Google's latest patent could put spoilers to bed

Has Facebook or Twitter become spoiler-filled ground you fear to tread because you can't watch "Game of Thrones" as it airs? Google's got your back.

The search giant was granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday for a "system and method for processing content spoilers." The proposed filter would identify spoilers about TV shows, books and movies and remove them from your social media feeds until you're up to date.

Google's patent takes it a step further than a simple keyword-based filter that blocks all related content, though. Rather than sticker every post about a certain show or book with a spoiler warning, the patent proposes a system that tracks, for example, all the episodes of a show that users have watched. It could then automatically censor content in a user's feed if the post is about an episode the user hasn't seen for themselves.

An illustration of how the spoiler blocker may filter posts.USPTO/Google

The post itself would still appear, but if the system thinks it detects a spoiler, the content would be censored. And, on the off chance you succumb to temptation, you can click past the spoiler tag and see what was posted. But don't say you weren't warned.

Of course, this would all depend on users either manually logging or opting in to having their viewing tracked, similar to how Netflix currently tracks viewing and posts to connected social media accounts. But with streaming on-demand content fast becoming the new norm and people tweeting their reactions to red weddings as soon as they happen, the potential for integration and the need to give unwanted spoilers the boot is definitely there.

However, don't expect it to keep your feeds safe any time soon. "We hold patents on a variety of ideas -- some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don't," a Google spokeswoman said in a statement. "Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents."

The patent doesn't outline what social media accounts the system would filter, and there's no word on how Google would integrate the system with social networks it doesn't own. But with audiences living under a spoilerific Sword of Damocles, a smart spoiler blocker would certainly be a better option than, say, staying off social media.

from http://www.cnet.com/

Android Apps Can Now Be Run On Mac Or PC With Google Chrome

WASHINGTON — Google has now made Android applications available on Windows / Linux PC, Mac, or Chromebook with the company's convergence of Chrome and Android wherein users can download Android application package (APK) on existing Android app to launch it.

According to the Verge, users simply need to download the ARC Welder app and obtain APKs from Google's Play Store.

However, only one app can be loaded at a time and users need to select landscape or portrait layout and whether they need to run in phone- or tablet-style.

Multiple apps can be loaded by selecting download ZIP option in Arc Welder and extracting it and then enabling extension developer mode to load the folder of the extracted APK.

Developers will need to optimize their apps for ARC, and some Google Play Services are also supported right now, making that process a lot easier.

Android malware reduced by 50% says Google

WASHINGTON: Google has said that malware infections onAndroid devices have been cut in half in the past year following security upgrades for the mobile platform.

In a security review for 2014, Google said it made significant strides for the platform long seen as weak on security.

Android security engineer Adrian Ludwig said in a blog post that the overall worldwide rate of potentially harmful applications installed dropped by nearly 50% between the first quarter and the fourth quarter of the year.

Google 'declares war' on China's biggest web registrar

Washington: Google has declared war on China's biggest web registrar, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), due to its "bad behavior."

In its security blog post, Google made it clear that it would no longer accept HTTPS certificates from the CNNIC, effectively cutting the registrar out of the SSL system that secures the web. HTTPS certificates ensure that web content cannot be intercepted in transit and CNNIC controls that process for the whole Chinese web, The Verge reported.

Defending its decision, Google argued that CNNIC was not careful enough in handling how its certificates were used as recently an Egyptian web company used its certificates to carry out a man-in-the-middle attack.

Meanwhile, CNNIC has strongly protested against Google's decision, calling it "unacceptable" and "unintelligible." It urged the tech giant to take users' rights and interest into full consideration.

Although CNNIC's existing certificates would still be valid, but new ones would not be issued. In order to recertify itself, CNNIC has already started working through Google's Certificate Transparency process.

CNNIC 's share of the certificate market is already very small, representing less than 0.1 percent of the certificates used on the web, as the Chinese government discourages the use of HTTPS by Chinese web companies as a way to reinforce the Great Firewall.

Google X Head: I m Afraid of People's Reactions to Technology

Google X’s moonshot division is in the business of pushing technology’s capabilities to their limits.

“When we say moonshots, what we mean is that we're shooting for things that are 10 times better, not incremental improvements,” Astro Teller, Google X’s ‘Captain of Moonshots’ told the audience at his keynote SXSW Panel this year, Moonshots and Reality. Current moonshots include Project Loon, which aims to connect the entire global population to the digital world through a network of balloons, Project Ara, a development effort to create a modular hardware ecosystem, self-driving cars and (until recently) Google Glass.

Related: SXSW Thought Leaders on Failing Better & Finding Your Way

The projects span industries, but share common characteristics and a common goal: they work to find a solution to a big problem that affects many people, they propose to fix the problem in an innovative way, and they incorporate “a hard technical thing that we think we can maneuver and solve that would make a science fiction sounding proposal possible.”

Some of these moonshots, particularly Google Glass and to a lesser extent, self-driving cars, have been met with resistance from the public; a common objection to Google Glass is that it violates personal privacy, which baffles Teller. “I’m amazed by how sensitively people respond to some of the privacy issues,” Teller said. While he understands overarching privacy concerns, “Google Glass did not move the needle, it was literally a rounding error on the number of cameras in your life.”

