Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[10 Essential Bookmarklets for Better Browsing]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/24/10-essential-bookmarklets-for-better-browsing/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/24/10-essential-bookmarklets-for-better-browsing/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/24/10-essential-bookmarklets-for-better-browsing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bookmarklets Bookmarklets are an interesting and lightweight alternative to full-fledged browser extensions. Unlike regular bookmarks, bookmarklets don't take you to a website, but perform an action on the page you're currently viewing. They use bits of code, usually Javascript, to do things like send links, translate a page or mark a site for future reference. While they can't offer the deep functionality and integration of a proper extension, bookmarklets won't slow your browser down, are less likely to crash it, and, since they're treated the same as regular bookmarks, can be synced across browsers and computers without a problem. If you're ready to dive in, click past the break to explore our list of ten must-have bookmarklets.

Continue reading 10 Essential Bookmarklets for Better Browsing

Switched10 Essential Bookmarklets for Better Browsing originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookmarkletsbuzzfeedclippabledeliciousdownload from youtubeDownloadFromYoutubeevernotegmailgoogle translateGoogleTranslateinstapaperlong url pleaseLongUrlPleaseread it laterreadabilityReadItLatertinyurltoptumblrwebyahooyoutubeTue, 24 Aug 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Lets Germans Erase Their Homes on Street View]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/google-lets-germans-erase-their-homes-on-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/google-lets-germans-erase-their-homes-on-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/google-lets-germans-erase-their-homes-on-street-view/#commentsFiled under: ,

Blurry Street View Home In response to protests from privacy advocates in Europe's most populous country, Google is now allowing Germans to completely erase their homes from the company's Street View feature -- but only for a limited time.

In an unprecedented move, Google has decided to give Germans until September 15th to fully "opt-out" of Street View. Should a German user choose to nix the service, which is available in 20 German cities, his or her property will be completely blurred out by a special Google app. Interestingly enough, Google's decision doesn't seem to have been prompted by any newly passed German law or policy. Chancellor Angela Merkel, for instance, has publicly confirmed that she won't blur her residence out of Street View. And, even though German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maziere is currently pushing for a new law that would specifically target Google and its Street View team, he's facing stiff competition from a clause in the German constitution that expressly prohibits such corporate targeting.

Continue reading Google Lets Germans Erase Their Homes on Street View

SwitchedGoogle Lets Germans Erase Their Homes on Street View originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AngelaMerkeleuropegermanygoogleGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewGoogleStreetViewCaropt-outprivacyPrivacyIssuesPrivacySettingsStreetViewtopThu, 19 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Dimensions Puts Important Events and Structures in Your Backyard]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/dimensions-puts-important-events-and-structures-in-your-backyard/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/dimensions-puts-important-events-and-structures-in-your-backyard/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/dimensions-puts-important-events-and-structures-in-your-backyard/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dimensions of the Great Wall

If It Was My Home brought the tragedy of the BP oil spill to your backyard by laying an outline of the environmental disaster over a Google Map of your own neighborhood. Dimensions, an experiment created in partnership with the BBC, may have been conceived before the debut of the oil spill-specific site, but they use the same trick to put world and historical events into perspective.

Dimensions, which is parked at HowBigReally.com, puts the outlines of important events and structures over a map. You can see the Gulf oil spill swallow your neighborhood, but you can also see how the Colossus of Rhodes would easily straddle your street, or how the International Space Station would more than cover a square block of your town. The current selection of maps is just the beginning. According to the site's FAQ, Dimensions will continue to grow and add new features in response to user feedback. The BBC calls Dimensions a "prototype," meaning either that this could be the end of the project, or that it might continue to evolve. All we know is we'll keep imagining the Great Wall running down the middle of Broadway to get our kicks today. [From: Dimensions, via: BERG]

