Reality Bites
Team Lifehacker has been playing around with Google+ all morning, and so far the coolest innovation we've seen—particularly from a productivity standpoint—is the Hangouts feature, which creates rooms for you to hang out with your friends, coworkers, or any of your social circles. It's great. More »
The popularity of Android is growing everyday. Yesterday Google’s Andy Rubin tweeted that “there are now over 500,000 Android devices activated every day”. At Google I/O execs stated there was 200,000 apps available, but what about downloaded apps? According to Ian Carrington, Google’s mobile advertising sales director for northern and central Europe, said the Android Market has reached 4.5 billion total downloads. “A year ago that was one billion, and that first billion took two years to happen. The last billion took 60 days”. Any guess on when the 10 billion mark will be reached?
Source: Gizmodo
Via: Phandroid
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An organic lawncare product developed in Saskatoon has just been approved for use in Canada.
A lot of people paid a lot of money to hate Transformers 2. The movie made enough money for Michael Bay to bathe in the blood of supermodels every hour, for the rest of his life. But people loathed it. More »
Q: Name another place outside of the soccer field where an extra four minutes can seem like an eternity and mean the difference between making someone scream in ecstasy or sending them home disappointed?
A: The bedroom.
This folks, is great marketing.
WARNING: This video contains strong graphic content. If you have to demolish a building, you really need to use experts. Destroying pillars with a pneumatic hammer is never going to end well, as this video demonstrates. More »
We’ve long known that exercise is good for your brain and stimulates brain activity. A recent study shows that aerobic exercise—in particular, walking—can actually increase the size of the part of the brain responsible for memory. More »
SaskTel already Tweeted that they will release the Samsung Galaxy S II. However, today they officially wrote it all down in a press release that it’ll be available “in the coming weeks”. The same formal info as Bell, but a couple differences. Missing from the SaskTel branding of this Android 2.3 device is the “4G” status (Bell will call it the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G). Next, Bell didn’t give any pricing but SaskTel did! No word on the no-contract price but the “Samsung GALAXY S II is available at any SaskTel Store or SaskTel Authorized Dealer for $79.99 on a three year voice and data term”. Perhaps this is what we’ll see Bell come in at too.
Source: CNW
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Well, lookie here! Seems that ThinkPad Tablet’s getting more real by the hour. For what it’s worth, Lenovo hasn’t exactly done a laudatory job keeping its next major Honeycomb tablet under wraps, but flaunting it in public? Now that’s just asking for it. According to ZTOP, the enterprise-centric Tablet will arrive within three to four weeks boasting Tegra 2 silicon, a 10.1-inch display (1280 x 800) and an optional folio / cover that might just steal the show. According to the report, it’s a leather-wrapped case that contains a full-on keyboard and optical tracking sensor, presumably using a USB connector to make the magic happen. Think Clamcase, but tailored for Lenovo. There’s no mention of a price on that one, but we’re guessing it ain’t gonna be tossed in gratis. Tap the source for one more look, and expect to hear more on the whole kit and kaboodle as July draws closer.
ThinkPad Tablet shown off with keyboard-laden folio cover, could ship within a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mail dropped through door slots across the country on Tuesday as postal workers made a small dent in the millions of letters, bills and flyers that went undelivered during the rotating strikes and lockout at Canada Post.
It’s hard to argue with Google’s track record. The company has scored a hit in nearly every space in which it’s dabbled: search, email, ads, office software, etc. There’s always been one glaring exception to this rule, however: social networking. The company hasn’t made much of a dent in a world dominated by Facebook (and, once upon a time, MySpace and Friendster). For Google+, however, the company dove in with both feet, launching a multi-faceted service that brings a lot to the table with features like Circles, Hang Out, and Huddle. Is it enough to end Google’s streak of misteps in the social world? Join us as we take a dive deeper into Google’s latest attempt to find out.
Gallery: Google+ hands-on
Gallery: Google+ iOS hands-on
Continue reading Google+ invite received, we go hands-on
Google+ invite received, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Before
After
A Saskatoon street could soon bear the name of reality TV star Shannon Tweed.
