Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. The Google Assistant is conversational, personal and helps you get things done—from telling you about your day to taking a selfie. The Assistant is already available on all Android Marshmallow and Nougat phones, the Google Pixel, Google Home and our smart messaging app Google Allo. Now we're bringing it to even more Aussies, making it available for iPhones (iOS 9.1). If you’re keen to meet your Google Assistant on iOS, you can now download it in theiTunes App Store.
Whether you want to know how to say “how are you” in Korean, find recipes, or simply set a reminder to pick up milk on your way home, your Assistant can help. With the Google Assistant for iOS, you have your own personal, helpful Google right in your pocket. And the best thing? It’s your one Google Assistant that lives across devices––so if you add something to your shopping list on Google Home while you’re cooking and on your phone while you’re on the go, it’s the same shopping list. Your Google Assistant will also remember what you ask it to, from your name to your favorite color, favorite songs and even your bike combo.
Here are a few other things to try out on your phone—just open the Assistant app and tap the microphone button or type in your request get started:
What’s my confirmation number for my flight to Broome?
Take me to the the Art Gallery of NSW.
Show my photos of Uluru.
Do I need sunglasses today?
How many Aussie dollars is 10 Pounds?
Our goal is to make the Assistant available anywhere you need it. It came to Aussie homes throughGoogle HomeinJuly, and to allAndroid Marshmallow and Nougat phonesin August. With this update, iOS users from Darwin to Hobart will now be able to try out the Aussie Google Assistant on their phones. What will you ask first?
Posted by Abhishek Ghosh, Program Manager, Google Assistant
The Google PhD Fellowship program supports PhD students in computer science and related fields, and is part of our commitment to building strong relationships with the global academic community. In our most recent round four PhD students in Australia have been recognised for their outstanding efforts.
Samaneh Movassaghi, Google Australia PhD Fellowship in Networking (Australian National University)- Research Proposal Title: iConect: Interference Coordination and Optimisation for Negligible Energy Consumption over Time in Coexisting Wireless Body Area Networks.
Samaneh’s natural curiosity was nurtured by her family to develop inquisitive tinkering skills to discover how the world works. Taking up engineering at university she is now working to develop affordable and timely health care through the interconnection of network sensory devices worn on the body to monitor vital health signs.
Ekaterina Vylomova, Google Australia PhD Fellowship in Natural Language Processing (The University of Melbourne)- Research Proposal Title: Compositional Morphology through Deep Learning.
Ekaterina’s focus on language generation and computational morphology was inspired by the works of Stanislaw LEm and Issaac Asimov on robotics and AI. When introduced by her cousin to programming she wrote her first chat-bot program “Golem”, an early experiment in AI.
Sarah Webber, Google Australia PhD Fellowship in Human Computer Interaction (The University of Melbourne)- Interactive Technology for Human-Animal Encounters at the Zoo.
Sarah’s research looks at digital technology designed to provide zoo animals with enriching experiences and cognitive challenges. Her PhD examines how the design of such technology can shape people's attitudes to other species, and to conservation issues. Hearing a talk by Dr Genevieve Bell first revealed to Sarah that human-computer interaction researchers were, like her, interested in how technology design can help to solve difficult societal problems - and she has been hooked ever since.
Ling Luo, Google Australia PhD Fellowship in Machine Learning, (The University of Sydney) - Temporal Modelling for Customer Behaviours.
Ling’s research in machine learning is focusing on modelling customer behaviour, including discovering temporal patterns, identifying key factors for behaviour changes and predicting future behaviour. Ling’s interest in machine learning and data mining stemmed from an introductory artificial intelligence course during her undergraduate studies. She has been fascinated by how problems can be elegantly solved by smart algorithms and computer programs. She hopes her research can contribute to the body of knowledge in data mining and user behaviour analytics, which can help discover useful information from vast and ever-growing amounts of behavioural data. By supporting these four Australian Fellows we recognise their significant academic achievements and hope that they will go on to be leaders in their respective fields. We look forward to building even stronger links between industry and academia to help push important research forward in Australia. Posted by Sally-Ann Williams, Google Engineering Community & Outreach Manager
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Today, we’re kicking off the search for Australia’s Regional Online Heroes - innovative businesses in regional Australia who are using the web to grow.
