New Feature(s) Coming to Google Docs?

Okay, now that I'm fresh off some conspiracy theory reading from the F-Word, I want to do some hypothesizing of my own:  Something new might be coming to Google Docs, involving Google+.

How do I know, you ask?  Well, have a look.

Docs

Drawings

Spreadsheets

In Docs, Drawings, and Spreadsheets, the notification count and share button are each conspicuously absent.  I checked this across three machines (HP, iMac, and chromebook), three OSes (Windows 7, Snow Leopard, and Chrome OS), three Chrome versions (canary, mac dev, and cros dev), and three separate Google accounts.  All three show the same behavior in docs, at least -- I have yet to check the others on all three and will let any adventuresome reader take up the call.

Is this a bug or something bigger?  I hope the latter.

What do I prognosticate?  In the absence of a bug, I assume this will be something like Google Maps rolled out, where we click on the share button to share the doc, drawing, or spreadsheet we're currently working on with our friends/circles.

What do you think?  Bug, feature, or conspiracy theory?  (I'll leave the Illuminati out of this one; I've already got enough to worry about, now that I know the truth about DIA.)

(Yesterday's) Spiritual Message: What Did Heavenly Father's Prophets and Apostles Say, Last Week?

Last week, I mentioned that prophets and apostles, called of God (our Heavenly Father), would be speaking to all the world.

Here is one of the messages the chief prophet and apostle (the equivalent of a modern Peter, Moses, Noah, Abraham, etc.), President Thomas S. Monson, shared with us all, entitled Stand in Holy Places:



In addition to President Monson, the Church is also guided and directed by other prophets and apostles (15, including President Monson) and seventys, as described by Paul in Ephesians 4:11-14 and called by the Savior, Himself, as recorded in Luke 10:1 (seventys) and Luke 6:12-13 (apostles).  An overview of who the principal leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are can be found here.

The messages given by all the prophets, apostles, seventys, and other Church leaders can be read, listened to, watched, and downloaded, here.

As always, I'd love to answer any questions, or you can certainly visit mormon.org and search for yourself.

(Very) Basic Image Editor Lands in Chrome OS 0.16.1122.0

Some of us wanted it (at least I did) and the Chrome OS team supplied it:  A basic image editor.  Sadly, for me, it's one feature short of the main feature I cared about:  Blur/smudge.  Ah, well, at least it has crop.

Really, though, is this some secret plot for me to keep using Picnik, even though I much prefer image editors like Awesome Screenshot or Aviary Image Editor?  Sigh.

Also new in this build:  The Wi-Fi icon now has lines on it to more clearly delineate current signal strength, I assume (I actually suggested this a while back and am less thrilled with it, in practice); the plus tab button is now an inchoate + button . . . once I hover my mouse over the empty diamond, the + comes to life!  I can appreciate the hip GUI-ness of it, and I can also see some folks (especially those over 50) scratching their heads about where the plus tab button is.

This is the extent of what I, and at least WReithmeyer, have noticed that I consider worth mentioning.

What hidden goodies have you guys noticed that you'd like to add to the pile of fun? 

Click the Gallery button and . . . 

Now we can auto-fix, crop, brighten, rotate, or undo to our heart's content (or upload to Picasa, via Share button).
Maybe blur/smudge will arrive by Christmas -- sorry, Winter Solstace.

P.S.  Gotta love getting the green, your-update-is-ready icon (especially for an OCD update freak, like myself).

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

The Lord's prophets and apostles speak, today at 12pm and 4pm eastern.  I invite you to watch and listen:  http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Did the Chrome Team Ditch the Bookmarks Section and Bring Back the Bookmarks Bar?

Update:  I'm thinking this is a bug or Chrome OS specific, since my wife's Apple computer is running Chrome 16.0.891.1 and has the bookmarks section.

Is it just me, or has the Chrome team decided to shelve the whole bookmarks section of the new tab page?

As my daughter would say, "Wheeeeere'd ya go??"

From what I can tell, the bookmark section reverted back to the bookmarks bar, as seen, above.

Is this on all four platforms, or just Chrome OS 0.15.1011.43?

Do you think this change is permanent or temporary?

If intentional, why the change?

Sites Displaces Reader in the Google Navbar

Have you created your site, yet?