SwitchedDimensions Puts Important Events and Structures in Your Backyard originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcdimensionsgooglegoogle mapsGoogleMapshistorymapstopvisualizationwebWed, 18 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lazy Road Trip: Man Traverses Britain Using Google Street View]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matthew PartridgeWalking the entire 1,200 mile length of Britain is no easy feat, but using Google Street View to "travel" the same stretch of land is just plain boring. Matthew Partridge, however, has embarked on this adventure, going pixel by pixel from Land's End to John O'Groats in ten days. Honestly, we'd rather go the actual distance than stare at a screen for 240 hours, but, hey, at least the bright line in the middle of the road will keep him from getting lost. Let's just hope he doesn't veer off his set path, because we're pretty sure the onscreen farmer off to the side of the road won't be able to get him back to the highway. [From: The Sun, via: Gizmodo]

SwitchedLazy Road Trip: Man Traverses Britain Using Google Street View originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainenglandgooglegooglemapsGoogleStreetViewlazyRoadTripstreetviewtravelweirdTue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Boomerang Gmail Plugin Lets You Send and Receive Whenever You Want]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/boomerang-gmail-plugin-lets-you-send-and-receive-whenever-you-wa/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/boomerang-gmail-plugin-lets-you-send-and-receive-whenever-you-wa/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/15/boomerang-gmail-plugin-lets-you-send-and-receive-whenever-you-wa/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boomerang for Gmail
We don't know about you guys, but here at Switched, we get a boatload of e-mails and that's not going to change any time soon. We send almost as many as we receive, too. Truth be told, it can be a little overwhelming sometimes, so we're a little intrigued by Boomerang for Gmail, which promises to help tame your inbox deluge by bringing a few welcome tricks to the Gmail toolbox.

The problem with being buried under e-mails is that it's very easy to lose track of important information. Sure, your bank may send you a reminder that your credit card bill is due, but often it comes a week before payment is actually due. Or, you'll get it while you're in the middle of some more pressing task, and, just like that, paying your credit card gets lost in the shuffle. But Boomerang lets you set a pseudo-reminder to reintroduce you to the message. Just set the timer for a specific time and date, or use one of the included presets, and the note will reappear in your inbox at the prescribed time, just like new.

Continue reading Boomerang Gmail Plugin Lets You Send and Receive Whenever You Want

SwitchedBoomerang Gmail Plugin Lets You Send and Receive Whenever You Want originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boomerangBoomerangForGmailemailgmailgoogleproductivitytopwebSun, 15 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gmail Saves the Universe in 'Galactic Inbox']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/14/gmail-saves-the-universe-in-galactic-inbox/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/14/gmail-saves-the-universe-in-galactic-inbox/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/14/gmail-saves-the-universe-in-galactic-inbox/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Galactic Inbox
Here's a cute little timewaster for Gmail fans: 'Galactic Inbox.' The premise is simple: You control a mighty winged Gmail envelope tasked with disposing an onslaught of baddies, including cans of what we presume are a major brand of luncheon meat. You blast your way until you meet the boss, a birdcage with spiked balls for arms holding other Gmail envelopes hostage. Your goal, obviously, is to destroy this message-hoarding meanie and free your little brother and sister envelopes. Impressively, the whole thing is coded in HTML5. For the best experience, it's highly recommended that you use either Google Chrome or the Firefox 4 beta, otherwise playing might be more like watching a slide show. [From: Gmail Blog and Monocubed]

SwitchedGmail Saves the Universe in 'Galactic Inbox' originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flashflash gamesFlashGamesgalactic inboxGalacticInboxgmailhtml5timewasterstopSat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nick Newcomen's GPS Writing Tells World to 'Read Ayn Rand']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/nick-newcomens-gps-writing-tells-world-to-read-ayn-rand/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/nick-newcomens-gps-writing-tells-world-to-read-ayn-rand/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/nick-newcomens-gps-writing-tells-world-to-read-ayn-rand/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ayn Rand

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Nick Newcomen had something to get off his chest, so he decided to write it across the continental U.S. Literally. With the help of a Qstarz BT-Q1000X GPS logging device and seemingly endless amounts of spare time, Newcomen spent a full month driving across 30 states, along a route he'd carefully planned before leaving his house. When he finally ended his trek, his trans-continental message was laid bare for all Google Earth viewers to see: "Read Ayn Rand."

