Celebrating the year on YouTube: The top trending videos of 2015

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2015 was kind of a big year for YouTube. Along with a year-long celebration of YouTube’s 10th birthday, YouTube creators and their fans introduced the planet to the latest dance crazes, opened up discussions about diversity and inclusion, and lip-synced in cars and onstage in front of the whole, wide world.

Now it's time to look at the videos it seems like the whole world has seen: the top trending videos of 2015. From late-night hosts to Slow Mo Guys, Super Bowl ads to cops doing covers, these are the videos and creators we collectively watched, danced, and sang along to for more than 25 million hours this year.
  1. Silento- Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) #WatchMeDanceOn by Tianne King
  2. Clash of Clans: Revenge (Official Super Bowl TV Commercial) by Clash of Clans
  3. Crazy Plastic Ball PRANK!! by RomanAtwood
  4. Love Has No Labels | Diversity & Inclusion | Ad Council by Ad Council
  5. Lip Sync Battle with Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
  6. Justin Bieber Carpool Karaoke by The Late Late Show with James Corden
  7. 6ft Man in 6ft Giant Water Balloon - 4K - The Slow Mo Guys by The Slow Mo Guys
  8. Golden boy Calum Scott hits the right note | Audition Week 1 | Britain's Got Talent 2015 by Britain's Got Talent
  9. Dover Police DashCam Confessional (Shake it Off) by Dover Police
  10. Mean Tweets - President Obama Edition by Jimmy Kimmel Live
We got together 150+ YouTube creators from all over the world for the 2015 installment of YouTube’s annual Rewind video, featuring everything from dance prodigies, to TV personalities, to an epic plastic ball fight.

Like what you see? If trending videos and creators are your thing (and you want to see them before next year’s annual round-up), check out the new YouTube Trending tab. You’ll get the videos that are taking off delivered directly to your Android, iOS, and desktop device—the best way to catch the videos, creators, and trends the world is talking about.

Posted by Kevin Allocca, Head of Culture & Trends IMAGE URL Kevin Allocca Head of Culture & Trends YouTube

Google Demo Day: shining a light on female entrepreneurs

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Women around the world are creating and building incredible technology companies. We see this every day through our Google for Entrepreneurs programs—like #40Forward, which works with organizations to increase the representation of female entrepreneurs in startup communities, and our baby-friendly startup school Campus for Moms. Supporting these startups is important because teams with diverse perspectives and experiences—particularly in leadership positions—make better products for users.

But the data still tells us that women-led startups often struggle to get access to top investors who can help them raise money. Despite women owning 29 percent of U.S. businesses, female-led companies receive only 3 percent of venture capital—a lifeline for many startups to fund new product development and hiring.

With this in mind, today we're hosting our first Google Demo Day specifically for startups with female founders. More than 450 companies from 40+ countries applied, and we chose 11 female-led startups to join us in San Francisco for the event. These startups come from all over the world and span a variety of industries—from Kichink, a B2B e-commerce company in Mexico, to ChattingCat, a real-time translation service in South Korea.
At today’s event, each startup will have four minutes to pitch their businesses, followed by Q&A with a panel of judges. At the end of the day, the judges will crown a Judges’ Favorite, based on the strength of their business model, their team, and their product. Demo Days aren’t just a time to pitch investors; founders also receive mentoring and feedback from Googlers and Silicon Valley veterans through a series of talks and workshops.
Companies from our past two Demo Days have raised $3.5 million from investors who are in attendance, and millions more afterwards. For example, Durham, North Carolina-based beverage entrepreneur Tatiana Birgisson, who won our Demo Day in April, has raised more than $1 million for her energy tea startup MATI Energy.

But it's not just the people in the room who can take part in the big day. You can tune in to the live stream on YouTube at 10am PT today to see Demo Day in action. You'll also have the chance to vote for the winner of the "Game Changer" Award, an audience favorite trophy. We hope this Demo Day will not only shine a light on the participating startups, but on the exciting companies being built and led by female entrepreneurs everywhere.

Posted by Mary Grove, Director of Google for Entrepreneurs https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi5UUwT6q2CQsW2mUDuGRLZ_Nql5_oIxW8yIYg3g1mIbSFVu6kXocnVseSOc7tGBSM7bwmyfXr5Ha-BnqQJmDM_A4fTZ55Y3oFyqwraQs9ge5Bd99zvQrNKOYtyDHaHhOpsKhKkfj7Xc/s1600/IMG_6152.JPG Mary Grove Director Google for Entrepreneurs

Meet the Pixel C, our take on the tablet

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This holiday season, there's no shortage of electronics to choose from. When it comes to picking out what device to use, sometimes you want a laptop to hammer out a lengthy document. Other times you want a lightweight tablet to sit back and watch your favorite video. Starting today, you don't have to choose, because the Pixel C is available on the Google Store. As we previewed two months ago, Pixel C brings together the benefits of a full-size keyboard with the portability of a tablet so it can go wherever you go.
The Pixel C’s high-resolution, 10.2” display is crisp, colorful, and bright—in fact it’s one of the brightest tablets out there—perfect for sharing photos and videos with family over the holidays. Graphics horsepower and stereo speakers mean the Pixel C can keep up with you whether you’re watching a new episode of "Silicon Valley" or playing a new game.

