Posts Tagged: Google

The Google Pixel 8a’s release just got a lot closer

Ready to get your hands on the Google Pixel 8a? Good news! Its release date shouldn’t be far off now, as a new bit of news confirms.
Digital Trends

We finally know the exact date of Google I/O 2024

Google I/O is one of Google’s biggest tech events of the year. And now, we finally know exactly when Google I/O 2024 its taking place.
Digital Trends

Pixel Fold is the Latest Google Phone to Have Screen Issues

Even Google’s own phones are not above flaws. Pixel Fold users complain of sticky scrolling, and here’s how it’s affecting them.
TalkAndroid

Google Wallet can now automatically add your movie tickets and boarding passes

An update to Google Wallet has further simplified the process of getting all your passes in one place. Per this week’s release notes for Wallet, spotted by Android reporter ​​Mishaal Rahman, Google says movie tickets and boarding passes will now be surfaced automatically after purchase, as long as the confirmation email has made it to the user’s Gmail inbox. It might not work for every theater chain or airline just yet, but Google says the feature is live for “some” and more should be added in time.

Google little by little has been tweaking Wallet to make it more useful. The company last month expanded Wallet passes to WearOS so Android smartwatch users could have easy access to their tickets from their wrist. That includes boarding passes, event tickets, gym memberships, loyalty cards and more. Per the latest release notes, Google has also added a way for users to manually archive most of their passes from either their smartphone or smartwatch. These will be moved to a section called Archived Passes, where users will be able to undo the action if they’ve made a mistake or need to refer to an old pass.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-wallet-can-now-automatically-add-your-movie-tickets-and-boarding-passes-214241833.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google is following Apple’s lead by adding new developer fees in the EU

Yesterday Google outlined the changes it will make to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) that goes into effect starting today. One important detail it left out, however, was whether it would charge developers who directed users outside the Play Store to sideload apps — and if so, how much. 

Now, Google has revealed that it will indeed charge developers even if they don't use the Play Store, just like Apple did with the App Store. Per new details found in the Play Console help section, the company will charge two new fees: 

  1. An initial acquisition fee of 10% for in-app purchases or 5% for subscriptions for two years. This represents the value Play provided in facilitating initial user acquisition.

  2. An ongoing services fee of 17% for in-app purchases or 7% for subscriptions. This covers ongoing Play services like parental controls, security, fraud prevention, and app updates.

Developers can opt out of ongoing fees after two years if users agree, but ongoing Play services will no longer apply. "Since users acquired the app through Play with the expectation of services such as parental controls, security scanning, fraud prevention, and continuous app updates, discontinuation of services requires user consent as well," Google stated.

Google included the following chart to show how the fees will apply to a hypothetical "Fantastiq App": 

Google is following Apple's lead by adding new developer fees in the EU
Google

With this, Google is taking a similar approach to Apple, which reduced App Store commissions but introduced new fees. Namely, Apple tacked on on a new 3 percent “payment processing” fee for transactions that go through its store. And a new “core technology fee” will charge a flat €0.50 fee for all app downloads, regardless of whether they come from the App Store or a third-party website, after the first 1 million installations.

Google is justifying the fees by touting the value it provides in the Android ecosystem: "Play's fees support our investment in Android and Google Play and reflect the value provided by Android and Play, including enabling us to distribute Android for free and provide the continuously growing suite of tools and services that help developers build successful businesses, all while keeping our platforms safe and secure for billions of users worldwide."

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney already blasted Google's post about DMA compliance yesterday, before the new fees were even made public. "Google announced its malicious compliance plans for the European DMA law… it looks like their illegal anti-steering policy will be replaced by a new Google Tax on web transactions. We'll likely soon learn how he and other developers react to the new fees. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-following-apples-lead-by-adding-new-developer-fees-in-the-eu-064618768.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google Rolls Safety And Convenience Updates Out To Waze

Google’s Waze navigation app is getitng a bunch of major updates that will make your experience with the app a lot more enjoyable.
TalkAndroid

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: a tough battle

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a fantastic smartphone. But is it really worth $ 300 more than the Google Pixel 8 Pro? It’s time to figure that out.
Digital Trends

Google Messages May Soon Get a Handy New Feature

The engineers at Google are working to bring a useful new feature to the Messages app.
TalkAndroid

