Friday, May 14, 2010

Googland

Googland

[G] Five more languages on translate.google.com

Posted: 13 May 2010 07:09 PM PDT

Official Google Blog: Five more languages on translate.google.com

(Cross-posted from the Google Translate Blog)

At Google, we are always trying to make information more accessible, whether by adding auto-captioning on YouTube and virtual keyboards to search or by providing free translation of text, websites and documents with Google Translate. In 2009, we announced the addition of our first "alpha" language, Persian, on Google Translate. Today, we are excited to add five more alpha languages: Azerbaijani, Armenian, Basque, Urdu and Georgian — bringing the total number of languages on Google Translate to 57.

These languages are available while still in alpha status. You can expect translations to be less fluent than for our other languages, but they should still help you understand the multilingual web. We are working hard to "graduate" these new language out of alpha status, just as we did some time ago with Persian. You can help us improve translation quality as well. If you notice an incorrect translation, we invite you click "Contribute a better translation". If you are a translator, then you can contribute translation memories with the Translator Toolkit. This helps us build better machine translation systems especially for languages that are not well represented on the web.

Collectively, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Basque, Georgian and Urdu have roughly 100 million speakers. We hope that these speakers can now more easily access the entire multilingual web in their own language. Try translating these and other languages at translate.google.com. Here are some phrases from the new alpha languages to get you started:

Baietz lehenengoan
میں خوش قسمت محسوس کر رہا ہوں
բախտաւոր եմ զգում
Mən şanslıyam
იღბალს მივენდობი

Posted by Ashish Venugopal, Research Scientist
URL: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/five-more-languages-on.html

[G] Making local advertising easy: upgrade your local business ads to location extensions

Posted: 13 May 2010 07:09 PM PDT

Inside AdWords: Making local advertising easy: upgrade your local business ads to location extensions

Last year, we unveiled a new feature called location extensions for those of you who use online advertising to drive traffic to your brick and mortar locations. This feature allows you to include information such as your business name, address and phone number in your existing text ads. When a potential customer performs a search, their location or search terms are dynamically matched to your business locations, and your most relevant location appears within your ad on Google.com and Google Maps. 


Location extensions are the new and improved way to run local ads, so we'll begin transitioning the local business ads in your AdWords account to ads that are compatible with location extensions soon. We wanted to give you plenty of time to get familiar with the new feature, so we thought we'd give you a heads up about the upcoming transition today. To learn more, please visit www.google.com/adwords/lbatransition. 

In order to make this as seamless as possible, we're offering the following options to help you transition smoothly:

1. Upgrade your local business ads to text ads with location extensions. To take full advantage of the benefits of location extensions and ensure a seamless transition of your local business ads, we encourage you to update your ads through the five simple steps outlined on our website.

2. Automatically transition your local business ads. If you choose not to take any action, in the coming weeks, campaigns containing local business ads will be automatically enabled with location extensions using addresses from your local business ads. We'll also replace your local business ads with new ads that are compatible with location extensions. While any of your addresses may now appear with the standard text ads in your campaign when relevant, each transitioned local business ad will continue to be linked to a single address and will only show to people near that address. 

We've heard from many of you who've already switched to location extensions that campaign management and attracting customers in your area is now simpler and more effective. With location extensions, you can deliver more exposure and local relevance by using the same ads for all your business locations without the overhead of maintaining a different ad for each location. Visit the location extension benefits page to learn about other ways it can help improve your campaigns.

We hope these changes help you reach more local customers with your ads, and value your feedback about this transition. Please share your comments or suggestions regarding the process using this form.

Posted by Emily Williams, Inside AdWords crew
URL: http://adwords.blogspot.com/2010/05/making-local-advertising-easy-upgrade.html

[G] Updates To .NET Library For The Export API

Posted: 13 May 2010 04:16 PM PDT

Google Analytics Blog: Updates To .NET Library For The Export API

We're incredibly proud of the diversity of applications and tools making use of the Google Analytics Export API. We also know that several of the folks developing these tools have been asking about our .NET client library and requesting sample code.

