Tag: Google

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Layoffs do not stop in Silicon Valley. Google among the four companies that will lay off more than 1,700 employees


Layoffs at tech companies seemed to have taken a breather in mid-2023, but it appears it was nothing more than the calm before the storm.

The year began with more than 100,000 layoffs for all of Silicon Valley’s large technology companies, but little by little the pace slowed until it settled at a level that could be considered normal. The poor economic results expected for the fourth quarter and the adjustments for 2024 mean that many technology companies have reactivated workforce adjustment plans, once again laying off hundreds of employees. Google is among those that continues to confirm declines in the coming months.

The trickle of layoffs from Google. Just two months ago Google announced a staff cut that mainly affected its human resources department since, as the company itself confessed through its representative Brian Ong, “Unfortunately we need to make a significant reduction in the size of the company.” recruiting organization.

Now, the company has decided to let go of around twenty data scientists in its voice assistant division, according to sources. This is Google’s third round of layoffs so far this year after reducing its recruiting staff and layoffs on the Google News team.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving division, has already had three rounds of layoffs so far this year, reducing this division’s 2,500 employees by up to 10%.

Informatica, the Silicon Valley cloud is not spared either. Cloud data company Informatica is also not immune to layoffs, and on Wednesday announced the layoff of 10% of its workforce following poor financial results in the third quarter.

The measure affects about 545 employees and seeks cost savings in 2024 of 70 million dollars and between 35 and 45 million in expenses. The company has already announced the first 90 layoffs, which will be carried out before December 31 for employees at its headquarters in Redwood City. This would be the second round of layoffs in 2023 for the company, which shed 407 employees at the beginning of the year and posted net income of $79.2 million in the third quarter of the year.

Faire has lasted a year without firing anyone. The e-commerce platform Faire is facing its second round of layoffs after reducing its workforce by 7% just a year ago. According to Insider, Faire will be somewhat more expeditious this time, laying off 20% of its staff with a total of 250 new layoffs.

The platform has been valued at 12.5 billion dollars and during the year it has accumulated 416 million in profits.

Viasat puts its feet on the ground and fires 10% of its staff. The satellite communications company Viasat has not been spared from workforce cuts in 2023, announcing in a statement the dismissal of 800 employees, which represents 10% of its current workforce. In this way, the company intensifies the cuts it already made in April with the dismissal of 300 employees.

Again, poor economic forecasts lead the company to contract its infrastructure in order to save up to 100 million dollars until 2025.

Splunk reduces its workforce before its merger. The cybersecurity company Splunk has been the latest to announce that it joins the increasingly large club of companies that are laying off employees in Silicon Valley with a 7% cut in its workforce before formalizing its merger with the giant Cisco.

The layoff plan affects 537 employees and will mark the second round of layoffs of the year. Splunk had laid off 325 employees in February. “The changes we are announcing are not the result of our agreement with Cisco; they are a continuation of the important initiatives we have undertaken at Splunk for more than a year to align our resources and operational structure to deliver continuous and incremental value to our customers” said Gary Steele, president and CEO of Splunk.

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Google Stadia comes to iOS through Safari: we can now play CyberPunk 2077 on our iPhone, iPad or Mac


Following the official announcement by Google, its cloud gaming service has landed on Apple platforms. It does not do it as an application, but as a webapp that we can access through a browser. Thus, to enjoy games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Destiny 2 we just have to open Safari.

 

A great catalog already available in our pocket

According to Google’s announcement, if we have iOS / iPadOS 14.3 we can go to stadia.google.com and start playing. On the website we will find a PWA (Progressive Web Application) that mimics the experience of a native app directly in the browser. Mention that in versions prior to iOS 14.3 the stability of the platform is not as desired, so it is recommended to update to the latest version.

Once we are on the website We can use any compatible bluetooth controller, the controls on the same screen or the Stadia controller that Google markets. According to some first tests, the user experience is really good and it is hardly affected by the fact that it is not a dedicated app.

With the arrival of this platform to iOS and iPadOS the door opens to a good number of interesting titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Destiny 2, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Outcasters, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or Sniper Elite 4, to name a few examples.

Apple TV app coming to Chromecasts with Google TV in early 2021

It is clear that the arrival of this catalog to the iPhone and iPad is good news. If we add to that the progressive deployment of 5G and its support in the iPhone 12, the truth is that we have a winning combination.

