You’ve got a front-row seat to the show
Just fire up Google Maps to see where he goes.
Thanks to the elves’ precisely coded route
Santa and his reindeer will fly swiftly—look out!
Now the sleigh tuning’s done,
Tales of global traditions spun,
Every gift in the sleigh gently placed,
Wrapped with care, without haste.
The reindeer are prancing and eager to fly,
Ready for Santa’s trip through the sky.
With so little time to get their job done—
They may need your help on this gift-giving run.
So keep the translation tool handy;
Geography trivia would also be dandy.
There’s no telling what Santa might need
Traveling from Brisbane to Lima to Leeds.
Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
Join in on the fun—find out what you’re missin’!
On Maps! On Android, Chromecast and Google.com!
There’s something for everyone, from kids to mom.
So watch that sleigh as it takes to the air,
And wherever you are, St. Nick will soon be there.
To borrow a phrase, as Santa takes flight—
"Happy holidays to all, and to all a good-night!"
Posted by Luke Mahé, Chief Excitement Officerhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGCQjSXhHp8OVKQ991EUHo4uRXDR8WzvDpFph2AC5GCebeH305vVfwlZHLg5hElvnyYeOD4RbI8gN37Rmg-iM1p8_BOB7dybIYdxc_dCPrWOeQ9khytzQ-4iTn1OIxmKg5BM/s1600/SantaTracker2015_2.jpgLuke MahéChief Excitement Officer
Bonus: If you open up the Google app on your Android phone and say “Ok Google, play the Beatles,” There will be an answer. Let it stream.
In the words of Ed Sullivan: “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Beatles!”
Posted by Gwen Shen, Music Partnerships, Google Play
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYfELp2F1o1NnfN6qkaBSUUnD2mKlYcpcj0dWGaD1YjkfDYFDb-nEBfTt3Jjc84kcYRpRmMx5tUxA3WKsw1iJg7wSmumOG7Uw26-IZWau_omhtFdIGQsEjfgRo0-OFtkrrF8d/s1600/Beatles_2.pngGwen ShenMusic PartnershipsGoogle Play
“Special Delivery” is the latest of several Spotlight Stories to come out of Google ATAP (our Advanced Technology and Projects group). With Google Spotlight Stories, your phone becomes a window to a story happening all around you. The sensors on your phone allow the story to be interactive, so when you move your phone to various scenes, you unlock mini-stories within the story.
We didn’t want anyone to miss Aardman’s “Pink Panther”-style holiday caper! So we also made a YouTube 360 version for other Android devices, iOS devices, and the web. You can find both versions of “Special Delivery” on the Spotlight Stories YouTube channel, and you can also watch with Google Cardboard. Next year, we’ll bring Google Spotlight Stories to more Android devices and the YouTube iOS app.
You’ll want to watch “Special Delivery” a few times to find all the surprises within the story. In the full interactive experience, you’ll encounter 10 subplots, three potential ways to view the ending, and 60+ moments where you can decide to follow the story in different ways. Each viewing is unique. We don’t want to spoil the ending, so that’s all we’ll say for now…
Posted by Rachid El Guerrab, Technical Project Lead, Spotlight Stories, Google ATAP
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5rI09vU4eICHAxkKhHns-PM_9T3MxjtFIrRsZBQCX7CcJ9mm9qbFOis21xxDuqBhDMH9s7lj_ID5qqIxRifCKm2bp20NH0V1MDcFLn5LsIvc7DOwKjykY9CNLiOeZlULP4HZ/s1600/SLS_SpecialDelivery_Twitter_1.gifRachid El GuerrabTechnical Project Lead, Spotlight StoriesGoogle ATAP
Tell the family when to expect you with trip bundles
There’s probably a lot going on in your email right now if you’ve got an upcoming trip home or holiday getaway planned. From your flight confirmation to rental car details, Inbox by Gmail already groups these emails into trip bundles so you can find everything you need for your trip quickly. Those bundles just got even more useful—you can now access them offline (good for on the plane), share the trip summary with friends or family, and add other pertinent emails (like that message with your aunt’s new address) to the bundle.
Templates in Google Docs go mobile
If you’re collecting family recipes or planning a trip, templates in Docs, Sheets and Slides help you get started faster, so you can spend more time concentrating on the words you’re writing and less time worrying about how it looks. These pre-made templates are now available on Android and iOS so you can do more while on the go. Ho, ho, ho!
