Tag: Google
Video surfaces of the Android-based Dream G2
The good news is that the G2 seems to exist. I suppose someone could have installed Android on a random phone and added a Google logo to the back, but it seems like quite a lot of effort for a hoax. Unfortunately it matches the previous rumours in that it has no physical keyboard, relying instead on a stylus for input (eww).
Back on the bright side, though, Google Reader, Notebook, and Docs are all present. I’d kill for a decent RSS reader that syncs with a desktop or web-based reader on a mobile phone. Lastly, at about 0:48, check out the awesome green android charger! Omg, how cute is that!
(via AndroidGuys)
Related posts: G2 (and G3!) rumours surface, debate over release date | Get an “Android Dev Phone 1” (that’s a Google G1 phone) by becoming a “developer”
Google adds tube map to Google Maps
Google Maps launched its new ‘Transit’ section of Google Maps this morning, which focuses on public transport. Wonderfully, included in the update is a tube map that you can turn on and off on the display – immensely useful for planning ya route across the capital.
Be aware though – because it’s tied to real geographical locations, it might be a bit confusing, and not as intuitive as using the regular tube map. On the other hand, you might find out something useful, like how close Lancaster Gate (on the Central Line) is to Paddington, or Canon Street to Bank, saving you some trouble, and going miles out of your way to change tubes.
If you’ve got a local metro/tube/underground system of some sort, is it shown on Google’s new layer? Let us know in the comments. Now… if only Google would release street view in the UK…
Google Maps UK (via TechCrunch)
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Google pilots artwork in minute detail in Google Earth
The Prado museum in Madrid contain’s some of the art world’s most treasured masterpieces, from El Greco, Rembrandt, Durer, Raphael, Van de Weyden, Tiepolo, Ribera, Fra Angelico and Titian. Google has just presented a collaboration with the museum, to bring the masterpieces to a wider audience.
Users will be able to explore the paintings of the artists above in minute detail – more than 1,400 times clearer than anything the average tourist’s 10-megapixel camera could render, claims the director of Google Spain, Javier Rodriguez Zapatero. The company stitched together over 8,200 “mega-high-resolution” photos digitally.
One of the museum’s most popular paintings, Hieronymous Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, is included, and you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s very easy indeed to zoom in on the naughty bits. To see the digital reproductions for yourself, download the Google Earth program, activate three-dimensional view and click on Prado Museum.
(via the Independent)
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Google changes favicon again – much nicer than the lowercase purple g
It seems like only yesterday that Google shifted its favicon from an uppercase G to a purple lowercase g. Well, although the little purple g is still in place, on my computer at least, at the moment, a post on the Official Google Blog suggests that it’s about to change again, to the icon over to the right.
The new icon is a reinterpretation of a submission sent in by a user, one André Resende – a computer science undergraduate student at the University of Campinas in Brazil. The lucky chap, along with the rest of us, get to see a modified version of his creation (left) twenty thousand times a day as we destroy the planet. What do you think of the new logo? I’m quite a fan…
Related posts: Google changes its favicon from uppercase white ‘G’ to lowercase purple ‘G’ – thoughts? | Google searches causing global warming? Err… no.
Google searches causing global warming? Err… no.
Yesterday, the Sunday Times published an article saying that making two Google searches generates as much carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle – an act long associated with energy inefficiency. This outlandish claim comes from a Harvard University physicist working on the environmental impact of computing.
Far be it for me to try to debunk a Harvard physicist, but this is mostly rubbish. Google is a company that cares considerably more for the environment than many. Although it’s true that datacentres are remarkably inefficient creations, and the IT industry has a carbon footprint like any other industry, Google pales into nothing when compared to cars, fossil fuel power stations and the aviation industry.
I suspect that the real reason for this jab at one of the world’s biggest IT companies is simply a desire for more research funding, particularly since the article inexplicably ends with an utterly unrelated jab at celebrity Twitterers. Google’s Senior VP of Operations, Urs Hölzle, clears things up on the Official Google Blog.