Google just announced Android 15. Here’s everything that’s new

It’s that time once again. Google has just announced Android 15 and released the first developer preview for it. Here’s everything that’s new!
Digital Trends

How to turn off Google Assistant on any device

Uncomfortable with Google Assistant? Tired of it popping up uninvited? Our simple guide will show you how to limit it or turn it off altogether on any device.
Digital Trends

Best Google Pixel 8 deals: Save $800 on the latest Pixel

The Google Pixel 8 is a great mid-range smartphone and it’s also highly affordable. Here’s where you can find the best Google Pixel 8 deals.
Digital Trends

The Gemini App Isn’t Replacing Google Assistant Just Yet

Bard is dead, and the Gemini app is set to take the lead but there are some tasks that only the Google Assistant can perform.
TalkAndroid

This Google Phone Could Solve The Wet Finger Touchscreen Issue

The Google Pixel series has always had a lot of amazing software features, but the Pixel 8 will soon be getting one that allows touch sensitivity to be automatically adjusted.
TalkAndroid

Google is reportedly rebranding Bard to Gemini and plans to launch a dedicated app

According to a document leaked on X, Google is planning to introduce some major changes to its Bard AI tool as soon as this coming week. The plans, which have not been publicly confirmed, reportedly include changing the Bard name to Gemini. It would make sense for Google to do so, if only for simplicity’s sake — the company introduced its new multimodal AI model, Gemini, at the end of 2023 and has begun integrating it into some of its products, including Bard.

The changelog shared by Android app developer Dylan Roussel is dated February 7, and also notes that the paid Gemini Advanced tier will become available at this time. It mentions a Gemini app for Android is “coming soon,” as well.

Per the document, Gemini Advanced will give users access to the Ultra 1.0 model of Gemini, which is “far more capable at highly complex tasks like coding, logical reasoning, following nuanced instructions, and creative collaboration.” It’ll be available in over 150 countries and optimized for the English language at the start. The changelog also says Gemini will expand to Canada with this release.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-rebranding-bard-to-gemini-and-plans-to-launch-a-dedicated-app-204442265.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

How to get a refund from the Google Play Store

What do you do if you accidentally buy the wrong app or decide you don’t want that game after all? Here’s how to get a refund in the Google Play Store.
Digital Trends

6 Features That Could Come To Google Bard in 2024

Google is working on a range of new features for its Bard AI product, including a paid tier.
TalkAndroid

Google has started disabling third-party cookies for Chrome users

Google has just disabled third-party cookies for one percent of Chrome users, years after it first introduced its Privacy Sandbox project. The company announced late last year that it will kick things off by disabling cookies for a random one percent of Chrome users globally on January 4. Chrome owns more than half of the worldwide browser market share, and according to Gizmodo, that means Google has killed cookies for 30 million users. 

People included in this rollout will see a notification when they launch their browser telling them they're one of the first to experience Tracking Protection. It also explains that Tracking Protection limits sites from using third-party cookies to track them as they browse. Since this rollout is bound to break a few websites that have yet to adapt to a change that will affect most people who go on the internet, Google will allow users to temporary re-enable third-party cookies. They can do so by clicking on the eye icon that's now on their browser bar to toggle off the new feature. 

Google's Privacy Sandbox initiative, just like its name implies, was designed to be an alternative to cookies that will allow advertisers to serve users ads while also protecting their privacy. It assigns users to groups according to their interests, based on their recent browsing activities, and advertisers can use that information to match them with relevant ads. The system is supposed to be less invasive than cookies — all data and processing take place on the device itself, and Google says it will store user interests for three weeks. The project has caught the attention of regulators over concerns that it will make the company even more powerful than it already is. But if all goes well, Google will continue rolling out Tracking Protection over the next few months until it has disabled third-party cookies for all Chrome users by mid-2024. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-has-started-disabling-third-party-cookies-for-chrome-users-060955481.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Does the Google Pixel Watch 2 have wireless charging?

You might be curious to know whether the Google Pixel Watch 2 supports wireless charging. Given that the first one did, the answer might surprise you.
Digital Trends

How to use Magic Editor on the Google Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 series is packed with a lot of cool AI tricks, including the Magic Editor. Here’s how to use it to get the most out of your photos.
Digital Trends

Former Trump ‘fixer’ Michael Cohen admits using Google Bard to cite bogus court cases

Donald Trump’s former “fixer,” Michael Cohen, used Google Bard to cite made-up legal cases that ended up in a federal court. The New York Times reported Friday that Cohen admitted in unsealed court papers that he passed on documents referencing bogus cases to his lawyer, who then relayed them to a federal judge. Cohen reportedly wrote in the sworn declaration he hadn’t stayed on top of “emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology.”

