First look – Google Nest Doorbell. #Google #NestDoorbell

The all new Google Nest doorbell has arrived and is now going to be part of my new home security set up, having a wireless system makes more sense these days and the technology has improved hugely over the last few years as I have been using wireless security cameras in my home and having one ecosystem makes more sense rather than several mixed in together and it also cause clutter with extra hubs and so on.. The new offering from Google is of course wireless and easy to install too and can easily replace your existing system at home with less hassle especially if you have a wired set up that does limit the abilities and flexibility of the products.

Check out the unboxing and first look whilst we check this out over the coming weeks and we will have footage and more on this and the new nest cam too.  Any questions you know what to do..

BUY 

 

 

First look – New Indoor and Outdoor Google nest cam. #Google #Security #Nestcam

Google recently announced some new products and these are most welcome in my book, I am a keen Google product user and this makes thing much more seamless for me all round, as a keen security fan I have many security cameras in my home and will now be moving completely over to the Google platform with the new products.

The new next cam can be used indoors and outdoors and it operates via battery rather than being wired which is a nuisance  today and limits the product portability factor for me, not that there is anything wrong with wired cameras but wireless in 2021 should be the thing same as USB-C and hopefully all future smartwatches.

Today we check out the new camera with a quick unboxing and tour of the device and we will have a full review in the coming weeks with footage from the camera and everything else that goes with it so stay tuned for that..

You can buy today from Google 

 

 

 

Google Trends turns 15 this summer. Trends from 2006 and 2021 compared.

What were you doing in 2006? Maybe you were going through your emo phase. Maybe you were loving low rise jeans. Maybe you were mourning Pluto’s (temporary) demotion from planet to dwarf planet.

Maybe you were checking out these trends — and plenty of others — on Google Trends, which went live in the summer of 2006. Though the tool’s data goes back to 2004, it became available two years later. This summer, Google Trends turns 15, so we thought it would be the perfect time to look back on trends of yesteryear and compare what people were searching for back in 2006 to today.

For me gaming and tech obviously was something of interest and also trainers and those who follow me know of late I have been picking up old school trainers that where out back in the day and there is a love for all things retro right now.

Most-searched song lyrics — July 2006, U.S.

  1. Unfaithful – Rhianna

  2. Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake

  3. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley

  4. Buttons – Pussycat Dolls

  5. Miss Murder – AFI

Most-searched song lyrics — July 2021, U.S.

  1. Fancy Like – Walker Hayes

  2. Traitor – Olivia Rodrigo

  3. Favorite Crime – Olivia Rodrigo

  4. Ain’t Shit – Doja Cat

  5. Deja Vu – Olivia Rodrigo

Most-searched actors — July 2006, U.S.

  1. Oprah

  2. Zac Efron

  3. Paris Hilton

  4. Channing Tatum

  5. Lindsay Lohan

Most-searched actors — July 2021, U.S.

  1. Olivia Rodrigo

  2. Scarlett Johansson

  3. Florence Pugh

  4. Tom Holland

  5. Millie Bobby Brown

Most-searched TV shows —  July 2006, U.S.

  1. Project Runway

  2. Big Brother

  3. Lost

  4. Miami Vice

  5. American Idol

Most-searched TV shows — July 2021, U.S.

  1. Big Brother

  2. Gossip Girl

  3. Grey’s Anatomy

  4. iCarly

  5. Criminal Minds

Most-searched Games – July 2006, U.S.

1. Tetris

2. Sonic

3. Halo 3

4. Bejeweled

5. Battlefield 2

Most-searched Games – July 2021, U.S.

1. Sonic

2. Genshin Impact

3. Minesweeper

4. GTA 6

5. Battlefield 2042

Google launches new Nest cams and Doorbell. #GoogleNest #Security

Google Nest’s mission is to build products that make a more helpful home. All of this starts with helping you understand what’s happening within the walls of your home and outside of it. Today they are introducing their next generation Nest Cams and Doorbell: Google Nest Cam (battery) is their first outdoor/indoor battery-powered camera (€210); Google Nest Doorbell (battery) is their first battery-powered doorbell ( €210). Then there’s Google Nest Cam with floodlight, their first connected floodlight camera ( €315) and finally the second-generation Google Nest Cam (wired), their most affordable wired indoor camera ( €105). As a keen security fan with a set up here at home I think I will be moving over to this collection as I am an entrenched Google product user

One of Nest’s first goals was to simplify home security, and it helped millions of people do this. So when we started dreaming up what our next generation of cameras and doorbells would be like, we wanted to  incorporate the way the connected home — and your expectations — were heading. That included smarter alerts, wire-free options for installation flexibility, greater value and beautiful designs, plus enhanced privacy and security. We wanted our new line to give you the most comprehensive set of intelligent alerts right out of the box, and easily work with your other Nest products, like displays.

