Since the start of this pandemic, Google has reiterated how lookups related to COVID-19 are surpassing Search’s “most common and consistent queries.” Many people are seeking local news and information, with Google making tweaks to the Top Stories AMP requirement.
Instead of requiring a full OS update, Google is bringing exposure notifications to Android by leveraging Play services. Ahead of this month’s launch, the two companies are previewing contact tracing apps and what settings Android users will have to control COVID-19 contact tracing.
The first stage of Google and Apple’s exposure notification effort is coming later this month. It starts with an iOS and Android API that lets health agencies build contact tracing apps, with the two companies today previewing the experience and providing sample code to aid development.
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8) this year comes amid COVID-19 driving remote learning around the world. Google is doing its part to celebrate teachers with a Doodle today and by offering more resources to educators.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating many existing problems in society, especially those dealing with cybersecurity. Google today talked about efforts to combat COVID-19 ad fraud, and recapped its work last year.
Last month, quite a few people across the US received a flu questionnaire in Google Opinion Rewards. That data helped Carnegie Mellon University’s COVID-19 forecasting efforts, with Google and YouTube now promoting another research survey from the school.
Google and Apple earlier this month announced a partnership to build contact tracing into iOS and Android. Ahead of the capability launching in mid-May, both companies are previewing the exposure notification API for health agency developers.
The Nvidia Shield TV was finally refreshed late last year with two new models that delivered some excellent upgrades, but one has been hard to get lately. With initial speculation that it was discontinued, Nvidia has recently confirmed that the Shield TV Pro is simply delayed in production.
The coronavirus outbreak in the United States has forced many businesses to give up their offices and allow workers to keep things going from home. As coronavirus restrictions begin to be lifted, Google CEO Sundar Pichai is telling employees that they won’t return to the office until at least June.
Personal protective equipment is in short supply across the US as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Google today helped its local community by donating 49,000 face shields that it designed and assembled.
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, tech is playing a role in how we can prevent the spread. However, if you own a recently-released Huawei smartphone that lacks Google apps, you also won’t get access to the powerful coronavirus contact tracing API that Google and Apple have been working on.
Last week, Google released a simple and moving ad thanking healthcare workers around the world for combating COVID-19. The company is now continuing that praise by saying thank you to all coronavirus helpers with a series of Google Doodles over the next two weeks.
In an email to employees last week, Sundar Pichai laid out Google’s internal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new report today reveals a significant impact on marketing budgets across the company.
Earlier this month, Google revealed what coronavirus-related spam, malware, and phishing Gmail is blocking on a daily basis. The company today detailed online threats from government-backed groups, and provided security tips for avoiding COVID-19 scams.
Google’s Android TV platform is great at recommending content to watch from your homescreen using its “Channels” feature. Now, Google is adding coronavirus news content to Android TV’s homescreen powered by YouTube.
With many staying at home and possibly out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube is hoping to keep everyone entertained with a new slate of original programming. Rolling out over the next two months, YouTube is releasing new original shows, specials, and live events designed around its coronavirus “#WithMe” campaign.
Healthcare professionals and other first responders are hammered in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and, for many, their smartphones are more important than ever. Today, Samsung has announced that it will offer free phone repairs for those in healthcare and other first responders fighting COVID-19.
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, getting messages about social distancing, good hygiene, and other preventative measures is absolutely crucial. Now, WhatsApp is giving its billions of users access to a new sticker pack that promotes social distancing and staying home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Google Shopping can be a powerful tool for online retailers to get their products in front of millions of users on the web, but it’s always come with a fee. Today, Google has announced that it will allow any business to list products on Google Shopping for free.
No two ways about it, the world is in a medical crisis the likes of which our generations have never experienced. COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, taking more lives each day. To help encourage as many people as possible to stay home, Google has replaced their homepage with a Doodle offering coronavirus tips, including a reminder to “Stay Home. Save Lives.”
Until a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, increasing testing capability is a key step towards helping things return to some semblance of normality. Google Search now links to coronavirus testing sites in your vicinity.
Following the example of Google’s Wear OS, Samsung has just added a new “Hand Wash” timer to its collection of Galaxy smartwatches as the folks at SamMobile spotted.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating many existing societal issues, including misinformation and cyberattacks. Google is working to protect users from the latter by detailing what coronavirus-related spam Gmail encounters and is automatically blocking.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Google has linked to and provided a number of convenient resources. People looking up COVID-19 information on the desktop web are seeing a redesigned Google Search experience with prominent sidebar to organize results.
