Category Archives: Google

The three-arrow Matter logo shown on this smart lightbulb signifies smart-home tech that will work well with other devices.

An industry alliance sponsored by Apple, Google, Amazon and other tech companies will begin certifying smart home devices later this year, a potentially important step toward making the technology easier to develop and use and therefore more widely accepted.

Matter, the name of the alliance, will let smart devices, such as lightbulbs you turn on with Amazon Alexa or a video doorbell you monitor with Google Home, use its logo on their packaging. The logo looks like a trio of round-tipped arrows pointing toward a common center.

Tobin Richardson, chief executive of theConnectivity Standards Alliancethat's behind Matter, said in an interview he expects the logo to become as "ubiquitous" as the Wi-Fi logo currently is.

"As these different devices become more complex networks, it's all the more important that they're all talking the same language," Richardson said. "That mark will be a helping hand to make sure that you can add whatever lightbulbs, whatever door locks, whatever you want to add." Richardson made the comment in an interview ahead of a Matter press event on Tuesday.

The alliance's certification process is more evidence of the rapid pace of change in the smart home, part of the internet of things movement to digitize everything. Like smartphones, the smart home could quickly become central to your daily life.

Matter is a new name for a smart-home alliancepreviously called CHIP, short for Connected Home over Internet Protocol. Unveiled in 2019, it employs the internet's core technology to smooth over the complexities of connecting smart-home devices. The technology allows users to control lighting, heating, home theaters, video doorbells, door locks and alarms through smart speakers.

Getting all of these devices to get along -- especially with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Assistant competing to be your preferred interface -- can be difficult. Matter is designed to unify the network domain, ensuring devices will work with any of those three main voice control systems. It should work even if you use more than one control system.

Expect Matter to arrive in lightbulbs, thermostats, door locks, garage doors, alarms, window shades and TVs.

"Matter can be used to bridge together the many different systems people have in their homes today," said Chris DeCenzo, a smart home engineering leader at Amazon, during the press event.

Developers should be pleased with Matter, said Kevin Ho, Google Nest senior product manager. "The smart home can't grow if each device maker has to develop products that work for each ecosystem protocol," he said, adding that Google will detail Matter developments at its Google I/O conference that starts May 18.

Matter allies developed their technology within the Zigbee Alliance, a group founded to work on the low-speed but energy-efficient Zigbee network technology that's used in some smart-home devices such as smart lightbulbs and alarm sensors. That group renamed itself the Connectivity Standards Alliance on Tuesday to reflect its mission beyond Zigbee.

The event drew appearances from smart speaker leaders Amazon and Google, internet service provider Comcast, Samsung's smart home SmartThings group, and Signify, which markets the Philips Hue lighting technology.

The allies have been developing Matter technology as a royalty free, open-source project on GitHub. In the last two weeks, they ratified the specification, a key step in letting device makers get to work on certification and making Matter support easier for developers.

The Matter logo signifies smart-home devices that are certified to get along well with each other and with the Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Assistant voice control systems.

Matter should make setups more streamlined, said Michelle Mindala-Freeman, who runs marketing for the alliance. Setup codes should let you link up your devices without having to download apps or link to cloud services.

Matter also should lower barriers between different smart-home ecosystems so you don't have to worry whether a new product will work within your smart home setup. It "breaks down the walls of the walled garden," Mindala-Freeman said.

To succeed, the Matter allies also will have to convince us the technology is trustworthy, not just simple. Privacy is top of mind with iPhones now cracking down on app tracking.

"We still have a long road ahead in terms of building the trust," Richardson said. "You have to earn it."

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Amazon, Google, Apple back alliance to certify smart home devices that work together - CNET

Integration allows omnichannel retailers to automate ads and real-time inventory levels directly from the Lightspeed platform

MONTREAL, May 11, 2021 /CNW/ -Lightspeed (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD), a leading provider of cloud-based, omnichannel commerce platforms, announced today it will integrate Google tools directly into its platform, to help independent businesses globally as they safely re-open and expand their in-store capacity. As consumer preference towards shopping locally increases, the direct integration between Lightspeed and Google will allow independent retailers to manage a number of Google tools directly in their Lightspeed commerce platform at no additional cost.

