Author Archives: Aaron Canada

Meet Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app for everyone



Video calling is the next best thing to being with someone in person, but too often it can be a frustrating or complicated experience. You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your call will connect, or if your friend is using the same type of device as you are.


Today, we’re releasing Google Duo — a simple 1-to-1 video calling app available for Android and iOS. Duo takes the complexity out of video calling, so that you can be together in the moment wherever you are.
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Google Duo works across Android and iOS - all you need is a phone number


Simple interface
Duo is simple from start to finish. To get started, all you need is your phone number and you’ll be able to reach people in your phone’s contacts list. No separate account is required, so you can sign up in just a few steps. From there, you can instantly begin a video call with a single tap.


Fast and reliable
We all know how it feels when a call fails to connect or when video gets choppy. We’ve built Duo to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks. Call quality adjusts to changing network conditions to keep you connected -- when bandwidth is limited, Duo will gracefully reduce the resolution to keep the call going smoothly. For video calls on the go, Duo will switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping your call. You can start your call at home, and continue seamlessly even when you head out the door.


Human design
We designed Duo to feel warm and inviting, focused on just you and the person you’re calling. To make calls feel more like an invitation rather than an interruption, we created a feature in Duo called Knock Knock which lets you see live video of your caller before you answer, giving you a sense of what they’re up to and why they want to chat. Knock Knock makes video calling more spontaneous and welcoming, helping you connect with the person before you even pick up.
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Knock Knock in Duo lets you see who’s calling before you pick up


Finally, we built Duo with an emphasis on privacy and security, and all Duo calls are end-to-end encrypted.


Give your friends a wave with Duo! We’re beginning to roll out Duo for Android and iOS today, and it will be live worldwide in the next few days.

Posted by Justin Uberti, Principal Software Engineer

Dive (or run, swim, vault…) into the Olympics with Google Trends

This year's Olympics in Rio brings together 10,500 athletes from 200+ countries to participate in 306 events, from archery to wrestling. To help you get even more out of the Games, we've created a Google Trends Olympic Hub where you can find fun facts, data insights, feature pages on sports and athletes, and more.

Olympics Trends Hub
Throughout the next few weeks, Google Trends will give you a unique view into the games with a new Trends Hub just for the Olympics. There, you’ll be able to see which athletes, events and moments are captivating audiences—and searches—worldwide. For example, which country is searching for beach volleyball the most? Landlocked Switzerland. And the title of most searched grandmother in the world goes to British swimmer Adam Peaty's nan.








Here’s some of what you can expect from Trends over the next few weeks:
  • Search insights revealing what the world is wondering about the events—from fencing to synchronized swimming (and every moment in between!)
  • Data interactives like our alternative medal table and top searched sports per country
  • Trending sports and athletes lists, showing what’s of interest at any given moment


Explore Trends in a new way
As you explore the site, you may notice something else—a new Google Trends Explore page. With a fresh design and features like a color-coded map, you can analyze search data in new ways. For example, you can compare interest in previous Olympic Games over the years:


Every four years, the Olympics captivate the world’s attention. We’re excited to be able to help fans get even more out of the Games with insights from Search.

Posted by Lisa Creed, Product Manager


Let Google be your guide to Rio de Janeiro

The modern Olympic Games have been a defining moment for athletes and fans alike dating back to 1896. Next week, the 2016 cauldron will be lit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where thousands of athletes will come together to represent the strength and pride of their home countries with the world as their audience.

In celebration of the next chapter in Olympics history, we’re bringing the best our products have to offer to help people around the world stay up-to-date with the Olympic Games Rio 2016:  
  • Discover the event schedule, medal counts, and athlete information in Search
  • Get results and view TV schedules in 30+ countries
  • Watch official broadcasters’ event highlights on YouTube in 60+ countries
  • Explore Rio and venues in Google Maps
  • Keep up to date with the latest search Trends from around the world

On Google, searching for information about your favorite athletes and sports, the medal race, or your country’s schedule has never been easier. Pro tip: if you search on the Google app on Android and iOS, you’ll also see an option to get automatic updates on top event and medal wins, so you’ll never miss a beat.  



To give you a glimpse into the Games, watch official broadcasters’ video highlights on YouTube in more than 60 countries around the world. And as an added bonus, YouTube is sending 15 top creators to Rio, giving you a taste of what it’s like to be there with mobile live streaming.

With Street View in Google Maps, everyone can enjoy the magic of Rio de Janeiro. Even if you’re a world away, preview the places where the world's most talented athletes will make history and explore the breathtaking beauty of Brazil.

