Thursday 29 November 2018
Grow with Google is coming to a library near you
Since welaunchedGrow with Google a little over a year ago, we’ve traveled to cities and towns, partnering with local organizations fromKansas toMichigan toSouth Carolina to bring job skills to job seekers and online savvy to small businesses. No matter where we went, big cities or small towns, libraries were at the heart of these communities.
To support the amazing work of libraries throughout the country, Google and the American Library Association are launching the Libraries Ready to Code website, an online resource for libraries to teach coding and computational thinking to youth. Since we kicked off this collaboration last June, thirty libraries across the U.S. have piloted programs and contributed best practices for a “by libraries, for libraries” hub. Now, the 120,000 libraries across the country can choose the most relevant programs for their communities.
Libraries have long been America’s go-to gathering place for learning. Now more than ever, people are using libraries as resources for professional growth. And libraries are stepping up: 73% of public libraries are making free job and interview support available in their communities.
That’s why starting in January, we’ll also work hand-in-hand with libraries around the country, using technology to help ensure that economic opportunity exists for everyone, everywhere. We’ll bring Grow with Google in-person workshops for job seekers and small businesses, library staff trainings, and ongoing support to libraries in all 50 states.
We’re also announcing a $1M sponsorship to the American Library Association, creating a pool of micro-funds that local libraries can access to bring digital skills training to their community. An initial group of 250 libraries will receive funding to support coding activities during Computer Science Education Week. Keep an eye out for a call for applications from the ALA as Grow with Google comes to your state.
Google is proud to partner with libraries all over the country to ensure economic opportunities for more Americans.
by via The Keyword
Wednesday 28 November 2018
Tuesday 27 November 2018
Monday 26 November 2018
Wednesday 21 November 2018
Supporting the European Union Parliamentary Elections
In May 2019, up to 350 million voters across the European Union will take to the polls to elect 705 Members of European Parliament (MEPs). To support this democratic process, we’re rolling out products and programs to help people get the information they need to cast their votes. Here are three ways we’ll be providing support:
Getting voters the information they need
We know that in the build-up to elections, people need useful and relevant information to help them navigate the electoral process. You may have come across Google’s Search tools for past elections in countries like Germany and around the world, where we highlighted information that helped people understand and participate in those elections. For the EU Parliamentary elections in 2019, we’ll be working with data from Election Commissions across the member states to make authoritative electoral information available and help people find the info they need to get out and vote.
Helping voters better understand the political advertising they see
To bring people more information about the election ads they see across Google’s ad networks, we’ll require that ads that mention a political party, candidate or current officeholder make it clear to voters who’s paying for the advertising. We’ll also introduce a new process to verify EU election advertisers to make sure they are who they say they are. And there’s more to come: we’ll introduce an EU-specific Election Ads Transparency Report and searchable ad library to provide more information about who is purchasing election ads, whom they’re targeted to, and how much money is being spent. Our goal is to make this information as accessible and useful as possible to citizens, practitioners, and researchers.
Protecting election information online
In addition to new political advertising transparency tools, we’re continuing our critical investments in keeping our own platforms secure and are working with campaigns, elections officials, journalists, human rights organizations and others across the EU to ensure the security of the online platforms that they depend on.
For the EU 2019 Parliamentary elections, we’re offering in-person security training to the most vulnerable groups, who face increased risks of phishing attacks. We’ll be walking them through Google’s Advanced Protection Program, our strongest level of account security and Project Shield, a free service that uses Google technology to protect news sites and free expression from DDoS attacks on the web.
And because people rely on quality news content to navigate noisy election periods, Google News Lab will collaborate with news organizations across all 27 countries to support online fact checking. They’ll be offering a series of free verification workshops to point journalists to the latest tools and technology to tackle disinformation and support their coverage of the elections.
Like others, we’re thinking hard about elections and how we continue to support democratic processes around the world, including by bringing more transparency to political advertising online, by helping connect people to useful and relevant election-related information, and by working to protect election information online. Over the coming months you’ll hear more from us on each of these areas and our plans to inform, protect and support around the EU elections, building on our commitments made in the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation.
by via The Keyword
California fires: how we’re providing aid and ways you can help
Over the last week, three wildfires have devastated communities in California, and there's been a tremendous effort—on the part of firefighters, first responders, local officials and NGOs—to contain the flames and help thousands of displaced families. Since the start of the fires, we've deployed resources to help those affected in our own backyard. Here's a bit more on that, and how you can help.
Improving access to information
When the fires broke out, Google’s Crisis Response team activated SOS Alerts , allowing people impacted by the disaster to access local emergency information, news and maps of the affected areas. With networks down, it soon it became evident that getting online was a top concern.
In collaboration with the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC), Google volunteers have been on the ground helping communities get back online, allowing many to reconnect with families and friends, file insurance claims, and—when possible—get back to school or work. They set up WiFi and connected Chromebooks at shelters, distribution centers, churches and clinics, serving over 1,000 evacuees. In just a couple of days, these connections allowed over a dozen shelter guests to be matched to missing persons list entries.