The new battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell are available for preorder today and will go on sale on Aug. 24. Nest Cam with Floodlight and the new wired indoor Nest Cam are coming later this year.

 

Security with smarts

Because we’re all overloaded with notifications every day, our next-generation cameras and doorbell are made to send you the most helpful alerts. They detect important events that happen in and around the home, you can even create your own custom zones to cover the areas you want to be notified about, including alerts for people, animals and vehicles — and in Nest Doorbell’s case, also packages. Their new cameras and doorbell can do this because they process what they see on-device, which means more relevant notifications and added privacy and security. On-device processing means that all of this works right out of the box, no subscription required.

More versatility for your home

Nest’s new camera and doorbell line are truly made for every home. Battery technology allows you to install Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell nearly anywhere in your home — not just where there’s a power outlet or existing doorbell wires. The wire-free design makes installation even easier, too. And for those who prefer the option to wire their cameras, we’ve  added the ability to wire the battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell. The Google Store is stocked with accessories for Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell so it’s easy to install them where you want.

Google nest family

Nest devices that work together

Customers have told Google how much they appreciate that their Nest products all work well together. These new devices are no different. With the new Nest Cams and a display, you can keep an eye on the backyard from your Nest Hub and get alerts when the doorbell rings. Our new cameras are also fully integrated with the Google Home app, giving you access to all your compatible home devices in one place. With a Nest Aware subscription, you can unlock even more: Extend your event video history from three hours to 30 or 60 days, and get continuous 24/7 video history on wired Nest Cams with Nest Aware Plus. 

Reliability when you need it

In case of a power or Wi-Fi outage, Nest Doorbell, both Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Cam with floodlight have local storage fallback, meaning they’ll record up to one hour of events on-device (about a week’s worth of events). Nest Cam (wired) also records on-device if your Wi-Fi is down. When service returns, the devices will upload your events to the cloud, so you can review what happened.

Made with care 

We believe that technology for the home should be welcoming, and complement your decor rather than distract from it. When designing our new products, we drew design inspiration from lighting and architecture to create products that look great together and in lots of different settings. And our new cameras, doorbell and floodlight are designed sustainably with recycled materials.

Learn more about the new Nest Doorbell and Nest Cam (battery), available for preorder today and on sale Aug. 24. 

Google gives us a sneak peak at the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 pro

Google today dropped some information on their upcoming devices the Pixel 6 and PIxel 6 pro and no they are NOT leaks, we don’t cover leaks and never will and we rather wait to get our news from the horse’s mouth and today that has happened with the two much anticipated devices set to launch this year and eager fans of pixel devices like myself look forward to getting one of them when they do launch.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 pro will come with their own silicon too which is akin to what other manufacturers like Apple Huawei and Samsung are doing and this can be cost saving which hopefully reflects in the price when they do launch so let’s see what the specs are that have been dropped today.. No battery capacity has been given which is interesting but with their new silicon the Tensor SoC  (System on a Chip) you would be sure to see things very well optimized.

The Pixel 6 

Google Tensor Chip / 6.4” Flat FHD 90Hz / Dual Camera (Primary, Ultrawide) / In-display fingerprint sensor / Android 12 with Material You
The Pixel 6 Pro 
Google Tensor Chip / 6.7” Curved QHD 120Hz / Triple Camera (Primary, Ultrawide, Telephoto 4x) / In-display fingerprint sensor
Android 12 with Material You
Design
The design would bring you back to the Nexus P which had a bar going right across the rear which is fine and the new design is quite nice too and moving away from the usual set with a block on one side and I think it is nice and it stands out, this is placed high on the top of the device and this means the phone should not rock if flat on a table and presuming there will be cases to go with the devices this will also eliminate the rocking effect and of course offer added protection and it will be nice to see what cases they do bring us on launch day.
Colours
The colour scheme here too is nice and different and moving away from the traditional offerings most manufacturers give us and in saying that they did so with the Pixel 5 from last year which I still use today and love it the two tone look is quite nice and there is two finishes on the camera bar one being silver and one being black and my preference being the silver finish with the orange accents.
Why show off these devices now one might ask? Well google have been known not to keep their cards close to their chest but they have left out some other important specs but at least we get to see the device and maybe they are flexing abit here and  is shaping up to be a true flagship
You can read more on the news over on their blog

Google to receive IDA Ireland Special Recognition Award 2021

IDA Ireland today announced that Google has been selected as the recipient of the IDA Ireland Special Recognition Award 2021. The award will recognise and celebrate the contribution that Google has made to Ireland over the past 18 years.

