Google knows you well

Google collects lots of interesting data about you...
A useful reference to see how much Google knows about you and how to control it.

How to see everything Google knows about you | Business Insider:

OK Google Commands

Interesting compilation of OK Google commands ...
Useful reference for all the commands you can use with OK Google!

OK Google:

Google launches Duo

At last Facetime for Android and iOS ...
Google has launched Duo a simple mobile video calling app that will work on Android AND Apple iOS allowing cross platform video calling without the complexity of Skype.

Google launches Duo video-calling app, a dull cross-OS FaceTime rival – TechCrunch:

Google improves 2FA

Google's 2 Factor Authentication gets better ...

This is a significant improvement to the 2 Factor Authentication requirement of retrieving 6 digit codes. Now you can just tap 'Yes' on your linked mobile phone!

Google makes it much easier to use 2FA on your account | Ars Technica:

Google Duo mobile video

Google Duo - Mobile video calls made easy ...

At last a simple video calling app - Google Duo to be launched soon. The first video in this article is well worth a look. It describes the new Google Allo messaging app to be launched soon and then goes on to describe the new Google Duo video calling app.

Google Duo makes mobile video calls fast and simple | The Verge:

Google Allo messaging

Another new messaging app from Google ...
Messaging is such a fragmented communication medium, unlike email that is universal. There is no point being on a specific messaging app unless all your friends are also on that app as they do not currently interconnect e.g. iMessage to Telegram to Hangouts etc. To get a sufficiently large number of users to move from their existing messaging app you have to offer something really innovative and useful.

Allo is a messaging app with Google built right in | The Verge:

Sydney Opera House

Interesting Google 360 degree tour of the Opera House ...
This virtual tour of the Sydney Opera House is worth a look! Check out both 360 degree virtual tours.

Google turns the Sydney Opera House into an online exhibit | The Verge:

Google Spaces group chat app

Google tries a new group chat app called Spaces ...
Having tried this new app, it is a little clumsy at the moment but could have a place for small groups to share thoughts on a specific topic like arranging a holiday or a party.

Google tries its hand at social again with launch of group chat app, Spaces | TechCrunch:

Google Calendar’s Reminders

Google Calendar reminders now on the web interface ...
This is as major improvement and now makes Google Calendar combined with Google Keep a good to-do list for those that don't need a more comprehensive app like Wunderlist.

Google Calendar’s Reminders feature is now on the web | TechCrunch:

Keep gets even better

Google Keep is getting better and better ...
I have started using Google Keep more since it integrated Reminders with my Google Calendar. These latest enhancements makes the app even more useful.

Google Keep gets support for #labels and a new Chrome extension | TechCrunch:

Google reveals data centres

A rare glimpse inside a Google Data Centre ...
Click on the 360 degree Data Centre tour to have a look at some of the hardware that supports Google's 'Cloud'!

Google reveals 360 video giving a rare glimpse inside one of its giant data centres | Daily Mail Online:

Alphabet Gets to the Top

Google's parent company, Alphabet, now at the top ...
Alphabet became the most valuable publicly traded company in the world with a market cap of $558 billion. The graphs in this article tell the story with respect to the No.2, Apple!

Alphabet Becomes The Most Valuable Public Company In The World | TechCrunch:

Google Tips & Tricks

Do more with Google and Android ...
Happy New Year! How about we start with 150+ Google and Android tips and tricks! Google has collected these all in one place so that you can browse and see what you didn't know. Astound your friends with these gems!

https://get.google.com/tips/

Google & Ford Self Drive Cars

Google setting up partnerships for self drive cars ...
Good idea to involve major car manufacturers like Ford to help with all the vehicle regulations from one country to the next.

Google And Ford Will Reportedly Team Up To Build Self-Driving Cars | TechCrunch:

Google, Facebook Top in Apps

Operating Systems and Apps in the US ...
Apple iOS enjoys nearly 43% market share in the US - very different to the rest of the world which is largely Android. Either way Microsoft hardly gets a look in!

Google, Facebook Have Most Popular Phone Apps – Nielsen | Re/code:

Google Photos Gets Easier

Google Photos makes photo sharing easier ... 
Google Photos just gets better all the time! Still plenty of opportunities for further enhancement like captions and allowing comments from those who you share with!

Google Photos Gets Easy-To-Use Shared Albums | TechCrunch:

Find Drive files easily

Google Drive improves search functionality ...
For those that lose files frequently(!) Google has improved the search functionality within Google Drive!

Google Drive Makes It Easier To Find The Files You’re Looking For | TechCrunch:

Google Play family for $14.99

Like other streaming music but includes YouTube Red ...
A very competitive music streaming package for up to 6 people that includes ad free YouTube Red.

Google Play Music launches $14.99 family plan for up to six people | The Verge:

Calendar Gets Reminders

Useful new Google Calendar feature ...
Not full task management but a very useful feature for simple reminders. Already synchronizing between Google Keep, Google Now and Google Calendar on Android, I am really looking forward to when it eventually makes it's way to Google Calendar on the desktop!

Google Calendar Gets Reminders | TechCrunch:

Release Phone Photo Storage

Google Photos helps to free up space on your phone ...
Google Photos gets smarter at releasing photo storage space once your photos have been automatically backed up from your phone.

Google Photos Will Now Help You Free Up Space On Your Phone | TechCrunch: