Google Cloud's prices Discount

Google Cloud goes after Amazon by slashing prices, adding new products:

Businesses looking for major storage often lean on Amazon and its cloud service platform, but Google doesn't want to be the second-string option anymore.

During its Cloud Platform conference held on Tuesday in San Francisco, the company announced price updates and new products to help customers get up and working in the cloud faster. And ultimately, earn some bigger marketshare in the cloud storage space.

Google also slashed the prices for its Cloud Platform that should make both large and small-scale business partners happy.

In addition to a 10% drop in pricing last month, here's a look at the latest cuts: BigQuery Storage falls almost 25%; PD Snapshots is down about 80%.

Meanwhile, Disk SSD storage is cut nearly in half; and the price of large Cloud SQL instances dropped 25%.?

The company announced a service called Google Container Engine that lets businesses move from managing application components running on individual virtual machines to portable Docker containers that are scheduled into a managed compute cluster for you. Google said users will be able to create and tie together container-based services to make it possible for companies to log, monitor and manage incoming data.

Another addition is App Engine with auto-scaling support, Cloud SDK integration and support for runtimes built on Docker containers. The company also introduced a network called Google Cloud Interconnect, which will serve as the foundation for apps and IT architectures and bring its fiber network to direct peering across 33 countries.

Other rollouts include carrier interconnect with partners like Verizon and VPN support, starting in early 2015. This will let users keep apps and data in-house and using the public cloud for other tasks.

Other additions include a cloud debugger, Firebase — a company recently acquired by Google which lets you build mobile and web real-time applications — and an autoscaler.

Read Also: Now Sync Microsoft Office with Drop Box Account

When Google launched its cloud platform back in 2008, Amazon was the only real competitor offering a similar service — it debuted its own platform two years prior.

Earlier this week, it was revealed the Ubuntu cloud images will be accessible via Google Cloud.

Google, cloud, Prices, down, Discount on Google cloud, Internet, Gadgets, Tech news.

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Get Gmail 5.0 for Android before it comes to Google Play

You can get Gmail 5.0 for Android before it comes to Google Play:

Gmail wants to be your one-stop shop for all your email accounts on Android. Gmail 5.0 adds support for Yahoo Mail, Outlook.com and corporate Exchange accounts. The new version also features Material design, Google's new software aesthetic.

Details about the update leaked a couple of weeks ago, and now the actual update appears to have leaked; Android Police posted links to download the .apk files. So far the update hasn't appeared in Google Play, and it's unclear if it'll come to iOS.

With Gmail 5.0, users will be able to set up and switch between other email accounts just like they would Gmail accounts, selecting the inbox they want to see by first swiping from the left, then tapping on the account.

The new Gmail is also one of the first to incorporate much of "Material" — Google's new design methodology for Android 5.0 "Lollipop", which the company first unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference. The app makes heavy use of Material's color palate, with liberal use of layers, and many of the design elements from Inbox, Google's new standalone app that aims to re-invent the email app.

Including non-Gmail accounts in the Gmail app represents a strategic shift for Google Including non-Gmail accounts in the Gmail app represents a strategic shift for Google. Apps that consolidate email accounts from multiple services — such as Mailbox, Boxer and Acompli — are myriad, but they've become more viable alternatives to the default email apps on smartphones now that mobile notifications and background refreshing of apps have become more sophisticated. With version 5.0, Gmail will now compete more directly with third-party apps.

Read Also: Top 5 Features of New Android 5.0 (lolliPop)

At the same time, Gmail's evolution mirrors that of the Chrome browser, and helps push a more Google-centered experience on Android. While Chrome still coexists with the "Internet" app on Android devices, Chrome has become the preferred browser on the platform; Gmail appears to be doing the same thing to Android's "Email."

Apps, Software, Gmail 5.0, Gmai Android App, Google Inbox, Mobile, Smart Phones, Tech News, Google, Yahoo, Outlook Update.

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Top 5 features coming with Android 5.0 (lollipop)

Top 5 features coming to your phone with Android Lollipop:

Google is set to unveil its biggest overhaul to the Android operating system yet – Android 5.0, also known as Android Lollipop.

The new operating system – designed for Android smartphones, tablets and Android smartwatches – features a sleek new design and many long-awaited features, including improved notification controls.

Here are some of the standout features you can expect from Lollipop:

New design, new appearance:

Lollipop is garnering a lot of attention for its appearance.