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Chromecast with Google TV will now receive the first update of 2024

Do you use a Chromecast with Google TV? The first software update of 2024 for the device can now be downloaded. Have you received it yet?

Chromecast with Google TV: first 2024 update

Good news for Chromecast users with Google TV. The search giant has released the first update of 2024 for the media player, it writes. This is an update with version number STTL.231114.004, which you can now download and install. The update is 148MB in size and only available for the Chromecast with Google TV (4K).

The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) will have to wait a while for the update. Unfortunately, the latest software does not contain any new features, but it does include the Android security patch of December 2023. This means that the security of the Chromecast is as good as up to date. Installing updates is quite simple; simply follow the step-by-step plan below.

  1. On your Chromecast with Google TV, go to your profile photo at the top right and then choose ‘Settings’;
  2. Navigate to ‘System > About > System Update’;
  3. Your Chromecast will now check if updates are available;
  4. Download and install the latest version.

As mentioned, no exciting features are being added to the Chromecast with Google TV. The update only contains a few bug fixes and performance improvements, which should make the device work a little better. Google often releases these types of updates for the Chromecast.

The media player still runs on Android 12 and will soon have new functions. Google recently announced that TikTok is coming to the Chromecast and it will be easier to connect Bluetooth devices to the HDMI dongle.

More about the Chromecast

In the Netherlands you can choose from two Chromecasts with Google TV. The big difference is in the image quality. The more expensive version, which costs 70 euros, can display films and series in 4K quality on your television. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) has been available since 2022 and costs 40 euros.

This media player goes – as the name suggests – up to full HD. The image quality is less good on larger televisions, but the device is a lot cheaper. In the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) review we tell you everything about the media player. Or watch the video review below.

The latest Google news:

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How to use Google Bard on Telegram by talking to artificial intelligence as if it were a contact


Let’s explain to you how to use Google Bard on Telegram in the simplest way possible, interacting with Google’s AI as if it were just another contact in the messaging app. Google Bard is the search engine company’s answer to ChatGPT and Bing Chat, and it has arrived on Telegram in the form of a bot.

What we are going to tell you are the steps you have to take to use this Telegram bot in which you are allowed to use Bard. You will see that the procedure is simple, and then you will be able to take advantage of all the functions of Bard on any device without needing to use a Google account.

Use Google Bard on Telegram

The first thing you have to do is enter the Telegram chats section, and click on the write a new message button. Here, On the contacts screen use the search engine and search , which is the name of the Telegram bot. Click on it to start a conversation. You can also open it directly with the link t.me/bard_kpbot.

This will take you to the Google Bard bot. In it, you have to click on the button to activate it and start talking to him.

When you start using Bard, you will see that it gives you an error. This is because To start using it you must join the development channel where news is reported. To go to it, click on the links in the error messages and join. Then she goes back to the chat with Bard and starts talking to him. You may have to start it again.

Now, you can start using Google Bard. You will be able to ask any question, and even those that are related to information in real time, because Bard is capable of searching the result on the Internet. You can write to him in Spanishand Bard will respond in the same language.

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Google Play has started identifying the 2GIS application as malicious. 2GIS says it is safe


Users began to report that Google Play began to identify the 2GIS mapping service application as malicious.

The market message states that 2GIS is “trying to gain access to personal data such as SMS, photos, audio recordings and call logs.” The service stated that this statement is not true:

These notifications are related solely to Google’s policies and are the same for all applications that are temporarily unavailable on Google Play.

— 2GIS press service

The Russian company explained that it was requesting access to the microphone and call log so that users could make search queries by voice and call organizations directly from the application. Access to SMS is needed to automatically enter a code that is sent to the user when registering in the application.

Let us remind you that Google removed the 2GIS application from its store in May 2023. (TASS)

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Chromecast with Google TV does more than meets the eye: from games via Game Pass and xCloud to external drives with a USB-C hub


The renewal of Google’s Chromecast was highly anticipated, and although certainly the price in Spain has been a jug of cold water, it must be recognized that the device has remarkable potential.

In fact, to the official options that stand out in Google with content streaming, there are several that begin to consider how this device can be a great companion to our Smart TV, and all thanks to the support of Google Play, he ‘sideloading’ apps and that USB-C port which can do much more than supply current.

Unofficial options that give a lot of play

We are seeing it in recent days: since the Chromecast with Google TV in several stores in the United States before even its official launch, several users have tried to do things that have not been officially publicized by Google.