Regional Online Heroes recognises outstanding regional businesses from right across the country that are engaging with digital, whether that’s using online marketing to attract new customers, or great e-commerce experiences enabling online shopping from near and far.
We know that digitally engaged small businesses are 1.5 times more likely to be growing revenue (Deloitte), which is great news for jobs and local communities, so we’ve joined forces with the Regional Australia Institute to find and celebrate businesses that are innovating online.
Finalists have the chance to take part in a digital marketing masterclass at Google HQ in Sydney to share their stories, seek advice and develop new skills.
Entries will be assessed by a panel of expert judges including:
Hon Michael McCormack MP – Minister for Small Business
Jane Cay – Founder and Director, Birdsnest
David Koch – Television Presenter, Kochie’s Business Builders
Dr Sandra Phillips – Leading Indigenous Scholar, Creative Industries Faculty, School of Communications, Queensland University of Technology
Jack Archer – CEO, Regional Australia Institute
John Ball – Managing Director of Google Marketing Solutions, Google Australia.
Applications close on Sunday 8 October 2017. Apply now or share with a regional online hero you know - cape and funny hat not required.
Want to brush up on your digital skills? Check out the Digital Garage online or attend one of our free Digital Garage trainings coming up in Hobart or Darwin.
Posted by Richard Flanagan, Head of Business Marketing, Google Australia
Today, we are officially introducing Android 8.0 Oreo, the latest release of the platform–and it’s smarter, faster and more powerful than ever. It comes with new features like picture-in-picture and Autofill to help you navigate tasks seamlessly. Plus, it’s got stronger security protections and speed improvements that keep you safe and moving at lightspeed. When you’re on your next adventure, Android Oreo is the superhero to have by your side (or in your pocket!).
Android Oreo, to the rescue!
Ever try checking your schedule while staying on a video call? Android Oreo makes it easy with picture-in-picture, letting you see two apps at once: it's like having the power to be in two places at the same time! Overwhelmed by notifications, but missing the ones you care about the most? With Android Oreo, notification dots let you tap to see what's new in your apps -- like the important ones you put on your homescreen -- and then take action on those notifications quickly.
Evildoers trying to get bad software onto your device? Android Oreo is more secure with Google Play Protect built in, security status front and center in settings, and tighter app install controls. Battery depleted and still galaxies away from a charger? Been there, too. Android Oreo helps minimize unintentional overuse of battery from apps in the background; these limits keep your battery going longer.
Supersonic speed
When you’re on the go, speed is perhaps the most important superpower. With Android Oreo, you can get started on tasks more quickly than ever with a faster boot speed (up to twice as fast on Pixel, in fact). Once you’re powered up, Autofill on Android Oreo remembers things like logins (with your permission) to quickly get you into your favorite apps. Plus, support for Android Instant Apps means you can teleport directly into new apps, no installation needed.
League of extraordinary emojis
Even superheroes don’t go it alone. Android Oreo brings along a team of fully-redesigned emojis, including over 60 new emoji to help save the day like:
,
Coming to a device near you
We're pushing the sources to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for everyone to access today. Pixel and Nexus 5X/6P builds have entered carrier testing, and we expect to start rolling out in phases soon, alongside Pixel C and Nexus Player. We’ve also been working closely with our partners, and by the end of this year, hardware makers including Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony are scheduled to launch or upgrade devices to Android 8.0 Oreo. Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version. You can learn more at android.com/oreo.
Posted by Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management, Android & Google Play
Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. The Google Assistant is conversational, personal and helps you get things done—from telling you about your day to taking a selfie. The Assistant is already available on Pixel, Google Home, and our smart messaging app Google Allo. Now we're bringing it to even more Aussies. Starting today, the Google Assistant is coming to smartphones running Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The Google Assistant on the Nokia 6.
Whether you want to know how to say “nice to meet you” in Japanese, or find that cute photo of your kids, or simply set a reminder to do laundry when you get home, your Assistant can help. With the Google Assistant on Android phones, you have your own personal, helpful Google right in your pocket. And the best thing? It’s your one Google Assistant that lives across devices––so if you add something to your shopping list on Google Home while you’re cooking and on your phone while you’re on the go, it’s the same shopping list. Your Google Assistant will also remember what you ask it to, from your name to your favorite color, favorite songs and even your bike combo.