The OS has a new colour scheme, different typography, and boasts realistic lighting and shadows – which Google says will help people navigate their devices better.

Apple users may notice some similarities between Lollipop and iOS 8, the iPhone’s latest operating system. Windows and graphics appear much flatter than previous versions – much like Apple’s redesign – and transitions between apps will appear more animated.

Some apps will even change the background colour of the display depending on the time of day.

Better notifications:

One of the more useful changes to Lollipop is the way in which users can manage notifications.

The OS now allows users to respond or dismiss notifications directly from the lock screen and when running other apps. Users can also control what apps send them banner notifications and how much information is included in the preview.

To cut down on disruptions, Lollipop has “Priority Mode,” which only allows notifications from important people to come through – all other notifications are muted.

Users can schedule a daily “downtime” for their phone in Priority Mode where only important notifications will get through – which might come in handy for anyone whose notifications keeps them awake at night.

Improved battery:

Google is hoping to boost the battery power across all devices with special battery-saving settings in Lollipop.

Users are now able to monitor individual app’s battery consumption. The OS also includes a battery saving feature that Google claims will extend device use by up to 90 minutes.

Multiple user accounts:

While some Android tablets have previously supported more than one user profile on a device, Android-powered smartphones haven’t – until now.

Lollipop now allows users to set up multiple user profiles on smartphones and tablets. The feature also lets users access their messages and contacts by logging onto a friend’s Android smartphone.

There is also a guest profile option that users can set up, which will prevent friends from snooping through your phone if they want to play on it.

Google Fit:

With Lollipop comes Google’s new fitness hub, dubbed Google Fit.

Read Also: Play Hidden games on Android Lollipop

Google Fit – which is similar to Apple’s Health app – uses sensors built into the user’s smartphone to track daily activities like walking, running and biking. Users will be able to keep track of their fitness or weight loss achievements by setting daily goals – Google’s default goal is at least an hour of activity a day, but it can be customized to meet each user’s fitness level.

Android, Android 5.0, Android Lollipop, Android Wear, Apple, fitness, Google, Google Fit, iOS, iOS 8, Mobile Operating Systems, Nexus, Notifications, smartphones, tablets.

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Space Jump Record Broken by Google

Google Exec Breaks Space Jump Record:

A couple of years back, Felix Baumgartner successfully attempted to set the world record for the highest altitude free-fall jump. The world watched in awe as this skydiver from Austria jumped from a balloon at an altitude of 128,100 feet and successfully landed back here on earth.

As you know, world records seldom last long. Alan Eustace, a senior vice president at Google, recently broke Felix Baumgartner’s record, last Friday morning.

Eustace, broke Felix Baumgartner’s two-year-old world record for highest altitude free-fall jump when he parachuted from a balloon close the top of the stratosphere. In doing so he jumped from a height of nearly 26 miles and in the process he also broke the sound barrier! Not bad for a mornings work.

The New York Times had reported that 57-year-old Eustace, ascended to the edge of the stratosphere in a balloon that was filled with 35,000 cubic feet of helium, from an airport strip in Roswell, New Mexico. Eustace then used a small explosive device and hurtled towards our planet at speeds of up to 822 miles per hour. He landed safely on the ground, fifteen minutes later.

Eustace informed the Times “It was amazing…it was beautiful. You could see the darkness of space and you could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never seen before.”

Eustace reportedly reached a maximum height of 135,890 feet, beating Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner who set the previous record in October of 2012 with a parachute jump from a balloon at an altitude of 128,100 feet.

Read Also: Now Drones are used to study about Whales

Eustace informed the Times that he began planning the jump about three years ago, in secrecy, gathering all of the state-of-the-art technology and equipment that was necessary from a team of professionals.

Although Google offered to help out with the project, Eustace reportedly turned the company down for fear that the jump would become a marketing event.

Google, Space, Jump, Record, Broken, Gadgets, WTF, Tech News, Google Breaks Space Jump record.

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Google's Nexus 9: Just Like an iPad

You can taste the iPad influence in Google’s Nexus 9 tablet. Laying eyes on it for the first time, you’d be forgiven for thinking Apple made it. The slim bezel and the 4:3 aspect ratio screen are very iPad, but the display is slightly smaller — 8.9 inches to Apple’s 9.7.

