Tess Townsend | Vox

Navigation app Waze is integrating with Android Auto

2017-07-27T10:37:00-04:00

Google’s Waze navigation app is integrating with Android Auto, Google’s hands-free smart car operating system. That should make the car operating system more attractive for potential users who are in the market for new cars.

Android Auto has more than five million users according to the Google Play store. Its users already have access to Google’s more basic navigation app, Google Maps.

Waze for Android Auto will have basically all the same capabilities on the car dashboard screen as it does on mobile. Drivers will be able to ask the app to help navigate to a selected destination, and Waze will return routes optimized with crowdsourced information on traffic congestion, closures and accidents.

Waze has a bit of a cult following among its users, so connecting it to dashboard screens running Android Auto could make the operating system more attractive to drivers who already use Waze, which could also benefit Android phone sales.

Waze is not yet integrating with Apple CarPlay, though the mobile app works on iPhones.

The new Android Auto version of Waze won’t show ads, the way the mobile app does, but adapting the app to a car operating system means there’s one more type of screen where ads could be shown down the road.

But the car version won’t do everything Waze tools can do on mobile. For example, the Waze carpooling app is not part of the integration. Voice commands will also be limited to telling the car app your destination. Users won’t be able to verbally tell the app about accidents on the road or congestion. That information has to be input manually.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google says it has tripled its big cloud deals over the last year

2017-07-24T19:56:49-04:00

Google scored three times as many large deals for its cloud service in the second quarter as it did in the same period last year, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

He defined large deals as those greater than $500,000. The statistic, which he shared during Google parent company Alphabet’s earnings call, applied to all of Google’s cloud business. That means the growth refers to both Google Cloud Platform and Google’s productivity tools in G Suite.

“It does display the traction we’re having with cloud in the market,” Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat said of the statistic during the question and answer portion of the earnings call.

We don’t know exactly how many big deals Google had in Q2 of 2016, and executives were scant on other numbers when it comes to Google’s growing cloud business.

But cloud is likely the fastest growing business for Google, which for years has been looking for its next big bet after search advertising.

Google doesn’t break out cloud revenue, though it’s understood cloud makes up a large portion of the company’s “other,” or non-advertising, revenue. That “other business” increased 42 percent to $3.1 billion in the period, growing twice as fast as its main ad business. Ad sales gained 18 percent to $22.7 billion for the quarter.

Porat also said that among product areas, cloud accounted for “the most sizable headcount additions” from Alphabet’s 1,614 new hires in the last quarter. But she didn’t say what proportion of new hires were for cloud.

The problem with all these details is they don’t really help us better understand how Google cloud’s growth compares to competitors Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, which come in first and second place respectively in terms of market share.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google is still growing 21 percent — and its cloud segment is growing even faster

2017-07-24T17:58:33-04:00

Google CEO Sundar Pichai | Justin Sullivan / Getty

Google’s parent company Alphabet just reported its second-quarter results, posting both higher revenue and profits than estimated.

Of note:

Overall, Alphabet revenue grew 21 percent year over year to $26 billion. Google revenue, specifically, also grew 21 percent to $25.8 billion.
Google’s “other” business — everything that’s not advertising, including its cloud business and Google Play app store — grew 42 percent year over year to $3.1 billion.
“Other” now represents 12 percent of Google’s business, up from about 10 percent the same quarter a year ago.
The Alphabet “Other Bets” — experimental businesses like Waymo’s self-driving car technology and Verily’s health care products — posted both higher revenue and smaller losses. Revenue grew 34 percent year over year to $248 million, while its operating loss declined 10 percent to $772 million.
The “Other Bets” now represent about 1 percent of Alphabet’s total revenue.

Alphabet now has 75,606 employees, up about 9,000 from the same time last year.

Overall, Alphabet earned $5.01 per share on $26 billion in sales during the quarter, versus expectations of $4.83 earnings per share and $25.6 billion in revenue.

