Google Play combines Market, Books, Music and Videos

Android took a major step today as Google unified it's Google Music, Google Videos, Google Books and Android Market services into one. The new one-stop store goes by Google Play.

Google Play is Google's effort to put all of its downloadable content, be it apps, movies, music or eBooks and make it easily accessible using Cloud syncing. This would allow you to easily get any music tracks, videos and eBooks you purchase to all of your Android devices, just like with the apps from the Android Market so far.

To make the switch from Android Market to Google Play, the search giant will release an update for the Android Market app on devices running Android 2.2 or later over the coming days. So, from now on, it's officially Google Play, Google Play Music, Google Play Books and Google Play Movies.

How much music and videos, you ask? The company says that you can store up to 20,000 of your own songs plus any of the millions available for purchase in the Google Play itself. And with the app and video count growing literally by the minute, you can be sure that Google will certainly target global market dominance.

And to make sure it attracts more and more users, Google Play will be celebrating its launch by slashing prices on a ton of applications, books, music and movies. Sadly, the full power of Google Play will only be available in the United States at launch, while the rest of the world will have to have to sit on the sideline, looking enviously.

Finally, here's Google's introductory video to Google Play.

Source

View the original article here

Google Play combines Market, Books, Music and Videos

Android took a major step today as Google unified it's Google Music, Google Videos, Google Books and Android Market services into one. The new one-stop store goes by Google Play.

Google Play is Google's effort to put all of its downloadable content, be it apps, movies, music or eBooks and make it easily accessible using Cloud syncing. This would allow you to easily get any music tracks, videos and eBooks you purchase to all of your Android devices, just like with the apps from the Android Market so far.

To make the switch from Android Market to Google Play, the search giant will release an update for the Android Market app on devices running Android 2.2 or later over the coming days. So, from now on, it's officially Google Play, Google Play Music, Google Play Books and Google Play Movies.

How much music and videos, you ask? The company says that you can store up to 20,000 of your own songs plus any of the millions available for purchase in the Google Play itself. And with the app and video count growing literally by the minute, you can be sure that Google will certainly target global market dominance.

And to make sure it attracts more and more users, Google Play will be celebrating its launch by slashing prices on a ton of applications, books, music and movies. Sadly, the full power of Google Play will only be available in the United States at launch, while the rest of the world will have to have to sit on the sideline, looking enviously.

Finally, here's Google's introductory video to Google Play.

Source

View the original article here

Google Play combines Market, Books, Music and Videos

Android took a major step today as Google unified it's Google Music, Google Videos, Google Books and Android Market services into one. The new one-stop store goes by Google Play.

Google Play is Google's effort to put all of its downloadable content, be it apps, movies, music or eBooks and make it easily accessible using Cloud syncing. This would allow you to easily get any music tracks, videos and eBooks you purchase to all of your Android devices, just like with the apps from the Android Market so far.

To make the switch from Android Market to Google Play, the search giant will release an update for the Android Market app on devices running Android 2.2 or later over the coming days. So, from now on, it's officially Google Play, Google Play Music, Google Play Books and Google Play Movies.

How much music and videos, you ask? The company says that you can store up to 20,000 of your own songs plus any of the millions available for purchase in the Google Play itself. And with the app and video count growing literally by the minute, you can be sure that Google will certainly target global market dominance.

And to make sure it attracts more and more users, Google Play will be celebrating its launch by slashing prices on a ton of applications, books, music and movies. Sadly, the full power of Google Play will only be available in the United States at launch, while the rest of the world will have to have to sit on the sideline, looking enviously.

Finally, here's Google's introductory video to Google Play.

Source

View the original article here

The Score: Google Says Change is Good

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:52 am

Google's rapid changes for Motorola are starting to need a scorecard of their own -- not that CEO Sanjay Jha likely will be around to see much of it.

Jha, who had been Motorola's CEO for years, appears to be on his way out while Google marches towards dominating television and just about everything that has an on-off switch.

The Score is a weekly column scoring controversial events in the mobile industry. Want to get to the point? We'll break it down and give you the score.

The Setup: Google has been a part of the search engine world for so long, it's become more than a website; it's now its own verb. The folks over at Microsoft only wish lovesick women would say they're going to "Bing" their old boyfriends, but that's not going to happen.

