Long Term Support Channel Update for ChromeOS

LTS-114 is being updated in the LTS channel to 114.0.5735.347 (Platform Version: 15437.87.0) for most ChromeOS devices. Want to know more about Long Term Support? Click here.

This update contains multiple Security fixes, including:
1500921  High  CVE-2023-6706 Use after free in FedCM
1502102  High CVE-2023-6703 Use after free in Blink
1497984  High CVE-2023-6508 Use after free in Media Stream
1517354  High CVE-2024-0519 Out of bounds memory access in V8
High Fixes CVE-2023-4969 (LeftoverLocals) GPU Memory Leak on impacted platforms. Also see 446598 (https://kb.cert.org/vuls/id/446598)



Durga Nallari
Google ChromeOS

Chrome for Android Update

 Hi, everyone! We've just released Chrome 120 (121.0.6167.71) for Android to a small percentage of users. It'll become available on Google Play over the next few days. You can find more details about early Stable releases here.

This release includes stability and performance improvements. You can see a full list of the changes in the Git log. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug.

Krishna Govind
Google Chrome

Accelerating startup growth through technology, expertise, and community

Posted by Nivedita Kumari – Technical Anchor Mentor, Accelerator Program, and Prabhu Thiagarajan – Accelerator Success Mentor, Accelerator Program Google for Startups Accelerator: Sustainable Development Goals

This International Mentoring Day, we recognize that mentorship is a critical part of the startup journey. Google for Startups Accelerator programs provide founders and teams with the technology, expertise, and mentorship they need to grow and succeed. As program mentors, we had the opportunity to engage with and empower many early stage startups helping them scale and grow.


The Startup Challenge

Although the startup ecosystem is rapidly expanding, success is rarely a smooth journey. On an average, it takes startups two to three years years to turn a profit, and fewer than 10% of startups that raise a seed round successfully raise a Series A investment. Even those that manage to secure funding, still face other hurdles like driving organic growth, fundraising, building brand and market expansion. Mentorship and access to networks has been proven time and again to make the critical difference for successful founders.

To level the playing field for startup success, Google for Startups connects founders to the people, programs and best practices they need to grow and scale their companies. Google for Startups Accelerator programs provide participants with hands-on mentorship and support from Googlers as well as experienced entrepreneurs and investors. These experts work directly with startups over the course of 10 weeks to provide tailored technology, product development, marketing, sales and fundraising.


Success Story

As Google for Startups Accelerator program mentors, we had the opportunity to partner closely with various founders from around the world through the 2023 accelerator cohorts, including those focused on Cloud and Climate Change. One of these startups for the Cloud cohort was RealKey, an Automated Loan Processing (ALP) SaaS platform.

RealKey automates document collection/review processes and centralizes communication to reduce touch points with underwriting. Through the Google for Startups Cloud Program, RealKey was able to accelerate Google AI based document processing and loan process automation to help create a clean loan submission process. Google for Startups helped RealKey reduce loan processing time and frustration for all parties involved. 

"Google's Lending DocAI service enabled our platform to include document processing where we classify documents and run complex validation algorithms to ensure that a loan package meets all lending criteria. This is typically a manual process and our platform saves our clients valuable time and labor.” 
– Christopher Hussain, Founder & CEO, RealKey.
 
Over the course of the 10 week program, the RealKey team worked closely with us to develop and track their program Objectives and Key Results (OKR). Through a series of tailored technical deep dives, mentor-led product and program workshops, and pairing with relevant experts from Google and the industry, RealKey was able to solve several business and technical challenges to accelerate their results. “With Google for Startups mentor support, we accomplished goals that we budgeted would take substantially longer”, says Christopher.

The Google for Startups Accelerator program provides startups with the resources and support they need to thrive in the competitive world. Through its comprehensive program, startups gain access to funding, technical expertise, networking opportunities, and mentorship from Google AI experts, enabling them to overcome technical challenges, develop effective go-to-market strategies, and accelerate their growth. With the guidance and support of Google AI experts, startups can navigate the complexities of developing and commercializing their products, effectively reach their target audience, and establish themselves as leaders in the field of machine learning.


Next Steps for Founders

If you're a startup founder, Google for Startups Accelerator programs are a great way to get the help you need to grow your business and achieve your goals. Applications are now open for Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders and Black Founders cohorts in North America. We encourage applications from U.S. and Canadian headquartered technology startups until February 1, 2024, with the 10-week programs commencing in March. Learn more and register here.

In addition to accelerator programs, Google for Startups offers a wide range of programs and initiatives to help startups at every stage of their journey. Whether you're just starting out or ready to scale, Google for Startups can help you connect with the right technology, expertise, and community to grow your business. Explore the best Google for Startups offerings for you and your team here.