Google Trekker operator captures 360-degree imagery from inside Rio’s Olympic Park
Great triumphs, victories and stunning surprises await us all this summer. This is just a hint of what’s to come—we hope you’ll let Google be your guide.

Posted by Jonathan Livni, Product Manager

Google Play Family Library: Share what you love with the ones you love

Friday night is movie night at our home, and my wife and I look forward to our weekly ritual of putting the kids to bed, getting some takeout, and catching up on our movie wishlist. Whether it’s making the BLUE STEEL face from Zoolander, swapping tips on playing Monument Valley, or reading Dragons Love Tacos to the kids at bedtime, these shared moments bring us closer together.

For families like mine, who bond over shared entertainment, we’re introducing Family Library, a way for up to six family members to share purchases on Google Play. When you buy an eligible app, game, movie, TV show, or book in the Play Store, you can now share it with your family—across devices—with no additional sign-up fee.
Share across your family’s devices
Today’s families have a lot of devices, and it should be easy to share content no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Everyone in my family loves the Star Wars movies and we all want to be able to watch them, on our phones, tablets, laptops, or TV.  All purchases added to Family Library are available across Android devices, and movies, TV shows, and books can be enjoyed on iOS devices and the web.

Easily manage sharing and family purchases
As with most family matters, flexibility and choice is important. With Family Library, you can choose which items you want to share and which to keep to yourself—for example, I’ll probably keep my collection of comic books in my personal library. Flexibility is also built into your purchasing options. When you sign up, you’ll select a credit card to share as your family payment method, but your family members will always have the option of buying stuff with their personal credit cards or gift cards. And for your younger family members, you’ll have the option to approve each of their purchases.

Share a Music subscription with your family
Finally, if your family loves music, you can also subscribe to the Google Play Music family plan. On this plan, up to six family members can stream millions of songs on demand for $14.99 a month. We launched the family plan late last year, and today we’re expanding it to Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and New Zealand. And you can now sign up on the web, in addition to your Android device.

Starting today, Family Library will be rolling out over the next few days and will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. To get started, sign up in Google Play, invite your family members, and start sharing what you love!

Posted by Raj Iyengar, Product Manager, Google Play


Get ready to explore our national parks and historic sites on #ParksDay!

Editor’s note: Today’s blog is authored by Michael White who works in the Brand Experience Branch at Parks Canada and leads the Agency’s collaboration with Google Maps

Outdoor adventures are the heart and soul of the Canadian summer and there’s no better way to get outside and experience the wonder of our country than with a trip to one of our national parks, national marine conservation areas or national historic sites.

Once again we’ve teamed up with Google to capture more 360 degree imagery from these amazing Parks Canada places. New Street View imagery of  dozens of National Parks and Historic Sites  launches today on Google Street View just in time for Parks Day (July 16th), the annual celebration of Canada’s amazing natural and historic places.


Parks Canada employee collecting Street View imagery from the Bullion Plateau in Kluane National Park and Reserve

Whether you’re planning to spend a day hiking and swimming, planning a week of camping, canoeing and portaging, or travelling back through time in one of Canada’s national historic sites, our parks and historic sites from coast to coast to coast will remind you why Canadian summers are the best summers.

Many Canadians enjoy camping in the great outdoors while visiting one of Canada’s national parks, and when it comes to camping, Canadians have got a lot of questions…

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Luckily, Parks Canada has resources to help you plan your camping adventure!

Get started with our Learn to Camp program, which is available in French, English, Chinese (standard and simplified), Punjabi, Spanish and Tagalog. From what to wear and what to bring, to tasty, trail-tested recipes, we’ve got you covered. In the spring of 2017 Parks Canada will also launch an expanded Learn to Camp program that will ensure more low and middle-income families will have an opportunity to experience Canada’s outdoors.  Stay tuned for more information.You can also download the Learn to Camp app for Android and iPhone to reference onsite as needed.

Before you get packed, you can also check out our YouTube channel in both English and French to learn how to set up a tent, how to build a campfire and our tips for planning your trip and camping with wildlife.

Then head over to Google Street View to check out the new images of places like Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site and Kluane National Park in the Yukon, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Haida Heritage Centre or Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in British Columbia, Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Batoche National Historic Site in Saskatchewan, Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Pukaskwa and Georgian Bay Islands National Parks in Ontario, Forillon National Park and Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec, Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Kejimkujik National Park Seaside or Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia or L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site and Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador, and get excited about the great Canadian outdoors this Parks Day!

