Tag: google

Google Chrome Could Add New AI Features to Assist With Webpage Reading and Search

Google Chrome added three new artificial intelligence (AI) features earlier this year. These features were powered by Google’s Gemini AI model and offered specific tools for customisation, tab organisation, and assistance in writing. These features are currently only available in the US. Now, Google has hinted at what some of the upcoming AI features might be. Based on an interview published by the tech giant, it appears that search and webpage reading might get AI powers soon.

On Wednesday, Google published an interview with Google Chrome’s Director of Engineering Adriana Porter Felt, who described the process of coming up with helpful AI features that could make using Chrome an easier experience. Felt said, “We’d been thinking about how to bring AI technology to the browser to make the typical actions you do every day — using tabs, using Search, writing in forms, reading webpages — a little easier.’ The director added that the entire Chrome team brainstormed ideas together.

Now, a closer inspection of the quote highlights that two areas, using Search and reading webpages, have not seen any new features so far. The last update added AI features for using tabs and writing in forms. It could be that the next features that the Chrome team builds could be based on these two areas of the browser. Search should be relatively easier considering Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) already exists and it could be integrated directly at the browser level.

But if the team does not want to take that route, another feature could be AI-powered filters that further organise the results based on the topic of the query. For example, a query for the best ice cream flavour could sort the results into groups of ice cream stores, YouTube videos, opinion-based blog posts, and miscellaneous.

Reading webpages is another area where the company might add a new feature. We have already seen AI-powered webpage summarisation tools within Microsoft’s Copilot and Samsung’s Galaxy AI. A similar feature could help users quickly understand what a long article on a website is all about.

However, it should be noted that these features are just speculations based on the comments by the Chrome Director of Engineering. The developers behind the Google browser might be working on an entirely different set of features. We will have to wait till Google officially announces them.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Android 15 Might Allow Third-Party Camera Apps to Offer Improved Video Stabilisation

Android 15 could allow third-party apps to offer improved quality in terms of video stabilisation, according to a report. Code from Google’s upcoming Android operating system suggests that the firm could introduce a new ‘extension’ that will let alternative camera apps downloaded from the Play Store access the same algorithms used by the default (or “stock”) camera app on a user’s smartphone, in the coming months. Manufacturers may choose to enable this functionality, but Google might offer a software-based alternative to access these advanced camera features.

Android Authority spotted a new Camera2 extension called “Eyes Free videography” in the code for Android 15, on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). A Camera2 extension allows third-party camera apps to access algorithms that are available to the manufacturer’s camera app. Google reportedly offers access to five extensions — Auto, Bokeh, Face retouch, HDR, and Night — on several smartphones running on Android 14.

The new Eyes Free videography Camera2 extension on Android 15 “aims to lock and stabilize a given region or object of interest”, as per the description for the feature spotted by the publication. While the previously mentioned extensions are related to capturing images, the new extension is designed to improve video stabilisation on third party camera apps.

It’s worth noting that OEMs will still need to implement the new Camera2 extension for Android 15 — some manufacturers have reportedly enabled access to one or more of the five extensions available on Android 14. However, the report states that Android 15 could introduce a new “allow camera software extensions” toggle designed to provide a software implementation of the feature that might not be as optimised, but would allow third-party camera apps to access the extension and offer improved video quality.

Google is expected to roll out Android 15 to eligible Pixel smartphones later this year, and the next–generation operating system is expected to arrive with support for lock screen widgets, privacy features aimed at hiding sensitive details while the screen is being recorded, a new ‘app quarantine’ feature, a ‘private space’ to hide apps, and several other new features. Some of these are currently accessible on the latest Android 15 public beta release, while others could be enabled by the company when the stable version is released later this year.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


SocialFi Is the New Buzzword in Web3 World, Here’s What We Know About It



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google’s Android 14 May Security Update Rolls Out, Pixel 8 Gets Camera Bug Fix: How to Download

Google has rolled out the Android 14 May security update for supported Pixel smartphones. Earlier this week, the company announced that its latest updates for Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet bring fixes for one critical severity and many high severity bugs in Android system components. The company has also revealed that it has resolved a camera-related bug on the Pixel 8 series, while a Bluetooth issue affecting some Pixel handsets has also been fixed with the latest May Android security update.

According to the company’s release notes, the latest Google Pixel monthly security update is available for the company’s recent handsets, from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to the Pixel 5a 5G. According to the company, Pixel smartphones that are running on Android 14 will get the May security update, which is expected to roll out to all users in phases within a week.

Pixel phone owners to download and install the May security update will benefit from improvements to stability or performance for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio on their smartphones, according to the company’s changelog. The latest update also fixes a bug that affects camera performance on the Pixel 8 series while recording video under certain conditions.

