Google Buzz

Mobile Post

Google Buzz

If you, like most connected people online, use Gmail for your email, or Twitter or Facebook for social networking, or just read one of the many tech blogs, you've probably already heard about Google Buzz. This isn't a review, really, or an endorsement -- I've barely had half a day to play around with it -- it's more of just an informational tool. A conversation starter.

Google Buzz, like any other social networking tool, allows you to connect with friends to share status updates, blog posts, videos, pictures, recommended reading, and more. What is nicest about Buzz is that it is integrated with Gmail. And Google Reader. And I'm not yet sure what else. I wonder if Google has any plans to integrate it with Jaiku -- the social networking site they purchased but seem to have done nothing with.

Buzz pulls in feeds from all your social networking sites and blogs, but doesn't push Buzz posts to them. I find that odd, as it allows you to use Buzz as a central information site while putting posts everywhere else, but doesn't allow you to use Buzz as the one source to feed all those other sites. It seems to me that would make more sense.

Either way, Google Buzz is pretty interesting. I haven't decided yet just how much I like it. Stay tuned for more on that.

Im the mean time, send me your thoughts.

Mobile Post

For Sale on eBay: Garmin iQue 3600 GPS PDA

For sale on eBay.

Item specifics

Title: Garmin 3600 Operating System: Palm OS 5.0 Installed Memory (RAM) (MB): 32 MPN: 010-00264-00 Type: Portable System: Handheld Brand: Garmin Display Type: Color Antenna Type: Internal Condition: Used Includes: Garmin iQue 3600 GPS/PDA

Detailed item info

Product Description

The iQue 3600 is the first PDA to include integrated GPS technology. With the power of Palm OS 5 and the dependability of Garmin GPS technology, this "Super PDA" redefines multi-tasking. Integrated software not only allows you to look up appointments or contacts, but also locates and routes you to them with voice-guidance commands!

Details

Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.2 cm x 2 cm x 12.7 cm Weight: 162 g Processor: Motorola 150 MHz, Motorola 200 MHz Display: 320 x 480 3.8"

Connection

OS Required: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 2000 / NT4.0, Microsoft Windows 98/ME, Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Input Device: Touch-screen Wireless Connectivity: IrDA

Gently used Garmin iQue 3600 Palm PDA / Global Positioning System. This unit works beautifully (only flaw is a non-functioning thumb wheel on the side, but all thumb wheel features are also included in other buttons on the unit). Includes FULL maps for the Continental United States, Canada, and Alaska, on CD-ROM. Simply copy the maps to your own 2 Gigabyte SD card and insert into card slot for GPS use. Includes turn by turn instructions, points of interest, and more. Plus add software from a large online library of Palm OS software titles. Original software CDs are included, as well as HotSync cradle, A/C charging unit, and a BONUS Garmin leather carry case. I used this unit regularly until very recently.

Send me your comments. Joe

AJA Press

Mobile Blogging From My LifeDrive

Mobile Post

Mobile Blogging From My LifeDrive

I think I have finally figured this out. Sure, I can mobile blog via email, but that doesn't allow for formatting of text.

Of course, text formatting makes the reading so much more enjoyable, right?

So I'm using a demo version of a program that appears to be no longer available:

mo:blog

It's the only Palm OS based program I've found that will work with New Blogger.

Of course, I'll just blog via email when special formatting isn't needed.

Send me your thoughts.

Mobile Post

For Immediate Release: SeV Travel Clothing Eliminates the Hassle of New TSA Regulations

For Immediate Release-SeV Travel Clothing Eliminates the Hassle of New TSA Regulations

Everyone knows that the new TSA rules are designed to keep us safe, but they can be a major hassle, too.  Remain seated for the last hour? What if you need something from your carry-on bag stored above?   There is an approved solution already on the market from SeV/SCOTTEVEST Travel Clothing http://www.scottevest.com.  Since SeV products are clothing, and not a bag, all SeV products by defination comply with the new TSA regulations which prohibit access to your carry-on bags during the last hour of flight. 

