Google Maps Gets A Major Upgrade, Promises Interstellar Accuracy

Even without any new hardware announcements, Google's opening keynote at I/O '13 this morning was an absolute treat on the software front, and even more so for developers. Notwithstanding the enhancements to Google Maps on the mobile front, the massive update to Google Maps for non-mobile devices was definitely the highlight of the morning.

Most of us have have probably seen the gradual progression of Google Maps ever since it launched, but today's update brings to the table an entirely new design paradigm, promising a holistic user interface, allowing users to focus on tasks at hand and not be distracted by traditional UI elements; the map is the UI.

I was never really a big fan of the current iteration of the Google Maps UI, not because it was confusing at times or the sidebar wasted valuable screen space, but because the UI often turned out to be unintuitive, progressively increasing my reliance on more constrained mobile mapping solutions. Google's re-imagination of their entire mapping experience this morinng really ticks the box for most of my gripes with Google Maps, if not all of them. The new Google Maps is built using the latest web standards, leveraging vector maps support and promising an extremely snappy user experience in the browser environment, with no plugins required.

The user interface is uncluttered, almost pristine, allowing users to focus on the content, with just the search bar on the top left corner. All search results are displayed on the map simultaneously, with finer descriptions for top results, allowing users to delineate them easily. Integration with Google+ pulls up places that your friends have reviewed or liked, making it that much more easier to pick your perfect destination. The search bar is dynamic, providing contextual options, based on the search results. Once you have decided on the place, you can also access indoor imagery (if available) of the establishment to resolve any outstanding doubts, if any. And since the results are sourced from other Google services, they are dynamic and ever-evolving, only getting better as time progresses. Another neat feature highlights similar and related places on the map once a desired place has been selected, making it easier to plan your itinerary for places you are visiting. 

Getting directions to a place has also been streamlined, by highlighting the relevant routes and automatically displaying available public transit information using an intuitive UI, allowing users to compare driving times versus public transportation times, to plan trips with granular precision. This feature will be very useful in cities like Chicago with well established public transportation systems, where the new public transit scheduling UI will add a whole new level of precision when it comes to planning your trips.

On an international front, the new Maps experience integrates stunning panoramic views of available locations, including relevant crowd-sourced imagery and viewpoints, including Photo Sphere integration. Google has also promised support for the Oculus Rift and the Leapmotion Controller, for those of us slightly ahead of the technological curve. Google has also added other interstellar features, where zooming out a bit further presents a blissfully accurate rendering of our planet, including real-time cloud and planetary data.

All in all, this is unequivocally the biggest upgrade to Google Maps in recent times and most likely helps Google leapfrog any advances by Microsoft or Apple to their mapping platforms, at least in the near future. 

So go on and sign up for the preview now. Google has promised invites to start rolling out tomorrow morning.

--->Google Maps Preview<---

Sony Xperia Tablet S: A Tablet and Universal Remote Rolled Into One

The Android tablet market is getting decidedly crowded, with dozens of different offerings from big and small companies alike, in sizes from 5” to 13.3”. How do you make your device stand out from the crows when most tablets are running the same OS and variants of the same hardware? Sony hopes to garner increased consumer interest by incorporating remote control and macro functionality with their new Tablet S. Let’s start with the specs first:

Sony Tablet S SGPT121US/S Specifications
Operating System	Android 4.0
Processor	NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-Core Cortex-A9 CPU 1.4GHz (Maximum 1.4 GHz 1-Core Operation, 1.3GHz Multi-Core Operation)
Storage	16GB/32GB/64GB
RAM	1GB
Display	9.4" (23.8 cm) 1280x800
I/O	SD memory card Headphone Multi Port IR remote control w/ macro functionality
Networking	Bluetooth 3.0 802.11a/b/g/n
Camera	1Mp Front 8Mp Rear
Battery	~12 hours video playback ~10 hours Wi-Fi web browsing
Dimensions	9.45"x6.87"x0.35"~0.47" (WxLxH) 240mmx174.5mmx8.9-11.9mm
Weight	1.26 lbs (573g)
Pricing	$399/$499/$599 (16GB/32GB/64GB)

The core specs are nothing out of the ordinary; Sony uses the ubiquitous NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC clocked at 1.3/1.4GHz with a 1280x800 LCD and 16 to 64GB of storage. Pricing is certainly higher than many competing tablets, and the margins on the 32GB and 64GB models are frankly obscene ($5 to $10 of flash memory bumps the price up $100 to $200), but we’ve seen that elsewhere. The Tablet S also has a non-uniform thickness, with a somewhat unusual rounded top edge where the IR remote is located. We pretty much know what to expect from the hardware side of the equation (other than the IR remote), but the software package is where Sony hopes to differentiate.

