Richard's Reading Room

Word Association

2011-12-16T02:05:00.001-08:00

I would like to be doing this with someone right now.

Google+ Hangouts: going beyond the status update

2011-12-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

I really like the evolution of G+. I like that they're actively integrating things like Hangout+ into more places where it might make sense to have it. I like that they're integrating G+ into more of their other products.

One awkward thing right now with the addition of circles to Contacts is that now I have contact groups and I have circles and they're incredibly redundant and I can't change people's circles from the Contacts window. :)

Integrating things isn't always great, though. I miss having a separate stream for sharing things I've read. I'm torn between using a Blog format (for people to casually join) and the G+ circle (which people have to request to join, which means I have to advertise its existence periodically if someone might be interested).

However, I like the reconciliation between the Google+ profile and the Blogger profile. I know some people like having separate profiles, but at this point, it probably makes sense to just have a separate Google account if you want a separate identity per service.

Google+ Hangouts: going beyond the status update: All too often, physical distance and frantic schedules get in the way of spending time together, especially during the holidays. But you know what? They don't have to.

With Google+ Hangouts, you can go beyond “status updates,” and connect with the people you care about using multi-person video. For free. And today we're rolling out a number of improvements that make it even easier to say hello to your loved ones, face-to-face-to-face.

Upgrade any conversation from long-form to live

Certain posts act as kindling for face-to-face interaction. Suppose your sister gets engaged, or your roommate lands a job, or your favorite singer shares their concert schedule. You can obviously write comments back and forth, but it's moments like these when you really want to connect in person. That's why we're making it easy to start a hangout from any post on Google+.

Just click "Hangout" underneath a post that you’re passionate about, and we’ll add your invitation to the comments. If others are hanging out already, you'll see their invitation in the comments as well.

Starting a hangout on a post (left); Joining a hangout already in progress (right)

The desire to “go live” isn’t limited to your desktop computer, of course, so we’re also bringing hangouts to Google+ Messenger on mobile devices. Simply tap the new hangout icon when the time is right, and you'll flip from text and photos to smiles and laughter.

Google+ Messenger: tap once to start a hangout (left); tap again to continue typing (right)

The new Google+ app will be available in Android Market within a few days, and it’s coming soon to the App Store.

Broadcast and record what matters most

The Black Eyed Peas, the Dalai Lama and even the Muppets have all used Hangouts On Air to share their performances and peace talks with the world. On Air is still under active development, but today we’re doing three things to get us closer to general availability:
We’re turning it on for hundreds more public figures, celebrities and other Google+ users with large followings
We’re making Hangouts On Air completely self-service, so you can broadcast whenever you’re in the mood
We’re integrating it with YouTube, so once you’re off the air, we’ll upload a full-length (and private) recording to your account

Starting an On Air hangout (left); Watching an On Air hangout in the stream (right)

To get started, just look for the new “broadcast and record” option after starting a hangout. If you don’t see it yet, then don’t worry: we’re working hard to give everyone the chance to go On Air.

In the meantime, you can still watch or join On Air broadcasts directly from the stream. Just look for the red banner while reading your posts or checking your hair, and you'll know you're in the right place.

Dial-in friends and family, from all over the world

Not everyone has a webcam or a front-facing mobile camera, but that shouldn’t stop them from spending time with the people they’re close to. Fortunately, nearly everyone has a telephone, and today we’re making it possible to dial-in anyone, from almost any country, directly into your hangout. Calls to the U.S. and Canada are free, and international calling rates are super, super low.

Dial-in hangout participants from almost anywhere

Never miss a chance to connect

When friends and family invite you to hang out on Google+, we want to make sure the opportunity doesn’t pass you by. So we’re making active hangouts more accessible in two important ways:
On the right-hand side of the stream, you’ll see up to three live hangouts that you can join
Whether you’re at your desk or on the go, we'll ring your device and notify you when you’re invited to a hangout

From left to right: live hangouts you can join; desktop notification in chat; mobile notification

Whether it’s sharing baby news, or your niece’s new dance moves, Google+ users continue to use hangouts to build intimate onscreen experiences. We hope these two improvements help you discover more of them, more often.

Have some fun, add some antlers

Back in NMovember, we helped the Google+ community add millions of virtual moustaches to their faces. Now that it’s December we’re introducing a pair of antlers, so by all means, unleash your inner reindeer! Looking ahead, developers will be able to create their own effects using the updated Hangouts API, so stay tuned for lots more fun.

Moustaches in Movember (left); Antlers in December (right)

By bringing people together, face-to-face-to-face, we're hoping to make the world a bit cozier, and lift people's spirits a bit higher. So give hangouts a try this holiday season, and let us know what you think.