SeV travel clothing is stylish and designed to carry a multitude of electronics and other things in discreet pockets, to be used in place of a carry-on.  Passengers can stay seated and still access their convenience items for a better overall travel experience.

Containing slim, interior pockets, each SeV piece is designed to carry what you need on your flight– even a netbook or eBook reader – and can be easily taken off and passed through the x-ray at security without emptying each pocket.  With some pieces containing upwards of 50 pockets,  SeV clothing contains an impressive array of features for the traveler, including:

• Easy-access pockets designed for specific items travelers carry, such as boarding passes, ID, cameras and much more. Icons stitched onto the interior pockets act as a map to help you find what you're looking for without fumbling.
• SeV's patented Personal Area Network (P.A.N.) - which manages wires and earbuds through the jacket's lining, keeping them from tangling.
• Clear Touch fabric, which allows a traveler to see and control their iPod® (and cell phone, when appropriate) through the fabric without removing the device.
• NoBulge™ pocket design - just because you "actually wear your carry-on" as travel expert Peter Greenberg points out, you don't need to look like the Michelin Man.
• Weight Management System™ engineered to balance the weight from these added devices. This system is much more ergonomic than wearing a bag that puts all the weight on one shoulder.

Holiday travelers are already commenting via Twitter on how SeV is improving their travel experience under the new regulations, in addition to the hundreds of other favorable tweets about SeV:

• "Traveling with my @scottevest is so much easier" - @Dorv via Twitter
•  "So I just went through airport security with my @scottevest travel vest and they didn't believe all the stuff I had in it when I took it off" - @chadmanfoto via Twitter
•  "Just gave the fatherinlaw an @scottevest classic vest I bought him. Him "What's this for?" Me "you travel all the time now. You need this!" - @dmcohen via Twitter

SeV travel clothing makes it simple for travelers to comply with the new TSA regulations while still enjoying their flights.  Please visit www.scottevest.com to see the full line of SeV clothing and let me know if I can answer any questions about our company.

Sincerely,

Scott Jordan
CEO & Founder
Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/ScotteVest

 

This message was sent by SCOTTeVEST, INC. using ReachMail. SCOTTeVEST, INC.

Portable Google Chrome

This is too cool. Now I have NO need for Firefox, even. From the Google Operating System blog:


PortableApps.com started to offer a portable version of Google Chrome for Windows. Due to the licensing terms of Google Chrome, the site offers a small application that downloads Google Chrome's installer, extract its files and installs a portable launcher. Copy the resulting folder to a USB drive and you can launch Chrome on multiple computers without leaving traces.


A much better idea would be to run Chrome using "roaming" profiles and save your settings and data online. Hopefully, Google Browser Sync will return in Google Chrome. There's already an experimental feature thatsynchronizes bookmarks with a Google account.

{ via PortableApps }

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

Twitter, et. al., Just A Little TOO Mobile?

I'm convinced. CAUTION: the following video is VERY graphic!


Direct video link.

Thanks to Michael Hyatt.

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

The Social Networking Hatchet Job

Managing an online presence can be quite daunting. Twitter, Plurk, Jaiku, Facebook, MySpace -- the list can be endless. Frankly, I've had enough of it. Today, I took the hatchet to my online presence.

At last count, I had thirty-four different social networking sites linked to from my site. Thirty-four! And while most of them could easily be updated with just one simple post to a service like Ping.fm, managing so many different networks can be tedious. I cannot tell you the last time I actually read any of the posts on any of those popular sites. I used Twitter, sure, but I only actually read posts from a very select few people, and posts with the hashtags #Reds and #Indiana.

I have maintained an account on a few of the services that I actually find useful -- Twitter being one of them, though I no longer maintain the @averagejoe account that once had 2000 followers. I now use a different account from which I can follow those whom I actively network with on a regular basis.

And, most importantly, I feel refreshed. It's like a burden lifted from my shoulders.

