1. Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web
Update: For our international readers, this post is also available in French, German, Italian, Japanese,Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. - Ed.
Among the most basic of human needs is the need to connect with others. With a smile, a laugh, a whisper or a cheer, we connect with others every single day.
Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools.
In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it.
We’d like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software. We want to make Google better by including you, your relationships, and your interests. And so begins the Google+ project:
+Circles: share what matters, with the people who matter most
Not all relationships are created equal. So in life we share one thing with college buddies, another with parents, and almost nothing with our boss. The problem is that today’s online services turn friendship into fast food—wrapping everyone in “friend” paper—and sharing really suffers:
In light of these shortcomings we asked ourselves, “What do people actually do?” And we didn’t have to search far for the answer. People in fact share selectively all the time—with their circles.
From close family to foodies, we found that people already use real-life circles to express themselves, and to share with precisely the right folks. So we did the only thing that made sense: we brought Circles to software. Just make a circle, add your people, and share what’s new—just like any other day:
+Sparks: strike up a conversation, about pretty much anything
Healthy obsessions inspire sharing, and we’ve all got one (or two, or three...). Maybe it’s muscle cars, or comic books, or fashion, but the attraction is always the same: it comes up in conversation, we immediately jump in, and we share back and forth with other fans. Often for hours. The trick is getting things started, and getting over that initial hump. Fortunately, the web is the ultimate icebreaker.
The web, of course, is filled with great content—from timely articles to vibrant photos to funny videos. And great content can lead to great conversations. We noticed, however, that it’s still too hard to find and share the things we care about—not without lots of work, and lots of noise. So, we built an online sharing engine called Sparks.
Thanks to Google’s web expertise, Sparks delivers a feed of highly contagious content from across the Internet. On any topic you want, in over 40 languages. Simply add your interests, and you’ll always have something to watch, read and share—with just the right circle of friends:
+Hangouts: stop by and say hello, face-to-face-to-face
Whether it's inside a pub or on a front porch, human beings have always enjoyed hanging out. And why not? It's how we unwind, recharge, and spend unscheduled time with old and new friends alike. Hanging out is deceptively simple though, and the nuance gets lost online.
Just think: when you walk into the pub or step onto your front porch, you're in fact signaling to everyone around, “Hey, I've got some time, so feel free to stop by." Further, it’s this unspoken understanding that puts people at ease, and encourages conversation. But today’s online communication tools (like instant messaging and video-calling) don’t understand this subtlety:
With Google+ we wanted to make on-screen gatherings fun, fluid and serendipitous, so we created Hangouts. By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you're free, and spend time with your Circles. Face-to-face-to-face:
+Mobile: share what’s around, right now, without any hassle
These days a phone is the perfect sharing accessory: it's always with you, it's always online, and it's how we stay close with our closest friends. We didn’t want “just” a mobile experience, however, so with Google+ we focused on things (like GPS, cameras, and messaging) to make your pocket computer even more personal.
+Location, location, location
In life, the places we visit shape conversations in lots of meaningful ways. If we call John from the airport, he’ll likely ask about our trip. Or if Jane texts from a nearby restaurant, we might join her for dessert. With Google+ you can add your location to every post. (Or not. It’s always up to you.)
+Instant Upload
Getting photos off your phone is a huge pain, so most of us don't even bother. Of course pictures are meant to be shared, not stranded, so we created Instant Upload to help you never leave a photo behind. While you're snapping pictures, and with your permission, Google+ adds your photos to a private album in the cloud. This way they're always available across your devices—ready to share as you see fit.
+Huddle
Coordinating with friends and family in real-time is really hard in real life. After all, everyone's on different schedules, in different places, and plans can change at any moment. Phone calls and text messages can work in a pinch, but they're not quite right for getting the gang together. So Google+ includes Huddle, a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know what's going on, right this second.
Starting today Google+ is available on Android Market and the mobile web, and it’s coming soon to the App Store.
+You: putting you first, all across Google
That’s the Google+ project so far: Circles, Sparks, Hangouts and mobile. We’re beginning in Field Trial, so you may find some rough edges, and the project is by invitation only. But online sharing needs a serious re-think, so it’s time we got started. There’s just one more thing—really the only thing: You.
You and over a billion others trust Google, and we don’t take this lightly. In fact we’ve focused on the user for over a decade: liberating data, working for an open Internet, and respecting people’s freedom to be who they want to be. We realize, however, that Google+ is a different kind of project, requiring a different kind of focus—on you. That’s why we’re giving you more ways to stay private or go public; more meaningful choices around your friends and your data; and more ways to let us know how we’re doing. All across Google.
When your invite arrives we hope you’ll join the project. But it’s entirely up to +You.
