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Android phones to top 1B by year's end, Eric Schmidt says

One billion people will be using Android smartphones within the next six to nine months, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt predicted today, noting the operating system continues gaining traction across the globe.

Schmidt, speaking during the AllThingsD mobile conference in New York, also said there will be nearly 2 billion Android phones within a year or two. Currently, there are more than 750 million Android phones in use across 320 carriers and 160 countries, Schmidt said, and there are 1.5 million sales or activations of Android every day.

"Android is by far the primary vehicle by which people are … Read more

Google loses autocomplete defamation suit in Japan

A Japanese court has ordered Google to modify its autocomplete function so that it does not suggest a connection to crimes when a Japanese man's name is entered, adding that the Web giant must pay 300,000 yen ($3,100) to the plaintiff.

The ruling by the Tokyo District Court comes after its injunction last year backing the plaintiff, a Tokyo man who has not been identified. Google did not follow the injunction.

The man claimed that when Google users begin typing his name, the search engine would automatically suggest criminal acts he did not commit. The links would produce articles slandering him, he said. … Read more

Google: 'Glassware' developers prohibited from displaying ads

Google, which relies on advertising for some 95 percent of its revenue, doesn't want ads on its hotly anticipated Google Glass eyewear.

The blanket prohibition came in the fine print of a policy made public this evening, which says "Glassware" developers may not "serve or include any advertisements" and they "may not charge" users to download apps for the device.

Today's announcement, which coincided with news that Google Glass Explorer Edition prototypes were about to ship, indicates that the Mountain View company is proceeding carefully, even slowly, when allowing third-party developers access … Read more

Google releases Mirror API guide for Glass developers

As the Google Glass Explorer Edition begins rolling off the assembly line, the Web giant has published documentation for the Mirror API, the programming interface that developers will use to create services for the high-tech eyewear.

Although Google Glass was already demonstrated at the SXSW conference, the new documentation goes into much more depth for writing what Google calls "Glassware," including quick-start guides for Java and Python, developer guides, and best practices outlines.

"Today we're releasing the API documentation and a bunch of example code, so even though the API is in a limited developer preview, … Read more

Google reveals technical specs for Google Glass

Along with word that Google Glasses are rolling off the assembly line, we're getting our first look at the specs behind the high-tech spectacles.

The eyewear will be capable of capturing 5-megapixel images and video at a resolution of 720p, according to the technical specs Google released this evening. The first glimpse of the eyewear's hardware details come as the Web giant sent out an e-mail today to everyone on the Glass Explorers list to say that a few of the $1,500 wearable devices had already come off the production line.

Google Glass will also feature 16GB … Read more

Google Glass Explorer Edition starts shipping now

Google promised last week that Google Glass Explorer Edition prototypes would be in developers' hands within a month. That month-long wait has now turned into just a few days.

The Web giant sent out an e-mail today to everyone on the Glass Explorers list to say that a few of the $1,500 wearable devices had already come off the production line. Anandtech's Brian Klug posted an image of this e-mail on Twitter (see below).

"We've been working hard on the Glass Explorer Edition and we have great news: the hardware and software are now ready for … Read more

Eric Schmidt: Regulate civilian drones but not Google Glass

At some point in the not-too-distant future, the skies could be filled with drones -- swarms of insect-size and larger drones hovering over neighborhoods, alleyways, and even inside bedrooms.

That's a nightmare future, according to Google's Eric Schmidt. In an interview with the Guardian, he said. "You're having a dispute with your neighbor. How would you feel if your neighbor went over and bought a commercial observation drone that they can launch from their backyard? It just flies over your house all day. How would you feel about it?"

Following the proliferation of mini-drones, someone … Read more

Hacker celeb 'Mudge' joins Google after DARPA

Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, who was hired three years ago to be a project manager at the U.S. Department of Defense's research and development division known as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has announced via Twitter that he's returning to the private sector with Google.

In his new role at Google, The Security Ledger reports, Zatko will be working in an unspecified role with Motorola Mobility's Advanced Technology and Projects division, reporting to Regina Dugan. Dugan is also new to Google, hired last month away from her position as director of DARPA.

Given what … Read more

Google's Schmidt says civilian drones pose privacy threat

Google's executive chairman is no stranger to privacy concerns. But here he is speaking out against the use of drones by us regular Joes, saying they could infringe on our privacy and that we should regulate them.

In a subscriber-only interview with the Guardian, quoted by the BBC, Schmidt posed the scenario: "You're having a dispute with your neighbor. How would you feel if your neighbor went over and bought a commercial observation drone that they can launch from their backyard? It just flies over your house all day. How would you feel about it?"

Drones … Read more

YouTube creates 'Explosions at Boston Marathon' video page

As Boston grapples with the aftermath of two explosions that hit the city during its annual marathon, YouTube has created a way for people to immediately get the latest news.

The video steaming site has built an official YouTube Spotlight page devoted to all video related to the blasts. Titled "Explosions at the Boston Marathon," the page has 26 videos as of this writing -- from President Barack Obama's speech to videos captured by onlookers to police press conferences detailing the explosions. More videos will surely be added as more is uncovered about what happened.

Earlier today, … Read more