Official Google Blog: October 2013

Android for all and the new Nexus 5

October 31, 2013

Bringing more Google smarts to Android siteReaching the next 1 billion usersIntroducing Nexus 5site
Nexus 5 is available today, unlocked and without a contract, on Google Play in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea (and coming soon to India), starting at $349. Just in the time for the holidays, Nexus 5 will be available soon at the following retailers: Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack.Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Android, Chrome & Apps

How not to get tricked: Your favorite online safety tips

October 31, 2013

#staysafe

Add 2-step verification to keep the bad guys out of your Google account.

Use a password to secure your router.

Avoid malware—review permissions and ratings before installing a new app.

Think before you share.

Learn how to locate and remote wipe your mobile device in case it’s lost or stolen.

YouTube settingsAndroid Device ManagerGood to Know sitePosted by Diana Smetters, Software Engineer

Google+ Hangouts and Photos: save some time, share your story

October 29, 2013

Hangouts

Hangouts for Android now supports location sharing and SMS. This way you can send a map of your current location (vs. finding and typing an address), and you can send and receive SMS (vs. switching between apps). Animated GIFs also play inline.

Broadcasters can now schedule Hangouts On Air, then promote them with a dedicated watch page. Once you're live, Control Room lets you moderate the conversation with eject and remote mute.

In both cases, the video calling experience is significantly improved. It's now full screen across mobile and desktop, and it fixes and enhances webcam lighting automatically.

From left to right: location sharing; SMS support; and animated GIFsFrom left to right: schedule your Hangout On Air; promote it with a dedicated watch page; and moderate the conversation with Control RoomFrom left to right: video call before lighting fixes; video call after lighting fixesPhotos and videos

For starters, full size backups and background sync are coming soon to Google+ for iOS. This way you can backup your photos as you take them.

In addition, finding your photos is actually fun. We now recognize over a thousand different objects—from sunsets to snowmen—so you can just type what you’re looking for, and find matching items in your library.

Auto Enhance improves each photo you add to Google+, and now you can now dial the enhancements up or down. If you’re already processing your images elsewhere, you can choose to exempt an album entirely.

If you like to edit on the go, then you’ll enjoy Snapseed and its new HDR Scape filter. While high dynamic range (HDR) imaging requires multiple photos to create its effect, HDR Scape can deliver similar results with a single tap.

We’re also adding Analog Efex Pro to the Nik Collection (still just $149). With it you can reimagine your images using classic cameras and processing methods—from toy and medium format to wet plate and vintage.

From left to right: photo searches for "beach", "sunset" and "snow"

From left to right: original image; Auto Enhance at "normal"; Auto Enhance at "high"

From left to right: original image; image enhanced with Snapseed HDR Scape

Action. Maybe it’s your child’s first gymnastic meet, or you’re skateboarding with a friend. Action can take their tumble or half pipe trick, and create a strobe-effect photograph.

Eraser. When you’re taking pictures of landmarks, people and cars often get in the way. Eraser can take a sequence of these photos, and erase whatever’s moving to give you a “cleaner” image.

Movie. Movie produces highlight reels from your photos and videos—complete with effects, transitions and a soundtrack—automatically. You can share the movie as is, or dive into the editing process to customize even further.

From left to right: sequence of action shots; Auto Awesome Action

From left to right: sequence of images with people in the way; Auto Awesome EraserPosted by +Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President

New free expression tools from Google Ideas

October 21, 2013

one out of every threeCouncil on Foreign RelationsGen Next Foundation

join our next round of trusted testers.

The Digital Attack Map is a live data visualization, built through a collaboration between Arbor Networks and Google Ideas, that maps DDoS attacks designed to take down websites—and their content—around the globe. This tool shows real-time anonymous traffic data related to these attacks on free speech, and also lets people explore historic trends and see related news reports of outages happening on a given day.

uProxy is a new browser extension under development that lets friends provide each other with a trusted pathway to the web, helping protect an Internet connection from filtering, surveillance or misdirection. The University of Washington and Brave New Software developed the tool, which was seeded by Google Ideas. To learn more about the challenges uProxy aims to address, watch our video.
Information technologies have transformed conflict in our connected world, and access to the free flow of information is increasingly critical. This week’s summit—as well as Shield, the Digital Attack Map and uProxy—are all steps we’re taking to help those fighting for free expression around the globe.