Profit estimates were lower than normal on account of a one-time fine from European regulators over anti-competitive behavior for its product listing ads. They charged the search giant with favoring certain results that were part of its special product advertising program. The company recorded the fine — $2.7 billion — in the quarter as an additional operating loss.

Alphabet is likely to appeal the ruling, but if it has to change how it sells and displays those kinds of ads in Europe, it could dent its longer-term revenue. Sales from the EMEA region account for about 34 percent of the company’s overall revenue, and these so-called product listings ads in the region could drop by as much as 25 percent according to a Goldman Sachs estimate.

Alphabet stock was down about 3 percent in after-hours trading ahead of its earnings call.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is joining Alphabet’s board

2017-07-24T13:03:06-04:00

Google CEO Sundar Pichai | Asa Mathat

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is joining the board of Alphabet as its 13th member.

The addition, announced today by Alphabet, gives a second vote on the board to Google, which is responsible for roughly 90 percent of Alphabet’s overall revenue. And it reflects Alphabet’s confidence in Pichai, who has led Google as CEO for two years.

One other Google executive holds a seat on the board: Diane Greene, head of Google’s cloud division. Greene joined the board before joining Google.

Alphabet last added a board member a year ago, when economist Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. gained a seat.

It’s not clear what joining Alphabet’s board means for Pichai’s salary. The executive, who has worked at Google since 2004, earned a compensation package totalling $200 million in 2016.

Pichai took over as CEO of Google in 2015 when the company reorganized as Alphabet, breaking out a number of its subsidiaries as separate companies within the new corporation. He has lead Google’s latest push as an “AI first” company.

“Sundar has been doing a great job as Google’s CEO, driving strong growth, partnerships, and tremendous product innovation,” Alphabet CEO Larry Page said in a statement. “I really enjoy working with him and I’m excited that he is joining the Alphabet board.”

Alphabet reports earnings this afternoon after markets close.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Here are some of the coolest trailers from Comic-Con 2017 so far

2017-07-24T11:11:32-04:00

With hundreds of thousands of fantasy, sci-fi and horror fans all in one location, Comic-Con in San Diego is the ideal place to unveil trailers for upcoming films and television series.

This year’s Con showcased previews of movie sequels such as a new “Lego” movie, new seasons of popular series like “Stranger Things” and official trailers for hyped-up new films like the movie adaptation of virtual reality thriller novel “Ready Player One.“

Comic-Con is one of the first places future blockbuster content reaches its core audience. Every tent-pole film is either rooted in Marvel, DC or some kind of genre text — in other words, it’s not just a geek fest, but a crucial first contingent to win over on the way to box office billions.

Here are eight of the coolest trailers for those sitting at home instead of braving the costumed crowds.

“Ready Player One”

“Thor: Ragnarok”

“Justice League”

“Rocko’s Modern Life” (full-length film)

“The Lego Ninjago Movie”

“Stranger Things”

“American Horror Story”

“Westworld”

And finally, something else to come out of the Con: Some leaked footage from “Avengers: Infinity War.”

View Link

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google is having trouble pushing its Facebook-like news feed to Android devices

2017-07-24T10:50:26-04:00

Google released a personalized news feed for phones this week, showing a stream of content based on people’s location, search histories and topics they’ve selected to follow.

It’s a significant new update that represents a very different tack for Google. The feed is designed to make the user aware they’re on Google, and to proactively give them information without them explicitly seeking it. Traditionally, search has served users information only when they seek it out.

At first blush, the feature is useful, especially for those who may not like having to wade through a clutter of social media comments. It also has the potential for more ad placements in the future.

But — and here’s the latest rub — Google is having a little trouble rolling it out on devices that run the company’s very own Android mobile operating system.

The reason for the hiccup has to do with how the feed works on Android home screens. The feed is part of the Google app, which is accessed as a home screen on many Android devices by swiping right. But that swipe won’t load this new news feed on many Android devices just yet.

