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New Google start-up seeks to improve life in the big city

Jun11
by on June 11, 2015 at 12:36 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, Insider

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Google is launching an independent company that will use technology to improve city life. Called Sidewalk Labs, It will be lead by Daniel L. Doctoroff, who is former New York City deputy mayor for economic development and former CEO of Bloomberg L.P. Doctoroff conceived of the idea alongside a Google team lead by Larry Page. Sidewalk Labs is designed as an “urban innovation company” that will investigate sustainable living by curbing pollution and energy use, making transportation easier, providing more green open space and lowering the overall cost of living for residents, businesses and government entities. Sidewalk Labs intends to develop tech…

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Futuremark sets out to establish uniform VR standards

Jun10
by on June 10, 2015 at 11:59 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets

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With more than a dozen virtual reality head-mounted displays at various stages of development, there has to be some objective way of discerning how well they work both on their own and in comparison to each other. Futuremark is developing VRMark, a VR benchmark targeted to manufacturers, analysts and the press to measure performance, latency and accuracy. It will use a combination of hardware and software for the task. VRMark will test how well a VR system does when offering high-quality experiences for content like photos, videos, games and simulations. It also will test a system’s ability to deliver consistently high frame rates…

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Sneak peek at new Google Hangouts for Android shows improved chat interface

Jun10
by on June 10, 2015 at 11:46 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Google

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Google Hangouts for Android may soon see an update that offers interface improvements and revamped features. The crew at Android Police got hold of an early version of the updated app, which may not be its final version. The most glaring change is the app now adopts much more of the Material Design language Google is pushing, with the floating ‘new conversation’ button towards the bottom right of the screen. In a chat screen, Hangouts now looks a lot more like iMessage with its floating, rounded conversation bubbles. A new menu bar along the bottom of the message entry field…

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It’s okay Apple, I understand why you felt weird talking reproductive health at WWDC

Jun10
by on June 10, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Opinion

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During Apple’s WWDC keynote earlier this week, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi briefly mentioned expanded support for HealthKit. One major update was targeted at female consumers – reproductive health data. But what did that mean precisely? It was unclear, to say the least. Federighi sped past it and the audience, watching the stream and in the room, nearly missed the reference. There was no indication of what Apple will start tracking. We know but only thanks to some digging by Selena Larson of The Daily Dot. It’s suddenly clear why Federighi was a little squeamish. I’d feel uncomfortable talking “cervical mucus quality” with close friends,…

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