2. Evolving the Google design and experience
Starting today, you might begin noticing that things look a little different across Google products. We’re working on a project to bring you a new and improved Google experience, and over the next few months, you’ll continue to see more updates to our look and feel. Even our classic homepage is getting a bit of a makeover:
The way people use and experience the web is evolving, and our goal is to give you a more seamless and consistent online experience—one that works no matter which Google product you’re using or what device you’re using it on. The new Google experience that we’ve begun working toward is founded on three key design principles: focus, elasticity and effortlessness.
Constant revision and improvement is part of our overarching philosophy. For example, last year we introduced an updated look and feel to our search results, and if you compare the original Google homepage to today’s version, you’ll see that a makeover every so often can certainly be refreshing:
3. 8 Everyday Technologies When They Were Cutting Edge
Everything was shiny and new at one point. I can't wait until my kids find today's modern tech in thirty years and mock the lame innovations of the future past.
4. Apple expecting huge demand for updated MacBook Air in July
It appears that Apple is expecting massive demand for updated MacBook Air models that are likely to be launched shortly after the release of Mac OS X Lion. According to sources within Apple's supply chain, production will increase in July approximately 17 percent over June, and could increase as much as 100 percent for the third quarter of this year.
A report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes indicates that production of parts for Apple's MacBook Air "will run in full gear" beginning in July. Total production of Apple notebooks is estimated to be about 2.4 million units for June, and expected to reach as high as 2.8 million units in July, the month Apple is expected to unveil a Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air refresh.
Most curiously, DigiTimes' sources suggested that total MacBook Air production for the third quarter of this year might reach as high as 8 million units, or double the amount for the second quarter. As MacRumors rightly noted, 8 million units would be double Apple's previous total Mac unit sales record of just over 4 million units, making the figure highly suspect.
However, we believe it is possible that the figure includes all MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air production combined. Apple's sales have increasingly been made up primarily of notebook sales, and the MacBook Air models released last October have proven extremely popular despite its lackluster CPU performance. Given these facts, it's conceivable that a Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air—complete with Thunderbolt portand loaded with Lion—could be responsible for a massive increase in production. If so, it shows that Apple expects a refreshed MacBook Air to sell like gangbusters.
Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro models released earlier this year, combined with the popular MacBook Air, could have fueled a large uptick in overall Mac sales in the last three months. Apple's fiscal third quarter results won't be released until next month, so we'll know for sure then if Apple managed to move close to 4 million notebooks as DigiTimes' sources suggest. Once we have verifiable numbers for notebook sales, it will be easier to evaluate the validity of the 8 million unit claim.
5. Synaptic Removed From Ubuntu Linux v11.10
Synaptic is a front-end for the apt package management system. The program allows you to perform all actions of the command line tool apt-get in a graphical environment such as installing, upgrading, downgrading and removing of single packages or even upgrading your whole system. The upcoming Ubuntu Linux version 11.10 (code named Oneiric Ocelot) has removed Synaptic Package Manager.
6. Microsoft Battles for Sky Supremacy With Office 365 Launch
Microsoft on Tuesday launched its newest cloud service, Office 365, in 40 markets. The service consists of online versions of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Lync. Pricing runs from $2 to $11 per user per month. Microsoft's building up an ecosystem around the service, and more than 20 service providers around the world, including several telephone companies, have announced they'll offer Office 365 to customers this year. Office 365 is in some ways Microsoft's answer to Google Apps.
7. LulzSec Heads for the Hills, Anon Hacks On
The hacker group LulzSec has apparently decided to shut down operations and sail off into the sunset. Fellow hacker community Anonymous, with which LulzSec has teamed up, may take up where LulzSec left off. "We can confirm that all @LulzSec members have reported aboard," Anonymous tweeted. Anonymous vowed to continue Operation Anti-Security, the attack on government sites worldwide that it launched jointly with LulzSec June 19. However, the seemingly random hack attacks may not stop with LulzSec's apparent shutdown.
Update: For our international readers, this post is also available in French, German, Italian, Japanese,Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. - Ed.
Among the most basic of human needs is the need to connect with others. With a smile, a laugh, a whisper or a cheer, we connect with others every single day.
Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools.
In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it.
We’d like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software. We want to make Google better by including you, your relationships, and your interests. And so begins the Google+ project:
+Circles: share what matters, with the people who matter most
Not all relationships are created equal. So in life we share one thing with college buddies, another with parents, and almost nothing with our boss. The problem is that today’s online services turn friendship into fast food—wrapping everyone in “friend” paper—and sharing really suffers:
- It’s sloppy. We only want to connect with certain people at certain times, but online we hear from everyone all the time.
- It’s scary. Every online conversation (with over 100 “friends”) is a public performance, so we often share less because of stage fright.
- It’s insensitive. We all define “friend” and “family” differently—in our own way, on our own terms—but we lose this nuance online.
In light of these shortcomings we asked ourselves, “What do people actually do?” And we didn’t have to search far for the answer. People in fact share selectively all the time—with their circles.