ITDRC and our volunteers are also working in Southern California to capture aerial and street-level imagery of the impacted areas. These images will be used to augment existing digital maps allowing emergency managers to evaluate the impact of the fires.
Beyond information, there are many critical needs to be met during a crisis of this proportion, including food and shelter. Google.org and Googlers have donated over $1.5 million to support those impacted by the fires. This includes a $500,000 direct grant from Google.org to efforts like the NorCal Disaster Relief Fund and the Southern California Disaster Relief Fund.
By leveraging existing partnerships with merchants and carriers, the Google Shopping team has also made a $100,000 in-kind donation of food and basic essentials to local food banks through Feeding America.Everyone can help
SOS Alerts is a gateway for people to make donations, 100% of which goes to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and will be directed to highly impactful organizations spearheading recovery efforts. To date, over 3,500 people have given money to support the victims of the fires through Google, making donations from five dollars, to as much as $500.
Today, we want to invite others to donate as well, to the victims of the Camp Fire or to the victims of the Southern California fires. Anyone can also make donations directly to organizations like the American Red Cross, which is working shelter to those displaced, the Wildfire Relief Fund, which is supporting long-term recovery and preparedness, or the Latino Community Foundation as they support groups providing aid to families and farmworker communities in the affected areas.
California is our home. It’s where we were founded and where over a third of all Google employees live. There is much more to be done and we’ll stay engaged in support of recovery efforts throughout the state during the days and months ahead.
by via The Keyword
Ring in the holiday season with deals on Google Play
The holiday season is nearing
Awaiting their school break, kids are cheering
And we’re pretty excited over here, too
We’ve got deals for kids, gamers, bookworms and you
So check ‘em out below, find your fave
Head to the Google Play Store—and dollars you’ll save
For the gamer: Up to 80 percent off top titles and special in-app deals like:
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- Star Wars™: KOTOR
- Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
For the movie and TV buff: Available on Turkey Day only, rent any move for 99¢. And if you want to catch up on some of this year’s most popular TV shows and movies, check out discounts on titles like:
- Game of Thrones
- American Horror Story
- Mamma Mia 2
- Teen Titans Go! to the Movies
- And if that wasn’t enough, Google Play is also offering Starz for $5 per month for your first three months (terms apply).
For the bookworm: Serious discounts on this year’s best-selling audiobooks and ebooks, such as:
- Never, Never by James Patterson
- You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
- Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
- The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus
For the gift-giver: Once your shopping checklist is complete, it's your turn to unwind. And here are some details that can help:
- 50 percent off a yearly subscription to Calm, Fabulous, Run with Map My Run, and Freeletics
- And 40 percent off the popular meditation app, Headspace (see each offer for terms and conditions)
Excited to get into the holiday spirit? Here's more information on all of our Cyber Week deals.
by via The Keyword
Tuesday 20 November 2018
Google News Initiative kicks off Asia-Pacific Innovation Challenge
In Asia-Pacific, journalists and publishers are increasingly grappling with questions over how quality journalism can thrive in the digital age. From Yangon to Manila, Sydney to New Delhi, they are experimenting with fresh approaches to reporting and new business models.
We’ve been working hand in hand with publishers to understand those challenges, and over the past year we’ve supported Asian newsrooms and publishers through the Google News Initiative (GNI).
To help build a stronger future for journalism in Asia-Pacific, we created the Asia-Pacific GNI Innovation Challenge, which will fund projects that inject new ideas into the news industry.
How does the challenge work?
We are inviting proposals for projects aimed at increasing revenue from readers, including subscriptions, membership programs, contributions and/or new digital products and services. A panel of Googlers and other tech industry executives will review the submissions and fund selected projects up to $300,000 and finance up to 70 percent of the total project cost.The funding will be reviewed against several criteria, including a “sharing component” - for example by publishing any findings or holding a seminar - so grantees can pass their knowledge on to others in the industry. For more information on eligibility, rules and criteria, sample projects and funding details, head over to our website.
How to apply?
Given the pace of change in the news industry, innovation has never been more important. We want to make sure that all organizations, large and small, in the Asia-Pacific news ecosystem have the opportunity to suggest new ideas around this critically important topic.
Applications open on November 28, and the deadline to submit is January 9. If you have any questions, tune into our APAC town hall on Monday, December 11 at 3.00 pm Singapore time. We are ready to help put your ideas into action and look forward to seeing what you submit!
by via The Keyword
Monday 19 November 2018
Breaking ground for Google’s first data center in Denmark
Whenever Google looks for a new place to build a data center, it's important that the location has high-quality digital infrastructure and supports renewable energy production. Denmark has both of these things and much more—which is why we’re investing 600 million euro to build a new data center just outside Fredericia, in western Denmark.
You might be wondering: What exactly is a data center? Data centers are the heart of Google—they’re the home for a large group of servers that power our products like Search, Gmail and YouTube. When you use search or watch videos, servers in data centers around the world are working in the background, doing the heavy lifting. They keep data and information like your emails and photos safe; when you hear about “the cloud,” the data stored in the cloud is actually stored inside a data center.
