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Google Bard now requests your actual location for better answers
zikalify posted a topic in Front Page News
Google Bard now requests your actual location for better answers by Paul Hill Google has pushed out another update for its generative AI chatbot, Bard. This time, it has added the ability for users to allow access to their location so that Bard can use this and provide more relevant results. One popular Google Search query is “What time does X close?”, you’ll typically see the searched-for business in your Search results with a list of closing times. You can now do this in Bard with the location update and it will give you the closing times of the local stores you asked about. Google didn’t really expand too much on what else the precise location would enable you to do, but Bard itself says you can get location-specific information on places like coffee shops and restaurants, get directions from your current location, find events that are happening near you, and get local weather information. Having tested the weather forecast, Neowin can report that it works well but there is a small grievance. In the UK, where a hodgepodge of imperial and metric measurements are used, the main unit for measuring the temperature is Celsius. Despite knowing that the query was coming from the UK, Bard still decided to put out its response in Fahrenheit, a quick clarification swiftly resolves this though. To see which location Google Bard has for you, just look in the bottom-left corner and you should see a blue dot if you’ve given permission for it to use your location, followed by your town or city. You can also press update location if it’s now out of date due to travelling. OpenAI took an early lead in the generative AI race but while it still gets updates, its knowledge is still stuck in 2021 and it cannot do as much now as Bard, such as accessing your location or grabbing relevant pictures from the web and inserting them into your query results (at least on the free tier). We are still early on with regards to the maturity of these generative AI projects so we should see a lot more new features arriving over time. It’s so early that Google still refers to Bard as an experiment. -
Google slapped with $60 million fine for misleading customers about data collection
Usama Jawad96 posted a topic in Front Page News
Google slapped with $60 million fine for misleading customers about data collection by Usama Jawad Australia's watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is well-known for going after companies who mislead customers or engaging in anti-competitive practices. Most recently, it fined Samsung $14 million for inaccurate claims about the waterproof nature of its Galaxy devices, filed a lawsuit against Uber for misleading fares, and also sued Meta for fraudulent crypto ads on Facebook. Today, it has slapped Google with a $60 million fine for misleading Australian customers about data collection practices. Original gavel image via Brian Turner / Flickr The case has been going on since October 2019, with the ACCC alleging that Google is not being sufficiently clear about its data collection practices. It highlighted that Google could still access and retain location data even if location history was disabled. This is due to location data still being collected if the "Web & App Activity" toggle is left on and then a user utilizes a Google app. In essence, both toggles had to be disabled for Google to stop collecting your location data, and the ACCC emphasized that this wasn't made clear to the end-user. Although Google had already fixed the problem in December 2018, the ACCC saw fit to retrospectively fine the company for misleading customers during the period of 2017-2018. In April 2021, the court ruled against Google saying that it did "partially" mislead its customers. Today, after much back and forth, Google and the ACCC have agreed to a $60 million penalty. ACCC Chairperson Gina Cass-Gottlieb noted that: This significant penalty imposed by the Court today sends a strong message to digital platforms and other businesses, large and small, that they must not mislead consumers about how their data is being collected and used. [...] Personal location data is sensitive and important to some consumers, and some of the users who saw the representations may have made different choices about the collection, storage and use of their location data if the misleading representations had not been made by Google. Both parties have agreed that $60 million is a "fair and reasonable" fine, and the court has agreed that the amount is also suitable to deter any future breaches in this space. Source: ACCC via The Guardian -
Google will erase location history data on visits to abortion clinics
Anushe Fawaz posted a topic in Front Page News
Google will erase location history data on visits to abortion clinics by Anushe Fawaz In the backdrop of nationwide protests in the U.S. that took place amid controversy sparked by new state laws on abortion due to the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade, Google has decided to expunge users’ location data on visits to fertility and abortion clinics in a bid to protect the confidentiality of their reproductive rights. In addition, Google shall provide users with easy controls to auto-delete data pertaining to visits to addiction treatment facilities, weight-loss centers, cosmetic surgery clinics, and other health-related visits. Google intends to take these steps to counter any potentially out-of-line demands by government agencies to willfully collect this private data and use it as evidence against its users. It is pertinent to note that location history, by default, is switched