#Technology |
- Google wins appeal in book-scanning copyright lawsuit
- Samsung announces two new colors for Galaxy Note 5, including ‘pink gold’
- Calendar illustrations now in 30 languages as Google introduces 12+ new designs
- 9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Watch Urbane (new) $215, AT&T Moto E (2015) $60, more
- Elon Musk says that the LIDAR Google uses in its self-driving car ‘doesn’t make sense in a car context’
- BlackBerry shows off its PRIV Android slider phone on YouTube [Video]
- Chrome 46 comes to stable channel, removes ‘OK Google’ hotword search on desktop
- Hacked Android Marshmallow build available for Nexus 7 (2012), here’s how to install it
- Report: Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 likely to feature USB Type-C
- BlackBerry PRIV pre-orders go live in the UK, delivery by November 6
- OnePlus X listed at Chinese retailer with $249 price-tag, 5-inch FHD display, 3GB RAM, more
- OnePlus 2 reservation list will close on October 22
Google wins appeal in book-scanning copyright lawsuit Posted: 16 Oct 2015 08:32 PM PDT
Google has won an appeal in what is now a decade-long legal dispute over whether the company violated copyright law when it scanned millions of books into its online database. The original lawsuit was brought against Google by the Authors Guild in 2005 and claimed that Google had violated copyright law by allowing readers to view up to 20 pages of copyrighted books without purchasing them. Google won the case two years ago, but the Authors Guild opted to appeal the ruling, which led to today’s decision upholding Google’s win. A panel of three judges unanimously agreed today that Google had not violated any copyright by allowing the text of the scanned books to be searched by users because the sections that were viewable to users without a purchase were not significant enough to amount to infringement. You can read the full opinion at the Wall Street Journal. The case is not to be confused with the very similar case involving the Association of American Publishers, which ended when the group came to an agreement with Google almost three years ago to the day. Filed under: Google Corporate Tagged: authors guild, Google Books, lawsuit         Check out 9to5Google for more breaking coverage of Google Corporate, lawsuit, and Google Books. What do you think? Discuss "Google wins appeal in book-scanning copyright lawsuit" with our community. |
Samsung announces two new colors for Galaxy Note 5, including ‘pink gold’ Posted: 16 Oct 2015 08:04 PM PDT
Samsung has announced two new colors for the Galaxy Note 5, both of which will be available only in Korea for the time being. Along with a titanium-hued finish, customers will be able to get the Note 5 in a “pink gold” shade reminiscent of Apple’s ‘rose gold’ iPhone 6s, which will go on sale in Korea later this month. The pink gold model will go on sale on October 23rd, the same day Apple’s phone is set to debut in the country. The titanium model doesn’t have a solid date set yet, with reports simply indicating that it will be out “soon.” Last year Samsung introduced a pink version of the Note 4, so the move isn’t totally unprecedented, though the timing certainly makes it seem like this is a response to Apple’s rollout. The titanium model will come in two capacities, 32 GB and 64 GB, while pink gold will only be available in the larger size. Samsung says it has plans to roll these colors out to additional Asian markets, but whether they’ll ever see release in the United States is still unknown. Filed under: Android Tagged: Note 5, Samsung         For more information about Android, Samsung, and Note 5 continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "Samsung announces two new colors for Galaxy Note 5, including ‘pink gold’" with our community. |
Calendar illustrations now in 30 languages as Google introduces 12+ new designs Posted: 16 Oct 2015 03:07 PM PDT
Google has today announced that its Google Calendar illustrations, which show up as little piece of art reflecting the events that you create, now appear is as many as 30 languages. Additionally, Google says that is adding over a dozen more of these illustrations for new kinds of events, specifically naming weddings and Halloween parties as a couple of them…
Finally, Google is inviting you to send off some images that could be inspiration for the next round of Google Calendar illustrations. All you have to do is head over to the social network of your choice and tweet a photo of you doing something less mundane than watching YouTube or browsing Reddit, and attach the hashtag #makethemost. You can grab Google Calendar on the Play Store for free. Filed under: Android, Apps and Updates Tagged: Android, app, Google, Google Calendar, update         For more information about Android, Google, and Android continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "Calendar illustrations now in 30 languages as Google introduces 12+ new designs" with our community. |
9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Watch Urbane (new) $215, AT&T Moto E (2015) $60, more Posted: 16 Oct 2015 01:18 PM PDT
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. Today’s can't miss deals:
First-gen LG Watch Urbane smartwatch: $215 shipped (Reg. $280) | eBay
AT&T Prepaid Moto E 4G w/ 8 GB flash: $60 shipped (Reg. $75) | Fry's
Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $430 shipped (Reg. $600+) | eBay
USB Power Deals: Anker 15,600mAh Dual USB 4.8A $22 (Reg. $31), 11,000mAh Car Jump Starter $40, more
Free MP3 Downloads: Greatest Hits from TLC, Muddy Waters, more plus Shakira Deluxe Edition
