Thursday, September 15, 2011

Googland

Googland

[G] Enhanced accessibility in Docs, Sites and Calendar

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Official Google Blog: Enhanced accessibility in Docs, Sites and Calendar

This fall, as classrooms fill with the hustle and bustle of a new semester, more students than ever will use Google Apps to take quizzes, write essays and talk to classmates. Yet blind students (like blind people of all ages) face a unique set of challenges on the web. Members of the blind community rely on screen readers to tell them verbally what appears on the screen. They also use keyboard shortcuts to do things that would otherwise be accomplished with a mouse, such as opening a file or highlighting text.

Over the past few months, we've worked closely with advocacy organizations for the blind to improve our products with more accessibility enhancements. While our work isn't done, we've now significantly improved keyboard shortcuts and support for screen readers in several Google applications, including Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Calendar. Business, government and education customers can also learn more about these updates on the Enterprise blog.

In the weeks and months ahead, we'll continue to improve our products for blind users. We believe that people who depend on assistive technologies deserve as rich and as productive an experience on the web as sighted users, and we're working to help that become a reality.

For more information on these accessibility changes, using Google products with screen readers, how to send us feedback and how to track our progress, visit google.com/accessibility.

Posted by T.V. Raman, Technical Lead, Google Accessibility
URL: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/enhanced-accessibility-in-docs-sites.html

[G] Live webinar: Accessibility Updates for Docs, Sites and Calendar

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Live webinar: Accessibility Updates for Docs, Sites and Calendar

Posted by Naomi Black, Technical Program Manager, Accessibility

Earlier this year, members of the blind community shared a powerful message with us about the importance of accessibility. On the Official Google Blog today, we announced some accessibility enhancements to our products, including new keyboard shortcuts and improved screen reader support in Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Calendar. For blind students and employees who rely on assistive technologies to access the web, we hope these improvements will make it easier to use our products.

To answer your questions and discuss how today's product updates affect blind users in businesses, governments and schools using Google Apps, we'd like to invite our enterprise customers to join us for a webinar on September 21.

Accessibility Updates for Docs, Sites and Calendar
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
12:00pm-1:00pm PT
Sign up here

To learn more about accessibility features in Google Apps, please visit our help center. For information more generally about using Google products with screen readers, how to send us feedback and how to track our progress, visit google.com/accessibility.
URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2011/09/live-webinar-accessibility-updates-for.html

[G] +Snippets on Google Maps: if you can see it, you can share it

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Google LatLong: +Snippets on Google Maps: if you can see it, you can share it


[Cross-posted from the Official Google Blog]

We recently launched +snippets for users and publishers, making it easy to visit a webpage and then share it on Google+. We want to make sharing across Google just as easy, so today we're bringing +snippets to Google Maps.

Suppose you're planning a weekend trip to Napa. Your packing list probably includes driving directions, hotel information and a list of nearby wineries. Many of you visit Google Maps for this kind of information already. But with +snippets, Google+ users can easily share directions or places (for example) with fellow travelers. Just click "Share..." in the Google+ bar at the top of the screen, and whatever you see on Maps is what you'll see in the sharebox—ready to share with your circles:



+Snippets on Google Maps: Directions, Places, search results

With today's launch, Google Maps joins other Google products like Books, Offers and Product Search in having +snippets. And like Maps, what you see onscreen is what you share—just click on "Share..." in the Google+ bar to reveal the +snippet:



+Snippets on Google Books, Offers and Product Search

We'll be rolling out +snippets to many more Google products in the future, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we can't wait to see how other publishers customize their own +snippets, all across the web.

Posted by Bradley Horowitz, Vice President of Product Management
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2011/09/snippets-on-google-maps-if-you-can-see.html

[G] System maintenance from Sept 19-22

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Google Affiliate Network: System maintenance from Sept 19-22


We are nearing the final stages of retiring our legacy systems and moving all Google Affiliate Network functions to Google systems. You have likely already noticed some of the changes associated with this process such as improvements to your account homepage, new reports, and faster-loading pages.  

