478 lines
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478 lines
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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" media="screen" href="/~d/styles/atom10full.xsl"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" gd:etag="W/"DUYHQns6cCp7ImA9WhBTEUo.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780</id><updated>2013-02-06T10:58:53.518-08:00</updated><category term="google.org" /><category term="mobile" /><category term="google+" /><category term="youtube and video" /><category term="user experience and usability" /><category term="search stories" /><category term="g2g" /><category term="measurement" /><category term="ads" /><category term="Latin America" /><category term="small business" /><category term="This Week in Search" /><category term="privacy" /><category term="Asia" /><category term="social" /><category term="books + book search" /><category term="search quality" /><category term="open source" /><category term="photos" /><category term="Google at 10" /><category term="April 1" /><category term="maps and earth" /><category term="green" /><category term="online safety" /><category term="privacy and security" /><category term="accessibility" /><category term="developers" /><category term="personalization" /><category term="enterprise" /><category term="apps" /><category term="doodles" /><category term="crisis response" /><category term="Google Apps highlights" /><category term="recruiting and hiring" /><category term="youtube highlights" /><category term="Africa" /><category term="Android" /><category term="acquisition" /><category term="entrepreneurs at Google" /><category term="government transparency" /><category term="diversity" /><category term="journalism and news" /><category term="computing history" /><category term="local" /><category term="security" /><category term="politics" /><category term="culture" /><category term="entrepreneurship" /><category term="commerce" /><category term="policy and issues" /><category term="googlers and culture" /><category term="faster web" /><category term="Cultural Institute" /><category term="scholarships" /><category term="google ideas" /><category term="yourgooglestories" /><category term="display advertising" /><category term="recipe" /><category term="energy" /><category term="chrome + chrome os" /><category term="transparency" /><category term="free expression" /><category term="search trends" /><category term="innovation" /><category term="search" /><category term="education and research" /><category term="Europe" /><category term="health" /><category term="ipv6" /><title type="text">The Official Google Blog</title><subtitle type="html">Insights from Googlers into our products, technology, and the Google culture.</subtitle><link rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/" /><link rel="next" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default?alt=atom&start-index=26&max-results=25&redirect=false&v=2" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><generator version="7.00" uri="http://www.blogger.com">Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2817</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/MKuf" /><feedburner:info uri="blogspot/mkuf" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>blogspot/MKuf</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/my/addtomyyahoo4.gif">Subscribe with My Yahoo!</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://www.newsgator.com/ngs/subscriber/subext.aspx?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://www.newsgator.com/images/ngsub1.gif">Subscribe with NewsGator</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://feeds.my.aol.com/add.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/favorites.my.aol.com/webmaster/ffclient/webroot/locale/en-US/images/myAOLButtonSmall.gif">Subscribe with My AOL</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://www.bloglines.com/sub/http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/MKuf" src="http://www.bloglines.com/images/sub_modern11.gif">Subscribe with Bloglines</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://www.netvibes.com/subscribe.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://www.netvibes.com/img/add2netvibes.gif">Subscribe with Netvibes</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://fusion.google.com/add?feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://buttons.googlesyndication.com/fusion/add.gif">Subscribe with Google</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://www.pageflakes.com/subscribe.aspx?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fblogspot%2FMKuf" src="http://www.pageflakes.com/ImageFile.ashx?instanceId=Static_4&fileName=ATP_blu_91x17.gif">Subscribe with Pageflakes</feedburner:feedFlare><entry gd:etag="W/"CUAAQHYzeCp7ImA9WhBTEEU.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-4204073939915223997</id><published>2013-02-05T09:02:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-02-05T09:02:21.880-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-02-05T09:02:21.880-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="chrome + chrome os" /><title>A Chrome Experiment made with some friends from Oz</title><content type="html">You won’t need magical powers to take a journey down the yellow brick road; just point your favorite browser to the latest Chrome Experiment,&nbsp;“<a href="http://www.findyourwaytooz.com/">Find Your Way to Oz</a>.”&nbsp;Developed in collaboration with Disney and <a href="http://www.unit9.com/">UNIT9</a> in anticipation of the upcoming film, <a href="http://disney.go.com/thewizard/">Oz The Great and Powerful</a>, this experiment takes you through a dusty Kansas circus and leads to a vibrant land, following in the footsteps of the Wizard himself. <br />
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Like any good circus, there’s plenty to keep you entertained: compose your own music, play with a fun photo booth and create your own movie with a zoetrope. The path to Oz also involves confronting an ominous tornado; surviving it completes the journey, enabling fans of the movie to watch an exclusive unreleased clip from the film. <br />
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<a href="http://www.chromeexperiments.com/">Chrome Experiments</a> like “Find Your Way to Oz” would have been impossible a few years ago. Since that time, the web has evolved and allowed developers and designers to create immersive beautiful experiences. For “Find Your Way to Oz” the 3D environment was built entirely with new technologies such as <a href="http://www.html5rocks.com/en/tutorials/webgl/webgl_fundamentals/">WebGL</a> and <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/css3/default.asp">CSS3</a>. It’s enhanced by rich audio effects thanks to the <a href="http://www.html5rocks.com/en/tutorials/webaudio/intro/">Web Audio API</a>.&nbsp;The photo booth and zoetrope were built using the <a href="http://www.html5rocks.com/en/tutorials/getusermedia/intro/">getUserMedia</a> feature of <a href="http://www.webrtc.org/">WebRTC</a>, which grants webpages access to your computer’s camera and microphone (with your permission). <br />
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For the best experience, you’ll need to use an up-to-date computer built to handle intense graphics. It also works best with a webcam and a modern browser that supports WebGL and WebRTC, like <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/promo/oz/?gl=US&amp;hl=en-US&amp;utm_source=en_US-ogb-na-US&amp;utm_medium=ogb&amp;utm_campaign=en_US">Chrome</a>. For tablet or smartphone users, we have a smaller scale yet equally enjoyable experience that you can try with the latest Chrome browser on your Android device, iPhone or iPad.<br />
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If you want to learn more, or run away and join the developer circus, you can get an explanation of the technologies used on the <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2013/02/introducing-find-your-way-to-oz-new.html">Chromium blog</a> or in our <a href="http://www.html5rocks.com/tutorials/casestudies/oz/">technical case study</a>.<br />
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Start your journey towards the yellow brick road at <b><a href="http://www.findyourwaytooz.com/">www.findyourwaytooz.com</a></b>. <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Christos Apartoglou, Marketing Manager</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/S_hccisqTW8" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4204073939915223997?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4204073939915223997?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/S_hccisqTW8/a-chrome-experiment-made-with-some.html" title="A Chrome Experiment made with some friends from Oz" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/_2iDDI6Stx0/default.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-chrome-experiment-made-with-some.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CkMCQH0-fyp7ImA9WhBTEEk.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-6372667339283370124</id><published>2013-02-04T21:01:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-02-04T21:01:01.357-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-02-04T21:01:01.357-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="privacy and security" /><title>Safer Internet Day: How we help you stay secure online</title><content type="html">Technology can sometimes be complicated, but you shouldn’t have to be a computer scientist or security expert to stay safe online. Protecting our users is one of our top priorities at Google. Whether it’s creating easy-to-use tools to help you manage your information online or fighting the bad guys behind the scenes, we’re constantly investing to make Google the best service you can rely on, with security and privacy features that are on 24-7 and working for you. <br />
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Last year, we <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/tech-tips-that-are-good-to-know.html">launched</a> <a href="http://google.com/goodtoknow">Good to Know</a>, our biggest-ever consumer education campaign focused on making the web a safer, more comfortable place. Today, on Safer Internet Day, we’re updating Good to Know to include more tips and advice to help you protect yourself and your family from identity theft, scams and online fraud. You can also learn how to make your computer or mobile device more secure, and get more out of the web—from searching more effectively to making calls from your computer. And you can find out more about how Google works to make you, your device and the whole web safer. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCUm3IO6rGg/URBhkyY6QHI/AAAAAAAAKw8/l6Ak6uHI2X4/s1600/1m6X7ot5wEflZj9iJ8nFjEOy_kZcZLQ8FPg-O.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCUm3IO6rGg/URBhkyY6QHI/AAAAAAAAKw8/l6Ak6uHI2X4/s500/1m6X7ot5wEflZj9iJ8nFjEOy_kZcZLQ8FPg-O.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>
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For example, we encrypt the Gmail and Google Search traffic between your computer and Google—this protects your Google activity from being snooped on by others. We also make this protection, known as session-wide SSL encryption, the default when you’re signed into Google Drive. Because outdated software makes your computer more vulnerable to security problems, we built the Chrome browser to auto-update to the latest version every time you start it. It gives you up-to-date security protection without making you do any extra work. <br />
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Even if you don’t use Google, we work hard to make the web safer for you. Every day we identify more than 10,000 unsafe websites—and we inform users and other web companies what we’ve found. We show warnings on up to 14 million Google Search results and 300,000 downloads, telling our users that there might be something suspicious going on behind a particular website or link. We share that data with other online companies so they can warn their users. <br />
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We know staying safe online is important to you—and it is important to us too. Please take some time today to make your passwords stronger and <a href="http://support.google.com/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=180744">turn on 2-step verification</a> to protect your Google Account. Talk with friends and family about Internet safety. And visit our new Good to Know site to find more tips and resources to help you stay safe online. <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Alma Whitten, Director of Privacy, Product and Engineering</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/hptKhCOvnHc" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6372667339283370124?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6372667339283370124?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/hptKhCOvnHc/safer-internet-day-how-we-help-you-stay.html" title="Safer Internet Day: How we help you stay secure online" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCUm3IO6rGg/URBhkyY6QHI/AAAAAAAAKw8/l6Ak6uHI2X4/s72-c/1m6X7ot5wEflZj9iJ8nFjEOy_kZcZLQ8FPg-O.jpeg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/safer-internet-day-how-we-help-you-stay.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CUABQXc6eip7ImA9WhNaGUQ.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-3088770461936891363</id><published>2013-02-04T08:02:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2013-02-04T08:02:30.912-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-02-04T08:02:30.912-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="google+" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="youtube and video" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Latin America" /><title>Google and Brazil celebrate Carnival 2013</title><content type="html">Ask any person who’s never traveled to Brazil what he knows about the country and it’s likely that one of their first responses is: Carnival (or <i>Carnaval</i> in Portuguese). It's no wonder: Carnival is one of the largest celebrations on the planet. As a Brazilian, I can also say that it represents much of what’s wonderful about our country—joy, cultural richness and musical diversity.<br />
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From Feb 7-12, YouTube will bring Carnival to the world for the third year in a row—giving you a front-row seat to the entire celebration on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/carnaval">YouTube Carnival channel</a>.<br />
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<b>The best Carnival is the one you choose, anytime, anywhere</b><br />
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What better way to experience a party the size of Brazil than by connecting to the rhythms and local traditions of six different cities—from Rio de Janeiro’s <i>samba</i> and Salvador’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax%C3%A9_music"><i>axé</i></a> to southern Brazil’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frevo"><i>frevo</i></a>. This year, you’ll be able to enjoy the festivities of <a href="http://goo.gl/zKSYI">Salvador</a>, <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/nADs7">Rio de Janeiro</a>, <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/axMXO">Olinda</a>, <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/XiUPl">São Luís do Maranhão</a>, <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/stSgU">Ouro Preto</a> and <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/GFjxy">Pirenópolis</a>. <br />
