Google Wallet now accepted at more than 65 Bay Area Gap Inc. stores

Good news Bay Area shoppers! We’re excited to announce that Gap, Inc. is our newest SingleTap merchant. Now shoppers can use Google Wallet to tap, pay and save at over 65 Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores and Gap Outlet stores across the Bay Area. For additional details, check out what our friends at Gap Inc. have to say:

http://www.gapinc.com/content/gapinc/html/blog/2011/11/gap_inc_introduces.html

Posted by Robyn Katzman, Strategic Partner Development Manager, Google Wallet

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Google Offers Now Available in Phoenix, Orlando and Salt Lake City

Today we’re keeping the Google Offers momentum going with expansion into three new markets: Phoenix, Orlando and Salt Lake City. Check out our debut deals in these fantastic cities:

Phoenix: Up to 65% off at the Phoenix Zoo
Experience the sights and sounds of the Borneo rainforests or take an adventure in the lively tropics of South America with our first deal in Phoenix: $6 for one admission to the Phoenix Zoo (up to $18 value). The non-profit Phoenix Zoo features more than 1,300 exotic animals and exciting exhibits like the new Orang-Hutan: "People of the Forest,” where you can get up close and personal with a family of Bornean orangutans.

Orlando: 80% off at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Celebrate 15 years of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice with today’s Google Offer: $1 for $5 of ice-cold sweets. The frozen treat shop serves up more than forty flavors of Italian Ice, three flavors of soft ice cream, or you can create your own Gelati--a creamy combination of the two. Are you a fan of tropical treats? Try vanilla soft ice cream layered with Mango or Bahama Freeze Italian Ice. Today’s deal is good at any one of Jeremiah’s four locations: Maitland, Winter Park, Winter Springs and UCF.

Salt Lake City: Up to 50% off at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum
Take a family field trip with our first Google Offer in Salt Lake City where $4.25 gets you one ticket to the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum (up to $8.50 value). Kids will enjoy exploring a 30-foot metal beehive, testing their pilot skills in a real helicopter (located on the roof) and delivering a weather report in the green screen-equipped Media Zone. With more than 140 exhibits to explore, Discovery Gateway is the perfect family activity for indoor winter fun.

To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals with the free Google Offers app for Android, available for download in the Android Market.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

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Google Checkout to power donations for the 2011 CNN Heroes program

Over the past five years, CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute has honored everyday people across the globe who are making extraordinary contributions to improve the lives of people in their communities. Each year Heroes are nominated by CNN viewers who are inspired by the hard work and commitment of these individuals. The 2011 Top 10 honorees were revealed recently by CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Today we’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with CNN to provide the donation functionality, through Google Checkout, for all contributions made to the causes championed by the Heroes. All donations are tax deductible. Google will cover the cost of the transaction fee to ensure that 100% of all donations go to the chosen organizations.

Explore the 2011 Top Ten Heroes’ stories in the video and show your support for their causes by donating now. You can donate as many times and to as many of the non-profit organizations as you’d like from now through December 31, 2011.

Want to learn even more about the Heroes? Read on!

Eddie Canales
Eddie Canales’ group, Gridiron Heroes, provides support to teenagers who suffered spinal cord injuries while playing football. Donate to Gridiron Heroes

Taryn Davis
Taryn Davis created the American Widow Project, which has provided support to more than 900 military widows since 2007. Donate to the American Widow Project

Sal Dimiceli
Through his newspaper column and his nonprofit, Sal Dimiceli helps about 500 people a year with food, rent and other necessities. Donate to Time Is Now

Derreck Kayongo
Derreck Kayongo's Global Soap Project recycles partially used hotel soap to save lives in impoverished countries. Donate to Global Soap Project

Diane Latiker
Surrounded by gang violence, Diane Latiker opened her Chicago home to area youth and started a program called Kids Off the Block. Donate to Kids Off the Block

Robin Lim
Since 2003, Robin Lim and her team have helped thousands of low-income women have a healthy birthing experience. Donate to Yayasan Bumi Sehat

