Hey everybody and welcome to another edition of Googling Friday. Let’s see what is going on this week in the world of Google.
Gizmo5 shutting down April 3rd
Gizmo5 the popular VoIP service which was bought by Google and later transformed into Google Voice, will cease operations on April 3rd. Customers in the US can have credits for their service transferred to Google Voice.
Google to Fortify Android Market
In light of last week’s malware issue on over 50 apps. Although not mentioning specifically just what that means, they did say they would build safeguards to prevent further instances of it happening again.
Google Allowing Users to Block Sites in Search Results
Google has yet another feature, in addition to bringing instant preview to mobile devices, it now gives the user the option to block certain sites from search results. So if you don’t like a certain site being shown in search results, block away! Uh, MSNBC, HuffPost, and Daily Kos...guess what!
Gmail and Smart Labels
So do you get a mass email from a newsletter that you just don’t need to taking up your inbox space? Well, Gmail has a new feature called Smart Labels to move them somewhere else besides your Inbox. It is in the Labs section of your Gmail settings if you want to play around with it.
Well, this week I don’t have a Google product review for you. But if you know of something I haven’t reviewed yet, let me know and I will take a look at it. Until then, see you all next week!
Showing posts with label Android Market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Android Market. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Googling Friday #23
Hey gang and welcome to another edition of Googling Friday, a weekly blog about all things Google and Android related. We have a few interesting things to get into this week so let’s get right into the news.
Did Gmail eat your Mail?
This week a small percentage, about 0.02% of users found their email in Gmail was GONE! Just into thin air vanished! Luckily Google has been working hard on it and has now fully restored all email accounts effected. Still this may give some people some pause when it comes to cloud based email. About once every month I open up my Apple Mail application so I have everything in mail backed up locally.
Google pulls an App from Android Market over In-App Payment Policy
So for all the people that think Google is the good guy vs Apple when it comes to being friendly to apps, I would point you to this incident where Google pulled the Visual VoiceMail app after it collected payments after a free trial through its website and not through the app directly. Now personally I don’t have a problem with Google doing this, all the developer has to do is resubmit it with the option to purchase within the app. It is just a lot more easy for the customer than going to the developer’s website and buying it there. But for those that like to nit pick Apple for doing it, I’m just pointing out that Google is not without sin either.
Several dozen malware apps pulled from Android Market
So maybe Apple does have the right model for an App Store after all, to Google’s credit they pulled the apps pretty quick. One thing Apple has always stressed is virus free environments from its Macintosh computers to its iOS devices. Obviously Apple has a gate keeper for any app submitted to their store and one of the things that will get an app rejected is malware. Just something for Android to think about.
DoubleTwist Review
So you have all your media content run through iTunes but you have an Android based phone. How do you get your iTunes stuff into your new phone? Well, there are a number of ways, but one software developer has made it a lot easier to get that done. With this application it is easy to move your music, videos, and photos to your Android device. Also it has a built in Android Market so you can look at apps for the Android like you can via iTunes for iPhone apps. Install the doubleTwist app on your Android device and you can WiFi sync your files to it without connecting wires to your computer. DoubleTwist runs on both Mac and PC and is free so check it out if this describes you.
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s Googling Friday. See you all next week for more news from Google!
Did Gmail eat your Mail?
This week a small percentage, about 0.02% of users found their email in Gmail was GONE! Just into thin air vanished! Luckily Google has been working hard on it and has now fully restored all email accounts effected. Still this may give some people some pause when it comes to cloud based email. About once every month I open up my Apple Mail application so I have everything in mail backed up locally.
Google pulls an App from Android Market over In-App Payment Policy
So for all the people that think Google is the good guy vs Apple when it comes to being friendly to apps, I would point you to this incident where Google pulled the Visual VoiceMail app after it collected payments after a free trial through its website and not through the app directly. Now personally I don’t have a problem with Google doing this, all the developer has to do is resubmit it with the option to purchase within the app. It is just a lot more easy for the customer than going to the developer’s website and buying it there. But for those that like to nit pick Apple for doing it, I’m just pointing out that Google is not without sin either.
Several dozen malware apps pulled from Android Market
So maybe Apple does have the right model for an App Store after all, to Google’s credit they pulled the apps pretty quick. One thing Apple has always stressed is virus free environments from its Macintosh computers to its iOS devices. Obviously Apple has a gate keeper for any app submitted to their store and one of the things that will get an app rejected is malware. Just something for Android to think about.
DoubleTwist Review
So you have all your media content run through iTunes but you have an Android based phone. How do you get your iTunes stuff into your new phone? Well, there are a number of ways, but one software developer has made it a lot easier to get that done. With this application it is easy to move your music, videos, and photos to your Android device. Also it has a built in Android Market so you can look at apps for the Android like you can via iTunes for iPhone apps. Install the doubleTwist app on your Android device and you can WiFi sync your files to it without connecting wires to your computer. DoubleTwist runs on both Mac and PC and is free so check it out if this describes you.
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s Googling Friday. See you all next week for more news from Google!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Googling Friday #20
Howdy folks and welcome to another edition of Googling Friday. I realize it has been a couple of weeks but family medical issues and a snow storm got in the way, thankfully both have resolved themselves. So lets get down to business!
Google to make changes to spur sales in Android Market
Google struggling with lacking sales compared to the iOS app store, are looking at ways to increase sales in the Android Market through methods such as in-app purchases something popular in the iOS apps already. Course this also re-enforces my belief that iPhone users on average have more of a disposable income compared to Android users. But we will see if these changes help.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Google recently previewed its Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet OS. At first look it is nice looking but tends to be more of a tablet PC look than an iPad killer. It focuses on running widget apps across several screens something Mac OS X and Windows 7 can do already. It seems more of a competition to Netbooks instead of the iPad at first look.
