London has long been considered a global centre for design and innovation. Google UK partnered with the London Design Festival, a ten day event bringing some of the world’s leading designers and visionaries together to discuss the future of the planet.
Our own Google visionariy, Dr. Astro Teller, Engineering Director of Google X, joined the festival live from California, via Google+ Hangout. Google X affords an opportunity for top researchers to take a high impact technology vision and bring it to the world at scale. Much of the group's work is still in the very early stages, but the lab is already known for its technology moonshots like self-driving cars and Project Glass’s computer animated eyewear.
Astro spoke about Google’s culture and ambition to take Moonshots; audacious projects that aim to solve global problems. “Our goal is to create things that are massively positive for the world,” Teller said.
Moonshots may sound like science fiction. But Teller and his Google X colleagues are showing that what may sound like science fiction may end up solving enormous global that affect billions of people.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Celebrating startups with the new Google for Entrepreneurs
Startups and entrepreneurs have the power to build technologies and creative solutions that transform the world and move us forward. Innovation is happening everywhere: There are approximately 400 million entrepreneurs across 54 countries, and 69 million early-stage entrepreneurs offering new products and services. As Google turns 14 this month, we’re celebrating this creative spirit and officially launching Google for Entrepreneurs, the umbrella for our several dozen programs and partnerships around the world that support startups and entrepreneurs.
Our focus is threefold:
- Partnerships with strong organizations that serve entrepreneurs in local communities
- Google-led programs to bring our teams and our tools directly to entrepreneurs
- Placing relevant Google tools in the hands of startups as they are getting off the ground and ready to scale
To celebrate both our birthday and the spirit of entrepreneurship that’s helped get us where we are today, we are hosting our first annual Google for Entrepreneurs Week, which will bring together more than 3,000 entrepreneurs and Googlers around the world. We kicked off over the weekend with a Startup Weekend event hosted at the Google Ventures Startup Lab in Mountain View, Calif., where Bay Area entrepreneurs came together to create their own startups in 54 hours.
Over the course of the next week, Googlers in 28 cities across 13 countries will be hosting an event in their communities to bring their passion and expertise to local entrepreneurs. We’re teaming with a number of partners to make this happen, including the Idea Village in New Orleans, Communitech in Waterloo, Tetuan Valley in Wroclaw, the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in Johannesburg and the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce in Iowa.
For more on these existing programs and to stay connected on upcoming events, visit google.com/entrepreneurs and follow us on G+.
Democratising high speed Internet access in Senegal
A decade ago, Senegal was one of the most promising African countries in adopting the Internet, with more than double the Internet penetration than in Nigeria. Yet today Nigeria have leaped ahead with 30% of its population enjoying access to the web versus only 16% for Senegal.
In order to find out what went wrong, we commissioned a study being published today. Produced by the consulting firm Balancing Act, the report is titled "Obstacles and Opportunities for the democratization of broadband in Senegal."
Many obstacles exist in Senegal. Because of rigid licensing and weak regulation, the incumbent operator holds a de facto monopoly on access to the national fiber infrastructure and the copper lines into households. This lack of competition keeps prices high - it costs $400 to get 1 Mbps/km capacity in Senegal, but only $20 in Kenya.
In contrast, the study shows that the introduction of liberal licensing regime in Kenya and South Africa has increased competition. In Kenya, for instance, the number of infrastructure licences doubled over the past three years and now counts 30 providers. Similarly, in South Africa the number of ISP soared to 726, up from 326.
Balancing Act proposes several key changes. Internet suppliers must be authorized to build their own infrastructure and compete against incumbents. Government should encourage competition and transparency in international capacity by enforcing existing but until now ignored regional regulation.
We believe it is important to have a conversation on how to improve Internet access in Senegal. Please download and read the report and share your comments, observations, questions and contributions via this form. Next month, we will organize a feedback workshop.
We look forward to hearing from you - and hopefully, sparking a vigorous debate.
In order to find out what went wrong, we commissioned a study being published today. Produced by the consulting firm Balancing Act, the report is titled "Obstacles and Opportunities for the democratization of broadband in Senegal."
Many obstacles exist in Senegal. Because of rigid licensing and weak regulation, the incumbent operator holds a de facto monopoly on access to the national fiber infrastructure and the copper lines into households. This lack of competition keeps prices high - it costs $400 to get 1 Mbps/km capacity in Senegal, but only $20 in Kenya.
In contrast, the study shows that the introduction of liberal licensing regime in Kenya and South Africa has increased competition. In Kenya, for instance, the number of infrastructure licences doubled over the past three years and now counts 30 providers. Similarly, in South Africa the number of ISP soared to 726, up from 326.
Balancing Act proposes several key changes. Internet suppliers must be authorized to build their own infrastructure and compete against incumbents. Government should encourage competition and transparency in international capacity by enforcing existing but until now ignored regional regulation.
We believe it is important to have a conversation on how to improve Internet access in Senegal. Please download and read the report and share your comments, observations, questions and contributions via this form. Next month, we will organize a feedback workshop.
We look forward to hearing from you - and hopefully, sparking a vigorous debate.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
European Commission President Barroso speaks out
An Irish homeowner asked what could be done to help him deal with his unsustainable mortgage. “What’s next for my country?” wondered a Greek worker. The Italian head of the Europe Youth Forum inquired about solutions to the continent’s high youth unemployment.
The questions were directed via Google+ Hangout to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
Aired live throughout Europe on Euronews, the interactive interview featured Europeans asking, often plaintively, about the continent’s economic and political crisis and its future. Take a look below on the European Commission’s EUTube to see how the president answered.
A full transcript is available here on the European Commission website.
The questions were directed via Google+ Hangout to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
Aired live throughout Europe on Euronews, the interactive interview featured Europeans asking, often plaintively, about the continent’s economic and political crisis and its future. Take a look below on the European Commission’s EUTube to see how the president answered.
A full transcript is available here on the European Commission website.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Hanging out for Jewish-Arab dialogue in Israel
Despite the fact that Israeli Arab and Jewish youth live in the same country and even study at the same universities, they often grow up without meeting. When tensions rise in the region, this lack of mutual understanding can lead to stereotyping, hostility and even violence.
We believe the Internet can help break down these barriers. In honor of today’s 30th annual International Day of Peace, we’re partnering with the Peres Center for Peace, a non-profit organisation founded by the President of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres. The center promotes cooperation and peacebuilding between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel as well as between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
Together, we’ll be holding a series of Hangouts on Google+ designed to enable dialogue between Israeli Arab and Jewish students. “Hanging Out for Peace” is a six-month project that will involve nearly 150 Israeli university students, women and men, with an equal number of Arabs and Jews. Students will be divided into mixed Jewish and Arab ‘circles’, matched with other students who study the same subject at university.
The circles will meet via Hangouts on Google+, led by instructors from the Peres Center, and will undertake online and offline projects related to the circle’s area of academic focus. After a series of Hangouts, the students will meet face to face, present the projects they’ve developed to the larger group of participants and discuss issues that arose during their work together.
The Internet provides a perfect platform for dialogue and cooperation. It can help overcome physical barriers and connect people from different cultures who have shared interests and common values. We’re excited to see how this project develops and hope that, in a small way, it will help foster coexistence and understanding between Israeli Jews and Arabs and, in the future, build bridges between other communities too.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Stepping up on free expression in Germany
Until now, the German Foreign Ministry had sponsored one main conference on the Internet - focusing on cybersecurity. Last week, it held a new conference focusing on the counterpart - cyberfreedom.
Google was happy to sponsor, along with many others including Microsoft and the eco ( Association of German Internet Industry). In a video address, our Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf warned the assembled 120 international experts from the political, academic and business sectors as well as from civil society that the open Internet is threatened as never before. More than 40 countries now censor or filter the net, up from only four a decade ago. "A new international battle is brewing,” Vint said, “a battle that will determine the future of the Internet."
The conference coincided with a particularly tense time for Internet free expression, just as an anti-Islam video sparked protests in Egypt and Libya. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle condemned the video, while insisting that it was no excuse for violence. The fundamental principles of German Cyber Foreign Policy were: freedom, responsibility and transparency,” he said.