In order to complete the final stages of migration, we will need to take the user interface down for maintenance from 8:00pm - 11:00pm CDT each evening from September 19th through September 22nd.  Please note that tracking will not be affected during these maintenance periods.

The releases taking place next week are important steps in completing our migration process and have been tested extensively by our engineering team.  However, if you notice any issues, or have any questions, please contact your account manager or send us an email at affiliate-migration@google.com.  

Posted by Mark Coppin, Technical Solutions
URL: http://googleaffiliatenetwork-blog.blogspot.com/2011/09/system-maintenance-from-sept-19-21.html

[G] Google Affiliate Network Fall Exclusive Opportunities Now Available

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Google Affiliate Network: Google Affiliate Network Fall Exclusive Opportunities Now Available


With the arrival of fall, the holiday shopping season begins. Give your users an early start by posting Google Affiliate Network Exclusive Opportunities. Over 40 opportunities will be available exclusively to Google Affiliate Network publishers. In addition, special opportunities will be live for one weekend only, from Friday, September 23 through Monday, September 26. 

As a reminder, this limited time opportunity enables you to add a variety of great consumer opportunities to your site and earn a performance fee from orders that originated from your links.


How do I promote these opportunities on my site?
  1. To promote any of these exclusive opportunities, you need to be an approved publisher in the Google Affiliate Network.
  2. Apply for Google Affiliate Network with your AdSense Publisher ID (or sign in if you're already a Google Affiliate Network publisher).
  3. Once approved, review the opportunities available and click the "Apply Now" link for everyone that you wish to promote.
Tracking links will be available in your Google Affiliate Network account by viewing the Home tab. You can also search for "September Exclusive Opportunities" links in the Links section on September 23.


Need help applying or want more information? Review the Getting Started guide today.


When can I post these opportunities on my site?
All opportunities will be available on September 23, and all will expire at midnight September 26. Please remember that you may not post any of these exclusives until September 23.


Further questions? Check out our Help Center for answers to frequently asked questions or feel free to contact us with any questions.


Posted by Jamie Ross, Affiliate Network Strategist
URL: http://googleaffiliatenetwork-blog.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-affiliate-network-fall-exclusive.html

[G] Improved accessibility for Google Calendar

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Official Gmail Blog: Improved accessibility for Google Calendar

Posted by: Florian Niemann, Software Engineer

Today we announced some of the updates we've released recently to make Google's applications more accessible to the blind community. Google Calendar now has new keyboard shortcuts and better screen reader support for our blind users. Members of the blind community can now use JAWS, VoiceOver and ChromeVox to manage your calendars, create and edit events or simply browse your events. Here are a few examples of how screen readers and keyboard shortcuts work with Google Calendar:
  • In your calendar lists, you can use the up and down arrow keys to navigate between your calendars. For each calendar in the list, you'll hear its name and can use the spacebar to turn the calendar on or off. To remove a calendar from the list, use the delete key.
  • In the agenda view, you can use the up and down arrow keys to move between events and use the left and right arrow keys to move between dates. To expand an event and expose the event details, press enter. To go to the event details page, type 'e'. To remove an event, press delete. Although agenda view provides the best screen reader experience today, we are also working on improved accessibility for other views.
  • In the guest list on the create/edit event page, you can navigate around using the up and down arrow keys. Use the spacebar to switch a guest's status between optional and required. To remove a guest from the list, use the delete key.
  • Additional keyboard shortcuts make it easier to use Google Calendar no matter which view or screen you're on. Type 'c' to create an event, '/' to start a search, and '+' to add a calendar.
For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts and to learn more about using Google Calendar with screen readers, please visit the help center.With these new accessibility features, we hope to make it easier for everyone to use Google Calendar. Please use this form to share your feedback directly with the accessibility team so we can continue to improve our products.
URL: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/improved-accessibility-for-google.html

[G] Improved Accessibility in Google Docs and Sites

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Docs Blog: Improved Accessibility in Google Docs and Sites

Today we announced some of the updates we've released recently to make Google's applications more accessible to the blind community. For Google Docs and Sites, we're pleased to announce new keyboard shortcuts and better screen reader support for our blind users.