Here are a few other things to try out on your phone—just long press on the Home button or say “Ok Google” to get started:
What’s my confirmation number for my flight to Bali?
Take me to the Sydney Opera House.
Show my photos of the Great Barrier Reef.
Do I need an umbrella today?
How many Aussie dollars is 10 U.S. Dollars?
The Google Assistant will automatically come to eligible Android phones running Nougat and Marshmallow with Google Play Services. You'll also see the Google Assistant on some recently announced partner devices, including Nokia’s 3, 5, 6 and 8 devices.
Our goal is to make the Assistant available anywhere you need it. It came to Aussie homes through Google Home just a month ago and it has been available on Pixel and Allo since last year. With this update, Android users from Darwin to Hobart will now be able to try out the Aussie Google Assistant on their phones. What will you ask first?
Posted by Abhishek Ghosh, Program Manager, Google Assistant
Most of us take the benefits of the web entirely for granted. But for people in need it's a place to find help. It provides crucial assistance when it’s needed most - whether it’s counselling or legal advice, or even just to a meal and shelter for the night. Almost 80 per cent of people who are homeless own a smartphone, it’s their lifeline. But they rarely have anywhere to charge it. For those living on the street, or in a refuge, shelter or someone’s couch, charging their mobile phone is not easy. Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with essential support services. It provides help for people in need, right now and nearby. It is completely anonymous and has more than 350,000 services listed, including housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice, addiction treatment and a whole lot more.
Almost 80 percent of people who are homeless own a smartphone.
Our mission at Google is to help people gain access to useful information and it’s been our privilege to support Infoxchange in the creation of Ask Izzy and the expansion of its services, alongside News Corp Australia and REA Group. Since Ask Izzy launched early last year it has helped people find essential services more than 500,000 times; the largest group of people looking for housing were women and children fleeing family violence. One in every 200 people in Australia are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Ask Izzy power card is the solution to help them to charge their phone and stay connected.
Ask Izzy connects people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with essential support services
As winter sets in, we ask that you join us in supporting the 100,000 people across Australia who are homeless each night. For $15 you can give an Ask Izzy power card to someone in need, which will allow them to charge their phone for up to four hours — just enough to find a meal, health services, a blanket or even a bed for the night. With the help of Westpac, we’re raising awareness of Ask Izzy and driving donations for charge cards, to connect more people with the services they need. Donate here and help someone who is homeless get the help they need. Posted by Jason Pellegrino, managing director, Google Australia
Today is the 115th birthday of renowned Aboriginal Australian artist Albert (Elea) Namatjira.
Namatjira was born in 1902 in the Western Aranda (Arrernte) community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg) near Alice Springs. He began sketching as a young boy, and quickly took to painting the natural beauty around him in the bush. Namatjira’s family and community elders shared creation stories which further inspired his love of the sublime landscapes and vibrant hues in the Central Australian outback.
Namatjira’s watercolour landscapes earned recognition in Australia and around the world. He was awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal, honoured with an Australian postage stamp – and his portrait by William Dargie became the first of an Aboriginal person to win the Archibald Prize. Namatjira also inspired the Hermannsburg School in Alice Springs, teaching aspiring young artists to appreciate the Australian landscape.
Today’s Doodle is a tribute to Namatjira, created by his granddaughter, Gloria Pannka. The piece celebrates Namatjira’s iconic colour palette of gumtree green, ochre and plum. It is also a testament to his reverence for the land – depicting the desert, hardy foliage and the rolling hills between Hamilton Downs and the West MacDonnell Ranges in central Australia, close to Namatjira’s homeland.
“I am connected to that country,” says Gloria Pannka. “When I travel there I am connected through both my grandparents…. I feel moved when I am there. “
Namatjira story is the beginning of a watercolour legacy. His influence has lived for 80 years and has been passed down through six generations. Pannka’s father and uncles took the time to teach her skills, style and the Aranda (Arrernte) values that characterise her work.
“They taught us how to look at the country, and look after the country,” reflects Pannka.
Gloria Pannka is a founding Director ofIltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, an Aboriginal Corporation based in Alice Springs that supports the legacy of her grandfather Albert Namatjira. The Art Centre provides a studio space for contemporary members of the Hermannsburg School watercolour movement to explore their art-making practice, thereby maintaining the culture of these Western Aranda artists and promoting the ethical production and sales of Aboriginal art.