But Google became more than just a great search engine when it came out with Android, which powers everything Apple and the Hoover Dam doesn't. So when you're on top like Google is, you can either stay there and enjoy the view from your perch while everyone else tries to bring you down, or you can make your perch stronger.

Since Google arguably controls the Internet and most smartphones, it's looking at another way we entertain ourselves. And let's face it, we can watch movies and television on our laptop screens or on our smartphones, but if you've got a 42-inch television screen sitting over in the corner, who wants to look at Daniel Craig on a tiny screen when "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is released for home viewing?

Google didn't get where it is without taking some bold steps along the way, and does anyone really think it bought YouTube just to make it easier for people to watch cute kitten videos?

The Mountain View, Calif-based company is seeking approval to offer TV service in Kansas City, Mo., where it is building high-speed Internet service, and where Time Warner Cable already provides bundled services. Google: 1,000 points The moves are paving the way for a Google-branded paid TV service, which could launch in the next several months. Google's already in talks with Disney, Time Warner and Discovery about distributing content. Not only that, but go to YouTube sometime and click the movie button -- and don't be surprised when you see the many new top releases that are already available for rental. Google's serious about this entertainment thing. Google: 2,000 points Google Fiber made the Missouri filings, in addition to constructing the fiber optic cables in Missouri and Kansas that would deliver high-speed service. These cables run 100 times faster than what's available. Many people don't realize that while Kansas City is a major metropolitan area, it's surrounded by hundreds of miles of rural areas that don't yet receive high-speed Internet service or even cable television. With its service, Google's offering will likely find a strong audience. Google: 500 points Google also is planning entertainment hardware, in a move to compete with Apple by delivering entertainment services straight to the home. Why not provide the viewing material, too? Google: 950 points Let's not forget Motorola. Google paid $12.5 billion for it, and while the company has a huge packet of patents that will come in handy in all the court cases Apple keeps filing on Android, Motorola is far more than patents. It's a seasoned product maker. If you already have cable television, look at your converter box. It's likely Motorola made it. Google: 1,000 points Google just won't come in and take over television. In Kansas City, Time Warner still holds the market, and if Google expands, it will face an even more powerful competitor -- Comcast. Those companies aren't going to give up ground easily, particularly Comcast, which powers much of the broadband service in the U.S. Google: -500 points

The Score: Google: 4,950 points.

What it means: If Google Fiber succeeds, it could be the service that keeps Google not just atop its pedestal, but bring the company even more untold riches that makes the $12.5 billion it spent on Motorola look like chump change.

Yes, Google has a great search engine and smartphone OS, but they don't charge anyone to use them. So how does Google make its money? Advertising. How does anyone make money on television? Advertising.

Sounds like a marriage made in telecommunications heaven. But will it be long-lived or part ways when one of the parties gets bored or something more attractive comes along?

The Setup: Motorola Mobility is about to go through a lot of changes, including, apparently, the name plate on its CEO's door, as Sanjay Jha appears to be on the way out and Dennis Woodside appears on his way in.

Google hasn't officially announced the switchover -- after all, the Motorola purchase hasn't officially gotten its approved stamp from the U.S. government and Jha hasn't had time to pack up his family photos from his desk -- but the change appears to be only one press release away from happening.

Jha's replacement may put Google's group of Android hardware manufacturers and other partners at ease. A lot of them are worried that Google will start favoring Motorola's phones over theirs, but by replacing Jha with one of its own, Google is showing that it's really in charge of its new purchase and Android will likely continue as usual. Google: 1,000 points Woodside wouldn't be coming into the job just because someone higher up at Google likes him and wants him in a corner office. He oversaw the Google-Motorola deal and led the transition as it progressed over the past several months, which probably should have been a tip-off for Google's plans for him all along. Google: 1,500 points Of course, since the press releases aren't out yet and Jha's still coming to work, Google hasn't officially said Woodside has the job. He's emerged as a favorite from a short list that includes Motorola senior vice-president Christy Wyatt and chief strategy officer John Butcher. But if Google's going to keep a Motorola person, why not just keep Jha? Google: 500 points

The Score: Google: 3,000 points.