So we're happy to announce we've updated the .NET Google Data client library to support all our recent features.

In addition, we've added 2 reference examples for both the Account Feed and Data Feed which show how to pull advanced segment, custom variable, and goal data from the API. As you can see from the examples, this client library makes pulling data from the Export API incredibly easy.

Now that the .NET developers among you have this library, what will you use it for? Fancy visualizations? Automated reporting? Extreme data mining? Let us know in the comments, or bounce a few ideas off your peers in the GA Data Export API group!


Posted by Alexander Lucas, Google Analytics API Team
URL: http://analytics.blogspot.com/2010/05/updates-to-net-library-for-export-api.html

[G] Lotus Notes users can now “go Google” in phases

Posted: 13 May 2010 04:16 PM PDT

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Lotus Notes users can now "go Google" in phases

Lotus Notes customers love Google Apps because they get many of Notes' best features – like document libraries and scripting – in addition to a 99.9% uptime guarantee, 25GB of email storage, and substantial cost savings. Today, we're making it even easier for Lotus Notes customers to try Google Apps with Google Calendar Connector for Lotus Notes.

This calendar connector allows businesses to switch to Google Apps department by department, by making calendaring work more seamlessly between Notes and Google Apps. Google Apps users in your organization can look up free/busy info for coworkers still on Lotus Notes, and vice versa.

In addition, we've made it easier to go Google with several improvements to Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes. Some of the updates include:

  • Support for multi-domain management across all APIs
  • Migration of Domino Directory data, including groups
  • Enhanced user provisioning that can automatically generate Google Apps passwords when accounts are created
  • New domain-wide and user-level options to manage spam folders and archive labels

    If you have a legacy Lotus Notes footprint, we invite you to learn more about Google Calendar Connector for Lotus Notes.

    Posted by Chris Vander Mey, Senior Product Manager, Google Apps
    • URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/lotus-notes-users-can-now-go-google-in.html

    [G] Introducing the Workspace Mechanic for Eclipse

    Posted: 13 May 2010 01:11 PM PDT

    Google Open Source Blog: Introducing the Workspace Mechanic for Eclipse

    Hi Internet! I'm Robert Konigsberg, and I've spent the last four years working on a team that writes Eclipse plug-ins for our coworkers here at Google. I'm happy to announce that we're open sourcing one of the tools our colleagues use every day: the Workspace Mechanic for Eclipse. I'm also excited that it is being released under version 1 of the Eclipse Public License (EPL).

    The Workspace Mechanic is a publicly-released version of a tool we use at Google to automate maintenance of our engineers' Eclipse environments. With the Mechanic, you can:
    • Create a consistent environment for your entire company, your local team, or your own workspaces
    • Save time setting up new workspaces
    • Create tasks that ensure your favorite new preferences are applied to all your current and future workspaces. (This is one of our favorite features!)
    We're not the only ones who want a tool like this. In 2009, Ivar Meikas wrote a blog post titled "Wanted dead or alive - Eclipse configuration synchronizer!"
    ... why do I have to change the fonts each time I create a new workspace or turn on editor line numbers? There are some tricks, by specifying properties in some ini files, but this is really clumsy (Do you know the property name for the fonts? Without searching?). I think this is something that should be achievable without hacking.

    So does anyone know if there is such a plugin that would help synchronize common properties or if there is interest for such a plugin?
    Ivar, you want editor line numbers enabled in all your workspaces? Perfect; enabling that is documented as one of our examples. I hope this helps.


    My colleague, Terry Parker, and I described the Workspace Mechanic at Eclipse Day at the Googleplex and at EclipseCon. Both times, people asked if we had plans to open source it. Well, yes. Yes we did.

