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Google.org announces €300,000 to fund nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities in Dublin

Minister Simon Harris TD was in St. Andrews Resource Centre, Pearse Street in Dublin this morning to announce funding support of €300,000 by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, to fund nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities.

The Minister was joined by Carlow native Lorraine Twohill, Google’s global Chief Marketing Officer to make the announcement that will see the €300,000 in funding directly support nonprofit programmes defined by Google’s Employment Task Force, a diverse coalition of community experts who are identifying ways to drive inclusive economic growth in Dublin.

Launched in 2021, Google’s Employment Task Force aims to find sustainable employment solutions for long-term unemployed people from the south inner city and provide training and development opportunities. Attendees at this morning’s event had the opportunity to hear from community representatives and participants in the current Employment Task Force programmes.

Today’s grant by Google.org will fund programmes by two nonprofits:

St. Andrews Resource Centre – will create a hyperlocal, community based training programme to upskill 50 local unemployed people to become more employable by obtaining a certified level of housekeeper and complementary digital skills to enable them to gain sustainable employment in a growing industry.
Ringsend Community Service Forum – will offer focused training for 50 local managers and emergent leaders through a ‘train the trainer’ process to provide assistance in accessing jobs, educational & training opportunities for up to 2000 local unemployed youth in Ringsend and Irishtown. Youth will be significantly upskilled on basic tech and digital skills thereby helping to close the digital gap and allowing access to new career opportunities as a result.

Speaking at the event this morning, Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said:

“I am delighted to be here to see the impact that is being made by Google’s Employment Task Force. This is my second visit and I am overwhelmed each time at the impact this is having in communities. This programme is driven by the local community and for those who live there. I want to thank Google for their further commitment to this important work today.”

Lorraine Twohill, Google’s Chief Marketing Officer said:

“I am proud to be here today to announce further support from Google for such a significant and important employment initiative. We’ve been part of the Ringsend and Pearse Street community for almost 20 years, and we know it is important for Google to show up locally. We remain committed to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the Docklands community, and through the Task Force and organisations we support, we will continue to build on the work launched in 2021, helping to create meaningful, sustainable and long-term employment for members of our local community.”

Created and enabled by Google, the Employment Task Force is an initiative that is driven by the local community and made up of Google representatives, community based training employment and education services, local businesses, Dublin City Council and the Department of Social Protection. Today’s announcement follows a commitment of over €500,000 by Google in 2021 at the launch of the Employment Task Force,

Jim Hargis, Manager of Local Employment Service at St. Andrew’s Resource Centre, representing the Local Employment Task Force, said:

“This is a unique and impactful initiative, one that brings together the people and organisations that have a direct and often personal experience of local unemployment challenges. This diverse coalition of community experts and representatives will provide support, mentoring and access to skills training – all vital elements of employment services – to local unemployed young people and those seeking educational and other supports. I want to offer my thanks to those who spoke today and shared their experience of participating in the programmes run by the Task Force and to thank Google for further committing to this project.”

Google Pixel Watch – First look and impressions

Google have launched their first official watch which is of course smart and the same applies to the watch as did the phone and any tech we do not do leaks for clicks we wait for the product to be in our hands for assessment and the day has come us to check it out.

I have many smartwatches here as our readers know and a fan for several reasons, it keeps you off your phone more you can do things from the watch if required to do so and get on without the need to take your phone out of your pocket and this was a conversation I had with Nokia mobile here in Dublin last week with some of their feature phones and the same applies to a watch whereby it is less distracting and you can chose to ignore or reply to emails and social etc which is also good for the mental health I think..

Now with this offering from Google it appears to be a fitness orientated watch on top of being smart at the same time and as we know they bought fitbit and fitbit did not cut it offering more for the user but was heavy on the fitness end of things and was more a product for people into fitness but with not much other functionality which I understand, different strokes for different folks and all that but this has changed somewhat.

Again there has been commentary on this watch which I chose to ignore and make my own assessments and so far it has been more so on the bad side, again form folks who typically pick on Google and do not have the product in hand and snuff the idea of its existence which is fine don’t get me wrong but it is down to the hands on experience after all and what the product does isn’t it?

