Google Cloud Platform News

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  A Trek through Search trends, starring popular films and Croc-ular shoes
  • sorangutan  

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  If there was a category for “popular shoe,” would Crocs be nominated? Take a minute to think abou
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  How to prepare for the cloud worker era
  • sorangutan  

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  The cloud has fundamentally transformed the world around us. In our personal lives, we stream media, order food, schedule transportation, and stay in touch with friends and family across devices. At work, enterprise developers like Cisco, Adobe, Citrix and VMware have redefined how we get our jobs done, making data and apps easily accessible when and where they’re needed. We call this the era of the cloud worker.

  
  

  Today, employees expect access to the information and services they need without the barriers of legacy tools. Managers and admins want to move away from administrative tasks, like managing devices, and focus more on what has the most potential for real value creation.

  
  

  A recent study we commissioned with Forrester found that one in four workers in today’s enterprises are already cloud workers. They spend, on average, 4.6 hours working in browser-based business apps across multiple devices, and regard the freedom to access company resources from any location as fundamental to their work/life balance. Additionally, the quantity of cloud-based apps businesses rely on is only increasing. In 2018 about 53 percent of apps are in the cloud. However, by 2020 it’s estimated that figure will be above 80 percent.

  
  

  This increase in cloud adoption has made many businesses rethink the technology and tools they need to ensure their workforce is effective. Office workers are no longer sitting exclusively behind desks. Field teams need real-time connectivity when they’re working remotely or interacting with customers. Employees are increasingly on the move, and they expect their apps and devices to be as mobile and flexible as their workstyle. In fact, 77 percent say they prefer technologies that give them the freedom to choose how and where to get their work done.

  
  

  At the same time, IT organizations entrusted with managing devices, browsers, and apps are rethinking how to best serve the needs of a cloud-centric workforce. They need reliable and secure tools and devices that give their users the flexibility they need while at the same time being simple for IT to manage and maintain.

  
  

  At Google, we’ve found that cloud-native devices like Chromebooks not only increase employee collaboration and productivity, but also decrease IT support hours and operational overhead. For example, take device deployment and provisioning. At Google, we’ve found that it takes about 33 minutes for an inventory tech to prepare a Chrome OS machine to be deployed to an end user. For Windows devices, we’ve found it typically takes 2 hours and 21 minutes, and for macOS it takes 2 hours and 23 minutes. 

  
  

  

  We’ve also found that we receive two to four times more support requests with macOS and Windows devices than we do with Chrome OS. Using cloud-first tools like Chromebooks can translate into substantial support savings over time.

  

  As the cloud-connected workplace continues to evolve, and an increasing number of employees transition from knowledge workers to cloud workers, selecting the right tools should be top of mind. The question to ask is, in the age of cloud worker, how can you best provide employees with technology that will improve their experience and create better results for your business?

  
  To learn more about how you can prepare for the era of the cloud worker, register for Forrester’s Cloud Worker webinar, and explore resources on our website. For those of you attending NEXT ‘18, we’ll be hosting a Cloud Worker Showcase where you can meet with specialists, interact with demos, and explore the latest devices. Learn more on the Next ‘18 website.
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/chrome-enterprise/how-to-prepare-for-the-cloud-worker-era/
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  Indie Games Accelerator: Calling indie game developers from Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan
  • sorangutan  

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  Do you believe you have what it takes to make the next big mobile game? If you do, listen up! We’re offering developers in Asia a chance to perfect your mobile game with Google Play’s first Indie Games Accelerator program. If your gaming startup is based in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam, and you want to supercharge your growth, you can learn more and apply for the Indie Games Accelerator by July 31.

  We’re always looking for new ways to support developers. So, as a special edition of the Launchpad Accelerator, we’re announcing a new-four month Indie Gaming Accelerator to train promising developers from these countries in Asia so they can successfully build, scale, launch and market the next generation of hit mobile games.

  
  

  Developers accepted into the program will be matched with the best of Google—our people, network, insights and technology—while attending two all-expenses-paid gaming bootcamps at the Google Asia-Pacific office in Singapore, where they will receive personalized mentorship from Google teams and industry experts. Additional benefits include Google Cloud Platform credits and invites to exclusive Google and industry events. We’ll announce the developers accepted into the program on August 8.