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Pick from a series of live feeds, camera angles and performances from the city of your choice, right in the middle of the party. Channel feeds are made possible by a combination of YouTube Live and Google+ Hangouts. In total, you can access a total of 150 hours of live Carnival feeds—from your laptop, tablet or smartphone.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tAs5pDuPZXM/UQ_ZpcyYzoI/AAAAAAAAKv0/IPN-5zrKNoQ/s1600/10qJOo9j0Cooca-p-bSghkxr1oSlx1JnDczVUtw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tAs5pDuPZXM/UQ_ZpcyYzoI/AAAAAAAAKv0/IPN-5zrKNoQ/s500/10qJOo9j0Cooca-p-bSghkxr1oSlx1JnDczVUtw.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here’s a little more detail on some of the celebrations:<br />
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<li><i>YouTube from Rio de Janeiro</i>—From <b>Feb 8-12</b>, you can dance as much samba as you want, as you watch the attractions of the <a href="http://www.circovoador.com.br/#/ocirco">Circo Voador</a> concert hall or check out the calmer celebrations of <a href="http://rioshow.oglobo.globo.com/musica/shows/terreirao-do-samba-1747.aspx">Terreirão do Samba</a>, a venue that receives various samba musicians and afternoon concert sessions throughout the year.</li>
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<li><i>YouTube from Salvador de Bahia</i>—For the third year in a row, you’ll be able to check out the best of Salvador’s famed Carnival route, <b>Barra-Ondina</b>. However this time, you’ll be able to choose from four different camera feeds located throughout the Carnival route, so you don’t miss your favorite carnival band. Follow Salvador’s most famous carnival artists such as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/claudialeitteoficial">Claudia Leitte</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/artist/chiclete-com-banana">Chiclete com Banana</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/bandaasadeaguia">Asa de Águia</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/artist/ivete-sangalo">Ivete Sangalo</a> and others as their mobile stages advance through the circuit.</li>
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<b>Google+ joins the party</b><br />
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Everyone knows that a good party generates great photos. That’s why we’ve also joined with photographers who will be uploading pictures daily of Carnaval’s best moments from 20 different Brazilian cities at <a href="http://www.google.com.br/+/carnaval">Google+ Carnaval</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6EtrBs6Q88/UQ_av7SIxrI/AAAAAAAAKv8/_UzeZgYKbB8/s1600/1tkjQB5Vs-oJNISezN9t7zDxudam2yG8GfZg3FQ.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6EtrBs6Q88/UQ_av7SIxrI/AAAAAAAAKv8/_UzeZgYKbB8/s500/1tkjQB5Vs-oJNISezN9t7zDxudam2yG8GfZg3FQ.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Find the entire agenda of this year’s Carnival events at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/carnaval">www.youtube.com/carnaval</a>. To keep track of your favorite events and the artists you want to see, download the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/carnaval-2013/licfmkjjnjncmkkkccidiknfhijdnlkh">Carnaval 2013 extension</a> from the Chrome Web Store, and make sure not to miss a beat. <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Lauren Pachaly, Consumer Marketing Manager, Google Brazil</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/_SGzsAoraXg" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/3088770461936891363?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/3088770461936891363?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/_SGzsAoraXg/google-and-brazil-celebrate-carnival.html" title="Google and Brazil celebrate Carnival 2013" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tAs5pDuPZXM/UQ_ZpcyYzoI/AAAAAAAAKv0/IPN-5zrKNoQ/s72-c/10qJOo9j0Cooca-p-bSghkxr1oSlx1JnDczVUtw.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/google-and-brazil-celebrate-carnival.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"D0UHR386cCp7ImA9WhNaGUQ.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-8097687385842611897</id><published>2013-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-02-04T08:27:16.118-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-02-04T08:27:16.118-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="ads" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="search" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="youtube and video" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="search trends" /><title>M&M’s, Beyonce and Ravens dominate game day searches on Google</title><content type="html">This year’s big game was filled with action—brothers battled on the field and a 34-minute-long power outage nearly turned the tide of the game. With all the excitement on the field, we looked online to see what fans across the U.S. were searching for during the game.<br />
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Overall, the top trending searches on Google during the game were:<br />
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<li>M&amp;M’s</li>
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<li>Beyonce</li>
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<li>Baltimore Ravens</li>
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<li>San Francisco 49ers</li>
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<li>Colin Kaepernick</li>
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Other noteworthy trending searches include those about the power outage, which started trending mid-game and ended up ranking eighth out of the most-searched terms during game time. Searches for Beyonce spiked dramatically during her halftime show. And showing that ads drive consumer interest, searches for Chrysler spiked significantly after their fourth quarter commercial. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Youe8dXhSGo/UQ9qPdP6_nI/AAAAAAAAKus/clcbyCbl-ZI/s1600/super+bowl+chart+10-30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Youe8dXhSGo/UQ9qPdP6_nI/AAAAAAAAKus/clcbyCbl-ZI/s500/super+bowl+chart+10-30.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>The most searched team: The Ravens</b><br />
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As they did in the game, the Ravens narrowly beat out the 49ers as the most searched team during the game on Google. The most searched players of the game were <b>Colin Kaepernick, Joe Flacco, Michael Oher, David Akers</b> and <b>Jacoby Jones</b>—thanks to his <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8911913/super-bowl-2013-baltimore-ravens-jacoby-jones-sets-record-108-yard-kickoff-return">108-yard kickoff return</a>. <br />
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The Harbaugh brothers’ on-field battle has been one of the big stories of the game, so it’s no surprise that viewers took to the web to find more information on these coaches. While John Harbaugh took home the trophy, <b>Jim was the most searched brother</b> on Google. <br />
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<b>Game day commercials</b><br />
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Lastly, it’s not game day without the commercials. Fans were seeking out commercials online throughout the game, driving searches for big game ads on Google 55 times higher this Sunday than the same time last week. The most searched for commercials on YouTube were ads from <b>M&amp;M’s, Mercedes-Benz, Disney’s “Oz Great and Powerful,” Lincoln</b>, and <b>Audi</b>. Searches for "Gangnam Style" were also trending on YouTube, along with searches for big game performers Alicia Keys and Beyonce. <br />
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This year many advertisers turned to YouTube to share game day ads and teaser videos in the weeks leading up to the game. In 2013, big game ads or ad teasers were watched <b>more than 66 million times</b> on YouTube before game day. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dIqd62UU5o/UQ9qP1W6WXI/AAAAAAAAKu0/0PNuQBIsEjg/s1600/adblitzgallery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dIqd62UU5o/UQ9qP1W6WXI/AAAAAAAAKu0/0PNuQBIsEjg/s500/adblitzgallery.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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Now that you’ve seen all the ads, vote for your favorite one on either the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/adblitz">YouTube Ad Blitz channel</a> or <a href="http://www.adweek.com/the-big-game-2013">ADWEEK.com</a> now through February 11. The winners of the Ad Blitz will be announced on the YouTube homepage on February 16.<br />
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Will you be Monday-morning quarterbacking the game or the ads?<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Jeffrey Oldham, Software Engineer</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/Hrqka_apoic" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8097687385842611897?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8097687385842611897?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/Hrqka_apoic/m-beyonce-and-ravens-dominate-game-day.html" title="M&M’s, Beyonce and Ravens dominate game day searches on Google" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Youe8dXhSGo/UQ9qPdP6_nI/AAAAAAAAKus/clcbyCbl-ZI/s72-c/super+bowl+chart+10-30.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/m-beyonce-and-ravens-dominate-game-day.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CEEMR3o7eip7ImA9WhNaF0k.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-45460220658413529</id><published>2013-02-01T10:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-02-01T10:18:06.402-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-02-01T10:18:06.402-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="journalism and news" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Europe" /><title>Google creates €60m Digital Publishing Innovation Fund to support transformative French digital publishing initiatives</title><content type="html">Google has worked with news publishers around the globe for years to help them make the most of the web. Our search engine generates billions of clicks each month, and our advertising solutions (in which we have invested billions of dollars) help them make money from that traffic. And last year, we launched Google Play, which offers new opportunities for publishers to make money—including through paid subscriptions. A healthy news industry is important for Google and our partners, and it is essential to a free society. <br />
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Today I announced with President Hollande of France two new initiatives to help stimulate innovation and increase revenues for French publishers. First, Google has agreed to create a €60 million Digital Publishing Innovation Fund to help support transformative digital publishing initiatives for French readers. Second, Google will deepen our partnership with French publishers to help increase their online revenues using our advertising technology. <br />
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This exciting announcement builds on the commitments we made in 2011 to increase our investment in France—including our Cultural Institute in Paris to help preserve amazing cultural treasures such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. These agreements show that through business and technology partnerships we can help stimulate digital innovation for the benefit of consumers, our partners and the wider web.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/k54_AKevGWc" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/45460220658413529?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/45460220658413529?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/k54_AKevGWc/google-creates-60m-digital-publishing.html" title="Google creates €60m Digital Publishing Innovation Fund to support transformative French digital publishing initiatives" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/google-creates-60m-digital-publishing.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"C0cGR3g4fip7ImA9WhNaFks.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-4520654151726514233</id><published>2013-01-31T03:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-31T11:37:06.636-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-31T11:37:06.636-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maps and earth" /><title>Exploring the Grand Canyon on Google Maps</title><content type="html">Whether you’re planning an upcoming hike, or want to learn more about the Earth’s geological history, Google Maps can help. Today, we’re releasing panoramic imagery of one of the world’s most spectacular national monuments: the Grand Canyon. These beautiful, interactive images cover more than 75 miles of trails and surrounding roads, making our map of this area even more comprehensive, accurate and easy to use than ever before.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mpcar4L_EXY?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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Take a walk down the narrow trails and exposed paths of the Grand Canyon: hike down the famous <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ll=36.065096,-112.137107&amp;spn=0.285295,0.528374&amp;cbp=12,41.91,,0,9.06&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=Fa-wHCWazJG6bn7ZjISQCA&amp;t=m&amp;z=12&amp;cbll=36.065096,-112.137107">Bright Angel Trail</a>, gaze out at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ll=36.09956,-112.106834&amp;spn=0.28517,0.528374&amp;cbp=12,268.94,,0,-8.85&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=HX6jvVUCA2-09O3ndzgDHg&amp;t=m&amp;z=12&amp;cbll=36.09956,-112.106834">mighty Colorado River</a>, and explore <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ll=36.033553,-112.094879&amp;spn=0.570818,1.056747&amp;cbp=12,35.75,,0,-0.91&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=QA8lTVP30K21DyUQ3QcMvQ&amp;cbll=36.066887,-112.136123&amp;t=m&amp;z=11">scenic overlooks</a> in full 360-degrees. You’ll be happy you’re virtually hiking once you get to the steep inclines of the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ll=36.048544,-112.046814&amp;spn=0.570709,1.056747&amp;cbp=12,105.04,,0,8.25&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=RcFvKdK1t79uFxoLRNvy8A&amp;cbll=36.081972,-112.087934&amp;t=m&amp;z=11">South Kaibab Trail</a>. And rather than drive a couple hours to see the nearby <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ll=34.997941,-110.985947&amp;spn=0.578229,1.056747&amp;cbp=12,145.48,,0,3.59&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=S2IQmPwHGhJ-YCXugFkM-Q&amp;cbll=35.03165,-111.026837&amp;t=m&amp;z=11">Meteor Crater</a>, a click of your mouse or tap of your finger will transport you to the rim of this otherworldly site.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="240" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps?cbp=13,270.64,,0,-0.68&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=HX6jvVUCA2-09O3ndzgDHg&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;cbll=36.09956,-112.106834&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=36.080459,-112.107067&amp;spn=0.066593,0.145912&amp;z=12&amp;output=svembed" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<small><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?cbp=13,270.64,,0,-0.68&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=HX6jvVUCA2-09O3ndzgDHg&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;cbll=36.09956,-112.106834&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=36.080459,-112.107067&amp;spn=0.066593,0.145912&amp;z=12" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>The Colorado River, one of the many impressive scenes in the Grand Canyon</i></div>