Cohen’s legal team filed the paperwork in a motion asking for an early end to court supervision from his 2018 campaign finance case, for which he served three years in prison. After Cohen’s attorney, David M. Schwartz, presented the legal documents to the federal court, Judge Jesse M. Furman of the Federal District Court said he was having trouble finding the three decisions cited by Schwartz (via Cohen).

Judge Furman told Schwartz that if he couldn’t provide documentation of the cases, the attorney needed to provide “a thorough explanation of how the motion came to cite cases that do not exist and what role, if any, Mr. Cohen played in drafting or reviewing the motion before it was filed.” Schwartz must also explain why he shouldn’t be sanctioned “for citing nonexistent cases to the court.” Cohen is a former lawyer who was disbarred after pleading guilty to multiple felonies.

Enter Bard. Cohen said he didn’t realize the AI bot “was a generative text service that, like ChatGPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not.” Cohen also blamed his lawyer, saying he didn’t realize Schwartz “would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed.”

Although lawyers using AI chatbots to cite hallucinated cases makes for easy comedy, this flub could have profound implications for a critical case with potential political ramifications. Cohen is expected to be the star witness in the Manhattan criminal case against Trump for allegedly falsifying business records. The Bard flub gives Trump’s lawyers new ammunition to discredit the onetime fixer.

Cohen joins the company of ChatGPT Lawyer Steven Schwartz, who cited made-up cases (sourced through OpenAI’s chatbot) in a civil case earlier this year. He was allegedly joined by the attorney for Fugees rapper Pras Michel. In October, the artist accused his lawyer of using an AI program he may have had a financial stake in to produce his closing arguments.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/former-trump-fixer-michael-cohen-admits-using-google-bard-to-cite-bogus-court-cases-184125792.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The Morning After: Google will settle $5 billion lawsuit over tracking Incognito Chrome users

Google’s Chrome has long featured the ability to launch the browser in Incognito mode, offering a seemingly blank slate for your internet browsing, away from your usual cookies, forms and web history. But that seemingly didn’t mean Google wasn’t keeping an eye on where you were browsing.

The company faced a lawsuit in 2020 that accused it of tracking Chrome users’ activities even when they were using Incognito mode. Google has now agreed to settle the complaint that originally sought $ 5 billion in damages, after failing to get the suit dismissed.

The plaintiffs said Google used tools like its Analytics product, apps and browser plug-ins to monitor users. By tracking someone on Incognito, the company was falsely making people believe that they could control the information that they were willing to share with it.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs revealed internal emails that allegedly showed conversations between Google execs proving that the company monitored Incognito browser usage to sell ads and track web traffic. Which does sound like a thing Google would do. According to Reuters and The Washington Post, neither side has made the details of the settlement public.

– Mat Smith

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Xiaomi says its EV can outperform Porsche and has more tech than Tesla

It tapped former BMW and Mercedes designers.

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Xiaomi

Xiaomi, best known for its smartphones, smart home peripherals, and many other things, has made an EV. Unveiled at a Beijing event yesterday, the Xiaomi SU7 — pronounced “soo-chee” in Chinese — is a sedan that will come in two flavors: the dual-motor all-wheel-drive SU7 Max, and the single-motor rear-wheel-drive SU7.

Xiaomi claims the SU7 Max has a range of up to 800km and a 0-100km/h acceleration of just 2.78s, both of which apparently beat Tesla’s Model S and Porsche’s Taycan Turbo. There’s also a lot of tech splashed around, with a dedicated in-car entertainment system, ports for your (Xiaomi, of course) tablets and headlamps designed to look like the chinese character for rice – also the ‘mi’ in Xiaomi. We’ve chewed over all the details below.

Continue reading.

Apple is selling its contested Watch models again

Both the Series 9 or Ultra 2 are available again from the company’s website.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are back on sale, after a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. granted a temporary pause on an import and sales ban. However, Apple’s wearables aren’t out of the woods just yet: the ban could be reinstated on January 10, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) decides on whether to grant Apple a longer pause.

