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 Gets Into the Airline Ticket Business

Just in case it wasn't clear Google is going into the business of selling airline tickets. It's starting small with Cape Air, an independent New England-based regional airline.

The websites for Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines now have new booking software under the hood powered by Google-owned ITA Software, one of the 'Ten Most Innovative Companies in Transportation,' according to Fast Company.

ITA Software was acquired by Google in 2010. So far, the partnership has produced new flight search results for desktop and mobile Google searches. Today, you can use a normal Google search for every step of planning a flight (in the U.S.) other than buying the ticket.

But it's clear from the Cape Air arrangement that Google wants that business, too. It made sure to point out that ITA's Cape Air system is 'built to scale to support airlines of all sizes.'

Here's the problem: Google needs credit cards. If it's going to be a future payment platform, it needs to have its users' credit cards stored (like Apple does). That's why it now asks new Gmail users for a credit card when they sign up. They don't have to give their card, but Google wants it.

By becoming a convenient point of sale for something, Google can get its users to add credit cards to their accounts. Booking flights is a great business for Google to get into, because there's lots of friction in the process. A Google search seems like a natural place to start looking for flights.

It's just a search ad business for now, between desktop and mobile flight search and Google Maps inside airports. But when Google scales the flight booking system it built for Cape Air, it will be able to give users the option to make their travel plans using Google all the way.

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Google Gets Into the Airline Ticket Business

Just in case it wasn't clear Google is going into the business of selling airline tickets. It's starting small with Cape Air, an independent New England-based regional airline.

The websites for Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines now have new booking software under the hood powered by Google-owned ITA Software, one of the 'Ten Most Innovative Companies in Transportation,' according to Fast Company.

ITA Software was acquired by Google in 2010. So far, the partnership has produced new flight search results for desktop and mobile Google searches. Today, you can use a normal Google search for every step of planning a flight (in the U.S.) other than buying the ticket.

But it's clear from the Cape Air arrangement that Google wants that business, too. It made sure to point out that ITA's Cape Air system is 'built to scale to support airlines of all sizes.'

Here's the problem: Google needs credit cards. If it's going to be a future payment platform, it needs to have its users' credit cards stored (like Apple does). That's why it now asks new Gmail users for a credit card when they sign up. They don't have to give their card, but Google wants it.

By becoming a convenient point of sale for something, Google can get its users to add credit cards to their accounts. Booking flights is a great business for Google to get into, because there's lots of friction in the process. A Google search seems like a natural place to start looking for flights.

It's just a search ad business for now, between desktop and mobile flight search and Google Maps inside airports. But when Google scales the flight booking system it built for Cape Air, it will be able to give users the option to make their travel plans using Google all the way.

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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