Another recent event in Berlin highlighted Google’s commitment to free speech - the second Speakers Corner. Last year, we partnered with Speakers Corner Trust to export a bit of Hyde Park to Berlin. Together with our partners, we celebrated the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate.
This year, we moved the event forward to ensure better weather and to the main site of the protests against the East German communist regime - Alexanderplatz. A wide range of speakers from politics, digital activism, journalism and civil society groups spoke about everything from the future of online piracy to the challenges of a united Germany. It was a joyous occasion - just what we mean by free expression.
Google was happy to sponsor, along with many others including Microsoft and the eco ( Association of German Internet Industry). In a video address, our Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf warned the assembled 120 international experts from the political, academic and business sectors as well as from civil society that the open Internet is threatened as never before. More than 40 countries now censor or filter the net, up from only four a decade ago. "A new international battle is brewing,” Vint said, “a battle that will determine the future of the Internet."
The conference coincided with a particularly tense time for Internet free expression, just as an anti-Islam video sparked protests in Egypt and Libya. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle condemned the video, while insisting that it was no excuse for violence. The fundamental principles of German Cyber Foreign Policy were: freedom, responsibility and transparency,” he said.
Another recent event in Berlin highlighted Google’s commitment to free speech - the second Speakers Corner. Last year, we partnered with Speakers Corner Trust to export a bit of Hyde Park to Berlin. Together with our partners, we celebrated the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate.
This year, we moved the event forward to ensure better weather and to the main site of the protests against the East German communist regime - Alexanderplatz. A wide range of speakers from politics, digital activism, journalism and civil society groups spoke about everything from the future of online piracy to the challenges of a united Germany. It was a joyous occasion - just what we mean by free expression.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Snakes, crocodiles - and the Internet in Africa
Where can you watch intelligent discussion about the Internet mixed with performance poetry and the best in book writing alongside snakes and crocodiles? This year’s Nairobi Hay-Storymoja festival, of which Google was one of the main sponsors, took place in the National Museum of Kenya.
Many of Africa’s most thought-provoking writers and an array of international guests participated. One panel brought together Ory Okolloh, Google’s head of policy for Africa, with Christian Turner and the British Ambassador to Kenya.
Their wide-ranging discussion about the online world encompassed everything from the economic benefits, to the challenges of cultural and religious sensitivity, to whether the Internet lessens or enhances inequalities. Asked by a local school pupil what her message was for anyone seeking to fulfil their ambitions, Okolloh declared: “at some point you just have to go out and do it.”
African writers, both local and from the diaspora, were at the forefront, performing live, giving workshops to young people and taking part in Google + hang outs. Lemn Sissay and Patience Williams, both Africans brought up by adoptive parents in the UK, spoke movingly about the challenges of “difference”. One of the most passionate defences of free speech and activism came from Kenyan poet Sitawa Namwalie. Her spectacular show, “Cut off My Tongue”, which has been performed in several countries, managed the tough feat of injecting humour into the treatment of difficult issues, such as ethnic violence and corruption.
Arguably the star of the show was Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, the extraordinary story of Mao’s brutality told through the lives of three generations of her family. She was giving the first Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture, in honour of the Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Laureate who died a year ago.
Storymoja-Hay is a joint venture between a Kenyan publishing house and British literature festival. It has grown into one of the most prominent artistic events in the region. Google funds and participates in six Hay festivals around the world, including Beirut, Spain and Kenya. Google is proud to support this exciting international expansion.
Many of Africa’s most thought-provoking writers and an array of international guests participated. One panel brought together Ory Okolloh, Google’s head of policy for Africa, with Christian Turner and the British Ambassador to Kenya.
Their wide-ranging discussion about the online world encompassed everything from the economic benefits, to the challenges of cultural and religious sensitivity, to whether the Internet lessens or enhances inequalities. Asked by a local school pupil what her message was for anyone seeking to fulfil their ambitions, Okolloh declared: “at some point you just have to go out and do it.”
African writers, both local and from the diaspora, were at the forefront, performing live, giving workshops to young people and taking part in Google + hang outs. Lemn Sissay and Patience Williams, both Africans brought up by adoptive parents in the UK, spoke movingly about the challenges of “difference”. One of the most passionate defences of free speech and activism came from Kenyan poet Sitawa Namwalie. Her spectacular show, “Cut off My Tongue”, which has been performed in several countries, managed the tough feat of injecting humour into the treatment of difficult issues, such as ethnic violence and corruption.
Arguably the star of the show was Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, the extraordinary story of Mao’s brutality told through the lives of three generations of her family. She was giving the first Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture, in honour of the Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Laureate who died a year ago.
Storymoja-Hay is a joint venture between a Kenyan publishing house and British literature festival. It has grown into one of the most prominent artistic events in the region. Google funds and participates in six Hay festivals around the world, including Beirut, Spain and Kenya. Google is proud to support this exciting international expansion.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Boosting startups in Eastern Europe
There’s a deep pool of entrepreneurial talent in Eastern Europe and we're keen to support it. That's why Google has launched a partnership with Eleven, an accelerator program based in Bulgaria, to help lower the barriers to entry for aspiring East European entrepreneurs
Eleven’s first class of 11 startups was picked from almost 500 applicants. Googlers will host tech talks and workshops that we hope will help many hardworking startups get to the next level.
Here are some exciting examples of winners:
Thanks to the Internet, entrepreneurs can scale and deliver products fast. Accelerators like Eleven, which are investing in ideas and offering the networks and mentorship that young businesses need, play a vital role in transforming exciting ideas into successful, fast growing businesses.
Eleven’s first class of 11 startups was picked from almost 500 applicants. Googlers will host tech talks and workshops that we hope will help many hardworking startups get to the next level.
Here are some exciting examples of winners:
- Filement is a platform for data management, accessible viа intuitive and easy-to-use interface usable on all kind of devices.
- GrabaLanguage is a media platform that uses Youtube and crowd-sourced content to teach foreign languages in a fun and effortless way. Imagine karaoke style learning.
- La Koketa is a digital wardrobe and a personal stylist that solves every woman’s problem what to wear on any occasion.
- SoccerScout is a professional web based network for soccer players, coaches, agents and teams founded by former soccer player-turned entrepreneur Stilian Shishkov.
Thanks to the Internet, entrepreneurs can scale and deliver products fast. Accelerators like Eleven, which are investing in ideas and offering the networks and mentorship that young businesses need, play a vital role in transforming exciting ideas into successful, fast growing businesses.
Highlighting Ukraine’s contributions to computing
Computer history is full of stories of intellectual feats and technological leaps. Yet many of Europe’s most fascinating chapters are little known. To help remedy this, Google has been working to highlight and celebrate these forgotten computer pioneers -- from Tommy Flowers to Paul Otlet, from Sergey Lebedev to the team at J Lyons & Co.
Today marks the unveiling of another project in the series -- a new website, developed in partnership with Kyiv-based charity ICFCST, to commemorate Ukraine’s rich computing heritage. Our goal is to help make these little known stories of Soviet-era computing accessible to a wider audience.
At the website you can learn about Ukraine’s surprisingly extensive contributions to the development of computing in the Soviet Union. To name but a few:
- Vadim Lashkaryov’s unheralded contribution to the development of transistors
- Kateryna Yushchenko’s invention of “Address language”, one of the world’s first high-level computer programming languages
- Victor Glushkov’s range of small-sized computers for engineers, which were predecessors to personal computers
- The story of the scientific production association “Impulse”, who were a leader in developing automation systems for Soviet industry, as well as the USSR’s first mass ticket booking system for Aeroflot
In putting together the site, we are indebted to Boris Malinovsky, an eyewitness to many of these achievements and the first to document the history of Ukraine's IT industry.
While these achievements belong to a distant political and technological era, we hope this website helps their memory to live on.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
An update on our carbon footprint and sustainability efforts
Last year we published Google’s 2010 carbon footprint data for the first time on our Google Green site, and today we’re updating the site with information about our 2011 footprint. We’re also thrilled to report that we’re featured in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s 2012 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for a second year.
