News Analysis India

Tag: Google

  • Google Launches Gemini Chatbot App In India With Nine Indian Languages Support; Check How To Download |

    New Delhi: Google has launched the mobile app for its generative AI chatbot, Gemini, in India following its debut in the U.S. four months ago. The Gemini app will now be available in nine Indian languages alongside English. The nine Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. 

    Notably, Google will also integrate nine local languages into Gemini Advanced, the paid version of the AI assistant Gemini. The advanced app is equipped with new data analysis capabilities, file uploads and the ability to chat with Gemini in Google Messages in English.  

    Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the launch on X and said “The app allows you to type, talk, or even add an image to get the assistance you need. Take a picture of a flat tire for instructions on how to change it, or get help writing that perfect thank you note–the possibilities are endless.” 

    Exciting news! Today, we’re launching the Gemini mobile app in India, available in English and 9 Indian languages. We’re also adding these local languages to Gemini Advanced, plus other new features, and launching Gemini in Google Messages in English. https://t.co/mkdSPZN5lE
    — Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 18, 2024

    Google Gemini AI App Download: 

    Android users in eligible countries can download the Gemini app from the Google Play Store or opt-in via Google Assistant. However, iPhone users in India will also be able to access this app in the coming weeks.

    On the other hand, the Gemini app will help users type, talk or even add an image to get the assistance they need. The Gemini AI app offers a range of features, from generating captions for any image to assisting with Google Maps. 

    Apart from India, the Gemini app has been launched in Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is also available in European markets such as Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and the UK. In April, the app expanded its language support to include Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese, broadening its reach to more users.

  • Google Pixel 8 Gets Massive Discount Of Rs 14,000 On THIS Platform; Check Discounted Price And Specs |

    New Delhi: Google launched the Google Pixel 8 smartphone in October last year at a starting price of Rs 75,999 alongside the Pixel 8 Pro. Now, the price of the flagship Google Pixel 8 handset has been slashed in India less than a year after its debut. 

    The smartphone is available with discounts including bank offers on the e-commerce platform Flipkart. Currently, the artificial intelligence-enhanced smartphone is available at Rs 61,999 on the 128 GB storage variant, down from its launch price of Rs 75,999. 

    Google Pixel 8 Flipkart Bank Offer And Exchange Deal 

    This means Flipkart has reduced the cost of this flagship phone by Rs 14,000 which is 18 per cent off on the Google Pixel 8. On top, customers can avail instant cashback of Rs 8,000 from ICICI Bank on both debit and credit cards, including EMI transactions. 


    Moreover, Pixel 8 buyers can claim up to Rs 55,000 discount on the exchange of their old device. Adding further, the e-commerce giant is offering a bonus of Rs 5,000 on top of the exchange value on select devices in trade-in deals.

    Google Pixel 8 Specifications: 

    The smartphone runs on Android 14 and sports a 6.2-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a nona-core Google Tensor G3 processor. The smartphone runs on the latest Android 14 operating system. 

    It is loaded with a 4575mAh non-removable battery that supports wireless charging. In the camera department, the Google Pixel 8 comes with a dual-camera configuration with a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel secondary camera with autofocus capabilities. (Also Read: Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G Smartphone Launched In India With MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC; Check Specs, Price And Bank Offers)

    For selfies and video chats, there is an 11-megapixel shooter at the front. For connectivity, the smartphone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, GPS, and USB Type-C, with active 4G support on both SIM cards. 

    On the security front, the Google Pixel 8 supports face unlock, providing quick and secure access to the device.    

  • Google Now Lets You Switch Between Different Modes In Slides |

    New Delhi: Google has said that it is making it easier for users to switch between different modes such as edit, view and comment in Slides. If users want to hide comments within a presentation or avoid accidental edits, they can switch to view mode. Choosing commenting mode will hide all options associated with editing, but still allow users to read and add comments, the tech giant explained.

