Tag Archives: google

Technology

Google collects your data? No surprise here.

Google the search behemoth has been in recent headlines because of the new unified privacy rules that will span all of the services offered by the company.  However, the hubbub is over data that it is collecting about the users they serve.

Don’t all services and companies that offer FREE products to an end user collect some type of data?

All companies do this:  Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and more.  So why trash the name of Google when everyone in the industry is doing the same thing.  Google makes most of its profits by serving relevant ads to you based on searches and information that you’ve input into different profiles that are served through Google (Google Plus and more).

Bottom line:  Do not act like this is news to the technology world; if you are using services online you have been tracked for years.  Google allows users to change their privacy settings; so if the above scares or threatens you — look into adjusting your settings.

Technology

Google’s Motorola acquisition approved by U.S. DoJ

The United States Department of Justice has approved the deal between Google and Motorola.  The only countries left to approve the deal are China, Taiwan, and Israel.  Once this deal is approved by all parties Google will access to a plethora or mobile patents making it a viable player in this patent war that Apple started.  Apple has been trying to sue Google’s Android out of the marketplace since that seems to be they only option they have at this point.  However, having all of these patents, Google will be able to fight back.

Bottom line:  When it is all said and done, the mobile marketplace is about innovation; just because you try to sue one company away will NOT force anyone to use your products.  This acquisition will firmly put Google at the top of it’s game.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich — Galaxy Nexus; Is it that great?

Android 4.0 is arguably the most mature and polished iteration of the Android operating system that Google has ever released.  Honestly, the usability, stability, and sheer prowess increase with every release.  In addition, the first device to come with Android 4.0 (ICS) is a super-phone packing tons of power.  The Samsung Galaxy Nexus makes the Android experience snappy as you switch through home screens and applications in a breeze.  I was very optimistic about the performance of this new device; however, since it was a dual-core phone with a higher amount of RAM if you are coming from a Moto Droid X or similar you will see a huge difference.

True selling points of ICS:

  • True task switching
  • Snappy and lightweight
  • Stock launcher is beautiful
  • NO NEED TO ROOT

Normally, with Android phones you are given a lot you can play with such as the launcher, browsers, SMS applications and more.  ICS on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is perfectly capable of handling anything that you throw at it.  As previously mentioned, the maturity of this operating system shines through greatly with updated SMS, browser, and contacts applications.

Bottom line:  Although Android is all about customizations and tweaking the phone to your desires; the Galaxy Nexus with ICS just works.  Now that Google has shown what it can do, we can only expect Android to get better and consume even more of the market.