What it means: It's not that Jha has done a bad job at Motorola, but he's probably on his way out. It's a fact of life that when one company takes over another one, heads start rolling from the top on down as the new company brings in its own upper management.

But don't cry for Jha. The executive will probably have quite the golden parachute to cushion his fall, and he's going out while he's still on top and has a great record. After all, there are very few companies of Motorola's age and background that are still around these days, and it does have some very strong smartphones to its name. There are a lot of companies who need a good, strong CEO -- and can you imagine a BlackBerry that looks like a RAZR?

Besides, Jha probably isn't very surprised by the decision. That's business, after all, and he's probably not crying in his corn flakes.

Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:25 pm | By
Google will focus on Android tablet sales this year, as the company strives to make them a cornerstone of its brand and compete against Apple's iPad.



Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:44 am | By
Google is counting on hardware to revive Google Music, hinting it will integrate the service into its own branded devices to compete against Apple.

Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:37 pm | By
Google hired former Congresswoman Susan Molinari to run its Washington lobbying efforts, ramping up efforts to influence tech-oriented legislation.

Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:59 pm | By
Google will launch a new 7-inch tablet this spring, sources say, as the search giant continues its quest to dominate the mobile technology market and compete with rivals like Apple and Amazon.

Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:59 pm | By
Google is set to replace Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha, promoting from within to foster unity between the two companies as the deal gets ready to close.


Editorials & Opinion By Kate Knibbs
Apple is gearing up for the iPhone 5, while adding improvements to its App store.

View the original article here

Apple Quietly Rejects Google Maps in iPhoto for iPad

When Apple unveiled iPhoto for iPad, it demonstrated the many departures from the desktop version, including the the multi-touch editing, visual brush palette and AirPlay slideshow streaming. What Apple didn’t mention was that it wasn’t using Google Maps anymore.When you check a photo’s location data in the OS X version of iPhoto, a map clearly labeled with a Google logo is visible. But when you fire up a map in the new iPhoto for iPad, that logo is gone, and the map’s labeling looks quite different (you can see the difference in the side-by-side comparison below). Detailed examinations from multiple sites determined there’s detail on the maps of some areas that isn’t visible on Google. Where is iPhoto getting its map data?OpenStreetMap, it appears. Although Apple has yet to confirm, a blog post on the OpenStreetMap Foundation site says Apple is getting its map data from the community-created mapping project. To prove the point, it posted a link to a site that purports to show Apple’s iPhoto world map overlaid with OpenStreetMap.Like This | 0 Comments

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Google Rebrands Android Market, Google Music as 'Play'

Google said Tuesday that it rebranded its Android Market, Google Music, and its online eBookstore as a single brand, Google Play.

Over the next few days, Google will upgrade its Android Market app to Google Play, the company said in a blog post. Likewise, Google Play Music, Google Play Books, and Google Play Movies will become the names used by Google's music, books, and movie storefronts, the company said.

The rebranding won't be consistent on a worldwide basis. For example, in Canada and the U.K., Google said it will offer movies, books and Android apps; in Australia, books and apps; and in Japan, movies and apps. Everywhere else, Google Play will be the new home for just Android apps, the company said.

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Google to Revive Music Service with Hardware

By Janet Maragioglio | Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:44 am

Google is counting on hardware to revive Google Music, hinting it will integrate the service into its own branded devices to compete against Apple.

The search giant's infant music service isn't performing to expectations, according to CNET's unnamed sources, with revenues and adoption rates falling far below the search giant's projections.

Google Music launched last November as an iTunes competitor, but a lack of licenses hinders its adoption and success.

Of the three major recording studios, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal participate in Google Music, and Warner Music Group does not.

Google, however, may get help in the form of new hardware capabilities, after completing its $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola. After integrating Google Music seamlessly with its own hardware line, the company may revive the service and push against Apple in the music and digital content market.

Apple, which packages iTunes with its mobile devices, offers an all-in-one strategy that drives adoption of a rich library of content, giving it a distinct market presence.

Google follows a different philosophy. The open-source Android OS runs on multiple, varied devices, often more suited to music playback than others.

Google is focusing efforts on integrating Android with services and features such as Google+ and mobile payment service Google Wallet. But the company lacks a singular device that seamlessly offers all its services on one platform.

