Technology & Pop Culture

Google Nexus One Unboxing

Posted by Bradley under Android, Personal, Technology

Today I welcomed a package from Google!

The Nexus One Superphone.

Here’s how it went down…

http://www.google.com/phone/

Tags: Android, Google, HTC, Nexus One, Unboxing

Google’s Unexplained UFO Theme Continues With Latest Doodle

Posted by Bradley under et al.

Stay with me now…

Google’s Doodle ten days ago was the image below and linked to a Google search of “unexplained phenomena“:

Today, September 15th, it’s this image with a link to a Google search of “crop circles“:

Follow @google on Twitter and you can keep up with Google’s official tweets that correspond to the Doodles — cryptic messages that offer clues.

Ten days ago it was a code that spelled out “All your O are belong to us” a reference to the popular Japanese video game meme of Zero Wing.

This time it’s a list of GPS coordinates that link you to here.

The small town of Woking, Surrey in the UK.

First the O now the L.

Could this be the making of the first Google Alternate Reality Game?

Cloverfield?

JJ?

The next scheduled letter abduction is September 25th.

What is Google up to?

http://www.google.com/

[IMGS via google.com]

Tags: Crop Circles, Doodle, Google, September 10, September 25, Surrey, UFO, UK, Unexplained Phenomena, Woking

Google Gets Enhanced Search Options, Wonder Wheel Included

Posted by Bradley under Internets, Technology

Google just added new search options that let you drill down your search results by:

• Videos
• Forums
• Reviews
• Recent results
• Past 24 hours
• Past week
• Past year
• Images from the page
• More text
• Related searches
• Wonder wheel
• Timeline

Including the new interactive Wonder Wheel which is really fun way to visualize your search results as seen here:

Just search as usual and then click “Show Options” on the results page:

Viola!

You’re a search superstar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtirDMfcOKE

Tags: Enhancement, Google, Internets, Search, Search Options, Search Results, Wonder Wheel

Google May Harm Your Computer

Posted by Bradley under Technology

Google broke about an hour ago and was returning “This site may harm your computer” on every search result.

It’s fixed now but I managed to capture a funny side effect!

Tags: Broken, Google, OOPS!, Result, Search, This site may harm your computer

Google Gets (Another) New Favicon!

Posted by Bradley under Technology

Google updated their favicon today.

That’s the second time in 9 months.

It’s cute!

And I’m a dork.

http://www.google.com/favicon.ico

Tags: Favicon, Google, Updated

YouTube Goes Widescreen: Indie Filmmakers Rejoice!

Posted by Bradley under BREAKING, Technology

Google-owned YouTube.com has launched widescreen video playback on its video sharing website today.

Finally!

Could HD be next?  This has all but paved the way…

http://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=0i22UDAOfj8

Tags: 16:9, Google, Video, Widescreen, YouTube

Google’s Gmail Gets Sexy With Themes; Ninja Included

Posted by Bradley under Personal, Technology

If you’re cool like me and use Gmail or Google Apps for your domain you can sexy up your e-mail interface with themes and colors beginning today!

I couldn’t see this option in any of my accounts just yet so be patient — Google rolls these things out in waves.

More pics of the theme options at the link.

I’m partial to the Ninja!

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/spice-up-your-inbox-with-colors-and.html

[IMG via lifehacker.com]

Tags: Gmail, Google, Ninja, Themes

Explore Ancient Rome In 3D With Google Earth

Posted by Bradley under Technology

Google launched Ancient Rome 3D today via it’s Google Earth software.

1. Download Google Earth
2. Navigate to the Layers panel on the lower left
3. Expand the Gallery layer
4. Turn on the Ancient Rome 3D layer

And you’re off exploring 6,700 of the city’s historic buildings; detailed interiors and all.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/annc/20081112_earthrome.html

UPDATE: It seems some people are having trouble viewing the layer… be patient, “Rome wasn’t built in a day! The Ancient Rome 3D layer will be available soon.” says Google.

Tags: Ancient Rome 3D, Gallery, Google, Google Earth, Layer

Google Goes Chrome

Posted by Bradley under Technology

Google has launched itself into the browser wars with Chrome.

And it’s pretty cool.

Nice interface.

Nifty home page with thumbnails of your surfing history.

You can totally drag tabs out of the browser into a new window.

Each tab uses a different process on your computer — so if a web page crashes, it only crashes that specific tab and not the entire browser.

Searching within a page highlights all searched terms.

Incognito mode lets you browse privately by deleting your cookies, history etc. upon exit.  With an awesome spy guy icon in the title bar!

And it’s really fast.

Try it hotpants!

http://www.google.com/chrome/

Tags: Browser, Chrome, Google

Google To Let You Tinker With Your Search Results

Posted by Bradley under Technology

Apparently (as a test) every 50-200 or so searches on Google with let you vote, remove and comment on your search results.

Reminds me of Digg.

Could this be the future of search?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/search-experiments-large-and-small.html

[IMG via googleblog.blogspot.com]

Tags: Digg, Google, Search, Test