Tag: google

EU Unclear on Ban of Cloud Services in Russia Amid Invasion of Ukraine, Amends Latest Sanction Package

The European Union is working on a possible ban on the provision of cloud services to Russia as part of new sanctions against the Kremlin for the invasion of Ukraine, an EU official told Reuters on Wednesday, noting the measure was technically complex.

If introduced, it is unclear how the EU ban would affect Russia, because top cloud providers in Europe are US companies, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

The European Union last week adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus which included an oil embargo, restrictive measures on Russian banks and a ban on the provision of consultancy services to Moscow.

An initial version of a press release on the sanctions package issued by the EU Council on June 3 also referred to a ban on the provision of cloud services, but was later amended to delete that reference. That sanction does not appear in the legal texts published in the official journal of the EU.

A press officer for the Council said the initial mention of the sanction on cloud services was “a material error”, and declined to say whether it may have been caused by a debate on the matter among EU states.

An EU official familiar with decisions on sanctions said the measure on cloud services was never proposed by the European Commission, but added that the EU was working on introducing the ban in possible future rounds of sanctions despite it being technically difficult.

In a tweet on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that the editing of the press release by the EU Council had been done without offering a clear explanation and that it suggested a possible watering down of sanctions.

“We must increase the sanctions pressure, not decrease,” he said.

© Thomson Reuters 2022

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Android Auto for Phone Screens to Stop Working Soon, Upcoming Update Bugged With Wireless Issues: Report

Android Auto for Phone Screens app that is used as a makeshift solution to get Android Auto benefits in older cars will stop working soon, as per a report. The development comes a few weeks after Google announced that it is working on an updated version of Android Auto that will include a new user interface, and support for suggested responses based on Google Assistant’s contextual suggestions. Meanwhile, a separate report suggests that beta testers of the Android Auto are experiencing problems related to the app’s setup process and wireless connection.

The first report comes from 9to5Google which cited posts on Reddit highlighting that the Android Auto for Phone Screens app is displaying a “Android Auto for phone screens will stop working soon” message. While Google hasn’t released any official information on an exact date of closure, the message seems to suggest that the experience will no longer be available in the near future. It is to be noted that last year Google confirmed that it will be shutting down the standalone app from Android 12 onwards.

In an Android Auto-related development, the beta testers have reported various issues on Reddit (via Android Police). It seems that Google is testing a new setup process for the experience. Testers claim that Android Auto on their phones is flashing a message of a setup process which doesn’t seem to be working through a wireless connection. The process, however, works fine when connected to a car.

A few weeks ago, Google announced that it is working on a new version of Android Auto, and this setup process is speculated to be a part of the updated version. The upcoming Android Auto version will get a new user interface that will have navigation, media and communication on one single screen. This version will also have Google Assistant’s contextual suggestions for messages and music recommendation. Google says that this change will help in making the driving experience safer.

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China Announces 3-Member Crew for Shenzhou-14 Spacecraft to Be Launched on June 5



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Google Pixel 7 Series to Use Samsung-Made 2nd Generation Tensor SoC: Report

Samsung will be making the second generation of Google Tensor SoC that will be used in the Google Pixel 7 series of smartphones, as per a report. The series, which is expected to get Pixel 7 as well as Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, was showcased at this year’s Google I/O event and is to be launched later this year. It is to be noted that Google’s latest generation of smartphones use the first generation of Google Tensor SoC, which is also manufactured by Samsung.

As per a report by Korean publisher ddaily, Samsung will mass-produce the second generation Google Tensor SoC, which will be used on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, from June. The Google phones are expected to launch in October. Furthermore, the report claims that the next-generation of the SoC will be manufactured on a 4nm process. The current generation SoC in the Pixel 6, the Pixel 6 Pro, and the Pixel 6a is made on a 5nm process.

Samsung is reported to use panel level package (PLP) technology to manufacture second-generation Google Tensor SoC. It is a technique in which chips cut from a wafer are placed on a rectangular panel, thereby, minimising the discarded edge, reducing cost, and improving productivity. As per a report in February, the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are said to be powered by Google Tensor GS201 SoC, which could be accompanied by a new Samsung Exynos 5300 modem whose details have not been revealed by the South Korean company.

As mentioned, the Google Pixel 7 series was teased at the Google I/O keynote event. Google said that the smartphones will run on Android 13 out-of-the-box, and will have next-generation Tensor SoC. The company also showcased the smartphone’s design, which shows the bar-shaped rear camera module, which will be made of aluminium, instead of glass like on the current Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models.

