UKBouldering.com

technical => computers, technology and the internet => Topic started by: slackline on December 08, 2009, 01:32:23 pm

Title: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 08, 2009, 01:32:23 pm
After having started innumerable threads in this sub-forum about new innovations from Google I've decided its time to centralise them into one thread*.

Today Google announced real-time search (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/relevance-meets-real-time-web.html).





* If any bored admins want to merge the other threads into here that would be great, here are the ones I've found/started...

Google Wave (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,11795.0/all.html)
Google Chrome OS (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,12994.0.html)
Google Swirl (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,12974.0.html)
Google on Caffeine (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,12313.0.html)
Google Street View (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,11277.0.html)
Google Phones (i.e. Android) (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,9946.0.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on December 08, 2009, 01:34:26 pm
Out of interest, had anyone actually used Google Street View after the novelty of looking at your own house and couple of mates' has worn off? Seems like a lot of hassle for what it is.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 14, 2010, 01:37:47 pm
I use streetview quite a lot, particularly since its available on the phone, handy to see what you're trying to find when you're in unfamiliar territory.

Anyway, the point of resurrecting this thread is I came across a Google-like search engine for rifling through web-servers that have an index of the files hosted.

Not that I'd ever condone the downloading of copyrighted material, but if you want to try it out go to Gooload (http://www.gooload.com/).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bonjoy on June 14, 2010, 02:24:30 pm
Google street view is really useful for my job and I use it a lot. Where in the past I’d have to visit a highrise block to get the info to produce a quote, I can now usually get all the info on building layout from either Street view or Bird’s Eye view.Very useful.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on June 16, 2010, 04:54:12 pm
Google have added property search onto maps (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/358723/google-maps-adds-property-search)

http://maps.google.co.uk/realestate (http://maps.google.co.uk/realestate)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on June 18, 2010, 09:39:00 pm

Google command line tool: http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2010/06/introducing-google-command-line-tool.html (http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2010/06/introducing-google-command-line-tool.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 20, 2010, 06:19:56 pm

Google command line tool: http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2010/06/introducing-google-command-line-tool.html (http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2010/06/introducing-google-command-line-tool.html)

Nice, and its in Gentoo's portage, installing now.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Will Hunt on June 21, 2010, 12:11:32 am
I'm of the opinion that Google Maps and Street View is one of the most powerful free tools on the web. I use the Maps several times a week for personal use and have used Street View a huge amount at work. Trying to find good spots to install monitoring equipment and find safe spots to do spot sampling it has been an enormous help.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 21, 2010, 11:57:13 am
Funky use of Google Maps that overlays real-time London tubes on the map (http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/).

Handy if you can get a decent 3G signal in the city/tubes (or you could just look at the platform signs!).

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: pabs on June 22, 2010, 01:42:09 pm
I'm of the opinion that Google Maps and Street View is one of the most powerful free tools on the web. I use the Maps several times a week for personal use and have used Street View a huge amount at work. Trying to find good spots to install monitoring equipment and find safe spots to do spot sampling it has been an enormous help.

It's great for female friendly directions as well - 'turn right at the blue house' type of thing. I'm walking the 14 peaks this weekend and I'm now pretty confident the mrs will be there at the end to pick me up.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 30, 2010, 09:45:54 am
Decided to try out Google Public DNS (http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/) after having trouble with OpenDNS failing to resolve UKB when I know damn well its up and running.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on June 30, 2010, 10:35:51 am
Decided to try out Google Public DNS (http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/) after having trouble with OpenDNS failing to resolve UKB when I know damn well its up and running.
Ooh - that's interesting, I too have the odd problem with OpenDNS...

So is it better?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 30, 2010, 10:38:02 am
Based on the hour and a half I've been using it so far it is.  :P
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on June 30, 2010, 10:42:33 am
 :lol:

I will swap over on the weekend, unless I hear otherwise...  :dance1:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 30, 2010, 02:14:06 pm
And I managed to completely miss Google Voice for everyone (http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-voice-for-everyone.html)

Wonder if its going to make it into Android 2.2, could save even more on the phone bill!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on June 30, 2010, 03:17:33 pm
Waiting for Froyo to be released for my handset...  :(
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Johnny Brown on June 30, 2010, 03:22:11 pm
Quote
Just to clarify, though we've opened up sign-ups, Google Voice is still limited to everyone in the U.S. for now.

So not really everyone then.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on July 02, 2010, 10:46:36 am
As per topic title 'Google Shit' has been verified - the google favourite icon explained :)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_JachDW9ag/TCzR2Qx_fGI/AAAAAAAAIfQ/zR79tet70X8/s800/zanypickle_07011056.png)


Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 02, 2010, 10:53:28 am
 :lol: Very good!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on July 12, 2010, 09:21:18 pm
Create your own Android apps - no programming knowledge needed!

http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/ (http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 05, 2010, 09:25:00 am
 :wave: goodbye (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/update-on-google-wave.html) (to future development at least).

Never got into using it myself, found the UI rather cluttered.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: dobbin on August 05, 2010, 09:28:52 am
This was a really good idea, and ultimately what microsoft implement with exchange 2010 and outlook 2010.

The problem with this trial was that it needed other people to be on it for it to work. As is always the case, you go on something to speak to people but if you cant because all your friends arent on it, then its of limited personal value.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on August 05, 2010, 09:47:00 am
I guess for things like that it has a threshold number of users before it serves any purpose. One that is passed and it becomes more commonly used, the popularity escalates rapidly.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 22, 2010, 09:44:17 am
Now search for free/legal mp3/streams of Indian music (http://www.google.co.in/music)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on October 22, 2010, 04:48:40 pm
Can you get Indian DnB?  :lol:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on October 22, 2010, 04:58:45 pm
Can you get Indian DnB?  :lol:
Listen to Nihal's show.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Tris on November 08, 2010, 04:42:01 pm
Saw a review of this on the BBC Click show and it looked pretty funky:

http://sketchup.google.com/ (http://sketchup.google.com/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 15, 2010, 12:50:58 pm
See how Google is connecting you (http://www.google.com/s2/search/social) (if you have a Google account that is!)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 07, 2011, 10:04:53 am
Google WWII Historical Imagery (http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2010/02/wwii-historical-imagery-in-google-earth.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 08, 2011, 12:22:57 pm
Coming soon Music streaming from Google (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/08/google_music_sync/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Iesu on May 20, 2011, 12:23:45 pm
Google have added property search onto maps (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/358723/google-maps-adds-property-search)

http://maps.google.co.uk/realestate (http://maps.google.co.uk/realestate)

and promptly dropped it (apologies if this isn't "news" to you):

http://searchengineland.com/google-will-drop-real-estate-search-listings-from-maps-62496 (http://searchengineland.com/google-will-drop-real-estate-search-listings-from-maps-62496)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 20, 2011, 12:50:21 pm
Not exactly "prompt" given its been a feature since 2009 (I only encountered it last year), particularly from a technology perspective!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Iesu on May 20, 2011, 03:52:40 pm
um, I may well indeed be missing something here but the original link from this thread is from 2010 and the following suggests it's not been out that long. I certiably only fairly recently noticed it

Quote from: linked article above
In fact, PropertyPal.com — one of the services that has provided UK real estate listings to Google since last summer– confirmed that today:

"… on the whole, we experienced minimal traffic from maps over the course of its short 8 month lifespan. Google had tried a number of strategies to promote the service including running Google ads, none of which pushed any significant traffic, or increased uptake."
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 20, 2011, 03:59:37 pm
um, I may well indeed be missing something here but the original link from this thread is from 2010 and the following suggests it's not been out that long. I certiably only fairly recently noticed it

Quote from: linked article above
In fact, PropertyPal.com — one of the services that has provided UK real estate listings to Google since last summer– confirmed that today:

"… on the whole, we experienced minimal traffic from maps over the course of its short 8 month lifespan. Google had tried a number of strategies to promote the service including running Google ads, none of which pushed any significant traffic, or increased uptake."

Did you read the article you linked?  The second paragraph opens with...

Quote from: linked article above
Real estate was one of the options available inside Google Maps since July 2009, when it added a similar search form like the ones available on many real estate-specific websites.

...and as I wrote...

(I only encountered it last year)

So no surprise I didn't post earlier about something I didn't know about!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Iesu on May 20, 2011, 04:08:55 pm
oops missed that bit; I :standcorrectedsmiley:

 :chair:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 09:36:54 am
Google are set to enter the "social networking" scene with Google+ (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/introducing-google-project-real-life.html)

Short review (http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2011/06/inside-google-how-the-search-giant-plans-to-go-social.ars)

I wonder if it will go the same way as  :wave:  (https://wave.google.com/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2011, 12:38:08 pm
I don't have high hopes for Google+, only cause Wave seemed awesome but never really caught on.  I like what they're trying to do but for any Social Networking thing to work millions of people need to get on it and I'm not sure Google+ looks like it has the draw to do that.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 02:03:42 pm
I think it will be interesting to watch how this develops.  The impression I have is that the success of Farcebook and Twitter has been because they had a very simple idea and then let it evolve as the users wished to see it evolve, neither having any strict business or even goals for functionality set in stone.

