Customizable wordpress theme for Adsense

Alright, I am not a wordpress themes guru, but I tried my luck in creating a completely flexible wordpress theme for AdSense. Take a look


May 5, 2008 | Filed Under Google |  

Playing with PicasaWeb Slideshows (using Gen. Powell on Leadership)

When Google announced the availability of flash slideshows in PicasaWeb, I figured that this might be an interesting way to share presentations until Google Docs for Presentations is available.

Here is how I did it:

  1. Save a .ppt as a .jpg
  2. Index the folder by picasa
  3. Upload the images to picasaweb
  4. create html snippet using the “Embed Slideshow” link on picasaweb
  5. post html snippet on this site

Below is an example using a summary of General Powell’s lessons on leadership. I am not sure who sent me this preso, but I remember that it was shortly after General Powell visited the Google campus.

May 21, 2007 | Filed Under Google |  

Tech Review Search - my first Google Custom Searchengine

I played with Google’s CSE (custom search engine) and launched my first test engine: Tech Review Search. I often find myself searching for product reviews online and frequently getting upset about the search results. E.g. Amazon only displays the top rated reviews of products, to get all reviews, one has to click further in. Other sites redirect to the buy page rather than displaying the reviews.

So here is my answer to the problem:

Google Custom Search

Or try these examples: Nikon D 100, VAIO MicroPC UX280P, buffalo linkstation

BTW, I don’t make any money on click on the ads, but Google allows editors of CSE to enter their Adsense code to generate revenue.

March 9, 2007 | Filed Under Google |  

Google SMS helps me being a better driver

Let’s face it: We all are on our cells while we drive!
The things I see on my daily commute are sometimes hard to believe, recently I see a lot of people on their Blackberry while driving - BAD IDEA!

Anyway, calls I make in the car are usually the ones I don’t have time for at work and can’t make in the evening or on the weekend: Reschedule that FedEx delivery or or call the ….

December 12, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

Google Picasaweb Video Screencast

I just created my first screencast! It does not look great, but whatever, there has to be a first one …

In my public Picasaweb album (link):

Public Screencasts

On Google video (link):

November 16, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

List of all Google Mobile Products (including Blackberry and SMS)

Update 9/17/07 AdSense for Mobile:
The Adsense team launched AdSense for Mobile.

If you have a website optimized for mobile browsers, or are interested in creating one, you can start monetizing your mobile site by accessing a growing number of our mobile advertisers.

Update 6/26/07 Picasaweb Mobile:
The Picasa Team announced some great additions to the product - Google Mobile for Picasa. Paper wallet pictures are dead - mobile wallet pictures are the way to go.

Google Pages for Mobile:
Also, I missed the announcement on April 30, 2007 that Google Pages automatically creates mobile compatible pages of any Google Page

Update 6/14/07 - Youtoube MMS:

I just realized that I never included the youtube.com mobile interface. It allows you to upload videos vis mms.

Update 5/30/07 - Mobile Checkout:

Google Checkout has announced a mobile interface

Update 5/25/07 - Mobile Calendar:

Google launched Mobile Calendar access via the Google Blog

Google just launched Gmail for Mobile App. The application is fantastic! I’ve been using it for a while in alpha and it has changed they way I use Gmail. Definitely worth a try!

I also started to assemble a list of all Google Mobile products. A lot of them are rather unknown. Let me know if you come across anything I forgot.

Google Mobile Search
Details

Google Mobile Image Search

Google Mobile News
PDF Overview

Google Personalized Homepage for Mobile
PDF Overview

Google Mobile Maps
Details
PDF Overview

Google Local for Mobile
Instructions

Gmail for Mobile
Help Files
PDF Overview
Gmail Contacts Lookup for Mobile

Google Calendar SMS notification Help
Check Google calendar via SMS

Froogle Mobile
Help Files

Google Reader for Mobile
Instructions

Google Talk for Blackberry (non-Google development)

Blogger Mobile

Google Adwords for Mobile
Instructions

Google Mobile Sitemaps

Mobile Firefox add-ons:
Send SMS with Firefox
Send SMS with the Google Toolbar

Google SMS
Google SMS UK

Google Showtimes for Mobile

Dogeball

November 2, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

Products missing @ Google for Educators

[Disclaimer: I work at Google, but not on any of the products I am mentioning below]

Google just launched “Google for Educators“. It is part of an effort on the way to more Google certified Teachers.

