Official Canada Blog
News and notes from Google Canada
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium Launch in Canada: It’s All Here
Monday, June 18, 2018
The wait is over! Starting today, YouTube Music is available to everyone in Canada. Now Canadian fans can find more of the music they love and effortlessly discover new favourites.
YouTube Music is a new music streaming service built on top of all the music on YouTube that you can’t find anywhere else - personalized & all simply organized in one place.
Here’s how it all comes together:
It’s ALL here.
Not just
music videos
, but
official albums
,
singl
es
,
remixes
,
live performances
,
covers
and hard-to-find music you can only get on YouTube.
Recommendations built for you
. A home screen that dynamically adapts to provide recommendations based on the artists and songs you’ve played before, where you are and what you’re doing.
Chilling at the beach?
Need some motivation?
The right music is right here, built just for you.
Thousands of playlists across any genre, mood or activity.
Try “
A Dose of Sun
” for brighter tunes on a cloudy day, “
The Pop Hotlist
” for the biggest hits around the world or
Distrito Latino
for Latin pop hits of the moment.
Smart search so we’ll find the song, even if you can’t remember what it’s called.
“That space-themed Spice Girls song in the desert.”
Here you go
. You can also search by lyrics (even if they’re wrong). It’s “
Hold me closer, Tony Danza,” right
?
The hottest videos.
We’ll keep you on top of what’s hot! The hottest videos in the world right now are right there, on their own dedicated Hotlist screen. So you can go check out that brand-new
Degrassi-themed Drake video
.
Ad-free listening, downloads and more.
Get YouTube Music Premium to listen ad-free, in the background and on-the-go with downloads. Plus, your Offline Mixtape automatically downloads songs you love just in case you forgot to.
For a limited time, get three months free of YouTube Music Premium
here
, ($9.99 per month after, $14.99 per month for a
Family Plan
)*.
YouTube Premium also launches today
Starting today,
YouTube Premium
(formerly YouTube Red) will also be available in Canada, providing members with the benefits of Music Premium, plus ad-free, background, and downloads across all of YouTube. YouTube Premium members also get access to the full slate of YouTube Originals shows and movies including the hit series Cobra Kai, Impulse, F2 Finding Football and The Sidemen Show. For a limited time, get three months free of YouTube Premium
here
, ($11.99 per month after, $17.99 per month for a
Family Plan
)*.
Current Google Play Music subscribers in Canada will automatically receive access to YouTube Music Premium at their current price as it becomes available there. Nothing is changing with Google Play Music - you'll still be able to access all of your purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music just like always.
Try YouTube Music and YouTube Premium
Get the new YouTube Music from the
Play Store
and
App Store
today or check out the brand new web player at
music.youtube.com
. You can sign up for YouTube Premium at
youtube.com/premium
.
Posted by Nicole Bell, YouTube Canada
*YouTube Music Premium is $9.99 per month and YouTube Premium is $11.99 per month for individual memberships in Canada.
Greater transparency and control over your Google ad experience
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Over the years, you’ve told us that transparency and control over your data and ad experience are important. That's why we've built products and tools to help you manage that experience. Back in 2009, we launched
Ad Settings
, providing you with a single place for your ad controls, and in 2011 and 2012 we introduced
Why this ad?
and
Mute this ad
, giving you more transparency and control over the ads that you see. In 2015 all of these were brought together in your
Google Account
, the all-in-one destination for managing your personal information, privacy and security settings.
Today, we’re launching the new
Ad Settings
, which makes it easier for you to understand and control how your ads are tailored to you. We’re also providing more transparency around why you see certain ads by expanding
Why this ad?
to all of our services that show Google ads (like Search and YouTube) and almost all websites and apps that partner with us to show ads.
Understand and control how your ads are tailored to you
The new
Ad Settings
shows all the different factors that determine how ads are tailored to you in one view. This way, it’s easier for you to see them at a glance, learn more about why you see ads related to these topics, and decide if there are any you want to remove.
There are a few different factors that can determine how your ads are tailored to you, including: estimations of your interests based on your activity while you’re signed in, information you’ve added to your Google Account, and information from advertisers that partner with us to show ads—like if you’ve visited their site or signed up for their newsletter.
For example, if you watched highlights from a recent soccer match on YouTube or searched “soccer fields near me” you might see an ad for a slick pair of soccer shorts. If you’ve told us you’re 40 years old, we would be less likely to show you ads about student study abroad programs. And if you visit the website of one of your favorite brands, you might see an ad from them.
