Category: Google

Eric DeFriez:

Designed to let you easily deliver Gmail-enabled features, this new API is a standard Google API, which gives RESTful access to a user’s mailbox under OAuth 2.0 authorization. It supports CRUD operations on true Gmail datatypes such as messages, threads, labels and drafts.

As a standard Google API, you make simple HTTPS calls and get your responses in JSON, XML or Google Protobuf formats. You can also make these calls from standard web languages like Java and Python without using a TCP socket, which means the API is accessible from many cloud environments that couldn’t support IMAP.

Continue reading ⇢

Ars’ 26-page look at Google’s mobile operating system is pretty great. It’s come a heck of a long way in six years.

Don’t miss the behind the scenes piece.

Continue reading ⇢

Federico Viticci:

For users in the United States and “parts of Canada and Japan”, Google has added lane guidance, a turn-by-turn navigation feature that allows the app to show the lane to stay in or move to; lane guidance is often found on dedicated GPS devices, and it should enable Google Maps to provide drivers with more precise directions.

The update also brings Uber intergration, better location filtering and more.

While Apple’s Maps app rarely gives me issues, the day I can set Google Maps as the default app on my iPhone, I will.

Continue reading ⇢

As a demo at least, this doesn’t look bad at all. I think it really drives home how voice-driven devices like these need to be, which is where some of this falls down for me.

If Siri were the only (or at least main) control scheme for my watch, there’d be lots of times I would’t be able to fully use it. I work in an open office, and would never use Siri at my desk. Likewise, I often look at my watch while watching a movie, at church, while with a resting child and in about a billion other situations where silence is critical.

Continue reading ⇢

Google:

Since the program started, our Explorers have gotten a lot of attention when they wear Glass out and about. Reactions range from the curious – “Wow! Are those the ‘Google glasses’? How do they work?” – to the suspect – “Goodness gracious do those things see into my soul?!” Luckily as the Explorer Community grows, so does their collective wisdom. We asked some long-time Explorers for their advice, and here it is.

Continue reading ⇢

Casey Johnston at Ars Technica:

During an interview at the DLD Conference in Munich on Monday, Nest CEO Tony Fadell said that the company will make all future privacy policy changes under Google opt-in and that it will be transparent about those changes. Fadell’s statement follows Google’s acquisition of Nest, a smart home products company, for $3.2 billion, which has raised some questions about how Google might put the company—and its data—to use.

Continue reading ⇢

Tony Fadell, in an interview with Nilay Patel:

Our privacy policy stays exactly our privacy policy, that doesn’t change, and at this point any production integration or anything, that’s totally premature. There’s all kind of HSR and legal implications. There are no plans. Like I said, iOS and Android, we’re going to be committed to both platforms.

I sure hope that remains the case. I will say this: after reading this interview, I’m less worried about Nest disappearing.

Continue reading ⇢

Google is buying Nest for $3.2 billion:

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said: “Nest’s founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family. They’re already delivering amazing products you can buy right now–thermostats that save energy and smoke/CO alarms that can help keep your family safe. We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams!”

Continue reading ⇢

The CyanogenMod team:

After reaching out to the Play team, their feedback was that though application itself is harmless, and not actually in violation of their Terms of Service, since it ‘encourages users to void their warranty,’ it would not be allowed to remain in the store.

We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of installations of the application, proving the demand for more choice, and that the need for an alternative Android experience exists. As we work through this new hurdle, we will continue to make available and support the installation process via our own hosting services.

Continue reading ⇢

Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt has posted a 900 word guide to Google+. The topic? Converting to Android from the iPhone.

Content wise, it’s fairly accurate, however phrases like “The latest Mavericks requires the use of iCloud for Mac users if you want to transfer contacts” and “Take the SIM out of the iPhone and insert it into Android” are just poorly-written.

His advice about Safari is especially cringe-worthy:

Be sure to use Chrome, not Safari; its safer and better in so many ways. And it’s free.

Continue reading ⇢

Federico Viticci:

I considered switching to Safari because I was fed up with Google’s creepiness, and I ended up actually liking Safari more than Chrome overall.

I particularly enjoyed the section of this article where he writes about switching away from Google where possible. It’s a well-thought, well-written piece.

Continue reading ⇢

Microsoft’s released a product that the Apple fanboy in your life will love for Christmas.

Continue reading ⇢