Posted by Michael White, Parks Canada

New features in Google Maps make it your ultimate road trip companion

Canada Day long weekend is here at last and Google Maps is rolling out new features that will help to make your trip to the cottage, campground or city both easier to navigate and easier to remember.

First up, we’ve added multi-stop directions in Google Maps on Android (coming soon to iOS). Most trips to the cottage involve the inevitable multiple stops to pick up groceries, bait and beer. To create your multi-stop route, just open the app, enter a destination, tap the corner menu, and then click “add a stop”. To rearrange the order of your stops, tap and hold the three dot menu to the left of “Add stop” and drag it to the position you want – you can even search for types of places like gas stations or restaurants and get results along your route. Once you’ve added all your stops, tap “done” and your multi-stop route is complete. When you enter navigation mode you’ll have the same seamless driving experience you’re used to, whether you’re going from errand to errand or hitting scenic spots on the Sea to Sky Highway.


We’ve also added a new feature to help Google Maps work like an on-the-go travel diary. Android users can now use the Your Timeline feature inside Google Maps to preserve their travel memories and info in a new way by adding notes to their locations. All you need to do is enable Location History and open Your Timeline inside Google Maps then select a date to add a written note.


No matter where your travels take you this summer and beyond, these new Google Maps features will get you there and help keep track of all the memories you make along the way.

Posted by Nicole Bell, Communications Manager, Google Canada

Get Ready to Scream: YouTube FanFest is Back!




YouTube FanFest returns to Toronto on August 13th - and it’s going to be even bigger and better!



After an incredible inaugural show in May 2015,  YouTube FanFest returns to Toronto for a live showcase featuring some of the biggest Canadian and international YouTube stars on the planet.

Toronto’s own YouTube superstar Lilly Singh (aka IISuperwomanII) will headline the show, alongside returning fan favourites Mike Tompkins and Humble the Poet. They will be joined this year by an incredible lineup of performers including AsapSCIENCE and musical artists Megan Nicole, Tiffany Alvord and Sam Tsui, Max Schneider and KRNFX. Dancers are also making a splash this year at FanFest, with Marquese Scott (WHZGUD2) and Poppin John ready to get everyone up on their feet.

The show will be hosted by Lauren Toyota, who is well-known to Canadians as a former MuchMusic VJ and host, and who has worked full-time as a YouTube Creator for the past few years, co-hosting her channel Hot for Food. Lauren will be joined by YouTube sensation Eva Gutowski of My Life as Eva, a fashion, lifestyle and comedy vlogger.


We’ve also made a few changes this year, which we hope will make the experience even better for fans.

First, we’ve moved the show to the Molson Amphitheatre. Last year we had more than 15,000 fans arrive at Yonge Dundas Square, so moving to a bigger venue means that everyone will be more comfortable and have a great view of the show.

Second, this year’s show will be ticketed. No more lining up at 9AM in order to get close to the stage! Fans will be able to get their seats in advance, so you know you’ll have a spot to watch all the action. Tickets are priced at $30 for front section seats and $25 for middle and back section seats. And they go on sale 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 21 - click here!

And finally, we’ve upped the ante on Meet and Greets with your favourite Creators. We will be giving a limited number of ticketholders a chance to meet their favourite stars for free the day before the show. But here’s the catch - only ticketholders will be able to access the separate registration for Creator meet and greets. When we announce the meet and greet registration in the next few weeks these spots will go really quickly, so make sure you already have your tickets before registration goes live.

Check out the full list of participating Creators below - they are among the most-watched stars on the planet, with a combined reach of 34+ million subscribers, and a cumulative 4.6+ billion views!

Show hosts:
Lauren Toyota (180K subscribers)

Eva Gutowski (6.5 million subscribers)

Performances by:
Lilly Singh (8.9 million subscribers)
WHZGUD2 (1.8 million subscribers)
AsapSCIENCE (5.2 million subscribers)
Max Schneider (1.3 million subscribers)
Mike Tompkins (1.7 million subscribers)
KRNFX (338 thousand subscribers)
Megan Nicole (3.5 million subscribers)
Poppin John (219 thousand subscribers)
Tiffany Alvord (2.8 million subscribers)
Humble the Poet (137 thousand subscribers)
Sam Tsui (2.4 million subscribers)


Check out www.youtubefanfest.com for more details and follow the conversation with the official hashtag #YTFFTO across the web:

Can't wait to see you at FanFest!

Posted by Fab Dolan, Head of Marketing, YouTube Canada

Meet Gboard: Search, GIFs, emojis & more. Right from your keyboard.

