Google Gaming

Google expected to announce a new streaming, cloud-based gaming service

BY BRIAN PASCUS

Google is expected to unveil a new streaming game service at the 2019 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco this week. The tech giant will be making its foray into online gaming, joining Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo in a $140 billion industry.

Android's Best Feature

Google Is Bringing Android's Best Feature to the iPhone

There are fewer dealbreaking differences between Android and iOS than ever, but this is one of them.

By Eric Limer
GOOGLE

The height of the Android-iOS fanboy wars are years in the past. The two dueling operating systems have more or less converged into bland, uniform competence, and the age of the hip-and-exclusive iOS-only app are all but over. One tiny but crucial difference that still remains is haptic vibration on the virtual keyboard: Android has it and iOS does not. But a recent update to Google's Gboard keyboard is closing that gap too.

New Google Maps

Google Maps is using giant virtual arrows to stop people from getting lost

By Rachel Metz

San Francisco (CNN Business)Google Maps wants to make it easier for people find their way in busy urban spaces, and it thinks large cartoon arrows can help.

On Monday, Google Maps began letting some users test a new augmented-reality feature in its mobile app that shows graphics — such as highlighted arrows and street names floating in midair — over a live view from their camera on their smartphone screens. It is meant to help them navigate city streets.

Google's Bonkers Radar Motion Tech

FCC Clears Google's Bonkers Radar Motion Tech

Project Soli's radar-based motion tracking tech now has the official mandate to use the radio spectrum it needs. 

By Eric Limer

Back in 2016, Google teased a bit of tech that appears almost magical at a glance. Instead of using cameras or accelerometers to make motion control happen, engineers from Google's experimental Advanced Technology and Projects division turned to extremely short-distance radar with fantastic results. At least in a demo setting, anyway.

Donate Using Google Assistant

You can now donate to a charity using Google Assistant

Google Assistant will now help you donate to a charity with a single command. IMAGE: MASHABLE/LILI SAMS

BY REBECCA RUIZ

Donating money to a charity or nonprofit organization just got easier for people who use Google Assistant. The voice-activated program now responds to commands to "donate to a charity" or to "make a donation." Google launched the feature last month, according to 9to5Google.

More Tech in NYC

Another Tech Company Has Big Plans in NYC

Google plans $1B expansion

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

A building, right, that has been chosen by Google as part of its expansion plans is near a graffiti-covered wall, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Silicon Valley is becoming Silicon Nation. Google announced Monday it will spend more than $1 billion to build a new office complex in New York City that will allow the internet search giant to double the number of people it employs there.

Google's Top 2018 Searches

The World Cup, Meghan Markle and 'Black Panther' topped Google's 2018 global search trends

The top U.S. searches included Hurricane Florence, Mega Millions lottery results and 'Election Results.'

Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018.
Danny Lawson / AFP - Getty Images file

By Jasmin Boyce

The World Cup, Meghan Markle and “Black Panther” topped Google’s 2018 global search trends, while Unicorn cake, "Fortnite," and “how to apply magnetic lashes” rose to the top of searches in the U.S.

Google+ Shutting Down Early

Google is shutting down its Plus social network sooner than expected after discovering a second security bug

Jillian D’Onfro

KEY POINTS

• Google is shutting down its Plus social network in April 2019, instead of August as originally planned, because of a new security bug.
• The most recent bug affected 52.5 million users and made private profile information available to third-party apps.
• Google says that it has no evidence that the data was accessed or misused, and that it didn’t include sensitive information like passwords or financial data. 

Google Chrome

Google Chrome Is Poised to Swallow the Whole Internet

And that is very bad news.

By Eric Limer

 MICROSOFT

In 2015, with Internet Explorer a dead browser walking, Microsoft stepped back into the web browser wars with the speedy new Microsoft Edge. Built around a revamped and tuned-up version of the engine that powered Microsoft's web browsers since the late 1990s, Edge was meant to challenge the Google's hegemonic Chrome, potentially sparking a new browser war from which surfers everywhere would benefit.

New Google Fi

The New Google Fi Is the Perfect Excuse to Dump Your Crumby Mobile Carrier

After years in beta, Google's wireless service is launching for real and even coming to iPhones.

By Eric Limer
GOOGLE

Today, Google announced "Google Fi," the grown-up version of its experiment in being a wireless service provider. It's compatible with all sorts of phones, including iPhones, and if you've got one, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Google Sexual Harassment

Memo to Google Employees Reveals Widespread Sexual Harassment

By Jim Roberts

Google acknowledged on Thursday that it had fired 48 people over the past two years for sexual harassment, including 13 senior managers or higher.

CEO Sundar Pichai disclosed the terminations hours after the New York Times reported that the company had paid a $90 million exit package to former exec Andy Rubin in 2014, even after an employee accused him of sexual misconduct.

Google Translate

Google Translate Just Got Even Better for Travelers

Getty Images

STACEY LEASCA

Traveling certainly comes with plenty of perks — like meeting new people, gaining new perspectives, and eating lots of new delicious foods. But, one of the most frustrating parts of adventuring around the globe may just be our attempts to translate everything. From road signs, dinner menus, and subway maps, translating your every move can be a discouraging and lengthy experience. But, have no fear, Google Translate is here.

Google Street View

This Man Was Just Looking for Directions When He Found His Wife With Another Man on Google Street View

Google Maps

ANDREA ROMANO

Heartbreak can happen at the most unexpected times, but you never really anticipate it when you’re just looking for directions.

Call-Screening Robot

Google Made a Call-Screening Robot for Your Pixel Phone

CRAIG LLOYD  @craig_lloyd 

As a sort of branch off of Google’s Duplex, the company announced Call Screen, which is a feature where your Pixel phone can answer the call for you and ask who’s calling.

