Google posts

Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone are rapidly snatching smartphone share as the race to ascendancy sees the competition sent to casualty. The latest Gartner figures today tell us Android and iPhones are gobbling up the space. Between them they now account for 25 percent of the smartphone market (in Q1), up from 12 percent last year. The iPhone took 15.4 percent of the whole thing (up 5 points). Android is up 8 points to 9.6 per cent. What’s critical here is that all other smartphones lost relative share, though unit sales climbed. Android is now the fourth largest operating system, displacing…

Privacy is a hot button issue right now, but Facebook isn’t the only big player vying for a piece of other people’s pies. Google too has stepped up and admitted it might have mistakenly collected personal data while shooting images for it’s Street View system. Google is no stranger to accusations of compromising user privacy online through it’s search products, but apparently decided to go old school, and took to the streets to collect information from users’ own wifi networks. Apparently, the Street View vehicle was programmed with the additional task of collecting data about open wifi hotspots…

Google’s logo has been just about everything at this point. It’s been outer space, it’s been Leo Da Vinci’s drawings, it’s been the Russian ballet, and it’s been every pop culture reference you can name. Now, employees at Google London have recreated the internet’s most-seen logo using the late 90s’ most cliche image technique: the photo mosaic. I’m actually quite intrigued by this little video; with no obvious projection method used, did they just number all 884 photographs, or something? Even then, that’s incredibly impressive, and makes me want to try doing up a giant self-portrait or something…

Foursquare’s gonna have to step its game up. Unwisely-spelled geo-tagging doodad SCVNGR (I was pronouncing it ‘sick vinegar’ in my head all morning before realizing I’m an idiot, and that this isn’t a catchy name for a service) is looking to bust into the big leagues, and with four million dollars and Google’s blessing, it’s really not a question anymore of how, but when. SCVNGR is kind of neat, because it takes Foursquare’s ambitious ‘get out of your living room’ concept and makes it more legit. Upon posting about Foursquare last month, a Techi reader pointed out to me that it actually isn’t necessary…

For a point upgrade, Android 2.2 has high aspirations. Google’s latest upgrade is 450%, that’s right, 450% faster than it’s previous effort. Google’s mobile strategy clearly couldn’t be any further away from Apple’s. Back in 2007 Apple released the iPhone minus some features some said were so critical, the device was bound for failure. Three years later, these features are steadily being added as and when Apple declares them fit for public consumption. Google on the other hand is taking the same approach as with their myriad business ventures – flinging a mess of stuff at the wall and seeing what…

Verizon is planning to release their own version of the tablet computer with a as-yet-unnamed manufacturer who will be using Google’s software on the device. Verizon’s CEO, Lowell McAdam, confirmed that the partnership with Google has been in the works to help Verizon catch up to rival AT&T with a device similar to Apple’s iPad. “We’re working on tablets together, for example. We’re looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience.” McAdam said in an interview with WSJ. Verizon would not discuss a manufacturer or timing, and Google…

The now Internet powerhouse Google used its blog today to call out Microsoft on its new open source 2010 Office suite. A day before Microsoft takes its Office 2010 suite out of beta; Matthew Glotzbach, Google Enterprise Product Management Director, has posted a blog entry urging Microsoft Office users to forget Office and use Google’s new upgrade, Google Docs. “If you choose this path, upgrade means what it’s supposed to mean: effortless, affordable, and delivering a remarkable increase in employee productivity,” writes Glozbach in his post earlier today. “This is a refreshing…

Fresh in from the historical inevitability department comes news of a failed Adobe Flash demo — and an all-new video clip showing what the proprietary multimedia standard can do on an Android phone. Last week’s FlashCamp Seattle saw Flash Platform evangelist Ryan Stewart demo Flash Player 10.1 on a Nexus One phone during his opening keynote. It didn’t go well, wrote blogger, Jeff Croft. Here’s what happened: On his Mac, Ryan pulled up a site called Eco Zoo. It is, seemingly, a pretty intense example of Flash development — full of 3D rendering, rich interactions, and cute little characters….

Last week Google released it’s updated search page, with a slightly new look and easier navigation in the sidebar. Predictably, some people will complain that they preferred the logo, what was Google thinking, how in the world will they live now that the Google logo is a slightly different color, etc. Worry not, Google’s got you covered. If you miss the old page you can have it back by visiting this link. There’s no indication of how long this page will be available, but come on – the new logo is cleaner, brighter and simpler, and the changes to search are all welcome improvements. Embrace the new! Source:…

On a break from his current ‘Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour’, Conan O’Brien had some time to visit Google before his show in San Jose. Google and YouTube teamed up to bring you this video and although its 48 minutes long, I recommend watching it. Not only did he bring his humor, but he took a minute to talk about the power of Twitter. Apparently he didn’t spend a penny on promotion for his tour and solely used Twitter as a means of marketing. He also talks about how much he has learned about social networking and technology in the last three months. Source – YouTube…