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Celebrating the year on YouTube: The top trending videos of 2015
December 9, 2015
2015 was kind of a big year for YouTube. Along with a year-long celebration of
YouTube’s 10th birthday
, YouTube creators and their fans introduced the planet to the latest
dance crazes
, opened up discussions about
diversity and inclusion
, and lip-synced in
cars
and
onstage
in front of the whole, wide world.
Now it's time to look at the videos it seems like the whole world has seen: the top trending videos of 2015. From late-night hosts to Slow Mo Guys, Super Bowl ads to cops doing covers, these are the videos and creators we collectively watched, danced, and sang along to for more than 25 million hours this year.
Silento- Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) #WatchMeDanceOn
by
Tianne King
Clash of Clans: Revenge (Official Super Bowl TV Commercial)
by
Clash of Clans
Crazy Plastic Ball PRANK!!
by
RomanAtwood
Love Has No Labels | Diversity & Inclusion | Ad Council
by
Ad Council
Lip Sync Battle with Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon
by
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Justin Bieber Carpool Karaoke
by
The Late Late Show with James Corden
6ft Man in 6ft Giant Water Balloon - 4K - The Slow Mo Guys
by
The Slow Mo Guys
Golden boy Calum Scott hits the right note | Audition Week 1 | Britain's Got Talent 2015
by
Britain's Got Talent
Dover Police DashCam Confessional (Shake it Off)
by Dover Police
Mean Tweets - President Obama Edition
by
Jimmy Kimmel Live
We got together 150+ YouTube creators from all over the world for the 2015 installment of YouTube’s annual Rewind video, featuring everything from dance prodigies, to TV personalities, to an epic plastic ball fight.
Like what you see? If trending videos and creators are your thing (and you want to see them before next year’s annual round-up), check out the new
YouTube Trending tab
. You’ll get the videos that are taking off delivered directly to your Android, iOS, and desktop device—the best way to catch the videos, creators, and trends the world is talking about.
Posted by Kevin Allocca, Head of Culture & Trends
IMAGE URL
Kevin Allocca
Head of Culture & Trends
YouTube
Google Demo Day: shining a light on female entrepreneurs
December 9, 2015
Women around the world are creating and building incredible technology companies. We see this every day through our Google for Entrepreneurs programs—like
#40Forward
, which works with organizations to increase the representation of female entrepreneurs in startup communities, and our baby-friendly startup school
Campus for Moms
. Supporting these startups is important because teams with diverse perspectives and experiences—particularly in leadership positions—make better products for users.
But the data still tells us that women-led startups often struggle to get access to top investors who can help them raise money. Despite women owning 29 percent of U.S. businesses, female-led companies receive
only 3 percent of venture capital
—a lifeline for many startups to fund new product development and hiring.
With this in mind, today we're hosting our first Google Demo Day specifically for startups with female founders. More than 450 companies from 40+ countries applied, and we chose 11 female-led startups to join us in San Francisco for the event. These startups come from all over the world and span a variety of industries—from Kichink, a B2B e-commerce company in Mexico, to ChattingCat, a real-time translation service in South Korea.
At today’s event, each startup will have four minutes to pitch their businesses, followed by Q&A with a panel of judges. At the end of the day, the judges will crown a Judges’ Favorite, based on the strength of their business model, their team, and their product. Demo Days aren’t just a time to pitch investors; founders also receive mentoring and feedback from Googlers and Silicon Valley veterans through a series of talks and workshops.
Companies from our past two Demo Days have raised $3.5 million from investors who are in attendance, and millions more afterwards. For example, Durham, North Carolina-based beverage entrepreneur Tatiana Birgisson, who won our Demo Day in April, has raised more than $1 million for her energy tea startup
MATI Energy
.
But it's not just the people in the room who can take part in the big day. You can tune in to the live stream on
YouTube
at 10am PT today to see Demo Day in action. You'll also have the chance to vote for the winner of the "Game Changer" Award, an audience favorite trophy. We hope this Demo Day will not only shine a light on the participating startups, but on the exciting companies being built and led by female entrepreneurs everywhere.
Posted by Mary Grove, Director of Google for Entrepreneurs
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEx8bgGGe1I/Vmhcryv1YwI/AAAAAAAARkU/92ZGHjnC5Uc/s1600/IMG_6152.JPG
Mary Grove
Director
Google for Entrepreneurs
Meet the Pixel C, our take on the tablet
December 8, 2015
This holiday season, there's no shortage of electronics to choose from. When it comes to picking out what device to use, sometimes you want a laptop to hammer out a lengthy document. Other times you want a lightweight tablet to sit back and watch your favorite video. Starting today, you don't have to choose, because the Pixel C is available on the Google Store. As
we previewed
two months ago,
Pixel C
brings together the benefits of a full-size keyboard with the portability of a tablet so it can go wherever you go.
