Instantly zap links maps and phone numbers to your Android phone with Chrome to Phone!

(Cross-posted from the Google Chrome blog.)

Ever wanted a way to quickly and easily send links and other information from your desktop or laptop to your phone to view on the go? The new Chrome to Phone extension adds a button to your Google Chrome browser that instantly sends the current web page, map, YouTube video, or selected phone number or text to your Android device running Froyo (or Android 2.2).

Suppose youre reading an interesting article on your favorite news website and need to leave for an urgent appointment. Simply click the extension icon in your browser to send the link to your phone and the devices browser will automatically open the link, ready for you to view on the go. Chrome to Phone also works seamlessly with Google Maps. Say you’ve looked up an address or driving directions on your desktop. Clicking the extension icon in your browser will push the information to the Google Maps app on your phone. YouTube videos work the same way with the extension. You can also select a phone number on a web page and send it to the dialer on your phone. Selected text can also be automatically copied from your browser and sent to your Android clipboard for later viewing.



The Chrome to Phone extension is available in English for now, but we hope to expand to other languages soon. Check out the help center if you have further questions. To get Chrome to Phone, install the extension in your Google Chrome browser and the Android application on your phone from Android Market, and you’re ready to go.

Posted by Dave Burke, Engineering Manager

Read More..

Share and personalize your Google Goggles experience with Goggles 1 4

Since its launch, we have worked to make Google Goggles faster and more accurate when returning search results for a wide variety of images. Today, we are taking several steps to make Goggles a better and more personal experience. Goggles 1.4 for Android devices introduces an enhanced search history experience, the ability to suggest better results to Google if we are not able to accurately match your image, and improved business card recognition.

Enhanced search history
The new search history experience lets you search your Goggles results, make personal notes on specific results and share your results with friends. When you add a personal note to a Goggles result, the note will appear in your search history. I’m trying to learn more about wine, so when I taste something new, it’s easy for me to add a note to help me remember what I liked about the wine. Later, I can search my search history for words in my note to help me find that bottle that went so well with steak. Read more about how to enable search history for Goggles here.

To make a personal note, tap the pencil in the corner when viewing a search result.

Notes are intended to help you better organize your search history, so if you choose to share a result with a friend, your notes will not be shared. However, you can always add a personalized message to your friend when you share your results with them.

Share a result by sending a link to your friends.

Suggest a better result
We are constantly working to improve the accuracy of Goggles at recognizing certain categories of items, but visual recognition is still a complicated task. With Goggles 1.4, you are now able to suggest a better result when Goggles cannot find an image match, or the quality of the result is poor.

To send your suggestion to Google, tap “Can you suggest a better result?” on the results page. You can then select the relevant part of the image and submit a tag. Tags will be used to improve recognition in object categories where Goggles already provides some results, like artwork or wine bottles.

When suggesting a better result, you can crop the image and add a description.

Improved business card recognition
Business card recognition is one of the most popular uses of Google Goggles, so were rolling out some new updates to make the experience even quicker and easier. Additionally, instead of simply recognizing the content as text, Goggles now recognizes the information as a contact, making it easier to add to your phones contact list.

Call or add the person directly as a contact

Google Goggles is available for Android 1.6+ devices. Download it by visiting Android Market or by scanning the QR code below:

Posted by Jacob Smullyan, Software Engineer

Read More..

5 Ways To Sell Your Phone For a New Latest Phone

New phones and devices are constantly released to consumers in a fast way so much that its so difficult to keep up. How do one make sure that he  gets the latest device as its being released on hand?

well, there is a way to achieve that without hurting the pocket deeply, and that way is to constantly sell your device, add a few bucks and you are set to buy a new device. However, the problem is finding a buyer and this where this post becomes useful.

1. eBay

eBay is very popular for its auction prowess and everyone knows it. Here you can put up your phone for sale by registering with eBay and then get a good image of your phone and place the advert. Since eBay is seen by millions of people, you should get a quick offer and therefore sell your phone.

However, you have to be very careful of fake people that may want to scam you of your device so you are advised to only sell to people with good rating and have joined eBay long enough.

2. DealDey

Well, this is even a better option for the Nigerian guys who want to sell their phones but cant go through eBay due to limitations.

DealDey is a perfect place to sell your phones. Like eBay, you need to signup and then place a good image of your marchandise on the DealDey webpage with the price and due date. Make sure your price is affordable so that you can quickly get a buyer. You may be surprised that in matters of days, your buyer would come and you will just add few bucks so that you can buy that dream phone.

3. Amazon

As at this writing, Amazon is doing a trade - in program for those willing to sell their Phone for a fee.

Its a good way to get rid of that phone so that you can get yourself a new one that would increase your bragging right.

Check out the link provided and see how your wish could be a reality

4. Nairaland

Yes, nairaland is a good place to auction your phone. You would be surprised at the good deals you would get from selling your phone in Nairaland. This is especially useful to my Nigerian peeps that want to quickly sell their phone to get a new one. 

One great thing about selling through nairaland is that you are not paying anyone any commission. Its totally a direct marketing of your phone. All you need do is go to the appropriate forum and announce your intention to see your phone, put all the features and specs and you should get a buyer in no time.

5. Finally, Facebook is the place to get anyones attention just buy displaying an image of your device. You can also sell anything here. 

You can either do a paid advertising or just upload your phones image and put the details there. Of course people would see it and would attract buyers from every angle.

That is is folks, 5 ways to sell your phone for a new one buy adding small cash to it. Definitely, this would ease the pocket and everyone is happy.

Like our Facebook page and follow on Twitter for more tech news, guides and helps

Read More..