Google

Google adds remote desktop Hangouts to Google+

Some people are simply more tech savvy than their friends and family and often end up offering advice on the ins and outs of computer use. But, this can be difficult when people don't live in the same city.

Google is attempting to help out folks in these situations with a new Google + Hangout feature. The Web giant announced Thursday that it is rolling out a Hangouts remote desktop, which is powered by the same technology as the Chrome Remote Desktop. The feature lets users video chat while troubleshooting.

"Hangouts Remote Desktop lets you help others by controlling … Read more

Google smacks down reports that Now for iOS drains batteries

Hot on the heels of Google adding Now to its iOS app, a handful of users began complaining that the app update made their iPhone and iPad batteries drain more quickly. Questions arose, was Google Now slurping too much juice?

Google has responded that iOS battery life doesn't have anything to do with Google Now. The Web giant sent a statement to CNET giving a bit more explanation as to why the battery draining allegations were false.

Reports that Google Now on iOS drains battery life are incorrect. We understand people's concern about seeing the Location Services icon … Read more

Give Google Glass some breathing room

The technorati is consumed with Google Glass. For some it's Google's way of maintaining a hold on our data for at least another decade. For most geeks it's the coolest new technology since the Macintosh, which launched nearly 30 years ago. For others, Glass is a harbinger of a world deprived of privacy or it's a way to feed the insatiable Internet with live video and audio. Or it's like the Segway, an interesting and innovative technology that will become more of a curiosity over time.

Glass could be all or some of the above. … Read more

Reddit appears on Google Glass, could turn us into zombies

The popular link sharing Web site Reddit -- perhaps one of the greatest time sinks known to humankind -- has made its way to Google Glass.

Reddit Timeline, created by Malcolm Nguyen, enables Google Glass users to quickly view the top 25 posts on Reddit (or their own custom version of the front page) with just a swipe of a finger. The app even updates the collection of posts every hour to keep things fresh. Hepcats can also use the app to share images and video, shot with Glass, to Reddit, which will likely excite many people who regularly contribute content to the Web site.… Read more

Google Keep note-taking comes to Chrome

Google Keep wants to be the app that you dump all your little notes and big thoughts into, and Google introduced a Keep Chrome Web app version on Thursday.

To install it, you must use the link above, as it's not yet available by searching the Chrome Web Store.

Like Keep in Google Drive and Keep for Android, it lets you write notes in a stripped-down interface that lacks all but the most basic features. In addition to standard note-taking, you can change the text color or insert an image.

Keep for Chrome launches in its own window, and … Read more

Android Key Lime Pie: Most wanted features (video)

Right now, deep beneath the Earth's crust, Google engineers are working in secret to develop the next major version of Android.

Rumored to be called Key Lime Pie (though some reports suggest the next version may stick with the Jelly Bean moniker), little is known about what new software treats this update has in store. That said, we at CNET certainly have an idea of what we want to see -- hit play on the video above to hear the apps and tweaks we're desperate for Google to bake into the heart of its next big refresh.

Separate … Read more

Google Glass code lets you snap a photo with a wink

The next Google Glass owner who winks at you may actually be taking your picture.

New code cooked up by Google Glass developer Mike DiGiovanni enables the wink gesture in the high-tech specs.

Dubbed Winky, the feature can even be used to snap a photo when the screen is turned off. As a result, Winky eliminates the need to issue a voice command or tap a button to take a picture.

Google Glass users who want to try out a few winks will need some development skills of their own.

DiGiovanni has released Winky as pure Android source code, according … Read more

Chrome caching to smooth out rough patches in network

Google is working on software that will improve Chrome (Windows, Mac) during moments when people lose their network connection by letting the browser load its own stored copy of previously visited Web pages.

Google programmer Randy Smith said yesterday he's added support for "offline cache mode" to Chrome. It's only on the developer version of the browser so far, and it's disabled by default, but the flag to enable it says the feature will let Chrome load Web pages from the browser's local cache if the online version isn't available. That could help … Read more

YouTube to advertisers: You need us to attract a younger crowd

NEW YORK--Google on Wednesday made its pitch for advertising on YouTube, telling companies that the site is a vital way to reach the highly desired 18- to 34-year-old demographic and a way to build a base of loyal fans.

However, the company didn't announce any new major projects or partnerships. Instead, executives positioned YouTube as hip and in tune with what younger viewers desire -- something it said its online rivals and traditional cable networks lack. And it noted that the transition to online viewing has already happened.

"The future is already here," Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt … Read more