As Wired explains, Newcomen began his odyssey in Marshall, Texas, after drawing out his circuitous route on a map. As he was driving, Newcomen would turn on his Qstarz BT-Q1000X GPS logger whenever he wanted to "write" a letter, and would switch it off in between characters. He then uploaded the GPS data to Google Earth, and, 12,238 miles later, his masterpiece was finally complete. (View it on Google Earth here.)

Continue reading Nick Newcomen's GPS Writing Tells World to 'Read Ayn Rand'

SwitchedNick Newcomen's GPS Writing Tells World to 'Read Ayn Rand' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AynRandGoogleEarthGPSGpsNavigationGpsTrackingpoliticsQstarztexastopusFri, 13 Aug 2010 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[OMG! There's a Dead Girl on Google Street View! (Nope, Just Kidding)]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/omg-theres-a-dead-girl-on-google-street-view-nope-just-kidd/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/omg-theres-a-dead-girl-on-google-street-view-nope-just-kidd/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/omg-theres-a-dead-girl-on-google-street-view-nope-just-kidd/#commentsFiled under: ,

azura beebeejaun and her google street view image
In an innocent hoax that tickles our schadenfreude bone (we think it's located somewhere near the patella?), a cherubic and awesomely named Azura Beebeejaun -- aged 10, and of Worcester, England -- lay face-down in the gutter. Azura cast her shoes aside for effect, and, naturally, a Google Street View car doddered past, resulting in a multi-angled image of young Azura on Google, looking much like child-roadkill. The photos ignited concern that there had been an unreported crime in the neighborhood, but, after some quick detective work, Azura turned up very much alive. She told The Daily Mail, "I'm quite chuffed I'm on the Internet. It is quite funny and I can't wait to tell my classmates when I go back to school."

The now-famous Azura had only been playing a game with her friend; she'd tripped and decided to play dead, unaware that the Google cam was planting the seeds of outrage. Local residents were quite obviously disturbed by the image -- and perhaps by the fact that the Google car didn't stop to investigate a child's body lying in the road -- but Azura turned up alive, and everyone is probably having a grand ol' chuckle about it now. We certainly did, because Azura totally kicks Horse-Boy to the curb. [From: The Daily Mail]

SwitchedOMG! There's a Dead Girl on Google Street View! (Nope, Just Kidding) originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Voice Actions

It was shockingly last minute, but Google decided to organize a little press conference today. On the menu were a pair of new features for Android that close a few of the remaining performance gaps between iOS and Google's mobile OS. Although there was no mention of video chat (as many speculated), and although we were denied a peak at the next generation of Android (dubbed Gingerbread), we did get two genuinely useful tools for enhancing your Android experience.

Voice Actions is a voice control application for Android devices running 2.2 (Froyo). The ability to initiate some functions with nothing but the power of your voice is one of the few features iOS could claim that Android lacked. But, rather than simply match Apple's offering and move on, the Voice Actions feature delivers far more flexibility. Simply tap the microphone icon on the search widget, and you can tell the phone to play music, call a contact, or navigate to a destination using Google Maps Navigation. But those are the simpler actions. You can also send e-mails and text messages by speaking a contact's name, and then dictating the message you want to send. If you want to call a business, just say its name, and let Google find the number for you. Check out the video after the break to see it in action.

