Google Problems

Remember the excitement when you spotted a Google camera truck driving around you neighborhood? Well they weren’t just collecting photos as it turns out. When making the rounds the Google fleet may have collected some personal data in the process. Oops. So what’s a little personal data? Um, maybe a few emails from unprotected wifi networks? Kinda like a roving fleet of wireless wire tappers at your disposal. Nothing significant was collected (they say) and also you have to remember that the trucks/cars were always on the move and access points can only stay in range for so long. By the way, if you haven’t secured your wireless network, now is probably a good time to do so.

I guess the Google phone experiment is over … after 4 months. I’m not exactly sure what sort of success they were expecting from their online store. To be come a major phone distributor? Boost their Android platform? Or maybe just make a bit of money? I guess after Verizon and Vodafone pulled their support the writing was on the wall. Perhaps they would have had more success if they stayed in “beta”. Way to stick with it guys! For those who still want the phone you will be able to get it at some retail locations and from the web store for the time being.

Android news

It looks like some Canadians are getting Android love, at least the Motorola Droid owners on Telus that is. Reportedly OS 2.1 is available via download directly from the Motorola site. Updates include: multi touch Google maps, Facebook widget, and more Android goodness. Rogers Wireless customers will just have to glare enviously at Telus Mobility users.

I know Android 2.1 is soooo yesterday. OS 2.2 is in the wild and should be released to the masses sometime in May. So what exactly does the updated OS entail? FM radio support, more free ram, better flash support, JIT compiler, and more. Canadians will just have to wait a year or so.

Got a Nexus One? Too bad. Google has decide to give up on the phone and turn it resources to other areas. Does your reception suck? Is your phone buggy? Don’t expect fixes coming any time soon. Enjoy your $529 brick.

The gauntlet has been thrown down

Bye China. Google has left the search business to Baidu. The next step has the gauntlet being thrown down by Google. China felt it could continue to impose its will on the American company but it was wrong. Queue the Chinese state media to begin slandering the company. Looks like the workers at Google.cn will have to start looking for another job. Maybe this guy was upset about the whole thing.

The state whines “YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISE TO CENSOR THE INTERWEBS”
Google “YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISE TO NOT STEAL FROM US”
State “WE HAD OUR FINGERS CROSSED SO IT DIDN’T COUNT”

I guess it’s up to the people to carry the fight from now on. Google has had enough of the bullshit. Makes you wonder just how many other foreign companies are ready to pull out of the country. China’s protectionist economic strategy continues to be a major deterrent for competition. While it’s a major blow to Internet freedoms for the Chinese population it’s a big statement for international companies operating in China. We’ll have to see what happens next.

Signs Point to Yes

Everyone else is getting Google treatment when it comes to Android except China. Hmm. Seems odd that you have one of the biggest consumers markets awaiting your latest product while you’re negotiating … what exactly? Android handsets are quickly growing in popularity and you have a billion thirsty customers. But still no Google events for China. All signs point to yes. Prepare for a future China without Google. A step backwards for China.

In a game of chicken the search engine giant is pulling out all the stops against China. The ‘negotiations’ have not been going well. China has not shown any flexibility and continues the hardline in it’s dealings with Google. A report indicated that preparations for an orderly closing is already on it’s way. Meanwhile China continues to make idle threats about ‘obeying the law’ while it’s own hackers seek to circumvent the entire process. Um good luck with that. Can’t wait to get my hands on the CECT Nexxus One.

Little trouble, Big China?

Google vs China, DING! Google has decided to put their foot down and take a stand against the great firewall of China. After a recent hacker attempt by purportedly Chinese agents Google has decided to stop censoring search results from their search engine. Reportedly tracked hacking attempts targeting the accounts of human rights activists. The “activity” has been on going through out the year and lead many to believe Google has simply had enough of it. Is China ready to blink? This has big implication for other big businesses operating in the country and perhaps is the beginning of the end.

Chinese student get reward. Not for good grades but for reporting porn. A student in China blames several porn sites for his decline in educational aptitude. In order right the wrong he reported some 32 sites and was rewarded by the Chinese government with 10,000 yuan (approx $1,466). Yeah, like it’s the website’s fault you can’t concentrate. Anyways the 5,000 or so people who have been arrested in the recent porn crackdown. Hmm, 5,000 people all jailed together with pent up sexual desires. What could possibly go wrong?!

Domestic students become foreigners to get into local schools. Competition is stiff. I guess when you have a billion students all fighting for a precious few admissions to prestigious universities some are bound to find a way to get around the system. So much so that local students are shilling out $30,000 for foreign passports which are then used to apply to universities. Got it? You see foreign students are admitted with less stringent exam scores. Why not just grease some hands at the university? Well that actually costs MORE money than buying a fake passport. Good old Chinese corruption wins again.