The billing system will use the same backend as in-app purchases. Developers will be able to set up the billing interval for subscription services and Google Play will handle the recurrence on the backend. Consumers will be able to login to their Google Play account and view their subscriptions as well as change them.

Apps requiring a subscription will have to state the price and the billing interval such as weekly, monthly, or yearly right on the app page so there aren’t any surprises for consumers. The subscription service is already being adopted by game developer Glu with a special currency subscription networks across any of the company’s games.

[via Android Developers]

Google promises that it will make finding the right thing easier. One example is being able to determine what you really want to find if you make a search for something that can be two different things such as the Taj Mahal. Google says that it will narrow search results for ambiguous terms like Taj Mahal for the monument or the musician with a single click.

The new feature also makes it easier for people to get the best summary of their query along with key facts that people would need for whatever they’re searching for without leaving the page. Google uses example of a search for Marie Curie with a search returning a biography of sorts on the right-hand side of the search results when her name and key facts. It gives you things such as when she was born, died, spouse, children, and her educational background.

The key facts included in that little window were gleaned from Google’s study of the aggregate data that people have been asking for when a search for a specific term. The third thing Knowledge Graph allows is the ability to search more deeply and broadly. For instance, a search for Matt Groening naturally pulls up The Simpsons and key details on the right side of the page where you realize that the names of Marge, Homer and Lisa are those of his parents and his sister. This is an interesting way to give you more details on specific search terms.

Google has started to roll out the Knowledge Graph features to U.S. users, though they haven’t said when the launch will be complete. Check out the video above for more insight into how Knowledge Graph will enhance search results.

Someone once said, “Where there’s a Will Powell, there’s a cheap version of the Project Glass headset,” and boy was Someone right. Programmer and IT director Will Powell claims to have built a rough copy of the augmented reality headset. Powell’s device uses a pair of Vuzix eyewear, which are basically wearable monitors, along with HD webcams, a headset, and a custom Adobe AIR program that he wrote. He used Nuance’s Dragon Naturally Speaking program for the voice recognition and Yahoo! weather services for the weather info.

A significant number of comments on the video are chastising Powell, using enlightening, well-constructed arguments like “fake fake fake” and “Why would you share with everyone a picture of a magazine?” While those are pretty convincing points, I think I’ll wait for Powell to back up his demo video with a more technical details. I’m sure he’ll do it, because he wants to win the approval of anonymous lay people.

[Will Powell via Make:]

Again, the picture above is just a mock-up of the headset, but if you’ve seen other augmented reality projects you can extrapolate what Google wants to do. The video below reveals the specifics – a heads-up display that overlays graphics over the user’s line of sight. It has location, communication, scheduling and note-taking apps, all of which are mostly activated via voice commands. It also has limited visual recognition, but mostly we’ll be talking to ourselves a whole lot.

Pretty neat, but again, it’s easy to see how weird or annoying it will be when this kind of technology goes mainstream. Voice control is nice, but imagine a world where everyone around you is using the same system and the same commands, mumbling to themselves, not to mention our eyes focused on something that’s not really there. I highly suggest we set up Project Mind Control first.

[Project Glass via Lifehacker]

Google’s crack research scientists have determined that the reason we’re not as efficient as we could be when using our computers is that we’re only using 50% of our hands at any given time. Basically, in Chrome Multitask mode, you connect two mice to your computer, so you can surf multiple websites or use two applications side-by-side – at the same exact time. The technology would also allow you and a friend to surf side-by-side on the same computer.

Brilliant! The funny thing is that I always have multiple application windows open side-by-side, since I have a big 27-inch screen, so this doesn’t look that unusual to me – other than the part where there’s a second mouse for my left hand.

It is truly another revolutionary old-new technology by Google.

Check out the Gmail Tap page for more hilarious features, such as “Double-black diamond mode,” which allows users to type 8 messages at once. Beat that, keyboard!

[via Reddit]

According to Google, the new Google Maps for NES will ship on a cartridge, offering internet access directly from your old 8-bit console. A gigantic farm of computers in the cloud are said to transform the regular Google Maps experience into a version usable on the NES.

