All posts tagged Google

TWTW Tech: Google wants to .lol

Google wants to .lol

credit: googlol.freeoda.com

Google has revealed that it has applied for some interesting top level domains (TLDs), as the three month long application window to The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) closed last week.

Speaking on the official Google blog, the company’s Chief Internet Evangelist, Vint Cerf told of how Google’s applications fall into 4 categories:

  • Google trademarks, like .google
  • Domains that relate to their core business, such as .docs
  • Domains that will improve user experience, such as .youtube, so YouTube channels and genres can be identified more easily
  • Domains that Google believes have interesting creative potential, like .lol

With the majority of webpages falling under the .com TLD, Google hope that by introducing more choice to domain names, we shall see “more diverse – and perhaps shorter – signposts in cyberspace”

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by TheJW on June 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Technology
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Posted by TheJW on June 6, 2012

http://social-gadget.com/2012/06/06/google-wants-to-lol/

TWTW Social: Google+ Hangouts On Air rolling out to all users.

Hangouts On AirLooking for that pull to get into using Google+? The answer may have just come your way with the public release of Google’s live-broadcast version of it’s Hangouts service – Hangouts On Air.

First released last year to a select number of users, Google is now offering the feature to the masses. Hangouts On Air allows users to broadcast their Hangouts live; these can be viewed on the users Google+ page, YouTube channel or on their website.

There are some additional perks to the service; those broadcasting the Hangout, can see the number of viewers in real time, and once the broadcast has finished, Google will upload the public recording to the users YouTube channel, allowing for sharing and re-watching.

Check out the video to see how the service works

Although no official word has been said yet, it is possible that we could see this service go mobile. The Android version of the Google+ app allows users to start a Hangout (this feature isn’t current available on iOS) which could eventually update to include Hangout On Air support. While live streaming through your phone isn’t a new thing, having it linked straight to your social network could prove a powerful tool, should Google see fit to peruse this route.

Let us know your thoughts on Hangouts On Air, is the service likely to get you back onto your Google+ page? Or is there just no deterring you from your timeline? Hit us up in the comment below.

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by TheJW on May 8, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by TheJW on May 8, 2012

http://social-gadget.com/2012/05/08/google-hangout-on-air-rolling-out-to-all-users/

TWTW Tech: Google launches Google Drive

Google Drive Logo

After an accidental unveiling earlier in the week during a developer hangout, Google have now officially launched their cloud based storage service - Google Drive.

Packing 5 Gb of storage for the free service (the same as Apple’s iCloud offering), there is scope to up the amount of storage to a whopping 16Tb, although pricing plans have only been disclosed as far as 1Tb.

With numerous other cloud services already existing, Dropbox, iCloud, Box to name a few, is there any pull to use Google’s latest offering? The answer really depends upon whether you’re an avid Google user already. Those familiar with Google Docs will feel right at home with Drive as it operates in much the same way. Real time group collaboration on documents is a neat feature and tie in’s with Google+ (photos and videos already on your Drive account can be shared instantly) will heighten it’s appeal to many. Those that already use other cloud services however, have little reason to move everything over to Drive at the moment… although another 5Gb of free storage for opening an account does sound quite nice now you mention it!

Will you be using Drive for cloud storage? Let us know in the comments box below.

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by TheJW on April 25, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by TheJW on April 25, 2012

http://social-gadget.com/2012/04/25/google-launches-google-drive/

Google’s Best April Fools’ Gags – 2012

Here it is again, April 1st – the one day of the year where the already dubious information on the internet is more dubious than a dubious cat dubiously playing the piano.  So who provided the most questionable information? Why no other than Google of course, the provider of information!

Google have played a total of 11 pranks today by our count – here are our favourite three.

1) Google Maps in 8 bit

 

Perhaps the most elaborate of today’s Google pranks, the search engine giant’s claim to have created Google Maps for Famicom/NES with a browser enabled trial version is nothing short of genius.

2) Chrome Multitask Mode

 

Secondly we have Multitasking for Chrome. Whilst the claim that we only use 50% of our hands while browsing may not be entirely accurate *cough*, the option to use two mice to double productivity certainly is amusing.

3) Gmail Tap

 

No matter how large of a screen a smart phone may have, it is certainly difficult to comfortably fit a full qwerty keyboard into the display. The answer, revert to two buttons and write using morse code!

Have you found the other pranks Google set up today? Have any of them fooled you? What are the best pranks of the day across the web? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

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by TheJW on April 1, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by TheJW on April 1, 2012

http://social-gadget.com/2012/04/01/googles-best-april-fools-gags-2012/

Bing Enter Social Location Sharing

Source: Bing

So there are a whole bunch of ways to share your location with your friends, an increasingly popular method of social networking. Whilst the undisputed leader in this field is Foursquare, there are actually a number of competitors. Google provide their Latitude service, Yelp have what is in essence a Foursquare clone running from their app and now, a new challenger enters the arena (forgive the Street fighter reference). Mircorsoft’s search engine Bing has decided to get in on the act.

We’re In is the apt name of this new service. There isn’t much that is new here, they seem to have adopted an approach similar to that of Latitude, avoiding the gaming aspect found on Foursquare. What is neat however, is the introduction of time limited invitational sharing. Simply, the user shares where they are to a group of selected people and decides how long ‘the invitation’ lasts. Once the time is up, you ‘magically’ disappear off the map; “Sorry guys, you missed me!”

Whether this feature alone will be enough to sway users away from the location apps they currently use is to be seen, although I personally like the idea of not having to tinker with my sharing settings quite so often à la Latitude.

Do you use location sharing apps to organise your nights out with mates? Comments and thoughts below.

More information available at Bing Community.

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by TheJW on August 20, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by TheJW on August 20, 2011

http://social-gadget.com/2011/08/20/bing-enter-social-location-sharing/

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