This information helps make ads more relevant and useful to you. However, in the new Ad Settings, if you no longer want us to tailor your ads based on one of these factors you can choose to turn it off. Turning off a factor means you’ll no longer receive tailored ads related to it across our services, and on websites and apps that partner with us to show ads, as long as you’re signed in to your Google Account. The ads you see can still be based on general factors, like the subject of what you’re looking at or the time of day, or any other factor that is still turned on.
Why this ad? makes it easier to understand why you see certain ads
Why this ad? is a feature which appears next to ads and both helps you learn why you are seeing a certain ad and gives you easy access to your
Ad Settings
. For example, if you want to know why you’re seeing an ad for a camera, Why this ad? might tell you it’s because you’ve searched for cameras, visited photography websites, or clicked on ads for cameras before. We’ve now significantly expanded coverage of this feature; starting today, you’ll see Why this ad? notices on all our services that show Google Ads, such as ads on YouTube (including the YouTube app on connected TVs), Google Play, Gmail, Maps and Search. We’ve also expanded it to include almost all of the websites and apps that partner with us to show ads.
The new Ad Settings and updates to Why this ad? provide you with more transparency and control over your Google ad experience than ever before. With these improvements, you can browse the web confidently knowing that you have the information and control to make Google work better for you.
Posted by Philippe de Lurand Pierre-Paul, Product Manager
Inspiring Canada’s future innovators at Go North Youth
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Editor’s Note: Today’s blog is guest authored by Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO of
Actua
. The University of Toronto is one of 36 Actua network members across Canada annually engaging 250,000 youth in hands-on STEM learning.
Nicole, a Grade 4 student from Kew Beach Junior Public School, was excited to visit Go North Youth today. "My favourite subject is math, so I couldn't wait to learn all about science and tech at the University of Toronto! I learned that sound can travel through two people's bodies, how to build a future city, plus a bunch of other really cool stuff."
Today, for the third year in a row, Go North Youth gathered over 1200 students from grades three to eight in the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall. Students from schools across the GTA came together for Canada’s biggest and most exciting day of exploration, learning and fun with cutting-edge science and technology.
Students flocked to the University of Toronto for the third annual Go North Youth, a full day of hands-on activities, workshops and learning designed to ignite curiosity around science and technology
The day kicked off with a vibrant opening ceremony in U of T’s historic Convocation Hall that included performances by DJ Skratch, ActionPotential, and a special address from The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, who got to personally welcome students from her own riding of Etobicoke North.
Afterwards, students explored Innovate Alley, where they went hands-on with fun science and tech, from creating 3D printed objects with Inksmith and testing Google’s AI game Quick Draw to dancing to cool rhythmic light installations from U of T alumni Nanoleaf.
Students spent the remainder of the day participating in inspiring design and build workshops put on by the incredible team at U of T Engineering Outreach. As always, it is amazing to see students so engaged and excited to learn about the engineering that backs their favourite technologies.
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, MInister of Science, chats with students at Go North Youth
The lead partner, the University of Toronto, worked with Google and Actua to bring this massive event to life for the third year because we believe that it is critical for youth to experience current innovations while seeing their peers excited about STEM. Whether students want to become doctors or game developers, STEM skills and computational thinking are, and will continue to be, important tools for their future.
For more than 20 years, Actua and our 36 university and college-based network members have worked to prepare young Canadians to be innovators and leaders by engaging them in exciting and accessible STEM experiences that build critical skills and confidence.
This includes our
Codemakers program
, supported by Google, which has engaged over 165,000 youth in computer science and digital skill building. Canadian youth from all over the country have participated in Codemakers whether through coding throat singing in Canada’s north or printing 3-D selfies in Vancouver or participating in events like today. With a recent renewal of $1.5M in funding from Google.org and $10 million in funding from the federal government through the CanCode program, we will continue to evolve the Codemakers program to reach a quarter of a million young Canadians.
Students got the chance to go hands-on with tech in Innovate Alley, from creating mini-ziplines to building their own 3D printed objects and much more.
Together we can help students gain the skills and confidence they need to use technology to solve the world’s biggest problems.
Posted by Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO of Actua.
