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CNET's Daniel Terdiman has spun a spooky Nancy Drew adventure about trying to uncover the origins of a "big and mysterious" thing "rising from a floating barge at the end of Treasure Island" that has "Google's fingerprints" all over it. Treasure Island is a former Navy base located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Terdiman couldn't get a look inside the structure, "which stands about four stories high and was made with a series of modern cargo containers." But after a lot of detective work, he concludes its most likely a floating data center. Google even patented the idea for one in 2009. That's less exciting than the story itself, which includes plenty of photos and paragraphs like this:

Google has been posting a bunch of “Google Ideas” discussions to YouTube this week. One that went live today discusses smartphones and their role in making law enforcement “smarter.” It’s only seventeen minutes long, so it won’t take too much of your time. Google says in the description. Robert Muggah, Research Director at Igarape Institute and Vanessa Coimbra, Pacification Police Units, Military Police of Rio de Janeiro attempt to answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KJ0im58A35w More of the talks are available at the Google Ideas YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleIdeas?feature=watch

Chrome: Reading a bright screen at night is never a pleasant experience. If you're a fan of the night mode in many ereaders and apps, Hacker Vision is an extension that does the same thing on your computer and turns bright sites a darker color. When you visit any site with a light background, Hacker Vision inverts the colors to make the background black and the text white. This should make it easier to read at night because it's not as bright. You can set Hacker Vision to pause for a while when you're browsing during the day, or only change on select sites as well. If you're looking for a little eye relief at night, Hacker Vision's a lot easier than changing the accessibility options on your computer. Go get it at: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hacker-vision/fommidcneendjonelhhhkmoekeicedej

Last year, we heard the amazing story of Saroo Brierley, the Indian "lost child" who used Google Earth to find his way home after 25 years. This stirring video produced by Google features Brierley telling the story in his own words. It's pretty crushing. In the video, Brierly recounts how 1987, after a day of begging for money on the street, he boarded a train for home, but he never got there because he fell asleep and missed his stop. Instead, he ended up on the other end of the country. He was labeled lost, adopted and shipped off to Australia. But thanks to the Google, he found his way home—as if you needed another reason to love Google Maps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UXEvZ8B04bE