Yep.  In Gmail, Calendar, Documents, and Photos, Google Sites has now given Google Reader the boot in the persistent navbar (to my dismay).

Why?

From what I can tell, Google's looking to ramp up interest in Sites.  I have yet to ever create one, so maybe I'll gain an interest.

The cost?  I now have to click on More>Reader to get to my Google Reader.  Yes, it is the most difficult thing I've ever done.  Sob.

What other thoughts do you have on the change?

Today's Spiritual Message: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

I'm always tickled when my daughter sees a picture, video, or other image representing the Savior and shouts, "Jesus!"

What a blessed opportunity parents have to teach their children, from a young age, the stories of Jesus.  To that end, I hope you enjoy this performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from the October 2010 General Conference.



You may also enjoy this eponymous message (Tell Me the Stories of Jesus) by Elder Neil L. Andersen.

Locked vs. Unlocked Google+ Albums

Again, another Google+ account cross-post.

When did Google add this feature?? Regardless, I love and am impressed with how Google is giving users control over their content (at least as far as accessibility among other users is concerned). I also enjoy the explanation, coupled with the feature's intuitive use.

What do you think?

Diva Photo Shoot

FYI, this is a cross-post from my Google+ account (in case you follow me here, only).

I love my photogenic daughter and photo-taking wife! I'm also impressed and amused how mom made it appear like daughter was posing the whole time . . .

Today's Spiritual Message: Flecks of Gold

We often fail to appreciate how much the small things in life can add up.  Enjoy.

New in Blogger: Post Albums

Hats off to my wife for pointing this one out to me:  Yes, F-Word, now that the wife has beaten me to a tech news scoop, I have (once more) relinquished my man card.

So, here's the story.  My wife's basking in the warmth of some pictures from one of her recent, private posts, only to realize there're some kind of Google+-like thumbnails at the bottom of the screen . . .  After some investigation, I've concluded each Blogger post now has it's own album of post-specific photos.  Observe:

Blogger post albums:  Who knew, right?

An added bonus (in addition to the album-style rendering, I mean) seems to be that I can now access post pictures, absent having to open up/reload a new tab.  Nice.

How much does or will this have to do with Google+ integration, as I originally assumed?

Busy-ness

This morning, I'd like to share some thoughts from my reading in the Book of Mormon.

In 1 Nephi 17:45, Nephi chastises his brethren because of their wickedness and accompanying insensitivity to spiritual things.

The late Elder Joseph B. Wirtlin observed, "This is a noisy and busy world that we live in. Remember that being busy is not necessarily being spiritual. If we are not careful, the things of this world can crowd out the things of the Spirit."  Book of Mormon Study Manual, page 39 or The Unspeakable Gift, April 2003 General Conference.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf echoed this sentiment and recently remarked,

Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.

Of Things That Matter Most, April 2011 General Conference.

I recognize I often fall pray to this syndrome, myself, and I invite us all to take some time for quiet reflection, communing with God, and focusing on the things that matter most, especially our family.

Today's Spiritual Message: In Memoriam, 9/11

Today, my heart is full of pondering, of remembering that fateful day, from ten years ago.  I will always remember watching the events of 9/11 unfold, from the remote TV in my physics classroom, in high school.  I'm so grateful for those who gave their lives to save and rescue others.

Remembering those who gave their lives.

Tom Brokaw and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will air a special 9/11 broadcast, today.

In remembering 9/11, I invite you to watch a special memorial broadcast, recorded by Tom Brokaw, who was a news anchor detailing the events of 9/11, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who quickly performed a memorial service.  The broadcast will be aired throughout the day.

Finally, invite you to read two different articles reflecting on 9/11, one by Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (in the Washington Post) and the other by Emory Cook, of BYUtv.

May we be a better people as a result of the 9/11 tragedy -- more full of love and compassion, and may God bless America.

"Web Worker" Extension/App/Process(?) in Chrome OS

This morning, I discovered another a little something that's at least new to me in Chrome OS:

Extension, app, process, plugin?  What is Web Worker?

I believe Web Worker has something to do with Google Docs because it seems to have disappeared after I closed out the two docs tabs ("apps") shown, above, and then reappeared, after reopening one.

I did a brief bit of research and came up with . . . nothing.  So, guys, what's this Web Worker instance in my task manager?  Please sound off below or on my Google+ post.