    I'm also proud that today's announcement is part of the long-awaited launch of Eclipse Labs. The Workspace Mechanic is a perfect candidate for the Eclipse Labs, which brings the power of Google Code Project Hosting to a focused Eclipse community.

    Today we are providing a code-only release. Enhancements and a p2 repository are on their way. Please check out the source code, join the mailing list, and send us your feedback.

    By Robert Konigsberg, Software Engineer, Build Tools
    URL: http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-workspace-mechanic-for.html

    [G] Upgrading beyond documents, spreadsheets and presentations

    Posted: 13 May 2010 01:11 PM PDT

    Official Google Enterprise Blog: Upgrading beyond documents, spreadsheets and presentations

    On Tuesday I shared some some thoughts on the choices you have as you consider upgrading Microsoft Office. This decision goes far beyond traditional productivity applications though; a new generation of workplace tools that reflect the collaborative nature of today's work environment are becoming more essential to employees. Instant messaging accelerates information sharing between coworkers. Video chat lets people around the world meet face-to-face. Video and image sharing is becoming a critical form of communication. Companies develop passionate communities around blogs and other social media. Customers learn about businesses through online maps and search engine marketing.

    Today's workers need tools to facilitate all these activities, and traditional productivity software comes up short, even after "major" upgrades. Last week we announced that we're working to make Blogger, Picasa Web Albums, Google Reader, iGoogle and many more Google services available soon to Google Apps customers. What will customers need to do to access all this new functionality? Simply refresh the browser. No 64-bit servers to purchase, no complex software prerequisites (28 of them for SharePoint 2010 alone!), no backup systems to install, no VPN connectivity issues to worry about. It's an upgrade that will truly change the workplace.


    By no means do we think that Google could possibly develop all the functionality that any employee might need, but at the same time, there's real value in services that all connect to a common backbone for core systems like contacts, presence and user authentication. Businesses need specialized accounting tools, CRM systems, marketing automation capabilities, project management tools and much more. Through the Apps Marketplace and our developer tools, customers can integrate 3rd party cloud services with Google Apps and enhancements they develop themselves. The possibilities are limitless.


    This new approach – the integrated combination of Google Apps, a broad array of other Google services, and complementary functionality built by developers and partners – will give your employees the tools they need to be productive in the modern workplace. I invite you to learn more about Google Apps and to start a conversation with our team about providing your employees with the best tools for their jobs.

    Posted by Matthew Glotzbach, Google Enterprise Product Management Director
    URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/upgrading-beyond-documents-spreadsheets.html

    [G] Switching Channels: Making the Transition from Microsoft to Google

    Posted: 13 May 2010 10:04 AM PDT

    Official Google Enterprise Blog: Switching Channels: Making the Transition from Microsoft to Google

    Editor's Note: Ed Laczynski is Founder and CTO of LTech, a member of the Google Authorized Reseller Program. We asked Ed to share his experiences and successes with program and why he believes that the cloud is where companies need to be.

    In 2005, LTech was a local systems integrator and development shop with a focus on Microsoft solutions. Satisfied with the Microsoft technology platform at the time but crowded out by a sea of competition and frustrated by a lack of innovation, we were introduced to Google through a Google Search Appliance integration for a customer.

    We learned about Google Apps and started working with the platform in 2007 to provide deployment and migration services for clients. So when the Google Apps Reseller Program was announced in 2009, LTech already had an experienced team in place and a Single Sign-On product developed specifically for Google Apps customers.

    The Microsoft Partner Program was and is a great program for developers in terms of providing SDKs and IDEs, but it was difficult to navigate and even more difficult for us to get support and build a true partnership. The Google Enterprise Program however, was easy to navigate and make connections. I am sure being early to the program helped, but Google gave us the support and confidence we needed to invest and build a successful reselling business. Google provided detailed training which allowed our technicians and developers to learn the platform and build out our delivery teams.