Patrice Millet
Since being diagnosed with cancer, Patrice Millet has dedicated his life to helping Haitian kids through his youth soccer program. Donate to FONDAPS

Bruno Serato
Since 2005, Bruno Serato has been serving free pasta dinners to children, many of whom are poor and live in motels. Donate to Caterina's Club

Richard St. Denis
Since 2008, Richard St. Denis and World Access Project have provided hundreds of wheelchairs to people in rural Mexico. Donate to World Access Project

Amy Stokes
Using the Internet, Amy Stokes' nonprofit connects hundreds of South African kids with mentors from all over the world. Donate to Infinite Family






Posted by Jessica Smallman, Product Marketing, Google Commerce

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Google Offers launches in five new places across the U.S.

Whether you’re North or South, East or West, a city with great deals from Google isn’t far away! We’re excited to announce that Google Offers beta is available in five new cities. Now, people in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York can get personalized deals for the places they love to eat, shop and play. We’re kicking it off in these new locations with some awesome local merchants, including:

Atlanta:
$7 for one full access ticket to the esteemed High Museum of Art (up to an $18 value)
With more than 12,000 permanent works on display, the High Museum of Art in Midtown is
the leading arts center in the southeastern United States. Wander through the museum’s vast and varied collection, including current and upcoming exhibitions such as “Picasso to Warhol: 14 Modern Masters” and “The Art of Golf.” With Friday Jazz, poetry slams and family-friendly events, the High Museum of Art is keeping Atlanta’s hunger for an art scene alive and vibrant.

Brooklyn, New York:
$4 for one general admission ticket to the New York Aquarium (up to $14.95 value)
Explore the bizarre beauties of the deep in Alien Stingers, see penguins, seals, otters, and walruses at the Sea Cliffs exhibit, and get underwater views of the amazing wildlife that inhabits our oceans at the New York Aquarium, located just off the Coney Island boardwalk.

Chicago:
$10 for $20 of craft beer and bar fare at Goose Island’s Wrigleyville brewpub
Beer buffs credit Goose Island with helming the craft beer renaissance in the Windy City. More than 20 years later, taste the ongoing innovation in the brewery’s award-winning creations. Try the Mild Winter, a malty match made in irony, while proud Chi-towners will enjoy a nod to their numbers in the mainstay brew: 312. Pair your ale with a delicious fare from the brewpub’s extensive menu.

Houston:
$10 for $20 of Southern-style breakfast at the Zagat-rated the breakfast klub
Hungry Houstonians have been lining up for 10 years to savor the breakfast klub’s one-of-a-kind Southern specialties, including “wings and waffles,” “katfish & grits” and “buttery biskits.” With jazz and gospel melodies filling the air, colorful walls and a husband-and-wife team who love chatting with their customers, it’s no wonder the breakfast klub is Houston Press’ 2011 Readers’ Choice for “Best Breakfast Restaurant,” My Table’s Culinary Award winner for “Favorite Breakfast” and “Best of City Search Winner” for 2011.

Los Angeles:
$14 for two movie tickets & a large popcorn at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre or Chinese 6 Theatres (up to $39 value)
Since its debut in 1927, the inimitable Grauman's Chinese Theatre has been a celebrated Hollywood landmark. Boasting a spot on the Walk of Fame, this iconic theater has housed Academy Awards shows and star-studded premieres. While you’re at Grauman’s, be sure to visit the costume exhibit on display, the Hollywood Legends Collection. Check out the duds from such films as Gone with the Wind and Terminator 2 and then discover the famous hands (and feet) imprinted in the theater’s courtyard.



To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities, as well as other locations across the U.S., visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals while you’re on the go with our new mobile app for Android. You can download the Google Offers app from Android Market.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

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Google Catalogs: More brands, more categories, more fun

Since our launch in August, we’ve been hard at work to bring more great content to Google Catalogs. Today we're excited to announce that we’ve doubled our collection of catalogs to include more than 100 brands and 300 individual issues from the catalogs you love, like Williams-Sonoma, Sephora and Nordstrom.