Hey Google, what’s a smart home? Design duo Drew and Jonathan Scott offer smart tech tips to modernize your place
Friday, June 1, 2018
Editor’s note: Today’s guest post is brought to you by renovation experts Drew and Jonathan Scott, the dynamic team behind HGTV’s Property Brothers. Through their popular TV shows, Drew and Jonathan help families buy, sell and renovate homes.
Summer is prime time to tackle those home renovations that you’ve been putting off all year. We speak from experience when we say undertaking a reno can be a daunting task -- but it doesn’t have to be! Thanks to innovative advancements in smart home technology, it’s become easier -- and more cost-effective -- to modernize your home and ultimately add value to your property without the hassle of a construction crew.
Here are five ways to turn your home into a tech-savvy space with the help of Google Home Mini (available on the
Google Store
and at Best Buy Canada for $79):
Control the temperature of your home
Stay cool this summer and save money at the same time by installing a smart thermostat that learns your behaviours and programs itself to save energy.
We love the Nest Wi-Fi Smart Learning Thermostat because it combines a sleek design with a bright LCD interface that provides useful data and tools that help you save money. And, it works with smart home hubs, such as Google Home Mini, so you can access data and adjust settings by simply saying “Hey Google, adjust the temperature to 21 degrees.”
The best part? It can be installed in less than 30 minutes, so you can spend more time enjoying your home.
Create the right ambiance in your favourite rooms to unwind
One of the most common design questions we get asked from renters or new homeowners is about how add personal DIY touches to their space. Well, one of the quickest and easiest ways is to adjust the lighting.
You can add ambience to any room in your home with the Philips Hue Smart Personal Wireless Light Bulb Starter Kit. Create the feel of a sunset in the living room or set the perfect shade of light and brightness for reading a book in bed.
What’s more is that Philips Hue works with the Google Assistant, providing you with a hands-free lighting experience. With commands like “Hey Google, dim the lights in the bedroom” or “Ok Google, turn on tropical twilight in the living room” you can have a fully customized experience that’s as easy as screwing in a light bulb.
Connect your appliances
Together with Google Home Mini, WeMo offers hands-free control of your smart home. Whether you’re brewing your morning coffee or cooling down under a fan, the Google Assistant allows you to control your small appliances with the sound of your voice and a simple command.
This can be especially useful for morning routines. Beat the morning rush by saying “Ok Google, turn the coffee pot on.” As a bonus, your Google Assistant can also give you valuable information about your day, such as your schedule, weather and traffic conditions. So go ahead and hit that “snooze” button for an extra 5-minutes.
Upgrade your entertainment system
Easily create an immersive entertainment system that you can control with the sound of your voice. Whether you’re playing the latest hits on Spotify for a summer soiree or having a cozy night in streaming Netflix with your Chromecast, your Google Assistant and suite of Google Home products will allow for hands-free entertainment.
And if you’re feeling a bit competitive (not that we’d know what that’s like..), you can play interactive trivia games with your Google Home.
Make safety a priority at your house
With Nest Hello you'll always know who's at your front door, even if you're not at home. This video doorbell provides a live view of your front door and sends you a mobile alert when someone approaches, rings the doorbell, or leaves a package. And when you are at home, your Google Assistant can announce when someone's at your door. Gone are the days of having to greet unexpected guests!
In Toronto? Join us at the downtown
Google shop
(Best Buy Canada, Yonge and Dundas) on Saturday, June 2. We’ll share how easy it is to update your home with Google Home Mini and other cool smart gadgets. Space is extremely limited for the workshop so make sure to RSVP here:
https://goo.gl/rG7sTf
Posted by Drew and Jonathan Scott, hosts of HGTV’s Property Brothers
Pump up the jams, Canada: Google Home Max is here
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Music fans, time to turn up the volume! Our biggest and best sounding Google Home -- the Google Home Max -- is now available in Canada via
The Google Store
and at Best Buy.
Built for premium sound
Thanks to premium hardware, including two 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers, Max delivers deep, powerful bass. And it’s loud…really loud, so you can fill even the largest room in your home with your favourite music. In fact, Max is 20 times more powerful than Google Home!
Redefine how you listen to music with Smart Sound
Powered by Google AI, Smart Sound means Max can automatically adapt itself to you -- your environment, your moments, your content. Once you’ve set up Max, it will automatically tune itself based on where you’ve placed it in the room. Without lifting a finger, your music will sound just as it was intended when it left the production studio. And all of this is done dynamically, so if you decide to move Max to the other side of the room, it will adapt within seconds. There’s no extra setup or testing required.