Hands on with Google's Nexus 9: This Lollipop tastes like an iPad

At 15 ounces (425 grams), the Nexus 9 just as light as the iPad Air 2. The metallic rim adds the iPad feel, but I noted one important difference: It's easier to hold the Nexus 9 in one hand. I was able to grasp it more or less comfortably with my fingertips on one side and my thumb on the other, but I'm 6'4" (with what I suspect are normal-sized hands for that height) so your mileage may vary here.

Even the Nexus 9's pixel count is identical to the iPad’s at 2,048 x 1,536. Clearly, Google and HTC, which built the tablet, have stopped any pretense about differentiating and are going with what works.

We’ll save the discussion about the merits of imitation for another time, but there’s no question the Nexus 9 is a well-made tablet. Powered by the latest Android software — version 5.0 or “Lollipop” — the Nexus 9 is one of the first devices to pack a Tegra K1 processor. That brings 64-bit processing, which translates into faster performance overall while preserving battery life. Firing up a few apps and websites, I found the tablet to be plenty fast and very good a multitasking.

Read Also: Facebook's New Chat Room App

Lots of people use tablets to watch movies, and the Nexus 9 has something special in that department: Great stereo speakers. Dialing up the latest Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer on YouTube, I could hear the action even in a loud, crowded room.

My favorite feature of the Nexus 9 is how the camera works with the "origami" style case. The case attaches via magnets, but fold over the corner that covers the camera and the camera app automatically launches. People do take photos with tablets after all, and at least this can mean they won't look extra ridiculous with a tablet cover hanging from the bottom.

If there’s a tablet that will move the needle for Google it’s the Nexus 9. Smaller tablets are getting eaten alive by phablets, but Googles latest big-screen mode looks like a winner at first blush. Just don’t tell Apple.

Android, Tablets, Gadgets, Google, iPad, iPad Air2, Google Nexus 9, Tech.

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Google tumors with nanoparticles

LAGUNA BEACH, California — Not content with organizing all the world's information, Google is taking its first steps inside the human body.

Google is going after tumors with nano particles:

The company is researching nanoparticles that bind themselves to cancerous cells and other forms of disease, Google revealed on Tuesday at the WSJD Live conference here, adding that the research is part of the Google X program that investigates long-term, pie-in-the-sky technologies.

It isn't expected to be commercialized for many years. But Andrew Conrad, head of Google's Life Sciences division, revealed that experiments had already begun around designing and testing tiny intravenous machines taken in pill form.

The particles in question are so small, in fact, that 2,000 could fit inside a single blood cell. The particles in question are so small, in fact, that 2,000 could fit inside a single blood cell.

"Nanoparticles are the nexus between biology and engineering," Conrad said. "Because the core of these particles is magnetic, you'll be able to call them somewhere... just by putting a magnet on your wrist, you'll be able to trap them and ask them what they saw."

The tiny machines will be able to travel the body and scan for cancerous cells, like for the kind of plaque in arteries that leads to heart attacks or for too much sodium, Conrad said. He compared the nanoparticle approach to mingling with the residents of a new city, rather than taking a "helicopter tour."

The most at-risk patients will be the first beneficiaries of the technology, according to Google — hopefully within a decade. A company spokesperson pointed out that pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult kinds of the disease to detect, and can strike unknown even to those who visit the hospital for yearly CT scans. Only 3% of pancreatic cancers are detected in the crucial early stages. Only 3% of pancreatic cancers are detected in the crucial early stages.

Conrad, formerly the cofounder of the National Genetics Institute, repeatedly cautioned that many years of trials lay ahead before a viable technology. But he also wasn't shy about Google's long-term goal in the health space.

Read Also: Window Less Aeroplane (See the Air World Around)

"Ultimately, death is our foe," Conrad said, before chuckling at his own grandiose phrasing. "That should be on a T-shirt."

Google, Google X, Tech, Nano, Particles, Tumors.

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Google's New Inbox Invite Upgrade

Google Inbox Users Can Now Invite Others to Join:

If you're still waiting for an invite to Inbox, Google's new app that rethinks email, we have good news: Just bug your friends who already have it.

The service, which is still in beta, rolled out to limited users on Wednesday. Users who emailed inbox@google.com could request an invitation, but only Google employees had the ability to invite others. But now, that's changed.

