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During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, Google Maps introduced a new layer which let users track the number of current COVID-19 cases as well as the trend in a given area. Since then, it's added special checkboxes for businesses that have taken precautions against the spread of disease. Nowadays, the visibility of the virus has faded thanks to a variety of reasons. Chalk up one more reason: Google Maps has dropped the COVID-19 filter.
The Google Weather Frog has discarded its COVID-19 mask
Froggy has decided to stop wearing his face mask
Google's Weather Frog is the company's weather widget mascot. The frog can be seen when users type "weather" into their phone's Google search bar. Froggy, as he is popularly known, has also appeared in multiple doodles that celebrate anniversaries or historical events. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the weather frog began to appear with a mask covering its face. It was a subtle reminder to users to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. After nearly two years, Froggy now appears in the widget, albeit without a mask.
Chromecast Ambient Mode slideshows start dialing back their bandwidth-saving measures
You'll be able to speed up the rate of cycling images
The early days of the pandemic saw the internet faced with an unprecedented surge of traffic, with people restricted to their homes relying on going online for both work and entertainment, leading to slower internet across the globe. In a bid to reduce network congestion and prioritize the more essential stuff, streaming services all over started making sacrifices. Those cuts extended in some unexpected ways, like how Google downgraded video quality on certain Nest cameras and reduced Chromecast (and smart display) Ambient Mode photo quality. But with more and more people going back to the office, some of those restrictions are now being reverted.
Beijing's app for Olympic athletes and visitors looks like a free data buffet for hackers
Thousands at risk of having personal data exposed
There are privacy concerns for the thousands of foreigners in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics after Canadian research group Citizen Lab revealed vulnerabilities in an app that handles sensitive health information and is required by the Chinese government for anyone involved with the games.
How Google's COVID employment policies are adapting to the shifting Omicron threat
And how they compare to its peers
Even as we approach our third year of an ongoing pandemic, the overall situation out there has been pretty bleak. The Omicron variant has swept through much of the world, with record-setting case counts and hospitalizations. Although the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration's planned vaccine mandate for major US employers last week, private organizations — including one-third of Fortune 100 companies — have implemented their own. Google is among those included in this list, though it's unclear whether it'll catch up to the competition in this space.
Google Search picks up new COVID-19 tools in response to everything becoming awful again
Helping users to find vaccine and testing sites
Even as we're days away from 2022, COVID-19 continues to be a part of everyday life. With the omicron variant accounting for the vast majority of recent cases and a massive spike happening across the world, it's as important as ever to stay vigilant and knowledgeable about the virus. Google has added some new features to its search tools in the US to help users find more information about vaccines and testing.
Google Assistant will soon walk you through booking a vaccination slot in India
Helping those who aren't good with mobile technology
Google hosted its annual Google for India event today virtually where it announced a couple of new upcoming features for Google Pay, Google Career Certificates, and financial assistance for micro-enterprises. Another key announcement from the event is an upcoming Google Assistant feature that will enable Indians to book a vaccination slot on the country's Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network platform (COWIN) without having to fill out a web page form.
Russia threatens to block YouTube after it suspended a state news channel over COVID misinformation
Russia suspects that Germany is behind the ban, claiming the country is starting a media war
Russia and Google have never been best friends, but things are about to get much worse if the two parties can't find an agreement in the latest dispute. After YouTube deleted the Germany-based branch of Russia's state television network Russia Today (RT) over COVID-19 misinformation, Russia has threatened to fully block the video streaming service in the country if it doesn't re-instate RT Germany. The country has additionally threatened Germany it would block German media, suspecting the government behind YouTube's decision to ban RT Germany.
Samsung Pay will now securely store your vaccination card
In partnership with the Commons Project Foundation
As more and more vaccines are distributed worldwide — and as more businesses require vaccination for entry — keeping proof of your vaccine history on you is essential. We've previously looked at ways to save the card on your phone, and Google Pay has slowly expanded support for virtual proof beginning with Australia. If you're using a Samsung phone, you won't have to wait much longer to store your own information digitally.
Google Pay gets Aussies ready for digital vaccine cards
Faster and more convenient vaccine verification
As more and more countries are starting to require vaccination certificates to enter restaurants, gyms, and other public venues, it's becoming increasingly critical for people to easily access their official proof of vaccination. One of the most convenient ways is obviously to digitalize it and save it on your mobile phone. To enable this, Google recently updated its Passes API, allowing government agencies to distribute vaccination cards digitally. Australians will be amongst the first to benefit from this offering, as they'll be able to store their vaccination certificates directly in Google Pay.
