Here're 7 Google's coolest open source projects released in 2016

As the year 2016 races to a close, we look at 7 of Google's coolest open source projects released this year.

With open source software, Google gets an opportunity to build innovative things efficiently and quickly without having to go through the pain of reinventing the wheel altogether. It is because of them that they're able to focus their genius on solving new problems.

Till date, the technology giant has released some 20-million lines open source code, including projects.

Here are top 7 that caught our attention this year:

1) Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire (VSAQ)

Since Google has a towering task of assessing the security of almost thousands of vendors every year, it decided to provide itself a helping hand by developing a process that automated a huge chunk of the initial information-gathering required in the process through VSAQ. Since majority of vendors founded the questionnaires to be extremely flexible and intuitive, Google decided to share them with the world.

Google's Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire's framework is inclusive of four extensible questionnaire templates that covers infrastructure, physical and data center security, web applications, and privacy programs.

2) Magenta

Ever thought of making use of machine learning to create compelling music and art? Well, that's the very line of thought that inspired this TensorFlow-based project from the brainiacs at Google Brain team.

Magenta aims to make concrete advancements to the state of the art in machine intelligence for art and music generation, and through this build a rich, talented collaborative community of coders, machine-learning researchers and artists.

3) Science Journal

The Smartphones in the market currently are called smart for a reason. Other than the distinct apps and fast operating systems, they also come power packed sensors that can educate us tremendously about the various interesting things happening in the world that we live in. Google launched Science Journal with an aim of helping educators, students, and citizen scientists to tap into the great potential of those sensors.

4) Seesaw

A Linux Virtual Server-based load-balancing platform developed by the tech giant's very own site reliability engineers, Seesaw took birth to tackle one of Google's own problem.

For a long time, Google was scouting for a way through which it could handle traffic for unicast and anycast VIPs, perform adequate health checks against the backends, and perform load balancing with NAT and DSR (also known as DR). Above all, they were looking for a platform that could ease management, including the automated deployment of configuration changes. This is why Seesaw came into existence.

5) Cartographer

A library for real-time simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) in 2D and 3D with support of Robot Operating System, Cartographer maps surroundings and computes positioning by combining data from a variety of sensors. This is one of the important elements in UAVs, autonomous cars, and robotics.

Cartographer has the potential of building globally consistent maps in real-time across a broad range of sensor configurations common in academia and industry. With Cartographer, Google aims to advance and democratise SLAM as a technology.

6) Omnitone

Virtual reality (VR) can't be as immersive as it is today without the presence of spatial audio. When spatial audio is brought to the web, the browser can be completely transformed into a complete VR media player with an incredible reach and engagement. This is what inspired Google's Chrome WebAudio team to create and release the Omnitone project, an open source spatial audio renderer with the cross-browser support. Google is quite confident that with emerging web-based Virtual Reality projects like WebVR, Omnitone’s audio spatialisation will be playing a very critical role in providing a more immersive VR experience on the web.

7) OpenThread

Released by Nest, OpenThread is a complete open-source implementation of the Thread networking protocol for connected devices found at home. This is considered very crucial because of the currently visible fragmentation seen in this particular space.

With this, Nest aims to make the technology being used in Nest products more broadly available to developers so as to accelerate the development of products for the connected home.

OpenThread development is being openly supported by Qualcomm, ARM, Texas Instruments, Microsoft, and several other major vendors.

Via Opensource.com

Its official, Google & Nest acquired DropCam for $555 million

Few weeks back we reported that Google is about to buy DropCam, a company famous for its $150 surveillance camera. It's now official that Google and its partner company Nest has acquired the Dropcam for interesting figure of $555 million in cash, DropCam and Nest reported on their blogs as official statement.

In January this year Nest partnered with Google and just after 5 months Nest announced the acquisition of DropCam, Matt Rogers, founder of Nest posted in his blog -

Before deciding to extend an offer to Dropcam, we spent a lot of time looking at camera companies and technologies around the world. And I can say without a doubt, Dropcam has the best products, services, and customer experience in the business.

Dropcam products will still be sold online and in stores. And Dropcam customers will still continue to use their Dropcam accounts. However the Dropcam will come under Nest's privacy policy. Greg, founder of Dropcam also posted in Dropcam official blog:

Nest and Dropcam are kindred spirits. Both were born out of frustration with outdated, complicated products that do the opposite of making life better. After numerous conversations with Nest Founders Tony and Matt, it was clear that we shared a similar vision. Nest cares as much about customers, privacy and product experiences as we do. Our products and technologies are a natural fit and by joining up with Nest we can fully realize our vision.

