Google Cloud Platform News

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  15 years of Google Books
  • sorangutan  

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  Books are the windows to new worlds. Through them, I’ve explored the wintery lands of Narnia and cast a spell at Hogwarts. I’ve danced with the Bennet sisters and attended the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. I’ve delved into coding languages and learned about the Egyptian pyramids. Each world I’ve discovered has shown me the importance of preserving and protecting these stories for the future.

  
  

  Fifteen years ago, Google Books set out on an audacious journey to bring the world’s books online so that anyone can access them. Libraries and publishers around the world helped us chase this goal, and together we’ve created a universal collection where people can discover more than 40 million books in over 400 languages. But, there’s still more we can do to make Google Books more useful for people.

  
  Today we’re unveiling a new design for Google Books on desktop and helpful features for anyone looking to read, research or simply hunt for literary treasures. We’ve redesigned Google Books so people can now quickly access details like the book’s description, author’s history and other works, reader reviews and options for where you can purchase or borrow the book. And for those using Google Books for research, each book’s bibliographies are located prominently on the page and the citation tool allows you to cite the source in your preferred format, all in one spot.

  Have you ever heard a phrase or quote and wondered what the original context was? With Google Books, you can search for key phrases or excerpts within books, and we’ll show you where it’s from, down to the page number and paragraph. Take “tesseract”, for example. Simply search the word with the “Search Inside” feature and Google Books will show you where it appears in Madeleine L'Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time.”

  

  
  

  Explore the stories behind rare books  

  For more literary exploration, Google Arts & Culture is recognizing iconic and rare books in an online project that features several works from Google Books’ collection. People can learn about the history of books and dive into unique stories, like four books that made a mark as the first of their kind. 

  
  There’s also an interactive experiment that gives people a fun way to browse the Google Books collection using artwork from Google Arts & Culture. Tap on an image and get recommendations for books written on related themes.

  Over the last 15 years, Google Books has preserved the books that help people with academic and professional achievements, as well as personal discoveries. For me, Google Books is a place where I know I can go to discover new worlds I’ve yet to see. Turn the page to see what you’ll discover next.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/search/15-years-google-books/
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  New ways to report driving incidents on Google Maps
  • sorangutan  

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  Google Maps has always helped people get from point A to B in the easiest way possible. Today, we’re adding more tools that reflect real-time contributions from the community so you can stay even more informed when you’re behind the wheel. Here’s what’s changing:

  
  

  First, we’re adding the ability for people to report crashes, speed traps and traffic slowdowns right from their iPhone. This feature has been one of our most popular on Android, and we’re excited to expand it to iOS.

  
  

  

  Second, we’re introducing the ability to report four new types of incidents–construction, lane closures, disabled vehicles, and objects on the road (like debris)–so you can quickly know if you’ll encounter one of these potential obstructions on your ride, and plan accordingly. To report an incident, simply tap on the + sign and then on “Add a report.” 

  
  

  Both features start rolling out globally on Android and iOS this week.

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/maps/new-ways-report-driving-incidents-google-maps/
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  New Google One benefits for Made By Google devices
  • sorangutan  

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  If you haven’t heard, we just announced a few new things Made By Google, including the Pixel 4 and the Google Nest Mini. New Google One benefits help you get more from your Made By Google devices with Google Store member rewards, a free trial with Pixel 4, and Pro Sessions. 

  Rewards on the Google Store

  Google One members on select plans who buy any Google device or accessory from the Google Store can earn up to 10 percent back in Google Store credit. As long as you’re signed in to the Google Store with the same account you use for Google One, the credit amount will automatically be calculated and issued 30 days after your purchase ships.

  Pixel 4 comes with a Google One trial and Pro Sessions

  Pixel 4 owners can now try Google One free for three months. You’ll get access to our entry plan with 100 GB of cloud storage, expert support across Google, and Pro Sessions. The Google One trial is available everywhere Pixel 4 is sold, except in Italy.

  With Pro Sessions from Google One, you can schedule online Hangouts sessions with a Google expert to help you set up your Pixel phone and show you tips like customizing your device and taking the perfect photo.  

  Benefits vary depending on the Google One plan:

  

  More Google One plans are available. Pro Sessionsare currently offered in English and available in the United States and Canada, and Google Store rewards are available in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and Germany.
  

  To learn more or become a Google One member, you can get more information here.

  More from this Collection

  Made by Google, made to help

  Pixel 4, Pixel Buds, Pixelbook Go, Nest Mini and Nest Wifi are part of our vision to create a consistent, helpful Google for you.

  View all 11 articles

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-one/new-google-one-benefits-made-google-devices/
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  The latest Pixel 4 accessories
  • sorangutan  

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  Before you head out to pick up your new Pixel 4 later this month, check out the latest Google accessories and the accessories our partners have been working on. Like Pixel 4, these new accessories are designed to help you capture the best photos, get a fast wireless charge, and in some cases, help the planet, thanks to sustainable materials.

  

  Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL fabric cases

  Our signature knit fabric cases come in four colors that complement the Pixel 4. Whether you dress up your phone with Could Be Coral or Sorta Smoky, your Pixel will stay protected and in style. New this year, we’re using a type of fabric that requires less water in the dyeing process which helps to minimize environmental impact.
  

  Sustainability in your pocket

  Pela, one of our more than 50 Made for Google partners, created a Compostable Protective phone case for Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Beautifully designed and eco-friendly, Pela makes one of the first sustainable phone cases, which are 100 percent compostable in just three months.
  

  Fast, wireless charging

  Pixel Stand is still available to quickly charge your Pixel while displaying your favorite Google Photos album in a slideshow while you charge your phone. For a helpful, quick charge on the go, iOttie is launching the Easy One Touch Wireless 2 car charger with Pixel 4 compatibility and 10 watts charging speed; so even while driving and using Google Maps, Waze, or Android Auto features, Pixel 4 can charge wirelessly.
  

  A helpful photography sidekick

  The Joby Standpoint Tripod phone case is the perfect photography companion for the Pixel 4’s latest camera features. The aluminum legs offer on-the-go stability whether you’re capturing a group shot, a time lapse or making a video.
  

  • Pixel Accessories_Carousel1.jpg

    Pela’s Compostable Protective Phone Case
    

  • Pixel Accessories_Carousel2.jpg

    iOttie’s Easy One Touch Wireless 2 car charger

  • Pixel Accessories_Carousel3.png

    Joby Standpoint Tripod Phone Case

  If you live in the U.S. and Canada and purchase a Pixel 4 between October 15 and 24, you’ll get a $100 Google Store credit to put toward Pixel 4 accessories (terms apply).

