Ever
since we launched real-time and streaming quotes on Google Finance last year,
we've heard from users how vital that up-to-date information has been.
Especially in today's volatile financial environment, current information can be
the difference between a seizing an opportunity and missing it. Today, we've
taken a big step towards improving access to current financial information:
streaming financial and market news on Google Finance.

Streaming keeps information
fresh

Streaming real-time quotes eliminates the 15- and 20-minute
delays often associated with pricing data. Streaming the quotes keeps
information on the page up to date, without having to reload.

Now, by
streaming news as well, you'll see stories appear on Google Finance as they
develop minute by minute, throughout the day. You can view news on the Google
Finance homepage, or
the dedicated news page. Updated news items will appear automatically in the
News section. News will be streamed from 8am-5:30pm ET, 90 minutes before and
after U.S. trading hours.

Up-to-date
information across the site

As we deliver more information, we've
worked to improve the way we display it. In the last few months, we've released
a few other improvements to Google Finance designed to make financial
information easier to access and more usable:

• As you navigate throughout Google Finance, your recent quotes are streamed
  live in the left-navigation bar, so you don't need to keep checking the same
  tickers.
  
• On company pages, all stock prices, index and sector comparisons as well as
  the interactive chart are streamed during market hours.
  
• The new interactive Related companies page lets customize a table that
  compares companies along the dimensions you specify.

Financial
information doesn't exist in a vacuum. News can stimulate trades, and trades of
one stock can have broad market effects. Figuring how to organize all of that
information and make it useful is crucial — and that's what we're working on.


There is still a long way to go, so stay tuned for more
updates.

Posted by Andre Lebedev, Software Engineer and Ayan
Mandal, Product Manager

Today,
we’re excited to introduce a new "Translated search" tool in the Search Options panel that makes finding and reading content
written in other languages easier. Translated search is great because it helps
you find information from sites written in other languages. We've offered this feature in Google Translate for a while, but now we're
integrating it fully into Google search, making it easier for you to find and
read results from pages across the web, even if they weren't written in a
language you speak.

Now, when you search on Google for something in your
own language, you can use this tool to search the web in another language. Click
"Show Options" at the top of the search results page and select "Translated
search" to try it out. We'll algorithmically select the best language(s) to
translate your search query into and then return you translated results from
those pages. We'll even display results from multiple languages.

For
example, if you search for [restaurant reviews antwerp] while on vacation in
Belgium and want to find more reviews or review sites beyond those that are just
available in English, select "Translate search" in the "Show Options" panel.
We'll automatically select French and Dutch (the languages spoken in Belgium),
translate your query into these languages and then translate the results back
into English for you to read. If you’d like to search specific languages, just
modify the languages in the panel above the results. You can display results for
up to five languages at once and select from 51 languages to search.


Of
course, the algorithm that determines which languages to translate your search
query into isn't perfect, but we’re working to improve it.

We're rolling
this out over the next day — keep an eye out. So if you’re traveling and want to
find hotels, restaurants, activities or reviews written from a local
perspective, or if you're just curious to find what’s being written about a
company, product or topic in another language, give Translated search in the
Search Options panel a try. Searching the global web has never been
easier!

Posted by Maureen Heymans, Technical Lead and Jeff Chin,
Product Manager

(Cross-posted from the
Official YouTube Blog)

Next week 192 countries will
participate in the Climate Change
Conference in Copenhagen — the first step in setting new international
commitments for carbon reduction. We want to be sure your voice is included in
the debate.

That's why, starting today, you can submit and vote on
questions to ask world climate leaders during a televised town hall on CNN. With
Google Moderator on
YouTube for the first time, you can view, add and vote on video or text
questions in one spot.


Questions
will be translated into numerous languages using the Google Language API, giving
you a chance to read and vote on text questions from around the world. Voting
and submissions will be accepted until December 14. You can also track the
conversation and vote on new questions. Visit www.youtube.com/cop15 now
to get started.

Next week we'll post an update on popular and interesting
questions. We're looking forward to seeing what ideas you and others around the
world have for addressing climate change.

Posted by Steve Grove,
Head of YouTube News & Politics and Colby Ranger, Tech Lead, Google
Moderator