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Android Smart Watches now have Offline Music Sync & GPS Support

Huge Android Wear Update Brings Offline Music Sync and GPS Support:

If we had to choose our biggest qualm about wearables today, apart from battery life, it would be the fact that most of them are nearly useless when away from your smartphone.

Now, in its first big update to Android Wear, Google addressed that issue, adding offline music syncing and GPS support.

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Making Phone Calls in Google Hangouts Easier

Google is expanding Hangouts' voice calling capabilities and integrating its

Google Voice service into Hangouts on the web, iOS and Android.

"Hangouts remains the future of Google Voice, so we’re going to keep bringing the most-loved Google Voice features into the core Hangouts experience,"

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Google Plans to Separate Photos From Google+

Google will soon be cleansing Google+ from another service, according to a new report.

Bloomberg reports the company is planning to make Google+ Photos a standalone service, which would mean a Google user wouldn't need a Google+ account to save and share photos with Google. Photos would also presumably have their own app and portal separate from Google+.

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Google will shut down Orkut in September

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Google Now is Now Available On Your Desktop

If you’ve used Google Now at all, you probably either love it or hate it. I probably line up in more of the former category myself. While I wasn’t all that sure about it at first, it quickly grew on me based on the way it adapted itself to what I wanted and/or needed to know. And now, the popular iOS and Android mobile assistant is moving to a desktop computer near you within the next few days/weeks. Don’t worry, it’ll still reside within your smartphone as well, which is where most of us will continue to mostly use it.

Google has apparently been working on their desktop version of Google Now for the last few months, and they now feel confident enough to start getting it out to the masses.

Google Now is Now Available On Your Desktop

Your Own Personal Desktop Assistant

If you’d like to take advantage of the desktop version of Google Now, all you have to do is open up Google Chrome and log into the same account that you already use with your smartphone or tablet and you’ll be all set. You’ll begin getting notifications on a sidebar.

If you’ve never experimented with Google Now, I’d encourage you to give it a try. It uses your location and search history to tell you things it thinks you need to know. And while I admit that sounds like it can get a lot of things wrong, in my experience it actually got a lot of things right. For instance: when I added times and locations to events in my calendar, it would send me a notification, based on the current traffic, telling me that it was time for me to leave.

Also awesome is this: if I routinely checked on the scores for a certain sports team, it would automatically list future games and scores of that team as their season went on. (You can also set up your favorite teams, etc. and it will keep track of them automatically).

While Google announced that Now was available to desktop users beginning on 3/24/14, they did say it could take a few weeks before everyone has access to it.

Will you be using it? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Image via gigaom]

SOURCE: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/androids-google-now-comes-to-chrome-desktop-versions-80676476993.html

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Google Makes Deal to Bring Glass to Ray-Ban

By now nearly everyone who is into technology in some way has heard of Google Glass. The general public on the other hand are still somewhat befuddled by the whole idea of wearable technology. But the latest move by Google may be the sign that things are starting to change, as Google has formed a new partnership with Luxottica, the manufacturing company behind high-end brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley. Could this mean that Google Glass is coming close to a consumer release date?

The Luxottica Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and sales of premium, luxury and sports eyewear and Google Inc. have announced this week that they have agreed they will join forces to design, develop and distribute new types of eyewear for Glass. The deal for Glass ushers in a new market of smart eyewear for the more stylish of consumers. This deal will join high-tech developers with fashion designers and eyewear professionals. In particular, the two firms will set up a team of experts, which are devoted to working on the design, and development of Glass products that overlap highly fashionable eyewear and innovative technology.

Google Makes Deal to Bring Glass to Ray-Ban

Luxottica said the two major proprietary brands of the Group, Oakley and Ray-Ban would be a part of the collaboration with Glass. Andrea Guerra, Chief Executive Officer of Luxottica Group, said “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Google, and are proud to be once again setting the pace in the eyewear industry, as we have been, with more than 50 years of excellence.”

Google Vice President, Astro Teller said, “We live in a world where technological innovation has dramatically changed the way in which we communicate and interact in everything that we do. More importantly, we have come to a point where we now have both a technology push and a consumer pull for wearable technology products and applications. Seeing such a future, over the last years, Luxottica invested heavily in building-out our technology platforms and digital solutions to combine with our products excellence. We believe that a strategic partnership with a leading player like Google is the ideal platform for developing a new way forward in our industry and answering the evolving needs of consumers on a global scale. We believe it is high time to combine the unique expertise, deep knowledge and quality of our Group with the cutting edge technology expertise of Google and give birth to a new generation of revolutionary devices…Luxottica has built an impressive history over the last 50 years designing, manufacturing and distributing some of the most successful and well-known brands in eyewear today…We are thrilled to be partnering with them as we look to push Glass and the broader industry forward into the emerging smart eyewear market.”  The forward thinking and stylishness of this new generation of products will be a dramatic step forward in a relatively new and developing category of consumer goods.

