Posts Tagged ‘google’

Android and Linux re-merge into one operating system

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

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Android has always been Linux, but for years the Android project went its own way and its code wasn’t merged back into the main Linux tree. Now, much sooner than Linus Torvalds, Linux’s founder and lead developer, had expected, Android has officially merged back into Linux’s mainline.

The fork between Android and Linux all began in the fall of 2010, “Google engineer Patrick Brady stated that Android is not Linux” That was never actually the case. Android has always been Linux at heart.

At the same time though Google did take Android in a direction that wasn’t compatible with the mainstream Linux kernel. As Greg Kroah-Hartman, the maintainer of the stable Linux kernel for the Linux Foundation and head of the Linux Driver Project, wrote in Android and the Linux kernel community, “The Android kernel code is more than just the few weird drivers that were in the drivers/staging/androidsubdirectory in the kernel. In order to get a working Android system, you need the new lock type they have created, as well as hooks in the core system for their security model. In order to write a driver for hardware to work on Android, you need to properly integrate into this new lock, as well as sometimes the bizarre security model. Oh, and then there’s the totally-different framebuffer driver infrastructure as well.” That flew like a lead balloon in Android circles.

This disagreement sprang from several sources. One was that Google’s Android developers had adopted their own way to address power issues with WakeLocks. The other cause, as Google open source engineering manager Chris DiBona pointed out, was that Android’s programmers were so busy working on Android device specifics that they had done a poor job of co-coordinating with the Linux kernel developers.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/android-and-linux-re-merge-into-one-operating-system/10625?tag=content;search-results-river

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Google Blocks Its Own Analytics by Releasing Add-on

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

27 May, 2010
Written by Dexter Han
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Stung by privacy concerns, Google has released a new add-on which was designed for blocking the information captured from Web sites that use its own Analytics service.

The new add-on for Google Analytics opt-out browser stops the flow of regular data from your computer whenever you were suffering on a website which uses Google Analytics. Websites input the JavaScript code of Google Analytics into their own pages to capture the IP address, browser version, operating system, ISP, and similar items from visiting computers. That data is sent to Google and then accessible through a Website’s free GA account.

The beta version of the new add-on is available for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome.
Google has released a new tweak to GA’s JavaScript for the further address privacy issues. With the tweak, Website owners could anonymize those visiting IP addresses sent to Google. The new code sent to Google is just a string of the IP address characters, removing the last octet. Due to a website visitor’s general location can be identified by the IP address, this tweak can stop the whole geographic information from being captured.

For these recent gaffes, such as Google Buzz which exposed data without users’ permission, the company has been criticized by the users constantly, and Google Street View, like the company admitted, inadvertently grabbed data from open Wi-Fi networks.

Google still continually faces the problem of data-capturing for its own use, but meanwhile, not marking out people by violating their privacy. To those people who don’t want their private data, even computer data, revealed, the new changes to Google Analytics are good news to them. But to websites, they won’t share the same feeling, I guess.

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‘What’s happening?’ – Google’s Pac-Man confuses Firefox users

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

25 May, 2010
Written by Jerry Tang
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Last week, Google celebrated the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man. Complaints about siren sounds and offbeat music flooded Mozilla’s Firefox support forum. Some people even asked if they’d infected with virus.

An image of Pac-Man was posted on Google’s main search page as a homepage to the 1980 video game last Friday. It always aims to celebrate “on this day” events.

However, James Socol, web development engineer at Mozilla said ‘The game freaked out some Firefox users.’

‘Unfortunately, in the initial release [of the game], [the Pac-Man] sounds started playing automatically – an oversight or an homage to, I guess,’ said Socol. ‘Even if Google was open in a background tab or window, or in a hidden iFrame created by an add-on, the Pac Man music and sound effects would start. And that confused some people.’

Heading the sounds but didn’t find an explanation on Mozilla’s support site, lot of people posted questions on the support forum, which slowed the company’s database server.

‘The pounding we took on the forums also caused replication on our slave databases to fall behind by as much as 1.25 hours, so even when we wrote an article about the noises, it didn’t show up for most people,’ Socal also said.

