Google pays Apple to get its search onto iOS devices

While it’s true that users can switch between Google, Bing and Yahoo when deciding which search engine to use in Safari on iOS, it’s debatable as to whether anyone does actually change it. We’re going to put our money on the percentage being on the low side!

That’s why being the default search option on iOS is so important. If you’re the one chosen out of the box, then the chances are you’ll be the one that gets the vast majority of hits from users. Right now, that default choice is Google, and they pay handsomely for the privilege according to Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter.

Just how handsomely, you ask?

According to Shachter, Google pays Apple a cool $1 billion to be the default search option in Safari across a range of devices. Yokes.

In return for that outlay, Shachter believes that Google sees around $1.3 billion in revenues, which considering the outlay may not seem much. As is often the case with Google though, things aren’t that simple. While the money is obviously welcome, it is the data that the search giant can collect on all those extra users that is the most valuable part of this transaction, and one which Google will not want to see go away.

Apple, for its part, probably doesn’t want to have to rely on the inferior Bing or Yahoo, either.

[Via: idownloadblog & Business Insider]

Search "Let It Snow" on Google.Guarantees a White Christmas

Google seems to be trying its hand at a lot of things these days. And you can now add 'weather control experiments' to its list of success stories with the company's latest Easter Egg.

Just do a regular old type and  search for "let it snow" then sit back with a warm mug of hot chocolate with a crackling fire. If your browser window gets too frosty, the blue Search button at the top should switch to a Defrost button after a while. 

[Via: Gizmodo & Google via Buzzfeed]

Google releases native Gmail app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch[Updated]

Update: Google has now pulled the app from the App Store following a notifications bug many users have reported experiencing. Apps guy at Google David Giouard sent out the following tweet:“Googla culpa! Sorry but we pushed a bad version of our iOS app for Gmail. More info shortly – we’re working on it.” Google issued the following apology via their Twitter account:

Following reports that Google was about to launch a native iOS Gmail app, they just announced an official app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. More sceenshots below.

We’ve created a new Gmail app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. We’ve combined your favorite features from the Gmail mobile web app and iOS into one app so you can be more productive on the go. It’s designed to be fast, efficient and take full advantage of the touchscreen and notification capabilities of your device. And it’s one more reason to switch to Gmail.

 Features listed on the iTunes page include notifications for new messages, threaded conversation views, the much-needed priority inbox feature, the ability to send and open attachments, and of course, search capabilities. You will also have access to archiving, labeling, starring, deleting, and reporting spam. It looks like we are finally getting the full-fledged, feature-rich native Gmail experience on iOS we’ve been missing. We’ll have to take some time to really dig into the app and see how it stacks up. More screenshots after the break.

[Via: 9to5mac]

Happy Birthday Google

Anyone notice the party that is going on at Google's website today? In case you forgot, September 27th is the date Google chose for their birthday.

It's an arbitrary date selected in 2005 to celebrate Google's September milestones. Google first registered Google.com on September 15, 1997 and the company was incorporated on September 7, 1998. Instead of either one of those two dates, Google selected the 27th because they're Google and they can.

It's hard to believe the search engine is now officially entering the troubled teens. I remember when Google first launched. I was enjoying a fast university internet connection and using both Alta Vista and Yahoo as my main search engines. With Google's minimal interface and lightning fast search results, I was a convert from day one. 

[via: Gizmodo & Google.com]

Google Introduces Mobile Payments for Smartphones with Google Wallet

Google has finally unveiled its public service for mobile payments called Google Wallet. The NFC-based technology will initially work with select Android devices and participating merchants to give customers the ability to pay with their smartphones.

Short of a South Korean carrier offering an NFC-equipped iPhone case to customers, mobile payment technology has yet to make its name known on the iOS platform. Apple is expected to unveil an iPhone with an embedded NFC chip next year…

The first release of Google Wallet is partnered with Citi, MasterCard, Sprint and First Data. Visa, Discover and American Express will be joining the party soon, too. The Sprint Nexus S 4G smartphone boasts Google Wallet first.

Here’s an example of how the service works:

As mobile payments become more mainstream with services like Google Wallet, Apple will do what it does best: sit back and watch. Google will undoubtedly fail at certain things with Google Wallet and succeed with others. Apple will swoop in next year with its own NFC-like service that ties in with its users’ iTunes accounts. And it will be awesome.

TechCrunch has a great review and walkthrough of Google Wallet in real life, so check that out if you want to learn more.

When this Service works @Malaysia Market?

[via: idownloadblog]

Google Maps Now Shows You the Weather Anywhere in the World

Google Maps now has a weather layer. You can zoom in or out to get local, national or global results, and clicking on any icon gives you a four-day forecast, with details like humidity and wind.

The weather info is powered by partnerships with Weather.com and the US Naval Research Lab. Google Maps was already catch-all utility, and now you have one less reason to ever go anywhere else.

 [Via: Gizmodo & Google Blog via Engadget]

Shareholder Sues Motorola, Claims Google Didn’t Pay Enough

Shareholder John W. Keating filed a complaint against Motorola Mobility and CEO Sanjay Jha claiming the mobile phone company sold itself to Google for pennies on the dollar.

The Google deal will pay each shareholder $40 a share, a 63% increase over the stock's closing price last week, According to Keating's complaint, this sum undervalues the worth of the Illinois company. He is seeking class-action status and wants to block the sale.

[Via: Gizmodo & Business Week]

Google Is Buying Motorola

Crazy news just in—Google is acquiring the handset division of Motorola, Motorola Mobility, for $12.5 billion. This means Google could soon officially in the hardware business.

Could, because the deal has to pass regulatory scrutiny from governments around the world plus the eyeballs of Motorola's shareholders. But should that all clear, this is a big, big deal. From the press release (below), "the acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business." HTC, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG and the other Android manufacturers must be quaking in their boots today. That said, despite offering 32 phones—21 of which have Android baked in—Nasdaq pegged Motorola with a paltry 3% market share as of the beginning of this year. Not exactly a commanding force. Then again, that was before Google was at the reins. 

[Via: Gizmodo & Businesswire and TNW]