The challenges for Google is to tap into the more than 700,000 daily Android activations to bolster Google Music adoption, a task Android fragmentation issues and a crowded, competitive market for digital music and content make difficult.

Google is likely holding off on a big Google Music push, until it has hardware designed to accommodate it. The company is working on a home entertainment device that will allow users to stream music throughout their homes.

Google employees are testing the device, and once it arrives on the market, it may be the right match for Google Music integration, since the service streams music from the cloud, rather than downloading to a device's memory.

As Google's move into hardware gains momentum with finalization of its Motorola deal, Google Music may gain more momentum in the music industry and come out of the shadows to compete more successfully against iTunes.

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Google Builds Political Clout, Hires Key Lobbyist

By Melissa Daniels | Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:37 pm

Google hired former Congresswoman Susan Molinari to run its Washington lobbying efforts, ramping up efforts to influence tech-oriented legislation.

Molinari will begin as Google's vice president of public policy and government relations as early as next month. The high-profile GOP politician represented a Staten Island district from 1990 to 1997, then went into lobbyist work for a number of companies, including Google's newly acquired Motorola.

The hire comes at a time when lawmakers and regulators are looking at Google under an increasingly stringent lens. Google wants, and needs, team members who can navigate Washington processes, formally and on the inside. Hiring an insider like Molinari gives Google an edge above competition at a crucial moment when international concern over possible anti-trust violations is increasing, and regulators are examining Google's digital operations.

Lawmakers are scrutinizing Google's new privacy policy about its treatment of user data. In addition, the recently introduced a Consumer Bill of Rights signals rising federal interest in how digital heavyweights treat users' data and privacy. Google likely hopes Molinari's appointment will keep its best interests from being sideswiped by those of the government.

Political allies are increasingly important for tech giants like Google, as lawmakers engage in philosophical debates about Internet regulation, like the SOPA/PIPA policy, and tech companies assert themselves in the political process. In that instance, pressure from Google and others helped influence the outcome of the anti-piracy legislation, which they say threatened their operation.

Discussions around FCC regulations, which control what telecommunications and Internet companies can and cannot do, are also important to Google as seeks to expand its mobile divisions and experiment with other services.

As these discussions continue, Google is being selective in choosing an insider who knows the ropes like Molinari, whose hiring comes after the exit of Alan Davidson amid the flurry of governmental pressure.

Google is shifting more resources to the political realm as well, spending almost $9.7 million lobbying efforts last year, almost double the $5.1 million in 2010, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The search giant isn't alone in its attempts to strengthen its political influence. Facebook started a political action committee to gear up for the 2012 elections, and employs a number of former Washington officials within its ranks.

By tapping Molinari to run lobbying efforts, Google is protecting itself from being hobbled by federal policies, and demonstrates that having someone who knows the law will help them navigate how it works. Google's moves are being closely watched by regulators, and congressional decisions potentially threaten its operations, so a decisive lobbying strategy will help Google navigate Capitol Hill wisely, and with experience.

Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:25 pm | By
Google will focus on Android tablet sales this year, as the company strives to make them a cornerstone of its brand and compete against Apple's iPad.



Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:44 am | By
Google is counting on hardware to revive Google Music, hinting it will integrate the service into its own branded devices to compete against Apple.

Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:59 pm | By
Google will launch a new 7-inch tablet this spring, sources say, as the search giant continues its quest to dominate the mobile technology market and compete with rivals like Apple and Amazon.

Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:52 am | By
Google's rapid changes for Motorola are starting to need a scorecard of their own -- not that CEO Sanjay Jha likely will be around to see much of it.

Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:59 pm | By
Google is set to replace Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha, promoting from within to foster unity between the two companies as the deal gets ready to close.


Editorials & Opinion By Kate Knibbs
Apple is gearing up for the iPhone 5, while adding improvements to its App store.

View the original article here

MWC: Google to Push Android Tablets, Takes on Apple

By Melissa Daniels | Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:25 pm

Google will focus on Android tablet sales this year, as the company strives to make them a cornerstone of its brand and compete against Apple's iPad.

Android tablet sales are increasing, but there's still a long way to go, division leader Andy Rubin said at the Mobile World Conference, and this year Google will "double down to win in that space."

