13 October 2013

The New Google Gadgets



Do you think you will be missing iGoogle gadgets? Many similar gadgets are available in Google Search and you can trigger them with a simple search. Here are some examples:



- weather gadget: search for [weather] or [weather LOCATION_NAME]






- calculator gadget: search for [calculator], [calc] or enter an expression like [4*5-1/4]






- currency converter: search for [currency converter], [1 usd in eur] or other similar queries






- unit conversion: search for [unit conversion], [10 miles in km], [50 f in c] or other similar queries.






- mail gadget: search for [my mail] and you'll see the latest messages from your Gmail inbox (US-only). Other things to try: [my calendar], [my plans for tomorrow], [my packages], [my flights], [my reservations], [my hotels], [my places], [my photos], [my documents], [my spreadsheets].






- sport scores: search for [nfl], [nhl], [nba], [football scores], [premier league], [manchester united], [serena williams], [formula 1].





A Cluttered Google Homepage



Here's a screenshot of the Google UK homepage in Internet Explorer. I used the private browsing feature to get a fresh cookie. This is what you would see as a new Google user:



* a blue bar at the top of the page that informs you about the new terms of service

* a message that introduces the new app launcher

* a link that asks you to make Google your homepage (IE-only)

* a cookie disclaimer required in the European Union (EU-only).






Click "Got it", "x" and "OK" and you'll dismiss 3 of the messages. You'll no longer see them unless you clear your Google cookies.



What happens if you ignore the messages?





Cinnamon 2.0 Ditches GNOME, Features Enhanced User and Window Management



Cinnamon-2-for-Linux-Mint-Released-Gnome-Window-Management

Cinnamon, the desktop shell using in Linux Mint, has finally released v2.0, which features new window tiling and snapping, along with enhanced user management options. And there are lots of other changes under the hood too, including a new backend that no longer requires GNOME. Prior to version 2.0, Cinnamon was a frontend on top of GNOME desktop, much like Unity. But now, it’s an entire desktop environment which no longer requires GNOME to be installed. But don’t worry, it’s still compatible with all GNOME applications as it uses toolkits and libraries such as GTK or Clutter. On the frontend,...


Read the full article: Cinnamon 2.0 Ditches GNOME, Features Enhanced User and Window Management



Demystify SEO: 5 Search Engine Optimization Guides That Help You Begin



demystify-seo

Most of us know how to use search engines generally. Most of us do not understand how search engines work — actually. In the age of Panda, Penguin, and Hummingbird, it could be a skill failure if one has anything to do with working on the Web. A basic understanding of how to position your work for high web traffic is a much needed skill if you are a freelancer trying to get a blog listed on Google, a social media writer, digital marketer, or an entrepreneur planning to start any sort of business. Search engine mastery takes knowledge, experience,...


Read the full article: Demystify SEO: 5 Search Engine Optimization Guides That Help You Begin



Google Tip Calculator



Google shows an interactive card when you search for [tip calculator]. It's a full-featured widget that lets you enter the bill, the tip percentage (the default value is 15%) and the number of people that will split the bill. Google shows the tip per person and the total amount per person.



You could obtain the same results using Google's regular calculator feature, but it's a little bit more complicated. Google's widget shows the same information as the top search result for [tip calculator].






"A tip (also called a gratuity) is a sum of money customarily tendered to certain service sector workers for a service performed or anticipated. Tipping and the amount are a matter of social custom and social practices vary between countries and settings. In some locations tipping is discouraged and considered insulting and in some locations tipping is expected from customers. The customary tip can be a specific range of monetary amounts or a given percentage of the bill," informs Wikipedia. For example, in the US the tip is 15-20%, in the UK it's usually 10%, in Germany it's 2-10%, while in Asia there is no tipping.



{ via +Google }