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This breathtaking <a href="http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/10/trekking-grand-canyon-for-google-maps.html">imagery collection</a> was made possible with the <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/learn/cars-trikes-and-more.html#trekker">Trekker</a>. Our team strapped on the Android-operated 40-pound backpacks carrying the 15-lens camera system and wound along the rocky terrain on foot, enduring temperature swings and a few muscle cramps along the way. Together, more than 9,500 panoramas of this masterpiece of nature are now available on Google Maps. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="240" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps?cbp=13,22.38,,0,3.59&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=Fa-wHCWazJG6bn7ZjISQCA&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;cbll=36.065096,-112.137107&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=36.046046,-112.13728&amp;spn=0.066622,0.145912&amp;z=12&amp;output=svembed" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<small><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?cbp=13,22.38,,0,3.59&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=Fa-wHCWazJG6bn7ZjISQCA&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;cbll=36.065096,-112.137107&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=36.046046,-112.13728&amp;spn=0.066622,0.145912&amp;z=12" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>A breathtaking 360-degree view from the famous Bright Angel Trail</i></div>
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So no matter where you are, you don’t have to travel far or wait for warmer weather to explore Grand Canyon National Park. Check out some of our favorite views on our <a href="http://www.google.com/worldwonders">World Wonders site</a> where you can find more information, facts and figures about the Grand Canyon, or in the updated <a href="http://maps.google.com/grandcanyon">Street View gallery</a>, and happy (virtual) hiking! <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Ryan Falor, Product Manager, Google Maps</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/bVLV3alyhhk" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4520654151726514233?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4520654151726514233?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/bVLV3alyhhk/exploring-grand-canyon-on-google-maps.html" title="Exploring the Grand Canyon on Google Maps" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/mpcar4L_EXY/default.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/exploring-grand-canyon-on-google-maps.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CEUGRXk_eyp7ImA9WhNaFkg.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-2254734721819548778</id><published>2013-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-31T09:10:24.743-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-31T09:10:24.743-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="education and research" /><title>Google Science Fair: Looking for the next generation of scientists and engineers to change the world</title><content type="html">At age 16, <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/science-heroes?bookmark=science-heroes-matrix-3">Louis Braille</a> invented an alphabet for the blind. When she was 13, <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/science-heroes?bookmark=science-heroes-matrix-9">Ada Lovelace</a> became fascinated with math and went on to write the first computer program. And at 18, <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/science-heroes?bookmark=science-heroes-matrix-1">Alexander Graham Bell</a> started experimenting with sound and went on to invent the telephone. Throughout history many great scientists developed their curiosity for science at an early age and went on to make groundbreaking discoveries that changed the way we live. <br />
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Today, we’re launching the third annual Google Science Fair in partnership with CERN, the LEGO Group, National Geographic and Scientific American to find the next generation of scientists and engineers. We’re inviting students ages 13-18 to participate in the largest online science competition and submit their ideas to change the world.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3Rqcg7BJwJM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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For the past two years, thousands of students from more than 90 countries have submitted research projects that address some of the most challenging problems we face today. Previous winners tackled issues such as the <a href="http://youtu.be/DcSWmoiLhzY">early diagnosis of breast cancer</a>, <a href="http://youtu.be/l80bxaFrQuM">improving the experience of listening to music for people with hearing loss</a> and <a href="http://youtu.be/88D1teLvZE8">cataloguing the ecosystem found in water</a>. This year we hope to once again inspire scientific exploration among young people and receive even more entries for our third competition. <br />
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Here’s some key information for this year’s Science Fair:<br />
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||
<ul><li>Students can enter the Science Fair in <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/faqs?bookmark=faqs-accordion-46">13 languages</a>.</li>
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<li>The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2013 at 11:59 pm PDT.</li>
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||
<li>In June, we’ll recognize 90 regional finalists (30 from the Americas, 30 from Asia Pacific and 30 from Europe/Middle East/Africa).</li>
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||
<li>Judges will then select the top 15 finalists, who will be flown to Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. for our live, final event on September 23, 2013.</li>
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<li>At the finals, a <a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/judging">panel of distinguished international judges</a> consisting of renowned scientists and tech innovators will select top winners in each age category (13-14, 15-16, 17-18). One will be selected as the Grand Prize winner.</li>
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||
</ul><a href="https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/2013/prizes">Prizes</a> for the 2013 Science Fair include a $50,000 scholarship from Google, a trip to the Galapagos with National Geographic Expeditions, experiences at CERN, Google or the LEGO Group and digital access to the Scientific American archives for the winner’s school for a year. Scientific American will also award a <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/science-in-action/">$50,000 Science in Action prize</a> to one project that makes a practical difference by addressing a social, environmental or health issue. We’re also introducing two new prizes for 2013:<br />
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||
<ul><li>In August, the public will have the opportunity to get to know our 15 finalists through a series of Google+ Hangouts on Air and will then vote for the Inspired Idea Award—an award selected by the public for the project with the greatest potential to change the world.</li>
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<li>We also recognize that behind every great student there’s often a great teacher and a supportive school, so this year we’ll award a $10,000 cash grant from Google and an exclusive Google+ Hangout with CERN to the Grand Prize winner’s school.</li>
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</ul>Lastly, we’ll also be hosting a series of <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GoogleScienceFair">Google+ Hangouts on Air</a>. Taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, these Hangouts will feature renowned scientists including inventor Dean Kamen and oceanographic explorer Fabien Cousteau, showcase exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of cutting-edge labs and science facilities, and provide access to judges and the Google Science Fair team. We hope these Google+ Hangouts will help inspire, mentor and support students throughout the competition and beyond.<br />
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Visit <a href="http://www.googlesciencefair.com/">www.googlesciencefair.com</a> to get started now—your idea might just change the world.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Sam Peter, Google Science Fair Team</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/Qikj9J_1t3Q" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2254734721819548778?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2254734721819548778?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/Qikj9J_1t3Q/google-science-fair-looking-for-next.html" title="Google Science Fair: Looking for the next generation of scientists and engineers to change the world" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/3Rqcg7BJwJM/default.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/google-science-fair-looking-for-next.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CUEFQ3w5eip7ImA9WhNaFUk.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-6994018193621790558</id><published>2013-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-30T03:00:12.222-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-30T03:00:12.222-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="policy and issues" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maps and earth" /><title>Mapping creates jobs and drives global economic growth</title><content type="html">Twenty years ago, we used paper maps and printed guides to help us navigate the world. Today, the most advanced digital mapping technologies—satellite imagery, GPS devices, location data and of course <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a>—are much more accessible. This sea change in mapping technology is improving our lives and helping businesses realize untold efficiencies. <br />
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The transformation of the maps we use everyday is driven by a growing industry that creates jobs and economic growth globally. To present a clearer picture of the importance of the geo services industry, we commissioned studies from <a href="https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/interviews/metals_mining_value_creation_strategy_potere_david_geospatial_growth_engine/">Boston Consulting Group</a> (BCG) and <a href="http://www.oxera.com/">Oxera</a>. What we found is that maps make a big economic splash around the world. <br />
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In summary, the global geo services industry is valued at up to $270 billion per year and pays out $90 billion in wages. In the U.S., it employs more than 500,000 people and is worth $73 billion. The infographic below illustrates some examples of the many benefits of maps, whether it’s improving agriculture irrigation systems or helping emergency response teams save lives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RcMEz1LaqUg/UQi0f5-OjMI/AAAAAAAAKrg/o_vVq5wvt5w/s1600/Geo%2BServices%2BInfographic%2B-%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RcMEz1LaqUg/UQi0f5-OjMI/AAAAAAAAKrg/o_vVq5wvt5w/s500/Geo%2BServices%2BInfographic%2B-%2Bfinal.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Click the image for a larger version</i></div><br />
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1.1 billion hours of travel time saved each year? That’s a lot of time. Also, consider <a href="http://www.ups.com/">UPS</a>, which uses map technology to optimize delivery routes—saving 5.3 million miles and more than 650,000 gallons of fuel in 2011. And every eight seconds, a user hails a taxi with <a href="http://hailocab.com/">Hailo</a>, which used maps and GPS to deliver more than 1 million journeys in London alone last year. Finally, <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/">Zipcar</a> uses maps to connect more than 760,000 customers to a growing fleet of cars in locations around the world. <br />
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Because maps are such an integral part of how we live and do business, the list of examples goes on and on. That’s why it’s important we all understand the need to invest in the geo services industry so it continues to grow and drive the global economy. Investments can come from the public and private sectors in many forms—product innovation, support of open data policies, more geography education programs in schools and more. <br />
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We’re proud of the contributions that <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/earth/index.html">Earth</a>, the <a href="https://developers.google.com/maps/">Google Maps APIs</a> and our <a href="http://www.google.com/enterprise/earthmaps/index.html">Enterprise solutions</a> have made to the geo services industry and to making maps more widely available, but there’s a long way to go. To learn more about the impact of the maps industry, see the <a href="http://valueoftheweb.com/reports/geospatial-services">full reports</a>. <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Brian McClendon, VP Google Geo</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/1ud7DHoOaWk" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6994018193621790558?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6994018193621790558?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/1ud7DHoOaWk/mapping-creates-jobs-and-drives-global.html" title="Mapping creates jobs and drives global economic growth" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RcMEz1LaqUg/UQi0f5-OjMI/AAAAAAAAKrg/o_vVq5wvt5w/s72-c/Geo%2BServices%2BInfographic%2B-%2Bfinal.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/mapping-creates-jobs-and-drives-global.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"C0YERXw-cCp7ImA9WhNaFE0.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-3787511402743780982</id><published>2013-01-27T21:52:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-28T11:25:04.258-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-28T11:25:04.258-08:00</app:edited><title>Google’s approach to government requests for user data</title><content type="html">Today, January 28, is Data Privacy Day, when the world recognizes the importance of preserving your online privacy and security.<br />
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If it’s like most other days, Google—like many companies that provide online services to users—will receive dozens of letters, faxes and emails from government agencies and courts around the world requesting access to our users’ private account information. Typically this happens in connection with government investigations.<br />
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It’s important for law enforcement agencies to pursue illegal activity and keep the public safe. We’re a law-abiding company, and we don’t want our services to be used in harmful ways. But it’s just as important that laws protect you against overly broad requests for your personal information. <br />
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To strike this balance, we’re focused on three initiatives that I’d like to share, so you know what Google is doing to protect your privacy and security.<br />
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First, for several years we have advocated for updating laws like the U.S. Electronic Communications Privacy Act, so the same protections that apply to your personal documents that you keep in your home also apply to your email and online documents. We’ll continue this effort strongly in 2013 through our membership in the <a href="http://www.digitaldueprocess.org/index.cfm?objectid=37940370-2551-11DF-8E02000C296BA163">Digital Due Process</a> coalition and other initiatives.<br />
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Second, we’ll continue our long-standing strict process for handling these kinds of requests. When government agencies ask for our users’ personal information—like what you provide when you sign up for a Google Account, or the contents of an email—our team does several things:<br />
