Ok, it’s not Android, but it’s still pretty sweet. Google has combined and optimized a bunch of web apps to work on the iPhone. What makes it so great is that there is a menu at the top that links to … all the other apps. It also seems to pre-cache your other apps so when search it’s searching images in the background and they are ready right away when you tap images. Here’s a list of the apps: Google search, image search, local search, news, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, GOOG-411, SMS, Picasa Photos, Blogger, Notebook.

Do you use Google? You’ll want to watch Google’s VP of Search Products, Marissa Mayer, talk about acquiring tech startups vs. developing tech in house, Google’s APIs and, of course, the GPhone.

Do you use Google? You’ll want to watch Google’s VP of Search Products, Marissa Mayer, talk about acquiring tech startups vs. developing tech in house, Google’s APIs and, of course, the GPhone.

Recently the blogosphere has been rife with rumour about Google’s new smartphone. Tweets and blog posts were popping up everywhere late last year signifying the amount of expectation this release has on it. That rumour is now a reality as pictures of the handset started cropping up all over the web after the phone was launched yesterday the 5th of January to great tech anticipation. The Nexus One model is manufactured by HTC and runs on Google’s Android open source operating system, boasting extra features such as voice directions while driving, a native Gmail application, and the ability to transcribe voice to text.

With moderate success after releasing the Android system on other handsets such as the Motorola Droid, Google are now hoping to really challenge Apple’s domination of the smartphone market. Initial reactions suggest the Nexus One looks like a handset that has the potential to knock the iPhone from its podium as the most popular web capable mobile phone.

The design of the device is much like the HTC passion, ultra slim and sleek and not far removed from the iPhone’s style. As for its hardware the powerful 1ghz Snapdragon processer makes it faster than the Motorola Droid and the iPhone 3GS, particularly for browsing the web. The Nexus One’s OLED screen is slightly larger at 3.7 inches producing a higher contrast ratio with vivid colours and a brighter picture. The camera is only 5-megapixels but it there is a competent flash and the pixel spec should soon improve.

The usability of the touch screen is top notch, it’s up there with Apple’s user experience, which is just what you’d expect from a Google device. But is launching it as an official Google model enough to distinguish it against the other market leaders? In November 2009 Blackberry released the 9700 Bold to massive acclaim and now that the iPhone’s available on Orange as well as O2 contract deals are becoming more competitive opening it up to yet more people. I’ve found no evidence of MP3 abilities but I’m sure this will be rectified before long.

Google are top of their game in most digital endeavours and it’s been interesting to watch their steady approach into the mobile market, first offering an alternative operating system and now introducing a handset under the Google moniker. The answer’s now will come from the public’s reception and whether the Nexus One can appeal to the mainstream or if it’s only going to be revered by geeks and gadget enthusiasts.

After a quick start, the Android-powered Google-phone has begun to fall behind the iPhone in a critical measure of Smartphone success. After matching the iPhone nearly hit for hit in its first five months on the market, Google’s Android has fallen behind the pace set by Apple’s Smartphone in terms of its presence on the Web.

Android was catching up the iphone industry in the initial five months, with the launch of its first Android phone – the T-Mobile G1 but it soon fell off the pace in the sixth month, with the iPhone set upon its launch. Meanwhile, the iPhone’s expanding Web presence shows no signs of slowing down.

Though Apple’s iPhone OS and Google’s Android OS have a great deal in common as both are Linux-based operating systems. But there are some striking differences making the mobile platforms a different story altogether. According to a report by Net Applications, page requests by the iPhone operating system continue to rise while requests from the Android operating system have flattened out.

The iPhone’s operating system is developed by the Apple for Apple only. And it is completely closed. Also the smartphones that will use this OS are manufactured by the company only.

Whereas, Android, on the other hand, is open. It is being developed primarily by Google, but with the assistance of an assemblage of few companies. And members of this group, the Open Handset Alliance, can release smartphones based on Android, including HTC, Samsung, and Motorola. IPhone supports a touch screen keyboard. Whereas, Android has a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, offering a level of comfort to the users.

iPhone offers high quality apps. Apple’s Cocoa touch development environment and excellent iPhone SDK makes it easier to build iPhone apps. Game apps have taken a front seat and have become a main determinant for iPhone’s success equation. Going by this parlance, not all the Android apps are exactly golden either.

