Monday, July 31, 2006
Happy Anniversary
I can't believe I missed my anniversary. That's right, last month was my 8 year anniversary of being a proud ebay member. I didn't get anything from them, but I'm sure they'll send me a gift on my 10 year anniversary. :-) I think I've only had 3 user id changes as well...
Speech "Wreck-ognition'
You have to check out this video of Microsoft doing a public demo of their new speech recognition feature in Word. It's hilarious.
Quote
Microsoft Vista demo misfiresJuly 27: CNBC's Jim Goldman reports on a demonstration of Microsoft's new Vista voice recognition software that didn't go exactly as planned.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Google Talk Updates
Ok, they are finally getting to some features that are pretty standard in IM that I think are important. They take their time, but I think they do things right when they do them. :-) My favorite is music status where it shows what song you are currently listening to. I launched Windows Media Player and Google Talk popped up and let me know about the feature and asked if I wanted to turn it on. Very cool.
File Transfer
With this top requested new feature, you can send unlimited files and folders to your friends through Google Talk. There is no restriction on the file type or size and the peer-to-peer transfer is fast and reliable. Learn more
A small percentage of users (such as those behind restrictive
proxies) will not experience the highest level of file transfer speed
possible.
Voicemail
If a friend isn't around to answer your call, now you can leave a voicemail. You can even leave voicemail messages for your friends who don't use Google Talk--they'll receive an email with the message attached as an audio file. Learn more
Music Status
Listening to music while on Google Talk? Now you can let your friends see what you're listening to by selecting "Show current music track" in your status menu. Your status message will change when your song does! Learn more
File Transfer
With this top requested new feature, you can send unlimited files and folders to your friends through Google Talk. There is no restriction on the file type or size and the peer-to-peer transfer is fast and reliable. Learn more
A small percentage of users (such as those behind restrictive
proxies) will not experience the highest level of file transfer speed
possible.
Voicemail
If a friend isn't around to answer your call, now you can leave a voicemail. You can even leave voicemail messages for your friends who don't use Google Talk--they'll receive an email with the message attached as an audio file. Learn more
Music Status
Listening to music while on Google Talk? Now you can let your friends see what you're listening to by selecting "Show current music track" in your status menu. Your status message will change when your song does! Learn more
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Cubicle War
Windward Shorts: Cubicle War
This is a hilarious video about 2 guys in a cubicle war (the stapled tie to the desk is awesome.) I mostly wanted to see how slick it was to post directly to my blog from YouTube...
This is a hilarious video about 2 guys in a cubicle war (the stapled tie to the desk is awesome.) I mostly wanted to see how slick it was to post directly to my blog from YouTube...
Survey Time
Ok, I created a quick survey for you guys to take to find out what you think about this blog. If you would please take a minute to fill it out, I'd be very greatful!
Click here to take survey
Click here to take survey
Search your Coporate Network...with Google...from your mobile device
Google has just made enterprise information -- corporate networks, databases, content management systems -- searchable on mobile devices.
I have no idea why there are so many posts today compared to other days. Just a good news day today I guess. Thanks, Google!
I have no idea why there are so many posts today compared to other days. Just a good news day today I guess. Thanks, Google!
Personalized Google for Mobile Phones
Ok, so everyone knows that you can customize your Google homepage with cool stuff like a Gmail applet, Google Calendar, Weather, Google RSS Reader, etc. However, did you know you can customize your mobile phone's www.google.com/ig look and feel as well? Start by going to http://www.google.com/ig/cp on your computer to setup how you want Google to look on your mobile phone. Once that is saved, go to www.google.com on your mobile phone, go to Personalized Homepage, sign in, and you have your most important features right there at your finger tips. Nice!