Check the video below for more and if you have any questions drop em in the comments

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Unboxing video

Google Pixel 7 – First Look and impressions

The Google Pixel 7 has arrived and once again we avoided all the leaks and wait until the device is in our hands to see for ourselves what is on offer and still using the Pixel 6a which I am loving it is time to see what the new member of the family has to offer, being a pixel user from their first ever device these are phones that stay in my hands longer than others as I have an entire Google ecosystem at home and it all works very seamlessly.

There is some cool new features of course with the new device and once again makes live simple, some we have seen before and enhanced and there is an argument over which device is better value for money with the price, we have a bumped up Tensor chip G2 which is their own inhouse chip.

We have a 6.3 inch Oled screen with 416 PPI, 1400 nits and 2400 X 1080 panel, A 90hz refresh rate here which is a bit disappointing some will say as it is the new buzzword but for me it is no huge deal being honest having used and own devices with 120hz refresh rate for the most I have has to point this out and show people and not really a deal breaker to be frank but others would disagree and nitpick like we always see for Google devices at launch bit no so loud on iPhone shortcomings and I own an iPhone 14 pro which so far has been pretty much the same as before, having said that it is a tech cycle and we often see a small jump in specs and then companies calling old things new and then features arriving later and so on and claiming they are new, you know how it goes and often it is funny how they take each other off on social media. Banter never did anyone any harm.

The rear has changed to a metal visor style this time and for the better and one piece with a 50MP camera that comes with OIS 12MP ultra wide and but no telephoto camera, the front camera is 10.8 MP and as we know Google has done cameras very well over the years even with a single lens option. There is new features here like Cinematic blur which and face unblur and for that you can tidy up some old photos but we will see more on that in the full review later on. We also have 4K 60fps which is plenty in my eyes, currently I have a phone that shoots in 8K which is pointless today. You will need to update the app because it will keep crashing until you do. Also note the Pixel watch app will need to be installed.

The battery again is of course another feature people often speak about which comes in at 4355mAh and smaller than last years which was 4614mAh if my memory serves me right so it will be interesting to see how that fair out in our testing, there is new features to come to the Pixel 7 later down the road.

Today we take a tour of the Pixel 6 and have a look at the UI and see what is there and check out the phone in general as we always do here and let you see what it is all about and if you have any questions feel free to ask, we only have the device in our hands for 3 days and so far so good but it takes more than that to give an honest review which we will have in a few weeks and a better assessment loaded with all the apps for example and any updates that arrive in the interim and see how it gets on and I expect to see good things going forward as always and we will report them here and if there is any shortcomings but for the price it looks like another winner and is the pro version worth the extra 250 euro they ask??

Also stay tuned for some case reviews and more for the Pixel 7 coming soon from our other partners.

You can read more on their blog here

Order the Pixel 7 here

Unboxing here

Ten things to know so far on the new Pixel phones

Pixel 7.

Simply

powerful.

Super helpful.

Meet Pixel 7. It’s fast, secure and helpful, with advanced photo and video features and all-day battery life.Take beautifully authentic photos with improved Real Tone and stunning video with Cinematic Blur. The super-sharp 6.3-inch display is fast and responsive for smoother gaming and scrolling. And it’s 25% brighter for better visibility outdoors.

Pixel 7 starts at only €649. And it’s available in Snow, Obsidian and Lemongrass.

Pixel 7 Pro.

The all-pro

Google phone.

Beautiful

and durable, inside and

out.

Introducing Pixel 7 Pro, Google’s best-of-everything phone. It’s fast and secure, with all-day battery life and an immersive 6.7-inch Smooth Display that intelligently adjusts up to 120 Hz.1, 2, 5 The triple rear camera system includes a dedicated 5x telephoto lens and 30x Super Res Zoom for crisp, clear photos from far away. The upgraded ultrawide lens with auto-focus powers Macro Focus for amazing shots of the tiniest details.

Pixel 7 Pro starts at €899. And it’s available in Snow, Obsidian and Hazel.

This is Pixel’s most refined design, with a smooth glass back and aluminium frame and Camera Bar. Pixel 7 Pro is elegant and sophisticated with polished aluminium, and Pixel 7 is super sleek with a matte aluminium finish. Both phones are made with recycled materials.7 And they’re as durable as they are beautiful. Pixel can handle water and dust with IP68 protection. The display is scratch resistant, with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus.

Google

Tensor G2.

The brains

behind it all.