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

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Movie Review: Monsters versus Aliens in Real 3D

I took my son today to see Monsters versus Aliens in Real 3D. Having grown up in the 3D revival era (remember Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D or Jaws 3D?), I had my doubts about how good this 3D could actually be. Reminiscences of the paper glasses with one blue and one red lens made me wary of what this movie might offer.

Our first exposure to this new "Real-D 3D" was a preview for the movie Battle for Terra. I was immediately sold on this incredible new 3D technology! Wearing clear-lensed 3D glasses made large enough to fit comfortably over prescription glasses, this new technology involves none of the color distortion of the early 3D movies while providing an exceedingly realistic three dimensional experience.

For a movie that reportedly used the 3D process as an enhancement to the story and not a gimmicky addition, Monsters versus Aliens starts with an early scene of a man playing paddle ball while waiting for some form of extra-terrestrial activity to pop up on a computer monitor. I literally flinched when the paddle ball popped out of the screen, nearly hitting me in the nose.

Other realistic three dimensional effects included snow blowing around in a scene that made me feel as if I was actually in the snow storm, soaring through the rings around Saturn, and a meteor crashing to the earth, just to name a few.

The story line of the movie was pleasing, as well, with a governmental facility where monsters are kept being forced to release the monsters to fight off an invading alien force that the American military is ineffective against (must be the post-Obama military era). There are only two brief scenes in the movie that even the most guarded of viewers should be okay with. When the President of the United States (played by Stephen Colbert) receives a warning from Galaxhar, the ruler of the invading alien armada, that everyone will die within 24 hours, he says, "Raise the alert level to brown, because I need to change my pants." In another scene, when bride turned monster Ginormica is approached by the other monsters who are trying to figure out what the giant monster woman is, B.O.B., an indestructible gelatinous mass, says, "He's a boy. Look at his boobies."

My son and I both immensely enjoyed Monsters versus Aliens, both for it's humorous story line and it's incredible 3D effects. Happily, there will be more where that came from as at least eight other films are slated for release this year in this incredible 3D format. This movie is a must-see for all!

Your comments?

Joe

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#Flock Thoughts

I'm really trying to give Flock an honest test drive. I have been using it [almost] exclusively for two days now. I say almost, because I still have Google Chrome set as my default browser, so whenever I click a link in Tweetdeck, etc., the page is opened in Chrome. However, I have been using Flock for my email, my general browsing, my feed reading, and my blogging (including this post).

I'm told that I'll like it so much I'll start recommending it to people. I don't know yet how likely that is. Here are my latest thoughts.

• Flock is called a "social" browser, because it was designed for social media. While I have a presence on practically every social media site out there, I'm not a big social media guy. I don't find myself yet actually using any of the social media features built into Flock (I've checked them out, but just haven't found them useful for my type of web activity).
• I am not one of the fortunate people who can access the Internet from work. In order to connect at work and check my email or Twitter, I have to plug into a land line and dial up using NetZero (which I keep just for that purpose). Google Chrome is a quick browser that makes what I do over dial up at least bearable. Flock, so far, has seemed just a bit slower.
• Before switching to Google Chrome (and still as an occasional backup), I was a Firefox user -- in fact, a Firefox promoter. Flock is (it seems to me) basically a rebuild of Firefox, enhanced for social media. I switched from Firefox to Chrome because Chrome was faster and Firefox would crash unexpectedly. While Flock hasn't crashed yet, it has been as slow as Firefox, and I can't imagine why it wouldn't crash eventually, being built on the same platform.

I will continue to use Flock through the rest of this week, though I feel like I'm having Chrome withdrawal symptoms. I really haven't had a chance to put it through all of the paces, which I hope to do in the next couple of days. I'll update regularly on my experience, and let you know what the final outcome is toward the end of the week.

Your comments?

Joe

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Test Driving #Flock

I have been challenged on to give Flock a whirl. I am a reformed Firefox user, which means that I have switched from Firefox to Google Chrome for my primary web browsing, and use Firefox as a backup from time to time.

