Google finally announces beta support for Handwrite in Hindi

Say hello to Handwrite in Hindi! Google has finally announced that it is offering beta support for handwriting in Hindi and the ability to switch to a native Hindi experience on Android for millions of its users in India. 

Hindi goodness is here!

To put it simply, with this newfound ability, users can make Google searches by just writing letters with their finger or stylus anywhere on their device’s screen. To begin, go to www.google.co.in on your mobile browser, tap on “Settings” at the bottom of the screen, go to Search Settings and enable “Handwrite.” Users can then proceed to changing the language in Google products to Hindi. Alternatively, they can add “Hindi” as the Language of Search Results. Once they’ve saved the setting, users may have to refresh the homepage to see the feature. Those looking to enable handwrite in Hindi on their tablets must note that the Search settings can be found behind the gear icon. Once the feature is active, users will have to tap the Handwrite icon visible at the bottom right corner of their screen to activate it. Once done, users can write anywhere on the screen. 

It also possible now for users to translate Hindi with Google Translate app for Mobile. All they have to do is download the Google Translate app from the Play store and change the language from the dropdown settings, and then just enter the text they want to translate. Here, users can enter Hindi text using handwriting too. 

Google finally announces beta support for Handwrite in Hindi

Additionally, if users choose to, they can handwrite Hindi script into any site on the web using the Google Input Tools Chrome Extension – available on the Chrome Webstore. 

If you’re an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean user, you can switch to using your Android completely in Hindi. Those interested can go to Settings and select Language and Input. Tap on Language to view a list of the languages, select Hindi, and the interface will switch to this new language. 

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Google+ Photos now available for Chromebooks in 52 languages

Months after introducing the Google+ Photos app for its Chromebook Pixel users, Google has introduced the for all Chromebooks, according to a post.

The Google+ Photos app in action on a Chromebook

The Google+ Photos app is available for grabs now on the Chrome Web Store in 52 languages. The application allows users to store, organise and eventually share their collection of photos.

Once the Google+ Photos app is installed, users can insert your SD card into their Chromebook to get a back up of their new photos on Google+. These photos are viewable by the user only, and the most recent photos will still be visible to them when they’re offline. The app will highlight the top shots as it stores the images. Users can then share individual photos, sets of photos, or an entire album from the app. To go ahead with it, select the images and click ‘Share’. The Auto Enhance feature in the app adds improvements to each photo a user adds, and Auto Awesome creates fun new versions of photos. Click here to install the Google+ Photos app.

A screenshot of the app

The app was recently updated with a bunch of features, based on the feedback it received from users. A new “Move” option now allows users to move photos between albums. All that users have to do is pick a few photos in an album or click the new “Select” link to pick all photos and then decide where they want to put them. They can also download these images and save them to their computer by clicking the “Download” option after selecting the photos. Those looking to upload large albums to Google+ Photos can rejoice as Google claims to have made the entire deal faster thanks to a few changes.

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Google Maps iOS and Android apps now feature Waze data on accidents

A nifty update is here for those who use the Google Maps application on their Android and iOS devices. Brian McClendon, VP, Google Maps, has confirmed in a post that the teams at Google Maps and Waze have joined hands to make it simpler for users of both platforms to navigate through their life. 

For those unfamiliar, Waze is essentially a GPS-based real-time service that provides turn-by-turn navigation. It relies on crowdsourced route details, including information about traffic, accidents and more. Now when Waze users report about accidents, road closures, constructions, et al on the platform, Google Maps will feature that data, enabling users to make better decisions pertaining to their travel. This ability is being rolled out for Google Maps Android and iOS app users in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, UK and the US.

A screenshot of the Waze app

Two new updates have been introduced to the Waze Android and iOS apps too, first being support for Google Search. Once they’ve updated their applications, Waze users will have access to additional search results when navigating. The Waze Map Editor, following a successful beta test, now features Google Street View and satellite imagery, so as to make it simpler for them to correct map errors reported by the community.   

Google recently revealed that it shelled out a whopping $966 million to purchase Israeli mapping start-up Waze. The search giant had finalised the deal to buy Waze in June and the price amount being speculated during the time was in the vicinity of $1 billion. 

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Google celebrates Claude Debussy in latest doodle

Google has found innovative ways to commemorate important events and dates with nifty doodles. The latest one to land up on main Google search page celebrates French music composer Claude Debussy on his birth anniversary. Debussy, one of the greatest contributors to impressionist music, would have turned 151 today.

The doodle showcases a moonlit riverside with the tunes of Clair de lune, the third movement from Suite Bergamasque. The piece is also known as Moonlight, and is one of Debussy’s best known works. The animated doodle presents a star studded sky, flickering street lights and chimney smoke rising to the tunes of the piece. In addition, a windmill, boats, cycles, cars and balloons can also be seen.

The level of detailing of the doodle is once again astounding. The scene transitions from the star studded sky to show rain drops falling on the river and ends with two different boats crossing paths and the rowers sharing a red umbrella.

Google pays tribute to French composer in latest doodle

The composer who inspired this doodle was born in 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. Debussy started taking piano lessons in Cannes at the age of seven, where he had to move with his mother during the Franco-Prussian war. The composer entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1872, where he spent 11 years.

Debussy’s work was impacted greatly by another composer, a German named Richard Wagner, who died in 1883. And some of his pieces, like La damoiselle élue and Cinq poèmes de Charles Baudelaire reflect that influence. The French composer is best known for his composition of pieces like Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune, Pelleas et Melisande, Suite Bergamasque, La Cathedrale Engloutie and La Mer. Debussy passed away after a fight against colon cancer in Paris on 25 March, 1918 at the age of 55.

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Google introduces Helpouts to put people in touch with experts

After rumours circulating about Google building a video platform to buy and sell services, the company has confirmed that it is testing a product called Helpouts. The service will connect people who need help with those who can offer it over video. Helpouts, which is still in the early stages of testing, will be tied-in closely with Google+ and will work in a way similar to Google Hangouts.

Helpouts will feature a face-to-face video service that will be available on all platforms running Google+. The service will help users who are prolific in various topics like gardening, health and fashion to get in touch with users who would like to learn more about this.

Connect with experts in real-time

The support page currently lists out eight categories one can sign-up under: Home & Garden, Computers & Electronics, Health & Counseling, Nutrition & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Art & Music, Cooking and Education. This is all great, but what does Google stand to gain from this service? Google will let you charge by the minute, by the session or give your expertise away for free on Helpouts. The company will be taking a flat cut of 20 percent for all the payment, ranking, scheduling and connecting with customers for paid sessions.

This is serious business for Google, it appears. If you’re only an enthusiast who knows lightly about a topic, you might want to think twice before applying. When you try to create your profile on Helpouts, Google will ask you to submit all your certificates as far as your qualifications and experience goes. If you’re offering medical expertise, rest assured Google will get third parties to check your papers out.

The feature was first spoken about after the "Breakfast with Sundar" event concluded last month. Techcrunch spoke in length about this service that could put merchants in touch with consumers. Google has a slightly different take on this and claims that Hangouts will be more like experts selling their knowledge over video.

The idea, while not completely new, seems like a novel one for Google. The company has the infrastructure of Google Hangouts backing Helpouts, and it could be a great new way of how experts interact with audiences. No official date for Helpouts has been announced yet, but Google seems to be working at a breakneck speed to gather experts under its banner already.

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Microsoft offers ad-free Bing for the classroom to battle Google

The long-running rivalry between Microsoft Corp and Google Inc is turning into a schoolyard brawl. Microsoft on Wednesday opened a new front against the world's No. 1 search provider by piloting an ad-free offering for educational users of Bing, its search engine that for years has trailed Google.

Under the free program called "Bing for Schools," students in participating school districts will no longer see ads or adult content when they do Internet searches. Microsoft, which has signed up the Los Angeles Unified School District and Atlanta Public Schools among other school districts, has pitched Bing as an alternative at a time of rising public concern over how Internet companies are tracking their users' every move to target the ads they display.

Ad-free Bing for students

As part of the program, Microsoft will also offer free Surface tablets and course materials for teaching youngsters about Internet use. Stefan Weitz, Microsoft's director of search, said the program would help expose young users to Microsoft products. "We hope that we demonstrate the quality of Bing to teachers and students and also their parents, and once they see how good it is, we hope to see increased usage outside of schools too," said Weitz.

Bing, with 18 percent of the search market share, has long trailed Google, at 67 percent, according to data from ComScore, despite an aggressive effort to close the gap. Microsoft's move is the latest sign that technology companies are targeting the education market as a way to reach children who will become the next generation of consumers.

The new Bing campaign, framed in the context of privacy concerns, is part of a broad, anti-Google marketing campaign directed by a team of political consultants including Mark Penn, long-time adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton.

In recent months Microsoft has ramped up allegations posted to its "Scroogled" website, including claims that Google violates its users' trust by scanning emails to target ads. Microsoft has also backed promotion of a "Do Not Track" protocol that would discourage online ad targeting. "People just don't think it's appropriate to show ads to children in a learning environment," Weitz said.

A Google spokesman declined to immediately comment.