The next version of Google's platform, Android 4.4 KitKat, is set to arrive any day now. After three helpings of Jelly Bean, we would hope that the Nestle-inspired build should prove to be a larger update, but so far signs point to minor enhancements. Until recently, Google has done a great job keeping KitKat under wraps. Officially, Google has only said that its goal with KitKat is to "make an amazing Android experience available for everybody." Some posit this to mean we could see new Android-powered devices such as game consoles, smartwatches, smart TV, and laptops. Others look for a kinder, gentler platform that plays nice with older hardware. This past weekend proved to be the biggest break in regards to what Android 4.4 looks like as well as some of its potential features. Some changes and details may include tweaks to the app launcher, notification bar, and dialer. Nothing too crazy, of course, but rather a color adjustment here or a transparency there. When it might be announced Some rumors suggest that Google has lined up the KitKat introduction for as soon as October 15, but I suspect an invitation for an official event instead. At the least, I expect that Google would dish the new feature set in a live YouTube broadcast. Assuming it plans to introduce new Nexus 5 hardware, which it should, then we might look for at least one day's notice before the big announcement. Other dates tossed around of late indicate that the end of October might also be in order. Should that be the case, there's still time to send out a few "save the date" e-mails and blog posts. The software we could get So far, leaked images like those in the gallery above point to minor, cosmetic changes, rather than a massive overhaul. The application drawer could move away from the all-black background in favor of a transparent bar. The pervasive notification area also appears to get the same treatment; a few screenshots show the top bar as having the see-through effect. In a related note, a 9to5Google report shows the notification bar with colors that match or complement various apps. The dialer app, for instance, brings up a blue bar, while the Hangouts app has a green one. It's possible that these particular apps were designed with their own colors and that the transparency is otherwise still present. According to Italian Android blog TuttoAndroid, the lock screen will include shortcut to the camera application. The move would make sense as most custom launchers and lock screens have moved to integrate the oft-used feature. The Android 4.4 lock screen could include quick access to the camera. A slightly more meaty addition, TuttoAndroid site also claims the "always listening" functionality employed in the Motorola Moto X can be found in the Android 4.4 experience. Should this prove true, users can expect quick access to Google Now and searching without having to touch the phone. An Android Police report from this weekend suggests other changes could come in the area of app folders and widgets. According to their findings, folders are no longer limited to 16 shortcuts and will simply scroll if there are more. Widget placement moves out from the app drawer and back to the more traditional long-press method on the home screen. Speaking of which, users may soon find that the stock Android 4.4 experience allows for more than five home screen panels. The stock camera experience should see a number of adjustments as well, including options to apply filters, borders, and effects. While Google+ already allows for photo editing and manipulation, it asks that a user have already uploaded the image to the cloud. Other tweaks to the shooter could yield straightening, mirroring, and color balance. If the final product resembles the leaked images we saw, then the app itself could get a makeover. Tweaks could come in the form of streamlined UI with quicker access to flash settings, timers, and image size. As we discovered in a recent leak, other changes may include the option to save images locally in PDF format, export images in a variety of sizes and quality, and apply built-in filters and effects. Native printing could be built into Android and may allow for options such as paper size, number of copies, orientation, and choosing between color or black and white. From the sound of it, Google might simply include Cloud Print at an OS level instead of relying on its standalone application. We might also see wireless display support (via Miracast) in this next version of Android. One area where Google has struggled to gain traction, mobile payments, could be rolled into the Android 4.4 platform. Screengrabs show a "Payments" option, but it's unclear what its role could mean for people. Presumably this is simply the place where one manages their Google Wallet account. Perhaps the thought is that by including it in the standard Android experience, it gains a larger awareness. The more you know it exists, the more likely you might be to use it. An updated app suite As far as the Pure Google app experience is concerned, we may see Drive, Keep, and Quickoffice come preloaded by default (right now they're optional downloads or bundled with one carrier or manufacturer experience). As many of you know, this trio of products and services work seamlessly with other Google properties and adds a layer of productivity. To get a sense for how Android 4.4 KitKat might look in action, be sure to check out the video below. Again, the details are not all that obvious and easy to overlook. However, the experience seems to be one that is smooth and fluid. This is to be expected; Google will continue pushing for performance optimizations across the board. You might miss it the first time around, but the messaging app is nowhere to be found in the video. As the standard app for sending and receiving SMS and MMS, it's possible that Google is transitioning to Hangouts for its communications. We have long expected to see a unified chat and messaging service from Google; this could be the sign of such an animal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2ksOJl0PDDg When KitKat could land KitKat is expected to ship with the Google Nexus 5 smartphone first, and then later come to other Nexus devices via over-the-air updates. If history is an indicator, the most recent Nexus 4, Nexus 7 2013, and Nexus 10 devices, as well the previous generation Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 2012 to pick up the release first, maybe a few weeks after the launch. In terms of all other devices, I suspect the same rules still apply; newer and more popular models will get priority seating aboard the S.S. KitKat, like the LG G2 and HTC One. Note that phones that use custom interfaces (that's most of them) will take longer to get the update. Handset makers are becoming ever more vocal over social media so look for OEMs to detail specific devices in blog posts and status updates. Realistically, if you are running 4.1 or 4.2, you might expect some Nestle love this winter. What's missing? Taken as a whole, the 4.4 KitKat version of Android looks like it's a minor, not massive, step forward. But, given this is still a version-point update and not a full 5.0 release, we should keep our expectations in check. Is there something in Android that you see as lacking at the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean platform level? Which features in other smartphones that you would like to see come to Android? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.

You’re probably sick and tired of Nexus 5 leaks by now, but this next one is a doozy of a spill. Over the weekend, a surprisingly clear video of a phone that looks very much like the rumored Nexus 5 made its rounds online. The7-minute video (with no sound) is the first good look we’ve had at the phone since that Google employee “ accidentally” showed his off during the unveiling of the Kit Kat Android statue. Although the front of the phone doesn’t look all that different than last year’s Nexus 4, the device is bigger and features a giant camera lens like the one on the new Nexus 7. The glass on the camera lens looks raised, so our fingers are crossed that whoever built this thing knew that they were doing and built it to last. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2ksOJl0PDDg It’s rumored that this new Nexus will have optical image stabilization like Nokia’s Lumia line, but we might have to wait for the next big video leak to see that feature in action. Unfortunately the video doesn’t go into much detail about the phone’s software. The operating system is still labeled “KeyLimePie,” so it’s possible that this is an early build from before the Google-Nestle partnership, and the launcher doesn’t look like the one we’ve been seeing in other leaks. The video spends a considerable amount of time poking around the Google Earth, Chrome, and YouTube apps, none of which are particularly exciting. You can see an icon for the new Google Experience Launcher when the open app drawer is opened, and you can practically hear Android fans everywhere screaming for the video maker to tap the icon. Google is still expected to announce the Nexus 5 and Kit Kat on Tuesday but, at this point, it doesn’t seem like there is much else to say unless the big G has a surprise up its sleeve.

