Android Payback: Apple to Cut Google Out of Stunning New 3D Maps App in iOS6

Android Payback: Apple to Cut Google Out of Stunning New 3D Maps App in iOS6

New Apple maps image based on C3 3D technology

One of the most immediate effects of Steve Jobs' legacy on Apple is an animosity towards Google fueled by what Jobs saw as the outright copying of iOS by Android. Big tech companies will always be battling titans, but this is more. This is personal.

Still, the two companies have been bound by the mutual dependence since Google's services are bundled into iOS. And iMore reports that Google may make four times the ad revenue off of their use in iOS than they do from their own Android platform. Apple wants to change that. Apple has already begun intermediating search queries though Siri, effectively cutting Google out of the valuable identity information associated with those searches. Next up is that other large data components on iOS, maps.

It was widely reported yesterday that Apple will likely announce at its WWDC in June that the new version of the built-in maps app in iOS6 will not be fed by Google maps. Instead, Apple has developed its own, in-house 3-D mapping database, based on the acquisition of three mapping software companies between 2009 and 2011, Placebase, C3 Technologies, and Poly9. The stunning 3D image above is from C3, which, according to the company, uses "previously classified image processing technology… automated software and advanced algorithms… to rapidly assemble extremely precise 3D models, and seamlessly integrate them with traditional 2D maps, satellite images, street level photography and user generated images." The video below shows a flyover of Oslo using C3′s technology.

So if this report is true, Apple will have a new maps app with much more highly-detailed imagery than Google, collected through military-style reconnaissance without the (ahem) gathering of any personal information. It is a good bet that Apple will finesse the transitions between the different map modes far better than Google's wonky shift from "map view" to "street view." What could go wrong? Although Apple now owns the source and can engineer accordingly, the new app likely runs more image data through the pipe, so performance on mobile devices—where it's most critical—is going to be an issue. Apple may have to build in detection of the processor speed of the requesting iOS device and send a thinner stream to older iPhones than to the new quad-core iPads.

There is obviously an interesting business story here about how Apple and other tech companies are trying to chip away at Google's dominance of web services. But even more interesting, to me, is the end-user's story. The bloody competition between Apple and Google is leading Apple to create more innovative user experiences for its customers, and that is a good thing. An operating system is just a container for content, and recreating content is much more difficult than just knocking off its container. By creating a new source for the content of maps on iOS, Apple is making their platform more distinct from Android, as if to say, "You can only copy so much." Although Apple is always improving user experience, this particular effort might have not happened had Steve Jobs not threatened to go "thermonuclear."

Check your settings on Google+ or face some embarrassment

Got the Google+ app? If you do, be careful and check your instant upload photos option or you could be uploading photos you don't want to be uploaded, without you even knowing!

In the app, go to settings then turn off your instant upload or you could be sharing info you don't want to be out there!

Google To Test Driverless Cars On Nevada Roadways

Google to Test Driverless Cars on Nevada Roadways

The roads in Nevada are ready for driverless robot cars. Earlier this month, Nevada's Legislative Commission approved testing of autonomous vehicles on the state's roadways. The cars will be identifiable by a red license plate.

In fact, any company can test its driverless system in Nevada; Google just happened to be the first to jump on the opportunity. Google's system can be installed on any make of vehicle. The company has been working on their driverless car system for a while and received a patent late last year.

"Self-driving cars have the potential to significantly increase driving safety," a Google spokesperson told Mashable. "We applaud Nevada for building a thoughtful framework to enable safe, ongoing testing of the technology and to anticipate the needs and best interests of Nevada citizens who may own vehicles with self-driving capabilities one day."

Even though the cars are driverless, they cannot be tested without two operators inside. Once the vehicles are shown to be safely operated with just one driver, the cars will receive green license plates.

Tom Jacobs, chief public information officer at the Nevada DMV, said this driverless system is "like cruise control on steroids." Jacobs said he did a radio interview recently in which he was asked if other drivers will ever feel the need to flip-off these cars. His response: no need.

"It had no bad habits," he said of the system.

Jacobs said he rode in one of the driverless cars. When the road is not mapped ahead, the car may give control to the driver after a female voice says, "please drive." If the driver does not take control, the car simply pulls over. There is also a display in front of the passenger seat that shows exactly what the car is seeing outside. This feature is for testing purposes only. Jacobs said the ride was so smooth, he couldn't tell when the driver or car was operating the vehicle besides hearing the automated female voice.