Google’s Android Security Bulletin for May states that the most severe security issue that has been patched is a critical security vulnerability in the System component that would allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges on a user’s device, without any additional execution privileges.

The May security update includes patches for high severity vulnerabilities affecting the Android Framework, System, and Kernel components. It also comes with patches for security flaws that affect Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Arm components, according to Google’s Android Security Bulletin.

In order to download the latest Android 14 May security update on your Google Pixel phone, you can launch the Settings app and tap on System > Software updates > System update. You will need to restart your phone once the update has been installed, in order to complete the process. 

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google’s Circle to Search-Like Image Lookup Feature Comes to iOS via Official Shortcut: How to Download

Circle to Search — Google’s new visual lookup feature introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Pixel 8 series earlier this year — has made its way to many other smartphones over the past couple of months. Now iPhone owners can also use a form of Circle to Search feature via the Google app for iOS and an Apple Shortcut. Unlike the Android version of Circle to Search, the Shortcut on iOS has some limitations, and relies on Google Lens.

Google Lens Design Manager Minsang Choi announced the arrival of a new Shortcut on the Google app for iOS via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Dubbed “Search your screenshot”, it will let you perform a custom action called “Search Image With Lens” via the Shortcuts app. When activated, the Shortcut takes a screenshot and uses Google Lens to look up the contents of the image.

In order to use the Shortcut on an iPhone, you will need to ensure that your phone is running iOS 13 or later and download the latest version of the Google app for iOS. The Shortcut can be accessed directly by tapping the link shared by Choi on an iPhone. Alternatively, you can choose to set up the Shortcut manually by selecting Take screenshot and followed by Search Image With Lens.

While Android users can simply hold the navigation bar to use the Circle to Search feature, iPhone owners can expedite the process of launching the Shortcut by mapping to the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Meanwhile, navigating to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap in the Settings app will allow you to launch the Shortcut using a double tap or triple tap gesture on most modern iPhone models.

While launching Google’s new Shortcut is quite straightforward once it has been set up, it is limited in terms of functionality compared to the Circle to Search feature on Android smartphones. While the Shortcut will pass your screenshot to Google Lens for a visual lookup, you can’t draw a circle or highlight a part of the screen to look up. However, it’s a convenient way to quickly look up something on your iPhone with a couple of taps.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

OpenAI Tipped to Be Working on a ChatGPT-Powered AI Search Engine to Rival Google Search

OpenAI might be working on an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered search engine that will be based on its ChatGPT. As per a post on a forum, the AI firm might have already created the domain and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates for the website, which are necessary to authenticate a website. If this is true, then OpenAI will directly position itself to compete with major players in the segment such as Google Search and Microsoft Bing as well as Perplexity AI, which also has its own AI search engine.

The information comes from a community post on Y Combinator’s Hacker News which claimed, “Search.chatgpt.com domain and SSL cert have been created.” The post was made by a netizen with the handle daolf, and the post had 127 upvotes at the time of writing. We took a look at the posting history of the user and did not find any leaks or rumours, although the tipster does share a significant amount of news articles on the forum. While this suggests that the information might be genuine, there is no way to know for sure.

However, some AI influencers have also begun posting about a ChatGPT-powered search engine on social media. Tipster @nonmayorpete posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the speculated search engine and even included the date May 9, suggesting that is the date when the domain will go live.

We tried to access search.chatgpt.com but the web page simply states “Not found”. Since it is a subdomain of chatgpt.com which is already taken by OpenAI, it is not possible to check the status of the subdomain.

An AI-powered search engine is not a new concept, however. Perplexity AI, which launched in 2022, is a popular example of a chatbot-controlled search engine. Users can search their queries and it scours through the internet to find relevant information in text form as well as shows websites that can offer additional information. Notably, Perplexity AI uses Microsoft Bing for its web indexing. If the rumours are true, OpenAI’s search engine product could function similarly.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


OnePlus 13 Alleged Render Suggests Revamped Rear Design With Rounded Corners


Apple Pencil Pro Name Spotted on Japanese Website Ahead of ‘Let Loose’ Event



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Samsung Good Lock App Reportedly Available on Google Play Store in Early Access

Samsung’s Good Lock app, a customisation suite for Galaxy smartphones that allows users to play around with various modules and even add new functionalities, is reportedly now coming to the Google Play Store. The app offers modules to customise lock screen, notifications, home screen, and more. Earlier, the app was only available in the Galaxy Store. However, a report claims that it was seen in the Play Store in early access. Notably, the app is still only compatible with Galaxy phones and will not work on other Android handsets.