Flock is based on the Mozilla platform, as is Firefox, so one might think that switching wouldn't be so hard, but I have a couple of comments/observations on this my first day of playing around with Flock.

• Flock is so feature-packed that it appears to have a high learning curve (meaning, you can't just jump in and get it right off the bat).
• Many of the features I used to enjoy in Firefox are available in Flock, which is a plus.
• Flock, so far, does not appear to be as fast as Google Chrome, but does seem to function faster on my system than Firefox.

That's about it for now, other than to say that I'm writing this post in Google Chrome, because I'm just not yet thrilled by Flock. I did, however, commit to giving it a week before I either give up on it or switch to it. My first impression: I'm not likely to be switching. But I'll try to keep an open mind toward it.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Your comments?

Joe

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In Defense of Amazon #AmazonFail

The Wall Street Journal reports: Amazon.com Inc. said an internal cataloging glitch inadvertently removed more than 57,000 books from its sales rankings and main search page. []

I am an author, though not one whose work would be affected by a "blunder" such as this, even if I was a best-seller. I am also a father, and as a father, I prefer to be able to sit with my children and look at books on Amazon without having to worry about titles that I consider objectionable popping up and my kids asking, "What's that, Daddy?"

What would I consider objectionable? Probably several topics that would cause many to say I'm in favor of censorship. For example, I would prefer that my children not be unexpectedly presented with books about any sexual persuasion, or covering any sexual topic at all. I would prefer my children not be presented with material displaying any form of nude "art," to include even the famed statue of Michael, for example.

Does that make me in favor of censorship? I don't think so. I'm not saying that Amazon shouldn't offer material with such topics to its customers, just that maybe it is material that shouldn't pop up in general searches. Just as I favor a triple-X domain that would protect my children from accidentally stumbling onto objectionable content, I favor systems that would make what I consider objectionable content just a little less likely to pop up when I and my family are looking for books online.

None of these things make the content impossible for those who want it to find it. It is still there, and they can find it if they use the right search techniques. I do not consider it censorship to make something available only to those who want it while at the same time protecting those who don't want it from having to be exposed to it.

I ask you, does it make more sense for someone who is looking for content of an adult nature to have to search for it by adding "Adult" to their search term, for example, or for someone who doesn't want to be exposed to it to have to spend money on filtering devices, etc., or avoid the Internet altogether? We can enable everyone, or just those who suffer from moral bankruptcy. Sorry, that might be harsh, but that's how I feel. If you don't like it, next time you search Google for content, try entering "-Average Joe American" into your search and see if it helps you avoid my content. Or you could just avoid the Internet altogether, which is apparently what I'm expected to do if I want to protect my kids from things that we find objectionable.

Whatever the cause of the recent Amazon "blunder," even if it was completely intentional on Amazon's part, I say "Good on ya" Amazon. It is possible to serve everyone without offending everyone, if those who are so in favor of the further decline of society would just learn not to be offended when the content they want is appropriately categorized to prevent young innocents from being exposed to something that, in my opinion, we have every right to expect them to be protected from.

Your comments?

Joe

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April Fools!

Google gets into the April Fools game every year, and often quite believably. How about this year?



Don't forget to check out ThinkGeek's April Fools jokes, as well.




Your comments?

Joe

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Grumpy!

Just dropped and broke my Garmin Palm OS PDA / GPS. Not happy at all!

Christmas Dream List

My wife recently made a Christmas Wish Dream List -- a list of what she would want most for Christmas if she could have anything. I'm not one who is wanting of much, but she challenged me to come up with my own Dream List. She said it would be fun. So, here it is:

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO

First on my list would be a brand new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. I don't often find new cars that I like, but come on, how can anyone not like this Camaro?

Pictured here is a Camaro Convertible concept car, but I have to admit that the 2010 Camaro Coupe is a sweet ride. Either one would do.

