Googland

[G] An Android dogfood diet for the holidays

Posted: 12 Dec 2009 09:22 AM PST

Official Google Mobile Blog: An Android dogfood diet for the holidays

At Google, we are constantly experimenting with new products and technologies, and often ask employees to test these products for quick feedback and suggestions for improvements in a process we call dogfooding (from "eating your own dogfood"). Well this holiday season, we are taking dogfooding to a new level.

We recently came up with the concept of a mobile lab, which is a device that combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android to experiment with new mobile features and capabilities, and we shared this device with Google employees across the globe. This means they get to test out a new technology and help improve it.

Unfortunately, because dogfooding is a process exclusively for Google employees, we cannot share specific product details. We hope to share more after our dogfood diet.

Posted by Mario Queiroz, Vice President, Product Management

URL: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/12/android-dogfood-diet-for-holidays.html

[G] 'Tis The Season to Sing a Christmas Carol on YouTube

Posted: 12 Dec 2009 09:22 AM PST

YouTube Blog: 'Tis The Season to Sing a Christmas Carol on YouTube

Take off your winter coat and warm up your webcams as this holiday season YouTube brings the age-old tradition of caroling to the digital world. Now you can sing and share carols via YouTube without having to abandon your cup of hot cocoa to tramp door-to-door in the snow. Just go to our caroling channel page to join Happy Slip and others in doing your best rendition of classic sing-alongs like "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls," along with other customized carols. For example, sneak a peek at these YouTube Carolers who are already spreading the holiday cheer:

Another bonus? In the spirit of the season, our sponsors TJ Maxx and Marshalls will donate money to Toys for Tots for every carol submitted. They are also offering a $5,000 gift card to the best caroler who sings one of their two original songs.

This program continues through December, so be sure to add your voice to the season at www.youtube.com/caroling. Later this month we'll be highlighting some of the best submissions on the site.

Michele Flannery, Music Manager, recently watched "Silent Night."