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Representatives from the biggest companies in tech will meet privately Friday to share information on how they're preparing for the midterm election, Buzzfeed reported late Thursday. The goal of the meeting apparently is to try to avoid a repeat of the Russian interference that occurred during the 2016 US election. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, called the meeting, inviting representatives from a dozen companies, including Google, Microsoft and Snapchat, to a meeting at Twitter's headquarters in downtown San Francisco, Buzzfeed reported, citing an email it had obtained."As I've mentioned to several of you over the last few weeks, we have been looking to schedule a follow-on discussion to our industry conversation about information operations, election protection, and the work we are all doing to tackle these challenges," Gleicher reportedly wrote in the email. Now Playing: Watch this: Twitter's newest feature informs users about political... 1:20 … [Read more...] about Facebook, Twitter, Google and others to meet about midterm elections, report says

Editors' note, May 31, 2018: Since it first went on sale in October of 2017, the Google Home Mini and the built-in Google Assistant have had a number of upgrades and changes. This review has been updated accordingly.If it wasn't for the Amazon Echo Dot ($40 at Amazon.com), I'd recommend the Google Home Mini to everyone. Google successfully fit all of the smarts of the original Google Home ($129 at Walmart) into a fun-size package. You can give it voice commands, just like you can with the Google Home or any of Amazon's Echo line of products. Like Google Home, the Mini has Google's version of Alexa (called Google Assistant) built in, and Google Assistant is a great and well-rounded digital assistant.Google Assistant has been chasing Alexa since Google debuted it in 2016. Google Home Mini joined the race late last year to chase the popular, affordable Echo Dot. At this point, Google Assistant is just as capable as Alexa, so the Mini is a great alternative to the Dot, especially since … [Read more...] about Google Home Mini is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo Dot

Editors' note: This review was originally published Oct. 17, 2017 at 6 a.m. PT. It was updated on Oct. 23 detailing the Pixel 2 XL's screen burn-in issue, on Oct. 25 with further observations and Google's initial remarks, and on Oct. 26 with the company's follow-up statement detailing a software fix and extended two-year warranty. When it comes to the camera, processor and software, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are both identical and fantastic. The differences between the two come down to price (obviously), size, bezel width and screen technology. We loved our early experience with the Pixel 2 XL, but any potential buyers need to know about some problems with its screen that have come to light since we first reviewed the phone, and the upcoming software fix Google says will address it. 28 Pixel 2 and 2 XL photos: Feast your eyes Wait, what's happening? The Pixel 2 XL has a bigger 6-inch display and a higher resolution than the 5-inch Pixel 2. But it also … [Read more...] about Google Pixel 2 XL review: Promising phone with new caveats

If you want to extend fast internet to every corner of your home, the Google Wifi is the best device to do it. You just need two things:An internet-connected iOS or Android mobile device, like a phone or a tabletA Google account, which you can get for freeThis is because, unlike most routers, there's no web-based interface and the new Wi-Fi system can only be set up and controlled via the new Google Wifi mobile application. Once set up, the Google Wifi will stay connected to Google at all times and will log into your Google account each time you want to manage it.Google says the Wifi doesn't collect user activity data, like what sites you're visiting. By default, it appears to collect only hardware-, app- and network-related information. However, you can turn this off in the Privacy section of the settings.Still, a constant connection to Google is required. That's a dealbreaker for some. Not all home mesh Wi-Fi systems, which use several "satellite" devices to extend the Wi-Fi signal, … [Read more...] about Google Wifi review: The best way to blanket your entire home with Wi-Fi

Google’s latest flagship is due to make an official appearance some time in October, but leaks and rumors of both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have been coming in thick and fast. While the availability of the Pixel 3 XL on the Russian black market has pretty much taken away any surprises, a new unboxing video of the larger Google flagship handset has landed on YouTube and leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.The professional high-quality video reveals the Pixel 3 XL in all its hi-res glory, along with everything else that comes in the box.First discovered by Android Authority and posted by YouTuber In DIGI, the two-and-a-half-minute video shows off the glass-backed phone, along with the wired USB-C Pixel Buds said to be accompanying the forthcoming Google flagships, as well as the usual charging gear. The video also reveals a Quick Switch adapter and #teampixel stickers.Once the phone is booted, the video confirms there’s a notch on the large screen and that … [Read more...] about A new Google Pixel 3 XL unboxing video confirms all the rumors