Android is the number-one worldwide smartphone seller worldwide, but tablets' popularity is surging. The iPad is the undisputed leader in a fiercely competitive market, and Google's focus to Android tablets may help them stand out as an important part of the developing Google brand.

Apple continues to dominate the tablet market it created. Google sold 12 million tablets so far, not a slump by any means, but a number that positions it far behind iPad, with more than 50 million sold.

The iPad succeeded with a built-in market of users, who flock to Apple's latest inventions for their seamless integration and trademark aesthetic. Google will pursue a similar promotional strategy to promote its brand, including social network Google+, to its existing Android smartphone consumers, hoping to retain customers within the ecosystem.

Users seeking the latest and greatest in mobile computing are likely to want a tablet, and if they've had success with their Android smartphones and can find a correlating tablet, they will be less likely to switch brands and buy an iPad.

The recent Motorola acquisition could boost Android-powered tablet sales, and under Google's umbrella, lay a solid framework for mobile devices. To the search giant's credit, Google has many tools to lock in widespread brand loyalty on the device market. Search engine, e-mail and mapping services operate efficiently on Android software, and Google's ability to deeply integrate its software and services on devices could help it gain traction to the large amount of Android users who want a system of devices that all work well together.

But other tablets challenge the market beyond the iPad, creating credible threats to high-end Android tablets. Amazon's Kindle Fire and the Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet proved immensely popular during the 2011 holiday shopping season, likely because they cost $250 or less, while the iPad 2 sells for $500 and up.

Microsoft is another possible challenger, with new phones and a strong push on Windows 8 OS as a unifying part of its strategy to get back on top in the device marketplace.

The market will certainly heat up even more when the iPad 3 debuts, along with a new Google-branded Android 7-inch tablet, which are both expected this spring.

The potential for Google to lock in tablet sales with a hot-selling device is huge, but more is at stake than just tablet sales. Tablets could play a key role in rounding out Google's entire brand and generating corresponding customer loyalty to Android. Rubin says Google will "double down" on tablet pushes, and consumers and the industry will watch to see what tack Google takes in its efforts to succeed.

If Google wants to lure its smartphone users in with a tablet, the device will need to offer an edge over Apple's sophisticated iPad, or manage to capitalizes and innovates on consumer trends for mobile tablet devices.

View the original article here

Google Tablet to Compete Against IPad 3

By Lorien Crow | Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:59 pm

Google will launch a new 7-inch tablet this spring, sources say, as the search giant continues its quest to dominate the mobile technology market and compete with rivals like Apple and Amazon.

The company has not publicly stated its intentions to produce a tablet, but analysts at DisplaySearch say the device will boast a 1280 by 800 resolution screen, and run an unmodified, pure version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

Google's recent acquisition of Motorola Mobility will empower the company to begin manufacturing its own hardware, and with plans in the works for a digital home entertainment system, cable service, and several new smartphones, Google is ramping up competition against its rivals in multiple yet connected sectors.

With the Motorola merger, Google gained ownership of three tablets: the 10.1-inch Xoom, the 10.1-inch Xyboard, and the 8.2-inch Xyboard. The new 7-inch tablet is likely meant to go head-to-head with Apple's iPad tablets and Amazon's similarly-sized Kindle Fire, to diversify the company's offerings.

Apple pioneered the tablet market with the iPad and broke sales records with the iPad 2, dominating the tablet market. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company is expected to launch the iPad 3 in March, while Google's highly anticipated tablet entry will d?but in April.

However, Apple is reportedly considering producing a smaller, less expensive model to directly compete with the Kindle Fire, so competition in the smaller-screened devices could ramp up.

The Kindle Fire is a runaway success, with over 5 million units sold since the device's November launch, according to Barclay's. Tablet computers are increasingly popular, and Google likely wants to capitalize on the growing trend while improving upon current successful models with a higher resolution screens akin to Samsung's Galaxy 7.7 tablet.

Amazon's Kindle Fire runs on a modified version of Android, but to date, Google hasn't offered a branded alternative to compete with the best-selling device.

Google is also looking to beef up its content offerings, as Amazon and Apple's tablets are both backed by massive media libraries. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company is making deals with TV stations and movie studios to create YouTube channels, and rumors say the company is also exploring deals with record labels and streaming services for its digital home music system.

