Takeaway: Myths, misconceptions, and confusion still plague the world of open source. Here’s the real scoop for anyone considering a move to an open source solution.

I remember a day when the mention of open source in a business setting — no matter the size of the business — was unthinkable. The times they have changed, and open source is no longer considered a pariah. In fact, open source is often now considered first when a solution is needed. But when open source is being considered, certain things must be known. If you just dive in head first, there may well be some surprises waiting for you.

To keep new open source users from losing their sanity, I thought it might be helpful to list a few things everyone needs to know about open source before it’s put into place.

 

1: It’s not just for Linux

This is probably where most users get tripped up. When open source is brought up in a conversation, talk inevitably (and almost always initially) turns to Linux. This causes the public to assume open source is only for Linux. Not so. There are plenty of open source projects that are either cross-platform or Windows-only. This site lists a variety of Windows open source software. But that site doesn’t include the listing of big-time players, like Apache, MySQL, and Drupal.

 

2: It’s not always free

To be considered open source, the source code needs be freely available. This does not mean the application itself must be free. There are actually a lot of companies making money from their open source projects. In many cases, the price tends to be attached for things like support or added features, but companies tend to make a “community” version of their product, which is free. When a company sells a community version, it’s usually a stripped-down, bare-bones version of the commercial (but still open source) product. A great example of this is Zimbra, a powerful email and collaboration tool that offers a free, open source edition and editions that have price tags (as well as more features and less access to source.)

 

 

3: It may or may not have support

Some open source software offers support options (sometimes with an associated cost) and some don’t. This is often a deal-breaker for larger companies. But even though a piece of open source software doesn’t have a corporate-friendly 24/7 support hotline to call, that doesn’t mean there is no support. Sometimes, there are forums and /or mailing lists for support. In other cases, the developers who created (or work with) the software can be contacted. Support options are certainly available — even if that support might not be compatible with the corporate train of thought.

 

 

4: You have full access to the source code

Although this generally doesn’t apply to the average user, I do like to bring it up to make sure possible users are aware of both ends of the spectrum. Open source does, in fact, mean you have full access to the source code of a program. That does not mean you need access to the source. This is a myth that has been around for a long, long time. Just because the source is out there and available doesn’t mean it’s necessary. In fact, users can go their entire life using open source software and never have to touch the source. But should you (or your company) want to make some modifications to an application, the code is there when you need it.

 

 

5: Open source is not just for programmers

A lot of the public seem to think that because of the nature of open source, only programmers use it. Is that because the source code is available? Does the availability of code mean that only those who know how to read, edit, and rebuild that code can and should use it? Not at all. Anyone can use open source software (from both a usage and legal standpoint) with or without the skills to modify and rebuild the software. It’s a safe bet that the majority of open source users do not have a single programming language in their skill set.

 

 

6: You aren’t breaking any laws by adopting open source

Thanks to SCO, people used to think open source adoption might be illegal. But fortunately, all that changed when the SCO case was tossed out. The use of open source software does not break any intellectual property laws. Nary a single case has proved that open source has infringed on other, proprietary work. So it’s safe to say that if you are using open source, you are not considered a rebel who is breakin’ the law.

 

 

7: You don’t have to be an expert to use it

This relates to the previous entries. Repeat after me: I do not have to be an expert computer user to use open source software. I still hear that old question, “Do you have to write your own drivers to use that?” The answer has been, for a long time, no. Many people still believe that open source software is for uber-geeks who can compile software in their sleep. Not so. In fact, with most open source projects, there’s no need to install from source now. Most platforms have binary installers that make adding open source software to your PC as easy as installing proprietary software. In some cases, it’s even easier. And using most open source software is the same. Open source, like all things computer, has evolved in direct opposition to that of the average computer user. As the intelligence of the average computer user drops, the ease of use of open source software increases.

 

 

8: Most open source software is as reliable as its proprietary counterpart

Open source software is everywhere. It’s available on Download.com, in the Android Market, in every Linux distribution’s Add/Remove Software utility, from Web sites across the globe… you name it. If you can do a Google search, you can find it. There are dedicated sites for open source software on specific platforms, and even Microsoft has a dedicated open source site. Open source has come a long way from its earlier roots, where locating the counterpart to a proprietary piece of software was like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Now that haystack has grown small and the needle very large.

