Latest news with #Googlers
Phone Arena
02-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Google Maps gets a slightly different new look for iOS and Android
I wouldn't be surprised if Google has an office in Mountain View with a handful of Googlers who run through a series of Google apps every single day suggesting changes that can be made to these apps. Some of the changes are useful and help users save time while others seem like they were made by Google employees to justify their positions with the company. The latest Google app receiving an update is one that has received its share of improvements over the years, Google Maps. Both the Android and iOS versions of Google Maps are seeing a new look to the logo shown near the bottom left of the map. Before the update, the four-color (Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green) Google logo appeared in this spot. The new look, found in version 25.21 of Google Maps for Android and version 25.22 for iOS, says Google Maps in black and white. Will the change help get you to your destination faster or deliver better directions? No. There probably is a reason why Google made this change related to branding so we might not understand why this was done until a future date. Meanwhile, the new look appears on my Pixel 6 Pro running Android 16 QPR 1 Beta 1 but not on my iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 18.5 installed. It also has yet to surface on the mobile web variant of Google Maps. Even with the update, the four-color look can be seen in the search bar at the top of the app with the Google Maps icon at the left and the Google Lens icon in the four Google colors at the right of the search field. The old Google Maps is at the left while the new Google Maps with the new Google Maps logo is at the right. | Image credit-PhoneArena While iPhone users have the option of using Apple Maps and the iOS Google Maps app, Android users can navigate using the Google Maps app and the web version of Apple Maps on certain mobile browsers such as Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox by directing the browser to go to
News18
23-05-2025
- Business
- News18
What Makes Google So Cool? Bengaluru Employee Has The Answers
Last Updated: A Google software engineer posted a video demonstrating the many benefits that make Google offices a desirable place to work. Google is well known for its creative and unique office designs around the world. The tech giant aims to create a fun, innovative work environment that people enjoy being part of. To make the workplace more comfortable, Google offers its employees, known as 'Googlers," a variety of benefits, including free meals, nap rooms, and other cool facilities. Recently, a Google employee from Bengaluru, Riddhi Dutta, shared a video on Instagram showing some of the 'underrated perks" that many people may not know about. Riddhi, who works as a Software Engineer, gave viewers a quick tour of different parts of the office in the video. He highlighted lesser-known benefits that make working at Google special. The video quickly gained popularity, receiving over 8 lakh views and 41,000 likes. The clip gave people an inside look at Google's work culture and showed why so many consider it one of the best places to work. 'Google food is all over Instagram, but is that the only perk worth flexing?" in the video, Dutta states this before listing the top five underappreciated perks that the IT giant provides to its staff. advetisement Watch the video here: Riddhi Dutta shared some of the lesser-known perks that Google employees enjoy. First, every Googler has access to an onsite spa, where they can earn massage credits and book full sessions right at the office. Second, Google offers strong relocation support for employees. This includes staying in a five-star hotel for one to two months, a chauffeur for 30 days, help with transferring vehicles, house hunting, and even negotiating with brokers. If someone prefers to handle things on their own, they can choose to take a cash bonus instead. Google also lets employees choose their preferred work device—whether it's a Mac, Windows laptop, Chromebook, Pixel, or iPhone. Accessories can be picked up from a special vending machine inside the office. In addition, employees get full access to an in-house gym with personal trainers and healthy meals. The company also provides an annual health check-up that includes a full body and dental check-up. Dutta added, 'Even your glasses are covered." Online discussion has been triggered by the video, with individuals expressing both awe and jealousy. A user commented, 'My dream company." Another said, 'Manifesting to be there once." 'That's why everyone wants to work at Google," an individual expressed. 'Best MNC out there with best pay+perks," wrote another. First Published:
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
"Spa, Gym, Chauffeur And More": Bengaluru Employee Shares 5 "Underrated Perks" Of Working At Google
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Google offices worldwide are designed to attract top talent. A Bengaluru employee showcased "underrated perks" at Google. Relocation support includes hotel stays, chauffeur services, and more. Google offices around the world are known to pack a bold punch when it comes to design. The IT giant tries to be an innovative and fun company that people would want to work for, and its offices are designed accordingly. Google employees, who are often called Googlers, also enjoy a range of amenities in the workplace, including free food and nap rooms. Now, a Bengaluru-based Google employee shared a list of 'underrated perks' the tech giant offers its employees. Taking to Instagram, Riddhi Dutta, a Software Engineer at Google, shared a video showing the wide array of perks that make Google offices an enviable place to work. The video, shared a few weeks back, has racked up 871,000 views and 40,000 likes. In the clip, Mr Dutta showed off various areas of the office, giving a sneak peek into the 'underrated perks' offered to a Googler. 'Google food is all over Instagram, but is that the only perk worth flexing?' Mr Dutta says in the clip, before sharing the 5 most underrated benefits the tech giant offers its employees. Watch the video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riddhi Dutta (@ First, Mr Dutta shared that every Googler gets access to an onsite spa, where they can earn message credits and book full sessions right inside the office. Second, every Google employee gets relocation support, which includes a five-star hotel stay for one to two months, a chauffeur for 30 days, help with vehicle transfer, house hunting, broker negotiation and etc. Alternatively, a Googler can also take the cash bonus if they are okay to do things on their own. Google employees can also choose their device - a Mac, Windows Chromebook, a Pixel or an iPhone. They can also order accessories from an in-house device vending machine. Apart from these, Googlers also get full access to an in-house gym with personalised trainers and healthy food options. Lastly, an annual health check-up not only includes a full body check-up, but also a dental check-up. 'Even your specs are covered,' Mr Dutta said. The video has sparked a conversation online, with users expressing both amazement and envy. 'My dream company,' commented one user. 'Manifesting to be there once,' said another. 'That's why everyone wants to work at Google,' expressed a third user. 'Best MNC out there with best pay+perks,' wrote another.
