Good Set of Gmail Tips

A full list of tips for google gmail. Love them.
http://g04.com/misc/GmailTipsComplete.html

Gmail 2.0 is here (for most of us)

Google has released a new version of gmail. Most people will barely notice it. it look the same.
So what is new:

1. You have another command on the top that says "older version." If you do not have it then you are still getting the old version. Wait few days and it will appear.
2. You will notice a MUCH faster interface for reading emails. Gmail now pre-read your email so the feel is good. Txs.
3. Improved contacts management (this is the biggest interface change).
4. Few more small changes here and there.

Please note: changes are in English version.
To see screen demos look here at Orly's blog go2web2 blog (here).

Google Launches OpenSocial to Spread Social Applications Across the Web

Social stuff is HOT. Microsoft just took a part in Facebook, so Google is releasing its answer.
OpenSocial. It is "a set of APIs that allow developers to connect with social sites."

From Google site (here):

"The web is fundamentally better when it's social, and we're only just starting to see what's possible when you bring social information into different contexts on the web," said Jeff Huber, senior vice president of engineering, Google. "There's a lot of innovation that will be spurred simply by creating a standard way for developers to run social applications in more places. With the input and iteration of the community, we hope OpenSocial will become a standard set of technologies for making the web social."

One of the most important benefits of OpenSocial is the vast distribution network that developers will have for their applications. The sites that have already committed to supporting OpenSocial -- Bebo, Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, mixi, MySpace, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING -- represent an audience of about 200 million users globally. Critical for time- and resource-strapped developers is being able to "learn once, write anywhere" -- learn the OpenSocial APIs once and then build applications that work with any OpenSocial-enabled websites.

Also see an hr long camp side video here.

My take: Classic standard setting effort. May actually work as it will make all social sites more powerful from the users point of view. Lots of players have joined. But what will Facebook/ Microsoft say?

Blogger Play from Google

Cool new web 2.0 publishing thingy. Google will play all the photos loaded currently to blogger. Cool. Try it.

http://play.blogger.com/

Blogger Play will show you a never-ending stream of images that were just uploaded to public Blogger blogs. You can click the image to be taken directly to the blog post it was uploaded to, or click “show info” to see an overlay with the post title, a snippet of the body, and some profile information about the blogger who uploaded it. We also wrote a Blogger Play FAQ with more information.

Gmail BUG

I must say that I got used to 100% up-time of Gmail.
But lets all remember that computers are computers, and programming is really the art of making bugs. (See the historical origin re bugs).

(Thanks for Merav Hason for the lead)

FreeSound on Google Maps

The creative mind of people is doing it again. FreeSound is a bank of sounds... that is now connected to Google maps. See this Site.

(Thank to Ori Spector for the lead).

iGoogle - a new face for a google desktop

I have been using Google personal home Page for 12 months or so... building my gadgets world. Connecting my RSSs and other tools (including my Second Life friends). I could never explain this to people (OK, for people who used NetVibes I could explain). Now -- it what seems like April 1 joke -- Google has re-branded this service as iGoogle. Note that you can select the theme... all works smoothly. Could this be the first step to Google, Apple partnership merge? (JOKE) Merge this with Google apps.. and what you get is a very aggressive move -- I expect no less from Google. Go on! Just change the name "gadget" (borrowed from PlumTree) to Mini-Windows as the next step (but the name from Microsoft). You may want to check Google my Gadgets tools.

Google to Acquire DoubleClick for $3.1B

The Google Machine strike again. Proving Google care about business as much as innovation it has done it again.

Forbes report today:

Seeking to expand its already well-honed ability to sell targeted Internet advertisements, online search leader Google Inc. said it has agreed to pay $3.1 billion in cash to acquire ad-management technology company DoubleClick Inc.

Blog Was Down Sorry .... Google Blogger with Google Apps

My blog was down for about 36 hours. I am sorry... and thanks to those that reported it. The reason: a CLASH between Google Blogger and Google apps.

I was testing Google Apps (and was foolish enough .. or may be too eager) to use the same domain dryesha.com. In any event, Google apps "stole" the DNS record from Blooger. There was no way I could return it to Blogger.

I called Google Support... yes (I do pay money for this... so Google actually answered!!!). Well after 4 calls... (still not sure how) it was fixed and I got my beloved blog back. (thanks).