The best calendaring applications make it easy to add, manage, and remember appointments, so its no surprise the top five were all popular players. Last week we asked you which calendaring application you preferred when managing your appointments on your desktop. You answered, and we put the top five to a vote. Now we’re back to highlight the winner. More »
Starting today, you might begin noticing that things look a little different across Google products. We’re working on a project to bring you a new and improved Google experience, and over the next few months, you’ll continue to see more updates to our look and feel. Even our classic homepage is getting a bit of a makeover:
The way people use and experience the web is evolving, and our goal is to give you a more seamless and consistent online experience—one that works no matter which Google product you’re using or what device you’re using it on. The new Google experience that we’ve begun working toward is founded on three key design principles: focus, elasticity and effortlessness.
Constant revision and improvement is part of our overarching philosophy. For example, last year we introduced an updated look and feel to our search results, and if you compare the original Google homepage to today’s version, you’ll see that a makeover every so often can certainly be refreshing:
Starting today and over the course of the next few months, look for a series of design improvements across all our products, including Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail.
Posted by Chris Wiggins, Creative Director, Digital
You can blame Beau Hindman from Massively for this article and most likely my possible disappearance for the next few hours. After watching his live streaming of Gameloft’s Order and Chaos, he had to go and post an article detailing a new application for mobile devices that, aside from being productive, will let you play games on your mobile device from your PC.
Fresh on the heels of today’s Google+ announcement (and likely because of that announcement), the search giant just launched Google Takeout—an update to their previously mentioned Data Liberation Front that allows you to export your data from several Google products in one simple download. Currently Takeout supports mass exodus from Buzz, Contacts and Circles (the latter of which is new to Google+), Picasa Web Albums, your Profile, and Stream (also part of Google+). More »
Rumours of the 10-inch BlackBerry “PlayBook 2″ had it potentially coming thinner, 4G/WiFi only and in black and white. This was expected to be released in time for the 2011 holiday season, but it now seems the plans have been completely scrapped. The reason is apparently due to RIM putting all their focus on producing some kind of BlackBerry “Superphone” that’s powered by their QNX OS (same as what’s in the PlayBook). No word on a possible release date but rumoured specs include the same single-core 1.2GHz processor that’s in the upcoming Bold 9900. Hopefully this gets bumped up to a dual-core processor because that’s what RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said the “Superphone” would include. In addition, the upcoming Berry might come with a 4.3-inch touchscreen with a high res display that’s over 900+ pixels (iPhone 4 has a screen resolution of 640 x 960 pixels).
We want RIM to massively succeed and we’re hoping the upcoming devices over the next couple years will put them back on the positive track. Jim Balsillie, the other RIM co-CEO once stated that “we absolutely have a whole next generation of smartphones, so strategically we feel fantastic”… bring these on and others will feel fantastic too.
Source: N4BB
Via: CrackBerry
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Social networking has long been Google’s white whale. The company has done plenty of dabbling in the space, releasing Orkut, which has failed to catch on in the US, and rolling out Buzz to the relative indifference of its massive user base. Announced today after seemingly endless leaks, Google+ represents a major push for the software giant. The service began showing itself to a smattering of users last night, as a black bar across the top of various of the company’s properties. A “+You” button on the far left of the bar currently brings you to the service’s landing page, offering a tour of the many features that fall under the Google+ umbrella. Get to know the services better after the break.
Continue reading Google launches all out social networking assault with Google+ (video)
Google launches all out social networking assault with Google+ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Update: For our international readers, this post is also available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. – Ed.
Among the most basic of human needs is the need to connect with others. With a smile, a laugh, a whisper or a cheer, we connect with others every single day.
Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools.
In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it.
We’d like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software. We want to make Google better by including you, your relationships, and your interests. And so begins the Google+ project:
+Circles: share what matters, with the people who matter most
Not all relationships are created equal. So in life we share one thing with college buddies, another with parents, and almost nothing with our boss. The problem is that today’s online services turn friendship into fast food—wrapping everyone in “friend” paper—and sharing really suffers:
In light of these shortcomings we asked ourselves, “What do people actually do?” And we didn’t have to search far for the answer. People in fact share selectively all the time—with their circles.