Continue reading Google Unveils Voice Actions and Chrome to Phone, Skips Video Calls

SwitchedGoogle Unveils Voice Actions and Chrome to Phone, Skips Video Calls originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Androidchrome to phoneChromeToPhonetopvoice actionsVoiceActionsThu, 12 Aug 2010 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Criticizes Google and Verizon's Net Neutrality Plans]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/facebook-criticizes-google-and-verizons-net-neutrality-plans/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/facebook-criticizes-google-and-verizons-net-neutrality-plans/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/facebook-criticizes-google-and-verizons-net-neutrality-plans/#commentsFiled under: ,

facebook logo with net neutrality insigniaGoogle and Verizon have already taken plenty of heat for their recently unveiled joint-proposal on how to apply Net neutrality ideology to regulatory policy. Now, Facebook has joined the chorus of boos by formally announcing its opposition to the plan. As the New York Times reports, the social network is raising concerns about any plan that would exempt wireless carriers from Net neutrality rules, as suggested by Google and Verizon. "Facebook continues to support principles of Net neutrality for both landline and wireless networks," the company said in a statement issued yesterday. "Preserving an open Internet that is accessible to innovators -- regardless of their size or wealth -- will promote a vibrant and competitive marketplace where consumers have ultimate control over the content and services delivered through their Internet connections."

Other online heavyweights have also spoken out against the proposal, although few have been as forthright as Facebook. eBay, for example, acknowledged that the policy could "stifle ground-up innovation," but said it was willing to review Google and Verizon's suggestions. Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global policy, was similarly diplomatic when explaining his company's concerns "that this proposal appears to condone services that could harm consumer Internet access." Google, for its part, insists that its proposal doesn't violate the pillars of Net neutrality philosophy, and claims that it's still committed to maintaining an open Internet, where innovation can thrive. As chief executive Eric Schmidt says, "The next two people in a garage really do need an open Internet." [From: New York Times]

SwitchedFacebook Criticizes Google and Verizon's Net Neutrality Plans originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon.comeBayEricSchmidtfacebookgoogleNetNeutralityNetNeutralityDebatepolicytopVerizonVerizonWirelesswirelessThu, 12 Aug 2010 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Backpack Uses Lasers to Render 3-D Models of Building Interiors]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/backpack-uses-lasers-to-render-3-d-models-of-building-interiors/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/backpack-uses-lasers-to-render-3-d-models-of-building-interiors/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/backpack-uses-lasers-to-render-3-d-models-of-building-interiors/#commentsFiled under: ,

3-D Backpack Scanner

Thanks to technology like Google Earth, you can visit places with a few clicks and keystrokes. But Google Earth uses GPS to create 3-D maps of locations, which means you can't venture "inside" the structures to really get a feel for the space.

That could soon change. According to a report by San Francisco's ABC News 7 (catch it after the break), professors and graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a backpack that uses lasers and cameras to render textured 3-D maps of building interiors. It's the first piece of equipment that can generate textured 3-D models without human intervention. As you can see in the video, the user just straps it on, and walks through a building while the lasers and cameras fire in multiple directions. After you finish roaming around, the backpack will generate a 3-D model based on what it scanned.

Continue reading Backpack Uses Lasers to Render 3-D Models of Building Interiors

SwitchedBackpack Uses Lasers to Render 3-D Models of Building Interiors originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3d modeling3d scanner3dModeling3dScannergoogleGoogleEarthlaserlasersmapsmodelsresearchscannertopThu, 12 Aug 2010 07:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Having Issues With Hotmail? Microsoft Suggests Chrome]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/having-issues-with-hotmail-microsoft-suggests-chrome/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/having-issues-with-hotmail-microsoft-suggests-chrome/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/having-issues-with-hotmail-microsoft-suggests-chrome/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chrome and Hotmail
Microsoft's new version of Hotmail, now officially called Windows Live Hotmail, finally landed for the service's 350 million users last week. And since that time, customers have been complaining of a number of problems, including an excruciatingly slow response to input, scripting errors, browser crashes and even being completely locked out of their accounts. It's not clear exactly what the underlying issue is, but at least some of problem lies with people using older browsers, we suspect. We tested the new Hotmail in Internet Explorer 8, in Firefox 3.6 and in both the stable and dev channels of Chrome, and encountered no trouble. Still, Microsoft seems willing to concede that there is some problem with the service, and its solution is a surprising one: use Chrome.