Such deals could further establish a working relationship with the entertainment industry, boosting Google's content and allowing users easy access and downloads to any Google-branded tablet.

Finally, Google Wallet, the search engine's mobile payment system, will make that content easy to pay for with the click of a keypad on any linked devices, rounding out the Google ecosystem of products.

A Google tablet dovetails with comments made by chairman Eric Schmidt in December, which touched on plans to market a tablet. However, Schmidt did not clarify if the device would be of Google's own design, or a co-branded device with a maker like Motorola.

Google is fighting to stay on top of the tech industry, and taking risks to expand in several different directions. A pure Android tablet with high-resolution and great content options could be just the thing to sway consumers away from Apple's iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire into Google's growing ecosystem.

View the original article here

Google Donates Biz Software for Mac File Encryption

Google is helping Macs move into big businesses. Again.

This week, Google announced that it would open source a software tool it built to automate the use of Apple’s FileVault encryption software inside the company. The tool works with FileVault 2, which made its debut with Apple’s Mac OS X “Lion,” and it’s called — of all things — Cauliflower Vest.

“While the new FileVault 2 offering is very well suited to consumers, some enterprises may require additional features that are not provided out of the box,” reads a blog post from the company.

With the tool, Google says, a company’s IT admins can forcibly enable FileVault 2 encryption on user machines, automatically escrow encryption recovery keys to a secure server running on Google’s App Engine cloud service, and securely access recovery keys so that volumes may be unlocked or reverted.

The product was developed for use inside of Google. “We are releasing this source code today as part of our commitment to share Google’s unique IT approach with the world,” read the blog post.

Cauliflower Vest

Officially, Mac OS X and the software that ships with it, including FileVault, are meant for consumers. But Macs — like iPhones and iPads — are working their way into businesses as well. Terry Cosgrove, an analyst with research outfit Gartner, estimates that Macs now account for almost 10 percent of the computers used by American businesses.

Google is a prime example of a business that has warmly embraced the Mac. Last year, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that only 20 percent of the company was still using Microsoft Windows — though he added that he couldn’t be sure of the exact figure. In 2010, four months after Google said that Chinese hackers had pilfered unspecified intellectual property from the company’s systems, rumors indicated that the company was phasing out Windows due to security concerns.

No doubt, some of the other 80 percent are running Linux, but clearly, Macs are mainstay at the company. A year ago, Google open sourced Simian, a tool that deploys software changes and security patches to Macs across the network.

Google could not immediately be reached for comment.

Got a secret? Email caleb_garling [a] wired.com. Caleb covers tech, but loves other stuff like sports, fiction, beer, fun in remote places and music featuring guitars. Encircle on Google+, subscribe on Facebook or
Follow @calebgarling on Twitter.

View the original article here

Google Donates Biz Software for Mac File Encryption

Google is helping Macs move into big businesses. Again.

This week, Google announced that it would open source a software tool it built to automate the use of Apple’s FileVault encryption software inside the company. The tool works with FileVault 2, which made its debut with Apple’s Mac OS X “Lion,” and it’s called — of all things — Cauliflower Vest.

“While the new FileVault 2 offering is very well suited to consumers, some enterprises may require additional features that are not provided out of the box,” reads a blog post from the company.

With the tool, Google says, a company’s IT admins can forcibly enable FileVault 2 encryption on user machines, automatically escrow encryption recovery keys to a secure server running on Google’s App Engine cloud service, and securely access recovery keys so that volumes may be unlocked or reverted.

The product was developed for use inside of Google. “We are releasing this source code today as part of our commitment to share Google’s unique IT approach with the world,” read the blog post.

Cauliflower Vest

Officially, Mac OS X and the software that ships with it, including FileVault, are meant for consumers. But Macs — like iPhones and iPads — are working their way into businesses as well. Terry Cosgrove, an analyst with research outfit Gartner, estimates that Macs now account for almost 10 percent of the computers used by American businesses.

Google is a prime example of a business that has warmly embraced the Mac. Last year, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that only 20 percent of the company was still using Microsoft Windows — though he added that he couldn’t be sure of the exact figure. In 2010, four months after Google said that Chinese hackers had pilfered unspecified intellectual property from the company’s systems, rumors indicated that the company was phasing out Windows due to security concerns.