The award will be presented to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google at an event in the US in September. The award will be presented by An Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar and CEO IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan.

The Tánaiste said: “Google is one of Ireland’s biggest employers and it has helped make Ireland the tech capital of Europe. When it opened in Dublin in 2003, Google was planning a workforce of 200. Now it employs 8,000 people with many more jobs sustained indirectly serving its operations. Google is a worthy recipient of the IDA Special Recognition Award and I look forward to meeting Mr Pichai again in person later this year.”

“Google has had a remarkable success story here and the impact it has had on Irish society and the economy has been significant”, said Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland. “IDA Ireland introduced this annual Special Recognition Award in January 2020 as we believe it is important that we celebrate the huge contribution our 1600+ FDI companies have made to Ireland. Foreign Direct Investment continues to be a substantive driver of the economy. Our client companies in Ireland have demonstrated longevity and resilience despite the unprecedented challenge posed by the Covid 19 pandemic, and continued commitment, creating jobs – the numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland is at an all-time high of 257,394. Additionally, eight jobs are created in the wider economy for every ten created by IDA Ireland client companies, amounting to estimated total direct and indirect employment of 463,300, clearly demonstrating the enormous benefits to the economy.

“The award recognises Ireland’s proven ability to be an enduring partner for businesses with international ambitions. It is also an opportunity to showcase internationally the level and sophistication of FDI in Ireland. IDA very much looks forward to presenting the award to Sundar Pichai and to acknowledge the contribution that Google has made to the development of Ireland as a recognised and thriving tech hub in Europe”, Martin Shanahan concluded.

“We established an office in 2003 with just five employees committed to making Ireland a home for Google and a hub for our EMEA operations. Our incredible team plays a critical role in driving Google forward right across the region and I’m honoured that this award will recognise their contributions”, said Nick Leeder, VP Google Ireland. “The IDA has been instrumental in nurturing Ireland as an international tech hub, where we have found a talented and dedicated workforce and a wonderful community we call home. In turn, Google Ireland is committed to helping Irish businesses and communities grow and, as we look ahead to our future in Ireland, I am excited about the work we will continue to do together.”

Plan your next adventure with Google Maps. #Travel #Tips #Summer

Summer is well and truly here and rain, hail or shine,  it’s time to start planning your next adventure. This summer is all about getting out and about, whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip, hunting down the best hiking or bike trails, or mapping out your next meal, Google Maps is on hand to plan your long awaited outdoor adventure or staycation.

Google Maps can help guide the way — no matter where you’re going. Feeling adventurous? Here are some tips on how Google Maps can help you discover new experiences across the country or just around the corner.

Curate your bucket list: Easily create lists of places you want to go, and add notes to the places you’ve saved. You can keep these lists private, share them with close friends, or share them publicly. You can also browse through lists created by publishers, Local Guides or Google.

Tabs are your new tick list: Use the tabs at the bottom of the app to keep track of your bucket list and find your next must-see destination! Check out the Updates tab to see trending, must-see spots from local experts and publishers — so you can find the best things to do no matter where you are.

Reserve your spot: Set your plan in stone by making a reservation through Google Maps. Save your spot at restaurants, classes, activities and more using Reserve with Google. Find the perfect place for you by using the search filter to search by price, rating, cuisine and opening times. Have a question about your chosen spot? You can communicate directly with businesses through their Business Profiles on Google Maps.

Use Google Maps as your tour guide this Summer: You can search for areas of interest, local events, trendy restaurants, things to do, or notable locations in Google Maps. Find places like nearby museums, new restaurants, and popular bars. As you use Google Maps more often, you’ll see matches for various places. These matches show how well a place matches your preferences and displays places and events in areas that interest you.

Find parks and hiking trails on Google Maps: Search outdoor terms like “hiking trails” or “parks near me” to find nearby treks. For most hiking trails, you’ll be able to find ratings, reviews and photos from other hikers. Some may also have useful details like open hours and phone numbers. You can also use the Lists feature on Google Maps to see curated recommendations.

