Weekly Update: February 16, 2019: Hangouts, Contacts, Assistant

I promise yous all had a lovely Valentine’s/Galentine’s/Palentine’s day! This calendar week nosotros lost some former features inwards Hangouts in addition to Contacts, got to a greater extent than clarifications most the Google+ shutdown, in addition to some novel features for Gmail in addition to Google Assistant.

Mr. Jingles Valentine posted Feb 14, 2014 on Google+ (link to post).

• The former Google Contacts interface was retired. This was announced for G Suite accounts final November, but in that place wasn’t whatever obvious statement for consumer accounts. For us Plussers it makes a divergence because the novel Google Contacts interface doesn’t allow yous sentiment your Google+ Circles. It’s withal non clear how best to salvage that information. 
• Conversation notification settings inwards the classic Hangouts Android app are existence simplified. On Android O or higher devices, customized telephone tones in addition to chat messaging tones per conversation or contact volition survive removed in addition to default to the full general app notification note settings. 
• Small update on YouTube for Creators: based on user feedback, they forthwith exhibit an “Analytics” push when yous are viewing a video page on your ain channel. That lets yous boundary conduct to the stats for that video inwards YouTube Studio.
• YouTube posted a clarification of what volition non survive changing when Google+ shuts down: The shutdown of Google+ volition NOT behave upon your YouTube channel, videos, playlists, or comments. Your channel's Brand Account volition proceed to be in addition to your YouTube verification badge from Google+ verification volition non survive removed.
• You tin forthwith use your Google Home inwards interpreter mode to interpret for yous inwards 26 languages. It’s a useful tool for hotels in addition to other businesses amongst an international clientele. 
• There are forthwith more options inwards the correct click context carte inwards Gmail, pregnant fewer clicks to create practise your messages. 

Read on for to a greater extent than links, tips in addition to updates for trouble organisation owners, Plussers, webmasters in addition to more.

Image: False coloring fabric icon of “Google Auto Opting Businesses Into Google Assistant Calls Over Duplex (SEO Roundtable)

GMB Clarifies Guidelines on Virtual Offices (Sterling Sky)

Bloggers in addition to Webmasters

• What are Google Analytics UTMs And Why Should I Use Them? (Peak Inbound Marketing)

AdSense in addition to advertising

• Policy resources available to AdSense Publishers (AdSense)

Hangouts in addition to Messaging

• Classic Hangouts update: Conversation notifications settings on Android simplified (G Suite Updates)
• How Google fought bad apps in addition to malicious developers inwards 2018 (Android Developers)
• Google Fi SIM Cards are forthwith available at Best Buy: pay $9.99, teach a $10 Fi credit (Google Fi)

Productivity

• The former Google Contacts interface was deprecated (G Suite Updates)
• Easily accept activity inwards Gmail amongst novel right-click context carte options (G Suite Updates)
• Lost inwards translation? Try interpreter means amongst the Google Assistant (Google)
• Using Global Localization to Improve Navigation (Google AI blog)
• Easily refresh Salesforce information inwards Sheets (G Suite Updates)
• Chrome has novel coloring fabric themes (Chrome Team)
• Stable Channel Update for Desktop (Chrome 72) (Chrome Releases)
• Chrome for Android Update (Chrome 72) (Chrome Releases)

More only about the web

• “Google Workers Lost a Leader, But the Fight Will Continue” (with some background on the G+ “Nymwars”) (Liz Fong-Jones) 
• Google: Smart rule for combating illegal content (Google)
• Googlers win Academy Award for aspect upwards digitization technology (Google)