As we grow our services, we’re doing so in a responsible way. The Internet continues to see explosive growth: we’ve found over 30 trillion unique URLs on the web, up from 1 trillion in 2008. Our servers index 20 billion pages a day, receive 100 billion search queries a month, and support 425 million Gmail users—among many other services. Because we’re carbon neutral, we do all that work with a carbon footprint of zero, minimizing our impact on climate change.
We like to be thorough, so when calculating our carbon footprint we go beyond the typical approach. We cover not only employee business travel, but also daily commuting. We track the miles driven by our self-driving cars and Street View vehicles. And when it comes to our data centers, we take a “kitchen sink” approach—that is, we throw just about everything in. We include data center construction and server manufacturing as well as the energy used by Google-built data centers, leased facilities (called “colos”) and other third-party facilities around the world that house Google equipment.
Our carbon footprint in 2011, before offsetting it, was 1,677,423 metric tons CO2e. As a normal result of continuing to provide more and better services to more users, our energy consumption in 2011 increased in absolute terms, but not in relative terms. In other words, it’s growing less quickly than our business. Our carbon footprint per million dollars of revenue—a measure of carbon intensity commonly used to track corporate sustainability—has decreased by an average of 10% each year since 2009.
Our data centers hit a new low this year—in a good way. The average power usage effectiveness (PUE) across our global fleet of data centers has dropped to our lowest (AKA best) yet: 1.13 (with some facilities dipping as low as 1.08 earlier this year). This means we’ve managed to reduce the amount of energy we use on cooling and other overhead to just 13%.
Our campus sustainability programs are thriving. Last year, our shuttle program saw a 60% increase in ridership, and Googlers drove our fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles over 220,000 miles. The combination of our employee shuttle system and our electric vehicle infrastructure takes the equivalent of about 3,000 cars off the road every year. And we’re proud to have over 6 million square feet of building space around the world set to achieve LEED certification.
We continue to look for and implement new ways to reduce our impact on the environment while we increase our impact on sustainability, green energy, and clean technologies. We look forward to reporting back next year on our latest numbers, innovations, and activities.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Does your business shine online?
If you are a butcher, sweet shop, clog seller, or baby clothes retailer - or any other small business - that has moved online, enter the euronews Business Awards. Broadcaster euronews and Google are looking for stories of how European small to medium sized enterprises are using the internet to successfully attract new customers, grow market share or go global.
Here’s how to enter. Film a video of up to one minute explaining how your business has moved online. Upload it to euronews Business Awards YouTube channel and choose one of the three categories: growing online, going international; or women in business.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a budding film director. We are not looking for beautifully shot videos using the latest in film technology and an array of props. A simple, homemade film shot with a simple, off-the-shelf video camera or even a mobile phone will be fine. The most important thing is to tell an interesting tale about a small business and the Internet. Any employee of the business is welcome to participate.
Winners will be announced during the European Commission’s SME Week in mid-October. They will be featured on euronews and win an all-expenses-paid trip to a prize-giving event in Brussels, a Galaxy Nexus phone, a Chromebook and online training from Google experts.
We’ve long believed that the Internet helps create innovative new small businesses - and that small businesses that go online, grow faster, export more and create more jobs than their offline competitors. A recent study coming out of Germany from the IW Cologne consultants found that German entrepreneurs have founded 28,000 new businesses over the past five years using online services from Google and other web companies. These new businesses have created nearly 100,000 new jobs and in 2010 generated EUR 8.6 billion in sales.
Help us illustrate these numbers by sharing some great stories of European businesses that are shining online.
Here’s how to enter. Film a video of up to one minute explaining how your business has moved online. Upload it to euronews Business Awards YouTube channel and choose one of the three categories: growing online, going international; or women in business.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a budding film director. We are not looking for beautifully shot videos using the latest in film technology and an array of props. A simple, homemade film shot with a simple, off-the-shelf video camera or even a mobile phone will be fine. The most important thing is to tell an interesting tale about a small business and the Internet. Any employee of the business is welcome to participate.
Winners will be announced during the European Commission’s SME Week in mid-October. They will be featured on euronews and win an all-expenses-paid trip to a prize-giving event in Brussels, a Galaxy Nexus phone, a Chromebook and online training from Google experts.
We’ve long believed that the Internet helps create innovative new small businesses - and that small businesses that go online, grow faster, export more and create more jobs than their offline competitors. A recent study coming out of Germany from the IW Cologne consultants found that German entrepreneurs have founded 28,000 new businesses over the past five years using online services from Google and other web companies. These new businesses have created nearly 100,000 new jobs and in 2010 generated EUR 8.6 billion in sales.
Help us illustrate these numbers by sharing some great stories of European businesses that are shining online.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
For Sale: Alan Turing’s Monopoly
Alan Turing is one of technology’s heroes — a mathematician and codebreaker who laid the foundation for today’s computing age. In June, we celebrated his 100th birthday with a doodle, blog post and the opening of a major exhibition sponsored by Google honouring his life and legacy. This week we are delighted to support a more whimsical tribute, in the form of the Alan Turing edition of Monopoly.
This special set has been customised to feature locations and interests central to Turing’s life, including never-before-published family photos. With every roll of the dice, players follow in Alan’s footsteps, from Warrington Crescent to Sherborne School, from Hut 8 to Kings College. And while Turing isn’t (yet) on the £10 note, rest assured he’s on all the money in this set!
As a bonus, the set also includes a parchment replica of the hand-drawn Monopoly board on which Alan played against William Newman, the young son of his mathematical mentor Max — and unexpectedly lost.
As the box set booklet describes:
“William had drawn the original board to play upon with his brother, basing the squares around important parts of Cambridge. He also added a few unique twists... including a line which went from Go to the Free Parking square, and a ‘turn around’ square which allowed you to change direction…
One afternoon the Newman household phone rang, with Turing on the other end, asking to speak with William. ‘Did he have a Monopoly board?’ Alan asked, and on hearing that he did, raced round. Turing’s mind was fascinated with codes, and there have long been suggestions he thought there were code-based tactics to playing Monopoly to ensure success. Alas, the hand drawn nature of William’s board (not to mention the unique diagonal straight and ‘turn around’ square) proved otherwise, and the great mathematician was beaten”
This unique box set was developed by Winning Moves and Bletchley Park in collaboration with the Newman and Turing families. Google has paid for the first production run and donated it to Bletchley Park to sell for fundraising. At just £29.99 plus shipping, it would make a superb present for the geek in your life — click here to pre-order.
This special set has been customised to feature locations and interests central to Turing’s life, including never-before-published family photos. With every roll of the dice, players follow in Alan’s footsteps, from Warrington Crescent to Sherborne School, from Hut 8 to Kings College. And while Turing isn’t (yet) on the £10 note, rest assured he’s on all the money in this set!
As a bonus, the set also includes a parchment replica of the hand-drawn Monopoly board on which Alan played against William Newman, the young son of his mathematical mentor Max — and unexpectedly lost.
As the box set booklet describes:
“William had drawn the original board to play upon with his brother, basing the squares around important parts of Cambridge. He also added a few unique twists... including a line which went from Go to the Free Parking square, and a ‘turn around’ square which allowed you to change direction…
One afternoon the Newman household phone rang, with Turing on the other end, asking to speak with William. ‘Did he have a Monopoly board?’ Alan asked, and on hearing that he did, raced round. Turing’s mind was fascinated with codes, and there have long been suggestions he thought there were code-based tactics to playing Monopoly to ensure success. Alas, the hand drawn nature of William’s board (not to mention the unique diagonal straight and ‘turn around’ square) proved otherwise, and the great mathematician was beaten”
This unique box set was developed by Winning Moves and Bletchley Park in collaboration with the Newman and Turing families. Google has paid for the first production run and donated it to Bletchley Park to sell for fundraising. At just £29.99 plus shipping, it would make a superb present for the geek in your life — click here to pre-order.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Ask President Barroso your question on the State of the Union
How will Europe get out of the economic crisis? Will the European Union - and its currency - remain intact? What’s the plan to get young people out of unemployment? These are some of the key questions that José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is likely to address in his State of the Union speech on 12th September.
But if you had the chance, what would you ask him?
