Google+ invite received, we go hands-on -- Engadget
Google takes on social networking (again), and seems to have found the right balance between simplicity and features. But will loyal Facebookians shift their allegiance to the search engine giant?
Why is Google so bizarre sometimes?
Photo: san pedro glue stick
Grab your camera, photograph yourself as you stick your head inside your freezer, upload your photo to the Web and tag it with this magic number: 241543903.
Another random Internet meme in the making.
Source: google.com
No, this is not me going Photoshop crazy. You can actually dress up the butler to your liking on ask.com, have a wee laugh for five minutes then head right back to Google.
Top Google Search Results
How do you climb to the top of all Google search results? The solution is simple: spend insane amounts of money on a political campaign (US elections) or celebrate a major sports event (how about the Euro 2008), you’re bound to get to the Top 10 Google results for 2008.
Kogan Agora Android Phone
Kogan Agora mobile phone. Photo: Kogan.com
Aussie electronics outfit Kogan is taking pre-orders for the world’s second Android phone, scheduled to be available by the end of January. The price? There are two models, the Agora (299 AUD; 192 USD) and Agora Pro (399 AUD; 256USD). Oh yes, and that’s without a contract or nasty ties to any specific carrier.
Launching a new phone from scratch and combining it with a new operating system might seem like the most expedient way to self destruct a young company. However, Kogan’s founder, 25 year old Ruslan Kogan, has been turning a tidy profit by selling electronics such as LCD TV’s and camcorders at ultra low prices. Kogan is part of a new breed of companies able to undercut the electronic giants by keeping overhead costs down to the bare minimum. The company’s products are built in China according to their specifications, warehousing is outsourced and its goods are sold directly to consumers.
If the Agora hardware and Google Android operating system are well put together, this new phone could be a monster hit in these financially tough times.
Via iTWire
Voice Your Questions to Google
After some rather strange delays, Google has released a free app for iPhone users which allows good ‘ole human speech to ask it the important questions in life, such as “Where is the closest cash dispensing machine?” and “Driving directions to the red light district”.
From the IHT article:
understand human speech, Google researchers have added sophisticated
voice recognition technology to the company’s search software for the
Apple iPhone.
Users of the free application, which Apple is
expected to make available as soon as Friday through its iTunes store,
can place the phone to their ear and ask virtually any question, like
“Where’s the nearest Starbucks?” or “How tall is Mount Everest?” The
sound is converted to a digital file and sent to Google’s servers,
which try to determine the words spoken and pass them along to the
Google search engine.