From close family to foodies, we found that people already use real-life circles to express themselves, and to share with precisely the right folks. So we did the only thing that made sense: we brought Circles to software. Just make a circle, add your people, and share what’s new—just like any other day:
+Sparks: strike up a conversation, about pretty much anything
Healthy obsessions inspire sharing, and we’ve all got one (or two, or three...). Maybe it’s muscle cars, or comic books, or fashion, but the attraction is always the same: it comes up in conversation, we immediately jump in, and we share back and forth with other fans. Often for hours. The trick is getting things started, and getting over that initial hump. Fortunately, the web is the ultimate icebreaker.
The web, of course, is filled with great content—from timely articles to vibrant photos to funny videos. And great content can lead to great conversations. We noticed, however, that it’s still too hard to find and share the things we care about—not without lots of work, and lots of noise. So, we built an online sharing engine called Sparks.
Thanks to Google’s web expertise, Sparks delivers a feed of highly contagious content from across the Internet. On any topic you want, in over 40 languages. Simply add your interests, and you’ll always have something to watch, read and share—with just the right circle of friends:
+Hangouts: stop by and say hello, face-to-face-to-face
Whether it's inside a pub or on a front porch, human beings have always enjoyed hanging out. And why not? It's how we unwind, recharge, and spend unscheduled time with old and new friends alike. Hanging out is deceptively simple though, and the nuance gets lost online.
Just think: when you walk into the pub or step onto your front porch, you're in fact signaling to everyone around, “Hey, I've got some time, so feel free to stop by." Further, it’s this unspoken understanding that puts people at ease, and encourages conversation. But today’s online communication tools (like instant messaging and video-calling) don’t understand this subtlety:
- They’re annoying, for starters. You can ping everyone that’s “available,” but you’re bound to interrupt someone’s plans.
- They’re also really awkward. When someone doesn't respond, you don't know if they’re just not there, or just not interested.
With Google+ we wanted to make on-screen gatherings fun, fluid and serendipitous, so we created Hangouts. By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you're free, and spend time with your Circles. Face-to-face-to-face:
+Mobile: share what’s around, right now, without any hassle
These days a phone is the perfect sharing accessory: it's always with you, it's always online, and it's how we stay close with our closest friends. We didn’t want “just” a mobile experience, however, so with Google+ we focused on things (like GPS, cameras, and messaging) to make your pocket computer even more personal.
+Location, location, location
In life, the places we visit shape conversations in lots of meaningful ways. If we call John from the airport, he’ll likely ask about our trip. Or if Jane texts from a nearby restaurant, we might join her for dessert. With Google+ you can add your location to every post. (Or not. It’s always up to you.)
+Instant Upload
Getting photos off your phone is a huge pain, so most of us don't even bother. Of course pictures are meant to be shared, not stranded, so we created Instant Upload to help you never leave a photo behind. While you're snapping pictures, and with your permission, Google+ adds your photos to a private album in the cloud. This way they're always available across your devices—ready to share as you see fit.
+Huddle
Coordinating with friends and family in real-time is really hard in real life. After all, everyone's on different schedules, in different places, and plans can change at any moment. Phone calls and text messages can work in a pinch, but they're not quite right for getting the gang together. So Google+ includes Huddle, a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know what's going on, right this second.
Starting today Google+ is available on Android Market and the mobile web, and it’s coming soon to the App Store.
+You: putting you first, all across Google
That’s the Google+ project so far: Circles, Sparks, Hangouts and mobile. We’re beginning in Field Trial, so you may find some rough edges, and the project is by invitation only. But online sharing needs a serious re-think, so it’s time we got started. There’s just one more thing—really the only thing: You.
You and over a billion others trust Google, and we don’t take this lightly. In fact we’ve focused on the user for over a decade: liberating data, working for an open Internet, and respecting people’s freedom to be who they want to be. We realize, however, that Google+ is a different kind of project, requiring a different kind of focus—on you. That’s why we’re giving you more ways to stay private or go public; more meaningful choices around your friends and your data; and more ways to let us know how we’re doing. All across Google.
When your invite arrives we hope you’ll join the project. But it’s entirely up to +You.
2. Evolving the Google design and experience
Starting today, you might begin noticing that things look a little different across Google products. We’re working on a project to bring you a new and improved Google experience, and over the next few months, you’ll continue to see more updates to our look and feel. Even our classic homepage is getting a bit of a makeover:
New Google homepage with a smaller logo and links moved to the top and bottom edges of the browser for a cleaner look
The way people use and experience the web is evolving, and our goal is to give you a more seamless and consistent online experience—one that works no matter which Google product you’re using or what device you’re using it on. The new Google experience that we’ve begun working toward is founded on three key design principles: focus, elasticity and effortlessness.