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

[Image via designtaxi]
SOURCE: http://www.talkandroid.com/201006-google-strikes-deal-with-luxottica-to-bring-glass-to-ray-ban-oakley-and-more/

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Google Beefs Up Gmail Security

Do you regularly use a Gmail account? So do I. And for the most part I’ve been really happy with the Google service. I think it’s intuitive and I can’t complain that it doesn’t do what I need it to when I need it to. And with recent reports that Google is doing all they can to keep the information contained in your emails secure from prying eyes, what’s not to like about it?

In case you haven’t heard yet, Google recently published a blog post stating that they were increasing the security features on every email sent or read from a Gmail account. Why now? Because of Edward Snowden and his NSA revelations, of course. Who wants people reading their emails without permission?

Google Beefs Up Gmail Security

What’s Going To Be Different About It?

Here’s a direct quote from Google’s official blog explaining the change(s):

“Starting today, (3/20/14) Gmail will always use an encrypted HTTPS connection when you check or send email. Gmail hassupported HTTPS since the day it launched, and in 2010 we made HTTPS the default. Today’s change means that no one can listen in on your messages as they go back and forth between you and Gmail’s servers—no matter if you’re using public WiFi or logging in from your computer, phone or tablet.

In addition, every single email message you send or receive—100 percent of them—is encrypted while moving internally. This ensures that your messages are safe not only when they move between you and Gmail’s servers, but also as they move between Google’s data centers—something we made a top priority after last summer’s revelations.”

“Last summer’s revelations” obviously refer back to Snowden and the media leaks regarding NSA spying. Hopefully this will be a big enough change to keep prying eyes away from private emails. I for one am completely on board with this policy. What do you think? Do you think Google should’ve reacted much sooner? If nothing else, I guess we can all rest a little easier knowing Gmail is taking extra steps to protect our privacy. Hopefully others will follow suit.

[Image via veooz]

SOURCE: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/20/gmail-https-nsa-snooping/

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Project Tango To Go To ISS

One of the new projects by Google is the prototype smartphone that is crammed with sensors, which enable it to sense and then learn the world around it. Project Tango will undoubtedly be used in many different ways, but the guys over at NASA are going to get their hands on the prototype sooner than others as the prototype is heading up to the International Space Station.

Project Tango To Go To ISS

The upcoming Orbital 2 mission that will take supplies to the ISS, is scheduled to launch in May and when it leaves earth it will be taking with it two of the Tango phones.

The phones will be used as part of a robot development project currently undertaken by NASA.  The project is developing robots, which hopefully will be able to fly around the inside or outside of the ISS, or even be used in NASA’s planned mission to land on an asteroid.

NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley is the place where the current robot research work is taking place. NASA has allowed a small group of reporters to visit the lab recently and view some of the work.

Project Tango, which is currently only being supplied to a limited number of developers was unveiled by Google approximately one month ago. The phone can build up a 3D model of its surroundings by using several cameras and infrared range-finding technology.

Google has somewhat already showcased the capabilities of the project; they can build a detailed map of the interior of an office/home.  NASA wants to take the capabilities a great deal further though. At the Ames Research Centre scientists have attached a Tango handset to a robot development platform called a ‘Smart Sphere.’ Each Sphere (an 18-sided polyhedron) is approximately the size of a soccer ball and it is also self-powered. The ‘Sphere’ is able to fly around the inside of the ISS because it uses carbon dioxide-powered thrusters.

The Smart Spheres have been successfully used in developing autonomous equipment already. NASA has conducted a Smart Sphere test with a Nexus S smartphone as part of a Shuttle mission (STS-135) back in 2011.  NASA wants to use the Tango phones as they promise more capabilities. There are currently three Spheres units on the ISS.

