Google confirmed speculation that it would launch a music service at its annual I/O developer conference Wednesday. The internet giant announced Google Play Music All Access, a subscription-based service that is a little bit of Spotify, Pandora and Twitter #Music all in one. Apparently, the internet behemoth's announcements went over well with Wall Street, as Google's shares closed at a record high of $900, putting the company's market cap over $300 billion. 

Unlike Google Music, its cloud music service that lets users upload up to 20,000 purchased songs to listen to on Android devices or on the web, the Google Play Music All Access subscription service launches it into direct competition with music streaming services like Spotify—which has 24 million active monthly users, 6 million paying subscribers and more than 20 million licensed songs in 28 countries—as well as Pandora. Though unlike either of the other services, Google's All Access won't have a free option. The service, which will be available across the web, mobile and tablets will cost $9.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. 

“It makes lots of sense for both YouTube and Play, which was built for Google’s Android devices, to sell music subscriptions,” notes AllThingsD. “YouTube is the world’s biggest free music service, which could make it a fantastic funnel for a Spotify-like paid offering, which can also help solve some problems with the music labels."Continue reading...

As if Hurricane Superstorm Sandy preparations weren't enough to keep it busy, Google is all over the news this week:

• A new AMBER alerts project in partnership with The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children in the U.S. followed the launch of a crisis page and public alerts system for those affected by the wrath of Sandy. When using Google Search or Maps, you’ll see if an AMBER Alert is in effect in your area.
• A revamped iOS search app with Siri-like voice-recognition represents its "most advanced voice search" to date, greeting users with a "Try our new voice search" message above a microphone icon on the main page ready for tapping. "If it’s short and quick, like the status and departure time of your flight—Google tells you the answer aloud." 
• Google Earth 7 is now available with 3D Imagery on the desktop (can be disabled if you choose), and newest sites include Avignon, France; Austin, Texas; Munich, Germany; Phoenix, Arizona; and Mannheim, Germany. A tour guide flies over landmarks and offers stats and info from Wikipedia.
• Google Chromebook rocks with Slayer for Halloween.
• Google's still-in-beta universal analytics for websites lets marketers better measure impact of digital campaigns.Continue reading...

The Google I/O three-day annual developer event in San Francisco today kicked off with a slew of product news.

Google is expanding its Nexus sub-brand of smart products from an Android phone (with Samsung, unveiled in October) to a streaming media player and the product that garnered the most buzz today: its first tablet, Nexus 7, a 7-inch device co-developed with Asus.

Nexus 7 is a bigger challenge to Amazon's 7-inch Kindle Fire than it is to Apple's iPad. The tablet costs $199 (8GB) or $249 (16GB) and is available to purchase now, with shipping starting in July.Continue reading...