Google Apps

Google has publicly stated that its “mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” So it’s no surprise that the company applies this mantra to its own products and services. In an effort to tidy things up, the search giant has introduced a new security section to its user account settings.

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Google has announced a new tool for its iOS Google Apps users this evening that makes it easier to manage accounts and settings. Called iOS Sync, the feature will be integrated directly in to the company’s iOS Gmail and Drive apps and offer a variety of new management tools.

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Earlier today, a huge number of Google account usernames and passwords were leaked onto the internet via a Russian Bitcoin security forum. This afternoon, Google has officially responded to concerns about the more than 4 million supposed login credentials, saying that none of the company’s systems were breached in order to obtain the data. Furthermore, the company says that it found that “less than 2% of the username and password combinations might have worked,” and that those who were affected have been notified.
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It’s finally all coming together. As many suspected would eventually happen, Google Hangouts is finally—in an update rolling out over the next few days—going to be getting integration with Google Voice. The latter service seemed to definitely be getting neglected by Google as of late, with much of the company’s focus going to its Hangouts platform. But it appears that Voice may even moreso eventually become a thing of the past because, starting today, Google is putting it straight into Hangouts as part of a new update to its apps across Android, iOS, and the web.

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The next big probably-hit from the famed game studio behind Halo is about to be released, and to help promote it Bungie has teamed up with Google Maps to create a virtual world built to resemble that of the one in-game. It’s called Destiny Planet View, and you’ll find the way you navigate the first person shooter’s worlds within the new website to be very familiar.

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Have you been wondering what makes Google’s 3D mapping Project Tango tablet tick? The tinkerers at iFixit have managed to get their hands on the device and performed a little exploratory surgery on the device in the name of science. According to the DIY repair site, some of Project Tango’s entrails resemble Microsoft’s Kinect motion tracker, which kind of makes sense.

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Google launched a new AdWords portal today called Website Call Conversions. This new tool lets advertisers identify and measure calls from their website that occur following an ad click. Here’s how it works: whenever someone spots your search ads and click on them, they’ll be directed to your website and will receive a special phone number to call that is connected to the ad they’re viewing.

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After announcing a preview of “Google Classroom” back in May, today Google has opened up the tool for educators to all Google Apps for Education users. Classroom offers teachers a slick platform to plan lessons, assignments, and work alongside students, and today Google also announced some new features its implemented on advice from educators that have been previewing the software. Google is adding new collaboration tools that allow teachers to work with students while they work on assignments:
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Are you looking for a new playlist to get you through your morning commute? If so, Google Play Music has nine freebie tracks up for grabs that might make that ride into work, school or wherever a little bit smoother. Songs like Drake’s Hold On, We’re Going Home, Kendrick Lamar’s Bitch Don’t  Kill My Vibe, and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream are all on the house!

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Google announced today that it’s completely turning down Google Maps API for Flash on September 2nd. This decision follows suit with the company’s initial depreciation period, which started almost three years ago. Developers now have three weeks to migrate their outdated applications to JavaScript Maps API v3 in order for them to remain relevant.

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We’ve been hearing about Google Stars for months now and while the search giant hasn’t made any official announcements, that hasn’t stopped leaks from surfacing. In fact, at one point an extension for the software briefly hit the Chrome App Store, only to be removed shortly after. If you’re having trouble remembering what Stars is, it’s pretty much Mountain View’s new take on bookmarking and collecting things from around the web.

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According to various reports swirling across the internet, Google is once again limiting the number of devices that users can disassociate with their Play Music accounts. Long time users of the music service can probably remember a time in 2012 when this policy was in place, and for one reason or another, the restriction was lifted. Apparently, now it’s back (via Android Central).

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Almost two months back at I/O, Google formally announced its new Google Fit health tracking platform. With support from partners like Addidas and Nike, Mountain View said that it would soon release a preview SDK for developers and today the company has made good on its word. Outlined in a blog post by Angana Ghosh, Product Manager, Google Fit, the platform provides devs with a single set of APIs for apps and device manufacturers to store and access activity data from fitness software and sensors on Android and wearables.

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Today, in a blog post, Google announced the release of Google News Publisher Center, a new tool that helps news producers keep the search company up to date with any changes made to the structure of their website. This portal lets verified companies manage and edit the way their web content is displayed in Google News without having to jump through hoops.

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfD5mBQ-xw]

Google just announced that it’s improving the video call and meeting feature it offers to its Google Apps customers making the process of hosting video Hangouts much smoother. To kick things off, Google Apps for Business customers will now enjoy 24/7 phone support and a 99% uptime guarantee as Google movies Hangouts under the same Terms of Service as Apps. It’s also planning Google Apps Vault integration by the end of the year:
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