Friday, March 2, 2012

Googland

Googland

[G] Faster, More Accurate Data Collection

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 12:21 AM PST

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Faster, More Accurate Data Collection

Posted by Sandra Giger, IT Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer, NOAA

Editors note: Today's guest blogger is Sandra Giger from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Sandra and her colleagues are using Google Apps for Government to streamline the data collection process, resulting in better data accuracy and transparency across the agency. We are honored to recognize them as our Government Transformers.

Compiling data from a large number of people can be a daunting task. This is especially true at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with 25,000 people in roughly 400 locations around the country.

At NOAA, these "data calls" typically fall to me and my colleagues in the IT Governance and Portfolio Division at NOAA. For example, in 2011 the Department of Commerce, our parent agency, began an initiative to lower printing costs throughout the department. To get started, NOAA first had to inventory the thousands of printers the agency was using.

In the past, a data call was usually conducted via email. We would email all the NOAA offices, and the replies would trickle in, often in different formats. It filled up our inboxes and required that we spend hours cleaning up the data. This manual process meant a higher chance of errors, and the entire process ended up taking several weeks.

Rather than continue with these old methods, we decided to use a Google Form to capture the printer inventory. The form could be emailed directly to people across NOAA, and forwarded on to others as needed. As soon as someone completes the form, each response is captured as a separate row of a spreadsheet, along with the name of the person submitting it and the date and time it was submitted. This streamlined collection process cuts in half the time spent collecting data. With all responses are consolidated in a single spreadsheet, it makes analyzing the data a snap.

What's more, all the responses can be shared with everyone who completes the form, making it a more transparent data collection process. My colleagues and I are transforming data collection at NOAA by improving data quality and sharing the data more openly, while saving ourselves valuable time that can be spent on other projects.
URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2012/03/faster-more-accurate-data-collection.html

[G] New tools and policies for Publisher Networks in the Ad Exchange

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

DoubleClick Publisher Blog: New tools and policies for Publisher Networks in the Ad Exchange


As the size and quality of publisher networks have grown, so has their need to operate more efficiently and profitably. With this in mind, we've rolled out a series of updates for publisher networks in DoubleClick Ad Exchange.

First, we've revised our policies to allow publisher networks to use the Ad Exchange even if they own & operate few (or none) of the sites they represent. As always, every partner site has to meet the same high-standards of quality as every AdX publisher.

Second, we've built a set Network Partner Management tools that make it easy to add new partners, manage hundreds of domains, and monitor their performance.


For current clients, using these features requires no changes to your existing tags. In addition, reporting, payment and site management remains in your hands.

If you'd like to learn more about these new capabilities, please sign up for one of the webinars below, contact your Ad Exchange account representative, or tell us how to contact you and we'll have someone reach out.

US Webinar
Tuesday, March 13 at 11am PST (1pm CST / 2pm EST)
Register HERE

EMEA Webinar
Tuesday, March 13 at 2pm GMT (3pm CET)
Register HERE

Posted by Drew Bradstock, Product Manager
URL: http://doubleclickpublishers.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-tools-and-policies-for-publisher.html

[G] Refining the new Google Analytics

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

Google Analytics Blog: Refining the new Google Analytics

We've been listening to your feedback about the new version of Google Analytics, and are excited to release an updated user interface featuring enhancements to nearly all aspects of the design of Google Analytics.



User interface updates

Based on input from our users, partners, and customers, we have launched several improvements to our user interface. We are particularly proud of the attention to detail that our user experience team has put into making the interface easy to use, understandable, and beautiful.

Restyled reports


The primary goal of this update is to bring more attention to the things that matter -- your data, and how you analyze it. We improved legibility of score card and table data, and refined our color palette to draw attention toward data instead of navigation elements.



We've also made several usability improvements:

• Improved information hierarchy

• Change the graphed metric and select a comparison metric directly from the graph

• Graph and Table options are more visible

• Improved Metric Group selection

• Added icons to left navigation



Icons in the left navigation


We would like to thank everyone for submitting excellent feedback. Please continue to provide input on how Google Analytics can best deliver the insights you need.



