Category Archives: Google

Just this morning, I was sitting in my car waiting for Alternate Side of the Street parking to end (a dance that many car-owning New Yorkers go through) and texted my partner to come take his turn. As normal, I used the Messages app on my Pixel 6 phone to contact him and waited for the usual reply (On my way! or Be there in a few!), but after about four minutes or so, I realized that I hadnt had a response. When I checked the app, I saw that the text hadnt been sent instead, there was a tiny message saying my partners phone was off and asking if I wanted to send an SMS / MMS instead.

What?

I chose to send the SMS and got an immediate reply (proving that the phone was not off). What was the problem? Im not absolutely sure, but Google Messages uses RCS, an online protocol that Google has been trying to make a standard and for some reason, the app had apparently decided that my partners Pixel was not available.

Google has been making a lot of noise about Messages lately and has even made it more friendly when messaging with iPhones. But obviously, there are still kinks.

If you use Google Messages for your chats (rather than Chat, or Hangouts, or whatever) and, for some reason, your Messages app decides that you cant send an RCS text, heres a feature that you may want to enable just in case. It will ensure that you dont have to check whether or not your text has gone out; instead, it will automatically send your message via the less-secure but still-available SMS / MMS protocol. Once RCS is available again, it will switch back. (These directions are for a Pixel 6 with Android 12 as usual with Android, YMMV.)

And thats it! I like the security and media features that come with the Message apps RCS protocol, but when I send a text, I definitely want it to go through asap. (Otherwise, Id send an email or maybe a nice snail mail note.) If you agree, you may want to make sure that this feature is toggled on.

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How to force Google Messages to use SMS texts when RCS fails - The Verge

While Meta adjusts, some small businesses have begun seeking other avenues for ads. Shawn Baker, the owner of Baker SoftWash, an exterior cleaning company in Mooresville, N.C., said it previously took about $6 of Facebook ads to identify a new customer. Now it costs $27 because the ads do not find the right people, he said.

Mr. Baker has started spending $200 a month to advertise through Googles marketing program for local businesses, which surfaces his website when people who live in the area search for cleaners. To compensate for those higher marketing costs, he has raised his prices 7 percent.

Youre spending more money now than what you had to spend before to do the same things, he said.

Other tech giants with first-party information are capitalizing on the change. Amazon, for example, has reams of data on its customers, including what they buy, where they reside, and what movies or TV shows they stream.

In February, Amazon disclosed the size of its advertising business $31.2 billion in revenue in 2021 for the first time. That makes advertising its third-largest source of sales after e-commerce and cloud computing. Amazon declined to comment.

Amber Murray, the owner of See Your Strength in St. George, Utah, which sells stickers online for people with anxiety, started experimenting with ads on Amazon after the performance of Facebook ads deteriorated. The results were remarkable, she said.

In February, she paid about $200 for Amazon to feature her products near the top of search results when customers looked up textured stickers. Sales totaled $250 a day and continued to grow, she said. When she spent $85 on a Facebook ad campaign in January, it yielded just $37.50 in sales, she said.

I think the golden days of Facebook advertising are over, Ms. Murray said. On Amazon, people are looking for you, instead of you telling people what they should want.

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How Youre Still Being Tracked on the Internet - The New York Times

The logo of Google Play is displayed at Tokyo Game Show 2019 in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan, September 12, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

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March 29 (Reuters) - Russian tech developers are building an alternative to Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google Play store and plan to launch it on May 9, a national holiday in Russia that celebrates victory in World War Two, the organisation behind the initiative said on Tuesday.

YouTube and Google Play this month suspended all payment-based services in Russia, including subscriptions, as Western sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine started to pose banking challenges in the country. read more

"Unfortunately, Russians can no longer normally use Google Play to buy apps and developers have lost their source of income," said Vladimir Zykov, director of projects at Digital Platforms, an organisation focused on digital development.

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"This is why we have created a Russian app shop, NashStore," Zykov said in a statement.

NashStore, which translates into English as "OurStore", will serve Android mobile devices and should ultimately be compatible with Russian Mir bank cards, the statement said.

Russia traditionally holds a patriotic display of raw military power on May 9 with a parade that passes through Moscow's Red Square commemorating the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

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Reporting by Reuters, editing by Ed Osmond

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Russians plan to launch alternative to Google Play on Victory Day - Reuters

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidts foundation poured money into the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy over the past year, according to a report from Politico. The foundations close ties with the office raised ethics concerns with internal watchdogs.

Schmidt held a number of roles at Google and parent company Alphabet, including CEO, executive chairman, and technical advisor. He stepped down from that last role in 2020. Now, he sits on the boards and invests in tech companies, including a number focused on artificial intelligence. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directs science funding and helps steer AI policy one of the reasons Rachel Wallace, then the offices general counsel, raised concerns about his financial involvement, according to emails obtained by Politico.

Schmidts foundation, Schmidt Futures, paid salaries for OSTP employees, Politico reported. An unpaid consultant in the office was also employed by Schmidt Futures. A number of employees were offered Schmidt Futures fellowships, which fund travel to conferences. Some withdrew in response to ethical concerns. Some officials at the office also worked at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, where Schmidt is the chair of the board.

