Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Googland

Googland

[G] Enhancements to Google News for smartphones

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 05:16 AM PST

Google News Blog: Enhancements to Google News for smartphones

Posted by Arun Prasath, Tech Lead, Google Mobile News

Last November, we redesigned Google News for mobile access on smartphones including Android, iPhone and Palm Pre. Today, we're globally rolling out new usability and visual enhancements that we hope will make browsing news on your smartphone easier.

We expanded the story space to make tapping on articles easier and more accurate. Tapping anywhere on an article headline or snippet opens it up, and clicking on a section heading opens up that topic section on your screen.

In addition, the default view of stories is now collapsed which reduces scrolling time. You can 'expand' a story by tapping on 'More sources', which brings you to related stories from other sources. The screenshots below show the collapsed and expanded view of a story.



So, pick up your smartphone, point your browser to http://news.google.com, and catch up on news on the go.
URL: http://googlenewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/enhancements-to-google-news-for.html

[G] Enhancements to Google News for smartphones

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:29 AM PST

Official Google Mobile Blog: Enhancements to Google News for smartphones

(Cross-posted from the Google News Blog)

Last November, we redesigned Google News for mobile access on smartphones including Android, iPhone and Palm Pre. Today, we're globally rolling out new usability and visual enhancements that we hope will make browsing news on your smartphone easier.

We expanded the story space to make tapping on articles easier and more accurate. Tapping anywhere on an article headline or snippet opens it up, and clicking on a section heading opens up that topic section on your screen.

In addition, the default view of stories is now collapsed, to reduce scrolling time. You can 'expand' a story by tapping 'More sources', which brings you to related stories from other sources. The screenshots below show the collapsed and expanded view of a story.




So, pick up your smartphone, point your browser to http://news.google.com, and catch up on news on the go.

Posted by Arun Prasath, Tech Lead, Google Mobile News
URL: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/11/enhancements-to-google-news-for.html

[G] Google Search app for Windows Phone 7 - in the Marketplace now

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:29 AM PST

Official Google Mobile Blog: Google Search app for Windows Phone 7 - in the Marketplace now

Searching with Google on your Windows Phone 7 device just got easier. The Google Search app for Windows Phone 7 provides quick and convenient access to a rich set of search results, allowing you to search the web, images, local, news, and more.

This initial release of the Google Search app includes several features that help you to search faster - suggestions appear automatically as you type, you can choose to repeat a query from your search history, and your current location is used to provide more relevant results.




The Google Search app is a free download for all Windows Phone 7 devices and languages. Just search the Marketplace for "Google Search", download, pin to Start, and the power of Google Search is only a click away.


Update: here is a link to the app in Zune Marketplace. You'll need to be using a Windows Phone 7 device or Internet Explorer for the link to work.

Posted by Jon Skeet and Nick Radicevic, Google Mobile Team
URL: http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/11/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7.html

[G] Howcast vlogger wanted!

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 02:48 PM PST

YouTube Blog: Howcast vlogger wanted!

Howcast is changing it up this week, and Heather Menicucci's weekly series on filmmaking in the digital age will resume next Friday.

Help Howcast find our first video blogger!

We're looking for someone to produce, edit and host our new video blog taking a look inside Howcast and the world of how-to. This is a real, paid part-time gig in our NYC office in SoHo.


Want to show us what you can do? Tell us why you should be the face of our new series by submitting a video response on YouTube. Be as creative as you want as long as you highlight Howcast's how-to content.

Be sure to check out the full requirements below, which include a dynamic onscreen presence, availability to work in our New York office, and serious video shooting and editing skills. Entries will be judged on originality, charisma, technical prowess and YouTube user comments.

Sound like you? Maybe your best friend? Your cat? OK, maybe not your cat, but you get the point. Anyone could be harboring dreams of online video stardom, so spread the word!

And if you think you've got what it takes, submit your audition now:

Here's how to enter:


  1. Visit YouTube.com/Howcast to watch the casting call video.

  2. Review the job requirements* and make sure you qualify.

  3. Create a vlog entry highlighting both Howcast's how-to content (sample videos) and your own individuality. Don't forget to wow us with your shooting and editing skills!

