Chromecast changed the way we enjoy our favourite movies, TV shows and YouTube videos by making it easy and inexpensive to bring your online entertainment to your TV—a revolutionary idea in 2013. Today, we have more content choices than ever, sprinkled across an ever-expanding variety of apps...which can make it difficult to find what to watch. This inspired us to rethink what simple and easy content discovery on your TV should look like. So today, we're making our biggest leap yet to help you navigate your entertainment choices with the all-new Chromecast with Google TV.Read More

Chromecast changed the way we enjoy our favourite movies, TV shows and YouTube videos by making it easy and inexpensive to bring your online entertainment to your TV—a revolutionary idea in 2013. Today, we have more content choices than ever, sprinkled across an ever-expanding variety of apps...which can make it difficult to find what to watch. This inspired us to rethink what simple and easy content discovery on your TV should look like. So today, we're making our biggest leap yet to help you navigate your entertainment choices with the all-new Chromecast with Google TV. 

Best Chromecast yet
Chromecast with Google TV has your favourite Chromecast features and now comes with the all-new Google TV entertainment experience. Google TV brings together movies, shows and more from across your apps and subscriptions and organizes them just for you.* We're also bringing our most requested feature—a remote—to Chromecast.

A new look, inside and out
The new Chromecast with Google TV comes in a compact and thin design and is packed with the latest technology to give you the best viewing experience. It neatly plugs into your TV's HDMI port and tucks behind your screen. Power it on and you'll be streaming crystal-clear video in up to 4K HDR at up to 60 frames per second in no time.** With Dolby Vision, you’ll get extraordinary colour, contrast, brightness and detail on your TV. We also support HDMI pass-through of Dolby audio content.

More power in your hand
The new Chromecast voice remote is comfortable to hold, easy to use and full of new features. It has a dedicated Google Assistant button that can help you find something to watch, answer everyday questions like “how's the weather?” or play YouTube Music, all with just your voice. And when it's time to cozy up on the sofa for movie night, you can control your compatible smart home lights to set the mood and check your front door with Nest Camera to keep tabs on your pizza delivery. We also have dedicated buttons for today’s most popular streaming services, YouTube and Netflix, to give you instant access to the content you love. Best of all, you won't have to juggle multiple remotes thanks to our programmable TV controls for power, volume and input.

TV just For you
In need of some good movies or show recommendations? Google TV's For You tab gives you personalized watch suggestions from across your subscriptions organized based on what you like to watch—even your guilty pleasure reality dramas. Google TV’s Watchlist lets you bookmark movies and shows you want to save for later. You can add to your Watchlist from your phone or laptop, and it will be waiting on your TV when you get home.

Best of all, you'll also have access to more than 6,500 apps globally (including CBC Gem, Crave, Sportsnet and ICI Tou.TV), and the ability to browse hundreds of thousands of movies and TV shows sorted and optimized for what you like—just ask Google to see results from across your favourite apps. Plus, Stadia support is coming in the first half of 2021.

Starting today in Canada, Chromecast with Google TV is available for pre-order on the Google Store for $69.99 in three colours: Snow, Sunrise and Sky. Chromecast with Google TV will be available to customers on October 15 through the Google Store, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, Home Depot (online only), Lowes, Rogers, Staples, Tbooth wireless, The Source, Walmart and WIRELESSWAVE.


Posted by: Gerardo Capiel, Director of Product Management, Entertainment

*Subscription(s) may be required to access certain content. Some apps, features and/or content may not be available in all countries. Subject to availability. 

**Chromecast with Google TV requires a TV with an HDMI port, a Wi-Fi network, a Google Account, a nearby electrical outlet and a compatible mobile device. Minimum OS requirements are available at g.co/cast/req. To view content in 4K, a 4K-capable TV and reliable broadband internet connection are also required.

This year, we’ve all spent a lot of time exploring things to do at home. Some of us gardened, and others baked. We tried at-home workouts, or took up art projects. But one thing that many—maybe all of us—did? Enjoy a lot of music at home. I’ve spent so much more time listening to music during quarantine—bossa nova is my go-to soundtrack for doing the dishes and Lil Baby has become one of my favourite artists.Read More

This year, we’ve all spent a lot of time exploring things to do at home. Some of us gardened, and others baked. We tried at-home workouts, or took up art projects. But one thing that many—maybe all of us—did? Enjoy a lot of music at home. I’ve spent so much more time listening to music during quarantine—bossa nova is my go-to soundtrack for doing the dishes and Lil Baby has become one of my favourite artists.

So, given we’re all listening to more music than ever, we’re especially excited to introduce Nest Audio, our latest smart speaker that is made for music lovers.

