Places and Things

Google Lens can now copy and paste handwritten notes to your computer Google has added a very useful feature to Google Lens, its multipurpose object recognition tool. You can now copy and paste handwritten notes from your phone to your computer with Lens, though it only works if your handwriting is neat enough. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/7/21250556/google-lens-copy-paste-handwritten-notes-computer-phone-ios-android

Google Meet starts rolling out in Gmail, continuing Google’s quest to unseat Zoom Google has wasted no time integrating its Meet videoconferencing into Gmail, with some users already seeing a link to launch Meet in the left sidebar of the Gmail interface. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21246277/google-meet-gmail-zoom-hangouts

Epic gives in to Google and releases Fortnite on the Play Store Epic Games has released its battle royale hit Fortnite through the official Play Store on Android, 18 months after releasing the game as third-party software downloadable outside Google’s official mobile app marketplace. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/21/21229943/epic-games-fortnite-google-play-store-available-third-party-software

Leaked pics reveal Google smart debit card to rival Apple’s Would you pay with a “Google Card?” TechCrunch has attained imagery that shows Google is developing its own physical and virtual debit cards. The Google card and associated checking account will allow users to buy things with a card, mobile phone or online. Continue Reading . . . https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/17/google-card/

Google expands AI calling service Duplex to Australia, Canada, and the UK Google’s automated, artificial intelligence-powered calling service Duplex is now available in more countries, according to a support page updated today. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/8/21214321/google-duplex-ai-automated-calling-australia-canada-uk-expansion

Your private WhatsApp group might not be as private as you'd like. DW journalist Jordan Wildon has noticed that Google is indexing at least some WhatsApp group invitations in its search, making it possible to slip into groups that owners might not want to be public. from https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/21/google-indexes-whatsapp-group-invitations/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D5300%252C3533%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2020-01%252F8ebfc220-435e-11ea-97db-aa86be07c60a%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D88b1bd1848d090c556112467198f6c55b81a3b12&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=fb75c438f9fb25ef6917cb0de025c45e80604418

An artificial intelligence tool Google provides to developers won’t add gender labels to images anymore, saying a person’s gender can’t be determined just by how they look in a photo, Business Insider reports. from https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/20/21145356/google-ai-images-gender-bias-labels-people https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66344284/acastro_191014_1777_google_pixel_0001.0.0.jpg

Google's Titan security keys are now available in more regions. The company started selling them in the US a month after they were launched, and while it eventually rolled them out to more countries, their availability remained limited. from https://feedly.com/i/entry/4i+1vhCwmRRLfmB7ypTnMh+ZKSvsz6Rgf0lfR0WWb0w=_1705d72c8c8:de3a02c:31d4c877 https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2020-02%2Fc231bd50-52fb-11ea-bfdd-52ab41bf0fbf&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=55c815f5efe0d4c7ec0a973afcf945f641bb4717

Being the biggest Android OEM, Samsung and Google are generally close partners. Google’s Project Zero, though, is tasked with finding bugs and security exploits. from https://9to5google.com/2020/02/14/google-samsung-android-kernel-changes-security/ http://img.youtube.com/vi/w2_YSujD5ew/0.jpg

Wacom tablets have been collecting data on what apps users open, and it’s not entirely clear what Wacom is doing with the data. Software engineer Robert Heaton writes in a detailed blog post that he discovered the behavior after setting up his tablet on his new laptop. from https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21126245/wacom-tablet-app-tracking-google-analytics https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66262346/wacom-mobile-stuido-16-gallery-g1.0.0.1476103990.0.jpg

Google Maps announced on Thursday a major redesign for the app on Android and iPhone that will begin rolling out now. In March, users will get new upgrades for public transit and augmented reality. from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/google-maps-for-iphone-and-android-update-whats-new.html http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

After a four-year investigation, France's competition watchdog is fining Google €150 million ($167 million) for opaque and unpredictable advertising rules, Reuters reports. The investigation began after French company Gibmedia accused Google of suspending its Google Ads account without notice. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/20/france-fines-google-167-million/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4059%252C2540%252C0%252C165%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1002%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-12%252F04891ef0-14db-11ea-9f63-53da383cfc16%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D5fc0c055168c5ae41e5acccb00671adc60b30c0f&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=f39f4eadf5350a79ec84ce238d9d4918998dcab4

At long last, you can get next-gen text messaging on your Android phone in the US without vendor-specific support or resorting to unofficial tricks. Google is rolling out Rich Communication Services (RCS) support to Android Messages users across the US. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/11/14/google-rolls-out-rcs-to-android-in-us/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C1067%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-11%252F20d0f450-0704-11ea-af77-e3448624956d%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D0a711a9165510781661f5997395694fec031e048&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=9f779c0b3772b2f80df30105a93b14b8e7c6f42e

Google Maps is incredibly useful when you’re navigating a country you’ve never been to before. (I couldn’t have survived a recent trip to Japan without it. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/13/20961977/google-maps-translate-ios-android-directions-language https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65692071/akrales_190515_3424_0002.0.jpg

By now, you’ve heard: the new Google Pixel 4 has a tiny radar chip inside it, which allows you to swipe or wave your hand to do a few things. More importantly, Motion Sense (as Google has branded it) is designed to detect your presence. It knows if you’re there. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/15/20908083/google-pixel-4-project-soli-radar-motion-sense-explainer https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19287838/Google_Soli_0253.jpg

It's been yet another Pixel phone launch preceded by a ton of leaks, but we're still glad to see the official unveiling of Google's latest flagship. This 5.7-inch device may only have two rear cameras, but the software's been refined even further to include better Night Sight and HDR+. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/15/pixel-4-vs-the-competition/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2019-10%2Fae1f28c0-ef5f-11e9-87fd-a532556a4427&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=c9fb554b2d73d609a2a52ab2b5212070a5166ec1

Google is making it much easier to look for specific images with text through its Photos app. Over the years, the tech giant released various object recognition features powered by Google Lens for its backup application, so it doesn't end up a photo dump where you can't find anything anymore. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/23/google-photos-search-text-in-images/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4288%252C2677%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C999%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-03%252F69068610-4a38-11e9-bd8a-db51c53b9306%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Db4e79191dd14554aa530aa537ff651d6c6b13710&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=3b5a200109a4921ead1fa008a34bb789680518c4

When you explicitly tell an Android app, “No, you don’t have permission to track my phone,” you probably expect that it won’t have abilities that let it do that. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/8/20686514/android-covert-channel-permissions-data-collection-imei-ssid-location https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64690192/acastro_180507_1777_android_privacy_0002.0.jpg

With help from the Google Assistant, you can customize your entertainment at home with just your voice: ask the Assistant to play your favorite part of a song, pause the game on your Chromecast-enabled TV to grab some snacks or dim the lights before the movie starts. from https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/05/21/google-assistant-rolls-out-to-several-bose-speakers-and-soundbars/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

It’s called Stadia. Time, Time Go ahead – name some big companies offering cellular service. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint probably came to mind. Now you can add Google to that list. from https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2019/04/11/google-fi-cellular-service-pros-and-cons/3415577002/ https://www.gannett-cdn.com/uxstatic/usatoday/usat-web-static-5005.13.0/images/sprites/icon_close.png