Google Data » Mendel https://googledata.org Everything Google: News, Products, Services, Content, Culture Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:49:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.5 New stuff from the Picasa folks https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/new-stuff-from-the-picasa-folks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-stuff-from-the-picasa-folks https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/new-stuff-from-the-picasa-folks/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:10:00 +0000 For more than a year, you have been able to view all the photos you've uploaded to your blog in Picasa Web Albums. It's been good -- having a dedicated photo management interface comes in handy when you want to do things like embed Blogger photos elsewhere on the web, order prints, create slideshows, and so on.

Today, Picasa Web Albums has undergone a significant redesign, and is launching a slew of new features to help you better organize and enjoy your photos, including all of your Blogger Photos. Along with a much-refined interface, there's a powerful new 'name tags' feature that helps organize your photo collection based on who's in each picture. For fun, check out the new Explore page, or take a look at the Recent Photos stream (unabashedly inspired by Blogger Play).

Oh, and one more thing: If you use Picasa (the client software) to edit and organize all the photos on your PC, we're happy to report that Picasa's venerable 'BlogThis!' button still sits front-and-center in the next generation of Picasa software, which also launches today as Picasa 3 (beta). If you've never tried it before, now's a great time to start -- Picasa 3 includes plenty of new photo-editing goodies that can make your blog's pictures look better, like a powerful retouch tool, greatly revamped photo-collage and slideshow creators, simple video editing, desktop/web sync, and more. To learn more, swing by the Google Photos blog.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/new-stuff-from-the-picasa-folks/feed/ 0 Multiple-size Embedded Presentations from Google Docs https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/multiple-size-embedded-presentations-from-google-docs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=multiple-size-embedded-presentations-from-google-docs https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/multiple-size-embedded-presentations-from-google-docs/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 14:26:00 +0000 Google Docs has just updated their embedded presentation feature to support multiple sizes, so now presentations can look even better in blog posts. To add a presentation to your blog, create it in Google Docs and copy the “Mini Presentation Module” HTML into a blog post. (See: Embedding Presentations in a Web Site)

For an example, take a look at this small-sized presentation:

You can include YouTube videos, images, and text captions into slides to condense and display a “deck” of graphical content in a concise format in your posts.

Google Docs is a free, web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application. Try it now.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-blogger-buzz/multiple-size-embedded-presentations-from-google-docs/feed/ 0 Google Desktop for Linux 1.1 Beta https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-desktop-for-linux-1-1-beta/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-desktop-for-linux-1-1-beta https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-desktop-for-linux-1-1-beta/#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:00:00 +0000 Posted by Jim Zhuang, Software Engineer

When we released the first version of Google Desktop for Linux this past June, we signaled a commitment to the Linux community: to develop for the platform and to support our Linux users. Since then, we have been hard at work to improve and refine our product. Today, we'd like to share what we've created by releasing Google Desktop for Linux 1.1 Beta.

Feedback from people like you shaped this update. Because many people wanted to search and launch applications, we added that functionality to the product. Desktop for Linux now supports many more image formats and will show better thumbnails for them in your search results. You can also customize the hotkey used to launch the quick search box. And most importantly, Desktop for Linux now searches the content of Microsoft Office documents - our most requested feature.

Please download the latest version and give it a spin. We hope you like it.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-desktop-for-linux-1-1-beta/feed/ 0 iGoogle meets Desktop gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/igoogle-meets-desktop-gadgets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=igoogle-meets-desktop-gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/igoogle-meets-desktop-gadgets/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2007 06:38:00 +0000 Posted by Ryan Tabone, Product Manager

We've often asked ourselves why Google Desktop Gadgets are confined to just the desktop and sidebar. With Google Desktop 5.5 Beta, we've decided to change that. In addition to improved Outlook search functionality, Google Desktop now lets you run Desktop gadgets on your iGoogle homepage. And that means you can check your wireless signal, grow a beautiful plant, or play music right from iGoogle.


The process for adding Desktop gadgets to your iGoogle homepage is simple. Just surf over to the iGoogle Content Directory and find the gadgets you want to add -- for example, try adding the media player gadget by clicking on the "Add it now" button on this page. If you already have Desktop 5.5 installed, you'll get the gadget without having to do anything more. If you don't, you'll be offered a streamlined Google Desktop with only the gadget functionality enabled. You can decide later whether you want to try out some of the other great features of Google Desktop, such as searching the contents of files, emails and web history.

With Desktop 5.5, you can also have multiple instances of a gadget on your desktop. Simply open up the "Add gadgets" menu and choose to add an existing gadget again. Also, make sure to press the Ctrl button twice to check out the svelte new look of the Quick Search Box.

Additionally, we've updated the gadgets button, which you can use to quickly see all your new gadgets!