The Pixel C’s high-resolution, 10.2” display is crisp, colorful, and bright—in fact it’s one of the brightest tablets out there—perfect for sharing photos and videos with family over the holidays. Graphics horsepower and stereo speakers mean the Pixel C can keep up with you whether you’re watching a new episode of "Silicon Valley" or playing a new game.
But what really makes the Pixel C unique is the full-size keyboard, which is designed to fit perfectly with the tablet. It attaches seamlessly with magnets, and automatically connects via bluetooth. When the tablet and keyboard are closed together, the keyboard charges wirelessly and automatically—so you never have to worry about it running out of juice. And when you don’t need to type, the keyboard tucks securely behind the tablet with magnets—out of the way but close by for when you need it.
This is the first tablet designed with
Android 6.0, Marshmallow
in mind. You get added security benefits, smarter and longer battery life (10+ hours) and Now on Tap at your fingertips. To ensure the Pixel C gets even better over time, it will receive regular security and feature updates directly from Google. But what makes a tablet great is the amount of things you can do with it—and you’ve got plenty to choose from with s’more than 1 million apps on Google Play.
The Pixel C is available on the
Google Store
now starting at $499, and if you order today, you can get it in time for the holidays.
Posted by Andrew Bowers, Director, Product Management & Pixel Perfectionist
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSxFo36Ms9s/VmcZS04uGoI/AAAAAAAARjk/XXLJgtvRz2M/s1600/NexusRYUKey_O_SILVER_TQF.png
Andrew Bowers
Director
Product Management
Make your home Internet look like your home with OnHub
December 8, 2015
Chances are, somewhere in your home, there‘s a tangled mess of wires and blinking lights that make your Wi-Fi work. Your router likely isn’t the most sightly thing, and you probably hide it behind a curtain or under a bookcase—out of sight.
Turns out, that’s a bit of a problem, since routers work better when they’re out in the open. So a few months ago,
we released the first OnHub router from TP-LINK
. It replaces the unruly cords, blinking lights, and bulky antennas of a typical router with subtle lighting and internal wiring, so you’re more likely to put OnHub out where it works best.
Today we’re introducing more ways to make your OnHub look great in your home with
three new, interchangeable shells
for the OnHub from TP-LINK, as well as
OnHub Makers
, a gallery of shells designed by artists, designers, and makers.
With OnHub Makers, we wanted to see what some of the world’s most creative minds would do to personalize their routers. We reached out to artists, makers and designers who poured resin, blew glass, and cut paper to make their own unique shells. You can see their creations and learn more in the
OnHub Makers gallery
.
Feeling inspired? Then it’s time to get crafty. We’ve put together all of the information you need to customize an OnHub shell. Whether you’re using a laser cutter or simple finger paints, download the
Maker Packet
for 3D files, 2D patterns, and useful guidelines. Once you’re done, be sure to share your designs online using the hashtag
#OnHubMakers
, and we may feature your design in
our gallery
.
If DIY isn’t really your thing you can still add some style to your Wi-Fi with one of the three new shells from the OnHub team, available later today in the U.S. for $29-39 on the
Google Store
.
Posted by Ben Brown, Product Manager, OnHub
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HTzSqT1Y7a8/VmcSiW9_Z4I/AAAAAAAARjU/NREGWCoteUo/s1600/JetstreamShell_O_TAF1_16x9%2B%25281%2529.png
Ben Brown
Product Manager
OnHub
Hello. It’s the best of 2015 on Google Play.
December 7, 2015
Movie fans went to space in search of a new home in
Interstellar
. The citizens of Westeros battled not only white walkers, but also the zombies of
The Walking Dead
and the landed gentry of
Downton Abbey
to claim the Iron Throne of the TV kingdom. Adele no longer had to worry if “after all these years you'd like to meet” up with her music again, as
25
became the best-selling album of the year in just one week. And readers fell in love with Christian Grey… again!
As 2015 comes to a close, we crunched the numbers to find the most popular entertainment this year on Google Play. For complete lists, visit
Google Play
.
Movies of the Year
1.
Interstellar
2.
Lucy
3.
American Sniper
4.
The Interview
5.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
TV Shows of the Year
1.
Game of Thrones
2.
The Walking Dead
3.
Downton Abbey
4.
Fear the Walking Dead
5.
