuchsia has been rolled out to the first-generation Nest Hub, replacing the Linux-based OS the devices were previously running.

    Google confirmed to 9to5Google there will not be any fundamental change in the device’s behavior. Nonetheless, Fuchsia running on a real-world device will give the company valuable input on how well the OS is functioning, and what improvements need to be made before a wider deployment.

  • Google News Showcase Makes Its Way to the Desktop

    Google News Showcase Makes Its Way to the Desktop

    Google News Showcase has made its way to the desktop, continuing the company’s efforts to change how it interacts with news publishers.

    Google News Showcase is the company’s platform that pays publishers to work with Google’s news products. The product has already been launched in the U.K., Australia, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Czechia and India, backed by a $1 billion fund. The platform was pivotal to Google smoothing things over with Australia when it passed legislation to force tech companies to pay for news.

    The product has now moved beyond mobile and made its way to the desktop. Alex Cox, Product Manager, News made the announcement in a company blog post.

    “Today, we’re announcing a few new features for News Showcase. First, we’re rolling out News Showcase for desktop users of Google News (via news.google.com/showcase). Now every user of Google News, regardless of what device they’re using, can see enhanced story panels from our News Showcase partners. This feature is available in the eight countries where we’ve currently launched News Showcase.”

    Cox also reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting journalism.

    “News Showcase is just one part of Google’s overall commitment to the news industry. We partner with news publishers through the Google News Initiative, offer innovative products like Subscribe with Google to help them earn sustainable revenue, and build tools like those in Journalist Studio to help make it simpler and more affordable to uncover and write stories. High-quality journalism is important to us, to our users and to society as a whole, and we’re dedicated to ensuring a positive future with our products and investments.”

  • Google Will Open First Store in NYC

    Google Will Open First Store in NYC

    Taking a page from Apple and Microsoft, Google plans to open its first store in NYC.

    Apple’s retail stores have been a big part of the company’s success, becoming some of the most valuable stores in retail, per square foot. Although never achieving the same success, Microsoft’s stores were a familiar site in many shopping malls around the country before the company closed the vast majority of them.

    Google hopes to strike gold with its own retail store strategy, the first of which will be opened in NYC, in Chelsea. Google’s description of its store sounds very similar to an Apple Store.

    The company made the announce on its official blog.

    At the Google Store, customers will be able to browse and buy an extensive selection of products made by Google, ranging from Pixel phones to Nest products, Fitbit devices to Pixelbooks and more. Or they can shop online at GoogleStore.com and pick up their orders in store. Throughout the store, visitors will be able to experience how our products and services work together in a variety of immersive ways, which we’re excited to share more about when the doors open.

    We’ll have experts on hand to help visitors get the most out of their device, such as troubleshooting an issue, fixing a cracked Pixel screen or helping with installations. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a longtime Pixel user, are curious about our Nest displays or want to participate in one of the how-to workshops we’ll offer throughout the year — our team will be able to provide you with help that’s specific and personalized to your needs. 

    Should the Chelsea location prove successful, it’s a safe bet the company will likely expand its retail footprint. In the meantime, the Chelsea location will be open summer 2021.

  • Google’s Play Store Privacy Changes Won’t Match Apple

    Google’s Play Store Privacy Changes Won’t Match Apple

    Proposed privacy changes for Android developers will fall short of the protections Apple offers, according to new reports.

    Google made headlines when it informed developers it would be changing how privacy is handled. Developers will soon be required to disclose the security features their apps offer, whether an app adheres to Google’s Families policy, if the app’s safety section has been independently verified and if data collection is optional or required.

    Despite offering significant improvements over the current privacy protections, Google’s level of protection will still fall short of Apple’s recent moves, according to AppleInsider.

    In particular, Google wants advertisers to continue to be able to target ads, as well as quantify how effective those ads are. In contrast, Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) is specifically aimed at preventing advertising’s from tracking users.

    According to AppleInsider, two Google employees say the company is working to improve privacy, but dragging its feet at the same time. The company clearly has more to lose than Apple, since it makes the bulk of its income from advertising. In contrast, Apple makes the bulk of its money from hardware and paid services, meaning it doesn’t treat people’s data as the product.

  • How To Download Videos From YouTube

    How To Download Videos From YouTube

    Youtube has been making moves for years to restrict the ability for 3rd parties to download video from their service. However, there are still methods available that work. Additionally, many of these options will allow you to download from several different sites including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube alternatives like Bitchute or Odysee, etc.

    Official Way To Download YouTube Videos

    Youtube Premium offers the capability to download most videos via mobile but unfortunately that doesn’t extend to the desktop version.

    Websites To Download YouTube Videos

    9convert – Multiple video and audio only download options available.

