The Death of Google Now

Google Nowadays, Google Assistant is as well-known as Siri and Alexa, but it wasn’t Google’s first attempt at an assistant-like feature. The company’s first attempt was named “Google Now,” and it had some truly great ideas. Apple released the first version of Siri in 2011, but Google wasn’t far behind with the release of Google Now in 2012. However, the Google Assistant we know now is much more like Siri than Google Now. Back in 2012, Google was doing something very different.

Read More »

Russian ruble is crashing: Yahoo U

For more business and finance explainers, check out our Yahoo U page. Economic sanctions on Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine have sent the Russian ruble for a tailspin. Following several measures from Western countries to isolate Russia’s economy, the ruble lost over 30% of its value against the U.S. dollar. A devaluing currency makes sense, given sanctions on Russia’s largest banks and the severance of other firms from the international banking system known as… Source link

Read More »

Google’s New Manhattan Groundscraper Bets on the Future of the Office

The average New Yorker couldn’t give you directions to St. John’s Terminal, or tell you what it looks like. Originally three stories tall and three blocks long, it runs north to south along West Street, in lower Manhattan. Built in 1934 by the New York Central Railroad, it was designed to hold two hundred and twenty-seven fully laden freight cars, which arrived and departed thirty feet above the ground, at the end point of the elevated tracks that would eventually become known as the… Source link

Read More »

Uganda in the spotlight as country’s startups captivate YC, Google – TechCrunch

The startup ecosystem in Africa has until now been dominated by Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt (‘the Big 4’), countries that continue to receive the bulk of venture capital and other forms of investment. However, the situation seems to be slowly changing as noteworthy startups begin to rise from other countries within the continent, and as investors scout for fresh opportunities to spread their risk outside the Big 4. Uganda is one of the countries creating ripples in… Source link

Read More »

Skater loses funding over outfit choice

Huang Yu-ting made waves at the Beijing Olympics for wearing a China uniform. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Taiwan will cut two years worth of funding for speed skater Huang Yu-ting after she was pictured wearing a China uniform prior to last month’s Beijing Olympics. Taiwan’s Sports Administration released a statement on Thursday, saying the decision was made based on “Huang Yu-ting’s repeated controversial words and deeds during the preparation and participation in the Beijing Winter… Source link

Read More »

Family of Utah State’s Kristy Frank finds refuge with teammate

Utah State volleyball player Kristy Frank was one of many Ukrainians abroad to watch in horror as Russia commenced its unprovoked invasion of her homeland. The Kyiv native currently lives in Logan, Utah, but her family remained in the country. In a video released by the Aggies, Frank recalled seeing videos of explosions in her city on her friends’ social media feeds. She cried on a phone call with her father when he said there were explosions nearby. In another call, her mother told her a… Source link

Read More »

Brian Griese leaving ESPN to become 49ers QBs coach

Brian Griese is headed back to the league. The former “Monday Night Football” analyst is leaving ESPN and will become the next quarterbacks coach with the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Griese will replace Rich Scangarello in San Francisco, who left to become Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. It will mark his first coaching job in the NFL. Griese has been at ESPN since he retired in 2009. He spent a decade in the league, starting with the Denver Broncos after… Source link

Read More »

SBA’s Guzman on Biden’s small biz plans, and why ‘it’s not too late’ to tackle fraud

During his State of Union address Tuesday night, President Joe Biden touted his plans for the economy, as well as his plans to combat fraud and identity theft rife in pandemic relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The COVID pandemic relief programs disbursed more than $800 billion over two years by the government to help small businesses stay afloat. The loans, which helped owners use that money to pay for payroll and other eligible expenses, also led to widespread… Source link

Read More »

Google Fiber workers begin voting on whether to unionize

Voting is open for workers for a Google Fiber subcontractor in Missouri, who are deciding whether to unionize as part of the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU), a division of the Communication Workers of America. If successful, the 12 workers, who are employed by staffing agency BDS Connected Solutions as workers at Google Fiber stores, would be the AWU’s first bargaining unit to be recognized by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The workers have to mail their ballots back to the… Source link

Read More »

Google gave the media its new work-from-home policy before telling all employees

Google made big news this week with an announcement that employees will come back to the office three days a week in the Bay Area and other locations. Unfortunately, some of that news broke before employees got the company email informing them their work lives were changing. The hybrid work announcement, made Wednesday, applies to the Bay Area and several other U.S. locations. Under the new plan, “most employees will spend approximately three days in the office and two days… Source link

Read More »