  
  There are many passionate gamers in Asia. The talented mobile game developers in the region have a tremendous opportunity to build apps and deliver experiences that entertain, educate and inspire. We look forward to seeing you get your game on with your application!
  
  https://www.blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/indie-games-accelerator/
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  Offline translations are now a lot better thanks to on-device AI
  next billion users translate • • sorangutan  

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  Just about two years ago we introduced neural machine translation (NMT) to Google Translate, significantly improving accuracy of our online translations. Today, we’re bringing NMT technology offline—on device. This means that the technology will run in the Google Translate apps directly on your Android or iOS device, so that you can get high-quality translations even when you don't have access to an internet connection.

  The neural system translates whole sentences at a time, rather than piece by piece. It uses broader context to help determine the most relevant translation, which it then rearranges and adjusts to sound more like a real person speaking with proper grammar. This makes translated paragraphs and articles a lot smoother and easier to read.

  Offline translations can be useful when traveling to other countries without a local data plan, if you don’t have access to internet, or if you just don’t want to use cellular data. And since each language set is just 35-45MB, they won’t take too much storage space on your phone when you download them.

  

  A comparison between our current phrase-based machine translation (PBMT), new offline neural machine translation (on-device), and online neural machine translation
  

  To try NMT offline translations, go to your Translate app on Android or iOS. If you’ve used offline translations before, you’ll see a banner on your home screen which will take you to the right place to update your offline files. If not, go to your offline translation settings and tap the arrow next to the language name to download the package for that language. Now you’ll be ready to translate text whether you’re online or not. 

  

  We're rolling out this update in 59 languages over the next few days, so get out there and connect to the world around you!

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/translate/offline-translations-are-now-lot-better-thanks-device-ai/
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  ICYMI in May: here’s what happened in G Suite
  google cloud g suite drive gmail sheets hangouts • • sorangutan  

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  While Laurel vs. Yanny dominated office chatter this past month, businesses also got their first taste of working in the all-new Gmail. Packed with advanced security features, more integrations and new applications of Google’s artificial intelligence, Gmail is already receiving positive feedback like this, this and this from users.

  To experiment with the new Gmail in your personal Gmail accounts, go to Settings in the top right of your inbox and select “Try the new Gmail.” It’s also available for G Suite businesses to use in the Early Adopter Program (EAP).

  

  We all have that one coworker who we rely on for tips on how to master spreadsheets, draft functions, organize email and more. We want to empower anyone who uses G Suite to become the go-to “pro” in the office. To help, we’re kicking off a bimonthly series called “G Suite Pro Tips.”

  This month, a Google developer expert breaks down how to combine data from one spreadsheet into another spreadsheet in less than two minutes:

  

  → Now you can work offline with ease in the new Gmail. Open Gmail in Chrome browser and search, write, delete or archive up to three months worth of messages.

  → We’ve made it easier for IT admins to export and download a copy of data securely from core services like Gmail, Google Docsand more. Navigate to the Tools section in the right-side slideout menu of the Admin console and select “Data Export.”

  → We made some minor changes to Drive’s user interface (UI), stuff like colors and fonts.

  

  → We're rolling out Hangouts Meet to new regions. Welcome Colombia, Croatia, Lithuania and Portugal! We’re also automatically enabling Hangouts Meet (instead of Classic Hangouts) for all G Suite domains. Now, you’ll see Meet video meeting details in your Google Calendar events.

  → We’ve expanded Braille support for Sheets on Windows computers. Now you can use Braille on ChromeOS, Windows and Mac systems. Learn more.

  → Jamboard is now Bluetooth-enabled. Connect Bluetooth Conferencing devices (speaker and microphone combined) for your next jam session.

  
  

  Check out a full recap of all product updates in May (PDF version).
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/g-suite/icymi-may-heres-what-happened-g-suite/
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  Six Google Maps travel hacks to make this your best summer yet
  • sorangutan  

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  If you’ve been dreaming of pool floats, warm sandy beaches and balmy days, you’re in luck—the long-awaited summer months are finally here. And for many of us, summer means one thing—a chance to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation. For vacation inspiration, we’ve used historical Google Maps data to identify examples of the top mobile searches for places to visit in the U.S. this season. Read on for tips to make sure your trip is smooth sailing from start to finish.