Okay, so Microsoft didn't send out a blast e-mail to all customers telling them that specifically, but a post from the company on the Hotmail forums reads: "Some customers have indicated that if they use Google Chrome to view their Hotmail account they no longer encounter this problem." Sure, it's not the most enthusiastic endorsement, but the message seems pretty clear: If you're having problems, try Chrome and see what happens. We should note, though, that plenty are reporting the same issues when using Chrome. Another solution would be for Microsoft to allow users to temporarily switch back to the old Hotmail while the company works on the problem, but that does not appear to be likely.

Continue reading Having Issues With Hotmail? Microsoft Suggests Chrome

SwitchedHaving Issues With Hotmail? Microsoft Suggests Chrome originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowserschromee-mailfirefoxhotmailinternet explorerInternetExplorermicrosoftmicrosoft hotmailMicrosoftHotmailtoptroubleshootingThu, 12 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gmail Contacts Get Much Needed (and Pretty Looking) Improvements]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/gmail-contacts-get-much-needed-and-pretty-looking-improvements/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/gmail-contacts-get-much-needed-and-pretty-looking-improvements/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/gmail-contacts-get-much-needed-and-pretty-looking-improvements/#commentsFiled under: ,

New Gmail Contacts Card
If there has been one glaring fault with Gmail, it's contact management. Thankfully, it seems that Google hasn't been ignoring its users' complaints, as it announced today that the contacts functions in Gmail were getting some much needed love. Gmail itself got a slight facelift that makes better use of the left-hand navigation bar, and gives a more prominent placement to Tasks and Contacts. You'll also notice the "Compose Mail" link has been replaced with a more obvious button.

The real fun starts, though, when you open Contacts. The whole interface has been redesigned to be more "Gmail-like," and, according to those who have access, it's much more responsive. The Gmail keyboard shortcuts we've all come to know and love now work in contacts, meaning you can manage contact groups just like you apply labels to messages. Contacts can also have custom information fields, and can be sorted by last name (finally!) instead of first.

Continue reading Gmail Contacts Get Much Needed (and Pretty Looking) Improvements

SwitchedGmail Contacts Get Much Needed (and Pretty Looking) Improvements originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AddressBookContactListcontactsgmailgoogleGoogleContactstopTue, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's South Korea Offices Raided Over Street View Data Collection]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korea-offices-raided-over-street-view-data-collec/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korea-offices-raided-over-street-view-data-collec/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/10/googles-south-korea-offices-raided-over-street-view-data-collec/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google Korea

Already under fire from privacy advocates and politicians in the U.S., Google is now facing a probe from the South Korean government, amid speculation that the company may have illegally collected private information from Korean users. As Reuters reports, police raided Google Korea's Seoul offices yesterday, as part of an ongoing investigation into the company's Street View service. After more than a year's worth of preparation, Street View still has yet to launch in South Korea. Korean authorities, though, clearly want to make sure the feature won't jeopardize its citizens' rights to privacy, as it has in other parts of the world.

Back in May, Google admitted that its camera-equipped Street View cars inadvertently collected and stored personal data from open Wi-Fi networks, including private passwords and e-mails. When news of the incident broke, Google was quick to reassure consumers that it had never actually used the collected data, and promptly grounded its fleet of Street View cars. So far, however, that hasn't been enough to placate worried governments and regulatory agencies around the world, who continue to investigate the company's data mining practices.