Google Tensor G2 is the next-gen processor custom built for Pixel with Google’s advanced machine learning and speech recognition. It makes Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro faster, more efficient, more secure and even more helpful. And it delivers Pixel’s best photo and video quality ever, with next-gen Super Res Zoom, up to two times faster Night Sight processing, sharper photos with Face Unblur and new features like Cinematic Blur.

The most

advanced

Pixel cameras yet.

The photo and video quality of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro cameras is extraordinary. The large main sensor brings in light and detail, even in low light. The Pixel 7 front camera is now the same as the one in Pixel 7 Pro, for better low-light photography, stunning 4K60 video and a wide field of view for group selfies. Cinematic Blur makes Hollywood-like videos. With Real Tone, all skin tones are represented beautifully and accurately – now in Night Sight and Portrait mode too. Photo Unblur improves your blurry pictures – new or old.10 And Guided Frame helps people with low vision take the best selfies through audio and haptics. Photos match your vision with Pixel camera favourites like Magic Eraser, Motion mode and Face Unblur.

Secure to the core.

The battery

lasts all day.

Pixel 7 is the most secure and private Pixel yet. With Google Tensor G2 and the Titan M2 security chip, Pixel is built with multiple layers of security to help keep your personal info safe. Face Unlock and Fingerprint Unlock quickly and easily unlock your phone with just a glance or a tap. With VPN by Google One built in, Pixel will help protect your online activity no matter what app or web browser you use (coming soon). And Pixel comes with at least five years of security updates, so your phone gets even more secure over time.

Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 24 hours.1It learns your favourite apps, so it doesn’t waste power on ones that you rarely use. Turn on Extreme Battery Saver, and the battery can last up to 72 hours. And with the compatible 30 W USB-C® Charger (sold separately), your Pixel charges super fast – up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes.

A world of

help. Built

around you.

Pixel phones, earbuds and watches work together to help you throughout your day. It’s easy to connect your Pixel devices with each other and switch between them, so you can watch, listen or work from device to device. Control your entertainment or smart devices from your phone, earbuds or watch. Focus on your health and fitness with the Google Pixel Watch (sold separately) and get even more insights on your phone. And use your favourite Google apps, like Assistant, Maps and YouTube Music, when and where you need them.

The best of

Google,

included with Pixel.

The Pixel 7 comes with three months of YouTube Premium and Google One. The combined savings add up to almost €42– all to help you get the most out of your new Pixel.

So much help, in so many ways.

Pixel is more helpful than ever. At a Glance shows you useful info at the right time, like your baggage claim info at the airport or when a package is delivered to your door. With voice message transcription, you can read audio messages. Assistant voice typing lets you type with your voice – now in Spanish, French and Italian. Pixel search is faster and more powerful – it searches your entire phone and the web. And every few months, Pixel gets feature drops – software updates with new and improved features, tricks and tips. So, Pixel just keeps getting better.

FINAL CALL For Small Businesses Across Ireland To Win Money-Can’t-Buy Prize From Google

It’s the final countdown as the closing date for entries to Google’s You’re the Business campaign is fast approaching. Google wants to hear from SMEs across Ireland by 7 October about how using digital skills and tools has helped to enhance or to grow their business with ten of those businesses winning a truly unique, money-can’t-buy prize.

The prize package or Personal Plan includes a customised suite of digital supports from Google, expert sector and industry-specific mentoring across a range of technical areas that will help the ten SMEs – selected by a panel of established judges – to further develop their business. The selected businesses will also receive a €1,000 Google ads package each.

Entry is simple but time is ticking! To be considered one of the ten lucky businesses to receive this one-of-a-kind digital prize package, SMEs can submit a video [via the You’re the Business site] no longer than two minutes in duration detailing what their business means to them, as well as an example of how they have used digital to enhance their business. This can be anything from setting up or optimising a web presence to expanding your operations internationally.

Submissions must be uploaded here by the newly extended deadline of 7 October 2022.

John Gallagher, Head of Accelerated Growth at Google, said:

“Small Businesses are an invaluable part of Ireland’s economy employing over 1 million people across the country. We are privileged to work with many of these businesses every day and continue to be impressed by the passion and drive for growth they demonstrate. At Google we are also fortunate to see the creativity of these SMEs and how they are leveraging digital to enhance their businesses. That’s why, as part of our You’re the Business initiative, we want to help ten SMEs to further enhance these digital skills by offering a unique opportunity to receive tailored mentoring from sector experts within Google. The selected businesses will also receive a customised support package that includes €1,000 worth of Google ad funding.