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Apple Continues to Lead as Global Smartwatch Market Grows 13 Percent YoY in Q1 2022: Report

Apple retained its top spot buoyed by the late launch of Apple Watch 7 as the global smartwatch shipments recorded a 13 percent growth on year-over-year (YoY) basis in Q1 2022 despite concerns over economic slowdown and inflation, as per a report. Samsung solidified its second position with the popularity of Galaxy Watch 4 series. Huawei, Xiaomi, and Garmin completed the top 5 list with Xiaomi performing well with its record-highest quarterly shipments registering a 69 percent YoY growth in the quarter.

As per the Global Smartwatch Model Tracker by Counterpoint Research, Apple maintained a solid lead and registered a 14 percent YoY increase in Q1 2022. Due to delayed launch of Apple Watch 7, some shipments carried over to Q1 2022 helping the iPhone-maker to retain its top spot globally with 36.1 percent market share.

“Although the global smartwatch market saw little growth in 2020 due to the impact of Covid-19, it has continued to perform well since its rebound last year. In particular, Apple accounted for more than a third of the total shipments last year, and it is further increasing its influence with a market share of 36 percent in the first quarter of this year,” said Associate Director Sujeong Lim.

The second place went to Samsung, which registered a 46 percent YoY increase in shipments due to its growth in the APAC region steered by the popularity of Galaxy Watch 4 series. The South Korean giant grabbed 10.1 percent of the global market share. In third place Huawei’s growth remained flat YoY (7.2 percent share) in terms of shipments due to its weak position in the international market.

Another Chinese brand, Xiaomi, registered the maximum (69 percent) YoY growth with its increased penetration in the international markets. The report says that Xiaomi’s sales rode on the sales of low-end segment wearables (under $100, or roughly Rs. 7,800), and grabbed 5 percent market share.

The Counterpoint report also says that Garmin (4.3 percent share) ranked fifth in terms of shipments, but was third in terms of revenues due to its higher ASP. “It occupies the majority portion in the premium segment over $500 (roughly Rs. 38,850),” the report noted. It is followed by Amazfit (4 percent) which rode the success of the GTR 3 and GTS 3 series launched in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Another player is FitBit which saw its sales decrease. It merged with Google, and appears to be undergoing an internal reorganisation. There were no models released last year, and the transition to Wear OS was also delayed. It captured 2.7 percent of market share.

The Counterpoint report says that most major regions grew YoY, but Europe recorded a flat growth.. “We initially expected the war between Russia and Ukraine to have minimal impact on the market in Q1, but the prolongation of the conflict and the resulting logistical constraints have begun to affect the European region. The impact of the war will become more serious in Q2,” Lim added.

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Google Pauses RCS Ads Coming on Messages App in India to Address User Complaints

Google has paused the feature offered to businesses using Rich Communication Services (RCS) to deliver ads in India through its Messages app — as a result of an uproar among users for getting spam. Although RCS is meant as an upgrade over the existing short messaging service (SMS) by offering rich media and interactivity, a list of businesses in the country were found to be abusing the new messaging experience by starting to give a large number of ads to users.

In a statement to Gadgets 360, a Google spokesperson said that the company decided to disable the feature allowing businesses to show ads through RCS on Google Messages as a result of violating its policies.

“We are aware that some businesses are abusing our anti-spam policies to send promotional messages to users in India,” the spokesperson said, adding, “We are disabling this feature in India while we work with the industry to improve the experience for users.”

Google has stopped ads from being circulated through RCS messaging since the past week as a result of the update. However, there is no clarity on how long the ongoing restriction will be in place for businesses as it seems to be a temporary measure responding to user complaints and to make systems more robust to limit instances of ad abuses in the future.

The issue with growing ads on Google Messages in India came into limelight earlier this month.

Affected users had taken to Twitter and other social media platforms to report issues with the increasing number of ads on Google Messages over the past few months. As brought into notice by Ishan Agarwal, the promotional content was annoying users especially due to the fact that it was coming on the app that comes pre-installed and is default on most Android phones nowadays.

Some users even completely disabled the RCS experience on Google Messages to get rid of pesky ads.

A large part of the promotional content included personal loan ads that were pushed by banks and financial institutions including Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bajaj Finserv. Some of the ads were, however, shown by small loan apps.

The ads appearing on the Google Messages app were coming from ‘Verified Business’ accounts. The content could, therefore, be considered as a regular communication by some users.

It is important to note that while businesses are no longer able to show ads on Google Messages, business customers can still use RCS to communicate with their customers on the app.