But what really makes the Pixel C unique is the full-size keyboard, which is designed to fit perfectly with the tablet. It attaches seamlessly with magnets, and automatically connects via bluetooth. When the tablet and keyboard are closed together, the keyboard charges wirelessly and automatically—so you never have to worry about it running out of juice. And when you don’t need to type, the keyboard tucks securely behind the tablet with magnets—out of the way but close by for when you need it.

This is the first tablet designed with Android 6.0, Marshmallow in mind. You get added security benefits, smarter and longer battery life (10+ hours) and Now on Tap at your fingertips. To ensure the Pixel C gets even better over time, it will receive regular security and feature updates directly from Google. But what makes a tablet great is the amount of things you can do with it—and you’ve got plenty to choose from with s’more than 1 million apps on Google Play.

The Pixel C is available on the Google Store now starting at $499, and if you order today, you can get it in time for the holidays.

Posted by Andrew Bowers, Director, Product Management & Pixel Perfectionist https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6EjcIgFreN6ayTNHTehyphenhyphenP4TBf90R1L8iMqg5ot9ovIPcWNyes5eMfEBw2YtNYC_QSOwiXDr7Y135Q4vYI7g8rTwqwl1hWXIvwKA0CFMuyu_SVtcgywBcFGjTRB8HbsnRwSUsdPRU3HM/s1600/NexusRYUKey_O_SILVER_TQF.png Andrew Bowers Director Product Management

Make your home Internet look like your home with OnHub

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Chances are, somewhere in your home, there‘s a tangled mess of wires and blinking lights that make your Wi-Fi work. Your router likely isn’t the most sightly thing, and you probably hide it behind a curtain or under a bookcase—out of sight.

Turns out, that’s a bit of a problem, since routers work better when they’re out in the open. So a few months ago, we released the first OnHub router from TP-LINK. It replaces the unruly cords, blinking lights, and bulky antennas of a typical router with subtle lighting and internal wiring, so you’re more likely to put OnHub out where it works best.

Today we’re introducing more ways to make your OnHub look great in your home with three new, interchangeable shells for the OnHub from TP-LINK, as well as OnHub Makers, a gallery of shells designed by artists, designers, and makers.

With OnHub Makers, we wanted to see what some of the world’s most creative minds would do to personalize their routers. We reached out to artists, makers and designers who poured resin, blew glass, and cut paper to make their own unique shells. You can see their creations and learn more in the OnHub Makers gallery.

Feeling inspired? Then it’s time to get crafty. We’ve put together all of the information you need to customize an OnHub shell. Whether you’re using a laser cutter or simple finger paints, download the Maker Packet for 3D files, 2D patterns, and useful guidelines. Once you’re done, be sure to share your designs online using the hashtag #OnHubMakers, and we may feature your design in our gallery.

If DIY isn’t really your thing you can still add some style to your Wi-Fi with one of the three new shells from the OnHub team, available later today in the U.S. for $29-39 on the Google Store.
Posted by Ben Brown, Product Manager, OnHub

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt0RZQUWTEUI4bdoahTAu8Vzc2qnGRhhYsmegbIwqlj0mMjVzPbH1LN-vfz_TGikYycNiClPsGBrjLwJROSdDQLVabQQmhKIBEBU2tAbYnA1j-99ePHGhMeTRYOfz-1GGbMzYAsSSXUg/s1600/JetstreamShell_O_TAF1_16x9+%25281%2529.png Ben Brown Product Manager OnHub

Hello. It’s the best of 2015 on Google Play.

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Movie fans went to space in search of a new home in Interstellar. The citizens of Westeros battled not only white walkers, but also the zombies of The Walking Dead and the landed gentry of Downton Abbey to claim the Iron Throne of the TV kingdom. Adele no longer had to worry if “after all these years you'd like to meet” up with her music again, as 25 became the best-selling album of the year in just one week. And readers fell in love with Christian Grey… again!

