Man vs mini-kitchen

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Hunter Walk, Drink Challenger (and Product Manager)</span><br /><br />Google's broad <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/tenthings.html">corporate goals</a> are <a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312504142742/ds1a.htm#t">well documented</a>, and as Googlers, we work hard to uphold these values. But sometimes one also needs individual and short-term objectives to motivate and inspire. My personal challenge? Drink one of each beverage offered on the Google campus. Every Google building has several mini-kitchens stocked with a variety of familiar, and unfamiliar, libations. Why do you climb a mountain? Because it's there.<br /><br />In no particular order, I will imbibe every cola, juice, energy drink, caffeinated liquid and enhanced water. Scoff if you must, but cast no stone until you've taken on the <a href="http://www.snapple.com/index.asp?Pageid=7&subid=7&contentid=7#5">entire line of Snapple beverages</a> and lived to recount the experience. Because Google's great operations team is forever adding new choices to our refrigerators, my project is somewhat of a moving target, but here's what I've concluded thus far:<br /><ul><li>The magical properties of <a href="http://www.drinkbetterwater.com/">VitaminWater</a> are impressive, but their benefit-focused names ("Endurance," "Balance") remind me a bit too much of the <a href="http://www.successories.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/successories_coun">Successories</a> motivational posters.<a href="http://www.successories.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/successories_coun"><br /></a></li><li>50% of <a href="http://www.silverbackextreme.com/">Extreme Energy</a> drinks are flammable.</li><li>Boylan's Bottleworks makes the best <a href="http://www.beveragesdirect.com/detail-209-Boylans_Bottleworks_Ginger_Ale_12_Pack.asp">Ginger Ale</a>. 'Nuff said.</li></ul>What weird beverage am I missing? <a href="mailto:gblog@google.com">Send </a>a link and our network of refreshment procurement experts will get on it.

Man vs mini-kitchen

Posted by Hunter Walk, Drink Challenger (and Product Manager) Google's broad corporate goals are well documented , and as Googlers, we ...

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I read the news today, oh boy!

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Mike Dixon, Engineering Manager</span><br /><br />We've been steadily adding more editions of <a href="http://news.google.com/">Google News</a> (<a href="http://news.google.com/news?ned=kr">Korea</a>, anyone? <a href="http://news.google.com/news?ned=es_cl">Chile</a>?) so that everyone can find up-to-the-minute coverage of the news they want to read. But maybe you've got your own idea of what's newsworthy -- <a href="http://news.google.com/news?ned=:ePkh8BM9E2IF2mHAhETlASlOIAWShTMzEaLJiUAm3D0wuwFhfgrj">more world news</a> and less Michael Jackson, or possibly vice versa. Sports, sports, and <a href="http://news.google.com/news?ned=:ePkh8BM9E-LV4nZKLCqqVHDKz0spFhLTEglOzFNwK0rMS84sTs5XcM9MzCspFhLXEnXPz0lJzVMILkksSVUIB-rJzC8qFhLWEvRPzM5JzEtRcCzJyEktyUwuFhLVEkY1xcQyFahWUIsfpjYoMTMFKgRS6ZVfnKoQnJFYlA32XDHMSwByJDDN">more sports</a>? Canadian news <a href="http://news.google.com/news?ned=:ePkh8BM9gxjPDiRAuiD2AHlJMF45iFcO46WCeKlSYLNBdiYnAgAqpgpQ">in both English and French</a>? You choose the topics and we'll find the stories. So go on - customize your Google News page with *your* Google News.

I read the news today, oh boy!

Posted by Mike Dixon, Engineering Manager We've been steadily adding more editions of Google News ( Korea , anyone? Chile ?) so that ev...

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Taking the plunge

<p>We seem to be famous (or <a href="http://battellemedia.com/archives/001305.php">infamous</a>) for never taking our products out of beta -- the software equivalent of commitment issues, perhaps. But in one case, at least, we're taking the plunge: Google Desktop Search has been kicked out of the Google Labs nest, and is officially 1.0.</p> <p>We've been listening to your suggestions, and this release is crammed with our responses. You can now search your computer for PDFs and media files like MP3s, JPGs and GIFs, video files and so on (Desktop Search even indexes your media files' meta-info, so you can search for artist and file names, song titles, etc). And version 1.0 supports the Thunderbird and Mozilla email clients, Firefox browser -- and Chinese and Korean languages. There's a new floating deskbar you can place anywhere on your desktop, too. To better protect your personal info, Desktop Search won't search password-protected Office files. And serious geeks can now search cool new filetypes and create customized apps with the Google Desktop Search <a href="http://desktop.google.com/developer.html">API</a>.</p> <p>If you already have the earlier Desktop Search, you'll automatically get all these upgrades. If you haven't, maybe it's time to <a href="http://desktop.google.com/">take the plunge yourself</a>.</p> <p>Nikhil Bhatla<br />Product Manager</p>

Taking the plunge

We seem to be famous (or infamous ) for never taking our products out of beta -- the software equivalent of commitment issues, perhaps. But ...