 

 

9: Freeware and shareware are not the same as open source

Most users are familiar with freeware and shareware. Those two types of software are not the same as open source. If the source code to the software is not made available, that piece of software is definitely not open source.

 

 

10: You’re probably already using it

Are you using the Firefox browser? If so, you are already using open source software. In fact, a lot of people use open source without knowing it. OpenOffice, Thunderbird, Pidgin, Drupal, WordPress, GnuCash, Notepad++, and many more products enjoy widespread usage. And that doesn’t even account for the snippets of open source code that find their way into proprietary software.

 

 

A growing trend

Open source software no longer has the stigma attached to it that it once had. Many open source apps are now seen as either equal to or superior to their proprietary counterparts. I would expect this trend to continue, especially as more and more users move away from the traditional desktop and to cloud-based or virtualized solutions.

 

If you’re considering the migration from closed to open source software, there are things you should know, but very little you have to know. Armed with the right information, your migration to open source software can be painless and worry free.

 

 

Takeaway: Jack Wallen has done a complete turnaround on his views of Ubuntu 11.04. Here’s a look at how the latest release won him over.

Today is a good day, as I dine on a dish of crow — served gladly by the ladies and gentlemen of Canonical. In Ubuntu 11.04: Small issues, big win, I explained how my opinions changed about Ubuntu 11.04 and the most recent release of the new default Ubuntu desktop, Unity. After installing the beta 1 release, I realized that my fears were pretty much misplaced. And now that I have the final release up and running — and despite its installation problems — I’m still convinced that there’s plenty to love about the latest Ubuntu release. Let’s take a look.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

 

1: Unity

2: Ubuntu One

This wonderful service is now even better integrated into Ubuntu. Not only did the Ubuntu One “dashboard” get a full retool, it is also now a part of the Banshee core. No more having to install and enable a Ubuntu One extension for your multimedia player. As for the new “dashboard,” making (and keeping) the connection between a desktop and a Ubuntu One account is incredibly easy now. Ubuntu One even has an icon on the Unity Launcher. So whenever you need to take an action with Ubuntu One, you don’t have to search around for the configuration tool. The Ubuntu One tool has vastly improved from where it was in the 10 releases.

 

3: Banshee 2.0

The difference between Banshee 1.8 and 2.0 is significant When it was announced that Banshee was to be the default music player in Ubuntu 11.04, I have to confess I was disappointed. I had always found Banshee to be inferior to Rhythmbox. With the 2.0 release, this has completely reversed. Banshee 2.0 has so many new features and bug fixes, it’s almost pointless to write about them here. You can read the full report instead. My favorite new feature? The Artist/Album/Track browser actions. It is finally possible to right-click an artist/album/track icon and select an action. This has been long overdue and is very much welcome.

 

4: LibreOffice

Yes, LibreOffice is finally included as the default office suite in Ubuntu. This is a welcome change from OpenOffice. I believe, thanks to the LibreOffice team, the default office suite will finally enjoy more frequent updates and bug fixes than did OpenOffice. And with Ubuntu 11.04 shipping with LibreOffice, more users will start enjoying a much more positive experience with office suite tools on the Linux platform.

 

5: Installation

Thanks to Ubiquity, the Ubuntu installation is even easier! Upon inserting the Live CD, you’re given the option of either trying out or installing Ubuntu. That hasn’t changed. What has changed are the installation options. If you choose installation, you will be presented with the options to Install Side By Side (dual boot), Upgrade, or Replace An Existing Ubuntu Installation. The last option allows you to replace the current Ubuntu installation only, which will retain all other operating systems installed on the machine. From Ubiquity, a new option allows for the management of partitions.

There is a caveat to this: If you are installing on a machine with an NVidia graphics chipset, be prepared to be disappointed. There is a fairly major issue (even involving a class action lawsuit), and the installation of Ubuntu 11.04 on an NVidia graphics card may not even succeed. I was able to get through this by bypassing the Live instance and going straight for the installation. If you want to test the Live CD, you’ll need to have a machine that does not use an NVidia chipset.