off in any Google account. Google has also been facing pressure from the Alphabet Workers Union to remove any such personal data, according to the New York Times. “We remain committed to protecting our users against improper government demands for data, and we will continue to oppose demands that are overly broad or otherwise legally objectionable”, says Google Senior Vice President Jen Fitzpatrick. Google already regularly shares information about the governmental demands it receives about access to user data in a Transparency Report. Fitzpatrick also commented that: We’re committed to delivering robust privacy protections for people who use our products, and we will continue to look for new ways to strengthen and improve these protections. We support Congressional efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement on nationwide privacy protections that move the burden of privacy of individuals and establish good data practices across the board. In the meantime, we will continue our focus on securing our products and protecting the privacy of our users around the world. Deletion of location history data for Google customers visiting certain medical health centers will commence over the next few weeks. -
Snapchat will now allow you to share your real-time location with trusted friends
Usama Jawad96 posted a topic in Front Page News
Snapchat will now allow you to share your real-time location with trusted friends by Usama Jawad Snap continually adds new features to its Snapchat app for content creators and consumers alike. It has now introduced a new capability that allows you to share your precise location sharing in real-time with those you trust. The idea is to offer a way to let your friends and loved ones track you when you're traveling. There are multiple use-cases for this such as increased safety when traveling an unfamiliar route or in a cab. You could also leverage it to proactively inform your friend about how far you are from their home when you're traveling to meet them. Overall, the feature is quite similar to the Find My app on iOS. Snap says that you can enable location sharing for 15 minutes or up to multiple hours with individual users. However, it will only be shown to select mutual friends in the app. This feature is off by default and there is no option that lets you share your location with everyone in your friends list. Snap says that in order to prevent stalking, it allows you to turn off live location sharing without notifying those involved. For this first endeavor, Snap has partnered with It's On Us, a non-profit that aims to stop campus sexual assault. You can enable live location sharing by visiting a friend's profile and then choosing how long you want to show them your whereabouts. After that, they can see your live location from their shared chatbox with you. Source: The Verge -
Google is getting sued for misleading users about their location data
Karthik Mudaliar posted a topic in Front Page News
Google is getting sued for misleading users about their location data by Karthik Mudaliar Google is getting sued by a bunch of states in the US for "deceiving and manipulating customers" so that it can get access to their location data. Attorney General Karl A. Racine, along with three other attorneys general, added that Google also makes it nearly impossible for users to stop their location from being tracked. The other attorneys plan to file lawsuits in their own state courts in a bipartisan manner. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Google has been systematically deceiving consumers about how their locations are tracked and used. The company has also misled customers to believe that they can control what information Google collects about them, as opposed to the reality. The OAG claims that there is effectively no way consumers can prevent Google from collecting, storing, and profiting from their location data. Attorney General Karl A. Racine said: “Google falsely led consumers to believe that changing their account and device settings would allow customers to protect their privacy and control what personal data the company could access. The truth is that contrary to Google’s representations it continues to systematically surveil customers and profit from customer data. Google's bold misrepresentations are a clear violation of consumers’ privacy. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan group of attorneys general that will hold Google accountable for its deception. Through this lawsuit, we will hold Google accountable, and in the process, educate consumers on how their personal data—particularly sensitive data about their physical location—is collected, stored, and monetized. This result of our collective action is that consumers, not Google, will determine how their data is or is not used." A lot of Google products rely on data taken from users to function the way they do. For instance, Google Maps relies on users to show how much traffic is there on a street. Google's other products like Search, Gmail, and YouTube are highly driven by data and the company analyses them to build detailed user profiles to eventually sell highly targeted ads. With this lawsuit, the OAG is seeking an injunction to stop Google from committing such "deceptive and unlawful practices." -
Vodafone successfully trials highly accurate tracking technology
zikalify posted a topic in Front Page News
