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Tag: Normandy

  • Google, Once Again, Offends with D-Day Doodle

    In another one for the Google hates America, freedom, and our veterans files, the search engine is once again on the defensive after pissing off some people on D-Day with a Google Doodle.

    For a brief period this morning, on the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II, Google displayed a Doodle that in no way honored or even referenced the famous battle.

    Instead, Google displayed a Doodle honoring mid-19th century Japanese Go player Honinbo Shusaku.

    Of course, this happened:

    …and this:

    …and plenty more like it.

    As you probably guessed, this was simply a mistake on Google’s part. The doodle, which was only meant to be shown for Google’s Japanese and Hong Kong users, was displayed (for a brief moment) on Google.com, Google.co.uk, and Google.fr.

    “Unfortunately a technical error crept in and for a short period this morning an international doodle also appeared. We’re sorry for the mistake, and we’re proud to honor those who took part in D-Day,” said a Google spokesperson.

    Google’s no stranger to Doodle controversies – especially ones concerning D-Day. Back in 2012, Google was criticized for running a Doodle marking the anniversary of the very first drive-in movie theater on June 6th, instead of featuring a D-Day-themed piece of search art.

    According to Fox News, Google hates America because it didn’t run a Flag Day Doodle at one point.

    Here’s the thing – what Google has done for D-Day is much better than a Doodle could ever be. Right under the search box on its homepage, Google asks users to remember D-Day by exploring letter, photos, and maps of the Normandy landings. Google links us to an interactive “Google Cultural Institute” exhibit, which has nearly 500 of the aforementioned items available for everyone’s perusal.

    Next year, maybe Google will make the “L” an American flag or something, just to appease Twitter.

    Images via YouTube, Wikimedia Commons

  • Microsoft, Nokia Might Be Making An Android Device

    Last year, Microsoft acquired Nokia’s devices and services business in what appeared to be an effort to make its own Windows Phone hardware going forward. While Microsoft will still continue making Windows Phones under the Nokia brand, it looks like the two companies will be making an Android device as well.

    The always trustworthy @evleaks was on Twitter today again with screenshots of what’s being referred to as Normandy. It’s a secret project that’s intended to bring Windows Phone design and services to Android through Google’s Android Open Source Project. In other words, Microsoft has forked Android to build a Windows Phone-like experience on top of Google’s mobile OS.

    According to The Verge, Normandy is being proposed as an entry-level phone for emerging markets. The devices will reportedly feature a 4-inch display, Qualcomm S4 CPU, 3MP rear-facing camera, 4GB of onboard storage and 512MB of RAM.

    Here’s another shot of the device, courtesy of @evleaks:

    So, why is Microsoft making an Android phone with Nokia? Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet says it would be a great way to nab new Windows Phone users without having to sell them Windows Phone hardware. Even if it was a forked version of Android, it would still run all the Windows Phone 8 services that are the real money makers for Microsoft.

    As Foley points out, one of Ballmer’s last acts as CEO was to transition the company into the devices and services business. Keeping your services exclusive to a small platform like Windows Phone doesn’t make any sense. Sure, Microsoft has put some of its services on Android and iOS, but creating their own platform on inexpensive Android devices could be a recipe for success in emerging markets looking for Android’s compatibility with numerous apps combined with Microsoft’s own productivity apps.

    If Nokia and Microsoft are serious about releasing Normandy, we’ll probably hear more about it at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

    Image via @evleaksES/Twitter