Google

Google Glass: Who's bringing the apps?

When Jonathan Gottfried developed a Twitter app for Google Glass called GlassTweet, he did so because he wanted a way to tweet photos from his Glass headset. Now it's looking as though he's onto something, although no one would characterize his user base as big -- yet.

"There's at least 10 people using GlassTweet," said Gottfried, who is a developer evangelist for Twilio. "The group that's using it is extremely active and vocal," and includes uber-early adopters such as the all-Glass, all-the-time Robert Scoble and LeWeb founder Loic LeMeur.

"I certainly … Read more

Google's Schmidt: Don't worry too much about 'Big Brother'

NEW YORK--Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt on Monday tried to dismiss fears about "Big Brother" knowing too much about everyone.

Many companies, including Google, have been developing new technology that users literally wear. Items such as Google Glass can track a person's location, heart rate, and other activity, and they're likely to become even more sophisticated in the future. They may become so advanced that people barely realize they're on, and they may not realize how much information is actually being collected.

However, Schmidt said that while we may all be hooked up to dozens … Read more

Google's Schmidt: The Internet needs a delete button

NEW YORK--The Internet needs a delete button, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said Monday.

Actions someone takes when young can haunt the person forever, Schmidt said, because the information will always be on the Internet. He used the example of a young person who committed a crime that could be expunged from his record when he's an adult. But information about that crime could remain online, preventing the person from finding a job.

"In America, there's a sense of fairness that's culturally true for all of us," Schmidt said. "The lack of a delete … Read more

YouTube reportedly near launch of paid channel subscriptions

YouTube reportedly could launch its paid subscription service for some of its specialist video channels as early as this week.

The a la carte service, which could involve as many as 50 video channels, would allow single channel subscriptions for as little as $1.99 a month, people familiar with the plan tell The Financial Times. YouTube confirmed to CNET in February that it was developing such a service but did not indicate when it would be ready for subscribers.

A paid content platform could give the Google-owned video site another revenue stream while allowing channel operators to finance different … Read more

'Google Palestine' label stirs both sides of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Google has swapped in the word "Palestine" for "Palestinian Territories" on its search site for the area, prompting comments from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The word appears directly beneath the Google logo and above the search field on the site's home page, www.google.ps, and the change follows a vote by the United Nations' General Assembly late last year to grant Palestine the status of "non-member observer state."

"We're changing the name 'Palestinian Territories' to 'Palestine' across our products," Google spokesman Nathan Tyler told the BBC on … Read more

Hacker builds Google Glass clone

You're not the only one who missed out on dropping $1,500 for Google Glass Explorer Edition. An Australian geek, who goes by the "Evil Dead" name Ash_Williams on Australian PC hardware community forum Overclockers, doesn't have one either. So he made his own.

The hacker's version is called Flass, a combination of "fake" and "glass." It's powered by a Nokia N9 phone. The TV-out feature of the phone feeds the eye display, which is mounted on a set of real glasses using cable ties.

Ash_Williams has gone through four different versions of Flass so far.… Read more

Acer launches 2 notebooks, tablet that emphasize touch

NEW YORK--Acer on Friday launched two new touch-screen notebooks and a tablet, hoping to attract buyers and stem its steep declines in the PC market.

One notebook, the Aspire R7, features a 15.6-inch touch screen and a hinge that allows users to rotate and flip the screen to convert it in tablet. The company moved the keyboard closer to the edge of the lower tray and shifted the trackpad closer to the screen, which it said should make it easier to use the touch screen. The $1,000 product will be in stores in mid-May, with an exclusive U.… Read more

Google: The future of search is Now

Google needs a new tagline: The future of search is Now.

It wouldn't be a stretch, given the huge bet Google is making that it can create intelligent digital assistants for billions of people by putting Google's computer brain to work for you via Google Now. The service, which Google this week expanded to iOS users, is about far more than one-upping Siri in the battle for digital assistants. Google is angling to maintain its top position in search as people leave the desktop and search on mobile and wearable devices.

Google Now, arguably not the most compelling … Read more

Google Fiber heads to Shawnee, Kansas

Google Fiber is making its way to another part of Kansas.

The search giant on Thursday announced that Shawnee, located just outside of Kansas City, has voted to bring Google Fiber to its residents. Google Fiber is already available in Kansas City, the first location to get the Google high-speed Internet service.

Google Fiber has started to slowly expand its footprint across the U.S., with the company recently announcing that it'll be made available to Austin, Texas, residents. Provo, Utah will also receive Fiber service.

Google on Thursday did not say when its service will be available to … Read more

Google adds remote desktop Hangouts to Google+

Some people are simply more tech savvy than their friends and family and often end up offering advice on the ins and outs of computer use. But, this can be difficult when people don't live in the same city.

Google is attempting to help out folks in these situations with a new Google + Hangout feature. The Web giant announced Thursday that it is rolling out a Hangouts remote desktop, which is powered by the same technology as the Chrome Remote Desktop. The feature lets users video chat while troubleshooting.

"Hangouts Remote Desktop lets you help others by controlling … Read more