Though Apple controls its appstore by approving the apps listed on its app store, Android’s advantage is that Google is not that conservative and offers a more open development environment. Thus, giving the freedom to developers to develop and upload pretty much anything they want.

Although the Smartphone market is relatively young, the iPhone appears to be the Smartphone that is actually being used by its purchasers, regardless of purchase stats. The iPhone’s position is not indomitable, but it continues to be very strong.

Product Description
Authors James Lerman and Ronique Hicks, and eight other Google Certified Teachers, show you why Google Applications are the best free online learning tools available today. You will discover how students and educators can collaborate with Google Documents, how the forms application allows teachers to create instant-feedback quizzes, how a literature class can take lit trips with Google Maps, how parents can view student work thanks to websites created with Google Sites, how iGoogle can help everyone develop personal learning networks, and so much more. The possibilities are endless-and the applications are free. Retool Your School begins with an inspirational and achievable story that illustrates how Google Applications and good leadership transformed a school facing closure to one that in just one year is seen as a model of success. The book then dives into step-by-step directions on how to use multiple applications, detailing the benefits they provide to… More >>

Retool Your School: The Educators Essential Guide to Googles Free Power Apps

• ISBN13: 9780596522728
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
As one of today’s cloud computing services, Google App Engine does more than provide access to a large system of servers. It also offers you a simple model for building applications that scale automatically to accommodate millions of users. With Programming Google App Engine, you’ll get expert practical guidance that will help you make the best use of this powerful platform. Google engineer Dan Sanderson shows you how to design your applications for scalability, including ways to perform common development tasks using App Engine’s APIs and scalable services. You’ll learn about App Engine’s application server architecture, runtime environments, and scalable datastore for distributing data, as well as techniques for optimizing your application. App Engine offers nearly unlimited computing power, and this book provides clear and concise instructions for getting the most from it right from the source. Discover the differences between traditional web develop… More >>

Programming Google App Engine: Build and Run Scalable Web Apps on Google’s Infrastructure

This video explains the use of Google Apps and its implementation by GappsCrib.com. GappsCrib.com has been in hosting business for many years. With the experience we have and with good will we are now supporting Google Apps for your domains where you are getting lots of web based facilities, Lots of storage and ease of use.

• ISBN13: 9780596522728
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
As one of today’s cloud computing services, Google App Engine does more than provide access to a large system of servers. It also offers you a simple model for building applications that scale automatically to accommodate millions of users. With Programming Google App Engine, you’ll get expert practical guidance that will help you make the best use of this powerful platform. Google engineer Dan Sanderson shows you how to design your applications for scalability, including ways to perform common development tasks using App Engine’s APIs and scalable services. You’ll learn about App Engine’s application server architecture, runtime environments, and scalable datastore for distributing data, as well as techniques for optimizing your application. App Engine offers nearly unlimited computing power, and this book provides clear and concise instructions for getting the most from it right from the source. Discover the differences between traditional web develop… More >>

Programming Google App Engine: Build and Run Scalable Web Apps on Google’s Infrastructure

• ISBN13: 9780596522728
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
As one of today’s cloud computing services, Google App Engine does more than provide access to a large system of servers. It also offers you a simple model for building applications that scale automatically to accommodate millions of users. With Programming Google App Engine, you’ll get expert practical guidance that will help you make the best use of this powerful platform. Google engineer Dan Sanderson shows you how to design your applications for scalability, including ways to perform common development tasks using App Engine’s APIs and scalable services. You’ll learn about App Engine’s application server architecture, runtime environments, and scalable datastore for distributing data, as well as techniques for optimizing your application. App Engine offers nearly unlimited computing power, and this book provides clear and concise instructions for getting the most from it right from the source. Discover the differences between traditional web develop… More >>

Programming Google App Engine: Build and Run Scalable Web Apps on Google’s Infrastructure