While Microsoft relies heavily on software sales, more than 95 percent of Google's revenue come from ads, and a significant portion of that comes from its dominant search engine. Google and Microsoft have also been vying to get schools to adopt their productivity software. Google has been offering a discount for its Google Apps suite, which it hopes can replace programs such as Microsoft Word on school computers.

Tech companies, led by Apple Inc , have also competed fiercely to get hardware into the classroom, even while academic studies are divided over the effectiveness of gadgets in improving student performance.

Following Apple, Google in December announced a program to give its Chromebook computers to schools for $99 each. Six months later, Microsoft began offering its Surface RT tablet to educational institutions for $199, a discount of more than 50 percent.

As part of the Bing campaign, school districts whose students use the Microsoft search engine win points, which they can redeem for Surface tablets. Aleigha Henderson-Rosser, the director of instructional technology at Atlanta Public Schools, said she had no qualms about receiving aid from tech companies. She also said Atlanta schools will not be paid money to participate in the Bing program.

Henderson-Rosser said she will try to rally parents to use Bing to help win Surface tablets for schools that cannot afford the technology. She said, "I'm seeing it as a community effort to fill in the gaps."

Reuters

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Glass will not hit markets before 2014, confirms Google

There were rumours that Google could be planning an early shipping date for the company’s Glass wearable computer later this year. Computer World now says that Google has gone on the record to say that the wearable device will not be shipped before 2014.

According to the report, sources close to the company had earlier said that Glass would be available in 2013. Contradicting that, a Google spokesman has now said, "We're always adjusting and readjusting timelines. The most important thing that we do is focus on building a great product for users whenever that might be launched."

The spokesman went on to clarify that the earlier information given by some company employees at the May conference contradicted statements made by Google headhoncho Eric Schmidt. In April, Schmidt had told a BBC reporter that Glass was about a year away from hitting markets. At the time, the Google chairman had said, "It's fair to say there will be thousands in use over the months and there will be changes made based on feedback. But it's fair to say it's a year-ish away."

Google Glass will not be shipped before 2014

Analysts, however, feel that this decision may come from wanting to avoid problems if the shipping date of the device does extend beyond 2013. Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told the source, "I'm pleased Google has the discipline to hold Glass back until they think it's perfect. Typically, Google will throw products out before they're ready, like the Nexus Q. Glass is a new category of devices and it's important that it works well. [If not], it could stunt the growth of these kinds of devices."

Another analyst with ZR Research, Zeus Kerravala said, "That's interesting, but not surprising. Glass has so much hype around it that it's more important Google get it right than get it out early or on time." Another point of view for this situation comes from Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group. According to him, it is possible that Google is focusing more on marketing the Google Glass as opposed to thinking about its technology.

Rationalising this, Olds said, "Google hasn't said anything about the slip or why it's happening. If I were to speculate, I'd say it's more marketing related than technical. Just the specter of Google Glass has caused a lot of buzz in both the tech world and with consumers. Businesses have banned them preemptively and there have been lots of discussions about how this device impacts privacy.”

The discussion around Google Glass has intensified in the last few days following several privacy and government bodies raising a lot of security and privacy concerns about the wearable device. The main point is the fact that Glass can be used to secretly take photos and videos of people. In response, Google has promised not to include facial recognition technology into the device till strong privacy settings are put in place. Certain businesses like Caesars Palace and Seattle’s 5 Points Cafe and Bar have already placed bans against the use of the wearable device on their premises.

These controversies are not stopping the company from steadily distributing the device to early adopters, developers and critics through its Explorer programme, though. Thus, it looks like the company is planning on sticking to its schedule for the Google Glass. So far, developers who want to get their hands on the device will have to shell out $1500 (Rs 95,070, approx), although there is no word on what the offical price of the device will actually be.

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Continental AG, Google to work on self-driving cars

German automotive parts maker Continental AG is close to agreeing alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported.

Daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung cited unspecified sources as saying Continental aims to unveil the two pacts at the Frankfurt Car Show in September.

Self driving cars getting closer to reality now!

Continental is already in an alliance with U.S. network equipment maker Cisco Systems to work on systems for automated and driverless automobiles and on data transfer between cars. A Continental spokesman declined to comment. Spokespeople for Google and IBM in Germany were not immediately available for comment.

Google has been working on self-driving technology since 2010, including testing a fleet of self-driving cars along California roadways.

A raft of automakers including GM, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen are developing computer-controlled features that help drivers avoid accidents.

Reuters

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Heater is integrated with Google Calendar

Shack Dweller enthusiast has created an interface that allows you to create schedules for household temperature heater with a calendar Google. It uses a micro controller and mbed ARM Cortex M3. Connect to the internet directly through the slot Ethernet.

See Video
Controlling the schedule and temperature of my heating using google calendar.

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