“Revealed: the environmental impact of Google searches” (via Techmeme)
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HOW-TO: Tweak Chrome to get the newest features early
Odds-are, if you’re reading this, then you’re the sort of person who likes to call themselves an ‘early adopter’. It’s highly possible, then, that you might be using Google’s super-fast Chrome browser, and if you are, then you might be interested in finding out how to subscribe to Google’s ‘Beta’ channel for Chrome updates, or perhaps even the highly-unstable ‘Developer’ channel.
Basically, there are three channels – a ‘Stable’ one, for the general public. A ‘Beta’ one for interested parties, and a ‘Developer’ one, for those of you who like to be on the bleeding edge. It’s very easy to switch – just download a little program (found here) and click the appropriate box. You don’t even seem to need to restart the browser.
I’ve just subscribed to the ‘Beta’ channel. So far, it hasn’t crashed. Give it a try and let us know your experiences in the comments below.
Chrome Dev Channel (via Chromium)
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Google Timeline results graduates from Labs
Towards the start of last year, Google experimented with different ways to view search results in its “Experimental” section. They were evidently happy enough with one of them – Timeline – that it’s now appearing in some queries in the main results. Timeline allows you to browse results by when they were posted, or when they ocurred.
The picture above is for a search for “book of revelations”, though that search no longer displays the timeline. Perhaps Google is still tweaking it a little. I hope it stays, I rather like it, but it does beg the question – what’s next? Search by smell?
(via Search Engine Land)
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Forward-thinking police combating potential terrorism via Google Adsense
London’s Metropolitan Police Service has thought up a great way to spend a bit more money – advertising for super-grasses via Google’s ubiquitous Adsense text ad system.
The advert, spotted by a blogger and pictured to the left there, encourages web browsers to report any “Right Wing Extremists” they know to the authorities, while clicking on the ad’s text link takes you to the Met’s anti-terror home page, where you’re advised in a bit more detail what to do if you think your mate is running a bomb factory out of his studio flat in New Cross. Here’s how The Met says you can spot a terrorist…
Googlers getting G1 for Christmas
Normally companies pay out cash as a Christmas bonus, but not Google this year. The search giant will be handing out T-Mobile G1 phones to all its employees as thanks for their hard work this year. The phones will come without a SIM card, but unlocked. They’ll also be specially customized, with a “‘droid” on the back.
The company, in their Christmas email, jokes that it’s a great chance for them to ‘dogfood’ the product – i.e. get employees of the company to test it. Perhaps this mass stock clearout (20,000 people work for Google!) lends weight to yesterday’s rumours that the G2 will be coming along sooner than we think.
(via Valleywag)
Related posts: G2 (and G3!) rumours surface, debate over release date | Google shows off 2008’s top searches
Garmin to launch Android mobile, too
Adding further fuel to the fire of evidence that Android will become the mobile OS of choice in 2009, GPS manufacturer Garmin has announced that it’ll be building an Android-based mobile phone. The release is promised for the second half of the year.
It’s unclear as to whether this is an entirely new handset or a upgrade to the still-not-released Nuvifone, but either way, this should be a touchscreen GPS mobile device that packs a powerful punch. Current plans are just to launch the device in Taiwan, but given that the company’s GPS units are sold all over the world, I wouldn’t be surprised if this followed too.
Garmin (via Adding further fuel to the fire of evidence that Android will become the mobile OS of choice in 2009, GPS manufacturer Garmin has announced that it’ll be building an Android-based mobile phone. The release is promised for the second half of the year. It’s unclear as to whether this is an entirely new handset or a upgrade to the still-not-released Nuvifone, but either way, this should be a touchscreen GPS mobile device that packs a powerful punch. Current plans are just to launch the device in Taiwan, but given that the company’s GPS units are sold all over the world, I wouldn’t be surprised if this followed too. Garmin (via Phandroid) Related posts: Garmin intros rugged nüvi 500 Series portable navigation device | Garmin partners with GyPSii geo-social network, find where your friends are and how to get thereroid-phone-coming-in-2009/”>Phandroid