To make sure that we're continuing to make space for the infrastructure that powers our products, new data centers like the one in Fredericia are crucial. In Fredericia, we’ve found a great business community and a location with existing infrastructure that fits what we’re looking for when we set out to build an efficient, modern data center.
In Fredericia, Google is committed to matching its energy use with 100 percent carbon-free energy. This commitment includes the electricity use of our data centers, too. We’re pursuing new investment opportunities (called Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs) in Danish renewable energy projects like onshore wind, offshore wind and solar energy. In Europe, Google data centers typically use one third less energy than a typical data center, yet we’re still striving to use even less. The Fredericia data center will be among the most energy efficient data centers in Denmark to date, taking advantage of advanced machine learning to make sure every watt of electricity counts.
A new data center also leads to new job creation. Consultancy firm Copenhagen Economics (CE) has forecasted the impact the Fredericia data center will have on the local economy: according to CE, the construction will support 1,450 jobs per year in 2018-2021. Once operational, around 150-250 people are expected to be employed at the site in a range of roles—including computer technicians, electrical and mechanical engineers, catering and security staff. And, given increased economic activity expected in the area, there’s also an effect on job sectors like retail trade, hotels and transportation.
At Google, we aim to support the communities that surround our facilities, and in the last few years we’ve invested almost 3.4 million euro in grants to initiatives that build the local skills base—like curriculum and coding programs, as well as educational support through teaching collaborations at area colleges. We’ll also introduce initiatives like these in Fredericia.
With construction work expected to run through 2021, Fredericia will be Google’s fifth data center in Europe, joining our other sites in Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands and Belgium. We'll look to continue investing in Europe, leading the way with green projects and building ties with the local community.
by via The Keyword
Sunday 18 November 2018
Friday 16 November 2018
Thursday 15 November 2018
Zero-touch enrollment’s new features deliver for partners and customers
Last year we launched zero-touch enrollment, a deployment method to help make Android rollouts—especially those at large scale—more seamless and secure. Since then, the program has grown and customers and partners are already seeing the benefits.
Better rollouts for customers and partners
Zero-touch continues to help businesses quickly and securely deploy Android devices, easing many pain points IT admins face when rolling out device fleets.
NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, has successfully used zero-touch enrollment to deploy over 10,000 Android devices across their organization. Bengt Nielsen, who leads NAV’s IT Infrastructure and Platform Services team, explained that the large scale deployment of Android devices was a key component of the organization’s digital transformation strategy. NAV wanted employees to work in a more agile way, freeing them to work out in the community rather than always at their desk.
Zero-touch enrollment ensured that devices were configured and ready for use out of the box, making the deployment quick and easy for IT and employees, according to Bengt. He said, “Compared to previous manual enrollments, the zero-touch experience was like night and day—the enrollment process was almost flawless, employees found it straightforward and, most importantly, it saved the organization thousands of hours of work time.”
NAV’s deployment partner ATEA explained the impact that zero-touch enrollment has had on customer rollouts. Kim Tovgaard, Enterprise Sales Executive at ATEA, commented, “Android zero-touch enrollment means we can offer customers a wider range of hardware in our deployment concept for automated purchase and enrollment of mobile devices, and help businesses save time and money.”
Expanding the zero-touch partner list
The support for zero-touch is continually growing, with new partners regularly added and validated. One of our zero-touch resellers, Tech Data, has recently launched a fully integrated service across their 20,000 European Android resellers, enabling them to offer zero-touch enrollment to all their customers.
“The API integration and set up was straightforward,” says Luc Van Huystee, Vice President, Mobility Solutions, Europe, at Tech Data, “enabling us to integrate this with our systems to allow every organization to carry out quick and easy bulk provisioning of company-owned Android devices straight after purchasing them.”
Over 30 zero-touch partners have joined the program globally in the second half of 2018, including major mobile operators such as Bouygues Telecom, Chunghwa Telecom, NTT DoCoMo, Telia, and Vodafone (Netherlands, Spain and Ireland). The full list of our partners can be found on this site.
New product features recently launched
We continue to add new features to zero-touch enrollment for both resellers and customers. Resellers can now appoint vendors to act on their behalf, while maintaining overall visibility and control. This will enable multi-national carriers to oversee the actions of their local operators and also support carriers who delegate their B2B sales to dealers.
Multi-language support is available within the zero-touch portal, with support for 13 languages. Additionally, zero-touch now supports WiFi-only devices, meaning that devices such as tablets and dedicated devices are also able to take advantage of the seamless enrollment that zero-touch offers. The current list of supported models is available here, with further manufacturers coming soon.
Learn more about how zero-touch enrollment can help make enterprise deployment easier and more secure.
by via The Keyword
Wednesday 14 November 2018
See your messages with local businesses in Google Maps
Last year we enabled users in select countries to message businesses from the Business Profiles on Google. Sending messages to businesses gives you the opportunity to ask questions without having to make a phone call so that you can order a cake for your mom’s birthday while on the bus or find out if a shoe store has your size without having to wait on hold.