In the meantime, get your Google Takeout (https://www.google.com/takeout/) (which strangely doesn't include Wave stuff  :shrug:).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2011, 02:27:17 pm
I think Facebook and Twitter both do so well for the reasons you say an because they are both different from each other so not really in competition, I'm just not sure people will bother with a new one when they already have FB/Twitter.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 02:59:45 pm
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/googleplus.png) (http://xkcd.com/918/)

 :clap2:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2011, 03:25:55 pm
I know a few people who are exactly like that.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 03:28:18 pm
Me too  :P
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2011, 03:42:02 pm
A friend of mine who claims to be an IT bod said with authority Facebook was "just a phase" when people started using it a few years back and stubbornly refused to have anything to do with it, and still does out of principle, in spite of using his girfriends account all the time to see who's doing what.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 03:45:38 pm
I thought it would just be a phase too and didn't sign up 'cause I didn't like the amount of info they wanted to have.

I still don't use it to this day (not even peeking at my wifes account), not out of principle, but because I still don't like the T&C.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2011, 04:05:57 pm
I love it.  It's made creeping on people on the internet a million times easier.  8)

I don't really understand all the issues with the T&C and privacy, surely you just don't put anything on there that you don't want people to see, much like the rest of the internet.  The basic info required to join is pretty minimal.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 04:08:49 pm
I don't really understand all the issues with the T&C and privacy, surely you just don't put anything on there that you don't want people to see, much like the rest of the internet.  The basic info required to join is pretty minimal.

Like your name, which is precisely why I use pseudonym user names, but thats not the point of Farcebook, its based on using your real name, which I don't wish to use, ergo...

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2011, 04:28:25 pm
Yes, if you don't want anyone knowing your real name you're a bit more stuck.  Although I know several people who use false names and seem to get away with it.  Although it defeats the purpose a bit as how does anyone find you? :)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2011, 04:32:24 pm
There's caution and then there's paranoia. I've used my name on it for x years and been fine. Someone can access my real name and birthday, SFW?

Not like I've done anything daft like give all my personal details to an online gaming network.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: chillax on June 29, 2011, 04:41:01 pm
I don't really understand all the issues with the T&C and privacy, surely you just don't put anything on there that you don't want people to see, much like the rest of the internet.  The basic info required to join is pretty minimal.

Like your name, which is precisely why I use pseudonym user names, but thats not the point of Farcebook, its based on using your real name, which I don't wish to use, ergo...

Bit of elementary snooping and you can find a lot without recourse to Crackbook. If you're worried about your name you have to be hyper-vigilant, almost to the point of not going on the internet. Even you could be more cautious N....
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2011, 04:45:15 pm
It's not like slackers ever insists on backlinking to his Flickr account with his full name on it or anything ;)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 29, 2011, 04:49:56 pm
I'm well aware of the ease with which things can be linked and the information I've made available on Flickr.  :tease:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 29, 2011, 04:53:44 pm
It's not the privacy thing I'm bothered about I'm just not interested. Most people I know who are obsessed with Facebook are total dicks, it's not a good sign.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2011, 06:02:38 pm
I am a bit of a dick, it's true. ;)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2011, 10:39:57 pm
But you are only a bit obsessed with facebook, so that figures.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on July 01, 2011, 08:46:15 am
I don't really understand all the issues with the T&C and privacy, surely you just don't put anything on there that you don't want people to see, much like the rest of the internet.  The basic info required to join is pretty minimal.

Like your name, which is precisely why I use pseudonym user names, but thats not the point of Farcebook, its based on using your real name, which I don't wish to use, ergo...

I would say that it goes without saying that you aren't intereseted in social networking if you aren't prepared to expose your name.

Although I am friends with some people on Facebook that aren't using anything remotely like a real name.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on July 01, 2011, 08:48:30 am
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/googleplus.png) (http://xkcd.com/918/)

 :clap2:


I'm the exact opposite. If google are involved, I'm not there. I don't trust them at all.

As far as I am concerned they are the evil empire. They took that crown from MS quite a few years ago and I'm not the only one that I know that thinks that way too.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 01, 2011, 10:04:13 am
I would say that it goes without saying that you aren't intereseted in social networking if you aren't prepared to expose your name.

Although I am friends with some people on Facebook that aren't using anything remotely like a real name.

Really?  You can still interact and "socialise" with people online without knowing their real name (which was chosen for you by your parents, or deed poll if you didn't like that moniker and is essentially arbitrary).

I've posted on here and other forums for ages using a pseudonym.  When I started out it wouldn't have made any difference if I'd used my real name or slack---line, as no one knew me.  Over time I've got to know the character of several posters here and have met a few people too.  Not great friends/best buddies, but stop and have a quick chat when we meet at the wall.  Others have meet up and go climbing/bouldering together having first made contact through here, and whilst using pseudonym usernames!

If I want to get in contact with friends I don't need Farcebook to do that, because they all have an email address (which they would have needed to register there anyway).  And as for finding "lost friends" (a la Friendsreuinited.com that did this years before Farcebook), there's a reason I don't keep in touch with some people and I don't need them "socially networking" with me to bolster their popularity.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on July 01, 2011, 10:56:41 am
Exactly. Your not interested in social networking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network)

Social networking isn't chatting to random people online and then metting some of them.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 01, 2011, 11:01:46 am
Exactly. Your not interested in social networking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network)

Social networking isn't chatting to random people online and then metting some of them.

Did you read the opening paragraph of that Wiki page?

Quote
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes", which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.

Thus the fact that people are "random" is irrelevant, here we share a "common interest" (i.e. bouldering/climbing) and a lot of shared "knowledge" thus it qualifies as a form of social networking. 

It might not be how you view it, but by the definition you are citing it is a form of "social networking". :ras:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 01, 2011, 02:25:16 pm
Yep. It's all the same shit really. That's why I used to find it hilarious that Sloper would slag off blogs and blogging as the work of the devil/Labour Party but was happy to eulogise at great length on here about his personal views on just about anything.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 10, 2011, 10:54:23 pm
If anyone wants an invite to Google+ PM me your email address.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on July 10, 2011, 10:55:49 pm
after reading the T&C I think I'll pass on plus!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 10, 2011, 11:10:54 pm
after reading the T&C I think I'll pass on plus!

What bit aren't you keen on?

here for those interested...
https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/+/policy/index.html (https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/+/policy/index.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on July 10, 2011, 11:14:14 pm
That'd be this bit:

Quote from: Don't Be Evil
    “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.”

    “You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.”

    “You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.”
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 10, 2011, 11:38:09 pm
That'd be this bit:

Quote from: Don't Be Evil
    “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.”

    “You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.”

    “You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.”

True it probably isn't the best place for your professional photo archive/pension however you are selectively quoting them, missing out a fairly important statement. The full paragraph is...

Quote
11.   Content license from you

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.

11.2   You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.

11.3   You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may (a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and (b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.

11.4   You confirm and warrant to Google that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above license.

http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS (http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on July 10, 2011, 11:47:38 pm
True it probably isn't the best place for your professional photo archive/pension however you are selectively quoting them, missing out a fairly important statement. The full paragraph is...

Quoted from another article rather than purposely so. I'm less than happy that it misquotes in that way.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on July 11, 2011, 09:59:55 am
Is Google+ any good then?  I have an invite but I suspect i will just be talking to myself as I don't know anybody else on there except the girl that invited me.  :lol:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 11, 2011, 10:17:35 am
Too early to say whether its any good really.

The UI under Android is very simple and easy to navigate/use, the WebUI slightly less so in my experience so far (a whole day of virtual non-usage).

Be wary of the fact that the default is to include your location when posting.  If you're not happy with this you don't have to include it.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 11, 2011, 01:29:03 pm
That's interesting, Google+ isn't banned at work however I can't use it (even for work purposes) as SCC still uses IE7 and G+ sends you to a 'upgrade your browser' page. I knew IE6 was generally no longer supported but IE7 isn't that old. :shrug:

Blimey, just looked it up, wouldn't have guessed it was out in 2006, still got more market share than IE8 from 2009

https://plus.google.com/not-supported/?ref=/
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 11, 2011, 01:35:58 pm
I knew IE6 was generally no longer supported but IE7 isn't that old. :shrug:

Internet Explorer 7 was released on October 18, 2006... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer#Internet_Explorer_7)

> 4.5 years is quite dated really, especially as IE 9 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer#Internet_Explorer_9) was released a few months ago and 10 was recently announced.

Perhaps the retarded "we can not upgrade until its already dated" attitude of government councils and the NHS is done purposefully.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: fried on July 11, 2011, 01:48:09 pm
We're still using IE7 at work and it's like something from another age.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on July 11, 2011, 02:47:52 pm
A friend of mine that works in a government department said that they are still on IE6 because thier out sourced IT company quoted far too large a sum of money to upgrade it.

I shook my head in dispair.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on July 11, 2011, 04:30:22 pm
I can't even get onto the main page at work, it just gives me a:
Quote
  Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage
Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address.
 
What you can try:
  Diagnose Connection Problems 
  More information
So that might be to do with the browser?  We're definitely on IE here and I am pretty sure it'll be an old version.  I like Google but they're going a bit like Apple in that if you won't or can't use all their stuff they make it hugely difficult for you.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 11, 2011, 04:38:50 pm
I like Google but they're going a bit like Apple in that if you won't or can't use all their stuff they make it hugely difficult for you.