The ban could also return on January 13, when the same agency makes a decision regarding Apple’s redesign of both smartwatches. The original ban lasted a little more than a day.

Continue reading.

Look at LG’s two-legged robot

It’ll feature AI-powered skills and face recognition.

TMA
LG

Yes, CES is in a couple of weeks. Why do you ask?

Continue reading.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-google-will-settle-5-billion-lawsuit-over-tracking-incognito-chrome-users-121651324.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google just settled a $5 billion privacy suit involving Chrome browser

Google has agreed to settle a $ 5 billion lawsuit brought by claimants who accused the web giant of privacy invasion by tracking their online activities.
Digital Trends

Google TV Update Boosts App and Content Loading Times

When it comes to hardware, unless you’ve got one of Nvidia’s Shield TV devices streaming your content it’s…
TalkAndroid

Google loses landmark antitrust lawsuit against Epic Games

Google has lost a landmark case against Epic Games after a jury decided on Monday that the web giant operates an illegal monopoly via its Android app store.
Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are still at their Black Friday prices

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are great phones made even more irresistible while they’re on sale at Best Buy right now.
Digital Trends

Google Pixel Fold review: is it still worth buying?

The Google Pixel Fold has arrived, but is it worth that huge $ 1,799 price tag? We find out in our full review.
Digital Trends

Best Buy Black Friday deal knocks $100 off the Google Pixel Tablet

If you’d like to pick up a tablet in the Google ecosystem, then the Pixel Tablet is going for $ 100 as part of this Black Friday sale.
Digital Trends

Google Pixel Fold just got a huge price cut for Black Friday

The 256GB Google Pixel Fold, which comes with a 7.6-inch inner OLED display and a 5.8-inch OLED cover display, is available from Best Buy with a $ 400 discount.
Digital Trends

I’ve had the Google Pixel 8 Pro for a month. Here’s why I’m keeping it

I’ve had the Google Pixel 8 Pro for over a month. Is it still one of the year’s best Android phones? Have software bugs ruined it? Here’s what I’ve learned.
Digital Trends

Need a new phone? Google Pixel 7a is $175 off in early Black Friday deal

The Google Pixel 7a is a great mid-range phone when you grab this deal that discounts it down to just $ 375.
Digital Trends

Best smartwatch deals: Samsung, Google, Apple, and Garmin

There are a lot of impressive smartwatch deals taking place right now, and we’ve rounded up the best from Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung.
Digital Trends

There might be something wrong with the Google Pixel Watch 2

The Google Pixel Watch 2 just launched last month, but there’s already a problem with it: some users can’t get it to charge. Here’s what’s going on.
Digital Trends

Google paid $26 billion in 2021 for default search engine status

Vice president Prabhakar Raghavan testified Friday that Google paid $ 26.3 billion in 2021 for the purpose of maintaining default search engine status and acquiring traffic, Bloomberg reports. It’s likely the lion’s share of that sum went to Apple, which it has showered with exorbitant sums for many years in order to remain the default search option on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Raghavan, who was testifying as part of the DOJ’s ongoing antitrust suit against the company, said Google’s search advertising made $ 146.4 billion in revenue in 2021, which puts the $ 26 billion it paid for default status in perspective. The executive clarified that default status was the most costly part of what it pays to acquire traffic.

Raghavan didn’t mention how much of the $ 26.3 billion went to Apple. But CNBC reports that an estimate from private wealth management firm Bernstein ballparked that Google could pay Apple up to $ 19 billion this year for the default privilege.

A slide shown in court revealed that, in 2014, Google brought in $ 47 billion in search revenue while paying $ 7.1 billion for default status. Raghavan testified that Google’s overall default search engine payments nearly quadrupled from 2014 to 2021, while its search advertising revenue (roughly) tripled.

Google objected to making the figures public, arguing it would hurt its ability to negotiate future contracts. Judge Amit Mehta, overseeing the case, disagreed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-paid-26-billion-in-2021-for-default-search-engine-status-203129384.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Forget the Google Pixel Watch 2 — I found a great alternative

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a solid smartwatch. But what if it’s too small for you? I found an alternative I think you’ll really like.
Digital Trends

There’s something about the Google Pixel 8 that worries me

I’ve had the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro for a couple of weeks, and I quite like them. But there’s something about them that worries me.
Digital Trends

Google ordered to pay $1 million to female exec who sued over gender discrimination

Google will have to pay over $ 1 million to an executive who alleged the company discriminated against her based on her gender and later retaliated when she spoke up about it. Ulku Rowe, a Google Cloud engineering director, accused the company of hiring her at a lower level, lower paid position than men with less experience who were hired for similar roles at the same time, according to Bloomberg Law. She also claimed she was passed over for a promotion in favor of a less qualified male colleague.