"There will never be any crashes," Jacobs said.

SEE ALSO: Tackling Self-Driving Cars' Biggest Questions [VIDEO]

In the future, it's possible automakers will offer this system already installed in vehicles. Drivers without the system built-in may be able to have their cars retrofitted. Jacobs envisioned a world where one day you can press a button on your cell phone, have a car pull up to your house, put your dog in it and send it to the veterinarian.

Jacobs said Google is also testing its driverless cars "quasi-legally" in California, since there is no written rule specifically allowing or forbidding driverless cars. However, Jacobs clearly has a stake in ensuring Nevada is a hub of testing this budding technology.

Regarding the California testing, Google says, "We have received several opinions from outside counsels who are experts in transportation law. All indicated that the testing in California is 100% legal as the safety driver is in control of the car at all times and is responsible for the operation of the vehicle. The testing involves having two people in the car at all times."

"Nevada is the first state to embrace what is surely the future of automobiles," Department of Motor Vehicles Director Bruce Breslow said in a statement posted on the state's DMV website on Feb. 15. "These regulations establish requirements companies must meet to test their vehicles on Nevada's public roadways as well as requirements for residents to legally operate them in the future."

There are several other states that have pending legislation that would allow driverless cars on public roadways.

Would a driverless car make your life easier? How much would you pay for one? Tell us in the comments.

Google Tracked Users Via Their iPhones [REPORT]

Google Tracked Users Via Their iPhones [REPORT]

Google and other companies have overridden the iPhone's privacy settings to monitor users' web-browsing habits, according to a report.
The Wall Street Journal found that Google was using a "special computer code" that tricked Apple's Safari browser into tracking users' behaviors. Safari has built-in protections against such tracking.
The report, which was based on an observation by Stanford researcher Jonathan Mayer and confirmed by the WSJ's technical advisor, Ashkan Soltani, prompted Google to disable its code. Soltani found that 23 of the top 100 websites installed Google's tracking code on Safari.
In addition to Google, Vibrant media, Media Innovation Group and PointRoll were found to be using "similar techniques," according to the report.
In response to the article, Rachel Whetstone, senior vice president, communications and public policy, released the following statement:
The Journal mischaracterizes what happened and why. We used known Safari functionality to provide features that signed-in Google users had enabled. It's important to stress that these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.

Unlike other major browsers, Apple's Safari browser blocks third-party cookies by default. However, Safari enables many web features for its users that rely on third parties and third-party cookies, such as "Like" buttons. Last year, we began using this functionality to enable features for signed-in Google users on Safari who had opted to see personalized ads and other content–such as the ability to "+1" things that interest them.
To enable these features, we created a temporary communication link between Safari browsers and Google's servers, so that we could ascertain whether Safari users were also signed into Google, and had opted for this type of personalization. But we designed this so that the information passing between the user's Safari browser and Google's servers was anonymous–effectively creating a barrier between their personal information and the web content they browse.
However, the Safari browser contained functionality that then enabled other Google advertising cookies to be set on the browser. We didn't anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers. It's important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.

Google's handling of users' privacy has come under scrutiny before. In November, Google settled with the FTC over a privacy-related probe that requires the company submit to a bi-annual review from a third-party oversight board for the next 20 years. Google also tweaked its privacy policy in January. The new policy was designed to let users know that data from all Google products — including Google+, search and YouTube — will be treated as one set of data.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ymgerman

AppzDev iPhone Development www.appzdev.com

Lawmakers Press Google On New Privacy Policy | Fox News

Lawmakers press Google on new privacy policy

Pressure is building on Google. On Friday, the European Union asked Google to the delay the rollout of its new privacy policy, scheduled for March 1, until the E.U. can work out whether it is in line with Europe's data protection laws. 

This issue is also gaining traction on Capitol Hill where lawmakers met behind closed doors on Thursday with Google executives about its controversial plan to cross reference data from consumers.

After the meeting, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack told USA today that, "It was obvious to me, as I left the room, that this company has established this policy so instead of the consumer being the master of the Internet, Google is the master of the consumer. I think that is just wrong."

Anyone who uses Gmail knows that when you sign in, users are being asked to review and accept the new privacy policy. Google says its goal is to consolidate and simplify its privacy policy over dozens of web services. By aggregating or pulling together your search history, and information from your accounts, analysts say Google believes it can offer an improved service.

