Google Voice Update July 15, 2009

Today Google announced a Google Voice app for Android and Blackberry phones.

Google announced last month that they would soon begin sending Google Voice invitations to those who submitted requests on their sign-up list.

Easier Multiple File Attachments in Gmail

I missed this when it debuted in February - Gmail now lets you select multiple files for a single "Attach a file:" activity. See how on the Official Gmail Blog.

R.I.P., Kodachrome

Kodak: Kodachrome Discontinuation Notice

MSNBC.com: Sorry, Paul Simon, Kodak’s axing Kodachrome

CNET.com: Kodak Winds Last Rolls of Kodachrome

L. A. Times Blogs: Kodak Discontinues Kodachrome Film

Battery-powered DTV Converter

The Winegard RCDT09A digital television converter box is unique in that it can run on battery power. If you need the use of an analog portable television (provided that it has an external antenna jack), after June 12, 2009, this may be your only solution.

Here is a CNET review of the RCDT09A.

At the time of this writing, portable "handheld" DTVs have dropped to $150, so that may be a better option.

How to Display the Date in the Macintosh Menu Bar

I finally got around to looking for a solution (after years of griping about Apple's changing this behavior) to having the date displayed in the menu bar without my having to click on the time display.

This page explains the simple procedure, which requires no software. Works in Mac OS 10.4 and 10.5, possibly earlier.

H1N1 Swine Flu Map

The FluTracker website attempts to geographically visualize of cases of H1Ni swine flu during the outbreak which began in spring 2009.

I'm posting this not to alarm, but rather so we can all get a sense of the scale of this incident.

How Much Energy in a Google Search?

I was just talking with a friend who said he'd heard something about a Google search taking as much energy as boiling a cup of tea.

I found this article which mentions the original reference, but then links Google's repsonse.

Bottom line: Assuming that the original estimate of 15 grams of carbon dioxide generated to boil "a kettle of water" was at all accurate, and using Google's stated 0.2g of CO2 per Google search, the kettle of water takes 75 times as much energy.