Google Instant Search Available NOW

Even before Google presentation started, some of the new stuff has already been discovered.

Take Google Instant, which already live and available:

http://www.google.com/webhp?sclient=psy

Google Scribe

In the day Google is about to announce something new, here another interesting Google labs project that can save you precious time: Google Scribe.

You've probably used Google auto-suggestions before.  As you type, Google automagically suggests what you might be searching for. Google scribes takes this to the next level, allowing you to easily use those same suggestions as you write.

Most interesting, thanks to a bookmarklet, you can use Google Scribe in any text field in any web page!

Give it a try; I'm sure you won't regret it.

Show Popular Posts in Blogger

Although you could achieve a similar result using 3rd party tools or other complex techniques, Blogger (in Draft) finally offers some much appreciated new blogger widgets.

The most popular will undoubtedly be the popular posts widget for Blogger:

You just need to select if you want to show the most viewed post from the last 7 days, 30 days, or all time; and select if you want images and text snippets along the post titles:

(I'd suggest the blogger team to add a way to limit the number of popular items.)


The other widget allows you to show the total pageviews in either number, graphic, or mixed format (even with animated effects if you wish)

Kindle 3 Screen vs Kindle 2

Kindle has always been one of the most popular (and well known) eBook reader devices. With the new Kindle 3 on the market, some people might be tempted between getting a new Kindle 3 device, or maybe opt for a second hand older Kindle.

Here are some photos that show the eInk screen of the new generation Kindle next to its older sibling. Although not earth-shattering, the Kindle 3 eInk display does offer slightly enhanced contrast which will make it easier and more pleasing to the eyes to read.

Google SketchUp 8

Google's 3D modeling program we've all grown to enjoy and love in the past few years is better than ever with its latest version. SketchUp 8 is ready to rumble and it brings some interesting new features you won't want to miss.

There were a lot of improvements in geo-modeling in SketchUp and some of the thing even rubbed on to other Google products: Building Maker can now use Streetview images.

Multitouch Multi-Robot Control

Here's a very interesting project showing how to control mutiple robots using a multitouch Surface.

Basically, and although it's demoed using virtual robots (though you can see it working with a real robot in the second video) this system allows you to control a number of units just like you do in many RTS (Real Time Strategy) games.

Just pick the units you want and tell them where you want them to go, either by drawing its paths or touching their destination point.

Check it in action in the following videos.

iOS 4.1 Available Sept 8

The new iOS 4.1 was promised for next week, and it now gets its first seemingly official launch date on Apple's UK website: September 8th, next Wednesday.

Besides all the expected bug fixes that will hopefully make it as rock solid as it was in its previous iOS4 versions, this iOS 4.1 will also bring:

• HDR Photos (High Dynamic Range)
• HD video upload via WiFi
• TV Shows rentals
• Game Center