A couple of fun things I wanted to discuss.
Google launched Google Voice Local Search. I gave it a test run just to see how well it works, and the voice recognition is pretty sweet. I haven’t tested it extensively to see if it can narrow down a coffee shop in a zip code or anything like that, since so far it only asks for city and state. It’s got potential, though.
Farecast is a cool new airfare site that will tell you when to buy tickets. Technically they’re not really new, but I believe when they launched they only supported a few airports, and now it’s over 75. I haven’t had to fly anywhere myself, but it seems like a good site to keep around.
Apple announced their Mac Pro computer now comes with two four-core processors, making it an eight core machine. I affectionately refer to it as “The Ocho.”
I’ve begun season three of BSG, and it is awesome. Unfortunately, since the season’s already over, I’m aware of two spoilers that happen during this season and I’m kinda sad/angry. Now I just want to hurry through this season and get it over with before I’m spoiled any more.
After much deliberation, I’ve decided to sell my (very lightly) used PowerBook and trade up to the new MacBook.
At first I thought it might be to my advantage to keep a slow machine, because then it might force me to use it for only writing (which it hasn’t). But at a cost of only $300-400, I could upgrade to a new machine that is far better than my current one.
So the auction is listed on eBay and ends this Sunday, and I’m just here shamelessly trying to promote the auction. If anyone’s interested in just outright buying it, I’m open to offers.
I’m also selling this wonderful Cryptex I won through the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google. It’s actually a nice piece and of much higher quality than I expected, but not something I imagine myself wanting in the future, so I figure I might as well sell it now while the market’s high. Again, if anyone’s interested just drop me a line.
And thus ends my shameless promotion. Next time I’ll be posting my Amazon wishlist on here and promising topless photos for anyone who buys me something on my list =P
Google announced last week that it would begin selling videos from Google Video, starting with stuff from CBS and the NBA and a crapload of other sources.
Today it was brought to my attention that Google Video is also allowing their videos to be downloaded, and with the option to download in a format ready for the video iPod. They’ve already got a huge archive of “Top Gear” and “Fifth Gear” episodes, along with the classic internet fads we’ve all seen before. This is really tempting me to keep the video iPod I got as a Christmas gift instead of holding off until later like I originally planned.
Macworld is happening later today, so we’ll see if Apple has some sort of retaliation against Google’s intrusion into their market, along with all the other new stuff they always reveal. New iBook? Updated iPod shuffle? This is where I’ll be at 9am. Hopefully it’ll save me the trouble of refreshing the gadget blogs every 15 seconds like I did last time when the nano was announced.
After much speculation and anticipation, Google Talk has been released. I’m finding it to be a very natural extension of Gmail, with the built-in email button and how a gmail account doubles as a Google Talk account. The interface has some nifty features — Click the titlebar of a chat to “windowshade” it; If another window is active and a IM arrives, it automatically displays in the bottom right like a notification. Windows dock together as well, although tabbing might work better.
It’ll be interesting to see how this fares against AIM and MSN Messenger.
Everyone’s played with Google Maps by now and been totally wowed by the slick interface. Then they added satellite imaging. And now, someone’s combined Google Maps with Craigslist apartment listings in what could be the most ingenius and useful, um…use of the web, ever.
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