  Our partners in the Made for Google program work closely with Google engineers to make sure that their accessories are compatible with all of Pixel’s exciting new features. To check out all of the new Pixel accessories, visit the Google Store.
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/latest-pixel-4-accessories/
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  Investing in the next generation of measurement on YouTube
  • sorangutan  

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  Ad reporting and measurement is an important part of getting digital advertising right. We invest a lot to help our advertisers understand the value of running ads on services like YouTube. 

  Advertisers use different tools to understand the effectiveness of their ad campaigns. One type, called pixels, has played an important role across the web for over a decade, but was built for a world of single screens, not for the ways many people watch YouTube today. While more than 70 percent of time spent watching YouTube globally occurs on mobile devices, pixels can’t report on the effectiveness of ads that appear in mobile apps. And many third-party pixels lack the privacy controls and user protections of newer technology. That’s why, for the past several years, we’ve been taking action to limit the pixels we allow on YouTube while investing in a cloud-based measurement solution called Ads Data Hub that allows our advertisers to understand the effectiveness of their ads in a secure, privacy-safe environment. 

  Over the last year, we've been working with key measurement companies including Nielsen, comScore, DoubleVerify, Dynata, Kantar and Integral Ad Science to migrate their services to Ads Data Hub. Once the migrations are complete early next year, we will stop allowing third-party pixels on YouTube.

  Unlike pixel-based measurement, Ads Data Hub allows advertisers to understand how their advertising is performing across screens, including mobile apps, through aggregated insights from Google ad platforms, including YouTube, Google Ads and Display & Video 360. Because Ads Data Hub limits the use of user data, it adds another layer of privacy protection for users while still enabling marketers to measure their YouTube ad campaigns. 

  

  
  

  Over the past year, we’ve invested significantly in infrastructure improvements to Ads Data Hub to make it faster, easier to use and more reliable. This has allowed us to dramatically increase the number of advertisers and technology providers we can serve and the use cases supported in Ads Data Hub. Advertisers have run millions of successful queries to date. 

  While there is still more work to be done, we think this change will be beneficial to consumers and advertisers. With the migration from pixels to Ads Data Hub, our third-party measurement partners will be able to provide YouTube advertisers with more comprehensive reporting and measurement, using technology that’s built to enhance user privacy. 

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/ads/investing-next-generation-measurement-youtube/
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  If it has audio, now it can have captions
  • sorangutan  

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  A decade ago, we added automatic captions to videos on YouTube, making online videos more accessible. However, they’re not always available on other types of content—like audio messages from your friends, trending videos on social media feeds or even the stuff you record yourself. It’s hard to enjoy that content if you forgot your headphones and can’t play the audio out loud—or if you’re one of the 466 million people in the world who are Deaf or hard of hearing, that content may be entirely inaccessible. 

  
  

  That’s why we created Live Caption, an automatic captioning system that is fast and small enough to fit on a smartphone. Live Caption is helpful whether you’re on a loud commuter train, trying not to wake a baby, or want to follow along the conversation more closely. 

  
  

  With the launch of Pixel 4, Live Caption is now officially available to make digital media more accessible. With a single tap, Live Caption automatically captions videos and spoken audio on your device (except phone and video calls). It happens in real time and completely on-device, so it works even if you don’t have cell data or Wi-Fi, and the captions always stay private and never leave your phone. The captions won’t get in the way of whatever you’re looking at because you can position them anywhere on the screen. If you want to see more text, simply double tap to expand the caption box.

  

  Live Caption wouldn’t have been possible without the Deaf and hard of hearing communities who helped guide us from the very beginning. Similar to how we designed Live Transcribe earlier this year, we developed Live Caption in collaboration with individuals from the community and partners like Gallaudet University, the world’s premier university for Deaf and hard of hearing people. An early Deaf tester, Naiajah Wilson, explained how Live Caption   would impact her daily life: “Now I don't have to wake up my mom or dad and ask what's being said.”

  Today, Live Caption supports English with plans to support more languages in the near future. And while the captions may not always be perfect as it depends on the quality of the sound, we’ll continue to improve the technology over time. 

  
  

  In addition to Pixel 4, Live Caption will roll out to Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL later this year, and we’re working closely with other Android phone manufacturers to make it more widely available in the coming year. 

  
  

  You can learn more about our broader commitment to build for everyone on our new Android Accessibility site. 

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/android/live-caption/
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  Jacquard and Google Arts and Culture weave tech into art
  • sorangutan  

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  Words that appear out of white tapestries. Music that streams out of black fabric. A mysterious blue cloth-draped spiral that guides you with light and sound.

  It may sound like a fantasy novel, but these are real works of art made possible with Jacquard by Google. Combining advanced hardware and software technology with textile and manufacturing know-how, Jacquard helps designers make digital experiences out of everyday objects. An ordinary denim jacket or a backpack transforms into something that answers calls, plays music and takes photos. 

  In March, Jacquard (part of Google ATAP) and Google Arts & Culture created an artists in residency program to bring together technology, art and fashion. It was a unique opportunity for creative communities to enhance their work digitally—by weaving Jacquard technology into physical installations—while remaining focused on their original design.

  We received more than 200 fascinating project ideas from artists, collectives and technologists all over the world. Chloé Bensahel, Amor Muñoz and OMA Space were selected to turn their proposals into monumental installations. Over the past six months, they collaborated with Google ATAP and Google Arts & Culture Lab engineers to deploy Jacquard technology within the hallowed exhibition rooms of Paris’s Mobilier national, a historic mainstay of furniture and textile manufacturing. Two of the installations were even produced in collaboration with the Mobilier national’s own weaving and pleating experts.

  The result is “Please Touch the Thread,” a multisensory exhibition that triggers sounds and light effects when you touch the art. “Tree of Light” by OMA Space is a ten-meter-wide meditative walk. Bensahel’s “Words Wear Worlds” is an ensemble of seven tapestries that took 840 hours of weaving to create. Muñoz’s “Notes & Folds” is a tribute to the works of mathematician Ada Lovelace and composer Conlon Nancarrow. 

  • OMA Space’s “Tree of Light”

    OMA Space’s “Tree of Light”

  • Chloé Bensahel’s “Words Weave Worlds”

    Chloé Bensahel’s “Words Weave Worlds”

  • Amor Muñoz’s “Notes and Folds”

    Amor Muñoz’s “Notes and Folds

  • Behind the scenes with OMA Space

    Behind the scenes with OMA Space

    
    

  • “Notes and Folds” installation

    Muñoz prototyping  “Notes and Folds” installation.

  • The making of Bensahel’s installation

    The making of Bensahel’s installation at Google Arts & Culture Lab in Paris.