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Searching for weather, by web or by phone

As a kid, I would stare for hours at repetitious weather reports on TV. Boring, you say? Not to me - I love weather. And since I've worked here, I've wondered why Google doesn't do weather. It seemed like a perfect <a href="http://www.google.com/googleblog/2004/12/ive-got-suggestion.html">20% project</a> for me, so now I'm pleased to report that you can get <a href="http://www.google.com/features.html#weather">current conditions and a forecast</a> by typing [weather Chicago], or whatever your U.S. location is (zipcodes are also fair game). If you prefer, use <a href="http://www.google.com/sms/howtouse.html#weather">Google SMS</a> to send a text message to the U.S. five digit shortcode 46645 (GOOGL on most mobile phones) followed by your meteorological query.<br /><br />Ben Sigelman<br />Software Engineer

Searching for weather, by web or by phone

As a kid, I would stare for hours at repetitious weather reports on TV. Boring, you say? Not to me - I love weather. And since I've work...

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Reviewing local search

Is <a href="http://local.google.com/local?q=gary+danko&near=san+francisco&latlng=37775000,-122418333,12492966685364411262">Gary Danko in San Francisco</a> really as good as you've heard? <a href="http://local.google.com/">Google Local</a> just got better at helping you find the answers to questions like this. We've scoured the Web to find local business info like store hours, restaurant menus, prices and wifi availability; added a separate section with color-coded editorial and user reviews; and thrown interactive Google Maps into the mix (for both the U.S. and <a href="http://maps.google.ca/">Canada</a>) to help you get to the places you've found.<br /><br />Thai Tran and Bret Taylor<br />Product Managers

Reviewing local search

Is Gary Danko in San Francisco really as good as you've heard? Google Local just got better at helping you find the answers to questio...

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On the map

The Maps team was excited to see all the ideas and feedback that hit blogs around the Web after <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a> launched a couple weeks ago, and we've been listening: Maps now supports Safari and Opera. Keep the feedback coming...<br /><br />Bret Taylor<br />Google Maps Product Manager

On the map

The Maps team was excited to see all the ideas and feedback that hit blogs around the Web after Google Maps launched a couple weeks ago, an...

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Google movies: now playing

<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&amp;amp;c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+red+pill+blue+pill&btnG=Search">Red pill blue pill</a>. <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+ship+hits+iceberg&btnG=Search">Ship hits iceberg</a>. <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&amp;amp;c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+one+ring+to+rule+them+all&btnG=Search">One ring to rule them all</a>. If you love movies, you know which films these phrases refer to. Now, thanks to our new movie feature, Google web search knows too.<br /><br />Just in time for the Oscars, we've created a new "movie:" operator that enables you to find movie-related information faster and more easily, whether you're looking for titles or actors, director or genre, famous lines or obscure plot details. Can't remember the name of that film where Tom Hanks made friends with a volleyball? Search for [<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+tom+hanks+talking+to+a+volleyball&btnG=Search">movie: Tom Hanks talking to a volleyball</a>] and Google will tell you: it was <em>Cast Away</em>. Want rental recommendations? Try searching for [<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=movie%3A+awesome+car+chase&btnG=Google+Search">movie: awesome car chase</a>] or [<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&amp;amp;c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+good+chick+flick&btnG=Search">movie: good chick flick</a>].<br /><br />Looking for a multiplex near you? Use "movie:" followed by a U.S. zip code or city/state to find theaters and showtimes in your area (a search for [<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&amp;amp;c2coff=1&q=movie%3A+Mountain+View,+CA&btnG=Search">movie: Mountain View, CA</a>], for example, will show you what's playing near the Googleplex). You can also just search on "movies," "showtimes" or the title of a current film, and your top result will be movie-related info for your area (if you haven't already saved your location using <a href="http://local.google.com/">Google Local</a>, just fill in your U.S. zip code or city/state and click the "Get Showtimes" button). And for those on the go, movie showtimes are also available on <a href="http://www.google.com/sms/howtouse.html">Google SMS</a> (send a text message to 46645 -- aka. GOOGL on most phones -- to look up showtimes for nearby theaters).<br /><br />Popcorn and a date to snuggle up with are up to you. For now.<br /><br />Jess Lee<br />Associate Product Manager

Google movies: now playing

Red pill blue pill . Ship hits iceberg . One ring to rule them all . If you love movies, you know which films these phrases refer to. Now, t...

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