A music machine
Nest Audio is 75 percent louder and has 50 percent stronger bass than the original Google Home —measurements of both devices were taken in an anechoic chamber at maximum volume, on-axis. With a 19mm tweeter for consistent high frequency coverage and clear vocals and a 75mm mid-woofer that really brings the bass, this smart speaker can get any party started.

Nest Audio’s sound is full, clear and natural. We completed more than 500 hours of tuning to ensure balanced lows, mids and highs so that nothing is lacking or overbearing. The bass is significant and the vocals have depth, which makes Nest Audio sound great across genres: classical, R&B, pop and more. The custom-designed tweeter allows each musical detail to come through, and we optimized the grill, fabric and materials so that you can enjoy the audio without distortion.

Our goal was to ensure that Nest Audio stayed faithful to what the artist intended when they were in the recording studio. We minimized the use of compressors to preserve dynamic range, so that the auditory contrast in the original production is preserved — the quiet parts are delicate and subtle, and the loud parts are more dramatic and powerful.

Nest Audio also adapts to your home. Our Media EQ feature enables Nest Audio to automatically tune itself to whatever you’re listening to: music, podcasts, audiobooks or hearing a response from Google Assistant. And Ambient IQ lets Nest Audio also adjust the volume of Assistant, news, podcasts, and audiobooks based on the background noise in the home, so you can hear the weather forecast over a noisy dishwasher. 

Whole home audio
If you have a Google Home, Nest Mini or even a Nest Hub, you can easily make Nest Audio the center of your whole home sound system. In my living room, I’ve connected two Nest Audio speakers as a stereo pair for left and right channel separation. I also have a Nest Hub Max in my kitchen, a Nest Mini in my bedroom and a Nest Hub in the entryway. These devices are grouped so that I can blast the same song on all of them when I have my daily dance party.

With our stream transfer feature, I can move music from one device to the other with just my voice. I can even transfer music or podcasts from my phone when I walk in the door. Just last month, we launched multi-room control, which allows you to dynamically group multiple cast-enabled Nest devices in real-time.

An even faster Assistant
When we launched Nest Mini last year, we embedded a dedicated machine learning chip with up to one TeraOPS of processing power, which let us move some Google Assistant experiences from our data centers directly onto the device. We’ve leveraged the same ML chip in Nest Audio.

Google Assistant helps you tackle your day, enjoy your entertainment and control over a thousand of compatible smart devices, like TVs, lights, thermostats and locks, from brands that you love. Plus, if you’re a YouTube Music or Spotify Premium subscriber, you can say, “Hey Google, recommend some music” and Google Assistant will offer a variety of choices from artists and genres that you like as well as others that are similar.

Differentiated by design
Typically, a bigger speaker equals bigger sound, but Nest Audio has a really slim profile — so it fits anywhere in the home. In order to maximize audio output, we custom-designed quality drivers and housed them in an enclosure that helps it squeeze out every bit of sound possible.

Nest Audio comes in five colours: Chalk, Charcoal, Sand, Sky and the all-new Sage, an earth tone inspired by our ongoing responsibility to protect the environment. Its soft, rounded edges blend in with your home’s decor, and its minimal footprint doesn't take up too much space on your shelf or countertop.

We’re continuing our commitment to sustainability with Nest Audio. It’s covered in the same sustainable fabric that we first introduced with Nest Mini last year, and the enclosure (meaning the fabric, housing, foot, and a few smaller parts) is made from 70 percent recycled plastic.

Nest Audio is available now for pre-order on the Google Store. Starting October 5, Nest Audio will be available to customers in Canada for $129.99 online at the Google Store and other retailers including Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco (online only), Home Depot, London Drugs, Lowes, Staples, The Source and Walmart.



Posted by Mark Spates, Product Manager, Google Nest 

In today’s golden age of television, there are seemingly limitless options for you to enjoy at home—that binge-worthy show, the big game or the latest blockbuster movie. But with more choices than ever, it can take a ...Read More

In today’s golden age of television, there are seemingly limitless options for you to enjoy at home—that binge-worthy show, the big game or the latest blockbuster movie. But with more choices than ever, it can take a long time just to find something to watch. That’s why we made Google TV—a new entertainment experience designed to help you easily browse and discover what to watch—available first on the new Chromecast with Google TV. 

An experience that’s tailored for you
The new Google TV experience brings together movies, shows and more from across your apps and organizes them just for you.¹ To build this, we studied the different ways people discover media—from searching for a specific title to browsing by genre—and created an experience that helps you find what to watch. We also made improvements to Google’s Knowledge Graph, which is part of how we better understand and organize your media into topics and genres, from movies about space travel to reality shows about cooking. You’ll also see titles that are trending on Google Search, so you can always find something timely and relevant. 

Searching is as easy as asking Google. Whether you're looking for comedies or documentaries about dolphins, just ask Google to see results from across your favourite apps.

