On Wednesday, Google said it’s adding a new wildfire layer to Google Maps, which users will be able to turn on to see the latest details about multiple fires at once. This can be essential during fire season when many fires may burn simultaneously. The new layer will show “most major fires that cause significant evacuations,” according to Google, as well as many smaller fires in the United States. Users will be able to tap a fire on the map for links to details such as emergency websites and… Source link
Read More »Google Search update will provide more context about websites, including descriptions and what others say – TechCrunch
Google is making a change to its search results with the goal of improving the media literacy of online users. The company is expanding the capabilities of its “About this Result” feature, launched earlier this year, to also now include information about the source itself, including its description from Wikipedia and what the site says about itself, as well as news, reviews, and other context that can help people better evaluate unfamiliar or new sources. It will also point users to… Source link
Read More »Google search’s next phase: context is king
At its Search On event today, Google introduced several new features that, taken together, are its strongest attempts yet to get people to do more than type a few words into a search box. By leveraging its new Multitask Unified Model (MUM) machine learning technology in small ways, the company hopes to kick off a virtuous cycle: it will provide more detail and context-rich answers, and in return it hopes users will ask more detailed and context-rich questions. The end result, the company… Source link
Read More »Google beefs up wildfire tracking, tree cover, and Plus Codes in Maps – TechCrunch
Google has updates for a handful of tools aimed at helping people use Maps for more, or get on them in the first place. The company is improving wildfire tracking, expanding a tool for calculating tree canopy cover in cities, and further automating virtual address creation with Plus Codes. The wildfires will be of the most immediate use to most users, since the once rare disaster has evolved into its own recurring season. Google put out a wildfire tracking tool last year for people… Source link
Read More »Google Maps is making it easier to see wildfires and tree coverage
Google Maps has new features that should make it easier for users to see wildfires, tree canopy, and locations without formal addresses. It’s all aimed at helping communities be “safer, more sustainable, and discoverable,” according to the company. A new wildfire layer on Maps will begin rolling out globally this week, Google announced today. It’ll show most major fires, those prompting evacuations, across the world. Red splotches and pins on the layer will indicate where blazes… Source link
Read More »Google, Battling Amazon, Tries an E-Commerce Makeover to Win Back Advertisers
Google, an unlikely underdog, is struggling to keep pace with Amazon . com Inc. in the battle for billions in e-commerce ad dollars. In its latest strategy shift, the Alphabet Inc. unit said Wednesday that it is updating the look and format of product search pages to feature images of apparel, accessories and other items to better resemble a digital store rather than a long list of links and text. Source link
Read More »Google is using AI to help users explore the topics they’re searching for — here’s how
“Can you get medicine for someone at the pharmacy?” It’s a simple enough question for humans to understand, says Pandu Nayak, vice president of search at Google, but such a query represents the cutting-edge of machine comprehension. You and I can see that the questioner is asking if they can fill out a subscription for another person, Nayak tells The Verge. But until recently, if you typed this question into Google, it would direct you to websites explaining how to fill out your… Source link
Read More »Russia fines Google for failing to delete banned content
Google app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo MOSCOW, Sept 29 (Reuters) – A Moscow court on Wednesday fined Alphabet Inc.’s (GOOGL.O) Google 6.5 million roubles ($89,535) for not deleting content that Russia deems illegal, part of a wider dispute between Moscow and the U.S. tech giant. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia threatened to block YouTube earlier on Wednesday after Russian… Source link
Read More »Google tells EU court payments to phone makers gave Android a chance against Apple
A sign is pictured outside a Google office near the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 8, 2019. REUTERS/Paresh Dave Google says payments merely a promotional opportunity EU says they are pinnacle of illegal interlocking practices EU court judgment likely next year LUXEMBOURG, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Payments to phone makers to pre-install only Google Search on their devices were not aimed at preventing competition but were necessary for Android to seize market share from… Source link
Read More »Apple, Google asked to turn in S.Korea compliance plans by mid-October
SEOUL, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Apple (AAPL.O) and Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google have been asked to turn in by mid-October compliance plans for a new South Korean law that bans major app store operators from forcing software developers to use their payment systems, a regulatory official said on Wednesday. Apple and Google did not have immediate comment. The Korea Communications Commission will soon be drawing up an enforcement ordinance that will accompany the amendment of the country’s… Source link
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