 

6: Test drive apps

This is really a great feature. In the Ubuntu Software Center that ships with 11.04, you can now test drive applications from within the software installation tool. Under the window that is normally just a screenshot of the application, any application that supports “test drive” will let you test the app without having to install. You’ll have an instant glance at whether an application will work for you. Although not every application will work with test drive, I would venture a guess that all modern applications will.

 

7: Rate and review

In Ubuntu Software Center, the application rate and review system is in place. This is great, as I believe it will finally allow users to avoid the applications that really aren’t worth the time they take to install. It does mean that quite a few of those thousands upon thousands of applications will fall into obscurity — and that is perfectly fine. It’s great to be able to spout off how many applications are available, but what’s really important is how many quality applications are available. Now users should be able to search for, say, 4-star and up rated applications.

 

8: New eye candy settings

That’s right, 11.04 ships with Compiz and some fancy new eye candy settings that are unique to Ubuntu and Unity. Compiz offers settings such as Backlight always on, launcher animations, and urgent animations. There are also special window transparency options that will please most users. This is certainly a plus for anyone thinking Ubuntu Unity would be lacking in the eye candy category. You can still install Compiz Configuration Settings Manager (ccsm) to get all of the Compiz goodness you want. You’ll find ccsm within the Ubuntu Software Center (search for ccsm).

Note that when you’re using Unity, you can’t enable the Compiz Cube (at least not without disabling the Unity plug-in). So if the Compiz Cube is a feature you must have, you’ll need to log out of Unity and log into Classic Gnome.

 

9: Network manager applet

I realize this might not seem like a big deal, but a lot of kinks have been worked out of this piece of software. Even bigger than that, nm_applet now works as an appindicator, which means it will function in Unity. Prior to this change, it seemed as if nm_applet wasn’t going to fit into the scheme of Unity’s new panel. Since nm_applet was completely reworked, Ubuntu can enjoy the Network Manager indicator just like every good Linux distribution should.

 

10: The whole, together as one

I really didn’t know how to title this entry without using buzzwords that make my skin crawl (such as “synergy” and “paradigm”). What I mean is this: I have seen desktops try very hard to work in a sort of unison, but fail. I’ve seen desktops come close to reaching some sort of harmonious whole. But with Ubuntu 11.04, I believe we have the first desktop that really feels completely and wholly integrated. As you work on the Unity desktop, it’s easy to forget you are working on a desktop because it all just seems to flow so nicely together. Every individual piece of Ubuntu 11.04 seems to fit together perfectly. With the default installation, nothing seems out of place. That is a huge plus in my book, and it might well be the first Linux distribution to achieve this challenging feat.

 

Your take

Have you installed Ubuntu 11.04? How do your impressions stack up against these?

 

Lors de sa conférence Google I/O 2011 à San Francisco, le géant américain a annoncé quelques nouveautés. Je vous passe les nouveautés Honeycomb et Google TV, la VOD dans l’Android Market et l’histoire d’amour entre Arduino et Android pour vous parler de ce qui a le plus retenu mon attention : Google Music Beta. (Je reviendrai surement sur les autres sujets au fil de l’actu)

Google Music Beta sera un service en ligne de vente, de stockage et d’écoute en streaming de musique. Un genre de Deezer qui sera réservé dans un premier temps uniquement aux américains qui auront la chance d’être invité pour participer à la beta. Google a réservé ces invitations aux propriétaires de tablettes Motorola Xoom et aux gens présents pendant la conférence I/O

Le catalogue de Google Music Beta sera disponible à la fois sur ordinateur et sur les mobiles et tablettes Android (mais rien pour iPhone dans un premier temps car Google Music Beta utilise Flash). Les utilisateurs pourront uploader leurs propres MP3 à partir d’un soft qui scannera leur disque dur à la recherche de musique et ainsi les lire depuis n’importe où, y compris de manière offline via l’application Android. Google adopte le même modèle qu’Amazon avec son Cloud Player. Google Music Beta vous permettra d’uploader 20 000 MP3 et le service sera totalement gratuit.

