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Planet GOOG

By Kelly Faircloth 5/17 11:07am

Planet GOOG

Only models look this good in Glass. (Photo: Google)

Congress Is a Little Worried About the Privacy Implications of Google Glass

The world is rapidly sorting itself into two camps: Glassholes, and people who want you to take that damn thing off your face. The latest concerned parties, according to the Wall Street Journal: the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus.

Imagine that: A bunch of politicians worried about a world where everyone wears a camera on his face, ready to snap a picture of any shenanigans by public figures.

Yesterday the group wrote an open letter to Larry Page, expressing their concerns: Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/15 5:20pm

Planet GOOG

(Photo: Screencap)

Hello, Computer! At I/O, Google Debuts Upgraded Maps and ‘Now’ for Desktops

Google made no attempt to top last year’s I/O keynote, featuring skydivers. Instead, viewers were treated to a long, rambling meditation on progress from Google CEO Larry Page, who seemed none too keen on talking about Google Glass.

“Technology should do the hard work,” Mr. Page informed us all, “so that people can get on with doing the things that make them happiest in life.” He also suggested that, “being negative is not how we make progress.” Somehow we doubt that outlook inspires Mr. Page to let his underlings off lightly when they screw something up.

The closest thing to a skydiver was when Robert Scoble popped up at the front of the line for Q&A, announcing himself as ”one of the first glassholes.” “Robert, I didn’t appreciate the shower picture,” Mr. Page replied.

But there were a few big announcements. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/14 3:18pm

Planet GOOG

Hi. (Photo: Twitter)

Dour Germans Disapprove of Insulting Autocomplete Results

Good news if you’re a) still dodging rumors about the massive piles of cocaine you did in college and b) German. Bloomberg News says a German high court has ruled that Google is responsible for anything libelous that might pop up in autocomplete.

“The search additions affect the plaintiff’s privacy rights as they convey the statement that there is a relationship between the plaintiff and the negative words,” the court ruled.

This is going to add, like, 15 minutes of work for Berliners trying to screen cult leaders and shady apartment brokers. Read More

By Jordan Valinsky 5/07 9:10am

Planet GOOG

Poor Google bus. (Photo: YouTube)

Watch People in San Francisco Aimlessly Beat a Google Bus Piñata

Googlers might follow the company’s mantra of “Do No Evil,” but that good will doesn’t always extend to its neighbors. Nearly 40 people attended an “anti-gentrification block party” in–where else!–San Francisco on Sunday to protest the plush shuttles from various tech companies, like Goog, that stop by the neighborhood to pick up brogrammers and bring them to the Valley. The neighbors allege that the buses are causing rents to skyrocket and the people who use them are dicks. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/06 3:52pm

Planet GOOG

Hakuna matata, guys! (Photo: flickr.com/jolieodell)

Who’s Worried About Big Brother? Not Eric Schmidt!

We’re entering a new age of ubiquitous surveillance, when you can’t even embark on a wild night out in Brooklyn without worrying about some Glasshole uploading your embarrassing antics to YouTube. It’s enough to make you wonder whether maybe we ought to worry about what governments and corporations will do with the technical ability to Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/01 12:15pm

Planet GOOG

Testing, one, two, testing. (screencap)

Well, Goddammit: Google Glass Won’t Let You Swear

Who’s afraid of a little ? Google, apparently, and the company’s squeamishness regarding dirty language is likely to render Glass borderline unusable for sailors and those of us who prefer our conversation extra salty.

Geek.com points out that the company’s voice translation technology (like most similar programs) censors curses. How prim!  With smartphones or browsers you can just edit manually, but wearable tech isn’t so simple. Read More

By Jessica Roy 4/26 10:22am

Planet GOOG

(Photo: AndroidPolice)

For Some Reason, Eric Schmidt Thinks Talking to a Computer on Your Face Is ‘The Weirdest Thing’

Though current Google CEO Larry Page seems to be quite at home with his Google Glass, the company’s former CEO, Eric Schmidt, is much more candid about the strangeness of having the Internet dance in your field of vision at all times. Speaking to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Mr. Schmidt admitted that talking to a face computer as if it’s your best friend is “the weirdest thing.” At least he’s honest! Read More