Google acknowledges we're on our devices too much, proposes some time management solutions

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

What was most impressive was the company's acknowledgement that we are spending too much time glued to our devices and that we're missin out on real life by being mired down by notifications and being distracted by social media, mobile games, infinite scroll experiences like Instagram of Facebook.

There were a lot of cool announcements today at Google I/O, the yearly pow-wow for all things Google. This is usually the time when we see the next version of Android as well as enhancements and improvements to the Google ecosystem, large as it is. Android is the world's leading smartphone platform with well over two billion user install base.

Google showed off smart functions of Google Assistant that can enable it to make calls and appointments just like a real assistant can. Improvement to the Photos app that can colour old Black and White photos using Machine Learning algorithms. Improved keyboard functionality and more intuitive Android OS features across the board.

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Apple hires former Google AI head to bolster machine learning strategy

The technology sector is changing dramatically before our eyes. Fresh from last week's massive Microsoft reorg which saw the Windows group subsumed into various other departments as Microsoft focuses on artifical intelligence, we now have Apple making an addition to its team.

John Giannandrea was previously Google's head of AI. He oversaw the Search team and developed applied AI at Google.  He is considered a heavy hitter in Silicon Valley for his expertise, his background stems back to such noted companies as Netscape and General Magic. Giannandrea will report directly to Tim Cook, and is largely expected to revamp Apple's existing AI products like Siri.

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Android smartphones still tracking user location even if location services are off

An investigation by online news service Quartz reveals that Android smartphones continue to collect and send data to Google even if these settings are voluntarily turned off by users. Quartz says Google is collecting the addresses of nearby mobile phone masts and sending them back to Google. The details were collected even when location services were turned off on the phones, no apps had been installed and there was no SIM card in the phone

A Google spokesperson told Quartz that the cell tower addresses were included in information sent to the system Google uses to manage push notifications and messages on Android phones since early 2017. While it is understandable that Google and its apps require location data for improved accuracy, it is alarming that user settings are so blatantly disregarded by the core OS. Granted, there's no imminent danger of getting hacked or exploited simply by sharing location data, the lack of transparency and the cavalier attitude Google has taken with user location data raises a red flag for other types of user data the company might be collecting. In response, Google is saying that it isn't storing this data and it will turn off the collection feature so it works as originally advertised.

Source: Quartz

Google partners with uBreakFix for Pixel 2 repairs in US and Canada

uBreakiFix, an industry leader in electronics repair, today announced an extended partnership with Google to provide an exclusive walk-in repair option for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones, the new flagship phones from Google which launched on October 19.

With features like a water-resistant unibody, a smart camera with dual-pixel autofocus and up to 7 hours of battery on 15 minutes of charging, it’s easy to see why Business Insider dubbed the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, “the best Android phones you can buy.” Consumers can bring their Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones to uBreakiFix stores for repair support.

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