Here, let’s let Google Product Management Director Ken Tokusei explain it for you…

You gotta love the part where you blow into the cartridge “to fix bugs.” For now, you can play around with the 8-bit style Google Maps over at maps.google.com, then clicking on the “Quest” button in the upper right-hand corner, or by simply clicking this link. Be sure to check out Street View for more pixelated fun.

Google’s self-driving car seems like a cool gadget on one hand, and it is, but I think many people don’t see the real benefit to this sort of technology. I think that self-driving cars hold the biggest potential benefit for people that can’t drive on their own for a multitude of reasons. Recently, a man named Steve Mahan, who happens to be blind, got to go for a ride in Google self-driving car. He said, “Where this would change my life is to give me the independence and the flexibility to go to the places I both want to go and need to go when I need to do those things.”

This technology could really change lives for many people and I’m glad several states are working to approve the operation of these vehicles on public streets. Check out the video above to see Steve during his test drive – and a stop by Taco Bell for lunch.

[via LA Times]

Google has what many consider to be one of the fastest search engines on the web and therefore its proprietary server and networking gear technology is considered to be one of its biggest assets. When you look at it that way, it’s understandable that Google would be very sensitive about the secrets hidden inside its web hardware. So it’s surprising that Google and many of the biggest firms on the web have servers in the same location operated by a company called Equinix. While these facilities are very secure, once you’re out on the floor, it’s easy to peek into anyone’s cage of equipment.

Google is rather paranoid since its competition is literally across the hall, and has taken the light bulbs out of its hardware bays. With no light, the idea is it would make it more difficult for competitors to peek in and glean any hints on how to speed up their own services. How do geeks manage the servers you ask? Apparently, if a system administrator needs to work on site, Google hands out helmets with lights attached to them like a miner would wear when people need to go into the server racks.

What do you think, is this paranoia or pragmatism?

[via Wired]

Nevada has now approved the regulations that will govern the requirements for companies to test driverless cars on state roads within Nevada. The regulations also outline the license requirements for people and companies to operate the cars. The vision of Nevada is that someday taxis may not need drivers. That would certainly ensure that passengers aren’t getting ripped off by human drivers. If you’ve ever been in a Vegas cab, you know what I’m talking about. Another potential benefit for autonomous cars would be for those that can’t drive themselves due to medical conditions or physical disabilities. A car that needed no driver and still allow these people to be mobile and free would be fantastic.

Some of the basic components of the regulations include a $1 million to $3 million bond that would have to be put up to conduct testing in Nevada, depending on the number cars the company wants to test. Those wanting to test driverless vehicles in the state would also need to layout specific intentions and capabilities such as the ability to operate in fog, rain, snow. The cars would also need data collectors to capture and store sensitive data at least 30 seconds before a collision. That sort of data would help determine if the vehicle was at fault in the event of an accident.

[via DelawareOnline]

These watches come from a collaboration between Google and Modify Watches. Aside from these Android versions they also have watches that feature Google’s Chrome logo and the Google logo. So Google fans are well covered.

Modify Watches are built so you can mix-and-match faces and straps to create the watch the way you like it. You can buy one now for now for $59.95(USD) from the Google store. I like the Android mascot myself, but that seems a bit steep for branding my wrist with a no-frills watch. If you beg to differ, head over to the Google store and buy one.

[via Talkandroid]

All you have to do to check it out is hop over to Google and enter “let it snow” into the search box. After a second, you will see snowflakes start to fall down the screen. They get heavier over time and then your screen will eventually frost over.

After a bit, a button on the search bar comes on that says “Defrost”. If you hit that button the snow continues to fall, but it won’t fog up again. This is pretty cool. After this one and “do a barrel roll“, what would you like to see for Google’s next Easter Egg?

[via PCMag]

Poor Yahoo! Check out the rest of the heroes’ gallery below and see if you agree with Tanner’s analogies:

Batman is too good for Facebook. Also, where’s Wikipedia? It could’ve been The Question. Powers: Can tap into the world’s collective knowledge. Nemesis: Anyone.