Hes also worked closely with Eric Lander, former director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Lander resigned in February after reports and credible evidence that he bullied employees, including Wallace.

An OSTP spokesperson who Politico did not name said that the OSTP works with many outside groups and that the legal office reviews any potential ethical conflicts.

Wallace, who headed the OSTPs legal office as general counsel, told Politico she attributes Landers behavior to her concerns around Schmidts involvement. I and others on the legal team had been noticing a large number of staff with financial connections to Schmidt Futures and were increasingly concerned about the influence this organization was able to have through these individuals, Wallace told Politico.

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Ex-Google CEO funneled money into the White House science office - The Verge

YouTube TV is testing support for Dolby 5.1 surround sound on Google TV, Android TV, and Roku devices. In a tweet, the platform said 5.1 audio will launch on those devices next if everything runs smoothly during the test.

If you were hoping to get surround sound while watching YouTube TV on your Apple TV, Fire TV, Xbox, or PlayStation, however, youll have to wait a bit longer. The platform says its still working internally and with partners to get 5.1 support on these platforms.

YouTube TV currently supports 5.1 surround sound on Samsung, LG, and Vizio TVs, as well as on traditional Chromecast streaming devices. For it to work, youll need Cobalt version 20 or later, which you can check by selecting your profile photo in the YouTube TV app, clicking About, and then hitting App Version. It also requires a speaker system that supports 5.1 audio.

Last June, YouTube TV announced that it would bring 5.1 surround sound to select devices. It seems the service is following through on its promise, although its taking quite a bit of time to roll the highly anticipated feature out.

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YouTube TV is testing surround sound on Android TV, Google TV, and Roku - The Verge

An Irish company that specialises in tax preparation and advisory services has launched High Court proceedings over the suspension of its advertising account by Google.

The action has been brought by My Tax Back Ltd, which operates the mytaxrefunds.ie website, over Google Ireland Ltds decision to suspend and completely exclude the company from advertising on Google.com by way of the Google Ads service.

The court heard that the company had advertised with Google for some years.

However, at the start of 2022, Google removed some of its adverts on the grounds that they were not eligible and in breach of Googles terms of service.

The company disputes Googles assertions and says it should be allowed to advertise tax preparation services.

The company was suspended from advertising any of it services on the platform on March 11th last.

It now estimates that it is losing 9,500 per day because of the suspension.

In a sworn statement to the court companys managing director and sole shareholder Gary OBrien claims that without access to that platform the company is highly unlikely to survive should the dispute between the parties take more than six months to determine.

The Co Donegal-based Mr OBrien also said that his companys competitors continue to use the defendants advertising platform for the same taxation services provided by his company.

Represented by Arthur Cunningham Bl, instructed by Peter Boyle and Co Solicitors, My Tax Back seeks an injunction directing Google to allow Tax Back to advertise the tax preparation services it provides with Google Ads.

That order, if granted by the court, would remain in place pending the outcome of the full hearing of the dispute.

In its action, the company seeks declarations that its advertising account with the internet firm was unlawfully suspended. It also seeks a declaration from the court that the services it provides are not restricted by Googles prohibition on promotions.

It seeks an order to have the agreement it claims it entered with Google to display its advertising, and damages for alleged breach of contract.

The matter came before Mr Justice Senan Allen on Monday.

The judge, on an ex parte basis, granted the applicant permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on Google.

The matter will return before the court next week.

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Tax advisory company sues Google over suspension of advertising account - The Irish Times

Enlarge / The new "booking page" UI. This is a URL you can create and send to anyone.

Google

Google Calendar's latest update promises to take a lot of the back-and-forth out of booking appointments. Google announced Friday that users will soon be able to create a "booking page" UI they can send to anyone they want. You present the periods you're willing to have a meeting, and the other user will be able to pick a time.

Workspace users will soon be able to pick the"Appointment Schedule" from the "create" appointment button. This will fire up a UI that can be used to create an appointment webpage. Workspace users highlight the times they would be willing to have a meeting, then enter the appointment duration and location (or a Google Meet room) and add a title and description.

Once everything is filled out, Calendar will generate a Google-hosted "booking page" website, and the creator can send the URL to someone else. The other person can then easily pick a time and add the meeting to a calendar. A similartime slot feature was previously available if both users were inside the same Workspace organization, but you can now show this time-slot UI to anyone you want, even users without a Google account.

Google

The creator of the booking page will need to be using at least the "Business Standard" version of Google Workspace. The lower-level "Business Starter" level is still paid, but it doesn't get access to these sorts of fancy new features. The feature should roll out to everyone by April 9. Once you have it, just load up the web version of Google Calendar, click on the "Create" button, and pick"Appointment Schedule."

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New Google Calendar feature takes the back-and-forth out of scheduling - Ars Technica

If you want to verify your Google login and make it harder to access by anyone but yourself (always a good idea), one way is to use your iPhone or Android smartphone as a physical security key. While you can set up a third-party 2FA app such as Authy or even use Googles own Authenticator, these require that you enter both your password and a code generated by the app. Googles built-in security allows you to access your account by just hitting Yes or pressing your volume button after a pop-up appears on your phone. You can also use your phone as a secondary security key.