A New York jury on Friday decided that Google did commit gender-based discrimination, and now owes Rowe a combined $ 1.15 million for punitive damages and the pain and suffering it caused. Rowe had 23 years of experience when she started at Google in 2017, and the lawsuit claims she was lowballed at hiring to place her at a level that paid significantly less than what men were being offered.

It comes nearly five years after some 20,000 Google employees organized a walkout to demand changes around the company’s handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination. While the company pledged to do better on sexual harassment, its response still left a lot to be desired on the topics of bias. According to Bloomberg Law, the Rowe lawsuit is the first such case Google has faced since the protests.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-ordered-to-pay-1-million-to-female-exec-who-sued-over-pay-discrimination-214702002.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

OnePlus is about to put the Google Pixel 8 Pro to shame

The Google Pixel 8 Pro has one of the brightest displays available on a smartphone. However, that won’t be the case for long.
Digital Trends

OnePlus Open vs. Google Pixel Fold: don’t buy the wrong folding phone

OnePlus just launched its very first foldable. How does it stack up against the Pixel Fold, which is also Google’s first entry into the foldable market?
Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 review: better than the Pixel 8 Pro?

The case for choosing the Google Pixel 8 over the Pixel 8 Pro is stronger than ever, as its camera, battery, and software all impress in our review.
Digital Trends

Forget the Google Pixel 8, another new Google phone just leaked

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were just announced last week, but they’re already old news. Another new Google phone coming in 2024 has leaked!
Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 UItra: don’t buy the wrong one

The Pixel 8 Pro targets an audience that wants the best of Android, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sits at the hardware summit. Which one’s best for you?
Digital Trends

The best Google Pixel 8 cases in 2023: 10 best ones right now

The Google Pixel 8 has landed. Make sure yours is protected from day one with the best Google Pixel 8 cases available right now!
Digital Trends

Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch: should you upgrade?

The Google Pixel Watch 2 brings substantial under-the-hood changes. But should you ditch your first-generation Pixel Watch for it? Let’s find out!
Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: which $1,000 phone should you buy?

It’s an exciting season for smartphones with Google’s Pixel 8 Pro joining Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro as two of the best of 2023. Which one is right for your money?
Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: did Google finally beat Apple?

Google has just dropped the brand new Google Pixel 8. How does it fare against Apple’s latest iPhone 15? We found out.
Digital Trends

Do old Pixel Watch bands fit the Google Pixel Watch 2?

Google’s new Pixel Watch 2 is here. But can you use your old bands with it?
Digital Trends

Google is killing another one of its popular apps, and it’s a big one

Google plans to discontinue one of its popular apps, Google Podcasts, in the new year. Here’s what you need to do about the closure.
Digital Trends

Google settles California lawsuit over its location-privacy practices

Google will pay $ 93 million in a settlement it reached with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, resolving allegations that the company’s location-privacy practices violated the state’s consumer protection laws. The California Department of Justice claimed that Google was “collecting, storing, and using their location data” for consumer advertising purposes without informed consent.

The complaint alleges that Google continued to collect consumer data related to a user’s location even when a user turned the “location history” feature off. The company settled similar lawsuits in Arizona and Washington last year for illegally tracking consumers.

In addition to paying $ 93 million, Google agreed to “deter future misconduct.” This settlement, which won’t really hurt Google’s deep pockets, is important because the tech giant generates the majority of its revenue from advertising and location-based advertising is a critical feature of its advertising platform.

Moving forward, the California AG is asking Google to provide additional transparency about location tracking by providing users with detailed information about location data it collects. The company must also provide disclaimers to users that their location information may be used for ad personalization.

Engadget reached out to Google for comment but didn't receive a response.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-settles-california-lawsuit-over-its-location-privacy-practices-190859183.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google gives the Android branding a smart 3D refresh ahead of the Pixel 8 launch

Google Pixel 8: all the latest rumors and what we want to see

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be here before you know it. Here are all the latest rumors, plus a few things we’re hoping to see.
Digital Trends