Tag: #google

Google Features You Should Take Advantage Of To Speed Up Your Work

You heard about the old proverb “time is money” and it is still true in the modern era. Everything is required to be done very fast today because of the competition out there. That is why you need to learn about some google features that will help you be ahead of others. Follow this article to learn how to use Google to get your work done better and faster:

 

Google Translate

One of the most important features of Google, not just for work, but in general, is Google Translate. This addition will help you learn faster, and market faster since it is an easy way to translate anything you need from any language. You can also expand your business to multiple countries by translating your own articles on the blog so that you can reach out to more people. This Google feature is widely known as the most reliable online translator, and the speed it works with is incredible. 

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a great feature that will surely help you organize your days better. It will help you keep up with everything you need to do, and it will make sure you don’t forget a thing. The Calendar is set to alert you about every important thing you need to take care of in a day, and it will remind you constantly. Also, the app is created, so the sheets are easy to read and fill. It is very simple to find your way around it, and it will do the organization for you.

Google My Business

Another great organizational tool is Google My Business, but it is way more than that. This is an addition that will help you get discovered by customers, and you’ll see just how important it is to use it. GMB will help give the people that google you the services you provide and basic information they should know about your company and brand without even visiting your website.  Besides all that, Google My Business will help you navigate your business in the right way by teaching you how to do the following things:

 

  • Make customer reviews
  • Add posts that will be SEO compatible
  • Create user-generated content
  • Connect locally

Google Assistant

You should look at this feature like the Google version of Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. Google Assistant has been in constant progressive development since it was launched in 2016 and should be considered as the most advanced assistant on the market. This is a voice- and text-activated virtual assistant created as an extension for Google Now, but since that doesn’t exist anymore the Assistant stayed and developed.

It executes commands, searching, and device control and lets you complete many tasks much quicker than earlier, making your workday far simpler. Here are the features of this amazing addition:

 

  • It controls your devices and your smart home
  • Runs timers and reminders
  • Opens apps on your phone
  • Reads out the notifications you get
  • It does real-time spoken translations
  • It finds information online about all work-related things you want to know
  • It has access to information about your calendars and personal information

Google Workspace

This Google feature brings information, applicants, and people together in a new way. It will help you companies to prepare for new expectations brought by the modern era of business. Google Workspace is another planning tool that will help you connect with every other app need for your business, but it will also help you organize your work better.

Google Drive

A lot of companies have trouble with sharing documents that are too big to be sent through social networks or email. Google Drive is here to help you with that since you can send up to 25 MBs at once using this app that is directly connected with your Gmail account. Using this feature will surely be simpler than carrying around a hard drive with all the data you need to present to your boss or employees. 

Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides

Many projects at work are done in groups nowadays, but it can be complicated to send the same documents but with revisions back and forth non-stop. That is why a feature called Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides was invented. You have the chance to review and edit the same document at the same time. When someone shares a document you need to review, you suggest revisions and just tell them to go to the same link. You can even look at it simultaneously, and you can see the work getting done right in front of you. When looking to speed up your work with Google’s features, one handy capability to consider is how to convert Google Docs to Google Slides. This can be a valuable time-saving technique for your tasks.

 

 

Now that you know how much help you can get with these Google features you’ll have no problem getting your work done more efficiently. You might need time to learn how to use some of them, but be patient, and it will pay off in the end. These apps have already helped many people and will surely help you. By using them, you will be ahead of many other people.

Google searches for picnic baskets and windbreakers soar as consumers prepare for an Irish summer outdoors

Irish consumers have started planning for a summer outdoors, and recent Google search terms show that the weather is top of mind with searches for ‘retractable windbreakers for gardens’ increasing by 429% last month.

Other popular items are picnic baskets and barbecue tool sets, searches for which increased by 119% and 180% respectively month-on-month. With recent trends showing a 20,000% increase in searches for “support local businesses”, Google is highlighting the importance of for small businesses to be visible online in order to reach new and existing customers.

Commenting, Alice Mansergh, Director for Small Business at Google said, “These trends show that people are already planning how they are going to make the most of the longer days and warmer weather. We know that Irish consumers are actively supporting local businesses, and what we’re seeing is that they are searching for very niche products to buy locally. This is a prime example of how being visible online and appearing in those search results can help retailers capture business and ultimately drive sales.” 

Google has announced a number of free tools and resources for Irish SMEs to help them transition to operating online, regardless of their skills or resources including the Google for Small Business and free digital skills training.

Google for Small Business is designed for small Irish businesses and provides a free step-by-step guide to taking a business online, from setting up a Google Business Profile to creating a website, along with tips and advice on how to reach and grow a customer base.

“While getting online is crucial for small businesses, it can be overwhelming especially in the midst of the challenges that businesses are facing. We’ve launched Google for Small Business for those who possibly don’t know where to start. Our goal is to support them on their online journey in their own time and at their own pace,” concluded Alice Mansergh.

Any businesses hoping to start reaching customers immediately can do so by setting up a free Google Business Profile and simply adding their location and contact details, in addition to photos of available stock and other details like availability of click and collect and delivery options.