As always, please let us know what you think.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/igoogle-meets-desktop-gadgets/feed/ 0 Desktop goes cross platform https://googledata.org/google-desktop/desktop-goes-cross-platform/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=desktop-goes-cross-platform https://googledata.org/google-desktop/desktop-goes-cross-platform/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:46:00 +0000 Posted by Mendel Chuang, Product Marketing Manager

Google Desktop is hitting a milestone today: we're going cross platform! Google Desktop for the Mac (beta) is now available. We know that whether you use a PC or a Mac, a significant amount of personal content lives on the web and also on your computer. We're committed to helping you search all of that information.

Like the Windows version, Google Desktop for the Mac makes searching your desktop and the web faster, easier, and more comprehensive, enhances the desktop search experience with the Quick Search Box, and leverages Google technology to deliver speed and usability. It works with both PowerPC and Intel machines with Mac OS X 10.4+ and is compatible with Safari, Firefox, and Camino browsers. For this version, we focused on searching the desktop with speed, ease of use, relevance, and comprehensiveness. It does not have sidebar and gadgets, though we do plan to make Google Gadgets available on the Mac in the future. To find out more, read this post on our Mac Blog.

We look forward to adding more features and further improving performance and usability in the near future.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/desktop-goes-cross-platform/feed/ 0 The New Sidebar and Gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/the-new-sidebar-and-gadgets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-new-sidebar-and-gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/the-new-sidebar-and-gadgets/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:52:00 +0000 Posted by Kevin Tom, Product Manager

With the dramatically increasing amount of content out there, you need better ways to find relevant information, whether searching your computer or reading the latest headlines in sidebar. How could we improve the way you stay up-to-date with sidebar and gadgets? How could we make it even easier to search files and find that lost book report, web page, or recipe? After many months, we are pleased to release the Google Desktop 5 Beta application, featuring a new sidebar and redesigned Gadgets.

The sidebar has a completely new look and feel. It samples the color of your wallpaper and fades in the sampled color so that it fits seamlessly onto your desktop. Some of our gadgets have been redesigned so that they are easy to tell apart, easy to read, and easy on the eyes. More differentiated gadgets allow for faster scanning of information through the sidebar. And we've created a new dialog for adding gadgets so it's easier and faster than ever to find the right gadgets for you.

In addition, we have improved two other key features of Google Desktop:
  • Desktop Search - Ever searched your computer and seen a row of results that looked almost identical - so you had to open file after file until you found the right one? Now there is a better way: preview search results from within Google Desktop. Don't wait for an entire application to load, just click "Preview" and find the information you want right away. Finding the right file has never been easier!

  • Security - We take your security extremely seriously and have added new features to help make your search experience safer. Whether you’re clicking on links from documents, IMs and email or browsing the web, if we have information that the site you're visiting might be trying to steal your personal information or install malicious software on your computer, we'll give you a warning first so you can decide if you want to use the site.
You can never save enough time looking for information. Find out more about Google Desktop.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/the-new-sidebar-and-gadgets/feed/ 0 New Sidebars for All https://googledata.org/google-desktop/new-sidebars-for-all/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-sidebars-for-all https://googledata.org/google-desktop/new-sidebars-for-all/#comments Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:39:00 +0000 Posted by Kevin Tom, Product Manager

Happy Holidays! Santa has delivered Google Desktop 4.5 in 27 more languages -- and the Japanese version is also coming out of beta. Now everyone can take advantage of new features, including:

Transparent Sidebar - The new Sidebar fits seamlessly with your desktop environment. Gadgets look right at home in the Sidebar and content-heavy gadgets are easier to tell apart with new frames and icons. And you can still have the Sidebar "Always on top," "not on top," or in "Auto-hide" mode.

Compatibility with the latest software - This new version is compatible with Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and Mozilla Firefox 2.0.

The Google Desktop documentation and SDK have also been updated. It's easier than ever for first-time and experienced developers to create gadgets. We can't wait to see more of them!
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/new-sidebars-for-all/feed/ 0 Holiday Gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/holiday-gadgets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=holiday-gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/holiday-gadgets/#comments Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:33:00 +0000 Posted by James Yum, Support Engineer

We've released some very fun and festive gadgets just in time for the holidays! Try these out:
Christmas Tree Christmas Tree by EK Chung and James Yum [USA]
A tree that you can decorate. Choose lights, bows, stockings, and ornaments for your tree to add distinctive holiday cheer.
Countdown to New Year Countdown to New Year by Teodor Filimon [Romania]
A winter calendar that shows how much time is left until January 1. This gadget's main purpose is to count down these final days of the year, so be sure to have it running New Year's Eve!
GXmas Tree GX'mas Tree by Lahiru Lakmal Priyadarshana [Sri Lanka]
A nice "Xmas" tree right on your desktop, with lights that reflect your CPU usage. Choose your favorite holiday song to play in the background.
Christmas Frame Christmas Frame by Bijoy Thangaraj [India]
A dynamic Christmas frame that plays a carol when you click on the tree!
Virtual Christmas Tree Virtual Christmas Tree by Catalin Avram [Romania]
A beautiful tree that you can decorate just like a real one. (Hint: Click the Ornaments box at the bottom of the tree, choose a decoration, and then click everywhere you want the decoration to appear.) You can also listen to carols, watch the snow fall, or shop for a holiday gift.

