Google Blog: “The Mandalorian” in AR? This is the way. . “From dinosaurs to astronauts, Google has been bringing objects and creatures to life with augmented reality. Now, people using compatible Android 5G devices can interact with heroes from the Mandalorian in their own space.”
Digital Inspiration: Build a COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool with Google Forms
Digital Inspiration: Build a COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool with Google Forms. “Businesses and schools worldwide are using Google Forms to build COVID-19 self-declaration forms that employees, students and visitors must complete every day before they can attend work. Here is a sample COVID-19 Health Screening Form – if the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the questions, the person is expected to stay home.”
Google Blog: The new conversational Search experience we’re thankful for
Google Blog: The new conversational Search experience we’re thankful for. “This year, Google Search rolled out new ways to get you to the information you want, using context from your recent activity. Thanks to our newest language understanding capabilities, it’s now easier for you to get to a more specific, on-topic search, navigate a topic you’re interested in and find additional information relevant to that topic. Let’s check out how this improved understanding can help around this time of year.”
CNET: Google Assistant can set times for controlling internet-connected devices
CNET: Google Assistant can set times for controlling internet-connected devices. “Smart assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri have been able to handle home automation tasks for years. In a new update, however, it now looks like at least Google’s virtual helper has recently been learning a new trick.”
Reuters: Russia opens case against Google for not deleting banned content -TASS
Reuters: Russia opens case against Google for not deleting banned content -TASS. “Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has opened a case against U.S. tech giant Google for failing to remove some content prohibited in Russia, the TASS news agency reported on Monday.”
CNBC: Google moves into Venmo and bank territory with checking accounts and updated payment app
CNBC: Google moves into Venmo and bank territory with checking accounts and updated payment app. “The Mountain View, California-based company partnered with Citi and Stanford Federal Credit Union to launch the mobile bank accounts and said it plans to add 11 new partner institutions next year. Google Pay will also let users send peer-to-peer payments — a feature that made PayPal’s Venmo and Square’s Cash App household names as people shift to digital payments during the pandemic.”
Reuters: UK’s competition regulator looking at formal investigation into Google
Reuters: UK’s competition regulator looking at formal investigation into Google. “Britain’s competition regulator the CMA said on Monday it had received a complaint about Google related to its market study on online platforms and digital advertising earlier this year.”
Android Police: The best Google Play Store alternatives for buying music, books, movies, and TV shows
Android Police: The best Google Play Store alternatives for buying music, books, movies, and TV shows . “When Google discontinued Play Music, it also decided to pull the plug for the Play Store music section. That means you can no longer purchase songs from Google. A YouTube Music or Premium subscription is the only option going forward if you want to access songs through the company. That’s a bummer because the Play Store is no longer a one-stop solution for all of your media needs, and there aren’t a whole lot of full-fledged alternatives. But if you’re looking to decouple parts of your digital life from Google, there are a few things you can do.”
PCMag: Google Extends Support for Chrome on Windows 7 Until 2022
PCMag: Google Extends Support for Chrome on Windows 7 Until 2022. “Though Google previously announced in January 2020 that it would effectively be yanking the security blanket from the arms of Windows 7 users browsing with Chrome on July 15, 2021, things have changed a bit. But this isn’t an altruistic move to coddle users who refuse to upgrade. It’s purely a business decision, at least for those who use Chrome as part of their organization’s IT hierarchy.”
VentureBeat: Google’s Project Guideline uses AI to help low-vision users navigate running courses
VentureBeat: Google’s Project Guideline uses AI to help low-vision users navigate running courses. “In collaboration with nonprofit organization Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Google today piloted an AI system called Project Guideline, designed to help blind and low-vision people run races independently with just a smartphone. Using an app that tracked the virtual race via GPS and a Google-designed harness that delivered audio prompts to indicate the location of a prepainted line, Guiding Eyes for the Blind CEO Thomas Panek attempted to run New York Road Runners’ Virtual Run for Thanks 5K in Central Park.”
Gadgets Now: Google, Facebook and Twitter threaten to leave Pakistan over new rules
Gadgets Now: Google, Facebook and Twitter threaten to leave Pakistan over new rules. “Internet and technology companies have threatened to leave Pakistan after the government granted blanket powers to authorities to censor digital content, a move critics say was aimed at curtailing freedom of expression in the conservative Islamic nation.”
Reuters: Google signs copyright agreements with six French newspapers
Reuters: Google signs copyright agreements with six French newspapers. “Alphabet’s Google has signed copyright agreements with six French newspapers and magazines, including national dailies Le Monde and Le Figaro, the U.S. tech company said in a post on its blog on Thursday. The announcement follows months of bargaining between Google, French publishers and news agencies over how to apply revamped EU copyright rules, which allow publishers to demand a fee from online platforms showing extracts of their news.”
Google Inside Search: Visit 100 cultural sites in Search
Google Inside Search: Visit 100 cultural sites in Search. “If travelling is on your mind, Google Search might be your starting place to research, find inspiration, and learn about sites from all over the world. And even though many of us have had to change or cancel our travel plans, it’s still a great time to seek inspiration for our next great adventure. That’s why, with Google Arts & Culture, we’re launching a new virtual tour feature on Google Search for over 100 global museums and cultural sites. You can drop in and explore the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of French kings, or visit the Palace Museum, which Chinese emperors called home for almost 500 years.”
Marketing Magazine: Google Lens used to showcase Australian women artists
Marketing Magazine: Google Lens used to showcase Australian women artists. “Google Lens technology is being used by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in an initiative launched to showcase the work of Australian women artists in different locations across the country. The project is a the result of a partnership between the NGA, oOh!Media and Google, and highlights six artists showcased in high-profile out of home sites as part of the gallery’s Know My Name initiative.”
Deutsche Welle: Companies plead with EU regulators for action on Google
Deutsche Welle: Companies plead with EU regulators for action on Google. “On November 12, 165 companies and industry bodies in Europe joined Foundem in penning a letter to EU antitrust regulators pleading for harder action against Google. They say the company is driving them out of business with unfair practices on the Google search results page, a function that is so widely used it is essentially the gateway to the internet.”