NEW RESOURCES

Music Radar: Roland unveils 50th anniversary website and teases a new ‘50th model’ to be launched on 18 April. “Roland has kicked off its 50th anniversary year by launching the Roland at 50 website, which showcases milestone moments in music history and celebrates the artists and Roland products that have helped to shape it. The centrepiece of this is a bespoke timeline; this showcases more than 180 Roland products from the ‘70s to the present day. There are also several in-depth articles covering the history of Roland samplers, the sounds behind A-ha’s Take On Me, the enduring appeal of the TR-606 drum machine and the legacy of Rush drummer Neil Peart.”

Daily Reporter: WisDOT introduces GIS mapping system. “More than 1 million people in Wisconsin are non-drivers — many of whom are seniors, individuals with disabilities, young people and low-income individuals. The Non-Driver ArcGIS Online Application, available on the WisDOT website, enables state and local decision makers to locate non-driver populations in their area and begin to plan or expand public transportation options.”

Penobscot Bay Pilot: New website for affordable, nutritious recipes. “Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger relief organization, is launching… a one-stop online resource to find simple, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes using everyday ingredients. Created by the Food Bank’s Nutrition and Education team, the site allows users to search through hundreds of recipes to see what they can make with items in their pantries, cupboards and refrigerators. Many of the recipes include ingredients distributed by the Food Bank’s network of over 500 partner agencies.”

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

Android Central: Google Assistant’s original white noise sound returns following backlash. “Several users expressed their displeasure with the company’s decision to change the white noise sound on the Google Nest community forum page and Reddit (via 9to5Google)…. Fortunately, a Reddit user has uploaded the original white noise sound’s one-hour and 12-hour versions.”

9to5 Google: Google requiring all ‘G Suite legacy free edition’ users to start paying for Workspace this year. “In 2020, G Suite became Google Workspace as part of a mass reorganization of the company’s apps for the ‘future of work.’ Various plans were migrated over, and Google is now finally getting rid of the G Suite legacy free edition.”

Ars Technica: Google brings Android games to Windows in limited (very limited) beta. “As it announced in December, Google is bringing Android games to Windows. The project is simply called ‘Google Play Games,’ and the Windows version is now open for beta signups. The catch is that Google Play Games is getting a very limited distribution: you’ll need to be in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong to sign up.”

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

ABC News (Australia): Old meets new as psychics, tarot readers thrive on TikTok, social media. “Is money coming your way? Will your ex come back to you? Are you getting that promotion? Scroll through TikTok and you are guaranteed to get at least one version of coming events. The rise of the pandemic has brought with it an influx of tarot card readings on social media platforms like TikTok.”

Idaho Falls Magazine: MOI’s Exhibition Outlook: A sneak peak of what’s to come at the Museum of Idaho . “Even with the expanded building and new exhibits, the museum can only display a tiny percentage of the items in its possession…. That’s why we’re excited to announce that thanks to a grant, some generous donations, and a lot of scanning, we’ll soon be making those collections—starting with our historic photos—freely accessible through a database on our new website. Curious what your neighborhood looked like 100 years ago? Search and you shall find.”

The Verge: Google Is Building An AR Headset. “The search giant has recently begun ramping up work on an AR headset, internally codenamed Project Iris, that it hopes to ship in 2024, according to two people familiar with the project who requested anonymity to speak without the company’s permission. Like forthcoming headsets from Meta and Apple, Google’s device uses outward-facing cameras to blend computer graphics with a video feed of the real world, creating a more immersive, mixed reality experience than existing AR glasses from the likes of Snap and Magic Leap.”

SECURITY & LEGAL

Associated Press: Texas Sues Google Over Local Radio Ads for Its Smartphones. “Texas’ attorney general on Wednesday sued Google, alleging the company asked local radio DJs to record personal endorsements for smartphones that they hadn’t used or been provided. In the lawsuit filed in Montgomery County, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton said Google engaged in false and misleading practices in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices—Consumer Protection Act.”

Wired: Europe’s Move Against Google Analytics Is Just the Beginning. “The Austrian decision—and other similar cases currently being considered—highlight the tensions between Europe’s strong privacy laws and what happens to data once it leaves the bloc. Some are optimistic that it could reduce Europe’s reliance on major US technology companies, while others say it highlights the importance of making sure negotiators from both sides strike a new deal that allows data sharing before data flows and economies are disrupted.”

ZDNet: Apple and Google claim proposed antitrust bills would threaten user security. “Specifically, the bills contain language that would force Apple and Google to allow third-party alternatives into their respective walled garden mobile operating systems. While Google does not restrict the installation of third-party apps completely, it does typically disable the installation of apps from sources other than its Play Store until a security setting has been disabled by the user. Apple, meanwhile, forbids any ‘sideloading’ of applications from sources aside from its own App Store.” Good morning, Internet…

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