Now you’ll see your messages with the businesses you connect with via Business Profiles within the Google Maps app, where you’re already looking for things to do and places to go or shop. You’ll find these messages in the side menu of both Google Maps for Android and iOS. With these messages in Maps, you’ll never have to worry about accidentally sending “I love you, Mom” to that shoe store you’ve been sending messages to.
As this rolls out, Google users in additional countries worldwide will be able to message with businesses for the very first time. So no matter where you are, as long as a local business has enabled messages, you’ll be able to connect with them in a tap. Just look for the “message” button on Business Profiles on Google Search and Maps.
On the flip side, businesses that want to accept messages from customers can install the new Google My Business app from Google Play or the App Store to sign up and enable messages. The new Google My Business app makes it even easier for businesses to stay in touch with their customers in real-time and on the go.
Whether you’re looking for the best burger in town or a restauranteur trying to get your new burger in front of neighborhood tastemakers, Google Maps helps bring you together.
by via The Keyword
Making the change from military life to civilian life
Editor’s Note: This guest post comes from U.S. Army Veteran Daniel Sotoamaya, who shares how Grow with Google and the USO helped his transition to a civilian career after serving in the military for 20 years.
I entered the U.S. Army at age 17, and I had no responsibility except for myself. I left as a senior leader, married to my wife Jen—who is also a veteran—and co-parenting six children. When transitioning to civilian life, I needed to learn how to support my family without the military’s familiar structure and security, and I eventually found a job with the help of Grow with Google and the USO.
In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, I want to share my story so that other veterans and their families don’t feel isolated as they navigate this life change. My story starts back in 1999 when I met my wife at U.S. Army training at Fort Lee, VA. While waiting to go for a group run, we said hi, exchanged comments about the weather, and headed off separately. I didn’t see her again until a year later when reassignment brought us together. Shortly after, we were married and had our first child.
During the 20 years I served in the Army, my career grew. I was promoted to Sergeant First Class (E7) and was assigned to bases all over the U.S. and Europe. Our family grew too, and Jen, who had served for three years, stayed at home to care for our kids. I credit Jen for her support, strength, and patience through my multiple combat deployments in Afghanistan, and during my transition to civilian life.
When I left the military, it was my immediate duty to find a job to support our family. Even my kids could see that getting a job was my full time job. We all felt the pressure of my need to quickly figure out my next role. The job search process was stressful, not only for me, but also for my family. I didn't want to have a gap in income after my military career ended, but I also didn't want to settle on a job just for the paycheck.
From my years serving in the military, I knew I brought leadership, a strong work ethic, and management experience to the table, but it wasn’t easy to translate what I did in the military to civilian jobs. My family worked with the USO, the country’s top military support organization, for ongoing support and guidance throughout my transition, and along with resources from Grow with Google, I felt equipped to look for a job. When I searched “jobs for veterans” on Google and entered my military job code (92Y), I found jobs that matched the skills I used in my military role and aligned with the values I gained while serving.
Today, I have a full-time role as a Customer Center Supervisor, using skills learned in my 20-year military career. The Army prepared me to move decisively, so I’m able to quickly make sound decisions that are in the best interest of my company and our customers.
Approximately 250,000 veterans—many with families—leave the military every year, and I hope that sharing my story will make their transition a little easier.
by via The Keyword
Tuesday 13 November 2018
New research on the convergence of TV and digital video
The landscape of TV is shifting in significant, exciting ways. Consumers have more content choices and ways to watch than ever before and broadcast leaders (including traditional linear broadcasters, OTT providers, and digital-first video publishers) are adapting their business strategies for the new era of viewership. Throughout this transformative period broadcasters have been met with several challenges; they’re grappling with cross-screen monetization, onboarding new technology, and changing the way their organizations think about digital.
In an effort to help our advanced TV and video partners prepare for the future, we recently commissioned Illuminas, an independent research partner, to interview twenty TV executives to learn what’s top of mind now for broadcasters and what their long-term objectives are for the future.
We’re excited to share their observations in a new report, “The convergence of TV and digital: How broadcasters are building for success,” which covers topics ranging from consumer viewing trends to changes in revenue models to the opportunity for programmatic TV.
So, what are the TV trends that matter… and how are industry leaders getting ready for the future? Download the full report to find out.
by via The Keyword
Monday 12 November 2018
Calling all Google Play fans: Vote for your favorite content of 2018
For the last several years, Google Play has celebrated the best content in the Store, including top apps, games and movies. This year, we want to hear from you. For the first time, we’re introducing the Fan Favorite category as part of our “Best of Play” yearly list.