From close family to foodies, we found that people already use real-life circles to express themselves, and to share with precisely the right folks. So we did the only thing that made sense: we brought Circles to software. Just make a circle, add your people, and share what’s new—just like any other day:
+Sparks: strike up a conversation, about pretty much anything
Healthy obsessions inspire sharing, and we’ve all got one (or two, or three…). Maybe it’s muscle cars, or comic books, or fashion, but the attraction is always the same: it comes up in conversation, we immediately jump in, and we share back and forth with other fans. Often for hours. The trick is getting things started, and getting over that initial hump. Fortunately, the web is the ultimate icebreaker.
The web, of course, is filled with great content—from timely articles to vibrant photos to funny videos. And great content can lead to great conversations. We noticed, however, that it’s still too hard to find and share the things we care about—not without lots of work, and lots of noise. So, we built an online sharing engine called Sparks.
Thanks to Google’s web expertise, Sparks delivers a feed of highly contagious content from across the Internet. On any topic you want, in over 40 languages. Simply add your interests, and you’ll always have something to watch, read and share—with just the right circle of friends:
+Hangouts: stop by and say hello, face-to-face-to-face
Whether it’s inside a pub or on a front porch, human beings have always enjoyed hanging out. And why not? It’s how we unwind, recharge, and spend unscheduled time with old and new friends alike. Hanging out is deceptively simple though, and the nuance gets lost online.
Just think: when you walk into the pub or step onto your front porch, you’re in fact signaling to everyone around, “Hey, I’ve got some time, so feel free to stop by.” Further, it’s this unspoken understanding that puts people at ease, and encourages conversation. But today’s online communication tools (like instant messaging and video-calling) don’t understand this subtlety:
With Google+ we wanted to make on-screen gatherings fun, fluid and serendipitous, so we created Hangouts. By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you’re free, and spend time with your Circles. Face-to-face-to-face:
+Mobile: share what’s around, right now, without any hassle
These days a phone is the perfect sharing accessory: it’s always with you, it’s always online, and it’s how we stay close with our closest friends. We didn’t want “just” a mobile experience, however, so with Google+ we focused on things (like GPS, cameras, and messaging) to make your pocket computer even more personal.
+Location, location, location
In life, the places we visit shape conversations in lots of meaningful ways. If we call John from the airport, he’ll likely ask about our trip. Or if Jane texts from a nearby restaurant, we might join her for dessert. With Google+ you can add your location to every post. (Or not. It’s always up to you.)
+Instant Upload
Getting photos off your phone is a huge pain, so most of us don’t even bother. Of course pictures are meant to be shared, not stranded, so we created Instant Upload to help you never leave a photo behind. While you’re snapping pictures, and with your permission, Google+ adds your photos to a private album in the cloud. This way they’re always available across your devices—ready to share as you see fit.
+Huddle
Coordinating with friends and family in real-time is really hard in real life. After all, everyone’s on different schedules, in different places, and plans can change at any moment. Phone calls and text messages can work in a pinch, but they’re not quite right for getting the gang together. So Google+ includes Huddle, a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know what’s going on, right this second.
Starting today Google+ is available on Android Market and the mobile web, and it’s coming soon to the App Store.
+You: putting you first, all across Google
That’s the Google+ project so far: Circles, Sparks, Hangouts and mobile. We’re beginning in Field Trial, so you may find some rough edges, and the project is by invitation only. But online sharing needs a serious re-think, so it’s time we got started. There’s just one more thing—really the only thing: You.
You and over a billion others trust Google, and we don’t take this lightly. In fact we’ve focused on the user for over a decade: liberating data, working for an open Internet, and respecting people’s freedom to be who they want to be. We realize, however, that Google+ is a different kind of project, requiring a different kind of focus—on you. That’s why we’re giving you more ways to stay private or go public; more meaningful choices around your friends and your data; and more ways to let us know how we’re doing. All across Google.
When your invite arrives we hope you’ll join the project. But it’s entirely up to +You.
Posted by Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President, Engineering
