Google Search helps refugees answer queries

In honour of World Refugee Day, Google partnered with UNCHR to provide "authoritative" answers to refugees' questions. These include queries on how to qualify for cash assistance and what happens during refugee status interviews. The aim is to make it easier for refugees to start their new lives as soon as possible.

The answers will initially be available in Arabic, English, Farsi, and Turkish to assist those in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. The three countries have the highest volume of refugees per capita.

Source: Engadget

Google turns Search into a dating app of sorts for shows/movies to watch

Can't decide what movie or show to watch this weekend? Google is helping out its viewers in the US with this new feature. If you are in that country this weekend, search for the terms "what to watch," "good shows to watch" or even specific movie genres like "teen movies from the '90s." A start button will show up in the Top Picks For You carousel. You can swipe right to show that you like the show or left if you don't. The recommendation gets better as you flick through more content. 

Once you do decide what to watch, an info card will appear that shows what services host the given show or film. You can specify what services you use so it can focus on titles that are available there.

Source: Engadget

Google shuts down its Trips mobile app

Google's Trips mobile app is going away, but that doesn't mean you can't use the search giant's other apps and features to help you plan upcoming trips. Google is bringing many of its features to Maps and Search. As long as you're signed in to your Google account, you can head to google.com/travel and head to the Explore tab. Or you can just simply search for things on Google. Google's Travel site will let you browse past and upcoming reservations. You can edit details over there as well. A shortcut would be to search for "My trips" on Google. You'll also be able to find saved attractions, flights, and soon hotels for your upcoming and past trips. Another feature you can look forward to is being able to add and edit your notes from Google Trips into the Travel site.

In Maps, if you're looking for a destination or specific iconic places, guide lists, events, or restaurants, you can head to the Explore tab to find these. If you tap the menu icon, you can find saved places under the Your Places section. And soon Maps will include upcoming reservations organized by your trips and those will be automatically available offline, so you don't need to manually download them.

Google brings AR animals into the Search App

A new card in Google Search will bring virtual animals into your space—if you have an augmented reality-enabled phone, that is. This new feature is one of the many introduced at this year’s I/O developer conference. The feature works on animals like cats, dogs, pandas, alpine goats, angler fish, lions, timberwolves, bears, European hedgehogs, tigers, and emperor penguins. When you do a search for these animals, a card saying “Meet a life-sized [animal] up close” will pop up. In the same card, you’ll see a “View in your own space” button to place the virtual animal into your environment.

Like any AR sticker, you can move these around or resize them. The animals even come with sound effects. You can see the dog bark and scratch its ears or the panda chews on a piece of bamboo. If you have a device ready to support this feature, you’ll need to allow it to access your camera and storage for the first time you use the feature.

Source: Engadget