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Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer at Google, published a blog post on Wednesday about the current data framework that is causing issues between the US and the European Union. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect in 2018 as a data privacy law to provide more privacy for citizens, deliver a better understanding of their rights when handing over personal data, and encourage organizations to take more precautions when handling information....

In just one U.S. Presidential term, Google has made the Internet experience more consistent across Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebooks, and even Android and iOS devices, by simply signing into Chrome. So, the folks at Google are celebrating the 4-year-old web browser’s birthday today by going back in time. Also Google updated Chrome for iOS today with some bug fixings: What’s New in Version 21.0.1180.80 Resolved compatibility issues w. certain websites including Yahoo!...

In the most literal sign yet that Stadia’s launch came in hotter than Google had anticipated, it seems like some early users of the service are experiencing overheating Chromecast Ultras. The devices in question were included with the Stadia Founder’s Edition and Premiere Edition, two bundles which offered the earliest access to Google’s new game streaming service. Even before complaints of overheating surfaced, Stadia’s launch had more than its share of problems....

Google today unveiled the next version of its mobile operating system and its competitor to Apple’s iOS 11 with the official introduction of Android 8.0 ‘Oreo’. Some of the highlight features for the release include a redesigned notifications system with both a visual and functional overhaul, new ‘adaptive icons’, improved sound quality and battery life, and multi-display support. A new Picture-in-picture multi-window mode brings enhanced multi-tasking capabilities. And there also a number of under-the-hood improvements and new APIs for developers....

Griffin Technology collaborated with Papernomad to make a unique paper case for iOS and Mac devices that folks can doodle on. The European-made cases—which look strikingly similar to the leather Snugg line— feature patent-pending, water- and tear-resistant paper that is also organic and compostable. The materials used range from viscose fiber and biopolymer to hemp and wool. “The paper used is made from sustainably forested trees and FSC Forest Stewardship Council certified,” said Griffin in a press release....

It’s fair to say that expectations for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are exceedingly high, and following a recent press screening of the film, it would seem that James Gunn’s follow-up to his enormous 2015 hit is firing on all cylinders. That’s good news, as the first film surprised audiences everywhere, introducing the world to members of a dysfunctional family of intergalactic outcasts and their unwitting involvement in saving the universe from almost certain annihilation....

The attacks also involve the compromise of multiple cloud and managed service providers as part of a campaign designed to enable the hackers to gain access to clients downstream from the vendors in supply chain attacks. The wide-ranging campaign has been detailed by cybersecurity researchers at Mandiant who’ve linked it to two hacking groups they refer to as UNC3004 and UNC2652. SEE: A winning strategy for cybersecurity (ZDNet special report) Mandiant associates these groups with UNC2452, also known as Nobelium in reports by Microsoft, which is a hacking operation that works on behalf of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service and was behind the cyberattack against SolarWinds....

Michael Myers celebrates Halloween in a very unique manner, to say the least. The devil-eyed slasher has never been seen carving a pumpkin into a jack o’ lantern. (Unless you count the opening to Halloween 5.) However, he has been seen attempting to carve up his sister, niece, nephew, and doctor. As frightening as that sounds, he has stumbled upon some ridiculous situations in his brutal path. His encounters with musicians, models, hooded figures, and braindead teenagers are just scratching the surface to this hardened piece of candy corn....

HomeKit, Apple’s smart home accessory framework, is gaining some much needed attention in iOS 10 and watchOS 3 thanks to a new built-in Home app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Apple previously relied on third-party apps from accessory makers to control the HomeKit experience, using Siri as the only first-party controller, and various apps like the third-party Home app and Hesperus filled in the void. Apple’s new Home app comes with a modern look, relatively easy-to-use controls, and access to accessories and scenes from anywhere on iOS 10....

Belkin’s Boost Up Special Edition Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone + Apple Watch (plus an extra USB port) is exclusively available through Apple or direct from the manufacturer. We’ve been testing out this charging solution and even if AirPower was available, it would give it a run for its money. Considering that AirPower’s future is still a mystery, follow along for why those holding out for Apple’s charging solution should consider Belkin’s take on a three-device charging station....