With so much content to choose from, you might need help keeping track of what to watch. Google TV’s Watchlist gives you one easy place to bookmark movies and shows you want to save for later. You can even add to your Watchlist from Google Search on your phone or laptop, and it will be waiting on your TV when you get home.




A little help from Google
With Google TV, the biggest screen in your home is now more helpful. Ask Google about the weather, sports scores and more, and get answers right on your TV. You can even view and control your compatible connected home devices with just your voice. Simply press and hold the Google Assistant remote button and say "Show me the front door" to see your security camera feed.

When you aren’t watching TV, ambient mode lets you connect to Google Photos so you can showcase images of your favourite people and places on your home’s biggest screen. Google TV is also compatible with over 6,500 apps globally, built for Android TV OS so you can access your favourites across gaming, fitness, education, music like CBC Gem, Crave, Sportsnet, ICI Tou.TV, YouTube and more. Support for Stadia is coming in the first half of 2021.

Available on the new Chromecast with Google TV
The all-new Chromecast with Google TV comes with a remote and plugs right into your TV’s HDMI port, so you can watch your favourite content in 4K HDR.2 Chromecast with Google TV is available now for pre-order in Canada on the Google Store for $69.99 in three colours: Snow, Sunrise and Sky. Chromecast with Google TV will be available to customers on October 15 through the Google Store, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, Home Depot (online only), Lowes, Rogers, Staples, Tbooth, The Source, Walmart and WIRELESSWAVE. 

Starting in 2021, Google TV will also be available on televisions from other Android TV OS partners.3


Posted by: Shalini Govilpai, Senior DIrector, Google TV

¹Subscription(s) may be required to access certain content. Some apps, features and/or content may not be available in all countries. Subject to availability.

2Chromecast with Google TV requires a TV with an HDMI port, a Wi-Fi network, a Google Account, a nearby electrical outlet and a compatible mobile device. Minimum OS requirements are available at g.co/cast/req. To view content in 4K, a 4K-capable TV and reliable broadband internet connection are also required.

3Some features and availability may vary by OEM and/or device manufacturer.

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are here, packing more helpful Google features into phones backed by the power of 5G. * From Google’s latest AI and Assistant features, to the biggest batteries we’ve ever put in a Pixel, to industry-leading camera features, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 join our much loved Pixel 4a in providing more help at a more helpful price.Read More

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are here, packing more helpful Google features into phones backed by the power of 5G.* From Google’s latest AI and Assistant features, to the biggest batteries we’ve ever put in a Pixel, to industry-leading camera features, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 join our much loved Pixel 4a in providing more help at a more helpful price.

5G at affordable prices
5G is the latest in mobile technology, bringing smooth download and streaming to users around the world. Whether you’re downloading the latest movie**, listening to your favourite music on YouTube Music, catching up on podcasts with Google Podcast or playing a game on Stadia, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 will provide you with 5G speeds.

YouTube, YouTube Music and Google Podcasts on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also give you access to the content you want when you don't have connectivity by pre-downloading content via 5G when you don’t have WiFi connectivity*. For more information go to g.co/musicdownloads.

New camera, new lenses—same great photos
Ask any Pixel owner and they’ll tell you: Pixels take great photos. Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are no exception. These phones bring Pixel’s industry-leading photography features to the next level.

• Ultrawide lens for ultra awesome shots: With a new ultrawide lens alongside the standard rear camera, you’ll be able to capture the whole scene. And thanks to Google’s software magic, the latest Pixels still get our Super Res Zoom. So whether you’re zooming in or zooming out, you get sharp details and breathtaking images.
• Better videos with Cinematic Pan: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan, which gives your videos a professional look with ultrasmooth panning that’s inspired by the equipment Hollywood directors use. 
• Night Sight in Portrait Mode: Night Sight currently gives you the ability to capture amazing low-light photos—and even the Milky Way with astrophotography***. Now, these phones bring the power of Night Sight into Portrait Mode to capture beautifully blurred backgrounds in Portraits even in extremely low light. 
• Portrait Light: Portrait Mode on the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 lets you capture beautiful portraits that focus on your subject as the background fades into an artful blur. If the lighting isn’t right, your Pixel can drop in extra light to illuminate your subjects.
• New editor in Google Photos: Even after you’ve captured your portrait, Google Photos can help you add studio-quality light to your portraits of people with Portrait Light, in the new, more helpful Google Photos editor.

Save time with Helpful Features
Pixel has even more helpful features to save you time thanks to Google Assistant. Every month, Call Screen helps people with more than 25 million calls, saving users 2 million minutes, and Duplex helps users with a variety of phone tasks, including reservations and getting business information.