Andres Martinez, Spheres Manager at NASA said,  “We are researching how effective Project Tango’s vision-based navigation capabilities are for performing localization and navigation of a mobile free flyer on ISS…Specifically, we are researching how well the 3-D modelling and visual odometry can be used to let the [Spheres] free flyer learn its environment and manoeuvre through it based on what it sees…This is in contrast to the current Spheres localization system, which relies on fixed sensors in the environment to help the Spheres track its position.” said Martinez.

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

[Image via dvice]

SOURCE: http://www.itworld.com/410797/googles-project-tango-headed-international-space-station

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Students Sue Google Over Email Snooping

A group of Californian students have chosen to take a stand against Google’s email surveillance, claiming that it is a violation of federal and state privacy laws.

The group are actually suing Google and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is in the process of hearing the complaint made by the nine students.

Students Sue Google Over Email Snooping

Currently Google’s Gmail is a component of Apps for Education, which a suite of free, web-based education tools made available worldwide but is mainly used by students under 18. A Google representative has explained how the company scans and indexes emails from all Apps for Education users for advertising purposes.

In seeking class-action certification, the students could potentially be part of a case that leads to a pay-out to millions of Gmail users.

There has been a lot of controversy over Google’s Gmail surveillance. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) highlights that even if Gmail users agree to the terms of use, non-subscribers who email them haven’t and therefore have not consented to have their communications analyzed. “Non-subscribers have not consented and indeed may not even be aware that their communications are being analyzed or that a profile may be compiled of him or her,” states an FAQ on EPIC on the subject.

We will keep you informed of any developments surrounding this case.

[Image via elisa-dbi]

SOURCE: http://mashable.com/2014/03/19/students-sue-google-gmail/

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Ivanpah Solar Power Station ‘Blinding’ Pilots

According to a report filed recently with the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), the glare from a major solar power plant in the US has been blinding some pilots that have been flying over the area.

As Quartz reports, the problem is coming from the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System.  It is situated on the border between California and Nevada. The solar plant is the largest on the planet.   The affected pilots have been complaining that the light that reflects off of the solar panels and on to 500-foot towers, poses a significant safety risk, although it allegedly has taken months for those reports to get to the appropriate authorities.

Ivanpah Solar Power Station ‘Blinding’ Pilots

One pilot claimed in the report, “From the pilot’s seat of my aircraft the brightness was like looking into the sun.” He described the reflection as “a hazard to flight because for a brief time I could not scan the sky in that direction to look for other aircraft.” An air traffic controller has added that other pilots have also filed similar complaints.  One such complaint described the glare as “nearly blinding.”

These complaints against the solar array were first filed back in August 2013, but it has taken approximately six months for them to be read by California Energy Commission. The CEC is the regulatory body that are charged with overseeing Ivanpah.

New Jersey-based energy firm NRG Energy is one of the main investors in Ivanpah, along with Google.  NRG are the plant operators and they have said the company is looking into the matter, although it did note that the complaints were filed at the time when Ivanpah’s heliostats were still in the testing phase and before the solar facility became fully operational.

NRG Energy spokesman Jeff Holland told Quartz, “What I can tell you right now is that we take these concerns seriously…We will respond to and address these reports in the coming days in accordance with conditions of our permits.”

If you have any sensible comments regarding this story, please leave your comments in the section below.

[Image via greenzone]

SOURCE: http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/19/5525074/pilots-say-theyre-blinded-by-glare-from-ivanpah-solar-power-plant

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Google Helps Capture Man On Most Wanted List

I don’t know if you’ve ever Googled yourself or not, but if you haven’t, it can be quite an adventure; just be prepared to face any unforeseen consequences if and when you do so. In today’s world, you never can tell what you’ll find when you type your own name into the Google search engine. For example, my name brings up everyone except for me – apparently there’s a pretty good rower out there who shares my name. I know it’s not me because I’ve only been in a boat a handful of times throughout my life. Oh, there’s also some football players with the same name around the world.

Like I said – you never know what exactly you’ll find when you Google yourself. One man in particular, Christopher Viatafa, who hails from San Leandro in California, recently decided to type his name into Google. What he found most likely gave him quite a shock as it showed that he was near the top of the most wanted criminals list for his county. But what he did next might be even more surprising.

Google Helps Capture Man On Most Wanted List

What Would You Do?

After he saw his name on the wanted list, he decided to head to the police station where he turned himself in. It’s unclear if he even knew he had committed a crime prior to this time, as the charges related to some kind of a gunplay incident from the previous August. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, but he apparently shot a gun toward a building with people inside.