The Verge
08-05-2025
- The Verge
Oh no, I turned everything into an AI podcast
Ever since Google introduced the 'Audio Overviews' feature into its NotebookLM research tool, I have been experimenting with feeding it bodies of text that I did not want to sit and read: stereo instructions, Wikipedia rabbit holes, my Q1 performance review, etc. With this AI tool, two uncanny valley robot voices are generated to 'dive deep' into any documents I upload — adding metaphors, puns, and even casual banter to a summarized conversation. Click play, and what you'll hear sounds a lot like a stereotypical podcast. After a few Audio Overviews into my week, I realized I was taking significant time away from listening to podcasts made by real people. And as a podcast producer, this was both alarming and fascinating. I hate to admit how impressive Audio Overviews is. It organizes topics in segments the way a real podcast would, and it brings in outside context to help you better understand the subject material. I generated a podcast from a Spanish paella recipe I found online, and the hosts made note of the difference in rice texture between paella and risotto, without risotto specifically being mentioned in the recipe. Like every AI product I've ever used, you have to be careful with the accuracy of the content — it does have issues with hallucination. I uploaded notes from a story I was working on, and the AI hosts made up fictional quotes from my sources that were nowhere in my document. What makes Audio Overviews unique within the AI world is it isn't necessarily about saving you time. The hosts frequently vamp for a few minutes before getting to the important stuff (that being said, very similar to a real podcast). Director of product at NotebookLM Simon Tokumine tells me this casual format is by design. Initially, the product was very quick and efficient with information, until the team heard feedback from outside of Google. 'It was only when we started to actually share what we were building with others and get feedback from people who aren't necessarily obsessed with making every second of their day as efficient as possible, but are more into leaning back and listening in and just kind of going with a wave of information, that we realized there were two different populations we were building for here,' Tokumine said. 'And the population we were building for was not necessarily Googlers.'
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
iPod inventor Tony Fadell who sold his smart home company to Google says: If you hire 15-year 'career Googlers,' it will mess up your culture
Tony Fadell , the inventor of the iPod and founder of smart home company Nest, said Silicon Valley's lavish perks are hurting innovation and urgency in tech companies. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Fadell, who has worked with both Google and Apple, shared how the two companies have very different work cultures. 'At Apple, you couldn't hide," Fadell said. Operation Sindoor 'Op Sindoor's precision & execution was unimaginable': Rajnath Singh Operation Sindoor: India repels drone, missile attack across LoC Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list "Everyone was critical." On the contrary, the culture at Google was much more relax. Fadell, who sold Nest to Google for $3.2 billion, said 'You were lucky if they even showed up… They'd take the bus in for lunch, get a massage, grab yogurt, and head home'. Criticizing Google's famous "20 percent time" policy that lets engineers work on side projects, he said too much freedom breeds "mediocrity." 'It will mess up your culture" if you hire 15-year 'career Googlers'," Fadell added. A clash of cultures When Google acquired Nest in 2014, Nest reportedly struggled under Google's looser, bottom-up management style. As per a report by the New Yorker, this clash of cultures contributed to Fadell's departure in 2016 and led Google to rethink how it handles new tech projects. Apple's strict, top-down management style, on the other hand, has been studied in places like Harvard Business Review as a model for keeping creativity high without losing control. Advice for startups Sharing his advice for startups, Fadell said "Entitlement everywhere" is a hidden cost that no amount of funding, wellness programs, or free kombucha can fix. Do not mistake fancy office perks for real productivity, he advised. Fadell's views on workplace culture go back to his early days at General Magic in the 1990s, where leaders promised not to hire "East Coast" executives who expected luxury perks like drivers and special toilets. Fadell believes the tech industry today is full of that same entitlement, which he says can "kill the hustle" needed for real breakthroughs.