    To change mode, users will be required to navigate to the View, Mode, select a mode. This capability will be available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. The tech giant also announced a feature that will let users scroll and zoom in or out on their content directly from Google Meet. (Also Read: HR Warns Employee For Social Media And Netflix Use During Work Hours: “Caught Watching…”)

    According to the company, this feature will eliminate the need to switch between tabs, helping users focus more on delivering their presentation. Meanwhile, Google has rolled out features like “polls, Q&A, and reactions” on its video conferencing app Meet for mobile devices to make it easier for users to interact with people during a live stream. According to the tech giant, this update is applicable for “ultra-low latency live streams” only, the standard live streaming experience remains the same. (Also Read: Motorola Edge 50 Ultra India Launch Confirmed, Third Phone After Edge 50 Pro And Edge 50 Fusion; Check Expected Specs And Price)

  • Google Meet Now Lets You Use Features Like Polls, Q&A During Live Streams On Mobile |

    New Delhi: To make it easier for users to interact with people during a live stream, Google has rolled out features like “polls, Q&A, and reactions” on its video conferencing app Meet for mobile devices.  According to the tech giant, if users join a live stream from the Google Meet Android or iOS app, they can use these features “when they’re available”.

    In addition, the company noted that this update is applicable for “ultra-low latency live streams” only, the standard live streaming experience remains the same. According to the tech giant, the ‘Q&A’ feature in Meet will offer an easy way to better engage audiences and help them get their questions answered, both at work and in school, whereas ‘polls’ can be used to identify topics that need more discussion or test understanding of the meeting content.

    Meanwhile, Google has introduced new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features for its Chromebook Plus laptops that will allow users to chat with Gemini, reimagine photos and others. Starting at $350, Chromebook Plus devices provide additional AI features such as industry-leading security, Google apps, and extended battery life.

  • Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Google Doodle Celebrates 7th Phase Of Polling In India With Voting Symbol |

    New Delhi: The tech giant Google is celebrating the 7th and final phase of polling of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with a special Google Doodle today on June 1, 2024. The India election-themed Google Doodle depicts a voter’s hand with electoral ink applied to the forefinger, a commonly used symbol of polling.

    Notably, Google has consistently celebrated similar doodles throughout the previous six phases of voting in India’s 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

    Users who click on the Doodle are directed to search results related to the latest updates on the ongoing 7th phase of the Lok Sabha Elections in India. As we know, the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, with voting being held in 57 constituencies across eight states and one union territory.

    This phase marks the conclusion of the general elections that commenced on April 19 and has already covered six phases and 486 Lok Sabha seats. The campaigning for the 7th phase of the Lok Sabha polls was completed on Thursday.

    During the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi attended over 200 campaign events like rallies and roadshows in 75 days. Meanwhile, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi participated in more than 100 rallies and public events. It is important to note that the Congress chief Kharge also held over 100 rallies, and 20 press conferences, and had over 70 interviews and media interactions.

    In the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, 904 candidates are in the fray from these 57 constituencies, with over 10 crore people eligible to vote.

    What are Google Doodles?

    Google Doodles are temporary changes made to the homepage of the Google logo. These changes are crafted to pay tribute to a range of local and global themes, including holidays, important dates, and impactful figures who have made notable contributions to society.

  • Google Confirms Authenticity Of 2,500 Leaked Internal Search Documents |

    New Delhi: Tech Giant Google has confirmed the authenticity of around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its search feature. These documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, as per the reports

    In a statement to The Verge, Google has warned people not to make incorrect assumptions about their search feature based on the leaked documents as the information might be out of context, outdated or incomplete. It further stated that it has provided a lot of information about how its Search feature works and the factors its system considers. They have also highlighted their efforts to protect search results from being manipulated.

    The leaked material allegedly suggests that Google “collects and potentially uses data” that company representatives have said does not contribute to ranking webpages in Google Search. However, the leaked information is likely to create some panic across the SEO industry. (Also Read: Govt Issues Alert On Critical Vulnerability In TP-Link Router: Here’s How To Protect Your Device)

    According to Fishkin, the leaked documents outline Google’s search API and break down what information is available to employees. SEO expert King said in his overview of the documents that “Lied” is harsh but “it’s the only accurate word to use here”. (Also Read: What Is India’s EU-Like Anti-Trust Proposal That Irked Tech Giants Google, Amazon, Apple?)

