Thursday, August 31, 2006

Search Google via SMS


Click the image to enlarge


Get driving directions, stock prices, movie times, weather, currency cinversion - anything you can do on Google you can now do on your SMS-enabled phone.


The steps (given by Google):
1. Start a new text message and type in your search query
2. Send the message to the number "46645" (GOOGL)
3. You'll receive text message(s) with results

Try it out here:
http://www.google.com/sms/

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Google Book Search offers free book downloads


From: Boing Boing

Google Books has just started offering downloads of their public domain books as PDF files. You can search for 'free view' books to find downloads.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Video of Philips roll-up screen for e-reader

From: gizmodo
You've heard of e-ink devices, like the Sony Librie, or e-reader, or whatever. But you've never seen a real working prototype of an electronic reader based on a flexible e-paper, that rolls up like a scroll. And you've never seen a video of said device being explained by a Norwegian named Hans to an Austrailian guy named Max...Mad Max. Whatever, I don't care what his real name is. What we care about is the prototype's 5-inch screen that runs at 320 by 240 pixels. The screen, by E-Ink corporation, only uses power to change states, so battery life is measured in page turns. Video below demos the device.


Monday, August 28, 2006

Google Apps for Your Domain

From the site:

Now you can offer private-labeled email, IM and calendar tools to all of your users for free, so they can share ideas and get things done more effectively. You can design and publish your organization's website, too. It's all hosted by Google, so there's no hardware or software for you to install or maintain.

Google Inc. has launched Google Apps for Your Domain, a suite of hosted collaboration applications for small to medium-size businesses, universities, groups and affinity organizations, with plans to expand to larger companies by year’s end.

Organizations will be able to sign up for the beta version of the free browser-based, hosted-application service, which Google expects will be up and running Monday.

Google's foot in the office door

From c/net News

Google is launching another attack on the corporate world, offering up a suite of business applications on Monday.

The suite includes Gmail with 2GB of storage, Google Calendar, Google Talk and Page Creator. It's an extension of a service the company launched in February that lets organizations use Gmail with their own e-mail address.

Google still makes most of its money from search-related advertising. But with beta versions of spreadsheet and word-processing programs in the works, it's clear the company is aiming for bigger markets.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Stunning photos of world libraries


From c/net news

Prepare yourself, then, to view some incredible images of libraries from around the world. (Do not be deterred by the article title)

From the site:
Yesterday I came across a truly gorgeous book of photographs by Candida Höfer titled, Libraries, a title which pretty much says it all, because that is just exactly what it is, one rich, sumptuous, photo of a library interior after another. It’s like porn for book nerds. Seriously. They are gorgeous photos, nearly all without visitors and just begging to be entered.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Interactive Map of the Islamic World - can you name them?


Can you name and locate the countries of the Islamic world?

Google opens Writely word processor to public


From SkatterTech

Writely, an online word processor, was acquired by Google in January 2006. (more info here) Since then the service has been offered to the public, but on an invite-only basis. But last week Google finally finished moving servers and opened Writely up for the public. Unlike other Google Products, which require use or creation of a free Google Account, Writely is available for everyone. To register click here, enter your email address, pick a password, and done!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

BritLit - free downloads of English Literature

From the site:
The aim of BritLit is to help teachers from around the world to exploit English literature in the ELT classroom. Here you can find a range of materials based around the works of various authors.

Each BritLit resource kit contains a range of materials to help students understand the context of the literature as well as the language and the works themselves.

Many of the packs contain complete texts, tasks for students , teachers' notes as well as audio recordings of interviews with the authors and readings of the text.


You'll find works by Arthur C. Clarke, Roald Dahl, Far Weldon and many, many more!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Videojug.com - Life explained. On film.


Videojug is on a mission to be the ultimate source of video instruction on just about anything imaginable, from identifying cancer to cooking pasta. "We are building a living encyclopedia of life, on video," the site proclaims. Meager content at the moment, but lots of potential!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Over 10,000 Old-time Radio Shows - FREE!

From the site:
The OTR.Network is a new online resource for Old Time Radio (OTR) enthusiasts. We have over 11,000 OTR shows available for instant listening, and we add at least 100 more every week. Oh yeah, did we mention it's free?

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

UC Libraries Join Google's Book Project

From ABC News
The University of California is joining Google Inc.'s book-scanning project, throwing the weight of another 100 academic libraries behind an ambitious venture that's under legal attack for alleged copyright infringement.

The deal to be announced Wednesday covers all the libraries in UC's 10-campus system, marking the biggest expansion of Google's effort to convert millions of library books into digital form since a group of authors and publishers sued last fall to derail a project launched 20 months ago.

"We think this is a pretty significant step forward," said Adam Smith, the group product manager overseeing Google's book-scanning initiative.

UC joins three other major U.S. universities Stanford, Michigan and Harvard that are contributing their vast library collections to Google's crusade to ensure reams of knowledge written on paper makes the transition to the digital age. The New York Public Library and Oxford University also are allowing portions of their libraries to be scanned.

More at the link.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

1992 Volvo Bookmobile for sale



Offered on eBay (currently at $5100.00 and below reserve). You could live in it!
1992 Volvo Bookmobile with 1992 36' Moroney Library- self contained- 7.5 kw diesel generator, copeland a/c, converter, inverter, webasto heater. Truck and trailer are in outstanding condition with only 114k highway miles on each of them. Runs and drives like new. 215 hp 3116 catapillar turbo charged diesel. H/D Fuller 6 speed trans. 31000 gvw. 32000 gvw for trailer. Tires and brakes good. Removable 3 passenger bunk, intercom system throughout truck, trailer and bunk.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Bookmooch

Swap sites are becoming very popular. Check out Bookmooch, a community for exchanging used books.

The public version of WorledCat is live

WorldCat

Search for items in a library near you!