Other Google tools and resources such as free digital skills training is accessible for Irish SMEs on the Grow with Google website.

Google Launches new Google for Small Business Website to help Small Businesses Achieve Success Online #BuyIrish

Google has today launched Google for Small Business; a new website which is specifically dedicated and designed for small Irish businesses to help them take their business online and continue to reach customers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Google’s aim is to help Irish businesses leverage current consumer sentiment by using the online tools available to them. With the search term “buy Irish” increasing by 3,500% in 2020, and by nearly 6,400% during peak shopping seasons, being visible online will enable more Irish businesses to reach new and existing customers now while restrictions remain in place and in the future.

The free online platform will guide businesses along every step of their journey from setting up their Google Business Profile to creating a website, along with tips and advice on how to reach and grow their customer base. The platform will also allow business owners to tailor their approach, in their own time, to operating online based on their own specific needs.

Commenting on the launch of Google for Small Business, Alice Mansergh, Google’s Director of Small Business, said; “This online platform has been set up at a crucial time for small businesses, many of whom have faced great challenges over the past year due to COVID-19 and need help adapting and growing online.

Over the last year we have seen some great success stories from small businesses that have pivoted to sell and engage with their customers online. Google for Small Business was designed to help more businesses leverage the supports available and start taking the small steps to overcome the impacts of the pandemic and experience similar growth and success.  One of the key insights we have gained from working with small businesses is the need for a practical, step-by-step guide to operating online and that is exactly what Google for Small Business is.”

The website will also specifically allow businesses to discover valuable insights about their customers using market research tools along with advice on how to create a strong customer experience and drive more traffic to their business.

In response to COVID-19, Google has committed to supporting 60,000 Irish SMEs as they embark on recovery from the financial impacts caused by the virus. The launch of the Google for Small Business website is part of this ongoing commitment to support Irish SMEs and help them gain the necessary digital skills to set up and grow their business successfully online.

To discover the Google for Small Business website log on to https://smallbusiness.withgoogle.com

Pointy from Google is offering free devices to Irish retailers to build online presence. #Pointy #Google

Pointy from Google is offering free Pointy devices to small and medium retailers in Ireland, enabling them to display their in-store products online. Irish retailers who connect with Pointy in the next six months will also get €100 ad credit to trial Pointy’s Product Ads feature.  

Pointy works by creating a connection between physical stores and Google so that their products can appear in local Google search results, which can help attract shoppers in the surrounding area to the store.

Commenting, Mark Cummins, General Manager, Pointy said, “Being visible online has become critical for brick and mortar retailers throughout the pandemic, but that can be a challenge for smaller retailers who may not have the resources to build and maintain an e-commerce platform. Pointy creates an online presence for these retailers automatically, to help them showcase their product offering.” 

Irish shoppers are actively supporting local retailers, and 66% of people who shop local say they are doing so in a conscious effort to support local businesses. Displaying products on Google will help these retailers leverage current consumer sentiment and encourage more footfall to their stores, as consumers can see that the products they are searching for online can be bought locally.

“Pointy is an essential tool for businesses in Ireland,” said Lorraine Higgins, Secretary General, Digital Business Ireland. “Helping online shoppers find the products they need in their area is a new way for businesses to connect with their customers and boost their visibility in an ever-competitive digital marketplace”.

COVID-19 continues to challenge retailers and the economic impact on small and medium businesses has been severe. Google is committed to helping these businesses recover. With a 100% increase in  searches for “available near me” since last year, these new tools will help Irish retailers reach more customers and ultimately drive sales. 

Setting up and using Pointy is simple and efficient, taking only minutes. Qualifying businesses simply scan their products with a standard barcode scanner to add them to Google, making their inventory visible to local shoppers, along with their store location, opening hours and contact details. 

To sign up retailers should visit: pointy.com/ireland. 

Tech Review – MNML case for the Google Pixel 5. #MNML #Pixel5 #Tech

Need a simple case for your Pixel 5 that is totally clean and simple well the MNML case might be one to check out, Without adding any thickness like other cases this is super thin and offers protection on the sides and rear and of course the camera hump gets some loving here too. They do not protect the screen but again they are designed for those who want something simple and not bulky, they are not a fingerprint magnet and cut-outs are perfect and nothing is obstructed. These cases are also not fingerprint magnets either like some cases can be and certainly phones and thankfully the pixel 5 is not a fingerprint magnet in the colour we have.

These cases are simply just minimal as the the brand name suggests and that they are they do not offer the ultimate protection for your device but give it a clean look and if like me and not out to much lately an ideal case for keeping it simple and looking good with no bulk and access to everything as you would expect.. Check out the range of cases on offer and our past reviews here on techbuzzireland and their site..

BUY HERE

 

 

Tech Review – The GGMM N2 (battery base) for your google nest mini 2nd Gen. #GoogleNest #Tech

A simple product that solves a minor problem for those with Google Nest mini has arrived and it is a great idea to break the restricted length of your cable length with placing it in your home this allows your to place your Google Nest anywhere in the house and it also looks really neat and will blend in anywhere in the home and again a simple product that is easy to use and just works and no tech know how to get going either it is a simple plug and go job and you are sorted.

