Googleholic for October 24, 2008
Welcome to Googleholic, your weekly fix of everything Google!
In this edition:
- Find your polling place with Google Maps
- My Location comes to Wi-Fi
- Gmail gets emoticons and canned responses
- Create a neighborhood Trick-or-Treat map with Google Maps
- Androidaholic round-up
Find your polling place with Google Maps
Google has added a really, really cool feature to is 2008 U.S. Election page: an easy way to find out your polling location. Just enter your address into Google Maps and your polling location, based on data from state and local election officials and the Voting Information Project, will pop up. You also get information about absentee voting, phone numbers to call if you need help and links to your state's election website.
I already knew my polling location, but I typed in my address and the correct place popped right up. Unfortunately, Google claimed it couldn't find the address on the map (I think because Google recognizes the abbreviated version of the road's name, not the full name), but by entering that location directly into Google maps, the proper suggestion came up. So your mileage may vary.
It's still easier than trying to wade through some of the atrocious government websites.
[via Official Google Blog]
We've written about Google's My Location technology quite a bit -- and as BlackBerry Curve owner, I have to say it works pretty darn well (especially since my model didn't come with the hardware GPS). My Location is Google's answer to GPS, using a satellite to gather location information from nearby cellular towers. Depending on how populated your area is, you can get pretty darn close.
Well, this week, Google also launched My Location for Wi-Fi. My Location with Wi-Fi essentially works the same way as the cellular based My Location, using nearby Wi-Fi access points to help pinpoint where you are. Because the range is smaller for access points, the location is more accurate. To use the service, you need to be in a city where Wi-Fi based location is available. Most major cities seem to support it, but as Google says, "coverage and accuracy will vary."
BlackBerry owners with Wi-Fi enabled devices can use the new feature as part of the new Google Maps for Mobile -- so just download or update your Google Maps app. Google says that Android phones and other platforms will be seeing the addition soon. I bought an iPod Touch on Wednesday, and My Location was already working with it when I was playing with the mapping features yesterday. Your mileage may vary, but as I commented to a friend, "this thing has almost my exact location." It's pretty cool.
[via Official Google Mobile Blog]
Gmail gets emoticons and canned responses
Everyone's favorite free e-mail service got a few new features this week. In Gmail Labs, the team has introduced a new cool option "canned responses." Canned responses lets you save common automated replies, say inquiries about a job opening, or an answer to a really common e-mail -- and select them in-lieu of typing it all out. Plus, with filters, you can even set up automated responses, based on a filter of keywords, or messages sent with a certain subject-heading, that contain your canned response.
Gmail Labs calls it e-mail for the truly lazy. I call it the new hotness.
Gmail also integrated a new program wide addition (no Labs activation necessary) in the form of e-mail emoticons. I'm sure this will make a lot of people really, really excited, but I'm completely nonplussed by this development. Sure, it's great that I can sen funny emoticons to my mom, but some of my friends might have me killed for sending a kissy-faced smiley. I also get a lot of sorority alumni e-mail... This could get overly cutesy really, really quickly. I'm sure we'll adjust.
[via The Official Gmail Blog]
Create a neighborhood Trick-or-Treat map with Google Maps
The Google LatLong Blog posted a really neat tip for parents or kids who are planning on going Trick-or-Treating: create a customized route of your neighborhood or Trick-or-Treat spots. Use Google's My Map tool to make a route, highlight houses to hit, or houses to avoid (like the people that give away those weird wax-paper candies or the vegan family who insists on lecturing you on the horror of nougat). You can even use Google Street View to make sure that you are hitting the right places and that there aren't any road obstructions.
Trick-or-Treat! [via Google LatLong Blog]
We (OK, OK, I) went a little crazy this week on covering Google's Android mobile platform. Here's a round-up of some of our coverage, and some links to other Android-related sites.
- Android Market is Live - The Market is open and starting on Monday, developers can start submitting their own free apps (paid apps will start appearing in January). Google is charging a $25 application fee to try to keep the rif-raff out. I personally don't think $25 is enough to keep the crap out of the Market, but we'll see. For developers that insist on whining about a fee -- keep in mind -- you have to pay $100 just to be able to test an app on an iPhone (you have to have an ADC license to get it signed for testing, even if you never submit it to the store), and that's the only non-jailbreak method of distribution available. At least with Android, you can let users download programs off your site. If you want to take advantage of the Android Market's reach, $25 really sounds more than reasonable.
- Taking screenshots with an Android-based phone - Are you interested in writing up something about Android for your blog or website? Don't be a luddite like ZDNet's reviewer (215 pictures of the phone, all from a digital camera aimed at the screen), use the Android SDK to get quality captures directly from your device.
- Hands-on with the T-Mobile G1 - You can get my early thoughts on the software side of the G1.
- http://www.anddev.org/ - Android Development Community message boards
- http://androidcommunity.com/ - Android Community tries to track various news around the community, they have forums too.
- AndroidGuys - We love the AndroidGuys, one of the first Android-dedicated sites, and still one of the best.
- T-Mobile G1 Forums - I'm kind of shocked, but T-Mobile's official forums have a lot of great information and its a great way to connect with other G1 users.
