I’m a happy Plusser this week, as Google+ got a really nice update.
Image: Vanilla Sky by Thales on Flickr, shared under a CC BY 2.0 license.
- This week Google+introduced a number of really excellent improvements to search. The most noticeable difference is that clicking the search box no longer immediately starts loading the Explore page, which I found hugely annoying. You can sort the results by “Best” or “Most Recent”, filter by post author (including yourself), and easily switch between posts, people, Collections and Communities. And G Suite users can limit search within their domain.
- As a bonus, the search results Explore page may also show popular topics along the top of the search results, letting you, well, explore. Check it out.
- YouTube posted an update on progress fighting terrorist and violent extremist content online. They are using machine learning, as well as human Trusted Flaggers, to identify violent extremist content. Once it’s identified, it may be removed or eventually hidden behind an interstitial warning page.
- There was also a major update to the YouTube app for Android TV. It’s got a spiffy new design but many many users are unhappy that the app is no longer compatible with Brand Account channels. That means many folks are no longer able to access their playlists or subscriptions. Hopefully the app will be updated to support brand channels again, but at the moment your only option is to send feedback.
- And you see your YouTube subscriber number drop this week? It’s not a bug, YouTube was “behind on removing spammy accounts”. Removal of spammy subscribers is usually an ongoing process, so it’s noticeable when a large number are all removed at the same time. Now they should be caught up - for the time being anyway.
What else was new?
- Google Search Console is going through a major design, including a couple of new reporting features.Webmasters: a sneak peek at two new Google Search Console features
- There are also tips and updates for video creators (and watchers), live streamers, webmasters, AdSense publishers and more.
Image: Vanilla Sky by Thales on Flickr, shared under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Upcoming:
- 10 August: Google Partners Academy on Air: YouTube - How to Make Your Video Creative Unskippable
- 17 August: Google Partners Academy on Air: YouTube - Audience Targeting that Leverages all of Google
- 21 August: Become a citizen scientist and contribute photos to the Eclipse Megamovie
- 24 August: Academy on Air: The New AdWords Experience (Part 1)
- 31 August: Academy on Air: The New AdWords Experience (Part 2)
- 31 August: Digital Transformation: Mobile Brand Strategy
- 13 September: Web clipboard to be removed from Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- 20 September:YouTube Video Editor and Photo Slideshows retired
YouTube and Video Creation
- YouTube update on progress fighting terrorist and violent extremist content online (YouTube)
- Major update to the YouTube app for Android TV - Brand Account channels no longer supported (YouTube)
- YouTube Music now allows you to save individual songs, playlists, and albums offline (9to5Google)
- YouTube Turns Its Buffering Icon Into A Fidget Spinner On Videos About Fidget Spinners (TubeFilter)
- Updates on Facebook Video Re-Shares (Facebook Blog)
- YouTube Partners: contact Creator Support for assistance! (The Lady from UNCLE)
- Google Partners Academy on Air: YouTube - Winning Attention in a Mobile, 'Skippable' World (Video) (Google Partners)
- YouTube shines a spotlight on Canada (Google Canada Blog)
- YouTube child protection mechanism 'failing' (BBC)
- Google reportedly pitching publishers on YouTube video player with ad inventory controls (Marketing Land)
- Months removed from a brand-safety boycott, YouTube is winning over top advertisers again (AdWeek)
- See more relevant ads on YouTube (and across Google) by updating your Ads Personalization settings
- Why Despacito is less successful than Gangnam Style (CPG Rants)
Go Live
- How to make your live stream a success (YouTube Creator Academy)
Google+
- Google+ update: G Suite users can limit search within their domain (G Suite Updates)
- Improved Google+ search and explore on desktop! (Anna Kiyantseva)
- Google+ iOS update 6.14 (Rupert Wood)
- This month on Google+: July Edition (Google+)
- Find exactly what you want in Google+ with new search options and filters (G Suite Updates)
Other social media
- Reddit Raised $200 Million And Is Redesigning to Look More Like Facebook (Gizmodo)
- Facebook News Feed FYI: Showing You Stories That Link to Faster Loading Webpages (Facebook Blog)
- Celebrating One Year of Instagram Stories (Instagram Blog)
- Google and Facebook envision Stories for news, not social (TechCrunch)
- Facebook’s troubled Stories feature is coming to the desktop (DailyDot)
Google Photos and Mobile Photography
- Two New Face Filters (Instagram Blog)
- THE LAB: DECOY - A portrait session with a twist (Canon Australia)
Google for businesses
- Google Upgrading Front Page GMB Editing Test (Mike Blumenthal)
Bloggers and Webmasters
- Webmasters: a sneak peek at two new Google Search Console features (Google Webmasters Blog)
- Add structured data markup to your website for recipes, videos, or products, and Google may add a badge to image search (Google Webmasters Blog)
- Google Webmasters Office Hours Hangout: August 2 (Google Webmasters)
- Livestream: Digital Transformation: Accelerated Mobile Pages (Google Partners on YouTube)
AdSense and advertising
- If you use AdSense Native Ads, remember "Content is king" (AdSense)
- Google Partners Academy on Air: YouTube - Winning Attention in a Mobile, 'Skippable' World (Video) (Google Partners)
Hangouts and Messaging
- Truecaller for Android Gets Google Duo Video Calling Integration (Gadgets 360)
- You can now send money with PayPal in the Skype mobile app (PayPal)
- Skype 8.3 Android app update brings dark theme, better organization, activity indicators (9to5 Google)
- Facebook Launches Messenger Platform 2.1 With Built-In Natural Language Processing (xda-developers)
Made by Google, Android, Project Fi
- How we’re helping people find quality apps and games on Google Play (Android Developers)
- Here are the 67 new emoji that might hit phones in 2018 (TechCrunch)
Productivity
- Gboard for iPhone adds drawing, Maps and YouTube (Google Blog)
- chromestatus.com has a new (and super handy) schedule page with all upcoming features (Ilya Grigorik)
- Great News! You Can Mute Gmail Threads (Wired)
Privacy and Security
- After phishing attacks, Chrome extensions push adware to millions (Ars Technica)
More around the web
- An algorithm trained on emoji knows when you’re being sarcastic on Twitter 🤔 (Technology Review)
- NASA Invites You to Become a Citizen Scientist During US Total Solar Eclipse (NASA)
- 200+ Posters from the golden age of design are now free to download (MyModernMet)
- Seeing is believing in the fight against climate change (Google Blog)
Updated March 2019 to remove Google+ links
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Spam and personal attacks are not allowed. Any comment may be removed at my own discretion ~ Peggy