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"Doge is a slang term for 'dog' that is primarily associated with pictures of Shiba Inus (nicknamed 'Shibe') and internal monologue captions on Tumblr. These photos may be photoshopped to change the dog's face or captioned with interior monologues in Comic Sans font," informs KnowYourMeme.

YouTube has an Easter Egg that changes the search results page for [doge meme]: colorful text, Comic Sans, much wow, so hip, help plz.



{ via Phandroid, thanks Sushubh }

Emanuele Bartolomucci spotted a new YouTube feature: when you're watching a video from a channel associated with a page that follows you in Google+, you get this message: "X added you on Google+. Follow back for exclusive updates!"


I wasn't able to trigger this feature, so it's probably an experiment. It's also a sign that YouTube will integrate more with Google+.

{ Thanks, Emanuele. }

Google+ notifications have a new interface: there's a "previously read" section, just like in the Google+ app for Android, and there are some new transitions that mimic scrolling down.

The previously read notifications are no longer displayed below the Jingles icon, so you need to click "previously read" to see them. The notifications box is less cluttered and you can still read all your notifications.



Here's a GIF that shows some of the new animations:


{ Thanks, Mukil. }

What makes a good ad? In some cases, it’s a striking image. In others, a funny premise. There’s no formula, but most memorable ads all have something in common: they tell a story worth sharing. 

Sharing is at the heart of the YouTube experience. From Metro Trains’ Dumb Ways to Die and TNT’s Dramatic Surprise to Chipotle combining powers with Willie Nelson, many of the most popular videos on YouTube are from brands that understand the power of great storytelling and creating content people choose to watch and share.

To recognize videos like these, YouTube is once again teaming up with TED’s Ads Worth Spreading initiative to celebrate the year’s most creative and notable ads. The award is given to the brands and agencies creating innovative ads that people can’t stop sharing.

Thirty of the most creative minds in the ad world, like those behind the videos above, along with TED speakers including Sarah Kay and Alanna Shaikh, will help find and nominate 2013’s most noteworthy ads. Winners will be announced during the annual TED conference in March 2014 (for more information, check out the full list of nomination teams and advocates).

As part of our involvement, we’ll add a viewer’s choice component to the nominated videos. We’ll rank the most popular videos based on actual YouTube views using the methodology behind our YouTube Ads Leaderboard, which publishes the most watched and shared ads on YouTube each month.

For insights into what makes an ad worth spreading, check out this article and interview video. Or just watch the playlist of last year’s winning ads. Combined, these ads have been viewed more than 140 million times on YouTube.



Tara Levy, Managing Director of Ads Marketing for Google and YouTube, recently watched “Volvo Trucks - The Epic Split feat. Van Damme (Live Test 6).”

Google Wallet users in the US can now get a physical card from Google. It's free, but you need to verify your identity, which means you'll have to provide more information to Google: the last four digits of Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and more.

"The Google Wallet Card is a physical prepaid debit card that allows you to access your Wallet Balance in the real world, at ATMs, banks, and wherever MasterCard® Debit is accepted. If you're in the US, and you have already verified your identity, you can request a Wallet Card from the desktop site at wallet.google.com, or from the mobile app. Once you receive and activate it, you'll be able to pay with the Wallet Card at online and physical stores that accept MasterCard® Debit, and make cash withdrawals at ATMs or banks."


Android Police reports that "Google says the card should be delivered to interested parties in 10-12 days". It's US-only, there are no fees to order or activate the card and the issuer of the card is The Bancorp Bank, which provides private label banking services.

Google provides a use case for the debit card: "Your roommate finally paid you back for dinner through Google Wallet, and you want to use that money right away to pay for groceries this week. Now, you can use the new Google Wallet Card to spend the money instantly, either by purchasing in stores or by withdrawing cash at ATMs, without having to wait for money to transfer from your Google Wallet Balance to your bank account."

Other advantages: free notifications on your mobile phone and no monthly/annual fees to use the card (there are some fees, though).

An important limitation: "you cannot use the Google Wallet Card outside the US right now".

Love YouTube? Love Xbox? You can now watch your favorite videos and channels with the YouTube app for Xbox One. Check out videos in 1080p glory (Slip and Slide LAUNCH RAMP anyone?), catch the latest videos from your subscriptions like Polaris, or see trending videos from categories like Music and Sports.

The YouTube app for Xbox One also makes it easier to find and watch whatever you want:

• Voice - Control the app just by saying "YouTube" wherever you are in the app. Commands like play, pause, and fast forward will instantly pop up on screen.
• Gesture - Grab the screen to scroll through videos, and use your hand to pick which one you want to watch.

Need something to keep you going through these last few hours before Xbox One arrives? Check out all the game trailers you’ll play soon, or any of the hundreds of thousands of unboxing videos already on YouTube.

Emmanuel Saint-Loubert-Bié, Engineering Manager, and Luke Bayes, Staff Web Developer, recently watched “Stereotypes: Madden.”

Your roommate finally paid you back for dinner through Google Wallet, and you want to use that money right away to pay for groceries this week. Now, you can use the new Google Wallet Card to spend the money instantly, either by purchasing in stores or by withdrawing cash at ATMs, without having to wait for money to transfer from your Google Wallet Balance to your bank account. The Google Wallet Card is a debit card that lets you quickly access your Wallet Balance, whether you’ve received it from a friend or added it directly from a linked bank account or credit/debit card.

With the Google Wallet Card, you can:

• Spend anywhere. Use your Wallet Balance to shop and pay in stores by swiping your card at millions of MasterCard® locations.
• Get cash at ATMs. Withdraw money from your Wallet Balance at ATMs. Some ATM providers may charge you a fee for cash withdrawals.
• Receive instant notifications when you spend money. Get instant notifications right on your phone to help you  keep tabs on all of your transactions.
• Be free of annual or monthly fees. You can order the Google Wallet Card for free, and there are no annual or monthly service fees to use the card.

Get the Google Wallet Card
You can order the new Google Wallet Card for free right inside the latest version of the Google Wallet app for Android and iPhone. Or, you can order it from your Google Wallet account. The card is currently available for use in the US.

To learn more about the Google Wallet Card, visit our website.


Holiday rewards and more with the Google Wallet app
The Google Wallet app also helps you shop and save. As we shared earlier today, you can instantly join new loyalty programs such as Amtrak Guest Rewards®, Avis Rental Cars, California Pizza Kitchen, Orbitz, The Body Shop, and Walgreens from the app. For a limited time, you’ll even get exclusive bonus rewards from many of these merchants, such as $30 in Orbucks from Orbitz, a free small plate and dessert from California Pizza Kitchen or $15 off of your next weekend rental with Avis. Also, with the latest version of the Android app, you can tap and pay in stores with more phones. Check here to see if your phone supports Google Wallet tap and pay.

Posted by Sandra Mariano, Product Manager, Google Wallet

12/4/2013 UPDATE: Now you can also get the Google Wallet Card directly from the latest version of the Google Wallet app for iPhone to instantly spend your Wallet Balance in stores or withdraw cash at ATMs.