Google I/O 2015 What to Expect: Android M, Google Glass 2.0, Project Ara and More

Google has officially announced the dates for its prestigious Google I/O 2015 and there's a lot of excitement around new launches and announcements at the event.

While it is still a mystery what Google might announce, here are our top guesses that will be the major highlight of the event. The prestigious event will shed light on some of Google's biggest projects, ranging from Android M to Google Glass 2.0 and Project Ara to Android Wear.

Here are all the possible announcements Google is expected to make at the Google I/O 2015, which commences on 28 May and runs through the next day. Registrations for the event are closed.

Android M

Google I/O 2014 witnessed the launch of Android 5.0 Lollipop and this year's I/O keynote will make way for the next Android version. Going by Google's naming strategy, the next Android version will be named starting with the letter M. The Android M will succeed Android Lollipop as a sub-version, mostly Android 5.1.

The Android M specifics have been kept discreet, but there will not be a major overhaul as seen with Android Lollipop's Material Design. In fact, the update will be focused mainly towards squashing known bugs, improving OS performance and few added features.

Google Glass 2.0

After abruptly discontinuing the Explorer program in January, Google might announce some development on its wearable eyewear at the keynote. The web giant has confirmed that the Google Glass is not dead and future versions are already in the works. If the timing is right, Google I/O 2015 might be the right time for Google Glass 2.0 release. If not a full product release, some details on the development of the next iteration of the wearable is strongly expected.

There have been reports suggesting Google might use an Intel chip in its next version of Google Glass but other specs remain a secret.

Project Ara

The modular phone strategy promises a new take on smartphones and Google's Project Ara leads the way. We are expecting to see a solid development in the project at this month's I/O keynote. Project Ara offers the freedom for mobile users to upgrade their phone's components simply by switching parts. The initiative is still under development and lacks an official launch date. However, Google has revealed that it will start market testing the first products this year and Google I/O 2015 keynote seems like the right time to get more specific details.

Android Wear

Google's Android Wear OS has grown into a fully fledged OS for wearables over the past year but there's room for development. With the fast growing competition in the wearables segment, Google needs to improve its wearables platform to compete against rivals like Apple and Samsung. Even though Google has constantly improved Android Wear with software updates, we expect to see what Google has in store for the future, like a flagship smartwatch by Google.

Everything Else

Google is expected to finally release the next major upgrade to its Nexus series, Android Silver, which allows users to create Android devices based on certain requirements. Google may also dedicate a few sessions to its Android TV and Android Auto as well as some kids-friendly products and services.

We tried Microsoft HoloLens: This is going to be much bigger than Google Glass

We just tried the company's new hologram gadget HoloLens.

It was a demonstration that was equal parts really awesome and really weird.

We were struck right away by how different this device is from Google Glass. HoloLens is about getting specific tasks done.

Upshot: the HoloLens is the future, but not one that’s coming any time soon.

Walking through a blueprint

We tried HoloLens at the Microsoft's developer's conference, Build, going on in San Francisco this week.

The 15-minute demo paired HoloLens with architectural modeling software SketchUp. (Irony not lost here. SketchUp was developed by Google and sold to Trimble Navigation in 2012.)

With the glasses on, we could take an object on our screens and drag it off screen where it became a 3D hologram. With a mouse, we could change the size, color of the object – in this case the object was a model of a building.

In part two of the demo, we could go into this building, listen to and leave voice recorded notes for the architect.

Instead of looking at a paper blueprint, we saw where a new doorway was being designed and could look behind the walls to see where the plumbing and pipes were.

We controlled the device by moving our heads to direct our gaze, with voice commands and with a few simply hand gestures, namely the "air click."  The air click was exactly how it sounds, extend your ands and move your index finger, like clicking on a mouse.

HoloLens was untethered – no wires, although there was a Windows 10 PC in the room controlling it, operated by someone else.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-glass-hands-on-2015-4#ixzz3YsmtMryc

Microsoft Edge debuts: Windows 10's new web browser

One of the most anticipated features of the upcoming Windows 10 OS is the new browser from Microsoft. The company has already given a few details about the browser, which will be replacing the iconic, perhaps dated, Internet Explorer. At its Build Conference, Microsoft discussed its new browser - which will be launched as the Microsoft Edge, erstwhile known as Project Spartan.

The Microsoft Edge brings a slew of new features and will be the primary browser built in Windows 10. The browser will come with Cortana support. Built-in features include reader, note-taking and sharing. Based rendering engine called EdgeHTML, the new browser will offer a simple and minimalism design language. The browser is expected to support web extensions built via HTML and Javascript. Extensions built for Chrome can also be deployed on Edge with a few adjustments in codes 

Microsoft has also released a brief video giving glimpse of what to expect from the Microsoft Edge. Check it out below:

Related: Microsoft Windows 8

After not so very successful run with Windows 8, Microsoft is looking to turn around things with its Windows 10. Based on details released by Microsoft, the new operating system looks quite promising. As far as Internet Explorer goes, the browser had already lost edge to Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox. We believe Microsoft did the right thing by not flogging a dead horse.

With an increased focus on cross-platform as well as affordable services, Windows 10 along with the new Microsoft Edge give the company a good chance to revive its fortunes. On a lighter note, Edge isn't a very catchy name for a browser or is it? What do you think about the new browser? Love/hate it, tell us in the comments section below or via social media:

- See more at: http://www.digit.in/internet/microsoft-edge-debuts-windows-10s-new-web-browser-25941.html#sthash.C5rRlHtO.dpuf

from: http://www.digit.in/internet/microsoft-edge-debuts-windows-10s-new-web-browser-25941.html

Why You Need to Update to OS X 10.10.3 Now

Updates to your operating system aren't just to get cool new features. In fact, their primary raison d'être is to provide vital security updates that patch holes and vulnerabilities. Such is the case with Mac OS X 10.10.3, which fixes a potentially devastating flaw, but only for OS X Yosemite users.

Emil Kvarnhammar, writing for Swedish security firm TrueSec's blog, explained that he discovered a nasty vulnerability known as Rootpipe back in October 2014. It took Apple six months, but the manufacturer did finally issue a patch in its most recent security update. The only trouble is that not everyone will receive it.

MORE: Apple's New 12-inch Retina MacBook Reviewed

As Kvarnhammar points out, Mac OS X 10.9.x and older will not receive the patch, necessitating an update to 10.10.3 as soon as possible. To be clear, this means that if you are running OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion or Snow Leopard, you are missing out on a very important security update.

Rootpipe is a hack developed by Kvarnhammar himself that takes advantage of a backdoor in Apple's application program interface. Basically, it takes advantage of a hole in a Mac operating system's code, then escalates privilege so that any user can pretend to be an administrator. From there, hijacking the computer is child's play, as is installing all manner of spyware or malware

One important thing to keep in mind is that Kvarnhammar is a researcher, and Rootpipe is a proof-of-concept. There is no evidence that hackers are currently taking advantage of this exploit in the wild.

However, Kvarnhammar shared some details about the process in his blog post, and will give a whole talk about it at Security Conference 2015 in Stockholm on May 28. After that, an enterprising malefactor could probably piece together a similar program.

Many Mac users are hesitant to upgrade to Yosemite because it has the potential to slow down older systems (most Macs from 2007 or later are eligible for a free upgrade), perhaps necessitating the purchase of an expensive new machine. We leave it to you to weigh a nasty security risk against a machine that runs at peak efficiency, and decide which is more important.

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.