Posted by Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President

New Cities, $200 Holiday Gift & Much More

2011-12-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

WIND is now officially moving into Cambridge and London in Ontario. I suppose they'll make it all the way down to Windsor by next year after all. I wonder when (if ever?) they'll pursue rural Ontario (like Flesherton :D).

Also, St. John's would be nice.

New Cities, $200 Holiday Gift & Much More:

Food for thought

2011-12-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

Nom nom nom. When I get more free time, I want to start creating cool treats, rather than just delicious cookies all the time. :D

Food for thought:

Life-sized edible brain sculptures from a series called ‘What have you got in your head?’ by artist Sara Asnaghi.

Link to full sculpture series (via BoingBoing).

Fancy Fast Food Dates

2011-12-04T16:29:00.001-08:00

A friend has independently extended my concept of the fancy fast food date along with ImproveInToronto:

HappySchnitzel: Und dann weiß man nicht: Spricht er mit der Stimme in seinem Kopf oder mit Siri? #tatort

2011-12-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

This is something I'm slightly concerned about. When we let technology correct so much about our communication that you can no longer discern whether a comment's intelligence originated from the commentator or technology.

HappySchnitzel: Und dann weiß man nicht: Spricht er mit der Stimme in seinem Kopf oder mit Siri? #tatort

Marcel the Shell

2011-12-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a cute video interviewing a shell. It is 4m12s. My friend Ashley shared it with me.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms

2011-11-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

I really like the sound of things like this. I know it would be more environmentally friendly to just grow mushrooms normally, but at least this makes it more attractive to many. I also like the source, Beatrice the Biologist.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms:

Did you know that you can buy a kit to grow your own little mushroom garden on your counter? This recycled cardboard package is full of spent Peet's coffee grounds (that would otherwise be thrown out) and mushroom spawn. You open up the perforated pane, mist with the provided misty bottle, and in 10 days, you have a crop of mushrooms that you can sauté with some butter and subsequently devour.

Get yours at Back to the Roots, backtotheroots.com. Yeah, I know that mushrooms don't really have roots. But life goes on.

Get one if you want a fun 10-day project and like watching things grow. They also make good presents for people who are otherwise impossible to shop for.

And now, I will amaze you with the pictures I took of mine while it grew from nothingness to fungal insanity.

Day 0: What a lovely cardboard box.

Day 1: I've got my misty mister. Let's do this.

Day 4: Look--a tiny blurb!

Day 5: Growing blurb.

Day 6: Blurb, look at you go.

Day 7: I am so proud of blurb.

Day 8: Blurbs grow up so fast.

Day 9: Blurb in my face.

Day 10: Bluuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrb.

SIDE VIEWS, so you can appreciate the blurb growth.

Thanks, Back to the Roots!

Gigabyte updates its netvertible range with the 11.6-inch Booktop T1132

2011-11-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure I like Google Reader's send-to-blogger function yet. However, I really like convertible tablets. I'm very happy with mine, and hope my next one will be thinner, but I'm glad to see they still exist.

Gigabyte updates its netvertible range with the 11.6-inch Booktop T1132:

With Gigabyte's gaming motherboards doing so well, it's nice to be reminded that the company makes whole PCs too. The latest in its Booktop line of swiveling tablet hybrids is the T1132, which trumps the T1125 with a 1.6GHz Core i5-2467M processor and a GeForce GT520M GPU with 1GB and NVIDIA Optimus switching technology. You get one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, eSATA and HDMI on the 1.76kg (3.9-pound) lappie itself, but you can add more ports and an optical drive with the optional docking station. There's no indication as to availability or whether it'll cost more or less than the T1125's original $1300 asking price, but you could always try to snag a free one via Gigabyte's wanton Facebook bribery competition detailed after the break.
Continue reading Gigabyte updates its netvertible range with the 11.6-inch Booktop T1132
Gigabyte updates its netvertible range with the 11.6-inch Booktop T1132 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Welcome

2011-11-24T23:50:00.001-08:00

Hello.

I like to share a bit of what I encounter and read from the Internet with friends. I used to share articles through Google Reader as I read them, but with the rise of Google+, systems have changed and I need a new solution. Instead of just sharing items with a closed group on Google+ that people opt in to, here is a new blog! My own blogs will continue to feature more of my original thoughts and experiences, while this will refer others' writings, with a little commentary sometimes.

I hope my tastes do not completely bore you. :)

Perceptive plants

2011-11-24T23:41:00.001-08:00

I love the rich lives of plants, the complexity of their experience and perception of their environment.

It is a lengthy read. I enjoy discussion over music "Pieces for Plants" that generates music from plant electrical activity.

The Smart Set: If You Pick Us, Do We Not Bleed? - November 22, 2011

Studies of plant perception help us understand what it means to be a plant, of course, but also what it means to be us.