Google Pay is adding support for the most important card in your wallet
You'll soon be able to save your Covid vaccination card to Google Pay
Vaccination cards are becoming an increasingly important part of our lives as more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, but carrying some paper proof with you all the time is a hassle. Google wants to make things easier and has updated a core Google Pay API to allow the distribution and storage of vaccination and test cards right in its wallet app.
Google says it won't pull a 'Voltswagen' this year
The company will skip its elaborate April Fools' Day jokes for a second year running
2020 sucked hard. A year ago Google decided to skip its tradition of elaborate April Fools' Day jokes, on account of, you know, a worldwide pandemic that killed millions of people. A year later things are looking up — I'm getting my first vaccine dose tomorrow! — but it's far from over. So maybe it's a good thing that Google is reportedly skipping the levity for a second year running.
Google Search and Maps will soon show vaccination centers in the US
Google is also making its spaces available for use as vaccination clinics
Google is often quick to offer customized search results and other features for topics that affect us all, and this has certainly been the case with coronavirus. With vaccines being rolled out in many countries around the world, related queries are undoubtedly on the rise. To make it easier to access authoritative information, Google is expanding its knowledge panels in search results and is working to show nearby vaccination centers on Maps.
Unfortunately, coronavirus is still alive and well, which means that tracking apps are still needed. An issue with apps developed using Google's Android Exposure Notifications System that was affecting tracking apps in several countries has thankfully been fixed, so COVID-19 tracking now works on Android devices again.
Google is working on bringing COVID-19 contact tracing to smartwatches
For those who don't always have smartphones on them
Wear OS may feel dead in the water and might only be receiving a minimum of feature additions, but it remains a widely used platform nonetheless. And it looks like the company isn't completely done with wearables. Following the Bluetooth SIG decision to expand the standard's specifications to enable contact tracing on Bluetooth Low Energy devices like wearables, Google already appears to be working on adding COVID-19 exposure tracing to its platform.
COVID tracing app roundup: All of the countries and US states that currently offer exposure notification apps
A running list of Android COVID tracing apps
If you're looking for your country's or state's official COVID Exposure Notification System app, you might not be able to find it thanks to the screwy way Google is handling the search function for COVID related apps on the Play Store. Despite the fact many apps are testing Google's ENS API, the tag is missing from a few listings, and even worse there are some apps you simply can't even search for on the Play Store. Since it would appear every country and US state is creating its own stand-alone app, some areas are lagging behind others, so it's tough to know if your location even has an app available. This is why I've taken the time to round up all of the COVID tracing apps currently available on the Play Store, and will continue to update this list as new apps are released.
WHO’s official coronavirus app gets a public release (kind of) for the second time (APK Download)
The Play Store may not list the app in every country, though
The World Health Organization first came out with its official coronavirus app in April, but it was soon pulled from public view as it wasn’t supposed to be out yet. The global health body has finally released the stable version of the app on the Play Store, offering a wealth of trustworthy information and safety practices against the deadly virus — though how it's being released is a little wonky.
St. Nick masks up for Christmas in Google's 2020 Santa Tracker update
Just like all the good little boys and girls
COVID-19 may have thrown a wrench into people's holiday plans, but Google's Santa Tracker is back to keep us company while we're stuck at home. And this year, Google has given it a simple modification that makes it feel very 2020: gifting a pair of purple masks to Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Google wants to crowdsource data for medial research with its new Health Studies app
The app uses federated learning to keep user data private
Google makes a lot of experimental apps, but the company's latest one couldn't have landed at a more opportune time. The Google Health Studies app allows users to sign up and participate in research studies to advance medical knowledge — and its first project tackles respiratory illnesses.
Timeline view on Google Maps gets new Trips tab, coming to Google Photos
If you're traveling, you can see your hotel's COVID-19 response in detail at google.com/travel
We'll make no judgment of whether you're traveling for the holidays or not — the time of year always seems to amp up the urgency of things. If you do, Google may let you know what your hotel is doing to keep the coronavirus at bay. Even if you don't, the company will be introducing a couple of new ways to look over your travel memories.