BTW, Google support included 3 people all very nice -- but not fully aware of how critical this problem was for me. I called all over the day including night and I did get Google to get back to me. Also the Email path was nice (I did submit a ticket over email too).

So... bottom line:
1. Apps is new (even Google is not fully aware of all its side issues). Enterprise computing is not the Internet. It seems that Google know that (see support).
2. If you play with your production (my blog) expect some bugs! (a big no no for next time).
3. More about Google Apps in the future.

Thanks to the C. and S. from The Google Apps Team.

Google Code - Featured Projects: MapWoW

Source: Google Code - Featured Projects: MapWoW

It was really needed. A map of WOW using the tools of Google maps. A bit slow (and sometimes does not work) you can see the entire land -- zoom works; but not always. Note that on the side you have advance features like "show Ore" or "Show Treasure.

The map utilizes the Google Maps API and therefore behaves just a like a Google Map. Clicking on the controls on the left side of the map will let you zoom in and out. Dragging the map around lets you scroll the map and view different areas. It's that easy.

Use the menu to the right of the map to select resources and labels that you wish to display. Currently you can display herbs, ore, treasure, zone names, and city names. There are over 15,000 data points covering 69 resources with their exact map location in our database. The bottom of the menu provides quick links to popular locations in the game. Found a great area that you want to share with your friends? Go to the location on the map, click on the "Link to this Location" and then copy the URL.

Surprise your kids and show them who is the real Master. Share it. http://mapwow.com/

Google TV to go Beta (ok, April 1st)

After a lot of internal work, Google has done it again. Their
plan to enter the TV space. In competition to Joost Google has
released Google TV. The idea is simple
install the new service -- and see shows. Google does not
look for money just market share. People are talking about
1000 beta users a day. Mark, from this site
show us how to get in. I would highly recommend not
to bother with it now. Lets wit for the official release.

Interview with Eric Schmidt in Stanford

CEO of Google sits calmly in Stanford and share it.
Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, in an exclusive interview with iinnovate (www.iinnovatecast.com).

Part II

New domain: www.dryesha.com

I have installed a new domain (www.dryesha.com); I had people (and myself) forget the url; change blogspot to blogpost. So... I did it. In face, I got the trio: .com, .org, and .net. -- currently .net and .org forward automatically to .com. It should take few days for all the name server to be updates. I hope that all works well. If there are issues I will report.

Note: any problem -- please report to me.

Map My Word Gadget

One of those small tools that help, teach, and make you smile. For all those people (like me) that have word fetish. So much fun. Explain the word, suggest spellings, and pronounce.`

Add to your google web page here or for more inforation see http://www.mapmyword.com/

Gmail: the Email Program for Me

This video explore GMail. And.. yes GMail has changed my life.
GMail is not just another email program. It is different, better, smarter. Note that GMail does take some time to get used to it (especially if you are an old Outlook addict like myself). Cool features include being able to pull email from all my accounts, interactive folders (using search), and yes amazing spam manager. What I like espeically:

• Ability to connect with my mobile phone.
• Ability to search -- in the usual Google speed.
• Auto filters.
• Spam Killer (it is a bit too strong which makes me visit the spam folder once a week)
• Conversations.
• Build-in chat (including Voice mail)

Btw, with Google Desktop search (yes Gmail is integrated with Google Desktop serach) one could even have minimal off-line capabilities.

Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us

My friend Mor Sagmon from SAP Labs in Israel was kind enough to share with me this video. Kind of nice Web 2.0 review for the rest of us.

Nokia E61 with Gmail Client

I have been using the E61 Nokia mobile phone. and with Gmail client... I am a happy camper. There are bugs (i.e., does not read all files) but overall value is good.

• Both 3G and WIFI connection.
• Works as a phone.
• Gmail FULL integration using the Gmail application.
• Good Sync with my computer.

I am still struggling with connecting my Google addresses, phone addresses, and outlook addresses. Still using calendar on good old outlook.

Google Factory Tour

Google Factory Tour event on 5/19/05 at Google's Mountain View headquarters. A bit old -- but gives you the gist of the google culture. This is long (5+hrs). I liked the 70%, 20%, 10% rule (70% core, 20% near core, 10% cool/new ideas).