  • OMA Space

    OMA Space, Muñoz and Bensahel with the exhibition’s curator, Pamela Golbin & mentor artist Memo Atken.

  • testing light

    Daniel Kapelian (from OMA Space) testing light effect on a scale model of Tree of Light installation, Seoul (South Korea)

  • Chloe Bensahe

    Chloe Bensahel weaving Words Weave Worlds tapestries at Mobilier national, Paris (France).

  Touching, tapping or skimming the art corresponds to hundreds of different combinations, and each visitor has a different experience of the exhibit. Press one letter of Bensahel's tapestry, and you’ll hear that letter being sung. Swipe over a word, and you’ll hear that instead. The volume goes up or down depending on the strength of your touch.

  The exhibition is open to the public from October 16th to 20th, during the International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC), but will also live on digitally on Google Arts & Culture. Online visitors can navigate through 3D models of the installations and dig deeper into each artist’s creative process through exclusive video content.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/atap/jacquard-and-google-arts-and-culture-weave-tech-art/
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  Explore the Maya world with the British Museum
  • sorangutan  

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  At first glance, the British Museum and Google may not seem like natural partners. One is a 266-year-old institution venerated as the first national public museum in the world. The other is a 21-year-old former startup and now the world’s largest digital company. 

  But if you take a closer look, you’ll see some strong ties. The British Museum was created to host the knowledge of the world in objects and to unlock their stories. Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. So when we discovered an opportunity to work together with Google Arts & Culture, it turned out to be a natural fit.

  Exploring the Maya World is a bold project to bring a rarely seen collection out of the British Museum repository and into the world. By harnessing the power of new technology to capture and communicate stories about the collections, the project helps bring important stories to a global audience.

  This project has fully digitized the remarkable collection of ancient Maya art and architecture gathered by Alfred Maudslay in the late 19th century. Maudslay used the latest technology of his time to record the stories of ancient Maya cities in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. He developed the first dry glass plate photographs of iconic sites like Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tikal, spending years living and working throughout the region. He also created more than 400 large plaster cast replicas of building facades and monuments, which have been stored in the British Museum for more than 100 years. 

  This collection represents some of the best preserved records of ancient Maya writing. By working closely with our colleagues in Mexico and Guatemala, we’ve made this entire collection available online for anyone to enjoy and research themselves. The incredible stories that have emerged during this project have also been put online for people to enjoy in Spanish, Portuguese and English anywhere in the world.

  • Robotically reconstructed Palenque Staircase from plaster casts.JPG

    Discover how new 3D scans of the British Museum’s plaster cast collection have helped decode and preserve an ancient sculpted stairway in Palenque, Mexico.

  • Maya ballplayer figurines.png

    The ancient Maya ballgame, known as pits, has its roots in the their creation myth. Learn how this was much more than just a game. 

  • 19th century photo of Anne Maudslay.jpg

    Meet the 19th-century female explorers who helped bring the story of the ancient Maya to the world.

  • Plaster cast from Chichen Itza.png

    Zoom in to see a plaster cast of an original sculpture from the city of Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

  • Balam Ajpu - Maya Hip Hop.png

    “We are still here.” Maya anthropologist Dr. Genner Llanes-Ortiz traces the history of his ancestors to the modern era, from festivals to hip-hop.

  • 19th century photo of Staircase in Palenque Palace.jpg

    This 19th-century photograph shows Palenque’s Stairway to Heaven and archeologist Alfred Maudslay’s makeshift camp at The Great Palace.

  • Altar R from Copan.jpg

    Explore how the ancient Maya viewed death and the concept of rebirth in the story of Four Funerals and a Wedding.

  The power of this project has been its exceptionally collaborative approach: We’ve brought together curators, indigenous communities, scholars and technology specialists across Mexico, Guatemala, the U.K., Denmark, France and the U.S. Everyone has been united by a common mission to communicate the true value of conserving shared cultural heritage. By working together, I think we’ve achieved that goal. Exploring the Maya World brings to life the energy and dynamism of culture in a way that can be hard to generate within a physical environment. The voices in this project are vibrant and full of color. They tell their own stories and the stories of those that have lived before.

  The British Museum already enjoys welcoming more than 6 million visitors to our galleries every year. But we have the potential to reach millions more by bringing our museum to the world virtually. Only a few years ago it would have seemed unrealistic to create a catalog of 3D objects viewable from anywhere in the world, let alone walk around ancient Maya cities while sitting in your living room. These journeys of discovery are critical to help engage all communities with the value and wonder of cultural heritage.  

  I believe that these are exactly the kinds of research projects that international museums need to take on. Only by taking risks and pushing the boundaries of what is possible can we begin to expand the reach and role of the 21st-century global museum. This project has inspired me to think differently about the future, and I am excited to see where this technology of imagination will take us next.

  You can discover these stories by visiting Exploring the Maya World.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/explore-maya-world-british-museum/
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  Better privacy and more flexibility with Nest devices
  • sorangutan  

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  Homes are evolving quickly. We all started with one simple smart device (like a thermostat or a light bulb), but now many of us find ourselves living in homes with multiple devices from multiple companies. But privacy and data security hasn’t evolved with the growth of these devices.

  Getting this right is the basis for the decisions we have been making at Nest. We’re living the commitments we published in May, putting your privacy and data safety first. While we’re focused on developing a more open platform, it must be grounded in security and safety, and that’s a tough balance to achieve.

  Earlier this year, we announced that we’re moving from the Works with Nest program to Works with Google Assistant. Many of you had questions on how this will work. Today, we’re providing an update on what we’re doing to create an ecosystem that offers you greater flexibility to create a helpful home—one that’s just right for you. The Works with Google Assistant lets you control more than 30,000 devices from more than 3,500 partners, giving you lots of choices. 

  We’re also adding new solutions to make Works with Assistant an even more flexible platform. That includes offering three additional ways to give you the integrations you’ve told us are important, and they’re combined with protections to keep your data private and secure. Here’s what you should know about our partners and your integrations:

  • With the Device Access program, we are enabling qualified partners to request secure  access and control of your Nest devices in their apps and solutions, providing you more choices to control your home. You’ll be able to opt-into the program, and you can always control which partners have access to which devices in your home. As an example, if you have a security system that offers a Device Access integration, you’ll be able to view and control your Nest cameras and other devices directly from your security provider’s app. Device Access partners must pass an annual security assessment from one of our authorized testers. You can rest easy knowing we’re doing the hard work to safeguard your Google data to our standards. 