GOOGLE ANDROID PHONE

If I was in the market right now for a new cell phone, I can think of none other that I would want more than the new Google Phone.

Now I'm not just a Google fan-boy (though it could probably be argued that I am), but I think this has got to be the greatest design in cell phone technology in years -- dwarfing even the iPhone.

DEAN KOONTZ'S FRANKENSTEIN BOOK 3

If you haven't heard, author Dean Koontz has penned an incredible adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic horror tale, Frankenstein, and while book 3 of the trilogy is reportedly available in Europe, it is not available yet in the U.S.

I am among many fans not only of Dean Koontz, but of the Frankenstein tale that eagerly awaits the release of this much anticipated volume in the U.S.

FAMILY VACATION TO AUSTRIA

Most of all, I think, I would love to take my family on a vacation to Austria.

During my time in Europe while in the military, Austria is a country that I wish I would have found some time to visit extensively. The home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, it can almost be said that Austria is the home of classical music (in my opinion, Beethoven was great, but Mozart was king).

The country is full of culture and history -- one of the most beautiful places in the world.

So has making this Dream List been fun, like my wife said it would be? Sure, a little, but most fun of all is thinking of all of the fun I could have with the wonderful gifts.

Merry Christmas!

Your comments?

Joe

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My New TomTom

Today, I got my brand new TomTom One, thanks to my beautiful wife. Cool! Seriously!

Just in time for the drive to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving (actually, Lebanon, Ohio) with my family. It's been a while since I've been to Lebanon, and it'll be cool to use the TomTom to get there.

And, just for the fun of it, I downloaded some map color schemes that match the Google Maps layout, and I downloaded Darth Vader's voice. Pretty cool!

Check back here soon for my review of the new TomTom One. I've had several people tell me that the TomTom was the best they had tried, and I'll finally be able to add my own opinion to that.


Your comments?

Joe

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Sunday's Video Roundup

Governor Palin on NBC's SNL

Direct video link.

Mitch Daniels for Governor

Direct video link.

Better Than You

Direct video link.

More Governor Palin on Saturday Night Live

Direct video link.

James T Harris Takes A Stand -- Again

Direct video link.
James T. discusses the situation on his radio show.

Don't know what I'd use it for, but I'd love to have me a Loper.

Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe

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Average Joe In SmartMoney Magazine - UPDATED

A while back, I spent a great deal of time fighting with Toshiba and the Better Business Bureau about the lemon notebook computer I purchased from Toshiba. My blog posts caught the eye of a writer for The Wall Street Journal Magazine SmartMoney and he contacted me about interviewing for an article.

That article hits the newsstands in the October issue of SmartMoney magazine, with a picture of yours truly gracing the top half of page 82. Though the article only spends a half-paragraph (below) discussing my particular issue, the author did contact Toshiba on my behalf, which resulted in a brand new replacement computer being shipped to me with a full warranty. Can't complain about that.

UPDATE: You can now read the full article online.

From SmartMoney Magazine, October 2008:

That would include folks like Jeff Cole, a 40-year-old Indianapolis resident who says complaining to the BBB just put him back at square one. He had griped that a perennially broken laptop from Toshiba needed to be replaced, not just fixed, but the bureau was satisfied after the company offered yet another repair. "I felt abandoned by the BBB," says Cole. Indeed, he got a new computer only after SmartMoney contacted Toshiba, which now says it "regrets" not resolving the case sooner. The BBB has regrets too and says it was "atypical" for it to close the case when it did.

So there you have it. Thanks to SmartMoney for playing their part in the replacement of my Toshiba computer. Grab your copy of the magazine at newsstands now.

Your comments?

Joe

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Google Chrome Observations #4 - Crash!

I experienced my first fatal issue with Google Chrome tonight. After signing into Digsby and clicking an email alert in Digsby, which launches the selected email message in a new window in Google Chrome, the famous new browser crashed.