On Wednesday 19th September at 19:00 CET, you’ll have that chance. President Barroso will answer your questions in a special, live Euronews / Google+ Hangout interview. Starting today and up to Tuesday 18th September at midday, you can submit your video and text questions - and vote for your favourites - via youtube.com/eutube. Euronews will select several top-voted questioners to join President Barroso in the Google+ Hangout and ask him their questions in person.
Video questions are preferred (though text questions are fine too) and they should be about 20 seconds long - further tips on how to make and submit questions are available here.
If you need ideas, you can also watch President Barroso’s State of the Union address live on Wednesday 12th September at 9am CET via the Commission’s website or you could join the discussion on Google+.
The interview will be broadcast live on 19th September on the Euronews cable network and website, on EUtube, on the Commission’s Google+ page, on Europe by Satellite, and the President's website.
But if you had the chance, what would you ask him?
On Wednesday 19th September at 19:00 CET, you’ll have that chance. President Barroso will answer your questions in a special, live Euronews / Google+ Hangout interview. Starting today and up to Tuesday 18th September at midday, you can submit your video and text questions - and vote for your favourites - via youtube.com/eutube. Euronews will select several top-voted questioners to join President Barroso in the Google+ Hangout and ask him their questions in person.
Video questions are preferred (though text questions are fine too) and they should be about 20 seconds long - further tips on how to make and submit questions are available here.
If you need ideas, you can also watch President Barroso’s State of the Union address live on Wednesday 12th September at 9am CET via the Commission’s website or you could join the discussion on Google+.
The interview will be broadcast live on 19th September on the Euronews cable network and website, on EUtube, on the Commission’s Google+ page, on Europe by Satellite, and the President's website.
Embracing Internet Freedom in Africa
Update: Nairobi Freedom Online videos are now online.
Internet Freedom is not just a concern just for the West - it’s an essential issue for the entire world. The Freedom Online coalition now counts 18 governments from all over the world, including two in Africa, and, underlining this global reach, the Kenyan government this week hosted the second Freedom Online Summit in Nairobi. We supported this initiative, which brought together more than 400 stakeholders from governments, business and NGOs.
The Dutch government launched the Freedom Online coalition in the Hague last November. We held a Big Tent at the event, which featured, among other luminaries, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She used the occasion to make a spirited defense of Internet freedom.
Kenya’s decision to hold the second summit demonstrates its role as a tech pacesetter. “I am proud to be the first African country to host this conference which confirms the country's leading role in adoption of information and communication technology in the region," said Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio. More than 17 million Kenyans - a little more than a third of the total population, and the highest figure in sub-Saharan Africa - enjoy Internet access.
At Google, we believe free expression can be a spur for economic and social development. The more a country allows different voices to be heard, on and offline, the more knowledge it encourages citizens to obtain. This knowledge translates into innovation, economic growth, education and other signs of social success. During the conference, we showed some research demonstrating a strong correlation between the highest rankings in Internet freedom index and social and economic success.
The Freedom Online coalition continues to grow. On Friday, the Tunisian government joined. Moez Chakchouk, CEO of the Tunisian Internet Agency, announced the decision and vowed to host the coalition’s next summit in Tunis. We look forward to being present and contributing.
Internet Freedom is not just a concern just for the West - it’s an essential issue for the entire world. The Freedom Online coalition now counts 18 governments from all over the world, including two in Africa, and, underlining this global reach, the Kenyan government this week hosted the second Freedom Online Summit in Nairobi. We supported this initiative, which brought together more than 400 stakeholders from governments, business and NGOs.
The Dutch government launched the Freedom Online coalition in the Hague last November. We held a Big Tent at the event, which featured, among other luminaries, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She used the occasion to make a spirited defense of Internet freedom.
Kenya’s decision to hold the second summit demonstrates its role as a tech pacesetter. “I am proud to be the first African country to host this conference which confirms the country's leading role in adoption of information and communication technology in the region," said Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio. More than 17 million Kenyans - a little more than a third of the total population, and the highest figure in sub-Saharan Africa - enjoy Internet access.
At Google, we believe free expression can be a spur for economic and social development. The more a country allows different voices to be heard, on and offline, the more knowledge it encourages citizens to obtain. This knowledge translates into innovation, economic growth, education and other signs of social success. During the conference, we showed some research demonstrating a strong correlation between the highest rankings in Internet freedom index and social and economic success.
The Freedom Online coalition continues to grow. On Friday, the Tunisian government joined. Moez Chakchouk, CEO of the Tunisian Internet Agency, announced the decision and vowed to host the coalition’s next summit in Tunis. We look forward to being present and contributing.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Getting social in the Swedish countryside
Have you heard of a summer camp for the social web? Neither had we. So when Google was invited to join the Sweden Social Web Camp 2012, we couldn’t resist.
Sweden Social Web Camp started out as an online community where people with different backgrounds and experiences shared a passion for the web. After a couple of years they decided to meet face-to-face and ironically chose the most offline spot imaginable - the small island of Tjaro in the archipelago of southern Sweden.
This year's event brings together more than 500 Internet evangelists, opinion leaders, social media frontrunners, bloggers, journalists, entrepreneurs and general web lovers. It's all about sharing ideas and initiating discussions on topics ranging from the challenges of the web and the future media landscape to technical developments and hands-on engineering challenges. There are no big keynote speeches or stages. Instead, anyone can invite participants to a presentation, discussion, or creative workshop on any topic related to the web. The sessions take place from early morning by the breakfast in the barn until late night by the campfire.
Besides listening and learning from some great talks and discussions, we took the opportunity to present the latest features of Google+ and share some of our thoughts on the social web. We also brought the event to all of the people who were not lucky enough to be on site by broadcasting some of the sessions live via Hangouts On Air on the Sweden Social Web Camp website and Google+ Page. Thanks to everyone who joined in!
We hope Social Web Camps will spread across Europe - bringing the passion of online communities together in the real world!
Sweden Social Web Camp started out as an online community where people with different backgrounds and experiences shared a passion for the web. After a couple of years they decided to meet face-to-face and ironically chose the most offline spot imaginable - the small island of Tjaro in the archipelago of southern Sweden.
This year's event brings together more than 500 Internet evangelists, opinion leaders, social media frontrunners, bloggers, journalists, entrepreneurs and general web lovers. It's all about sharing ideas and initiating discussions on topics ranging from the challenges of the web and the future media landscape to technical developments and hands-on engineering challenges. There are no big keynote speeches or stages. Instead, anyone can invite participants to a presentation, discussion, or creative workshop on any topic related to the web. The sessions take place from early morning by the breakfast in the barn until late night by the campfire.
Besides listening and learning from some great talks and discussions, we took the opportunity to present the latest features of Google+ and share some of our thoughts on the social web. We also brought the event to all of the people who were not lucky enough to be on site by broadcasting some of the sessions live via Hangouts On Air on the Sweden Social Web Camp website and Google+ Page. Thanks to everyone who joined in!
We hope Social Web Camps will spread across Europe - bringing the passion of online communities together in the real world!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Big Tent expands to Google+
Our new G+ page already features some interesting entries. We’ve posted Kirby Ferguson’s intriguing “Everything is a Remix” video, news about a new art book with images combed from Street View and the story of a crowdsourced homicide reporting platform from Washington, DC.
Everything is a Remix Part 1 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Google+ will help bring together different voices who might not be able to travel and participate in our regular events. Through the video Hangout tool, we’re planning a series of guest video posts from inspiring thinkers on some of the key issues facing the Internet and society.
Our Big Tent header is "Many points of view, one amazing Internet." Please check it out and consider circling the page and joining in on the conversation.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Geeks gather for Campus Party in Berlin
Among geeks, the Campus Party is the equivalent of Woodstock, a festival celebrating innovators and entrepreneurs. Previous editions took place in Latin and North America. Now the Campus Party is coming for the first time to Europe, this week taking over the recently closed and abandoned Tempelhof Airport in Berlin.
Google is proud to support and participate. Our Google booth will present its new contest for founders, “Gruender-Garage,” as well as hosting a Startup Weekend where startup enthusiasts work on their ideas for 54 hours supported by coaches and experts.