To set this up, your computer should be running a current version of Windows 10, iOS, macOS, or Chrome OS. Before you start, make sure that your phone is running Android 7 or later and that it has Bluetooth turned on.

Youll then be run through a test of the system and invited to turn it on permanently.

You can also use your phone as a secondary security key to ensure that it is indeed you who are signing into your account. In other words, to get into the account, it will be necessary to be carrying the correct phone with a Bluetooth connection.

Thats it! Youve set up your phone as a security key and can now log in to Gmail, Google Cloud, and other Google services and use your phone as the primary or secondary method of verification.

Just make sure your phone is in close proximity to your computer whenever youre trying to log in. Your computer will then tell you that your phone is displaying a prompt. Follow the directions to verify your login, and youre all set!

Update March 29th, 2021, 11:20AM ET: This article was originally published on April 12th, 2019, and has been updated to account for changes in the Google interface.

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How to use your phone as a two-factor authentication security key - The Verge

(Washington, DC)Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development hosted DMPEDs 8th annual March Madness, showcasing the Districts new and upcoming real estate, housing, business, and workforce initiatives. One of these initiatives is a $1 million Google.org grant, where Mayor Bowser and Google partnered to support Community College Prep Academy (CC Prep) to expand their IT Pathways program. The funds will cover scholarships for 250 learners to take a Google Career Certificate training program with wraparound support, such as career coaching. The program equips people with job-ready skills in high-growing fields within 3-6 months with no degree or experience required.

This partnership with Google aligns with our larger goal of ensuring DC residents have access to jobs and careers in high-demand, high-growth, and good-paying industries, said Mayor Bowser. Were proud to work with Google to give more Washingtonians a fair shot.

Googles philanthropic arm, provided a grant to CC Prep to offer the program given the schools commitment to increase access to essential workforce training for non-traditional students who do not have a degree and are often underrepresented in tech fields. Through this program, Google and CC Prep aim to advance the economic potential of local DC workers, regardless of their education level.

The Bowser Administration has always created new ways to support our residents with resources and training to help them thrive, said Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio. DC is the District of comebacks, and this opportunity ignites individual and collective growth. When residents succeed, the District succeeds. We are all coming back up together.

Those interested in learning more about the Google Analytics Program at CC Prep can visit their website http://www.ccprep-academy.org to start the application and screening process, or they can call (202) 770-3252 to speak with a member of the enrollment team.

Google calls Washington, DC home, and were committed to investing in the local community and its residents, said Andrew Dunckelman, Head of Impact and Insights, Google.org. Were proud to work with the Community College Prep Academy to offer the Google Career Certificates. This initiative will help job seekers increase their economic potential and enable them to gain the skills needed for in-demand jobs in the nations Capital.

The Google Career Certificates training program was developed by Google employees to support skilling in high-demand fields. After finishing the program, an employer consortium of over 150 companiesincluding Washington, DC-area employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Googleconsider graduates for related roles. The certificates can be completed in three to six months of part-time study. Over 70,000 people have graduated from the program in the U.S., and 75% of graduates report a positive career impact, such as a new job, higher pay, or a promotion, within six months of completion. Fifty-five percent of graduates identify as Asian, Black, or Latino. The Google Career Certificates are a part of Grow with Googlethe companys initiative to create economic opportunity for all Americans through digital tools and training programs.

The partnership between CC Prep and Google is the type of industry relationship that DOES and the DC Infrastructure Academy strive to cultivate in developing career pipelines for District residents, said DOES Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes. By combining technology and opportunity, 250 Washingtonians will be positioned to meet the demands of the labor market and have access to family sustaining jobs in their community.

Social Media:Mayor Bowser Twitter:@MayorBowserMayor Bowser Instagram:@Mayor_BowserMayor Bowser Facebook:facebook.com/MayorMurielBowserMayor Bowser YouTube:https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos

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Mayor Bowser and Google Announce $1 Million Grant to Train DC Residents for In-Demand Tech Jobs | mayormb - Executive Office of the Mayor

In the unlikely event that 2 TB is not enough, you can increase your storage, but the option to upgrade to an even larger plan is available only for current subscribers and in select countries. Here are the plans (no annual discount on the 10-, 20-, or 30-TB plans):

Google One Benefits

The main benefit of a Google One plan is the extra cloud storage you can share with up to five family members. While families can share the same space, personal photos and files are accessible only to each owner unless you specifically choose to share them. Everyone in the family can also share the additional benefits (provided you all live in the same country).

Lets take a closer look at those benefits:

Access to Google Experts

You get instant access to Google experts for general questions or tech support for any of your Google products or services. You can contact support by phone, chat, or email through the Google One app 24/7. Response times for phone and chat are 2 to 3 minutes, while emails can expect a response within 24 hours.

Extra Benefits

A few things fall into this category:

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What Is Google One? A Breakdown of Plans, Pricing, and Included Services - WIRED