Phone calls from Gmail

This is one feature most of you might be waiting for sometime now... I think it will take another decade before it comes to India but for now this news is for US & Canada gmail users... You can call any phone right from within Gmail. Dialing a phone number works just like a normal phone—just click “Call phone” at the top of your chat list, and dial a number or enter a contact’s name. At the moment, this feature is only for Gmail users in the U.S. Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of 2010, and calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates. http://www.gmail.com/call.

Here is the international rate comparision chart: http://www.google.com/chat/voice/compare.html

Google releases skipfish, internally used tool for scanning apps

Skipfish by Google is an internally developed tool used as an active web application security reconnaissance tool. It prepares an interactive sitemap for the targeted site by carrying out a recursive crawl and dictionary-based probes. The resulting map is then annotated with the output from a number of active (but hopefully non-disruptive) security checks. The final report generated by the tool is meant to serve as a foundation for professional web application security assessments. The tool is meant to provide accurate and meaningful results.

GBuzz - GMails new feature!

Google Buzz!! (GBuzz) Yes thats a new Gmail feature or shall I say google's new product... This is one feature, if done the right way, I think Google can put social networks like facebook, myspace (is this still around??), Orkut (I still get a message once in a while.. like say once in 3 months :P) out of market. But of course there are quite a few challenges... this can be used only by gmail users until Google plans to role it out of Gmail, but again... Gmail gets 170million unique hits every month... that’s huge!!

GBuzz lets you communicate not just your status with your friends, customers and public but also share information, links, photos, videos all from gmail with a single click... No more do you have to go to picasa, youtube to share your videos.. you can do all that very much from your Gmail.

GBuzz has more to it, you can add your twitter, facebook and few other apps to GBuzz... you no more have to visit to check your wall posts on facebook or twitter for tweets... you can see all of them from your Gmail and even reply to them right from your Gmail... you can also write a new one!!

The option to communicate either privatly or publicly adds to the security of your data,  I see it as a new Google Product rather than just a feature.

My Search Trends 2009

After writing about the google search trends for the year 2009, I got this wired idea about finding out my own search trends for year 2009... I use only google for searching and I use less of address box and more of google search box in the google toolbar for mozilla firefox. And then I remembered that I had activated google web history few months ago... to my surprise google actully has a trends link in google web history. Its kinda scares me how much I use google... :( You can know a lot about me by looking at these search queries... Like what interests me, my work,. what time of the day I am most active etc.., What more.... here I go!!

Top queries

1. css layout
2. lorem ipsum
3. youtube
4. $ in INR
5. ===censored===
   
6. kalamandir
7. secunderabad
8. entrepreneurs blog
9. jquery image slider
10. time california

Top sites

1. www.answers.com
2. en.wikipedia.org
3. www.google.com
4. www.php.net
5. wordpress.org
6. www.w3schools.com
7. groups.google.com
8. www.youtube.com
9. ted.com
10. www.lipsum.com

Top clicks

1. Lorem Ipsum - All the facts - Lipsum generator
2. CSS Layout: A collection of 224 Grid and CSS Layouts
3. Welcome To National Board Of Examination
4. Go Daddy Coupons, Go Daddy Coupon Codes, Go Daddy Promotions, Go ...
5. Template Tags/wp list pages « WordPress Codex
6. http://translate.google.com/
7. Godaddy promo code and coupon list for 2009 - Page 1 of 45
8. Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy Helicopter Nallamala Forest ...
9. jQuery lightBox plugin
10. Downloading jQuery - jQuery JavaScript Library

India: 2009 Year-End Google Zeitgeist

After my last post on Year-End Zeitgeist, I started to analyze the google search trends in India and try to know whats on the minds of we Indian's...

Here, checkout some interesting stats...

Looks like the Indian youngsters are trying hard to find "how to kiss"... ;) It tops the charts on how to list... Coming to movie list "Love aaj Kal" topping the search quires is disappointing... come on India, lets move on to some realistic movies... stop living in the dream world... there were better movies. "Katrina Kaif" tops the popular celebrities... not bad. "Nokia 5800" tops the search for mobile devices... This mobile started with a price of INR 18k and now down to INR 11k... this shows how much Indians are getting ready for high end mobile devices... pretty good. Indian traveler has surely become net savy... "IRCTC" found third postion on fastest rising search quries... IRCTC has an excellent interface and you can book a train ticket in two easy steps with a credit card or net banking option... Impressed!! Coming to politics Rahul Ghandi seems to be generating lot of buzz with all his tours, some say he is PM in making. And last but not the least... budget 2009 takes the first poisiton in the fastest rising search quires...

