Netflix/Latitude/Recite [Tech Tuesday (Really late)]

Here comes another onslaught of Windows Mobile applications I've found rather interesting in the past few weeks.

Netflix
First is the Mobile Manager for Netflix released on the Windows Mobile Access page (thanks @windowsmobile) . Its a small application that connects you directly to your Netflix account. The application gives you the ability to view your queues (both DVD and instant) as well as add movies to either. Another nice feature is the ability to view trailers for most movies from your search results without having to go through your phone's browser.

Registration is required for download, but as always your Windows LIVE ID is will be your ticket (same ID as Windows Live, Hotmail, Xbox LIVE, etc).

Microsoft Recite
Next up is Microsoft Recite. Currently billed as a "technology preview" its still a bit of a bare boned application. You basically record a reminder message such as "Get eggs, milk, and bacon at the grocery store." Then when you want to search your recordings you simply speak what your looking for like, "grocery store" and the program will search your notes and play back the most relevant message. I tried it a couple times making a few dummy "reminders" and then searching them and it worked flawlessly (that is, until I tried to actually show people how it works). It's a pretty cool application (when it works), and up until this point I've been taking pictures of things I need to remember (serial numbers, registration codes, etc), so this might be a more convenient way to go.

@WMExperts has put together a great article going a little more in depth about the application.

Google Maps Mobile 3.0 with Latitude
Google released an update to their Google Maps Mobile application that now includes Latitude functionality. Latitude basically allows you to quickly see where your friends are (via GPS or cell tower triangulation) and their current Google status (same as Google Talk). It also allows you to quickly IM, call, or search around thier location by clicking their location pin.

Location sharing is controlled via "sharing requests" which are similar to Myspace or Facebook friend requests. You can either accept or deny the request and when accepted you have the option to share your "best location" (usually within 30 meters of your actual location if using GPS), "city level location", or you can hide your location from them (i.e., stalk them :) ). One of the nicest features is you can control your sharing level per friend, so if are sharing with close friends you can share your exact location and share only city level location with acquaintances. You also have the ability to shut off location sharing at anytime (it doesn't always have to run).

It's fun seeing what your friends are doing, but the downside is if you leave the program running it tends to drain your battery. Still, even if you don't use the Latitude functionality, the Google Maps Mobile applications other features definitely make it a must have!

Microsoft My Phone and Google Mobile Sync [Tech Tuesday]

Switching phones has often been a bittersweet thing for many people. On one hand you have a nice shiny new phone, that can do a bunch of new things. But on the other hand you have to re-enter your contacts and other vital information. And what about your pictures? Music? Ring tones? Most of the time they're gone when you switch phones and you have to take the time to download them all over again.

Some carriers have tried to alleviate some of the pain in getting a new phone by allowing you to sync to their network's servers. Microsoft and Google are trying to make it even easier by providing the service themselves. Coming out in the near future (Date still TBD), Microsoft is releasing the My Phone beta on an invite only basis. The first version of My Phone (formally known as SkyBox), will synchronize the following (up to a max of 200MB) contacts, calendar appointments, tasks, photos, videos, text messages, music, and documents between your phone and your My Phone web account. Any synchronized information will be available to view from a password protected webpage. Syncing all of the information to a new phone, would be as easy as a click. A future release (v 2.0) will also add the ability to completly manage your phone remotely (add applications, change ringtones, etc.). Details are still a bit few and far between as Microsoft "accidentaly" leaked the website early, but rumors are that more information will be given at this month's Mobile World Congress (Feb 16-19).

For those of you who want something now, Google has released the Google Mobile Sync Beta. Blackberry users had the privelage of Google Mobile Sync for sometime now, but now iPhone, Windows Mobile, and Nokia phones are supported. GMS basically syncs your Google Calander and G-mail Contacts with your phone. The WinMo and iPhone versions use the ActiveSync protocol and stays up-to-date throughout the day based on a user defined interval. This also takes care of the problem of switching phones by easily transfering the information from an old phone to the web to the new phone.