    Video Solo – MP4 and WebM downloads available in multiple resolutions as well as audio only downloads in MP3 and the ability to include subtitles.

    YMate – Not as many features as Video Solo but has a simple interface that works as intended

    Plugins For Downloading Youtube Videos

    AddonCrop – Feature rich plugin with many different format and resolution options. However, it’s limited to converting videos less than 180 minutes.

    DownloadYoutubeChrome – Google blocks this extension by default but you can follow the instructions on their website to bypass the restrictions.

    Desktop App For Downloading Youtube Videos

    jDownloader – This application is the cream of the crop when it comes to downloading videos online. It will allow you to download videos on almost any website. You’ll also be able to select any resolution available for the particular video you’re attempting to download.

  • Google Escalates Roku Dispute, Adds YouTube TV to YouTube App

    Google Escalates Roku Dispute, Adds YouTube TV to YouTube App

    Google is escalating its conflict with Roku, adding YouTube TV streaming to the standard YouTube app.

    Roku pulled the YouTube TV streaming app at the end of April, following a dispute with Google over contract terms. Roku was not asking for any additional money, only asking that Google respect its data practices, not require more expensive hardware and not engage in anticompetitive behavior. When an agreement could not be reached, Roku pulled the YouTube TV app from its platform.

    It appears Google is determined to go around Roku, rather than working with them, and has bundled the streaming service with the standard YouTube app. The company detailed its plans in a blog post.

    Today, we’re introducing a new feature that gives you access to YouTube TV from within the YouTube app, making it easier to enjoy all the content you love. Existing members can easily access YouTube TV by clicking on “Go to YouTube TV” in the main YouTube app. This update will be available to all YouTube TV members on Roku over the next few days, and we will expand to as many devices as we can over time.

    The company says it is continuing to negotiate with Roku, and that this measure is simply a way to ensure its customers continue to have access to its content. Similarly, Google says it is working to make sure Roku’s devices meet its technical specifications.

    In the event no agreement is reached, it appears Google is working on a long-term solution.

    We’re also in discussions with other partners to secure free streaming devices in case YouTube TV members face any access issues on Roku.

  • Google Bringing Its Own Version of Privacy Labels to Play Store

    Google Bringing Its Own Version of Privacy Labels to Play Store

    Google is adopting a major feature from iOS, implementing its own version of app privacy labels.

    Apple introduced privacy labels late last year, requiring developers to disclose what information they collect and link to a user. The feature has shed a spotlight on the data practices of popular apps, with Facebook and Google drawing sharp criticism for the amount of data collected.

    Google appears to be following Apple’s lead, informing developers it is rolling out a safety section in the Google Play Store, designed to help consumers understand an app’s data and security practices. The information presented includes an app’s security features, such as encryption; whether an app follows Google’s Families policy; whether data collection is required or optional; if the app’s safety section has been verified by an independent third-party; and whether the app allows users to request data deletion upon removal.

    Google makes it clear its own apps will be subject to the new safety section, along with third-party apps.

    All apps on Google Play – including Google’s own apps – will be required to share this information and provide a privacy policy.

    We’re committed to ensuring that developers have plenty of time to prepare. This summer, we’ll share the new policy requirements and resources, including detailed guidance on app privacy policies. Starting Q2 2022, new app submissions and app updates must include this information.

    Google’s announcement is good news for Android users, and should be a significant step forward in protecting their data and privacy.

  • Google Santa Tracker – Where’s Santa?

    Google Santa Tracker – Where’s Santa?

    At about 2 a.m. on Dec. 24, Santa Claus will lift off from his village in the North Pole to deliver billions of presents to children around the world within 24 hours—or at least that’s Google’s projected timetable, based on nine previous years of tracking the jolly elf on his annual rounds with the Google Santa Tracker.

  • In the original Star Wars movies, R2-D2 was no more advanced than sticking Kenny Baker in a tin can.

    In the original Star Wars movies, R2-D2 was no more advanced than sticking Kenny Baker in a tin can.

    Then Dorothy and the Lion got up, and the girl helped the Tin Woodman put the straw back into the Scarecrow again, until he was as good as ever.

    Henderson stood up with his spade in his hand. “What’s that?” he said. He was deaf in one ear. Ogilvy told him all that he had seen. Henderson was a minute or so taking it in. Then he dropped his spade, snatched up his jacket, and came out into the road.

    But now the sounds inside had ceased, and a thin circle of bright metal showed between the top and the body of the cylinder. Air was either entering or escaping at the rim with a thin, sizzling sound. They listened, rapped on the scaly burnt metal with a stick, and, meeting with no response, they both concluded the man or men inside must be insensible or dead. Of course the two were quite unable to do anything.