Starting today, it’s time for you to vote! Pick the winners from a shortlist of the year’s most loved and trending titles across apps, games and movies, including Quizlet, Candy Crush Friends Saga and Incredibles 2. To select your Fan Favorites of 2018, head over to this page and cast your vote before the polls close on November 26th.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. The Fan Favorite winners, along with the rest of the Best of 2018 picks from our Google Play Editors, will be announced on December 3rd. So stay tuned!
by via The Keyword
Sunday 11 November 2018
Friday 9 November 2018
Finding community this Native American Heritage Month
I’m a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Tututni Band of Indians, as well as a descendent from the Southern Cheyenne and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. I’m proud of my Native American identity and after coming to Google as a Test Engineer in 2010, I joined the Google American Indian Network—an employee group passionate about Native American communities—to meet other Native people at Google. Since then, I’ve been able to connect with other Googlers to celebrate the diverse range of tribal cultures and communities across the country.
This Native American History Month, we’re highlighting the story of Robin Máxkii in the latest episode of “Search On,” Google’s original documentary series. When Robin was a teenager, she felt caught between worlds—her reservation in Wisconsin, and the urban sprawl of Houston. From organizing hackathons for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to becoming a mentor for Google’s Made with Code program, Robin is carving her own path as a Native person in STEM and is bringing her community along with her.
Today’s Doodle honors another powerful Native American woman: Eastern Band Cherokee Indian woodcarver and educator Amanda Crowe, a prolific artist renowned for her expressive animal figures. Led by Doodler Lydia Nichols, the Doodle was created in collaboration with the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual as well as William “Bill” H. Crowe, Jr., woodcarver and nephew and former student of Amanda Crowe.
There are a few other ways we’re celebrating Native American History at Google: When you say “Hey Google, how do you celebrate Native American Heritage Month?” your Google Assistant will tell you a fact about Native American history and culture. Try telling it “Hey, Google, Happy Native American Heritage Month” as well.
On November 17th, Google volunteers will be working alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to facilitate an educator training day in Oklahoma City.
And through Google’s CS First program, we’ll be working with local teachers to strengthen computer science in Native classrooms and to inspire and promote the improvement of teaching and learning about Native American history through NMAI’s Native Knowledge 360°.
The concept of walking in two worlds is one with which many can identify. At Google, I’ve brought my two worlds closer together, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to share the experiences of Native American people with others.
by via The Keyword
Thursday 8 November 2018
A note to our employees
Editor’s note: Today, our CEO Sundar Pichai sent an email to Google employees about changes we’re making to better support them. You can read the note in its entirety below.
Hi everyone,
At Google we try hard to build a workplace that supports our employees and empowers them to do their best work. As CEO, I take this responsibility very seriously and I’m committed to making the changes we need to improve. Over the past few weeks Google’s leaders and I have heard your feedback and have been moved by the stories you’ve shared.
We recognize that we have not always gotten everything right in the past and we are sincerely sorry for that. It’s clear we need to make some changes.
Going forward, we will provide more transparency on how we handle concerns. We’ll give better support and care to the people who raise them. And we will double down on our commitment to be a representative, equitable, and respectful workplace.
Today, we’re announcing a comprehensive action plan to make progress. It’s detailed here and I encourage everyone to read it. Here are some of the key changes:
- We will make arbitration optional for individual sexual harassment and sexual assault claims. Google has never required confidentiality in the arbitration process and arbitration still may be the best path for a number of reasons (e.g. personal privacy) but, we recognize that choice should be up to you.
- We will provide more granularity around sexual harassment investigations and outcomes at the company as part of our Investigations Report.
- We’re revamping the way we handle and look into your concerns in three ways: We’re overhauling our reporting channels by bringing them together on one dedicated site and including live support. We will enhance the processes we use to handle concerns—including the ability for Googlers to be accompanied by a support person. And we will offer extra care and resources for Googlers during and after the process. This includes extended counseling and career support,
- We will update and expand our mandatory sexual harassment training. From now on if you don’t complete your training, you’ll receive a one-rating dock in Perf.
- We will recommit to our company-wide OKR around diversity, equity and inclusion again in 2019, focused on improving representation—through hiring, progression and retention—and creating a more inclusive culture for everyone. Our Chief Diversity Officer will continue to provide monthly progress updates to me and my leadership team.
I hope you’ll take the time to read the full range of actions we’re announcing today.
Thank you all for the feedback you’ve shared with us. This is an area where we need to continually make progress and are committed to doing so. We often hear from Googlers that the best part of working here is other Googlers. Even in difficult times, we are encouraged by the commitment of our colleagues to create a better workplace. That’s come through very strongly over the past few weeks.
-Sundar
by via The Keyword
Files by Google: the file management app for every Android user
Last December, Google launched Files Go: an app to free up space on mobile phones, find files faster and share them with others easily and quickly—even without an internet connection. Files Go was built to solve file and storage management problems for the next generation of smartphone users in countries such as India, Brazil and Nigeria. It helped people make the most of limited phone storage, enjoy their favorite videos and music, and send apps to each other at blazing speeds without using mobile data.
