e-Lifestyle
Google+ Hangouts Now Available in Gmail
Jul 31st
Hangouts, popular video chat feature in Google+, will be present in stages in Gmail since last Tuesday.
Google hopes Hangouts feature can enrich interactions in Gmail that usually just a text email. This feature alone will replace the existing video chat feature in Gmail.
Features which will be located in the Gmail sidebar will be easier for Gmail users to directly access Hangouts directly from inbox without the need to move to Google+.
However, Fred Brewin who served as product manager of Google said that all Hangouts feature is only accessible by users who also have a Google+ account.
These features include video chat with 9 people at a time, collaborate on documents in Google, to watch Youtube videos together, sharing the screen up to wear funny effects like fake mustache or a pirate hat. More >
Gmail Users Can Now Send Email through SMS
Jul 20th
Google has just launched a new service for users of Gmail accounts. The users of the largest free email service in the world are now able to reply, forward or receive email via mobile phones.
With the new service, Gmail account users still stay in touch with their account though without internet access. Unfortunately, the new service is not available worldwide. As a first step, Google is only providing this service for Gmail users in Africa.
“We are very pleased to be able to provide these new services in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. Now, you can send and receive emails as an SMS message using your phone, no matter whether your phone is equipped or not with internet access such as WiFi or 3G. Gmail SMS works for all types of mobile phones, even the most basic mobile phones which only support calls and SMS”, said Google in their blog.
Before running this feature, of course the Gmail account owner must do the customization. Steps should be done was quite easy. You can go to Account Settings, and then there is a section of the Phone and SMS. There, you can enter the phone number and Google will do the verification. After that, then your Gmail will be able to forward every email that comes into your phone.
Feeling rivaled by Maps iOS, Google Spread Invitation to Introduce the Next Dimension of Google Maps
Jun 5th
Apple is known to be rid of Google’s Maps application on the iOS and in return, Apple will launch their own map application that claimed much better than Google Maps.
To realize this vision, Apple has acquired C3 Technologies in January to develop an in-house 3D mapping services and eliminate dependence on Google Maps.
But Google seems to not want to loose, Google is reportedly preparing a new innovation in the Google Maps service. To showcase the innovation, Google also has invited media to an event that will take place on June 6.
In the event, Google will introduce what they called the Next Dimension of Google Maps. Brian McCleendon, vice president of Google Maps and Google Earth will oversee the event and demonstrate a variety of new features which the possibility is the new 3D mapping feature.
Facebook Camera, Photo Social Networking Applications Special from Facebook
Jun 1st
Lately, many emerging social networking in particular rely only photo or image as a media for interaction, one that is widely used is Pinterest. Looking at that fact, Facebook finally launched a photography social networking named Facebook Camera.
Although Facebook has acquired Instagram which is also a photo sharing application, but Facebook seems to want to immediately make an application or a photography social networking while waiting the acquisition process with Instagram complete.
By using the Facebook Camera application, users can share more photos and much easier to give a description or tag. This application is also available in a few simple imaging features such as cropping, rotate, and so forth.
In order the uploaded photos look nice Facebook Camera also has provided some filter typical to Instagram. Users can also create uploaded photos to privacy and can not be seen by other users. This application has been present in the Apple App Store and can be had for free.
Update Status via SMS in Google+ is Now Present in 43 Countries
Apr 22nd
Good news for all you lovers of Google+ social networking. Now you can update the status on Google+ via SMS. Previously, the feature is already available in the United States and India.
After the success in the two countries, Google is now expanding the reach of the SMS service in 41 countries bringing the total support SMS for Google+ could have been used in 43 countries. The countries in question are Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.
Not just a status update, with such features, you can receive notifications and provide Google+ comments directly from phones via SMS. To be able to update status via SMS you need to enter your phone number in Google+ settings first. In addition, you also have to use the service operator that supports the Google+ SMS.