I don't see any reason for having web-standards as defined and ratified by the W3C (http://www.w3.org/) which people are suppossed to adhere to in both their web-site mark-up and the engine that underlies the browser, because by doing so things "just work", that is after all the point of having standards.  People who strive to meet those standards in their new web-sites are then spending time developing their web-sites standards compliant features instead of making sure that their new site works with non-standards compliant browsers that are four or five (often more) years old.



(And if you won't use something through choice then of course you're going to find it difficult to use, temptation is clearly hard to resist :P).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on July 12, 2011, 11:42:38 am
I have no idea what any of that means, Slackers. :lol:

I am stuck on IE 6 or something in work, it's not through choice, I'm all over the latest version of Chrome at home. ;)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 12, 2011, 11:55:27 am
I have no idea what any of that means, Slackers. :lol:

The point I'm making is why should web-site developers waste time making sure their site works in an outdated, superseeded (and fundamentally non-standards compliant in the first place) web-browser when their time could be better spent using the new standards which have more funky features that new browsers work with fine.

If this forces IT departments to pull their thumbs out of their arses and upgrade then thats a good thing, because old browsers tend to be superseeded for a number of reasons, not least security issues.

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 12, 2011, 12:18:32 pm
I'm all over the latest version of Chrome at home. ;)

Magpie may I introduce you to a good friend (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chrome+portable+version) of mine.  :whistle:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Johnny Brown on July 12, 2011, 12:27:20 pm
Quote from: slack---line
making sure their site works in an outdated, superseeded web-browser

What's that then, something you got off a torrent site? Standards are slipping!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 12, 2011, 12:30:35 pm
 :lol: lack of attention to the red underlining.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on July 12, 2011, 12:42:14 pm
I'm all over the latest version of Chrome at home. ;)

Magpie may I introduce you to a good friend (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chrome+portable+version) of mine.  :whistle:

:lol:

I know about that, I am a bit hesitant to use it in work though, it's against our internet policy and I don't really want sacked over using Google+, I've done much worse stuff I'd rather be binned for. ;)

I can get Google+ on my phone anyway, so I can see it here, just not in all it's detail.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Grubes on July 13, 2011, 07:53:27 am
ok I had a play on google+ last night felt abit :tumble:
I don't (yet) see how it will be any better than farcebook.
What the adantages? You can watch a video on youtube at the same time without spamming a url to a few mates?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 13, 2011, 08:33:01 am
One thing I've noticed that you could use it for is as an alternative to a managing a mailing list as its possible to have people in a "circle" who aren't actually signed up to Google+ itself yet would receive copies of messages you send to that circle via email (at least I think thats how it can work).

There are a load of video teasers on how great Google+ is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwnJ5Bl4kLI&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SPF3DFB800F05F551A#ws) to try and convince you.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: magpie on July 13, 2011, 12:49:57 pm
I quite like it, it's much better if you can convince 20+ randoms from an internet message board to join you (as I did with people from another forum) though, that way you have someone to talk to. :)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 13, 2011, 04:35:32 pm
That's right, the whole of ukcatswearinglipgloss.com is now on Google+.  ;D

A bit  :off: but why do big firms / govt agencies seem to have such a problem "upgrading" their web browsers to something that isn't totally shit and outdated? Is it not just a question of telling everyone to download whatever new browser they want people to use as the standard one and why would something that's free cost a fortune to implement? I don't get it.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 13, 2011, 04:41:15 pm
A bit  :off: but why do big firms / govt agencies seem to have such a problem "upgrading" their web browsers to something that isn't totally shit and outdated? Is it not just a question of telling everyone to download whatever new browser they want people to use as the standard one and why would something that's free cost a fortune to implement? I don't get it.

No real idea, but often computers in large coroporations are "cloned" from a standard image, and the ability to install and upgrade software by the people who use them day to day is disabled (for security reasons as many people may well allow malicious software to be installed) and I guess in part it comes down to the way in which such systems are remotely managed, but also will often require a technically illiterate manager to sign-off on the upgrade when they may well fear being responsible for things going wrong if they do.  There may also be an element of "It should 'just workTM' why do we need to upgrade?" at play with such managers.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 13, 2011, 04:51:34 pm
I see. Add in unscrupulous pricks in external support companies who exploit the management idiots with "well, it's going to cost you......" and you can see how it ends up in a mess.

 :shit:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on July 13, 2011, 05:14:59 pm
That is pretty much the senario, in every large company and government department that decided that outsourcing the IT was a good way to save money.

They are now handcuffed to a pile of shit. But the managers signing off on the outsourcing contract know so little about IT they don't know they are screwing themselves.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: climbingjoe1984 on July 13, 2011, 06:55:45 pm
Maybe if web based office software becomes trusted something like http://www.google.com/chromebook/ (http://www.google.com/chromebook/) might help this problem disappear. Google looking after you IT might fill some with dread, but at least things would be kept up to date.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 13, 2011, 07:33:29 pm
Maybe if web based office software becomes trusted something like http://www.google.com/chromebook/ (http://www.google.com/chromebook/) might help this problem disappear. Google looking after you IT might fill some with dread, but at least things would be kept up to date.

University of Sheffield has switched email and imminently Calendar/Diaries to Googles services, limited office capability at present.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Falling Down on July 14, 2011, 09:13:04 pm
That's right, the whole of ukcatswearinglipgloss.com is now on Google+.  ;D

A bit  :off: but why do big firms / govt agencies seem to have such a problem "upgrading" their web browsers to something that isn't totally shit and outdated? Is it not just a question of telling everyone to download whatever new browser they want people to use as the standard one and why would something that's free cost a fortune to implement? I don't get it.

A bigger problem for large companies is that software companies (and Slackers, I might add open source collectives) release feature laden but completely insecure, buggy, english only and un-backwards compatible products that rarely work as promised.  The cost/benefit of staying well behind the curve when it comes to software releaseses is well apparent.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 15, 2011, 07:53:37 am
That makes sense.........but IE6/7?! Surely no excuse.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 15, 2011, 08:20:08 am
A bigger problem for large companies is that software companies (and Slackers, I might add open source collectives) release feature laden but completely insecure, buggy, english only and un-backwards compatible products that rarely work as promised.  The cost/benefit of staying well behind the curve when it comes to software releaseses is well apparent.

 :agree: with most all of that, but you'll find that in most open source projects backwards compatibility is almost always maintained.

I think its erroneous to consider any software to be bug free, there will always be problems because they're written by humans who are fallable.  Most free open-source software (FOSS) have what are considered "stable" releases (tend to have even number versions like 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0 etc.) and development releases (which tend to have odd number versions 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.9 etc.).   Although personally I run the latest releases of almost all software on my systems as I run an "unstable" branch, upgrading within a day or so of releases.  About 98% of the time everything "just works", but then I don't run any widely used resources nor "mission critical" processes.

In both free and open source software the GNU GPL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html) or the EULA make it clear that software is provided with out any liability and ' “as is” without warranty' should anything go wrong (i.e. you can't sue M$ when word or Sun when OpenOffice crashes and you lose your last hours worth of work).  You just pay for that privilege with non-FOSS (and can't modify the program should you find a bug and be capable and inclined to fix it thus helping to improve the software over time as you would normally feed the fix back up-stream).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on July 15, 2011, 09:19:30 am
The cost/benefit of staying well behind the curve when it comes to software releaseses is well apparent.

Futureproofing retrospectively :)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 15, 2011, 09:27:18 am
There is also the issue that if no one bothers to try out new versions of software, bugs and problems won't be identified and will remain unfixed.  The more people uptake and use things and provide feedback the faster software improves.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 15, 2011, 03:07:03 pm

(http://i.imgur.com/Nwha7.jpg)

 :lol:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on July 22, 2011, 05:13:32 pm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8655358/Google-attracts-20-million-users-in-first-3-weeks.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8655358/Google-attracts-20-million-users-in-first-3-weeks.html)

Not a bad start?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 15, 2011, 03:38:14 pm
Google buy Motorola (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14530543)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 15, 2011, 05:16:31 pm
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyfZ7Stj4egRwoQvFVo-aAXZtgAw7-UfOd1tSwU_kOPHLteRkzaA)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 16, 2011, 02:38:23 pm
For anyone who uses the WebUI to gmail....

Next time you're using it try hitting 'Shift + ?' brings up a window with all the short-cut keys which is pretty handy, because you don't type emails with your mouse, but with your hands on the keyboard, so you'll save wasting time moving your hand from the keyboard to the mouse just to click on the "Compose Mail" button (Ctrl + C).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Iesu on August 18, 2011, 12:28:05 pm
A bit  :off: but why do big firms / govt agencies seem to have such a problem "upgrading" their web browsers to something that isn't totally shit and outdated? Is it not just a question of telling everyone to download whatever new browser they want people to use as the standard one and why would something that's free cost a fortune to implement? I don't get it.

No real idea, but often computers in large coroporations are "cloned" from a standard image, and the ability to install and upgrade software by the people who use them day to day is disabled (for security reasons as many people may well allow malicious software to be installed) and I guess in part it comes down to the way in which such systems are remotely managed, but also will often require a technically illiterate manager to sign-off on the upgrade when they may well fear being responsible for things going wrong if they do.  There may also be an element of "It should 'just workTM' why do we need to upgrade?" at play with such managers.