For example, although theoretically the device does not work for Google’s own Stadia service at the moment, there are those who have tried it by doing this process of sideloading consisting of install applications on the device through their APK installation packages on the Chromecast operating system with Google TV, which is nothing more than a somewhat special version of Android.


Not only that: the device also allows install the Xbox Game Pass and PS4 Remote Play apps. In the first case, it has been shown that it is possible to play games through the Project xCloud streaming service that recently debuted on the Microsoft platform. In the second it seems that there is not so good news at the moment and although the application seems to load, there is not much more that can be done than logging into the account.

When playing with streaming services like Stadia or xCloud that are not officially supported but do work, the internet connection is crucial. The Chromecast with Google TV has WiFi connectivity, but there are two different ways to ensure a more stable connection and have a wired connection via Ethernet.

The first, buy the official and optional Google charger that includes precisely that entry and that costs 19.99 euros in the Google Store. The second is to take advantage of the device’s USB-C connector, which in addition to being used to charge it allows you to do something very important: connect a USB-C hub.


By doing so we can obtain many more connection ports with which expand the possibilities of Chromecast with Google TV. There are already users who have confirmed that some concentrators work and that thanks to them they have connected mice, keyboards or have accessed those Ethernet connectors we were talking about.

Not only that: it is also possible to connect external storage units (pendrives, hard drives) and explore those contents. That, together with the aforementioned sideloading of applications, suggests that these Chromecasts could also become valuable multimedia centers for local content.

We have not yet seen cases that confirm that for example it is possible to use these devices to install Kodi or Plex and thus expand those options, but of course the sideloading process invites to think that this capacity is feasible. And if it is, as in the rest of the cases, we have before us a product that becomes more interesting at times.

Source : Engadget

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How to download apps from Google Play that are not available in your country with Aurora Store

Google Play has millions of apps, although not all of them appear on your list. Developers can choose to have apps only appear for certain available or in certain regions. If you are elsewhere it does not appear in the search and if you enter from the direct link it tells you that this item is not available in your country.

If you try to download an app or game from Google Play and this message appears, you can do several things: download and install the APK, change accounts (if you are temporarily in that country), or use the Aurora Store to get the best of both worlds: Download apps from Google Play without geographic restrictions.

1. Install Aurora Store

For our example, we’ll try to download Google Fi, the official Google app for your data plans and calls in the US. Google only offers these services in the United States. the app does not appear in Google Play accounts other countries. If you enter from its link, it will tell you the error « This app is not compatible with any of your devices » on the Google Play website and « This item is not available in your country » in the Google Play application.

To overcome this obstacle you will need installer Aurora Store, an alternative to Google Play that serves as an unofficial client. In other words, what you download from the Aurora Store comes from Google Play. You can download Aurora Store from its official website. Just make sure you download Aurora Store and not Aurora-Droid, which instead of using Google Play does it from F-Droid.

The configuration you will need to perform is minimal. Aurora Store allows you log in anonymously, without using a Google account. After granting the necessary permissions, you can start downloading apps, although apps that are not available in your region will continue to appear in the search engine, as you can see in the screenshot above. .


2. Prepare the Google Play links

Now comes the trick part: even if it doesn’t show up in the search engine, Aurora Store can download the app as long as you enter through the link of the same. The problem is, the most normal thing is that you have configured the Google Play app so that automatically open google play links.

You can change this in the section Information about the Google Play app. Tap Open by default and tap Clear default values or, if you prefer, press Open links supported in this app and it turns into Always ask.

Once done, when you click on a link to a Google Play app, the window will appear so that choose which application you want to open it with. The trick is to choose Aurora Store and not Google Play.

3. Download and install

You just need to send yourself a direct link for the app on Google Play to any app that you can click on. Choose to open it with Aurora Store and now you can press the Install button to download and install it on your mobile, wherever you are.


The application will be downloaded and you can then start your installation. Keep in mind that even if an app is installed, it shouldn’t work properly as it might contain additional checks in the app or prevent you from creating an account and signing up in other regions, like Zao.