Vodafone successfully trials highly accurate tracking technology by Paul Hill Vodafone has trialled a new satellite-based tracking technology that works with its Internet of Things (IoT) platform to track vehicles, drones and cargo with an accuracy of 10 centimetres. The company said that this is a dramatic improvement over current standard satellite-based systems which are accurate to three metres (300 centimetres). Using Sapcorda’s enhanced satellite navigation system and its own IoT platform, Vodafone says that the tracking technology will be deployable on transport where its necessary to know the precise location of a vehicle. In the case of first responders, the firm said medics will be able to track the location of drones carrying supplies such as blood. Commenting on the news, Vodafone Business Platforms and Solutions Director Justin Shields said: “We might not be able to locate a needle in a haystack yet, but we are getting close. What we can do now is take new digital services like this one, integrate it with our global IoT platform and fast networks, and offer it securely at scale to many millions of customers. Our in-building 5G and IoT services already allow manufacturing plants, research laboratories and factories to carry out critical, and often hazardous, precision work with robots. Now we are applying the same levels of accuracy to the outdoor world.” By coupling Vodafone’s IoT platform and Sapcorda’s Global Navigation System Service (GNSS) any inaccuracies caused by the curvature of the earth, the atmosphere and clock differences on the satellites can be resolved. Vodafone says that when its new system is coupled with video and on-board diagnostics, vehicle operators will be able to carry out inspections and pause machines remotely when needed. The firm didn’t announce pricing for the new service, only that it will complement existing solutions that it provides to business customers across 54 countries. -
Google will eventually review all Android apps requesting background location access
Abhay V posted a topic in Front Page News
Google will eventually review all Android apps requesting background location access by Abhay Venkatesh Android 10 brought with it many new features, among which were privacy-focused ones such as the ability to block apps from harvesting location data when not in use. This was essential for those that were wary about the tendency of apps to use location information in the background and when not in use. With Android 11, Google is granting users the ability to allow one-time access to apps for background location usage. In addition to user-facing privacy-related features, the firm today previewed a few policy changes coming to Android and the Google Play Store. The company states that they found that many apps that requested background location data did not need access to a user’s location at all. To combat such behaviors from app makers, the search giant will be updating the Play Store policies to ensure that developers acquire approval from Google for their apps to access location services in such a manner. The factors that the firm will consider for approval include the following: Does the feature deliver clear value to the user? Would users expect the app to access their location in the background? Is the feature important to the primary purpose of the app? Can you deliver the same experience without accessing location in the background? Interestingly, the firm states that apps made by Google will also be evaluated against these factors, and that the submissions will be reviewed by the people in the firm’s team. The company also detailed three example use cases that would either warrant the need for background access or otherwise. An app that sends emergency or safety alerts as part of its core functionality - and clearly communicates why access is needed to the user - would have a strong case to request background location. A social networking app that allows users to elect to continuously share their location with friends would also have a strong case to access location in the background. An app with a store locator feature would work just fine by only accessing location when the app is visible to the user. In this scenario, the app would not have a strong case to request background location under the new policy. To help developers submit their use cases for approval before the policy change and to receive feedback, Google has provided a timeline listing the timeframes that will be followed for this change: April: official Google Play policy update with background location May: developers can request feedback on their use case via the Play Console with an estimated reply time of 2 weeks, depending on volume August 3rd: all new apps submitted to Google Play that access background location will need to be approved November 2nd: all existing apps that request background location will need to be approved or will be removed from Google Play The Mountain View giant has also provided some links and documentation such as the background location access checklist and privacy best practices. -
Microsoft unveils cross-Azure IoT collaboration with IoT Messaging
Hamza Jawad posted a topic in Front Page News
Microsoft unveils cross-Azure IoT collaboration with IoT Messaging by Hamza Jawad In May, Microsoft released the Robot Operating System for Windows 10 IoT, enabling developers to leverage Azure IoT and machine learning capabilities. Then, last month, the tech giant introduced digital distribution centers to help bring advanced AI to Azure IoT Edge. Today, Microsoft has unveiled cross-Azure IoT collaboration to simplify location and spatial intelligence usage with IoT messaging. With this move, the firm believes that it has overcome a difficult hurdle in a fully interconnected world, that is, bringing huge amounts of information together with spatial intelligence. As such, Azure IoT, customers can now gain more understanding and insights about their "things" with regard to space. Furthermore, Azure Maps APIs can be utilized to implement IoT spatial analytics, and