1. Powering Down Google Reader
We have just announced on the Official Google Blog that we will soon retire Google Reader (the actual date is July 1, 2013). We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.
There are two simple reasons for this: usage of Google Reader has declined, and as a company we’re pouring all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience.
To ensure a smooth transition, we’re providing a three-month sunset period so you have sufficient time to find an alternative feed-reading solution. If you want to retain your Reader data, including subscriptions, you can do so through Google Takeout.
Thank you again for using Reader as your RSS platform.
2. Schmidt: One Google OS to Rule Them All Not Happening Soon
Google will keep its Chrome and Android operating systems separate, but company executive chairman Eric Schmidt reportedly said this week that the two will have more features in common. Schmidt's comments at a conference in India came a week after Google reassigned Android head honcho Andy Rubin and gave his duties to Chrome OS boss Sundar Pichai. That sparked speculation that Google is trying to set the stage for an eventual merger of the two operating systems.
3. Google Keep May Not Be a Keeper
Google on Wednesday launched Google Keep, a mobile application designed to let users store notes and checklists in a way that could compete with popular productivity app Evernote. Keep allows users to tap out a note or checklist, or record a voice memo that Keep will transcribe and store. Notes can then be synced to other Android devices or shared to services such as Google+, Gmail or Twitter.
4. Street View Captures Sky-High Mountain Views
Google Street View has unveiled shots from some of the world's highest mountains. In addition to Argentina's Mount Aconcagua, Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro and Russia's Mount Elbrus, Google has now also captured photos from Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Because Street View's camera-equipped vehicles were unable to make the trek, a tripod and digital camera were used. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake reportedly struck near Everest while Google was taking its images.
5. A second spring of cleaning
We’re living in a new kind of computing environment. Everyone has a device, sometimes multiple devices. It’s been a long time since we have had this rate of change—it probably hasn’t happened since the birth of personal computing 40 years ago. To make the most of these opportunities, we need to focus—otherwise we spread ourselves too thin and lack impact. So today we’re announcing some more closures, bringing the total to 70 features or services closed since our spring cleaning began in 2011:
6. Report: Google Is Making A Smart Watch Too
The Financial Times is reporting that Google is making its own version of a smart watch. What’s interesting is that it’s not Google’s experimental arm X Labs developing the watch but rather Google’s Android unit. More »
7. Size Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Vs iPhone 5
Excited about the Galaxy S 4? Maybe you are but haven’t had a chance to hold it. Or maybe you just haven’t seen it lined up against its biggest (smallest?) competitor, the iPhone 5. Here are some high-quality renders of the two side by side from our good friend Martin Hajek. More »
We have just announced on the Official Google Blog that we will soon retire Google Reader (the actual date is July 1, 2013). We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.
There are two simple reasons for this: usage of Google Reader has declined, and as a company we’re pouring all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience.
To ensure a smooth transition, we’re providing a three-month sunset period so you have sufficient time to find an alternative feed-reading solution. If you want to retain your Reader data, including subscriptions, you can do so through Google Takeout.
Thank you again for using Reader as your RSS platform.
2. Schmidt: One Google OS to Rule Them All Not Happening Soon
Google will keep its Chrome and Android operating systems separate, but company executive chairman Eric Schmidt reportedly said this week that the two will have more features in common. Schmidt's comments at a conference in India came a week after Google reassigned Android head honcho Andy Rubin and gave his duties to Chrome OS boss Sundar Pichai. That sparked speculation that Google is trying to set the stage for an eventual merger of the two operating systems.
3. Google Keep May Not Be a Keeper
Google on Wednesday launched Google Keep, a mobile application designed to let users store notes and checklists in a way that could compete with popular productivity app Evernote. Keep allows users to tap out a note or checklist, or record a voice memo that Keep will transcribe and store. Notes can then be synced to other Android devices or shared to services such as Google+, Gmail or Twitter.
4. Street View Captures Sky-High Mountain Views
Google Street View has unveiled shots from some of the world's highest mountains. In addition to Argentina's Mount Aconcagua, Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro and Russia's Mount Elbrus, Google has now also captured photos from Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Because Street View's camera-equipped vehicles were unable to make the trek, a tripod and digital camera were used. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake reportedly struck near Everest while Google was taking its images.
5. A second spring of cleaning
We’re living in a new kind of computing environment. Everyone has a device, sometimes multiple devices. It’s been a long time since we have had this rate of change—it probably hasn’t happened since the birth of personal computing 40 years ago. To make the most of these opportunities, we need to focus—otherwise we spread ourselves too thin and lack impact. So today we’re announcing some more closures, bringing the total to 70 features or services closed since our spring cleaning began in 2011:
- Apps Script will be deprecating the GUI Builder and five UiApp widgets in order to focus efforts on Html Service. The rest of the Ui Service will not be affected. The GUI Builder will continue to be available until September 16, 2013. For more information see our post on the Google Apps Developer Blog.
- CalDAV API will become available for whitelisted developers, and will be shut down for other developers on September 16, 2013. Most developers’ use cases are handled well by Google Calendar API, which we recommend using instead. If you’re a developer and the Calendar API won’t work for you, please fill outthis form to tell us about your use case and request access to whitelisted-only CalDAV API.
- Google Building Maker helped people to make three-dimensional building models for Google Earth and Maps. It will be retired on June 1, but users are still able to access and export their models from the 3D Warehouse. We’ll continue to expand the availability of comprehensive and accurate new 3D imagery on Google Earth, and people can still use Google Map Maker to add building information such as outlines and heights to Google Maps.
- Google Cloud Connect is a plug-in to help people work in the cloud by automatically saving Microsoft Office files from Windows PCs in Google Drive. But installing Google Drive on your desktop achieves the same thing more effectively—and Drive works not only on Windows, but also on Mac, Android and iOS devices. Existing users will no longer be able to use Cloud Connect as of April 30.
- We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favorite websites. While the product has a loyal following, over the years usage has declined. So, on July 1, 2013, we will retire Google Reader. Users and developers interested in RSS alternatives can export their data, including their subscriptions, with Google Takeout over the course of the next four months.
- Beginning next week, we're ending support for the Google Voice App for Blackberry. For Blackberry users who want to continue using Google Voice, we recommend they use our HTML5 app, which is more secure and easier for us to keep up to date. Our HTML5 site is compatible with users with Blackberry version 6 and newer.
- We’re deprecating our Search API for Shopping, which has enabled developers to create shopping apps based on Google’s Product Search data. While we believe in the value this offering provided, we’re shifting our focus to concentrate on creating a better shopping experience for users through Google Shopping. We’ll shut the API down completely on September 16, 2013.
- Beginning today we’ll no longer sell or provide updates for Snapseed Desktop for Macintosh and Windows. Existing customers will continue to be able to download the software and can contact us for support. We’ll continue to offer the Snapseed mobile app on iOS and Android for free.
The Financial Times is reporting that Google is making its own version of a smart watch. What’s interesting is that it’s not Google’s experimental arm X Labs developing the watch but rather Google’s Android unit. More »
Excited about the Galaxy S 4? Maybe you are but haven’t had a chance to hold it. Or maybe you just haven’t seen it lined up against its biggest (smallest?) competitor, the iPhone 5. Here are some high-quality renders of the two side by side from our good friend Martin Hajek. More »
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