Today we thank and celebrate Albert Namatjira’s substantial contributions to the art and culture of Australia. Happy birthday, Albert!
Posted by Maura Halpin, Brand Marketing Manager, Google Australia & New Zealand
From binge-watching your favourite TV shows, to searching for cookie dough recipes, to playing your favourite video game, having strong and reliable Wi-Fi at home is the key to staying connected.
Starting today, Kiwis can get their hands on Google Wifi. It’s a new kind of home Wi-Fi solution that gives you strong, reliable coverage, in every room.
Traditional Wi-Fi routers aren’t always built to support the increasing number of devices we use or the high bandwidth activities like gaming or watching videos. Google Wifi is different. It’s a connected system that replaces your current router and works with your modem and internet provider. It brings everything you love about Google -- smarts, security and simplicity -- to home Wi-Fi. Strong, reliable coverage Google Wifi uses a technology called mesh Wi-Fi. Within our mesh network, each Google Wifi point creates a high-powered connection, and the different Wifi points work together to determine the best path for your data. The result is Wi-Fi coverage in every corner of your house, not just right next to the router.
Keeps itself fast None of us want to spend lots of time tweaking complex settings or managing our Wi-Fi network. Google Wifi is smart, and automatically places your devices on the clearest channel and optimal Wi-Fi band, so your family, friends or flatmates can keep doing what they love without missing a beat. And as you move around your house, our built-in Network Assist software will seamlessly transition your device between the Google Wifi points in real time, to help you avoid dead spots and delays. Google Wifi is an expandable system, so if you have a larger home, you can simply add more Google Wifi points. They connect to one another to spread a strong consistent network signal to every room.
A simple way to control your network
To make sure you’re always in control, Google Wifi is managed by the Google Wifi app, available on Android and iOS. The app helps keep your network safe and secure, and let’s you do things like pause Wi-Fi on kids’ devices, or create recurring pauses for dinner or homework with scheduled pause. It also shows you which devices are connected and how much bandwidth they’re using. You can even prioritise devices within your network so you can stream that latest TV episode without interruptions.
24/7 customer support
And if you ever need help with your Google Wifi system, we’re here for you. Google support agents are available to lend a hand by phone or live chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Google Wifi will be available in New Zealand starting Thursday, July 20 as a 1-pack for $229 and a 3-pack for $599 from Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi. You can find out more about Google Wifi here.
Posted by Ben Brown, Senior Product Manager, Google Wifi
There’s never a dull moment at home – from getting the family ready in the morning to unwinding after a long day, and everything in between. Wouldn’t it be great to get some extra help? Starting July 20, Aussies can enjoy Google Home, our voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. With a simple “Ok Google”, you can get answers, turn up the music, manage your everyday tasks or even turn on or adjust your compatible smart lights. And we’re also launching Google Wifi, giving you seamless internet coverage for homes of any shape or size.
