Official Google Canada Blog: July 2014

Even more reasons to meet face-to-face

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

No matter how things change, a face-to-face conversation is still the fastest and simplest way to communicate. Using Hangouts lets teams collaborate over video meetings across smartphones, tablets and computers. And dedicated Chromebox for meetings devices extend these video meetings to any room. Today, we’re announcing the latest features, updates and partnerships that make video meetings even easier and better for Google Apps for Business customers.
Enhanced reliability and support for Hangouts Hangouts is now covered under the same Terms of Service that support our other Google Apps for Business products, like Gmail and Drive. That means we’ve got your back with 24x7 phone support and a 99.9% guaranteed uptime, as well as ISO27001, SSAE 16/ISAE 4302 and SOC 2 certification. Additional enterprise integration with Google Apps Vault is coming by the end of the year.
Simpler to get everyone on video meetings Starting today, Hangouts video meetings support any Google Apps customer account, including those without a Google+ profile. Any Google Apps customer can start or join a high-definition video meeting that connects 15 participants—from a computer or Chromebox for meetings device and coming soon to mobile phone and tablet.
And to make video meetings with Hangouts and Chromebox for meetings even more accessible, we’re partnering with new providers to let you meet with teams using other systems. Blue Jeans will allow people on traditional H.323 or SIP-based videoconferencing systems to join video meetings. InterCall will let people join video meetings on their phones through an InterCall audio-conference bridge. And with new phone dialing support, you’ll be able to dial out from your Chromebox for meetings device to telephones.
Bringing Chromebox for meetings to more places
In the coming months, we’ll be making Chromebox for meetings work better in rooms of all shapes and sizes. In larger conference rooms, you can connect two displays to one Chromebox for meetings device to see your audience and project a presentation at the same time. And if you’ve ever wanted a dedicated setup for video meetings for your home, new personal calendar integration means you will be able to easily set up Chromebox for meetings outside the office.
Lastly, IT administrators can better manage meetings right from the Google Apps Admin Console with options like remotely starting, muting and ending a meeting.

Spontaneous one-on-one brainstorms, monthly company-wide meetings, or connecting two offices via a continuous video stream are just some ways customers like Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Kaplan and Eventbrite have used Hangouts and Chromebox for meetings. And soon, even more teams across the world will be able to get simple and affordable video meetings. In the coming weeks, we’ll be expanding Chromebox for meetings to the UK and Japan in addition to the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. And in September, you’ll be able to purchase Chromebox for meetings made by Dell.
To learn more about these updates, join our product team for a live Hangout on Air on August 19. And to help your team see eye-to-eye, check out how you can get Hangouts and purchase Chromebox for meetings devices.
Posted by Clay Bavor, Vice President Product Management, Google Apps

Geek St paves way to inspiration

Thursday, July 24, 2014

I’m not sure when it finally stuck. There was that time that I turned a Radio Shack circuit snap-kit into a rudimentary metal detector. That was cool. Then there was that Grade 7 physics class on electromagnetic fields. Also, very cool. But looking back, there wasn’t one moment that led me to pursue engineering and computer science as a career. Instead, it was dozens of small instances which gradually illuminated the vast potential of sciences and math.

Campers gather for Google Canada's first Geek St
Today, Geek Street is creating dozens of these amazing moments for 2000 summer campers from across Toronto. We’ve transformed the city’s iconic Distillery District into a digital wonderland. Think traditional Toronto street fair, but instead of roti and bratwurst, it’s robots and 3D Selfies!
Geek Street promises to delight and captivate young minds, highlighting the amazing innovation happening in this region’s technology sector and showcasing the world of possibilities offered by STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.

Harrison of TVO's Finding Stuff Out

Whether it’s taking an augmented-reality bike ride, coding a simple video game or taking a stroll down ‘Robotics Row’ (an entire laneway dedicated to mechanical bots!), Geek Street hopes to generate more than a few of those cool, inspirational moments for Canada’s next generation of technology builders!
Posted by Stergios Anastasiadis, Engineering Manager, Google Kitchener-Waterloo

Co-Founder of Just for Laughs on the future of comedy

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Just For Laughs Festivalforming

Democracy (anyone can do it)

Speed (shoot in the morning, upload in the afternoon)

Vast Audience Reach (every niche is huge)

Quirkiness (impact over aesthetics)

Pranks and pranksters are huge (including Just For Laughs’ Gags channel, with over 4,000,000 subscribers). So are eccentric people simply talking to their rabid fan base. Most promising is that the low barrier to entry allows infinite experimentation…which will lead to new breeds of humour analogous to the medium (and to its increasing mobile use). Without even trying, YouTube has already spawned a motherlode of unique talent that has built its own infrastructure.

Grace Helbig, namesake of YouTube hit Daily Grace, has been anointed one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch, a list that in the past has brought initial attention to the likes of Jenny Slate, Amy Schumer, Lewis Black, Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and the aforementioned Patton Oswalt.

The massively popular Epic Rap Battles of History is being featured in full-page ads on the backs of old-school magazines like Entertainment Weekly.

Net content pioneer Chris “Nerdist” Hardwick is now the host of Comedy Central’s mega-hit, “@midnight.”

One of my childhood heroes, Weird Al Yankovic, is using YouTube to launch eight new videos from his new album (they still make those?) over eight days.

And if you think Orange is actually the new black, you should meet The Annoying Orange, a cloying crossover megastar of web, TV and merchandise.

THIS is where YouTube has its greatest role, opportunity and responsibility for the comedy of tomorrow. In the 1967 book “The Medium is the Massage,” visionary Marshall McLuhan said that “We impose the form of the old on the content of the new”; in other words, our new content takes on the form of that which preceded it (which is why early TV looked like visual radio). Right now, despite its success, it’s not enough for YouTube to be satisfied with server farms filled with filmed live performances, talking heads or sketches that look like old TV or indie films. The role of YouTube is to drive the next generation to do more, to take the next shot, to take risks, and to deftly incorporate the past to drive the future.

That is why, at this year’s Just For Laughs, my number one priority is welcoming the new-breed YouTube comedy stars to the event, and ensuring that they don’t merely meet their more traditional brethren and sistren, but find a way to collaborate with them…and change the humor industry.

And perhaps while doing so, find a nice niche within it for a gutsy, outspoken, ostentatious veteran like me to occupy ;)

Canadian French and 12 other new languages for Gmail

Monday, July 7, 2014

MontrealKitchener-Waterloo

try out any one of them by going to your SettingsPosted by Matthew Izatt, Product Manager, Gmail Kitchener-Waterloo

Official Canada Blog

Even more reasons to meet face-to-face

Geek St paves way to inspiration

Co-Founder of Just for Laughs on the future of comedy

Canadian French and 12 other new languages for Gmail

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