Many thanks to the talented developers of these fine gadgets. We encourage all of you to create and share yours for holidays you celebrate. To get started, visit our Developer Site and be sure to grab the Google Desktop SDK.

Happy Holidays from the Google Desktop Team!
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/holiday-gadgets/feed/ 0 More and more gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/more-and-more-gadgets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=more-and-more-gadgets https://googledata.org/google-desktop/more-and-more-gadgets/#comments Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:44:00 +0000 Posted by Mendel Chuang, Product Marketing Manager

We hope you're liking the new Google Desktop Sidebar that we introduced last week, but we hope you like it even more with these great new gadgets:
  • NPR Now Playing - Are you a fan of NPR? Well, they've created a new gadget for you. You can keep the NPR Now Playing gadget in your Sidebar or on your desktop for easy access to NPR programming. You'll never be far from your favorite programs and you can start listening with just a push of the button.
  • Moon Phase - We have gadgets to tell you about the weather, but what about the phases of the moon? This latest gadget tells you where we are, lunar-phase-wise, on your desktop. Simply place this virtual moon anywhere you want and hover your mouse over it to get more details.
  • Wikipedia Search - For all those inquisitive minds out there, here's another great gadget. Whenever there's a topic you want to explore or just something you don't know about, theWikipedia search gadget lets you quickly search Wikipedia. It also shows results and suggestions while you type, and saves your recent searches for easy access.

And if you want to customize your Sidebar, there are several ways to do it. From the Sidebar options menu, you can turn off the "Always on Top" feature to allow it to go to the background (easily bring it to the front by pressing shift twice). Or select the "Auto-hide" feature from the same menu to hide the Sidebar off the screen when your mouse isn't near it. And just drag the edge of the Sidebar to adjust the width.

To find out more about what you can do with your Sidebar, check out our features page or visit the Google Gadgets page to find other new gadgets.

And by the way, have a happy Thanksgiving.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/more-and-more-gadgets/feed/ 0 Check out the new Sidebar https://googledata.org/google-desktop/check-out-the-new-sidebar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=check-out-the-new-sidebar https://googledata.org/google-desktop/check-out-the-new-sidebar/#comments Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:56:00 +0000 Posted by Kevin Tom, Product Manager

The Google Desktop Sidebar has always been great at delivering content personalized to individual users, ever since it was introduced way back in the second version of Google Desktop. But we kept thinking: what's a better way to deliver this content? In later versions of Google Desktop we let gadgets float on the desktop. But the Sidebar was starting to get a bit jealous and we couldn't restrain it any longer, so now there's Google Desktop 4.5, featuring a Sidebar with a new look.

The new Sidebar is transparent, so it fits seamlessly with your desktop environment. Gadgets that fought for attention now look right at home, and content-heavy gadgets get new frames and icons that make it easier to tell them apart. All of this leads to a better place to find your email, news, feeds, stock prices, weather and other essential information. And this version is compatible with all of the latest software including Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and Mozilla Firefox 2.0. So what are you waiting for? Try the new Sidebar in Google Desktop now.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/check-out-the-new-sidebar/feed/ 0 Getting the most out of Google Desktop https://googledata.org/google-desktop/getting-the-most-out-of-google-desktop/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=getting-the-most-out-of-google-desktop https://googledata.org/google-desktop/getting-the-most-out-of-google-desktop/#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:32:00 +0000 Posted by Mendel Chuang, Product Marketing Manager

When we were designing Google Desktop, we knew that people would use it in different ways. It's been interesting to see just what you're doing with it. Legal Andrew points out that one way to improve your experience is to simply have the right set of gadgets in your Sidebar, so that, for example, the email gadget keeps you from having to switch constantly between Outlook and your other programs. At Lifehacker, Adam Pash points out that you can tweak Google Desktop to get it to do more of what you want. And Ionut Alex. Chitu came up with a list of 10 Great Uses For Google Desktop, including control panel replacement, browser cache, and file recovery.

If you haven't already, make sure to check out our features page to see the full list of what Google Desktop has to offer. Or if you have other ideas, share them with us.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/getting-the-most-out-of-google-desktop/feed/ 0 Google Gadget Awards https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-gadget-awards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-gadget-awards https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-gadget-awards/#comments Fri, 22 Sep 2006 18:04:00 +0000 Posted by Samantha Crow, Product Marketing Manager

The Google Desktop Gadget Contest ended a few weeks ago, but if you're a college or university student in the U.S., we've got a new challenge for you. How do you feel about writing a gadget that (could) get you a date, is really smart or pretty, or that your friends just can't get enough of? We just launched the Google Gadget Awards, which challenges U.S. college students to create clever Google Gadgets. And we've got a great panel of judges, including Commander Taco, Founder of Slashdot; Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine; and John Hennessy, President of Stanford University. We've seen some great entries in the past and are excited to see what you can come up with now.

If you're not a university student in the U.S., you can still create Google Gadgets. Although they won't be entered in the Awards, if they're clever enough you just might find them on desktops around the world.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-desktop/google-gadget-awards/feed/ 0