Gmail brings Priority Inbox to the iPhone
Google’s web-based Gmail on the iPhone now supports Priority Inbox. As discussed earlier, Priority Inbox uses an algorithm to determine messages that are of more importance to a user and keeps them separate from other emails in a users inbox.
Google Translate to iPhone Review
In addition to Priority Inbox, Google has also released an app for the iPhone based on their popular Google Translate app. Very handy if you are visiting a foreign country and not that familiar with the language of the locals. It has a record button to say a phrase you want to translate which is really cool if you just want to avoid typing words while on the go. It works with about 50 languages but audio wise only works with about half of them. But it is a free app and can be found here.
Well, that is going to do it for this edition of Googling Friday. See you all next week for another edition.
Google to make changes to spur sales in Android Market
Google struggling with lacking sales compared to the iOS app store, are looking at ways to increase sales in the Android Market through methods such as in-app purchases something popular in the iOS apps already. Course this also re-enforces my belief that iPhone users on average have more of a disposable income compared to Android users. But we will see if these changes help.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Google recently previewed its Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet OS. At first look it is nice looking but tends to be more of a tablet PC look than an iPad killer. It focuses on running widget apps across several screens something Mac OS X and Windows 7 can do already. It seems more of a competition to Netbooks instead of the iPad at first look.
Gmail brings Priority Inbox to the iPhone
Google’s web-based Gmail on the iPhone now supports Priority Inbox. As discussed earlier, Priority Inbox uses an algorithm to determine messages that are of more importance to a user and keeps them separate from other emails in a users inbox.
Google Translate to iPhone Review
In addition to Priority Inbox, Google has also released an app for the iPhone based on their popular Google Translate app. Very handy if you are visiting a foreign country and not that familiar with the language of the locals. It has a record button to say a phrase you want to translate which is really cool if you just want to avoid typing words while on the go. It works with about 50 languages but audio wise only works with about half of them. But it is a free app and can be found here.
Well, that is going to do it for this edition of Googling Friday. See you all next week for another edition.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Googling Friday #19
Howdy folks and welcome to another edition of Googling Friday! This is a blog for all things Google news related. Let’s see what is happening in their world this week!
Google brings mobile number porting to Google Voice
Google is now allowing you to port your mobile phone number to Google Voice. But it will cost $20 and may cost you an early termination fee with your cell phone carrier as it is the same as moving your cell phone number from say AT&T to Verizon for example. One user has stated it has been a nightmare for him with regards to his wireless carrier.
Google removes Flash-based app from Android Market
What? I thought only the “big bad Apple” did this? But apparently this is what Google did to an app called Kongregate which is based on a popular website featuring Adobe Flash based games. It was in the Android Market for less than 24 hours before being pulled by Google citing a violation of the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement. Hmm, that sounds familiar, I guess Google can’t claim the moral high ground with regard to Apple on being an open marketplace after all.
Google unhappy with slow Android app sales
Despite healthy sales of Android devices, that has not resulted in app sales within the Android Market as opposed to the highly successful iTunes App Store for Apple’s iOS devices. Google is working on a plan to help that along.
Google brings cloud-based printing to iOS devices...sort of
Google announced this week that iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users can now print to the cloud...providing they have a Windows-based computer...WHAT!...TechFAIL! Google does say they are working on Mac and Linux-based printing that will be “available soon”. Hey Google, how about when you announce something like this you have it ready for ALL clients? This is not 1999 for crying out loud!
Need a job? Google is hiring
Google announced on Wednesday that it is hiring for many positions not just at its Mountain View, CA HQ but also worldwide. So if you have a college degree particular in Computer Information Systems, then you might be in luck. For us folks that learn as we go without having that nice piece of paper from a university, no need to apply apparently...bigots!
Well, that is going to do it for this edition of Googling Friday. I apologize if I was a bit harsh on Google this week, but I do offer my opinion on these matters. No Google product review this week, but I will have one for you all next week. See you then!
Google brings mobile number porting to Google Voice
Google is now allowing you to port your mobile phone number to Google Voice. But it will cost $20 and may cost you an early termination fee with your cell phone carrier as it is the same as moving your cell phone number from say AT&T to Verizon for example. One user has stated it has been a nightmare for him with regards to his wireless carrier.
Google removes Flash-based app from Android Market
What? I thought only the “big bad Apple” did this? But apparently this is what Google did to an app called Kongregate which is based on a popular website featuring Adobe Flash based games. It was in the Android Market for less than 24 hours before being pulled by Google citing a violation of the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement. Hmm, that sounds familiar, I guess Google can’t claim the moral high ground with regard to Apple on being an open marketplace after all.
Google unhappy with slow Android app sales
Despite healthy sales of Android devices, that has not resulted in app sales within the Android Market as opposed to the highly successful iTunes App Store for Apple’s iOS devices. Google is working on a plan to help that along.
Google brings cloud-based printing to iOS devices...sort of
Google announced this week that iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users can now print to the cloud...providing they have a Windows-based computer...WHAT!...TechFAIL! Google does say they are working on Mac and Linux-based printing that will be “available soon”. Hey Google, how about when you announce something like this you have it ready for ALL clients? This is not 1999 for crying out loud!
Need a job? Google is hiring
Google announced on Wednesday that it is hiring for many positions not just at its Mountain View, CA HQ but also worldwide. So if you have a college degree particular in Computer Information Systems, then you might be in luck. For us folks that learn as we go without having that nice piece of paper from a university, no need to apply apparently...bigots!
Well, that is going to do it for this edition of Googling Friday. I apologize if I was a bit harsh on Google this week, but I do offer my opinion on these matters. No Google product review this week, but I will have one for you all next week. See you then!
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