Chrome disappeared and this alert box popped up. Whoa! Google Chrome has crashed. Restart now? The best I can figure, the problem was related to a setting in Google Chrome options that tells it to launch the last open windows every time I start the browser. When I last shut down Google Chrome, I was using my main Gmail account. The email notification I clicked that launched Google Chrome was for a Gmail account I use for work, causing the browser to launch and open two different Gmail accounts. it appears that trying to have both Gmail accounts signed in at the same time didn't make Google Chrome too happy.

Upon restarting Google Chrome, I received another error from within Chrome. We're sorry, but your Gmail account is currently experiencing errors. You won't be able to use your account while these errors last, but don't worry, your account data and messages are safe. Our engineers are working to resolve the issue. Please try accessing your account again in a few minutes. I immediately reloaded my main Gmail account with error.

Stay tuned for more in this series on Google Chrome.

Your comments?

Joe

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Google Chrome Observations #3

This time in my thoughts on Google Chrome, I want to share a comparison of some of the add-ons that I used so frequently in Firefox 3.0 with what I do (or don't do) to get around them in Google Chrome. For the sake of ease of reading (and writing) this article, I'll just go down the list (for the most part) alphabetically.

Adblock Plus and Adblock Filterset.G Updater: One thing I have always enjoyed about using Firefox 3.0 is the ability to kill most any web ad using Adblock Plus. Quite literally every ad you can imagine can be halted before ever loading in Firefox 3.0. There is so far no substitute for this add-on in Google Chrome, and many doubt that there ever will be, due to the fact that Google earns virtually all of it's income from advertising.

Another Firefox add-on that I have been unable to find a substitute for in Google Chrome is the DIGG This toolbar button. It's purpose is self-explanatory. I used it occasionally in Firefox but frankly don't feel I'm missing anything without it in Google Chrome. I'm not a big DIGG user.

Gmail Notifier in Firefox causes a pop-up notification to appear every time a new Gmail is received. More useful, however, is the fact that it allows you to check multiple Gmail accounts with one click without having to frequently sign in and out of Gmail. I have replaced Gmail Notifier in Google Chrome with Digsby, a self-proclaimed Instant Messaging / Email Notificaton / Social Networking solution that allows me to check multiple Gmail accounts and be signed into all of my Instant Messenger services, as well as read and post updates to Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, and others, all from within one client.

Another add-on that is somewhat replaced by Digsby is Twitter Bar. While Digsby doesn't completely replace Twitter Bar, it has adequately filled my needs since switching to Google Chrome.

I must admit I am a bit disappointed at the lack of integration Google Chrome has with Google's own products, including Google Notebook. I have found no suitable replacement for the Google Notebook add-on other than to create a bookmark to Google Notebook.

The single most important add-on that I miss the most in Google Chrome is Google Toolbar. While Google Chrome includes some nice new features that I've mentioned in previous articles, there is just no substitute for the powerful search tools and other features found in Google Toolbar. I miss the ease of access I once had via Google Toolbar in Firefox.

Surprisingly enough, I found several times in Firefox 3.0 when video files wouldn't play, or even Amazon Associates Widgets couldn't be created without launching the page in Internet Explorer, which I did embedded in Firefox using IE Tab. I have not yet found any need to open any page in any other browser, as I have not yet stumbled upon a page that would not function or render properly in Google Chrome. Therefore, I have so far had no need for a replacement for IE Tab in Google Chrome.

With the many, many social networking sites I've joined, I find that shortening URLs for posting to social sites is critical. In Firefox I did so using Is.Gd. In Google Chrome, a simple Javascript Bookmark makes shortening URLs with Is.Gd just as simple.

Again thanks to social networking, and eBay, Reload Every was a very useful tool in Firefox. Having a specific page automatically reload at a preset interval can make keeping up with social networks easy, and can increase chances of outbidding those last minute bidders on eBay.