Posted by Abbi Tatton, Google Editorial Elfhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3FhbuIJUZ0hOoim5xw1oT0wgfv7mwBGYybTRZDUp-lD23TJtfBUp9-Z2a-ySMPnelcqFTsk24d9ZjtnCDmamPECJkKfZzNk6lqLk-rOWv7zUji2KUnd_iqlfkKBndT3kXODa/s1600/Beutler_Google_Giftwrap_-v2TW.pngAbbi TattonEditorial ElfGoogle
At today’s event, each startup will have four minutes to pitch their businesses, followed by Q&A with a panel of judges. At the end of the day, the judges will crown a Judges’ Favorite, based on the strength of their business model, their team, and their product. Demo Days aren’t just a time to pitch investors; founders also receive mentoring and feedback from Googlers and Silicon Valley veterans through a series of talks and workshops.
Companies from our past two Demo Days have raised $3.5 million from investors who are in attendance, and millions more afterwards. For example, Durham, North Carolina-based beverage entrepreneur Tatiana Birgisson, who won our Demo Day in April, has raised more than $1 million for her energy tea startup MATI Energy.
But it's not just the people in the room who can take part in the big day. You can tune in to the live stream on YouTube at 10am PT today to see Demo Day in action. You'll also have the chance to vote for the winner of the "Game Changer" Award, an audience favorite trophy. We hope this Demo Day will not only shine a light on the participating startups, but on the exciting companies being built and led by female entrepreneurs everywhere.
Posted by Mary Grove, Director of Google for Entrepreneurshttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSypVzypqFIPx6dXyji08H77klmDyWEtGpUIcG39wo18NRGM1kVyM84vdFAt39uUXgWGse5uovfBv_9NjVdUb5vjK7c8kC7e2iPO8L4V9I1OGHpj9WOPsjltUyze-rAO3VIR8/s1600/IMG_6152.JPGMary GroveDirectorGoogle for Entrepreneurs
The Pixel C’s high-resolution, 10.2” display is crisp, colorful, and bright—in fact it’s one of the brightest tablets out there—perfect for sharing photos and videos with family over the holidays. Graphics horsepower and stereo speakers mean the Pixel C can keep up with you whether you’re watching a new episode of "Silicon Valley" or playing a new game.
But what really makes the Pixel C unique is the full-size keyboard, which is designed to fit perfectly with the tablet. It attaches seamlessly with magnets, and automatically connects via bluetooth. When the tablet and keyboard are closed together, the keyboard charges wirelessly and automatically—so you never have to worry about it running out of juice. And when you don’t need to type, the keyboard tucks securely behind the tablet with magnets—out of the way but close by for when you need it.
This is the first tablet designed with Android 6.0, Marshmallow in mind. You get added security benefits, smarter and longer battery life (10+ hours) and Now on Tap at your fingertips. To ensure the Pixel C gets even better over time, it will receive regular security and feature updates directly from Google. But what makes a tablet great is the amount of things you can do with it—and you’ve got plenty to choose from with s’more than 1 million apps on Google Play.
The Pixel C is available on the Google Store now starting at $499, and if you order today, you can get it in time for the holidays.
Posted by Andrew Bowers, Director, Product Management & Pixel Perfectionisthttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7-zQlAtDCLwxNhXVPnUf2TsSgJCrhF9dOCtfNDYf_18YzTwgvsJnjF3guJuDAkJU10x01AAC-JPYA7q6dZ8NdL2NbJibWCOeVHY-ZE-2mrD64nOXmzZBcEp23KFDAJNAZc_o/s1600/NexusRYUKey_O_SILVER_TQF.pngAndrew BowersDirectorProduct Management
Posted by Kara Bailey, Director of Merchandising, Google Playhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTWgqzEl0NKlDNIGGpjbgQEPC8QN5qcS-8QiCwc-Kq8aaYZDAzXHX7aniM6EbeTENIQjDyWs0io9hFIF_BX52kVB8ZT9rXbwks5u8IWIz-EiTquyN-WiVBG-dfYgtIDXWC09d/s1600/Game_of_Thrones_highlight-tv-us-20150831-3194x1797-080703+%25281%2529.jpgKara BaileyDirector of MerchandisingGoogle Play
Standing in the Templo Principal, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast Plaza Principal allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.