    By mid-2008, we decided to stop actively offering Microsoft-based collaboration solutions to customers. This was a big move for us, and a bit scary, but the Microsoft platform wasn't evolving at the pace our customers demanded. The Microsoft Partner Program didn't foster the same type of opportunity as Google for a start-up company like ours. Our Google Apps business was taking off and we haven't looked back. We have grown to a multi-million dollar business with dozens of cloud technologists and a national footprint, helping to pave the way for business adoption of cloud.

    The Cloud Transition Opportunity
    We are investing in the cloud because it is the future of business technology. This is one of those rare transitional moments in technology – near unlimited computing power is being made available to both experts and non-experts alike. Whole technology ecosystems and industries will be transformed by it. Just look at what leaders like Google, Amazon, and Salesforce have accomplished in a few short years – and the investments they've made.

    Source: LTech 2010

    At LTech, we're seeing certain industries adopt Google Apps faster than others. We are responding to this by developing vertically focused solutions. For example, our Google Apps for Real Estate program bundles Google Apps, Agent Website Templates, and Tungle.me calendar sharing.

    Why are these businesses adopting Google Apps? It's widely known that Google Apps is more cost effective compared to on-premise software, our customers are also taking advantage of the rapid innovation pace for productivity gains and business transformation.

    Google Apps isn't just email. Products like Google Sites and Google Docs can deliver spontaneous collaboration capabilities for employees that were never connected before. For example, the new Google Docs interface takes real time collaboration to the next level by allowing you to see other people's changes character-by-character as they type. No need to send attachments back and forth, and it is web-standards and mobile friendly. That sort of innovation is key to enterprise adoption of cloud platforms.

    The Google Apps Partner Program
    While I can't reveal exact numbers, the positive growth of Google Apps sales in our business is exciting and keeping us charged up about the opportunity ahead as a leading Google Apps Reseller and Google Enterprise Partner.

    Source: LTech 2010

    The Google Authorized Reseller Program has helped us grow from a small systems integrator to a leader in cloud products and services. We've built a great relationship with Google that is mutually beneficial, and we get support when and where we need it. In particular, the Google Apps developer relations team at Google has been instrumental in helping us to build enterprise quality products like Power Panel for Google Apps and Single Sign On. The documentation and API support available is fantastic, and the community and ecosystem around the Google Apps suite is strong.

    Ed Laczynski
    Founder and CTO, LTech

    Posted by Jeff Ragusa, Google Apps Channel Program Manager
    URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/switching-channels-making-transition.html

    [G] More Choice for Users: Unlisted Videos

    Posted: 13 May 2010 07:00 AM PDT

    Google Public Policy Blog: More Choice for Users: Unlisted Videos

    Posted by Jen Chen, Software Engineer
    (cross-posted from the YouTube Blog)

    Melinda teaches high school in the Bay Area and recently reached out to us with a problem. Her students just finished a video history project that she wanted to share with their parents and classmates. But she was concerned about posting the videos publicly because she didn't want the whole world to find them (frankly, neither did her students). Melinda told us YouTube's private sharing options -- a 25-person cap that's limited to other YouTube users -- didn't work for her. She needed a better option to privately share her students' talent.

    Later today, we'll be rolling out a new choice that will help Melinda and other people like her: unlisted videos.
    [Update: Unlisted videos are now available.]

    With this feature, you can mark your videos as "unlisted." This means only people who have the link to the video will be able to watch it. It won't appear in any of YouTube's public pages, in search results, on your personal channel or on the browse page. It's a private video, except you don't need a YouTube account to watch it and there is no limit to the number of people who can view it. You'll get a link when you upload the video and then it's up to you to decide who to share it with. Unlisted is the perfect option for that class project, video from last summer's family reunion or your secret Broadway audition tape.



    Just remember, the video can be viewed by anyone with the link, so only give it to people you trust! For more information, check out our Help Center page.
    URL: http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2010/05/posted-by-jen-chen-software-engineer_13.html
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