Free Music from Google Play

Woman listening to Music (Photo credit: RelaxingMusic)

Did you know that Google Play features a free song every day?  Just visit Google Play Music and look for the Free Song of the Day.  It's a great way to check out new music.  If you've got a Google account, it's really easy to add songs to your Google Play music library with just a couple clicks and then enjoy them wherever you are - from your web browser or mobile device - and share with friends, too.

My only problem is that I forget to check every day, so I'm sure I've missed some good songs.  I do have quite a few songs in my music library, though, so it's not like I don't have anything to listen to.  I have the Google Music Manager set up on my computer so that any time I download a song or album (usually from Amazon) or rip a CD, it automatically gets added to my Google Play library.  The only problem is when I rip an audio book so I can listen to it on my MP3 player - and those tracks get added too.  Then I just have to remember to go online and delete them later, because I don't really need books stored there, and I don't want them counting against the 20,000 songs I can store on Google Play for free.  Even if that is a lot of songs!  (I have a little over 5000 songs right now)

Besides the Free Song of the Day, Google Play usually has several other free songs to choose from.  I just wish there was a way to 'buy' them all at once instead of having to individually click each one.  But they are free...

Related articles

• Google to launch free streaming service
• Google reportedly to launch free unlimited music streaming service
• Google preparing a music streaming service, Pandora and Spotify should be worried

Google Glass, How it Feels

Have you seen this?  Google has come up with this incredible little device that will let you take pictures and video of anything you see, just by speaking - "ok glass take a picture" or "ok glass record a video."  Share with friends as you're seeing it.

This new video shows what it does and how it feels:


Doesn't that look like fun?  I've always wanted to get video while riding a roller coaster, but I never figured out a good way to do it.

Wanna try it?  Google is looking for a few bold, creative individuals who want to be a part of shaping the future of Glass.  Using Google+ or twitter, simply tell Google, in 50 words or less, what you'd do if you had Glass, including #ifihadglass in your application.  The deadline for applications is February 27.

For more information, visit google.com/glass/.  I'm sure my life is too boring to qualify, but you might have a chance.

Doodle 4 Google for Some Great Prizes

Did you know that Google holds an annual contest for students K-12 in the United States inviting them to redesign the homepage logo for millions to see?  I had no idea until last year during the voting period.  There were some really neat Google doodles drawn by students of all ages.  The winning doodle was drawn by a 7-year-old kid from Wisconsin.

Well, it's time for this year's contest.  This year's theme is “My Best Day Ever…” One talented student artist will see their artwork appear on the Google homepage, receive a $30,000 college scholarship, and a $50,000 technology grant for their school along with some other cool prizes! 

Visit the Doodle 4 Google page to get more information and download an entry form.  All doodles must be received by March 22nd. 

Public voting will run May 1, 2013 12:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) to May 10, 2013 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). During that time, you'll be able to select your favorite doodles, one from each grade group.

Related articles

• 6th Annual U.S. Doodle 4 Google 2013 Is Calling For Submissions [Updates]
• Doodle 4 Google contest kicks off today, awards $30,000 scholarship
• You: Students & Schools: Submit your Doodle 4 Google for 2013 by March 22nd!

Add Photos from Your Phone

Lately I've noticed that Blogger gives the option to add a photo from your phone, so I thought I'd test it to see how it works.

Well, never mind.  It's part of the Google+ for Android app - which I would get, but my phone is stupid and doesn't have room for any more apps.  In fact, it tells me every day that I'm low on space, and the apps that I do have need updated - but there's not enough space to update them.  I am seriously going to need to get a new phone soon!  I don't even have very many apps.  The phone just barely has enough internal space for the apps that came on it - the ones I can't delete or move to the SD card.  It's frustrating.

If I could actually add the app, not only would it be handy to be able to use my phone pics for blogging, but all my pics would automatically be added to Google+ (in a private folder) - so I'd never lose any pictures - no matter what, which would be great.

