Daily Bits

Andy Merrett

Google launches “Similar Images” search

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For some time, Google Labs has been testing search algorithms designed to find similar images, and yesterday announced that the feature is now a permanent fixture on Google Image Search.

find-similar-images-google

As you’d expect, it’s a great way to narrow down images after searching for a broad topic, in much the same way as you’d do with text-based searches. It also helps when a word can have multiple meanings, such as “jaguar” or “keyboard”.

Unfortunately, I’ve only got Google’s word on this at present as I’m not seeing any “find similar images” links, even on the examples Google provided, but it certainly sounds like a really useful addition.

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Google Docs get liberated with mass download capability

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google-docs-exportAs the data you store on Google’s servers is still yours, not theirs, it’s good to see the Internet giant taking seriously your right to easily move it around without being tied to using Google’s services forever once you’ve decided to start.

To that end, “data liberation” (as Google calls it) has extended to Google Docs.

You can now ZIP up and export multiple documents in multiple formats all at once instead of doing it one at a time.

There is a content limit of 500MB on each download, but that’s apparently around 20,000 files so it shouldn’t be an inconvenience.

File export options include (depending on original format) Microsoft Word and Excel, HTML, Open Document and Spreadsheet, PDF, Rich Text Format or plain text.

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Google Maps gets a visual update

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london-google-mapsDo you use Google Maps much? I use it a fair bit not only for finding local directions and landmarks but also because I like maps for their own sake.

So, I was pleased to see that Google has updated its Google Maps to make them even clearer to view and more useful.

Given that the range of information that’s represented on Google Maps has increased significantly over the almost five years it’s been around, it probably was due a facelift.

Colours have been optimised, roads are clearer to follow, and there’s more detail when zoomed in making it easier to use the maps for navigation.

Presumably, these changes will be echoed on mobile versions of Google Maps as well.

Check it out. What do you think?

Google Reader gets popular and personal features

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If you use Google Reader to mange your web feeds, you might have noticed a couple of additions have appeared. In fact, it’s pushed my feeds to within an inch of the bottom of the left-hand column.

So what’s the big deal that’s relegated my feeds to the bottom left-hand corner of my browser window?

First up, there are new “Popular items” and “Recommended sources” in an “Explore” section, which is supposed to provide interesting content from the web based on your own reading preferences, reader trends and opt-in web history. Presumably, this is something that learns over time — I’m not quite sure how “Bike Commuters” got into my recommended list.

Secondly, there’s a new sort option for subscribed feeds called “magic” that reorders items based on a user’s personal usage and overall activity. Again, this learns over time.

It will be interesting to see whether this improves the Reader experience or not. It will depend on how many feeds you are subscribed to and how you like to organise and read them.

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Android turns one: a few interesting statistics

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android-logoAs Google’s Android mobile operating system turns one year old today, here are a few interesting statistics for you.

According to mobile advertising firm AdMob:

  • Android OS now has seven percent global market share. That puts it well behind Symbian, BlackBerry OS and the iPhone OS, but comparable to Windows Mobile.
  • In the UK, 10% of smartphones run Android OS, with the HTC Dream being the second most popular phone for surfing the mobile web after the iPhone.
  • Android’s key markets are North America and Western Europe, with the HTC Magic in the top 10 of smartphones.
  • The HTC Dream is ranked fourth globally.

A survey of 1,000 mobile phone users found that Android users download about nine applications per month, compared with about 10 for iPhone users and over 18 for iPod Touch users.

Though Microsoft is hoping its latest initiatives will push its flavours of Windows Mobile OS forward, I’m sure Android will continue to flourish as more handsets become available in the coming year.

Free laptop with mobile broadband

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The idea of a mobile internet has long been the fantasy of many a geek. With recent advances in technology over the last few years, this fantasy has now become not just a reality, it is fast becoming the norm.
If there are two pieces of tech that has really pushed the concept of surfing the internet ANYWHERE to practically a way of life it will have to be the netbook and mobile broadband.

First, the netbook has made mobile computing truly mobile. These small computers, practically, pocketbook sized laptops are so handy, light and portable you can put a netbook in a small bag. The other important piece in the equation is mobile broadband. WiFi may have untethered us from clumsy Ethernet cables, but it is mobile broadband that has truly freed us and now allows us to roam anywhere while still plugged in to the internet.

The best thing about these technologies is the cost. With netbooks, laptops and mobile broadband falling prices, anyone can have them without any hassle. Now, companies are offering free laptops with mobile broadband to advertise their product or service. Offering free laptops.