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 32 GB LTE GSM (unlocked): $570 shipped (Reg. $740) | eBay
Quick Review: Ultimate Ears' MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker is the real deal, on sale for $258 (Reg. $300)More new gear from today: |
Posted: 16 Oct 2015 12:52 PM PDT
Tesla CEO Elon Musk held a press conference a couple of days ago to explain the Autopilot features included in the company’s 7.0 software update, but LIDAR, one of the remote sensing technologies that Google uses in its self-driving car, also came up briefly. Elon Musk had some bold comments about to use of LIDAR in autonomous vehicles, in response to one inquiry from a WSJ reporter, which questioned whether the Model S would need more sensors for greater levels autonomy… The Google prototype’s self-driving abilities are powered mainly by a LIDAR array on top of the vehicle, which — in simple terms — measures distance by pointing lasers at targets surrounding the car and analyzing the light that’s reflected. When questioned on whether future Tesla cars would need more sensors, potentially including LIDAR, Musk suggests that this technology “doesn’t make sense” and is “unnecessary” in the context of an autonomous car. He doesn’t outright say that Google’s implementation is bad, but rather suggests that LIDAR isn’t something that a future Tesla would need. “I don't think you need LIDAR. I think you can do this all with passive optical and then with maybe one forward RADAR,” he said. “I think that completely solves it without the use of LIDAR. I'm not a big fan of LIDAR, I don't think it makes sense in this context.” Harsh words for someone that has sleepovers with Larry Page on occasion. Here’s Musk’s full response, when asked if it would be possible to move toward greater levels of autonomy in the Tesla Model S without adding hardware:
So clearly, while he doesn’t think LIDAR is the answer, a future Tesla is going to need more than just a software upgrade to get full autonomy. A future Tesla car would need 360 degree cameras, according to Musk, as well as redundant forward cameras, redundant computer systems, and a redundant motor to act as a failsafe. As Musk has noted many times in the past, full autonomy will require the approval of many regulatory bodies, and the technology is just about three years away. Listen below: Filed under: Self-Driving Car Tagged: car, electrek, Elon Musk, Google, Lidar, musk, self-driving, Tesla         Visit 9to5Google to find more special coverage of Google, Self-Driving Car, and car. What do you think? Discuss "Elon Musk says that the LIDAR Google uses in its self-driving car ‘doesn’t make sense in a car context’" with our community. |
BlackBerry shows off its PRIV Android slider phone on YouTube [Video] Posted: 16 Oct 2015 11:08 AM PDT
BlackBerry already made the PRIV official last month, and then followed up with some of the first official images of the device posted to its blog. Not much of what the company has said up to this point though has been new, though. Even the official images it published a couple weeks ago were pretty much the same as the ones we saw four months ago. And this new video follows in the same vein as that theme. We’ve already seen an in-depth hands-on video with the phone, we’ve seen its specs leaked what feels like a dozen times, pre-registration for the phone opened up a couple of days ago, and just earlier today pre-orders for the phone went live in the UK. I guess it’s just a pretty marketing clip… Here it is: While the phone went up for pre-orders in the UK this morning, we still don’t have word on when you’ll be able to snag one in the US. For those lucky enough to live on the other side of the pond, though, Carphone Warehouse will sell it to customers on contract or as an upgrade. Pricing sits at £49 per month for those wanting to pay nothing up front. Carphone Warehouse lists the smartphone's specifications as follows:
Filed under: Android Tagged: BlackBerry, launch, marketing, priv, Smartphone, UK, Video, YouTube         For more news on Android, YouTube, and Smartphone continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "BlackBerry shows off its PRIV Android slider phone on YouTube [Video]" with our community. |
Chrome 46 comes to stable channel, removes ‘OK Google’ hotword search on desktop Posted: 16 Oct 2015 08:31 AM PDT
Google earlier this week pushed the Chrome Android app to version 46, and now the browser’s desktop clients and Chrome OS are seeing the update as well. While Google has yet to publish and official list of changes for the Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux version (although we have noticed the removal of one major user-facing feature), we do have a quick look at the changes that version 46 is bringing to Chrome OS… First, it seems that Google has removed the ability to search via the “OK Google” hotword in version 46 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Like many other features (the notification center being a recent example) that have seen removal across Chrome’s lifespan, that’s perhaps because it’s not exactly used very often. You still can, however, still use the feature on Chrome OS, and click the microphone icon on the Google homepage allowing you to “Search by voice” on desktop. For more on what’s new in Chrome 46 (until Google publishes the official release notes), feel free to head over and read our coverage of Chrome 46 coming to beta channel last month, where Google noted "new CSS animation features, improved performance controls, and a large number of API tweaks."