In less than a year, Files Go has grown tremendously to serve over 30 million monthly users. We’ve noticed that people across the globe are using it, no matter what type of mobile phone they have or how fast their internet connection is. We often find that products designed for the Next Billion Users work just as well for everyone—including people with a fast 4G connection and a top of the line smartphone who want to organize their files and save on storage as well!
Today, we’re rebranding the app to Files by Google. We’ve also redesigned the user experience to make sure that the content of your mobile phone is the focus when you use the app, all while keeping the same functions and playfulness that people love. When you clear out files you no longer need, we now celebrate how much you saved by telling you what you’ve freed up room for—whether it’s enough to take a few more selfies, or to download a whole movie!
You can download Files by Google here. We’re keen to hear what you think.
by via The Keyword
Files by Google: the file management app for every Android user
Last December, Google launched Files Go: an app to free up space on mobile phones, find files faster and share them with others easily and quickly—even without an internet connection. Files Go was built to solve file and storage management problems for the next generation of smartphone users in countries such as India, Brazil and Nigeria. It helped people make the most of limited phone storage, enjoy their favorite videos and music, and send apps to each other at blazing speeds without using mobile data.
In less than a year, Files Go has grown tremendously to serve over 30 million monthly users. We’ve noticed that people across the globe are using it, no matter what type of mobile phone they have or how fast their internet connection is. We often find that products designed for the Next Billion Users work just as well for everyone—including people with a fast 4G connection and a top of the line smartphone who want to organize their files and save on storage as well!
Today, we’re rebranding the app to Files by Google. We’ve also redesigned the user experience to make sure that the content of your mobile phone is the focus when you use the app, all while keeping the same functions and playfulness that people love. When you clear out files you no longer need, we now celebrate how much you saved by telling you what you’ve freed up room for—whether it’s enough to take a few more selfies, or to download a whole movie!
You can download Files by Google here. We’re keen to hear what you think.by via The Keyword
Wednesday 7 November 2018
Makeup a new look with Google Home Hub and Sephora
Your beauty routine just got upgraded. With Google Home Hub, you can now ace your look, hands-free, with help from Sephora.
We know that makeup tutorials are super popular—in fact, over 81 million how-to related beauty searches happened on YouTube in the last year. And you may have seen some of Sephora’s amazing how-to videos on YouTube, filled with useful makeup, hair and skincare tips and tricks. But it can be hard to coordinate trying out new techniques without getting foundation all over your phone or laptop. Now, you can watch Sephora’s entire catalog of beauty how-to videos, hands-free, on Google Home Hub. Our stylish new smart speaker with a visual display gives you the tips to look stylish and smart too.
All you have to do is say “Hey Google, play contouring videos by Sephora,” (you can swap out “contouring videos” for whatever makeup technique you’d like to see). From there, you’re able to use your voice to pause the video, skip ahead for any length of time, or go back, in case you need to see a crucial step again.
We’ve got five fun ideas to get you started:
-
Want to ace your arch? “Hey Google, play get ready with me eyebrow tutorial by Sephora.
-
Looking to conquer contouring? “Hey Google, play everyday contour tutorial from Sephora.”
-
Navigating a new nightlife look? ”Hey Google, show me a smokey eyes video from Sephora.”
-
Need the right foundation for your skin type? “Hey Google, show me foundation tips videos from Sephora.”
-
Going for glamour? “Hey Google, show me bold lip color videos by Sephora.”
If you’re near one of these 10 flagship Sephora stores—Prudential Center in Boston, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, North Park in Dallas, Century City and Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles, 34th Street and Union Square in New York City, South Coast Plaza in Orange County, Powell Street in San Francisco, or Valley Fair in San Jose—you can stop by to check out our “Dream Vanity” experience. Use the in-store Google Home Hub to nail your favorite night-on-the-town look, get the perfect smokey eye and see the many other things that Hub can do.
Google Home Hub is now available for sale on Sephora.com and at each of these select stores, so pick up a Hub in the color you love and have Sephora’s beauty directors guiding you at home, anytime you’d like. Now, you can explore, learn and switch up your beauty routine all in one place. Whatever makeup trick or trend you’re looking to try next, Google Home Hub and Sephora are here to help.
by via The Keyword
Continuing the fight against child sexual abuse online
We can all agree that content that exploits or endangers children is abhorrent and unacceptable. Google has a zero tolerance approach to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and we are committed to stopping any attempt to use our platforms to spread this kind of abuse.
So this week our experts and engineers are taking part in an industry “hackathon” where technology companies and NGOs are coming together to collaborate and create new ways to tackle child sexual abuse online. This hackathon marks the latest milestone in our effort to fight this issue through technology, teams and partnerships over two decades.
In 2006, we joined the Technology Coalition, partnering with other technology companies on technical solutions to tackle the proliferation of images of child exploitation. Since then, we’ve developed and shared new technologies to help organizations globally root out and stop child abuse material being shared.
