Daily Bits

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Will You Be on Cloud 9 Thanks to Google eBooks?

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I read about the launch of Google eBooks yesterday when they posted the announcement in The Official Google Blog. I did find myself chewing on the idea for longer than I should have been, so I decided to take a look at some other topic. Needless to say, the bookworm in me just can’t ignore the supposedly more than 3 million books that Google eBooks is supposed to have on offer.

So what makes Google eBooks worthy to read/write/think about?

To be honest, I am not sure. Aside from the fact that it is Google who is behind the new product, I am not clear as to how the “new” concept is beneficial to me (or the average consumer for that matter). Aside from the fact that there are millions of books available on demand – some free, some for a fee, of course – what else has Google eBooks to offer? (Also consider the fact that Amazon, B&N, etc. have lots on their roster anyway.)

One distinct feature of Google eBooks is the fact that all the books are going to be stored in the cloud. This offers convenience above all – that is, if you are located in a country where Internet connection is not an issue. Yes, there are countries where Internet access is still sluggish and not omnipresent. With the cloud as storage, though, readers can pick up where they left off in a book using whatever device they feel like using. The video below showcases this and more.

That’s a pretty cute video, you have to admit. It reminds me of the e-book that Google recently release – 20 Things I Learned. Still, one cannot deny that Google is not offering something revolutionary here, can you? As great as Google is, I don’t think this development is a Cloud 9-instigating one.

Apple City to Be Designed by Norman Foster?

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News came out recently that Apple had bought HP’s old campus in Cupertino. For exactly what reason, we common people can only make informed guesses. It does seem logical, though, that this property will eventually be transformed into a new campus for Apple. While that in itself is not something one should spend more than one second of thought on, the rumors details surrounding the “mystery” campus just might pique your curiosity.

Architecture enthusiasts will certainly recognize British architect and designer Norman Foster. He is arguably the most known builder of landmark office buildings in Britain, and his company has worked on countless high profile projects all over the world. From the IBM pilot head office in the UK to the Carre d’Art Nimes in France to the Hearst Tower in New York to the Expo MRT Station in Singapore – this is only a handful of what this man has achieved.

In the next year, he just might have another groundbreaking project to take on: the building of Apple City (yes, that is the rumored name of the new campus). While nothing has been confirmed yet, rumor has it that Apple City (I don’t know about you, but there is something that doesn’t sound quite right here) will be based on the concept and design of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. This city holds the distinction of being the first city without cars and carbon emissions, and this is what Apple City is going to be, if the rumors come true.

I didn’t know about Masdar City before I read about this piece of news, but it does look awesome, doesn’t it? And, I am sure that if Steve Jobs gives Norman Foster the go signal (now that is another story altogether), Apple City just might be THE place to be/see.

It Only Takes Lady Gaga to Get Past U.S. Military Security

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lady gaga
Everyone has heard about WikiLeaks by now. Truth be told, I have been avoiding writing about it as everyone and their mom has been jabbering non-stop about the site anyway. However, I simply cannot pass up on this piece of information: how you can get past the “strict” security measures that the U.S. military has in place.

Believe it or not, you simply have to get Lady Gaga on your side. It is that simple. In a report released by The Guardian early this week, it is said that the main culprit behind the information leak is soldier Bradley Manning, 22 years of age. The soldier is said to have taken the information out of secure premises by bringing in a CD-RW labeled Lady Gaga. Once inside, he would delete its contents and copy classified information. Walking out of the the complex with some of the government’s secrets was a simple matter.

Of course, just because it was that easy to steal the information did not mean that Manning would never have been caught. As a matter of fact, he has been in solitary confinement for the most part of this year, where he is awaiting court martial.

This does not change the facts – that more than 200,000 dispatches are now in the hands of the general public, so to speak. And, while I don’t feel like talking about what I think about the whole WikiLeaks issue, I think that Lady Gaga should be given kudos for assisting one of the biggest information heists ever. I wonder if a Michael Jackson CD would have worked as well?

via The Guardian

Boutiques.com: Where Fashionista and Nerd Collide

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Nerds are not exactly known for being fashionable, are they? Then again, thinking about the recent trend featuring geeky t-shirts and all the merchandise that the Nerd Herd is selling, that statement may not be 100 per cent accurate. Still, fashionistas and nerds do not normally “go together” – I think we can all agree on that.

If there is one company that can break the boundaries, though, I think it is Google; and I think that most of you will agree. This is exactly what the Internet giant is doing with one of its newest projects: Boutiques.com. From the Official Google Blog:

“…a personalized shopping experience that lets you find and discover fashion goods, by creating your own curated boutique or through a collection of boutiques curated by taste-makers—celebrities, stylists, designers and fashion bloggers. Boutiques uses computer vision and machine learning technology to visually analyze your taste and match it to items you would like.”

It’s really a shopaholic’s dream come true. Take a look at the image below to give you an idea how you can search for items on the site. Search is Google’s main strength, and hey, they are putting it to good use with online shopping!

Filters, photos, visual searches, and iPad applications – this is where the Google brains come into the pictures. Some of the people who work there may not exactly care what they wear to work, but they surely can come up with one heck of a site that might very well change the face of online shopping.

With only a little over a month left before Christmas, you will certainly have a blast playing around at Boutiques.com!

Twitterpoo and iLoo: Tales of Addiction

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I have been called a nerd, an addict, obssessive (with and without “compulsive”), but I don’t really think much about them. People like sticking labels to other people, and they can actually be meaningless. Today, though, I came across an article that got me thinking.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson introduced me to the term “iLoo”, which she used to refer to the habit of some people of using their mobile phones while – you got it – doing their business. The result of an informal poll that she did was that five out of six people (whom she knew) had no qualms about checking their e-mail on their phones while on the toilet. More than that, these people actually admitted to having this habit.

If you think about it, checking your e-mail isn’t the only thing you can do in the loo with your phone (or laptop or whatever mobile device you can’t part from). You can play a game, play on Facebook, and update your Twitter. Indeed, I have heard the term “Twitterpoo” used in this regard. (I don’t need to explain what it is, right?) A little crude, yes, but quite apt, don’t you agree?

So are we taking things too far by accessing the Internet and all that it has to offer via various mobile devices – in the bathroom? Are there really e-mail/Internet addicts out there?

Don’t get me wrong – I am not going to deny or affirm my own e-mailing/Internet browsing habits – but hey, if you are bothered by this concept, maybe it’s time to assess your own habits? Then again, why should you? Who cares if you go online from the bathroom – just don’t announce it to the world? :p

Engage in Real-Time Discussions on Your E-Book’s Pages

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One of the most exciting things about reading your favorite books is the discussion that ensues when you get together with other people who are likeminded. The sucky thing is the situation wherein you find yourself totally into a book, and you can’t find people to discuss the book with. Of course, there are always forums and other venues online, but sometimes one can’t just be bothered to log in to those sites anymore.

Now what if you had a platform where you can engage in real-time discussions with other people via your e-book reader? Assuming that you read your books in electronic format these days, this option should be a welcome one, as you will not have to exert a major effort to share your thoughts and opinions on what you are currently reading.

Copia is a platform which turns “e-books into we-books.” How so? People who use the platform can interact with other users straight from the pages of the book that they are reading. Think writing down thoughts as notes and then having other people see them and comment on them; and vice versa.

I haven’t used it myself, but based on what I have read, you can also create your own library, rate books, and write your own reviews.

The only thing is that it is only currently available for the desktop and the iPad. If it does take off, though, I think that versions for the Kindle and the Nook might just come out in the future. One thing is for sure – this concept adds the element of sharing to reading, and that can only make things more enjoyable.