Source: Frandroid

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How to get Google Discover news on Xiaomi mobiles with MIUI


Do you want to have easy access to Google news from your Xiaomi, the so-called Discover? In case MIUI does not offer you the option in the launcher, you can always pin a shortcut, use a launcher or access through the MIUI app safe

All Xiaomi mobiles come with the possibility of anchoring a desktop to the left of the interface, this is called Application safe or « Application safe », a smart space where you can find everything from weather information to recommended apps. Now what if you want to redeem it for Google News, the so-called Google Discover? Xiaomi has started including it in new mobiles, such as the Xiaomi Mi 10 and the Redmi Note 9 family. Although the company decides to expand it to more international mobiles, we will show you the ways to access the stream. Google news.

Use the Google search widget

It’s one of the easiest ways to access Google news from all xiaomi phones can use it, regardless of the model and version of MIUI (and almost all other Android). In fact, it’s more convenient than having Discover to the left of the desks because you just have to click on the widget to load the news.

In general, the search widget is usually preloaded on global Xiaomi mobiles. In case you didn’t or deleted it, you need to do the following:

  • Make the pinch gesture on your mobile desktop to display the launcher options.
  • Click on the « Widgets » icon.
  • Go to the Google section and click on its search widget to add it to the desktop.

  • If you don’t like the long widget, you can resize it until it only occupies two columns.

Once the widget is docked, you can access Google News by clicking on the « G » of said widget.

Use the MIUI app safe

The new MIUI international mobiles no longer have “App vault”, the so-called application vault: the Xiaomi Mi 10, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9S or Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro bring the Google Discover series. Older mobiles don’t have this option, but they can also use App Vault to access Google news.


This process involves an additional click on the widget without this little nuisance overshadowing the deployment of Discover. AND without having to change the look of your MIUI desks.

Change the launcher

If you want to emulate the behavior of Google Discover on non-Xiaomi mobiles and your MIUI launcher does not have the option in its settings, the only way to get it (for now) is via a third-party launcher. There are several that include the option, like the rootless launcher. We will choose this application for its simplicity, lightness and low consumption.

  • Download the launcher from Google Play.
  • Download the Apk to activate and install Google Discover.
  • Exit at the start of your Xiaomi and choose Launcher without root as the launcher.
  • Pinch on the desktop and go to « Home Settings ».
  • Activate ‘Show Google app‘and you will have the Discover news to the left of the desks.

Choose Discover if you already have it in your MIUI launcher

We were already saying that the new Xiaomi international mobiles come with Google Discover instead of App vault. So if you already have one on the market in 2020, you can check if you already have the option included in the MIUI launcher. For that:

  • Make the pinch gesture on the desktop of your Xiaomi and go to Settings.

  • Click on ‘More’.
  • Check the “Google Discover” option.

Source: Frandroid


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We tested Petal Maps, Huawei’s new Google Maps that you can now download


Huawei’s alternative to Google Maps is starting to reach some users in beta: Petal Maps can now be downloaded to a selected group of mobiles. We have tested the application: we will tell you what it is like and what you can expect from it. We also explain how to download it if you have a Huawei Android.


Faced with the impossibility of accessing Google services and applications, Huawei has been developing its own alternatives. With HMS Core he got a way to bring your mobile services to a large number of smartphones, same as with Petal Search, your take on Google search (and app installer). And with petal Maps Huawei has achieved a great alternative to Google Maps, its operation is at a very good level. We have checked it.

Petal Maps, Maps and GPS Guided Navigation

Lacking Google Maps is one of the great drawbacks for the owners of a modern Huawei, not for nothing the application of maps has become almost a standard. It is true that Huawei’s AppGallery store has several quality alternatives, such as Here WeGo or TomTom Go Navigation, but the gap left by not having Google Maps reinstalled is large. Y Petal Maps covers you in a more than acceptable way.

Petal Maps is in beta version for some Huawei phones that have HMS Core with version 5.0 or higher. The available version is still somewhat limited, but it offers full access to maps and also GPS navigation, the two essential functions in an app of its kind.


We have been testing the location on the map and the navigation without having found notable problems: Petal Maps works as expected. It has a simple interface, the maps are perfectly legible, they have real-time traffic thanks to TomTom data (there are no more layers at the moment), favorite locations can be saved (by default Petal Maps brings work and home, two addresses that can be defined) and, as we said, point-to-point navigation with voice guidance is also included.


Petal Maps amply covers the functions of location on the map and point-to-point navigation through voice directions

Petal Maps is not anywhere near as complete as Google Maps, Huawei does not claim it either. It does offer what a user needs from a map application: to tell them where they are, where is any other point on the map and how to get to that point step by step. Petal Maps delivers.