  • Routines allow you to automate smart home experiences, and we’re expanding the Works with Google Assistant capabilities. Home Routineswill give you more flexibility to get the most out of your smart home devices. Soon we’ll be giving you a few new ways to experience Routines. First, you can choose to have your Nest devices trigger routines. For instance, if your connected smoke alarm identifies an emergency in your home, a Home Routine can flash your connected lights and turn them red to give you a visual cue. Or when it’s clear there’s nobody home, a Home Routine can turn down your thermostat, turn off your lights, and run your smart vacuum. Second, you can build your own Routines from scratch, or opt into common ones we've made for you. Third, some of the most innovative integrations were built by third party partners, so we’re also allowing partners to build custom routines. You’ll be able to browse and opt-in to using approved routines and choose to have Nest and other devices react and participate in that routine. You’ll always be in control, and can decide to opt in or out of these actions. All the while, your sensitive information won’t be shared, so your home data remains private.

  • We’ll also invite smart home developer enthusiasts to participate in our Device Access for Individualssandbox, allowing you to directly control your own Nest devices for your private integrations and automations.

  The Device Access API is available today, and we have several partners with new integrations coming soon. Home Routines will be coming early next year, with partner-made routines available later in 2020. If you’re a developer or a Nest customer interested in the Device Access API, or access to the sandbox, you can find more information on our Device Access site. 

  We’re doing the hard work to make your Nest devices more secure and protect your privacy long into the future. What this means for you is better privacy and data security, and the flexibility to safely work with thousands of products from partners to create your helpful home.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-nest/works-with-nest/
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  Pixel 4 is here to help
  • sorangutan  

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  With a camera that captures detail that others can't, a new way to use your phone without touching it, a new Google Assistant, and a fast and responsive display, Pixel 4 packs new technology into a new design. Best of all, Pixel includes the latest version of Android, which gets better with each update.

  Get the perfect photo with Pixel 4

  Pixel 4 brings our largest camera upgrade yet. There are now two cameras on the back of the phone, including a new telephoto lens. When you combine this new hardware feature with our Super Res Zoom software, it gives you exceptional image quality—even from a distance.  

  Night Sight already takes beautiful photos in full darkness, and now you can use Night Sight for shots of the night sky, the stars, and even the Milky Way (when you find a clear night). Pixel 3 and 3a will also get a version of this capability with the latest camera app update.

  Starting with the original device, all Pixel phones have HDR+ (High Dynamic Range) which delivers outstanding photo quality. With Pixel 4, you can fine-tune the brightness and amount of detail in the shadows, helping with difficult shots like sunset portraits. Pixel 4 also has Live HDR+ in the viewfinder so you know exactly what your photo will look like, even when you're using the new controls in tricky lighting.

  

  Actual Night Sight photograph with the new astrophotography capability.

  A new Google Assistant

  Thanks to a deeper integration into Pixel 4, the Google Assistant is now a faster way to get more things done. Breakthroughs in speech processing mean that more requests can happen right on your phone, without always sending your request to the cloud. 

  We redesigned the Assistant so it doesn’t take up too much room on your screen, letting you better multitask across other apps. It can quickly open apps, search your phone, share what's on your screen, and more. It also considers the context of your query to do a better job answering. For example, you can ask the Assistant to “show my photos from New York” and then say “the ones in Central Park.” Then, you can share a picture by saying “send it to Mom.” We’ll continue improving the technology that powers the new Assistant over time.

  A phone that senses what you want it to do

  Pixel 4’s Motion Sense feature uses a miniature radar sensor to detect movement around your phone. It can sense when you’re reaching for the phone and will initiate face unlock, or turn off your screen when you’re not around. New Quick Gestures let you skip songs when you don’t want to pick up your phone. Just wave your hand to snooze alarms, dismiss timers, or silence your phone ringer. Motion Sense is enabled everywhere Pixel 4 is sold, except in Japan where it's coming soon.

  

  New built-in apps

  Pixel 4’s new Recorder app records meetings, lectures, jam sessions—anything you want to save and listen to later—and simultaneously transcribes speech and identifies sounds like music and applause. You can easily search within your recordings to quickly find a specific word or sound. All of this happens on-device. We're starting with English for transcription and search, with more languages coming soon.

  

  Pixel 4 also comes with a new Personal Safety app that can automatically call 911 if it detects that you've been in a car accident. Car crash detection will be available in English in the U.S.

  Built for performance and security

  With 6GB RAM, a 90hz display, and Pixel Neural Core, Pixel 4 is fast and powerful. Pixel Neural Core is the engine for on-device processing, always-on computing, and machine learning, meaning more tasks are done on the device for performance and privacy. 

  Pixel 4 also includes Google’s custom-built Titan M security chip to protect your most sensitive data and ensure the integrity of the operating system. Combined with the latest version of Android 10, monthly security updates for 3 years, and access to Google’s advanced security services, Pixel 4 is designed to keep your data secure.

  Pricing and availability 

  We’re expanding our carrier partner lineup and will be selling Pixel through all the major U.S. carriers for the first time, including AT&T, C Spire, Cellcom, Google Fi, Spectrum Mobile (Charter), Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, Visible and Xfinity Mobile (Comcast). 

  Beginning today, you can pre-order a Pixel 4 for $799 and Pixel 4 XL for $899, and phones will ship on October 24, globally. Pixel 4 comes in three colors, including Clearly White, Just Black, and a limited edition, Oh So Orange. 

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/pixel-4/
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  Keep an eye (and ear) on your home with the new Nest Aware
  • sorangutan  

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  To make your home more helpful, we want to make it easier for you to stay up to date about what’s happening in your home, giving you peace of mind wherever the day takes you. For the last few years, we’ve been delivering on that goal through our Nest Aware service, which, combined with our Nest Cams, provides intelligent alerts and camera history. Today we’re announcing the new Nest Aware, which will soon offer whole home awareness across more of your Nest devices at one affordable monthly rate.

  One price for your entire home

  We heard that our Nest Aware pricing can get a little expensive and complicated, so we’re introducing a simple whole home pricing model. Instead of paying separately for each camera, the new Nest Aware will include all cameras, speakers and displays in your home for one low price, with even more video and event history. 

  We’re also introducing event-based recording, a new service built into both Nest Aware plans that starts recording only when your camera detects motion or sounds, like a dog barking or a person seen on camera, and sends you an alert so you can take action or watch the event clips at a later time. This new service will be offered alongside our existing 24/7 continuous video recording, where you can scan through your entire video history to see everything before, during, and after an event. 

  You can choose from two simple plans: Nest Aware, with 30 days of event video history, at $6 per month ($60 per year), or Nest Aware Plus, with 60 days of event video history and 10 days of 24/7 video history, at $12 per month ($120 per year).