Related: SXSW: David Chang – What Luxe Restaurants Can Learn From Taco Bell and Google

In general, the public’s response to new, cutting-edge technological advancements concerns him. “I’m afraid of people’s reactions to technology,” he said bluntly, noting that although technology’s rate of change is rapidly accelerating, our laws, regulations and social norms aren’t keeping pace: “That’s what makes me afraid. Because when those things start to widen, as a society we get scared, and scared people do dumb things.”

A telling example of the way regulation often lags behind technology: Google’s self-driving cars – which don’t have steering wheels, acceleration pedals or breaks, but do have mirrors and windshields. “I have a sadly good answer…that’s the law,” Teller said when asked why the mirrors were included. “You’re not required to have a steering wheel, but you are required to have rear-view mirrors.”

While Teller said that he understands society’s concerns – “I’m not saying all technologies are OK” – he believes the pace at which we digest, process and respond to technological advancements needs to speed up. “I would rather we keep pace and feel confident rather than afraid, because then we can make good decisions about how we want technology to affect our lives.”

Educational Updates on 04-04-2015 (New Added At-01:00 PM)

15 classic PC games you should play again

Golden oldies

Between a flood of HD remasters (Grim Fandango, Homeworld, Resident Evil) and all the games styled to look like older games (Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2) released in the past year, I think we can all agree retro games are back in style.

But what about actual retro games—the classics you've left gathering dust in old CD-ROM cases or are hoarding in your GOG.com library? April's a relatively slow month as far as new releases, so maybe it's the perfect time to revisit some old classics.

Me? I'm about to go replay Planescape: Torment. Read on for that and fourteen(ish) other classic games you should play again.

Baldur's Gate II/Planescape: Torment

Before Pillars of Eternity, there were the Infinity Engine games. Of that fairly large collection of isometric RPGs, the two that stand above the rest are Baldur's Gate II and Planescape: Torment.

Baldur's Gate II has a decent story for a fantasy game, but is mostly notable for being absolutely massive. Planescape: Torment is iconic for its dialogue and story—you can even avoid combat completely, if you're good enough.

Modern perspective: Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is a decent (albeit buggy) option if you want a (slightly) modernized version of the game—widescreen, plus some small mechanics tweaks. Otherwise these games are about as approachable now as they were upon release.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is one part turn-based strategy game, one part RPG, and all parts addictive as hell. The game is a blend of both exploration and really satisfying turn-based combat, with you controlling an army of mythical creatures led by the titular heroes.

There've been a lot of Heroes of Might and Magic games over the years, but if you can look past the dated graphics then this third entry is simply the best.

Modern perspective: I beg of you: Stay away from the HD version Ubisoft released earlier this year. Yeah, the graphics are better. Yeah, widescreen is nice. But most of the content is missing, due to some issues with lost source code. You're better off sticking with the original plus expansions.

Deus Ex

Along with System Shock 2, Deus Ex forms the cornerstone of the FPS/RPG hybrid that emerged in the late 90s. You'll meet people in the games industry whostill play Deus Ex once per year. It's that good.

The key to Deus Ex is choice, both in terms of story and mechanics. Levels are almost infinitely replayable, due to the enormous number of ways you could approach each objective. This is level design stretched to its absolute limits, and never before nor since have we had a game that gave players this much freedom. No, not even in the game's two sequels.

Modern perspective: The biggest obstacle to playing Deus Ex is the opening level. Liberty Island is commonly considered the worst level in the whole game...and it's the first one you'll play. Just push through it.

Star Wars: X-Wing/TIE Fighter

Fact: Space sims are great. Fact: Space sims are even better when they're Star Wars-branded.

After an interminable wait, the classic Star Wars games finally made their way to a store again, and chief amongst them are Star Wars: TIE Fighter and Star Wars: X-Wing. No joystick? Don't even bother.

Modern perspective: The one major downside? The definitive CD versions of both games aren't currently available. The CD versions upped the resolution, added full voiceovers, and improved the cutscenes, so it's a shame they're not included yet. Maybe down the road?

Riven

Maybe you played point-and-click puzzler Myst—after all, it held the record for best-selling PC game for nearly a decade—but did you play its sequel Riven? Bigger, bolder, and more sure of itself, Riven is every bit as much a classic as its predecessor, and also forms a more cohesive whole.

Plus now you can just download it instead of needing to install five or six different CD-ROMs.

Modern perspective: On the other hand, be prepared to beat your head against a wall. Riven is fiendishly difficult at times. And it just laughs at your big dumb brain. Probability of your consulting a walkthrough: 99 percent.

System Shock 2

When GOG.com finally added System Shock 2 to its store after years of petitioning, people literally celebrated in the streets. Okay, "a person" celebrated in the streets. It was me. I did a little dance.

The spiritual predecessor to BioShock, System Shock 2 will feel familiar—first-person, heavy emphasis on story, et cetera—but with a creepy "survival horror in space" feel. Not only is it a good game in its own right, it's also influenced pretty much every shooter to come after.

Modern perspective: Install some graphics mods. Make the game really shine the way it should. System Shock 2 is beloved enough that you have some great options on modern systems. Oh and by the way: It's difficult. Sometimes punishing. Good luck.