.::REALITYRECALL::.

In June we launched the +1 button for websites, making it easier to recommend content across the web. In July, the +1 button crossed 2 billion daily views, and we also made it a lot faster. Today the +1 button appears on more than a million sites, with over 4 billion daily views, and we’re extremely excited about this momentum.

It’s just the beginning, however, and today we’re launching two more features that make +1 buttons more useful for users and publishers alike.

Sharing with your circles on Google+
Clicking the +1 button is a great way to highlight content for others when they search on Google. But sometimes you want to start a conversation right away—at least with certain groups of friends. So beginning today, we’re making it easy for Google+ users to share webpages with their circles, directly from the +1 button. Just +1 a page as usual and look for the new “Share on Google+” option. From there you can comment, choose a circle and share.

+Snippets
When you share content from the +1 button, you’ll notice that we automatically include a link, an image and a description in the sharebox. We call these “+snippets,” and they’re a great way to jumpstart conversations with the people you care about.

Of course: publishers can benefit from +snippets as well. With just a few changes to their webpages, publishers can actually customize their +snippets and encourage more sharing of their content on Google+. More details are available on the Google Webmaster blog.

We’re rolling out sharing and +snippets globally over the next week, but if you’d like to try the new +1 button now, you can join our Google+ Platform Preview. Once you’re part of the Preview, just visit a site with the +1 button (like Rotten Tomatoes) and +1 the page. Thanks for all of your feedback so far, and stay tuned for more features in the weeks and months ahead!

Posted by Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President of Engineering

In April, we introduced the Google Docs app for Android, which allows you to access and create new docs on the go, directly from an app on your Android phone. Since then, we’ve continued to work on ways to improve your mobile experience, and I’m excited to share a couple of new updates that we hope will do just that.

Starting today, you can easily take pictures with your Android phone and insert them into a Google document, using the new Web Clipboard feature. Here’s how:

1. From the Docs widget on your phone, tap the camera icon.

2. Snap a photo then select Send to Web Clipboard and press OK.

3. Open any Google document from your computer. Click the Web Clipboard icon and select the item to paste into your doc.

A couple of other new features for the Android app include improved open and send options. You can open your documents with any compatible viewer application or send a doc as an attachment through email or another app on your phone.

Last but certainly not least, we’re making the Docs app available in 45 additional languages so more users around the world can access, share and edit on the go. Here’s an example of what the app looks like in German:

You can grab the app from Android Market and learn more by visiting the help center. As always, let us know what you think in the comments or on the forum.

Posted by: Tobias Thierer, Software Engineer

The BlackBerry PlayBook officially launched on April 19th, over 500,000 people jumped on the opportunity to own RIM’s first tablet. However, many users were wondering why they had to bridge their BlackBerry smartphone to get their email. During BlackBerry World 2011 RIM came through and gave us all a quick taste of what the email client will look like, basically exactly like it operates on BlackBerry smartphones. Execs said that the OS update will be available sometime this Summer (the Summer officially ends on September 22nd).

In the same report as Android coming to QNX-based BlackBerry devices, Bloomberg reports that “RIM plans to issue a PlayBook software upgrade in September that adds a dedicated e-mail program and BlackBerry Messenger instant-messaging applications, one of the people said. A PlayBook upgrade for the Android player may come later on in the year, two of the people said.”

Only a few more weeks!

Source: Bloomberg

Related posts:

1. Video: This is how the native BlackBerry PlayBook email client will work
2. aMail app will bring email to the BlackBerry PlayBook
3. Bloomberg jumps on board with the rumours: “new iPhone in September”

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If this doesn’t tug at your heart strings then you’re not human (or a liberal).

(Blaze) — Petty Officer Jon T. Tumilson was laid to rest Friday in Rockford, Iowa, where an estimated 1,500 mourners came to pay respects for the fallen Navy SEAL, including his dog Hawkeye. In fact, Hakeye’s loyalty to his owner at the funeral was visible, creating a heart-wrenching image as he laid down by the casket of his owner during the entire service.

The 35-year-old Tumilson died Aug. 6, when a rocket-propelled grenade disabled the helicopter he was in. It crashed, killing 30 Americans and eight Afghans. Fellow Navy SEALS told KIMT-TVthat Jon was someone with unmatched work ethic and character.

Keep reading…

Here’s another view:

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