  Seek the great outdoors

  Taking a hike, setting up camp or stargazing under the open sky at national parks can be a great way to unplug from the world and reconnect with nature. Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon top our list as the most popular U.S. parks to visit this time of year.

  Tap into your inner history buff

  School’s out but there’s no reason that the learning needs to stop. Whether your wanderlust takes you to Mount Rushmore or the Hollywood Sign, our listof trending historical landmarks can help you keep your history game strong.

  Seas the day

  There’s nothing like lounging on the beach and watching the waves roll in and out. Check out our list of top trending beaches—from Coney Island to Hawaii, you’ll be sure to find a spot to lay out, catch a wave or snorkel with a school of fish. And it never hurts to have a nice cocktail (or mocktail!) in hand for the ultimate summer experience.

  Once you’ve decided on a place to go, here are six ways you can use Google Maps to keep your summer vacation stress free:

  
  

  • Search for hotels right in Google Maps to see everything you need to know to decide where to stay. You’ll see photos, descriptions, reviews and more—and you can even book a room directly from Google Maps.

  • If you’re road tripping, use Google Maps to find your nearest rest stop so you can rest, eat, and refuel during a long drive.

  • Flying to a new city? Orient yourself around an airport with Google Maps. A quick search for an airport terminal, say DTW Terminal 2, will show you the lay of the land, including nearby gates, lounges, restaurants and stores.

  • Taking local transit is a great way to instantly feel immersed in a new city. Use Google Maps to get navigation times, ETAs and a notification that tells you when to transfer or get off your bus or train, so you can stop worrying about missing your stop and start enjoying the sights.

  • If you’re traveling to a place where you don’t have Wi-Fi or a data plan, don’t panic. With Google Maps, you can download a region of the map to access it offline—so you can still search for places, get directions and use turn-by-turn navigation even without connectivity.

  • It can be easy to lose your bearings in a new place and spend hours (or what feels like hours!) of precious vacay time searching for where you parked your car. Save your parking location so you can spend less time wondering if your car is parked at D4 or E17.

  
  

  Summer is here—use Google Maps to help you make the most of it. 🏖☀️

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/maps/six-google-maps-travel-hacks-make-your-best-summer-yet/
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  Making SAP experiences on Android extraordinary with the SAP Cloud Platform SDK for Android
  • sorangutan  

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  Mobile applications are changing how businesses of all shapes and sizes get work done. And we want to help more enterprises develop native Android applications that make employees more productive than ever.
  

  That’s why SAP is launching the new SAP Cloud Platform SDK for Android, which allows developers to create native Android apps, based on SAP services, directly in Android Studio. This SDK builds on our existing SAP partnership and delivers more features and a superior user experience than SAP’s previous offerings for Android.

  The best of Android and SAP together

  “By working closely with Google to combine the powerful capabilities of SAP Cloud Platform together with the global reach of the Android operating system, as well as allowing users to build native Fiori apps on Android, mobile workers everywhere will benefit from the new SDK for Android,” says Bjoern Goerke, President SAP Cloud Platform and Chief Technology Officer of SAP SE. “We see a great opportunity to extend the partnership between SAP and Google to help developers build rich, native Android apps, based on SAP Cloud Platform, SAP’s enterprise Platform as a Service."

  As a part of this effort, we collaborated closely with SAP to align design patterns from Fiori, SAP’s user experience for enterprise software, with Material Design. The result is SAP Fiori for Android and the Fiori Design Language for Android, which provide a look and feel that combines the familiarity SAP users find in Fiori with design patterns familiar to Android users.
  

  This collaboration also ensures key Android enterprise features—like managed configurations (app restrictions), Android management features like work profile, and security tools like SafetyNet—work well with Android apps built with the SAP Cloud Platform SDK.

  
  

  

  The SAP Cloud Platform SDK for Android empowers developers to build powerful applications for enterprises.

  Enterprise-ready apps

  The new SDK also streamlines the process for developers to start building apps that take advantage of SAP’s enterprise services. In addition to pre-defined UX tools, it incorporates key features like wiring to SAP platforms, push notifications, offline storage, diagnostics, and security tools directly in the SDK. The first app to use the new SDK is SAP Asset Manager for Android, which is being previewed at the SAPPHIRE NOW conference this week.

  Developers can use the SDK right in Android Studio.

