Welcome to Alphabet City: Exploring the World of Google and Beyond

I'm your guide, Aya's Akhtar, and I'm excited to have you as part of our fantastic audience today. We're going to talk about some new phones, a new Google smart home device, and your comments. But first, let's dive into one of the most interesting topics that has been making headlines lately: Dragonfly.

Dragonfly: The Censored Search Engine Built for China

The Intercept published another report on Google's censored search engine, codenamed Dragonfly, this time shedding light on a memo circulated within Google written by an engineer. The memo revealed some disturbing details about the project. According to the report, users would have to log in to Dragonfly to use search information, which would then be shared with a Chinese partner. This partner would have unilateral access to the data, and searches would be connected to the user's phone number. Both Android and iOS apps were being developed, and the memo mentioned that movements of Chinese users would be stored in a database in Taiwan.

However, things took a turn for the worse when it was revealed that the Chinese partner could add terms to blacklist front search results and selectively edit search result pages, all with minimal controls in place. This raised concerns among Google employees, who were told to delete copies of the memo immediately after being made aware of the details. The company's higher-ups were reportedly "pretty ticked off" since details of Dragonfly were not supposed to be shared.

Uptown Updates: Google's Browser Changes

Several reports have surfaced about a strange change made by Google in its browser, starting with Chrome version 69. When a user logs into a Google site, Chrome would then sign the user in to their in-browser account system called sync. This has caused quite a stir among users and engineers alike, as it seems like a fishy move on Google's part. In response, Google engineers published some tweets explaining that the auto-log-in does not actually sync data with Google servers. Instead, the user would have to manually turn on sync to make it happen.

Meanwhile, Samsung has introduced its new Galaxy A7, which features three rear cameras: a 25-megapixel shooter, a five-megapixel lens used for depth control, and a 24-megapixel lens. The device is expected to hit European and Asian markets in the fall. Additionally, there have been rumors about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, with some speculating that they may be listed on Chinese site JD.com at a price of around $729.

YouTube Music Gets an Update

YouTube music has just received an update, allowing users to choose from three audio quality levels. The bitrate tops out at 256 kilobits per second, and while the company claims there are no plans for higher-quality streaming, it's worth noting that they would need to charge more to support lossless streaming.

Google Held an AMA

Recently, Google held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, during which the company explained its stance on audio quality. According to Geek Wire, Google doesn't have any plans for audio quality higher than 256 kilobits per second. The reason? It would require them to charge more to support lossless streaming. Instead, they're focusing on improving performance and making sure that their services are accessible to everyone.

Nest is Working on Digital Health Products

Geek Wire reports that Nest will be working on digital health products. Last year, it was revealed that Google purchased a health startup called Cenotes in August 2017. However, it's now confirmed that Nest was actually the one that acquired Cenotes at the time of the acquisition. As part of Alphabet, Nest is no longer an independent company and is now owned by Google.

The Future of Smartphones: 4 or 5 Cameras?

Hockey Duck 3 has shared some exciting news about new phones rumored to ship with 4 or even 5 cameras! Meanwhile, NSA (not sure if that's short for "National Security Agency"?) has weighed in on the rumor mill, commenting that Google may be working on 7 phones. Could this mean a major upgrade for smartphones?