Mais le plus beau avec ce service, c’est qu’il serait complétement illégal ! Ça reste à vérifier mais Google n’a pas réussi à conclure un accord avec les majors. Du coup, chez Mountain View, ils ont pris le parti de ne pas les attendre et de leur forcer la main, quitte à jeter un gros pavé dans la marre. Dès que Google aura trouvé des accords avec les majors, ils vendront aussi de la musique via ce service. Pour le moment, vous pouvez uniquement y mettre votre propre musique.

L’application web vous permet de naviguer dans vos albums, et de créer vos propres playlists.

Une fonctionnalité originale baptisée « Instant mix » vous permettra à partir d’une chanson de générer une playlist qui correspond à vos goûts du moment.

 

Voici la vue sur une tablette Android, avec le carrousel de pochettes.

Et de la version pour mobile. Que ce soit la version tablette ou la version mobile, les chansons ou playlists de votre choix seront consultables de manière déconnectée sur votre appareil, un peu comme le propose Spotify.

En résumé donc :

Edit : je viens de tomber sur la vidéo mise en ligne à l’instant par Google, qui vous montre tout ça en meilleure qualité que les screens que j’ai fait à partir du live…

Si vous voulez vous inscrire à la beta, prévoyez une IP américaine et connectez vous dès maintenant sur http://music.google.com

 

Quand Google décide de se bouger les fesses, ils ne le font pas à moitié . Pendant la conférence Google I/O 2011. .. ils ont annoncé un paquet de choses !  

- Android @ Home : Google se penche sur la domotique ?

Des librairies open source mises à disposition des développeurs pour qu’ils puissent créer des applications utilisant la domotique avec la plateforme Android.

Scénario basique : une appli pour contrôler la maison. Scénarios avancés : un Farmville « réel », un jeu qui interagit avec la lumière de la maison, une télécommande multimédia qui éteint les lumières et allume la TV. Et surtout , les objets communicants / connectés. Google a présenté un petit hub multimédia portant le nom de Tungsten qui serait capable grâce à du NFC de reconnaître un disque qu’on lui présente et de l’importer automatiquement dans la librairie de l’utilisateur. A voir absolument si ça vous intéresse : la vidéo de Gizmodo

- Android Open Accessory Development Kit : un kit de développement d’accessoires pour les téléphones et tablettes Android. Plus d’infos là

- Movie Rentals on Android Market : location de films sur les tablettes Android (la Xoom pour le moment puis après d’autres et des téléphones)

- Music Beta by Google : Alors là c’est assez énorme, peu après la sortie du système équivalent d’Amazon, Google annonce un truc qui semble encore mieux qui permettra de synchroniser sa musique sur le « cloud » (on stocke une copie de sa musique en ligne) et d’y accéder de partout notamment avec des périphériques Android. La page fait envie. Et hop chouette Google va pouvoir savoir ce que vous écoutez, quand, où..

- Google Storage for Developpers : un concurrent d’Amazon S3 pour le storage cloud avec – jusque fin 2011 – des comptes gratuits pour un certain volume de données. Détails ici.

Etc etc … la suite des annonces arrive ici au compte gouttes mais la suite de l’année 2011 va clairement être intéressante .. et je regrette pas d’avoir acheté un Nexus S

 

Twitter has become an addicting, fun distraction for many of us. But since it’s mostly a text only media, why not tweet while you’re working in the Linux terminal? Score some geek points, and tweet the Linux geek’s way.

 

Twidge is a simple Twitter client for the Linux command line. There are other command line Twitter clients, but Twidge is simple to use and easy to install, where many others have not been updated since Twitter changed authorization, and therefore do not work. The Twidge project can be found here, at github.

The github wiki page has links to source, Debian and Arch Linux Packages. Choose whichever suits you, suited for whatever distro of Linux you happen to be running. We’ll be downloading the Debian package and installing it into Ubuntu. Here’s two ways to install Twidge.

 

Option 1: Add Repositories and Install Via Command Line

If you prefer, you can edit your repositories by opening up a Terminal and running:

$ sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

The current repository you’ll have to add in your sources.list is for “squeeze” the current stable release. Copy it from here, if you dislike typing.

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian squeeze main

Save this repository to your sources.list to be able to download Twidge. In order to install from the command line, run:

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo apt-get install twidge

Twidge will be ready to run. If you prefer to install in a more Windows-user friendly method by downloading the Debian package, read the next step.

