Tag Archives: Google

First Impressions of Google’s Cr-48 Netbook

Standard disclaimer: I am not an employee of, or in any way affiliated with Google.

Cool Box! After watching the Google ChromeOS press event on the 7th of December, I had gone to the form (a link for which had conveniently popped up on my “new tab” screen of the Chrome 9 browser I run on my Linux workstation – I’ll leave it as an exercise to the reader as to whether or not that affected things) to request to take part in the just-announced Cr-48 netbook test. On Thursday, I come to find out Google had sent me one! In itself, this is pretty amazing for me: I’m not usually the first person to see new things Google rolls out, or get invites to try new products (I’m still waiting for the slight redesign of the Google Maps interface to grace my browser). This is, however, even more amazing to me considering, given the scope of the pilot program, the relatively few devices (60,000 by some reports) that they were making available.

But, having said that, I have been a heavy Google user for some time now: I use most of their products, including several “Apps for your domain”, Docs, Reader, Maps, and more recently Health, to name but a few. Going to the dashboard for my account reveals a surprising number (even to me!) of products that I’ve touched over the years.

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Perfect Timing: Google Releases Walking Directions in Maps

It’s beta (of course!), but Google has just announced walking directions as an option on Google Maps.  Great timing: I’m in Portland, OR for OSCON 2008, and just yesterday I was wishing I could get walking directions to a restaurant, and today I have it!  Well done, Google!

By the way, the warning message is great: “Walking directions are in beta. Use caution when walking in unfamiliar areas.”