From August 22 to 24, we will support a Chrome Hackathon, “Your Data, Your Rules!”, aimed at creating new extensions to increase user privacy. Prizes will be announced at the booth on August 24 at 8 pm. The winners will be invited to present their findings to our Munich-based Chrome team and present their innovations at the next edition of our Big Tent on Privacy.
Berlin is an appropriate setting for this spirited geek gathering. While the Economist recently described in vivid detail the German capital’s thriving startup culture, the magazine also pointed out the factors that continue to hold back German entrepreneurs, such as their difficulty raising risk capital, hiring top flight managers, and overcoming regulation. Simon Hampton, Google’s Director Public Policy for the European Unionm will discuss these issues on Thursday at the Campus Party on a panel titled the “GeekEconomy”.
Recent studies show that the Internet represents a giant opportunity for German business. A a Cologne-based research firm estimated that German entrepreneurs have founded 28,000 new businesses using online services from Google and other web companies. These new businesses have created nearly 100,000 new jobs and generated EUR8.6 billion in annual sales.
The Berlin Campus Party is set to attract thousands of ambitious digital pioneers for its talks, workshops, competitions and hackathons. We hope it will spark a new generation of European innovators.
Google is proud to support and participate. Our Google booth will present its new contest for founders, “Gruender-Garage,” as well as hosting a Startup Weekend where startup enthusiasts work on their ideas for 54 hours supported by coaches and experts.
From August 22 to 24, we will support a Chrome Hackathon, “Your Data, Your Rules!”, aimed at creating new extensions to increase user privacy. Prizes will be announced at the booth on August 24 at 8 pm. The winners will be invited to present their findings to our Munich-based Chrome team and present their innovations at the next edition of our Big Tent on Privacy.
Berlin is an appropriate setting for this spirited geek gathering. While the Economist recently described in vivid detail the German capital’s thriving startup culture, the magazine also pointed out the factors that continue to hold back German entrepreneurs, such as their difficulty raising risk capital, hiring top flight managers, and overcoming regulation. Simon Hampton, Google’s Director Public Policy for the European Unionm will discuss these issues on Thursday at the Campus Party on a panel titled the “GeekEconomy”.
Recent studies show that the Internet represents a giant opportunity for German business. A a Cologne-based research firm estimated that German entrepreneurs have founded 28,000 new businesses using online services from Google and other web companies. These new businesses have created nearly 100,000 new jobs and generated EUR8.6 billion in annual sales.
The Berlin Campus Party is set to attract thousands of ambitious digital pioneers for its talks, workshops, competitions and hackathons. We hope it will spark a new generation of European innovators.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Updating Google's voice in Europe
Today, this blog is making a small but significant change to its name. The Google European Public Policy Blog is becoming the Google Europe Blog.
When we first launched this blog four years ago, the idea was to focus on Brussels-based European Union policy issues. Our horizons and subject matter have since expanded. Instead of dealing just with policy we began blogging on the revival of Internet history projects, free expression, cultural and economic outreach, and other Google and YouTube activities.
We publish on average three posts weekly, with readership averaging around 60,000 a week. Initially, most of our readers came from the United States. Today we have fast-growing numbers of readers in the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.
Our goal has become become a one-shot destination of choice for Google in Europe. The new Google Europe Blog name reflects this ambition.
When we first launched this blog four years ago, the idea was to focus on Brussels-based European Union policy issues. Our horizons and subject matter have since expanded. Instead of dealing just with policy we began blogging on the revival of Internet history projects, free expression, cultural and economic outreach, and other Google and YouTube activities.
We publish on average three posts weekly, with readership averaging around 60,000 a week. Initially, most of our readers came from the United States. Today we have fast-growing numbers of readers in the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.
Our goal has become become a one-shot destination of choice for Google in Europe. The new Google Europe Blog name reflects this ambition.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The Best Android Music Application For You
TinyShark
TinyShark is a Grooveshark app for Android operating system. You can search for music, find out well-known music, line music, and make playlists. This simple app places the world of music at your disposal wherever you can accessibility the Internet.
AudioGalaxy
With AudioGalaxy you can flow songs from your pc to your Android operating system over the Online for free – and the good functions do not end there. You can make playlists both through the app and the web customer. When your existing playlist operates out of songs, the AudioGalaxy Genie can perform related songs.
TuneIn
TuneIn is your website to a large number of online programs globally. I use it to pay attention to my preferred place back in Germany to capture up on news from home every day. Apart from music, you can also track into activities in your area, talk reveals, and simply discover something new.
SoundHound
SoundHound is one of two significant songs identification applications for Android operating system. Individually, I choose it over Shazam due to its performance and features. Both do a great job at acknowledging songs. SoundHound, however, has the better interface, provides songs lines (if available), specialist trip schedules (if available), list of related YouTube video clips (access via browser) and similar performers. All of this information is offered inside the app, rather than having to open a web browser.
GigBeat
Do you really like concerts? Then you must put GigBeat onto your Android! The app tests the songs on your system or syncs performers from Last.FM or Songkick to demonstrate you when your preferred performers are on trip. You can perspective trip schedules depending on performers, activities, and place. You can also set to be informed of future activities or recently included trip schedules.
Improving Google Patents with the European Patent Office
At Google, we're constantly trying to make important collections of information more useful to the world. Since 2006, we’ve let people discover, search, and read United States patents online. Starting this week, you can do the same for the millions of ideas that have been submitted to the European Patent Office, such as this one.
Typically, patents are granted only if an invention is new and not obvious. To explain why an invention is new, inventors will usually cite prior art such as earlier patent applications or journal articles. Determining the novelty of a patent can be difficult, requiring a laborious search through many sources, and so we’ve built a Prior Art Finder to make this process easier. With a single click, it searches multiple sources for related content that existed at the time the patent was filed.
Patent pages now feature a “Find prior art” button that instantly pulls together information relevant to the patent application.
The Prior Art Finder identifies key phrases from the text of the patent, combines them into a search query, and displays relevant results from Google Patents, Google Scholar, Google Books, and the rest of the web. You’ll start to see the blue “Find prior art” button on individual patent pages starting today.
Our hope is that this tool will give patent searchers another way to discover information relevant to a patent application, supplementing the search techniques they use today. We’ll be refining and extending the Prior Art Finder as we develop a better understanding of how to analyze patent claims and how to integrate the results into the workflow of patent searchers.
These are small steps toward making this collection of important but complex documents better understood. Sometimes language can be a barrier to understanding, which is why earlier this year we released an update to Google Translate that incorporates the European Patent Office’s parallel patent texts, allowing the EPO to provide translation between English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Swedish, with more languages scheduled for the future. Details are here.
And with the help of the United States Patent & Trademark Office, we’ve continued to add to our repository of USPTO bulk data, making it easier for researchers and law firms to analyze the entire corpus of US patents. More to come!
And with the help of the United States Patent & Trademark Office, we’ve continued to add to our repository of USPTO bulk data, making it easier for researchers and law firms to analyze the entire corpus of US patents. More to come!
40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 4)
40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 4) - Provided here are 40 Android Operating system programs that feature some of the best individual connections and symbols. Although most of these programs ranking high on functionality and application, those are not the main requirements for choice in this list. What we were looking for — and hopefully won in choosing — were programs that provide stunning connections and similarly appropriate symbols.
1. SketchBook Mobile
With cellphone display styles in contact with over 4 inches wide, you do not need to saw off your disposal to be able to sketch on them any longer (sure, the take on a certain thoughts from a certain Mr. Jobs is intended). SketchBook Mobile is a small, touch-friendly edition of the hugely well-known Sketchbook Pro program from Autodesk and does a fairly nice job of providing the sketchbook experience to your Android operating system cellphone.
2. SoundCloud
Android operating system comes with a built-in audio producing unit program, but like with most inventory programs, it is quite barebones. Enter SoundCloud, a full-featured mp3, modifying and giving program which makes it very simple to history a audio around you and save it in the reasoning. It also comes with some general modifying functions and built-in public incorporation.
