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The Internet is becoming more mobile by the day

The worldwide Internet population is growing rapidly -- and that growth might have something to do with mobile devices.

Speaking today at the AllThingsD D11 Conference, Mary Meeker, a partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Meeker, reported that 2.4 billion people around the world are on the Internet -- an 8 percent year-over-year gain. Still, only 34 percent of the world's population is online. In the U.S., the Internet population penetration sits at 78 percent, according to Meeker.

Perhaps the biggest news from Meeker's presentation was the staggering growth in … Read more

New Gmail look blings up your inbox with tabs

Google continues to revamp the appearance of many of its services, this time turning its redecorating eye on Gmail.

The company unveiled on Wednesday the new look and automatic labels for Gmail on the Web, as well as in Gmail's Android and iOS apps.

The new default categories, based on Gmail's existing Label system, are Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums. They appear as large tabs on the Gmail site, easy to use for touch screens and fully customizable. You can also drag-and-drop messages between them, and Google will automatically "learn" how you want them filtered. … Read more

Apple's Tim Cook: Wearable tech is 'profoundly interesting'

It doesn't look like Apple will be cooking up its own rendition of Google Glass, but some other sort of wearable technology could be brewing.

During an interview at the D11 conference on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he thinks wearable computing is "profoundly interesting." While he noted that glasses seem to be "risky," the idea of wearing something on the wrist is "natural."

However, he said, "you have to convince people it's so incredible you want to wear it." Cook pointed out that most young people don'… Read more

Porn coming to Google Glass: OK, now it's creepy

If you think people who turn their noses up at wearable technology like Google Glass are overreacting a tad, I have bad news.

Thanks to the imminent arrival of Google Glass porn, I just got creeped out for the first time about the prospect of a Glass-filled future.

Android adult app store MiKandi told CNET sister site ZDNet:

Google Glass Porn has been making its rounds, and while studios are intrigued, no one seems to be doing anything about it. So I wanted to let you know that we picked up our Glass and, yup, we're making content for … Read more

Google+ for iPhone gets 'Awesome' photo features

Google+ for iPhone was updated Tuesday with a smattering of features, including automatic photo creations called "Auto Awesome," to make the mobile social-networking application match, in style and function, the revamped desktop experience released two weeks ago.

With version 4.4, iPhone owners get a collection of photo options for improving, viewing, and backing up shots stored in the device's camera roll. Specifically, the app can automatically back up camera captures, auto-enhance them, and group them into smart photo albums Google calls "Highlights," before you ever have to lift a finger.

The refreshed application also … Read more

Play Skee-Ball using Chrome on a computer, mobile device

Remember when Google demoed the Racer game at Google I/O a few weeks back? Well, apparently Racer was just the beginning of showing interactive games using nothing more than Chrome.

As you can see from this Google+ post, Google has released yet another Chrome game. This time it comes in the form of the arcade classic of Skee-Ball, with the game being called Roll It.

Instead of relying on only mobile devices as the Racer game did, Roll It requires you to have a computer and mobile device, both with Chrome installed.

The mobile device, be it an Android … Read more

HTC One Google Edition to be offered in very limited quantities, report says

The HTC One 'Google Edition' smartphone will be sold in very limited quantities when it surfaces later this summer, or so the always-gabby "people familiar with the matter" have told Pocket Lint.

That means that if you were hoping to get your hands on the 'Google Edition' of the popular Android flagship, you'll have to look hard to find it. According to Pocket Lint's sources, HTC will release just "around one percent of total sales of the device so far." And with HTC having announced roughly five million in sales for the HTC One … Read more

Galaxy S4 Mini could arrive soon

CNET Update is watching the skies:

In this episode of Update:

- Mark your calendars for June 20, when Samsung may show a mini version of the Galaxy S4.

- Kill the Buzz once and for all with help from Google.

- Prepare for a new YouTube app on Windows Phone 8.

- Discover more storage with the Verizon Cloud app.

- Bite your nails over who will win the battle for Hulu.

- Be ready for hurricane season with the NOAA Hi-Def Radar app.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey … Read more

Use Google Now to send text messages, e-mail

During Google I/O Google announced some improvements to its Google Now service. One of those improvements -- as we have already covered -- was the ability to create reminders within the app. One other feature we haven't discussed yet is the ability to send a text message or e-mail using Google Now.

Similar to the way Siri works, you're able to give a voice command to Google Now and have a message composed, complete with the recipient of your choosing (so long as they are in your contacts). After Now has filled in all of the required … Read more

EU likely to push Google to concede more on antitrust

European antitrust regulators could seek further concessions from Google that may delay its settling of anticompetitive charges in the region.

The search firm landed itself in hot water in late 2010 after rivals and competitors complained to the European executive body for allegedly infringing EU-wide antitrust law by abusing its dominance in the search market.

After formal charges were issued and Google laid out settlement proposals to avoid hefty fines in the region, those same complainants are knocking on the EU's door demanding more be done.

According to Reuters, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia warned that Google may … Read more