Recession queries peaking - then declining - in India

Fastest rising

1. budget 2009
2. kambakth ishq
3. irctc
4. satyam share price
5. bhuvan
6. michael jackson
7. twitter
8. election results
9. windows 7
10. nokia 5800

Most popular celebrities

1. katrina kaif
2. michael jackson
3. salman khan
4. aishwarya rai
5. shahid kapoor
6. kareena kapoor
7. shahrukh khan
8. angelina jolie
9. megan fox
10. sachin tendulkar

Most popular movies

1. love aaj kal
2. harry potter
3. slumdog millionaire
4. kaminey
5. kambakht ishq
6. ghajini
7. hannah montana
8. dev d
9. wake up sid
10. dostana

Most popular

1. gmail
2. youtube
3. yahoomail
4. orkut
5. indian railways
6. yahoo
7. google
8. rediffmail
9. facebook
10. rediff

Most popular politician

1. rahul gandhi
2. indira gandhi
3. sachin pilot
4. sarah palin
5. p chidambaram
6. mayawati
7. barack obama
8. sonia gandhi
9. rajesh pilot
10. maneka gandhi

How to

1. how to kiss
2. how to hack
3. how to meditate
4. how to study
5. how to swim
6. how to draw
7. how to flirt
8. how to chat
9. how to concentrate
10. how to download

Year-End Zeitgeist

zeitgeist /tsīt'gīst'/ The zeitgeist of a particular place during a particular period in history is the attitudes and ideas that are generally common there at that time, especially the attitudes and ideas shown in literature, philosophy, and politics.

Year-End Zeitgeist is a collection of search trends over 2009 that offers a glimpse at the collective consciousness. Google has compiled Zeitgeist since 2001 — this year you can explore what was on the minds of citizens all over the globe, in dozens of languages.

Each year, Google examines the billions of queries that people around the world have typed into Google search to discover the zeitgeist—the spirit of the times. Take a moment, look back at the happenings of 2009—the people, events and memories that made this year unique.

India: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/regional.html#india

United States: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/

United Kingdom: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/regional.html#united-kingdom

Australia: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/regional.html#australia

Google Goggles

Google Goggles is a new visual search application for Android phones. Now you can search the web by taking a picture, instead of typing in words. Shoot a photo of a landmark, sign, logo, book cover or work of art to get matching search results for your image. For business information, just point your phone at a store, and Goggles will show you the name of the business, using the phone's GPS and compass.

http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles

AdSense video units to be retired

Here is a mail I received from Google..

We're writing to let you know that we'll be retiring AdSense video units at the end of April. After reviewing this feature, we've found that it hasn't been performing as well as we had hoped, so we've decided to focus our efforts on other opportunities to help publishers monetize their sites.

We recommend that you begin removing the video unit code from your pages as soon as possible, to ensure that you can take advantage of the available ad space on your pages. At the end of April, any remaining Leaderboard or Skyscraper video units will begin directing users to YouTube.com, while other video unit sizes will automatically be changed to standard embedded YouTube players. These standard video players will display top YouTube videos, but you won't generate earnings from them once this change occurs.

If you'd still like to display free video content from YouTube, you can do so through YouTube.com directly: visit any specific video page for the embed code, or sign in to your YouTube account to create a playlist. For more information about embedding YouTube videos, please visit http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=57788. Alternatively, if you have less than three ad units on your page, you may prefer to replace your video unit with a regular ad unit.

Although video units are being retired, other video offerings within AdSense aren't affected. Video ads may still appear on your pages and AdSense for video is still available for eligible publishers. If you'd like more information about the retiring of video units, please visit our Help Center at https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/topic.py?topic=12182.