A Potpourri of Updates in Chrome OS 0.15.1011.0

Chrome OS dev 0.15.1011.0 landed, tonight, and I'd like to share a few observations:

File manager gets, well, a file cabinet icon (rather than the empty box logo)

The bookmark manager now has (or has had, and I'm just  finally noticing it) a link in the
Bookmarks section of the New Tab page

Extensions are now included in and redirected to the settings page, with a fun makeover, recently sighted by Dinu
Correction:  Wrench>Tools>Extensions navigates to the old page, rather than this one -- I assume this will change

Synced tabs and search engines are almost here!
(Well, technically, they are here, as flags)

Lazy Background Pages -- some extensions can be prevented from running until they are called upon -- cool
Update:  I tried this out and it seems to disable LastPass and possibly other extensions, too:
you might want to wait for this one

What else have you guys noticed?  Thoughts/comments?  Again, I also want someone to tell me what happened to multiple profiles, as a flag . . .

OH, I almost forgot to mention the boot up screen now has a Chrome-y animation and white background.  Okay(?).

Today's Spiritual Message: The Sting of the Scorpion

Our actions all have consequences.  Some of them really sting.

 

The Savior Jesus Christ reaches out to all of us who have felt the stinging consequences of sin, pleading, "[W]ill ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"

Click here to read more of the message behind the video.

Print Preview Lands in Chrome OS (Sort Of)

You may recall how, a few weeks ago, I lamented Chrome OS's lack of print preview.  Print preview fans, strap on your seat belts because print preview has landed in Chrome OS . . . as a flag.  In case this term sounds new, go to about:flags or chrome://flags, to see the myriad EXPERIMENTAL features for chrome/chrome os there.  Frankly, I strongly suggest you avoid enabling a flag unless you're determined to have it (as I am with click-to-play and print preview).  With that caveat, behold the screenshots:

Is the add/remove URL headers/footers new to print preview, or just new to me?

Who knew my Real Estate Transactions notes could look so good?

Ah, spreadsheet print preview!

So, there you have it.  In my very brief tests, I ran into only one page that failed to load a preview correctly, and I was able to do a refresh, and it worked fine.  While I'm sure there will be plenty of hiccups, here and there, you may want to give the print preview flag some love, especially if you love print preview like I do.

By the way, the whole reason I blundered upon this flag, in the first place, was because I was searching for a multiple profiles trigger.  Renji, or anyone else, how can I set up multiple profiles on Chrome OS, inside one account, like I can on a dev/canary Windows build of Chrome?

Thanks for reading, and happy previewing!

Omnibox History Sync Now Available in Chrome

P.S. I forgot to mention Dinu spotted this in Chromium, back in May: http://chromestory.com/2011/05/google-chrome-to-sync-typed-urls-and-browsing-sessions-now-in-chromium/

Omnibox History Sync, now available

Well, folks, the picture and caption say it all.  I updated my Cr-48 this morning to 0.15.950.0 and saw a message on the new tab page, telling me omnibox history sync is now enabled.  Hurray!

Now all I need is for Alex, Dinu, or someone else to explain or find out exactly what this means.  :)

New Google+ Look (Option) Arrives for Docs

Update:  I believe at least the Docs viewer is (for whatever reason) currently excluded from the new look.

Well, folks, the option for the new Google+ look (or integrated Google, if you prefer) is here.

Just go to a doc, spreadsheet, etc. and select, "Give it a try."

I'll let Alex and others do a complete dissection.  For now, I'm simply glad to see it getting a start.

What do you think about the new look?  Regardless, I think I'll need some time to get used to the loss of color.

Does Google Calendar Now Gray Out Old Events?

Update:  Thanks to a comment from reader Renji, I have learned this is, in fact, a setting in Google Calendar, called "Event Dimming," located in the settings page.  Glad to know I have some shreds of eyesight and sanity left.  Now, I'd like someone to clue me in on when this feature started (or, if it was months ago, let's just forget I asked).

Looking at my calendar, this morning, I believe Google Calendar has started to gray out old events, making it easier to focus on today's appointments.  Is this new and intentional, is it old, or am I just seeing things?  (You are instructed to disregard the red line in the first image.)

By the way, while I like Aviary's suite of tools, I get really annoyed with it's "user-friendliness" . . .