[via Collegehumor via Laughing Squid]

Is it an example of high-tech augmented reality? Not really. Is it controversial? Nope. Distrurbing? Maybe. You can fire the assault rifle at pictures of the real world, but doing so has no consequences on the environment – no damage or deaths result. If that’s a bad thing, then we might as well ban imagination. It’s not a good mod, but let’s be honest, it’s not so evil either.

Apparently Google didn’t think the mod was cool and had the gimmick taken down. However, you can view samples of it in Mashable’s report:

It would’ve been much better if they turned it into a Portal mod instead. But that would’ve required more effort. So did the ad agency shoot itself in the foot with this gimmick? Or is bad publicity still worthwhile publicity?

[via Who Killed Bambi?]

Images are captured by the iPhone and automatically uploaded to Mark’s iOS5-enabled PhotoStream. As the vehicle drives and captures images, GPS coordinates are recorded using a Dexter Industries dGPS sensor. This creates a KML file, which is then sent to a PC when the car is in Wi-Fi range. When the file is opened in Google Earth, it shows the path that the car drove, including placemarks for every picture that was taken along the way.

Mark uses an app called SoundSnap which triggers the camera whenever the NXT plays a loud sound from its speaker. Eventually, Mark hopes to eliminate this analog step and go with a direct Bluetooth trigger.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I wonder what else Mark’s next version of his LEGO Streetview Car will do. It will probably be even more automated, since there are still a few manual steps involved in generating the Google Earth map.

[via Make:]

The Google name is carved into six gigantic pumpkins. Several of these massive pumpkins weigh over 1,000 pounds. Google workers spent eight hours carving them into designs that look like the letters needed to spell “Google.” I like the fifth letter the best myself, but the only one I could have carved was the giant “l.”

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Check out the time-lapse video above to see all the carving and watch for Googlers in costume making cameos.

That hasn’t stopped other search engines from popping up and trying to divert a small percentage of Google’s users to their own sites. The newest one making an entry is WireDoo, a search engine that rapper MC Hammer is looking to develop. Hammer announced the news at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.

Hammer contends that he isn’t going to make just any regular search engine, but one that’s capable of “deep search.” And what, pray tell, is “deep search?”

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Well, Hammer explains the premise behind WireDoo by using an example: when a person searches for a car, he or she isn’t just interested about just a “car,” but will also be looking for more information on car models, specifications, and even zip codes for purchasing vehicles from local dealers.

Technically, it’s nothing new because you can just get your desired results from Google’s contextual search or add a few more keywords in the search bar. WireDoo is currently in its pre-beta testing stage, so you can head on over there if you want to sign up to test it.

[via Mashable via Dvice]

The tip that a Google Music store is coming comes from an anonymous source cited by the New York Times. I think if anyone could get hoards of content on its store for people to buy, it would be Google. They already sell movies, games and books in their Android Market, so offering music would only broaden its reach. I would think that Google would also have the best shot at competing with the iTunes store. Amazon is already trying to beat Apple at the music sales game, but it is favored more by Android users today.

I don’t think it will be anytime soon that an digital music seller can beat iTunes, as the store has too much going for it – especially device integration with  hundreds of millions of iOS devices. I would think that before someone could truly challenge them, iTunes would consider allowing other devices to buy tracks and content on iTunes.

[via NYT]

The app is powered by HTML5, so it looks pretty snazzy and it’s based on the Gmail app for tablets. Once the app is installed, you can continue using Gmail by clicking the Gmail Offline icon and opening a new tab. This also works with Google Docs and Calendar but you can only view them, not modify them.

You can’t be online all the time, and if you use something like Inbox Zero, using offline Gmail might be a welcome addition to your workflow.

[via Gmail Blog]

I would not want the job of taking the street view photos down the Amazon and Rio Negro Rivers for anything. The Amazon is notoriously packed with piranha and all sorts of other animals that would like to eat you. In order to get the pics they need, Google will strap the trikes to a boat and then take the boat down about 31 miles of the Rio Negro to start. The trip down the jungle trails and the Amazon will apparently come later. The photos taken by the trikes will be turned into the usual 360-degree panoramas.

The project is a joint operation between the Brazil and US Street View teams, Google Earth Outreach, and the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation.

[via PopSci and BBC via PC World]