I haven't bothered reading the whole thread, so apologies if someone's already answered this one.

The reason (as I understand it) for many large corp's hanging onto outdated browsers (My entire company was on IE6 or something similarly utterly daft until last year), is MAINLY because they are reliant on browser based web applications whose developers tend to be VERY slow to update to work with modern, standards compliant browsers.

For example my company's entire accounts system is inside a web app, so any time I need to check on project budgets, allocations, timesheets, etc etc etc I have to use a browser, and usually a shit one.

So blame the developers again (or something) :)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tomtom on August 18, 2011, 01:04:17 pm
I think its all Slacklines fault :p

;)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 18, 2011, 01:42:58 pm
I think its all Slacklines fault :p

;)

Not me, I'm a paragon of keeping-everything-up-to-date (update two desktops from source packages daily  :geek:)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on August 30, 2011, 07:51:30 am
Ooops, Google is broken (http://mrdoob.com/projects/chromeexperiments/google_gravity/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Clart on August 30, 2011, 06:29:51 pm
Ooops, Google is broken (http://mrdoob.com/projects/chromeexperiments/google_gravity/)

... and it still works. Genius.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 02, 2011, 04:10:06 pm
Worth a read if you use Googles search engine (http://waxy.org/2011/10/google_kills_its_other_plus/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tesla on November 04, 2011, 01:04:42 am
Try searching for 'do a barrel roll' :-)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 16, 2011, 10:30:57 am
Search verbatim (http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2011/11/search-using-your-terms-verbatim.html)  :clap2:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 17, 2011, 07:58:58 am
Google Music (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/google-music-is-open-for-business.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tesla on December 09, 2011, 08:07:19 pm
Don't get pwned, get Chrome:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/09/chrome_ie_firefox_security_bakeoff/ (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/09/chrome_ie_firefox_security_bakeoff/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 10, 2011, 08:34:47 am
No Opera comparison   :shrug:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tesla on December 20, 2011, 11:43:35 pm
Nice double-dragon style easter egg here:

http://www.youtube.com/ninjaunboxing3 (http://www.youtube.com/ninjaunboxing3)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on January 25, 2012, 07:02:45 pm
Google unifying privacy policy across all services  (http://bbc.in/zYk6Ws).

Something to bear in mind and read. Undecided on whether its good (obviously need to read it in detail when moved).

EDIT : Official blogpost (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/updating-our-privacy-policies-and-terms.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tesla on February 28, 2012, 03:23:59 pm
Pwnium: extending Chrome's vulnerability reward program (up to $1m USD total for working Chrome exploits).

http://blog.chromium.org/2012/02/pwnium-rewards-for-exploits.html (http://blog.chromium.org/2012/02/pwnium-rewards-for-exploits.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 02, 2012, 02:33:24 pm
Google made a real effort this year for April fools day. Gmail Tap (https://mail.google.com/mail/help/promos/tap/index.html), driverless Nascars (http://www.google.com/racing/), etc, but my favorite by far was 8bit Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/?t=8&utm_campaign=8bit&utm_source=yt), which actually works, including 8bit Street View. Genius. Still working at the mo, but the 'Quest' button has gone so be quick if you want a play. The one about getting all of YouTube on DVD was just silly.

Google Maps 8-bit for NES (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rznYifPHxDg#ws)
Blowing on the cart is genius.

Not an April Fool but this is also fun to play with
http://www.google.com.hk/intl/zh-CN/landing/shuixia/ (http://www.google.com.hk/intl/zh-CN/landing/shuixia/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on April 02, 2012, 05:28:24 pm
Searching for 'recursion' might amuse too.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on April 27, 2012, 12:03:00 pm
Type 'zerg rush' into Google.  :)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: dave on April 27, 2012, 01:04:09 pm
Does fuck all for me.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on April 27, 2012, 01:15:54 pm
Could be javascript options are disabled in your browser.  :shrug:

Just a little game to play, nothing revolutionary.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 30, 2012, 04:19:35 pm
Been playing with Google Fusion Tables (http://www.google.com/fusiontables/Home/), which is essentially an extension of Google Docs mashed up with Google Maps.

You can do a lot with the built in tools, some of which are still 'experimental'. Theres other 3rd party tools and wizards to customise things. And if you use the API it's almost limitless what you can do with it...

https://sites.google.com/site/fusiontablestalks/stories (https://sites.google.com/site/fusiontablestalks/stories)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 01, 2012, 06:22:18 pm
Now read spam in lots of different languages! Gmail automatically translates emails (http://gmailblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/say-hello-or-ola-or-halo-or-salam-to.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 23, 2012, 08:25:06 am
Celebrate Robert Moog's 78th Birthday today with Google.  8)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 27, 2012, 05:00:12 pm
With the Google I/O event they've been very busy...

http://www.buildwithchrome.com (http://www.buildwithchrome.com)
LEGO® Sydney Harbour Bridge created in Build with Chrome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQnRIRSvHJg#ws)

and
https://developers.google.com/events/io/input-output/ (https://developers.google.com/events/io/input-output/)
is also pretty cool
Google INPUT/OUTPUT Game Infinite Loop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo9oSo_6lWQ#ws)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 11, 2012, 07:32:43 am
Google Maps now covers cycle routes in the UK (http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/google-maps-bicycling-route-finding-arrives-in-uk/013336)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 10, 2012, 05:25:35 pm
Looks like Tomtom are doing their own version of Streetview. Spotted one of these cars today in Sheffield
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/tomtom-working-on-its-own-street-view-like-service/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/tomtom-working-on-its-own-street-view-like-service/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tomtom on September 10, 2012, 05:49:51 pm
nuffin to do with me guv!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on September 10, 2012, 07:25:01 pm
Google Maps is also to be removed from iferns with the next OS update in favour of their own map product.  Its going to have some stuff competition with the existing user generated content that has been accrued over several years on Google Maps.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 10, 2012, 07:38:21 pm
Yeah I initially thought there's a chance Apple might buy the data from TomTom but it sounds like they have their own aerial stuff planned using military drones. Your right it will take a lot of investment to beat the Google data. Google traffic alone is enough reason to own an android phone. Ifern users out there, can you currently use Google traffic on your phones?
Title: Google Shit
Post by: tomtom on September 10, 2012, 08:11:34 pm
Yeah I initially thought there's a chance Apple might buy the data from TomTom but it sounds like they have their own aerial stuff planned using military drones. Your right it will take a lot of investment to beat the Google data. Google traffic alone is enough reason to own an android phone. Ifern users out there, can you currently use Google traffic on your phones?

They are licensing the data from TomTom according to an article I read today..

Yes - I think so, red lines on the maps for traffic?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 17, 2012, 04:28:52 pm
http://www.chromeweblab.com (http://www.chromeweblab.com)

Not the best thing Google has done. Looks better than it works, couldn't connect to the music bit when I tried.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 20, 2012, 03:45:10 pm
Google Maps is also to be removed from iferns with the next OS update in favour of their own map product.  Its going to have some stuff competition with the existing user generated content that has been accrued over several years on Google Maps.
Unsurprisingly the first version of Apple Maps without Google data is a bit shit...
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/09/20/apple_fans_slam_ios_6_map_app/ (http://www.reghardware.com/2012/09/20/apple_fans_slam_ios_6_map_app/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: cofe on September 20, 2012, 04:01:24 pm
Anyone used one of the AirPlay apps with an Android phone?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on September 26, 2012, 09:58:23 am
Google gets wet (http://goo.gl/maps/AFdy0)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on October 03, 2012, 09:12:49 pm
Anyone know how you can find out how old the images on a certain part of google maps are?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on October 03, 2012, 09:29:52 pm

http://www.labnol.org/internet/find-date-of-satellite-images/2964/ (http://www.labnol.org/internet/find-date-of-satellite-images/2964/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on October 03, 2012, 09:44:47 pm
Cheers. Tried it on iPad and it doesn't work though.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on October 03, 2012, 10:06:06 pm
Works for me but I suspect you need the actual Google Earth desktop application, not an iPad app or just clicking the "google earth" tab whilst in maps.

Looking at my house, it says "Imagery Date 9/21/2008"
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 18, 2012, 09:41:21 am
Explore a Google data center with Street View (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avP5d16wEp0#ws)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 18, 2012, 12:55:21 pm
Geeks (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Google+data+center+-+Lenoir,+North+Carolina&hl=en&ll=35.898176,-81.548166&spn=0.006901,0.013068&sll=35.900197,-81.547024&layer=c&cid=7373938251588581469&panoid=qlcZPzXMS12y_CrDh64Qvw&cbp=13,305.89,,2,3.39&hq=Google+data+center+-+Lenoir,+North+Carolina&t=h&z=17&cbll=35.898186,-81.548184).  ::)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jim on October 18, 2012, 06:37:45 pm
WOW
I want one
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 18, 2012, 11:37:34 pm
Data centre or Strom-Tropper suit?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 18, 2012, 11:48:59 pm
Strom-Tropper suit?
:clap2: impressive typo
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 18, 2012, 11:58:14 pm
 :oops: I really should proof what I touch-type.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jim on October 19, 2012, 01:19:13 pm
both (but preferabbly the data-centre)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 29, 2012, 05:56:02 pm
Google Music coming to the UK, two new Nexus devices (Nexus 4 seems dirt cheap!), Google Now, and films to buy through Play (http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nexus-best-of-google-now-in-three-sizes.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 30, 2012, 11:36:01 am
Wow that is cheap! Just heard a review on the radio that said it has the best screen on the market.