This announcement comes as new data from Google suggests consumers are interested in shopping local, but many are starting their journey online. Searches for "local" + "business(es)" have grown by more than 80% year over year, including searches like "local businesses near me" and "support local businesses." Searches for "who has" + "in stock" have grown by more than 8,000% year over year, including searches like "who has gym equipment in stock."

The global collaboration between Lightspeed and Google integrates three crucial tools directly into the Lightspeed platform: Google Local Inventory Ads, Google Smart Shopping Campaigns, and Google My Business. This complete integration is vital for omnichannel retailers, who use a multichannel approach to provide a seamless customer experience online or in a physical store. The new Google integration includes:

Enabling access to these digital tools directly within the Lightspeed platform is strategically aligned with Lightspeed's mission to simplify entrepreneurship and level the playing field for independent merchants. The integration, when combined with the Lightspeed Supplier Network, creates a seamless path for local retailers to scale their omnichannel businesses.

"We know that so much of business today starts with a Google search," said Lightspeed CEO Dax Dasilva, "By combining forces, Lightspeed and Google are eliminating the pain points that prevent SMBs from effectively promoting their products online to the communities who prefer to shop local, providing them a springboard to simplify and scale their businesses as they prepare for the welcomed return of in-store shopping."

"Small and medium sized businesses have been hit the hardest during the pandemic, but globally we've seen a rallying cry to support them," says Sabrina Geremia, VP & Country Director, Google Canada. "Customers are shopping both online and in-store and expect a seamless shopping experience between both. As we look towards recovery, this integration with Lightspeed will provide a scalable solution for Lightspeed merchants of all sizes looking to reach customers in this new omnichannel reality"

This new offering from Lightspeed and Google will give retailers increased opportunity to meet consumer needs in 2021, which have fundamentally pivoted to prioritizing shopping local. Google My Business and Local Inventory Ad integrations are currently available to all Lightspeed retail customers. Lightspeed's Smart Shopping Campaign capability will become available in the coming months.

About LightspeedLightspeed (NYSE andTSX: LSPD) powers complex small and medium-sized businesses with its cloud-based, omnichannel commerce platforms in over 100 countries. With smart, scalable and dependable point of sale systems, Lightspeed provides all-in-one solutions that drive innovation and digital transformation within the retail, hospitality, and golf industries. Its product suite enables SMBs to sell across channels, manage operations, engage with consumers, accept payments, and ultimately grow their business.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is trusted by favorite local businesses worldwide, where communities go to shop and dine. Lightspeed has staff located in Canada, USA, Europe, and Australia.

For more information, seewww.lightspeedhq.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of Lightspeed's management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those risk factors identified in our most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Information Form, and in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under our profiles on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to Lightspeed's subordinate voting shares and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Lightspeed considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by Lightspeed. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, Lightspeed does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:[emailprotected]

Victoria BakerNKPR[emailprotected]

Cydoney CurranNKPR[emailprotected]

SOURCE Lightspeed POS Inc.

https://www.lightspeedhq.com

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Lightspeed teams up with Google to help retailers increase local shopping revenue - Canada NewsWire

If Louisiana Creole as a language is endangered, then Google may have a lifeline to toss its way.

Google revealed last week that it is introducing a progressive web app, Woolaro, through its Google Arts & Culture team, that uses machine learning to provide words for 10 at-risk languages from around the world.

They are Yugambeh, an aboriginal language from Australia; Yiddish, a High German derived language of the Ashkenazi Jews; Tamazight, spoken in North Africa and the Sahara region; Rapa Nui, spoken on Easter Island; Nawat, an Uto-Aztecan language from southwestern El Salvador; Maori, spoken in New Zealand; Calabrian Greek, used by ethnic Griko people in southern Italy; Sicilian, from the Italian island; Louisiana Creole, French-based and mostly spoken in Louisiana; and Yang Zhuang, a Tai language spoken in southwestern China.

This time, Festival Acadiens et Creoles is going with Plan A.

UNESCOs Atlas of the Worlds Languages says Louisiana Creole, with 7,000 to 9,000 speakers in Louisiana, California, Illinois and Texas, is one of those imperiled languages. It originated in colonial Louisiana before 1803 and was used by some enslaved and free people of color and whites, according to scholars.