  

  More helpful alerts that matter 

  Nest Aware coverage is expanding to include Nest and Google Home speakers and displays. Now you can enable these devices to be your ears when you’re away. They’ll listen for critical sounds, like smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, and send an alert to your phone. You then have the option to hear the audio clip or listen live to confirm the alarm.

  Expanded sound detection is a big step forward in the kind of help we can provide, and it’s designed from the ground up to respect your privacy in your home. Sound detection happens entirely on your device, and your Nest devices will light up to provide a visual indicator when an event is being recorded and sent to Google so you can review it. You can also review and delete audio clips at any time in your Home app.

  Emergency calling at your fingertips

  If a speaker or display picks up a smoke alarm sound and sends an alert on your phone, now with Nest Aware the Home app will allow you to call the 911 emergency services closest to your home, even if you’re far away. If you just dial 911 directly from your phone when you're away, you might get connected to a call center that can't dispatch to where you live. And in those emergency moments, the last thing you want to do is scramble to find your home’s local emergency dispatcher.

  If you happen to be home and can’t get to your phone right away, say, “OK Google, call 9-1-1” to any Google Nest or Home speaker or display covered by your Nest Aware subscription. 

  Everything you need to know, in one place

  Early next year, we're launching the Home Feed in the Google Home app. It brings together all the events and notifications from your devices, with a general recap of the day and recent events in your home in one place. You can scroll through your prioritized events, watch full video clips or listen to audio clips—and always have peace of mind.

  When and where

  The new Nest Aware is coming early next year to the 19 countries where Nest Aware is currently available, and it will be easy to switch over your existing plans. Expanded coverage to Nest speakers and displays with sound detection and emergency calling will initially be available in the U.S. only. With simplified pricing and whole home awareness across more devices, Nest Aware is now more helpful and affordable than ever.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-nest/nest-aware/
• 

  Made by Google, manufactured with clean energy
  • sorangutan  

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  It's not just about what products we build, but how we build them. When designing Google hardware, like the Nest Mini or Wifi, we’re always thinking about how to create products that leave people, the planet and our communities better than we found them. 

  Earlier this year we shared our initial sustainability commitments for Google hardware which demonstrate how we’re thinking about sustainability every step of the way--from design to manufacturing to shipping to reuse.

  We’ve made even more progress toward these commitments. One hundred percent of the Nest products launching in 2019 are built with recycled plastics. Shipping those products, along with all other Made by Google products, from us to you, is now 100 percent carbon neutral. 

  But we want to work toward a world where everyone has access to renewable energy, including our suppliers and their communities. 

  
  

  As a part of this, we’ve committed to invest approximately $150 million into renewable energy projects in key manufacturing regions. Our investment commitment, alongside partners, aims to catalyze roughly $1.5 billion of capital into renewable energy. With these investments, we expect to help generate renewable energy that is equivalent to the amount of electricity used to manufacture our Google consumer hardware products. So when you buy these products, you know you’re contributing to bringing new renewable energy to manufacturing communities.

  A commitment to advancing access to clean energy has long been a cornerstone of Google’s overall sustainability efforts. In September, we made the biggest corporate purchase of renewable energy in history. This purchase includes 1,600-megawatt (MW) of wind and solar and 18 new energy deals. Together, these deals will increase our worldwide portfolio of renewable agreements by more than 40 percent, reaching 5,500 MW—which is equivalent to the capacity of a million solar rooftops. 

  The goal is to continue to integrate sustainability into our products, operations and communities, and push ourselves to do more, faster. We encourage others to join us in this pursuit.

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/hardware-sustainability-progress/
• 

  Boost your home's signal and style with Nest Wifi
  • sorangutan  

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  Homes weren’t built for Wi-Fi, so when we introduced Google Wifi in 2016, we built it to work for any home. With Nest Wifi, we’re taking everything you love about the original and making it even better, with a powerful router and a Wifi point that includes the Google Assistant, bringing you more help at home.

  Whole home coverage

  The Nest Wifi system is actually two separate devices: The Nest Wifi router plugs directly into your modem, forming the basis for a strong and powerful home network, and the Nest Wifi point expands your coverage where you need it most. 

  Nest Wifi is more powerful than Google Wifi, delivering up to two times the speed and up to 25 percent better coverage. A two pack can deliver coverage for a 3,800-square-foot home. The system is scalable, so you can add more points later (or buy a three pack to start with) to make sure you’re covered. And if you’ve already got a Google Wifi network, you can easily add Nest Wifi to it for additional coverage.

  Simple setup and control in the Google Home App

  
  

  

   You can manage your network in the Google Home app alongside your other supported connected devices.

  Setting up Nest Wifi is easy. Plug it in and download and open the Google Home app, which will guide you through setup in minutes. Once you’re set up, you can manage your network in the app alongside your other supported connected devices.

  The app makes it easy to share your Wi-Fi password with guests, prioritize devices (like when you’re on a video call), test the speed of your network, set up a guest network or change your password. Plus, if you have a Nest smart display like the Nest Hub Max, you can share the guest network and password right on the display—and scan the code with your phone to get online. 

  You can also manage separate homes in the app. I’m the tech expert in my family, so I also manage my parents’ network. This way, when I get a call that the Wi-Fi isn’t working, I can quickly check what’s wrong or let them know if they need to call their internet provider. 

  My sons are in middle and high school, so while I want them to go offline at certain times during the week, I don’t mind if they stay up later on weekends, playing video games or streaming their favorite shows. With Family Wi-Fi features in the Google Home app, I can easily set my sons’ devices on a Wi-Fi schedule, pause the Wi-Fi to their devices at any time and block adult content on their devices. 

  
  

  Hands-free help with the Google Assistant

  
  

  

  The Nest Wifi point also has a speaker with the Google Assistant, which means it can do everything that Nest Mini can do; it’s really two devices in one. We’ve even incorporated the same speaker as Nest Mini, so you can add it to a speaker group and rock out to your favorite playlist throughout the house. 

  And if you’re like me and sometimes have trouble getting your kids’ attention, just say “Hey Google, pause the Wi-Fi for Daniel.” You can also use the Assistant to get more info about your Wi-Fi network. Just say, “Hey Google, what’s my internet speed?”

  
  

  Designed for your home 

  

  Many routers are ugly, which means they get hidden in a closet or cabinet, where the signal is blocked and can be reduced by up to 50 percent. Nest Wifi has a beautiful design with soft, rounded edges and unobtrusive lighting. It’s meant to be placed out in the open, where it’ll perform at its best. And Nest Wifi points come in three colors, Snow, Sand and Mist, all of which will naturally blend into your home. 

  Nest Wifi is built using sustainable materials. The router enclosure is made from 45 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, and the point enclosure is made from 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. 