Unlike the desktop versions, Google has outlined some of the changes coming to version 46 for Chrome OS. Among other features, this update features an improved WiFi scanning indicator in the status bar, a completely overhauled Chrome OS Gallery app that finally — after more than a year — has Material Design influence, improved USC Type-C charging settings, and general performance improvements. Some highlights of the changes Google says are coming to Chrome OS in version 46:
As is the case with all Google Chrome updates, you don’t have to do anything to get the latest version. The Chrome browser on desktop and Chrome OS should update themselves in the background, and will install when you restart your browser or computer. Filed under: Chrome/OS Tagged: 46, app, chrome 46, Chrome OS, desktop, stab, update         For more information about update, Chrome/OS, and app continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "Chrome 46 comes to stable channel, removes ‘OK Google’ hotword search on desktop" with our community. |
Hacked Android Marshmallow build available for Nexus 7 (2012), here’s how to install it Posted: 16 Oct 2015 07:45 AM PDT
There are several Nexus devices that just don’t support Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and that fact has left some owners of ancient technology very unhappy. But this is Android, of course, and there’s nothing keeping developers from tinkering with Google’s open source OS. Specifically, owners of the 2012 Nexus 7 should rejoice in this case: It's definitely at your own risk, but you can now install an early and hacky unofficial build of Google's latest version of Android on your phone. Here's how to do it… The unofficial image comes by way of a developer named Dmitry Grinberg, and his instructions on making the image yourself using the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) are published on his website. That's the theoretically safer method of installing Marshmallow on your Nexus 4, as we can't prove that Grinberg didn't tinker with the full working image he provided. The good news is that if you trust him, you can download the full working image that he provided — and installing it is pretty simple. You can download the image from Dmitry's website (the download might take a while at the moment as he doesn’t have the most powerful servers). He suggests that you use the latest publicly available bootloader when flashing. While we don't have a dinosaur Nexus 7 (2012) to test it on, we have confidence that it will work given the many reports from Redditors who have praised his Nexus 4 ROM. To install the factory image, simply follow our guide. That guide assumes you already have the ADB tools installed on your computer. If you need the ADB tools, head over and download the Android SDK. The rest of the guide should be pretty straightforward (once you manage to download the image, or create it yourself, of course). Filed under: Android Tagged: Android, Google, hack, marshmallow, Nexus, Nexus 7, Nexus 7 2012         Continue reading more about Android, Google, and Android at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "Hacked Android Marshmallow build available for Nexus 7 (2012), here's how to install it" with our community. |
Report: Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 likely to feature USB Type-C Posted: 16 Oct 2015 07:10 AM PDT
In a rumor that’s no surprise to anyone, SamMobile‘s sources have told the publication that the next Samsung Galaxy flagship will have a USB Type-C port. In this case, I think we’d be more surprised if the next Samsung didn’t feature a Type-C connector. Sammy is regularly quick to jump onboard and adopt new technologies, and whether it’s NFC, fingerprint sensors, wireless charging or Quick-Charge compatibility, the Korean tech giant has historically been among the earliest to show off their potential.,, Most of the rumors surrounding the Galaxy S7 to date have centered on the processor being used to power the device. If early leaked benchmarks are anything to go by, the company is — at the very least — testing the Snapdragon 820 processor. If Samsung does adopt Qualcomm’s next flagship chip, it’s expected that it’ll only do so in select regions. China and the US have been rumored to be the markets chosen for the SD820-equipped Galaxy S7, while other markets will get smartphones with an Exynos processor. If true, we should see a launch around about the usual time for Samsung: Early Spring/Late Winter 2016. Qualcomm announced a little while back that its next processor won’t be ready for mainstream until next year, which explains why the Nexus 6P launched with the SD810 and not the SD820 as was initially rumored a few months ago. Filed under: Android Tagged: Android, galaxy s7, rumors, Samsung, smartphones, USB type-C         For more information about Android, Android, and Samsung continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "Report: Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 likely to feature USB Type-C" with our community. |
BlackBerry PRIV pre-orders go live in the UK, delivery by November 6 Posted: 16 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT
BlackBerry recently launched a site to give interested customers the chance to register for updates on the BlackBerry PRIV’s arrival. The QWERTY-equipped Android slider has been drawing a lot of attention for itself over recent weeks and months. Today, one retailer in the UK has exclusively opened pre-orders for the device. Sadly, there’s no option to buy the phone SIM-free and unlocked, but Carphone Warehouse will sell it to customers on a new contract or on upgrade. Pricing starts at £49 per month for those wanting to pay nothing up front for the phone. For that plan on Vodafone, subscribers will get unlimited calls and texts plus 2GB of 4G LTE data. As far as I can see, the cheapest overall way to get the phone is on O2. By paying £79.99 up-front for the PRIV, you can get unlimited minutes and texts, plus 1GB of 4G data for £32.50 per month. You can view all the available tariff options here. Carphone Warehouse lists the smartphone’s specifications as follows:
Interestingly, despite being available to order from a third-party retailer, BlackBerry hasn’t yet opened up pre-orders from its own online store. As far as we know, the phone isn’t available to pre-order in any other region. However, if that changes, we’ll update the post with more regional information. It’s not strange for the UK to be among the first countries to get a BlackBerry phone. In years gone by, BlackBerry has opted to launch first in the UK, sometimes even before its home country of Canada. Filed under: Android Tagged: Android, BlackBerry, blackberry priv, Carphone Warehouse, smartphones         Continue reading more about Android, Android, and smartphones at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "BlackBerry PRIV pre-orders go live in the UK, delivery by November 6" with our community. |
OnePlus X listed at Chinese retailer with $249 price-tag, 5-inch FHD display, 3GB RAM, more Posted: 16 Oct 2015 03:49 AM PDT
Just days after OnePlus invited the world it its London event on October 29 to release its upcoming smartphone, its next device has shown up on Oppomart. The retailer specializes in shipping Chinese-made smartphones to markets where they’re not currently available, with devices from the likes of Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo and ZTE all available. The OnePlus X is listed at just $249, making it far more affordable than the OnePlus 2 and — if the listed specs are accurate — far better value for money. Although you can’t order it yet, the OnePlus X placeholder page does reveal some of the expected specifications. They include the following:
The OnePlus X, by the sound of things, is shaping up to be a follow-on from the OnePlus One. It looks like it’ll have similar specs, a similar price, but a different design. Filed under: Android Tagged: Android, OnePlus, oneplus mini, onplus x, OppoMart, rumors, smartphones         Continue reading more about Android, Android, and smartphones at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "OnePlus X listed at Chinese retailer with $249 price-tag, 5-inch FHD display, 3GB RAM, more" with our community. |
OnePlus 2 reservation list will close on October 22 Posted: 16 Oct 2015 03:14 AM PDT
Last year, when it launched its first phone, OnePlus frustrated many buyers by having an invite-only system. Part of the frustration was waiting, the other part was having no idea when you would actually get an invite. A friend who had managed to buy one, or a forum member would have to send an invite in order for you to be able to give the company your money for a phone. This year, OnePlus kept the invite system for the OnePlus 2 but also introduced a reservation list. Although you’d still have to wait for an invite, at least you’d know you were on a list to receive one eventually. That reservation list will soon close… OnePlus announced on its official forums that, from October 22nd, it will no longer take new requests from hopeful customers to be placed on the waiting list.
The company notes that some 5 million people have signed up to be on the waiting list for invites, and now it wants to make sure it builds all the phones and sends them out as quickly as possible. Although we can’t imagine that all 5 million people will buy the phone, even if only half of them do, that’s still a huge number of phones sold by a company the size of OnePlus. From next Thursday, the only way you’ll be able to buy a OnePlus 2 is if you’re on the waiting list already and get an invite, or if someone who’s already bought one shares an invitation with you. On the plus side, OnePlus has also announced that people who have purchased a device already will soon receive three invites to share with their friends and family. Just one week after the reservation list closes, OnePlus is due to release its third phone at an event in London, which is perhaps the reason why its seeking to trim down on its waiting list. With a new phone coming, and the open admission that it’s not so good at inventory management, it probably doesn’t want to deal with two separate waiting lists. Filed under: Android Tagged: Android, OnePlus, OnePlus 2, smartphones         For more news on Android, Android, and smartphones continue reading at 9to5Google. What do you think? Discuss "OnePlus 2 reservation list will close on October 22" with our community. |
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