hence, track and capture relevant events occurring in space and time. A general use case could comprise of the monitoring of asset movement for companies, providing a geographical context with respect to IoT. More specifically, a geofence that is created based upon the determined route for a refrigerated goods delivery truck traveling from one city to another may be stored in Azure Maps. Now, assuming the truck leaves the designated path, this event may be detected by the black box on the vehicle, with notifications being sent out through the Azure Event Grid across various communications mediums. Furthermore, data collected from sensors regarding the location of things now not only leads to insights as to the required actions, but more importantly, where these actions are to be carried out. With this improvement, Microsoft believes that cost effectiveness, as well as time management can be massively improved. With repeated usage alongside AI implementations, at some point, customers may also be able to predict future issues and opportunities. For those who can provide their location via IoT messages, it is recommended that they start doing so immediately. Those who are unable to do so can still get their location associated with the service through other means such as RevIP, Wi-Fi, and cell tower triangulation. -
Twitter admits to 'accidentally' sharing some iOS location data with a partner
Usama Jawad96 posted a topic in Front Page News
Twitter admits to 'accidentally' sharing some iOS location data with a partner by Usama Jawad After Facebook's Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal over a year ago, tech companies have been under the magnifying glass when it comes to handling user data. Despite this intense scrutiny, bugs still seep through; in September 2018, it was revealed that Twitter had been exposing user data to unauthorized parties for over a year. In fact, just last month, Facebook also admitted to unintentionally uploading email accounts of 1.5 million of its users. Now, in yet another one of these "accidents", Twitter has announced that it has been sharing the location data of some iOS users with one of its trusted partners. In a blog post by Twitter, the company has revealed that if you used more than one Twitter for iOS account and allowed the "precise location" capability on one of your accounts, location data would still be gathered from any account being used on that same device. This data was then shared with one of its trusted partners, whose identity is currently unknown. Twitter went on to say that it had initially planned to remove location information being sent to this partner altogether but was unable to do so. Instead, it obfuscated this information partially, so that the user's location could not be more precise than that of a ZIP code or a city. While the movement of users could not be tracked, it is important to note that the trusted partner may have also shared your location with an advertising company, which means that you could be getting highly regional ads if your data was inadvertently shared. The company has also apologized for its oversight, and has stated that location data stayed on the partner's system for only a short amount of time before it was deleted. It has also resolved the bug in the Twitter for iOS app, but has still cautioned users to check their privacy settings to ensure that only relevant data is being shared with the firm. Affected users are already being contacted to inform them that the bug has been fixed. -
Google alters wording of controversial policy regarding user location tracking
ShirtShanks posted a topic in Front Page News
Google alters wording of controversial policy regarding user location tracking by Sharath Ravishankar Four days ago, an investigation by The Associated Press (AP) revealed that despite certain users preferring to turn off Google's Location History toggle in their activity control panel, Google would continue to track their location irrespective of their choice. The option previously said, “With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored”, which, as it turned out, was an incorrect statement. As a result, Google faced backlash, primarily regarding the misleading nature of said toggle. In a statement to TechCrunch, Google tried to come clean about its side of the story, saying: "Location History is a Google product that is entirely opt in, and users have the controls to edit, delete, or turn it off at any time. As the story notes, we make sure Location History users know that when they disable the product, we continue to use location to improve the Google experience when they do things like perform a Google search or use Google for driving directions." Regarding AP questioning Google's dubious claims, the company was initially in denial, saying that they "provide clear descriptions of these tools.” Shortly after, it backtracked on this by releasing another statement on Thursday, saying: “We have been updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more consistent and clear across our platforms and help centers.” While clarity is, to a degree, appreciated, this is far from a solution. Google is effectively saying that there's no way for a user to provide consent when it comes to their privacy. To simply feed advertisers more granular information about users for the sake of more revenue is, put politely, questionable. This is an issue with far-reaching consequences that transparency alone won't fix. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has not, as of yet, commented on any intention to investigate this matter. Source: The Associated Press -
