Google news
Android Has 47 Times More Malware Than iOS According to Apple CEO
Image sourced from Reuters. CEO of Apple, Tim Cook has said that Android has significantly more malware than iOS and that “sideloading” smartphone apps is something “not in the best interest of users.” Virtually speaking at the VivaTech 2021 conference in Paris, France, on June 16, Cook claims that Android carries “47 times more malware” than Apple’s OS because of the way that iOS has been designed. Namely, that there’s only one App Store and that all Apps loaded to the Store undergo a strict review process. App Sideloading Android-operating devices allow users to sideload apps, meaning that users can download apps directly from third parties or websites into their phones without having to go through the Google Play store. Obviously, unaware users can be caught off-guard by malware in side...
Cape Town Tech Startup Secures $14.5-Million More in Funding
“In emerging-market megacities, hundreds of millions of people use public transport to get where they need to go. Before WhereIsMyTransport, there was no central source of data for these networks, despite their size, scale, and importance,” reads a blurb on the startup’s official website. “WhereIsMyTransport helps people understand mobility in emerging-market megacities. We’re trusted by industry leaders like Google, the World Bank, and WSP.” Founded in Cape Town in 2015, the tech startup focusing on mobility creates data maps for formal and informal public transport networks in cities and uses this data and tech to improve the public transport experiences of commuters. WhereIsMyTransport hopes to make public commutes more reliable, predictable, safe, inclusive and more accessible to indiv...
More & More iOS Users Could Be Leaving to Android – New Research
Image sourced from Stuff.com. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } New information has emerged from the court case between Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games and Apple in May. Specifically, leaked internal company documents shown in court during the case reveal that Apple continued to lose iPhone users over several quarters between 2019 and 2020. Epic Games vs. Apple /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Epic’s suit over Apple was about, what the games publisher believed was, anti-competitive policies in Apple’s infamously rigid App Store. The App Store does not allow app developers to sell directly to users. The games company publicl...
Google Launches Live Caption Feature for Chrome Users
Image sourced from Pymnts Google has rolled out its Live Caption feature for Chrome browser users. The feature was initially only available on the Pixel 2 and then to selected Android devices. But now, XDA has revealed that the feature is finally going live on the stable Chrome 89. Live Caption provides users with real-time captions for audio – like videos, podcasts, phone calls, video calls, and audio messages – even content they record themselves. All captions are processed locally, never stored, and never leave the device. To enable Live Captions, Chrome 89 users should go to Settings > Advanced > Accessibility – users may also need to download speech recognition files. “For now, it only detects and transcribes English-language audio, but hopefully, support for more languages will...
Google Reduces Play Store Fees for Developers by up to 50%
Image sourced from Pymnts Google has revealed that the service fee charged to Play Store developers could be reduced by up to 50%. The tech giant believes this is will help developers build sustainable businesses. “We work with partners every day to understand the challenges they face and help them bring their innovative ideas to life. Getting a new app off the ground and into orbit is not easy!” reads a blog post from Google. This why, starting from 1 July 2021, Google will reduce the service fee Google Play receives when a developer sells digital goods or services to 15% for the first $1M (USD) of revenue every developer earns each year. “With this change, 99% of developers globally that sell digital goods and services with Play will see a 50% reduction in fees. These are funds that can ...
Google News Initiative Launches in Africa
Image sourced from Pymnts Google has announced the second Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge in Africa, with an “open call for projects that increase reader engagement and explore new business models for media”. The first GNI Innovation Challenge saw 21 projects in 13 countries receive funding last year. Awardees were from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE. In Nigeria, Ringier Africa Digital Publishing was awarded funding to increase personalisation across its platform using a blend of prediction, recommendation and local information pages to increase user engagement. Kenyan awardee Africa Uncensored is aggregating news from members of the public to produce at scale. Applications open today ...
Google Stadia could Rollout New YouTube Streaming Feature
Image sourced from Games Radar Google is expected to roll out a new Stadia feature which would allow users to directly stream to YouTube. According to 9to5Google, the tech giant has already started a “slow rollout of direct YouTube live streaming for its Stadia platform with the button no longer showing a ‘coming soon’ banner for some users” – but “only on the web app, not Chromecast or Android”. Writer, Ben Schoon says “I was able to briefly test this feature after getting streaming to work on my account.” “After tapping the “Stream directly to YouTube” button under the livestream button in Stadia’s friends menu, Stadia asks for a title for the streaming video as well as privacy options, the audience (for/not for kids), and the option to show a viewer count while you’re playing. You can a...
Google to Warn Users if their Passwords are Hacked
Sourced from IOL. Google has revealed that it would notify Chrome users if their passwords have been compromised. In an official blog post, the tech company said that it would be improving password security on both Android and iOS devices. To find out whether your passwords have been compromised, Chrome will send users a copy of their usernames and Passwords using a special form of encryption – this lets Google check them against lists of credentials known to be compromised, but “Google cannot derive your username or password from this encrypted copy”. “We notify you when you have compromised passwords on websites, but it can be time-consuming to go find the relevant form to change your password. To help, we’re adding support for “.well-known/change-password” URLs that let Chrome take user...
Google Rebrands G Suite as Google Workspace
Google has officially unveiled the redesign of its collection of office apps as Google Workspace – formerly known as G Suite. Google Workspace is expected to still include Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and more. “Whether you’re returning to the office, working from home, on the frontlines with your mobile device, or connecting with customers, Google Workspace is the best way to create, communicate, and collaborate,” reads an official blog post from the tech company. [embedded content] With Google Workspace, Google is introducing three major developments: new, deeply integrated user experience that helps teams collaborate more effectively, frontline workers stay connected, and businesses power new digital customer experiences a new brand identity that reflect...
Google Launches Android 11 Go
Image sourced from The Verge Google has unveiled Android 11 Go – designed with low-powered budget devices in mind. A key feature of the stripped-down OS is that it is able to work on devices with 2GB of RAM or less. However, Google told The Verge that Android 11 Go is “only going to come out with new phones with that much memory”. Otherwise, Google expects Android 11 Go will allow apps to launch 20 per cent faster than on Android 10 Go. Google Launches Android 11 Google has launched the highly-anticipated Android 11 – the latest version of its mobile operating system – to a number of users who own select Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO or realme devices. The tech company says that this update has been optimised for how people use their phones – “giving you powerful device contr...
Google Launches Android 11
Image sourced from The Verge Google has launched the highly-anticipated Android 11 – the latest version of its mobile operating system – to a number of users who own select Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO or realme devices. The tech company says that this update has been optimised for how people use their phones – “giving you powerful device controls. And easier ways to manage conversations, privacy settings and so much more”. Here are some of Android 11’s key features: Accessibility /* custom css */ .tdi_3_433.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_433.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Voice Access – Intuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. Even use Voice Access offline, for more support whenever you need it. Talkback braille ke...
Gmail Suffers Outage Across the Globe
Google has confirmed that Gmail suffered an outage after users reported being unable to send emails and attach files. “Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change,” says the company in its latest update. Google Maps is Getting a more Realistic Update Google has revealed that it’s rolling out “new visual improvements that bring even more detail and granularity” to its global map. The company hopes that this will give help users get a better understanding of what an area looks like whether they’re exploring it virtually or planning a visit. Google uses high-definition satellite imagery that maps out 98% of the earth’s population. “With a new color-mapping algorit...