In 2008, we began using “hashes,” or unique digital fingerprints, to identify, remove and report copies of known images automatically, without humans having to review them again. In addition to receiving hashes from organizations like the Internet Watch Foundationand the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we also add hashes of newly discovered content to a shared industry database so that other organizations can collaborate on detecting and removing these images.
In 2013, we made changes to the Google Search algorithm to further prevent images, videos and links to child abuse material from appearing in our search results. We’ve implemented this change around the world in 40 languages. We’ve launched deterrence campaigns, including a partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation in the UK, to show warning messages in response to search terms associated with child sexual abuse terms. As a result of these efforts, we’ve seen a thirteen-fold reduction in the number of child sexual abuse image-related queries in Google Search.
In 2015, we expanded our work on hashes by introducing first-of-its-kind fingerprinting and matching technology for videos on YouTube, to scan and identify uploaded videos that contain known child sexual abuse material. This technology, CSAI Match, is unique in its resistance to manipulation and obfuscation of content, and it dramatically increases the number of violative videos that can be detected compared to previous methods. As with many of the new technologies we develop to tackle this kind of harm, we shared this technology with industry free of charge.
This work has been effective in stopping the spread of known CSAM content online over the years. In 2018, we announced new AI technology which steps up the fight against abusers by identifying potential new CSAM content for the first time. Our new image classifierassists human reviewers sorting through images by prioritizing the most likely CSAM content for review. It already enables us to find and report almost 100 percent more CSAM than was possible using hash matching alone, and helps reviewers to find CSAM content seven times faster.
Since we made the new technology available for free via our Content Safety API in September, more than 200 organizations have requested to access it to support their work to protect children. Identifying and removing new images more quickly—often before they have even been viewed—means children who are being sexually abused today are more likely to be identified and protected from further abuse. It also reduces the toll on reviewers by requiring fewer people to be exposed to CSAM content.
Because this kind of abuse can manifest through text as well as images, we recently made substantial changes to tackle predatory behavior in YouTube comments using a classifier, which surfaces for review inappropriate sexual or predatory comments on videos featuring minors. This has led to a significant reduction in violative comments this year.
Underpinning all of this work is a deep collaboration with partners. As well as the Technology Coalition, we’re members of the Internet Watch Foundation and the WePROTECT Global Alliance, and we report any CSAM content we find to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who in turn report to law enforcement.
Technology, and the methods used by those who seek to exploit it, are constantly evolving and there will always be more to do to tackle this heinous crime. We are crystal clear about our responsibility to ensure our products and services offer safe experiences, and we are fully committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation.
by via The Keyword
Tuesday 6 November 2018
Protecting what we love about the internet: our efforts to stop online piracy
The internet has enabled people worldwide to connect, create and distribute new works of art like never before. A key part of preserving this creative economy is ensuring creators and artists have a way to share and make money from their content—and preventing the flow of money to those who seek to pirate that content. Today, we're releasing our latest update on those efforts..
Our 2018 "How Google Fights Piracy" report explains the programs, policies, and technology we put in place to combat piracy online and ensure continued opportunities for creators around the world.
We invest significantly in the technology, tools and resources that prevent copyright infringement on our platforms. We also work with others across the industry on efforts to combat piracy. These efforts appear to be having an effect: around the world, online piracy has been decreasing, while spending on legitimate content is rising across content categories.
Here are a few of our findings from this year's Piracy report:
- $3 billion+:The amount YouTube has paid to rights holders who have monetized use of their content in other videos through Content ID, our industry-leading rights management tool.
- $100 million+: The amount we’ve invested in building Content ID, including staffing and computing resources.
- $1.8 billion+:The amount YouTube paid to the music industry from October 2017 to September 2018 in advertising revenue alone
- 3 billion+:The number of URLs that were removed from Search for infringing copyright since launching a submission tool for copyright owners and their agents.
- 10 million+:The number of ads that were disapproved by Google in 2017 that were suspected of copyright infringement or that linked to infringing sites.
As we continue our work in the years ahead, five principles guide our substantial investments in fighting piracy:
Create more and better legitimate alternatives: Piracy often arises when it's difficult for consumers to access legitimate content. By developing products that make it easy for users to access legitimate content, like Google Play Music and YouTube, Google helps drive revenue for creative industries and give consumers choice.
Follow the money: As the vast majority of sites dedicated to online piracy are doing so to make money, one way to combat them is to cut off their supply. We prevent actors that engage in copyright infringement from using our ads and monetization systems and we enforce these policies rigorously.
Be efficient, effective, and scalable: We strive to implement anti-piracy solutions that work at scale. For example, as early as 2010, we began making substantial investments in streamlining the copyright removal process for search results. As a result, these improved procedures allow us to process copyright removal requests for search results at the rate of millions per week.
Guard against abuse: Some actors will make false copyright infringement claims in order to have content they don't want online taken down. We’re committed to detecting and rejecting bogus infringement allegations, such as removals for political or competitive reasons.
Provide transparency: We’re committed to providing transparency. In our Transparency Report, we disclose the number of requests we receive from copyright owners and governments to remove information from our services.