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<ul>
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<li>We scrutinize the request carefully to make sure it satisfies the law and our policies. For us to consider complying, it generally must be made in writing, signed by an authorized official of the requesting agency and issued under an appropriate law.</li>
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<li>We evaluate the scope of the request. If it’s overly broad, we may refuse to provide the information or <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/judge-tells-doj-no-on-search-queries.html">seek to narrow the request</a>. We do this frequently.</li>
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<li>We notify users about legal demands when appropriate so that they can contact the entity requesting it or consult a lawyer. Sometimes we can’t, either because we’re legally prohibited (in which case we sometimes seek to lift gag orders or unseal search warrants) or we don’t have their verified contact information.</li>
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<li>We require that government agencies conducting criminal investigations use a search warrant to compel us to provide a user’s search query information and private content stored in a Google Account—such as Gmail messages, documents, photos and YouTube videos. We believe a warrant is required by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure and overrides conflicting provisions in ECPA.</li>
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</ul>
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And third, we work hard to provide you with information about government requests. Today, for example, we’ve added a new <a href="https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/legalprocess/">section</a> to our Transparency Report that answers many questions you might have. And last week we released <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/transparency-report-what-it-takes-for.html">data</a> showing that government requests continue to rise, along with additional details on the U.S. legal processes—such as subpoenas, court orders and warrants—that governments use to compel us to provide this information.<br />
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We’re proud of our approach, and we believe it’s the right way to make sure governments can pursue legitimate investigations while we do our best to protect your privacy and security.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by David Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/bROe78CRVZY" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/3787511402743780982?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/3787511402743780982?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/bROe78CRVZY/googles-approach-to-government-requests.html" title="Google’s approach to government requests for user data" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/googles-approach-to-government-requests.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"Ck4NSXszcCp7ImA9WhNbGUs.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-8229951629354037381</id><published>2013-01-23T09:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-23T09:09:58.588-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-23T09:09:58.588-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="google+" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="politics" /><title>Fireside Hangouts: Join Vice President Biden in a discussion about gun violence</title><content type="html">As President Obama and his cabinet begin their second term in the White House, they’re renewing a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse/videos?query=hangout">series</a> of conversations on Google+ with top administration officials. These “Fireside Hangouts," a 21st-century spin on FDR’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireside_chats">famous radio addresses</a>, bring top Administration officials to Google+ to discuss the most important issues in the country, face-to-face-to-face with fellow citizens in a hangout. The next hangout will take place Thursday, January 24 at 1:45 pm ET with Vice President Joe Biden on a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: reducing gun violence.<br />
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During his 30-minute hangout, Vice President Biden will discuss the White House policy recommendations on reducing gun violence with participants including <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GuyKawasaki/posts">Guy Kawasaki</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+PhilipDeFranco/posts">Phil DeFranco</a> and moderator <a href="https://plus.google.com/115316486335338050080/posts">Hari Sreenivasan</a> from PBS NewsHour. If you'd like to suggest a question, just follow the participants on Google+, and look for posts about tomorrow's Hangout. To view the broadcast live, just tune in to the White House's <a href="https://plus.google.com/+whitehouse/posts">Google+ page</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse">YouTube channel</a> on Thursday afternoon. <br />
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The White House will continue to host Hangouts with key members of the President’s cabinet on a range of second term priorities. Follow the White House on Google+ for more information about how you can join the conversation... or an upcoming Hangout.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by <a href="https://plus.google.com/102472537558752713135/posts">Ramya Raghavan</a>, Google+ Politics</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/-YDB56sfRsk" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8229951629354037381?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8229951629354037381?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/-YDB56sfRsk/fireside-hangouts-join-vice-president.html" title="Fireside Hangouts: Join Vice President Biden in a discussion about gun violence" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/fireside-hangouts-join-vice-president.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"A0QNQn88cSp7ImA9WhNbGUg.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-2346096746283754418</id><published>2013-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-23T08:43:13.179-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-23T08:43:13.179-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="privacy and security" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="transparency" /><title>Transparency Report: What it takes for governments to access personal information</title><content type="html">Today we’re releasing new data for the <a href="http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/">Transparency Report</a>, showing that the steady increase in government requests for our users’ data continued in the second half of 2012, as usage of our services continued to grow. We’ve shared figures like this <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/greater-transparency-around-government.html">since 2010</a> because it’s important for people to understand how government actions affect them.<br />
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We’re always looking for ways to make the report even more informative. So for the first time we’re now <a href="https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/US/">including</a> a breakdown of the kinds of legal process that government entities in the U.S. use when compelling communications and technology companies to hand over user data. From July through December 2012:<br />
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<ul><li>68 percent of the requests Google received from government entities in the U.S. were through subpoenas. These are requests for user-identifying information, issued under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (“ECPA”), and are the easiest to get because they typically don’t involve judges.</li>
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<li>22 percent were through ECPA search warrants. These are, generally speaking, orders issued by judges under ECPA, based on a demonstration of “probable cause” to believe that certain information related to a crime is presently in the place to be searched.</li>
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<li>The remaining 10 percent were mostly court orders issued under ECPA by judges or other processes that are difficult to categorize.</li>
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</ul><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_6gaDH1iuc/UP92oDlYQvI/AAAAAAAAKpM/VT7i5zKdNk0/s1600/US_transparency_report.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_6gaDH1iuc/UP92oDlYQvI/AAAAAAAAKpM/VT7i5zKdNk0/s500/US_transparency_report.png" width="500" /></a></div><br />
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User data requests of all kinds have increased by more than 70 percent since 2009, as you can see in our new visualizations of overall trends. In total, we received 21,389 requests for information about 33,634 users from July through December 2012.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FimkRyCemck/UP92oRlixzI/AAAAAAAAKpY/YpqfOEv2jgA/s1600/charts_transparency_report.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FimkRyCemck/UP92oRlixzI/AAAAAAAAKpY/YpqfOEv2jgA/s500/charts_transparency_report.png" width="500" /></a></div><br />
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We’ll keep looking for more ways to inform you about government requests and how we handle them. We hope more companies and governments themselves join us in this effort by releasing similar kinds of data.<br />
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One last thing: You may have noticed that the latest Transparency Report doesn’t include new data on <a href="http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/government/">content removals</a>. That’s because we’ve decided to release those numbers separately going forward. Stay tuned for that data.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Richard Salgado, Legal Director, Law Enforcement and Information Security</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/9CGTTWZozSw" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2346096746283754418?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2346096746283754418?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/9CGTTWZozSw/transparency-report-what-it-takes-for.html" title="Transparency Report: What it takes for governments to access personal information" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_6gaDH1iuc/UP92oDlYQvI/AAAAAAAAKpM/VT7i5zKdNk0/s72-c/US_transparency_report.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/transparency-report-what-it-takes-for.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"A0MAQXw5cSp7ImA9WhNbFEo.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-7176513715713562385</id><published>2013-01-17T19:24:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-17T19:24:00.229-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-17T19:24:00.229-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Asia" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maps and earth" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="crisis response" /><title>Responding to the severe flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia</title><content type="html">The Google Crisis Response team has assembled a <a href="http://www.google.org/intl/en/crisisresponse/2013-jakarta-flood.html">resource page</a> to help track affected areas and provide updated emergency information for the millions affected by flooding in Jakarta. We also have a <a href="http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/2013-jakarta-flood-mobile.html">mobile page</a> with emergency contact numbers and lists of shelters, and <a href="http://www.google.co.id/search?q=evakuasi">enhanced search results on google.co.id</a> to provide information directly when people search. We’ve also included this information in our <a href="http://www.google.co.id/intl/en/mobile/landing/freezone/stp.html">FreeZone</a> service to reach affected users on feature phones.<br />
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On both the page and map, which are available in <a href="http://www.google.org/intl/en/crisisresponse/2013-jakarta-flood.html">English</a> and <a href="http://www.google.org/intl/id/crisisresponse/2013-jakarta-flood.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>, you'll see an update on flood locations and related data such as traffic conditions in areas affected by the flooding.<br />
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<iframe height="400" src="http://google.org/crisismap/2013-jakarta-flood-en?hl=en&amp;llbox=-6.0192%2C-6.5103%2C107.2118%2C106.4606&amp;t=roadmap&amp;layers=layer0%2C1&amp;promoted&amp;embedded=true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc;" width="400"></iframe><br />
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To share the page or embed these maps on your own site, click "Share" at the top of the page. <br />
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We’ll update the content as more information becomes available.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Alice Bonhomme-Biais, Software Engineer, Google Crisis Response</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/PQ_SBKQgOpY" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/7176513715713562385?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/7176513715713562385?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/PQ_SBKQgOpY/responding-to-severe-flooding-in.html" title="Responding to the severe flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/responding-to-severe-flooding-in.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"DUcARHg-eyp7ImA9WhNbEUQ.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-7169310293478391658</id><published>2013-01-14T12:57:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-14T12:57:25.653-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-14T12:57:25.653-08:00</app:edited><title>Inviting kids to dream big: Doodle 4 Google 2013 is open for submission! </title><content type="html">We’re always thinking about ways to make everyday life a little easier and a little more fun. But what would the <i>perfect</i> day look like? We thought we’d ask the most creative folks out there: today we’re announcing our 6th annual U.S. Doodle 4 Google competition, inviting K-12 students around the country to create their own “doodle” (one of the <a href="http://www.google.com/doodles">special Google logos</a> you see on our homepage on various occasions). This year’s theme: “<i>My Best Day Ever...</i>” Breakdancing with aliens? Sure! Building a fortress of candy? Okay by us! Riding to school on a brontosaurus? You get the idea—but if you need more inspiration, take a look at our video here:<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/s1PPYo6WL-Q/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s1PPYo6WL-Q&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s1PPYo6WL-Q&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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The winning artist will see their work on the Google homepage for a day, win a $30,000 college scholarship, and win a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school.<br />
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The judging starts with Googlers and a panel of guest judges. This year our judges include journalist and TV personality Katie Couric; music maestro Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of The Roots; Chris Sanders, writer and director of <i>Lilo &amp; Stitch</i> and <i>How to Train Your Dragon</i>; and Pendleton Ward, creator of <i>Adventure Time</i>; among other great creative minds.<br />