"If Google knows that I'm searching for a hybrid vehicle…why would it serve up an ad for say a big gas guzzling full size pickup when in fact I'm not in the market for that," Sam Diaz, with ZDNet, told Fox News.

But some lawmakers argue that Google is building an online profile about its users. They question whether web searches about medical treatment or a serious illness should be tracked in the first place. They argue Google could do a better job educating consumers about how to opt out of data collection. When Google was pressed, lawmakers, including Congressman Cliff Stearns, learned that hitting delete is not as final as you think.

"We just had a hearing where we brought Google in and we talked to them about when a person deletes information from Google mail. What happens is it goes into the trash, but it still remains in the trash for about 60 days," Stearns explained.

And Stearns says Google should be more transparent. "With the Internet you can tailor much more clearly and precisely. It has its upside and the downside is a lot of the consumers don't know what's being collected and when it's collected and I think they should know."

In a 13-page letter to Congress at the end of January, Google said "We believe that the relevant issue is whether users have choices about how their data is collected and used. Google's privacy policy – like that of other companies – is a document that applies to all consumer using our products and services…We have built meaningful privacy controls into our products, and we are committed to continue offering those choices in the future."

Fox News Chief Intelligence Correspondent Catherine Herridge's bestselling book "The Next Wave: On the Hunt for al Qaeda's American Recruits" was published by Crown on June 21st. It draws on her reporting for Fox News into al-Awlaki and his new generation of recruits -- al Qaeda 2.0. It is the first book to full investigate al-Awlaki's American life, his connections to the hijackers, and how the cleric double crossed the FBI after Sept. 11.

Regards,

Brandon Bevis

Google shutting down picnik

Google just rained all over Picnik's picnic. The photo editing site got the ax on Friday and will shut down in April.

Picnik — which said via its site that its last day will be April 19 — will be moving to Google+ in the future. Google also announced that it is shutting down other services including Needlebase, Social Graph API, Urchin and Google Sky Map.

"As we head into 2012, we've been sticking to some old resolutions — the need to focus on building amazing products that millions of people love to use every day," Google said via its blog. "That means taking a hard look at products that replicate other features, haven't achieved the promise we had hoped for or can't be properly integrated into the overall Google experience."

Google said it will use Picnik staffers to "continue creating photo-editing magic across Google products."

In the post to its site, Picnik cast the move in a positive light.

"Since joining Google in 2010, we have been creating editing magic in Google products while continuing to keep Picnik awesome. But now we get to focus on even awesomer things," the post said.

Picnik also hinted that its photo editing features will be headed to Google+ and other Google products sooner than later.

The news comes just a few days after Flickr cut various features — including Picnik — from its site as part of a re-organization effort. Picnik's tools were integrated not only into Flickr, but also Picasa, Google's photo-sharing platform, as well as Facebook.

To smooth the transition to Google+, Picnik has added a feature called Picnik Takeout that downloads images to the desktop as zip files. Photos can also be copied to Google+, where they can then be stored and shared. Picnik also informed its premium members that they will be refunded as a result of the change. And until the site closes, all members can be granted access to its premium privileges for free.

Will you miss Picnik? What photo-editing services do you use? Let us know in the comments.

QR Code experiment by Google

Google has been testing more secure ways for users to access their Gmail accounts from public computers, and one experiment included QR codes.

The test is no longer available, but Google says there's more to come. A PCWorld writer was able to successfully access his Gmail account via both Android and iPhone (Google said it would also work with Windows Phone).

Google Local

Has anyone any comments on google local?
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Google+ opening up to mobile. Taking over Facebook someday?

Last Thursday, Google announced that Google+ will be available for Google Apps users. This means that the millions of people using Google Apps for their businesses will now have access to the Google+ social collaboration platform.

With Google+’s unique features for search, selective sharing and rich communication, it offers consumers a very different user experience than the established social networks. For individuals, Google+ has quickly become a great place to build your interest graph — that is, find the latest content and people related to topics you’re interested in.

SEE ALSO: Google+: The Complete Guide
With its seamless integration with Google Apps, Google+ promises a very different type of social enterprise experience. In fact, Google+ has five unique advantages over other social business platforms.

