Tuesday, 7 February 2006
Chat + Email = Crazy Delicious
When we launched Google Talk, some people told us what a great idea it'd be to add chat to Gmail. True that. So a couple of us Google Talk engineers approached the Gmail team. They were excited about the idea, and we got to work immediately -- spending a lot of not-so-lazy Sundays huddled in a conference room.
At the start, I thought a lot about all the things that bother me about chats. My own chats contained a lot of important information that was always getting lost. I found myself cutting, pasting and emailing important chats to myself so I could find them later. Another thing that bothered me is that whenever I wanted to get in touch with someone, I had to pick a specific application. For email, I'd have to sign into Gmail. For IM, I had to choose between the two or three programs I used regularly.
It seems these things didn't bother only me, but a lot of other people too. Which is why, within a few weeks, when you log into Gmail you'll find a list of your most important contacts on the left-hand side of the window, and you can chat right away with those who are online. You can also save, search for, and view your chat histories just like your Gmail messages.
In line with our belief that communication networks should be open, my fellow geeks will be happy to know that Gmail is now just another XMPP client that connects to the Google Talk network. So Gmail users will be able to chat with any of the millions of users on the Google Talk and Jabber networks.
Now that it's launching, we're going to quit working Sundays. Maybe even throw back a few Mr. Pibbs and celebrate with Red Vines.
Today's Net Neutrality hearing
Vint Cerf has already written about network neutrality, and he just testified on this important subject in Washington. Here's his statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Updated with working link to statement.
Sunday, 5 February 2006
This Bowl's for you
Until I was ten, I thought the Super Bowl was a contest between two teams of beer bottles. They would scuttle up and down the field, their glass necks miraculously unscathed despite the fact that each bottle wore no padding or protection (except for a tiny helmet). The game was always exciting, with one side hoisting the Bud Bowl trophy in the final moments of that last commercial break.
Even after I realized who was really playing the game (it's hard being a Vikings fan), I still tuned in for the commercials. What's more interesting: a 3-hour game or 30 seconds of Jessica Simpson arguing with Miss Piggy? I think we all know the answer to that one! After all, we live in an era in which a company will pay $2 million so the world can watch a sock puppet.
Which is why I'm excited that this year everyone can see the Super Bowl commercials on Google Video. Finally, a way to enjoy the ads without having to fast-forward TiVo through the game.
UPDATE: We've added a few more (2/7).