“The rollout to devices where the feed is launched from the home screen will take slightly longer due to technical aspects of the deep integration to the system,” a Google spokesperson said, clarifying that this means devices where you swipe right.

On iPhones, the Google app is accessed by clicking its icon, no swipe needed.

This is ironic. A buzzy new feature from Google is easier to access on a competitor’s devices than Google’s own phones. (Although Google’s Pixel, which the company manufactures itself, seems to be getting the update just fine.)

The new feed feature was only announced this week, but this small slowdown in rollout highlights a recurring problem for Google.

Android dominates the global cellphone market, running on more than 85 percent of phones globally, but Google has trouble ensuring updates and latest features make their way to the majority of devices in a timely fashion. This is because it’s often up to the carriers and manufacturers Google works with to upgrade Android phones’ systems — a problem Apple, which manufactures all its own phones, does not have.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Alphabet’s EU fine will overshadow its second-quarter earnings

2017-07-24T10:56:30-04:00

European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager | Via YouTube

When Alphabet reports its second-quarter earnings Monday, the elephant in the room will be the recent $2.7 billion fine from European regulators for anticompetitive behavior.

While the European Union’s punishment over Google’s shopping feature may be a small bill for a company with a market value of $679 billion, it’s what the fine could mean for how Alphabet operates not just in Europe but in the U.S. that matters. There could be bigger changes to come in addition to the fine, in other words.

Alphabet is expected to appeal the ruling, but analysts will certainly ask how the company feels about its chances facing further antitrust complaints. The fine will also impact earnings for the quarter, ringing up a charge of $2.7 billion for the June period.

Wall Street has adjusted its estimates based on those fines. Goldman Sachs, for example, cut its forecast for Alphabet’s profit by almost half to $4.60 a share from $8.64 a share to account for the one-time loss.

Prior to the fine, the Street was looking for earnings of about $8.25 a share on $25.6 billion in sales.

The EU is also requiring Google to change the shopping feature. But it’s not clear what those changes may be or what they could cost Google going forward.

Google could return to an earlier version of the shopping feature for users in Europe. Analysts at Credit Suisse have also said the company could reduce the number of paid shopping ads in the feature to make room for free results.

But Alphabet won’t want to make any permanent changes that result in a loss of advertising revenue, and executives may share details Monday about any plans to fight the EU ruling.

Another controversy that had investors antsy, the YouTube ads boycott, has basically blown over. Credit Suisse said advertisers that suspended spending in the first quarter shifted that money over the second-quarter ad purchases.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google’s parent company is letting its geothermal energy startup, Dandelion, become an independent company

2017-07-06T16:43:16-04:00

Geothermal startup Dandelion has left Alphabet’s moonshot accelerator X to become its own company outside of Alphabet.

Yes, X was working on geothermal energy, and no, you’re not crazy for thinking you had never heard about this. X had never spoken about Dandelion’s work publicly.

Dandelion CEO Kathy Hannun told Recode the company decided to strike out on its own because there wasn’t enough overlap between its technology and that of other parts of Alphabet to justify remaining a part of Google’s parent company.

Dandelion’s purpose is to make it easier and more affordable to install geothermal energy systems for homes, and the company relies largely on drilling technology.

“But as you can imagine, drilling technology is not a core focus of Alphabet,” said Hannun, who started at Google seven years ago before joining X.

This is in contrast to Waymo, the self-driving subsidiary of Alphabet that started at X and that incorporates machine learning, mapping and other technologies widely used at Alphabet.

There is one area within Alphabet where Dandelion has some clear overlap: Smart home appliances company Nest, which produces a smart thermostat aimed at curbing home energy use.

Hannun said Dandelion has no official relationship with Nest at this time. “We’re friendly with Nest. It’s possible we’ll work with them in the future,” she said.

Dandelion has raised a $2 million seed round led by Collaborative Fund, according to Hannun.

