Tag Archives: Google

Similar ‘Hot Corners’ Feature Off the Table for Google

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This past month, rumors flew around about Google working on a feature for the Chrome operating system, similar to MacOS’s ‘Hot Corners‘. This handy feature would allow work to move more fluidly, assigning your display corners for quicker access. According to Zac Hall from 9to5Mac.com, he states:

Hot Corners turn each of the four corners of your display into actions. Just move your cursor to the designated corner, then an action that you assign to that corner is launched.

I rely on Hot Corners to both quickly access Notification Center and reveal my desktop for accessing recently saved files. There are keyboard shortcuts, buttons, and gestures for doing both of these tasks, but neither method is as fast or natural for me than a cursor movement.

Zac Hall – 9to5Mac.com

However, this past Tuesday, it was shared that Google had decided to abandon the project, stating that they were “no longer moving forward with this project.”

I personally think this would have been a nice feature for Chrome OS. Who knows – maybe the project will be put back on the table in the future. Google has been known for mimicking other operating systems and adding similar features to their own OS.

For help updating, restoring or dealing with any PC issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Denver Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Denver, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

COVID-19 Tracker Apps Available

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Many people in the US are still concerned about the pandemic, especially since starting next month, nonessential businesses will begin to open back up. Federal and local governments are working to ensure transparency with the Coronavirus, along with large tech corporations.

Google and Apple are currently in the works for a Bluetooth-based app to trace COVID-19 exposures. And there are apps included in the iOS App Store for worldwide coronavirus exposure data. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, they are, “undertaking an unprecedented team effort to build a system for Androids and iPhones to interoperate in the name of technology-assisted COVID-19 contact tracing.”

Bing also brings a COVID-19 tracker to the Microsoft App Store. This app shares news about the coronavirus along with dependable information from your local Department of Health. It includes an overview of cases in multiple regions and shares Testing Centers in your local counties.

For help troubleshooting PC issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Video Resolutions are being Reduced

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Yes, you heard that right!

Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, video resolutions are being reduced worldwide – with YouTube being one of them.

According to a LinusTechTips forum member, “YouTube streaming has surged due to people being under quarantine during this pandemic. Google is well equipped to handle YouTube streaming strain in the past, But the current problem is the consistency at which contents needs to be provided.”

source: animoto.com

It is said that YouTube as surpassed Netflix, the first time ever, streaming twice the amount of videos during this pandemic. This has made Youtube cut back the video resolution down to 480p to lessen the constraint on the internet infrastructure. This is a 30 day period during the month of April. Because this is a global crisis, YouTube believes that even if we don’t think that we won’t run out of bandwidth, this is a government level issue and precautions need to be in place.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple+ have all reduced their bitrate or resolution during these difficult times. This gives users to still have the ability to stream videos.

This seems to be a bad time for those who have gone completely digital nowadays. DVD’s may be making a temporary comeback.

If you are needing help with computer issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

No www or http in Chrome Browser Desktop

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If you use Chrome on your desktop, you may not have noticed, but you are no longer seeing “www” or “http” in the address bar.

This change was initially made in 2018 with the Chrome 69 version. Google ended up bringing it back after backlash from websites that supported subdomains. However, if you have the Chrome 76 version, you will see them gone again. Google called the subdomains “trivial” and trusted that users wouldn’t essentially require the extra information.

To make URLs easier to read and understand, and to remove distractions from the registrable domain, we will hide URL components that are irrelevant to most Chrome users. We plan to hide “https” scheme and special-case subdomain “www” in Chrome omnibox on desktop and Android in M76.

-Emily Schechter, Google engineer
No https before karlstechnology.com

How to see the full URL

Although the links have been minimized, you can still see the full URL by clicking on the link twice. This will ultimately display it as its lengthy detail.

While this change is effective now, it’s likely that Android will be showing the same change soon enough. It’s also rumored that Google will also be getting rid of the lock icon (to show the website is secure) in the future.

For inquiries with computer issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Google Will Pay You $5 For Face Scan

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Yesterday, Google announced new features that will be included in the Pixel 4. These particular features add a motion sensor, called Soli, and a more efficient facial recognition update. And although unlocking your phone with facial recognition is nothing new, both work together to make it work faster and easier for you.

Brandon Barbello, the Product Manager of Pixel writes, “If the face unlock sensors and algorithms recognize you, the phone will open as you pick it up, all in one motion. Better yet, face unlock works in almost any orientation—even if you’re holding it upside down—and you can use it for secure payments and app authentication too.”

And with all that said, the Verge reported that Google is coordinating “field research” to accumulate data to improve the reliability of the new Pixel 4’s new facial recognition features. However the catch is that you have to be at the right place at the right time. Employees of Google are scattered throughout the U.S. offering $5 gift certificates to those who participate in the facial scan.

It may be weird if someone comes up to you, claiming to be a Google Employee and requesting to scan your face for research, but hey at least you get $5 out of it. I believe in the consent form you can request a deletion of your information whenever though, so that’s a plus.

Be on the lookout for this upcoming device in the future.

For inquiries, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Was there a major Google algorithm change this week?

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We started noticing last week that most of the websites we do SEO services for started changing in position in google search.  Google has finally made a statement that the massive fluctuations in page values is not a major algorithm change but is part of “normal fluctuations.”

There seems to be a consensus forming in the SEO community that despite what Google is saying they made a major algorithm update this last week.  We are seeing a lot of movement in positions especially for our clients that were effected by the last Google Penguin update.  I think this shows that content is king as our higher quality content sites see to be less impacted and possibly even boosted.  Time will tell if this event is considered Penguin update 5.0 (or maybe what Google is saying is this isn’t a major algorithm change but it is Penguin update 4.5) or not.