  The release of the SDK is another example of SAP’s deeper investment in Android. In April, SAP released Android support for its micro app development feature SAP Mobile Cards, which makes it easy for users to find information at a glance and perform key tasks on the go.

  How to learn more

  The Android SDK is one of several collaborations we're working on with SAP. You can check out the full list of SAP services available on Google Cloud, along with new services launched this week at SAPPHIRE NOW in Orlando.

  Google and SAP will be at the show to share more on this collaboration. If you want to hear directly from our team, you can find us at the SAP Leonardo Campus Design Experience area in booth LE 504, the Google Cloud booth in booth 370, and presenting at several conference sessions.

  You can also catch us at Droidcon Berlin on June 26 and 27. In the meantime, learn more about the SDK at SAP’s blog.
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/android-enterprise/bringing-new-experiences-android-sap/
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  To all the teachers
  • sorangutan  

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  Editor’s note: Teacher Appreciation Week starts today, and we’re honored to have the recently-named 2018 National Teacher of the Year, Mandy Manning, as our guest author. We’re enormously grateful for the hard work that teachers like Mandy do everyday to ignite curiosity in the next generation. Stay tuned here and follow along on Twitter throughout the week to see how we’re celebrating.

  Becoming a teacher wasn’t part of my original plan. I went to school to become a screenwriter and producer, but after my first job working at a local TV news station, I realized it  didn’t quite fit my personality. I needed to have a different kind of impact. 

  That’s when I found a job as a paraeducator (teaching assistant), then taught for two years in the Peace Corps. But it wasn’t until I moved to the tiny town of Spearman, Texas—where I taught theater and communications and coached speech and debate—that I seriously considered pursuing a career in teaching. From the first moment I stood in front of a classroom of nervous but curious teenagers, I was hooked. Looking at their faces, so full of hope and potential, I knew I’d found my purpose.

  Nineteen years ago, I could never have imagined being named National Teacher of the Year. Now, in this position, I’m humbled by the opportunity to raise the experiences of educators, and share my students’ voices.

  

  National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning poses with her students on graduation day.  

  The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has run the National Teacher of the Year program since 1952. Google helps sponsor this program, and as part of their partnership, they hosted my 54 fellow State Teachers of the Year and me at their Mountain View headquarters this past February. The experience was inspiring and validating, reinforcing how educators across our nation are putting students at the center of their work, and how much direct impact we can have on our communities.

  

  Here are the 55 of us (2018 State Teachers of the Year) enjoying our time with Google in February.

  In one session, we had the honor of collaborating on this year's Doodle celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, which is live on Google homepage in the U.S. today. It was powerful because it gave each of us the chance to talk about what it means to be a teacher, and to bring those concepts together into a single image. We were especially lucky to have help from Jonathan Juravich, Ohio’s 2018 State Teacher of the Year, who is a talented artist and art teacher (learn more about his experience as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Doodle).
  

  We also had the chance to share thoughts and ideas across a range of topics, including the teachers who inspired us, the future of education, and advice for aspiring educators, which are now part of a new video series called “Lessons from Teachers of the Year.” Starting today, these videos will be available on YouTube and I hope they serve as a source of inspiration for educators.

  Other influential individuals in education—like Sal Khan, Charles Best, and Angela Duckworth—answered some of Google’s most-asked questions about education and shared their thoughts on the profession of teaching. Their words of gratitude show the impact that teachers have on their students and the broader community. Check out these videos and trending education-related queries on a Google Trends hub dedicated to Teacher Appreciation Week.

  Over the years, Google has listened to and supported educators through its products, programs and investments, and this week Google.org is providing $500,000 to DonorsChoose.org to match donations to classroom project requests. Google has been working with DonorsChoose.org since 2012, providing more than $20 million to fund over 23,000 projects, reaching one out of every ten public schools in the U.S.

  

  Every day I’m thankful my path led me toward teaching. I look forward to my year ahead as National Teacher of the Year and the opportunity to elevate my colleagues and students’ stories. In the most turbulent of times—and especially in those times—the importance of a good teacher cannot and should not be taken for granted. This week, give a shout out to the teachers who have made a difference in your life. You can even try coding a note of thankswith Made with Code!

  So make sure to #ThankATeacher today—they deserve it.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/teacher-appreciation-week/