Some Firefox users found that the background sounds can be eliminated by removing the CoolPreviews add-on. There also some users believed they had been nailed by malware.

A support manager with Clearwater, Mike Williams said ‘We had a new kind of ‘virus’ attack today that people were calling in about… A few people, including an administrator, called in thinking they had virus with the sound of a siren in the background of their Web browser.’

Then, Sunbelt CEO Alex Eckelberry noted that the noise came from Google’s Pac-Man. the Pac-Man doodle has been removed to a peripheral part of its site by Google. Only after the user clicks on the ‘Insert Coin’ button, can the sounds of the automatic games play.

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“Give Me a Hand”—Google Welcomes the Third-party Gmail Apps

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

24 May, 2010
Written by Jerry Tang
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

People always believe that “If you build it, they will come.”, however, sometime it is not enough, so what you have to do is to let someone build on your own foundation.

And that is what Google is doing with Gmail now. They let Google Apps customers add various third-party applications to integrate with the e-mail service.

The Google Apps extensions product manager Chandrashekar Raghavan said recently:“Starting today, third-party developers can build Gmail contextual gadgets and distribute them in the Google Apps Marketplace. These gadgets can display information from social networks, business services, Web applications and other systems, and users can interact with that data right within Gmail.”
By using this application, Gmail users can watch Pixetell-created video messages directly inside e-mail message.

Gmail contextual gadgets are part of examples of Google’s attempt to accommodate specific productivity tools into its general-purpose e-mail service.

The contextual gadgets can be installed to the users by Google Apps administrators. When appropriate within the e-mail body, those applications will appear. Take AwayFind as an example, it lets a person mark a message as urgent so follow-ups generate alerts. There are other examples, Pixetell let people view video messages and add comments.

Build rich applications on the Web is the theme of Google’s Google I/O conference. Although Gmail is only one of many examples, it is also a great step compare with a single application.

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Clicker Released a Set-top Version of Its Video Directory

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

21 May, 2010
Written by Dexter Han
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Clicker is releasing a new version of Web-based video directory at its website Clicker.tv at the Google I/O conference this Wednesday. The original site Clicker.com stays for all traditionalists who like text-heavy sites which can be easily operated with a mouse. The new version is designed for the "10-foot experience," which is code for the Google TV set-top box we’re expecting to see at the conference.

I made a preview of its new website Clicker.tv in Firefox. The site leads you to the same content as the former version, but the interface is very pretty and classic, also very easy to navigate with just four direction keys and two buttons: Enter and Backspace. You can search the entire site just by typing anywhere; you don’t have to focus on a search box.

The future of this app’s capability to point to good content is still in question. Hulu, and other TV video websites, do not always want to see their contents appeared on TV a screen, that’s the reason why companies like Hulu, Boxee and Hillcrest Labs’ Kylo has blocked its Internet set-top apps, because it may make a competition with traditional cable delivery. And now with Clicker moving clearly to the TV field, it’s possible that Hulu will block playback called up from the .tv version of the its website which is merely designed for a computer, not a TV.

In Clicker’s content database, the format videos are in and where videos are blocked, so if Hulu makes a restriction of playback through Clicker.tv, users will not see the blocked videos on that site. Likewise, when Clicker becomes available on iPad, users there won’t see Flash videos in their searches either. Lanzone says that’s approximately half the content of the company indexes.

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Amazon Says Kindle App for Android Coming This Summer

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

19 May, 2010
Written by Effie Sha
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

This summer, a new Kindle e-book reader application will be introduced by Amazon for the Android mobile operating system.

Amazon has already launched e-book reading apps on nearly every mobile device and now it’s going to bridge the gap with Kindle for Android this summer.

The Android Announcement
Kindle and Android fans have a big reason to celebrate this announcement as they will be enjoy over 540,000 eBooks in app (all other Kindle apps have to purchase via Amazon website). We know that it’s not a big deal to open Amazon.com in web browser, but this new feature will make it easy to buy a book.