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On May 1 we’ll open up a public vote for the 50 State Winners. They’ll be flown to New York City for a national awards ceremony on May 22. There, we’ll announce the National Winner, whose doodle will appear on the Google homepage the following day. In addition, all the State Winners will have their artwork on display at the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History</a> from May 22 to July 14. <br />
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Participating is easier than ever. You can download the entry forms on our <a href="http://www.google.com/doodle4google">Doodle 4 Google site</a> and send in completed doodles by mail or online. All entries must be received by March 22 with a parent or guardian’s signature. We encourage full classrooms to participate too. There’s no limit to the number of doodles that come from any one school or family... just remember, only one doodle per student.<br />
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For more details, check out <a href="http://google.com/doodle4google">google.com/doodle4google</a>, where you’ll find full contest rules and entry forms. Happy doodling, and good luck!<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Ryan Germick, Doodle Team Lead<br />
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</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/xHsgO9dzA78" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/7169310293478391658?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/7169310293478391658?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/xHsgO9dzA78/inviting-kids-to-dream-big-doodle-4.html" title="Inviting kids to dream big: Doodle 4 Google 2013 is open for submission! " /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/inviting-kids-to-dream-big-doodle-4.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"A0MNQ3o7eCp7ImA9WhNUGEg.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-133471734080605210</id><published>2013-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-10T15:11:32.400-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-10T15:11:32.400-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="green" /><title>A wind investment deep in the heart of Texas</title><content type="html">In late December, while most of us were busy wrapping presents, our Treasury team was tying a bow on our most recent <a href="http://www.google.com/green/energy/investments/">renewable energy deal</a>: an approximately $200 million equity investment in a wind farm in west Texas that generates enough energy to power more than 60,000 average U.S. homes.<br />
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Spinning Spur Wind Project is located in Oldham County, a wide open, windy section of the Texas Panhandle located about 35 miles from Amarillo. The 161 megawatt facility was built by renewable energy developer EDF Renewable Energy, a veteran in the industry that has overseen more than 50 other clean energy projects. Spinning Spur’s 70 2.3 MW Siemens turbines started spinning full time just before the end of the year, and the energy they create has been contracted to SPS, a utility that primarily serves Texas and New Mexico.<br />
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We look for projects like Spinning Spur because, in addition to creating more renewable energy and strengthening the local economy, they also make for smart investments: they offer attractive returns relative to the risks and allow us to invest in a broad range of assets. We’re also proud to be the first investor in an EDF Renewable Energy project that is not a financial institution, as we believe that corporations can be an important new source of capital for the renewable energy sector.<br />
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Spinning Spur joins 10 other renewable energy investments we’ve made since 2010, several of which hit significant milestones in the past year: <br />
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<br />
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<ul>
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<li>The <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/wind-cries-transmission.html">Atlantic Wind Connection</a> received permission to begin permitting, an important step in advancing the construction of the United States’ first offshore backbone electric transmission system (more in this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qSVtSCufcw">new video</a>).</li>
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<li><a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/shepherding-wind.html">Shepherds Flat</a>, one of the world’s largest wind farms with a capacity of 845 MW, became fully operational in October.</li>
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<li>The <a href="http://ivanpahsolar.com/">Ivanpah</a> project, which is more than 75 percent complete and employs 2,000+ people, recently installed its 100,000th heliostat, a kind of mirror (more in this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d1guTvhCjk">new video</a>).</li>
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<li><a href="http://www.recurrentenergy.com/sites/default/files/Recurrent%20Energy_McKenzie%20COD%20Press%20Release_FINAL.pdf">Just yesterday</a>&nbsp;(PDF),&nbsp;the fourth and final phase of Recurrent Energy's 88MW solar installation in Sacramento County, Calif., reached commercial operation.</li>
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</ul>
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Altogether, the renewable energy projects we’ve invested in are capable of generating 2 gigawatts of power. To give a better sense of what that really means, we came up with some comparisons (click to enlarge):<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZMg4fXuPdY/UO2L1YuXayI/AAAAAAAAKm4/XrSk8o_5gD0/s1600/infographic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZMg4fXuPdY/UO2L1YuXayI/AAAAAAAAKm4/XrSk8o_5gD0/s640/infographic.png" width="284" /></a></div>
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Here’s to a clean, renewable 2013!<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Kojo Ako-Asare, Senior Manager, Corporate Finance</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/b2IEbHlnXd4" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/133471734080605210?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/133471734080605210?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/b2IEbHlnXd4/a-wind-investment-deep-in-heart-of-texas.html" title="A wind investment deep in the heart of Texas" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZMg4fXuPdY/UO2L1YuXayI/AAAAAAAAKm4/XrSk8o_5gD0/s72-c/infographic.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-wind-investment-deep-in-heart-of-texas.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"AkcEQ3k6fCp7ImA9WhNUFUo.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-1335122406404377083</id><published>2013-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-07T09:00:02.714-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-07T09:00:02.714-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="g2g" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="googlers and culture" /><title>Finding the inner programmer in every Googler</title><content type="html"><i>This is the second post in a <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/search/label/g2g">series</a> profiling Googlers who facilitate classes as part of our g2g program, in which Googlers teach, share and learn from each other. Regardless of role, level or location, g2g's community-based approach makes it possible for all Googlers to take advantage of a variety of learning opportunities.</i> - Ed.<br />
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If someone had told me when I graduated with a degree in economics that I’d one day be employed in a technical role at Google, I would have laughed. In 2008, I joined Google’s people operations rotation program, in which one experiences three different people ops areas—from benefits to staffing—over the course of two years. After just a few short months, I found myself with a passion for technology and a profound interest in programming that would draw me into teaching a class, Intro to Programming (I2P), to non-engineers at Google as a part of the g2g (Googlers-to-Googlers) program. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wov2Exe8Qs/UOr8tzOHlHI/AAAAAAAAKls/V6xFiHm5gmg/s1600/i2p+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wov2Exe8Qs/UOr8tzOHlHI/AAAAAAAAKls/V6xFiHm5gmg/s320/i2p+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Teaching programming to an I2P class at our Mountain View, Calif. headquarters </i></div>
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While on the benefits team, I was assigned a project that involved matching up hundreds of Googlers’ names with their corresponding office locations and job titles. I quickly realized that a few simple <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripting_language">programming scripts</a> could probably speed up my work and reduce errors. The only problem was, I had no clue how to write a program. <br />
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<br />
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I began to teach myself the programming language Python, which is known for its clarity of syntax and friendliness to beginners. Slowly, I produced a multi-functional automated spreadsheet, and then a web application to share with my team. My teammates, seeing that my newfound technical skills had saved all of us time, asked me to teach them how to code; thus, in front of a whiteboard in a small conference room, I2P was born. <br />
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Since then, more than 200 Googlers have taken I2P. We encourage an open, supportive environment in the class, making it an approachable way for Googlers to broaden their horizons within the workplace and gain new skills. Some of my former students have even moved from roles in global business, finance and people operations to full-time engineering positions. That’s awesome to see, but I love that Googlers can use what they learn in I2P to make processes across the company more efficient—no matter what team they work on. For example, an administrative assistant who took the class streamlined a manual daily task by automating an email response survey for her team. <br />
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<br />
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In addition to solving business challenges, I’ve also seen Googlers using the programming skills they learned in I2P to help others—both inside and outside of Google. Recently, an I2P alum increased participation in Google’s free flu shot program by writing a Python-based enrollment tool that allows Googlers to find appointments online by preferred office location and time. Thousands more Googlers signed up to receive flu shots due to the convenience provided by the tool. Because Google donates an equal number of vaccinations, such as those preventing meningitis or pneumonia, to children in the developing world, this new tool also led to thousands more children receiving crucial vaccinations. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzxJ5B9StZI/UOr8zHcAiNI/AAAAAAAAKl0/GbfUlMi42M0/s1600/i2p+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzxJ5B9StZI/UOr8zHcAiNI/AAAAAAAAKl0/GbfUlMi42M0/s320/i2p+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>More than 200 Googlers have participated in the 11-week course (the sword definitely helps keep engagement high...don’t worry, it’s foam!)</i></div>
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<br />
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What’s extraordinary to me is that under the g2g program, the “guy down the hall in HR” can teach programming—of all things—to his fellow Googlers. It’s been extremely rewarding to experience first-hand the results of my students’ learnings. Googlers have taken the principles and skills from I2P and put them to work in time management, email communication and even just having fun re-creating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogger">Frogger</a>—leave it to Googlers to span the gamut of I2P skill application. I often think how awesome it would be if every Googler could take I2P and apply what they’ve learned to make processes across the company more efficient.<br />
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<br />
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If you’re interested in learning how to code, here are three tips from the course that you can practice on your own. While I’ve learned these principles via programming, they can be helpful in all kinds of fields! <br />
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<br />
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<ul>
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<li><b>Practice <i>and</i> theory. </b>You learn best when you have something to apply your learning to. With programming, find a project you want to apply your skills to and build the knowledge necessary to accomplish your project.</li>
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<li><b>Bad habits die hard.</b> If you are writing messy or convoluted code, you are building habits that will be very hard to break. Better to overcome the pain of doing it the right way initially so that you never have to go back and change.</li>
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<li><b>Get feedback. </b>Just because a script "works" doesn't mean it works well. Always get advice from others with more experience so that you are learning how to do things better, not just sufficiently well.</li>
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</ul>
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Albert Hwang, Team Lead of the People Technology &amp; Operations Tools Group</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/x20oGYbcEG8" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1335122406404377083?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1335122406404377083?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/x20oGYbcEG8/finding-inner-programmer-in-every.html" title="Finding the inner programmer in every Googler" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wov2Exe8Qs/UOr8tzOHlHI/AAAAAAAAKls/V6xFiHm5gmg/s72-c/i2p+1.jpeg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/finding-inner-programmer-in-every.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CkYBRng5eSp7ImA9WhNUEks.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-2998053500166607539</id><published>2013-01-03T16:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-03T16:42:37.621-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-03T16:42:37.621-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="small business" /><title>Make some New Year’s resolutions for your business</title><content type="html">When Melodie Bishop heard about our <a href="http://www.gybo.com/">Get Your Business Online</a> program (an initiative that makes it fast, easy and free for U.S. businesses to get online), she jumped at the opportunity to turn her hobby of creating Chicago-themed gift baskets into a full-time business. Since launching her website, <a href="http://www.sendthemchicago.com/">Send Them Chicago</a>, this past summer, Melodie has seen a 70 percent increase in new customers.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGbXa0cfw7Y/UOTCWf-aQVI/AAAAAAAAKko/IUqGIa_nNCA/s1600/melodie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGbXa0cfw7Y/UOTCWf-aQVI/AAAAAAAAKko/IUqGIa_nNCA/s500/melodie.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Melodie Bishop with one of her gift baskets</i></div>
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As the holidays wrap up and the New Year starts, millions of business owners just like Melodie are thinking about how they can grow in 2013. For many, this means getting found and connecting with customers on the web. <br />
