From Lifehacker: Google Cloud Print: It’s Actually Awesome, and Here’s How to Set It Up

Now that’s awesome!! I’m setting mine up!! 😀
============================================

Google Cloud Print is an under-appreciated service that can send print jobs from virtually anywhere to a connected printer in any other location. Normally that involves tedious configuration on your network, but Cloud Print can do it in just a few minutes. It’s really easy to set up, and there are a few things you can do to extend its support beyond the browser to make all your printing tasks a lot easier. Here’s a look at what it can do, how you can set it up, and how to make it even better. More »


from Lifehacker

 

Verizon Wireless Leads Industry in Customer Care? Really?!

According to J.D. Power & Associates survey, Verizon is leading in customer care… Really?!

You see, I have been a loyal customer for almost a decade.  You’d think that they’d treat you well for loyalty… well, no!  😡 I got a new phone (Droid Charge) back in end of October just a day before I left for work.  I figured I’d have few days left (I was going for 2 weeks) if I wanted to exchange the phone.  The phone was crap.  Slower and crappier than its predecessor, Droid X.  And since I didn’t want to be without a phone while I was on travel, I decided to call in when I returned.

Big mistake. It turns out the 14-day return period begins from the day they SHIP IT OUT!  WTH?!  I kept complaining and they eventually said that they’d let me swap it out with HTC Thunderbolt (which is way better!).  They would re-imburse me later on once I ship back Droid Charge.  Well, they didn’t come through and after much crap, I was given the short end of the stick!  I was beyond mad.

I am thinking about not renewing my contract.  I tend to be very loyal… unless you screw me over big time.  Verizon did.  But my other problem is… who would I switch to?!  Surely not AT&T!  No thanks…  Sprint?  Too much doubt…  erg…  Ok.  I am done with my ranting… but just had to laugh and rant on J.D. Power & Assoc. survey results…  who do YOU ask?!  Big sets of walls?!  Please… both Verizon and J.D. Power & Associates… get in touch with REALITY!

From Droid Life: Google Introduces “Bouncer” Security Service for Android: Shows Massive Drop in Malicious Downloads, Calls Out Anti-Malware Companies

Moments ago, Google unveiled a security service that has been working behind the scenes on Android for a few months now, codenamed Bouncer. The service allows the Android Market to scan apps that have been uploaded, analyze them for trojans or other malware, and then determine if they have tendencies that would lead them to misbehave. Again, this has been going on for months to protect you, Google is just now letting you know about how successful it has been.

Here is the full explanation from Google:

The service performs a set of analyses on new applications, applications already in Android Market, and developer accounts. Here’s how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags. We actually run every application on Google’s cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyze new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.

Also in this announcement for Bouncer, Google managed to take a shot at the anti-spyware and security companies that you hear from constantly in the Android world. During their testing of this new security service, Android Market stats showed a 40% drop in potentially malicious apps being downloaded during 2011. That comes on the heels of numerous reports from anti-spyware companies that malware is constantly on the rise, something many of us have questioned all along.

Here is the exact quote:

The service has been looking for malicious apps in Market for a while now, and between the first and second halves of 2011, we saw a 40% decrease in the number of potentially-malicious downloads from Android Market. This drop occurred at the same time that companies who market and sell anti-malware and security software have been reporting that malicious applications are on the rise. While it’s not possible to prevent bad people from building malware, the most important measurement is whether those bad applications are being installed from Android Market – and we know the rate is declining significantly.

Lastly, Google wants to make sure you understand how Android works on the security front and that it has been designed to make malware less potent. Some of the security measures include:

  • Sandboxing: The Android platform uses a technique called “sandboxing” to put virtual walls between applications and other software on the device. So, if you download a malicious application, it can’t access data on other parts of your phone and its potential harm is drastically limited.
  • Permissions: Android provides a permission system to help you understand the capabilities of the apps you install, and manage your own preferences. That way, if you see a game unnecessarily requests permission to send SMS, for example, you don’t need to install it.
  • Malware removal: Android is designed to prevent malware from modifying the platform or hiding from you, so it can be easily removed if your device is affected. Android Market also has the capability of remotely removing malware from your phone or tablet, if required.

Feeling safer already?

Via:  Google Mobile

from Droid Life

From Engadget: French court fines Google France 500,000 euros for gratis Maps

French court fines Google France 500,000 Euros for gratis Maps

A Parisian commercial court has upheld a lower court’s ruling against Google France, ordering the company to pay a fine of €500,000 for giving away its maps services. The plaintiff, Bottin Cartographes, claims that Google leveraged the market share of its Maps platform — and the fact that it’s free — to undercut and stifle competition attempting to sell their topographical wares to businesses. “We proved the illegality of [Google’s] strategy,” said Bottin’s counsel, noting that this was the first timeGoogle has been convicted of malfeasance for this particular piece of software in the country. A representative from the search giant said it plans to appeal the decision, and reiterated the company’s belief that competition exists in the space. Personally, we think the court got it right. Why should people get an awesome product for free when they can pay for an inferior one, right?

French court fines Google France 500,000 euros for gratis Maps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceAFP  | Email this | Comments

from Engadget