3. SoundHound
Enjoying a music you just need to have? Got a tune trapped in your head but can’t seem to place it? SoundHound features of the globe's quickest music identification engine that can identify music by simply hearing it. The interface, though simple, enables you to search for music, find lines and specialist info or even buy the determined music directly from the Amazon music store.
4. Songbird
Okay, last of the sound programs, now an free Mozilla venture. Songbird is still in Try out, but is already forming up to be a veritable foe to all the other professional programs out there. The function set is solid, the interface exclusive and useful, and the group assistance is increasing by the day. Observe out for this one in the times to come.
5. SpeedView
SpeedView is a high level speedometer application for your Android operating system phone that uses the cell phone's GPS to perfectly tell your current, highest possible, and average connections, as well as total range and time visited. The interface features a awesome set backdrop structure and a car dashboard-like UI.
6. Sports Track Live
Sports Track Live is the cellular associate for the SportsTrack web program, which allows you to log your health and fitness and health schedule on the go. All information gets synced with your consideration online. The program uses the cell phone's GPS to perfectly track your outside visits and provides immediate statistics to help evaluation your success then and there.
7. StayHIP
If you are looking for the best store resorts on the globe, the look for stops at StayHIP. The program allows you look through, assess and publication at some of the best resorts, all online and through a fittingly smooth interface that has ‘premium’ published all over it.
8. SwiftKey
Substitute Android operating system computer keyboard are a bit of an overkill available on the industry, and discovering one that performs best can be quite a process. Although the Swype key pad provides a exclusive and often better entering encounter, few key pad programs come near to the visible quality of the SiwftKey key pad. That it also has the best written text forecast website is frosting on the dessert.
9. Taazzago
There are very few India-focused programs on the Android operating system Market, despite the huge and growing users list in the country. Taazzago tries to complete that space with a wonderful local information application that provides information, weather, classified listings and offers, all in a lightweight user interface with amazing precision.
10. Tasker
Tasker is a multi-purpose automated program for your phone that can improve everything from configurations to images, and SMS to conversation. It performs by allowing you to implement activities to activates, with an frustrating number of options for each. The power of the program needs to be seen to be considered, although the interface creates establishing projects simple once you comprehend the fundamentals.
Read:
1. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 1)
2. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 2)
3. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 3)
Monday, August 13, 2012
Enjoy our summer of music on YouTube
Summer means music, particularly here in Europe, and that is especially true this summer on YouTube. Last weekend, YouTube hosted a livestream of Sziget 2012, winner of “Best European Major Festival award” from Budapest and this coming weekend Lowlands 2012 will be streamed live from the Netherlands, featuring acts like Bloc Party, The Black Keys and Two Door Cinema Club.
In addition to Sziget and Lowlands, music fans on YouTube have been able to watch some of the world’s best and biggest music festivals this summer, including Tomorrowland, San Miguel Primavera Sound, Sónar, Rock in Rio, EXIT, INmusic, Heineken Open’er Festival, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
Music represents a key component of YouTube’s success. Musicians and bands are no longer restricted by the number of people they can get through the turnstiles, but can play to a global audience.
In tough economic times, many people can’t always afford to attend festivals in person. YouTube helps them experience the event - for free (and without queues or mud). We know viewers enjoy them -- festivals like Lollapalooza have seen viewers spend an average 44 minutes watching the show. Tomorrowland had over 600,000 comments posted on the channel through a custom conversation gadget, highlighting just how engaged fans were during the stream.
Much more is scheduled for the rest of the summer and beyond - so tune in and enjoy!
In addition to Sziget and Lowlands, music fans on YouTube have been able to watch some of the world’s best and biggest music festivals this summer, including Tomorrowland, San Miguel Primavera Sound, Sónar, Rock in Rio, EXIT, INmusic, Heineken Open’er Festival, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
Music represents a key component of YouTube’s success. Musicians and bands are no longer restricted by the number of people they can get through the turnstiles, but can play to a global audience.
In tough economic times, many people can’t always afford to attend festivals in person. YouTube helps them experience the event - for free (and without queues or mud). We know viewers enjoy them -- festivals like Lollapalooza have seen viewers spend an average 44 minutes watching the show. Tomorrowland had over 600,000 comments posted on the channel through a custom conversation gadget, highlighting just how engaged fans were during the stream.
Much more is scheduled for the rest of the summer and beyond - so tune in and enjoy!
Monday, August 6, 2012
40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 3)
1. Mobisle Notes
A lot of specialist try to use the visible metaphor of a note pad, but few are able to claw it and hit a stability between effectiveness and visible excess. Mobisle Notices is one program that is successful at this. The interface is fairly yet simple, with a concentrate on getting in and writing factors down easily.
2. Out of Milk
Out of Milk combines together a record, kitchen record and to-do record in one small, user-friendly and easy-to-use package. The interface uses a real-life laptop computer metaphor for details, allowing you to create several details in each classification. An power is the ability to check out bar codes to instantly add items to your record without having to write everything down personally.
3. OvuView
This one is simply for the females, and everything about the application yells that. OvuView is an advanced libido tracking system that helps females track times, ovulation and libido. Although the lilac and rose interface clearly states its potential viewers, the information creation is worth a look for anyone interested in wonderful UI design.
4. Photoshop Express
When it comes to picture modifying, Adobe rules superior, with Photoshop being the master of the mountain on the pc. On the cellular foundation as well, the small edition of Photoshop sets itself apart with a nice, simple user interface and a just-right set of features for modifying images on the cell phone.
5. picplz
picplz tries to re-create the miracle of instagram (an iOS picture giving phenomenon) on the Android Operating system operating system foundation. The idea is to click on pictures, implement exciting results and discuss them with the world. The picplz program is simple, and functions as a simple customer to discuss pictures on their more full-featured web program.
6. Plume for Twitter
The official Twitter program for Android operating system is pretty full-featured now, but that does not stop other customers from providing even more. Plume is one such alternative with a wonderful and highly personalized interface. From colorizing your twitter flow to geotagging and inline discussions, it gives you a hefty amount of performance in a smooth design and with another adorable azure fowl for an symbol.
7. PowerAmp
PowerAmp is one of the better known substitute songs programs that go head-to-head with the inventory Android operating system music player. The smooth, skinnable program individual interface packages a lot of innovative functions together to an level that might experience a bit frustrating for a new individual. Once you get used to it, though, it is difficult to go returning.
8. Rdio
Rdio is a newish public songs registration assistance that allows you to look for for and perform from a large selection of songs, while also following other customers and signing up for what they are hearing. The little interface provides just the right stability of eye-candy and application, and creates finding new songs easy and fun.
9. RealPlayer
After a hopeless few years and a few questionable items, RealNetworks is making a return with a kick-ass songs program. The program allows you quickly arrange and perform your press selection, such as video clips (something a lot of other gamers do not do very well).
10. Retro Camera
Capturing pictures on the android photographic camera is fun, but what exactly is even more fun is making it look like a photographic camera of previous times (and I mean real long past). Retro camera transforms the stock photographic camera interface into one of five classic cameras, complete with antique viewfinders and related photo effects.
Read:
1. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 1)
2. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 2)
3. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 4)
Friday, August 3, 2012
RISE to the computer science education challenge
Our business at Google is rooted in STEM education - science, technology, engineering and math - so we’re passionate about encouraging organizations that are expanding access to these fields. The annual Google Roots in Science and Engineering (RISE) program supports organizations running innovative STEM and computer science enrichment programs for K-12 and university students around the world.
Applications for the 2013 Awards are now open.
RISE promotes primary and secondary school education initiatives. Winners receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 USD. When we say around the world, we mean it. RISE Awards are open to applicants in six continents and 243 countries. All eligible nations are listed here. This year’s honorees include a Danish IT camp for girls, a UK student team producing a robot, to after-school programs that have students configuring cluster computers in the United States.
We believe it is our duty to support students who have the uncanny ability to create the technology they consume. Last August, our executive chairman Eric Schmidt lamented the sorry state of computer science education in UK schools. In a recent follow-up speech at London’s Science Museum, he explained, “Put simply, technology breakthroughs can’t happen without the scientists and engineers to make them. The challenge that society faces is to equip enough people, with the right skills and mindset and to get them to work on the most important problems.”
