Week in Review - July 11, 2015: Communicate better - Hangouts, Messenger, YouTube and more

This week was all about communication: there were updates to Google Messenger, Hangouts on desktop and the YouTube Live Event interface. YouTube launched Channel Cards, making it easier to give another channel a shout-out. Gmail improved their spam filters and launched Postmaster Tools for businesses. And it also got easier to review Local business on mobile devices. All that, plus tips for Google+, Blogger, Google Photos and more.

YouTube and Video Creators

• Trusted Testers wanted for the YouTube Creator Studio App
• YouTube launches Channel Cards: thank a channel for their contribution to your video or for a general recommendation
• Facebook offers Pages more video view details on the new Video Insights tab

Live Broadcasting and Hangouts on Air

• Update! YouTube updates the Live Events interface
• Use live video broadcasts to connect with fans and followers and build community

Google+

• Google+ Tip: Enable or disable Collection notifications

Local Businesses

• Use This Link to Ask For Google Reviews on Mobile (& the Desktop) (Local University)
• Review a business using your phone's browser (Mike Blumenthal)
• Business owners: are your business hours up-to-date? Google Maps alerts users if a business will be closed by the time they arrive (Google Maps)

Photos

• Google Photos synced everywhere: deleting photos in Google Photos on your desktop computer will delete the photos from your mobile device
• 10 tricks to make yourself a Google Photos master (Gizmodo)
• Experimental app CamSwarm lets you take "bullet time" Matrix-like videos with your smartphone (Pop Sci)

Blogger

• Bloggers: set up Google Analytics for your Blogger blog to better understand your blog's visitors and help build your readership.

Google Hangouts and Mobile

• Update! Hangouts on desktop update: drag and drop images into the conversation (Mayur Kamat)
• Update! Google Messenger update: cute stickers, share your location

Productivity

• Replace files in Google Drive without changing the link to the file. (Google Drive)
• Update! Gmail has improved their spam filters and launched Postmaster Tools for businesses (Gmail)

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Updated March 2019 to remove Google+ links