The journey was long and full of baby steps, but we’ve finally reached the destination: Google updated its terms of service on Friday to allow the company to slap your real name and face alongside ads, under an expansion of its “shared endorsements” program. Getting here took a while, and it took a slow expansion of the Google+ social service. First, Google+ users had to sign up for the service with their real names, rather than pseudonyms. Next, all new Google Accounts—even if you only wanted Gmail—required you to sign up for Google+. Then, back in May, Google began coaxing veteran YouTubers into adopting Google+ accounts, and a few weeks ago, the company announced that all YouTube comments will be powered exclusively by Google+. Google+ integration throughout Google’s services seemed pretty handy at first. When searching the Play Store, the power of “shared endorsements” showed you when your friends like a given app (not unlike what iOS and OS X users see when looking for game recommendations in Apple’s Game Center app). When searching the web, Google+ identified when your buddies +1’d a given site. Now, Google’s bringing your real name, face, reviews, and comments to Search ads across the web. But while Facebook forces all users to participate in “sponsored stories,” Google gives you the opportunity to opt out of its ad program. Minors will be automatically excluded, but you’ll have to manually tell Google to leave your name out of its ads if you’re over 18. Fortunately, it’s easy to do so. How to tell Google to stop using your face and name in ads To stop Google from using details from your Google+ profile in its advertising campaign, you’ll need to head to the Shared Endorsements page on Google+. The Shared Endorsements page spells out the details of the program. If you scroll down below all the words and pictures, you’ll see a single settings option on the page: “Based upon my activity, Google may show my name and profile photo in shared endorsements that appear in ads.” Simply uncheck the box and click Save and you won’t have to worry about your face and name appearing in Google’s ads. Here’s the settings option you need to change. Opting out of the ad campaign doesn’t opt you out of all Shared Endorsements, however; your persona will still appear alongside websites you +1 and apps you like while your friends are scouring the web or Google Play.

Remember Google's fancy laptop, the Chromebook Pixel? There's a new one now that's a lot more affordable than the $1,300 Google asks for it. Today, Google and HP announced the HP Chromebook 11, an 11-inch laptop with a super-sharp screen that runs Google's Chrome operating system. It only costs $279. (If you're unfamiliar, Google's Chrome operating system is essentially just a tweaked version of the Chrome browser. Instead of storing most stuff to your computer, you store it all online using the Google Drive cloud storage service.) Even though the device is cheap, it's extremely well built. The Chromebook 11 is made from durable plastic that includes a sturdy frame on the inside so it doesn't bend or creak. It comes in black or white. The white version has a variety of Google-themed color accents like blue, green, or yellow. Another interesting spec: The Chromebook 11 charges with a normal USB cord, the same kind used on just about every non-Apple smartphone or tablet. The screen is just about as sharp as the one on the Chromebook Pixel, but doesn't include touch to keep costs down. (You don't really need touchscreens on a laptop running Chrome anyway.) The Chromebook 11 goes on sale starting today. You can get it directly from Google or at stores like Best Buy.

Google has pushed out a new version of its browser onto the developer channel, and with it we’re getting an interesting glimpse at the company’s next move to bring its Chrome-based operating system to a wider audience. Essentially, launching the browser within Windows 8’s Metro-style mode will bring up a multi-window interface, complete with a taskbar and app launcher that looks and feels a lot like Chrome OS. As seen on the screenshot below, the bottom shelf contains an app launcher to the left next to Chrome, Gmail, Google, Docs, and YouTube icons for quick access. This shelf can also be snapped to the left or right of the screen while icons can be re-arranged or customized with other Chrome Apps. Once you launch an app you can have it run either in tabs or its own window, which you can move around or snap to the sides. With the current stable release, launching Chrome within Windows 8’s Metro-style start screen simply brings up the desktop client in full screen mode. The upcoming version is still a full fledged desktop application; however, according to The Verge, it uses a special mode in Windows 8 that Microsoft has enabled specifically for web browsers allowing them to launch in the "Metro-style" environment providing they're set as default. It’s unclear when the new feature will be graduated onto the stable channel but reports indicate it’s still a little buggy and it crashes occasionally. Google has yet to announce it on the official Chrome blog. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the company taking steps to extend its reach within Microsoft’s operating system. Back in July, it quietly launched its Chrome App Launcher for Windows, and with the introduction of packaged apps, desktop notifications and improved touch support for Chrome, Google is slowly building something that could be seen as a more serious threat to established desktop platforms.