    The tax man even cites a specific statute: “Whoever purchases goods at an unseemly low price to take advantage of the seller’s ignorance shall be subject to a fine equaling 200 percent of the earnings from any such transaction.”

    You can admit to tax evasion and pay a penalty, or you can deny any wrongdoing. Choose that option and you’ll be commended by the tax man; he’ll even give you a “Taxpayer in Good Standing” diploma, which he recommends you frame and hang in honor.

    The cowhide exploit involved killing cows and collecting their hides. Players quickly discovered that if they mediated for a certain period of time, cows in one early area of the game would respawn every time they woke up. Thus, players could stock up on cow hides to their heart’s content and then sell them for a nice fee. CD Projekt Red addressed this by deploying the Bovine Defense Force Initiative, which took the form of a hulking, ultra-powerful nasty monster who kills anyone trying to cash in.

     

     

    Browne Sanders made up her allegations against Thomas

    The Money Quotes via Ben Golliver

    I think they perceived that nothing was to be done for the present, and had gone away to breakfast at Henderson’s house. There were four or five boys sitting on the edge of the Pit, with their feet dangling, and amusing themselves–until I stopped them–by throwing stones at the giant mass. After I had spoken to them about it, they began playing at “touch” in and out of the group of bystanders. Among these were a couple of cyclists, a jobbing gardener I employed sometimes, a girl carrying a baby, Gregg the butcher and his little boy, and two or three loafers and golf caddies who were accustomed to hang about the railway station. There was very little talking. Few of the common people in England had anything but the vaguest astronomical ideas in those days. Most of them were staring quietly at the big table like end of the cylinder, which was still as Ogilvy and Henderson had left it.

    I fancy the popular expectation of a heap of charred corpses was disappointed at this inanimate bulk. Some went away while I was there, and other people came. I clambered into the pit and fancied I heard a faint movement under my feet.

    [blockquote author=”DALAI LAMA” pull=”normal”]Our prime purpose in this life is to
    help others. And if you can’t help them,
    at least don’t hurt them.[/blockquote]

    It was only when I got thus close to it that the strangeness of this object was at all evident to me. At the first glance it was really no more exciting than an overturned carriage or a tree blown across the road. Not so much so, indeed. It looked like a rusty gas float. It required a certain amount of scientific education to perceive that the grey scale of the Thing was no common oxide, that the yellowish-white metal that gleamed in the crack between the lid and the cylinder had an unfamiliar hue.

    Soon the crew came on board in two

    Dorothy’s life became very sad as she grew to understand that it would be harder than ever to get back to Kansas and Aunt Em again. Sometimes she would cry bitterly for hours, with Toto sitting at her feet and looking into her face, whining dismally to show how sorry he was for his little mistress. Toto did not really care whether he was in Kansas or the Land of Oz so long as Dorothy was with him; but he knew the little girl was unhappy, and that made him unhappy too.

    Now the Wicked Witch had a great longing to have for her own the Silver Shoes which the girl always wore. Her bees and her crows and her wolves were lying in heaps and drying up, and she had used up all the power of the Golden Cap; but if she could only get hold of the Silver Shoes, they would give her more power than all the other things she had lost. She watched Dorothy carefully, to see if she ever took off her shoes, thinking she might steal them. But the child was so proud of her pretty shoes that she never took them off except at night and when she took her bath. The Witch was too much afraid of the dark to dare go in Dorothy’s room at night to take the shoes, and her dread of water was greater than her fear of the dark, so she never came near when Dorothy was bathing. Indeed, the old Witch never touched water, nor ever let water touch her in any way.

     

     

    She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at last came a rumbling of little cartwheels, and the sound of a good many voices all talking together: she made out the words: ‘Where’s the other ladder?—Why, I hadn’t to bring but one; Bill’s got the other—Bill! fetch it here, lad!—Here, put ’em up at this corner. No, tie ’em together first—they don’t reach half high enough yet—Oh! they’ll do well enough; don’t be particular—Here, Bill! catch hold of this rope—Will the roof bear?—Mind that loose slate—Oh, it’s coming down! Heads below!’ (a loud crash)—’Now, who did that?—It was Bill, I fancy—Who’s to go down the chimney?—Nay, I shan’t! YOU do it!—That I won’t, then!—Bill’s to go down—Here, Bill! the master says you’re to go down the chimney!’

    ‘Oh! So Bill’s got to come down the chimney, has he?’ said Alice to herself. ‘Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! I wouldn’t be in Bill’s place for a good deal: this fireplace is narrow, to be sure; but I THINK I can kick a little!’

    She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could, and waited till she heard a little animal (she couldn’t guess of what sort it was) scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close above her: then, saying to herself ‘This is Bill,’ she gave one sharp kick, and waited to see what would happen next.