Show us what you can do to get students excited about STEM and computer science. Submit your application before September 30th, 2012. Winners will be announced by January 2013.
Applications for the 2013 Awards are now open.
RISE promotes primary and secondary school education initiatives. Winners receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 USD. When we say around the world, we mean it. RISE Awards are open to applicants in six continents and 243 countries. All eligible nations are listed here. This year’s honorees include a Danish IT camp for girls, a UK student team producing a robot, to after-school programs that have students configuring cluster computers in the United States.
We believe it is our duty to support students who have the uncanny ability to create the technology they consume. Last August, our executive chairman Eric Schmidt lamented the sorry state of computer science education in UK schools. In a recent follow-up speech at London’s Science Museum, he explained, “Put simply, technology breakthroughs can’t happen without the scientists and engineers to make them. The challenge that society faces is to equip enough people, with the right skills and mindset and to get them to work on the most important problems.”
Show us what you can do to get students excited about STEM and computer science. Submit your application before September 30th, 2012. Winners will be announced by January 2013.
40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 2)
1. Glympse
Glympse is one of many programs for Android Operating system that let you discuss your place with friends. What places it apart is the fresh and simple interface, the excellent UI and an similarly amazing symbol. This is another one of very few wonderful Android Operating system program symbols available.
2. Go Launcher Ex
There are a ton of desltop launchers on the Operating system Android Market, each with a exclusive set of functions. Go Launcher is a latest entrant, but has already created a rush with an incredibly effective growth pattern, a nice mixture of functions and styles that actually look excellent out of the box.
3. Go SMS
Another wonderful program from the creators of Go Launcher. Go SMS changes the inventory Android operating system SMS program with a better interface, more features, a wonderful gadget and outstanding assistance for styles. There are already a lot of styles available in the market, with more coming out fairly consistently.
4. Google Maps
The Google Maps inventory program has been enhancing in a lot over the last year or so. The newest metamorphose with routing is a hard one to defeat on the foundation. With a new 3D compass perspective, GPS centered routing, locations and incorporation with Permission, the program is a awesome mixture of eye-candy and application.
5. Graphic.ly Comics
If you love comics, things don’t get better on the Android Operating system foundation than the recently launched Graphic.ly comic reader. The application brings together a huge collection of paid and free comics strips with a nice user interface that makes reading the comics strips a pleasure, even on smaller displays.
6. Grooveshark
The Grooveshark web app has been known for its nice style and convenience, and the formal Android Operating system program does that popularity no damage. The online loading ipod is just as wonderful and as useful, enabling you to quickly search for music, make playlists and pay attention to music on the go.
7. HotelPal
The HotelPal program provides ready access to over 100,000 resorts globally, enabling you to check out their features, see high-resolution images and make booking on the go. The symbol is pretty exclusive, in addition to a nice clean interface and good use of charts to help identify resorts around your specialized niche.
8. Kobo eBooks
You may have never observed of the Kobo eReader, which paths behind the Kindle and the Nook by quite a edge. Like its alternatives, the Kobo audience is also available for a variety of system systems, such as Android Operating system. And although it is not the most feature-packed of the programs, it is creatively one of the best.
9. LiveShare
In case you don’t know, the stock collection application on most Android Operating system mobile phones is operated by Cooliris. Liveshare, an formal Cooliris app, takes the next step by offering an stunning interface for not only watching your pics and vids, but also offering an easy and smooth way to share them with friends and family.
10. Mint
When it comes to handling your financial situation online, few programs come close to the functions and performance of great.com. The Android Operating system program allows you keep a record of and upgrade your financial situation on the go, and provides prepared entry to crucial financial information, finish with charts and signals.
Read:
1. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 1)
2. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 3)
3. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 4)
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Stimulating “garage-style” innovation in Germany
Germany has been home to many groundbreaking innovators -- Gottlieb Daimler, Werner von Siemens, and Heinz Nixdorf to name but a few. But those great entrepreneurs launched their business long before the Internet. As the Economist recently reported, Germany and the rest of Europe are struggling to breed digital entrepreneurs. “Most sources of capital will shun them,” the magazine wrote. “Regulations will shackle them. And when they fail, as most are sure to do, they will not be allowed just to dust themselves off and start all over again.”
Because we believe the Internet must help overcome these obstacles, we are launching a new competition for digital entrepreneurs. Its called the “Gruender-Garage.” Unlike many startup contests which focus exclusively on tech, Gruender Garage is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs in any field. Having a great idea you can 'release early and iterate' will count for more than a polished business model when it comes to judging. Winners will be named in October, and Google will match successfully fundraised competition ideas until a prize pot of EUR 150,000 is depleted.
Our partners in this unique project include the Entrepreneurship Foundation and Indiegogo.
Berlin-based Entrepreneurship Foundation will run the contest’s initial learning phase. provide the online training materials. Its founder Professor Guenter Faltin is the author of the best-selling book “Head beats Capital” (Kopf schlägt Kapital), that gives advice to early-stage founders. He and his team organize an annual entrepreneurship summit in Berlin, where the winners of the Garage-contest will be announced.
After the learning phase, the contest will focus on funding. Candidates will seek their own capital through Indiegogo, the world's largest platform and pioneer in crowdfunding. Gruender-Garage represents Indiegogo's first localised platform developed for the European market.
Recession and the euro crisis means Germany and the rest of Europe need to encourage new business creation. As many big European companies shed staff, startups - born in a garage or somewhere else - can pick up much of the slack.
Because we believe the Internet must help overcome these obstacles, we are launching a new competition for digital entrepreneurs. Its called the “Gruender-Garage.” Unlike many startup contests which focus exclusively on tech, Gruender Garage is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs in any field. Having a great idea you can 'release early and iterate' will count for more than a polished business model when it comes to judging. Winners will be named in October, and Google will match successfully fundraised competition ideas until a prize pot of EUR 150,000 is depleted.
Our partners in this unique project include the Entrepreneurship Foundation and Indiegogo.
Berlin-based Entrepreneurship Foundation will run the contest’s initial learning phase. provide the online training materials. Its founder Professor Guenter Faltin is the author of the best-selling book “Head beats Capital” (Kopf schlägt Kapital), that gives advice to early-stage founders. He and his team organize an annual entrepreneurship summit in Berlin, where the winners of the Garage-contest will be announced.
After the learning phase, the contest will focus on funding. Candidates will seek their own capital through Indiegogo, the world's largest platform and pioneer in crowdfunding. Gruender-Garage represents Indiegogo's first localised platform developed for the European market.
Recession and the euro crisis means Germany and the rest of Europe need to encourage new business creation. As many big European companies shed staff, startups - born in a garage or somewhere else - can pick up much of the slack.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Journey to Venice: finalists named for YouTube contest
Today, we are one step closer to finding the world’s next great storyteller. Ten finalists remain from more than 15,000 filmmakers who entered Your Film Festival. Each hopes to win $500,000 to produce new content with actor Michael Fassbender and director Ridley Scott.
During the past month, three million people watched, shared and voted for their favorite film on Your Film Festival. Among the ten finalists is Spain's David Victori Blaya for his short "The Guilt."
Two finalists come from the Middle East, Ramy El-Gabry's "The Time" and Lebanon's Niam's Itani's "Super.Full."
Find all the finalists below:
88:88, Joey Ciccoline & Sean Wilson (USA)
Bat Eyes, Damien Power (Australia)
Cine Rincao, Fernando Grostein Andrade & Fernanda Fernandes (Brazil)
The Drought, Kevin Slack (USA)
El General, Diego Pino Zamora (Bolivia)
The Guilt, David Victori Blaya (Spain)
North Atlantic, Bernardo Nascimento (United Kingdom)
Super.Full., Niam Itani (Lebanon)
Scruples, Adrian Powers (Australia)
This Time, Ramy EL-Gabry (Egypt)
The finalists will soon travel to Italy where to screen their short films at the historic Venice Film Festival. A jury led by director Scott and actor Fassbinder will pick the grand prize winner at a special ceremony on September 2. He or she will be able to pitch a new project idea to Scott’s production team. As part of their journey to Venice, Emirates has invited the filmmakers to stopover in Dubai for a series of events celebrating their achievement.
