Orkut: How Facebook killed Google’s original social network June 30, 2014 Google’s original social network Orkut was bigger than Facebook in emerging markets such as Brazil and India just a couple of years ago. Now Google’s closing it down. Brazilians love social media- it’s the second biggest market for Facebook outside the US when it comes to user numbers and one of YouTube’s top five markets [...]
Why Facebook and Google’s lack of diversity is bad for business June 27, 2014 Facebook has followed hot on the heels of Google by releasing data on the diversity of its employees. To the surprise of no one, it turns out Facebook is mostly white and male, much the same as Google, and a reflection of the tech industry at large. Research shines a light on why the lack [...]
Google protesters hit out against “totalitarian” company June 26, 2014 Tech giant Google has had its annual developer conference interrupted by protesters hurling abuse at the company over its recent acquisition of Boston Dynamics, a company that made robots for the US military. At the time it bought Boston Dynamics, Google promised to honour existing contracts between the robotics company, the Pentagon and the Pentagon's [...]
Google sets its sights on TVs, cars and watches June 25, 2014 GOOGLE’S Android software is coming to cars, televisions and watches this year, as the search giant looks to capitalise on the booming market of internet-connected devices. During its annual developers’ conference in San Francisco yesterday, Google announced the first cars running Android Auto, software for navigation, music and messaging, that will roll into car showrooms [...]
Google Glass hits UK: what to expect June 25, 2014 They’re here! And they makes you look just as daft as we thought they would! Google Glass augmented reality specs – a computer you wear on your face, including a camera and personal organiser – have finally hit shelves in the UK – but only for early-adopting geeks rich enough to fork out a cool £1,000. [...]
Google I/O 2014: Expect Google TV, Google Glass, Android Lollipop and wearables June 25, 2014 Google’s I/O conference brings together developers from across the world to see the latest breakthroughs, products and software created by the internet giant. The event kicks off later today, but speculation is rife about the announcements due to come out of San Francisco. Here’s what’s expected (in addition to guests pulling up in Google's driverless [...]
Google set to unveil a wearable future June 24, 2014 Tonight at 5pm Google will show off its latest software at its annual I/O Conference for developers in San Francisco. Last year, Google used the event to unveil a redesigned Google Maps, launch its Google Play streaming music service and announce that Android has shipped on 900m devices. Tonight, Google is expected to focus on [...]
Google Play: 4 charts showing growth in app downloads, revenue, gaming and markets June 24, 2014 Google Play, the app store available on smartphones by Samsung and HTC, more than doubled revenue from app downloads driven by the ever-growing popularity of gaming. Almost 90 per cent of Google Play revenue comes from games typified by the hugely popular Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans, up from 80 per cent in [...]
Google Glass touches down in the UK for £1,000 June 23, 2014 GOOGLE launched its smart Glass eyewear in the UK last night, making it the second country to get the device after it launched in the US last year. Glass, which Google says is still an early prototype, is on sale for £1,000 and features a heads-up display with access to email, search and maps through [...]
Google feathers its Nest with $555m acquisition of Dropcam June 23, 2014 Nest, the Google-owned high tech outfit developing connected appliances, has acquired home video surveillance firm Dropcam for $555m (£326m). The deal, announced on Friday, is set to boost Nest’s connected product line up, which currently includes a thermostat and smoke alarm that can be remotely controlled by a smartphone. “Nest cares as much about customers, [...]