GeekSugar

Google Announces Revamped Image Search

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:15:03 PDT

In a press conference today, Google announced huge changes to its image search, aimed both at refining search results for users and introducing a new advertising unit to the mix.

In terms of image search, there are some major changes: a new layout displays larger images with far less white space, leaving room for up to 1,000 results on a single page, while hovering over an image brings up a larger, more detailed image containing more information. But that's not all - hear about the rest of the impressive new features and when to expect the update when you read more.

Daily Tech: The Jawbone Makes a Cameo on Entourage

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:02:35 PDT

Johnny Drama showed off a hot bluetooth Jawbone headset on this week's episode of Entourage - Engadget
Google Image gets some more search options for efficient photo browsing - TechCrunch
RIM could be debuting a BlackBerry with a front-facing camera as early as next year - Gizmodo
Find out how you can redesign and customize your YouTube channel page - Mashable
Google's Eric Schmidt steps down from Apple's board of directors - The Silicon Alley Insider
A city in the United Kingdom may name a road after Lara Croft - Kotaku

Google Labs Gets Similar Images and Google News Timeline

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:45:28 PDT

I use Google Images as much as I use Google, but the one frustration I have is being able to find the exact photo I want (and therefore get stuck clicking through page after page). No more! Google Labs has a new search feature called Similar Images where you can find images that look like an existing photo by clicking a link below the image.

Google has also rolled out Google News Timeline where you'll find the biggest news stories organized by their date, so you can easily get caught up on all the news.

Three Cool New Google Features

GeekSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:45:05 PDT

Go Google, go! Aside from the amazing Gmail labs they've been whipping up, Google has also been on a roll with some exciting new Google Search features. Check out my slideshow to see what they are!

How to Search For Certain Colors in Google Images

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:45:13 PDT

Google Images is great for finding pictures of anything and everything - you can even check out millions of historic Time magazine photos - but what if you want to search for images by color?

We already know that Yahoo has a shop by color application that comes in handy when you're looking for an article of clothing in a particular color, but if you want to do a general color search for any object, that's when Google comes in handy.

All you have to do is tweak the search results for the URL.

For this search, I typed http://images.google.com/images?q=laptop&imgcolor=orange. Where it says laptop, just change to whatever item you are looking for and where it says orange you can replace with any color you'd like!

Google Images Adds Millions of Historic TIME Magazine Photos

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:00:45 PST

One thing that upsets me about Google Images is the fact that it's sometimes difficult to find older photos - hey, the Internet is only 39 years old. Google is trying to change this by hosting millions of photos from the LIFE photo archive from the 1950s and onward. Search various categories like people, places, events, sports, and culture or add "source:life" to any Google image search to only search the LIFE photo archive. I did this with Marilyn Monroe and these were the results I got - magical, right?!

Google Adds Facial Recognition To Image Search

GeekSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:00:40 PDT

You've got to give this a try. It's almost as cool as Google's new streetside views feature, although it's a secret that's been kept on the down low. Say you want to find pictures of Hayden Panettiere (aka Claire Bennet) from the show "Heroes". You type in Claire Heroes in the Google Image box and your results appear. Now say you just wanted pictures of Hayden's face. By simply adding &imgtype=face to the end of your Google Image search URL, your new search will only provide headshots of Hayden.The official Google Blog claims that this new facial recognition software will "make it a lot easier for you to organize and find the photos you care about." Stay tuned for more stalkerish updates associated with this new recognition tool.

Images courtesy of nbc.com and Getty Images

Handy Everyday Gmail Tips and Tricks

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:01:03 PST

If you've moved to Gmail recently (congratulations!), it's possible that you could get overwhelmed with all of the options, settings, and possibilities at your fingertips. We've got a ton of tips to share, but let's start with a few basic and handy tips that you could use every day. Check them out below!

Make voice calls - You can easily make voice calls in Gmail on the cheap. In the "Chat" section, just click the "Call Phone" button and enter the digits. You'll then be able to make free calls to landlines the US and Canada, and for super cheap you can call cell phones and landlines worldwide.
Search with options - If you haven't discovered the "Show Search Options" link to the right of the Gmail search bar, you're in for a treat. Clicking it reveals a host of helpful options, including the ability to search by sender, date, attachment, subject, and more. It's extremely helpful if you are less than diligent about labeling and filing emails in your inbox.
Use rich text signatures - Tired of those boring text-only signatures or canned responses coming from your Gmail account? Take note: Gmail supports rich text signatures! Add links, colors, images, or formatting to your Gmail account signature, or any other account you've set up to send from Gmail. It's super easy to set up - just head to your settings page, scroll down to the Signature section, and design away!
Use keyboard shortcuts - First, enable keyboard shortcuts in your Settings menu. Then, use these fast and easy keyboard shortcuts to navigate!

See the rest of the list after the break.

Untapped Resource: Antique Suzanis For a Steal!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:39 PST

While clicking through dozens of pictures during a late night Google Image search for suzanis, I stumbled upon the mother ship. If you're a sucker for central Asian prints like suzanis and ikats, you must check out Uzbek Craft, an online store stocked with Oriental textiles. Aside from offering fabrics, they also carry pretty pillows and jewelry. My favorite though, is their gallery of breathtaking vintage suzanis, which are astonishingly reasonable at a price range of $50-$300.

There are several stages to creating these magnificent textiles. First, a pattern is drawn on the fabric to serve as a guide for the embroidery. Then a group of artists, usually family members, work on embroidering separate panels of fabric using colorful silk thread. Once the panels are complete, they are sewn together to create a cohesive piece of cloth.

The layered process of creating a suzani is reflected in interior designer Kathryn Ireland's approach to incorporating the prints in her work. The varying patterns and pops of color in the suzani pieces she uses make for eclectic and warm spaces. Keep reading to see some of my favorite examples of Kathryn Ireland's layered suzani rooms!

Daily Tech: Netflix's Leap Into Original Content

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:37:00 PST

Check out the trailer for Netflix's first original series - Tecca
Friends, an image on your iPad doesn't count as legal identification - Newser
10 old toys that make no sense now - Cracked
Most flagged Facebook photos aren't actually inappropriate - SlashGear
Google punishes itself for breaking paid link rule - Geekosystem
Actor hilariously reenacts the worst lines of video games - GeekTyrant
Sadly, photography mainstay, Kodak, is reportedly eying Chapter 11 bankruptcy - Wall Street Journal