- The Google Analytics team


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tRaA/~3/GRcYYH3ZrSA/refining-new-google-analytics.html

[G] How to upgrade to the new YouTube channels look

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

YouTube Blog: How to upgrade to the new YouTube channels look

You work hard on your channel and your videos, so we're doing the same on making channels look their best on YouTube. That's why in December, we launched an updated look and new templates for channels, as well as features across the site to keep you better connected with the channels you enjoy.



Like a great symphony, these channels and features work best when everyone is playing on the same page. So that's why we're encouraging you to update your channel to the new look, and by March 7 we'll be updating everyone. If you have a YouTube channel and 15 minutes today, select the "Try the new design" button on the top of your channel page that will give you step-by-step instructions for updating.



The step-by-step was a good start, but I want more info. Whatcha got?


  • Use this Checklist to make sure you have the main parts of your channel covered

  • Want to do more? The YouTube Creator Playbook has a special section just for improving your channel, as well as a ton of YouTube tips from the best in the biz

  • Still have questions? Stop by the Help Center for more answers




Why the change?

We know how hard it is to find great content on YouTube (you're uploading 60 hours of video per minute), so when viewers find your channel we want to help you keep them there, and keep them coming back. All uploaders are not the same, so now you have four different templates to best suit your needs: Creator, Blogger, Network and Everything. With the old design, it wasn't always easy for viewers to browse your channel. However, we loved parts of the old channels design too (heck, many hours and Red Bulls were consumed to build it), like your ability to feature content. So we've enabled a new Featured Tab that offers you the ability to keep doing that.



I'm freaking out — please don't change this!

We know change is never easy, especially when it's something you've spent lots of time and effort on. Even more, there are human beings at YouTube who look at every piece of feedback, bucket them into categories, and work with product teams to address them each week. So whenever you see a blue "Send Feedback" link, know that that's not some decorative ornament. It's for real. So give your feedback because we (humans) need it to keep creating ways for YouTube to showcase your channels.



The YouTube team


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/of-Vm7DF9AU/how-to-upgrade-to-new-youtube-channels.html

[G] Watch a star-studded reading of the play '8' live on YouTube this Saturday night

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

YouTube Blog: Watch a star-studded reading of the play '8' live on YouTube this Saturday night

Editor's note: From time to time we invite guests to the blog to talk about a topic of interest. We're thrilled to have Rob Reiner, actor and director, join us today.



I want to invite you to come to YouTube on Saturday, March 3, to watch a reading of a powerful new play, 8, about marriage equality and the Proposition 8 trial.



The play, written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk), is an account of the case filed by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look at what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was put on trial in the U.S.



At the time of the trial, the Supreme Court ruled against allowing cameras in the courtroom, preventing anyone outside the court from witnessing the proceedings. Today, we're able to give people around the world a look at what happened behind closed doors via the live stream of this reading of 8 on AFER's YouTube channel.



I hope you'll join me, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Jamie Lee Curtis and others who will be performing in the West Coast premiere this Saturday evening at 7:45pm PT (pre-show begins at 7:30pm PT). Tune in to youtube.com/americanequalrights to watch the event live streamed from the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif.







Rob Reiner, director of 8 and founding board member of AFER, recently watched "Prop 8 Unconstitutional: The Highlight Reel".


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/FGZbKPH_VrI/watch-star-studded-reading-of-play-8.html

[G] Watch a star-studded reading of the play 8 live on YouTube this Saturday night

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

Official Google Blog: Watch a star-studded reading of the play 8 live on YouTube this Saturday night

From time to time we invite guests to the blog to talk about a topic of interest. We're thrilled to have Rob Reiner, actor and director, join us today. -- Ed.

I want to invite you to come to YouTube on Saturday, March 3, to watch a reading of a powerful new play, 8, about marriage equality and the Proposition 8 trial.

The play, written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk), is an account of the case filed by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look at what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was put on trial in the U.S.

At the time of the trial, the Supreme Court ruled against allowing cameras in the courtroom, preventing anyone outside the court from witnessing the proceedings. Today, we're able to give people around the world a look at what happened behind closed doors via the live stream of this reading of 8 on AFER's YouTube channel.