Posted by Jared Cohen, Director, Google Ideas

Google Media Tools: a new intersection for newsgathering

October 21, 2013

plot disparities in neighborhood mortgage ratesGoogle Media Tools Online News Association ‘13 (ONA) Posted by Daniel Sieberg, Head of Media Outreach at Google

Leaving a lasting legacy with help from Google

October 18, 2013

Last year Andrew Willis used Search and Maps to turn his love for skateboarding into something that could bring a community together: his skatepark, Frontside Gardens. Here is his story.
For Hackney Wick families and kids, Frontside Gardens is more than a skatepark. Built by hand from scratch, it’s a place to enjoy a sunny day, learn new skills and make the most of what they've got together. For Andrew, it’s a place to pass down the things he's learned over the years and in doing so, creating a legacy all his own. Posted by Steve Vranakis, Creative Lab

Supporting entrepreneurs worldwide with UP Global

October 16, 2013

Google for EntrepreneursStartup WeekendStartup DigestNEXTUP GlobalGoogle+Posted by Mary Grove, Director of Google for Entrepreneurs

A long way home with help from Google Earth

October 15, 2013

Google Earth
On that day 27 years ago, Saroo and his 14-year-old brother, Guddu, were searching a train station for change to help support their family. Guddu wandered beyond the station and Saroo fell asleep on a stationary train waiting for his brother’s return. When he woke up, the train had left the station, separating Saroo from his home and family.HobartThe Google Earth imagery that brought Saroo home.A Long Way HomePosted by Peter Birch, Google Earth Product Manager

Saying thank you to our Google Top Contributors

October 10, 2013

Top Contributor SummitfirstSebastian Miśniakiewicz, Top Contributor in the Webmasters Polish forum, talks with Program Manager Oahn Nguyen and Map Maker Program Manager Nicole DrobeckYogi Anand, Docs Top Contributor from Michigan, tries Google GlassTop Contributors play air hockey during a social event at the San Jose Convention Center Photograph by Paciano Triunfo learn moreTop Contributors and Googlers show their excitement on campusPhotograph by Paciano Triunfo

The web is working for part-time businesses

October 10, 2013

ResearchThe Internet AssociationPosted by Lisa Gevelber, VP, Americas Marketing

50 million lines of code and counting: supporting students in open source

October 8, 2013

Google Summer of CodeTo date, the program has produced 50 million lines of open source code from more than 8,500 student developers—and in 2014, we'll mark the 10th anniversary of Google Summer of Code.
To celebrate the previous nine years of student contributions and set the stage for the best Google Summer of Code yet, we’re launching 10 things to make the program better than ever. Here’s a peek at what we’ll be up to, stay tuned to the Open Source blog for updates:

We’re planning 10 visits to countries with the highest participation throughout the year to promote the program and celebrate local students and mentors.

A 10 percent increase in the student stipend, bringing the amount to $5,500.

We’re also accepting 10 percent more students than ever before—more than 1,300 students will spend their summer coding as part of the program next year

A 10-year reunion mentor summit held at Google’s Mountain View campus for our Google Summer of Code organization alumni.

We’re excited to be running a program that touches a lot of lives around the world every year, and we want to celebrate all of the accomplishments we’ve seen from our participants. We’re also committed to getting younger students involved in open source software. For the fourth consecutive year, in November we’ll run Open Source blog post for more details on both programs. Here’s to the next year in open source! Posted by Carol Smith, Open Source Programs Office

The new HP Chromebook, made with Google

October 8, 2013

HP Chromebook 11

Brilliant display. Often when folks gather around a screen, everyone tries to gently nudge the computer in their own direction so they can see better. No more nudging. The new Chromebook's screen has a 176-degree viewing angles so you can see even when looking at it almost completely sideways. And the super bright display brings all of your favorite photos, shows and videos to life.

Light but sturdy. We wanted the Chromebook to hold up well against everyday bumps and bruises. So it has a magnesium frame that makes it incredibly sturdy. You can hold it from a single corner without it bending or flexing.

Finely-tuned speakers. Many computers have speakers on the bottom, which is great if you have ears in your lap. Instead, the speakers on the new Chromebook are under the keyboard, which means the sound is crisp, clear and pointed up towards your ears.

Goodies built-in. And, of course, many Google apps come built-in, including 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage (free for two years) and a 60-day free trial of Google Play Music All Access.

gift list

The cultural catwalk: 5000+ new works in the Cultural Institute

October 8, 2013

hereThe Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg online exhibitionwax portrait The Hands of the Ashanti King taken on a tour by a museum directorPosted by Piotr Adamczyk, Program Manager, Google Cultural Institute

Hulu Plus now works with Chromecast

October 2, 2013

HulucastingAmazonBestBuy.comPosted by Shanna Prevé, Head of Content Partnerships for Chromecast and TV junkie

An Austrian star of European computing

October 1, 2013

computing heritage seriesperformed a similar function electronicallyHeinzVienna University of TechnologyPhilipsAs he jokedone of the earliest in the worldTechnical Museum in ViennaPosted by Wolfgang Fasching-Kapfenberger, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Austria

Official Blog

Android for all and the new Nexus 5

How not to get tricked: Your favorite online safety tips

Google+ Hangouts and Photos: save some time, share your story

New free expression tools from Google Ideas

Google Media Tools: a new intersection for newsgathering

Leaving a lasting legacy with help from Google

Supporting entrepreneurs worldwide with UP Global

A long way home with help from Google Earth

Saying thank you to our Google Top Contributors

The web is working for part-time businesses

50 million lines of code and counting: supporting students in open source

The new HP Chromebook, made with Google

The cultural catwalk: 5000+ new works in the Cultural Institute

Hulu Plus now works with Chromecast

An Austrian star of European computing

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