Google Overload: 10.16.09 Edition

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 16 Oct 2009

This week we did not focus on Google as much as we tend to. We reported on the fact that the FCC launched yet another inquiry into Google Voice – this time it was spurred by an AT&T complaint that Google blocks certain calls. Then we reported on the launch of two new Gmail Labs offerings: Got the Wrong Bob? and Google Docs Preview.

Now here are the other Google-related news we’ve missed this week. Just because we did not do an individual report on these items doesn’t mean you should miss out on a something interesting (potentially). Because that is how we do things on the Google Overload edition.

Google Android – Android 1.6 provides support for more screen sizes. This means many more devices will be able to run Android.

Google Docs – Drawings in Google Docs comes with some new features: draw lines with multiple segments, create custom filled shapes, Snap to Guides (aligns shapes with the canvas and other shapes automatically), draw a sequence of related lines.

Google Docs – This week saw the introduction of Shared Folders to Google Docs. You can share multiple items by placing them in a folder and sharing it.

Google Quick Search Box – QSB is now available in Google Android.

Google Squared – Google has introduced several quality improvements to Google Squared. On top of that Google Squared now features new sorting and exporting tools.

Google Webmaster Tools Labs – Two new features have been added to Webmaster Tools Labs: Malware details and Fetch as Googlebot. The offerings are meant to help webmasters fight malware on their sites.

Google Building Maker – This is a new tool to help you create 3D building models for Google Earth.

Google Board of Directors - Dr. Arthur Levinson has resigned from the position he occupied with the company’s Board of Directors.

Google Chrome – The web browser has been updated to version 3.0.195.27 on the Beta and Stable channel. On the dev channel it has been updated to version 4.0.222.5 for Linux and Mac OS X and version 4.0.222.12 for Windows.

Google Voice – Mountain View-based search engine giant Google wants you to invite friends to Google Voice. Current Google Voice users can view an Invite a friend link in the left hand side of the inbox window. In related news, a Google Wave Firefox add-on is available for download here.

Picasa – The import photos feature in Picasa 3.5 has been redesigned because Google wants to make it easier for you to organize your photos as you download them from your camera. You can choose which images will be imported to your computer and what images will be uploaded to Picasa Web Albums.

Google Translator Toolkit – With the newly added 285 languages, the total numer of languages Google Translator Toolkit provides support for has increased to 345.

Google I/O – The Google I/O developer conference will be held on the 19th and 20th of May, 2010 at the Moscone center in San Francisco.

Q3 Financial Results – For Q3 2009 that ended on the 30th of September, Google reported revenues of $5.94 billion. Compared to Q3 2008 that is a 7% increase.


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