    “While I don’t necessarily fault Google’s public representatives for protecting their proprietary information, I do take issue with their efforts to actively discredit people in the marketing, tech, and journalism worlds who have presented reproducible discoveries,” he wrote. (With IANS Inputs)

  • What Is India’s EU-Like Anti-Trust Proposal That Irked Tech Giants Google, Amazon, Apple? |

    New Delhi: A US lobby group representing Google, Amazon and Apple has requested India to rethink its proposed EU-like competition law. This law is arguing regulations against data use and preferential treatment of partners could raise user costs, a letter shows.  

    In February, a government panel in India proposed imposing obligations on a few major digital companies under a new antitrust law, citing the increasing market power of these entities. The panel highlighted that existing regulations are “time-consuming” to enforce.

    Digital Competition Bill: 

    India’s “Digital Competition Bill” is on the lines of the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act 2022. This bill targets large firms, including those with a global turnover of over $30 billion and whose digital services have at least 10 million users locally, bringing some of the world’s biggest tech firms under its ambit. 

    However, some of the globe’s largest tech firms would fall within its scope. The bill has been proposed to prohibit companies from exploiting the non-public data of their users and promoting their services over rivals. It also gives authority to abolish restrictions on downloading third-party apps.  

    India Lucrative Market For Big Tech Companies:

    With a population exceeding 1.4 billion and a growing affluent class, India is a potential market for major tech corporations. This month, Apple CEO Tim Cook asserted that the company posted a “revenue record” in India during the March quarter when its overall global revenue declined by 4%.

    In response to concerns about a few dominant digital players exerting substantial influence over the market, an Indian panel asserts the necessity of a new law. This proposal, similar to measures in the EU, suggests penalties of up to 10% of a company’s annual global turnover for infringements. 

    Despite these challenges, a coalition of 40 Indian startups voices support for the new legislation, arguing it could curb monopolistic behaviours of major digital platforms and foster fair competition for smaller entities.

    Scrutiny On Amazon, Apple

    To recall, Amazon finds itself under scrutiny for alleged preferential treatment of certain sellers on its Indian platform, a claim it refutes. Likewise, Apple refutes allegations but faces investigation over the purported misuse of its dominant position in the apps market.

    There is no fixed timeline, however, the Indian government plans to review feedback on the proposal before pursuing parliamentary approval, potentially with modifications or without changes. 

  • Google Plans India Manufacturing After Introducing Industry-Leading Pixel 8a Smartphone |

    New Delhi: Google, which just launched its new device Pixel 8a with industry-leading features, is apparently looking at India to manufacture its smartphones via investing billions of dollars. The company is reportedly looking to manufacture new Pixel devices in Tamil Nadu, in partnership with Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn.

    The government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has played an instrumental role in attracting global manufacturers and Google will soon join the league. Google Pixel phones are full of top-notch artificial intelligence (AI) features, including Gemini and Circle to Search.

    Powered by Google AI, the ‘Best Take’ tool will make every group photo a “true” group photo. You can choose the image where everyone looks their best and the feature uses a series of photos taken close together to one fantastic picture. (Also Read: Noise Launches Next-Gen EN 1 Processor, Nebula UI; Set To Debut With Upcoming NoiseFit Origin Smartwatch)

    Google AI also reduces distracting sounds in videos so you can hear the ones you want. Sounds from cars, wind, or construction can be disruptive in video. Audio Magic Eraser uses Google AI to reduce distracting sounds with a few taps, so “you can hear the ones you want”.

    According to the company, ‘Magic Editor’ is a new and powerful generative AI-powered photo editor with more intuitive tools and suggestions that let you reimagine the way you edit. Gemini is the redefined digital Generative AI assistant that amplifies productivity and creativity because it’s personalised and brings together the best of Google’s AI capabilities, in the palm of their hand.
     
    You can talk, text or share images to get help with all of your tasks, so you can focus on what matters most to you. With ‘Circle to Search’ feature, you can search from anywhere on your phone, whichever app or screen you’re on, and search in a way that is natural to you.