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Yet often, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’re helping business owners create a list of <a href="http://www.gybo.com/new-years">New Year’s resolutions</a> for 2013. <br />
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Let us know what you hope to accomplish in the New Year. Do you want to get your basic business information online? Or do you already have a website and want to reach more customers? Once you select your goals, we’ll create a customized list of resolutions with resources to help you stick to it. <br />
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In the U.S., 58 percent of small businesses don’t have a website, but 97 percent of Internet users look online for local products and services. So it’s not surprising that businesses with a web presence are expected to grow 40 percent faster than those without. <a href="http://www.gybo.com/new-years">Creating a list of resolutions</a> for your business may just be one of the easiest things you can do to help your business grow. <br />
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We’ll see you on the web.<br />
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P.S. If you aren’t a small business owner, it’s not too late to give that business you know the <a href="http://www.gybo.com/gift">gift of a free website</a>.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Aditya Mahesh, Product Marketing, Get Your Business Online</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/iTtzrUrGhTE" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2998053500166607539?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/2998053500166607539?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/iTtzrUrGhTE/make-some-new-years-resolutions-for.html" title="Make some New Year’s resolutions for your business" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGbXa0cfw7Y/UOTCWf-aQVI/AAAAAAAAKko/IUqGIa_nNCA/s72-c/melodie.jpeg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-some-new-years-resolutions-for.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CkACSHw8cSp7ImA9WhNUEkk.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-8936451834548241383</id><published>2013-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-03T11:19:29.279-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-03T11:19:29.279-08:00</app:edited><title>The Federal Trade Commission closes its antitrust review</title><content type="html">The U.S. Federal Trade Commission today announced it has closed its investigation into Google after an exhaustive 19-month review that covered millions of pages of documents and involved many hours of testimony. The conclusion is clear: Google’s services are good for users and good for competition. <br />
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Larry and Sergey founded Google because they believed that building a great search experience would improve people’s lives. And in the decade-plus that’s followed, Google has worked hard to make it quicker and easier for users to find what they need. In the early days you would type in a query, we’d return 10 blue links and you’d have to click on them individually to find what you wanted. Today we can save you the hassle by providing direct answers to your questions, as well as links to other sites. So if you type in [weather san francisco], or [tom hanks movies], we now give you the answer right from the results page—because truly great search is all about turning your needs into actions in the blink of an eye. <br />
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As we made clear when the FTC started its investigation, we’ve always been open to improvements that would create a better experience. And today we’ve <a href="http://www.google.com/pdf/google_ftc_dec2012.pdf">written</a> (PDF) to the FTC making two voluntary product changes:<br />
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<ul><li><b>More choice for websites</b>: Websites can already <a href="http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=156449">opt out of</a> Google Search, and they can now remove content (for example reviews) from specialized search results pages, such as local, travel and shopping;</li>
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<li><b>More ad campaign control</b>: Advertisers can already <a href="http://support.google.com/adwords/editor/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=38657">export their ad campaigns</a> from Google AdWords. They will now be able to mix and copy ad campaign data within third-party services that use our AdWords API.</li>
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</ul><br />
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In addition, we’ve <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/1210120/130103googlemotorolaagree.pdf">agreed with the FTC</a>&nbsp;(PDF) that we will seek to resolve standard-essential patent disputes through a neutral third party before seeking injunctions. This agreement establishes clear rules of the road for standards essential patents going forward. <br />
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We’ve always accepted that with success comes regulatory scrutiny. But we’re pleased that the FTC and the other authorities that have looked at Google's business practices—including the U.S. Department of Justice (in its <a href="http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/April/11-at-445.html">ITA Software</a> review), the U.S. courts (in the <i><a href="http://www.internetlibrary.com/cases/lib_case337.cfm">SearchKing</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.internetlibrary.com/cases/lib_case502.cfm">Kinderstart</a></i> cases), and the Brazilian courts (in a <a href="http://searchengineland.com/google-wins-major-antitrust-victory-in-brazil-does-it-foreshadow-broader-eu-us-wins-132729">case last year</a>)—have concluded that we should be free to combine direct answers with web results. So we head into 2013 excited about our ability to innovate for the benefit of users everywhere.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by David Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/nND0FTzFVHw" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8936451834548241383?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8936451834548241383?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/nND0FTzFVHw/the-federal-trade-commission-closes-its.html" title="The Federal Trade Commission closes its antitrust review" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-federal-trade-commission-closes-its.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"DE8ARHw9eSp7ImA9WhNUEEg.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-1608635992677892192</id><published>2013-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-01T08:14:05.261-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-01T08:14:05.261-08:00</app:edited><title>A little help from Google on your New Year’s resolutions </title><content type="html">The new year has arrived, and with it all the resolutions that we hope to tackle in 2013. <br />
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<br />
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But resolutions can be hard to keep. And since eating better, taking control of personal finances, travelling more and learning something new regularly top the list of New Year’s resolutions, we've pulled together some of our best tips and tricks across Google to make 2013 the year you succeed with your goals. <br />
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<br />
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<b>Eat better</b><br />
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||
<ul>
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||
<li>Counting calories? <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/104-food-and-health?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon">Apps such as Diet Diary</a> can be easily accessed through <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/diet-diary/neckeibmjhibmgoigmffjlihekefmffd?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon">Chrome</a> or your <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.medhelp.mydiet&amp;hl=en">Android</a> device—that way it’s with you when it‘s on your mind. If spreadsheets are more your style, try one of several Google Docs templates, like this <a href="https://docs.google.com/previewtemplate?id=0AvwwPO-xzD_QdHNJbE9NLUdUemdFZGtPR2pqN0xyUUE&amp;mode=public">weekly meal planner</a>.</li>
|
||
<li>Find recipes for healthy meals and how-to-cook videos with apps like <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bbc-good-food/jnkffnoliaheoidfeejcmnidkkgilkja?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon">BBC’s Good Food</a> for Chrome or food channels like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/showmethecurry">Show me the Curry</a> on YouTube.</li>
|
||
<li>Rely on the Google+ community for motivation and learn from others via hangouts on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxJDPpDUaY0">how to prepare healthy meals</a>.</li>
|
||
<li>We know how easy it is to fall off track. Check out <a href="http://play.google.com/">Google Play</a> to find apps, books and music to keep you motivated.<br />
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LXZRq3K1y-Q" width="560"></iframe><br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
<b><br />
|
||
</b> <b>Get fiscally fit</b><br />
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>To control your finances, you need to know exactly where money is coming in and out. This <a href="https://drive.google.com/a/google.com/previewtemplate?id=0Ai0sr77aWQ6mdEU1RUpVTTQ0Umlzdmk5alZQYXFCU2c&amp;mode=public">simple budget template</a> in Google Drive already has you halfway there.</li>
|
||
<li>If you prefer a more detailed budget, try using an app like Mint to track your finances on the go, available on both <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mint&amp;hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mint/mhgffcfekbglhpcdjkhhjekhdnddkflg?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon">Chrome</a>.</li>
|
||
<li>Keep track of your stock portfolio and related market news via <a href="http://www.google.com/finance">Google Finance</a> or with brokerage apps like <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.etrade.mobilepro.activity&amp;hl=en">E*TRADE</a> from Google Play.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<b><br />
|
||
</b> <b>Travel more</b><br />
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Use <a href="http://www.google.com/flights/">Google Flight Search</a> to quickly compare flight times and costs across airlines. Try the “tourist spotlight” feature on <a href="http://www.google.com/hotelfinder/#search;si=">Google Hotel Finder</a> to find a room near the hottest spots in the city.</li>
|
||
<li>Simply type [tourist attractions &lt;city name&gt;] into Google Search to see some of the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=tourist+attractions+buenos+aires">top points of interest</a>. Once you have a list of the things you want to do and see, keep it in one place and share it with your travel buddies using <a href="https://docs.google.com/previewtemplate?id=0AkgIu-1H_qbEdGRaVENUQzA5SFpBWHpTcWZWYlVnWHc&amp;mode=public">Google Sheets</a>.&nbsp;</li>
|
||
<li>Never get lost with <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/helloworld/tips/travel.html">Google Maps</a>. Whether your plans are local or <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/helloworld/android/directions.html#feature-android-offline">international</a>, <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/helloworld/android/directions.html#feature-android-indoor">indoors</a> or <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery/index.html">out</a>, comprehensive and accurate Google Maps can help you find your way.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<b><br />
|
||
</b> <b> Learn something new</b><br />
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Learn how to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N5CLZiLOwU">hone your yoga practice</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jl1P507AvE">crochet a granny square</a> by following the steps of experts on YouTube. If classroom style learning works better for you, try joining a <a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/">Google+ Hangout</a> or <a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/communities/">Community</a> to learn how to <a href="https://plus.google.com/+DanielIbanez/posts/QX2EK4W15tU">paint</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+LarryFournillier/posts">cook</a> or <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/112260687631793896685">knit</a> from people who share your interests and passions.</li>
|
||
<li>Try a free language learning app like the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/learn-spanish-qu%C3%A9-onda-sp/pmcdjmebmeoobmdghjbjhbifoocbcmaj">Que Onda</a> Spanish app for Chrome or the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.busuu.android.pt&amp;feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5idXN1dS5hbmRyb2lkLnB0Il0.">Busuu Portuguese language app</a> for Android.</li>
|
||
<li>Keep up with current events or hone in on specific interests by personalizing your <a href="https://news.google.com/">Google News</a> and setting up <a href="http://www.google.com/alerts">Google Alerts</a> to receive information on specific topics directly in your email. If your inbox is already on overload, try the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.currents&amp;feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5nb29nbGUuYW5kcm9pZC5hcHBzLmN1cnJlbnRzIl0.">Google Currents app</a> for news on the go.</li>
|
||
<li>Learning something new doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out <a href="https://www.google.com/offers/">Google Offers</a> for deals on classes for dancing, cooking, bartending and more.&nbsp;</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
If your resolution wasn’t listed here, try checking out <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+selfmagazine/posts">SELF Magazine</a>’s Google+ page with tips from experts, live via Google+ hangouts, for 13 more resolutions starting on January 13.<br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
<a href="http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/study-backs-up-strategies-for-achieving-goals">Research shows</a> that you’re more likely to achieve your resolutions if you write them down and have support. Try sharing your goals with <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/105008312335704126105">communities</a> around you. When you’re ready to share your new year’s ambition with the world, or if you're interested in seeing what resolutions look like around the globe, add it to the <a href="http://www.google.com/zeitgeist/2012/resolutions">interactive resolution map</a> on our 2012 Zeitgeist website.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CgQvdqCzGw/UOHswD7LLAI/AAAAAAAAKjk/No4tcOisjuc/s1600/11VDBoYLpHIezGTHEFxBmj7v9JFdNcwM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CgQvdqCzGw/UOHswD7LLAI/AAAAAAAAKjk/No4tcOisjuc/s500/11VDBoYLpHIezGTHEFxBmj7v9JFdNcwM.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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<br />