“We are hoping that as many SMEs as possible from across Ireland will log on and tell us why they’re the business – we can’t wait to hear from you!”

Launched this year, You’re the Business – a partnership between Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices – focuses on supporting Irish SMEs to upskill digitally and enhance their online capabilities.

You’re the Business provides Irish SMEs with access to a series of live and on-demand training sessions, geared towards supporting companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey, including those at early stages right through to those more digitally-sophisticated businesses. The training consists of three modules that will help businesses understand how they can use digital to get online, grow online and expand internationally.

For further information on the various training modules as well as the opportunity to be awarded a customised support package, please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

Google Maps Eco-friendly routing launches in Europe

Imagine you’re planning a day trip from your home in Athlone over to Limerick – over an hour and a half journey. To decide how to get there, you open Google Maps — which offers multiple navigation options including walking, cycling and public transit directions. Given the length of the trip, it makes the most sense to drive, and you immediately search for the fastest route.

But what if there were other options: A route that would take nine minutes more, but would save nearly 30% of your expected fuel consumption?

Now rolling out: Eco-friendly routing across Europe

This is now possible thanks to eco-friendly routing in Google Maps, which starts rolling out in nearly 40 countries across Europe today. With eco-friendly routing, you can choose a route that’s optimized for lower fuel consumption, which helps you save money on fuel and reduce carbon emissions — something that’s top of mind for many Europeans. And this is a real concern – according to Statista’s 2022 report, road transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions throughout Europe.

Now, in addition to showing the fastest route, Google Maps will also display the one that’s most fuel efficient, if it doesn’t happen to also be the fastest. With just a few taps, you can see the relative fuel savings and time difference between the two routes and choose the one that works best for you. Always want to choose the fastest route, no matter what? That’s okay too — simply adjust your preferences in Settings.

Eco-friendly routing is making an impact around the world. Since launching in the U.S., Canada, and Germany, it’s already estimated to have helped remove more than half a million metric tons of carbon emissions — equivalent to taking 100,000 fuel-based cars off the road.

Get the most fuel-efficient route based on engine type

The most fuel-efficient route will vary based on what type of engine you have. For example, diesel engines are usually more efficient at higher speeds than petrol or gas engines, while hybrid and electric vehicles perform better in stop-and-go traffic. That’s why, in the coming weeks, we’ll make it possible for drivers using eco-friendly routing in Europe, the U.S. and Canada to select their engine type — petrol or gas, diesel, hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) — in order to get the best route and most accurate fuel or energy efficiency estimates.

This technology is made possible thanks to insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and data from the European Environment Agency. By pairing this information with Google Maps driving trends, we were able to develop advanced machine learning models trained on the most popular engine types in a given region.

Helping you make sustainable choices with Google Maps and beyond

Whether you’re staying local or traveling, Google can help you get where you need to go more sustainably with a few helpful tips:

It’s electric! If you have an electric vehicle, just search for “EV charging station” on Google Maps to see charging stations nearby, along with helpful details, like port types and charging speeds. And for some stations, you can even see if a charger is available right now, helping you avoid the wait and save valuable time.

Swap four wheels for two. Often, the most sustainable choice doesn’t involve a car at all, and Google Maps can help you with alternate ways to get around. We recently announced more cycling route information, including a more detailed breakdown of your route and whether you’ll encounter heavy car traffic, stairs or steep hills on the way. And you can find nearby bike and scooter shares in over 500 cities around the world including Barcelona, Berlin, London, Paris, and Rome.

Walking the walk: Google Maps offers turn-by-turn directions for pedestrians. To ensure you’re not walking the wrong way, Live View uses augmented reality to display arrows and directions clearly overlaid on the map. Plus, you can preview your walking route with Street View.

Navigate public transport with ease. By tapping on the transit icon in Directions, you get directions to your destination by bus, train, subway and even ferry. When available, you can see real time arrival and departure times, transfers, and service delays. And Google Maps gives you all the information you need to be prepared, like how crowded your ride will be, what the temperature is like, and if there are wheelchair-accessible routes available.