Stay connected and entertained with Duo
To make it easier and more enjoyable to stay connected to the most important people in your life, the new HD screen sharing in Duo video calls lets you and a friend watch the same video, cheer on your favourite teams together and even plan activities—all while being thousands of miles apart. And coming soon with Duo Family HD mode, you will be able to keep kids entertained and engaged with new interactive tools, like colouring over backgrounds, while you video chat. 

A smarter way to record and share audio
Last year, Recorder (English only) made audio recording smarter, with real-time transcriptions and the power of search. Now, Recorder makes it even easier to share your favourite audio moments. Since Recorder automatically transcribes every recording, now you can use those transcripts to edit the audio too. Just highlight a sentence to crop or remove its corresponding audio. 

Once you have something you want others to hear—say a quote from an interview or a new song idea—you can generate a video clip to make sharing your audio easier and more visual than ever. To improve searching through your transcripts, smart scrolling will automatically mark important words in longer transcripts so you can quickly jump to the sections you’re looking for as you scroll. But most helpful of all? Recorder still works without an internet connection, so you can transcribe, search and edit from anywhere, anytime.

The biggest Pixel batteries ever
Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also have all-day batteries that can last up to 48 hours with Extreme Battery Saver****. This mode automatically limits active apps to just the essentials and lets you choose additional apps you want to keep on.

And now, the specs
Like all Pixel devices, security and safety are paramount in Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5. Both devices come with our TitanTM M security chip to help keep your on-device data safe and secure, and both phones will get three years of software and security updates.

Plus, Pixel 5 is designed with the environment in mind; we used 100% recycled aluminum in the back housing enclosure to reduce its carbon footprint

When you purchase a Pixel 4a (5G) or Pixel 5, you’ll also get Stadia and YouTube Premium trial for 3 months, 100 GB of storage with Google One for 3 months and Google Play Pass. See g.co/pixel/4a5Goffers or g.co/pixel/5offers, as applicable, for more details.

Pixel 4a (5G) is available now for pre-order on the Google Store and will be available in Canada starting November 19. Pixel 5 is available now for pre-order on the Google Store and will be available to customers on October 29 in Canada through the Google Store, Bell, Best Buy, Freedom, Tbooth,TELUS, Videotron and WIRELESSWAVE.

Posted by Brian Rakowski, VP Product Management

*Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service and roaming not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. Contact carrier for details about current 5G network performance, compatibility and availability. Phone connects to 5G networks but, 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info. 

**Download speed depends upon many factors, such as file size, content provider and network connection. 

***See g.co/pixel/astrophotography to learn more about astrophotography. 

****For “all day”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Testing conducted on two major carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “up to 48 hours”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Testing conducted on two major carrier networks. For both claims: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid 2020 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 48 hour claim” only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

The sudden and temporary, or permanent closure of brick and mortar stores during the pandemic has led to tough decisions around reopening, fluctuating supply chains, and how best to protect employees. But it has also led to the digital advancement of one of Canada’s most important sectors, as retailers quickly sought to build out their online presence and advance their digital offerings. Canadian retailers may have entered this eCommerce moment unexpectedly, but Canada’s eCommerce moment is now, and retailers are adapting quickly.Read More

The sudden and temporary, or permanent closure of brick and mortar stores during the pandemic has led to tough decisions around reopening, fluctuating supply chains, and how best to protect employees. But it has also led to the digital advancement of one of Canada’s most important sectors, as retailers quickly sought to build out their online presence and advance their digital offerings. Canadian retailers may have entered this eCommerce moment unexpectedly, but Canada’s eCommerce moment is now, and retailers are adapting quickly. 

Plentea, a Toronto-based tea shop was forced to close their store permanently once COVID-19 hit, as they could no longer justify rent prices. They are now staying afloat thanks to their Shopify store, which was built through our ShopHERE powered by Google program. 

For large retailers like lululemon, they’re embracing eCommerce as an experience, with the launch of a digital concierge and at-home workout offerings on YouTube. 

These are just some of the many stories of resilience we’ve been hearing from businesses large and small as they look for ways to sustain themselves and help their communities. We know that consumers are shopping online now more than ever. And as we head into the holiday season, shoppers will be thinking — and buying — with a digital-first mindset. In fact, 61% of Canadian holiday shoppers say they will shop more online this year.1 We’ve been focused on supporting retailers as they accelerate their business recovery and build out their digital offerings to respond to the opportunities and challenges ahead. 

In time for the holiday, we’re making it free for merchants to list their products on Google in Canada. By mid-October, search results on the Google Shopping tab will consist primarily of free listings, helping merchants better connect with consumers, regardless of whether they advertise on Google. With hundreds of millions of shopping searches on Google each day, we know that many retailers have the items people need in stock and ready to ship, but are less discoverable online. 