Tap into the power of Google with your Assistant Need to solve a problem? Ask questions, translate phrases, run simple maths calculations and get definitions. Too busy to stay on top of the news? Ask and you shall receive the latest stories from sources such as Fox Sports, ABC NEWS, The Australian, Huffington Post, TechCrunch and SKY NEWS. Need a helping hand in the kitchen? Get substitutes, nutritional information and unit conversions without having to wash your flour covered fingers. Google Home speaks ‘Strayan With a distinctly Aussie voice, your Assistant on Google Home speaks and understands your language. Ask it for brekkie ideas or where the nearest servo is. You can also ask it what sound a Kookaburra makes, and it’ll cue the laughter we all know and love. And of course, we’ve hidden a few Aussie treats for you to discover along the way. Why not try asking your Assistant on Google Home “Are you going to Bonnie Doon?” Get personalised help for your everyday tasks Whether you’re stirring pots, matching socks or brushing hair, we know Aussie homes are busy ones. That’s why your Assistant on Google Home has been designed to help you get more stuff done when you have your hands full. With your permission, it will help with things like your commute, your daily schedule and more. And the best part? Up to six people can connect their account to one Google Home, so if you ask your Assistant to tell you about your day, it can distinguish your voice from other people in your family, and give you personalised answers. Just ask “Ok Google, tell me about my day” or say, “Hey Google, how long will it take to get to work?” and you’ll get up to speed on everything you need to know. It can wake you up in the morning (or let you snooze), set a timer while you’re baking, and more. Turn up your tunes Find the right beat for every occasion, whether you’re doing sunrise yoga, hosting a dinner party or having a dance-a-thon with your little ones. You can play songs, playlists, artists, and albums from your favourite music subscription services like YouTube Music, Google Play Music and Spotify.* With Google Home, we’re offering 6 months of YouTube Red for free to customers who are new to Google Play Music and YouTube Red**, so you can enjoy a premium YouTube experience, allowing you to listen to official tracks, albums, remixes and more - all completely ad-free. Control your smart home Google Home can help you keep track of everything going on in your home--you can control your lights, switches and more, using compatible smart devices from brands like Philips Hue and IFTTT. Just ask, and your Assistant will turn off the kitchen light. If you have a Chromecast, you can also use voice commands to play Netflix, Stan and YouTube on your TV or binge watch your favourite show. Enjoy Multi-room by grouping Google Home devices together (with Chromecast Audio or Chromecast built-in speakers too) to listen to the same song in every room. A speaker designed for any room Whether you’re hosting a dinner or a solo dance party, Google Home delivers crystal-clear sound and creates an enjoyable listening experience. Plus, we designed Google Home to fit stylishly into any room. And you have the option to customize the base with different colors to reflect your home’s style. It’s just the beginning... Your Assistant on Google Home will continue to get better over time, as we add more features. And soon, Google Home will be open to third party apps for the Assistant, giving you access to even more of your favourite services and content. And there’s more... We’re also launching Google Wifi, giving you seamless internet coverage for homes of any shape or size. Some Wi-Fi routers haven’t always been built to support the increasing number of devices we use or high bandwidth activities like gaming or watching videos. Google Wifi is a connected system that replaces your current router to bring smarts, security and simplicity to home Wi-Fi to give you consistently strong coverage in your home.
Google Wifi uses a technology called mesh Wi-Fi (something usually only seen in expensive commercial installations). Within our mesh network, each Google Wifi point creates a high-powered connection, and the different Wifi points work together to determine the best path for your data. The result is Wi-Fi coverage even in hard-to reach areas, not just right next to the router. Google Home is available for $199 starting on 20 July from The Google Store, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, The Good Guys, Telstra, Optus and Qantas Store. Google Wifi is also available on 20 July for $199 for a single-pack and $499 for a three-pack from The Google Store, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, and Officeworks. Posted by Raunaq Shah, Product Manager, Google Home *Subscription may be required **See http://Yt.be/red/home for terms. Offer ends 15/1/18.
A power company, costume rental, students and electric bikes.... No, it’s not the set of an amateur theatre recital - these were just some of the businesses that came together to learn new digital skills in Tauranga last week.
More than 80 local business owners and operators attended a series of workshops delivered by Google and Venture Centre New Zealand at the Base Station Coworking and Collaboration Space on Thursday 13 July.
Todd Muller, MP for the Bay of Plenty joined the event and spoke about the importance of local businesses getting online to reach new customers and grow.
Bay of Plenty MP, Todd Muller, Venture Centre’s Jo Allum and Google’s Jean Magalhaes (photo credit - Richard Robinson Photography)
Jo Allum from Venture Centre said there was strong demand for digital skills training in the Western Bay region, with research suggesting about 40 per cent of business owners in Tauranga and Western Bay didn’t feel they had the skills needed to make the most of technology.
Participants had the chance to ask questions and share their experiences about building and managing a website, e-commerce, digital advertising and how to be found online. The workshop covered a range of tools and tips, including how businesses can claim their listing on Google My Business.
NZ businesses have much to gain from getting online and many are already doing great things.
A recent report by Oxford Economics looked at how the internet is fueling small business exports in New Zealand. Research found that if every small business in NZ with five or more staff went online, there would be an extra 2,200 businesses exporting and generating more sales.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to get the skills they need to succeed online. Got a question about getting your business online? Get in touch with our Small Business Team!
Posted by Richard Flanagan, Head of Business Marketing, Google New Zealand