Google's Home Hub

Google's Home Hub Aims to Be 'Secret Weapon' for Home Chefs

By Carlo Versano

Google held its "Made by Google" event in New York Tuesday, unveiling a slate of new gadgets, including a pair of new Pixel phones and a brand-new smart speaker/screen device, positioning itself to take on similar products from Facebook and Amazon.

Google+ Completely Implodes

Google+ Completely Implodes Under Privacy Breach

After a breach that exposed the data of half a million people over the course of three years, the network is closing its doors.

By Eric Limer
GETTY IMAGESSEAN GALLUP

In the wake of reports that Google+ exposed the private data of hundreds of thousands of users to the world, the search giant has unceremoniously shuttered the social media network, ending access for the general public.

Google Maps is Getting Better

Google Maps is Getting Better Commute Features, Music Player Integration

CAMERON SUMMERSON  @summerson 

Google is always looking to improve your windshield time with Maps, and two new features announced today should help with just that: a new commute tab and music player integration.

Don't Google These People

Don’t Google these 10 celebrities without reading this first

[Photo: courtesy of JoJo Whilden/Netflix]

BY MELISSA LOCKER

If you’re curious about Ruby Rose’s net worth, feet, what she will be doing after Batwoman, or any other detail that people might search for online, be careful what you click on.

Chrome & Android

Google Keeps Pushing ChromeOS and Android Closer Together

CAMERON SUMMERSON  @summerson 

A supposed merge of Android and Chrome OS has been rumored for years—to the point where some people believe one will eventually replace the other. That’s not what’s reallygoing to happen—but the two are joining forces.

Chrome

Why is Chrome Telling Me to “Update or Remove Incompatible Applications?”

CHRIS HOFFMAN  @chrisbhoffman 

Many Windows applications, such as antivirus software, inject code into Chrome to modify its behavior. This results in more frequent browser crashes, so Google is taking a stand by blocking these techniques.

Why Are Applications Injecting Code?

Some applications inject code into other running processes to modify their behavior. On Windows, this technique has existed for a long time. It’s used by many different types of applications, from antimalware tools to dangerous malware. This is often called DLL injection on Windows, too.

In other words, applications inject code into Chrome to modify Chrome’s behavior. A security program might want to add some additional checks to Chrome’s browsing, or a piece of malware might want to better spy on your browsing.

Even if the application is using code injection with good intention, it can cause problems by interfering with Chrome’s code. Chrome’s developers don’t know exactly how this additional code is going to behave. As Chrome developer Chris H. Hamilton puts it: “This type of software injection is rampant on the Windows platform, and causes significant stability issues (crashes).”

When Will Chrome Completely Block Code Injection?

Google originally announced its plans to block this technique in November 2017, noting that Windows users with software injecting in Chrome are 15% more likely to have Chrome crash. Google notes that there are better techniques for applications that require this sort of functionality, like installing a Chrome browser extension that uses Chrome’s native messaging to communicate with another program on the system.

The original announcement said Chrome 69 would begin blocking all code injection in September 2018. However, on our system, the beta version of Chrome 69 currently only warns about code injection if your browser experiences a crash. It does not block that injection.

Chrome’s developers frequently A-B test new features like this—in other words, they roll different features out to different Chrome users to see how people respond—so it’s possible some Chrome 68 users already saw this warning.

Google originally announced plans to block all code injection starting in January 2019. According to Hamilton, Google still plans to block it “soon,” at which point the warning will stop appearing because Chrome will silently block all attempts at code injection. Microsoft Edge was the first browser to make the change on Windows, and it’s already blocked code injection since 2015.

Are My Applications Really Causing Crashes?

Even if Chrome is warning you about incompatible applications, they aren’t necessarily causing problems—unless your browser is crashing.

Hamilton notes that Chrome is merely warning about any software using code injection “without making value judgments.” The software you have installed might be working correctly and never causing any problems, but Google doesn’t like this technique and is working on blocking it.

How to Check for Incompatible Applications

If Chrome crashes, you will see a notification asking you to “Update or remove incompatible applications” or “Update or remove problem applications.” This will take you to a list of applications using code injection on your system.

You can also access this list—even before Chrome crashes—by heading to Menu > Settings > Advanced, scrolling down to the bottom of the screen, and clicking “Update or Remove Incompatible Applications” under Reset and Clean Up. If you don’t see this option here, no applications on your system are injecting code into Chrome.

You can also type chrome://settings/IncompatibleApplications into your address bar and press Enter. If you don’t see a list of incompatible applications, you have none installed.

(Note: This option is only present starting with Chrome 69 on our system. Chrome 69 is scheduled for stable release on September 4, 2018.)

Chrome will list all the applications using code injection you have installed. Many antivirus applications, including Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Emsisoft, Eset, IObit, Norton Security, Malwarebytes, and WinPatrol appear here.

Other applications that have appeared here include Acronis True Image, Dropbox, and RocketDock. The list may be surprising, but any application using code injection will appear in the list.

The “Remove” button next to an application will take you to the Settings or Control Panel window where you can uninstall the application if you like.

If you aren’t experiencing crashes, there’s no reason to uninstall the application—Google will block its code injection attempts in a few months, anyway.

Google is clearly hoping that application developers will update their applications to no longer depend on code injection techniques. After all, developers don’t want Chrome encouraging people to uninstall their applications. Either way, this error message won’t be around for too long.

We don’t think it’s a huge loss. As Chrome’s developers note, code injection techniques contribute to crashes, and fewer crashes will be an improvement. We’re also not a huge fan of antiviruses interfering with the browser.