This week there were updates for gamers, video creators, webmasters and much more. Dig in!
- In honor of World Blood Donor Day, Facebook and Google are making it easier to become a blood donor in the US. Google partners with the Red Cross to help donors find a blood drive using Google Maps. And starting today, you can sign up to be a blood donor on Facebook. And if you are able, consider donating.
- In a change meant to reduce user confusion, Google announced that Photos will no longer synchronize with Google Drive as of July 10th. What this means is that any images or videos uploaded to Google Photos after that date will not automatically appear in Google Drive, and vice versa. There will be an option to import selected images from Drive into your Google Photos. Many users probably won’t notice the change, but for those of us who do use it to manage image uploads via Drive (and organize into albums in Photos), access Photos images from third party services (which is done via Drive), embed videos from Photos on a website (via Drive’s embedding option), or import videos stored in Drive to YouTube (done via Photos), it removes a useful tool from our toolbox.
- Also noted, the new YouTube desktop video uploader, which is currently in beta, does not offer the option to import video from Google Photos, so that feature will likely no longer be available at some point.
- YouTube made some notifications-related changes this week. When someone subscribes to your channel, they now see a little menu that lets them set notifications as “All”, “Personalized” (formerly “Occasional”) or “None” with new clearer icons. That isn’t a change in functionality, but rather it’s designed to help users better understand what they have set. For Creators, YouTube Analytics in Studio now shows you what percentage of your subscribers have turned on all notifications for your channel, and what percentage of those actually have notifications enabled in the YouTube app (which may be a fraction of the total). This is in addition to recent improvements made to notification reliability. And take note: YouTube will only send 3 notifications from a channel per day. Iit may be worth spacing out multiple uploads over several days to be sure your subscribers are notified of all of them.
- Mozilla gave Firefox a new logo design, and made “Firefox” the overarching brand for a family of products and services that includes the Firefox Browser, Firefox Send, Firefox Monitor and Firefox Lockwise.
- Facebook Watch - Facebook’s social video watching feature - has 140 million daily users who watch for at least one minute of video on Watch, and the average watch time is 26 minutes per day. They’ve made it easier to find Groups related to the videos you’re watching, and for creators, the option to insert ad breaks is available in more countries. And it’s not just user-created works, Facebook is continuing to invest in content with Facebook Originals.
- If you are live streaming via Vimeo, you can now add images, animated text or logo overlays to your live stream without the need for third party tools. If you need to add a lower third label, you can do that right from your browser Vimeo lets you live stream simultaneously on Facebook Live or any custom RTMP destination like YouTube, Twitch, or Periscope, but it’s only available to Premium subscribers (at $75/month). But even if you don’t have a Vimeo account, you can try the live demo.
- The “privacy-friendly, fun, & honest” social network-in-development Openbook is changing its name to Openspace, after being contacted by Facebook’s lawyers.
- Drip was going to be Kickstarter's creator-friendly answer to Patreon. Last October they announced they were working with XOXO to create Drip’s successor, one that would “help independent artists and creators get discovered, find a community to support their work, and build a long-term, sustainable career.” This week XOXO announced the project is cancelled, because they couldn’t find a way to make the business work.
- ”We explored a number of different options—voluntary subscriptions from users, premium features, increased fees—but the resources required to support a high number of lower-volume creators always outpaced our revenue.” Drip’s beta creators, who would have been moved to this new platform, c will have to move elsewhere.
- You can now share your screen in a Skype call on your Android or iOS device. Skype has also redesigned the mobile interface to “simplify and streamline” video call controls.
- Google Docs now has a “Compare Documents” tool, that lets you easily compare different versions of a document. You can also view the edit history of a cell in Google Sheets.
- Over the past few weeks there has been considerable discussion and criticism about upcoming changes to Chrome that will require ad-blocking extensions like BlockOrigin and Ghostery to change to a “less effective, rules-based system”. There has been some speculation that Google’s ulterior motive for this change is to protect their advertising income. This week Google provided more information about why they are making those changes, stating “No, Chrome isn’t killing ad blockers -- we’re making them safer”. Ad blocking extensions currently use the Web Request API, which can incidentally pass emails, photos or other private data to the extension. This is being replaced by a new API, that allows extensions to block content without requiring the user to grant access to any sensitive information. It sounds to me like that will be a significant privacy improvement, even if the ad blockers don’t work quite as effectively.
- Google is launching free day-long Webmaster Conference around the world. They are aimed at local publishers, bloggers and business owners who want to improve the online presence of their websites. So far they have announced conferences in 15 cities in India and a conference in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia. Most are in July and August, so register soon if you are interested.
- Facebook is improving the ranking of post comments. Now comments that have interactions from the Page or person who originally posted and comments from friends of the person who posted will be more visible.
- Google’s Area120 has a new free Game Builder app for Mac and Windows that lets you collaboratively create 3D games, with no coding knowledge required. You can download Game Builder on Steam.