If you've been using Outlook to store your contacts/calander events, there is an easy way to transfer your information to Google.


sources:
http://i.gizmodo.com/5148541/microsoft-my-phone-free-mobileme+style-syncing-for-windows-mobile

http://www.google.com/mobile/default/sync.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/myphone/moreinfo.aspx

Google Earth 5.0 [Tech Tuesday]

Google Earth has been around since 2004 and even before that (2001) as Keyhole's Earth Viewer. During its transition from a simple GIS viewer to the modern marvel it is today, several features have been added. 3D landscapes, Google map integration, and "Street View" are just a few. In its latest iteration (5.0 beta), Google Earth has added some of its coolest features. Among them are;

• Historic Imagery - the ability to use a slider to look at aerials from differant years to see how areas may have developed
• Ocean Floor and Surface data - you can now actually go under the surface of the ocean and explore
• Simplified touring with audio recordings

If you haven't downloaded before or its been a while since you've taken the Earth for a spin, now is a great time to do it. The free (non-commercial) version is available for download here: http://earth.google.com/. It may seem like a lot of information at first, but it definitely becomes addicting and you'll find yourself checking out famous landmarks or places you've been, into the wee hours.

If you get tired of touring the globe, a few releases ago Google Earth also included "Sky view" which allows you to "explore" space as well. And if that still isn't enough check out Google Mars.

Both of these require an internet connection, but if you're reading this blog you most likely have that covered. Enjoy!

Tech Tuesday: Google Desktop

DISCLAMER: I'm sorry about the grammatical errors and overuse of the word "ton", but I was trying to get this out posthaste (get it...posthaste... *sign*)

Google has a ton of applications that are available to the public for free.  Some are pretty well know such as G-Mail, Blogger, Picasa, and Talk.  There are also several applications available that are less known. 

Google came on the scene as a search engine and they have not forgotten their roots.  They have expanded their typical search (that includes webpages, images, videos, News, and shopping) with some very specific searches.

• Blog Search - http://www.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en
• Book Search - http://www.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en
  
• Patent Search - http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en
• Scholar Search - http://scholar.google.com/schhp?hl=en

There are a ton of products, but one of my favorite is Google Desktop.  One of the few features I like about Vista is the Sidebar (If you're unfamiliar, don't worry).  Google Desktop is a sort of combo application.  The first part is that it indexes your entire computer (using the file types that you specify) and makes them instantly searchable through a dynamic search bar.  No more having to use the Windows "Find..." command and wait for the little dog to dig up the file you're looking for.  

The second part of the application is the Sidebar/Deskbar.  It basically is panel full of widgets that docks to the side of your screen.  Any widget you can add to your iGoogle homepage can also be added to the sidebar.  On mine I have my XBox Gamercard, a clock, the weather, a picasa photo slideshow, scratch pad (notepad for scratching quick notes), RSS Reader, and email.  

The search feature alone will save a ton of time, it not only searches filenames, but also the files themselves.  So if you remember you wrote a paper in college about Gene Simmons winning the 2012 presidential election but can't remember where you put it, just type in Gene Simmons.

To see more applications available from google go to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

Also check out the Google Labs, which are products that are still being developed, but available to try (http://labs.google.com/)

Be careful what you click it might just bite you in the brain (or wallet)!!!

So Google released their latest product the new Google Chrome web browser. If you read my previous post, I am a pretty big Firefox fan, and have been since version 1.0. But I am also a big Google fan and regularly use several of their applications (Gmail, Blogger, Earth, Desktop, etc...). I did a little research and found out that Chrome is in fact an open source browser (like Firefox) and is built on an engine similar to the Gecko engine (like Firefox), so I decided to give it a whirl. While doing digging into the features that Chrome offers I came across a few blog posts mentioning Chrome's EULA (End User License Agreement, basically the "by using this product you agree to this... contract). I took a look at it and found this disturbing clause:

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

Perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free?!?!? I don't think I'm clever enough to come up with something that Google could make any money off of, but if some how in a spark of creativity I did, I'd expect a check heading my way if the big G were to market it!

Now Chrome is only in Beta (version 0.2.149.27 as of this posting), so it is possible that this may change by the time the final version is out. But in the meantime I think I'll stick with Firefox.

ETA: Google has now revised section 11 of its Chrome EULA to the following:

"11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services."

Apparently this was a "copy and paste" error and that the previous version was supposed to removed. I'll give it another shot now, but still be careful, I found the same verbiage in the Picasa 3 beta EULA.

If you want to download Google Chrome, you can do it here.