No business recommendations, but with all the basics

If we talk about functions we have to admit that Google has made Maps a gigantic application. In fact, we could almost say that the maps function is the least of it since Google Maps focuses the experience on business and user activity. Recommendations are one of the basic functions, Google Maps has evolved towards a social environment rather than a purely informative application as far as maps are concerned.


Petal Maps is a clean map app, without superfluous options, an application that offers locations and navigation, nothing more. Although nothing less, Huawei has achieved a mobile software that is perfect to find any place in the world and navigate with the car to it. Yes for now no public transport or walks, we will see how it evolves.

We can search for a specific place in the world by receiving suggestions in the search bar, accessing the traffic layer to visualize road congestion in real time, we have the lower menu ‘Directions’ to start GPS navigation and a tab labeled ‘I’ that offer access to profile information. And ready.


Without downloading maps to use offline or the advanced GPS navigation options, Petal Maps loses possibilities, but surely Huawei will add it in the future

Petal Maps is still very basic, but it is also a beta, so Huawei has enormous room for improvement. We must refrain from knowing extended business information (it does include POIs by categories), we do not have satellite or public transport layers, Petal Maps does not allow downloading maps to be used offline and GPS navigation is very limited (it does not even include an option to avoid tolls). Huawei will expand the possibilities with future updates.

A great approach to Google Maps

We have already seen that Petal Maps is quite basic even though it offers what is necessary to be considered a good map and navigation application. There are other more complete options in AppGallery, such as Here WeGo or TomTom Go Navigation, but as a first approach Huawei has not achieved a bad application. It is perfect for those who do not need advanced use of maps.

Petal Maps is currently available for the Huawei P40 and Huawei P30, also for the new Huawei Mate 40. However, you can download the APK and use it on your Huawei mobile without having to be one of those mentioned. We have tested Petal Maps successfully on an Honor Play: you can download the file from this link (via Huawei Blog). The official AppGallery file is here.

Source: Frandroid

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Online advertising: million-dollar fine against Google in France


The French competition authority accuses Google of abusing its dominant position in the ad server market. The group now has to pay a fine of 220 million euros for this; Google itself has also offered changes.

In France, Google pays a fine of 220 million euros imposed by the antitrust office for giving preference to its own services when allocating online advertising space. The US company did not deny the allegations and the fine was now ordered as part of a settlement, the French competition authority in Paris said.

The cartel office had been contacted by several publishing groups, including the international media entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and the French Figaro publishing house. They accused Google of abusing its dominant market position.

Google’s advertising sales business accounted for 13 percent of parent company Alphabet’s sales of almost $183 billion (€150 billion) last year.

DoubleClick and Google Ad Exchange

In this specific case, the question is whether the search engine giant has unlawfully exploited its dominance in the digital advertising business. Since taking over the advertising specialist DoubleClick in 2009, Google has operated a platform for advertising (“DoubleClick for Publisher”), which is now operated under the Google brand. This platform is used by many large online publishers and publishers to offer advertising space for sale. The complaint was that Google customers were given an advantage in the actual allocation of advertising space at the advertising auction house Google Ad Exchange (AdX). Google customers were partly provided with information about competing bids.

“The Authority has found that Google has granted preferential treatment to its own technologies offered under the Google Ad Manager brand(…),” the competition authority said. These practices are “particularly serious” because those disadvantaged include publishers whose economic model has already been seriously weakened by the decline in sales of newspaper subscriptions.

Google changes model

In the settlement, Google also agreed to change its behavior and make it easier for competitors to use its online advertising tools. The changes were accepted by the authority. “We will test and develop these changes over the coming months before rolling them out more broadly, including globally,” Google said.

The French competition authority recalled that companies with a position like Google have a special responsibility. “These very serious practices disadvantaged competition in the emerging online advertising market and allowed Google to not only maintain but also expand its dominant position,” said Isabelle de Silva, chairwoman of the French competition authority, according to the statement.

“We believe we provide valuable services and compete. However, we are committed to proactively working with regulators to make improvements to our products,” the US group said. They have been working with the French authorities for the past two years and now want to improve access to data or increase the flexibility of Google Ad Manager.

It is still unclear whether and how the comparison will affect other markets, as complaints against the dominance of the DoubleClick platform had also surfaced outside France. Experts now expect that these obligations from the settlement will develop into a template that publishers in many other countries can also demand.