Google SearchWiki

SearchWiki.... not sure if Wiki is the right word to use - should have just named it Search 2.0 ... anyways, this new version of Search has quite a few cool features... Just google for anything and you will see three new icons.. 1. Promote 2. Remove 3. Comment - Now this will help Google in personalising your search more and give even better results based on the feedback they get. This is a great way to display more accurate results - this can do everything what a bot cannot. Moving results up and down is cool.. the animation is smoother..

Search Wiki is dedicated only for users which "Google tips and messages" are in English language. For testing SearchWiki, change your preferences (on main site).

Google Translate adds 11 new languages

Google recently added 11 more languages to Google Translate, making it easier than ever to read web pages in other languages. The newest language additions include Catalan, Serbian, Slovenian, Slovak, Latvian, Filipino, Indonesian, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and Vietnamese.

Third-party ads now available on the Google content network

Here is a mail I received from GOOGLE ...

Greetings from Google!

We're happy to announce that the Google content network now
accepts display ads served from qualified third-party vendors.
During this initial release, only ads in English are eligible,
although we look forward to offering more options in the future.

By accepting third-party ads, we can attract a greater variety of
advertising on the Google content network, which we believe will
result over time in increased revenue for publishers and more
relevant advertising for end users.

If you're currently opted in to image ads, you're already able to
receive third-party ads. If not, you can enable image ads to start
receiving third-party ads immediately. (Learn how to enable image
ads at
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=9741.)

If you choose to allow third-party ads on your site, please update
your privacy policy to inform your visitors that third-party
vendors may serve ads on your site. Please also provide links to
these vendor websites and inform your users that they may opt out
of cookies (if the vendor offers this capability). For more
information about updating your policies, visit
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=94150.

You'll continue to have full control over which ads appear on your
site with tools like competitive ad filtering and the Ad Review
Center. Also, only advertisers with whom we have proven
relationships and who've clearly demonstrated commitments to our
quality standards may participate in this program. Our policies
governing ad content and formatting remain unchanged.

To learn more about third-party ads, please visit our blog post at
http://adsense.blogspot.com/2008/05/introducing-third-party-ads-on-google.html
and our FAQ at
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/topic.py?topic=14535.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact us at
adsense-support@google.com.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

Google adwords is down

Its a daily ritual to login into google adwords and the check status... as usual, today I tried logging into my account, it logs me in and to my surprise I see a different home page.. did not even care to read what was on that page, thought I might have done some thing wrong.. click on the browser back button and then it logs me in again to the same page.. This time I took time to read the text and you know what GOOGLE ADWORDS IS DOWN. :(

If it is a scheduled maintenance - I would have got a mail, but I did not neither did the message says it is maintenance... I called up my client, asked him to check it from his side.. he couldn't login either.. so we decide GOOGLE ADWORDS IS DOWN because of some technical problem. What could it be? someone hacked it? too much load (I am sure google has a way to tackle this) - what could it be?

Go invisible with Gtalk ( Google Talk )

I know I know, this is a very old question but too many have asked me this question... How do I go Invisible on Gtalk???

Ha, pretty simple, this feature never existed when gtalk saw the light - its a new feature, okie.. no so new... anyways, heres how you go invisible..

1. Login into your GMail.

2. Check the for Sing into Gtalk option on the left side below the menu.

3. SingIn and the click on the dropdown just below the search, add, invite textbox.

4. And there you will find the option Invisible, thats it, you select that option and you become god. You can see everyone but no one can see you.

--------------------------
Hell I already know this,
How can I go Invisible on
Desktop Gtalk... you know
the standalone Gtalk app-
lication??? How do I??
-------------------------

ok ok, I understand your frustration.. invisible option is not yet provided on Gtalk Standalone/Desktop application.

Multiple instances of Gtalk / Google Talk

For windows users...

I use google apps for my email and can chat on gtalk using my company email address. But then I have been avoiding as google talk (gtalk) allows only one instance of gtalk and since I currently use gmail account for chat, I didn't wanted to lose or rather make it painful for others to add me again and also remember to IM me on company account...

So, did a bit of research on how to run multiple instances of a application and figured out the solution.

Here follow this if you have two or more accounts of gtalk...

If you installed google talk to the default location, you can easily create a shortcut to this setting.