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No matter who you are, the web can help you do anything. <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Liz Wessel, Associate Product Marketing Manager</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/iTzCFyAJNVU" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1608635992677892192?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1608635992677892192?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/iTzCFyAJNVU/a-little-help-from-google-on-your-new.html" title="A little help from Google on your New Year’s resolutions " /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/LXZRq3K1y-Q/default.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-little-help-from-google-on-your-new.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"DUUCQXczfyp7ImA9WhNUEE8.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-1233638290754914028</id><published>2013-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2013-01-01T00:01:00.987-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2013-01-01T00:01:00.987-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="computing history" /><title>Marking the birth of the modern-day Internet</title><content type="html"><i>Today is the 30th birthday of the modern-day Internet. Five years ago we marked the occasion with <a href="http://www.google.com/doodles/happy-new-year-25-years-of-tcpip" target="_blank">a doodle</a>. This year we invited Vint Cerf to tell the story. Vint is widely regarded as one of the fathers of the Internet for his contributions to shaping the Internet’s architecture, including co-designing the TCP/IP protocol. Today he works with Google to promote and protect the Internet. -Ed.</i><br />
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<br />
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A long time ago, my colleagues and I became part of a great adventure, teamed with a small band of scientists and technologists in the U.S. and elsewhere. For me, it began in 1969, when the potential of <a href="http://www.packet.cc/files/ev-packet-sw.html" target="_blank">packet switching</a> communication was operationally tested in the grand <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET" target="_blank">ARPANET</a> experiment by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). <br />
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<br />
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Other kinds of packet switched networks were also pioneered by DARPA, including mobile packet radio and packet satellite, but there was a big problem. There was no common language. Each network had its own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_protocol" target="_blank">communications protocol</a> using different conventions and formatting standards to send and receive packets, so there was no way to transmit anything between networks. <br />
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<br />
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In an attempt to solve this, Robert Kahn and I developed a new computer communication protocol designed specifically to support connection among different packet-switched networks. We called it TCP, short for “Transmission Control Protocol,” and in 1974 we published a paper about it in IEEE Transactions on Communications: “<a href="http://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall06/cos561/papers/cerf74.pdf" target="_blank">A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication</a>.” Later, to better handle the transmission of real-time data, including voice, we split TCP into two parts, one of which we called “Internet Protocol,” or IP for short. The two protocols combined were nicknamed TCP/IP. <br />
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<br />
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TCP/IP was tested across the three types of networks developed by DARPA, and eventually was anointed as their new standard. In 1981, Jon Postel published&nbsp;<a href="http://tools.ietf.org/rfc/rfc801.txt" target="_blank">a transition plan</a>&nbsp;to migrate the 400 hosts of the ARPANET from the older NCP protocol to TCP/IP, including a deadline of January 1, 1983, after which point all hosts not switched would be cut off.<br />
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<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erdVu3tz5J8/UOB0kUf44uI/AAAAAAAAAkI/hP2ohFzxY_w/s1600/vint1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erdVu3tz5J8/UOB0kUf44uI/AAAAAAAAAkI/hP2ohFzxY_w/s175/vint1973.jpg" width="138" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-920CgB0yOus/UOB0mkYL1_I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/DyeumsP6GLg/s1600/robertkahn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-920CgB0yOus/UOB0mkYL1_I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/DyeumsP6GLg/s175/robertkahn.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-basjA_0v9pw/UOB0oDvo7lI/AAAAAAAAAkY/wP3LzvStEC0/s1600/jonpostel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-basjA_0v9pw/UOB0oDvo7lI/AAAAAAAAAkY/wP3LzvStEC0/s175/jonpostel.jpeg" width="116" /></a><br />
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||
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
|
||
</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From left to right: Vint Cerf in 1973, Robert Kahn in the 1970’s, Jon Postel</span></i></div><br />
|
||
When the day came, it’s fair to say the main emotion was relief, especially amongst those system administrators racing against the clock. There were no grand celebrations—I can’t even find a photograph. The only visible mementos were the “I survived the TCP/IP switchover” pins proudly worn by those who went through the ordeal!<br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okvtFrHvORQ/UOB17-TjSCI/AAAAAAAAAkk/l0TUWBS3Zw8/s1600/tcptransitionbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okvtFrHvORQ/UOB17-TjSCI/AAAAAAAAAkk/l0TUWBS3Zw8/s200/tcptransitionbutton.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
|
||
Yet, with hindsight, it’s obvious it was a momentous occasion. On that day, the operational Internet was born. TCP/IP went on to be embraced as an international standard, and now underpins the entire Internet. <br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
It’s been almost 40 years since Bob and I wrote our paper, and I can assure you while we had high hopes, we did not dare to assume that the Internet would turn into the worldwide platform it’s become. I feel immensely privileged to have played a part and, like any proud parent, have delighted in watching it grow. I continue to <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/keep-internet-free-and-open.html" target="_blank">do what I can</a> to protect its future. I hope you’ll join me today in raising a toast to the Internet—may it continue to connect us for years to come.<br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
<span class="byline-author">Posted by Vint Cerf, VP and Chief Internet Evangelist</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/CnvdABr2GCY" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1233638290754914028?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1233638290754914028?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/CnvdABr2GCY/marking-birth-of-modern-day-internet.html" title="Marking the birth of the modern-day Internet" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erdVu3tz5J8/UOB0kUf44uI/AAAAAAAAAkI/hP2ohFzxY_w/s72-c/vint1973.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/marking-birth-of-modern-day-internet.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CUUERX4zeCp7ImA9WhNVE0k.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-8959603882457499653</id><published>2012-12-24T02:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-24T02:00:04.080-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-24T02:00:04.080-08:00</app:edited><title>Follow Santa live on Google Santa Tracker</title><content type="html">The North Pole air traffic control elves have just notified us that Santa has taken off! For the next day, you can visit the <a href="http://www.google.com/santatracker/">Google Santa Tracker</a> to see where Santa’s headed next and keep tabs on how many presents he’s delivered. You can also keep up with him on your smartphone and tablet with the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.santatracker">Android app</a>, in your browser with the the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/santa-tracker/iodomglenhcehfbhbakhedmbobhbgjcb">Chrome extension</a>, and even in 3D with <a href="http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html">Google Earth</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/mobile/earth/">Google Earth mobile</a> (look for it in the Tour Guide feature with the latest version of Google Earth).<br />
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<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;captions=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F101276679868918752026%2Falbumid%2F5824855058378270321%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="307" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="528"></embed><br /></div>
|
||
<br />
|
||
And follow Google Maps on <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GoogleMaps">Google+</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GoogleMaps">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/googlemaps">Twitter</a> to get up-to-the-minute details on Santa’s journey around the world. <br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
Ho ho ho! Happy holidays everyone!<br />
|
||
<br />
|
||
<span class="byline-author">Posted by Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps and Google Earth</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/PKZ3-r11u90" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8959603882457499653?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8959603882457499653?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/PKZ3-r11u90/follow-santa-live-on-google-santa.html" title="Follow Santa live on Google Santa Tracker" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/follow-santa-live-on-google-santa.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CUAFQXw8eSp7ImA9WhNVEE4.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-4321924804456189384</id><published>2012-12-20T11:43:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-20T12:01:50.271-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-20T12:01:50.271-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maps and earth" /><title>Tips for getting the most from Google Maps on iPhone</title><content type="html">We hope you’ve had a chance to try the new Google Maps app for iPhone (announced last week and available for download in the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id585027354?mt=8">Apple App Store</a>). The app is designed to be simple—just to work whenever you need it. Still, we have a few tips to make finding things with Google Maps even faster and easier. All the tips are collected on our <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/helloworld/iphone/quicktips.html">site</a> but here a few of my favorites:<br />
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||
<ul>
|
||
<li><b>Swipe to see more. </b>In Google Maps a wealth of information is often just a swipe away. Whether you’re looking at search results or directions, you can swipe the bottom info sheet left and right to see other options. To get more details on any of the results, swipe that info sheet upward (or just tap it—that works too). Even with the info sheet expanded, you can swipe to see those other results.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><b>Place a pin.</b> Get more information about any location by just pressing and holding the map. The info sheet that pops up tells you the address, lets you save or share the place, and best of all, brings up...</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><b>Street View. </b>By far the easiest way to get to Street View is placing a pin. Tap the imagery preview on the info sheet to enter into Street View, then explore! I recommend the look-around feature (bottom left button) which changes what you’re looking at as you tilt and move your phone.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
Want to learn more? See the rest of our tips on the <a href="http://maps.google.com/help/maps/helloworld/iphone/quicktips.html">site</a>. And as you explore the app on your own, share your own tips using #googlemaps. Most of all, enjoy discovering your world.<br />
|
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_RugfiWZkk/UNNb4tNi-TI/AAAAAAAAKig/W2_x1GAoJAI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2012-12-20%2Bat%2B10.31.33%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_RugfiWZkk/UNNb4tNi-TI/AAAAAAAAKig/W2_x1GAoJAI/s500/Screen%2BShot%2B2012-12-20%2Bat%2B10.31.33%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Vicky Tait, Consumer Operations, Google Maps</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/TSAkF7sFCYw" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4321924804456189384?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/4321924804456189384?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/TSAkF7sFCYw/tips-for-getting-most-from-google-maps.html" title="Tips for getting the most from Google Maps on iPhone" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_RugfiWZkk/UNNb4tNi-TI/AAAAAAAAKig/W2_x1GAoJAI/s72-c/Screen%2BShot%2B2012-12-20%2Bat%2B10.31.33%2BAM.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/tips-for-getting-most-from-google-maps.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"DkEEQXczeyp7ImA9WhNVEE8.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-1700822085371634100</id><published>2012-12-20T09:30:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-20T09:30:00.983-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-20T09:30:00.983-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Africa" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="developers" /><title>Cloud computing enabling entrepreneurship in Africa</title><content type="html">In 2007, 33-year-old Vuyile moved to Cape Town from rural South Africa in search of work. Unable to complete high school, he worked as a night shift security guard earning $500/month to support his family. During the rush hour commute from his home in Khayelitsha, Vuyile realized that he could earn extra income by selling prepaid mobile airtime vouchers to other commuters on the train. <br />
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In rural areas, it’s common to use prepaid vouchers to pay for basic services such as electricity, insurance and airtime for mobile phones. But it’s often difficult to distribute physical vouchers because of the risk of theft and fraud. <br />
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<a href="http://www.nomanini.com/">Nomanini</a>, a startup based in South Africa, built a device that enables local entrepreneurs like Vuyile to sell prepaid mobile services in their communities. The Lula (which means “easy” in colloquial Zulu), is a portable voucher sales terminal that is used on-the-go by people ranging from taxi drivers to street vendors. It generates and prints codes which people purchase to add minutes to their mobile phones. <br />
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Today, Vuyile sells vouchers on the train for cash payment, and earns a commission weekly. Since he started using the Lula, he’s seen his monthly income increase by 20 percent.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KlTTWSwTYtI/UNMnPQYQl-I/AAAAAAAAKhc/1mCiudoVqtk/s1600/vuyile+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KlTTWSwTYtI/UNMnPQYQl-I/AAAAAAAAKhc/1mCiudoVqtk/s400/vuyile+(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Vuyile prints a voucher from his Lula</i></div>
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Nomanini founders Vahid and Ali Monadjem wanted to make mobile services widely available in areas where they had been inaccessible, or where—in a region where the average person makes less than $200/month—people simply couldn’t afford them. By creating a low-cost and easy-to-use product, Nomanini could enable entrepreneurs in Africa to go to deep rural areas and create businesses for themselves. <br />