The New Jobs
The New York Times reported dozens of new job listings on the Lab126 site, which lists Kindle-related employment opportunities. The descriptions are somewhat unclear and don’t point to any specific technologies about Kindle 3. For example, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for ‘Execution of functional testing in all aspects of the device, including user interface, hardware/software integration, and key product metrics.’

The iPad is the big threat to Amazon, and the latter seeks to prove – through potential innovation and app integration – people will find that the Kindle is the best device to read eBook on as well as providing a few distractions. With more than half a million eBooks available on its store (not including public domain titles), Amazon has a leg-up on other retailers for now.

The Comparisons Rage On
The Kindle and the iPad are two totally different devices designed for entirely different desires. Obviously, the Kindle is designed for reading and the iPad is mobile entertainment device. Comparing the two seems a little pointless, but that doesn’t stop anybody.

Brennon Slattery, a IT industry writer, wrote:

‘Side note: It’s funny to me how Apple and Amazon still get along despite being eBook competitors. After all, Amazon’s Kindle app is on almost every Apple product, and the two continue to integrate together. This is strange seeing as how Apple had a big role in raising eBook prices, effectively destroying Amazon’s $9.99 pricing model. You’d think the same business etiquette would apply to Apple’s relationship with Google, but not so: the former essentially loathes the latter and lately, Apple has been slighting Google quite a bit.

Watch Out: It’s Google

Are we forgetting somebody? Oh yes — that little Web site that plans on releasing its own eBook store. As of now, it seems that Google wants digital reading to stay up in the cloud rather than on a physical device, but all that could change. Android’s popularity shows that people love making Google products … so could a Google eReader be on the way? Also, being relatively early in the game, Amazon could crib from Google’s cloud-based model and improve its own hard- and software to reflect a maturing and increasingly interesting battlefield.’

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The Geolocation Battle between Google and Foursquare Heats Up

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

14 May, 2010
Written by Dexter Han
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Think about it: May be telling your friends that you’re eating a turkey sandwich at the deli down the avenue is the most "interesting" fad of the moment, and Google wants the biggest slice of the cake. At the Web 2.0 Expo, Google pointed out that it would be improving its Latitude service to give other location-based time-wasters — like the achingly obnoxious Foursquare — a management for their money. Now as Facebook has cooperrated with McDonald’s to develop a similar tracking system, this creepy battle was just about to begin.

Google Latitude was put to use last year and has owned 3 Mln users, but most of them had largely been forgotten. 3 Mln is a vigorous number, but there is something worth mentioning that 1/4 of Latitude users have no friends at all, that means no one cares about where you’re arriving at. While Foursquare boasts 1 Mln users, and after Yahoo has failed the attempt at purchasing the application from Dennis Crowley for over 1 Bln USD, Foursquare has got the public’s full attention.

Google definitely wants to change this situation. Learning the successful experience from Foursquare, the updated Latitude would contain a check-in feature and a supporting location history scheme. And count on the preponderance on map data, Latitude could add locations automatically, whereas Foursquare requires users’input.

But Latitude’s biggest obstacle toward mass-popularity is iPhone. Although Google has built a Latitude app, but Apple — who essentially hates Google — abandon it from the App Store. The other competitors, like the 2-million-strong MyTown, have been warmly welcomed into Apple’s arms, painting Latitude the wallflower.

If you, like most commoners, really care about turkey sandwiches, Latitude’s evolution is worth keeping an eye on. Otherwise you can enjoy yourself with some awesome old-fashioned restraining orders.

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New Google Chrome Browser – Chrome 5 Beta

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

10 May, 2010
Written by Effie Sha
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Google launched the beta version of Google Chrome 5 recently, the new generation of web browser. The HTML 5 specifications like Geolocation and file drag-and-drop, Flash integration, JavaScript engine speed boosts and expanded cloud sync capabilities.

Here are some key figures of Google Chrome new version – Chrome 5 Beta:

Expanded Sync
Remember? You would save your favorite webpage with Chrome bookmarks in the cloud and access them on any computer running Chrome last year. And this year, with new version Google Chrome 5 Beta, the browser’s syncing capabilities have been expanded. You would use your won themes, homepage, startup, settings, web content settings and language on any computer running Chrome 5 Beta.