The IR remote is designed to allow control of most home theater devices, including Blu-ray players, HDTVs, stereos, and cable boxes. Macro functionality allows you to program sequences so that a single button can power on the appropriate devices, select the correct input, and you can quickly “Watch TV” or “Play Blu-ray”. I can’t imagine most people are interested in spending $400+ on a glorified remote, but if you’re already looking to buy a tablet then the extra functionality could be enough to sway you.

Going along with the remote/living room device concept, Sony has a “Watch Now” application that provides an interactive, visual program guide. It will pull information from your personal preferences along with real-time trends from social media feeds, potentially allowing you to discover new shows or learn more about shows you already watch. And of course, Watch Now can integrate with the universal remote to allow you to quickly change the channel to a new show. The Tablet S also supports DLNA for use with compatible PCs, TVs, speakers, etc.

Another software feature Sony touts is their Guest Mode, where you can manage multiple users. Besides allowing different wallpaper for each user, you can customize the applications and widgets available. Such a setup is going to be particularly beneficial for people that want to use the Tablet S as a remote as well as a personal tablet—you wouldn’t want your friends (or you kids’ friends) to start snooping around your email while watching TV, after all.

Rounding out the features are two last items. First, Sony has a “Small Apps” function that allows you to use one application in a small screen while continuing to use another main application. The Small Apps include a calculator, web browser, voice recorder, timer, and the IR remote—we’d like to see some sort of chat or email added to that list. Second, Sony includes a redemption code for three movies via the Google Play movie library (out of a selection of 15 movies), worth up to $45. These are Sony films and are subject to change without notice, but right now it looks like Men In Black II, Moneyball, Anonymous, Battle: Los Angeles, and Friends with Benefits are some of the offerings.

The Sony Tablet S is available for pre-order right now, with shipping scheduled for September 7. Pricing starts at $399 for the 16GB model, though we might see lower retail prices once the tablet shows up in stores. Sony also has several peripherals available for the Tablet S, including a case with keyboard, HDMI adapter, charging cradle, a variety of other cases (sans keyboard), several variations of docking stand, a screen protector, and a slipcase.

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Sony Announces VAIO Fit Series of Laptops

Today Sony is launching their newest line of laptops, the VAIO Fit series. There will be two different lines, the Fit and the Fit E, and all of the new laptops are "thin and light" and feature aluminum exteriors. Sony didn't provide detailed specifications, but it sounds like the VAIO Fit series is going after users that like the idea of an Ultrabook but aren't willing to pay the higher price premiums. That likely means entry level models will come with conventional HDD storage rather than SSDs or hybrid solutions, though Sony does note that SSDs and hybrid options are available on higher spec models.

Noteworthy features of the VAIO Fit laptops include 1600x900 HD+ LCDs on the 14" model and 1080p displays on the 15.6" models, with both sizes offering optional capacitive touchscreens. Sony also touts improved webcam functionality and high quality audio and states, with the 14E and 15E including "big box speakers" as well as a subwoofer on the 15E. All of the laptops also feature full-size backlit keyboards, with a numeric keypad on the 15" models. Finally, the VAIO Fit laptops will also feature Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing users to share website URLs and other data with compatible NFC devices.

As with other recent announcements, the timing is enough to let you know that the models being discussed today are using Ivy Bridge (3rd Generation Intel Core processors), but we may see updates after the Haswell launch. Processor support tops out at Core i7 (presumably dual-core), with Core i3 and i5 also available. NVIDIA Graphics will also be an option, though the specific GPUs aren't listed.

The Fit 14 and 15 will be available in mid-May and will start at $649 and $699 respectively. The Fit 14E and 15E are apparently the lower-spec models and will launch at prices of $549 and $579.

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Pilotless flight trialled in UK shared airspace

A Jetstream aircraft became the first to fly "unmanned" across UK shared airspace last month.

An on-board pilot handled the take-off, from Warton, near Preston in Lancashire, and landing, in Inverness.