June 17, 2016

iPhone users—this one’s for you. Meet Gboard, a new app for your iPhone that lets you search and send information, GIFs, emojis and more, right from your keyboard.

Say you’re texting with a friend about tomorrow’s lunch plans. They ask you for the address. Until now it’s worked like this: You leave your texting app. Open Search. Find the restaurant. Copy the address. Switch back to your texts. Paste the address into a message. And finally, hit send.

Searching and sending stuff on your phone shouldn’t be that difficult. With Gboard, you can search and send all kinds of things—restaurant info, flight times, news articles—right from your keyboard. Anything you’d search on Google, you can search with Gboard. Results appear as cards with the key information front and center, such as the phone number, ratings and hours. With one tap, you can send it to your friend and you keep the conversation going.

Search in Gboard

You can search for more than just Google search results. Instead of scrolling to find? or ? , search for “dancer” and find that emoji you were looking for instantly. Even better—you can search for the perfect GIF to show people how you’re really feeling. Finally, Gboard has Glide Typing, which lets you type words by sliding your finger from key to key instead of tapping—so everything you do is just a little bit faster.
Emoji search, GIF search, Glide Typing

Gboard works in any app—messaging, email, YouTube—so you can use it anywhere on your phone. Get it now in the App Store in English in Canada, with more languages to come.

Posted by Rajan Patel, Principal Engineer

Meet Gboard: Search, GIFs, emojis & more. Right from your keyboard.

iPhone users—this one’s for you. Meet Gboard, a new app for your iPhone that lets you search and send information, GIFs, emojis and more, right from your keyboard.

Say you’re texting with a friend about tomorrow’s lunch plans. They ask you for the address. Until now it’s worked like this: You leave your texting app. Open Search. Find the restaurant. Copy the address. Switch back to your texts. Paste the address into a message. And finally, hit send.

Searching and sending stuff on your phone shouldn’t be that difficult. With Gboard, you can search and send all kinds of things—restaurant info, flight times, news articles—right from your keyboard. Anything you’d search on Google, you can search with Gboard. Results appear as cards with the key information front and center, such as the phone number, ratings and hours. With one tap, you can send it to your friend and you keep the conversation going.

Search in Gboard

You can search for more than just Google search results. Instead of scrolling to find? or ? , search for “dancer” and find that emoji you were looking for instantly. Even better—you can search for the perfect GIF to show people how you’re really feeling. Finally, Gboard has Glide Typing, which lets you type words by sliding your finger from key to key instead of tapping—so everything you do is just a little bit faster.
Emoji search, GIF search, Glide Typing

Gboard works in any app—messaging, email, YouTube—so you can use it anywhere on your phone. Get it now in the App Store in English in the Canada, with more languages to come.

Posted by Rajan Patel, Principal Engineer

Introducing YouTube Director: Video ad creation products for businesses

Editor's note: This post originally appeared on the YouTube Blog.
Whether it’s for entertainment, indulging a passion, or discovering something new, more people are turning to YouTube to watch video. In fact, growth in watch time on YouTube is up at least 50% year-over-year. Now, more than ever, businesses can connect with their customers through video advertising on YouTube.

But we know that creating a video ad can be challenging. To make it easier for every business— from a dog walker to a barber shop owner—to get started with advertising on YouTube, we’re launching YouTube Director. Now, video ads are even more accessible to all businesses.

Make a video ad right from your phone
With the free YouTube Director for business app (available for iPhone today in the U.S. and Canada) anyone can create a video ad for their business quickly and easily—right from their phone. No editing experience required. People like Woody Lovell Jr., owner of the The Barber Shop Club in Los Angeles, are already seeing positive results with YouTube Director.

Woody shot and edited a video ad by himself, uploaded it to YouTube, and worked with an AdWords expert to run a campaign. As a result, Woody’s business saw a significant increase in potential customers being able to remember and recognize his ad.

We challenged five business owners—including Woody—to create a video ad in twenty minutes or less. Watch what happened and download the app to give it a try.


Is your business an app? We can create a video ad for you too
YouTube Director automated video creates a video ad automatically from existing assets like logos and app screenshots in the App Store or Google Play Store, and is available globally. Reach out to a Google expert (1-855-500-2756) for more information.

No matter what kind of business you’re in, getting started with advertising on YouTube just became a whole lot easier. We can’t wait to see what you make. Happy filming.

Posted by Max Goldman, Product Manager, YouTube Director, recently watched YouTube Director Video Challenge