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Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro Display Specifications Tipped, May Sport Same Screens as Pixel 6 Series

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro — Google’s upcoming flagship smartphones — display specifications have surfaced online, well ahead of the launch of the handsets later this year. The smartphones are tipped to feature the same displays as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro that debuted last year. The company teased its next generation handsets at the annual Google I/O developer conference earlier this month and revealed that they will be powered by an updated Tensor SoC, and will run on Android 13 out-of-the-box.

According to code in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) spotted by 9to5Google, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be equipped with the same Samsung displays as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, respectively. The display driver for the Pixel 7 which is codenamed Cheetah is tagged C10, while the driver for the Pixel 7 Pro codenamed Panther is tagged P10. Both files reveal the specifications of the upcoming handsets, according to the report.

Just like the Pixel 6, the upcoming Pixel 7 will sport a full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) display with a 90Hz refresh rate, as the code points to the use of Samsung’s S6E3FC3 panel. While the specifications of the display remain the same, the display is tipped to be slightly smaller than the Pixel 6 — with height and width lowered by 2mm and 1mm, respectively.

Meanwhile the Pixel 7 Pro will be equipped with the same QHD+ (1,440×3,120) pixels display with a 120Hz refresh rate — the same as the Pixel 6 Pro that was launched in 2021, using the same Samsung S6E3HC3 panel, according to Google’s driver code. Unlike the Pixel 7, the Pro model will offer the same screen size as its predecessor.

The drivers for the Pixel 7 Pro display also suggest that the high-end model could offer users the ability to display content in 1080p mode via a recently spotted setting on Android 13. While this will downgrade the viewing experience on the smartphone, it can help conserve battery — a feature offered on other smartphones with high-resolution displays. Meanwhile, Google is yet to officially reveal the complete specifications of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, ahead of their expected debut later this year.



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Big Tech Including Twitter, Google to Face Impact on Revenue Growth as Advertising Trends Dissipate: Report

After unprecedented revenue growth last year, digital platforms including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Snap and Twitter now face a sobering reality as pandemic-driven advertising trends dissipate, according to an analyst report on Thursday.

Research firm MoffettNathanson cut its 2025 revenue estimates for each of the four companies by double-digit percentages.

US digital ad spending surged 38 percent in 2021 over the previous year. Alphabet, the largest digital advertising platform in the world, posted record revenue of $257 billion (roughly Rs. 19,95,499 crore) that year.

While the companies have warned of pressure from inflation, the Ukraine war and the end of a COVID-induced lift to advertising, the report estimates for the first time the potential impact to revenue over the next few years.

“After years of uber-bullishness, we are truly concerned about longer-term growth in digital advertising,” wrote Michael Nathanson, an analyst at MoffettNathanson, in the report.

Growth in the advertising market last year was driven in part by an “unprecedented spike” in profitability at companies that saved money on office space and expansion and had more to spend on marketing, as well as brands spending on ads to drive customers to shop online, Nathanson wrote.

But e-commerce as a percentage of retail sales has fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, and corporate expenses are likely to rise as workers return to the office, according to the report.

The firm said it now expects online advertising in the United States to grow by 12.5 percent annually through 2025, down from the previous estimate of 18.5 percent annual growth.

© Thomson Reuters 2022

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Google Maps Adds Historical Street View Feature to Mobile, Unveils New Camera

Google is celebrating the anniversary of Street View on Google Maps with the release of new features and a brand new camera. To start with, the company is bringing the iconic Street View feature that encompasses 220 billion images in over 100 countries and territories, to mobile. With the new update, Android and iOS users can look at historical Street View images from previous years on the Google Maps mobile app. Google has also unveiled a new camera to collect more Street View data. The new device weighs less than 15 pounds and will be available alongside Google’s Street View cars and Trekker backpacks starting next year.

The search giant via a blog post on Tuesday detailed new features that Google Maps is rolling out to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Street View. The Street View feature is getting upgrades and is coming to Android and iOS platforms allowing users to explore historical Street View images from previous years on the Google Maps mobile app. While viewing Street View imagery of a place, users can tap anywhere on the photo to see details about the location. Then tap See more dates to travel back to see the historical imagery Google published of that place when the feature launched back in 2007.

Additionally, the company is piloting a new portable camera to capture high-quality images of traditionally under-mapped areas like the Amazon jungle. The new camera has a compatible design and it weighs less than 15 pounds. According to Google, it is roughly the size of a house cat. It will be fully rolled out next year. It comes with a modular design and options for customisation and can be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated right from a mobile device.

The new Street View camera will sit with Google’s current fleet of Street View cars and Trekker backpacks to help users gather high-quality images of areas like remote islands with more details including lane markings or potholes.