No doubt, some of the other 80 percent are running Linux, but clearly, Macs are mainstay at the company. A year ago, Google open sourced Simian, a tool that deploys software changes and security patches to Macs across the network.

Google could not immediately be reached for comment.

Got a secret? Email caleb_garling [a] wired.com. Caleb covers tech, but loves other stuff like sports, fiction, beer, fun in remote places and music featuring guitars. Encircle on Google+, subscribe on Facebook or
Follow @calebgarling on Twitter.

View the original article here

Google Donates Biz Software for Mac File Encryption

Google is helping Macs move into big businesses. Again.

This week, Google announced that it would open source a software tool it built to automate the use of Apple’s FileVault encryption software inside the company. The tool works with FileVault 2, which made its debut with Apple’s Mac OS X “Lion,” and it’s called — of all things — Cauliflower Vest.

“While the new FileVault 2 offering is very well suited to consumers, some enterprises may require additional features that are not provided out of the box,” reads a blog post from the company.

With the tool, Google says, a company’s IT admins can forcibly enable FileVault 2 encryption on user machines, automatically escrow encryption recovery keys to a secure server running on Google’s App Engine cloud service, and securely access recovery keys so that volumes may be unlocked or reverted.

The product was developed for use inside of Google. “We are releasing this source code today as part of our commitment to share Google’s unique IT approach with the world,” read the blog post.

Cauliflower Vest

Officially, Mac OS X and the software that ships with it, including FileVault, are meant for consumers. But Macs — like iPhones and iPads — are working their way into businesses as well. Terry Cosgrove, an analyst with research outfit Gartner, estimates that Macs now account for almost 10 percent of the computers used by American businesses.

Google is a prime example of a business that has warmly embraced the Mac. Last year, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that only 20 percent of the company was still using Microsoft Windows — though he added that he couldn’t be sure of the exact figure. In 2010, four months after Google said that Chinese hackers had pilfered unspecified intellectual property from the company’s systems, rumors indicated that the company was phasing out Windows due to security concerns.

No doubt, some of the other 80 percent are running Linux, but clearly, Macs are mainstay at the company. A year ago, Google open sourced Simian, a tool that deploys software changes and security patches to Macs across the network.

Google could not immediately be reached for comment.

Got a secret? Email caleb_garling [a] wired.com. Caleb covers tech, but loves other stuff like sports, fiction, beer, fun in remote places and music featuring guitars. Encircle on Google+, subscribe on Facebook or
Follow @calebgarling on Twitter.

View the original article here

Google Donates Biz Software for Mac File Encryption

Google is helping Macs move into big businesses. Again.

This week, Google announced that it would open source a software tool it built to automate the use of Apple’s FileVault encryption software inside the company. The tool works with FileVault 2, which made its debut with Apple’s Mac OS X “Lion,” and it’s called — of all things — Cauliflower Vest.

“While the new FileVault 2 offering is very well suited to consumers, some enterprises may require additional features that are not provided out of the box,” reads a blog post from the company.

With the tool, Google says, a company’s IT admins can forcibly enable FileVault 2 encryption on user machines, automatically escrow encryption recovery keys to a secure server running on Google’s App Engine cloud service, and securely access recovery keys so that volumes may be unlocked or reverted.

The product was developed for use inside of Google. “We are releasing this source code today as part of our commitment to share Google’s unique IT approach with the world,” read the blog post.

Cauliflower Vest

Officially, Mac OS X and the software that ships with it, including FileVault, are meant for consumers. But Macs — like iPhones and iPads — are working their way into businesses as well. Terry Cosgrove, an analyst with research outfit Gartner, estimates that Macs now account for almost 10 percent of the computers used by American businesses.

Google is a prime example of a business that has warmly embraced the Mac. Last year, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that only 20 percent of the company was still using Microsoft Windows — though he added that he couldn’t be sure of the exact figure. In 2010, four months after Google said that Chinese hackers had pilfered unspecified intellectual property from the company’s systems, rumors indicated that the company was phasing out Windows due to security concerns.

No doubt, some of the other 80 percent are running Linux, but clearly, Macs are mainstay at the company. A year ago, Google open sourced Simian, a tool that deploys software changes and security patches to Macs across the network.

Google could not immediately be reached for comment.

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