According to a report by 9to5Google, the Good Lock app was spotted in the Google Play Store in early access. The early access means it will not be available to all users and only some will be able to install and use it normally. We, at Gadgets 360, were not able to locate the app in the Play Store, which could be due to its limited availability to only a few countries. At the moment, it appears the app is not available in India.

Based on the screenshot shared by tipster @tarunvats33, the app’s current version is 2.2.04.95. The app is 3.3MB in size and its description highlights all the usual functionalities that the Galaxy Store version of the app shows. Reportedly, the app shows up even for non-Galaxy Android phones. However, it comes with the disclaimer that the phone is not compatible with the app.

Since the app is currently in development, it may not work for all users. It is recommended that users do not install it for their primary device as it may have some instability issues, even if you do get the access.

Samsung launched the Good Lock app in 2018 as a customisation tool for its Galaxy smartphones. The app introduced an advanced level of personalisation tools on supported Galaxy devices. It features apps such as Lockstar, Quickstar, Task Changer, and ClockFace. It also allowed users to have greater control over Sound settings through the preloaded Sound Assistant. Additionally, it also allows users to customise their notifications and add visual elements to them.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Patents Reveal Apple Could Be Working on Clamshell Foldable With an Interesting Hinge Design: Report



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google Pixel 8a New Renders Showcase a Fifth Case Colour, Prices Tipped Too: Report

Google Pixel 8a is rumoured to make its debut at the company’s annual Google I/O conference, set to take place on May 14. As the expected launch date nears, more information about the successor to the Pixel 7a has surfaced online. A tipster has shared more renders of the upcoming Pixel phone’s cases and surprisingly there is a fifth colour option. The smartphone, on the other hand, is only believed to arrive in four colourways. Another report also highlights that the phone’s US prices may not witness a hike this year.

The information about the colour options comes from tipster @MysteryLupin, who also shared the previous renders showcasing the phone in four colours — black, beige, blue and green. On Tuesday, he posted another set of renders on X (formerly known as Twitter), where the cases of the handset can be seen. But this time, there is a surprise.

There is an additional fifth coral pink colourway, which was not included in the previous renders. While this development is surprising, it could be that Google might pull a move out of Apple’s book and release a coral-coloured Pixel 8a later this year when the phone reaches its mid-cycle.

Now, onto the price. A new report by Smartprix claims that the US price of the Google Pixel 8a will not see any hike and the smartphone will be available at $499 (Roughly Rs. 41,600) for the 128GB internal storage variant and $599 (Roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 256GB variant. For those in the US, this might prove to be a great value as the new Pixel phone is expected to come with some big upgrades while keeping the price the same.

The same report also predicted that the India pricing of the smartphone could start at Rs. 44,999 based on the pattern last year. Last year, the Pixel 7a sold at a slightly higher price than the actual currency conversion. This is normally done to offset the additional charges and taxes in the country.

Based on a previous report, the Google Pixel 8a is expected to be equipped with Google Tensor G3 chipset and get seven years of security updates. It is also rumoured to feature an OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and all the new AI features that were seen in the Pixel 8 series.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google Pixel 8, Nothing Phone 2, Pixel 7a Discounted Prices Revealed Ahead of Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale

Flipkart’s Big Saving Days Sale will kick off on May 3 for all customers. The six-day-long sale will bring discounts on various smartphones from brands like Apple, Samsung, Nothing, Google, Realme and Vivo. As we inch closer to the date, the e-commerce platform has revealed some of the smartphone deals that will be available during the sale event. Besides the general discounts, Flipkart is providing cashback for purchases made through select bank cards. There will be additional no-cost EMI options and exchange discounts during the sale.

The e-commerce website has started disclosing some of the major smartphone offers. Google’s Pixel 8, Pixel 7a and Nothing Phone 2 5G are confirmed to see price cuts during the sale. The Pixel 8 will be priced at Rs. 49,999 in the upcoming Big Savings Days Sale. The handset was unveiled with a price tag of Rs. 75,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model and Rs. 82,999 for the 256GB storage variant.

Buyers can grab the Pixel 7a for a starting price of Rs. 31,999 in the upcoming sale, down from the launch price of Rs. 43,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model. Additionally, the Nothing Phone 2 will have a starting price of Rs. 29,999, instead of the original launch price of Rs. 39,999. All the teased sale prices are inclusive of offers. 

Flipkart will give shoppers a chance to get up to a 10 percent instant discount on purchases made using SBI credit cards and EMI transactions in the upcoming sale. Interested buyers can also avail of an additional discount by exchanging their old smartphones. There will be additional no-cost EMI options and Flipkart Pay Later offers, as well.