To mark the 15 years of Street View, Google is allowing users to customise the chevron icon that represents their vehicle when in navigation mode to a celebratory Street View car. Furthermore, the Pegman indicator will be dressed up in a birthday hat and balloons. This is only available on the desktop service.

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Vivo V25 Pro 5G Appears on IMEI Database; RAM, Storage Configurations Tipped: Report

Microsoft Announces Windows 11, Edge, Teams Updates at Build 2022



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Google to Allow Tinder Owner Match to Offer Alternate Payment Systems to Users on Play Store

Match Group said on Friday that Alphabet’s Google will allow the dating apps maker to offer users a choice in payment systems, eliminating Google’s control over user data.

Match sued Google in May, calling the action a “last resort” to prevent Tinder and its other apps from being booted off the Google Play store for refusing to share up to 30 percent of sales.

The company said it has withdrawn its request for a temporary restraining order against Google after some concessions, including eliminating its complete control over user data.

Match’s lawsuit came against the backdrop of ongoing cases brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games, dozens of US state attorneys general and others in targeting Google’s allegedly anticompetitive conduct related to the Play store.

The development comes almost 10 days after Google rejected an app store monopoly suit filed by Tinder parent Match Group, saying it is a “self-interested” campaign putting money ahead of user safety.

Google’s response came a day after Match filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco accusing the tech titan of abusing control of the Play Store that sells digital content for Android-powered phones.

“This is just a continuation of Match Group’s self-interested campaign to avoid paying for the significant value they receive from the mobile platforms they’ve built their business on,” a Google spokesperson told AFP.

The litigation comes as part of an ongoing battle by Match, Epic Games and others to force Google parent Alphabet and iPhone maker Apple to loosen their grips on their respective app stores.

Match’s filing came after Google modified Play Store rules to require its family of apps to use the Internet giant’s payment system, which collects fees of up to 30 percent on transactions, court paperwork said.

Google has made it clear that it will remove Match apps from the Play Store if they do not comply with the rule, Match said in the filing, which described such punishment as a “death knell.”

“This is a case about the strategic manipulation of markets, broken promises, and abuse of power,” Match said in the suit.

Google countered that Match is free to make its apps available elsewhere online, including on its own website.

While the App Store is the only gateway for content to get onto Apple mobile devices, users of Android-powered smartphones or tablets can download apps at their own risk from online venues other than Google’s Play Store.

Match’s lawsuit contends that despite having options, users get content for Android devices from the Play Store more than 90 percent of the time.

Match apps offered in the Play Store qualify to pay fees of just 15 percent on subscriptions, according to the Google spokesperson.

© Thomson Reuters 2022

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North American Smartphone Shipments Grew 4 Percent in Q1 2022, Apple Led The Market: Canalys

The North American smartphone market has witnessed a small 4 percent increase in shipments in the first quarter of 2022, as per a report by market research firm Canalys. Apple became the primary driver in this case, which grew 19 percent to achieve a 51 percent market share in Q1 2022, while Samsung secured the second spot. Motorola took third place in this stream, whereas TCL and Google managed to get into the top fourth and fifth positions, respectively during the quarter.

A report from Canalys says that the North American smartphone shipments reached 39 million units in the first quarter of 2022, marking a 3.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth.

Photo Credit: Catalys

Apple was the largest contributor to smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2022 with 19.9 million shipments that helped it achieve a market share of 51 percent, the report states. Samsung shipped 10.5 million units taking the second spot with a market share of 27 percent. The South Korean brand saw a year-on-year growth of just 1 percent.

Motorola took the third spot in terms of smartphone shipments in North America. The company shipped 4 million products and recorded a 56 percent annual growth with a 10 percent market share.

On the other hand, TCL and Google captured the fourth and fifth spots in the North American smartphone shipments market with 4 percent and 3 percent market share, respectively in Q1 2022.

“High inflation places an enormous amount of pressure on carriers in North America as rate increases will be necessary,” said Brian Lynch, Canalys Analyst. “Heavy discounting and high trade-in values are being used to lure in and retain customers for the region’s biggest telcos, easing pressure on the high-end smartphone market. Supply will remain a key bottleneck for the top vendors in the upcoming quarter, but North America will continue to be a priority and is likely to maintain healthy supply levels. The North American market is well placed to avoid any significant volatility in shipments despite the uncertain outlook of its economy,” Lynch further added.

The iPhone 13’s high performance is being considered as the powering background for the Apple’s strong shipment growth in the North American smartphone segment in Q1 2022, according to the report.

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