SELECTED SPECIALS | 07/10/09 – 07/17/09

Today, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and GTalk had their beta labels removed.

Gmail, in particular, has been operating in beta mode for a considerable amount of time–it launched in 2004–so it seems Google finally feels ready to release it officially into the wild…?

The beta label clearly doesn’t mean as much as it used to, since there was no big announcement to speak of when the apps switched over from their former mode. They all look and behave the same way they did yesterday, as far as I can tell.

However, there are changes, and they’re aimed specifically at businesses. Google wants their offerings to be viewed as legitimate competitors to Microsoft et al. It’s understandable that no matter how reliable a service may seem, the beta label would still keep many companies from utilizing it on a professional level. Again, Gmail is a good example.

Gmail now has offline access to mail and calendars, among other new features. There’s better contact management for Google Apps and better compatibility with Microsoft Outlook.

“Check out Google’s blog about the topic here.”:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-apps-is-out-of-beta-yes-really.html
“Read more about their changes for enterprise here.”:http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2009/07/paving-road-to-apps-adoption-in-large.html

Check out the apps for yourself:

“Gmail”:http://mail.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/about.html
“Google Calendar”:http://www.google.com/googlecalendar/about.html
“Google Docs”:http://www.google.com/google-d-s/whatsnew.html
“GTalk”:http://www.google.com/talk/about.html

It was a quiet switch, but welcome to life beyond beta, Google Apps!

__P.S. If you really miss it, Google has provided a way for Google Labs users to re-enable the beta label under Settings!__

Google has many excellent, free applications and services for Mac. I rely on many of them literally almost every single day I use my Mac, both at home and at work. Some of the apps are desktop-based (you download and install them on your Mac’s hard drive), while others are browser based (you run them via a web browser while connected to the web).

From Google’s Mac page, you can download Google Toolbar for Firefox, Picasa for Mac, Google Earth, SketchUp, Picasa Web Albums Uploader, Notifier for the Mac, AdWords Editor, and the Google Quick Search Box. Visit Google’s Mac page by clicking here. Note that the Google search bar at the top the page limits results to Mac Sites—which can be useful when looking for Mac-specific information.

A notable absence is Google’s new Chrome web browser. Chrome is currently only available for Windows, though a Mac version should be out this autumn.

Through a web browser, Mac users have access to nearly all of Google’s free web services, which include Gmail, Google Calendar, Reader, Sites, iGoogle, Blogger, Google Talk, Finance, Book Search, Groups, Knol, Video, Search History, Google Analytics, AdWords, and many more titles. Click here to see these.

Google has a Mac-centric blog which often features interesting Mac-related news, tools, and ideas. Click here to see this.

Click here for a link to Google Mobile, which features software and services for mobile phones, including the iPhone and iPod touch.

Our friends at “EpikOne”:http://www.epikone.com/summit are about to host their third annual Seminar for Success Summit (formerly OM Boot Camp) in Burlington, Vermont from August 11 to August 14.

The Seminar for Success Summit includes four days of in-depth training on Google’s online marketing suite of tools (Analytics, AdWords, Optimizer and more) from Google experts. This is a great chance to “Ask the Experts” and learn from Google Analytics Authorized Consultants. The final day is a thought leadership event, where participants harvest strategic insights. At night, participants experience the best Vermont has to offer while socializing with peers.

I’m going to attend August 11 to August 14 Seminar for Success Summit, and I can’t wait. Rather than stuffy panels and boring workshops, EpikOne Seminars feature practical, specific action items that can be implemented immediately.

Whether you’re just getting started using Google Analytics or a seasoned veteran ready to take your website performance to the next level, the EpikOne Seminars For Success will help you make the most out of your online efforts.

Request information “by clicking here!”:http://www.epikone.com/summit/request_info

Or, go ahead and register online “by clicking here.”:http://s4s-summit-vt.eventbrite.com/

*Get 25% off any day(s) or full summit by typing “smalldog” into the online discount field when registering!*

EpikOne was selected as one of only five original Google Analytics Authorized Consultants (GAAC’s). EpikOne has since expanded its relationship with Google and is also a Google Enterprise Professional, Website Optimizer Authorized Consultant and AdWords Qualified Company. As a team, EpikOne has successfully propelled client accounts ranging from start-up status to multi-million dollar international conglomerates.

This week we have a *Small Dog Refurbished 2008 Time Capsule on sale for only $169.99!*

Time Capsule includes an AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi base station along with a 500GB hard drive. This allows you to wirelessly back up your Mac (via Time Machine + Leopard) or PC, as well as use Time Capsule as a wireless community-shared hard drive! Time Capsule also serves as a network router.

The refurbished Time Capsule doesn’t include any software discs or manuals, but does include the original packaging and (of course) a power cord. You can download all manuals and software directly from Apple by “clicking here.”:http://www.apple.com/support/airport/ For PC users, you can “download Bonjour for Windows here.”:http://support.apple.com/downloads/Bonjour_for_Windows

These have been throughly inspected and tested by our Service Department.

“Perfect for home or office, and only $169.99!”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19316/

It’s shaping up to be a Google news-filled week, as Google announced this morning that they will expand their offerings to include an operating system–Google Chrome.

Nine months ago, they released the Google Chrome browser, which was designed to give the (Windows) user a truly integrated Google Apps experience, along with fast and virus-free web surfing. (Chrome browser is not available for the Mac.) They have taken these features to their operating system, in what Google calls a “natural extension” of the Google Chrome browser.

Based on Linux, Chrome OS is an open source operating system initially created for netbooks. (Seems like a natural fit, no?) It’s been described as very simple and lightweight, with “most of the user experience tak[ing] place on the web.” Google also uses a line that has been uttered by many a Mac user: “It just works.”

Hey, any OS that shows PC users that operating systems don’t have to be clunky is OK in my book!

Google will make the Chrome OS open source code available later this year, with netbooks running the OS available for consumers in the second half of 2010.

“Read Google’s press release here.”:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

I almost had to turn on the heat last night, it was so chilly. Grace reminded me that it was “against the law” to heat the house in the summer so I just put on a sweater and cuddled up with Hammerhead to stay warm. We are looking forward to some better weather and so are the plants in my garden!

Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
Don, Kali & Ed