Who has Google+ for Android?  Are you liking it?

Clear Your Google Web History

On March 1st, Google's new unified privacy policy goes into effect, and your web history will be shared across all Google products and sites that you use. Here's a quick video from cnet that shows how to clear your Google web history before that happens:


It may be easier to follow the steps with them listed this way:

1. Go to the google homepage and sign into your account.
2. Click the dropdown menu next to your name in the upper-right hand corner of your screen. 
3. Click accounts settings 
4. Find the "Services section" 
5. Under "Services" there is a sub-section that reads "View, enable, disable web history." Click the link next to it that reads: "Go to Web History."
   (Note: When you click "Go to Web History" you may be taken to a page which gives you the options "Turn Web History On"/"No Thanks": Click "Turn Web History On" and you will finally be taken to step 6 below) 
6. Click on "Remove all Web History"
   When you click on "Remove all Web History," a message appears that says " Web History is Paused." What this means is that while Google will continue gathering and storing information about your web history it will make all data anonymous, that is, Google will not associate your Web History information with your online accounts and will therefore be unable to send you customized search results. Google's ability to gather personalized information about you by assigning data to your Gmail and YouTube accounts will remain "Paused" till you click "Resume."

List copied from: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/320137#ixzz1nXEEuDPn

Looks pretty easy, and I know a lot of people will be following these steps!  I'm personally not sure what the advantages or disadvantages are of having Google use my history to send me customized search results.  What do you think?

Related articles

• How to Remove Your Google Web History Before The New Privacy Policy Change [Google] (lifehacker.com)
• How To Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect (gizmodo.com.au)
• Google's New Privacy Policy Is Coming... Quick, Hide Your Stuff!!! (cubiyanqui.com)
• How To Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect (pointsofhype.wordpress.com)

More Fun with Google

Apparently this was going around in November, but I missed it.  So, in case you missed it too:

1. Go to Google
2. Type "do a barrel roll" into the search
3. Wait for it!

Not as much fun as the gravity thing, but still a bit of fun.  Anybody else feeling a bit dizzy?

Fun with Google Gravity

Just found this on Crazy Working Mom.

Try this - it'll be fun!

1. Go to Google, and type 'Google Gravity'
2. Click on the 1st result that appears (i.e. Google Gravity)
3. Wait 2 seconds.  Something cool will happen!
4. Play with it for a while
5. Then type any word in the Google search bar and press Enter
6. Wait and see.  Something even cooler will happen. Awesome!
   
   If you liked it, copy and share with all your friends. (by http://facebook.com/starhostz)

I thought it was fun - go give it a try!

CloudMagic - Intergrated Search for Google Services

A friend of mine shared this on facebook today, and I definitely want to try it out.  I installed the Firefox add-on, but since I have to restart Firefox to be able to use it, I have yet to check it out.  From watching the video, I think it definitely looks like it can make things easier.



CloudMagic is a browser add-on for Firefox and Chrome that provides fast, integrated search for these Google & Google apps account services:

• Emails
• Contacts
• Documents
• Spreadsheets
• Presentations
• Forms

Basically, it looks like you can easily search for and find anything in your email, docs, or contacts and use information from any and all of your services while working on an email or document, or whatever you are doing.  I'm all for anything that can make my life easier and more organized and that can save time!

Twitter and Facebook support is coming soon, too.

Related articles

• CloudMagic Searches Gmail & Google Docs at Lightning Speed (fakeiitian.com)
• CloudMagic Searches Gmail & Google Docs at Lightning Speed (mashable.com)
• Instant Gmail, Google Docs & Contacts Search | CloudMagic (cloudmagic.com)
• CloudMagic brings instant search to Gmail and Google Docs (thenextweb.com)
• CloudMagic 2.0 Adds Speedy As-You-Type Search to Google Docs and Contacts [Video] (lifehacker.com)