And finally, we have to give a shout-out to our fantastic audience members: Jessie Bob the Potato and Shivan reinder (don't worry if I got your name wrong!). We're so grateful to have you all as part of our community, and we can't wait to see what the future holds. Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to like and subscribe!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwelcome to alphabet city this is the show that covers everything related to alphabet Inc alphabet just so happens to own lots of companies including Google I'm your guide Aya's Akhtar and you are the fantastic audience today we're talking about some new phones a new Google smart home device and your comments but first things first let's talk about dragonfly to the garden of Google the intercept published another report about Google censored search engine built for China codenamed dragonfly this time the intercept wrote about a memo that's circulated within Google written by an engineer the memo said that users would have to log in to dragonfly in order to use search information would then be shared with a Chinese partner that partner would have quote unilateral access to the data searches would be connected to the person's phone number both Android and iOS apps were being developed the memo said that movements of Chinese users would be stored additionally data would be sent to a database in Taiwan but wait there's more the Chinese partner could add terms to blacklist front search and quote selectively edit search result pages unilaterally and with few controls seemingly in place end quote there were internal protests at Google about dragonfly according to intercept sources higher-ups at Google found out about the memo and were pretty ticked off since details of dragonfly were not supposed to be shared employees were told to delete copies of the memo immediately sounds pretty rough let's head on over to uptown updates several reports say that Google made a strange change in its browser beginning with chrome version 69 when a user would log into a Google site Chrome would then sign in that user to Chrome's in browser account system called sync guess what people are upset Google engineers published a few tweets explaining that the auto log-in does not sync data to Google servers to do that the user would have to manually turn sync on seems kind of fishy though right Samsung just introduced the Galaxy a7 and it's got three rear cameras one camera is a 25 megapixel shooter another is a five megapixel one used to control depth of field then there's a 24 megapixel lens wondering where that fingerprint sensor is Samsung put it on the side the a7 comes to Europe and Asia in the fall the pixel 3 may have been listed on a Chinese site JD comm and it looks like it could cost around seven hundred and twenty nine dollars also the pixel 3xl may have leaked again on Twitter look at the pics oh wait okay YouTube music got an update you can now choose from three audio quality levels the bitrate to top out at 256 kilobits per second Google held an AMA and explains quote right now we don't have any plans for audio quality higher than 256 kilobits per second our deals would require us to charge more to stream FLAC so at this point we are focused on improving performance rather than supporting lossless streaming end quote geek wire says that nest will be working on digital health products last year it was reported that Google purchased a health startup called cenotes back in August of 2017 geek wire says it was actually nest that bought the start-up at the time of the acquisition nest was one of the companies owned by alphabet nest is no longer an independent company and is now owned by Google which is still owned by off of it on to comment Cove this is the part of the show will be shine a spotlight at the most amazing audience in the world you guys hockey duck 3 says news new phones may ship with 4 or even 5 cameras in them NSA heavy breathing Mahesh commented on the report that Google may be working on 7 phones 7 phones can we just get the headphone jack Falcon has an idea of what Samsung is working on for its October event it could also mean 4x optical zoom on the new devices camera just saying it's a pretty cool idea Scott wants to know when we'll have updates on Chrome OS news well I'll let you know when I know thanks to everyone for writing in if you've enjoyed your stay in Alphabet City please like and subscribe also Android just turned 10 years old on my ass at tarp and I'll see you online hey we're at the end of the episode let's say hello to Jessie Bob the potato and Shivan reinder sorry if I pronounced your name wrong also Josh I'm not sure if I get you a pizzawelcome to alphabet city this is the show that covers everything related to alphabet Inc alphabet just so happens to own lots of companies including Google I'm your guide Aya's Akhtar and you are the fantastic audience today we're talking about some new phones a new Google smart home device and your comments but first things first let's talk about dragonfly to the garden of Google the intercept published another report about Google censored search engine built for China codenamed dragonfly this time the intercept wrote about a memo that's circulated within Google written by an engineer the memo said that users would have to log in to dragonfly in order to use search information would then be shared with a Chinese partner that partner would have quote unilateral access to the data searches would be connected to the person's phone number both Android and iOS apps were being developed the memo said that movements of Chinese users would be stored additionally data would be sent to a database in Taiwan but wait there's more the Chinese partner could add terms to blacklist front search and quote selectively edit search result pages unilaterally and with few controls seemingly in place end quote there were internal protests at Google about dragonfly according to intercept sources higher-ups at Google found out about the memo and were pretty ticked off since details of dragonfly were not supposed to be shared employees were told to delete copies of the memo immediately sounds pretty rough let's head on over to uptown updates several reports say that Google made a strange change in its browser beginning with chrome version 69 when a user would log into a Google site Chrome would then sign in that user to Chrome's in browser account system called sync guess what people are upset Google engineers published a few tweets explaining that the auto log-in does not sync data to Google servers to do that the user would have to manually turn sync on seems kind of fishy though right Samsung just introduced the Galaxy a7 and it's got three rear cameras one camera is a 25 megapixel shooter another is a five megapixel one used to control depth of field then there's a 24 megapixel lens wondering where that fingerprint sensor is Samsung put it on the side the a7 comes to Europe and Asia in the fall the pixel 3 may have been listed on a Chinese site JD comm and it looks like it could cost around seven hundred and twenty nine dollars also the pixel 3xl may have leaked again on Twitter look at the pics oh wait okay YouTube music got an update you can now choose from three audio quality levels the bitrate to top out at 256 kilobits per second Google held an AMA and explains quote right now we don't have any plans for audio quality higher than 256 kilobits per second our deals would require us to charge more to stream FLAC so at this point we are focused on improving performance rather than supporting lossless streaming end quote geek wire says that nest will be working on digital health products last year it was reported that Google purchased a health startup called cenotes back in August of 2017 geek wire says it was actually nest that bought the start-up at the time of the acquisition nest was one of the companies owned by alphabet nest is no longer an independent company and is now owned by Google which is still owned by off of it on to comment Cove this is the part of the show will be shine a spotlight at the most amazing audience in the world you guys hockey duck 3 says news new phones may ship with 4 or even 5 cameras in them NSA heavy breathing Mahesh commented on the report that Google may be working on 7 phones 7 phones can we just get the headphone jack Falcon has an idea of what Samsung is working on for its October event it could also mean 4x optical zoom on the new devices camera just saying it's a pretty cool idea Scott wants to know when we'll have updates on Chrome OS news well I'll let you know when I know thanks to everyone for writing in if you've enjoyed your stay in Alphabet City please like and subscribe also Android just turned 10 years old on my ass at tarp and I'll see you online hey we're at the end of the episode let's say hello to Jessie Bob the potato and Shivan reinder sorry if I pronounced your name wrong also Josh I'm not sure if I get you a pizza\n"