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Call me maybe? Introducing free voice calls from Hangouts
September 10, 2014
We know how important it is to keep in touch with friends and family, especially when they’re spread around the world. Hangouts already makes it easy to send a quick message, or start a group video chat. But sometimes it’s best to just
call to say “I love you,”
and with the new version of Hangouts you can.
Starting today you can make voice calls from Hangouts on Android, iOS and the web. It’s free to call other Hangouts users, it’s free to call numbers in the U.S. and Canada, and the
international rates
are really low. So keeping in touch is easier and more affordable than ever.
To get started on Android, just grab the new version of
Hangouts
(v2.3, rolling out over the next few days), then install the
accompanying dialer
to turn on voice calls. On
iOS
and the web, voice calls will be available the next time you open the app.
Voice calls in Hangouts: call history (left); dialer (middle); in a call (right)
Whether it’s your sister in Paris, your best friend in Boston or
Jenny at 867-5309
, Hangouts lets you call the people you care about at little or no cost. So download the app and dial your loved ones today!
Posted by Amit Fulay, Product Manager
A solar project on top of an old oil field in California’s Kern County
September 10, 2014
We recently finalized an investment that will put a 82MW solar power plant on top of an old oil and gas field in Kern County, Calif. The new deal with SunEdison will generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes.
Our investment in the Regulus solar project will give new life to a long-valued piece of land, and there's something a little poetic about creating a renewable resource on land that once creaked with oil wells. Over the years, this particular site in California has gone from 30 oil wells to five as it was exhausted of profitable fossil fuel reserves. The land sat for some time and today we’re ready to spiff things up. With the help of our $145 million equity commitment, SunEdison is draping it in high-tech, sleek panels that collect energy from the sun, while bringing 650 jobs to the Kern County area and 82MW of clean energy to the grid.
Like many states, California has a
goal
of increasing the amount of energy procured from renewable sources. This project helps support that quest and marks
17 renewable energy investments
for Google since 2010, including five here in the Golden State.
We’re continually looking for newer, bigger and better projects that help us create a clean energy future. The more than $1.5 billion we’ve brought to these projects to date not only helps provide renewable energy to the grid and to the public, but as they perform, they allow us to invest in more renewable energy projects. This cycle makes financial sense for Google and our partners while supporting construction jobs in local communities and clean energy for the planet we share.
Posted by Nick Coons, Renewable Energy Principal
Walk like an Egyptian with Street View in Google Maps
September 10, 2014
Candlelight flickering on a stone wall covered in hieroglyphs. A proud queen brought low by the bite of a snake. Reeds rustling along a river, waiting to be turned into papyrus, or maybe a basket. The civilization of ancient Egypt stood for thousands of years and left behind a rich legacy of architecture, art, medicine, politics, culture and more. Today, it looms large in our imagination as the home of Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Tutankhamun, people who worshipped cats as gods and buried their embalmed dead in tombs filled with treasures and sustenance for the afterlife.
Now the Egypt of your imagination can be brought to life with new Street View imagery in Google Maps, and you can take a virtual walk among the stunning monuments and rich history of this ancient civilization.
Start where most tourists do: at the
Pyramids of Giza
, which rise from the vast expanse of the Sahara like man-made mountains. Just kilometers from the bustling, modern city of Cairo, the Pyramids have stood for nearly 5,000 years, a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the ancient Egyptian people.
The Giza Necropolis is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and is home to the last standing wonder of the ancient world: the
Great Pyramid
. Built as a tomb and a symbol of eternity for the Pharoah Khufu, it stands 139 meters high (the height of the world’s
highest roller coaster
!) and was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for 3,800 years. Look beyond it to the west, and you’ll see the pyramids of
Khafre
and
Menkaure
, built by Khufu's son and grandson.
The Great Pyramid
Now turn east to
the Great Sphinx
, the oldest and largest known monumental sculpture in the world. With the body of a lion and the head of a human, it measures a grand 73 meters long and 20 meters high. Literally translating to “Father of Dread,” this mythical creature is believed to resemble Pharaoh Khafre, who was the ruler at the time of construction.
The Great Sphinx
In addition to the Giza Necropolis, you can explore
The Pyramid of Djoser
, the ancient site of the world’s very first Pyramid designed by the great
Egyptian Architect Imhotep
in the ancient burial ground of
Saqqara
.
Other sites you can check out on your virtual tour include:
Abu Mena
, one of the oldest sites of Christianity in Egypt—the church, baptistry, basilicas and monasteries;
the Hanging Church
, one of the oldest Coptic Churches in the world; the
Cairo Citadel
, a medieval Islamic fortification and historic site; and the
Citadel of Qaitbay
, a 15th-century defensive fortress on the Mediterranean coast.
If wandering through the imagery of these historical sites has piqued your interest in Egyptology, head over to the
Google Cultural Institute
, where you can explore the treasures of ancient Egypt through a series of drawings, historic photographs and artifacts from the famed sites.