No SD card slot but I suppose with the 16GB one at £279 that's not such a big deal for most people.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 30, 2012, 11:47:57 am
No SD card slot but I suppose with the 16GB one at £279 that's not such a big deal for most people.

Its annoying, but you can get one of these (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005FUNQXS/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00) (got mine* at £0.98, but its not going to break the bank at £1.43) and then follow these instructions (http://www.androidcentral.com/how-use-your-usb-flash-drives-nexus-7-root) and possibly use this cheap app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer&hl=en) to then use a cheap XXGb flash drive to host your music/video/etc.

* Works fine with a Samsung Galaxy S2, and I can back up my camera's pictures to the phone now  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 30, 2012, 12:01:16 pm
Having had a quick look at storage usage in my S2 I'd be fine with 16GB (even when reduced by about 4GB for OS etc apparently) anyway. But that's interesting.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 30, 2012, 12:16:33 pm
The HowTo points out that some games are clocking in at 1-2Gb which if multiple were played would quickly eat through 16Gb.

If you don't play games then its not a worry, although you'd want some way of getting films off the device if you purchased them as they too would quickly eat into storage space.

(Mainly thinking about the tablets in this context btw).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 30, 2012, 12:22:03 pm
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-nexus-4-vs-samsung-galaxy-s3-vs-iphone-5-1108375 (http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-nexus-4-vs-samsung-galaxy-s3-vs-iphone-5-1108375)

Know it's first impressions but this really does look amazing for the price. Basically on a par with or better than iPhone 5 (and even S3) in virtually every aspect for just over half the cost.

Why the fuck they're comparing the launch of each product I have no idea as surely the "worst" is the best in this respect as it means more fact / less smoke and mirrors.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 16, 2012, 12:05:44 pm
Ingress an augmented reality style game from Google (http://allthingsd.com/20121115/google-launches-ingress-a-worldwide-mobile-alternate-reality-game/)  8)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Will Hunt on December 23, 2012, 07:08:35 pm
I simply refuse to believe that this isn't a joke!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1KhZKNZO8mQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1KhZKNZO8mQ)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Will Hunt on December 23, 2012, 07:10:50 pm
It's a 1st of April. Thank fuck.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 24, 2012, 07:17:06 am
Google Music (http://music.google.com/) is working well here, handy way to back up almost two decades of Essential Mixes too as its song number rather than fixed MB.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2013, 10:32:08 am
Explore the Grand Canyon (https://www.google.com/maps?ll=35.010315,-111.002083&spn=0.231988,0.528374&cbp=12,51.34,,0,-5.96&layer=c&panoid=kmwC7YSMcae6UMamgS_jOg&t=m&cbll=35.027228,-111.022692&z=12)

Gallery (http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/gallery/grand-canyon/index.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2013, 09:45:02 am
Google Fibre...

(http://i.imgur.com/YvlaAxQ.png)

 8)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 14, 2013, 11:21:54 am
Sweet, Speedtest are going to have to start measuring their ping speed in Microseconds!
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2013, 03:33:04 pm
Thats pretty cool... as I can get LTE (just) at Home, I've upgraded from orange to EE with a view to ditching Karoo (Hulls monopoly BB provider) - and was getting this last night from 1-2 bars coverage...

(http://www.speedtest.net/result/2506799784.png)

Downloads about twice as fast, upload 10 times.. compared to my broadband. As I only had 2 days left in my billing cycle, I blew all of my allowance until tomorrow with a 200mb upload to skydrive ;)  - which only took a couple of min (very impressed..)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 06, 2013, 04:00:26 pm
How Guys Will Use Google Glass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UjcqCx1Bvg#ws)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tomtom on March 06, 2013, 04:32:13 pm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/06/google-glass-threat-to-our-privacy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/06/google-glass-threat-to-our-privacy)

Interesting item on C4 news yesterday or the day before - about the real danger of all this free data is it being held in one place: Thus giving the one place (i.e. google or facebook etc..) inordinate power. The chap (big hairy man - apparently some sort of web guru who used to argue for free everything..) was arguing that data should have a monetary value (all data) in order to prevent this happening. Thats a really bad summary but reminds me of the Bacon quote "knowledge is power"
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 06, 2013, 04:38:12 pm
In a similar vein I read this last week (http://www.thestreet.com/story/11850432/1/watch-out-for-google-glasses.html) and Falling Down linked to this article (http://creativegood.com/blog/the-google-glass-feature-no-one-is-talking-about/) on Twitter earlier today.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: AarenAce on March 07, 2013, 07:39:32 am
Very nice and useful comments from all members. Thanks :great:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on March 14, 2013, 02:55:25 am
Google axe its RSS Reader:
http://mashable.com/2013/03/13/google-kills-google-reader/ (http://mashable.com/2013/03/13/google-kills-google-reader/)

maybe I'm behind the times but social media doesn't really replace a feed in my eyes, although this article:
http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/13/google-readers-death-is-proof-that-rss-always-suffered-from-lack-of-consumer-appeal/ (http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/13/google-readers-death-is-proof-that-rss-always-suffered-from-lack-of-consumer-appeal/)

makes a fair point. Am I the only one (apart from slackers, obviously)?

Feedly are promising a seamless transition for users onto its own back-end.

It begs the question, is relying on Google for services generally a bad idea (i.e. what will they axe next?).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on March 14, 2013, 05:17:43 am
Some alternatives here Paul (http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1a8zgj/what_are_some_good_web_rss_readers_to_replace/c8v71t5).

Because it's been posted on Reddit, sheer weight of traffic has apparently brought them all down but in a couple of days they might be worth evaluating...
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 14, 2013, 07:32:13 am
It begs the question, is relying on Google for services generally a bad idea (i.e. what will they axe next?).

Given we pay them nothing they can do what they want, just as Yahoo! have done repeatedly (most infamously with scrapping Geocities).

I used to like Google Notes, but that got scrapped and rolled into Drive, but I don't want to use a Word Processor to keep track of little things.  I now use Org Mode (http://orgmode.org/) for Emacs (http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/) and the very handy MobileOrg (http://mobileorg.ncogni.to/) (and bothered to purchased the payed version to support continued development).


Feedly syncs nicely with Reader at the moment, so thats a smooth transition, all I hope for is a version for Opera (but I've no problem firing up Firefox for reading, and the Android version is great these days).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on March 14, 2013, 12:30:26 pm
I've always just used 'Windows Live Mail' as my feed reader and accepted that it isn't synced between machines.

I think that the trouble is that most normal internet users may read blogs, but have no idea that they can collect them all up into one place and see when new articles are posted on them.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 14, 2013, 01:20:40 pm
I don't really get this stuff but does anyone else use Flipboard?

Sounds like a similar thing, collating new posts/articles on stuff you want read all in one place, and it's a really lovely thing to use on a phone with a decent screen.

Edit - forgot the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flipboard.app
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on March 14, 2013, 01:34:45 pm
Feedly syncs nicely with Reader at the moment, so thats a smooth transition, all I hope for is a version for Opera (but I've no problem firing up Firefox for reading, and the Android version is great these days).

I'd given up with Feedly as it didn't work too well on my phone (granted my phone is now quite old technologically).

It just surprised me that not enough people use Reader (or are continuing to use reader) to make it worthy of maintenance. RSS feeds are really useful and social media (which people are pointing to for its demise) doesn't really do the same thing in my eyes as it pushes articles that are more 'liked' than others etc. when I'd like to read everything that comes from a source (or get the chance to). I wonder what they're suggesting/advocating as a replacement or alternative service (if anything)?

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 14, 2013, 01:38:59 pm
@Jasper : Not used Flipboard, sounds similar, but from reading the description with less control as you "pick a few topics" and it then decides what to present you.

@Paul : I stopped using Feedly a while back for the same reason, but checked it out on the phone after an update and its much improved.

I'm also migrating all the Reader subscriptions to Opera Mail Reader too (as I sync Opera between computers anyway and Feedly for Opera may take some time).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 14, 2013, 01:48:51 pm
No you can customise it to include any site you want too.

Oh and I just saw they have tweeted that you can transfer all your Google Reader RSS feeds to Flipboard.....
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on March 14, 2013, 07:06:04 pm
@Paul : I stopped using Feedly a while back for the same reason, but checked it out on the phone after an update and its much improved.

I'm still on Froyo ( :'( ) so I doubt there's a suitable update but I'll take a look.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 15, 2013, 08:00:44 am
Ah, thats probably the cause of it not looking so great.

On the plus side transition will supposedly be seamless with Feedly (http://blog.feedly.com/2013/03/14/google-reader/).