But during the 500-mile journey, the specially adapted plane was controlled by a pilot on the ground, instructed by the National Air Traffic Services.

There were no passengers, but the 16-seater aircraft flew in airspace shared with passenger carriers.

Known as "the Flying Testbed", it contains on-board sensors and robotics to identify and avoid hazards.

National Air Traffic Services unmanned air vehicle (UAV) expert Andrew Chapman said: "Nats ensured that this test flight was held without any impact on the safety of other users of airspace at the time.

Regulatory framework

"Although there is still work to be done it would seem that, on the basis of the success of this flight, a UAV could operate in different classes of airspace."

It is the latest in a series of test flights carried out by Astraea (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation and Assessment), which has received £62m funding, from commercial companies and the UK government, to research how civilian unmanned aircraft could fit in to shared airspace.

A representative of BAE Systems, one of the companies to have invested in Astraea, said: "The flights were part of a series of tests helping flight regulators and Nats to understand how these flights work, and what they need to do were they to go ahead and put a regulatory framework in place for the unmanned flights in manned airspace.

"It's still very early days in terms of that regulation taking place."

Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon described the latest flight as "pioneering".

Social impact

The specially adapted 16-seater Jetstream had no passengers.

"Astraea has made significant achievements, placing the UK industry in a good position globally on unmanned aircraft and the development of regulations for their civil use," he said.

The project has the support of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

At a media conference last year, Astraea project director Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal said getting unmanned aircraft (UA) into shared airspace was more than a technical challenge.

"It's not just the technology, we're trying to think about the social impact of this and the ethical and legal things associated with it," he said.

"You've got to solve all this lot if you're going to make it happen, enable it to happen affordably."

Blackberry expands BBM chat app to Android and iOS

The Blackberry Messenger (BBM) app is to be offered as a download to run on rival platforms.

Blackberry said it would initially offer texts, photo messages and group sharing functions on devices running Google's Android and Apple's iOS operating systems from "the summer".

It added it planned to roll out screen sharing, voice and video calls - all without charge - later in the year.

The move could prove disruptive to Skype, Whatsapp and other rivals.

Blackberry chief executive Thorsten Heins revealed the surprise news at the end of his presentation at the firm's annual developers conference in Orlando, Florida.

The company said that more than 60 million Blackberry owners already used BBM at least once a month.

But Mr Heins played down the idea that offering the feature to rival devices would harm sales of the Canadian company's own handsets.

"You might ask the question why is Blackberry doing this now," said Mr Heins.

"It's a statement of confidence. The Blackberry 10 platform is so strong and the response has been so good that we are confident the time is right for Blackberry Messenger to become an independent multiplatform messaging solution."

He added that for the app to work iPhone users would need at least iOS 6 and Android users the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's software. There was no mention of Windows Phone.

Wider impact

One analyst said it was too soon to know if the move would force competitors to change their own strategies.

"BBM has been a significant traffic driver for Blackberry - particularly the consumer audience," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe.

"Expanding it to be multiplatform not only widens the consumer appeal but also may help woo back corporate customers it lost due to earlier technical problems.

"However, other players like Whatsapp will only drop their fees if they see BBM making major inroads into other platforms."

Ben Wood from telecoms consultancy CCS Insight added that Blackberry might have felt forced into the move because of the growing popularity of cross-platform alternatives which also includes Facebook Messenger.

"It will increase feature competition among mobile messaging platforms," he said.

"It dramatically increases BBM's long-term relevance - but it is unclear how Blackberry will ensure the move benefits its own hardware sales."

Cheaper phone

Blackberry also announced a new smartphone powered by its BB10 system - the first to be targeted at emerging markets.

The Q5 features a physical Qwerty keyboard and a 3.1in (7.9cm) touchscreen.

The Blackberry 10 device will be released in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America in July.

It should be cheaper than the Z10 and Q10 which were unveiled in January.

However, the firm has yet to confirm pricing.

"We understand the importance of having devices to suit all markets and needs," said Mr Heins. "It's a sleek, slim high-performance device."

One company watcher said it was important for Blackberry to have a device running BB10 on sale in parts of the world where its handsets were still bestsellers.

"The Q5 could be a very significant device for the company because there is a significant opportunity for high-quality low-cost smartphones," said Adam Leach, devices analyst at telecoms consultancy Ovum.