But some Louisiana Creole enthusiasts believe the Google app will help spread knowledge about the language and help those who are interested in learning it. Jessica Ryan, representing Google, said Oliver Mayeux, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge who has studied the language, put together a team to create the Woolaroo app, which was revealed last Thursday.

Mayeux, whose father is from Louisiana, has retained scholarly interest in the language since he was a teenager.

The app is described as an open-source photo-translation platform powered by machine learning and image recognition. The user can provide an image to the app, which will recognize what is shown in the image and provide relevant words in the selected endangered language.

For example, the app recognized a photo of a tree and provided the word narb to describe it in Louisiana Creole.

In Louisiana, Google partnered with a team behind "Ti Liv Kreyol," which it described as the first book for learning Louisiana Creole. The group included Herbert J. Wiltz of Lafayette, a former Lafayette Parish teacher who compiled lesson plans for teaching the language and who continues to organize efforts to teach Louisiana Creole, a language he learned from his grandmother.

Iberia Parish has returned to at least some live tourism events with great success this spring, with plans for a more complete live schedule i

Growing up, my parents didnt teach it, he said. But my grandmother never shooed me away.

It was by listening to her and those with whom she conversed that he learned the language, which he said has stayed with him. I wanted to do something with it, he said.

What hes done since has included study, travel and teaching. He said hes been involved with Creole Inc., which includes people in St. Martinville and other nearby communities who have tried to revitalize the language through efforts such as Louisiana Creole tables, meetings over coffee where people can converse in the language. He said he was planning a meeting for such a table Saturday via Zoom.

People still speak Louisiana Creole, he said, but its the elderly, not the young, and that has to change to keep the language going.

We are not doing enough to generate interest, he said.

In south Louisiana, he said, Creole ancestors have moved away to Houston and California, and people there continue to speak it. But many of them are elderly.

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Wiltz said some people mistakenly believe that zydeco musicians are singing Louisiana Creole, but he said thats rarely the case nowadays. Clifton Chenier tried to incorporate Louisiana Creole in his music and Wiltz said Zydeco Joe, born in Carencro, was nimble in his use of Louisiana Creole.

Herman Fusilier, who hosts the Zydeco Stomp on KRVS public radio from noon-3 p.m. Saturdays, said some musicians have gone out of the way to incorporate Louisiana Creole in their music. They include Corey Ledet, who has been working on the language with Wiltz, and Sean Ardoin of Lake Charles, whose family is steeped in the Creole traditions.

Ardoins family, Fusilier said, go back to the roots of zydeco and have created Creole songs. He said that can create a fine line for musicians to walk singing in a language they understand but that their audience might not recognize.

Despite a year of disaster and pandemic in Acadiana, the fourth annual SOLA Giving Day toppled all previous records for donations by generatin

Young people didnt grow up speaking Creole, Fusilier said. Some may know a few words but might rather hear something they understand.

Young people like Jonathan Mayers, an artist from Baton Rouge, did not understand Kouri-Vini, a native language of Louisiana during Louisianas colonial period, from which Louisiana Creole evolved. But he embraced it because it was spoken by ancestors.

Mayers had pursued studies in Cajun French prior to turning to attention to the language his ancestors spoke in places such as Pointe Coupee Parish. Some 10 years ago, he learned about his fathers familiarity with Louisiana Creole at least with the cadence and the nuance of the language and he made it a point to learn more.

He said he provided some voice for some of the vocabulary on the app as well as for some phrases.

Adrien Guillory-Chatman, born in Lafayette but raised in Chicago, also worked on the app. She said her family spoke Louisiana Creole but she only learned a few words or phrases while growing up. Learning the language was not encouraged, she said, although the elders spoke it.

She said she started studying the language about seven years ago. An educator and a lifelong learner, she said people she knew at the local Catholic church spoke it and she wanted to speak it as well.

NEW IBERIA Former Gov. Kathleen Blancos political reputation has been in a state of recovery, and impetus for the turnaround seems to be co

She said she started her study with a six-week course and continued to pursue greater mastery of the language. She joined a practice group on Facebook and pursued language exercises and conversation over social media.

She said there are Creole tables in Chicago. They were halted by the pandemic but revived through Zoom. She and others continue the Zoom meetings, she said, in hopes that as soon as things open up again, we can get together and form a community of speakers.