  4. Upload the vlog entry as a video response on YouTube to this video here by Nov. 30.

  5. Send us the link to your video response and full contact information (name, phone number, e-mail, mailing address) to vlog+casting@howcast.com.






If you've got questions, e-mail vlog+casting@howcast.com.

Katy Zack, Communications Manager, Howcast, recently watched "Trash Machine."

* Requirements:


  • Fun, dynamic personality

  • Great on-camera presence

  • Availability to work in Howcast's NYC office at least 2 days each week

  • Minimum one year commitment

  • Video shooting and editing expertise, experience with Final Cut Pro or comparable editing software

  • Bonus: After Effects experience





URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/kIXsOmJnDnA/howcast-vlogger-wanted.html

[G] Control YouTube on the desktop, or the TV... with the YouTube Remote app for your phone

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:01 PM PST

YouTube Blog: Control YouTube on the desktop, or the TV... with the YouTube Remote app for your phone

If you're like me, you love watching YouTube on your smartphone. My phone is always with me, which means my favorite YouTube videos are never more than a few taps away. Sometimes though, mid-watch, I wish I could get a big-screen experience of that video. What if there was a way to wirelessly "connect" my phone to a much larger screen, like a Google TV?

Cue YouTube Remote, a new Android app that we're launching in the Android Marketplace today.

YouTube Remote creates a virtual connection between your phone and YouTube Leanback. To 'pair' your phone with your Leanback screen, simply sign into YouTube Remote on your Android phone, and to YouTube Leanback on your Google TV or computer with the same YouTube account. Just like that, you've connected your powerful multi-touch Android screen with the biggest screen in your home. Once connected, you can use the rich browse and discovery interface on YouTube Remote to find and queue up videos to watch, and send them all to Leanback with a single tap. With YouTube Remote you can play, pause, skip forward and back and even control the sound volume.


YouTube Remote is currently in beta and contains new and experimental features that are not in the official YouTube Android app. Please give us your feedback and help us improve the product - we'll integrate the best features from this beta app into the official YouTube Android app in the coming months.

Again, you can download YouTube Remote now on the Android Marketplace. It's currently available only in the US but we're working hard to make the app available in more countries very soon.

Kuan Yong, Senior Product Manager, recently watched "Angry Birds Animation."


URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/youtube/PKJx/~3/3nbQWKgkJ84/control-youtube-on-desktop-or-tv-with.html

[G] HD quality videos in Picasa Web Albums

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 10:24 AM PST

Google Photos Blog: HD quality videos in Picasa Web Albums

Posted by Detlev Schwabe, Software Engineer - Photos

More and more, people are capturing videos (and increasingly high-definition videos) with their cameras and phones. Understandably, we've been hearing from a number of you who want to upload high quality videos to your Picasa Web Albums, so your photos and videos are organized in one convenient place. We're happy to now support uploading high-definition (HD) videos, up to 720p, from Picasa to Picasa Web Albums. Whereas before you could upload, store, and share videos shot in 240 or 360p, now you can do the same for your 480p and 720p (HD) videos too. 

Just like with photos, more pixels means a sharper video picture and a better viewing experience. Clarity and sharpness continue to improve as you move from 240p up to 720p.




Now your photos and HD videos can all be stored, organized and shared in one convenient place. To upload your videos make sure to use Picasa, if you don't have Picasa you can download it from here. We'd love to hear what you think. 
URL: http://googlephotos.blogspot.com/2010/11/hd-quality-videos-in-picasa-web-albums.html

[G] WebM Video Codec in Skype 5.0 Group Video

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 08:08 AM PST

The WebM Open Media Project Blog: WebM Video Codec in Skype 5.0 Group Video

Our friends at Skype recently released Skype 5.0 for Windows and Mac, which features a beta group video feature using VP8, the video codec in WebM. In the first half of 2010, approximately 40% of Skype-to-Skype calls were video calls and we're excited that in the future many of those calls will be made using VP8.

To check out the new group video feature, simply download the Skype Software.

Note: For group video to work, everyone on the call needs the new Skype for Windows or Mac, a webcam and a broadband connection.

For more info about Skype group video, visit the Skype website.
URL: http://blog.webmproject.org/2010/11/webm-video-codec-in-skype-50-group.html
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