Googleholic for October 3, 2008
Here's a brief look at this week's installment:
- Chrome's 1-month anniversary
- Picasa 3 beta for Linux
- Update Engine for Mac
- Blog Search gets an update
- YouTube adds Hot Spots
- Addressing the energy crisis
Chrome Turns One (Month)
It's hard to believe, but it's been a whole month since the Chrome hullabaloo went down. Apparently some of the hype has died down, with Chrome's browser share dropping from 1% in week one to .78%. Silicon.Com's jury poll reveled that 10 of 12 corporate IT teams aren't looking at Chrome as a corporate browser solution.
Slipping share? Lack of corporate acceptance? Say it ain't so! But it was prophesied that Chrome would kill Windows!! For now, let's just let it be what it is: a beta browser with some good features that will improve as it matures.
[via PC World]
The Picasa 3 Beta for Linux was released yesterday, and you can download it from Google's Linux software repository. The updated version boasts better integration with KDE and Gnome, camera detection, faster performance, and support for all the core features in the Windows version. They include automated web synchronization, improved text and retouching tools, watermarking, file management, and more.
Now, if some more high profile companies would just release Linux versions of their apps...Adobe, I'm looking at you.
[via Google Photo Blog]
Update Engine for Mac Released
Busy Google developers also announce the release of Update Engine for Mac this week, a tool designed to make it easier for Mac developers to keep their software up to date. You can check out the overview video or view the crew's Hello Engine demo at YouTube.
[via Google Mac Blog]
Google Blog Search has been updated with a News-styled layout, with category links on the left side of the page and grouping related stories into "clusters." In their word, "when you look within a cluster, you'll find a collection of the most interesting and recent posts on the topic." Sorry boys, but I doubt the 4th most interesting technology post is really "Save big money on glasses with Zenni Optical," but that's what I see as I write this. Obviously, there's room for improvement, and Google will no doubt sort things out.
[via Official Google Blog]
Hot Spots Added to YouTube Insight
YouTube uploaders may have noticed the new Hot Spots feature, which displays alongside your videos in Insight. Yes, now you can finally pinpoint the exact moment at which your video fails based on when other viewers tuned out. For amateur film makers and performers looking for ways to improve, this tool will no doubt prove extremely useful.
[via Official Google Blog]
The Push For Sustainability
Google's Energy Team has done a lot of in-depth analysis, and is searching for ways to make the Blue G a little greener. While they state that their own data centers are five times more energy efficient than the average, they're committed to doing more, pursuing water recycling initiatives and ensuring that decommissioned servers are 100% recyclable. And, of course, they've been talking with GE about sustainability as well.
So far this year, Google has donated more than $45 million to startups developing ground-breaking solar, wind, and geothermal technologies as they look for ways to reduce the US dependence on coal to power the grid.
[via Official Google Blog]
