Google Animates Ian McKellen, Conchita Wurst, & Sam Smith In Android Pride Ad

Via Ad Week:

Google-owned Android is featuring prominent gay celebrities to promote the mobile operating system's support of LGBT Pride Month and especially its upcoming centerpiece weekend. The minute-long #AndProud video from Adam&eveDDB shows more than 15 celebrities—including, of course, stars from Google's YouTube like Tyler Oakley and Hannah Hart—as characters inspired by Android's small green mascot. The ad is set in London and opens with an animated version of diver Tom Daley jumping into water. We then meet a cartoony Ian McKellen and musicians Jessie J, Sam Smith and Conchita Wurst. Meanwhile, flags from countries like the U.K., Ireland and the U.S. wave in the background.

From the clip description: "Be a part of our global Pride celebration. Androidify yourself to join our online parade, and your character could even appear on Pride parade floats in London, New York and San Francisco."

(Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

Outrage Over Google Hooker App

There's an app for the Android that works as a Grindr for local hookers and some folks are pissed at Google about it.

The issue of sex trafficking of minors is hyped all too frequently by culture warriors and law enforcement to restrain civil rights and hound those engaged in what is a legal and regulated profession in many parts of the world. But human sex trafficking is nonetheless a real problem that grows when its perpetrators have access to global online networks. When asked about what they’re doing to prevent illegal traffickers from gaining access to their networks, Google has responded by issuing vague statements about “specially trained teams,” “working with law enforcement” and the “latest technology.” But the $11.5 million they recently gave to groups fighting against human sex slavery has the appearance of buying off critics rather than actually dealing with the underlying problem.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) says:

It is appalling beyond belief that someone would try to market an ‘app’ like Utoopi, which is about illegal escort services plain and simple. Google must live up to its own stated promise to ban the promotion of sex services by immediately removing Utoopi from the Android ‘app’ marketplace hosted by Google. A real utopia would be a society in which major corporations like Google take responsibility for preventing their platforms from being hijacked by those who would market the bodies of young women and men to the highest bidder.

Samsung To Sell Flexible Smart Phone

Android Authority has the deets:

Specs of Galaxy Skin include 1 GB RAM; 1.2 GHz processor; 8 MP rear camera and VGA front camera with auto focus, self-portrait, stop motion, action shot, and Panorama shots; and 1500 mAh battery. Connectivity-wise, it has Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n features. It will reportedly run on Android Jellybean (the next Google OS version after Ice Cream Sandwich), but there are speculations that Google will make a special version for it, namely Android Flexy.

So is this supposed to go in your wallet, or what? As the marketers say, what's the USP?

Smartphone Wars

(Source)

Google Translate For Animals

Android Review

Gizmodo has posted a detailed review of Google's new Android phone. Summary: It's not the iPhone. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. Reportedly, Google has already sold out of the 1.5 million units it stocked for advance orders. Another 2 million are set to ship to retailers this week.