I hope you'll join me, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Jamie Lee Curtis and others who will be performing in the West Coast premiere this Saturday evening at 7:45pm PT (pre-show begins at 7:30pm PT). Tune in to youtube.com/americanequalrights to watch the event live streamed from the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif.



Posted by Rob Reiner, director of 8 and founding board member of AFER
URL: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/watch-star-studded-reading-of-play-8.html

[G] Versus: liberating opinion with Google+ Hangouts

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

Official Google Blog: Versus: liberating opinion with Google+ Hangouts

Whether enabling voters to interview their President, or connect underwater in a project to photograph the ocean floor, Google+ Hangouts are being used in amazing ways. Not only do Hangouts have the ability to connect people on opposite sides of the planet, they can also connect people on opposing sides of the social and political spectrum. We're delighted to announce that a new series of global debates, that will be live streamed on YouTube, will do exactly that.

Versus, from Intelligence2—an organization committed to revitalizing the art of live debate—will give you the chance to question people who are close to the decisions being made on topical issues, on both sides of the debate. Real-time voting on the channel will also let the speakers know how their arguments are resonating with viewers.



The first motion to be debated is "It's time to end the War on Drugs." The debate will air diverse opinions from the likes of +Richard Branson, +Russell Brand, +Julian Assange, and experts such as the former Presidents from Mexico and Brazil, among others. BBC newsreader and presenter +Emily Maitlis will chair the debate.

The debate will be streamed live on the Versus YouTube channel on March 13 at 7pm GMT. From now until then, we invite you to discuss the issues and join the debate on the Versus page, where you'll also find out how you could have the chance to secure a place in the live debate hangout.

Posted by Anna Bateson, Director of YouTube Marketing, EMEA
URL: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/versus-liberating-opinion-with-google.html

[G] Meeting citizen demand in one of the nation’s busiest library networks

Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:42 PM PST

Official Google Enterprise Blog: Meeting citizen demand in one of the nation's busiest library networks

Posted by Gib Van Cleve, Information Technology Services Manager, St. Louis County Library

Editors note: Today's guest blogger is Gib Van Cleve, information technology services manager at St. Louis County Library (SLCL). He and the staff at SLCL adopted Google Apps for Government, and have found many innovative uses for Google tools to help the library's 20 branches run more efficiently and better serve citizens.

St. Louis County Library (SLCL), with 20 branches, represents Missouri's largest and busiest library network. We serve a large community eager to consume digital and hard-copy content, from learning games to classic novels, and that requires behind-the-scenes technologies to manage circulations and ensure efficient citizen services. But, as we grew and our collections expanded, we needed tools that could enable our staff to collaborate more efficiently to bring more transparency to the library's operations.

In the past, managing libraries required a lot of phone calls and spreadsheets emailed back and forth. Today, that's no longer the case. We have a small yet nimble technology group of 12 people, and we've been able to increase efficiency and improve citizen services by adopting Google Apps for Government. We are honored that some of our employees have been recognized as Government Transformers for their creative usage of Google Apps.

For example, our system administration manager Stephanie Nordmann created a system that tracks circulation items in a Google spreadsheet. In an instant, we see key statistics and trends such as the number of library visits, circulation counts, and the demand for certain items. Last year, it showed us e-book circulation grew by 174%, while traditional books were only up 1%. So we knew we need to stock up on e-media, enabling us to meet the growing demand.

To allow citizens to check out an item at one location and return it at another, we started supporting floating collections. It's not easy balancing collections across multiple facilities to ensure that items are available when and where the public needs them. Our community services administrator Eric Button created a Google spreadsheet to manage floating collections systematically, tagging facilities green if they have space, yellow if their items are balanced, and red if their shelves are full. This new tool eliminates emailing back and forth and allows us to see instantaneously where to send items to meet demand.

We have found many uses of Google Apps for a broad library network. Amy Gibbons and other members of our service desk staff manage an inventory of 900 PCs throughout our library network using Google Docs. Our libraries run better and more cost-effectively so we can meet citizen requirements for educational and entertainment content—and—trust us, we're discovering more and more uses for Google Apps to become more efficient and effective!





URL: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2012/02/meeting-citizen-demand-in-one-of.html
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