In Canada, Google is the first place shoppers say they go to discover or find a new brand, item or product.2 For retailers, this change means free exposure to millions of people who come to Google every day for their shopping needs. For shoppers, it means more products from more stores, discoverable through the Google Shopping tab. For advertisers, this means paid campaigns can now be augmented with free listings. 

This follows the launch in the US in April, where free listings drove a more than 50% increase in clicks and more than doubled impressions for advertisers - with small to medium sized businesses seeing the largest share of increases.3 

We’re continuing to work closely with many of our existing partners that help merchants manage their products and inventory, including Shopify, to make digital commerce more accessible for businesses of all sizes. “It’s vital that our merchants can reach their customers, wherever they are,” said Ian Black, Director of Retail, Shopify. “If we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that retailers are resilient. When the pandemic hit, our brick-and-mortar merchants began to pivot, and were able to make up 94% of their lost in-person sales online. The ability to list products for free on Google will help Shopify merchants reach new and existing customers. We’re excited to extend our partnership with Google and bring this offering to our Canadian merchants.” 

If you’re an existing user of Merchant Center and Shopping ads, you don't have to do anything to take advantage of the free listings, and for new users of Merchant Center, we'll continue working to streamline the onboarding process and partnering with the ecosystem to make it easier for merchants to get on Google. Our help centre has more details on how to participate in free product listings and Shopping ads.

1. Google commissioned Ipsos COVID-19 tracker, CA n= ~660 18 +online consumers who plan to shop for the holidays. Aug 27-30

2. Google / Ipsos, Shopping Tracker, Canada, July 2020. Base: Total sample (n=1051) Canadians online 18+ who shopped in the last 2 days. 

3. Google Internal Data, July 2020, based on an A/B test comparing performance for users seeing the updated layout on the Shopping property vs a control group not seeing the new experience

 

Posted by Eric Morris, Managing Director of Retail, Google Canada

Posted by Sabrina Geremia, Vice President, Google Canada


Every day millions of Canadians come to Google to find answers to help make informed choices. At a time when access to reliable information is more critical than ever—from COVID-19 to changing political headwinds to taking a knee in support of diversity, equality and inclusion—our longstanding commitment to providing quality search results remains at the core of our mission to make the world’s information accessible and useful.Read More

Posted by Sabrina Geremia, Vice President, Google Canada


Every day millions of Canadians come to Google to find answers to help make informed choices. At a time when access to reliable information is more critical than ever—from COVID-19 to changing political headwinds to taking a knee in support of diversity, equality and inclusion—our longstanding commitment to providing quality search results remains at the core of our mission to make the world’s information accessible and useful.

Helping journalism survive and thrive is of the utmost importance to us. Alongside other companies, publishers, governments and civic society groups, we play a significant part in building a better future for news. We also recognize that the news industry has faced challenges to their business model for decades -- first from radio, then television, and more recently from the internet which has dramatically transformed how and where each of us gets timely, relevant information.

With all of this in mind, we'd like to share how Google supports the news industry, which we believe is a fundamental pillar of every democratic society.

Value exchange:
In the pre-internet era, publishers paid to display their content at a newsstand or with a newsagent so that they could be discovered and attract an audience. Today Google Search sends Canadians to news sites millions of times a day for free -- providing news companies the opportunity to make money and grow their business and audience by showing people the publisher’s own ads, directing readers to other articles and to offers that convert people into new paying subscribers. Globally, on average, we send users to news sites 24 billion times a month.

We recognise the role news plays in educating and informing Canadians, but it may surprise some that it represents a very small proportion of the websites that people choose to visit from Google’s search results. Canadians come to Google for many things, whether it’s for home decorating videos, weather, fashion tips, or hiking trails. News is a very small part of this content, and represents a tiny number of queries - in the last year news-related queries accounted for just 1.5% of total queries on Google Search in Canada.

Further, we don’t run ads on Google News or the news results tab on Google Search. And looking at our overall business, Google last year generated around CAD$9 million in revenue—not profit—from clicks on ads against possible news-related queries in Canada. That is because the bulk of our revenue comes not from news queries, but from searches with commercial intent, such as when you want to buy “home gym equipment” and you type in the query and then click on an ad.

The value of news to Google is about informing and educating, not economics.

Investment in technology:
In addition to driving traffic, over the years we have invested in creating ad technologies and services that publishers can use to make money from their news content in a more efficient way. In addition to third-party tools, publishers can use our advertising platforms, including Ad Manager, AdSense and AdMob.

When you read a news piece online and click on a Google ad that you liked, most of the money paid by the advertiser goes to the publisher. In analyzing the revenue data of the top 100 news organizations globally, we found that on average, news publishers keep over 95 percent of the digital advertising revenue they generate when they use Google Ad Manager to show ads on their websites.