    Pixel 8a is made with at least 24 per cent recycled materials based on product weight, the most recycled content in any A-series yet. The device is also the first A-Series phone to get seven years of OS, security updates and feature drops, to optimise for what people care about most: keeping their phone secure and up-to-date. (Also Read: WhatsApp To Soon Allow Users To Put AI-Generated Profile Photos Based On Interests, Personalities, Moods)

    The Family Link app, which hosts parental controls, lets parents decide on the family’s digital experience.

  • Google Maps Navigation Leads Hyderabad-Based Four Tourists Into Stream In Kerala |

    Kerala: Using Google Maps to navigate resulted in a tourist group from Hyderabad driving into a stream swollen with water near Kuruppanthara in this south Kerala district, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday night when the four-member group, including a woman, were going towards Alappuzha. 

    The road they were travelling on was covered by water overflowing from the stream due to heavy rains and since the tourists were unfamiliar with the area, they drove right into the water body while navigating using Google maps, police said. 

    All four managed to escape unharmed due to the efforts of a nearby police patrolling unit and local residents, but their vehicle was completely submerged under the water, an officer of Kaduthuruthy police station said. The vehicle -a Ford Endeavour – was later pulled out of the stream using a crane. (Also Read: CEO Elon Musk Accuses WhatsApp, Claims Meta App Breaches Private User Data Every Night)

    Thereafter, the man who was driving the vehicle told reporters that he and his friends were going to Alappuzha from Munnar and they took the route shown by Google Maps. “At around 2-3 pm, it started raining very heavily. 

    The road was waterlogged. I was going very slow at around 10 kms per hour. But, suddenly the front tyres went deep into the water and the vehicle lost control. “Then the rear tyres also went in and the vehicle started floating forward. We quickly pulled down the windows and jumped out. We somehow managed to safely reach the shore,” he said. 

    Meanwhile, residents of the area said such accidents happen there during the rainy season when the road gets submerged. This is not the first such Google map-related accident reported in Kerala. In October last year, two young doctors died in a car accident which occurred after they allegedly followed directions on Google Maps and fell into a river. (Also Read: WhatsApp To Soon Allow Users To Put AI-Generated Profile Photos Based On Interests, Personalities, Moods)

    Following the incident, the Kerala police had issued cautionary guidelines for using the technology during the monsoon season.

  • Google Pay App Will Stop Working In US After June 4 Due To THIS Reason; Indian Users To Remain Unaffected |

    New Delhi: Google Pay services have been used many across the globe. From June 4, Google will discontinue the Google Pay application in the United States. The company has taken this move to streamline its payment services and shift its focus towards enhancing Google Wallet. 

    Google clarified that this transformation won’t affect Google Pay users in India and Singapore. As per official reports, Google Pay is utilised by millions of individuals across more than 180 nations.  

    Google in its blog post mentioned that users in America can use the payment app till June 4 and then transfer the Google Pay balance to their bank accounts. However, users can continue to access the most popular features such as tapping to pay in stores and managing payment methods – right from Google Wallet, which is used five times more than the Google Pay app in the US, as per the blog post by the tech giant Google. 

    Notably, the users can use the US version of the Google Pay app until June 4 to view and transfer their Google Pay balance to their bank account. It is important to note that Americans can continue to view and transfer their funds to their bank account after June 4, 2024, from the Google Pay website. 

    After June 4, no user would be able to send, request, or receive payments through the US version of the Google Pay app. 

    Google Wallet: 

    As we all know Google Wallet is finally available in India. The tech giant Google rolled out the digital wallet app Google Wallet in the US in 2022. Now, the application has entered the Indian market after two years. 

    Notably, the Google Wallet is available on the Google Play Store for download. 

    Google Wallet Vs Google Pay App:

    Google Wallet is a secure and private digital wallet that offers quick access to loyalty cards, passes, tickets, and IDs shared within the app. On the other hand, Google Pay focuses on managing users’ money and finances. It also supports NFC technology for adding credit cards. Notably, Google Wallet lacks this feature in India.