Sleep more sustainably. Google Search helps you find hotels that have made significant commitments to green practices. Hotels that are certified for meeting high standards of sustainability from certain independent organizations, like Green Key or EarthCheck, will have an eco-certified badge next to their name. This helps you understand their eco-friendly practices, from waste reduction to energy efficiency to water conservation measures.

All this is part of their commitment to empower 1 billion people through Google products by the end of the year – by making the sustainable choice an easier choice.

Tech Review – Official Google Pixel 6a case

it is a case we know what they are like but here is the Google Pixel 6a case in all its glory, simple and to the point an own brand case is always a good thing and this case is clean, thin and does the job out of the box which is what I want when I buy a new phone this case is not the denim type we have seen before but one from the last device the 6 and 6 pro which came in several colours.

This has that smokey effect and is thin, all ports are accessible and it looks nice on the phone and also gives you addition grip which is great, the Pixel 6a is not a behemoth like the 6 and 6 pro which are heavier phones so this case does a good job offer protection out of the gate. The clean simple style might not be everyone’s taste but it is what it is and for me will do the job and more cases will of course land with us soon.

Check the video below for a closer look.

Google Pixel 6a short term review

It is that time of year again when Google drops their new (a) model and over time it has been a successful phone and having used the 6a for the last two weeks or so for now it is safe to say this one is no different either, a full review is not really due at this time but a good look of the device so far has led me to some conclusions, two weeks is not enough time to give a phone on

The presentation is as expected from Google which is clean and simple and we go through that in the unboxing and good walkthrough of the device below and see what is inside so do look at that to get some insights as to what the phone has to offer, a more thorough review will be along soon anyways after full loading the device with my huge list of apps and of course testing and software updates and so on.

The design is of course off the back of the Pixel 6 which was a heft phone this is much lighter and the camera bar thinner at the back and pretty much similar to the Pixel 5 which again was a smaller phone and a sweet spot for many, even for me these days as I am fed up with slabs, currently using a S22 Ultra and other phones I am reviewing the 6a is small, I have big hands but can live with it to be honest and it fits well in my pocket unlike the rest of the devices.

OK you are not getting the same superb build quality of the PIxel 6 itself but a much toned down build but still robust and very light in comparison and a not so notable camera bar on the back which is fine and for most will be fine too.

Again we have their own chip inside and from what I see has improved, I have shot quite few tech reviews with this phone which are all due after the embargo lifts shot in 1080p and in 4K and I have noted the processing is much faster than the Pixel 6 and I did find the phone a tad more snappy considering the new features inside and for me this is a good sign, also noted there was not much heating during this as long video shoots do heat up your phone and having doing several video reviews one after the other it went rather well and smoothly and I gained time rather than having to wait which for me is a good thing.

Google Pixel 6a unboxing and device walkthrough

If you are not a Pixel user yet and have wanted to try one which I know many are there is a new UI here to play with too allowing you to customise your phone even more with themed icons, widgets and dynamic colours, I would like to use widgets more so however with the amount of apps I use I do not have enough room and have a splattering of folders on my phones with several apps in each but that is just me and how I use my phone on a daily basis all my phones are set up identical, on the Pixel 6a you can search your device too for just about anything which for me is a real handy feature. You know have fast assistant voice typing and again this is a handy tool for many people out there today.

Also on board is Speech enhancement, Live translate and Interpreter mode furthermore there is a built in recorder too making the Pixel 6a a must have for many people out there today, the 6a offers plenty of tools for creators and journalists alike saving you the hassle of carrying multiple devices at once and of course the magic eraser is there which is a cool photo editing tool on the go. In short for someone on the go who uses such features and likes to multitask this device is capable.

Google Pixel night samples

We also have got the cameras which many want to know about I have left samples here for you to see for yourself rather than bang on about the specs, You do have Tensor, Live HDR+ video can be processed live on 4K video, resulting in rich, vivid colors, I have night and day image and video samples so you be the judge, the camera once again though is great and having tested this against another budget version phone this Pixel 6a just kills it full stop.