Nest & Dropcam both companies make innovative products and share similar consumer segment arena. Nest have product portfolio of compact Smoke + CO gas detectors and smart thermostats whereas Dropcam makes compact surveillance cameras with web enabled features. Thus both companies work for 'smart' home automation system.

Co-founded by former Apple engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers in 2010, Nest was acquired by Google in January 2014 for $3.2 billion, which was Google's second-largest ever acquisition. Earlier investors in Nest Labs included Shasta Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Google all set to guard your home by introducing $150 Surveillance Camera

Google is all set to replace the security guards at your home with their range of home surveillance cameras. According to reports, Google is seriously contemplating buying Dropcam which is a home security camera Company. Currently, the firm sells one security camera at $150 which is connected by internet and controlled with the help of an application.

It is assumed that by buying Dropcam, the technology giant is planning to increase its home automation products after it recently acquired Nest which is a thermostat firm. In 2013, Dropcam was successful in raising around $30 million in funds for its hi-tech security cams.

According to the company, the camera makes use of bank-level security to code all the videos. It also sends Smartphone and email alerts to its users.  The camera also has an HD resolution which supports full 720 pixel live streaming. It also comes power packed with digital zoom, night vision and two-way talk back feature. In addition, the camera is also equipped to provide its users with the stored footage of last seven or thirty days with the help of optional cloud recording feature.

Using Dropcam along with Android or Apple store app you can receive alerts for motion and sound on your smartphone or other device or drop in live and talk directly with people and pets.

Founded by Aamir Virani and Greg Duffy in 2009, Dropcam is a San Francisco based firm. It also offers its customers a larger and better field of view and image quality in Dropcam Pro which comes in at $199. This move taken by Google is seen as an answer to Apple which is soon planning to add a universal home remote feature to its iPAD through which the users will be able to control everything from their washing machines to television sets.

This project may be launched in its Worldwide Developer Conference which is all set to take place in June alongside Apple’s new version of iPad and iPhone software. Home automation gadgets are currently sold in many Apple stores all around the world. These include Philips Hue lightbulbs, Google’s Nest thermostats, Belkin WeMo switches and Dropcam wireless cameras. This event is also expected to see a big improvement in its Mac and iPhone software. One major improvement which the users might be able to see in iPad will be its new split screen which will be capable of running two apps simultaneously.

Google all set to guard your home by introducing $150 Surveillance Camera

Google is all set to replace the security guards at your home with their range of home surveillance cameras. According to reports, Google is seriously contemplating buying Dropcam which is a home security camera Company. Currently, the firm sells one security camera at $150 which is connected by internet and controlled with the help of an application.

It is assumed that by buying Dropcam, the technology giant is planning to increase its home automation products after it recently acquired Nest which is a thermostat firm. In 2013, Dropcam was successful in raising around $30 million in funds for its hi-tech security cams.

According to the company, the camera makes use of bank-level security to code all the videos. It also sends Smartphone and email alerts to its users.  The camera also has an HD resolution which supports full 720 pixel live streaming. It also comes power packed with digital zoom, night vision and two-way talk back feature. In addition, the camera is also equipped to provide its users with the stored footage of last seven or thirty days with the help of optional cloud recording feature.

Using Dropcam along with Android or Apple store app you can receive alerts for motion and sound on your smartphone or other device or drop in live and talk directly with people and pets.

Founded by Aamir Virani and Greg Duffy in 2009, Dropcam is a San Francisco based firm. It also offers its customers a larger and better field of view and image quality in Dropcam Pro which comes in at $199. This move taken by Google is seen as an answer to Apple which is soon planning to add a universal home remote feature to its iPAD through which the users will be able to control everything from their washing machines to television sets.

This project may be launched in its Worldwide Developer Conference which is all set to take place in June alongside Apple’s new version of iPad and iPhone software. Home automation gadgets are currently sold in many Apple stores all around the world. These include Philips Hue lightbulbs, Google’s Nest thermostats, Belkin WeMo switches and Dropcam wireless cameras. This event is also expected to see a big improvement in its Mac and iPhone software. One major improvement which the users might be able to see in iPad will be its new split screen which will be capable of running two apps simultaneously.