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How Do You Google Hypocrisy?

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After converting the FCC to the faith known as net neutrality, it looks like Google has given up its former faith in order to appease their new best friend Verizon.

It is imperative that we find ways to protect the future openness of the Internet and encourage the rapid deployment of broadband. Verizon and Google are pleased to discuss the principled compromise our companies have developed over the last year concerning the thorny issue of “network neutrality.” […]

[W]e both recognize that wireless broadband is different from the traditional wireline world, in part because the mobile marketplace is more competitive and changing rapidly. In recognition of the still-nascent nature of the wireless broadband marketplace, under this proposal we would not now apply most of the wireline principles to wireless, except for the transparency requirement. (Google Public Policy Blog)

While both Google and Verizon are demanding that net neutrality be enforceable for wired connections, apparently the search engine giant has no plans on encouraging the enforcement of wireless connections. [Read more…]

Originally posted on August 9, 2010 @ 4:29 pm

Google Voice App Is Now “Better, Faster, Stronger”

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The Mountain View giant has unveiled an update to their Google Voice app (Blackberry and Android fans only) that reduces the amount of time it takes for you to connect with friends, foes and everyone in between.
Today we are launching an enhancement to the Google Voice mobile app on Android and Blackberry phones, which makes placing calls much faster. We call this feature “direct access numbers.” Here’s how it works:

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster. (Google Voice Blog) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 22, 2010 @ 2:52 pm

Google Offices Raided By South Korea

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After facing criticism for their backwards stance regarding net neutrality, it looks like the search engine giant is facing another fiasco half way around the world, this time in South Korea.

The South Korean police raided the offices of Google Korea on Tuesday as part of an investigation into whether the company had illegally collected and stored personal wireless data. […]

“We intend to find out what kinds of data they have collected and how much,” the response center said. “We will try to retrieve all the original data illegally collected and stored through domestic Wi-Fi networks from the Google headquarters.” (New York Times)

Google’s street view cars accidentally collected personal WiFi data which sparked international outrage from local, state and national governments.

Thus far a few nations have cleared the search engine giant of any wrong doing, although it’s unclear whether the Korean government will eventually charge Google of any wrong doing.

Google is fully cooperating with South Korea’s investigation, although this latest scandal might delay the search engine giants attempt to compete with local rivals (especially Duam which is the Baidu of the Korean peninsula).

(via Daring Fireball)

Other news around Asia

Korean comfort women speak out yet again

North Korea: surfing the net in the world’s most isolated nation

Korean Tech Companies Shifting B2C Focus to B2B Market

Originally posted on August 10, 2010 @ 1:25 pm

Google Creates “Android For Dummies” For The Rest Of Us

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For those of you who have aspirations of creating your own Android app yet are not fluent in the language of the geek, Google has announced a new program called App Inventor that allows the masses to create their own Android apps without having to learn a single line of code.

App Inventor is a new tool in Google Labs that makes it easy for anyone—programmers and non-programmers, professionals and students—to create mobile applications for Android-powered devices. And today, we’re extending invitations to the general public.

For many people, their mobile phone—and access to the Internet—is always within reach. App Inventor for Android gives everyone, regardless of programming experience, the opportunity to control and reshape their communication experience. We’ve observed people take pride in becoming creators of mobile technology and not just consumers of it. (Official Google Blog)

By lowering the barrier of entry, it looks like Google is hoping to increase the number of apps within Android Market in order to catch up with its rival, Apple whose walled garden of apps dwarfs the ever so popular Android Market. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 12, 2010 @ 11:53 am

6 Ways Blackberry Can Get Its Groove Back

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With RIM about to unveil their latest Blackberry tomorrow (sporting OS 6), all eyes will be on the smartphone king to see if it can produce a worthy adversary to iPhone 4 and a slew of Android devices.

Although the upcoming Blackberry lacks the ability to make video phone calls (something even Microsoft is adding to its Windows 7 Phone), there is still hope for the Canadian phone company in its quest to retain its dominance (at least in the corporate sector).

While RIM would be smart to continue to innovate in the hardware arena in order to make its phone more attractive (i.e. screen resolution), there are actually 6 ways Blackberry could easily improve its BB device in order to prevent the company from being eclipsed by Apple or Android. [Read more…]

Originally posted on August 2, 2010 @ 1:49 pm