Google Pixel 6a day samples

This is as mentioned a short term review but so far this has impressed me once again showing what Google can do, I have now fully moved off from my S22 Ultra and will be staying on this until the Pixel 7 drops as one of main main daily drivers, Anything else you might want to know just ask as always. And to sum the device up so far for the money you can’t really go wrong and that is quite a feat considering other devices I have tested and am testing now and this wins all the time. The only real concern is the battery life but again I am a power user and would not have the same use case as the average user but for them they would get a day out of the device at least. I will be back again with another look at the device after its release and more software updates. No wireless charging included here which is a bummer for some and no headphone jack and a 60Hz refresh rate are an easy pick for some to complain about as said in video but let’s be honest most folk do not care or notice the difference between that and 90/120hz refresh rate unless pointed out, some might say different but having used devices with the same it is not a huge deal nor do I take issue with it.

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10 things to know about Pixel 6a

1 Smart, powerful, helpful. And less than you think.	Meet Pixel 6a, the more affordable Google phone that adapts to you.1 Powered by Google Tensor, it’s super fast and secure. The battery lasts over 24 hours.2 The Pixel Camera captures the moment just how you experienced it. And with Titan M2™ security, protection is built right in.
2 Google Tensor. The brains behind it all.	Google Tensor is the first chip designed by Google just for Pixel. It’s the same chip as in Pixel 6 Pro, and it makes Pixel 6a super fast and responsive. Apps launch fast, pages and images load quickly and everything runs smoothly. Tensor also powers advanced features like Live Translate, which enables you to chat in 11 languages in real time.3
3 Designed around you, inside and out.	Pixel’s interface, Material You, helps you to find things easier and get things done faster. The entire phone UI updates to reflect whatever image you choose as your wallpaper. And every few months, you get new wallpapers, called Curated Culture, that celebrate cultural moments. Pixel 6a comes in three classic yet modern colours: Charcoal, Chalk and Sage. It includes 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM4, and enhanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.5
4 Your photos match your vision.	This Pixel includes a dual rear camera with an upgraded ultrawide lens and advanced photography features. With Magic Eraser, you can remove distractions or make objects blend right in.6 Face Unblur makes faces in motion sharper.7 With Real Tone, photos represent different skin tones beautifully and authentically. And Night Sight lets you take rich, vibrant photos, even in low light.
5 The battery lasts a really, really long time.	Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 24 hours.2 It learns your favourite apps, so it doesn’t waste power on the ones that you rarely use. Turn on Extreme Battery Saver and the battery can last up to 72 hours.8 You can choose which apps to keep running and Pixel will turn the others off. When you plug in your Pixel, it charges fast.9 With just a few minutes of charging, your phone gets hours of power.
6 Your protection, built into Pixel.	Pixel is built with an extra layer of hardware security in Google Tensor, which works with the Titan M2™ security chip to make Pixel more resilient to attacks.5 Fingerprint Unlock is a secure and reliable way to unlock your phone with just a touch. With IP67 protection, Pixel 6a can take a little water and dust, so you can take your phone wherever you go.10 The Security hub helps to protect your phone, account and passwords by keeping all your security settings in one place. And your Pixel comes with at least five years of security updates, so it gets even more secure over time.11
7 Pixel just keeps getting better.	Every few months, your Pixel gets feature drops. They’re automatic software updates that send new features, tricks, wallpapers and apps to your phone.12
8 So much help. In so many ways.	Pixel’s features help you get things done easier. Use your voice to record and transcribe notes in real time, edit your audio clips, and share them with Recorder.13 Anything you record – personal notes, conversations, waves at the beach – is easy to find, and recorder will even tag transcripts with keywords.13 Pixel can also identify songs you’ve heard throughout the day and add them to your Now Playing history. You can even export the songs to a playlist in YouTube Music.14
9 A whole world of Pixel.	Get Pixel 6a accessories from Google or choose from 68 products designed by Made for Google brands. The new Pixel 6a cases are built to protect your phone and let its colours shine through. With Google Pixel Buds A-Series you can enjoy full, crisp audio for your songs, videos, and phone calls.15 Go the extra mile with our brand new Google Pixel Buds Pro which will bring premium, immersive sound to Pixel 6a, with Active Noise Cancellation that adapts to you.
10 The best of Google, included with Pixel.	Pixel 6a comes with three months of YouTube Premium and Google One free of charge.16 Enjoy your favourite videos and music without ads, in the background and offline. Get access to 100 GB of cloud storage from Google One and automatic phone backup for your photos, videos, contacts and more.