Just click the wrench icon on the right of your browser window and select ‘set up sync’ to get started with your new journey of Chrome beta’s expanded sync. Login to your Google account through the pop-up window that appears and all your Chrome settings will be saved to your Google Docs account.

Run extensions in Incognito Mode
You would surfer on the Internet without recording your browsing or search history or blocks site cookies with Chrome’s Incognito Mode. And also, Incognito Mode prevents any of your custom Chrome extensions from running in the Incognito window. However, with new Chrome 5 Beta version, you can use your custom extensions in Incognito Mode with re-enable them manually.

You can find the ‘extensions manager’ link at the bottom of the Incognito Mode start page to re-enable your Chrome custom extensions, or clicking on the wrench icon on the right of Chrome window directly on the Chrome extensions manager page. Simply click the ‘Allow this extension to run in incognito’ check box to run your Chrome custom extension in Incognito Mode, or click ‘Authorize’ if a pop-up window comes up.

HTML 5
Though HTML 5 has not been used officially yet, as the new programming standard for web pages, Google Chrome brings some of new exciting features with HTML 5. New features includes file drag-and-drop capabilities, Geolocation (for example, like Google’s MyLocation feature), and offline application caching etc. In order to make web-based applications to communicate with their host servers easier and faster, Chrome 5 Beta provides web sockets feature.

Adobe Flash Plugs In
You know what, you will never been bothered by updating or downloading the latest version of Flash when you open a webpage requires Flash plug-ins with Chrome 5 Beta. All you need to do is just open up Google Chrome 5 Beta and begin to enjoy your favorite YouTube, Hulu or whatever video show. Chrome will deliver all Flash Player updates for you and your Flash will be smooth, updated and save.

Speed
Google says Chrome 5 Beta has improved the speed of JavaScript engine as measured by the V8 and SunSpider JavaScript benchmarks. JavaScript is so popular for building interactive web pages and web applications, so Chrome 5 Beta focuses on improving rendering speeds of JavaScript to boost browser performance. Compared to the previous version of Chrome, the new version Chrome 5 Beta is faster by 30 – 35 percent for each benchmark and 213 – 305 percent faster than the original Chrome.

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Google Put Up Decorations for Search Results Pages

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

06 May, 2010
Written by Dexter Han
Beijing RayooTech Co., Ltd.

Google, the world’s leading Internet search company, trots out one of its most significant redesigns which prepared for years. Users will see something new on their search results pages (SRP) on Wednesday.

Google SRP will get a much more beautiful and colorful redesign which Google has been introducing and testing for several years. It shouldn’t be a huge surprise for their users because Google has been testing the design with their users actively for a couple of months, even further, said John Wiley, senior user and experienced designer for Google.

With the new look, Google emphasized that the menu of search options had previously been hidden on the left-side rail of the SRP. Being promulgated firstly in May 2009, search options need searchers to click the "show options" link at the top of the webpage. Now they are being affixed to the left rail permanently, and Google will provide different search options according to they are relevant to the query or not, said Wiley.

For instance, searching for "red shoes" would get the set of results like before, but Google will surface a link to its shopping search pages on the left rail of the page. In the same vein, searching for "NFL draft" would take on news and real-time updates. Users can access the full list of search options by clicking the "more" button, then will see a changing list of accentuated options on the left rail.

And those options will be quite conspicuous: Google is using bright colors to highlight those options, like Wiley called "a modern crisp clean look." Even Google’s logo is joining the act, with a detailed overhaul of raising the colors and dropping the shadowing cast by the letters.

Google is also changing the appearance of search tools and search refinements on the left-hand side of its SRP. Searching "rolling stones" will trigger a list of consequences under the header "something different," which would bring up other classic rock bands, such as Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin.

Those changes will appear on a rolling basis to a majority of users over the course of Wednesday, Wiley said. But to those users who search in other languages, it might take much longer.

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