She rates herself as an intermediate learner of Louisiana Creole. But shes determined. Working on the app, she said, encouraged her to keep working on her language skills. She said the app has already encouraged her to add on to the available language and refine it.

She said her Guillory family is from St. Landry Parish, and she counts Louisiana Creole speakers among them.

She said when she first started reclaiming la creole, she would walk her dogs and look at things around her and name them in Creole. That became a daily routine. Now, the answers to what's around her on her walks are as close as the app.

Most Rev. Douglas Deshotel, bishop of Lafayette, has set June 6 as the Sunday for the 300,000 Catholics in his Acadiana diocese to return to t

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Google app aims to give new life to Louisiana Creole, other languages at risk of disappearing - The Advocate

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Half Measure

Almost a full year after Apple dropped its AppTrackingTransparency bombshell on the mobile developer world, Google is following suit well, sort of. On Thursday, Google said that, starting next year, apps on Google Play will have to display details about what data they collect, including information related to their privacy and security practices. The info will appear in a new, so-called safety section as part of an apps listing in Googles app store, The Verge reports. The move is reminiscent of Apples privacy nutrition labels, which are now required of developers in the App Store to inform users about their apps privacy practices. Unlike Apple, though, Google isnt saying anything about what might happen or not with its mobile ad ID. Apple, of course, made its proprietary IDFA permissioned-based starting with iOS 14. Theres been mad speculation about whether Google might do something similar with GAIN, but as with almost everything else these days, the future on that front remains uncertain.

Stream Dreams

ViacomCBS beat Wall Streets expectations with a gangbusters first quarter thanks in large part to streaming, Deadline reports. Streaming revenue grew by 65% to $816 million led by the ViacomCBS SVOD service, Paramount Plus. Key subscription drivers for the quarter included the Super Bowl in February, the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament the following month and Oprah Winfreys explosive interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Although most of the 36 million global streaming subscribers ViacomCBS had as of the end of the quarter were signed up to Paramount Plus, Showtimes OTT service and BET+ also contributed. ViacomCBS is now more than halfway toward the companys stated goal of attracting between 65 million and 75 million subscribers by 2024. But what of AVOD? Pluto TV, the free, ad-supported streaming service that Viacom acquired in 2019 before its re-merger with CBS, clocked in at nearly 50 million monthly active users by the end of Q1, a gain of 6 million across domestic and international. [Related in AdExchanger: ViacomCBS Setting Itself Apart With Paramount Plus And Pluto TV]

TikTok Vs. TV

Heres an eye-popping stat from the TikTok NewFronts presentation on Thursday: TikTok users spend more than a movie-length amount of time on the platform every day. And I dont see that stopping at all when people are outside, said Sandie Hawkins, TikToks GM of North America and head of global business solutions. Engagement on TikTok spiked during the pandemic, particularly in the US as work and school largely transitioned into the home. TikTok recently hit a milestone of more than 100 million US monthly active users. But is that growth trajectory really going to continue as life begins to normalize (and, by extension, is it a place where brands should put their money)? Unsurprisingly, TikToks answer is, hells yeah. According to research TikTok conducted with Kantar, 88% of users in the US say they intend to spend the same amount of time or more on TiKTok during the next six months. And that engagement might actually come at the expense of everyones darling: streaming. Kantar also recently found that 30% of US TikTokers claim to watch less TV, streaming or other video content after they join the platform. [In other TikTok news: TechCrunch reports on TikTok's new developer tools, which include a Login with TikTok feature.]

But Wait, Theres More!

