Posts Tagged google
Need access to Google Buzz? Here’s a hack!
Posted by CeeTee in Tips and Tricks, Twitter on February 10th, 2010
Ok, this post has been shamelessly ripped from Aalaap’s blog. So I guess I owe him one!
You probably don’t have Google Buzz in your Gmail yet. So here’s how you can use it on your PC without having to beg for invites.
Fire up Firefox.
Install the “User Agent Switcher” add-on and restart Firefox.
Go to Tools > Default User Agent > iPhone 3.0.
Visit http://google.com/buzz and start buzzing!
Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location with the website. Say yes!
When you’re done buzzing, switch back the user agent to default.
How does this work? It’s so simple, I feel shitty writing this. Google Buzz isn’t available in Gmail for everyone yet, but mobile web access to it is open. At least for those using the iPhone. You can login, post updates, follow people, comment on others’ updates, get updates from nearby and all of that. So you get Firefox, make it pretend that it’s an iPhone using the UA Switcher add-on, and use the mobile version of Buzz through it. Voila. An added advantage is that Firefox also supports geo-location – the same HTML5 API that’s used on the iPhone – so you actually get location-aware information.
Build a wifi signal booster (Hint: Me on national TV!)
Posted by CeeTee in Gadgets, Random Thoughts on January 11th, 2010
So here goes!
I had posted an article on my blog on how to boost your wifi signal with stuff you find easily around the house (for 10 bucks or less!)
I did a collaborative segment on Bloomberg UTV with Aalaap (who has been hosting this blog for me) and here goes!
GoogaSync – Must have application for S60 phones [Review]
I have been depending on my Google Calendar right since I started working in 2006. I had managed to sync my Google Calendar with my Microsoft Outlook.
Also, I have been a huge fan of GoogaSync (then called CalSync60 beta) till last year – Probably the easiest application to have a bi-directional sync with your S60 phone and Google Calendar
CalSync60 beta ended in February of this year if I remember correctly and I was panicking to get an application to sync my calendar with my Nokia E71.
You can find a post on how to do that here
Enter GoogaSync (Yes, the name sounds absolutely retarded). This app has a few let-downs but the advantages clearly makes it a winner
Pros:
Bi-directional synchronization
Really easy to use, syncing can’t be easier than this!
Support for multiple calendars
Automatic / Scheduled synchronization
Provides cost savings by using WiFi when available
Support for hosted Google Apps accounts
Support for normal Google accounts
Standard appointments, repeating events, birthdays and all-day events
Full synchronization and fast synchronization (transfers only changes)
Reminders and alerts
Configurable roaming protection keeps you safe from huge data bills
Secure and easy to use, your account information is not stored to 3rd party servers.
Cons:
Retarded name for an application
Kinda (very) costly for an application that just does 1 thing (Rs 1016 as a one-time payment which comes to around $22)
Initial sync can take up a HUGE amount of data
There is no option where I can download just the calendar entries for upto 2 weeks in the past
Screenshots:
Sync Google Calendar with MS Outlook, Thunderbird and S60 mobile phone and SMS notifications
How to sync your Google Calendar with Microsoft Outlook and Symbian S60 phone
Part 1 : Google Calendar with MS Outlook
1. Download and install Google Calendar Sync
2. Enter your Google account email address and password.
3. Select your sync method (most likely you want two-way syncing) and the sync frequency you prefer. Depending on the frequency of meeting invites, I have set it to 10 minutes
4. Click Save and you are good to go
Google Calendar Sync
Part 2 : Google Calendar with Thunderbird
1. Download and install the Provider extension (Save it to your desktop, opening the Add-ons dialog in either Sunbird or Thunderbird, and dragging the file you just downloaded into the Add-ons dialog. Restart Thunderbird)
2. Now that Provider is installed, you have to add your new Google Calendar. In Sunbird, go to File -> New Calendar; in Thunderbird, it’s File -> New -> Calendar when you’re in the calendar view.
3. You’re now looking at the Create new calendar wizard. Select “On the Network” and hit Continue.
4. Choose Google Calendar as the calendar type. The Location field requires the XML flavor [important] of your calendar’s Private Address, which you can get by opening Google Calendar and choosing Calendar settings from the drop-down next to the calendar you want to access.
5. At the bottom of the settings page you’ll see the Private Address section. Copy the XML link and paste it into the Location field in Sunbird or T-bird.
6. When you hit Continue, you’ll be asked for your Google Calendar username (your Gmail address) and password. Enter it, give your new calendar a name, and hit Continue.
7. You’re done.
Click to enlarge
Part 3 : Google Calendar with S60 phone
1. Open GooSync
2. Register for a free account (The paid accounts are not really worth the money)
3. On the homepage, click on ‘Configure’ (Remember, the free version of GooSync syncs only 1 calendar)
4. Enter your phone number and you will be receiving the Sync settings via SMS
5. Save the settings and you are ready to Sync
Click to enlarge
Part 4: SMS Notification (Incoming SMS is entirely free in India)
1. Open Google Calendar in Firefox or Internet Explorer (Wont work on Opera)
2. Click Settings
3. Click ‘Calendars’
4. Click on ‘Notifications’ for your primary calendar
5. Set default reminders as SMS – 2 hours before each event (Can customize it per your requirement)
6. Click on ‘Set up your mobile phone to receive notifications’
7. Enter your phone number. You will receive an SMS with a confirmation code which you will need to enter in the same page in Google calendar
8. You are done
Google Calendar Settings - click to enlarge
Disclaimer: Please ensure you have taken a backup of your Google calendar before trying this out. I have configured atleast 3 of my machines with Google Calendar and they have worked fine for me.
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