Had a second, look and tried Flipboard Jasper, and its nice, but the downside for me is that its phone only.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: mr__j5 on March 15, 2013, 02:20:49 pm
A selection of alternatives:

http://www.zdnet.com/goodbye-google-reader-here-are-five-rss-alternatives-7000012604/ (http://www.zdnet.com/goodbye-google-reader-here-are-five-rss-alternatives-7000012604/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 19, 2013, 10:05:42 am
Google Mountain Enthusiast (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/google-summit-maps/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 14, 2013, 08:13:58 am
Atari Breakout (https://www.google.com/search?site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1687&bih=930&q=atari+breakout&oq=atari+breakout&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i24l6.1382.4009.0.4624.14.10.0.4.4.0.144.582.6j3.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.12.img.40vugjB3JdQ)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 14, 2013, 09:40:17 am
Ace.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: AndyR on May 16, 2013, 07:19:31 am
Geoguessr (http://geoguessr.com/) ... a geography nerd's delight. Only just started playing but I think it may take me a while to beat my 11,921 score from these (http://www.geoguessr.com?s=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%3D).
13057 on my first go...
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 16, 2013, 07:35:35 am
Good use of the Maps/Streetview API, fun game.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: erm, sam on May 16, 2013, 10:21:46 pm
Not really surprising: all the the rich places, but interesting none the less. I have just enriched my life looking at a skidoo park in Svalbad.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 16, 2013, 10:53:58 pm
New alternative to Google Reader CommaFeed (http://www.commafeed.com/).

Cleaner than Feedly, faster than Old Reader.

Piece of piss to import Google Reader subscriptions/categorisation.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 17, 2013, 11:04:08 am
20563 on first attempt - these (http://www.geoguessr.com?s=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%3D). Were they easy? I think I'll retire anyway...
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 07, 2013, 12:27:02 pm
Google Music (http://music.google.com/) is working well here, handy way to back up almost two decades of Essential Mixes too as its song number rather than fixed MB.

Just realised how useful this is.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on August 31, 2013, 02:21:28 pm
http://chrome.com/campaigns/rollit (http://chrome.com/campaigns/rollit)

Use your mobile like a Wiimote. A wrist strap is probably a good idea, had a close call with mine.  :oops:

Might be Android only, not sure.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 01, 2013, 10:12:04 am
https://www.google.com/webdesigner/#download-webdesigner (https://www.google.com/webdesigner/#download-webdesigner)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 01, 2013, 10:48:38 am
It's like a perfect storm of #geek...

https://www.google.com/maps/views/streetview/cern?gl=us (https://www.google.com/maps/views/streetview/cern?gl=us)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SA Chris on October 01, 2013, 11:22:21 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24158924 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24158924)

sounded good until I got to "moonshot thinking"
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 01, 2013, 11:32:44 am
More people living longer is exactly what the world needs.  :-\

Quality > Quantity
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 14, 2013, 01:36:38 pm
If you're not happy with the new way in which Google might use your profile for endorsements simply opt out (https://plus.google.com/settings/endorsements?hl=en).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on October 22, 2013, 05:03:45 pm
http://gmailblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/handwriting-input-comes-to-gmail-and.html (http://gmailblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/handwriting-input-comes-to-gmail-and.html)

Very  8) be useful when its incorporated into Android.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tregiffian on October 22, 2013, 06:38:45 pm
I found a red button saying `opt out` but couldn`t make it work. Am I just a sad old incompetent?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 14, 2013, 09:34:40 am
Issues.....

Francis HATES Google+ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZNHuFjnmUo#ws)

 :lol:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on November 18, 2013, 02:49:06 pm
Is it possible to use Drive to backup folders that are not within the actual 'drive' folder? There are a few things that I'd like to be backed up off-site but I'm not keen on either a) moving them (they're there for a reason) or b) making duplicates (HDD is already bulging at the seams). I'm sure you could do this with dropbox by linking to the folder.

The only way I can think of doing it is installing my drive folder almost as root and then telling it to ignore almost everything but that seems backward.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on November 21, 2013, 04:36:26 pm
http://middle-earth.thehobbit.com/ (http://middle-earth.thehobbit.com/)

 8)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 19, 2013, 12:53:10 pm
If you've an android device and use GPS then you can view your location on a Google map.

https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0

(Obviously you need to be logged into Google in your browser for it to retrieve the correct information).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 24, 2013, 10:58:30 am
Google considering going into processor production (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/report-google-considering-making-its-own-computer-chips-9003772.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 24, 2013, 10:59:37 am
If you've an android device and use GPS then you can view your location on a Google map.

https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0 (https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0)

(Obviously you need to be logged into Google in your browser for it to retrieve the correct information).

You can export this data (along with everything else Google has on you) and then plot it in the free statistical software R, blog post on howto....

http://seasci.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/it-knows-where-i-live/ (http://seasci.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/it-knows-where-i-live/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: kelvin on December 24, 2013, 11:22:03 am
Interesting and scary all at the same time.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on January 10, 2014, 01:22:02 pm
Anyone with a Gmail account...

You can now supposedly "reach people you know more easily" (http://gmailblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/reach-people-you-know-more-easily.html) (in reality it likely means others can reach you more easily) as its now possible to email someones Google+ profile without having to know the recipients email address.

You can prevent people from sending you such messages under your Gmail account settings (under 'General' > 'Email via Google+' and setting it to "No one").
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Bubba on January 10, 2014, 07:51:54 pm
Yeah, it's really annoying how Google are trying to push + so hard. At least they could have set the default to "circles" and not everyone and their dog.  The new images showing in emails default seems less sinister though.


If you've an android device and use GPS then you can view your location on a Google map.

https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0 (https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0)

(Obviously you need to be logged into Google in your browser for it to retrieve the correct information).
It's doing a pretty good job even with GPS turned off. I've kind of accepted that Google can track your location at all times; the benefits outweigh the downsides.  If you don't want to be tracked then you can't really have a mobile phone that's in your name.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tesla on January 17, 2014, 01:52:44 am

Nice visualization of music genre trends over time.

http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2014/01/explore-history-of-pop-and-punk-jazz.html?m=1

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on January 17, 2014, 09:06:46 am
I'm not too bothered about known location as you say Bubba the benefits are great.

There are any number of "HowTo's" out there on minimising the way in which Google share you're information if you don't want messages from strangers or your ratings to appear in contacts searches, disabling profile building for advertising etc.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on February 16, 2014, 02:50:08 pm
I didn't realise you could self host a website using Google Drive (and optionally with a domain name):

http://www.labnol.org/internet/host-website-on-google-drive/28178/ (http://www.labnol.org/internet/host-website-on-google-drive/28178/)

I'll likely make use of that for a simple photography portfolio at some point rather than paying 500px!

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 16, 2014, 11:30:26 pm
To add to a topic discussed a while back. Google have made it even more obscure to cache offline maps on Android. Why they are making it so counter intuitive is beyond me.
There is no menu item or button, you have to say or type 'OK maps'. Something like 'save' or 'download' I could maybe understand but wouldn't a button still be simpler? :shrug:
https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/3273567
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 14, 2014, 09:50:10 am
Google Public Data (https://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/directory)

A rather cool set of publicly available datasets that you can play around with plotting online (lacks any sort of statistical analysis tools though).

Of particular interest to some of the discussions that go on within UKB forums might be the OECD Factbook 2013 (https://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=ltjib1m1uf3pf_)


Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 17, 2014, 09:38:31 pm
GWEI (http://www.googlewilleatitself.com/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 19, 2014, 08:11:31 am
Chromecast (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromecast) now available in the UK (Currys/PC World should be selling them as of 9am today (http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/03/14/chromecast-launching-in-the-uk-on-wednesday-march-19th/) if you don't want to pay £3 postage or can't wait for delivery).
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Plattsy on March 19, 2014, 08:22:17 am
Chromecast (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromecast) now available in the UK (Currys/PC World should be selling them as of 9am today (http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/03/14/chromecast-launching-in-the-uk-on-wednesday-march-19th/) if you don't want to pay £3 postage or can't wait for delivery).
I'm probably being dumb here but what does this do that can't already be done or is it simplifying what can already be done (streaming to tv etc....) ?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 19, 2014, 08:27:25 am
The later, thats exactly what it does (streams media from computers/tablets/net streaming services to your TV.

But if you don't have a media center/PS3/Raspberry Pi/Smart TV* then its a cheap solution for non-tech types (more so than the Pi).


* There is a proliferation of Smart TV services with variation in what each manufacturer provides, highly variable and if you stick one of these in the back of each of your TVs you have the same interface/services everywhere.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 19, 2014, 11:13:37 am
Didn't realise my Nexus 7 had wireless charging built in!
Bit pricey but very 8)
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_wireless_charger
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 01, 2014, 11:26:20 am
Pokemon in Google Maps...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k)

In true Google fashion it sort of works. Search for 'press start' on Android Maps to catch Pokemon.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on April 01, 2014, 01:35:34 pm
But if you don't have a media center/PS3/Raspberry Pi/Smart TV* then its a cheap solution for non-tech types (more so than the Pi).

It's worth remembering that XBMC now works well on Android too so you could have a really swish looking setup. I love my RasPi.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on April 01, 2014, 01:54:33 pm
The main bonus of Chromecast over the RaspberryPi (which is indeed great) is its support for Netflix.