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In order to build a scalable and reliable backend system to keep the Lula running, Nomanini chose to run on <a href="https://cloud.google.com/products/?utm_source=ogb&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=nomanini">Google App Engine</a>. Their development team doesn’t have to spend time setting up their own servers and can instead run on the same infrastructure that powers Google’s own applications. They can focus on building their backend systems and easily deploy code to Google’s data centers. When Vuyile makes a sale, he presses a few buttons, App Engine processes the request, and the voucher prints in seconds. <br />
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Last month, 40,000 people bought airtime through the Lula, and Nomanini hopes to grow this number to 1 million per month next year. While platforms like App Engine are typically used to build web or smartphone apps, entrepreneurs like Vahid and Ali are finding innovative ways to leverage this technology by building their own devices and connecting them to App Engine. Vahid tells us: “We’re a uniquely born and bred African solution, and we have great potential to take this to the rest of Africa and wider emerging markets. We could not easily scale this fast without running on Google App Engine.” <br />
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To learn more about the technical implementation used by Nomanini, read their guest post on the <a href="http://googleappengine.blogspot.com/2012/12/developer-insights-mobile-voucher-sales.html">Google App Engine blog</a>.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Zafir Khan, Google App Engine</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/TbkmJIsBlV4" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1700822085371634100?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/1700822085371634100?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/TbkmJIsBlV4/cloud-computing-enabling.html" title="Cloud computing enabling entrepreneurship in Africa" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KlTTWSwTYtI/UNMnPQYQl-I/AAAAAAAAKhc/1mCiudoVqtk/s72-c/vuyile+(1).jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/cloud-computing-enabling.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"DkQAQH0zfCp7ImA9WhNWGU4.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-5628406967684624466</id><published>2012-12-19T08:25:00.003-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-19T08:25:41.384-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-19T08:25:41.384-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="culture" /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Europe" /><title>Explore Spain's Jewish heritage online</title><content type="html">You can now discover Spain’s Jewish heritage on a new site powered by comprehensive and accurate Google Maps: <a href="http://www.redjuderias.org/google">www.redjuderias.org/google</a>.<br />
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Using the Google Maps API, <a href="http://www.redjuderias.org/">Red de Juderías de España</a> has built a site where you can explore more than 500 landmarks that shed light on Spain’s Jewish population throughout history. By clicking on a landmark, you can get historical information, pictures or texts, and a 360º view of the location, thanks to Street View technology. You can also use the search panel on the top of the page to filter the locations by category, type, geographic zone or date.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntJQdwwZNr4/UNHpASwsCpI/AAAAAAAAKgg/UrKGtiKDwYw/s1600/maps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntJQdwwZNr4/UNHpASwsCpI/AAAAAAAAKgg/UrKGtiKDwYw/s400/maps.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Toledo, Synagogue Santamaría la Blanca</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRxbAy38icc/UNHo_UHTnuI/AAAAAAAAKgY/m3L9rgbzoMQ/s1600/maps-textos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRxbAy38icc/UNHo_UHTnuI/AAAAAAAAKgY/m3L9rgbzoMQ/s400/maps-textos.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Information is included on each landmark</i></div>
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This project is just one of our efforts to bring important cultural content online. This week, we worked with the Israel Antiquities Authority to <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/in-beginningbringing-scrolls-of-genesis.html">launch</a> the <a href="http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/">Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library</a>, an online collection of more than 5,000 scroll fragments, and last year we announced a <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/explore-yad-vashems-holocaust-archives.html">project</a> to digitize and make available the Yad Vashem Museum’s Holocaust archives. With the <a href="http://www.googleartproject.com/">Google Art Project</a>, people around the world can also view and explore more than 35,000 works of art in 180 museums.<br />
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Read more about this project on the <a href="http://googlepolicyeurope.blogspot.com/2012/12/celebrating-recovery-of-spains-jewish.html">Europe Blog</a>. We hope this new site will inspire you to learn more about Spain’s Jewish history, and perhaps to visit these cities in person.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by William Echikson, External Relations, Europe, Middle East and Africa<br />
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</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/gt2dns4sGkw" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/5628406967684624466?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/5628406967684624466?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/gt2dns4sGkw/explore-spains-jewish-heritage-online.html" title="Explore Spain's Jewish heritage online" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntJQdwwZNr4/UNHpASwsCpI/AAAAAAAAKgg/UrKGtiKDwYw/s72-c/maps.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/explore-spains-jewish-heritage-online.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"CU4CSX46fCp7ImA9WhNWGU0.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-8544513034590760613</id><published>2012-12-18T22:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-18T23:59:28.014-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-18T23:59:28.014-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maps and earth" /><title>Count down to Christmas Eve with Google Santa Tracker</title><content type="html">While millions of people eagerly await Christmas Day, Santa and his elves are keeping busy at the <a href="http://google.com/santatracker">North Pole</a>. They’re preparing presents, tuning up the sleigh, feeding the reindeer and, of course, checking the list (twice!) before they take flight on their trip around the world. <br />
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While we’ve been tracking Santa since 2004 with Google Earth, this year a team of dedicated <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a> engineers built a new route algorithm to chart Santa’s journey around the world on Christmas Eve. On his sleigh, arguably the fastest airborne vehicle in the world, Santa whips from city to city delivering presents to millions of homes. You’ll be able to follow him on Google Maps and Google Earth, and get his stats starting at 2:00 a.m. PST Christmas Eve at <a href="http://google.com/santatracker">google.com/santatracker</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68Yyfm-9StM/UNEeWahO9rI/AAAAAAAAKfU/9dQ4pDKxrxk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-18+at+3.38.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68Yyfm-9StM/UNEeWahO9rI/AAAAAAAAKfU/9dQ4pDKxrxk/s500/Screen+Shot+2012-12-18+at+3.38.49+PM.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Simulating Santa's path across the world—see it live Dec 24</i></div>
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In addition, with some help from developer elves, we’ve built a few other tools to help you track Santa from wherever you may be. Add the new <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/iodomglenhcehfbhbakhedmbobhbgjcb">Chrome extension</a> or download the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.santatracker">Android app</a> to keep up with Santa from your smartphone or tablet. And to get the latest updates on his trip, follow Google Maps on <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GoogleMaps/">Google+</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GoogleMaps">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/googlemaps">Twitter</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnolqJl6iig/UNEeYj_QY7I/AAAAAAAAKfc/mFyxjksEMCo/s1600/dashboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnolqJl6iig/UNEeYj_QY7I/AAAAAAAAKfc/mFyxjksEMCo/s500/dashboard.png" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Get a dashboard view of Santa's journey on Google Maps</i></div>
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The Google Santa Tracker will launch on December 24, but the countdown to the journey starts now! Visit <a href="http://g.co/santatracker">Santa’s Village</a> today to watch the countdown clock and join the elves and reindeer in their preparations. You can even ask <a href="http://www.google.com/santatracker/santacall">Santa to call a friend or family member</a>. <br />
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We hope you enjoy tracking Santa with us this year. And on behalf of everyone at Google—happy holidays! <br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps and Google Earth</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/PGSuXuqaca4" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8544513034590760613?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/8544513034590760613?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/PGSuXuqaca4/count-down-to-christmas-eve-with-google.html" title="Count down to Christmas Eve with Google Santa Tracker" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68Yyfm-9StM/UNEeWahO9rI/AAAAAAAAKfU/9dQ4pDKxrxk/s72-c/Screen+Shot+2012-12-18+at+3.38.49+PM.png" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/count-down-to-christmas-eve-with-google.html</feedburner:origLink></entry><entry gd:etag="W/"Dk8ERnY7fSp7ImA9WhNWGE8.""><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10861780.post-6897279873128358135</id><published>2012-12-18T02:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-12-18T02:00:07.805-08:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2012-12-18T02:00:07.805-08:00</app:edited><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="culture" /><title>“In the beginning”...bringing the scrolls of Genesis and the Ten Commandments online</title><content type="html">A little over a year ago, we <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-desert-to-web-bringing-dead-sea.html">helped put online</a> five manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls—ancient documents that include the oldest known biblical manuscripts in existence. Written more than 2,000 years ago on pieces of parchment and papyrus, they were preserved by the hot, dry desert climate and the darkness of the caves in which they were hidden. The Scrolls are possibly the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century.<br />
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Today, we’re helping put more of these ancient treasures online. The Israel Antiquities Authority is launching the <a href="http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/">Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library</a>, an online collection of some 5,000 images of scroll fragments, at a quality never seen before. The texts include one of the earliest known copies of the Book of Deuteronomy, which includes the <a href="http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/image/B-314643?locale=en_US">Ten Commandments</a>; part of Chapter 1 of the <a href="http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/image/B-295662">Book of Genesis</a>, which describes the creation of the world; and hundreds more 2,000-year-old texts, shedding light on the time when Jesus lived and preached, and on the history of Judaism.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xcrNwgKi_k/UM-J-_JBH3I/AAAAAAAAKeQ/CZ8-bSFEpZA/s1600/10+COMMANDMENTS+-+photo+credit+Shai+Halevi,+courtesy+of+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xcrNwgKi_k/UM-J-_JBH3I/AAAAAAAAKeQ/CZ8-bSFEpZA/s500/10+COMMANDMENTS+-+photo+credit+Shai+Halevi,+courtesy+of+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<i>The Ten Commandments. Photo by Shai Halevi, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLO0YK8_kJw/UM-J_9nLKmI/AAAAAAAAKeY/evKNiFphwhM/s1600/Genesis+Chapter+1+-+photo+credit+Shai+Halevi,+courtesy+of+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLO0YK8_kJw/UM-J_9nLKmI/AAAAAAAAKeY/evKNiFphwhM/s500/Genesis+Chapter+1+-+photo+credit+Shai+Halevi,+courtesy+of+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Part of the Book of Genesis. Photo by Shai Halevi, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority</i></div>
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Millions of users and scholars can discover and decipher details invisible to the naked eye, at 1215 dpi resolution. The site displays infrared and color images that are equal in quality to the Scrolls themselves. There’s a database containing information for about 900 of the manuscripts, as well as interactive content pages. We’re thrilled to have been able to help this project through hosting on Google Storage and App Engine, and use of Maps, YouTube and Google image technology.<br />
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This partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority is part of our ongoing work to bring important cultural and historical materials online, to make them accessible and help preserve them for future generations. Other examples include the <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/explore-yad-vashems-holocaust-archives.html">Yad Vashem Holocaust photo collection</a>, <a href="http://www.googleartproject.com/">Google Art Project</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/culturalinstitute/worldwonders/">World Wonders</a> and the <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/#!home">Google Cultural Institute</a>. <br />
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We hope you enjoy visiting the Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library, or any of these other projects, and interacting with history.<br />
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<span class="byline-author">Posted by Eyal Miller, New Business Development, and Yossi Matias, Head of Israel Research and Development Center</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/qT8Tg7WjphI" height="1" width="1"/></content><link rel="edit" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6897279873128358135?v=2" /><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10861780/posts/default/6897279873128358135?v=2" /><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/qT8Tg7WjphI/in-beginningbringing-scrolls-of-genesis.html" title="“In the beginning”...bringing the scrolls of Genesis and the Ten Commandments online" /><author><name>Emily Wood</name><uri>https://plus.google.com/112374322230920073195</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail" width="16" height="16" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" /></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8xcrNwgKi_k/UM-J-_JBH3I/AAAAAAAAKeQ/CZ8-bSFEpZA/s72-c/10+COMMANDMENTS+-+photo+credit+Shai+Halevi,+courtesy+of+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><feedburner:origLink>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/in-beginningbringing-scrolls-of-genesis.html</feedburner:origLink></entry></feed>
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