Google will now localise your searches by default by Paul Hill Google has announced that it has updated the way it labels country services on the mobile web, the Google app for iOS, desktop search, and on Maps. Rather than the country service being identifiable by the domain name, you’ll be served results that correspond to your location. In a blog post, Evelyn Kao, a Product Manager at Google, said: “If you live in Australia, you’ll automatically receive the country service for Australia, but when you travel to New Zealand, your results will switch automatically to the country service for New Zealand. Upon return to Australia, you will seamlessly revert back to Australian country service.” Despite being automatically switched to other versions of Google, you do still have the ability to manually switch back to the country service you want to receive by heading into the settings menu, but using the old country URLs to access the service you want will no longer work. To see which country service you’re currently receiving just look at the bottom of the search results page. Google says it’s confident the change will bring you an improved search experience and give you the most useful information based on your search query and other contexts, including location. Source: Google
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French man sues Uber after bug revealed his whereabouts back to his wife
JustinCharlier posted a topic in Front Page News
French man sues Uber after bug revealed his whereabouts back to his wife by Justin Luna An Uber driver and passenger in "happier" times. A man from Côte d'Azur, France has sued ride-hailing company Uber after a bug in its app reportedly exposed his location to his wife, which ultimately caused her to divorce him. According to a report by Le Figaro, the man shares that he borrowed his then-partner's iPhone, and logged into the Uber app. Soon after, even after he allegedly logged off and handed it back, he claims that the app continued sending notifications of his whereabouts to his wife. "Its details (the name of the driver, his license plate or even the arrival time) could be read without his knowledge by his wife, as in an open book," Le Figaro's report roughly translates. Without being too specific, the discoveries of his wife were enough to divorce him. With this in consideration, the man is now suing Uber for 45 million Euros (equal to almost $48 million). A primary hearing is scheduled in the following month. Uber France has given the following comments regarding the lawsuit: "Uber doesn't comment publicly on individual cases, and especially on cases that involve a divorcing couple." Le Figaro claims that they have been able to replicate the alleged bug, stating that a second iPhone was sent notifications without a password. However, this bug reportedly does not give out a specific location of someone. Others have also complained about the same problem on Twitter: Why am I still getting @emilyybertrandd uber notifications bein sent to me even though I signed out ? — nicole (@niicolesmiith_) December 2, 2016 The publication further found out that iOS versions of the app that were updated back in December 15 were affected by the bug. The Android app counterpart supposedly does not produce the same results. Source: Le Figaro via CNet -
Google Maps now lets you save offline areas to your SD card
Vlad Dudau posted a topic in Front Page News
Google Maps now lets you save offline areas to your SD card by Vlad Dudau Getting around the city using Google Maps just got a bit easier today with a set of new features that the company has launched. This latest update improves upon earlier offerings which allowed offline areas to be downloaded by users, and provided ride service estimates. The latest update for Google Maps, which is currently rolling out on Android and iOS, improves your navigation skills. Or at least, it makes things easier for those moments when you your data service is spotty or too expensive. With this new version of Maps users can toggle a “Wi-Fi only” switch that will force the service to rely only on offline areas, conserve battery life and, most importantly, keep your data charges to a minimum. Speaking of offline areas, these are getting an update as well, with this new version of Maps. Offline areas were originally introduced back in 2015, to positive reception from users. Now these offline areas can be downloaded and stored on SD cards. This should prove of great benefit to those with limited storage on their devices, as mapping data can quickly eat up space. Finally, Google is also adding new options to its ride-comparison service. After announcing it would be offering ride estimates for Uber back in March, the company is now adding a number of new companies to that list including GO-JEK in Indonesia, Grab in some cities across Asia, and a few other services across Europe and Russia. All in all, this is a neat little update for Maps users, one that addresses a number of issues that had recently cropped up, so users should find it useful. Source: Google Maps -
Google launches Emergency Location Service for Android to help users in emergencies
Jett Goldsmith posted a topic in Front Page News