The
Pyramids of Giza
have survived nearly five millennia and are the planet’s oldest man-made wonder. Now their legacy—and the legacy of many other
sites of ancient Egyptian culture
—are preserved in a new way with panoramic and immersive Street View imagery. We hope you’ll take a moment to step back in time and explore what was once known as the Gift of the Nile.
Posted by Tarek Abdalla, Head of Marketing - Middle East and North Africa
Through the Google lens: search trends August 29 - September 4
September 5, 2014
This week search had three weddings, one real-life funeral, another on social media (we’ll explain later) and a 20th anniversary. Sounds like a packed week to us!
Heaven is a funny place
“I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action ... I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents.” Those are words from the great comedian
Joan Rivers
, who passed away yesterday. People across the web commemorated Rivers’ almost 50-year career by reliving her best
punchlines and jokes
(she was pretty hard to top). Meanwhile, people worked themselves into a panic when rumors swirled that TV’s favorite Golden Girl,
Betty White
, had passed on as well. Thankfully, the Internet is no soothsayer and Betty is alive and kicking—despite what the trends say.
Tales from the endzone
People were eagerly searching for info about the
NFL
’s opening game last night between the Green Bay Packers and reigning champions the Seattle Seahawks. And if you were still frantically finalizing your roster for your fantasy football team this week, you were in good company. Searchers looked for the latest player stats to fine-tune their lineups and were doing so at
higher rates
than previous years. One player not on fantasy rosters but on fans’ minds was
Michael Sam
, the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, as he was cut from the St. Louis Rams. He ended up finding a home on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, so we'll have to wait just a little bit longer for him to make history on the field.
She looks great in white (and on TV)
Search was singing “The Wedding March” this week as famous brides walked down the aisle—and up the trends charts.
Angelina Jolie
and her wedding dress went where no other woman (except Jennifer Aniston) had gone and tied the knot with Brad Pitt. And we’re guessing
Jenny McCarthy
’s got the right stuff since she and former New Kid on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg decided to get hitched (may they hang tough for years to come). Finally, basketball star Dwayne Wade stepped away from the court and onto the altar to wed
Gabrielle Union
. Bethany Mota celebrated a different kind of milestone as she joined the cast of
Dancing with the Stars
, becoming the first YouTube star to ever be invited on the show. But not everyone had a happy ending in Hollywood. Hackers were able to break into the phones of several actresses,
leaking
their private photos to the world—and stirring a debate in mainstream culture about privacy and cloud security.
Oldie but a goodie
We now present to you a short interlude down memory lane. This week, the cast of the 1994 hit comedy,
The Little Rascals
, reunited to reshoot the
movie’s iconic poster
—we’re still trying to come to terms with the whole “20 year anniversary” thing. And if you grew up in the 90’s, you’re more than familiar with Zack Morris and his antics at Bayside High on the teen sitcom
Saved by the Bell
. But do you know what happened when the cameras were turned off? That’s what searchers were looking for when Lifetime’s new TV movie
The Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story
aired this past Monday. The movie had a somewhat chilly reception on social media, with people
tweeting
their various issues with its portrayal.
Tip of the week
Summer may officially be over but that doesn’t mean the beach is closed. Just ask Google, “Where is the nearest beach?” to enjoy a little fun in the sun...because you know what they say, winter is coming!
Posted by Jenise Araujo, Communications Associate, who searched for [the alfalfa] and then had to call the [fashion police].
Android Wear, moving forward like clockwork
September 5, 2014
Earlier this year, we launched
Android Wear
, bringing Android to wearables. Since then, the first watches powered by Android Wear, the
LG G Watch
and
Samsung Gear Live
, have gone on sale, developers have already built thousands of apps enhanced for Wear, and great new watches are becoming available from more partners.
Our goal with Wear is to build technology that helps you connect with others and get stuff done. So often, technology can become something that gets in the way of everything else. But we want to build devices that you can use when you need and forget about when you don’t—technology that's built for your sake, rather than its own sake. Coming throughout the rest of this year, we're making some updates to Wear that will help you get even more out of your watch—and the rest of your life, too.
First, we're bringing
offline music playback
and
GPS support
to Android Wear. Go for a run or bike ride with your Android wearable and leave your phone at home. You’ll be able to listen to music stored on your watch via Bluetooth headphones. And if your watch includes a GPS sensor, you can track your distance and speed too.
The second update will enable
downloadable watch faces
, so you can customize the visual design of your watch's home screen to show the information you want to see most—like your calendar or fitness sensors. Developers will soon be working on watch faces, making them available on Google Play.
We’re also continuing to work with manufacturers to bring you even more watch options, with different shapes, styles and sensors.
The
Moto 360
, the first Android wearable with a round display, is
now available for sale
in the U.S.
The
Asus Zen Watch
, coming later this year, includes a bio sensor, so you can keep tabs on your fitness and relaxation levels throughout the day.