Alphabet owns some equity in the company in exchange for time, resources and funding it gave Dandelion while the company was developing within X, according to Hannun. She declined to state how much, and X declined to comment on any financial arrangements with Dandelion.

Dandelion is the first company to emerge from X since Waymo left it to become a subsidiary of Alphabet.

Most graduates of X have grown into either subsidiaries of Alphabet or their technology has been integrated into Google’s. One other X project to become its own independent company is construction software startup Flux.io.

Dandelion will first launch in New York state. This is by design. Geothermal systems “are most useful in climates with cold winters and hot summers, because there’s a large variation in temperature between the ground and the air,” Hannun wrote in a blog post.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Why Google’s newest AI team is setting up in Canada

2017-07-05T15:50:53-04:00

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau | Chris Jackson / Getty

DeepMind, Google’s London-based artificial intelligence research branch, is launching a team at the University of Alberta in Canada.

Why there? Two reasons come to mind:

1. Canada has a history of AI research

DeepMind is launching a team at the university partly for proximity to the broader AI research community in Canada.

A number of leading AI researchers in Silicon Valley hail from Canada, where they plugged away at deep learning, a complex automated process of data analysis, during a period when that technology — now popular at major tech companies — was considered by the larger computer science community to be a dead end.

Plus, almost a dozen DeepMind staff came from the university, according to a blog post by DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis announcing the new lab. An Alberta PhD and a former post doc from the school played key roles in one of DeepMind’s hallmark accomplishments, getting its AlphaGo software to beat the human world champion at Chinese strategy game Go.

“Our hope is that this collaboration will help turbocharge Edmonton’s growth as a technology and research hub,” wrote Hassabis, “attracting even more world-class AI researchers to the region and helping to keep them there too.”

2. The Canadian government is friendlier to AI research than the U.S.

Political realities also make Canada a particularly attractive place for Google to expand its AI efforts.

The Canadian government has demonstrated a willingness to invest in artificial intelligence, committing about $100 million ($125 million in Canadian currency) in its 2017 budget to develop the AI industry in the country.

This is in contrast to the U.S., where President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget request includes drastic cuts to medical and scientific research, including an 11 percent or $776 million cut to the National Science Foundation.

Another contrast to the U.S. is in immigration policies. Canada doesn’t have an equivalent of the U.S. travel ban, which restricts travel for immigrants and refugees from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. In the U.S., the ban makes it more difficult for tech and academic talent to enter the country.

Something interesting: One of the three researchers leading the team, Dr. Patrick M. Pilarski, is part of the university’s Department of Medicine. Google won’t comment on whether Pilarski’s medical background will play a role in his machine learning work for DeepMind, but Google is working on ways to integrate AI for health care as part of its cloud offering.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Google is still mostly white and male

2017-06-30T11:02:29-04:00

Latinos are better represented at Google compared with a year ago, according to the company’s latest diversity report. And more women hold technical roles.

But not by a lot. Google remains mostly white, Asian and male, and that hasn’t budged much in the last year.

Here’s the breakdown of how things changed in 2016.

Latinos saw an increase to 4 percent in 2016 from 3 percent of employees in 2015.
Black Googlers and women remain flat at 2 percent and 31 percent of company employees respectively.
All three groups are even less represented in technical roles, however the percentage of women in technical roles increased to 20 percent from 19 percent.
Women also made a small gain in leadership, increasing their presence to 25 percent of leadership roles from 24 percent.
The percentage of Asian employees increased more than any other group, to 35 percent from 32 percent of employees.
The percentage of Googlers who are white decreased to 56 percent from 59 percent.

However, Asians are underrepresented in leadership at Google. In 2016, only 27 percent of Asians held leadership roles, but that’s two percent more than in 2015. Whites were disproportionately represented at 68 percent.

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that women hold 20 percent of technical roles at Google, not 30 percent.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.