Google Street View heads indoors

28 October 2011 Last updated at 10:57 ET

Google has started a pilot project allowing the public to look inside shops and other businesses found on its maps.

The feature is an extension of the firm's Street View technology, which already lets users view 360-degree exterior images.

The existing service prompted some privacy complaints from people who claimed the technology was intrusive.

However, Google said the new scheme was completely on a volunteer basis.

"Building on the Google Art Project, which took Street View technology inside 17 acclaimed museums, this project is another creative implementation of Street View technology, to help businesses as they build their online presence," said a company spokesman.

"We hope to enable businesses to highlight the qualities that make their locations stand out through professional, high-quality imagery."

First steps

Initially the roll-out is limited to select locations including London, Paris and a number of cities in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the US.

The US company said it was beginning the process by inviting the most searched types of businesses to request a visit by its photographers.

Google said these included restaurants, hotels, shops, gyms and vehicle repair workshops.

However, it has ruled out big-brand chains for the time being. Hospitals and lawyers' offices have also been excluded.

Business owners are told they must warn their customers and employees about the photoshoot before it begins. Google has promised it will blur out or refuse to publish any images that include bystanders.

The photoshoots will produce 360-degree images using fish-eye and wide-angle lenses as well as stills. Business owners are also invited to upload their own pictures.

The search site notes that all photographs taken will become its property and that they may be used for other applications. Business owners may request their removal, but the terms and conditions do not include a commitment to comply.

"Retail is always a competitive sector, but this is particularly true at a time of falling disposable incomes," said Sarah Cordey, spokeswoman for the British Retail Consortium.

"Many retailers are increasing their online presence and use of technological innovations, so this is a development some businesses will no doubt consider with interest."

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The touchless control patent race

28 October 2011 Last updated at 10:30 ET

Apple and Microsoft are involved in a new patent race over touchless gesture-controls.

Recently released patent filings reveal new ways to control devices that do not involve physical contact.

Microsoft describes waving one's hands to "draw" three-dimensional objects on a computer, while Apple's designs involve allowing users to "throw" content from one device to another.

Securing patent rights allows the firms to claim ownership of the technologies.

They could then prevent others from using the same gesture controls, or charge them a licence.

The two technology firms are not the only ones exploring the area. Less well known companies, including Qualcomm and Extreme Reality 3D, have also acted to secure touchless control patent rights.

"It's interesting that so many companies are actually investing some very serious time and money into it," said Chris Green, a technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group.

"But the jury is still out on whether this whole waving-your-hands-in-the-air will have a long term future outside computer games, and it's still very much a work in progress."

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels"

End Quote Steve Jobs Former Apple CEO

'Throwing' video

The patent applications have been made public by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple's filing, entitled "Real Time Video Process Control Using Gestures", describes controlling images on a device, such as an iPhone, without touching it, and the ability to transfer the pictures to one of the firm's other products using contact-free hand movements.

It suggests infrared, optical and other sensors would be used to detect the movements.

One use could be to transfer a video from a mobile phone by "flicking" it to a television.

"Say you're browsing a TV app on your phone and you found a programme you wanted to record, you could literally - just with a wave - take that programme and throw it to the other device using a gesture rather than using a Bluetooth or cable connection," said Mr Green.

Apple TV

The patent application's release coincides with renewed speculation about Apple branded television sets.

The firm's former chief executive, Steve Jobs, appears to have hinted at the prospect to his biographer.

Walter Issacson wrote: "He very much wanted to do for television sets what he had done for computers, music players, and phones: make them simple and elegant".

Mr Isaacson quoted Mr Jobs as saying: "It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."

The book was published following Mr Jobs' death, earlier this month.

Business applications

Microsoft has already put touchless gesture technology into practice with the popular Kinect motion sensing device for its Xbox games console.

"Microsoft's Kinect system has been widely praised for its accuracy and clarity, and even university research departments are using the Kinect devices, hacking them and using them for their projects," said Mr Green.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

You no longer have to use a mouse to draw a shape - you can just wave your hands in the air and it'll appear"

End Quote Chris Green Davies Murphy Group

"But it is still fairly large, and if you'd like to apply it to a smartphone, you'd need to compress the Kinect down into something the size of your thumb."

Microsoft's recent filing details potential business applications for the technology.

It says it would be possible to make a gesture near a device's surface to "draw" and manipulate virtual 3D objects.

One possible use would be for someone giving a presentation to draw a square in the air and then have it appear behind them on a screen or mid-air from a 3D projector.

"You no longer have to use a mouse to draw a shape - you can just wave your hands in the air and it'll appear," Mr Green explained.

"That aspect potentially has some enterprise applications in terms of computer-aided design.... but it's still very expensive."

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Samsung beats Apple smartphones

28 October 2011 Last updated at 03:37 ET

Samsung overtook Apple to become the world's biggest seller of smartphones between July and September.

Research from Strategy Analytics showed that Samsung sold 27.8 million smartphones in the three month period, compared with 17.1 million from Apple and 16.8 million from Nokia.

The consultancy said Apple's growth was hindered by customers waiting for the launch of the new iPhone 4S.

Apple's number four slot in total handset sales was taken by China's ZTE.

Nokia was the top handset seller with a 27.3% market share, followed by Samsung with 22.6% and LG with 5.4%.

ZTE took 4.7%, pushing Apple into fifth place with 4.4%.

The report came shortly after the release of Samsung's third-quarter results, which showed profits falling 23% as strong growth in its mobile phone business was overshadowed by a poor performance in the memory chip arm.

Handset profits more than doubled to 2.52tn won ($2.3bn; �1.4bn) on strong sales from its Galaxy smartphones.

"Samsung's rise has been driven by a blend of elegant hardware designs, popular Android services, memorable sub-brands and extensive global distribution," said Alex Spektor from Strategy Analytics.

"Samsung has demonstrated that it is possible, at least in the short term, to differentiate and grow by using the Android ecosystem."

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