Paying for content:
People trust Google to help them find useful and authoritative information, from a diverse range of sources. To uphold that trust, search results must be determined by relevance—not by commercial partnerships. That’s why we don’t accept payment from anyone to be included in search results. We sell ads, not search results, and every ad on Google is clearly marked. That’s also why we don’t pay publishers when people click on their links in a search result. To operate in any other way would reduce the choice and relevance to our users—and would ultimately result in the loss of their trust in our services.

All websites can opt out of appearing in Search results, including news media sites, but we find not many news businesses take that step because they value the free referral traffic they get which they can then monetise through ads and new subscribers.

Just as we contribute to the Canadian economy with our pledge to help get 50,000 Canadian small businesses online by 2021 through a one million dollar commitment to expand Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE program nationally, we are willing to pay to help news businesses too. And there already are instances where we do pay for content, where there is a product need -- like sports scores and more. So as part of our broader efforts to support a strong future for journalism, we recently launched a new licensing program to pay publishers for high-quality content for a new news experience. We hope to bring this program to Canada soon as part of our overall efforts to help build a better future for the news industry in this country.

We‌ have ‌also‌ ‌committed‌ millions of dollars to‌ ‌support‌ ‌journalism‌ ‌and‌ ‌news‌ ‌publishers‌ ‌in‌ Canada through‌ the ‌‌Google‌ ‌News‌ ‌Initiative‌‌ ‌(GNI) with‌ ‌training,‌ ‌tools,‌ ‌and‌ ‌programs‌ ‌to‌ ‌help‌ ‌news‌ ‌outlets‌ ‌innovate‌ ‌and‌ ‌thrive‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌digital‌ ‌world.‌ ‌This‌ ‌year‌ ‌alone,‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌pandemic,‌ ‌we‌ ‌injected‌ ‌millions of dollars globally ‌in‌ ‌‌emergency‌ ‌funding,‌ ‌helping‌ ‌maintain‌ ‌the‌ ‌operation‌ ‌of‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌5,600 publishers in 115 countries, including 150 news organizations in Canada.‌ We'll share more about the impact of GNI in Canada in the coming weeks.

Our efforts to support Canadian businesses and the economic recovery efforts along with the work we are doing with publishers demonstrate we are deeply committed to Canada and the success of all our industries. We will continue to collaborate with all industry partners for a sustainable business model in the news industry, while protecting an open web directing users to diverse, high-quality and authoritative content.

By mid-September, most students across Canada will have begun their school year, either online or in the classroom. As families adjust to new learning models this year, many parents may be looking for ways to support and track their child's learning, especially in areas such as literacy - an important building block and element to a child's education. Read More

By mid-September, most students across Canada will have begun their school year, either online or in the classroom. As families adjust to new learning models this year, many parents may be looking for ways to support and track their child's learning, especially in areas such as literacy - an important building block and element to a child's education.

Earlier this year, we made our early age literacy app, Read Along , available in nine languages ​​and in more than 180 countries to help families from around the world looking to improve their children's reading skills. Five year old Izzy was one of the many students who started using the app. We chatted with fellow Googler and father Craig Ranta about his experience teaching literacy during COVID-19 and any helpful tips he's learned along the way.


What's your reading ritual at home?
We keep up with regular reading through the day and every day before bed we pick a book and read together. Because of many of the changes with COVID-19, there's been less exposure this year to classroom activities around reading so Mommy and Daddy Teacher have tried to do our best!


Tell us about the Read Along App, did it fit well into your at-home reading experience?
What we loved about Read Along, is that it's a great way to explore reading in a uniquely interactive way. When you're reading with Diya (the reading helper), every time you read correctly you receive points, prizes and even praise. My daughter became motivated to learn more words, and practice pronunciations so that she could gain more prizes. Even though her speech isn't perfect, the app captured what she was trying to say and helped her walk through sentences. It was great exposure to new and longer words.


How can other families leverage Read Along for reading at home?
Read Along is a great break from the regular routine, and makes reading a more interactive experience. There are also games after finishing a story so it's a great way for kids to improve their literacy skills while having fun. For Izzy some of the stories were a bit more advanced than what she would typically be reading, but it still allowed her to see and hear more challenging words and read them aloud.



This year, we're inviting parents to read to their kids -both with and without Read Along- and share stories written by their children during the month of September. Read Along will publish some of the submissions on the app. We're also sharing a handbook for educators (even those in the most low-tech classrooms) with ideas to help them leverage Read Along in their lesson plans.



For parents looking for additional resources for at-home reading and learning, check out our Tech Toolkit for Families and Guardians, or the Teach from Anywhere hub.