I am absolutely hooked on Remember The Milk. I use it for creating task lists for both business and personal use, and for sending me daily email reminders of those task lists. The Remember The Milk add-on for Firefox adds an easy to use interface to your Gmail Inbox for creating and updating tasks in Remember The Milk. Though I had the add-on installed in Firefox, I rarely used it. Instead, I almost always went directly to my Remember The Milk page, or even the Mobile version. In Google Chrome, I don't miss the add-on at all. In fact, I have discovered that I can just as easily update my Remember The Milk tasks from within Google Calendar.

That essentially covers the Firefox add-ons for me. There are more add-ons that I would probably have used if they didn't bog Firefox down so much. Those listed above are the ones that I found most critical to an enjoyable browsing experience.  For the most part, I'm getting along fine without them in Google Chrome. Google has promised that add-ons are in development for Google Chrome, and I'm sure the first thing they'll do is better integrate the rest of the Google properties into what is turning out to be a rather nice browser.

Up in this series, how I now use Google Gears and Google Desktop to enhance my browsing experience with Google Chrome.

Your comments?

Joe

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Google Chrome Observations #2

More on Google's new entry into the browser market, Google Chrome . I've been using Chrome since it's release date, and am trying to use it exclusively for the first week to give it a real chance. If I can run it through the gamut of a blogger / podcaster and come out satisfied, then I'll call it a winner.

In the last article in this series, I mentioned some of my favorite features of Google Chrome. Today, I'll share some of the downfalls I have noticed with Google Chrome. Through all of this, I remind myself that Google Chrome is currently in Beta release, and the purpose of even using it is to test it and help make it work better.

On a couple of occasions I have noticed that I have no audio while viewing Flash video such as YouTube videos in Google Chrome. This struck me as odd, since both YouTube and Google Chrome are Google products, and you would think they had thoroughly tested them together. Though I haven't been able to determine what the cause of the problem is, I have found a couple of ways to fix it. The simplest, of course, is to close the browser and restart it (I haven't yet tried to use Google Chrome's built-in Task Manager, which may have solved the problem without a complete restart of the browser). As I have Chrome set to launch with the same pages open that I closed with, this doesn't cause an issue for me of losing what I was viewing. Another method that has appeared to work is right clicking (this works on some Flash video, but not all) in the Flash window and selecting settings. I didn't actually have to change any settings, just the process of loading the settings window, clicking OK, and restarting the video has restored the sound for me (again, in some instances only).

RSS Reading is virtually impossible. In Firefox, you can click an RSS link and the page will load in a viewable format. Firefox does an excellent job of rendering RSS into a readable format. Google does nothing. Without using some other RSS Reader, such as Google Reader , it is impossible to make any sense of RSS Feeds in Chrome. The biggest problem with using Google Reader is that there is no easy way to subscribe to an RSS Feed (yet) in Google Chrome, other than copy and paste. This, I'm sure, will soon be fixed as well.

After resuming my laptop from sleep mode, it appears to take longer for Gmail to refresh the Inbox in Google Chrome than in other browsers. This is only a minor inconvenience and can easily be overcome by clicking the Inbox link.

It appears that when I installed Google Chrome, Google Gears was also installed. I don't recall being asked if I wanted to install Gears, and I don't believe I have installed it on the computer in the past. I will say that this only appears to be the case, until I run a test install on another computer. I don't know if this is a bad thing or not. Some might consider it a negative when software is installed on their computer without their knowledge (which, again, I am not sure is the case). I have started using Google Gears since this install, and will cover my experience with that in another installment in this series.

As a Firefox 3 user, I love the add-ons of Firefox. They don't (yet) exist in Google Chrome, but Google is said to be working on it. Since there are several add-ons I use in Firefox, I will cover that in the next installment in this series, including the work arounds I have found for several of them in Google Chrome.

So far, I'm basically please with Google Chrome. It has some work to do, and I have more to run it through. I'll be back soon with more on add-on work arounds and Google Gears, and whatever else I uncover in the mean time. Send me your feedback and thoughts using the email or comments links below.

Joe 
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"Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy." -- Rudy Giuliani

Posted by email from Average Joe American (posterous)