The promise of owning content to deliver ads fueled by mobile subscriber data was a powerful lure driving Verizon to acquire two of the webs oldest and best-known media brands but Verizons self-imposed data privacy limits contributed to the demise of its media ambitions. [Digiday]

U.S. News & World Report has launched its own first-party data platform based on behavioral data drawn from its more than 450 million annual visitors. [release]

News that Facebook isn't lifting its suspension of former President Donald Trump's account isn't sitting well with some Republican lawmakers. [MediaPost]

GroupM-owned digital media business Xaxis is teaming up with advertising cloud company Cavai to create more personalized experiences for consumers using programmatic and without relying on third-party cookies. [Adweek]

IP audience targeting vendor Semcasting has partnered with Affinity Solutions, a global insights firm with access to brand insights and first-party data, including transactional information. [release]

Tencent is reportedly negotiating agreements with a US national security panel that would allow it to keep its ownership stakes in US video game developers Riot Games and Epic Games. [Reuters]

Civil rights nonprofit Rise and RUN AAPI have launched a pledge to denounce violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US. Uber, the NBA, Change.org, Pivotal Ventures and numerous others have already signed. [release]

Omnichannel digital marketing platform AcuityAds has announced a partnership with contextual intelligence provider GumGum. [Next TV]

Youre Hired!

Dynamic in-content ad platform Mirriad has appointed Miles Lewis as its CRO. [release]

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Google Play To Launch 'Safety Section;' ViacomCBS Beats The Street (Thank You, SVOD) - AdExchanger

In honor of World Password Day, Google will automatically enable two-factor authentication for all Google account holders who have proper recovery information on their accounts (email or phone). Thats fantastic news and a bold step for Google, and I hope Apple follows suit.

In May 2019, Google announced that there are some 1.5 billion users around the world, so this is no small feat. Its not known how many of them havent turned on 2FA, but my guess is a lot, so this change will likely affect hundreds of millions of users. Thus, Google is letting users opt-out if they dont want 2FA, which some will surely do. But many more will keep it on and gain an instant layer of protection for their personal info that they might not have added otherwise.

Google spelled out the benefits of its new 2FA policy in a statement to PCWorld:

The reality is passwords are no longer a sufficient form of authentication they are painful for people and easy for hackers to access. It used to be that multifactor authentication was considered tedious and challenging to set upthat is no longer the case. Many users are already positioned to use a second step of verification across their accounts this auto-enrollment process is a way for us to help get them there. Users can opt-out of this change and keep their account security settings the same.

Apple was one of the first companies to offer two-step and then two-factor authentication to secure their Apple ID accounts, which is your key to the Apple ecosystem. Its been a strong proponent of the protection layer, requiring it for several services, including the new AirTag tracker, and has mandated it for all accounts created since iOS13.4, iPadOS13.4, and macOS10.15.4. However, there are hundreds of millions of accounts created before March 2020 that arent protected by 2FA, and Apple should turn those on too.

Celebrate World Password Day by locking down your Apple device

Everything you need to know about 2FA

How to master iCloud Keychain on your Apple devices

Of course, there will be pushback, but once the din dies down, users would be better for it. The resistance to 2FAnamely the fear that youll be locked out of your accountwould be outweighed by the extra security people get. The bottom line is youre no more likely to get locked out of your account with 2FA on than without it, especially with Apples system, which uses trusted Apple devices first, and less-secure SMS only as a backup.

And while were at it, Apple should also offer an app similar to Google Authenticator that provides standards-based one-time-use codes for third-party services without needing to send text messages. This app could offer password management of your iCloud Keychain too, instead of making you dive into Settings to do so. An Apple Authenticator app would help make one-time-password use more common instead of the less secure SMS-based codes, and ensure there are as few holes as possible in your iPhones security.

But for now, Ill be happy with just turning on 2FA for the millions of users who havent yet turned it on. If Google can do it, Apple can too.

Michael Simon has been covering Apple since the iPod was the iWalk. His obsession with technology goes back to his first PCthe IBM Thinkpad with the lift-up keyboard for swapping out the drive. He's still waiting for that to come back in style tbh.

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Apple should follow Google's lead and force 2-factor authentication for all accounts - Macworld

Alphabet Inc.s Google announced a series of moves to offer employees more workplace flexibility, allowing a fifth of its staff to work from home permanently and another fifth of workers to shift to a different geographic location.

In an email on Wednesday, Alphabet Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said the company envisions that about 20% of staff would work from home on a permanent basis, while another 20% of staff would shift to new offices. The remaining 60% of staff will work from their current location. Employees will have to apply for both location-change options, with approval being up to their managers.

Google is also moving to a hybrid workweek, where employees work from offices about three days a week, and two days wherever they work best, Mr. Pichai said in the email.

The company also will offer four weeks per year where staff can work from anywhere with manager approval, a move that aims to give employees more flexibility around summer and holiday travel.