Posted by the Google Canada Team

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Not only are they the fabric of our communities, bringing neighborhoods together, but they employ 90% of the private sector workforce and make up roughly 97.9% of all Canadian businesses. Read More

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Not only are they the fabric of our communities, bringing neighborhoods together, but they employ 90% of the private sector workforce and make up roughly 97.9% of all Canadian businesses. 

These small business owners are experts when it comes to local customers, but can be less knowledgeable about finding new markets further afield, whether it be understanding the culture and buying trends, export legalities, or payment options for their product in other countries. In Canada, fewer than 10% of small and medium-sized businesses export , yet those that do are more likely to survive and scale. 

Export presents a huge potential for Canadian businesses. Thirty nine per percent of all clicks to Canadian Advertisers come from overseas ( Source: Google Data, Canada, Finance, Jan-Dec 2019) .  DECIEM , a collection of Canadian beauty brands knows firsthand the benefits of going global. They started in 2013 with one product in one market, and now they are a global business. “Globalization and localization has always been at the forefront of the growth strategy for DECIEM, enabling us to reach a wider audience than would be possible in Canada alone,” says Jordanne Dyck, Digital Director, DECIEM.“We start by leveraging established local partners as we enter new markets to propel awareness, which then translates to growth of our direct to consumer channels in those markets. Today our products are sold globally with about 90% of our sales generated outside of Canada. "

It's a similar story for Toronto-based, Inkbox , established by brothers Tyler and Braden Handley in 2015. The Handley's quickly took their business global, using Google Ads and platforms like YouTube , where they've built a community of over 30 thousand subscribers. Today, they have sold more than one million tattoos to over 150 countries, and the US accounts for 60% of their total sales. Going global from the start unlocked valuable venture capital investment for Inkbox, and they were able to prove that their business could be profitable in larger markets around the world. 

The internet has broken down international trade barriers, making it possible for even small and medium-size businesses to become truly global players. But taking those first steps into the wider world can be daunting. That's why today, we're introducing Market Finder , a free, one-stop-shop for everything that a business needs to grow internationally. The tool will not only identify the best markets for your product or service, but also tell you how to prepare for new markets and suggest the right digital marketing solutions. 

“This new tool aligns with Export Development Canada's efforts to help Canadian innovators connect with markets presenting the best opportunities for them. We are so pleased to see partners like Google Canada work alongside us to help small businesses seize the opportunity to reach new customers globally, "said Carl Burlock, Executive Vice-President and Chief Business Officer at Export Development Canada. 

Market Finder offers guides, videos, and tips making it as easy as possible for businesses to go global following three steps: 

Step 1: Market Finder recommends the best markets for your business 

Create your global business plan using detailed market insights. How do your potential customers use the internet? What's their disposable income? Market Finder recommends the best market for your business, and gives you all the insights you need to research your next global market.

Step 2: Prepare to go global 

Once you've decided on your next market, use our tools, guides, and resources to plan the next steps of the journey to your new global market. Market Finder will help you navigate areas like localization, international payments, and logistics. 

Step 3: Reach global customers looking for what you sell 

Every successful global business needs a watertight marketing plan. What is the best language to advertise in? Which devices are your customers using and what's the best way to reach them? Market Finder helps you make marketing decisions with data and customer insights, and suggest the best tools to put it all into action. 

Posted by Matt McHale, Head of Scaled Sales, Google Canada

A few times a year, your Pixel receives a boost with software updates that send new features, tricks, and apps to your phone. And this time, with new Pixel-first features on Android 11, your Pixel has even more smarts to make it better and more helpful—like giving you new ways to control your media and organize your apps, and making it easier to communicate with friends and family. And it all comes with privacy as a priority. Everything happens over the air, so you get that new-phone feeling over and over again.Read More

A few times a year, your Pixel receives a boost with software updates that send new features, tricks, and apps to your phone. And this time, with new Pixel-first features on Android 11, your Pixel has even more smarts to make it better and more helpful—like giving you new ways to control your media and organize your apps, and making it easier to communicate with friends and family. And it all comes with privacy as a priority. Everything happens over the air, so you get that new-phone feeling over and over again.

Prioritize people, with Pixel
Beginning today, new Android 11 features are hitting Pixel first to help you focus on connecting with those close to you, whether you’re meeting in a park for a socially distant picnic, or quickly responding to your loved ones’ texts.

You can now use Live View* with Location Sharing in Google Maps to easily meet up with friends IRL. If your friends have chosen to share their location with you, simply tap on their icon and then on Live View   on the right side of your screen. You’ll see where they are in relation to you, along with how far away they are. Tapping on will then show you arrows and directions placed right on top of your world so you can see exactly which way to go.