Today, our services are generating more revenue for creators and rights holders, connecting more people with the content they love, and doing more to fight back against online piracy than ever before. We’re proud of the progress this report represents. Through continued innovation and partnership, we’re committed to curtailing infringement by bad actors while empowering the creative communities who make many of the things we love about the internet today.
by via The Keyword
Celebrating 15 years of Google Ireland
Can you remember what you were doing in 2003? It was a special time of questionable fashion, Nokia game obsession (Snake 2, anyone?) and The Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is the Love?” on repeat. “Finding Nemo” was popular on the silver screen, the Concorde took its final flight and Britney Spears became the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Over in Ireland, we were trying to create something special of our own. We opened our first office in Dublin with just five employees, later moving to the perfect home on Barrow Street in the heart of Docklands (which would later be known colloquially as “Silicon Docks”). We knew we were on the edge of something exciting in those early days, but didn’t know how it would grow.
We committed to keeping it scrappy, always bringing the “craic” (Irish for “fun”) to work and doing our best to connect with the people of Dublin. Over the years, they’ve given us so much—from working together to get computer science on the education curriculum, engaging startups, connecting something as Irish as agriculture with tech, and letting us be part of community-driven initiatives such as Dublin Pride and the South Docks Festival.
Ireland is the second largest Google site in Europe with the biggest Engineering workforce outside of Zurich and Mountain View. We have over 8,000 people from 70 countries, speaking more than 75 languages and serving more than 2 million customers. It’s a melting pot of cultures coming together to make a difference, far beyond our Irish shores. For many, it’s their first job away from home and they consistently say the thing that keeps them here is the people. It's the people who make this city unique—and the perfect home for Google.
We want to use our 15th birthday celebrations to give something back to Ireland. Today, we’re announcing the launch of a €1M Google.org Impact Challenge: an open call for local nonprofit and social enterprise innovators to tell us how they would make their community—and beyond—an even better place.
We’ve invested more than €1 billion in Ireland since 2003 and we’ll continue to contribute to Dublin as we grow our business and the economy. We’ll remain good neighbors; supporting local businesses, providing jobs and using technology to solve some of the biggest problems facing society.
We’ve been proud to call Dublin our home for 15 years, but for all that, we’re just getting started.
by via The Keyword
Monday 5 November 2018
Supporting a new contract #ForTheWeb
Next year, the world will reach an important milestone: the 50/50 moment, when half of the world’s population will be online. Thirty years after Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web, it makes a huge difference in people’s lives—whether it’s the chance to access a world of information, to improve their education, develop new skills, or build new businesses.
For all the billions of people that are already online, there are billions more who aren’t benefiting from the economic potential of the world wide web, or its wider promise—the ability to exercise fundamental human rights such as access to information and free expression.
At Google, we’re working to expand both access and opportunity to people around the world. In India, for example, every month, more than 8 million people use Google’s public Wi-Fi program, Google Station, to get online and access job training material or educational resources. And around the world we’re working with Learning Equality to help them close the education gap caused by limitations in access to the internet.
Alongside this progress, advancements made in technology and the vast scale of the web present challenges, too—whether combating illegal content, preventing misuse of personal information, or ensuring that the benefits of the technology are widely shared. These challenges require thoughtful solutions, and for many years we’ve worked with governments, civil society groups, academics and our users to find the right way forward—toward a web that builds on the best in humanity and challenges the worst.
As we approach the 50/50 moment, we support the World Wide Web Foundation’s call to create a new Contract for the Web. Over the coming months, we’ll work with the World Wide Web Foundation and many other partners from government and business, as well as web users around the world, to draw up principles that protect the open web as a public good and a basic right for everyone. We’re also backing up that commitment with a one million dollar Google.org grant to the World Wide Web Foundation so that it can continue to drive forward its important work #ForTheWeb.
by via The Keyword
Friday 2 November 2018
Step into the Sights of Sound with Pixel 3
To show you some of the features on the new Pixel 3 phone, we created Sights of Sound powered by YouTube Music, an immersive pop-up experience coming to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami and Atlanta this fall.
Visitors step inside rooms inspired by four musicians and use a Pixel 3 to navigate, capture and share the experience. To bring each room to life, you’ll need to solve a puzzle using Google Lens, the visual tool that lets you search what you see. Throughout the pop-up, you and your friends can try out Pixel’s brilliant camera by using Group Selfie Cam, Top Shot and Photobooth Mode.
We collaborated with Ella Mai, Future, J Balvin and Marshmello to create each immersive space in the pop-up. Dive deep into Ella Mai’s Inner Reflections, sit like royalty among snakes and nine-foot tall golden lions in Future’s Trap Mansion, dance your way through J Balvin’s Reggaeton World, bounce your troubles away in Marshmello’s Happier Place and capture it all on the Pixel 3’s incredible camera.
For more information on dates, times and locations for Sights of Sound, visit g.co/sightsofsound. If you’re in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami or Atlanta, we hope to see you there!
by via The Keyword