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Google Maps Giving Up Rights Germany?

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The search engine giant has apparently thrown in the towel as far as Street View in Germany is concerned.

Despite the recent German court ruling that declared photography from streets legal in Germany, Google has stopped Street View photography there and says it has “no plans to launch new imagery on Street View in Germany.” (Search Engine Land)

Despite securing the right to legally photograph streets, Google decided once again that it’s better to appease the governments than to anger them to the determent of Street View fans everywhere.

For those of you fearing that Street View will disappear, the search engine giant will maintain Street View for 20 German cities (although with updates being suspended those images will eventually become stale).

Even though abandoning Street View will put Google at a disadvantage (as other companies are planning on launching similar services), it may help bolster their image as well as help them build favor with German politicans.

Google will still roam the roads in order to verify the accuracy of streets within Germany, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Google restarts this project again in the future when Street View isn’t as controversial.

Originally posted on April 11, 2011 @ 12:00 pm

Google Vs DOJ: Who’s Lying About Google Apps?

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The rhetoric between Google and the Department of Justice is heating up after the DOJ accused the search engine giant publicaly lying about Google Apps receiving FISMA (or Federal Information Security Management Act) certification.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft has joined the fray by declaring that their nemesis is evil, and portraying their foe as untrustworthy by linking to documents (from the DOJ) proving that Google did not in fact receive FISMA certification.

Google has not yet responded to the accusations via press release or their corporate blogs, but they are maintaining the fact that they did receive FISMA certification and its the DOJ who’s in error.

So who is right? Not surprisingly the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

According to the GSA, Google’s Google Apps Premier received FISMA certification on July 21, 2010. However, Google intends to offer Google Apps for Government as a more restrictive version of its product and, Google is currently in the process of finishing its application for FISMA certification for itsGoogle Apps for Government. See Attachment 3. To be clear, in the view of GSA, the agencythat certified Google‟s Google Apps Premier, Google does not have FISMA certification for its Google Apps for Government. (DOJ Brief, pg. 13, note: PDF document)

Apparently Google did receive FISMA certification for a Google Apps Premier, then decided to create a more secure version which is not FISMA certified.

Although I do sympathize with Google here (who has become the Feds favorite whipping boy as of late), the DOJ and Microsoft is (for now) correct that Google is misleading the public by claiming something it doesn’t have.

Google needs to either pull all references regarding FISMA or offer more evidence, as the last thing the company wants is to be seen as “evil” in the public eye.

Originally posted on April 12, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

iPad 2’s Real Nemesis Could Make Apple Sweat

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With Xoom failing and iPad 2 prevailing, many are wondering whether anyone can challenge Steve Jobs magical device (and no, RIM’s Playbook is dead on arrival).

Although we shouldn’t write off Android entirely (after all, GalaxyTab 8.9 could become a hit), Google’s tablet OS is still rather buggy and truth be told needs a bit more polish in order to outshine iPad 2.

However there seems to be one tablet that can potentially challenge iPad 2, as a recent video highlighting an upcoming version of webOS reveals below. [Read more…]

Originally posted on April 13, 2011 @ 1:25 pm

Filed Under: HP

Blackberry Playbook: To Buy Or Not To Buy?

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Today is the day that the Blackberry Playbook will either prove their critics wrong or collect dust alongside other tablet devices.

Blackberry addicts can now pick up their shiny Playbook today (provided you live within 2 specific countries).

We are thrilled to be launching the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet – the world’s first professional-grade tablet. It is available today in thousands of retail outlets across the United States and Canada.  (Official Blackberry Blog)

Although RIM poured out their heart and soul into this device (with a camera that blows iPad 2 out of the water), the lack of a native email and calendar client from the go makes the device almost worthless to consumers and corporations.

In order to gain access to those features, you will need a Blackberry smartphone (since Playbook “borrows” those apps from Blackberry) making the tablet useless for Android and iOS fans who may not want an iPad 2.

Hopefully RIM will consider adding these features to Playbook, as the last thing the company needs is buyers remorse due to the inability to send a message without the assistance of a nearby Blackberry.

Originally posted on April 19, 2011 @ 12:36 pm