This also has a really good build quality too and will last you simple charge the device for a few hours then you can place our next mini into it and then place your nest anywhere in the house so this means you are free from the cable length restriction at home or in the office / bedroom.

On the front there is some LED lamps to tell you how much battery life you have left which handy overall it is a clean well thought design and looks great anywhere and hides the cable, you can bring it anywhere if you like too it comes with a 10.000 mAh battery and will keep you cable free no matter where it is placed, this only works with the 2ND gen nest so keep this in mind. This does not effect how the nest mini will work at all. Check out the review below..

BUY HERE 

Create your own opera inspired song with Blob Opera #BlobOpera #Google

Blob Opera is a machine learning experiment by David Li in collaboration with Google Arts and Culture. This experiment plays four opera voices in real time, No singing skills required!

Google developed a machine learning model trained on the voices of four opera singers in order to create an engaging experiment for everyone, regardless of musical skills. Tenor, Christian Joel, bass Frederick Tong, mezzo‑soprano Joanna Gamble and soprano Olivia Doutney recorded 16 hours of singing. In the experiment you don’t hear their voices, but the machine learning model’s understanding of what opera singing sounds like, based on what it learnt from them.

How it works:
Drag the blobs up and down to change pitch. Or forwards and backwards for different vowel sounds. Another machine learning model lets the blobs respond to and harmonise your input in real time. Here is one I made –  Check it out it is fun..   

Try it out HERE

 

 

Google.org provides funding to three Irish NGOs to support jobs and upskilling.

Three Irish NGOs that support small businesses, job seekers and skills training will receive a share of €500,000 funding from Google.org to help them respond to the repercussions of the pandemic. The funding from the philanthropic arm of Google is the second tranche of the €1 million grant funding announced in April.

The funding was dedicated in two tranches, the first of which was provided to help NGOs and non-profits providing vital services to the most vulnerable in our communities during the initial Covid crisis, followed by a second tranche dedicated to economic recovery.

This second tranche of grants will be shared among NGOs that focus on upskilling, mentoring and supporting job seekers to help them gain the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need for roles in the tech sector. The projects to be funded by each of the grantees are:

 

  • Jobcare delivers virtual, 7-week training programmes to jobseekers in Dublin. Its goal is to support 500 participants and to help with this, they’re building a new platform for participants to use which will help them engage with the course material, other participants, and the trainers.

 

  • Ringsend Community Services Forum (RCSF) provides mentorship, job training, and train-the-trainer programmes to 50 community leaders in Ringsend and Pearse Street. This will provide an opportunity for each of the leaders to deliver training to their own target groups. In partnership with St. Andrew’s and The Anchorage Project key support in digital skills and employment opportunities will be provided to jobseekers in the wider communities of Pearse street and Ringsend.

  • INCO provides virtual job and skills training to young people (18-35) who have been economically impacted by COVID-19, primarily in Cork, Galway, and Waterford (achieved through working with local partners). INCO focuses on developing tech skills amongst this group with a view to young people gaining vital experience that will help them get full time roles in the tech sector.

 

Nick Leeder, Head of Google in Ireland said, “When we announced this funding back in April, we wanted to ensure that the second tranche would be dedicated to organisations that are providing support to job seekers and people needing to upskill from different backgrounds and locations around the country. Jobcare, INCO and RCSF provide these vital services that must not only continue amid the pandemic and public health guidelines, but must also continue to adapt their services to meet evolving challenges. It’s also very important to us that we continue to support our neighbours in Ringsend and the surrounding areas as they navigate this extremely difficult time.

 

Paul Mooney, Founder of Jobcare, one of the grantees to receive funding from Google.org said, “We are working tirelessly to support jobseekers, now including those who have unfortunately been economically impacted by COVID-19. It’s crucial that we continue our services during this extraordinarily difficult time, and the Google.org grant will help us expand our reach and adapt our platforms so that we continue to provide vital support.”

 

The first tranche of the €1 million euro funding was shared among NGOs that address different aspects of the crisis in communities across Ireland, including FoodCloud, ALONE, A Lust for Life and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, in addition to Google’s local community in Ringsend and Pearse Street.

Review – Otterbox Symmetry case and Alpha Glass screen protector for the Google Pixel 5 #Pixel5

Otterbox is a well known case brand and have been a staple of case making for many years with their tough approach to protecting your smartphone, often bulky back in the day with technology things have changed and they now have more streamlined cases to protect your smartphone and a much wider range and also accessories to go with them. They have just launched a new case for the Pixel 5 and an Alpha Glass screen protector and both combined give your Google Pixel 5 the ultimate protection and will save you a fortune on repairing your phone if you drop it.

Check out the video review below for more and head over to their site to pick up the Case and Screen Protector and hopefully we will see more added to the range for the Pixel 5 soon..