Google for Startups Accelerator Applications open Black Founders and Women Founders programs Go to startup.google.com

Join meetings as a guest without a Google account on mobile devices

What’s changing 

You can now quickly join a meeting as a guest without signing into a personal or work Google account or creating a new Google account. This functionality already exists for meetings on the web and, by expanding to mobile, guests now have greater flexibility for joining Meet meetings on the go. 






To join as a guest, you need to be on the Calendar invite for the meeting or have been provided the meeting code or the meeting link beforehand. Before you join the meeting, you’ll be prompted to enter your name and “knock” (aka ask to join the meeting) to be admitted. Once a meeting host or co-host accepts your knock, you’ll jump right into the meeting.

Getting started

Rollout pace

  • iOS: Available now.
  • Android: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.


Resources

Chrome Stable for iOS Update

Hi everyone! We've just released Chrome Stable 121 (121.0.6167.66) for iOS; it'll become available on App Store in the next few hours.

This release includes stability and performance improvements. You can see a full list of the changes in the Git log. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug.

Krishna Govind
Google Chrome

Combine multiple video effects, improve lighting and audio in Google Meet

What’s changing 

We’re launching three new features to personalize your appearance in Google Meet. Specifically, we’re adding: 

  • Combine multiple video effects on web and mobile: You can now combine a background effect with a filter effect to create a more dynamic, fun experience. This gives you the flexibility to find the right mix of effects that will represent you best during your meetings. The new layer icon on your self view tile can be used to keep track of which effects you’re using and remove one or all effects at once.

Combining effects using Google Meet on the web


Combining effects using Google Meet on a mobile device





You'll also notice a brand new user interface for effects. The streamlined design makes it easier for you to discover and apply various features. Specifically, you’ll notice effects grouped by category:

    • Backgrounds: Backgrounds are now organized into categories based on the type of scene you are looking for, such as new backgrounds, blurred backgrounds, your uploaded or company uploaded background, and more.
    • Filters: Sort through filters by category, including funny filters, accessories, costumes and characters.
    • Appearance: Adjust your appearance as needed by improving your lighting, framing, and video quality.


  • Studio lighting on web: Available with the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on, the new studio lighting feature can be used to simulate studio-quality lighting. You’ll be able to adjust the lighting position, brightness, and color to look your best. Note that for this initial launch an eligible device is required to use this feature.


For illustrative purposes only — to use Studio Lighting, go to settings > video > studio lighting.




  • Studio sound: This feature will automatically improve poor audio quality from typical bluetooth headsets and dial-in participants by using AI to recreate higher audio frequencies. Currently, this feature is available for meetings on the web and dial-in, with support for the mobile Meet app coming in the coming weeks — we’ll share an update on the Workspace Updates blog at that time. This feature is available with the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on.
Studio sound will use AI to improve audio quality.

 

Getting started


Rollout pace

Combining multiple video effects
Web availability: 


Mobile availability: 
  • Rapid Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on January 16, 2024 for iOS and Android devices.

  • Scheduled Release domains: 
    • For Android devices: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024
    • For iOS devices: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024
Studio lighting  
Web availability:

Studio sound 

Availability

Combine multiple video effects:
  • Available to all users. The availability of specific video effects is based on your specific Google Workspace edition and admin policy

Studio lighting and sound:


Resources


Chrome Beta for Android Update

Hi everyone! We've just released Chrome Beta 121 (121.0.6167.71) for Android. It's now available on Google Play.

You can see a partial list of the changes in the Git log. For details on new features, check out the Chromium blog, and for details on web platform updates, check here.

If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug.

Krishna Govind
Google Chrome

Early Stable Update for Desktop

The Stable channel has been updated to 121.0.6167.75 for Windows and Mac as part of our early stable release to a small percentage of users. A full list of changes in this build is available in the log.


You can find more details about early Stable releases here.

Interested in switching release channels?  Find out how here. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues.


Daniel Yip

Google Chrome

Deprecation of cross-device conversion metric values in the Bid Manager API

Today we’re deprecating cross-device conversion metric values in Bid Manager API. The following values will sunset on February 28, 2024:

  • METRIC_CM360_POST_CLICK_REVENUE_CROSS_ENVIRONMENT
  • METRIC_CM360_POST_VIEW_REVENUE_CROSS_ENVIRONMENT
  • METRIC_POST_CLICK_CONVERSIONS_CROSS_ENVIRONMENT
  • METRIC_POST_VIEW_CONVERSIONS_CROSS_ENVIRONMENT
  • METRIC_TOTAL_CONVERSIONS_CROSS_ENVIRONMENT

Upon sunset, queries.create requests using these values will return an INVALID_ARGUMENT error, and these values will be removed from existing Query resources.

We’ve added the upcoming sunset to our change log. To avoid an interruption of service, we recommend that you stop creating any reports using these values before the applicable sunset date.

If you have questions regarding these changes, please contact us using our support contact form.

- Trevor Mulchay, Bid Manager API Team