1. Smart Integration With Existing Google Apps
Google+ is fully integrated with Google Apps. As a user, you don’t need a new login — it’s just another tab like mail, calendar, docs or video. Most business users spend their day in mail or calendar, so a tool that’s easily accessible from the daily workflow has advantages over third-party software.

Thinking a bit ahead of where the product is, the possibilities that are opened up by the integration with Google Apps are pretty exciting. You can imagine “+1” buttons and rich collaboration across sites, docs, spreadsheets, presentations, blogs, videos, photos and more. Or imagine working within a doc and starting a hangout with collaborators while sharing your screen. For companies using Google Apps, taking advantage of these features would require no additional software, logins or changes in behavior.

2. Google+ Already Knows a Lot About You
Because of its tight integration with Google Apps, Google+ could take advantage of what it already knows about each business user, including whom they email, how often and how recently, as well as the topics they write about and search for. Google+ is in a position to help an enterprise user not only quickly build out his internal circles, but also discover those outside the company who are talking about the same topics or industry. If Google chooses to pursue this, it would make a great tool to help each user build out broad interest-based professional networks.

3. Google+ Is Uniquely Positioned to Help You Find and Share Interesting Content

Nobody has a better index of what’s on the web than Google. So nobody is better positioned to help you find interesting content and people from both inside and outside your company. Google+ Sparks let you follow the latest from the web on topics you’re interested in, and one can imagine something similar within your domain. Internal Sparks could let you quickly find content and experts within your company on work-related topics you’re most interested in.

4. Google+ Integrates Public and Private Sharing
Unlike other social enterprise platforms, which keep most shared content behind company walls, Google+ integrates public and private sharing. When I’m using Google+, I can decide for each post whether I want to share it with my colleagues, my clients, or certain subsets of either category. Also, because a number of websites have already embedded +1 buttons, it’s easy to “like” content from across the web and share it with targeted groups.

5. Android Phones Sync Easily With the Entire Apps Suite
Finally, an Android mobile phone brings this complete integration to users on the go. Activating Android handsets with your company’s Google Apps account brings all this productive and social functionality to the palm of your employees’ hands. And the wide variety of devices and carriers means greater flexibility.

How to print to any printer from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC

I was just playing around today looking how to print to a printer that wasn't networked yet and try to print remotely and found this that I though I'd share. You can print anything, from any device, to any cloud-connected printer.

When you print through Google Cloud Print, your file is securely sent to your printer over the web. Because it’s the web, Google Cloud Print works whether you’re in the same room as your printer, or on another continent. It also doesn’t matter whether you’re on a phone, a traditional desktop, or anything in between (like a tablet).

As we’ve moved towards ever more powerful cloud-based applications and web-connected mobile devices, we’ve come to expect the same capabilities from them that we’ve taken for granted on our PCs. For many, printing is near the top of that list.

With Cloud Ready printers, the Google Cloud Print experience is ready right out of the box. Cloud Ready printers register themselves directly with the Google Cloud Print service over your home or office’s wireless network, so they’re always available. And because they’re always connected to the web, they can keep their drivers and firmware up to date without requiring your intervention. Google Cloud Print also works with conventional non-cloud printers, so you can get started today with any printer you already own.

Safe

Google Cloud Print takes the security of your files very seriously. Documents are transferred over a secure HTTPS web connection. After a job is completed, the associated document is deleted from our servers. In addition, you can delete jobs and their history at any time through the Google Cloud Print management page

For Friends Too

Google Cloud Print allows you to share printers with friends, family, or coworkers as easily as you would share a Google Doc file - perfect for visiting guests looking to print a flight boarding pass. From the Google Cloud Print management page, it only takes a single click to share printers that you own with trusted individuals. You can also track print jobs on your shared printers, and modify or revoke sharing rights at any time. To learn more about sharing printers, see here.

Chromebook Ready

Google Cloud Print is the standard printing technology used by ChromeOS on Chromebooks. Your Chromebook and the web live hand in hand and, for that reason, it didn’t feel right tying you down with local printer software. If you own a Chromebook, you can print any web page directly by hitting Ctrl + P, or you can print from within your web apps by looking for the “Print with Google Cloud Print” button - just make sure you’ve set up a printer first.

Check it out here!

Enterprise Ready

Google Cloud Print is used internally by Google on over a thousand printers. It can scale to meet your organization’s needs, and can either complement or replace your existing printing infrastructure. Google Cloud Print makes life easier for both system administrators and users.

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