The
LG G Watch R
uses a circular display, includes a heart rate monitor, and will be available later this year.
Last, but not least, we’re happy to welcome Sony to the Android Wear family with the
Sony SmartWatch 3
. It uses a transflective display for easier readability in sunlight, includes a GPS sensor, and will be available later this year.
These watches, as well as those unveiled earlier this summer, will all get the new software updates described above as soon as they’re ready in the coming months. We're also working with our partners on even more improvements, which means your device will continue to get better, with updates provided directly to you.
Whether it's giving you directions, letting you stay in touch more easily or keeping track of your steps so you can stay fit, Wear is designed to help you out without getting in your way. With new features and many new devices to choose from, chances are there's a watch that's just right for you.
Posted by David Singleton, Engineering Director, Android Wear
Art, Copy & Code: EA Sports “Madden GIFERATOR”
September 4, 2014
Bring on the heart-pounding highs and the gut-wrenching lows; the crazy rituals and the bitter rivalries. Football season is back!
Whether you're a "12th Man" or wearing a cheesehead, chances are you’ll be watching the game with smartphone in hand.
Eighty-four percent
of us now watch TV while multi-tasking on other devices nearby. And today, the language of fan rivalries is a visual one. Just look at the resurgence of search interest for
GIFs
on Google Trends. Why say it in words when you can throw shade with a meme?
This year, there’s a way for mobile-clutching NFL fans to take their smack talk to the next level.
Madden GIFERATOR
is a new project created by our
Art, Copy & Code
team, in partnership with EA Sports and agencies Heat and Grow, to help launch EA Sports’ signature football game
Madden NFL 15
.
During every NFL game, the
Madden GIFERATOR
will create a live stream of memes using
Madden NFL 15
video game footage (as GIFs), triggered by the action on the field. The GIFs will appear in real time on
MaddenGIFERATOR.com
, on social media, as well as in ads on popular sports and gaming related apps and sites across the the
Google Display Network
. For example, if Seattle’s Richard Sherman picks off Aaron Rodgers tonight, you might see a GIF of Sherman with the headline “Weren’t you supposed to catch that? Aawwwwwkward” in the stream, alongside a real-time update on the score and game clock.
You can also take control of the GIFERATOR and design your own GIFs, choosing the team, the player, the background and the headline, ready for sharing across the web.
The Madden GIFERATOR is the latest in our
Art, Copy & Code series
, where we partner with brands and their agencies to create useful and fun experiences, powered by Google technology. We wanted to tap into the growing trend for fans to comment on and interact with games from their phones—plus, we have a
weakness
for GIFs. The GIFERATOR fuses live NFL game data with a database of Madden images, players, backgrounds and headlines to create relevant memes on the fly.
So this season, when your team delivers those clutch plays, head over to
MaddenGIFERATOR.com
, choose the perfect image, customize it with your best smack talk, and send it to your fellow fans (if you want to be nice) or your rivals (if you’ve got a wicked streak). Here’s a little inspiration before tonight’s Seahawks vs. Packers standoff:
Posted by Mike Glaser, Marketing Manager, Creative Partnerships
Making of Maps: Reaching a milestone
September 3, 2014
The is the first of several posts taking you behind the scenes of how Google makes its Maps. Stay tuned to the
Lat Long blog
over the next few days for the rest of the series.
—Ed.
When you head out your door, you’ve got directions in your pocket—whether you’re driving to your aunt’s place in the mountains, cycling to a new biergarten or taking the train downtown. For Google Maps to get you there, it needs to be a digital mirror of the real world. But the real world is always changing. So to make sure your map is an accurate reflection of your world, we started
Ground Truth
, a project that brings the freshest, most relevant information to Google Maps.
Today, we’ve reached our 50th Ground Truth country with the addition of five new countries: Taiwan, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, and the last regions of Russia. We’re also rolling out
Google Map Maker
and
Report a Problem
—our crowdsourcing map tools—to Taiwan, Russia and Malaysia, giving anyone in those locations the ability to share and contribute their local knowledge directly to Google Maps.
Drive over Malaysia’s new Penang Second Bridge
For these countries, that means clearer, more detailed depictions of points of interest like walking paths in parks or department labels in universities, a reworking of the road network with new street names and turn restrictions, and faster updates to the map. In the unique case of Poland and Romania, both of which have Map Maker communities that were instrumental in building the map from scratch, it also means providing more resources to bring the same level of map detail to all regions in these places.
Explore the campus of National Taiwan University
Over the next week, we’re pulling back the curtain to show you how Ground Truth and Map Maker work together to build Google Maps. Much of the magic behind Maps comes from people—from the Googlers who spend hours perfecting every road in the world, to the users who come together to improve the quality of maps in their local communities. To build the map, we have to gather high-quality information; in the next post, we’ll show you what that process looks like—and show off a new mapping technology. Stay tuned to the
Lat Long Blog
for more on how Google Maps is made!
Posted by Manik Gupta, Group Product Manager, Google Maps
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