I've always preferred Yatse for controlling the XBMC on the Pi over the XBMC application on Android.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 12, 2014, 09:03:31 am
No more "OK Maps" (https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/2650377?hl=en&ref_topic=2649131)

Limit of six maps seems quite tight though, a possible work around involving backing up maps, clearing them, downloading more and then restoring the backup is described here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=38431100), but I'm yet to try it.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 12, 2014, 11:13:51 am
Google have launched a Chrome browser extension and Android App for Chrome remote desktop. Not tested it yet, but sounds like it could be useful for connections to your own machines and 'log me in' type connections to others.

https://chrome.google.com/remotedesktop

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.chromeremotedesktop

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 12, 2014, 11:22:38 am
Whats wrong with good old SSH (with X11 forwarding if required)?  :geek: :clown:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Stubbs on May 12, 2014, 11:53:49 am
No more "OK Maps" (https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/2650377?hl=en&ref_topic=2649131)


That's really annoying, it's one of the most useful features of maps when you're abroad or in areas without data.  You can zoom out quite far before you download though, so you can just about fit the whole Peaks Districts Nationals Parks on 2 maps.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 12, 2014, 12:53:57 pm
No more "OK Maps" (https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/2650377?hl=en&ref_topic=2649131)


That's really annoying, it's one of the most useful features of maps when you're abroad or in areas without data.  You can zoom out quite far before you download though, so you can just about fit the whole Peaks Districts Nationals Parks on 2 maps.
Try Maverick recommended on one of the other threads. Seems to cache maps automatically including OS maps.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 13, 2014, 02:56:38 pm
Google have launched a Chrome browser extension and Android App for Chrome remote desktop. Not tested it yet, but sounds like it could be useful for connections to your own machines and 'log me in' type connections to others.

https://chrome.google.com/remotedesktop

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.chromeremotedesktop

This is good. I've been using Splashtop for ages which works well but this is quicker, tidier and the controls are a lot smoother and more simple.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 13, 2014, 03:03:43 pm
I've used SSH to connect to remote servers for years, but typically its either for maintenance or to use a HPC cluster where I'd be submitting jobs to run in queues.  Never seen the need to control desktops/GUI's remotely, what do other people use it for?



Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 13, 2014, 03:46:22 pm
Some of the stuff that's on my desktop in the office I can only access through that machine (e.g the accounts / tax package which is on the server in the office and has restrictions on number of users etc). Most of the time I'm working from home so I have a link from my office at home to that desktop.

So if I'm out at a client's / in the pub and I need to get some information (e.g. produce a set of accounts from the accounts software and email them to a client) I can use my phone to access my PC at home, log in to the work desktop and hey presto.

I did this the other day when I was at a meeting in Hillsborough and needed to alter something on the accounts and reproduce them for the client there and then.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 13, 2014, 04:29:57 pm
Cool, just curious as its traditionally quite a geeky thing to do (a bit of a throwback to mainframes which persists in HPC*) and I wondered what other people used it for.

As an aside, why go through your home computer to get to your work desktop?  (Probably some IT restrictions perhaps?).



HPC == High Performance Clusters of computers with hundreds of process and tons of RAM.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 13, 2014, 04:41:30 pm

As an aside, why go through your home computer to get to your work desktop?  (Probably some IT restrictions perhaps?).


Yeah exactly although I'm trying to get that sorted.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 13, 2014, 05:19:02 pm
Ha ha, brilliant. You made me think about whether or not the work PC would let me install the Chrome remote desktop extension (didn't like it when I tried to put Splashtop on it) and with a bit of fucking about it did so now I can go straight into it from my phone. Cheers slackers.

 :geek: ;D
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 13, 2014, 05:21:31 pm
 :2thumbsup:

Next you'll be setting up a home VPN.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 13, 2014, 05:25:12 pm
Once I get round to buying a new tv I think I'm going to need some advice from you......
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 13, 2014, 05:30:46 pm
Not a problem, just let us know.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: a dense loner on May 14, 2014, 12:40:43 am
Wtf? Why do I have to come to your house and hand you an undisclosed sum of money in a brown paper bag then? At least the American football tops a nice touch after all these years tho
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: a dense loner on May 14, 2014, 09:38:21 am
That was a reply to an earlier geek statement from jasper and somehow ended up in the middle of nowhere  :slap:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 14, 2014, 09:42:44 am
Google maps to include UK public transport data (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394691)

All great, but...

A good article on Why the World needs OpenStreetMaps (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/14/why-the-world-needs-openstreetmap)

As much as I find Google Maps useful, the fact that they alone control what is showed is enough to convince me to switch.

There is a comprehensive list of Android applications that use OpenStreetMaps (http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android) which I'll be investigating and trialing.

Yet to find a decent replacement for Maps though, but I don't actually use it much.

I did find that NavFree worked pretty well when I drove to the Dolomites last year, matching my mates TomTom that he paid £80 for to have on his iphone.  This is just for navigation though and doesn't include the wealth of user generated data that is overlaid on the maps and is the point of the above article on Why the World needs OpenStreetMaps (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/14/why-the-world-needs-openstreetmap)

EDIT : Incidentally just came across this OpenStreetMap site thenextis.com (http://thenextis.com/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 14, 2014, 09:53:09 am
Wtf? Why do I have to come to your house and hand you an undisclosed sum of money in a brown paper bag then? At least the American football tops a nice touch after all these years tho

That's not true, I gave you the bank details for my Monaco account in the name of Harry Redknapp's dog.  :greed:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 19, 2014, 09:47:14 am
Todays Google Doodle is a working Rubik's cube...still can't bloody do it.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on May 23, 2014, 11:07:48 am
A good article on Why the World needs OpenStreetMaps (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/14/why-the-world-needs-openstreetmap)

Yet to find a decent replacement for Maps though, but I don't actually use it much.


Found OSMAnd (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand) to be a very good functional replacement so far.  Free version limited to downloading ten sets of maps (I'll probably upgrade to Pro at some point), but works very well off-line with these, lots of information/detail on OpenStreetMaps too.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 02, 2014, 05:18:12 pm
https://smartypins.withgoogle.com/

Nicely done except most questions are a bit easy and the map pretty much gives you the answer
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 02, 2014, 05:29:12 pm
Google Image Quiz (http://google-image-quiz.net/) guess what search returned the image.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 07, 2014, 04:35:44 pm
Fireside chat with Google co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin with Vinod Khosla (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdnp_7atZ0M#ws)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Clart on July 09, 2014, 07:32:28 am
Got an email last night saying that Google calendar sync will stop working at the end of July. I rely on this to to see works calendar on phone. Does anyone know of a work around or an alternative to sync between outlook and Google calendars?

,<rant>As an aside what is Google's problem with fixing things that aren't broke (Google sync, maps cache, location app etc). It's enough to make me think about looking at apple products. <\rant>
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 09, 2014, 08:02:40 am
When you refer to syncing it sound as though there are perhaps two 'syncs' going on here.

1) You synchronise the work Outlook calendar with your Google Calendar.
2) You synchronise the appointments this pulls to your phone.

Which is it that the email has said will not be supported beyond July?  I suspect 1) and would be very surprised if it were 2).  If its 1) is there an explanation as to why?  It could be that Microsoft are changing the interface/format of their calendar (as they are prone to do with their proprietary formats/software) and Google may be fed up with spending time re-programming to work with a changing goal.

What people do with their free software and services is very much their business, if you want something specific you usually have to pay for it.  I never understand why people complain about free services/software.  I've decided to move away from Google Maps for reasons other than the annoying limits and manner in which you cache maps (see this article (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/14/why-the-world-needs-openstreetmap)) in favour of OpenStreetMaps (http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=5/51.500/-0.100)  and their Android client (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand.plus&hl=en_GB) is very good, takes a little learning as with all new software, but very comprehensive and the navigation works very well.  Theres a Free version (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand&hl=en_GB) for which you can download upto 10 sets of maps for off-line usage (unlimited on the paid for version).  At some point I plan to add Jim's bouldering POI's to OpenStreetMaps.




Anyway, back to  :google:.

If you use "Ok Google" to do voice searches/actions you can now correct things with No, I said (http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/07/08/awesome-can-correct-misinterpreted-voice-searches-following-said/).  Smart stuff.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 09, 2014, 03:43:33 pm
They stopped supporting Gsync a while back, but it's only now they are preventing it working. It used to work well at my work. The GApps Sync (GASMO) only works with Apps for Biz or Education accounts.

You can manually export from Outlook and import into Google. But this isn't a sync.

There are third party tools to do a proper synch, some of which are free, none of which I have tested:

http://www.fieldstonsoftware.com/software/gsyncit3/ (http://www.fieldstonsoftware.com/software/gsyncit3/)
http://oggsync.com/ (http://oggsync.com/)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/funambol/ (http://sourceforge.net/projects/funambol/)
http://www.companionlink.com/ (http://www.companionlink.com/)
http://sync2.com/ (http://sync2.com/)
lots more listed here!
http://www.syncdroid.net/ (http://www.syncdroid.net/)

You'll probably need admin rights to install most of them.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Clart on July 09, 2014, 07:05:37 pm
Yeh, syncing outlook calendar with Google calendar both ways is what I rely on Google sync for. My work, in their wisdom, don't allow remote access, which is absurd as I need to be able to book appointments when in the field and, more importantly, plan days I can take off to climb without going into the office to check my calendar. Our IT system blocks most things but seems oblivious to sync. Will try some of the programmes above and report back.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 09, 2014, 07:52:55 pm
If you can't install anything this might be worth a play
https://synqya.appspot.com/
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 14, 2014, 05:03:33 pm
hiddenfromgoogle.com (http://hiddenfromgoogle.com/) for search terms which have been removed from Google.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on July 16, 2014, 01:25:58 pm
How about we just constantly fuck with the Gmail compose window and make it smaller and less usable every 3 weeks? (https://medium.com/articles-by-bn2b/here-is-how-google-works-1f546eded5c2)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Falling Down on July 16, 2014, 01:58:37 pm
I'll blow his trumpet for him but Tesla of UKB runs this teamhttp://www.wired.com/2014/07/google-project-zero/ (http://www.wired.com/2014/07/google-project-zero/) as well as all of security for consumer products at Google.  When he's not bouldering or surfing...
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on December 08, 2015, 05:20:54 pm
https://www.google.com/intl/en-GB/starwars/
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on December 08, 2015, 08:51:01 pm
A month old, but...