Keep your friends and family updated: You can choose who can find your location and how long to share your location with Google Location Sharing. People you share your location with can see your name, profile picture, and real-time location. Your shared location may include information about where you are, where you’ve just been, what you’re doing (like driving or walking), and where you’re visiting next.

Share your hidden Gems: Come across a cool spot? Why not write a review? Using Google Maps, you can write reviews for places you’ve visited. You can also leave information or post photo updates about a place, like if it’s quiet and romantic, or even if it’s under renovation.

Remember where you’ve been: From the new trailhead you found to the hidden campground you want to revisit, why not use Saved Places to view all these spots in one place. It’s perfect for reminiscing and sharing recommendations with friends.

Pedal to your next adventure: Planning a hill climb or just looking to explore? Check how flat or steep a route will be, bicycle friendly roads and dedicated bike lanes with biking directions. Cycling in Dublin? You can check how many bikes are available at each Dublin Bikes station through Google Maps, as well as if there are any empty spaces to return a bike.

Keep tabs on the restaurant scene: Whether you’re hungry for an adventure, or just hungry! Google Maps has you covered. Why not map out your next meal with Google Maps? Along with details like operating hours and COVID-19 safety precautions in Google Maps, you can also see every foodie’s favorite info: trending dishes. Check out a restaurant’s Business Profile on Maps to get the scoop on things like a restaurant’s most popular dishes along with other information like pricing, images and reviews

First look at the new Pixel buds A series. #Pixelbuds #Aseries

Since their launch the Pixel buds have only got better over time with software updates and have been in my top 5 in my earbuds collection ever since and with the market saturated today giving the consumer choice it is giving consumers a wide variety of options when it comes to spending money, the original pixel buds will set you back €199 which some might find steep considering the value that is out there now but the new pixel buds cost only €99 slashing the price in half and at first glance it is hard to tell the difference between both..

Today we take a quick first look and unboxing and quickly compare both earbuds and will test them out in the coming weeks and if you have any questions feel free to comment below or ask us on our social channels but I am excited for the new PIxel Buds A-Series and look forward to what they have to offer, could they put a spanner in the works for other manufacturers? We will find out soon..

As Ireland begins to re-open, Explore Ireland with Google Maps and Local Guides. #Travel #Ireland #GoogleMaps

As the country re-opens this week, now is the time to re-discover Ireland with the help of Google Maps and its community of Local Guides. We all know Google Maps can help us find the best directions but the app has more uses than just directions.

With help from Local Guides you can also use the wisdom of local experts to find hidden gems close to home you may never have known existed or to get to know an area before you visit. Local Guides is a passionate community of users who share reviews, photos and local knowledge about places around the world and every day make more than 20 million contributions from reviews to photography of local places on Google Maps.

Dana Singh is a local guide based in Dublin that’s an active member of the Local Guides community who not only uses other Local Guides reviews to help plan her own day trips and holidays but likes to give back to this online community by sharing reviews and images of everywhere she visits. She’s uploaded over 1,000 images to help people plan their own trips and they’ve been viewed millions of times by other users. Her images and first-hand knowledge of everything from beauty spots to local businesses helps other users every day whether its visiting a local business or a trip further afield. Dana is also passionate about helping local businesses and has connected with many businesses in her community to help them update their business listings, making sure Google Maps users can easily find them and plan their visit with up to date business information and images.

Local Guides goes beyond navigation to help people explore the world around them and the hidden gems in our local communities – what better way to discover Ireland than with the help of local knowledge. If you want to get to know a particular area you plan on visiting you can follow a top local guide in the area to see all of their reviews to get to know the area better before you visit or closer to home you might find a Local Guide who regularly reviews restaurants and you can easily follow them to get reviews before your next takeaway or planning ahead with a reservation in June. Local Guides can also prove helpful for those who need accessibility information before a visit , many Local Guides include accessibility information such as parking, terrain and how much walking is involved as part of reviews  to help those for whom this information is crucial for.

In the Explore tab you can easily explore any area in Ireland and find; local cafes, restaurants and bars now doing a take-away service, newly reopened galleries and museums and, if you can face another walk, the best beaches, landmarks or parks to visit. Then in preparation for the summer of staycation-ing ahead keep track of all your favourite places or spots you want to visit using Lists which you can keep to yourself or share with friends.