Flipkart’s Big Saving Days Sale will open on May 2 for Plus users and will continue until May 9. Flagship smartphones like iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 12 are already confirmed to be available for discounted prices during the sale.

 

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google Play Store Banned 2.28 Mn Policy-Violating Apps in 2023, Sued Developers Behind 2 Fraudulent Apps

Google Play Store prevented 2.28 million apps from being published in 2023 due to major policy violations. In a new report published by the tech giant, it highlighted the steps taken in the last year to ensure the security and privacy of Play Store users. The company further highlighted that it banned 3,33,000 developer accounts from the platform for confirmed malware and repeated severe policy violations. Google has also introduced new policies to improve the overall user experience in the app marketplace.

In a post on its security-focused blog, Google explained the measures it took in the year 2023 to protect its users from malicious apps, malware, and instances of online scams. Apart from preventing 2.28 million apps from being published on the grounds of policy violations and banning 333K developer accounts, the platform also rejected or remediated around 200K app submissions for not ensuring proper use of sensitive permissions. Sensitive permissions include background location tracking, access to SMS and Contacts, and more.

Additionally, the app marketplace has also filed a lawsuit in federal court against two app developers for making multiple attempts to upload fraudulent investment and crypto exchange apps to scam users. The company highlighted the fraudsters also provided misrepresentations to create a loophole in the acceptance process. “This lawsuit is a critical step in holding these bad actors accountable and sending a clear message that we will aggressively pursue those who seek to take advantage of our users,” Google added.

The tech giant is also making policy changes to ensure greater user safety. Apps that enable account creation will now need to provide an option to initiate account and data deletion within the app as well as online. This feature has also been added within the Data safety section of the Play Store.

Google has also restructured its App Defense Alliance (ADA) after partnering with Microsoft and Meta as steering committee members. ADA is now under the Joint Development Foundation, part of the Linux Foundation family. The company says the alliance is aimed at adopting app security best practices and guidelines as well as preparing countermeasures against emerging security risks.

The safety initiatives are not just limited to apps within the Google Play Store. The company said it boosted the capabilities of Play Protect to allow real-time scanning at the code level of an app downloaded from alternative app marketplaces. It claims that it was able to detect over five million new malicious off-Play apps. As per the post, Play Protect’s machine learning algorithms learn from each submitted app and self-improve over time.

\

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition Launched in India: Price, Specifications


Samsung Says AI to Drive Technology Demand in Second Half After Strong Q1 2024



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google Parent Alphabet Joins $2 Trillion Club as Results Show AI Strength

Alphabet Inc. closed decisively above a $2 trillion market capitalization for the first time on Friday, as a powerhouse earnings report reassured investors that the Google parent would be a major player in artificial intelligence.
The stock rose 10% to $171.95, its biggest one-day jump since July 2015, resulting in a valuation of $2.15 trillion. The advance added almost $200 billion to the company’s market capitalization, making for one of the largest single-day value adds in stock market history. Shares have risen 23% this year, compared with the 5.3% gain of the Nasdaq 100 Index. 

The $2 trillion milestone followed the company’s results, where revenue beat expectations on the strength of its cloud-computing unit. Cloud demand was fueled by growth in AI, while Alphabet also cheered investors by introducing a dividend and announcing a $70 billion buyback program.

“Alphabet is tremendously well managed, its free cash flow is absolutely astonishing, and it has a massive R&D budget, so while no one knows what company will have the best AI products, this is a tough one to bet against,” said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at Phoenix Financial Services.

While the stock breached the $2 trillion level on an intraday basis in 2021, and again earlier this month, this is the first time Alphabet has closed above it. Doing so puts it into rarefied territory — only Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp, Saudi Aramco, and Nvidia Corp. have surpassed the threshold. Nvidia — driven by the massive demand for its AI chips — surpassed $2 trillion earlier this year, while Amazon.com Inc. isn’t far from $2 trillion itself.

The path to $2 trillion has been somewhat rocky. The stock has been volatile amid some high-profile criticism about the company’s AI offerings, and prior to the latest report, some investors had questioned its ability to compete with firms like OpenAI in this critical area despite spending heavily in the field for years. 

Wall Street remains broadly positive on the stock, as nearly 85% of the analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying. Both earnings and revenue are expected to grow at a double-digit pace every year through 2026. 

In addition, the stock continues to look like something of a bargain. Shares trade around 23.5 times estimated earnings, making it among the cheapest of the so-called Magnificent Seven. The stock also trades at a discount to the Nasdaq 100, and is only modestly above its 10-year average multiple.

© 2024 Bloomberg L.P.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version