Google OpenSource TensorFlow : Smarter Machine Learning for All (https://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/tensorflow-smarter-machine-learning-for.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 08, 2016, 04:23:13 pm
Confirm your Google Account Security (https://security.google.com/settings/security/secureaccount) and get an extra 2Gb of online storage.


Source (https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/44r2a5/safer_internet_day_2016_get_2gb_of_google_drive/)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 10, 2016, 12:18:01 pm
Confirm your Google Account Security (https://security.google.com/settings/security/secureaccount) and get an extra 2Gb of online storage.


Source (https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/44r2a5/safer_internet_day_2016_get_2gb_of_google_drive/)

The free storage offer ends tomorrow (2016-02-11) (http://googledrive.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/safer-internet-day-2016.html)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 22, 2016, 06:14:26 pm
Slow old desktop, laptop, netbook etc? Install ChromeOS on it for free...
http://www.neverware.com/freedownload
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 22, 2016, 08:41:54 pm
Looks like a fork of Chrome OS (based on old version numbers).  What does it offer over the Official Cr OS Linux (http://getchrome.eu/download.php) ?


Chrome OS is purportedly being rolled into Android to work on PC architectures if this is to be believed (http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/29/9639950/google-combining-android-chromeos-report)

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 22, 2016, 09:31:19 pm
Slow old desktop, laptop, netbook etc? Install ChromeOS on it for free...
http://www.neverware.com/freedownload
Just realised that link might auto-download a 500mb file, try this if you just want to read about it and not use up your data allowance
http://www.neverware.com/
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Fiend on February 28, 2016, 03:19:15 pm
Somewhat related.

I got the Asus Flip Chromebook recently. Mostly, I like it. Great build quality, useful semi-tablet functionality, essential keyboard, decent screen, super-quick boot up, good price etc etc.

The only issue I am struggling with is the ChromeOS apps are fairly rubbish. I've been trying to get photo-editing apps, video-editing apps, and some half-way decent games. What is available seems to be online only (I don't even want to try editing 1+gigs worth of videos online), or, well, utter garbage (e.g. photo-editing app that you can't even crop or resize on). As for searching through "offline games" in the Chrome Apps store, it actually made me feel nauseous.

So I tried a few things - I tried installing both the ARC Welder and Twerk Android Runtime thingies, downloading android app .apks, and running them, I don't think I got a single one of those to work. I also tried installing Crouton and Unbuntu to get Linux working as an alternative to Chrome, indeed it got Linux working (awful, ugly, cumbersome thing that it was), but then I couldn't get Steam working as hoped as there was some 32bit / 64bit clash.

So..... Any ideas?? I know a small indie company like Google is going to struggle to get decent apps ported for it's OS, but even so, surely there must be something I can do / get??
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on March 06, 2016, 08:34:40 am
Google Play Music : Desktop Player (http://www.googleplaymusicdesktopplayer.com/#!)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on June 23, 2016, 05:49:53 pm
The New Censorship (http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-06-22/google-is-the-worlds-biggest-censor-and-its-power-must-be-regulated)  :coffee:
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on January 07, 2017, 08:19:34 am
Two Google Home devices are arguing with each other and questioning their existence: https://www.twitch.tv/seebotschat

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1gil2VUcAEu_4P.jpg)
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: SEDur on January 07, 2017, 11:05:18 pm
That was great

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: slackline on February 01, 2017, 03:09:18 pm
Google mistakes entire NHS for a botnet (https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/02/01/google_mistakes_entire_nhs_for_a_botnet/)



I've found you can get the same challenge if you delete all tracking cookies and such like from your browser using a plugin like Self-destructing cookies (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/self-destructing-cookies/) and don't whitelist some of Googles cookies.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: tommytwotone on March 29, 2017, 11:43:55 am
Anyone getting a Google Home then?


As a resident in a split Apple / Google household I'm not sure how much it'll work for us, would be interested to try one out though.


https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/28/google-home-smart-speaker-launch-uk (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/28/google-home-smart-speaker-launch-uk)

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: ben on March 29, 2017, 01:42:40 pm
as a google (not apple) home I'm tempted, but I'm trying to work out what we'd actually use it for other than a glorified speaker for streaming musak
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Paul B on March 05, 2021, 06:08:11 pm
Somewhat related.

I got the Asus Flip Chromebook recently. Mostly, I like it. Great build quality, useful semi-tablet functionality, essential keyboard, decent screen, super-quick boot up, good price etc etc.

What are Chromebook's like in reality? My in-laws just got rid of all their old laptops to charity (after a steep learning curve with DBAN) and what they've got left is a Samsung Android tablet and a MS Surface laptop/tablet thing which is nearing the end of its life. To be fair to my mother in law, she's in her late 70s and managed with a bit of online coaching to make a bootable DBAN pen drive and wipe several computers. This included getting round some added protection on a Toshiba laptop's BIOS.

Chromebooks look appealing because of their simplicity coupled with cost but I don't have any first-hand experience of living with them. A quick Google suggests they'll work with their HP Envy scanner/printer which is a plus.

Is there anything notable people find they CAN'T do with one?
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: Oldmanmatt on March 05, 2021, 06:37:41 pm
Somewhat related.

I got the Asus Flip Chromebook recently. Mostly, I like it. Great build quality, useful semi-tablet functionality, essential keyboard, decent screen, super-quick boot up, good price etc etc.

What are Chromebook's like in reality? My in-laws just got rid of all their old laptops to charity (after a steep learning curve with DBAN) and what they've got left is a Samsung Android tablet and a MS Surface laptop/tablet thing which is nearing the end of its life. To be fair to my mother in law, she's in her late 70s and managed with a bit of online coaching to make a bootable DBAN pen drive and wipe several computers. This included getting round some added protection on a Toshiba laptop's BIOS.

Chromebooks look appealing because of their simplicity coupled with cost but I don't have any first-hand experience of living with them. A quick Google suggests they'll work with their HP Envy scanner/printer which is a plus.

Is there anything notable people find they CAN'T do with one?

The kids all have Chrome books and seem to manage just about everything they could want with them, using Google Docs, Slides etc. I’m told by number 3, that you can download Word and such from Google Play etc. Still cheaper than buying it for a Windows PC.
Number one has a drawing tablet she uses with hers. Produces some reasonable art with it.
Mrs OMM has one too. She uses it for work. Processing vids and photos from her camera, accessing her work portal and word processing/spread sheet stuff.
I prefer my iPad, but she prefers her Chrome Book.

After several months of home schooling, live lessons, Zoom meets etc etc, I don’t think we’ve had any issues or found anything we couldn’t do. Easily expandable too.
We have HPs and Lenovos. Doesn’t seem to be much in it.
Though pouring a pint of Pepsi Max into a lenovo, does kill it. I can’t tell you if an HP is Pepsi proof. Nothing on the lable.
Fortunately they are (relatively) cheap to replace.

Actually, we haven’t had a PC in operation here or in either business for about five years. The wall is all iPad now, the Mrs is a mix of iPad and Chrome Books (I think there might still be a PC in the office there, but not heavily used). My PC is still sat in the office, above the wall, exactly as I left it the last time I shut it down, five years ago. The whole office is nothing but a paperwork store. The entire business exists in the cloud or on our server at home. I get pissed off if I have to deal with Windows based crap, these days.
Clunky as fark.

Edit 2...

Of course.
It was the home server that made the PCs redundant, really. Once everything is cloud based, even a personal cloud, large memory and PC type features become largely pointless. By having everything backed up at home too, means any lingering doubt about storing your photos in the cloud is removed.
Security concerns are also pretty moot, if you use social media a lot, too.

Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: M1V0 on March 05, 2021, 07:17:33 pm
What are Chromebook's like in reality? [...]
Is there anything notable people find they CAN'T do with one?

In my previous experience as an IT tech/service desk, they cannot do anything beyond basic web browsing and word editing (or similar level kind of things). As long as you don't anticipate hooking a chromebook up to any enterprise wifi networks that need certificates installed, or plan on doing anything heavy-duty (like any statistical programming), then you're okay.
Title: Re: Google Shit
Post by: spidermonkey09 on June 07, 2021, 04:19:54 pm

Any further info from anyone who has recently bought or used a Chromebook? Done some rudimentary research and I think they would be great for what I need from a laptop (word processing, occasional MOffice use, opening pdfs and browsing).

What I'm struggling to work out is the different price points. Obviously the more expensive ones have touch/flip screens; at the lower end is it as simple as nicer trim/bigger screen or is there some crucial technical spec I should be looking for?
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