Continue reading Google's South Korea Offices Raided Over Street View Data Collection

SwitchedGoogle's South Korea Offices Raided Over Street View Data Collection originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleGoogleEarthGoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewGoogleStreetViewCargovernmentKoreaprivacysouth koreaSouthKoreastreetviewtopwebTue, 10 Aug 2010 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Google and Verizon Offer Open Internet Proposals]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-and-verizon-offer-open-internet-proposals/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-and-verizon-offer-open-internet-proposals/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-and-verizon-offer-open-internet-proposals/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google and Verizon
Today Google and Verizon unveiled their joint statement of principles regarding the governance and regulation of the Web. The policy proposal makes a number of suggestions regarding the application of Net neutrality ideology, and the ultimate goal, Google says, is to protect consumer choice, and to encourage investment and innovation in broadband infrastructure.

The proposal, which Verizon and Google are adopting independently, is being passed on to the FCC in hopes that it will form the foundation of new rules and regulations that (with some limitations) will guarantee the openness of the Web. There are seven key elements to the plan that form a "legislative framework."

Continue reading Google and Verizon Offer Open Internet Proposals

SwitchedGoogle and Verizon Offer Open Internet Proposals originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccgoogleNet NeutralityNetNeutralitypublic policyPublicPolicytopverizonMon, 09 Aug 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Shows Off How Well It Knows Your Social Circle]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-shows-off-how-well-it-knows-your-social-circle/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-shows-off-how-well-it-knows-your-social-circle/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/google-shows-off-how-well-it-knows-your-social-circle/#commentsFiled under: , ,

google social circle
Google makes a big deal about transparency. The company always wants you to know how, and why, it shows certain search results or ads, and what of your personal data it has tucked away in the deep recesses of the Goog-Cave. Google Dashboard showed the information the company could gather from you via the Google services you used, and it was an interesting (if creepy) way to expose holes in your privacy settings. Now, the data behind social search results (which Google debuted earlier this year) is being brought out into the sunlight, as well.

Social Circle lists all of the people to whom you're connected, and whom Google uses to source results for searches. This sort of Dashboard for social search includes direct connections from your Google Talk buddies, friends on services linked to your Google Profile, and your secondary connections (the publicly shared friends of your own direct connections). The level of detail is fascinating, and potentially useful, but also a little unsettling. At a glance, you can quickly see who your connections are, and how you're connected to them. (For instance, this writer can see that he's connected to Switched's very own Leila Brillson as a contact in Google Talk, Buzz, Google Reader and Blogger.) The fact that Google has such a deep well of information about your digital social circle should come as little surprise, but we're sure that at least some of you out there are already rushing to delete every trace of your electronic existence. [From: Google, Via: Geekosystem]

Continue reading Google Shows Off How Well It Knows Your Social Circle

SwitchedGoogle Shows Off How Well It Knows Your Social Circle originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogledashboardgooglesocialcirclegooglesocialsearchprivacySocialCirclesocialnetworkingSocialSearchtopwebMon, 09 Aug 2010 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Grad Student Builds Google Street View Pedestrian Remover]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/grad-student-builds-google-street-view-pedestrian-remover/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/grad-student-builds-google-street-view-pedestrian-remover/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/09/grad-student-builds-google-street-view-pedestrian-remover/#commentsFiled under: , ,

street view with person removedA couple of years ago, Google began blurring any pedestrian faces or vehicle license plates captured by any of its Street View cameras in response to outcries from privacy advocates around the globe. UC San Diego grad student Arturo Flores, however, thought the company could do better. So, as part of a project for one of his courses, Flores decided to create a computer vision system capable of completely erasing pedestrians from Street View images.

Flores and USCD professor Serge Belongie outlined their system in a paper entitled 'Removing pedestrians from Google Street View images' (PDF), which they presented at the IEEE International Workshop on Mobile Vision held in June. According to Physorg, the still-unnamed program erases human figures from Street View shots, and replaces them with a pixelated approximation of the picture's non-human background. On occasion, however, the system can leave behind some weird, if not chilling, photographic residue. In Flores's world, for example, humans may be an extinct species, but their leashed dogs or shoe-clad feet are not.

