Christian Droid | Tag Archive

Geeking Around The Web

May 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

These are a few interesting and geeky finds that I have discovered around the web in the past few days.

Klingon

Photo Credit: patries71 via Compfight cc

I’m not really a trekie but there are few things any more geeky than a good old Klingon translation. And now Bing has gotten into the act by adding Klingon to their web translation tools. You can check out your favorite sites by visiting the Bing Translator. Or if you are feeling even more adventurous just watch as ChristianDroid is transformed into the 24th century when you click here.

Breakout

If you are as old as I am then I know you will remember the old Atari Breakout game. I remember going to the Sears & Roebuck store and being fascinated by Pong when it was introduced and Breakout just took things to a whole new level of entertainment. Google is celebrating the creation of this video game legend with its very own search game. Just go to Google and type in Atari Breakout, then click on the image search and sit back and play a cool little game of Breakout. Or if you can’t wait to play, just click here.

Google I/O

The Google I/O conference starts today, for those of you who are not geeks, the Google I/O conference is the annual Everything Google Event. To celebrate this years conference, Google has hidden some Easter Eggs into its I/O website. Go to the Google I/O page and type or click the I and O in the following patterns to see the different I/O font schemes.

Google I/O Homepage

Cat : IIIOOIII

Space: OOIOIOIO Continue Reading…

In Web Amazon, bing, geek, google, klingon, web

A picture is worth a thousand words. Right? Well, sometimes, but when it comes to your blog, a good picture really doesn’t make up for a well written article. However, that does not mean that you should not include pictures in your blog posts. Most of the experts (of which I am not) agree that a well placed, related image will entice your readers to read your post. After all, that is what we are all trying to achieve isn’t it?

Photo Credit: brentdanley via Compfight cc

Images have always been an important part of a blog and now with the scheduled demise of Google Reader, they are becoming more important than ever before.

What does Google Reader’s death sentence have to do with images? Everything. As bloggers we have all come to rely on traffic from our RSS feeds. I have written several posts about the importance of the RSS and have explained why I love Google Reader. Like most techno-geeks, I too have relied on Google Reader for the majority of my blog reading over the past few years. I have an extensive collection of RSS feeds that I monitor constantly throughout the day looking for insightful posts, new technology, and ideas for the church in general. However, that is all about to come to an abrupt end in a few months when Google pulls the plug on their reader.

Like thousands of others around the world, I too, am in search of a new RSS feed reader. (Google will not publicly release the numbers of exactly how many people use this service, but suffice it to say that there are many.) There are actually plenty of options to choose from on your desktop, your Android, and your iOS device to replicate the experience that we are used to with the reader. However, many of these new readers are delivering content in a more polished manner much like a news magazine.

Drive A Zamboni

January 16, 2013 — Leave a comment

Earlier today I posted about this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest but that doesn’t mean that the Google Doodle artists are taking a break. Today in celebration of Frank Zamboni’ birthday, the father of the ice cleaning machine is being honored with his very own interactive Google Doodle.

If you have ever watched a Zamboni in action and wondered what it would be like to hop aboard and take the controls, now is your chance. With today’s Google Doodle you get to operate a Zamboni and clean up the ice after it is marred by multiple skaters.

Just go to the Google search homepage and click on the play button on the Google Doodle. After a couple of seconds you will see a skater skim across the ice making trails as the skates cut through the surface. Once the skater retreats to the safety of the sidelines, the Zamboni appears. Using your arrow keys on your keyboard, you can then clean up the ice with the famous machine.

Google’s Doodles are always interesting to me but I really like the interactive ones. Be sure to head to the search giant’s homepage today and drive the Zamboni for yourself. After all when is the next time you will be able to pilot the machine that is so iconic in the world of skating rinks?

In Web doodle, google, zamboni

It’s Time To Doodle 4 Google

January 16, 2013 — Leave a comment

Last year we shared the winning Doodle 4 Google contest winner and now it is time for all of our young aspiring artists to sharpen their pencils. The Sixth Doodle 4 Google contest is upon us, at least those of us in the US anyway. Each year Google sponsors the contest for school children, grades K – 12, to design their own Google Doodle. This years theme for the contest is “My Best Day Ever …”

During last year’s contest, Google received 114,000 entries from students from all 50 states. This year’s contest is expected to be even bigger. So if you have a talented student at home now is the time to get started. Submissions are due by March 22, 2013.

This year’s entries will be judged by a panel of guest judges that have been selected by Google. Once the 50 state winners are determined, Google will open the voting to the public from May 1 to May 10 this year. The winner of the Doodle 4 Google contest will be announced on May 22, 2013 with the winning Doodle gracing the Google search page the following day.

In Web contest, doodle, google

Where Is Santa?

December 24, 2012 — 4 Comments

The big day is almost here and if you have children in your house then you know that they, along with millions of kids around the world, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Last year, we told you how to track Santa and his sleigh through the technology available at NORAD. This year I thought we would take a look at another method of tracking the deliveries of the toys.

Google has harnessed the power of their Google Maps and Google Earth data to deliver a Santa tracking experience that your kids will be sure to enjoy. Google has been tracking Santa’s journey since 1994 but this year they have spent numerous hours redesigning the algorithm to accurately track the movement of Santa and his sleigh. This is no small feat considering that Santa’s sleigh is the fastest vehicle on earth.

In General Christmas, google, Santa, tracker