Integration of Google+ with other Google Products

Initially Google+ was launched (or at least perceived) as a Social networking site directly competing against Facebook. Tech gurus instantaneously started comparing the two sites based on features, user base, etc. However, Google has been saying for a while that Google+ isn't just as a social networking site, but a well integrated Google product. Little was known what they meant few months back. Here is the breakdown of what they meant by a well integrated product.

• Any and all pictures uploaded on Picasa are now available in Google+ for you to share with your circles in one click.
• Pictures taken from you smart phone are automatically uploaded to your Google+ as a private picture which can be shared at your discretion.
• You can now view contacts/emails in your Gmail based on your Google+ Circles. You can also add any contact directly from your Gmail to your Google+ Circle
• You can customize call screening and greetings in your Google Voice account based on your Google+ circles.
• Ability to chat (gtalk) via Google+, and also specify which Circles can chat with you.
• You can now sort Google search results based on personal connections (from Google+) or from the entire web.
• +1's received by the websites are shown on search results.
• And the list keeps growing

One of the questions which was being constantly raised was, will Google+ be able to compete with Facebook or will it eventually have a slow death just like Orkut. I don't think that question is valid any longer. Google+ is no longer directly competing with Facebook, but at the same time it is growing its user base 10 fold by integrating Google+ with other popular Google services.

Google to start competing with Dropbox

There have been rumors floating for several months that Google is going to launch Cloud Storage service called Google Drive. Google is aiming to directly compete with the famous cloud storage, DropBox. Google already provides cloud storage for music and is called Google Music.

Almost every company is moving towards cloud computing. Apple came out with iCloud for music, backup, etc. Google has also launched laptop running on Chrome OS which basically can be touted as a cloud computing laptop as all the application on Chrome OS are web based.

It is yet to be seen if and how Google Drive will be integrated with other cloud based services Google provides. No details have been revealed by Google regarding this service. I will post more information as it becomes available. I would speculate it will initially launch as a invitation only service just like any other launch.

Mobile Google Docs now available in Offline mode

Google Docs for Android received a major update. It has finally added support for Offline access to files stored in Google Docs. The inability of offline access has been a set back for Google Doc ever since it was introduced.

With this update you can now make any file in your Google Doc available to you offline. Any changes made will be sync'ed up when your connection is restored.

Click here to download the update...

Apple's Got the Green!

Here is an interesting comparison created by MBAOnline regarding how much cash Apple's got.



Created by: MBA Online

AutomateIt: Automate your Android

Have you ever been in a situation where you can't find your phone in your home and calling the phone doesn't help either because you have it on silent? I sure have been in that situation before. AutomateIt provides solutions for such mishaps and more.

You can set various rules to Automate trigger on your Android Phone. For example you can set a rule to turn your ringer on high volume when your phone receives text message "lost phone". You can also set location based rules such as enabling and disabling wifi when you enter or exit your home location. Such rules can help you save some battery charge.

You can also set low battery triggers, so that when your phone has less than 30% charge it would automatically turn off bluetooth, gps, wifi, etc. The options are endless as to what all you can automate with AutomateIt. There is a free version with few limitations and than there is the pro version for $1.50.

Nokia's marriage to Microsoft is fetching them $250 Million per quarter

Nokia reported a whopping $1 Billion loss in 4th quarter of 2011. In contrast Nokia had reported $900 Million profit in the same quarter of 2010. Thanks to the rise of Apples and Androids, Nokia saw a sharp decline in sales and profits in a year.

Recently Nokia had joined hands with Microsoft to provide Windows based phones on Nokia hardware. Up until now both Nokia and Microsoft were tight lipped about the terms of the partnership. However, Nokia quarterly earnings revealed that it has received $250 Million "platform support payments" from Microsoft in 4th quarter. This would add up to $1 Billion payments from Microsoft to Nokia in a year.

Netflix Beats Expectations

Netflix in its quarterly earnings today announced that it has added 610,000 DVD subscribers and 220,000 Online streaming only subscribers. Analysts had estimated $857.4M revenue and EPS of $0.54. Compared to the estimates the actual figures for the 4th quarter of 2011 Netflix reported $876M in revenues and EPS of $0.73.

Netflix (NFLX) shares jumped by 15% to $109.71 in after hours trading.