West Florida Components

Google's new Chromebook

We have been anxiously awaiting the release of the newest Chromebook.  After reading about the larger Chromebook 550 last year, we wondered if this smaller version might be the answer to our ‘bigger than a tablet and netbook’ and ‘better for travel than a laptop’ needs.

With it’s smaller memory (16GB – not expandable), you most certainly will be relying on the cloud (100GB free for 2 years from Google) to store your documents, music and images. This is not necessarily a drawback as you can then access those same files from other computers as needed.

The battery life is estimated to be about 6.5 hours which is plenty for travelers on long flights or extended car rides and the weight is under 2.5 pounds – ideal for slipping into a backpack or large purse. Total thickness is under an inch (0.7″ to be exact) yet the screen size is just under 12″ and it has a full size keyboard (no full numeric keyboard but I guess that would just make it TOO perfect).

So what are the drawbacks to the new Chromebook? Other than the lack of storage space on the device (although it does accept memory sticks and SD cards), you will have to get used to web based applications such as Google Docs or Microsoft Live Documents for productivity and office type programs. Again – not necessarily a bad thing – just a shift in the programs that most businesses and people currently use.

Another benefit is the built-in virus protection which stays updated as well as the start-up speed of around 10 seconds (how long did your Windows based machine take to load this morning?). For the all-important internet access, you can count on 802.11 dual band WIFI access (a/b/g/n enabled). It is also Bluetooth enabled, has 2 USB ports and a built-in VGA camera for Skyping. Honestly, this has just about everything most folks would need – especially if used as a spare or travel computer.

Google will also be releasing another version that is 3G enabled so that like your smartphone or tablet computer, you can have access to the internet without relying on a network or WIFI. This adds another $70 to the price but in addition, you will have to pay monthly access charges to use the 3G. I think the WIFI is enough for us for now.

Ready to purchase a Google Chromebook? They are currently available at Amazon (short delays right now for orders) and some Best Buy stores (call before heading down there).

We are sure that the Chromebook will be a hot seller for the holiday season at $250.

Google has released a great new feature for mobile users – Handwrite. It takes just a few seconds to enable this feature on your mobile phone or tablet. Once enabled, using the tip of your finger or a stylus, you can handwrite the term you are searching anywhere on the Google home page. Even with pretty sloppy handwriting, Google’s Handwrite is impressive at recognizing which letters you are handwriting on the search page. For most smart phones, this gives you three options to submit a Google search: type, voice entry or handwrite!

Here’s how to turn this feature on:
Go to the www.google.com homepage (mobile version). Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap ‘Settings’. On the ‘Settings’ page, choose “enable” in the “Handwrite” section. Go back to your Google homepage and refresh the page – and now you can start writing your search term anywhere on the page. TIP: If you don’t have cookies enabled, you should turn that functionality on first in your settings as that is required in order for Handwrite to properly function.

Handwrite is available in 27 languages for iOS 5 (+), Android 2.3 (+) phones, and Android 4 (+) tablets (on Android devices, Handwrite works best using Chrome).

If you want to stop the Handwrite feature, simply tap in the search box. You can re-enable Handwrite at any time by tapping the cursive ‘g’ in the bottom of the Google home page screen.

In an effort to increase personalized service, British Airways has introduced the ‘Know Me’ program which give airlines staff members the authority and the tools to search online for passenger information.

Using iPads, staff members search through a list of that day’s passenger names for images on Google so that they can recognize them as they enter the airport or the plane. Their name is then used by the employees so that they are greeted and recognized personally. In addition to using the iPads to search for images, the staff can search for other information about the customer including their travel history and any past complaints.

British Airways maintains that their goal is to deal with customer complaints more effectively. As reported in the Telegraph, the British Airways program must comply with UK privacy laws. Assuming the program does comply with privacy laws, the question is do we think British Airways employees should be googling their passengers in an effort to provide better customer service? Is this comforting to think that they care to learn about us or just a tad creepy?

With its eyes firmly focused on the ebook market which is reportedly about $500 million in annual sales, Google has launched it’s ebookstore. A fast look at the ebookstore appears to make it a smart alternative to buying proprietary e-readers and ebooks like Amazon’s Kindle device.  At the beginning of 2010, Amazon held about 90% of the ebook market – a number that is estimated to drop to about 35% of the overall market in the next five years.

What is special about Google’s ebookstore?

Purchasing a book from their bookstore allows you the ability to use virtually any type of internet accessible electronic device to read your ebook purchased from the Google ebookstore. You can read books on Android devices (smartphones and tablets), iPhones, iPads, iPhone touch, any netbook, laptop or desktop computer and even the Nook from Barnes & Noble and the Sony Reader. Noticeably absent from this list is, of course, Amazon’s Kindle.

Google’s ebooks are stored in the cloud, so there is nothing to download (except maybe an app) if you are using a device connected to the web. And, since your ebooks are stored in your Google account, your page positions will sync across all the devices as you open each device to read.

Given the limitations of other devices such as Amazon’s Kindle which allows you to download your ebook to one device, Google has created a very flexible way to access your purchased reading material.

It’s usually obvious what the Google doodle represents. If it’s not obvious, then a quick click on the Google logo or doodle usually brings you to the search string (and the answer). This morning….not so much.

Google's Mystery Ball Doodle

Today’s doodle can’t be clicked on. It is comprised of colorful balls that grow and fly around the screen as you move your mouse around the screen. It’s addicting…but unlike the PacMan doodle from a few months back, it’s not a game. So what is the mystery?

A quick search on Google (after another 3 minutes spent chasing the balls) reveals that the balls are coded in HTML5. Pretty impressive, actually. Could that be the reason for the special effects logo?

Apparently, this bouncing doodle can only be seen in the UK and the US. And, it renders differently if you’re using Firefox vs Internet Explorer.

I am sure the reason for this logo will be revealed by someone with greater insight into the mind of Google. But for now, I’ll just wait to find out…and kill another 4 minutes of my time on the Google homepage.

The rumor stated when a high-profile blogger tweeted about a new platform. In spite of numerous past attempts and failures in the social networking space (remember Orkut or Buzz? Yeah, me either), it is rumored that Google Me is in the pipeline. The tweet soon disappeared from the blogger’s Twitter stream reinforcing the idea that he might have been asked to pull it. The question is….was he right? Is there a new social platform on the horizon?

Google has an excellent track record for introducing new products and services so why they have not been successful in the social networking arena is as much a mystery to me as anyone else.

The search giant already has a plethora of applications that could be drawn upon to make a Facebook-killer app. Some of them, like Google Profile and Google Wave already seem to have many of the components necessary to be molded into a more substantial feature set. But, like their stabs at e-commerce, Google has never been able to create the next big thing.

Maybe they will hit it right with Google Me.