Vikings
Albums of the Year
1.
25
from Adele
2.
If You're Reading This It's Too Late
from Drake
3.
To Pimp A Butterfly
from Kendrick Lamar
4.
Fifty Shades Of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
from Various Artists
5.
Beauty Behind The Madness
from The Weeknd
Books of the Year
1.
Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
by E L James
2.
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian
by E L James
3.
Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
by E L James
4.
Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
by E L James
5.
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History
by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice
Posted by Kara Bailey, Director of Merchandising, Google Play
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQVk5bSzX_Q/VmXriULHLGI/AAAAAAAARiw/uhmd_VntXFU/s1600/Game_of_Thrones_highlight-tv-us-20150831-3194x1797-080703%2B%25281%2529.jpg
Kara Bailey
Director of Merchandising
Google Play
Walk the ruins of Peru’s most historic site: Machu Picchu
December 4, 2015
Take a
train ride through the Andes
, above the sacred valley and atop the mist of the mountains, to the most historic site of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
and one of the
New 7 Wonders of the World
, is one of the most famous, mythical and spiritual sites in the world. Now for the first time, in partnership with the
Peruvian Ministry of Culture
, people across the globe can go on a journey to
Machu Picchu
directly in Google Maps, uncovering its temples, terraces and plazas that have remained intact since the 15th century. People can also explore rare Inca artifacts and expert insights on the
Google Cultural Institute
.
Gazing at the
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
more than 2,400 meters above sea level, the site below is a lasting tribute to the power of the Inca Empire. It’s still unclear how the structure composed of behemoth stones was so precisely built without the use of mortar or modern day machinery, but its walls, terraces and stairways weave effortlessly into the mountainside and natural landscape.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru
Standing in the
Templo Principal
, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast
Plaza Principal
allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.
Plaza Principal of Machu Picchu
Within the long and narrow compounds, called kanchas, you can also explore the
Observatorio Astronómico (Intiwatana)
,
Templo del Sol
, and
Templo de las Tres Ventanas
—sites dedicated to
Inti
, the Inca Sun god—or marvel at the architectural complexity of structures like the
Grupo de las Tres Puertas
, whose doors lead to the main square.
Grupo de las Tres Puertas, Machu Picchu, Peru
After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more
Wonders of Machu Picchu
on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the
Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha
. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals—which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later. Highlights include a perfectly preserved
pair of plates decorated with butterflies
, and an
ingenious device
of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. See these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a
virtual tour
.
Inca accounting device
Whether you visit Machu Picchu via a
train
or hike up the
Inca Trail
, we’d be honored to be your virtual guide through this sacred space. And while in the area, enjoy exploring still more archaeological treasures from this ancient civilization at the
Museo Machupicchu at Casa Concha
, which holds the
largest collection of Inca artifacts in the world
.
Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a
click away
.
Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Lead
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3hjidv6F60/VmHBCdpFq6I/AAAAAAAARiI/5Uxwk-SXiRI/s1600/historic%2Bsanctuary.png
Daniel Filip
Tech Lead
Google Maps
Step inside your photos with Cardboard Camera
December 3, 2015
With Google Cardboard, you can take
amazing trips
to faraway places and feel like you’re actually there. But what if you could also use Cardboard to go back in time—to step inside personal moments like your favorite vacation or a holiday dinner with family? Now you can with the new
Cardboard Camera app for Android
.
Cardboard Camera turns the smartphone in your pocket into a virtual reality (VR) camera. It’s simple to take a photo: just hold out your phone and move it around you in a circle. Later, when you place your phone inside a Google Cardboard viewer, you'll get to experience something new: a VR photo.
VR photos are three-dimensional panoramas, with slightly different views for each eye, so near things look near and far things look far. You can look around to explore the image in all directions, and even record sound with your photo to hear the moment exactly as it happened.
Taken with Cardboard Camera at Jackson Lake, Wyoming. This simulates the 3D effect when seen in a Cardboard viewer.
With Cardboard Camera, anyone can create their own VR experience. So revisit the mountaintop that took hours to hike, or the zoo where you saw (and heard) the monkeys, or your birthday party with the cake out and candles still lit. Capture the moments that matter to you and relive them anytime, from anywhere.
Cardboard Camera
is available today on Google Play in 17 languages.
Posted by Carlos Hernandez, Software Engineer, Cardboard Camera
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXaR6CyEPw8/VmBpIVPkEkI/AAAAAAAARhg/hAv4GJWbWMA/s1600/Simulates_3D_Effect_in_Viewer.gif
Carlos Hernandez
Software Engineer
Cardboard Camera
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