George's Technology Blog
» Smart Phones, Web Design, Google or whatever
YouTube Rolls Out New ‘End Of Video’ Suggestions
Oct 12th
Youtube has rolled out a new “end of video” suggestions screen that shows after you have watched a video.
The old format was perhaps a bit more useful, but only for sharing. But the new format maximizes the focus on watching more YouTube videos, showing up to 12 suggestions, fewer if Adsense ads are present,
As you probably already know, the sharing options have changed somewhat in the past months, also. They are still very useful but a little harder to find.
Turbo-Charging Blogger Themes with Dynamic Views
Oct 7th
Google has turbo-charged blogger’s themes by introducing Dynamic Views. There are currently 7 choices which let you present your blogger blog in different, sortable and searchable ways.
Maybe you want try out Blogger’s new Dynamic themes on your blogger site …. do this:
Adding a Dynamic View to your blog is as easy as changing your template. Log in to Blogger, click on the Template tab on your dashboard, and select whichever view you want to set as your default. Note that readers can still choose to navigate your blog in a different view by selecting from the pulldown in the upper left of the screen.
- from the Blogger Buzz post, Dynamic Views: seven new ways…
Another nice touch is the “loading” graphic which shows gears turning as your page loads …. I’d like to have that feature on George’s Technology blog! Hmmm…
You can test-drive these new views on the Blogger Buzz site. They look pretty cool, but many of the views are best with images to make them more visual, since dynamic views are heavily into the visual – obviously. You’ve got to watch the YouTube about it … see below.
Blogger Dynamic Views
Google Retiring the Old Adsense Interface
Sep 26th
I got an email today about Google retiring the old Adsense interface, which they’ve been developing for a while now. But, to be fair, maybe the old interface isn’t better, maybe I am just resisting the change.
At first, the new interface was unwelcome, because I’d just gotten used to using the old one. Then, I started noticing the new interface did some things better, and unfortunately it seemed to crash months ago or simply not perform certain functions I wanted. In the end, I stayed with the old interface because I decided the new one was still a work in progress and I didn’t want to spend the necessary time to get to know the new interface. Looking at the new Adsense interface tonight, I noticed that the Overview page presented at login in much more informative than the old interface. The new interface, originally launched in November 2010, seems to have had some new features added, and will most likely have ironed out the issues that turned me off of the new design months ago.
To switch from the old to the new interface, click the red link, pictured below in the red box.
OLD ADSENSE INTERFACE
NEW ADSENSE INTERFACE
The email had some useful information in the form of links that I will certainly be checking out, and if you use Adsense you might want to check these links out also:
Adsense New Interface – Video Tutorials
Adsense New Interface – Help Center
I must admit I think the new interface looks better. It also will make it simpler for Adsense to do more with the addition AJAX functionality. Unless you only use Adsense to see what your current earnings are, you will probably need to find some of the current features you use in the new Adsense interface.
Google +1 Button Coming Soon to Adsense
Sep 23rd
That Google +1 button is sprouting everywhere, and now the +1 button is slated to appear in Adsense ads. Below is an example from the Adsense Insider blog.
Now your “social friends” can see what ads you like … I don’t know if that’s good or not, but its good for Google whose ads will start appearing outside of their environment. According to an email announcement to Google Adsense publishers, you can opt out of the +1 button displaying on your site’s ads if you are a publisher.
The email also said:
Soon, your users will be able to endorse specific ads and make the ads more likely to appear to their social connections. We believe that these recommendations could help your readers notice ads on your site more, leading to higher returns for you over time.
Well, voting on Google Adsense ads is something I never expected, not even after Adsense started appearing in Yotube videos!
Cool Website Design – Smart USA (the Eco Friendly Car)
Sep 22nd
I saw a commercial for the Smart (the unbig, uncar) tonight and hit their website for a nice surprise. Its not the best website ever, but its home page is super-interesting. If you don’t like it you can visit the Smart’s eco-friendly high mpg full website.
I don’t often write about websites, but this one is just pretty cool. I think for its intended audience – the group of car buyers that would want an eco-friendly, small, inexpensive automobile that for as little as $12,490 – the website is probably right up their alley. However, at 41mpg you may be more impressed with its 85% recyclability (just toss it in with the aluminum cans when done?)
I’m not writing about the technical marvel of the site or excellent usability here, but simply entertaining design, take a look.
Smart USA Cool Car Website
Gmail, Gmail Mobile Go Persian (Farsi)
Sep 22nd
Google has released its Gmail and Gmail mobile in Persian today. Or as Google put it:
At Google, we want to make our products universally accessible and useful, and that means providing them for as many people as possible in the language they speak. The Gmail and Google Localization teams have worked together to bring Gmail to people around the world in 53 languages. Today that number grows to 54, because we’re proud to announce that through working with the Persian Initiative Team, we are able to release Persian (Farsi – فارسی), as the newest language available in Gmail. If you or someone you know speaks Persian, they can change the language in Gmail by selecting it on the Gmail settings page, under the language dropdown.
- Gmail+Gmail mobile in Persian/Farsi
Click To Enlarge
Mobile Multi Sig, Mobile Sig, and Vacation Auto-Respond
Sep 21st
Gmail announced some new stuff for Gmail for mobile today.
Specifically Google’s Dominic Leung, Mobile Software Engineer announced the addition of these Gmail for mobile features…
- Multiple sign-in support
- Mobile-specific signature
- Vacation Auto-Responder
Multiple Sign-In Support
So, first the addition of multiple sign-in support. You’ve been able to do that on the desktop for a while now (more info & warnings), but now you can also sign in to multiple accounts in the same browser using Gmail for mobile. There was no mention on the post about warnings like the issues the desktop version has offline versions
Mobile-Specific Signature
There are some good reasons to let people you email know you are sending/replying to email on your mobile, for example why your reply is so short, or has typos. Now if Gmail can do something about that “Sent from my BlackBerry” fun that Blackberry (and other mobile users) have to put up with, that would be great. But I digress.
Vacation Auto-Responder
Imagine you’ve prepared everything for a week’s vacation, tidied up your workload at the office, packed all of your vacation gear and you are off toward that relaxing destination in [wherever]. As you drive off, you realize that you forgot to set your vacation autoresponder in your Gmail back at the office. Do you turn around and go back to the office (“Phew! I’m, glad to see you’re not gone yet, we have these last minute details on this important project before you go on vacation.”)? No need, just login to Gmail for mobile and you can now set your vacation auto-response from wherever you can get access – no office visit required!
Crysis 2 Semper Fi or Die Video Walkthrough (Pt 1)
Sep 16th
Part one of Crysis 2 Semper Fi or Die, mission #10 gameplay & walkthrough video. This video has annotations at some key points. Also, see more Crysis 2 game tips and hints.
Crysis 2 Semper Fi or Die Video Part 1
Later some step-by-step down here, for now watch the video check out the notes on the video.