The future of work is flexibility, Mr. Pichai said. He said the changes aimed to help staff do their best work.

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Google Adopts Hybrid Workweek, With 20% of Its Employees ...

The Chromecast with Google TV even comes in colors: white, blue, or pink.

Until a few weeks ago, the Apple TV 4K had not seen an update since the device was introduced in September 2017. The software it runs, tvOS, obviously has been updated in the time since, but the additions have more iterative than transformative. It would not be unreasonable to conclude the operating system, as a whole, is not as loved by Apple as much as the company loves, say, macOS or watchOS or certainly iOS.

Despite this, however, tvOS continues to do well at its job: its arguably the most polished and easiest to use streaming platform there is today. This is particularly true from an accessibility standpoint; as tvOS is build atop an iOS foundation, Apple has adroitly ported a plethora of familiar accessibility features from its mobile software to the living room. For a disabled person who is willing (and able) to pay the Apple TVs premium price, the investment pays off in spades if one of the reasons for choosing the high-end streamer is gaining access to its best-of-breed assistive technologies.

Of course, one of the (valid) criticisms of Apples home strategy is the Apple TV box is exorbitantly expensive. At close to $200, the product is more than double similar devices that offer 4K streaming with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. One such product is Googles awkwardly-named Chromecast with Google TV. The device, which debuted in September of last year, runs all-new software built atop Android TV called Google TV. Priced at $50, it is ostensibly competing with Amazons Fire Stick line and Roku sticks; you could buy four Google TVs for the cost of one Apple TV.

Google bills the new Chromecast as TV personalized for youthe claim to fame here is that the company uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to recommend movies and TV shows based on your watching habits and the streaming services you use. YouTube TV is also deeply integrated into the system, with a dedicated Live tab that presents a cable guide-like interface without having to open the YouTube TV app itself. Indeed, the Live tab is a microcosm of Googles approachthe point is not to dive in and out of apps, as you typically do on tvOS, but rather have suggestions surfaced on the aptly-titled For You section of the UI. This means the television experience changes from something that is relatively staid (a grid of icons) to something far more engaging and dynamic (Google TVs For You screen).

YouTube TV is deeply integrated into Google TV, with its own Live tab for subscribers.

While it is true tvOS is highly accessibleparticularly for reducing cognitive load thanks to its strong family resemblance to iOSthe icon-driven interface still can be problematic. The issue is finding what to watch. For the most part, users have to jump from app to app to app to find content; this can be troublesome if you have a cognitive delay of some sort and cant easily remember that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is on Prime Video or that Dickinson is an Apple TV+ property. Apples TV app tries to consolidate everything into one placetheres a reason the TV app is positioned on the top shelf by defaultbut its nonetheless still an app. Netflix, for example, infamously refuses to support the TV app; to watch it, you must find the bespoke app.

Google TV takes the inverse approach. There are still apps that you can launch, but theyre secondary. Again, Googles premise is it is better to suggest content to you as opposed to forcing you to seek it out. Granted, the Google TV UI is busier and not as polished as tvOS, but a legitimate argument can be made that it is more accessible. To wit, instead of trying to remember where a show is, Google does it for you. To continue watching something on Netflix is just a few clicks away on the For You screen. Likewise, for YouTube TV subscribers, the channel guide means never having the launch the app just to channel surf. All this is convenient, yes, but theres also a significant element of accessibility when it comes to reducing friction associated with cognitive load. (The same can be said for accessing your Nest camera(s), although a tvOS-like picture-in-picture mode for the Nest Hello doorbell would be even nicer.)

Whether you choose an Apple TV or Google TV largely depends on your priorities. As far as discrete accessibility software is concerned, the former is the clear winner. If that matters to you, along with the comforting UI and integration with the broader Apple ecosystem, then its a great product. On the other hand, however, if you want something different (and arguably more accessible) for your television watching, then Google TV is uber compelling. The Live tab alone is worth its weight in gold for YouTube TV subscribers. In addition, the presence of Apples TV app on Google TV means even an Apple-centric household can keep their footing in the companys world. Not only can you binge Ted Lasso, you also can buy and rent movies from iTunes on the Google TV version of the TV app. Google TVs value proposition is extraordinary for such an inexpensive device, especially with YouTube TV and Nest.

