Google 500 That’s an error indeed. Saw this while trying to load Google+.

Google 500

That’s an error indeed. Saw this while trying to load Google+.


Google SSL Beta Is anyone else seeing this? Google is redirecting to encrypted.google.com.

Google SSL Beta

Is anyone else seeing this? Google is redirecting to encrypted.google.com.


Google Apps users can’t use Buzz Not that I really care, but it would be nice if Google were nicer to Apps people.

Google Apps users can’t use Buzz

Not that I really care, but it would be nice if Google were nicer to Apps people.


Can’t use Google’s new +1 feature Why? You need a Google Profile, and Apps users aren’t allowed to have one.

Can’t use Google’s new +1 feature

Why? You need a Google Profile, and Apps users aren’t allowed to have one.


Android UI on my iPhone Not cool, Go Daddy. NOT COOL. I own an iPhone. I don’t want to see anything Androidesque on it.

Android UI on my iPhone

Not cool, Go Daddy. NOT COOL.

I own an iPhone. I don’t want to see anything Androidesque on it.


Android UI spreading across Google products Have you noticed Android’s loading spinner on the iPhone? I’m starting to see it in more Google products. I appreciate Google’s attempt at unifying its UI elements, but they are taking it too far. At work I try to keep in mind that iPhone and Android users want to see familiar graphics, and this is more important than my product enforcing a universal theme. Thoughts?

Android UI spreading across Google products

Have you noticed Android’s loading spinner on the iPhone? I’m starting to see it in more Google products. I appreciate Google’s attempt at unifying its UI elements, but they are taking it too far.

At work I try to keep in mind that iPhone and Android users want to see familiar graphics, and this is more important than my product enforcing a universal theme.

Thoughts?


Gotta love Mountain View (Taken with instagram at Yoogl)

Gotta love Mountain View (Taken with instagram at Yoogl)


Google Goggles on the iPhone Very cool waiting animation. Blur added by the app.

Google Goggles on the iPhone

Very cool waiting animation.

Blur added by the app.


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?”