"If Blackberry can replicate the success of the Blackberry Curve in emerging markets then it will certainly help establish the Blackberry 10 platform.

"However, Blackberry has significant competition in this area with low-cost Android devices and with Nokia's Asha 501 which sells for just under $100 [£65]. It will be crucial to see if Blackberry can match or undercut that."

Ovum predicts that emerging markets will account for 40% of smartphone shipments by 2017.

According to data from IDC - another tech consultancy - Blackberry devices accounted for just over 19% of global smartphone shipments at the start of 2010. But the firm suggests that figure had dropped to less than 4% by the end of last year.

Blackberry has yet to release sales figures for its first BB10 devices.

Germany tells Google to tidy up auto-complete

A German federal court has told Google to clean up the auto-complete results its search engine suggests.

The court said Google must ensure terms generated by auto-complete are not offensive or defamatory.

The court case was started by an unnamed German businessman who found that Google.de linked him with "scientology" and "fraud".

Google must now remove defamatory word combinations when told about them, said the court.

A person's privacy would be violated if the associations conjured up by auto-complete were untrue, the federal court said in a statement about the ruling.

However, it added, this did not mean that Google had to sanitise its entire index. "The operator is, as a basic principle, only responsible when it gets notice of the unlawful violation of personal rights," it said.

The ruling on auto-complete overturns two earlier decisions by lower German courts.

In the past, Google has defended itself by arguing that it has no control over the combinations of words that auto-complete suggests. Instead, it said, these were automatically generated by the frequency with which other people were looking for such keywords.

A Google spokesman said he was "disappointed and surprised" by the court's decision, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said it was "incomprehensible" that Google was going to be held liable for the searches carried out by users.

The ruling could also have a bearing on another case involving auto-complete. Bettina Wulff, wife of former German president Christian Wulff, sued Google because auto-complete suggested words linking her to escort services. Mrs Wulff denies ever working as a prostitute and has fought several legal cases over the accusation. The case against Google is due to be heard soon in a Hamburg court.

Facebook blocks 'social suicide' app

A Facebook app offering users a one-in-six chance of deleting their account has been pulled from the site.

Social Roulette mimicked the lethal game of Russian Roulette, in which players spin the cylinder of a revolver hoping to avoid the one loaded chamber.

According to its developers, the app was brought to Facebook's attention by an automated system that deals with "negative user experience".

Facebook said the app "violated its platform policies".

The Social Roulette website says the app may suit people "looking for the opportunity to start fresh" or those "just seeking cheap thrills at the expense of your social network".

"Everyone thinks about deleting their account at some point, it's a completely normal reaction to the overwhelming nature of digital culture," it adds.

Bit murky

While it acknowledges that permanently deleting a Facebook account is very difficult, it promises to "completely remove all your posts, friends, apps, likes, photos and games before completely deactivating it".

"You could say the shutdown was a bit murky as there's not a specific platform policy that the app's data deletion function violates, but Facebook typically enforces the spirit, not the letter, of the law," co-founder Kyle McDonald told tech news site TechCrunch.

"It might end up adding a specific provision banning apps that focus on deleting your data."

But Eden Zoller, an analyst at research firm Ovum, said the existing platform policy had "scope to ban apps which pose a competitive threat to Facebook".

"Facebook would obviously rather the users don't delete their accounts but if people are going to it would prefer that they use Facebook's own processes," she said.

"What happens if someone plays it and afterwards wishes that they hadn't done it. Does the developer have anything to deal with this situation?

"This can be seen as Facebook being controlling or acting responsibly depending on your point of view," she added.

Facebook envy

Increasingly there was a niche of social media users keen to exit Facebook and this would have been a "fun way to do it", said Dr Hanna Krasnova, from the Berlin's Humbodlt University.

She has conducted a series of studies into the emotional impact of social networking.

"On Facebook you are exposed to so much social information and this can cause anger, frustration and envy," she said.

"Social networking is itself a kind of game. We don't need it to survive and many people feel that Facebook creates more negative emotions than positive ones."

Social Roulette is not the first app to be blocked because of negative feedback.

In February the social network blocked access to Vintage Camera - similar to Facebook-owned Instagram - saying there had been "negative feedback from users".

Facebook data suggested there had been about one negative report per 1,000 images shared via the app.