Google made a couple of exciting announcements for its customers and partners in Nigerian and Africa during the 3rd edition of the annual Google for Nigeria event that took place on Wednesday, July 24 2019 in Lagos.
Google launched new apps, added new features to existing offerings, and made other key announcements. In case you missed the event here are some of the key announcement made at Google for Nigeria 2019
Key Announcements at Google for Nigeria 2019
- Bolo: Bolo is an app that helps kids (aged between 6 and 11) learn how to read and increase their reading fluency. It listens to your kid read and corrects them when they mispronounce words while still encouraging them to keep trying. To make reading fun, the kid is awarded stars (points) as they successfully read through the sentences. The app is already at the Play Store, click here
- Gallery Go: Gallery Go is a light photo app built for low budget smartphones with low memory or slow internet connections. The app is only 10MB in size and can help you manage and edit your photos offline. Gallery is available at the Google Play for devices running Android 8.1 or higher and will be pre-loaded in a couple of budgets phones targeted at the Nigerian market. Download here
- Google Go: Google Go is a light version of Google Search app that like the Gallery Go is also built for devices with low RAM and slow networks. Google Go has been around for a while, but Google announced it will be incorporating more of its services within the app. So going forward, apart from Search, Google Go will now incorporate other Google services like Discover feed to enable you catch up on the latest news and learn more about your interests. Google Assistant and Google Lens will also be available on Google Go soon.
- Google Lens now in Google Go: Google Lens is an app that enables you know what things are simply by taking their photo with your phone’s camera. It can also be used to read written text and convert to speech (text to speech). If the text is written in a language you do not understand, Google Lens can translate to a language of choice. Google Lens is a standalone app, but will now be bundled in Google Go for cheap android phones or users in areas with slow data speeds.
- Google Lens will now supports Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba:
- Google Assistant will now have Nigerian Voice: Yes, Google Assistant will now speak in an accent that most Nigerians can understand. No more foreign and confusing accent. Google Assistant will also be accessible inside Google Go starting next week.
- Google Maps adds Motorcycle Routes: Motorcycles have routes (Okada routes) in Nigeria with motorcycles restricted from certain roads. Google has now a dedicated travel mode on its Maps apps for motorcycle in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Uganda, Togo, and Rwanda.
- Maps Navigation Instructions in Nigerian Voice: Google announced that navigation instructions for motorcycle and car driving modes will be in Nigerian accent. This ensures that street names and landmarks will be pronounced the way locals pronounce them eliminating confusion.
- Google Street View coming to more Nigerian Cities: Google Street View was launched in Lagos about two years ago. Google has announced that the service will be expanding to four new Nigerian cities with almost 12,000 kilometers of road added. The four new cities are Enugu, Abuja, Benin City, and Ibadan
- Danfo routes to be introduced for Lagos in a couple of Months
- YouTube will support 10 emerging Nigerian music artist to build their global audience and fanbase on YouTube
- $3 million Google.org grant: Grant to support African non-profits focusing on offering computer science education in under-served communities. Grant will also be available to NGOs that focus on girls, youth empowerment, and agriculture.
- Partner with Nigeria to Develop an Online Safety Curriculum: Google is Partnering with the Nigerian government to develop an online safety curriculum for students in primary and secondary schools
For more details you checkout Google’s Africa blog sharing the Google for Nigeria event.