Add Maps to Outlook with Windows Live
Get Windows Live Local for Outlook (Beta)—free! For the times you can’t afford to be late:
* Map appointments
* Send attendees a map
* Be alerted based on travel times
To get it to work, go to your Outlook Calendar, start a new meeting, and go to the Location tab. Sweet! My favorite feature in this is that it will estimate drive time and if you want, it will automatically calculate that into the appointment. I'm always wondering if I should build it right into the appointment and risk not remembering exactly when it starts, or making a separate appointment for travel. Now it can all be one thing and it's very clear. You can also print the directions with one button on the Location tab. Overall, based on my one use of it so far, I like it. Sorry Google. :-)
(NOTE: Doesn't work if you have the Office 2007 beta installed)
* Map appointments
* Send attendees a map
* Be alerted based on travel times
To get it to work, go to your Outlook Calendar, start a new meeting, and go to the Location tab. Sweet! My favorite feature in this is that it will estimate drive time and if you want, it will automatically calculate that into the appointment. I'm always wondering if I should build it right into the appointment and risk not remembering exactly when it starts, or making a separate appointment for travel. Now it can all be one thing and it's very clear. You can also print the directions with one button on the Location tab. Overall, based on my one use of it so far, I like it. Sorry Google. :-)
(NOTE: Doesn't work if you have the Office 2007 beta installed)
Monday, July 24, 2006
Google Vision
This one is a pretty "out there" concept. Straight from "the cool hunter":
Get lost? Do you? Well, yet another bright young designer from the U.K is developing a system that will have tag and name exactly what your staring at. Google Vision is a conceptual product developed by Callum Peden, for the worlds favorite search engine. The product provides the user with a truly unique information hub by combining GPS, OLED technology and advanced image recognition in the form of a retractable screen device.
The Global Positioning System will see the end of wondering the streets asking for directions and the small roller ball will allow for easy navigation of the flexible screen. Brilliant for identifying landmarks whilst on holidays, Google vision acts as a personal; tour guide.
As well as this, advanced image recognition will mean Google Vision can target well known landmarks. Then using the increased coverage of wireless internet, provide the user with information on their surroundings wherever they may be. by Andy G
Get lost? Do you? Well, yet another bright young designer from the U.K is developing a system that will have tag and name exactly what your staring at. Google Vision is a conceptual product developed by Callum Peden, for the worlds favorite search engine. The product provides the user with a truly unique information hub by combining GPS, OLED technology and advanced image recognition in the form of a retractable screen device.
The Global Positioning System will see the end of wondering the streets asking for directions and the small roller ball will allow for easy navigation of the flexible screen. Brilliant for identifying landmarks whilst on holidays, Google vision acts as a personal; tour guide.
As well as this, advanced image recognition will mean Google Vision can target well known landmarks. Then using the increased coverage of wireless internet, provide the user with information on their surroundings wherever they may be. by Andy G
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
New Gmail Feature
IT'S ABOUT TIME!
********FROM GOOGLE**********
Take Action!
Now you can apply the same action to all messages in a label or section of your account (Inbox, Sent Mail, Spam, Trash, etc.), in just a few steps. Use this feature to archive all mail in your Inbox, apply labels to every message meeting certain criteria, delete all messages in Spam or Trash, or apply a filter to all relevant messages in your account.
Here's how to take an action on all messages in a label or section of your account:
Open the view (Inbox, Sent Mail, etc.) containing the messages on which you'd like to take an action.
Click Select: All along the top.
Click the link that says Select all [number] conversations in [current view].
Select the action you'd like to take from the More Actions... drop-down menu.
Here's how to apply a filter to all relevant messages in your account:
Create a new filter.
Before clicking Create Filter, check the box next to Also apply filter to [number] conversations below.
Here's how to delete all messages in Spam or Trash at once:
Click Spam or Trash.
Click Empty Trash now or Delete all spam messages now to delete all messages.
* We're currently testing this feature, so it's only available to a limited number of users. Thanks for your patience!
********FROM GOOGLE**********
Take Action!