Even the Google TVs remote is accessible. It has hotkeys for YouTube and Netflix, so launching those respective apps literally takes the press of a button. You can also use the Assistant button to tune into a certain channel on YouTube TV, which saves on scrolling and finding, say, MSNBC or Turner Classic Movies or MLB Network.

This isnt to say Google TV is perfect; its not. Performance-wise, its noticeably slower to launch apps than Apple TV and has spurts of spontaneously rebooting when something is playing. The interface is not as nice as tvOS, nor is the suite of accessibility features as robust. And the Continue Watching functionality is wonky, as not every service supports itwhich is bad because it belies the entire notion of aggregating everything into one area. Overall, though, Google has done a great job at redefining what TV should begiving content to you instead of you having to go get it. Besides adding voice control, Apple can (and should!) revamp tvOS to be a more proactive conduit. Itd help the Apple TV better compete, but also add another layer of accessibility to the experience that goes beyond the capital-A Accessibility features.

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The Chromecast With Google TV Makes Watching Television More Accessible In More Ways Than One - Forbes

Google is recruiting engineers in cybernetics, systems, application development, data management, telematics and telecommunications for the new Google Cloud technical support center that will open in Mexico City.

Get a glimpse of how Googles marketing resources and strategies can help you grow your businesss digital reach.

May11, 20214 min read

If one of your dreams is to work at Google , this interests you. The technology giant announced that it will create a Google Cloud technical support center in Mexico City (CDMX) for clients globally. For this reason, they began the search for Mexican talent to join the 'hub' . Engineers in systems, cybernetics, application development, telecommunications and specialists in big data, among others, can already apply in Google Careers .

Eduardo Lopez, president of G oogle Cloud for Latin America, said the opening of the 'hub' in Mexico is part of the second stage of investment that Google plans globally, but did not disclose the amount of it. The new complex will be focused on supporting local and global companies during their digital transformation process. These are found in sectors as diverse as banking, consumerism, education, health, and government agencies.

The manager pointed out that the Google Cloud support center in CDMX is also a way to boost job creation in the country.

"It is a bet on the talent of Mexico and it is not only the growth of Latin America, but the global growth of Google Cloud," said Lpez.

For his part, Julio Velzquez , CEO of Google Cloud in Mexico , said at a press conference that Mexico is a hotbed of talent and that it currently ranks sixth among professionals seeking opportunities abroad, but this center is an opportunity to do career in the country in a large company.

Lpez indicated that they have already started the search for Mexican talent who will work in the 'hub', although he did not specify the number of hires. However, he said that this is a large number compared to the current workforce and that it will be a process of continuous employability.

Although a good part of the vacancies are directed to technical areas , they also need to fill positions at the administrative level , for example, the important position of manager . One of the important requirements to apply is to have knowledge in English, since the job is on an international scale, said Velzquez.

In addition to implementing the application through Google Careers , the company makes agreements with more than 50 Mexican universities to attract talent. As soon as the workforce is covered, the 'hub' will begin to operate virtually.

Lorenza Lanz de Obeso , Google Cloud's marketing manager in Mexico , added that the company also seeks to reduce the female labor gap in technology areas. With this goal in mind, they will train women engineers in telematics and telecommunications on cloud issues through the Grow with Google Women STEM program .

Google's expansion in Latin America is not limited to Mexico, as they will also open a Delivery Center in Argentina , dedicated to the delivery of products. This complex will also be employing professionals in the aforementioned areas, Lpez explained.

Are you ready to join the ranks of Google? You just need to enter Google Careers , find the vacancy that fits your knowledge and experience, and apply. Lucky!

Originally posted here:

Do you want to work at Google? The tech giant is looking for talent in Mexico for its new hub in CDMX - Entrepreneur

Google Photos will end free high-quality uploads in just three weeks. The search giant announced its new unlimited high-quality storage policy back in November 2020. Starting June 1, 2021, all the High-quality images or videos that you upload on Google Photos will be counted toward your Google Drive storage limit. So what this means? We tried to answer all your questions to make it easier for you to understand Googles new storage policy.