  
  

  Smart home support 

  We also built the Nest Wifi system to provide the foundation for your future smart home devices. It has local home connectivity, which means that some devices can connect directly to the system without needing a hub, so you can easily set up the most popular lights and plugs right from the Home app. We’ll also enable Thread capabilities in the coming months to deliver secure connectivity for smart home devices like door and motion sensors, door locks and more. You’ll start seeing these devices roll out from partners in 2020.

  Nest Wifi will be available in eight global markets in 2019. In the U.S., you can preorder today and Nest Wifi will be on sale on November 4. You can get a two pack with one router and one point for $269, or a three pack with one router and two points for $349 at the Google Store, Target, Best Buy and more retailers. 

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-nest/nest-wifi/
• 

  Nest Mini brings twice the bass and an upgraded Assistant
  • sorangutan  

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  It’s only been two years, but already, millions of you have received hands-free help from the Google Assistant in any room in your home, all thanks to Google Home Mini. And now, we’re bringing you the second-generation Nest Mini, which is completely re-engineered to make everything you love about the original even better. Back in May, we brought together the Google Home and Nest teams under the Google Nest brand, and Nest Mini is the next step as we build the helpful home. 

  A new speaker with powerful sound

  We know that people love listening to music on our Google Home and Nest smart speakers and displays. Since launching the original Google Home, people have listened to billions of hours of music on our devices. So with Nest Mini, we upgraded the hardware and software to make it sound even better, and it really brings the bass. 

  Nest Mini provides bass that’s twice as strong as the original Google Home Mini (measured from 60-100 Hz at max volume). Our expert audio engineers developed proprietary audio tuning software, allowing us to get the most out of the hardware with a full, clear and natural sound at every volume level. We didn’t want to suppress any auditory details, so what you’ll hear when listening to music on Nest Mini is authentic to the artist’s vision. 

  If you’re listening to music, podcasts and other types of media on Nest Mini, LED lights will light up as your hand gets close to the device, indicating where you can tap to adjust the volume. We’ve also improved Mini’s ability to hear you in noisy environments. 

  And Nest Mini will dynamically adjust the volume of the Assistant, news and podcasts based on any background noise that may be happening at the time. So when the dishwasher is running and you ask for the weather, you’ll hear the Assistant’s response at a louder volume.

  Introducing the Nest Mini

  Whole home audio

  You can connect Nest Mini to your other Nest speakers to build a sound system for your whole home. If you have more than one Google or Nest smart speaker or display, simply create as many different groups as you’d like in the Google Home app, and enjoy music, podcasts and more throughout your home. 

  And with stream transfer, you can fill your home with sound by moving your music, audiobooks and podcasts from one speaker to another with just your voice. Even transfer music or podcasts from your phone when you walk in the door. For example, If I’m hosting a dinner party, once I’m done cooking in the kitchen, I just say, “Hey Google, move the music to the living room speaker” to keep the party going. 

  The power of whole home audio goes beyond music, and it can be a helpful way to stay in touch with family members. With new Google Duo functionality on all Google Home and Nest speakers, you can call your devices from the Google Home app, use the intercom feature to talk from device to device or even call someone on the other side of the world, for free—all you need is a Duo account and/or a Google Home or Nest smart speaker or display.

  Making the best Assistant better

  You already know that your Google Assistant can help you tackle your day, enjoy your entertainment and control compatible smart home devices brands like Philips Hue, TP-Link and more. Plus, with personalized experiences like Assignable reminders and routines, the Assistant keeps getting better. 

  Nest Mini is smarter and faster than the original Mini. We embedded a dedicated machine learning chip with up to one TeraOPS of processing power, which lets us move some Google Assistant experiences from our data centers directly onto the device. In the U.S., Nest Mini can now learn your most common commands and process them locally for a much faster response time.

  

  The fabric covering on Nest Mini is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

  Sustainably designed for your home

  Nest Mini has the same iconic design as the original Mini, with soft rounded edges that blend in with your home. It comes in four colors: Chalk, Charcoal, Coral and a new color, Sky, which was inspired by Lake Como in Italy. We’ve also incorporated wall mounting capabilities into Nest Mini, because you told us that you needed creative ways to incorporate Nest Mini into your decor and save precious counter and shelf space. 

  Like so many of you, we’re committed to helping the planet, so the fabric covering on Nest Mini is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles (meaning plastic bottles that have already been used and recycled). A single half-liter plastic bottle makes enough fabric to cover more than two Nest Mini devices. The external enclosure is also made from 35 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. Now, all Nest products launching in 2019 are built using varying amounts of recycled plastics. 

  I know you’ll love rocking out with Nest Mini as much as I do. You can buy Mini for $49, and starting today, you can pre-order from the Google Store. You’ll find Nest Mini on shelves on October 22 at Best Buy, Target, Walmart and other retailers.

  Once you set up Nest Mini, just say, “Hey Google, what can you do?” to get started. And once you do that, say “Hey Google, play bossa nova” and get ready to party.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-nest/nest-mini/
• 

  More affordable and portable: let’s Pixelbook Go
  • sorangutan  

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  Back in 2017 we introduced Pixelbook, a high-performance Chromebook that can adapt to your needs. And now we’re making it available to even more people with Pixelbook Go. At barely two pounds and 13 mm thin, it’s easy to bring Pixelbook Go wherever life takes you. And with its starting price of $649, it still has all the features you love about Pixelbook. You’ll get quiet, backlit keys for easy typing in all lighting and powerful processors to handle any workload, with an even bigger battery and 13.3 inch touchscreen. Oh, and it comes in two colors, Just Black and Not Pink.

  

  Design with purpose

  Each design element on Pixelbook Go was built for people who are always on the go. The first thing you’ll notice is the sleek matte finish. That finely painted magnesium casing keeps Pixelbook Go as light as possible while still feeling solid.
  

  And whether you’re running to a class or a meeting, the grippable design of Pixelbook Go makes it easy to carry, and up to 12 hours of battery life keeps the laptop running as long as you are. Even better, you’ll get two hours of battery on just 20 minutes of charging. Made for Google sleeves and these general care suggestions can help keep your Pixelbook Go in tip-top shape.
  

  

  A huge part of the design of any laptop is its keyboard. Nobody wants to be that loud typer clacking away at their local coffee shop. We took the premium keyboard from Pixelbook and made it more affordable. So rest assured loud typers, we’ve got your back with our quiet Hush Keys.

  Under the hood, Pixelbook Go has the same high-performance components you’ve seen in other Made By Google computers. It starts up in seconds and stays fast with automatic updates, so you can count on speedy performance over time. And with built-in security on Chrome OS, Pixelbook Go is both fast and secure. You also have access to all kinds of apps, whether you want to express your creativity, get stuff done or just kick back to watch your favorite show.
  