 

Option 2: Download and Install the Debian Package

Assuming you’re using Ubuntu, you should find the links to the Debian packages on the Twidge wiki front page. As of this posting, the current version is “squeeze,” so navigate to that via the link below.

• Twidge wiki at github

Many different architectures are available. Most readers are probably i386 or amd64, although there’s a good chance most of you Linux geeks already know that. Download the appropriate architecture from any mirror that suits you.

Simply double-click the package to install.

Easy enough. Keep in mind that installing this way means you cannot pull updates from the repository, so if there’s a major update to Twidge, you’ll have to download and reinstall yourself.

Setting Up Twidge

Open up a terminal. We’ll need to run the setup for Twidge, which is a simple, if not obvious command.

$ twidge setup

Twidge runs an authorization, generating a secure link to a page where Twitter authorizes the application. Click it to open it in your browser.

Another easy step. Input your username and password, and click authorize.

You’ll get a PIN to copy into your terminal where it requests it.

Simply type or paste the key from your browser into your terminal window shown above.

And you’ve set up Twidge. In order to learn the ropes, don’t be afraid to read the man page:

$ man twidge

Sending That First Tweet

You can always update your Twitter with your newly authenticated client by using the following command:

$ twidge update

And then typing your 140 character update, as shown above.

Likewise, you can check your @replies with the command:

$ twidge lsreplies

And this is the command to see the most recent updates from your timeline:

$ twidge lsrecent

However, this is LINUX! Why waste time typing long commands when you can create aliases in your .bashrc file and save yourself the hassle?

$ sudo gedit ~/.bashrc

Then add:

alias tweet=”twidge update”

alias replies=”twidge lsreplies”

alias recent=”twidge lsrecent”

Then save and close your gedit window. The aliases “tweet,” “replies,” and “recent” will do in place of the normal versions in the man page for Twidge.

Your tweets appear, easily sent via the command line. Enjoy using your Terminal to tell everybody about your breakfast!

• Download Twidge at github

 

The term Free Software can have a double meaning depending on your perspective. For many, like myself and most readers of this blog, Free Software means open source code. For most of the world however, Free Software means something completely different.

Here’s how open-source evangelists understand the word “Free” in the phrase Free Software:

We think of Free Software as:

The beer analogy

Most users on the other hand think of Free Software in terms of free beer. Not paying anything but still being able to enjoy it.

You can tell the patron it’s free and that they can have the recipe to make the beer themselves, or even improve on it. But not every bar customer makes beer at their place. It’s nice to have the recipe but they don’t really care, they just want the free drink.

You could convince her not to drink a specific brand of beer because the company that makes the beer won’t give out their recipe, but in all likelihood our patron still won’t care much. She is still getting free (as in no payment) beer.

Maybe only once she’s poisoned by the beer, might she consider to find a drink made following a specific recipe so she can trust the ingredients. But until then she just doesn’t care, because beer is beer and as long as it does what it’s meant to do, it’s fine by her.

Same goes for software.

Possibly one of the most useful xkcd cartoons | Supported Features, xkcd.com

If you did a snap poll in your local supermarket, how many people use open-source software? How many use proprietary software?

The answer is obvious in most cases. Proprietary software is dominating. And while some people are using Free Software, they sometimes don’t know how free it is or don’t care. A useful example is Firefox: it’s downloaded for no cost, but does the average user understand how free it is? Or did she stop reading at “Download Now?”

Also ask yourself why is she using Firefox? Because it is good software and she got it for no cost and it has a good reputation. In most cases anything else is irrelevant. The definition of good software is something for another article, but generally good, quality software is:

• Reliable
• Easy to use
• Secure
• Has a good reputation
• And, to an extent, widely known*

* People are sheep. If you see others doing something or using a certain product, you’re likely to follow. This is why companies use celebrities to advertise their products and why Facebook advertisements can be based around recommendations from friends. (How many times have you seen “3 of your friends likes [page].”?)

Given these two options, which one do you think would be more likely?

• Our user paying for good software or downloading it illegally.

or

• Our user using Free Software that is inferior quality to proprietary software.