Specs

Google is making sustainable travel an easier choice this summer as cycling increases by 40% worldwide

Climate change is a global issue as well as local and personal. As people are looking to travel to their holiday destinations, questions like “How to travel sustainably” are on everybody’s minds.

Google committed to empower 1 billion people through our products, to make the sustainable choice an easier choice. At the individual level, these choices may seem small, but when people have the tools to make them at scale, they equal big improvements.

Here’s how Google products help you get from A to B more sustainably this summer

Getting to your holiday destination – The first step towards more sustainable holidays, is more sustainable planning. If you are going to a destination you can only reach by flying, Google Search helps you understand the CO2 emissions associated with each potential trip directly in Google Flights. A green badge next to the emissions number to help you sift through your options more easily, and you can filter all flights by “CO2 emissions” to easily find and book the flight with the lowest footprint.
To produce these estimates, we’re combining data from the European Environmental Agency with the flight-specific information we get from airlines and other providers such as aircraft type, trip distance and the number of seats in each seating class. In collaboration with the Travalyst coalition, we are helping to develop an open model for calculating carbon emissions from air travel and promote standardisation across the travel industry using this framework.

Sleeping sustainably – Google Search helps you find hotels that have made significant commitments to green practices. This includes hotels that are certified for meeting high standards of sustainability from certain independent organisations, like Green Key or EarthCheck, will have an eco-certified badge next to their name. This helps you understand their eco-friendly practices, from waste reduction to energy efficiency or water conservation measures.

Hop on your bike – Over the past few months, cycling has increased by more than 40% worldwide – which is no surprise given that the warmer weather and high petrol prices have people opting for more sustainable transportation choices. Google Maps has provided cycling directions for over 12 years thanks to AI paired with data from cities, trusted cartographic partners and feedback from the Google Maps community. Now, with our new cycling route information, you can easily compare bike routes and see even more granular details (when this data is available) to prepare for the ride ahead.

Just get cycling directions to any destination. In addition to seeing the elevation along your route, you’ll also know if you’ll encounter heavy car traffic, stairs or steep hills. You’ll also be able to get a highly detailed breakdown of the route itself so you can know at a glance what type of road you’ll be biking on – like a major road vs. a local street. Gone are the days of unknowingly pedaling up a strenuous hill or on a route with more car traffic than you’re comfortable with.

Charge your EV easily – If you have an electric vehicle, Google Maps can help put your range anxiety at ease. Just search for “ev charging station” to see all of the stations nearby, along with helpful details, like the business where the station is located, port types and charging speeds. And for some stations, you can even see if a charger is available in real-time – helping you avoid the line and save valuable time. With cars with Google built in, Maps will even help you take that EV road trip, automatically helping you find stations along your route.

Transit information – By tapping on the transit tab in Directions on Google Maps, you get directions to any place by bus, train, subway, and even ferry. When available, you can see real time arrival and departure times, transfer points, and any upcoming service delays. And, Google Maps gives you all the information you need to be prepared for your ride. Not only can you see how crowded your transit ride will be – so you can know if you’re likely to get a seat – but you can see helpful information, like whether there’s security on board, what the temperature is like, and if there are wheelchair accessible routes available

Find Your Fashion Inspiration with Google Lens

See an outfit that’s caught your eye or want to find a similar style of a sold out item? Google Lens can help you get your wardrobe summer style-ready by searching what you see. Whether it’s an image that you see online, a photo you saved on your phone or something in the real world that catches your eye, Google Lens makes the products you see instantly shoppable. And this is something I use almost daily and find it a valuable tool and a fine example below is one with trainers who my readers know that I am an avid collector of Nike trainers.

Google Lens can also show you new ways to style clothes you already own. Give new life to that old top you haven’t picked up in a year—simply point Lens at it to see how others have worn a similar one and find pieces that might match it. So if you see a leopard print skirt you like on social media, take a screenshot and use Lens to see how other people have styled similar looks.

How to use Google Lens as fashion inspiration:

On your phone or tablet, open the Google app or Google Photos
Select a photo from your camera roll/take a live photo of an item of clothing
Get reviews on the product, shop the item, find similar items or style inspiration

Google Lens is available on Android from the search bar widget on the homescreen, the camera app on many flagship devices, and in the Google, Google Photos, and Google Lens apps on any smartphone.

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