GeekSugar

Google Announces Cell Platform, Not Gphone

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:04:42 -0800

We've done our part to revel in the Google phone rumors over the past year. Every once in a while we hear speculation that it will be released next year, next week or next month, but have never gotten any official confirmation from the company.

Finally, Google has spoken. They aren't making a Gphone, but they have announced an Open Handset Alliance and Android, an open platform for cell phones that includes an operating system, user-interface and applications. They are calling it "more significant and ambitious than a single phone." In a press release on the Google blog the company said it hopes "Android will be the foundation for many new phones and will create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities we can’t imagine today." Here's more:

"Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications - all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation...We recognize that many among the multitude of mobile users around the world do not and may never have an Android-based phone. Our goals must be independent of device or even platform."

Google developed Android with the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders including Motorola, Qualcomm, HTC and T-Mobile. They hope to capacitate an open ecosystem for the mobile world by creating a standard, open mobile software platform. The companies are targeting the second half of 2008 to ship phones based on the Android platform, so those of us who are already champing at the bit to test it out won't have to wait for too long. What are you looking for in a phone? Google made the video below to promote the Open Handset Alliance's "plans to build a better phone." We gush at the ad's cuteness and our next geeky obsession.

To check out what the creators have to say about the device, read more

The Google Phone To Debut Early Next Year

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:00:25 -0700

For those of you who practiced some serious restraint and decided to save your pennies for the second gen iPhone, behold the next superstar device which might make you change your mind: The Google phone. No word on specs yet, but I'm going to take a wild guess and assume it will be jammed packed with lots of Google apps goodies that will rock anyone's online world. Supposedly Google has been working with Taiwan’s High Tech Computer (HTC) Corp to make this Linux-based phone far superior to the iPhone. And yes, it will be here in less than a year. via techfresh

Geek Tip: Sync Google Calendar With Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:00:54 -0700

So you just got your hands on the luxurious iPhone and can't wait to start using it as your personal assistant. The only problem is, you have everything in your Google Calendar and aren't overly excited about transferring all your appointments to the iPhone's built in calendar. Thankfully Switched has provided the steps needed to sync your Google Calendar with the iPhone, which is especially easy for Mac users with iCal.

To get started, go to Google Calendar and then "Calendar Settings" in the drop-menu like the one shown below. Click on it. Then find the Private Address section and click on the ICAL icon. This will create a URL for your calendar. Open iCal and go to Calendar > Subscribe. Paste the URL from the Google calendar here. Once your iCal is subscribed, your next iPhone sync will put all your Google calendar events right in your iPhone.

This is a one time deal so you don't have to worry about doing it each time you want your phone to sync with your Google Calendar. Here are some other cool Google Calendar geek tips: Using Google Calendar gallery and Putting Google Calendar on your Cell Phone .

Use Google Talk in Safari on Your iPhone

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:45:55 -0700

I'll admit this isn't a life-changing tip, but a reminder that Google Talk has been redesigned specifically for the iPhone. It runs right in your Safari browser, so you don't have to download any special application. All you have to do is navigate to talk.google.com and sign in to your account.

The version was made to work in your browser so you'll be automatically signed out of Talk when you navigate to a different browser window or app. That means you won't always be online, but you can check in at any time to see if your friends are online or if they have updated their clever status updates.

The iPhone Gets Google Friendly

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:00:01 -0800

If you've checked out Google.com on your iPhone recently, you've probably noticed that the entire site has gone iPhone friendly. Condensed into your tiny Google toolbar, you can now switch between Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs and more Google apps like Docs, SMS, GOOG 411 and photos. This new enhancement will make it that much easier to get to all your favorite Google sites and features that you frequently visit! Source

An Enhanced iGoogle Debuts For the iPhone and the G1

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:35:44 -0700

I can't tell you the number of times I've been grateful to have my cell phone when standing in long line-ups. I'm not really a "line talker" - for fear someone is listening in on my private convo - but I do respond to emails, check the news, read tweets and sometimes play games. To make things easier on people like me who like to waste time with my cell phone, Google has just announced a new and improved iGoogle for the iPhone and Android powered devices. Now it's easier (and faster) to see your personalized tabs and favorite gadgets (like to-do lists, favorite sites, and news), and you can even read article summaries without having to leave the page. Very cool.

Will Google's 18 Android Phones Finally Trounce the iPhone?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:05:45 -0700

So you were excited about the prospect of the G2, a second Android phone? Well, then how do you feel about 18 new Android phones? That's what Google exec Andy Rubin said yesterday at Google's I/O developer's conference - that around 18 Android phones should be on the market by the end of this year.

Well, yeah, Google! Not only is this the year to come out into the cell phone race with (multiple) guns blazing, it's the Summer: with a new iPhone, new BlackBerry, and the highly-anticipated Palm Pre coming out, you guys are already split in your preference of those phones. Android handsets are the slow pony in this race.

Still, however you felt about the G1, Android is a powerhouse of an operating system and I am eager to see any new offering at this point. But will it be enough to challenge the heavy hitters?

Geek Tip: Delete Your Number From Google PhoneBook Results

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:00:36 -0700

I was surprised to learn that Google has introduced a new Phonebook feature that allows you to Google phone numbers and get the corresponding name and address on a Google map. For some, this may seem like a useful business and "yellow-page inspired" tool. For others - particularly yours truly and families with young children - this feels like a "street-view-esque" invasion of privacy.

If your number is listed in the ordinary yellow pages, but you don't want your phone number and address to pop up when someone googles your name and city or phone number, you can request to have your information removed. Google's phone and address listings are gathered by a third party provider, which collects telephone directories and other public records available elsewhere on the web. If you would like to have your telephone number completely unlisted (including from your local phone book) you have to contact your local phone company and request to be both unlisted and unpublished. Want to remove your number from the web? read more

If you want to remove your number from Google, you just have to fill out a simple form. Doing so will mean your residential listing does not appear in Google for any phonebook search, even searches conducted on your name instead of your phone number. According to Google, the removal is permanent and that it's not possible to add your phone number again in the future. For more information, visit the Google Phonebook Name Removal page.

Paris Hilton Gets a New Cell Phone Every Two Weeks

GeekSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:14:35 -0700

During a pretrial hearing for failing to promote the movie Pledge This!, US Magazine goes into how Paris Hilton (who we already know is no stranger to technology), pulled out all of the tech excuses, which included saying she used Google as a way to keep track of business meetings.

Paris also went on to blame missed calls from producers on her lost cell phones. She says:

With my phone I never know, because I lose it all the time. I probably get a new cellphone, like, every two weeks.

And when the lawyers showed her a copy of her cell phone bill, she admitted that she's "never seen a phone bill in her life."

I can honestly say, that she's probably telling the truth, I mean, this would explain the constant device changes and endless supply of cell phones!

Source

Google Enhances Gmail For Cell Phones

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:00:31 -0700

As you already know, I bat for both cell phone teams: the iPhone and the BlackBerry Curve. So I'm thrilled that Google is introducing Gmail for mobile 2.0 - the faster, stronger, better, mail client for cell phones, naturally. What can you do now that you couldn't do before? You get offline access so you can whip up emails while sitting on the bus to send later, you will also get better service in low signal areas and you'll now be able to access multiple Gmail or Google Apps email accounts. Check out the changes in action below!