In this day and age, I’m inclined to give Viatafa a slight pat on the back for being responsible and turning himself into the police when he could’ve just as easily decided to go into hiding. Who knew Google would eventually help the police catch criminals?

[Image via abcnews]

SOURCE: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57620389-71/man-googles-himself-discovers-hes-on-the-most-wanted-list/

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Google’s Chromecast Launches in 11 Countries This Week

Only last week Google’s Sundar Pichai gave the first indications of just when the tech giant’s Chromecast streaming device would be available outside the United States.  Google originally launched the Chromecast HDMI streaming dongle along with the second generation Google Nexus 7 in July of 2013.

The wait for the rest of us over the pond is finally over as this week saw Google opening up sales of the Chromecast device to eleven new countries.  News had already been made available that the Chromecast has gone on sale in the UK on March 19.  As of today Chromecast is available in an additional 10 countries apart from the UK: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.  The official statement on the Chrome blog explains that Chromecast will be made available in the Google Play Store for all of the aforementioned countries. Retailers that are stocking the streaming dongle include: Amazon, Currys, Elkjøp, FNAC, Media Markt, PC World and Saturn.

Google’s Chromecast Launches in 11 Countries This Week

Chromecast SDK

In March of this year Google launched the Google Cast Software Development Kit (SDK) for developers.  This SDK allowed them to design and construct support for Chromecast into their apps on the Android OS, iOS and the Chrome operating system.  In addition to the existing Chromecast capable apps, Google has said that since the SDK was launched, over 3000 developers worldwide have signed up to Chromecast for their content. For the 11 new countries, this means that UK users will be able to cast BBC iPlayer to their TV.

The Chromecast device allows users to wirelessly display media content from Android smartphones and tablets, iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads and laptops or desktop PCs and Chromebooks that are running Google’s Chrome OS.  The current list of supported apps is limited but includes huge apps like YouTube and Netflix, but with the release of the SDK for Android, iOS and Chrome we will see that list of apps grow quickly going forward.

The item is now available on Currys’ website for the bargain of £30!

If you have any sensible comments regarding this story, please leave your comments in the section below.

[Image via readwrite]

SOURCE: http://www.androidauthority.com/chromecast-11-countries-359112/

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Google Announces Android Wear

Google Announces Android Wear

Google has finally itself entered the booming wearable technology market with a bang by announcing the Android Wear, the platform’s extension to wearables.

The first devices running on this platform, as you would expect, will be smartwatches, announced by Motorola and LG.

The version of the OS which is specifically made for wearables isn’t too similar to the mobile OS, but mainly provides you with all the updates you want wherever you go on your wrist.

The main features of the watch will be as follows:

Providing useful information just when needed: The watch will provide you with all the latest news and updates. While going to your work or in the morning, it will notify you with the weather, the reminders you have, the routes you’ll take and your updates.
Integration with Google Now: Android Wear circulates around Google Now. This is how you’ll respond to your notifications and do your input. The watches will also be able to answer your general knowledge questions with a simple search of the web. The watch can also tell you scores, send texts, call people and set alarms using this function.
Better fitness tracking: The latest breed of smartwatches revolve a lot around this feature and the Android Wear ones will be no exception. With them, you’ll be able to get your real-time speed, fitness summaries, your daily planning and distance/time data right on your wrist.
A second screen to other devices: Obviously, the watches will be able to tightly integrate with your phone or other devices. They’ll be able to cast stuff to your TV or control the music player on your phone.
For developers, Google has already released the Developer Preview so they can tailor their existing apps to the Android Wear devices. Partners such as Asus, HTC, LG & Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Qualcomm and MediaTek; and fashion brands such as the Fossil Group will be working to bring wearables to the market by the end of the year.

Initial watches on Android Wear by Motorola and LG

The first breed of smartwatches running on Android Wear have already been announced.

Motorola’s watch, the Moto 360, is distinct in that unlike competing products which are squarish, it is round like any ordinary watch. (Not that square faces aren’t ordinary but still.) The watch is made of premium quality materials, with the goal to bring you your latest notifications to you in an instant. It is also tightly integrated with Google Now.

LG’s G Watch is a bit lesser captivating in that it has the usual square design. It will come with a 1.65? 280 x 280 display, with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB memory. Not much else is known of these smartwatches but we’re expecting to get more soon.

[images via Propakistani]

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