Starting June 1, 2021, the photos or videos uploaded on the Google Photos app will be counted toward the free 15GB storage that one gets with every Google account. Google lets you upload any photo or video in three sizes Original quality, High quality, and Express.

Those who have selected Original quality and are already paying for Google One storage dont need to worry as the new storage policy only affects those who prefer the free unlimited uploads feature. The High quality and Express options let you save unlimited photos at slightly low quality. The High quality option compresses images to 16MP and videos to high definition, whereas the Express option compresses photos to 3MP and videos to standard definition.

Google will end this unlimited free storage option and from June 1, all your photos or videos will be counted toward your Google Account storage. Once the provided 15GB storage space gets full, you will either have to buy the Google One subscription for additional storage or delete some photos for some extra space.

It is worth noting that all the existing high-quality content will remain exempted from storage quota, as per Google. This means that if you upload any photo or video in high quality before June 1, 2021, then those wont be counted toward your Google account storage.

If you have Pixel 5 or earlier versions, then this new storage policy wont affect you. Pixel phone users will continue to receive unlimited free storage option. Google will also delete the content of accounts inactive for more than two years starting June 1.

All you need to do is open the Google Photos app and visit the settings section by tapping on the profile icon, located on the top right corner of the screen.

Under the Account Storage section, the app displays how much storage you have used until now. When you tap again on Account storage, you will notice Upload size section at the bottom of the screen.

Google can even estimate how long your storage may last and this will be based on how often you back up content to your Google Account.

Back in November 2020, Google Photos Product lead David Lieb explained on Twitter that the storage policy needs to be changed because free backups are costing big to the company. It is a necessary step to align the primary cost of offering free service while also accepting the primary value of online storage.

Google says over 1 billion people back up a remarkable 28 billion photos to Google Photos each week. In order to welcome even more of your memories and build for the future, we are making this change.

The basic subscription of Google One offers you 100GB storage space for Rs 130 per month or Rs 1,300 on a yearly basis. By paying this, you get lots of storage space, which you can even share with your family. For 200GB storage space, you will be required to pay Rs 210 per month or 2,100 per annum. For 2TB, the price of Google One in India is Rs 650 per month and Rs 6,500 per year. For 10TB, the price is Rs 3,250 per month.

You can check out the best Google Photos alternatives here. Theres the India-based DigiBoxx as well, which is giving 20GB of free cloud storage and 100GB of storage space per month for just Rs 30. One can also use Degoo. It offers 100GB of free cloud storage, but you will also witness ads. This cloud storage service has a 500GB storage plan as well, which offers no ad and will cost $2.99 per month (around Rs 220 in India.)

Read more:

Google Photos will end free uploads in three weeks: What you need to know - The Indian Express

Google on Monday said it is testing a new feature in Maps that enables people to ask about and share local information on the availability of beds and medical oxygen in select locations.

This is part of the tech giant's efforts to support the relief efforts amid the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As India reels under the impact of the second wave, hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Social media timelines are filled with SOS calls with people looking for oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, plasma donors, and ventilators.

Google said its teams are focused on three priority areas ensuring people can access the latest and most authoritative information; amplifying vital safety and vaccination messages; and providing financial backing for affected communities, health authorities, and other organisations.

Searches on the COVID-19 vaccine displays key information around side effects, effectiveness, and registration details, while treatment-related queries surface guidance from ministry resources. On YouTube, it is surfacing authoritative information in a set of playlists, about vaccines, preventing the spread of COVID-19, and facts from experts on COVID-19 care.

"And we're continuing to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to make more vaccination centre information available to users throughout India...we're using our channels to help extend the reach of health information campaigns," it added.

The company said it has been running an internal donation campaign to raise funds for non-profit organisations, including GiveIndia, Charities Aid Foundation India, GOONJ, and United Way of Mumbai.

This campaign has raised over $4.6 million (Rs 33 crore) to date, and continues to generate much-needed support for relief efforts.

Google has also rolled out a COVID Aid campaign on Google Pay, wherein people can donate to non-profit organisations like GiveIndia, Charities Aid Foundation, Goonj, Save the Children, Seeds, UNICEF India (National NGOs), and United Way towards COVID relief work.

Read more:

Google testing new feature in Maps to enable sharing info on availability of beds, medical oxygen - YourStory