As 2015 comes to a close, we crunched the numbers to find the most popular entertainment this year on Google Play. For complete lists, visit Google Play.
Movies of the Year
1. Interstellar
2. Lucy
3. American Sniper
4. The Interview
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service

TV Shows of the Year
1. Game of Thrones
2. The Walking Dead
3. Downton Abbey
4. Fear the Walking Dead
5. Vikings

Albums of the Year
1. 25 from Adele
2. If You're Reading This It's Too Late from Drake
3. To Pimp A Butterfly from Kendrick Lamar
4. Fifty Shades Of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) from Various Artists
5. Beauty Behind The Madness from The Weeknd

Books of the Year
1. Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E L James
2. Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian by E L James
3. Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E L James
4. Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E L James
5. American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice

Posted by Kara Bailey, Director of Merchandising, Google Play https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjXufgYgN2mN5anQGcEp8WdbwKOjXWUcYiFMh9iXBoaj1GoB8uRO8ioSyhhGwaEFV2A3XYCToy2VLojKBGFMgl7_Z4-rayZxNWXqDgbSnSus7y2S56PYcuA1s1sdJwuwSd60qeHFqAHk/s1600/Game_of_Thrones_highlight-tv-us-20150831-3194x1797-080703+%25281%2529.jpg Kara Bailey Director of Merchandising Google Play

Walk the ruins of Peru’s most historic site: Machu Picchu

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Take a train ride through the Andes, above the sacred valley and atop the mist of the mountains, to the most historic site of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is one of the most famous, mythical and spiritual sites in the world. Now for the first time, in partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, people across the globe can go on a journey to Machu Picchu directly in Google Maps, uncovering its temples, terraces and plazas that have remained intact since the 15th century. People can also explore rare Inca artifacts and expert insights on the Google Cultural Institute.

Gazing at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu more than 2,400 meters above sea level, the site below is a lasting tribute to the power of the Inca Empire. It’s still unclear how the structure composed of behemoth stones was so precisely built without the use of mortar or modern day machinery, but its walls, terraces and stairways weave effortlessly into the mountainside and natural landscape.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru

Standing in the Templo Principal, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast Plaza Principal allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.
Plaza Principal of Machu Picchu

Within the long and narrow compounds, called kanchas, you can also explore the Observatorio Astronómico (Intiwatana), Templo del Sol, and Templo de las Tres Ventanas—sites dedicated to Inti, the Inca Sun god—or marvel at the architectural complexity of structures like the Grupo de las Tres Puertas, whose doors lead to the main square.
Grupo de las Tres Puertas, Machu Picchu, Peru

After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more Wonders of Machu Picchu on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals—which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later. Highlights include a perfectly preserved pair of plates decorated with butterflies, and an ingenious device of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. See these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a virtual tour.
Inca accounting device

Whether you visit Machu Picchu via a train or hike up the Inca Trail, we’d be honored to be your virtual guide through this sacred space. And while in the area, enjoy exploring still more archaeological treasures from this ancient civilization at the Museo Machupicchu at Casa Concha, which holds the largest collection of Inca artifacts in the world.

Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a click away.

Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Lead https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_sgRJZrLhCX64IgNQFjoyzyGlxM8MAXgdr2RL2DuHu9TeDXyZZZCBcmwXlxhjWD7CS11muJii5HhdvtrzoM3eXBzrWdbDU10O2HZ2CL-KIaiaW8G9RIB25wLStcIln3m6iUQmIwqYak/s1600/historic+sanctuary.png Daniel Filip Tech Lead Google Maps

Step inside your photos with Cardboard Camera

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With Google Cardboard, you can take amazing trips to faraway places and feel like you’re actually there. But what if you could also use Cardboard to go back in time—to step inside personal moments like your favorite vacation or a holiday dinner with family? Now you can with the new Cardboard Camera app for Android.

Cardboard Camera turns the smartphone in your pocket into a virtual reality (VR) camera. It’s simple to take a photo: just hold out your phone and move it around you in a circle. Later, when you place your phone inside a Google Cardboard viewer, you'll get to experience something new: a VR photo.
VR photos are three-dimensional panoramas, with slightly different views for each eye, so near things look near and far things look far. You can look around to explore the image in all directions, and even record sound with your photo to hear the moment exactly as it happened.
Taken with Cardboard Camera at Jackson Lake, Wyoming. This simulates the 3D effect when seen in a Cardboard viewer.

With Cardboard Camera, anyone can create their own VR experience. So revisit the mountaintop that took hours to hike, or the zoo where you saw (and heard) the monkeys, or your birthday party with the cake out and candles still lit. Capture the moments that matter to you and relive them anytime, from anywhere.

Cardboard Camera is available today on Google Play in 17 languages.

Posted by Carlos Hernandez, Software Engineer, Cardboard Camera https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26xnxfd7IKs3mu9MSdQC1wEKqIzKp8SXKKJpjGH_SikqsIzfcDle_ZZV-ybrzipsz5Xwnb8bOb3BSfW7B1_VYgs7k8UBvdk91NFhXnPn-zpI01uu_32UOqUrkwLr5z_lexCbrpDpTCI4/s1600/Simulates_3D_Effect_in_Viewer.gif Carlos Hernandez Software Engineer Cardboard Camera