Google Pay is out in the UK.

You'll also need a compatible bank and if you're with Barclays, Natwest or Santander you won't be in luck. Supported banks at launch include Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society.
As i'm now stuck back on my old OnePlus One (Still a decent phone!) i'll be making use of this.

I've noticed Tesco Bank isn't on this list which is a shame. They have one of the best Mobile apps going in my experience!

Source:
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/everything-you-need-to-know-about-android-pay-in-the-uk-1321615

Things that are going to speed up the internetz

Derived from Google SPDY protocol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_2.0

HTML Picture element to be introduced to all browsers:
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/09/how-a-new-html-element-will-make-the-web-faster/

Google's not bringing its super-fast fiber internet to the UK anytime soon

Doesn't look like Google is coming over the pond to challenege the main ISP's anytime soon.

To be fair it wouldn't be easy without a partnership anyway as the market over here is extremely competitive and heavily regulated.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/18/google-fiber-rumor-uk/

Chrome OS to mimic OS X Yosemite with smartphone continuity features

This might actually be the first feature to make me want to try Chrome OS. 

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2352134/chrome-os-to-mimic-os-x-yosemite-with-smartphone-continuity-features

Google quality report is out now in the USA

Released in Canada first, it's now hitting the US and will be expanding further shortly.

It's rather like Netflix's ISP speed index. Thay want to show up internet service providers (ISP's) where they have bottle necks either through limited peering and transit off / on their network or where they restrict third party services.  Also it will give a good indication of which ISP's networks contain their caches (CDN's like Googles GGC or Netflix's OpenConnect) which keep the content closer to the customer to it doesn't have to traverse the wider internet.

The idea being that if the ISP's don't provide good access to the third party video content (more data = more cost loosely speaking) then their customers can be made aware and vote with their feet if they want.



http://www.google.com/get/videoqualityreport/

Word Lens gets bought by Google. heres hoping for more language support

This is a great app, basically take a picture of clear sign and the app converts the writing to english.
Would be great for holidays. I just wish it did Turkish!

http://wordlens.com/

Google makes Gmail more secure in light of NSA snooping

HTTPS as standard and mail internally encrypted.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/20/gmail-https-nsa-snooping/

Android Kit-kat being pushed out to Vodafone UK S4 customers.

Woke up this morning to see the update pending. Its around 350Mb so its not a small update by any means.

Google promises 10Gps fiber network to blast 4K into living rooms

Get in early and get the IP in for the technology. Thats where the real money is at.

I'd love for them to start a fibre project in the UK. If they teamed up with someone like Sky, TalkTalk or Fujitsu that could have some real potential for a market shake-up.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/14/google_will_upgrade_fiber_network_to_give_10gbps_home_broadband/

Galaxy S5 rumours & thoughts

See link at the bottom. 

A 2k display on a 5in screen just seems a bit excessive to be honest! If the rumours are true and is LCD over AMOLED then I don't think that'll be great in daylight either... Still it's on course for an April release which is when I got my S4 last year so it's a decent option. I''d also be impressed if it doesn't kill the battery in just a few hours of gaming. 

Same goes for the 6 core 64bit processor. Although that does sound pretty cool and the idea of 'carrying' your desktop around in your pocket is pretty cool. I hope they give it a mini-HDMI / MHL out to plug straight into a display.

On a side note. I'd love for them to release the same spec as a Windows Phone and give the devs something to built towards! That OS needs more rapid development! Thats not to say Android won't for some of these features.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2317640/samsung-galaxy-s5-release-date-price-specs-and-features

Chrome rendering engine will get faster, lighter, and better offline in 2014

So Webkit is being forked for Blink. I certainly hope Chrome gets lighter and faster as promised!

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/01/chrome-rendering-engine-will-get-faster-lighter-and-better-offline-in-2014/

http://www.chromium.org/blink/developer-faq

Google is mapping the history of modern music

Engadget bit:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/18/google-music-library-data/

Google research bit:
https://research.google.com/bigpicture/music/#

What we searched for on Google in 2013

Xbox One beat PS4...

The Grand National was more popular than Wimbledon...

http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts

Inquirer gives the Nokia 1520 a rave review

Seriously considering going back to the Windows Phone platform. Still annoyed that Google shuns the platform though. 

Review: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2307446/nokia-lumia-1520-review

King Oddball Android via Amazon - Free

King Oddball Android via Amazon - Free

Usually around $3.

Google 'fesses up: Yup, we're KILLING OFF IE9 support for Gmail, Apps

Not a big surprise as we're currently on IE 11 and XP is set for its support demise in April 2014...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/07/google_kills_ie9/

Google continues its bizzare attitude towards Windows Phone.

I guess they are bitter than MS makes money out of each Android OS purchase (google android licensing issues). MetroTalk is being forced off the Windows phone market place as of May 2014 due to using 3rd party access to Google voice.

Google have a search app for the OS but that's literally all there is. For a platform gaining market share even without Googles services support it's an interesting move. It was recently announced that WP is doing better than iOS in Italy!

Microsoft have had a increasingly open mind when it comes to multi-platform releases as we see some xbox titles and apps coming to the other mobile platforms. Obviously they are holding back on a few of their key software products such as Office but I think they are going about things the right way. Demo the functionality to users and tempt them across..

They are also keeping up the media attention and get involved with companies who need further support / incentive when WP wants their apps on the platform!

The only problem is the OS's glacial pace for key updates. I think it's good to have such strict hardware requirements to give developers consistency but there are some major features that need implementing like a system rotation lock!

http://www.neowin.net/news/google-forces-metrotalk-to-be-pulled-from-windows-phone-store

Google - Project Shield

Project Shield is an initiative to use Google's infrastructure to protect free expression online. The service currently combines Google's DDoS mitigation technologies and Page Speed Service (PSS), which allow websites to serve their content through Google to be better protected from DDoS attacks.
http://projectshield.withgoogle.com/

Google's Chrome OS is being built into Windows 8

Much more appealing than a standalone Google OS in my opinion.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/5/4806562/google-building-chrome-os-into-windows-8

BBM for iOS rollout underway, Android versions still taking it's sweet time.

Not really news worthy to me with the prominence of message apps like Whatsapp.

I'm not really sure what they are trying to achieve with diversifying their messaging system.

Blackberry (formally RIM) really needed a bigger marketing push and awareness with the news OS and phone refreshes. Maybe some new business focused ideas to push at the corporate market.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/21/psa-bbm-for-android-available-on-play-store-now-ios-incoming-t/