Thanks to our ever-growing list of partners, we’ve expanded the app to include six new catalog categories for you to shop. Love gadgets or the great outdoors? Looking for that perfect holiday treat to send to a friend? Well, look no further than our newly launched catalogs and categories:

• Gourmet: Dean & Deluca, Mrs. Fields, Wolferman’s, Harry & David, The Swiss Colony, La Tienda, Lobster Gram, Cushman’s, GiftTree, King Arthur Flour and Fairytale Brownies
• Intimates & Loungewear: Bare Necessities, Fredericks of Hollywood, Spanx and Hanes
• Athletic & Sports: Nike, Athleta, Gaiam, Champion and Tennis Express
• Outdoor Adventure: REI, Moosejaw, Patagonia, Merrell, Eddie Bauer Outdoor, Sierra Trading Post and L.L. Bean Outdoor Gear
• Gadgets: Sharper Image, ThinkGeek and SkyMall
• Toys: One Step Ahead, Right Start, The Land of Nod, Sears and Kmart

Google Catalogs lets you create a collage of your favorite items from across many catalogs. You can even share your collages with friends and family - a visual way to show them what’s on your list this holiday season!

We’ve also added a number of great brands to our existing categories, including: Barneys, Tory Burch and Trina Turk (Fashion & Apparel); BeautyBar (Beauty); Blu Dot, FLOR, and Ballard Designs (Home); Hanna Andersson, CWDkids, and Serena & Lily (Kids); and Garnet Hill, Uncommon Goods, and Wine Enthusiast (Gifts).

In the mood to kick off your holiday shopping? Visit the App Store to download the free Google Catalogs app for iPad.

Posted by Abigail Holtz, Business Product Manager, Google Catalogs Team

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Introducing our first national Google Offer with REI and a new Android app

Today we’re running our very first national Google Offer and it’s with my favorite national outdoor retailer, REI. If you enjoy hiking, biking, running, and sleeping under the stars then you’ll love our deal with REI -- the brand that’s outfitted and inspired adventurers since 1938. We’re also releasing our first Google Offers mobile app that’s now available for free in Android Market. At last, you can discover, purchase and redeem great offers even when you’re on the road.

Purchase today’s REI deal and you’ll get $25 to spend on top-notch gear for $15, so you’re ready for your next encounter in the great outdoors. This deal can be used to shop online at REI.com, or at one of their 120 stores nationwide.

Visit Google Offers today to grab this deal for the premier resource for outdoor adventures: REI

On the heels of our last update, the REI deal marks an important achievement for us in the growth of Google Offers by creating a truly national platform where businesses can connect with new customers whether they’re in San Francisco, Dallas, New York or Boston. And the sky’s the limit from here. We’re committed to growing the Google Offers platform to make it a global extension of our advertising tools for merchants, as well as the go-to spot for quality, easily accessible, and personalized deals for you.

With our new mobile app you can discover, buy and redeem your favorite deals on the go. The free app will notify you about all the great offers that match your interests. You can purchase offers in just a few clicks and even redeem paperlessly with select merchants. If you’re out and about be sure to pick up today’s offer for REI with the Google Offers app. You can download the app from Android Market.

Buy today’s deal from REI on the new Google Offers app

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers in your city to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest national and local deals, relevant to you.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

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Content API for Shopping: Webinar video now available on YouTube

Last week, we hosted a live webinar for Google Product Search merchants, ‘Keeping your product data fresh using Google’s Content API for Shopping.’ The recorded webinar is now available on YouTube. If you’re looking for a more scalable and flexible way to update your product data on Google Product Search, we encourage you to take a look to learn more about the following topics:

• The Content API for Shopping
• Google Shopping data freshness policy
• Using Feeds vs. using the API
• Available support for the API
• Implementing and using the Content API for Shopping

Posted by Danny Hermes, Developer Programs Engineer, Google Commerce Team

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