I bet most will go with option 1 if the price is right. Remember, people are willing to pay for quality products, and sometimes there is no price anyway. In the end our user doesn’t give much thought to the openness of the software. The best case for her is when it is both good and free.

From a developer’s perspective, regular users don’t care about the code like we do. They care about what they can do with the code and how much they’re paying for it. I use Skype because I think it’s better than XMPP when it comes to voice chat, and it costs me nothing.

Most people see the Free Software concept different to us open source evangelists. Preaching about freedom and open source is only one of many ways to convert people to free software, and no doubt you’ll win over a few more conscious types this way – but in the end to convince the majority it’s all about the quality of the software. Being free as in cost is just a nice benefit.

How can we make our user care about openness of software?

Do users really not care about the openness of the products they are using, or are they just unaware that such products exist? If it’s the latter, then what can we do to improve this by introducing them to open source?

There are many ways to tackle this problem, and a lot of methods are already successfully converting people every day to free software and for the right reasons. Word of mouth, Ubuntu LoCo teams and FOSS conferences are a great start.

But the best way to educate people is by first introducing them to a quality product that they love. If they end up loving something, most people want to seek out more information about it. (Example: If you find a new band, and fall in love with them, you might find yourself looking them up on Wikipedia, and then eventually stalking their lead singer).

And the only way you’ll get them hooked is by not scaring them. Remember, to most of the world, technology is an unfamiliar and very new playground, and computers are something to be scared of – mainly because people don’t understand how they work. We fear what we do not know.

If you suddenly replace Windows 7 with stock Arch Linux, no doubt they’ll never want to touch their computer again. Users have to be drip fed, and compromises have to be made.

This is what Ubuntu is trying to do.

In time, if they end up loving the product, they’ll learn that what they’re using is great quality not by magic, but because it’s Free Software.

If Free Software can not satisfy a users’ needs, she will end up using proprietary software. If the Free Software is going to stand in the way of achieving her goals due to licencing or patent issues, then it’s a deal breaker.

She just wants to watch The King’s Speech on DVD or listen to her MP3 collection – and if that doesn’t work, then the quickest and easiest path back to whatever does work will be taken. ie. She’ll probably just go and buy a Mac.

To summarize:

If the Software in Free Software  isn’t good then the “Free” part of that phrase is rendered irrelevant from the very outset.

This article was written by both Seif Lotfy, longtime FOSS contributor and project leader of Zeitgeist, and Benjamin Humphrey, director of Ohso.

 

Google’s engineers are brewing in their cauldron of awesomeness applications that can make user experience better. Over the years they have come up with several useful applications like Google Reader, Google Maps, and Google Trends to name a few. Although most of the applications are still experimental and are still faulty, major features are truly groundbreaking.

(Image source: Cio)

I have gathered 10 truly useful applications that can be used for everyday life either for fun or for serious business. Remember, if you find a bug or you have something in mind that can make these applications better, don’t forget to send your feedback at Google Labs.

 

1. App Inventor for Android

Let’s start with a very cool experimental application that can be use to build applications. Now that’s meta!

It is said that if you want to impress the ladies, buy an iPhone. If your goal is to impress nerds, choose Android. You know what’s cooler? Develop Android applications using App Inventor for Android even if you don’t own an Android phone or have no idea how to program. This entry is perhaps the most different of all listed here, I included it because I want you to know that you also have the freedom to create.

Visit: App Inventor for Android

2. Google Fast Flip

Fast Flip is for people who are easily satisfied by the very best and has little time to search for great online content. It gives users snapshots of controversial, recent, and popular articles from famous news websites. One click, or one swipe, and the next best content is served right in front of you in an instant. No more loading all those web pages in search for what you need, because Fast Flip gives you exactly what you want based on how you customize it.

Design is very minimalistic, perfect for researchers and writers and anyone who is concerned about what’s happening in the world.

Visit: Google Fast Flip

3. Aardvark

It is really frustrating when a question pops in your mind and you can’t have an "almost" instantaneous answer even if you already posted it in an online community (forums, Reddit, Digg, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) where people are always online. The problem might be there’s just no one in there who knows the answer. Solution: Aardvark. Roughly 2 minutes ago I asked a question, just now I received an answer.

