Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source'

Google, according to reports from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" is finally locking down the open source and easily-fragmented Android operating system.

As it currently stands, Google hands over the 'final' code for each version of Android, and OEMs and developers then spend some time customizing the OS to fit their hardware, and to create a unique and marketable flavor. That's all set to change, however.

Over the last few months, according to several people familiar with the matter, Android licensees such as HTC, Motorola and Facebook, have been asked to sign 'non-fragmentation clauses.' This new contract caveat will give Google the right to review and pass judgment on all changes to the Android OS. Two executives at Facebook say that they're unhappy that Google gets to review its changes to Android -- which is understandable, given Facebook and Google are direct competitors -- and there have also been allegations that Google is preventing some Verizon devices from shipping because they include Microsoft's Bing instead of Google search.

Continue reading Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source'

Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source' originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-demands-veto-on-android-changes-stretches-definition-of/

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Happy Thanksgiving from Giz [Thanksgiving]

By now you're probably either done or in the process of stuffing your stomach to the point of a hospital visit. Us too. This Thanksgiving, we're more thankful than ever to have you along with us. You, and this stuff: More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8qsIrz63EGM/happy-thanksgiving-from-giz

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Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation

Google Chrome 11 -- which just recently made the move to the browser's beta channel -- has received a minor update that gives developers access to two new APIs.

The first is a full-featured proxy API, which will, for example, allow users to set different proxy servers for normal browsing and Incognito mode. Proxy auto-config scripts are also supported by the API.

The second -- Web Navigation Extension -- is a bit more expansive. This API will allow devs to build everything from more powerful safe browsing extensions -- like Traffic Light -- to data analysis and reporting extensions.

Both APIs are currently experimental, so you'll need to enable them on the about:flags page to try out any relevant extensions. Apart from a proxy example built by Google and shipped with the Chromium source, we're not aware of any examples just yet, however. We'll let you know when we spot any slick, new extensions which do surface.

Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/chrome-11-beta-adds-new-experimental-apis-for-proxies-web-navig/

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Black Friday E-Commerce Spending Up 26 Percent To A Record $816M; Amazon Most Visited Retailer

As we heard on Saturday, IBM reported a 24 percent increase in online sales for Black Friday this year. ComScore is announcing even stronger results for e-commerce, with Black Friday seeing $816 million in online sales, making it the heaviest online spending day to date in 2011 and representing a 26 percent increase versus Black Friday 2010 ($648 million spent). That's an impressive jump considering the 2009 to 2010 increase in Black Friday spending was only 9 percent. Thanksgiving Day saw an 18 percent increase in online spending to $479 million. U.S. consumers have spent $12.7 billion already in the first 25 days of the November to December 2011 holiday season, up 15 percent from the corresponding days last year.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/F5NPzaW3iI0/

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Expansys USA offering unlocked Galaxy Nexus, taking orders now

We'll keep this short and sweet, because we're pretty sure a few of you will be interested in this. The Galaxy Nexus is available to order in the USA. 

Expansys USA have the unlocked, 16GB GSM version in stock now and are shipping within days. (Ours will be here Friday!) As the image here shows though, there's not many and as this is written the initial batch have been allocated. At present they're showing as shipping within 4 days.

If you haven't done already, check out our review of the GSM version of the Galaxy Nexus. Then if you're on AT&T or T-Mobile, hit the source link for the product page.

Source: Expansys

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/GjXDzx3Zwtk/story01.htm

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South Korea plans trial run of robot prison guards

This isn't the first time we've seen a prison turn to robots for a little assistance, but South Korea looks to be going a bit further than most with its latest robotic endeavor. The country's Ministry of Justice has announced that it will be conducting a one-month trial run of robot guards at a prison in the city of Pohang starting in March -- a project that's expected to cost one billion won (or about $863,000). "The robots are not terminators," as the university professor in charge of the endeavor told The Wall Street Journal, but rather monitors that will patrol the corridors of the jail and alert the human guards if they detect any unusual activity. Inmates will also be able to use the robots to communicate with the guards, and the folks behind the bots are apparently doing their best to keep things from turning into too much of a dystopian future -- they're now said to working on making the robots appear more "humane and friendly."

South Korea plans trial run of robot prison guards originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/south-korea-plans-trial-run-of-robot-prison-guards/

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The Paper Wine Bottle Is Lightweight and Cheap

As somebody who has to haul several empty bottles down to the recycling point every day, and then schlep another couple of full wine bottles back up the many stairs to my apartment, I love the idea of UK-based Martin Myerscough’s paper wine bottle.
The bottle consists of a paper outer and a foil-bladder inner, and [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/the-paper-wine-bottle-is-lightweight-and-cheap/

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