  Pre-order today

  Pixelbook Go pre-orders start today in the U.S. and Canada, and in January in the U.K. Learn more at the Google Store.
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/pixelbook/pixelbook-go/
• 

  Meet the new Google Pixel Buds
  • sorangutan  

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  Many of us turn to our phones constantly. On average, people check their smartphones almost 100 times a day, and more than half of those interactions—playing a song, setting a reminder or getting directions—are less than 30 seconds. Google Pixel Buds can help make those quick tasks easier and faster, with instant access to the Google Assistant. Plus, they’re comfortable and secure in your ear, deliver high-quality sound, make clear calls, and have a long battery life. 

  Comfortable and secure in your ear

  Because everyone's ears are shaped differently, we scanned thousands of ears to create a design that’s comfortable for as many people as possible. Pixel Buds have a low-profile look that sits flush in your ear. The stabilizer arc gently tucks in, and together with the interchangeable eartip, make Pixel Buds fit securely and comfortably, so they stay put even when you’re exercising.

  

  Great sound all around

  Pixel Buds have a unique hybrid design that keeps you aware of the world around you, while still delivering powerful sound. The eartips gently seal the ear to isolate the loud outside noises, and to give high quality audio. The spatial vent underneath reduces that plugged-ear feeling, and lets through just the right amount of environmental sound so you can stay aware of the things around you. Pixel Buds also have Adaptive Sound, which dynamically adjusts the volume as you move from a quiet environment to a noisy one, so you don’t have to constantly raise or lower the volume.

  

  Clear calls anywhere

  When it’s time to talk instead of listen, Pixel Buds make sure the sound of your voice is at the forefront. Two microphones in each earbud focus on the sound of your voice while suppressing other sounds in the background, which extends to the most challenging environments. Pixel Buds have a voice accelerometer that can detect speech through the vibrations of your jawbone, so that you can be heard even in windy conditions, like when you’re running or biking.

  Convenience on the go

  Long-range Bluetooth connectivity lets you use Pixel Buds even when your phone isn’t by your side. They’ll stay connected three rooms away indoors or a football field-distance away outdoors. Pixel Buds pair easily with Bluetooth 4.0+ laptops, tablets and iOS devices. And with your Pixel phone and other Android 6.0+ devices, they pair with just a single tap. 

  Pixel Buds automatically detect when they’re in your ear and each earbud gives you handy touch controls: just tap to play or pause, and swipe to adjust volume. With Pixel Buds, you get 5 hours of listening time on a single charge, with up to 24 hours with the wireless charging case. They are sweat and water resistant, so rainy days and intense workouts are no problem. 

  

  Helpful wherever you are

  Pixel Buds also give you hands-free access to the Google Assistant, so instead of turning to your phone for quick tasks, just say “Hey Google,” and ask the Assistant for whatever you need—playing a podcast, sending a quick text, or translating a foreign language.
  

  

  Google Pixel Buds will be available next year in the U.S. at $179, and will come in four colors: Clearly White, Oh So Orange, Quite Mint and Almost Black. In the meantime, head over to the Google Store to learn more and sign up for our waitlist to be notified when they’re available.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/new-pixel-buds/
• 

  Stadia arrives on November 19
  • sorangutan  

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  Stadia Founder’s Edition will start arriving on gamers’ doorsteps on November 19, 2019. If you were one of the first gamers who pre-ordered and have received your Founder’s Editions, you’ll be able to buy and play your favorite games beginning at 9AM PST/5PM BST/6PM CET on November 19. You can play Red Dead Redemption 2, Mortal Kombat 11, Kine, and more on your TV, laptop, desktop, and select tablets and phones.

  Whether you ordered Stadia Founder’s Edition or Premiere Edition, you’ll have three months of Stadia Pro, with access to Destiny 2: The Collection. Using the included Chromecast Ultra and Stadia Controller, you’ll be gaming in up to 4K HDR with 5.1 surround sound when playing on your TV. For any questions on what devices are supported, broadband internet connection requirements, and the details on Stadia Pro, visit stadia.com.

  Stadia Founder’s Editions and Stadia Premiere Editions will begin shipping in the same order that pre-orders were received. You’ll get an email when your package ships, and soon after, will receive a code to activate your Stadia account and Stadia Pro.
  

  If you haven’t already pre-ordered, head to stadia.com and join the new generation of gaming where you can play your favorite games across multiple screens. And if you’ve already placed your order, welcome to Stadia!

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/stadia/stadia-arrives-november-19/
• 

  How Google made me proud to be out at work
  • sorangutan  

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  Until I started working at Google in 2014, I had never been out at work.  

  Now, less than five years later, everything is different: I’m an active volunteer leader in Google’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group—a Googler-run, company-supported organization that works to provide an inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ employees, and partners closely with our Trans Employee Resource Group, which represents our transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary colleagues. As part of my role, I’ve had the chance to engage LGBTQ+ Googlers across our global offices, speak publicly about being LGBTQ+ in the workplace and have even been able to share my perspectives and experiences directly with Google leadership. 

  At this point, I can barely remember what it felt like to not be a visible, openly LGBTQ+ person at work. So it’s hard to imagine that before joining Google, I felt I couldn’t come out at the office at all. 

  As we celebrate National Coming Out Day and reflect on all of the progress we’ve made as a community, I am determined to remember this simple but crucial reality: Openness matters. Community matters. Being able to be out at work matters. 

  

  Googlers create signs supporting the LGBTQ+ community for the 2017 New York City Pride March.

  Prior to joining Google, I’d spent time in a variety of industries, always under the careful, polite policy of evasion when it came to questions about my personal life. Perhaps I didn’t need to be so secretive. I worked with wonderful, kind people, and though there were no explicit shows of support for LGBTQ+ issues from my workplace, I’m sure most of my colleagues and managers wouldn’t have taken issue with my identity. 

  Still, for many LGBTQ+ folks, the fear of prejudice can nag at you, and cause you to hesitate even around the most well-meaning of coworkers. Some assume that with the ushering in of marriage equality here in the U.S., other kinds of inequality have disappeared and the movement is complete. But as many LGBTQ+-identifying people will tell you, critical challenges still remain, and it takes a conscious and dedicated effort to counteract their effects. 

  Growing up in New Mexico, I got an early introduction to some of the challenges that LGBTQ+ people still so often face: harassment, discrimination, violence. The understanding that being LGBTQ+ was unsafe was imprinted on me almost immediately, and that fear left a lasting mark.  

  In each new city, from college to a job to graduate school to another job, I was reminded (often in not-so-subtle ways) that no matter what might change in the law or in popular culture, I should always be wary, always be careful.  