Screen reader support in Google Docs and Sites
To help blind users read, edit and navigate content, Google Docs (including documents list, documents and spreadsheets) and Sites now support two screen readers: JAWS and ChromeVox. Here are a few examples of how screen readers work in Google Docs and Sites:
  • In documents, you'll hear feedback when you format text or insert tables, lists or comments in your document.
  • In spreadsheets, you'll hear the cell's location, contents and comments when moving between cells.
  • In both documents and spreadsheets, you'll hear feedback as you navigate to areas outside the main content area, such as the menu bar, chat pane and dialog boxes.
  • In your documents list, you'll hear feedback when you upload or download a file, organize collections or move between files in your documents list.
  • In Sites, you'll hear feedback as you navigate and manage your sites, create and edit pages, and navigate through menus and dialog boxes.
For a complete list of screen reader-supported features and instructions for how to use them, visit the Docs and Sites help centers.

New keyboard shortcuts
We've also added new keyboard shortcuts to make it easier to use Google Docs and Sites. In your documents list, for example, you can use the up and down arrow keys to move through the files in the list, and you can open the selected document by hitting Enter. For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, please refer to the help center articles for spreadsheets, documents, documents list and Sites.

With these new accessibility features, we hope to make it easier for everyone to use Google Docs and Sites. Please use this form to share your feedback directly with the accessibility team so we can continue to improve our products.

Posted by: Jeff Harris, Product Manager
URL: http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2011/09/improved-accessibility-in-google-docs.html

[G] Omaha 3: Modernizing Automatic Software Updating

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Google Open Source Blog: Omaha 3: Modernizing Automatic Software Updating


In 2007, Google built the Google Update engine to provide a common background automatic updater for all of its products on Windows, and released it to open source as the Omaha project. Since its release, multiple developers have successfully reused the Omaha code base to provide updating for their own products.

Over the past few years Google has continued to improve Omaha, and we're happy to announce that the third major release of Omaha has now been released as open source. The Omaha 3 code base can be used to replicate Google Update binaries, or it can be reused and tweaked by developers to create your own automatic updater for your software.

Major improvements over Omaha 2 include:

* A new API: Omaha 3 has a new state model that can be exposed via COM, allowing for finer control of the updating process and more detailed feedback from it. (It is backwards-compatible with the Omaha 2 'OnDemand' API as well.)

* Improved debugging: Omaha now generates far more detailed logs, which can be collected in the form of either text files or ETW events that can be collected using Sawbuck.

* Improved data collection and delivery: Pings for both successful and failed installs and updates are finer grained and easier to process. Omaha 3 can gracefully handle intermittent network connections as well; the results of an automatic update can be queued and re-sent at later dates.

* Machine-preferred installs: Omaha can now do elevation-optional installs, where it can attempt to install an application either per-machine or per-user and notify the installer of which mode to use. This allows you to deploy products that ship in both flavors using a single installer.

Omaha 3 is already being used by Google Chrome, Google Talk, and other Windows applications.

Developers who have used prior releases of Omaha should definitely check out the new release, which can be found at http://code.google.com/p/omaha/ using the Apache License, Version 2.0.

We welcome feedback/questions at omaha-discuss@googlegroups.com as well.

By Ryan Myers, Software Engineer at Google
URL: http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2011/09/omaha-3-modernizing-automatic-software.html

[G] Edit your videos with YouTube

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

YouTube Blog: Edit your videos with YouTube

Until now, when you uploaded to YouTube, your video was hosted and shared, but couldn't really be changed. If you wanted to trim off the end, swap out the soundtrack, or add an effect, you had to edit your video using a separate program and upload again.

Starting today, you can edit your uploaded videos right on YouTube and maintain the same video IDs. This means you keep your view count and comments, and all existing links to your video will continue to work. No re-uploading necessary!

