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Google exec sees Google Fiber as a 'moneymaker'

KANSAS CITY -- Google is in it to win it when it comes to building fiber broadband networks. Despite speculation to the contrary, Google sees its Google Fiber broadband business as a moneymaker, and not just an overpriced test network.

And it's very likely that the company will continue expanding the service into other cities willing to partner to keep costs down.

Speaking at the Fiber-to-the-Home Council meeting here late Wednesday, Milo Medin, vice president of access services for Google, told an audience of city planners, engineers, and city mayors that Google is not just building a testbed for … Read more

Atheer bringing 3D augmented reality and gesture control to Android

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. -- Stealth startup Atheer came out of the shadows at the D: All Things Digital conference here, unveiling its wearable 3D augmented reality platform that works on top of Android and potentially other mobile operating systems.

Atheer's technology employs stereoscopic glasses and a 3D camera to track hand movements to manipulate virtual objects in real space, similar in concept to the portrayals of gesture control in movies like "Minority Report" and "Avatar."

"We are the first mobile 3D platform delivering the human interface. We are taking the touch experience on … Read more

Google shows off vision of connected life

NEW YORK--Google wants to play a bigger part in your life.

That's the message the company was likely conveying with its model home here in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Google took over a building on Thursday to show off its many newer services and hardware, including Google Now, Hangouts, and Google Glass.

Google Now is a big initiative and appears to be the glue that ties many of its products together. Google Now on Android, which is called Google Search on iOS, uses your device's GPS, e-mail, calendar, and other personal information to deliver relevant and … Read more

Android poised to overtake Apple in tablets, ABI says

Apple's iPad has dominated the tablet market since it first launched, but that's going to change.

Apple exited the first quarter of the year with 50 percent share of all tablet shipments, but Android is poised to overtake iOS in tablets, ABI Research said Thursday. The tech research firm didn't provide a timeline for the shift but said the big variable for Android is China.

The country is "passionate about the Apple brand," ABI said, but smaller, 7-inch Android tablets grown in popularity. A push for low-cost tablets, generally less than $200, keeps Android relevant … Read more

Google adds color labels to its Calendar app for Android

For those extra-organized people, Google has updated its Calendar app for Android to add color labels and a new date and time tool.

The color labels palette lets users customize events or calendar listings with a choice of 24 colors. Certain important dates can be highlighted in different colors to especially catch users' attention.

As far as putting in certain events, the redesigned date and time tool lets users customize time zones and schedule events to be repeated on certain days, weeks, or months.

In other Google news, the tech giant also announced on Wednesday that it's revamping … Read more

Getting started with the new Gmail tabs

Google on Wednesday made a big announcement regarding Gmail's overall look and feel. Gmail will be taking a new tabbed approach to helping users organize e-mail -- something I'm sure we all struggle with. Over the next few weeks a new tab workflow will be slowly introduced to the Web, iOS, and Android versions of Gmail.

While iOS and Android users have to wait for app updates to hit the respective stores to get the new Gmail, there's a chance your Gmail account on the Web already has access to the feature. It's a quick process … Read more

Rumor Has It: Who wants to play used games on the Xbox One? Everybody!

What a week it's been, amirite? Microsoft held an hour-long event where it introduced the next-generation Xbox, called the Xbox One, and we're left with as many questions as when we started.

The most important question on everyone's lips, however, is whether the Xbox One will play used games. What do you think? If it doesn't play used games, would that be a deal breaker? Leave a comment below.

We revisit some colorful iPhone rumors, for no other reason than that they just keep popping up. Google might do something awesome across the world, and iOS … Read more

Gmail tackles inbox clutter with tabs

CNET Update opens up a tab:

In this episode of Update:

- Avoid e-mail overload with new tabs in Gmail.

- Beautify photos before sharing with the updated Google+ iOS app.

- Choose to log into websites and apps with your Amazon account.

- Weigh the value of a Amazon Prime membership now that its creating five original shows.

- Watch a show and get tweets on the side with the new social app for the Dish Hopper.

- Give BlackBerry keyboard addicts a new fix on June 5, when T-Mobile sells the BlackBerry Q10.

CNET Update delivers the tech … Read more

NYC Google Street View now includes 9/11 memorial

Those who haven't had the opportunity to visit New York City and see the Memorial at the World Trade Center now can tour it via Google Street View.

Users can zoom in and out and "walk around" to view the memorial from different angles. Images from the north and south memorial pools feature the engraved names of the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa. The zoom feature is precise enough to read each person's name.

Google also has expanded its coverage of New York's famed Central Park. … Read more