Saturday, January 28, 2012

Googland

Googland

[G] Setting the record straight about our privacy policy changes

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google Public Policy Blog: Setting the record straight about our privacy policy changes

Posted by Betsy Masiello, Policy Manager

A lot has been said about our new privacy policy. Some have praised us for making our privacy policy easier to understand. Others have asked questions, including members of Congress, and that's understandable too. We look forward to answering those questions, and clearing up some of the misconceptions about our privacy policies that first appeared in the Washington Post.

So, here's the real story:
  • You still have choice and control. You don't need to log in to use many of our services, including Search, Maps and YouTube. If you are logged in, you can still edit or turn off your Search history, switch Gmail chat to "off the record," control the way Google tailors ads to your interests, use Incognito mode on Chrome, or use any of the other privacy tools we offer.
  • We're not collecting more data about you. Our new policy simply makes it clear that we use data to refine and improve your experience on Google — whichever products or services you use. This is something we have already been doing for a long time.
  • We're making things simpler and we're trying to be upfront about it. Period.
  • You can use as much or as little of Google as you want. For example, you can have a Google Account and choose to use Gmail, but not use Google+. Or you could keep your data separate with different accounts -- for example, one for YouTube and another for Gmail.
For more detail, please read the new privacy policy and terms, and visit this site to learn more.
URL: http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2012/01/setting-record-straight-about-our.html

[G] Welcome customers into your business on Google

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: Welcome customers into your business on Google


(Cross-posted on the Small Business Blog.)

When we initially announced the Business Photos pilot program, we wanted to give business owners an easy way to get customers in the door online using interactive, high-quality, 360-degree images of places on Google Maps and on Google Search results. With thousands of businesses under our belt — from salons to gift shops — we've been hearing the same question again and again from both business owners and photographers alike: How can I participate?

Well, with the overwhelming success of the first pilot, we've decided to unveil a complementary initiative that will help us reach more interested business owners, more quickly: Trusted Photographers.

Click and drag to view the inside of Spice Market, New York City.

It's simple. Visit our new website and search for a Google Trusted Photographer in your area. Either email or call a photographer in your area to schedule a time and agree on a price that you will pay the photographer for a photoshoot of your business. This self-serve model makes for easier scheduling and quicker turnaround, while also supporting the local photographers in your community. During the hour it should take for the shoot, you can collaborate with the photographer about how best to display and capture your business. When finished, the photographer will upload the images to Google, and shortly thereafter, you'll see 360-degree panoramic views of your business on Google.com, Google Maps and on your Google Places listing.

See how Business Photos has helped Toy Joy of Austin, Texas.

Trusted Photographers are available in 14 U.S. cities, as well as in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and France. Don't see a photographer in your area? Let us know, as that will help us determine where more Trusted Photographers are needed.

Posted by Gadi Royz, Product Manager, Google Maps
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/welcome-customers-into-your-business-on.html

[G] Google Earth 6.2: It’s a beautiful world

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: Google Earth 6.2: It's a beautiful world


(Cross-posted on the Official Google and SketchUp blogs)

We're taking bird's eye view to a whole new level with the latest version of Google Earth, released today. With Google Earth 6.2, we're bringing you the most beautiful Google Earth yet, with more seamless imagery and a new search interface. Additionally, we've introduced a feature that enables you to share an image from within Google Earth, so you can now simply and easily share your virtual adventures with family and friends on Google+.

A seamless globe


The Google Earth globe is made from a mosaic of satellite and aerial photographs taken on different dates and under different lighting and weather conditions. Because of this variance, views of the Earth from high altitude can sometimes appear patchy.

Today, we're introducing a new way of rendering imagery that smoothes out this quilt of images. The end result is a beautiful new Earth-viewing experience that preserves the unique textures of the world's most defining geographic landscapes—without the quilt effect. This change is being made on both mobile and desktop versions of Google Earth. While this change will appear on all versions of Google Earth, the 6.2 release provides the best viewing experience for this new data.

Grand Canyon before and after

Sri Lanka before and after

Share your explorations with Google+
Google Earth is a great way to virtually explore the globe, whether revisiting old haunts or checking out a future vacation spot. With the Google Earth 6.2 update, we've added the option to share a screenshot of your current view in Google Earth through Google+. If you've already upgraded to Google+, you can share images of the places you've virtually traveled to with your Circles, such as family, friends or your local hiking club. To try this new feature, simply sign in to your Google Account in the upper right hand corner of Google Earth and click "Share." Images of mountains, oceans, deserts, 3D cities, your favorite pizza shop on Street View—you can now experience all these amazing places around the world with people on Google+.


Search improvements
We've also made some updates to the search feature in Google Earth. Aside from streamlining the visual design of the search panel, we've enabled the same Autocomplete feature that's available on Google Maps. We've also introduced search layers, which will show all the relevant search results (not just the top ten), so now, when looking for gelato in Milano, you can see all the tasty possibilities. Finally, we've added biking, transit and walking directions, so if you're itching for a change of scenery or looking for a new route for your regular commute, you can now use Google Earth to generate and visualize all your options.

Biking directions in Google Earth


Download Google Earth 6.2 and start exploring and sharing today!

Posted by Peter Birch, Product Manager, Google Earth
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-earth-62-its-beautiful-world.html

[G] New Biking Directions Legend

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: New Biking Directions Legend


If you're looking for new ways to get around for fun or to work, or might be trying to live a greener lifestyle in 2012, why not try biking? In March 2010 we introduced biking directions and since then Google Maps has been sharing biking directions with cyclists across the U.S and Canada.

