google

The head of News Corp and conservative television network Fox News is calling on someone, anyone, to "expose" Internet giant Google. Rupert Murdoch made that request in a recent tweet. Sunday evening Murdoch had this to say via popular social ... networking site Twitter: "Please expose Eric Schmidt, Google etc. Just wait!" Apparently feeling guilty about the post, Murdoch followed up on his initial tweet by writing "Oops! Better ignore last tweet." Reason For Targeting Google Unclear Murdoch hasn't specifically attacked Google in the past, so it's not entirely clear why he made the declaration. ... (view more)

Facebook recently took heat from users upset with the company's claim that it could use members' photographs for advertising purposes without asking permission. Despite that outrage, Google is now implementing a similar policy. According to reports, ... users of Google's own social networking service, Google+, could soon see their pictures placed in advertisements. Those same users will not be consulted before these ads are made or compensated once the ads are placed online. Google Puts Positive Spin on New Terms of Service In a recent statement Google said that, through a new terms of service ... (view more)

Google appears ready to show its rivals' logos on search results pages. It's the latest development in a game of brinksmanship being played between Google and European regulators. The European Commission, which administers laws that apply across the ... continent, has been investigating claims that Google unfairly exploits its dominance of the search market. Some of the claims relate to the way Google sells advertising on its sites and the way it "scrapes" content, such as review extracts from other sites. The biggest issue, though, is the suggestion that Google has intentionally promoted its own ... (view more)

Google has denied claims that its practice of scanning Gmail messages for advertising purposes breaches wiretap laws. But a judge says there may be a case to answer, particularly when it comes to scanning messages sent by non-Gmail users. Although ... Gmail is free to use, Google makes money by putting adverts at the top of the inbox and beside messages. These ads are usually based on topics that are mentioned in messages -- the theory being that somebody who reads and writes a lot of messages about golf may be more likely to click on an ad for a golf supplies store. Google repeatedly notes that ... (view more)

Google is making changes to the way commenting works for its YouTube videos. The aim is to make it easier to engage in discussion without being bogged down by crude abuse. Over the years, Google has repeatedly struggled with commenting on the site, ... particularly on videos that can attract hundreds of thousands or even millions of views. Many customers have complained about sexist, racist, or other offensive comments that add little to the discussion and drown out any attempt at genuine discussion. The last major change was part of an attempt to persuade users to sign up for Google's social ... (view more)

Google says it's planning to become a major investor in a healthcare firm that aims to help people live longer. The firm will be called 'Calico' and its mandate is to extend the human lifespan rather than simply find cures for life-threatening ... diseases. Its partnership with the world's most prominent Internet firm has led TIME magazine to pose the question: "Can Google Solve Death?" For its part, Google isn't sure that's possible. Google chief executive officer Larry Page describes such ambitious plans as "moon shots", and acknowledges it could be a couple of decades before they see results. ... (view more)

Sony is launching its own version of the Google Chromecast plug-in stick for televisions. But Sony's 'Smart Stick' will be substantially more expensive than Google's device and may only work with some TVs. Google's Chromecast launched this past ... July. It plugs into an HDMI port on a TV set and lets users play virtually any online videos using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The Chromecast uses WiFi to connect to the Internet and stream the video. Ironically, Sony's device actually uses Google technology -- in this case, features taken from Google TV, a range of set-top boxes that aimed to ... (view more)

For most Internet users, passwords are just a part of life. We enter them to access our desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, email programs, and cloud storage accounts. But managing all of those passwords can be a major hassle. That's why many ... firms are devising systems that allow us to ditch the traditional password. Recently, Canadian firm Bionym showed off the Nymi , which uses an individual's unique heart rate to skip the typical login process. Now, one of Google's most prominent security executives says traditional "passwords are dead." Google Exec: "Game is Over" for ... (view more)

A US federal court has ruled that Google can face charges that it unlawfully collected data through WiFi networks. Google had unsuccessfully argued that what it did was no different than picking up a radio broadcast. The ruling sets a precedent for ... the way WiFi networks are treated under the law. Experts believe it may also make it easier for the authorities to take court action against hackers who intentionally set out to steal data. The case centers on Google's Street View program, which involved taking photos for the company's Google Maps service. Google Mistakenly Collected Personal Data ... (view more)

Google is reportedly negotiating with the National Football League (NFL) in an effort to take over rights to the NFL's Sunday Ticket package. If the two sides reach a deal it could be a major boost for online broadcasting. The package, currently ... offered by satellite firm DirecTV, allows viewers to watch all Sunday NFL games that aren't available on local television in their area. This includes people who are fans of a team from somewhere else in the country and people who simply want to have access to as many games as possible. Google and the NFL have both confirmed the meetings have taken ... (view more)