Here's how it works: just click Edit video on the video's page or on your My Videos page:
You can stabilize your hand-held footage, rotate a video, and boost the contrast and colors. Try "I'm Feeling Lucky" for 1-click color correction:

Or if you're looking for a more dramatic change, try one of our effects (developed in collaboration with our friends at Picnik):
Click Save to begin processing the edits to your video. And if you don't like the new version, fear not: you can revert to the original and save again. You can also save your edits into a new video and try out multiple versions. Note that popular videos with over 1,000 views and videos with third-party content can only be saved as new videos once edited (learn more).

Here's a quick video showing what you can do:



We'll be rolling this out to all users globally over the course of the day. We know you want your videos to look their best, and we're excited to see what you come up with using YouTube video editing!

John Gregg, Software Engineer, recently watched "Shenandoah."


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/U0L-_97o0TU/edit-your-videos-with-youtube.html

[G] +Snippets on Google Maps: if you can see it, you can share it

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

Official Google Blog: +Snippets on Google Maps: if you can see it, you can share it

We recently launched +snippets for users and publishers, making it easy to visit a webpage and then share it on Google+. We want to make sharing across Google just as easy, so today we're bringing +snippets to Google Maps.

Suppose you're planning a weekend trip to Napa. Your packing list probably includes driving directions, hotel information and a list of nearby wineries. Many of you visit Google Maps for this kind of information already. But with +snippets, Google+ users can easily share directions or places (for example) with fellow travelers. Just click "Share..." in the Google+ bar at the top of the screen, and whatever you see on Maps is what you'll see in the sharebox—ready to share with your circles:

+Snippets on Google Maps: Directions, Places, search results

With today's launch, Google Maps joins other Google products like Books, Offers and Product Search in having +snippets. And like Maps, what you see onscreen is what you share—just click on "Share..." in the Google+ bar to reveal the +snippet:

+Snippets on Google Books, Offers and Product Search

We'll be rolling out +snippets to many more Google products in the future, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we can't wait to see how other publishers customize their own +snippets, all across the web.

(Cross-posted on the Lat Long blog)

Posted by Bradley Horowitz, Vice President of Product Management
URL: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/snippets-on-google-maps-if-you-can-see.html

[G] VP8 Error Concealment in WebRTC

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

The WebM Open Media Project Blog: VP8 Error Concealment in WebRTC

The WebRTC project has posted a demo of their implementation of VP8 error concealment in libvpx. The visual improvement is pretty striking. Check it out at the WebRTC blog.
URL: http://blog.webmproject.org/2011/09/vp8-error-concealment-in-webrtc.html

[G] On its 70th Anniversary, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane Comes to YouTube

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:40 PM PDT

YouTube Blog: On its 70th Anniversary, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane Comes to YouTube

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its release, Orson Welles' seminal work Citizen Kane joins the thousands of movies available on YouTube.








What makes Citizen Kane a film worthy of your attention? Let us count the ways, and find more on the YouTube Movie Extras playlist for Citizen Kane:


  • American Film Institute (AFI) voted Citizen Kane the #1 "Greatest Movie of All Time." Twice. 

  • Welles and his cinematographer Gregg Toland popularized the technique of "deep focus" which makes you see everything in the fore-, middle- and background in focus. You've seen it in movies ranging from The Shining to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 

  • Director Steven Spielberg is among many filmmakers who credit Citizen Kane as a major influence, and even paid homage to Citizen Kane in the last scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

  • You almost never got to watch this film. The negatives of Citizen Kane were destroyed in a warehouse fire decades ago. Thanks to a surviving positive print and digital restoration, Citizen Kane is now on YouTube today. 


To get more into movies like Citizen Kane, check out the YouTube Movie Extras that include commentary from directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, a five second take on the film's most iconic line and even a puppet parody.



Minjae Ormes, YouTube Movies and TV Marketing Manager, recently watched "Bernard Herrmann: A Master of Movie Music."


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/TfsxvdVDmkg/on-its-70th-anniversary-orson-welles.html
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