» Smart Phones, Web Design, Google or whatever
George
I'm a web designer and have been doing websites for pay since 2001. I think websites should be usable by visitors and ready for search engines to index easily so they can be found. Read more on my about page.
Homepage: http://imblogginghere.com/techblog/
Posts by George
Google Labs Closing (Not Gmail or Maps Labs)
Jul 20th
In a post just today Google announced it will be closing Google Labs [Google Labs website]. Some current labs projects will vanish and some will be incorporated into applicable places in “googledom”. Says Google:
In many cases, this will mean ending Labs experiments—in others we’ll incorporate Labs products and technologies into different product areas. And many of the Labs products that are Android apps today will continue to be available on Android Market. We’ll update you on our progress via the Google Labs website.
- GOOGLE POST: More wood behind fewer arrows
The Increasing Dangers of Facebook
Jul 19th
If you search the terms “top social media networks” your likely to get lots of lists of the top 10 social networks, and Facebook is 
almost always going to be in the first five. Even so, Facebook is not without its list of detractors and dissatisfied customers waiting for Facebook to “get it right”. They change things around on a pretty regular basis, even a Dec. 6, 2010 ABC News video is touts “Facebook Facelift: Rolling Out Another Makeover”. Online tech sites like ZDNet have guides on locking down your Facebook account!
So why can’t Facebook “get it right”, why do they change so often? Several factors weigh in, and just a few of those are advertising income, new features from Facebook user feedback, keeping ahead of the competition, and privacy policy advocates. With all of these conflicting forces, Facebook changes aren’t so simple. Imagine the task of meeting the demands of privacy policy advocates, keeping ahead of the competition, and at the same keeping revenues up!
More >
More Gmail Flexibility, Inbox Favorites
Jul 14th
Gmail will be rolling out options to change your inbox without diving into Mail Settings. In an interesting twist on Priority Inbox, and Multiple Inboxes, Google will be allowing you to easily switch between different Inbox views [when this new feature is rolled out]. If you like one you just keep it, and after a while the buttons will go away, at which point you will be able to use Mail Settings if you change your mind.
Choices for Inbox views will be Class, Important First, Unread First, Starred First, and Priority Inbox. Still looking for more to read? How about reading about Google’s new look?
How I Can Hack Your WiFi
Jul 14th
Well, to be honest I can’t hack your Wi-Fi, but a Minnesota man was jailed for 18 years for hacking his neighbor’s Wi-Fi and “impersonating” him online. The ARS Technica article WiFi-hacking neighbor from hell gets 18 years in prison reports that the 46 year old computer technician downloaded WiFi hacking software and cracked his neighbor’s WEP encrypted password.
This blogspot post about WEP vs WPA vs WPA2 shows at the top how long it takes to break a password using BRUTE FORCE [WIKIPEDIA: brute force password attack] against WEP, WPA and WAP2 encryption. The long and short of the article is that if you have a choice between the 3, you should choose WPA2 for the best security.
MORE READING
WPA vs WPA2 (on About.com)
Google, Gmail and GCalendar New Look
Jun 30th
The Google search changed its look recently with a smoother-looking interface. They also rolled out Google Calendar sporting a new skin, and just tonight Gmail announced a preview of their new look as well. Just tonight writing this post, I also noticed that Google Docs has had a makeover. These new looks are popping up as Google begins rolling out Google+ (6 Youtube Videos at this link!) … who new?
Check out a video, some screenshots of “The New Google” below, and read the Google posts for MORE info…
Watch Video: New Google+
Gmail Gets a New Look >> Click Image To Enlarge
New Google Search Skin >> Click To Enlarge
New GCalendar Skin >> Click Image To Enlarge
New Google Docs Skin >> Click Image To Enlarge
ONE MORE LINK … more about GOOGLE+
Gmail Helping ID Those Annoying Phishing Emails
Jun 30th
In 2009 Gmail launched their Super-trustworthy, anti-phishing key, tp help us identify phishing emails coming from eBay and PayPal.
Recently Gmail improved that anti-phishing effort with additional phishing protection to include emails sent through websites and emails, and even suspicious-looking Gmails.
Clearly Safe Email >> Click Above To Enlarge
MORE PHISHING FIGHTING
Father’s Day Free Calls to Dad (US + Canada)
Jun 19th
Gmail posted a shameless plug/reminder today that you can call dear Dad (or anyone, really) from the US to anyone in the US or Canada for free.
They also cited their great rates for long distance in other places – view Google Voice International Rates.
YouTube Video: About Google Voice
MORE
LifeHacker Rings in on Free VOIP Google Voice Calls
Google Voice Search, Search by Images and Instant Pages
Jun 18th
Google just launched a new website about Google called Inside Search, designed to inform you about the different features and usefulness of Google Search. Who would want to know more about Google, we already know about it. Right? Aside from new features, Google’s post points out …
Whether you’re a beginner to web search or a search master, you’ll find all the search shortcuts you need under the Features section of the site. For example, most people don’t realize that the Google search box is a calculator, a world clock and a unit converter.
SEARCH GOOGLE BY TALKING
Have you noticed the small microphone inside the Google Search box? Now, if you have a microphone, you can search Google by talking. Just click the microphone icon and if a micorophone is found on your computer you can just say your search phrase. Its a lot faster to say than it is to type many search phrases.
