More geeky than girly.
Posts tagged google
Google Voice for Students
May 15th
Google just announced they’re giving away Google Voice invites to students. If you’re a student, visit google.com/voice/students and enter an email address that ends in .edu. Your Google Voice invite will arrive in your inbox within 24 hours. Keep in mind that only one invite will be be sent per email address and Google Voice is currently only available in the U.S.
I use my Google Voice number ALL the time and even gave away all my invites here. I use it for craigslist and it handles all my voicemail (so it’s archived or even accessible on the web). It’s just GREAT so go get one for yourself!!!
The Google ReaderAdvantage Program
Apr 1st
OOOh, anyone who knows me (or who is a google contact of mine) will know that I’m a prolific Google Reader user. Look what I found today!
The Google ReaderAdvantage™ program is simple. You get one point for each item you read. The more you read, the more you get. Then you can trade in your points for cool stuff. And because we believe in a little friendly competition, there are four levels of ReaderAdvantage™ status:
- Novice: 999 points
- Gold: 25,000 points
- Platinum: 133,700 points
- Totally Sweet: 314,159 points
We considered inventing a secret ReaderAdvantage™ handshake, but instead we created embroidered badges to ensure that members can easily identify their compatriots.
If you use Google Reader, there’s no reason not to join. Visit the ReaderAdvantage™ site to read all the details and enroll today. As always, please send us your thoughts and feedback in our forum or on Twitter.
Don’t forget to read the fine print:
- Subject to terms and conditions.
- Because it wouldn’t be a rewards program without them, blackout dates and restrictions apply.
- To earn points for offline reading, send in a photo of yourself reading the newspaper, comics, or tabloids, along with an itemized list of items read and we’ll credit the points to your account in 8-12 months. Items read on toilet will not be counted.
- Points expire on the 3rd fortnight after they are earned, unless the day lands on a Tuesday in which case points are converted to pseudo-points until the following full moon.
- Pseudo-points are worth 1/17th the value of regular points, and can only be redeemed by faxing Customer Support after 10:00am MST and before 10:24am PST, Monday-Tuesday.
- Clicking “Mark all as read” will not earn you any points. Nice try smarty-pants.*
- Google Reader reserves the right to revoke points for any reason including but not limited to: bad commenting etiquette, inclement weather, clogged internet tubes, and Sasquatch sightings.
- Google does not officially endorse the belief in the existence of Sasquatch (aka Big Foot, Yeti, Abominable Snowman), but we like to keep an open mind and hope you do too.
- Do not taunt or disrespect the ReaderAdvantage™ Program. We have feelings too.
- Any and all conflicts regarding the ReaderAdvantage™ Program will be settled with a live-streamed dance off.
- If you develop a rash as a result of using the ReaderAdvantage™ Program, stop using the ReaderAdvantage™ Program and seek immediate medical attention.
- This is seriously, absolutely, definitely not a joke.**
- We may decide this is a joke at any time.
*On the other hand, the Konami code will get you 30 points.
**Unless it is.
Google’s New Approach to China
Mar 22nd
Google has announced that they’ve stopped censoring their search services—Google Search, Google News, and Google Images—on Google.cn. Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, that allows uncensored search in simplified Chinese. They’ve also created this new web page, which will be updated regularly each day, so that everyone can see which Google services are available in China.
Google Reader Play
Mar 10th
I love using Google Reader. It helps me keep up with topics I’m interested in or stay up to date with my friends blogs without actually visiting every single one. I’ve tried to tell all my friends about it, but a lot of them still don’t know what it is or are too lazy to set it up. Now Google has come up with a no-set-up required version at http://www.google.com/reader/play/. If you have time, go check out and browse interesting things on the web. If you’re using Google Reader, you can switch to this view by clicking “View in Reader Play” from the feed settings menu.
Google Voicemail Transcriptions
Feb 12th
This is how Google Voice transcribes a message. This voicemail was left in Chinese by my Auntie Linda, who was inviting me to dinner. Here’s the original:
Hey Jen, If I’m doing, Dante at 10 AM. A number on a budget. The basic compiling a list call back. Yeah, okay. Yeah back. Bye bye.