Now you can apply the same action to all messages in a label or section of your account (Inbox, Sent Mail, Spam, Trash, etc.), in just a few steps. Use this feature to archive all mail in your Inbox, apply labels to every message meeting certain criteria, delete all messages in Spam or Trash, or apply a filter to all relevant messages in your account.
Here's how to take an action on all messages in a label or section of your account:
Open the view (Inbox, Sent Mail, etc.) containing the messages on which you'd like to take an action.
Click Select: All along the top.
Click the link that says Select all [number] conversations in [current view].
Select the action you'd like to take from the More Actions... drop-down menu.
Here's how to apply a filter to all relevant messages in your account:
Create a new filter.
Before clicking Create Filter, check the box next to Also apply filter to [number] conversations below.
Here's how to delete all messages in Spam or Trash at once:
Click Spam or Trash.
Click Empty Trash now or Delete all spam messages now to delete all messages.
* We're currently testing this feature, so it's only available to a limited number of users. Thanks for your patience!
Stress Testing DS Lites
This made me cringe. A couple guys snuck into a Wal-Mart and decided to stress test a DS Lite's screen. I was really impressed with the results. Check out the video clip:
Getting Out of Your Cell Phone Contract
Want to get out of your cell phone contract? Check out this story about a site that will pair up people who want a phone with people who want to get out of a contract. Interesting.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Buffalo's New Biometric USB Drive
Check it out: Buffalo has come out with a USB flash drive that has a fingerprint scanner on it for ultra security. Pretty cool (available later in the month in Japan, probably here in a month or two.)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A moment of silence
Microsoft ended it's support for Windows 98 and Windows ME today. A moment of silence please. :-)
The Tank Motorcycle
Now this is right up my alley. Thanks TechEBlog...
The Hyanide is actually a “a bike, a snowmobile and a 4 X 4 hybrid” that sports tank-like treads — powered by a 60hp 500cc single-cylinder engine, with a top speed of 85mph. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.
The tank-like tread consists of 77 identical segments—each made from hard plastic covered with tire rubber —held together by Kevlar rope. Each segment flexes independently, making the tread significantly more limber than if its components were rigid. Not only does this setup help with traction, but it would allow the tank- cum-motorcycle to corner like no other vehicle
The Hyanide is actually a “a bike, a snowmobile and a 4 X 4 hybrid” that sports tank-like treads — powered by a 60hp 500cc single-cylinder engine, with a top speed of 85mph. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.
The tank-like tread consists of 77 identical segments—each made from hard plastic covered with tire rubber —held together by Kevlar rope. Each segment flexes independently, making the tread significantly more limber than if its components were rigid. Not only does this setup help with traction, but it would allow the tank- cum-motorcycle to corner like no other vehicle
Friday, July 07, 2006
Microsoft iPod Rival By Christmas
Microsoft plans to have a rival for the iPod out by Christmas this year. Think they can do it better? Here's the story.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Residential Video Phone Service
Packet8 Video Phone Service Provider
So we knew that "video phones" were a thing of the future, and some people have been dabbling in it for a while, but with broadband so readily available, it only makes sense that these video phones are a reality now. The cost of the service is the same as anything else ($20/month), but who knows how much the video phone will cost. Undoubtedly propriatary. This will definitely catch on in my opinion...
So we knew that "video phones" were a thing of the future, and some people have been dabbling in it for a while, but with broadband so readily available, it only makes sense that these video phones are a reality now. The cost of the service is the same as anything else ($20/month), but who knows how much the video phone will cost. Undoubtedly propriatary. This will definitely catch on in my opinion...
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Shakira - Hips Dont Lie spoof
| Ok, so this REALLY made me laugh. But the reason I'm posting this on my Tech Blog is because Google Video has added a new feature that allows you to EASILY post videos to your MySpace, Blogger, LiveJournal, or TypePad blog. Since this runs on Blogger, I thought I'd give it a try, and give you all a good laugh. :-) | |