Google launches G+ Local with Zagat scores
Google has just announced that it has lunched Google+ Local. It is a new way of sharing and finding local information across Google. It has been integrated with:
- Google+
- Search
- Maps
- Mobile
They have partnered with Zagat to create scores and offer reviews based on users views and social interaction. If you have an Android phone they are also rolling out this feature to Google Maps. Hopefully iPhone users will have the same in the near future.
Google say:
Make smart decisions with Zagat’s summaries of user reviews and its expressive scoring system that helps you make a decision based on Food, Service, Decor and Price. The most comprehensive local information is now on Google. See Zagat reviews and scores in Search, Maps, Google+ and on your phone.
Look out for the Local button on your G+ ribbon which should have now magically appeared:
This is yet another move to get us using G+ even more, increase social interactivity and build a positive online community experience. Having played with Local a little bit already, we can see the potential of this already and look forward to using it in more social situations and contributing to reviews.
Here are a couple of promotional videos for Local:
AR Glasses Uses Trackpad on Arm
The Gavin Newshom Show had Sergey Brin on as a guest who was wearing Project Glass AR Glasses. During the interview he lets Gavin try on the specs to see a picture that Sergey had just take of him. You can see Sergey using a trackpad located on the right arm of the glasses to navigate through the images. Check out the video clip here:
Google Launch “The (always) new computer” Chromebook
Google have announced the release of their new Chromebook and their latest addition to the Chrome OS family, the Chromebox.
The Chromebook has updated hardware. We think the Samsung 5 550 looks great in the silver and now comes packing:
- 12.1″ (1280 x 800) display
- 3.3 lbs / 1.48 kg
- 6 hours of continuous usage
- Intel® Core™ processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Built-in dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Gigabit ethernet, and 3G modem (opt) 1
- HD Camera
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- DisplayPort++ Output (compatible with HDMI, DVI, VGA)
- Intel® Core™ processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Built-in dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Gigabit ethernet
- 6 USB 2.0 ports
- 2x DisplayPort++ Output (compatible with HDMI, DVI, VGA)
- DVI single link output
- Bluetooth 3.0™ compatible
- Kensington™ key lock compatible
Google Drive Privacy Issues Begin
So most of us are pretty excited about the launch of Google drive. We have long awaited a feature such as this to help us store our precious data and enhance the collaboration experience even further. But wait, the dreaded question of privacy has arisen yet again. So who really owns your files once you’ve uploaded them to Google Drive?
Check out this post from cnet where they show you the difference in privacy policies between Google Drive and the leading cloud storage solutions Dropbox and SkyDrive, it may make you reconsider using the service:
We love the new Google+ Layout
That’s right, we’re going to say it, we love the new Google+ layout. A lot of people do not, but it’s something about the modular feel that have made things look and fit better along with also making it feel more like an application.
We are still playing around and will supply to you a little later down the line the best posts explaining a lot more about Google+’s new look. For now, check out the video below.
Turn Off Importance Markers in Gmail
Don’t use Gmail’s priority inbox? Fed up of seeing the importance markers? Well here is how you turn them off!
- In Gmail go to Settings > Inbox
- Click the No markers radio box
- Now click the Save Changes button
Then you’re all done!
Google’s Christmas
Check out what Google have done with their front page this year. We love it.
Little Printer – Bringing you news, puzzles and gossip from friends
We here at Ongoing Issues saw this fantastic little device called Little Printer. BERG Cloud say:
Little Printer lives in your home, bringing you news, puzzles and gossip from friends. Use your smartphone to set up subscriptions and Little Printer will gather them together to create a timely, beautiful mini-newspaper.
Check out their video:
For more information, head over to the official site:
Google announce the next stage of their redesign – The new Google Bar
Google have announced on their official blog the next stage of their massive redesign, the Google Bar.
Let’s start by taking a look at the introduction video:
They announce that:
We’re now ready for the next stage of our redesign—a new Google bar that will enable you to navigate quickly between our services, as well as share the right stuff with the right people easily on Google+.
Instead of the horizontal black bar at the top of the page, you’ll now find links to your services in a new drop-down Google menu nested under the Google logo. We’ll show you a list of links and you can access additional services by hovering over the “More” link at the bottom of the list. Click on what you want, and you’re off.
We think that this is a good idea, but again we are sure the change will be received with some resistance. A lot of users are finding the changes that Google are making hard to deal with at first, but things change and we have to move on and adapt.
What do you think about the recent changes?
The official blog post can be found here:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/next-stage-in-our-redesign.html
Google Reader gets a share button
After forcing us to change the way we use Google Reader in Google’s push towards making us use g+ more, they have made a great decision by giving us back a share option, the share button:
At least now we don’t have to publicly +1 our reader articles just to get them into our g+ stream. The share button allows you to share directly to your g+ groups and is something which is going to prove a popular choice. We will be interested to see what peoples reaction are to this.
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