After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more Wonders of Machu Picchu on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals—which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later. Highlights include a perfectly preserved pair of plates decorated with butterflies, and an ingenious device of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. See these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a virtual tour.
Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a click away.
Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Leadhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScHZzQOVPBSuoBj8OtY8JyJ9ayDKGI3vpsGZMKfQ08eLo5Qijs5YWzvLd_OoEEhKLIYohYM1VBJzrJAgH7nS_fDM4DCKRkw2JBpAAHST1AnzWyShMZnYm6JYgC2a2vZN1WXxR/s1600/historic+sanctuary.pngDaniel FilipTech LeadGoogle Maps
VR photos are three-dimensional panoramas, with slightly different views for each eye, so near things look near and far things look far. You can look around to explore the image in all directions, and even record sound with your photo to hear the moment exactly as it happened.
Taken with Cardboard Camera at Jackson Lake, Wyoming. This simulates the 3D effect when seen in a Cardboard viewer.
With Cardboard Camera, anyone can create their own VR experience. So revisit the mountaintop that took hours to hike, or the zoo where you saw (and heard) the monkeys, or your birthday party with the cake out and candles still lit. Capture the moments that matter to you and relive them anytime, from anywhere.
Cardboard Camera is available today on Google Play in 17 languages.
Posted by Carlos Hernandez, Software Engineer, Cardboard Camerahttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNKUSVtYm5mckG-TGAtMd3fUx5ivCCfuwm4fyRqxPfUAQP94CrjXi60QRkmrMf1HQkY6bmvkH5koi4SGsJrKGq0jwzIckFUGie7Yp0nfL_zeIlf8rJGd3SYk9PF7o1uZk4_Kl/s1600/Simulates_3D_Effect_in_Viewer.gifCarlos HernandezSoftware EngineerCardboard Camera
These long-term contracts range from 10-20 years and provide projects with the financial certainty and scale necessary to build these wind and solar facilities—thus bringing new renewable energy onto the grid in these regions. For our part, these contracts not only help minimize the environmental impact of our services—they also make good business sense by ensuring good prices.
Our commitment to a sustainable energy future
Since we opened our very first owned data center in 2006, we’ve been working to promote renewable and sustainable energy use in several ways:
First, we’re building the world’s most efficient computer infrastructure by designing our data centers to use as little energy as possible.
Second, we're driving the renewables industry forward by fully committing to renewable sources. In 2010, we entered our first large-scale renewable power purchase agreement with a wind farm in Iowa, and we subsequently completed a number of similar large-scale energy purchases over the past five years. Today’s announcement is another milestone in this area.
Third, we've worked with our utility partners to help promote transformation in the utility sector. In 2013 we created a new program that enables customers like Google to buy large amounts of renewable energy directly from their utilities. Today's announcement includes the first solar project enrolled under that program. And this past summer we announced that our newest data center will be on located on the site of a retiring coal plant and will be 100% renewable powered from day one.
Fourth, beyond our efforts to power our own operations with renewables, we’ve made separate agreements to fund $2.5 billion into 22 large-scale renewable energy projects over the last five years, from Germany to Kansas to Kenya. These investments have been in some of the largest and most transformative renewable energy projects in the world with a goal to help drive renewable energy development not only as a customer but as an investor, and bring down costs for everyone.
And we’re also working on new technologies and ideas—ranging from Project Sunroof to Makani Power to air quality monitoring—that we hope can make a cleaner energy future an option for many more people.
With world leaders coming together at the COP21 UN conference on climate change in Paris this week, there's no better time to focus on renewable energy. We hope that our efforts play a small part in boosting all of us in the race to solve climate change.
Posted by Urs Hölzle, SVP Technical Infrastructurehttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga70lycHIvBZeV9oXldDhSmN_rw0vBYTBj8c7mqp0T5SoFp4X457D62yZa_vfg2JWr9rY7jgBvA2C1h4yk4JBnIUhzK41YqfAdEyDSlywEhQKtr6m6BBS0zLKUBHTUHShxwmus/s1600/gigawattscrop.pngUrs HölzleSVPTechnical Infrastructure
Kiran Kaja, Technical Program Manager, London: Being blind from birth, I’ve always been excited by devices that talk to you or allow you to talk back to them. Today, I work on Google’s Text to Speech team developing technologies that talk to people with disabilities. I’m also helping improve eyes-free voice actions on Android so that people with low vision can accomplish standard tasks just by talking to their phone. This not only helps people with disabilities, but anyone whose hands are busy with another task—like cooking, driving or caring for an infant. The advances we’re making in speech recognition and text to speech output promise a bright future for voice user interfaces.
