Tech Talk
Aug 14, 4:41PM
By Chenda Ngak / 3 comments

UnBaby.me deletes baby pictures from Facebook

Do you find this photo offensive? A new Chrome extension replaces baby photos with anything else of your choosing.

/ istockphoto
(CBS News) Babies aren't everyone's cup of tea. And now there's a tool that helps delete photos of babies from Facebook.

A new Google Chrome extension sets out to replace photos in your Facebook news feed by swapping out cuddly kids with anything of your choosing.

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Aug 13, 2:18PM
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Google buying Frommer's travel guides

The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

/ KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) Google is buying the Frommer's brand of travel guides.

Google, which bought the Zagat restaurant review service in September, plans to use Frommer's guides to hotels and destinations around the world to complement the Zagat listings.

Zagat listings have been added to Google's custom search results and Google Maps. With the purchase of Frommer's guides, the conclusion could be drawn that eventually travel ratings will soon appear in search results.

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Aug 10, 4:37PM
By Chenda Ngak / 1 Comment

Google ramps up copyright protection in search

The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

/ KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS News) Google is changing its search algorithm again. This time the search giant is trying to weed out sites that may infringe on copyrights.

Full coverage of Google at Tech Talk

Instead of removing sites that may be violating copyright laws, Google has a workaround that technically doesn't censor the Web yet may appease copyright holders.

The company said in a blog post Friday:

"Starting next week, we will begin taking into account a new signal in our rankings: the number of valid copyright removal notices we receive for any given site. Sites with high numbers of removal notices may appear lower in our results."

Copyright infringement has been a contentious topic for copyright holders and net-neutrality advocates.

In January, Google joined sites like Wikipedia and Reddit in an online protest to the sister bills Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The search giant felt the bills went too far and would stifle innovation. Supporters of the bills sought powerful protection for copyright holders.

The move to change its algorithm shows a willingness to work with organizations like the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America. However, it will not remove websites from its index unless the company receives a valid copyright removal notice.

Google says it has received copyright removal notices for more than 4.3 million in the last 30 days. Sites that believe they've been incorrectly targeted may apply to have the removal reversed.

Aug 10, 3:17PM
By Chenda Ngak / 12 comments

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing makes it possible to access photos, videos or documents from any computer with an Internet connection.

/ iStockphoto
(CBS News) Cloud computing has been in the news a lot in recent weeks - starting from the launch of Apple's OS X Mountain Lion, which heavily integrates with iCloud, to the alleged hacking of a technology journalist's online accounts.

Apple WWDC 2012: OS X Mountain Lion, iCloud, iOS 6 updates
Setting up Apple's iOS 5 and iCloud on the iPhone

Most people use a form of cloud computing everyday, but the term has yet to become engrained in the mainstream lexicon.

So what the heck is cloud computing?

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Aug 10, 10:48AM
By Chenda Ngak / Add Comment

Report: Yahoo's Mayer wantsTwitter exec for team

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer

Marissa Mayer speaks at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012 day 3 at Pier 94 on May 22, 2012 in New York City.

/ Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
(CBS News) Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer may be trying to tap Twitter's head of international strategy Katie Jacob Stanton for a major role at the Internet company, according to a recent report by AllThingsD.

Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to earn $1M salary
Marissa Mayer: The bio that made her Yahoo's next CEO

Citing sources close to the matter, AllThingsD reports that it's not clear what position Mayer has in mind for Stanton, but it is likely a "big one."

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Aug 9, 1:41PM
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Google agrees to record $22.5M fine on privacy

Google/FTC
(CBS/AP) Google is paying a record $22.5 million fine to settle allegations that it broke a privacy promise by secretly tracking millions of Web surfers who use Apple's Safari browser.

The penalty announced Thursday by the Federal Trade Commission matches the figure that The Associated Press and other media outlets had reported last month. It's the largest fine that the FTC has imposed against a company for violating a previous agreement with the agency.

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Aug 8, 3:47PM
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Google to include people's Gmail in search results

Associated Press
(CBS/AP) Google's Internet search engine is getting more personal by highlighting information drawn from its users' Gmail accounts on its main results page.

Google adds more personal touch to search
Google launches new search with Knowledge Graph
Full coverage of Google at Tech Talk

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Aug 7, 3:36PM
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Free Wi-Fi catches on with NYC's subway riders

In this Friday, Aug. 3 2012 photo, a couple of men use their smart phones at the Union Square subway station in New York.

/ AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
(AP) NEW YORK - Emily Langmead was hesitant when she first heard of free Wi-Fi in the subway. Like many New Yorkers, she wondered what the catch was.

But now, she says, she uses it all the time.

One month in to wireless service being provided in six New York City subway stations, commuters like Langmead are happy to have chances to connect when their trains head underground and pull into one of the stations with Wi-Fi.

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Aug 7, 10:39AM
By Chenda Ngak / 1 Comment

YouTube app no longer default on iPhone, iPad

YouTube app on an Apple iPhone.

/ Apple/Google

(CBS News) Google's YouTube app will no longer be a default feature when Apple releases iOS 6 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

OS X Mountain Lion, iCloud, iOS 6 updates
Full coverage of Apple
Full coverage of Google

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Aug 1, 5:09PM
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Google delays Nexus Q home entertainment device

Shown together, from left to right, the Google Galaxy Nexus smartphone, Nexus 7 tablet and Nexus Q entertainment device.

/ Google
(CBS/AP) Google says it is delaying the Nexus Q, a home entertainment device that was supposed to come out in July.

Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet for $199
Full coverage of Google at Tech Talk

To make up for the delay, Google plans to send the gadget free to everyone who pre-ordered it.

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Aug 1, 12:08PM
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Google buying social-media startup Wildfire

The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

/ KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/Getty Images
(AP) Google is buying a company that specializes in social media marketing as it intensifies competition with Facebook for ad dollars and attention.

The company, Redwood City, Calif.-based Wildfire, helps businesses such as Cirque du Soleil and Spotify manage social media efforts across the Internet.

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Jul 27, 2:21PM
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Google: Didn't delete Street View data after all

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File photo of the Google logo.

/ Martin Keene/PA Wire
(AP) After being caught spying on people across Europe and Australia with its Wi-Fi-slurping Street View cars, Google had told angry regulators that it would delete the ill-gotten data.

Google broke its promise.

Britain's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) received a letter from Google in which the company admits it kept a "small portion" of the electronic information collected from the U.K. and other countries.

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Jul 26, 2:31PM
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Google Fiber shows speeds 100 times faster than regular a cable Internet

Search giant looks to disrupt the cable business by offering lighting-fast, affordable service

/ Google
(CBS/AP) Google unveiled its long-awaited, ultra-fast Internet service in Kansas City Thursday for an affordable price of $70 per month.

Full coverage of Google at Tech Talk
CNET: Google launches Kansas City fiber net, intros Google Fiber TV

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Jul 26, 1:55PM
By Chenda Ngak / Add Comment

Twitter, Google Talk back up

Google/Twitter

(CBS News) Twitter and Google Talk are back up after outages Thursday.

"Gchat" down, Google working on fix
Twitter down on the heels of Google Talk outage

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Jul 26, 10:04AM
By Chenda Ngak / Add Comment

"Gchat" down, Google working on fix

Google

Updated 11:08 a.m

(CBS News) Google Talk, the popular chat client also knowns as "Gtalk" or "Gchat," went down Thursday morning.

At 6:40 a.m. ET Thursday morning, the Google Apps Status Dashboard stated: "We're investigating reports of an issue with Google Talk. We will provide more information shortly."

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