The main character in the Harry Potter series was touted as an example of a tragic character who grew into the role of a hero, but an unsung protagonist came in the form of Neville Longbottom. None of J.K. Rowling’s numerous changes to the story can alter this character’s sad tale. Unlike Harry, Neville never found acceptance even at Hogwarts, and was belittled on a daily basis; this contributed to the number of issues he had with his place in the world....

Harry Potter’s Wizarding World is very rich, with a variety of characters (both wizards and muggles), places, objects, and more, so it’s understandable that not all of them made it to the movies, such as Professor Cuthbert Binns. Readers all over the world were introduced to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, where they met the title hero along with his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, his enemy Draco Malfoy, and many of the teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry....

Growing up without your parents is one of the saddest things to ever happen to a child. For Harry Potter, it’s a lot worse since Albus Dumbledore dropped him off like a FedEx package to the worst relatives imaginable. So, when Harry was given the chance to pick another family of his own, he took it wholeheartedly. Needless to say, throughout his days in Hogwarts, where every year was surprisingly lethal, Harry had many parental figures....

The special features for Godzilla: King of the Monsters indicate that Rodan may not have had fire powers prior to entering the volcano in Mexico. In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rodan, known as the “Fire Demon”, was a powerful force of destruction, due in part to his burning wings and fire powers. In the MonsterVerse sequel, Jonah (Charles Dance), Emma (Vera Farmiga), and their team of eco-terrorists set out to gradually release the 17 Titans on the planet in an effort to save the Earth from the damage caused by humanity....

Following an update to version 2.0 for the YouTube iOS app yesterday, users have noticed that Google appears to have turned on shared account logins for at least YouTube and the recently released AdSense app. That means logging into one app will automatically log you into the other without having to re-enter your account and password. Although the majority of Google’s iOS apps require users to sign into a single Google account used across its services, up until now each app required users to enter their account info when when launching for the first time....

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaPgVUJ9A8w&feature=player_embedded] Today Google has announced “Google Catalogs”, a new app designed specifically for “tablet devices” (iPad only currently) that allows you to flip through digital versions of catalogs from a number of popular brands and “interact with new layers of rich-media content”. Not too long ago Google updated their Shopper app for iPhone… and now, with the Catalogs app, are providing an entirely new experience for browsing products and finding local retailers (presumably integrated with Google Offers)....

Google just announced it closed the deal on its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but new reports suggest that direct-competitor Apple tried to poach newly-appointed Motorola chief and Googler Dennis Woodside sometime last year. Bloomberg, which cited two people familiar with the matter, claimed Apple’s CEO Tim Cook contacted Woodside and tried to lure him away with a flashy proposal to become head of sales at the Cupertino, Calif.-based Company....

[viddler id=a66cf352 w=704 h=400] Google Now, the prediction software that debuted on Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich last year, may be crossing over to iOS in the very near future. A promotional video posted on YouTube today—but was pulled minutes later—showed Google Now on the iPhone and iPad. A tipster for Engadget recorded the video and re-uploaded it online, which is now available above. The speaker in the video seems to be the same female voice found in the original Google Now promotional video from last year (below)....

Google acquired the popular email client Sparrow back in 2012 and announced that the entire team would be joining Google to work on Gmail. Since that acquisition, Sparrow apps received only a handful of updates and have been seemingly neglected in favor of Google’s new Inbox initiative. Over the past few days, however, Sparrow appears to have received the final nail in its coffin as it has been removed from both the Mac App Store and iOS App Store (via TechCrunch)....

The Google Voice app on the iPod looks just like it does on the iPhone (and you can imagine that on the iPad it is the same, just 4 times larger). We figured that after all the wait Google was going to amaze us by including VoiP calls over Gmail, we were wrong. All the Google Voice app does is what the webapp has been doing all along, ringing your phone....