Let’s face it, there will come a time when you just want to hear an answer to a question you don’t have yet. Doesn’t make sense? Aardvark has a feature where you can ask Aardvark to think of a question for you. Neat, eh?

This great application is also available in iPhone. See user reviews here.

Visit: Aardvark

4. Google Goggles

One of the best technologies ever invented today is OCR or Optical Character Recognition. Digital photos of texts are converted into actual texts that text editors can read and edit. Google Goggles incorporates this technology so magnificently that even if it is still in its early stages, the things that you can do with it are already awesome. By taking a photo of an object whose name is unknown to you, Google Goggles magically tells you what it is. Enough of text queries where most of the time people don’t even know how to describe things.

Google Goggles works for business cards or documents with contact information where Goggles convert e-mails, phone number, address, name, etc. automatically for your comfort. Also perfect for tourists who can’t read or understand foreign signs and notices. By just taking a photo, the intelligible text is translated to your preferred language. Cool, right?

Admittedly, the technology is not yet complete, but the future it holds for the world is tantamount to the invention of wheel.

Visit: Google Goggles

5. Google Shopper

Google Shopper has a feature similar to Google Goggles where real-life objects are recognized by Android phones. The deal with Google Shopper is that it enables users to instantly find reviews and several price quotes of items, including where to buy it. Taking a photo of an object and getting the information you need is a great time saver. Google Shopper also lets users scan barcodes on items.

No object to scan? Easy, Shopper has a speech recognition feature. Don’t forget to watch the video to get a good idea what Google Shopper does.

Visit: Google Shopper

6. Gesture Search

Since applications are made to help people save time, although it only works for Android currently, this application is still worth mentioning. The rise of applications in the market is steady, people love them and would save as much as they can for their comfort.

A problem arises when there’s too much apps, just like on an unorganized geek’s desktop (do they even exist?) where 50-plus icons are scattered, time consumed in searching for a specific app is highly stressful. Now, imagine turning your Android phone’s touch screen into a screen-wide search machine which only requires that you "write" letters and/or numbers of the application you are looking for using your index finger (or pinky)? Works for contacts and music tracks too.

If there is one more thing we need to eliminate, that is stress from searching for your favorite game.

Visit: Gesture Search

7. Google Shared Spaces

Shared Spaces basically brings people together to collaborate on any projects at hand. It is very easy to use and has lots of gadgets (or widgets) to choose ranging from polls to mind maps. Think of it as a conference room where you can add furniture and devices that will help you and your team plan.

However, too much serious matter is not also a good thing for productivity, Shared Spaces also has several games to choose from where the team can spend quality time together.

Visit: Google Shared Spaces

8. Google Listen

Probably one of the best experimental application to download or stream audio clips, news, and podcasts using your Android phone. Being an experimental app of Google Labs, it still has bugs that can be stressful at times. Sure enough, the creators are furiously whipping their flyswatter to satisfy people.

Visit: Google Listen

9. Google Scribe

Remember when you were in grade school and you had to recite a poem that you didn’t memorize well? Thank goodness a friend who sits at the front "suggests" what to say next and actually help you avoid embarrassment.

It is a usual occurrence for people to bring their writing to a halt simply because they don’t know what to write next. Google Scribe auto-suggests words and phrases that are compatible with your sentence structure. It is a great tool for writers and children to speed up the writing process. With today’s spell-checker and auto-suggest features, I bet it won’t be long before everyone becomes a good writer!

Visit: Google Scribe

10. Google News Timeline

News Timeline works like Fast Flip in a way where it gives you what you want instantly, no need to bother browsing individual pages since they are already presented right in front of you. Google News Timeline works like a calendar where your search query’s results are plotted on the day of their occurrence, or publishing. Perfect for researchers and students. I don’t know what to say more about this amazing application because so far, this is my favorite of the bunch!

Visit: Google News Timeline

There are more than 50 Google Labs applications, a third of which have already "graduated" beta testing and are now used by thousands of netizens. What I have listed here are what I deem best and useful for everyday life, except for number 1 which can be used by hobbyists and people who have lots of time in their hands.