Since no bike path is the same, many users have requested an easier way to differentiate the different types of bike routes that are available. Starting today, a new legend feature can help you understand what the different colors on the bike maps symbolize.
  • Dark green is for dedicated trails and paths
  • Light green is for roads with dedicated lanes
  • Dotted green is for roads that are friendly for cyclists
Look for the biking legend in the upper right hand corner of the map

You can view this legend by clicking on the widget in upper right corner of Google Maps and selecting the Bicycling layer. You can also access biking directions on your Android device or by going to maps.google.com on your mobile browser.

Whether you want to drive, take transit, walk or even bike, Google Maps can help you get around. To see how it works on your Android phone take a tour here.

Posted by Dave Kim, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-biking-directions-legend.html

[G] Public Alerts now on Google Maps

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: Public Alerts now on Google Maps

(Cross posted from the Google.org Blog)

Today marks the launch of a new Google Crisis Response project: Google Public Alerts, a platform designed to bring you relevant emergency alerts when and where you're searching for them.

If a major weather event is headed for your area, you might go online to search for the information you need: What's happening? Where and when will it strike? How severe will it be? What resources are available to help?

The Google Crisis Response team works on providing critical emergency information during crises. Our goal is to surface emergency information through the online tools you use everyday, when that information is relevant and useful.

With today's launch of Public Alerts on Google Maps, relevant weather, public safety, and earthquake alerts from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) will be accessible when you search on Google Maps. For instance, at the time of this post, "Flood Indiana" triggers an alert for a Flood Warning in Northern Indiana.



If you click through to "more info" on this alert, you'll find a page showing more details about the alert, with the full description from the alert publisher, in this case the National Weather Service, a link to their site and other useful information.



Whether you see an alert depends on which alerts are active at a given location, their severity, and your search query. If you're interested in seeing all of the active alerts in one place, visit our homepage at www.google.org/publicalerts. This page also provides a link to more information on our new platform and gives instructions to interested organizations who want to make their emergency data available through this tool.



We're learning as we go and we're working hard to continuously improve the range and relevance of the content you see, so we'd really like your feedback. Please send feedback our way using the link at the far right of our Google Public Alerts homepage.

We hope Google Public Alerts provides you with information to make better decisions in times of crisis.

Posted by Steve Hakusa, Public Alerts Engineer
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/public-alerts-now-on-google-maps.html

[G] Take a tour of South Korea using Street View

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: Take a tour of South Korea using Street View


Tourism to South Korea is on the rise, with neighbors from East Asia and beyond making trips to see the birthplace of Korean dramas and K-Pop, sample authentic kimchee, and find cutting-edge fashions in the capital's Myeongdong shopping district. Today we're introducing Street View imagery for the two biggest cities, Seoul and Busan, making it even easier for travelers to plan their next visit to South Korea using Google Maps.

For example, you can preview your vacation in Seoul by starting right in Gwanghwamun square. Viewing the surroundings and statue of naval commander Yi Sun-sin provides a sense of the city's unique intersection of modern and traditional.


For those who want to stretch their legs, we recommend walking in Insadong, a famous shopping area for art and antiques, and then taking in the beautiful autumn foliage at the Stone Wall of Deoksugung when it's time for a rest. Fans of the universally-beloved Korean soap opera Winter Sonata may want to check out a few background sites from the show, including the hallowed gates of Choongang High School or the Seoul Plaza Hotel.


In the southern seaside city of Busan, famous for its film festival, view the water from Namhang Bridge and then the woody romance of Dalmaji Road, famous as a spot for couples to view the moon at night.

We're thrilled to release this new street-level imagery and hope it helps tourists — both real and virtual — better find their way to Korea's great destinations. We also look forward to bringing more Street View coverage to Korea over the coming year.

Learn more about Street View here.

Posted by Sun-Gi Hong, Product Manager, South Korea
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/take-tour-of-south-korea-using-street.html

[G] New 45° imagery available for 24 cities

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

Google LatLong: New 45° imagery available for 24 cities


The second 45° imagery update of 2012 includes new imagery for 17 U.S. and 7 international locations in Google Maps.

Ulm is a university town in southern Germany, located at the Danube river. One of the most famous buildings in this town is the Ulm Minster in Gothic style which measures more than 160 meters in height. Climbing the 768 steps to the top platform, visitors will see a breathtaking panoramic view of the Alps on clear days.


View Larger Map


Cleveland, Ohio is an important hub at the southern rim of Lake Erie. Many banks, insurance companies, and healthcare firms are headquartered here; this is also the home of the famous Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame:


View Larger Map


In the southern hemisphere, we've published imagery of Porto Alegre in the very south of Brazil. It has more than one million inhabitants. The many parks in Porto Alegre makes this city one of the most beautiful in all of Latin America.


View Larger Map


Have fun exploring the new sites!

Here is a list of updated cities:

US:
Boise/Caldwell, ID; Buffalo, NY; Chattanooga, TN; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Greenville, SC; Houston/Pasadena, TX; Kansas City/Gladstone, MS; Knoxville/Louisville, TN; Memphis/Bartlett, TN; Mobile, AL; Nashville, TN; Pensacola, FL; Racine, WI; Santa Monica, CA; Sarasota/Englewood, FL; Stockton, CA

Europe:
Baiona, Spain; Basel, Switzerland; Friedberg, Germany; Mannheim, Germany; Santander, Spain; Ulm, Germany

South America:
Porto Alegre, Brazil

Posted by Bernd Steinert, Geo Data Specialist
URL: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-45-imagery-available-for-24-cities.html
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