  So I never took the chance.  

  In so many important ways, restraining from bringing my full self to work hurt my ability to be a good employee. Constantly worrying about slipping up and revealing that I had a girlfriend rather than a boyfriend prevented me from feeling fully integrated. It became an obstacle to forming the kinds of professional relationships that help company culture feel cohesive and supportive.  

  Now, I realize how much I was missing.  Today, I’m part of a workplace with visible LGBTQ+ leaders, explicit shows of support for LGBTQ+ cultural moments and celebrations and broad encouragement to use what makes me different to create an environment of inclusion for my fellow Googlers. This journey has made me realize how much all workplaces can benefit from supporting their employees’ differences, just as much as they celebrate their collective unity.  

  I’m proud. I hope you are, too. 

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/diversity/national-coming-out-day/
• 

  TerraTalk is changing how Japan's students learn English
  • sorangutan  

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  With increasing classroom sizes, more paperwork than ever and new mandates from the ministry of education, Japanese teachers face an uphill battle in their mission to teach their students. 

  Yoshiyuki Kakihara wanted to use technology to figure out a solution, with an emphasis on English language education. He created TerraTalk, an AI-powered app that allows students to have audio conversations. TerraTalk’s artificial intelligence can hear and process what the students say and give feedback, removing this burden from teachers, and reinvigorating the classroom by creating an atmosphere filled with conversation and English learning games. TerraTalk was recently part of Google Developers Launchpad Accelerator, a program that provides mentorship and support to early-stage startups.

  With nine acceleration programs and 341 startup alumni, we at Launchpadhave seen firsthand how  entrepreneurs around the world are using technology and startup innovation to solve the world’s biggest problems. In the third installment of our series, “Ideas to Reality,” we talked to Yoshiyuki about why he started TerraTalk, and where he hopes it will be in the next few years. 

  

  A look at the TerraTalk English learning app.

  When did you realize you wanted to make an impact on the education field? 

  I grew up on the outskirts of Tokyo as a science-savvy kid and became super interested in foreign culture. I ended up leaving my high school to study in the United Kingdom. I did well academically back home, so it was quite a shock how my English fell short of being comprehensible at all abroad. It turns out that I wasn’t alone; in Japan, very few people reach conversational level at the end of secondary or university curriculum.
  
  I feel that this is the result of an outdated methodology where too much emphasis is placed on explaining the grammar and little to no attention on putting the language into use. To make matters worse,  80 percent of teachers in Japan are putting 100 hours of overtime per month. They don’t have time to investigate, experiment with and transform the way they teach. When I learned this, I realized that I could help by creating a new technology to ease the burden on teachers, and make learning English more engaging for students.  

  Who are your customers? How is your company positively affecting them?  

  We do business directly with education institutions and local education councils. With our TerraTalk app, students can engage in role-playing style conversation lessons with their mobile devices. This enables teachers to ensure their students get enough speaking time, which is difficult to achieve with conventional classroom methodologies.

  We are seeing students teach each other on how to tackle the exercises, sometimes creating their own competition out of it. In some ways, the technology we are bringing is humanizing classrooms, as it frees teachers from the standard lecture format.

  How did you use Google products to make TerraTalk? 

  BigQuery has helped us crunch massive user data to discover how people are using our app. Google Analytics is our go-to tool for marketing and search engine analysis. We use the TensorFlow family of machine learning tools and other numerous open source projects maintained by Google. We also use G Suite as a primary business tool, because of its reliability, security and ease of use.

  Why did you choose to participate in Google Launchpad?
  

  Google is a leading company in machine learning and cloud technology applications, which we heavily rely on. The prospect of receiving support in these areas was extremely appealing, especially when you are running a startup and saving time is everything.

  What was the most memorable moment from Launchpad? 

  We attended Launchpad Tokyo, which had seven startups in total. In a session called Founders Circle, founders from the startups got together and shared their biggest failures to date in a fireside-chat style. It was the moment where we became a true community, and many of us are still in touch after the program.

  What advice do you have for future entrepreneurs? 

  Don’t quit. Find a business or market where you have a natural advantage over other people. Whether your competition is other startups or established companies, it is the people you work with who make the difference.
  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/entrepreneurs/terratalk/
• 

  Using AI to give people who are blind the “full picture”
  • sorangutan  

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  Everything that makes up the web—text, images,video and audio—can be easily discovered. Many people who are blind or have low vision rely on screen readers to make the content of web pages accessible through spoken feedback or braille. 

  For images and graphics, screen readers rely on descriptions created by developers and web authors, which are usually referred to as “alt text” or “alt attributes” in the code. However, there are millions of online images without any description, leading screen readers to say “image,” “unlabeled graphic,” or a lengthy, unhelpful reading of the image’s file name. When a page contains images without descriptions, people who are blind may not get all of the information conveyed, or even worse, it may make the site totally unusable for them. To improve that experience, we’ve built an automatic image description feature called Get Image Descriptions from Google. When a screen reader encounters an image or graphic without a description, Chrome will create one. 

  Image descriptions automatically generated by a computer aren't as good as those written by a human who can include additional context, but they can be accurate and helpful. An image description might help a blind person read a restaurant menu, or better understand what their friends are posting on social media.

  If someone using a screen reader chooses to opt in through Settings, an unlabeled image on Chrome is sent securely to a Google server running machine learning software. The technology aggregates data from multiple machine-learning models. Some models look for text in the image, including signs, labels, and handwritten words. Other models look for objects they've been trained to recognize—like a pencil, a tree, a person wearing a business suit, or a helicopter. The most sophisticated model can describe the main idea of an image using a complete sentence.

  The description is evaluated for accuracy and valuable information: Does the annotation describe the image well? Is the description useful? Based on whether the annotation meets that criteria, the machine learning model determines what should be shown to the person, if anything. We’ll only provide a description if we have reasonable confidence it's correct. If any of our models indicate the results may be inaccurate or misleading, we err on the side of giving a simpler answer, or nothing at all. 

  Here are a couple of examples of the actual descriptions generated by Chrome when used with a screen reader.

  

  Machine-generated description for this image: "Appears to be: Fruits and vegetables at the market."

  

  Machine-generated description for this image: "Appears to be: Person playing guitar on the sofa." 

  Over the past few months of testing, we’ve created more than 10 million descriptions with hundreds of thousands being added every day. The feature is available in English, but we plan to add more languages soon. Image descriptions in Chrome are not meant to replace diligent and responsible web authoring; we always encourage developers and web authors to follow best practices and provide image descriptions on their sites. But we hope that this feature is a step toward making the web more accessible to everyone. 

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/accessibility/get-image-descriptions/