Paul Herzlich, Legal Analytics Specialist, Mountain View: As a wheelchair user from a spinal cord injury, I'm passionate about the potential impact of technology to solve disability-related issues. Outside of my job, I'm working alongside a team of mechanical and electrical engineers, UX designers, and medical professionals to develop a new technology called SmartSeat, which I hope to bring to life in tandem with Google.org through its Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities. SmartSeat is a device that notifies wheelchair users when they have been sitting in the same position for too long by using force sensors connected to a mobile app, thereby helping these users prevent pressure sores. You can watch a video of the early prototype on YouTube.
Aubrie Lee, Associate Product Marketing Manager, Mountain View: Like many other disabled people, I’ve spent most of my life as the minority in the room. In high school, I attended a state forum on disability and felt what it was like to be in the majority. Now, I work to create that feeling for other disabled people. I started the Googler Disability Community, a group that works on changing Google’s physical environment and workplace systems to help make our company truly inclusive. Outside of my job, I enjoy exploring the beauty in disability through and poetry. My own disabilities and the way they influence my interactions with others provide endless inspiration for my art.
Pablo Pacca, Language Market Manager, São Paulo: I’m in charge of making sure Google’s products are translated well into Brazilian Portuguese for the 180+ million Brazilians who don’t speak English. I’m also an activist and advocate for accessibility and inclusion, both as a blogger on disability issues and the lead for the Google Brazil People with Disabilities (PwD) group. At PwD Brazil, we educate Googlers about disability issues, and work to foster a more accessible office space and inclusive work environment across the company.
Posted by Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google.org https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru70gLASw0sZpOO30aBh-ONqy5gZpNvq_EgA7H4-7V3UVEHkdNHdo4L1Cr4DkIYm9i8EWx12FZ8T_5mVBOTNxwSWuNf6PWiYsltZEtFTsx9x89rZ14QvKYGje9C4xnMcsejiT/s1600/DSC_8076.jpg Jacquelline FullerDirectorGoogle.org
Join the elves on all screens as they get ready for Santa’s big night—with Chromecast, Wear, App for Android, and more.
Brush up on your computer skills with new coding games throughout the month.
Get into the spirit of giving—learn about charitable organizations and discover how SolarAid is working to make the season brighter with renewable energy.
Take a study break to jam out with friends to elf-made holiday tunes.
For those on the ho-ho-go, get the Santa Tracker App for Android to check out new games on the phone or through Cardboard.
Now before Santa flies like the dawn of a thistle, pay his village a visit—and help him and his elves get ready for the day Santa hits the clouds.
Posted by Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategisthttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJAv4RY-ITDq__ZoVBgqSbPc8LMvBpwUwboAofvvuhh2yZGPEVgIVrm381JDdITUhTJBZsvYca5x0myAFavkYrGAXjDKy7j2O6pfoDVBDEJJN1gd5FAbeUW81wXkoZ9LHSZ7_/s1600/SantaTracker2015_village-on-devices1.pngSandy RussellSanta Launch Strategist
Me and my students performing at a school assembly on November 10, 2015
That’s why I was so thrilled to learn that Google.org was funding my request on DonorsChoose.org to bring my music inclusion project to more students. For the past month, Google.org has hosted schoolwide celebrations to honor teachers of students with special needs, and funded hundreds of DonorsChoose.org special needs projects like mine. Starting today for #GivingTuesday, Google is making it easier for everyone to support teachers by matching up to a million dollars in donations to increase inclusion, equity and opportunity for students with diverse learning styles. In addition, last week Android Pay committed to donating up to another $1 million to special needs projects on DonorsChoose.org.
There are currently 6.4 million students with special needs in the U.S.—13 percent of the total student population. Yet, a $17 billion federal deficit in special education funding leaves far too many gaps across classrooms. In fact, on average, all teachers spend $485 of their own money each year on their classrooms.
Teachers like me are working to make sure all students can have an equal and inclusive education. And you can help provide some of the materials they need most—take a look! Together, we can help make education more inclusive #ForEveryKid.