The new Smart Reply on your Pixel’s keyboard makes typing effortless by giving you helpful suggestions when you’re using chat apps. And it’s all processed on your phone to protect your privacy. (Right now this is available in English only and requires use of Gboard. It’s not available for all chat apps.)

Get more control over your phone
Now your Pixel can make app suggestions based on your daily routines so you can quickly get to tools you need, when you need them. Your phone will recommend apps you use at different times of the day, like Messages for your daily check-ins, Google Maps for your afternoon stroll or the media apps you use in the evening to help you wind down from a busy day. 

Your Pixel will also give you more convenient ways to select text and images, or take a screenshot with new overview actions. So whether you’re copying and pasting, saving or sharing the content you want, you’ll have more options over how you select and engage with content on your Pixel. 

Make your Pixel as unique as you are, starting with your home screen. Now, your Pixel can help organize your phone with new intelligent suggestions for folder names. Quickly group apps by theme, like Photography, News, Navigation, Fitness and more.

Pixel x Android 11
In addition to everything coming to Pixel first, you’ll also get all of the great new Android 11 features as well, giving you easier ways to manage your conversations, connected devices, privacy and beyond.

Android 11 begins rolling out to Pixel devices today; learn more about all of the Android 11 updates here.

* Not available in India. Requires up to date Google Street View imagery, a working data connection and bright outdoor light. Maps and navigation may not be available in all areas. See g.co/maps/locationsharing for more details.

In a time of so much socio economic uncertainty, one thing is clear: when more women build their own businesses, economies grow. In Canada, only 16% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are owned by women. Yet ...Read More

In a time of so much socio economic uncertainty, one thing is clear: when more women build their own businesses, economies grow. In Canada, only 16% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are owned by women. Yet research shows that by advancing gender equality and women’s participation in the economy, Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP.

In order to provide women with high-quality mentorship opportunities and the support that they need to successfully scale, we launched the first Google for Startups Accelerator for Women Founders, a three-month virtual program for seed to Series A technology startups based in North America.

After receiving hundreds of applications, we’re excited to welcome the below twelve startups into our inaugural cohort, including five Canadian companies from across the country:

• Coconut Software (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Customer engagement solutions that modernize how banks and credit unions engage, creating a streamlined experience for both staff and customers
  
  
• COI Energy (Tampa, Florida) Brings together utilities and businesses to detect and eliminate energy waste in buildings to optimize the electric grid - creating a climate friendly economy for future generations to live, work, play and thrive
  
  
• CultivatePeople (Arlington, Virginia) The company’s compensation software, Kamsa, provides global market compensation data and helps companies make data driven pay decisions so they can eliminate pay gaps.
  
  
• CurieAI (Santa Clara, California) Transforming care for respiratory illnesses like Asthma and COPD through AI-based models that help physicians understand respiratory health, disease progression, and treatment effectiveness at an individualized and population level.
  
  
• Fairygodboss (New York City, New York) The largest career community for women and provides free resources like career connections, job listings, virtual recruiting events, community advice, and the hard-to-find information about how companies treat women.
  
  
• Heirlume (Hamilton, Ontario) Making trademark registration as easy and accessible as domain registration by providing the first self-serve professional-quality trademark search and application platform.
  
  
• Kapwing (San Francisco, California) A company on a mission to enable digital storytelling via an online image, video, and GIF editing platform.
  
  
• Livestock Water Recycling (Calgary, Alberta) A machine learning enabled nutrient recovery technology (PLANT) and myPLANT data dashboard creates value for food producers by digitizing their waste outputs, allowing reduced expenses and environmental impact.
  
  
• My Intelligent Machines [MIMs] (Montreal, Quebec) Helping life-science companies use their big data and AI to maximize food and drug production.
  
  
• Possip (Nashville, Tennessee) Using text-message based pulse checks in over 100 languages to allow schools and districts to quickly and routinely hear from their community of families and staff, and act on the insights they learn.
  
  
• Wisy (San Francisco, California) Developing technology to bring digital efficiency into the physical world, supporting consumer products businesses and making them thrive in the new economy.
  
  
• Zennea Technologies (Vancouver, BC) Aiming to be the first clinically-proven medical device for chronic snoring and mild OSA - so people who snore won’t have to worry about ineffective solutions ever again.

This cohort brings together a diverse set of women-led startups from across Canada and the US. Collectively, these founders are solving many of the world's largest challenges - from access to education to global environmental sustainability.

We’re proud to support women founders and connect them with the best of Google’s products people and technology. In addition to mentorship and technical project support, the accelerator also includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition and leadership development for founders. Our cohort will also join our global Google for Startups Women community; a peer-led community of women entrepreneurs from around the world. Accelerator programming begins September 28 - we can’t wait to get started. 

Posted by Ashley Francisco, Head of Startup Developer Ecosystems, Google Canada