- Jigsaw is an incubator within Alphabet that develops technology to protect free speech, combat online harassment, and counter violent extremism. In 2018, as part of research into state-sponsored social media disinformation campaigns, they went so far as to hire a Russian troll service to attack a political website (one they had set up themselves). Their research uncovered some sites that publicly offer fake followers, paid retweets, and black hat search engine optimization for sale, offer “mass-scale social media posting on political subjects” as an under-the-counter- service. Despite its small scale, Jigsaw has come under fire for crossing the line into operating what amounted to a political disinformation campaign in Russia.
- E3 - the Electronic Entertainment Expo - was held last week in Los Angeles. Amid the record breaking heat, there were a number game and console announcements. I’ve rounded up links with all the details below.
- Finally, Recode’s invite-only Code Conference 2019 brought together top tech executives, news correspondents, policymakers and activists. It’s focus was “The Reckoning” that is “forcing tech companies like Facebook and Google to rectify some of the incalculable mistakes they made as they built up the internet”. Highlights include:
- YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki talked about the updated hate speech policy and last week’s decision to NOT remove videos attacking Vox reporter Carlos Maza, but rather just removing the channel from the YouTube Partner Program.. While she acknowledged that decision was “hurtful to the LGBTQ community”, she stands by the decision as having been “the right call” based on the context of the content.
- Co-founder of Twitter (and Blogger) and CEO of Medium Ev Williams reminisced about simpler times on the internet: “Part of the beautiful thing about blogging was you were always looking for feedback but you didn’t get it as momentarily — things could marinate. [...] Now, there’s an addiction to short-term feedback that is detrimental sometimes to thought.”
- PBS CEO Paula Kerger explained how Apple’s soon-to-be-implemented prohibition on third party analytics software in kids apps will negatively impact the PBS Kids streaming app.
- Venture capitalist Mary Meeker presented her annual Internet Trends Report. Some stats:
* 51 percent of the world (3.8 billion people) were internet users last year
* there is an increase in visual storytelling with Instagram and YouTube gaining online platform time, while other social site usage was flat
* more than 50 percent of Twitter impressions now involving posts with images, video or other media
* internet ad spending is up 22%, with Twitter and Amazon gaining a larger share
* e-commerce is 15% of retail sales
* the number of interactive gamers worldwide grew 6 percent to 2.4 billion.
Read on for more updates and tips for gamers, video creators, business owners and more.
Image: Photo of bells by Fancycrave.com from Pexels. Free use under the Pexels license.
Image: Photo of bells by Fancycrave.com from Pexels. Free use under the Pexels license.
Upcoming
- June 16: Deadline to apply for YouTube NextUp India NextUp for Artists (for creators with original songs)
- June 18: Google Partners Academy on Air: The basics of Google Shopping
- June 19: Women of Publishing Webinar: Planning for Growth
- June 30: Deadline to apply for YouTube NextUp India #WomenToWatch and NextUp for Gamers
June is LGBTQ Pride Month (updated)
- YouTube Original: State of Pride
- YouTube Sets Slate of Pride Month LGBTQ Documentaries Featuring Troye Sivan, Gigi Gorgeous
- Vimeo: 7 Short Films to Celebrate Pride
- Celebrate Pride Month with LGBTQIA+ creators on Twitch
- Instagram Celebrating #UntoldPride this Pride
- Pride 2019: Celebrate yourself with Pinterest
- Microsoft In Culture | Take action. Push for inclusion. Change the world.
- Pride stock footage from Adobe Cloud
- Adobe Celebrating Pride Month with Three LGBTQ+ Photoshop Artists
- Adobe Celebrating Pride Month with Three LGBTQ+ Photographers
- Celebrating Pride Month with WordPress.com
E3 2019 Updates
- Watch the official E3 Press Conferences
- Coverage by Polygon, Kotaku, The Verge,
- The seven biggest stories of E3 2019 (The Verge)
- Google Stadia games: Here's the full list (Updated with E3 titles!) (Android Authority)
- Google Stadia will let publishers offer their own gaming subscriptions (The Verge)
- The wild story behind a free Xbox One game Microsoft announced at E3 (Polygon)
Recode Code Conference 2019
- All articles about Code Conference 2019 on Vox’s Recode
- The reckoning: a manifesto for Code 2019 (Kara Swisher)
- YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki: The Code Conference interview (transcript)
- Mary Meeker’s most important trends on the internet
- Former leaders at Facebook, Google, and Twitter think regulation is coming for their old employers
- What two of Facebook’s top executives have to say about tech’s big antitrust moment
- Twitter’s top policy exec said there’s “no doubt” that some social media content contributes to radicalization
- Jack Dorsey wants to fix Twitter, and these two execs are trying to make it happen
- Medium CEO Ev Williams wants to get the internet right this time around
- Twitter’s co-founder yearns for the time when bloggers couldn’t get instant feedback
- Instagram’s chief says breaking it off from Facebook would make Instagram a less safe space
- Apple’s attempts to limit data sharing on kids’ apps is negatively impacting PBS
- Rockefeller Foundation’s Rajiv Shah explains how tech can actually help save the world
- Should tech companies build tools for US immigration enforcement agencies?