Continue reading Grad Student Builds Google Street View Pedestrian Remover

SwitchedGrad Student Builds Google Street View Pedestrian Remover originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Love Super Pokes
Google and social-application developer Slide officially announced yesterday that the creator of 'Super Poke' had been purchased by the creator of our favorite e-mail and search services. Details of the partnership are scant, but we know that Google paid $182 million for the company, and it's part of a move to start "investing even more to make Google services socially aware." It's widely expected that the Slide team will play an important role in the rumored 'Google Me,' a direct competitor to Facebook.

It's clear that Google will have to improve its social networking game, especially in light of the recent closing of the Wave messaging product. Expect the Slide team, experienced with the sillier and arguably more irritating aspects of social networks, to join forces with the boys from Buzz to work on a distinctly Google-esque social network. Google also talks about making other services more "socially aware," which leads us to believe you'll see more communication and collaboration features rolled out across the Big G's ecosystem. And we're okay with that, as long as we don't see a Super Poke option show up in our Gmail that is. [From: Official Google Blog]

SwitchedGoogle Buys Slide, Aspires to Be More 'Socially Aware' originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookgooglegoogle meGoogleMeslidesocialnetworkingSuperPoketopwebSat, 07 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[R.I.P. Google Wave, You (Probably Won't) Be Missed]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/r-i-p-google-wave-you-probably-wont-be-missed/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/r-i-p-google-wave-you-probably-wont-be-missed/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/r-i-p-google-wave-you-probably-wont-be-missed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google Ends Wave
Google Wave, only a couple of months past its first birthday is no more. The highly anticipated (and hyped) re-imagining of communication and collaboration for the modern era stunned us with its incredible capabilities and questionable utility. After opening to the public in May, Wave failed to attract the user base Google anticipated. Instead, when faced with a drastically different paradigm for interaction, the public decided to stick with the familiar: e-mail, IM and Facebook. Though Google decided that it's time for the Wave experiment to recede into the sunset, the service will be supported through the end of the year (and the open-source code will be available for those who wish to pick up the torch).

Many of the innovations Wave initiated are already echoed in other Google products, and expect that trend to continue as the Wave team focuses on new ventures. Several Wave puns to send it on its way: "Wave goodbye to Google Wave." "Google Wave: It lost its Wave." "Making Waves no more, Google moves on." [From: Official Google Blog]

SwitchedR.I.P. Google Wave, You (Probably Won't) Be Missed originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationgooglegoogle waveGoogleWavetopwebWed, 04 Aug 2010 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Rolling Out Multiple Account Log-Ins, Slowly but Surely]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/google-rolling-out-multiple-account-log-ins-slowly-but-surely/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/google-rolling-out-multiple-account-log-ins-slowly-but-surely/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/google-rolling-out-multiple-account-log-ins-slowly-but-surely/#commentsFiled under: ,

Multiple Google Accounts
We knew it was coming. And honestly, now that it's here for a select few, we're more than a little jealous. Google has started rolling out multiple account log-ins, allowing certain users to simultaneously manage several Google accounts. Those lucky to be granted access will notice a new button on their account settings page allowing them to turn on or off "multiple sign-in." Once you turn it on, you'll notice an arrow and drop-down menu at the top of the page, allowing you to quickly and easily change accounts.

There are some restrictions, however; the multiple sign-ins will disable offline access to Gmail and Google Calendar, and will only work with Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Sites and Code. There's no word whether or not it works with Apps accounts just yet, but we're hoping that it does. The option should be showing up soon if you don't have access yet, so keep hitting refresh (like us, over and over again) on that account settings page. [From: Google OS, via: Download Squad]

SwitchedGoogle Rolling Out Multiple Account Log-Ins, Slowly but Surely originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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