- Focus: Whether you’re searching, emailing or looking for a map, the only thing you should be concerned about is getting what you want. Our job is to provide the tools and features that will get you there quickly and easily. With the design changes in the coming weeks and months, we’re bringing forward the stuff that matters to you and getting all the other clutter out of your way. Even simple changes, like using bolder colors for actionable buttons or hiding navigation buttons until they’re actually needed, can help you better focus on only what you need at the moment.
- Elasticity: In the early days, there was pretty much just one way to use Google: on a desktop computer with an average-sized monitor. Over a decade later, all it takes is a look around one’s home or office at the various mobile devices, tablets, high-resolution monitors and TVs to see a plethora of ways to access the web. The new design will soon allow you to seamlessly transition from one device to another and have a consistent visual experience. We aim to bring you this flexibility without sacrificing style or usefulness.
- Effortlessness: Our design philosophy is to combine power with simplicity. We want to keep our look simple and clean, but behind the seemingly simple design, use new technologies like HTML5, WebGL and the latest, fastest browsers to make sure you have all the power of the web behind you.
Constant revision and improvement is part of our overarching philosophy. For example, last year we introduced an updated look and feel to our search results, and if you compare the original Google homepage to today’s version, you’ll see that a makeover every so often can certainly be refreshing:
Original Google homepage in 1997Starting today and over the course of the next few months, look for a series of design improvements across all our products, including Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail.
3. 8 Everyday Technologies When They Were Cutting Edge
Everything was shiny and new at one point. I can't wait until my kids find today's modern tech in thirty years and mock the lame innovations of the future past.
4. Apple expecting huge demand for updated MacBook Air in July
It appears that Apple is expecting massive demand for updated MacBook Air models that are likely to be launched shortly after the release of Mac OS X Lion. According to sources within Apple's supply chain, production will increase in July approximately 17 percent over June, and could increase as much as 100 percent for the third quarter of this year.
A report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes indicates that production of parts for Apple's MacBook Air "will run in full gear" beginning in July. Total production of Apple notebooks is estimated to be about 2.4 million units for June, and expected to reach as high as 2.8 million units in July, the month Apple is expected to unveil a Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air refresh.
Most curiously, DigiTimes' sources suggested that total MacBook Air production for the third quarter of this year might reach as high as 8 million units, or double the amount for the second quarter. As MacRumors rightly noted, 8 million units would be double Apple's previous total Mac unit sales record of just over 4 million units, making the figure highly suspect.
However, we believe it is possible that the figure includes all MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air production combined. Apple's sales have increasingly been made up primarily of notebook sales, and the MacBook Air models released last October have proven extremely popular despite its lackluster CPU performance. Given these facts, it's conceivable that a Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air—complete with Thunderbolt portand loaded with Lion—could be responsible for a massive increase in production. If so, it shows that Apple expects a refreshed MacBook Air to sell like gangbusters.
Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro models released earlier this year, combined with the popular MacBook Air, could have fueled a large uptick in overall Mac sales in the last three months. Apple's fiscal third quarter results won't be released until next month, so we'll know for sure then if Apple managed to move close to 4 million notebooks as DigiTimes' sources suggest. Once we have verifiable numbers for notebook sales, it will be easier to evaluate the validity of the 8 million unit claim.
5. Synaptic Removed From Ubuntu Linux v11.10
Synaptic is a front-end for the apt package management system. The program allows you to perform all actions of the command line tool apt-get in a graphical environment such as installing, upgrading, downgrading and removing of single packages or even upgrading your whole system. The upcoming Ubuntu Linux version 11.10 (code named Oneiric Ocelot) has removed Synaptic Package Manager.
6. Microsoft Battles for Sky Supremacy With Office 365 Launch
Microsoft on Tuesday launched its newest cloud service, Office 365, in 40 markets. The service consists of online versions of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Lync. Pricing runs from $2 to $11 per user per month. Microsoft's building up an ecosystem around the service, and more than 20 service providers around the world, including several telephone companies, have announced they'll offer Office 365 to customers this year. Office 365 is in some ways Microsoft's answer to Google Apps.
7. LulzSec Heads for the Hills, Anon Hacks On
The hacker group LulzSec has apparently decided to shut down operations and sail off into the sunset. Fellow hacker community Anonymous, with which LulzSec has teamed up, may take up where LulzSec left off. "We can confirm that all @LulzSec members have reported aboard," Anonymous tweeted. Anonymous vowed to continue Operation Anti-Security, the attack on government sites worldwide that it launched jointly with LulzSec June 19. However, the seemingly random hack attacks may not stop with LulzSec's apparent shutdown.
Can any one send me google + invitation ,
ReplyDeletesend at : aamir.sky@gmail.com
Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately Google closed off invites after just a few hours as demand was apparently “insanely high,” according to Google SVP of Social Vic Gundotra.
ReplyDelete