YouTube and Video Creation
- Notifications | Backstage at YouTube (TeamYouTube)
- Hate Speech Updates, Video-Level Merch Picker, and Notifications Bundle Launch! (Creator Insider)
- 3 BIG Notification Updates - EXPLAINED! (Creator Insider)
- YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki: The Code Conference interview (transcript)
- Exclusive interview: Google CEO defends YouTube practices (Axios)
- Thrive as a Woman on YouTube - Tips & Advice #SeeHer (YouTube Creators)
- How to get your first 1000 subscribers (Rob Lee)
Go Live
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
- Catching Up With Facebook Watch (Facebook)
- Making Public Comments More Meaningful (Facebook)
- Safety experiences on social media (Facebook)
- There’s Nothing Wrong With Posing for Photos at Chernobyl (The Atlantic)
- Instagram’s chief says breaking it off from Facebook would make Instagram a less safe space (Recode)
- Big changes coming to WhatsApp – including adverts (BusinessTech)
Social Media: Twitter
- Trolls use a little-known Twitter feature to swarm others with abuse, and their targets say Twitter hasn't done much to stop it (CNBC)
- Twitter’s top policy exec said there’s “no doubt” that some social media content contributes to radicalization (ReCode)
Other Social Media
- About the word “book” in Openbook… (Openbook)
- Introducing Complete the Look: a scene-based complementary recommendation system (Pinterest)
- We’ve (Still) Got Your Back - EFF ranks Reddit its “sole all-star” company in 2019 transparency rankings (Reddit)
- Russia Targets Tinder as a Warning to Facebook and Twitter (Wired)
Google Photos and Photo Sharing
- Google Photos split from Google Drive, no longer available for YouTube import (me)
- Changing how Google Drive and Google Photos work together (Google)
- Google Photos will stop syncing to Drive on July 10, 2019 (G Suite Updates)
- Adobe Research and UC Berkeley: Detecting Facial Manipulations in Adobe Photoshop (Adobe)
Google for Businesses
- Google My Business Changes How They Deal With Practitioner Listings (Sterling Sky)
- How Do You Get a Branded Google Map Pin? 5 Facts to Know (Sterline Sky)
Bloggers and Webmasters
- Webmaster Conference: an event made for you (Google Webmasters)
- Google Webmaster Central Office Hours Hangout (June 11) (Google Webmasters on YouTube)
- Google Webmaster Central Office Hours Hangout (June 14) (Google Webmasters on YouTube)
- Web Performance: SEO Mythbusting (Google Webmasters on YouTube)
AdSense and Advertising
- Google Ads Tutorials: Creating Dynamic Search Ads (Google Ads on YouTube)
Hangouts, Meetings and Messaging
- Screen sharing goes mobile—and more (Skype)
- DDoS Attack on Telegram Messenger Leaves Users Hanging (Bleeping Computer)
Made by Google, Android, Google Fi
- Google responds to Pixel 4 rumors by… posting a picture of the Pixel 4 (Ars Technica)
- Working on the Google Hardware Team: Building the Pixel 3a (Google)
- Google Shuts Down Play Movies App for Daydream VR (Variety)
Productivity
- See changes in Google Docs over time with Compare Documents (G Suite Updates)
- View the edit history of a cell in Sheets (G Suite Updates)
- Dynamic email in Gmail becoming generally available on July 2, 2019 (G Suite Updates)
- Learn about Dynamic Emails in Gmail (Somnath Datta)
- Dare to share: best practices for sharing documents in G Suite (Google Cloud Blog)
- How Dropbox is finally breaking free of the folder (Fast Company)
- The Google Assistant is now available in Waze (Google)
- Chrome 76 Beta: dark mode, payments, new PWA features and more (Chromium)
- Stable Channel Update for Desktop (Chrome 75) (Chrome Releases)
Privacy and Security
- Improving Security and Privacy for Chrome Extensions Users (Google Online Security blog)
- Use your Android phone’s built-in security key to verify sign-in on iOS devices (Google Online Security Blog)
- Google’s login chief would rather you use Apple’s sign-in button than keep using passwords (The Verge)
- Popular Soccer App Spied on Fans Through Phone Microphone to Catch Bars Pirating Game Streams (Gizmodo)
More around the web
- The Day the Music Burned: the story of the 2008 Universal fire (New York Times)
- Mozilla's new Firefox logo shows it's more than just a browser (Engadget)
- Take your achievements with you, Class of 2019 (Google)
- Create 3D games with friends, no experience required (Google)
- Report: Google News Does Not Have an Anti-Conservative Bias So Much as a Pro-Credible Source One (Gizmodo)
- Jigsaw Bought a Russian Twitter Troll Campaign as an Experiment (Wired)AI deepfakes are now as simple as typing whatever you want your subject to say (The Verge)
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Spam and personal attacks are not allowed. Any comment may be removed at my own discretion ~ Peggy