Your personal DJ, 24/7
With the Google Assistant built in, Google Home Max is always ready to start your favourite song, pause or turn it up, all with just your voice. Can’t quite remember the name of that favourite summer jam? Your Assistant can find it with just a few small details. Just ask, “Hey Google, play that song about Drake's dad...’”
Google Home Max works with Google Play Music, Spotify Free and Premium and TuneIn, so you can enjoy music in whatever way you like. And Chromecast is built in, meaning you can cast from your phone from many more services. For all of your other music and devices, Max has support for both Bluetooth® and aux-in, so plug in your record player and dust off your vinyl.
Control your smart home
Make Max the centre of your smart home. Google Home Max works with more than 150 home automation brands and more than 1,000 devices—including Nest, Belkin Wemo and Philips Hue. Plus, Google Home Max can complete two tasks at once. If you have a compatible smart plug, try saying, “Hey Google, dim the lights and play a summer time playlist”
Google Home Max is available starting May 16 for $499 from
The Google Store
and Best Buy Canada.
Posted by Raunaq Shah, Product Manager, Google Home
Looking Forward to Canada’s Innovative Future
Monday, May 7, 2018
Editor’s note: Today’s post is from Catherine Lacavera, Director of IP and Patent Litigation at Google… and proud Canadian.
Canada has a new National Intellectual Property Strategy, and this is very good news. Last month, Minister Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced a new
National IP Strategy
that makes great strides towards a better future for Canadian industry through a balanced and efficient IP system that protects and fosters Canadian innovation.
The new National IP Strategy is the product of a thoughtful, consultative process that led to a well-informed strategy reflecting the varied needs of different sectors and sized companies, both now, and into our promising future. The IP literacy campaign will help inform industry about how to meaningfully protect IP without wasting resources better spent on development. The efficiency measures and scrutiny of demand letters will help clear the path for innovators to realize value for their IP, while curbing the abuses that plague inefficient IP systems elsewhere around the world. There is much to applaud in the careful thought behind the new strategy.
As a fellow Canadian, I have a vested interest in seeing Canada take its rightful place on the world IP stage. We have long outperformed in innovation, and this new National IP strategy brings that same excellence in policies to our already excellent development programs. Congratulations to all those involved, and to the many varied industries that will be the beneficiaries of this thoughtful, collaborative strategy.
Posted by Catherine Lacavera; Director, Google Legal
Introducing new choices for parents to further customize YouTube Kids
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
When we launched the YouTube Kids app three years ago, our goal was to give kids around the world a place to access videos that were enriching, engaging and allowed them to explore their endless interests.
Since then, our team has continued to work to improve the app experience for kids and families around the world. One area of focus has been building new features that give parents even more control around the content available in the YouTube Kids app so they can make the right choice for their unique family and for each child within their family.
We are excited to announce that throughout the year, we will be rolling out three new options in YouTube Kids:
Collections by trusted partners and YouTube Kids
: Starting this week, our partners and the YouTube Kids team will offer collections of trusted channels on a variety of subjects, from arts & crafts and music to sports, learning, and so much more. This makes it easy for parents to select only the channel collections and topics they want their kids to access. Just go into Profile Settings, and select from available collections such as Sesame Workshop. We will continue to add more partners over time.
Parent approved content:
Parents know better than anyone what they want their children to watch. For those parents who want even more control over the videos and channels in the YouTube Kids app, we're rolling out a feature later this year that will allow parents to specifically handpick every video and channel available to their child in the app.
Improved search-off control for an even more contained experience
: Parents have always been able to turn search off within the YouTube Kids app, but starting this week, turning search off will limit the YouTube Kids experience to channels that have been verified by the YouTube Kids team. This means that search off will not include recommendations from the broader YouTube Kids corpus.
For parents who like the current version of YouTube Kids and want a wider selection of content, it's still available. While no system is perfect, we continue to fine-tune, rigorously test and improve our filters for this more open version of our app. And, as always, we encourage parents to block and flag videos for review that they don't think should be in the YouTube Kids app. This makes YouTube Kids better for everyone.
It is our hope that these additional options will allow every family to have the experience they want in the YouTube Kids app.
Posted by James Beser, Product Director for YouTube Kids
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