1. Right-click on the desktop
2. Select New
3. Select Shortcut
4. Paste this into the text box: "c:\program files\Google\Google talk\googletalk.exe" /nomutex
5. Click Next
6. Name it whatever: BlueCornea Talk Multiple, etc. (:P)
7. Click OK until you are done.

That's it. Click on the shortcut you just created to start another instance.

Google power point presentation

So, here it is...

The all new Google PowerPoint replica on web and they call it Google Presentation. Do you use Gmail? ok I know, who doesn't, its a great application, when you receive a .ppt file as attachment, gmail displays a small link beside the attachment which says "view presentation", click on that and you can see your presentation on a browser - exactly the way microsoft power point slide show works. But it did not let us create or share a ppt online TILL NOW.

YES, Google released the all new, loaded with features, with inbuilt themes, loaded into Google Docs, BRANDED GOOGLE PRESENTATION ... you can share the ppt with others, no more downloading and not being able to view if you don't have MS office, more than one user can edit it at the same time... this is awesome and I am loving it.

The best part, you can send this link to 100's of them and start a presentation... now every one can simultaneously communicate as they view the ppt using the similar to gtalk application inbuilt into google docs. Isn't this just what we need.

My Wish List for Google Presentation:

1. Provide a API so that we can integrate the same into our websites.
2. Let us create themes, a place where we can create themes and link to the users to can use them.
3. As you have already integrated group chat, integrating a voice would be gerat.. so that we can talk while presenting the same.


Do you have a wish list for Google presentation!! add it to the comments and I will pass it on to Google Guys. :)

Google News now integrates videos

Now, in addition to articles and images from thousands of different publishers, Google News in the US, UK and Ireland integrates news video results with help from YouTube. Video partners include CBS, Reuters and others, and when available, clusters of news stories on the Google News page now feature embedded videos. http://news.google.com

Google files patent for mobile commerce

It would allow users to pay for goods via text message

Google Inc. has filed a patent that would allow users to pay for goods from vending machines and retailers -- as well as make larger payments -- via text message, or SMS (short message service) technology.

U.S. Patent 2007/0203836, called "Text message payment," was published last Thursday by Google engineer Ramy Dodin. The invention, dubbed Gpay in the supporting drawings, is described as "a computer-implemented method of effectuating a payment, comprising: receiving at a computer server system a text message from a payor containing a payment request comprising a payment amount sent by a payor device operating independently of the computer server system; debiting a payor account for an amount corresponding to the amount of the payment request; and crediting a payee account that is independent of the computer server system."

According to the drawings, users could use Gpay to make payments to various retailers, doctors or even their landscapers.

However, there are several companies, including two in the Philippines, that already offer such a service. Globe Telecom offers Globe GCash, a system that "enables any Globe or TM subscriber to send and receive money and make payments just through text/SMS." And Smart Communications Inc. offers Smartpadala, a cash remittance service via text.

It is unclear whether these two companies have filed patents for their technology in the U.S.

A Google spokesman said the patent filing doesn't necessarily mean Google plans to develop the technology described.

"We file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees come up with," a Google spokeswoman said in an e-mailed statement. "Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don't. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patent applications."

Source

StarOffice now in Google Pack

A free office productivity suite for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the desktop, StarOffice, is now optional software within the Google Pack. And by using the Open Document Format, StarOffice is fully compatible with Google Docs & Spreadsheets so you can easily upload and share your work. http://pack.google.com

Embed Google Maps on your website or blog, much in the same way as embeddable YouTube videos

There's a new feature on Google Maps that enables you to easily embed an interactive map on your website or blog just by copying and pasting a snippet of HTML (much in the same way as embeddable YouTube videos work). On Google Maps, pull up the map you want to embed-- it can be a location, a business, a set of driving directions, search results, or a map you've created. Then copy the embed code by clicking "Link to
this page," and paste the code into your blog or website. You can create a map using the map-making tools in the My Maps tab and display it on your website using this embed feature. http://maps.google.com

Gmail: Behind the Scenes (Final Cut)

Google compilation of clips submitted by Gmail fans as part of Google's collaborative video project. Selected from over 1,100 clips from fans in more than 65 countries.