Google has done very few outreach projects (also known as marketing), another (barely known) one is the College Video “The New Roommate“:

Anyway, here is my list of products that should have made the list, but did not:

  1. Advanced “Define” Operator. This is the operator I use all the time, anything from rare diseases to metaphors . Just type define:keyword.
    Why is should be on the list: You can answer any “What is ….” questions immediately.
  2. Google Groups is an outstanding tool. Since the relaunch a few days ago, it has become much more of a collaboration tool than just an email distribution list. I do not understand how this did not make the list!
    Why is should be on the list: You can create a group for your class to collaborate easily, email and discuss, upload documents, etc.

  3. Google Answers, one of a large list of unknown Google products, is a Question and Answer site which I like a lot. For a fee, pre-qualified researchers do research for you. Now, that in itself is great, but the real power is in the repository of already researched questions. All of the answers that someone paid for to be researched are available online.
    Why is should be on the list: Some 100,000 questions researched by professional researchers. Great content!

  4. News Archive Search, also a relatively new product that allows to search Google News with date restrictions. Great for just passed current events such as the Monica Lewinski incident or the Kyoto Protocol, but the archive also covers older news such as the moon landing and the nurnberg trails.
    Why is should be on the list: Especially useful for history class. Allows you to bring history to life.

  5. Google Notebook is an incredibly useful Firefox extension. It is a little difficult to explain in a sentence, but trust me, it makes research gathering and sharing on the web a lot easier. Give it some time to understand, one you get it, you will use it all the time.
    Why is should be on the list: Research any topic and cut and paste content into a new document. You can even share it with your class.p

Other products I considered for this list:

October 14, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

Googlfy your Wordpress Blog

– analytics
– title tag
– search plugin if from google
– adsense delux
– adsense content areas
– google sitemaps
– real sitemaps
– htaccess

October 1, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

Printable Cheat Sheet for Google Reader

Google Reader Logo
The Google Reader Team just launched a new version - Congrats! For the first time (as far as I know), it was introduced using Google Video by Chris.

Like Gmail, Google Reader uses keyboard shortcuts to navigate efficiently. It also helps you to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome (link to the Google Doc’s site).
I love shortcuts, but have a hard time to memorize them, so I made a printable version of the document:

Google Reader Printable Cheat Sheet (1/2 page)
Google Reader Printable Cheat Sheet (really small)

I also made a printable Gmail Cheat sheet version a few years back. Evan recently did a html version.

[ratings]

September 29, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

Google Calendar for Search Engine Strategies SJ 06

This week is SES-week again, not just any, the big SES. This year, there are over 75 sessions. Trying to prepare my schedule become a major headache: The session schedule on the SES website is utterly unusable.
So, I decided to use Google calendar this year! After an hour of cut-n-paste, I can now get a good overview within seconds, get sessions reminders by SMS (or email) and (best of all) I can share the calendar:

All Sessions. All sessions with descriptions and speakers in the details. I will add locations on Monday.
html preview
xml

Rather than stopping here, I decided to create a few “tracks” to help others with the overwhelming choice.

Thomas’ Choice. These are the sessions I am going to attend. A mix of new stuff, competitive watch, advances SEO and Ads and some fun sessions. Get my opinion on each session in the comments field.

r=9" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outbound/www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=rrq6krcg01ustg9su4biv8vjb8_40group.calendar.google.com_038_title=SES_20-_20My_20Choice_20_Advanced_2C_20New_20Stuff_20_26_20Networking_20-_20_20download_20_40_20www.thomaskorte.com_038_mode=AGENDA_038_height=600_038_ep_/p_p_r=9');">html preview
xml

Google Track. These are all the sessions with a speaker from Google.
html preview
xml

Newbie. If you come to SES without much prior knowledge, attend these sessions.
html preview
xml

Marketing Manager. This has a strong focus on ads, measuring success ,and working with vendors.
html preview
xml

Cutting Edge. All the latest developments.
html preview
xml


Organic/SEO. If you have no interest in paying for traffic, this is your track.
html preview
xml


Webdesigner/Geek. If you understand what html, xml, ajax and api is, this is probably a good choice for you.
html preview
xml

Parties. SES would not be SES without the parties. I’ll try to update this calendar. Send me your tips (thomask AT gmail.com)
html preview
xml

August 4, 2006 | Filed Under Google |  

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