Google Favorite Places and QR Codes I finally found a Google Favorite Place sign at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto. I’m surprised it took this long to find one considering 100,000 signs were distributed. I’m also surprised how much Google is pushing this uber geeky bandwagon. Look at that sign. No instructions, no hints, no words. Just a funky looking image on the bottom right corner. How am I supposed to know I need to take a picture of it? What app do I use? Why didn’t Google put “Search ‘QR’ in your smartphone’s app store and use an app to take a picture of this graphic.” Something like that. The image on the right is the resulting website when I capture the QR code. I use QuickMark QR Code Reader which is $0.99 in the Apple App Store. It was also useful at the Cornell reunion last month since volunteers were wearing t-shirts with giant QR codes on the front. Of course it was slightly awkward to approach someone and say “Hey can I take a picture of your chest?”

Google Favorite Places and QR Codes

I finally found a Google Favorite Place sign at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto. I’m surprised it took this long to find one considering 100,000 signs were distributed. I’m also surprised how much Google is pushing this uber geeky bandwagon.

Look at that sign. No instructions, no hints, no words. Just a funky looking image on the bottom right corner. How am I supposed to know I need to take a picture of it? What app do I use? Why didn’t Google put “Search ‘QR’ in your smartphone’s app store and use an app to take a picture of this graphic.” Something like that. The image on the right is the resulting website when I capture the QR code.

I use QuickMark QR Code Reader which is $0.99 in the Apple App Store. It was also useful at the Cornell reunion last month since volunteers were wearing t-shirts with giant QR codes on the front. Of course it was slightly awkward to approach someone and say “Hey can I take a picture of your chest?”


Speed Dial Google Chrome Extension Another reason why Google Chrome is awesome. Check it out. https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/dgpdioedihjhncjafcpgbbjdpbbkikmi

Speed Dial Google Chrome Extension

Another reason why Google Chrome is awesome. Check it out.

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/dgpdioedihjhncjafcpgbbjdpbbkikmi


Google Buzz screenshots Let’s compare the Google Buzz ecosystem to Twitter (I’ve wanted to do this for a while). The upper-left screenshot is from my Google Profile. I can only see my updates. This is like twitter.com/tehdik. The middle screenshot is from GMail (an account I consider dead - Google STILL doesn’t support Google Apps accounts). This is like twitter.com and, in my opinion, Buzz’s biggest problem. It doesn’t feel right as its own section inside GMail. That really should have been a 2.0 feature. Version 1.0 should have just been a new part of my Google Profile where I could see my own activity and that of my friends. GMail shouldn’t be touched until all the UI and UX issues are worked out (which they clearly weren’t on day 1).  The lower-right screenshot is from Google Mobile. I can see both my activity and that of my friends (default). This is where Google really nailed it. The UI is clean and simple. However, I really don’t care about nearby activity. Stranger Bob and Stranger Mary are a totally different demographic/ethnicity/nationality/generation and, therefore, have different tastes and opinions. I care more about my friends who are twenty miles away than strangers who are twenty meters away. Also, I have yet to see the actual restaurant/coffee shop I’m in when I try to “check in” via Google Buzz. Even major establishments like Starbucks don’t appear. Very strange. As of right now my Buzz looks like Friendfeed did in the early days (no one’s there!). We’ll see how Google Buzz changes in the future. I’ll continue with my Postling/Tumblr/Twitter practice for now.

Google Buzz screenshots

Let’s compare the Google Buzz ecosystem to Twitter (I’ve wanted to do this for a while).

The upper-left screenshot is from my Google Profile. I can only see my updates. This is like twitter.com/tehdik.

The middle screenshot is from GMail (an account I consider dead - Google STILL doesn’t support Google Apps accounts). This is like twitter.com and, in my opinion, Buzz’s biggest problem. It doesn’t feel right as its own section inside GMail. That really should have been a 2.0 feature. Version 1.0 should have just been a new part of my Google Profile where I could see my own activity and that of my friends. GMail shouldn’t be touched until all the UI and UX issues are worked out (which they clearly weren’t on day 1). 

The lower-right screenshot is from Google Mobile. I can see both my activity and that of my friends (default). This is where Google really nailed it. The UI is clean and simple. However, I really don’t care about nearby activity. Stranger Bob and Stranger Mary are a totally different demographic/ethnicity/nationality/generation and, therefore, have different tastes and opinions. I care more about my friends who are twenty miles away than strangers who are twenty meters away. Also, I have yet to see the actual restaurant/coffee shop I’m in when I try to “check in” via Google Buzz. Even major establishments like Starbucks don’t appear. Very strange.

As of right now my Buzz looks like Friendfeed did in the early days (no one’s there!). We’ll see how Google Buzz changes in the future. I’ll continue with my Postling/Tumblr/Twitter practice for now.


WiFi + Google beanbag chair: I’m comfortably waiting for my flight back to San Francisco on a Google beanbag while surfing the web. Google supplied free WiFi on both the Virgin flight and in the Virgin gate. Note: Taking this photo was tricky. I used the 10 second timer. 1. Push button 2. Leap onto beanbag 3. Make adjustments 4. Look up

WiFi + Google beanbag chair:

I’m comfortably waiting for my flight back to San Francisco on a Google beanbag while surfing the web. Google supplied free WiFi on both the Virgin flight and in the Virgin gate.

Note: Taking this photo was tricky. I used the 10 second timer.
1. Push button
2. Leap onto beanbag
3. Make adjustments
4. Look up


Free wifi on my flight: In case you haven’t heard, Google is giving away wifi on Virgin America flights throughout the holidays.

Free wifi on my flight:

In case you haven’t heard, Google is giving away wifi on Virgin America flights throughout the holidays.


GMail holiday card: Here’s the back. I couldn’t think of anything to say to myself, so I went with the Erazti attitude of “you’re awesome.” Get yours here:mail.google.com/mail/help/holidaycard/out.html Note: They ran out. Note 2: I covered part of my address with a black rectangle using Flickr’s built-in Picnik editing tool.

GMail holiday card:

Here’s the back. I couldn’t think of anything to say to myself, so I went with the Erazti attitude of “you’re awesome.”

Get yours here:
mail.google.com/mail/help/holidaycard/out.html

Note: They ran out.

Note 2: I covered part of my address with a black rectangle using Flickr’s built-in Picnik editing tool.


GMail holiday card: I can’t believe it actually arrived in the mail. Get yours here:mail.google.com/mail/help/holidaycard/out.html Note: They ran out.

GMail holiday card:

I can’t believe it actually arrived in the mail.

Get yours here:
mail.google.com/mail/help/holidaycard/out.html

Note: They ran out.


Google Chrome’s holiday card: I read somewhere that you can send someone a holiday card about Google Chrome. I think this is rather strange. However, I’ve been using Chrome Beta for Mac since it was released and I think it’s fantastic. I only go back to Safari now for Netflix streaming. You can make your own card here:www.givechrome.com
Google Chrome’s holiday card:

I read somewhere that you can send someone a holiday card about Google Chrome. I think this is rather strange.

However, I’ve been using Chrome Beta for Mac since it was released and I think it’s fantastic. I only go back to Safari now for Netflix streaming.

You can make your own card here:
www.givechrome.com


Google Maps ad: I encountered this Google Maps ad in Seattle’s airport. It has a looping video demonstration of various Maps features. Very cool.

Google Maps ad:

I encountered this Google Maps ad in Seattle’s airport. It has a looping video demonstration of various Maps features. Very cool.


Google Wave can get crazy: I guess we’re all still trying to figure this thing out.

Google Wave can get crazy:

I guess we’re all still trying to figure this thing out.