Google launches Emergency Location Service for Android to help users in emergencies by Jett Goldsmith In another effort to keep emergency services up to par with the advancement of cellular technology, Google has announced the launch of Emergency Location Service, a feature for Android devices which sends critical location data - such as GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower information - to emergency services in the event of dialing an emergency number. Google says the feature will assist location in the event of an emergency by producing a "more reliable emergency location both indoors and outdoors". Accurate emergency location can be the difference between life and death. In fact, the US Federal Communications Commission estimates “an improved location accuracy which results in reducing wireless E911 response time by one minute can result in saving over 10,000 lives annually”. The feature is currently only available in the United Kingdom and Estonia, but Google says it has plans to launch Emergency Location Service internationally, including in the United States. According to Google, the feature is currently supported by over 99% of Android devices through Google Play Services, for all Android phones running version 2.3 and up. If the feature is supported by a user's mobile network operator or emergency infrastructure provider, the information will be sent to emergency services upon dialing an emergency number - 999 in the UK, and 112 in Estonia. Google says the location data is not collected or compiled by the company, and instead will only be shared with emergency service providers. Google has partnered with a number of telecom providers, mobile operators, and emergency service providers to bring the feature to Android users in the UK and Estonia, including: Vodafone BT Group EE Limited O2 Tele2 AB Telia Company Häirekeskus (an Estonian emergency services provider) The European Emergency Number Association Google's product manager Akshay Kannan says any mobile network or emergency infrastructure operator interested in participating in the program can reach out to Google for a partnership through this link. Source: Google Policy Blog -
Indian government says 'no' to Google Street View amid security concerns
Vlad Dudau posted a topic in Front Page News
Indian government says 'no' to Google Street View amid security concerns by Vlad Dudau Google’s Street View service will not be coming to India, according to a new report published in the local press. The service allows users to view a city’s street at eye-level, but the country’s government believes this could pose a serious security threat. A report from The Hindu, citing a senior government official, claims that Google’s Street View service, which is generally bundled as part of Google Maps or Earth, hasn’t been allowed in India. Google’s request to expand this service locally was struck down as far back as February, mainly due to the concerns of the Home Ministry, which decides security clearance for such services. Strong arguments were made against Google’s platform citing a recent terrorist attack at an airbase, where the attackers are suspected to have used Google Maps to get the layout of the terrain. Also suggestive are official comments that the government wouldn’t be able to control the data that Google is amassing once they give their approval. It's worth noting that prior to this Google already had limited Street View access to some landmarks and tourist spots in India. A recent legislative proposal seems to also have strong bearing on this, one that bans unapproved mapping and satellite data of India, and that also stipulates severe fines for those found breaking the rules. The law, called the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, is due to be voted on soon and will impact non only Google, but Microsoft, Apple, Uber, Here and all other technology companies that deal with mapping and location solutions. As for Street View, this isn’t the first time the service has come under scrutiny. Although the security argument against the service is rarely raised in Western countries, Street View has had its fair share of criticism, mostly related to privacy concerns for people being photographed by the cameras mounted atop its vehicles. With regards to India’s decision, Google is said to be looking to appeal though it’s not clear what the company’s options are. Source: The Hindu via CNET -
Microsoft's Platypus can help robots locate and identify you
Vlad Dudau posted a topic in Front Page News
Microsoft's Platypus can help robots locate and identify you by Vlad Dudau Microsoft Research is working on a system, dubbed Platypus, that can detect a human’s location and identity inside of a building. While technology that can do this already exists, for example computer vision, Platypus’ approach is novel and relies on the human body’s own electrical field. Platypus, named for the animal that uses electric fields to find its prey under water, relies on passively observing changes in electrical potential in the environment. One such change happens when a human, or any other thing for that matter, moves around. A minimum of three sensors detect these changes and the Platypus algorithm can not only find the moving human’s location in a space, but it can also identify the person, to a degree. The system has many uses, including being integrated into robots or devices that move around. They could then better detect humans, animals or objects. Another use could be inside of furniture or devices to provide a passive touch system, without the need of capacitive EM fields like your phones and tablets use. The researcher achieved pretty impressive results, noting that Platypus was able to locate a human in the room within an accuracy of 16 centimeters (0.5 feet). That’s provided the human was within the sensors’ two-meter range. Even more impressive is that Platypus could identify which person it was after only five seconds of the human walking around. Accuracy here went as high as 94% when testing against four users, but declined to 75% for 30 users. That being said, the system’s accuracy could be radically influenced by whether people had changed their shoes between tests. Still, Platypus’ biggest advantage is the fact that it’s a passive, tag-free system. That means that the person getting scanned doesn’t need to be wearing special kinds of clothes or an RFID tag, or even a wearable or smartphone for the system to work. At this stage, Platypus is just a research project, and Microsoft notes that it still has a long way to go before seeing it in an actual product. However, researchers are already improving the system’s algorithms so perhaps we won’t have to wait too long before we see a Platypus in the real world. Source: Microsoft Research | Thanks for the tip Walking Cat | Original Platypus image via National Geographic Kids -