Join these filmmakers as they travel to Venice and stay tuned to the Your Film Festival channel where we’ll take you behind the scenes, tell you more about the finalists, provide special edition movie posters, and of course, unveil the winner.
During the past month, three million people watched, shared and voted for their favorite film on Your Film Festival. Among the ten finalists is Spain's David Victori Blaya for his short "The Guilt."
Two finalists come from the Middle East, Ramy El-Gabry's "The Time" and Lebanon's Niam's Itani's "Super.Full."
Find all the finalists below:
88:88, Joey Ciccoline & Sean Wilson (USA)
Bat Eyes, Damien Power (Australia)
Cine Rincao, Fernando Grostein Andrade & Fernanda Fernandes (Brazil)
The Drought, Kevin Slack (USA)
El General, Diego Pino Zamora (Bolivia)
The Guilt, David Victori Blaya (Spain)
North Atlantic, Bernardo Nascimento (United Kingdom)
Super.Full., Niam Itani (Lebanon)
Scruples, Adrian Powers (Australia)
This Time, Ramy EL-Gabry (Egypt)
The finalists will soon travel to Italy where to screen their short films at the historic Venice Film Festival. A jury led by director Scott and actor Fassbinder will pick the grand prize winner at a special ceremony on September 2. He or she will be able to pitch a new project idea to Scott’s production team. As part of their journey to Venice, Emirates has invited the filmmakers to stopover in Dubai for a series of events celebrating their achievement.
Join these filmmakers as they travel to Venice and stay tuned to the Your Film Festival channel where we’ll take you behind the scenes, tell you more about the finalists, provide special edition movie posters, and of course, unveil the winner.
Androidify Review, Video and Download
Get willing to create Android Operating system your own.
Androidify yourself by modifying the little natural Android Operating system as yourself, your household, your buddies, anyone! Expand it , get smaller it, add a hoody, design its locks, toss on some colors, or even provide it with a bird and a buccaneer hat. Arrrgh!
Once you have customized your Android Operating system, discuss it with your buddies, set it as images in your get in touch with publication, or use it in some innovative way we have not believed of yet. Have fun, and we cannot delay to see what you come up with!
Developed together by Search engines Creative Lab and Larva Laboratories.
Download Application Androidify now on Android Market
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 1)
1. Androidify
Big Search engines Google amazed everyone last 30 days with an program no one was really anticipating from them. Androidify allows you make your own personal Android Operating system and use it any way you like. With a wonderful, useful interface and two plenty of personalization alternatives, Androidify places a new conventional for cellular program style.
2. Calorific
Individuals made fun and wonderful, that was my first impression of Calorific. The programs lets you record what you eat with a couple of mouse clicks and provides reviews on your food habits. The interface is vibrant and energetic, just what the doctor requested, one would say.
3. Camera360
We have already verbal plenty about this Swiss army knife of Android Operating system photographic camera programs. Camera360 provides virtually every feature you would ask for in a cell phone photographic camera and does it in a wonderful, user-friendly interface that is unseen when you don’t need it, yet always there at the tap of a option.
4. Chomp
The new web-based Android Operating system Market is a big step from the almost non-existent enterprise before, but there is still a lot of room for solutions to make a indicate. Chomp is a new entrant that begins on the right base with a amazing look & feel. The visible style, individual interface and buyer is top-notch, in addition to a very intelligent search website optimization that provides way better outcomes than the formal market itself.
5. Color Blindness Test
Nearly 8% of all men on the globe are color blind in some way (as against only 0.5% females, incidentally). The Color Blindness of sight Analyze program allows you examine if you are one of them with a simple but creatively eye-catching interface and a brilliant set of concerns that should keep little question about the outcomes.
6. DoubleTwist Player
There is no lack of substitute songs gamers on the Android Operating system Market, most of them competitive extremely for the ‘most beautiful’ name (as we will see further down). DoubleTwist does little incorrect in the competition. The excellent symbol is in addition to a black, smooth interface that makes surfing around and hearing your songs a satisfaction.
7. Epicurious
Thinking what to prepare for evening meal tonight? The Epicurious Formula App is probably one of the best looking programs of its type on the Android Operating system Market. From the surfing around encounter to the recipe information, everything is nicely set out and mixes magnificently with the red marketing of the epicurious web page.
8. Episodes
Episodes is one of the few Android Operating system programs with a wonderful and self-explanatory symbol. The vintage tv set symbol determines clearly that this is an program about TV reveals and the interface does the relax. Check out all the present reveals on TV, evaluation their reveals, save preferred and more.
9. FlightBoard
A checked lines of vibrant LEDs is the primary assumption of this application’s interface as well as its symbol. FlightBoard changes your phone into the Routes & Leaving panel for any terminal, and does a nice job of copying the real life through good use of metaphor and a nice, clean UI.
10. GasBuddy
The assumption of the GasBuddy program is simple: it allows you discover gas programs around you with the most affordable gas. The program uses GPS to overlay the closest gas programs on a map along with a record perspective to evaluate gas costs in your location.
Read:
1. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 2)
2. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 3)
3. 40 Amazing Android Application Interfaces and Icons (Part 4)
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Experience the London 2012 Games with Google
The Olympic Games begin tomorrow in my home town, London, and more than half of the planet—some 4.8 billion people—will tune in to watch the London 2012 Games. To help you join in the excitement and glory of the Games, we’ve put together google.co.uk/olympics. Here’s a quick look at the updates, results and other content we’re bringing you from London 2012.
Discover and learn more
Want to know what your team’s next medal prospect is, or if you’ve missed Oscar Pistorius make history in the 400m? Here are a few ways we’re helping you get all the hottest news in a flash:
I’ll be cheering on both the stars and the underdogs, and closely following the updates from the Games:
Living in London, I’ve been lucky enough to see the transformation of the East End of the city over the past few years, but for those of you who live outside the city, you can still see the sights online..
For the hundreds of millions of people unable to make it to London, YouTube is helping bring the games to you in a number of markets around the world.
Discover and learn more
Want to know what your team’s next medal prospect is, or if you’ve missed Oscar Pistorius make history in the 400m? Here are a few ways we’re helping you get all the hottest news in a flash:
- Search from your desktop, phone or tablet for [london 2012], a country team like [Team GB], or a sport like archery], and you’ll see up-to-the-minute detailed information such as the schedule, medal count, and Olympic records in your search results.
- In the Hot Searches section of the site, we show you which topics, athletes or events are being searched for by fans around the world. The analysis is updated hourly, and you can click on any search to read associated news articles.
- On Google Play, find a collection of useful apps, from results trackers
to games , for download on your Android device.
I’ll be cheering on both the stars and the underdogs, and closely following the updates from the Games:
- Get the latest posts from +The Olympics Games and the competing teams on Google+. (I’ll be rooting for my home country, +Team GB
- Show who you’re supporting by customising your cover photo on Google+ (or other social network)
Living in London, I’ve been lucky enough to see the transformation of the East End of the city over the past few years, but for those of you who live outside the city, you can still see the sights online..
- Fly around the Olympic Park, explore the cycling and marathon courses or take a virtual tour of London landmarks in Google Earth
- Compare aerial imagery of the London of 1948 (the last time London hosted the Games) to the London of today.
For the hundreds of millions of people unable to make it to London, YouTube is helping bring the games to you in a number of markets around the world.
- For the first time, U.S. viewers can watch any event on NBCOlympics.com; 3,500 hours will be streamed in all. YouTube will power NBC’s online video experience on NBCOlympics.com. You can also access pre-game clips on the NBC Olympics YouTube channel.
- If you’re in one of 64 markets across Africa and Asia, including India, Indonesia, Kenya and Nigeria, the IOC will be streaming the Olympics live on YouTube
- For those of you who can’t wait for the games to begin or want to relive great moments from some of the previous 29 Olympiads, explore an archive on YouTube—some of my favourites are Derek Redmond’s inspirational finish of the 400m semi-final in Barcelona 1992, Cathy Freeman’s gold medal in the 400m at Sydney 2000 and Afghanistan's first-ever Olympic medal at Beijing 2008.