Google says services on Huawei phones will still function

BEIJING — Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company’s services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant.

Google said Monday it is complying with and “reviewing the implications” of an order that requires export licenses for technology sales to Huawei Technologies Ltd.

Last week’s order follows U.S. government accusations that Huawei is a security risk and might help Beijing spy abroad.

Huawei, which uses Google’s Android operating system, is the No. 2 global smartphone brand by number of handsets sold, behind South Korea’s Samsung Electronics.

Google said on Twitter, “We assure you while we are complying with all US gov’t requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device.”


source: technology.inquirer.net

Game over for Flappy Bird

HANOI, Vietnam – The young Vietnamese creator of hit mobile game Flappy Bird has removed it from the App Store and Google Play saying it ruined his life.

The game which was uploaded in 2013 but only surged to the top in downloads earlier this year was removed early Monday.

The success of the game that based its appeal on being simple and also maddeningly difficult made its creator Nguyen Ha Dong, 29, a minor celebrity.

The game was downloaded more than 50 million times on App Store alone. In an interview with The Verge website, Dong said Flappy Bird was making $50,000 a day in advertising revenue.

But tech blogger Carter Thomas said the sudden popularity of Flappy Bird might have been due to use of fake accounts run by computers to create downloads and reviews.

Thomas said he couldn’t prove his suspicion and that the success of Flappy Bird might also be explained by it being “just a wildly viral game.”

Dong, from Hanoi, wrote on Twitter on Saturday that the Internet sensation caused by the game “ruins my simple life” and he now hated it.

“I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore,” he wrote.

Dong had agreed to talk to The Associated Press about the game in an interview scheduled for Friday, but canceled.

On Twitter he didn’t address the inflated downloads allegation but denied suggestions he was withdrawing the game because it breached another game maker’s copyright.

“It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore,” he wrote.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Google Sending Out Invitations to October 24th Event – Apparently Not Nexus 5 Related

While we’re all patiently awaiting the official announcement of the Nexus 5, Google has sent an invitation out to Geek for an October 24th event in New York City. The catch? It doesn’t look to be Nexus related.

What exactly is Google planning for the 24th? Well, it’s apparent that the event will be surrounding Google Play, but the invitation you see above is rather vague. “Join us for a night out with Google Play. Music, movies, games, and a special performance by Capital Cities” is the only thing mentioned on the invitation, leaving us scratching our heads a bit.

We have our doubts that the search giant would hold an event for the upcoming Google Play Store refresh that’s set to debut on November 21st, but there’s an even greater chance that we won’t be seeing the Nexus 5 or Android 4.4 KitKat.

Whatever the event could involve, we don’t have much longer to wait until we find out. Still, if it’s not the official Nexus 5 announcement, we’re going to have a hard time getting excited.

source: intomobile.com

MGM films added to YouTube online rentals

SAN FRANCISCO—Classic films from iconic US studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) on Monday were added to the library of works available for online rental at YouTube and Google Play.

MGM became the fifth major movie studio to make films available for viewing at the Google-owned Internet venues, according to a blog post by YouTube content partnerships manager Jonathan Zepp.

“If there’s one consistent opening image movie-goers around the world know and equate with great cinema, it’s Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s roaring lion,” Zepp said.

“You can now discover, share and watch MGM’s classic films on YouTube and Google Play.”

The more than 600 titles being added to YouTube and Google Play rental libraries in Canada and the United States include “The Terminator” and “Rocky” along with “Rain Man” and “Moonstruck.”

Online movie viewing in the United States is expected to double this year and become the primary method for viewers to watch films, according to IHS Screen Study digest projections cited by Google.

source: http://technology.inquirer.net/9961/mgm-films-added-to-youtube-online-rentals

Goodbye 'Android Market,' hello 'Google Play'

Say goodbye to Android Market, and hello to Google Play.

The search giant has consolidated its apps, music, e-books and other services under the "Google Play" brand, tech site CNET reported.

CNET quoted Jamie Rosenberg, director of digital content for Google, as saying the move - which absorbs Google Music and Google eBookstore - seeks to create a more comprehensive source for movies, apps, music, and e-books.

"Google Play will become a single experience for users. This creates a more powerful experience around Android and also increases opportunities for content partners," CNET quoted Rosenberg as saying.

Rosenberg added the Google Play strategy has been in the works for some time, but did not specify how long.

He said the changes may take several days to roll out across the Android platform, but will not alter libraries or playlists.

A separate article on AndroidPit.com said Google Engineering Director Chris Yerga said the search giant had been thinking about the name change for quite some time, but felt it was finally time to make the change.

"Google's music app, for example, will be renamed Google Play Music ... The change will immediately go live, but updates will roll out over the next few days for affected apps," it said.

But CNET said the move may be an admission of sorts that Android Market's apps, games, and e-books may not be enough to remain competitive as rival app stores rise.

Rosenberg said "Google Play" is designed to break down the walls separating the company's various products.

'Shocking' brand shift

CNET said the branding shift is "shocking," considering the resources and energy spent into building the Android name.

However, "Android" will not die, as it the brand for Google's mobile operating system.

On the other hand, CNET said the move may appease critics who claim Google's approach to digital content is fragmented - with Google Music and YouTube's music videos as an example.

"When Google executives were pitching the idea of Google Music to the labels throughout much of 2010 and 2011, they spoke of closely integrating the service with YouTube's music videos, one of the bright spots in online music distribution. Yet the services never were combined," it noted.

Rosenberg said "Google Play" means music will no longer remain a standalone service.

Underachieving?

CNET also noted Android Market had struggled to generate the revenue of Apple's App Store.

It cited studies showing Android Market still lags far behind Apple in revenues.

"Music industry sources said Google Music had not met expectations on revenue or customer adoption. Following that report, others wrote that Google Music was actually losing customers," it noted.

But while Rosenberg declined to discuss revenues, he denied the service is losing customers.

He said Google Music is up to four million users, and the company is "excited about Google Music's growth." — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com