Improved Maps are coming to Windows 10 Insider builds, after HERE kills its apps
Vlad Dudau posted a topic in Front Page News
Improved Maps are coming to Windows 10 Insider builds, after HERE kills its apps by Vlad Dudau Yesterday, HERE announced it would be removing its map applications from the Windows Store and will be killing the existing apps in June. That leaves many Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile users without their favorite mapping solution. Luckily, Microsoft says it's stepping in and improving its own offering. HERE was originally developed by Nokia, and pushed onto Windows Phone back when the company was still the number one producer of those devices, and when its partnership with Microsoft was going strong. In fact, Nokia’s offering was so strong that Microsoft decided to rely on HERE data and mapping applications in Windows Phone 8 and Bing Maps. But since Microsoft only bought out Nokia’s device manufacturing division and not its location enterprise, it is now left without a good mapping solution outside of the US. Luckily, since that original partnership with HERE, Microsoft has continued to improve its location solution in the form of Bing Maps. Indeed, the platform has received numerous refinements and Microsoft says that its app will see even more improvements soon. In a post on Reddit, a Microsoft employee from the Maps team said Insiders will see new features showing up for the Maps app in upcoming insider builds. These include improvements for the app’s driving mode, searching and so on. Indeed, Microsoft has been continuously improving Maps with better data, and new features. Some of these have only been available on the web, while others were restricted to the desktop. However, as times goes on, the company is bound to integrate and unify its location solutions. Will this be enough to appease Windows 10 Mobile users? Let us know your thoughts and which mapping solution you rely on, in the comments below. Source: Reddit via: Verge -
In L.A.?s hottest neighborhoods, half a million dollars won?t buy you much. This tiny home, just 480 square feet, recently hit the market in the Los Feliz neighborhood with a price tag of $449,000. :huh: That will get you one bedroom, one bathroom, a small galley kitchen, a living room and an office, as well as a stone-covered front yard. Central air is not included. ?Price-wise, it really stands alone, because the only direct competition at this price-point are condos,? said Tracy Do, the home?s listing agent. The owners have made the most of their limited space, adding a picnic table and seating lounge to the front yard, which is gated with a rustic wooden fence. The minimalist interior and natural light flooding in from the windows keep the home looking spacious, despite its tight quarters. The earthy green tones of the 1920 California bungalow and kitschy memorabilia inside perfectly match the atmosphere of the neighborhood. But it?s not just the house you?re paying $935 per square foot to get; it?s the location. ?There's a clear trend in the growing interest that people have in living with less, in smaller-footprint homes that are more accessible to work, play and public transit,? Do said. more
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Hi, My iPhone is constantly showing the location icon 24/7, it has been like this for the past few days now: I went into location services to see whats recently used location services and nothing is showing up that has used location services recently, its kind of weird feels like something is tracking me. If i turn location services off and back on it re-appears and doesn't go away, same if i restart the iPhone. Anyone know or got any ideas why it does this?
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Hit I need some help with something that I've been playing around with for quite some time. I currently have a network set up at my home with a W2k8 R2 DC and some clients. The DC is also DNS, DHCP and VPN servers. I connect via VPN to that home network to access files and other resources when Im away. Now Im setting up another server at my parents home. I want that server to extend my current domain. The reason is simple, I would like to be able to login with my credentials regardless if Im home or at my parents and the other way around. Also, it helps with supporting all clients that connect, a total of 20-25 devices. Now the question is, can this be done and how? I've read some articles about permanent static VPN connections between 2 networks using the RRAS but it seems to me that in order for me to configure that, I have to give up being able to connect my clients from outside either network using VPN or am I misstaken? Any help is greatly appreciated.
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I have an interesting problem. We have 4 WiFi adapters spread through our building that our previous IT manager put in. He didn't keep any diagrams. We're starting to have some hiccups with them and the current IT guy would like to know where they are. Is there any laptop or mobile tool that would help find these adapters? We've tried pushing up some ceiling tiles and looking up there but it's an arduous process.
