It's been a long time / My #8Essentials

I know it’s been pretty dormant over here recently, but I have never been quite sure what I was going to do with this space.  I loved posting mixtapes, but I'm seeing far fewer mixtapes worth downloading, let alone posting.  I also thought about opening up more about myself, but I don't think this is the place for that, if I ever decide to do it.

I got the idea for a new segment for the blog when I fell down an internet rabbit hole and ended up on GQ’s website.  They have an interesting feature where they ask people what are some of the things that are essential for getting them through life.  Since it’s GQ and they are often talking to celebrities, most of the things that they mention are expensive as hell.  I figured, why not try to see what gets people like you and I through life.  If I'm going to do this I might as well start with myself.  So here goes nothing.

8 Essentials:

1. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The only bad thing about Fridays is that there’s no Jon Stewart on my television.  I really wish they would have episodes on Fridays.  The Daily Show is the only thing on television I can always depend on to make me laugh on a weekly basis..

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
This album is the most influential piece of media on my life, ever.  It’s the only album I remember the exact place I first heard it.  I didn’t really care about music at all until I heard this.  Midnight Marauders and Illmatic are still the only two perfect Hip-Hop albums, I've ever heard.  There's not a single bad or skippable song on either.    Also, you can click on the pic to enlarge the album cover to get a better look at the faces on the cover.  You should checkout Egotrip's oral history for the making of the iconic cover.

Ads Can Be Good For You

The earbuds I use for for my daily commute were originally for my 80 gig Zune.  Yes, I know.  Insert your Zune joke here.  They were, and still are, really great.  They have quality sound with a customizable fit for my ears.  The earbuds are still in fine working order, but the cord itself is frayed so I began to Google earbuds because I can't imagine a day without my podcasts or music.

Happy Birthday Bob Ross!

Google is always does great things with their home page!

Google's Newest #Android App: Field Trip

Field Trip is your guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you. Field Trip runs in the background on your phone. When you get close to something interesting, it pops up a card with details about the location. No click is required. If you have a headset or bluetooth connected, it can even read the info to you.

AppJudgment: Amazon Updates App & More

How about that Amazon Instant Video for the iPad?! Hear about all the awesome details, and the not-so-awesome details. Verizon is being told to stop blocking tethered apps! Plus, you can now use Google Wallet with whatever credit or debit card you already have. Check out the new iOS game, 10000000, that's a mix of dungeon running and sliding block match puzzles

Google Play Presents: Life & Rhymes w/ Busta Rhymes

With this in-depth documentary, we spoke to Busta and some of his closest collaborators about the evolution of his double time rhyme style and how dubbing live old school rap battles as a child lead him to wowing crowds today. Watch the video, revisit some of Busta's best records and grab his explosive (as always) new singles, "King Tut" and "Doin It Again" for free:

Video Chatting In Gmail With Google+

Since the introduction of Gmail video chat back in 2008, many of you have told us that you love the direct, personal communication it provides. That's why we're excited to announce that video chat is being upgraded to a more modern video calling technology -- Google+ Hangouts. 

Unlike the old video chat, which was based on peer-to-peer technology, Hangouts utilize the power of Google’s network to deliver higher reliability and enhanced quality. You’ll be able to chat with all the same people you did before and, in fact, with Hangouts you’ll now be able to reach them not only when they are using Gmail but also if they are on Google+ in the browser or on their Android or iOS devices.

All Gmail users will benefit from this upgrade, but if you and the person you're chatting with also use Google+, you’ll get even more from the Hangouts experience. You'll be able to video chat with up to nine people at once, watch YouTube videos together, collaborate on Google documents and share your screen. Plus, Hangouts has a bunch of fun effects that you can try out...because any conversation is better when you're wearing a virtual mustache or pirate hat. 

We’ll be rolling out Hangouts in Gmail starting today and then gradually over the coming weeks. We hope you enjoy hanging out with your friends and family. Arrrgh!

Info courtesy of Official Gmail Blog.

Always On: Google Gone Wild

Molly Wood gives us some of the highlights from Google's I/O conference as well as unboxes the Nexus 7 and the Nexus Q before giving us a peek at a Chromebook focus group and more.

@AppJudgment Reviews Google's Schemer (@TheSchemers) App

@Google: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

The Black Googler Network presents the creators and cast members from The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl in a conversation with Camille Hearst. We also screened some never-before-seen footage.

Stephen Colbert Thinks Google & Facebook Are Frying Our Brains

When I originally watched this segment I had feelings of ambivalence. On one hand is was hilariously brilliant, but on the other hand it hit way too close to home.

A New Android Market For Books & Movies

Yesterday Google announced a new Android Market for all phones running version 2.2 or higher of their Android operating system.  Here's what they had to say about the new market:

In the U.S., you’ll be able to rent thousands of movies, starting at $1.99, right from Android Market on your phone. With the Videos app, available in Android Market, there’s no more waiting for downloads, syncing, or worrying about storage space. Simply sign into Android Market with your Google account, and you can rent movies from anywhere – the web, or your Android phone or tablet – and start watching instantly. You can also download movies to your device so they’re available for viewing when you don’t have an internet connection.

@CNET's First Look At Google+

AppJudgment & I Examine Google Music Beta For Android & Web

I definitely agree with 2 of the 3 cons that were listed in the video.

Authors@Google: Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson spoke to Googlers in Mountain View on January 6, 2011 about his book SoulPancake: Chew on Life's Big Questions. Rainn is in conversation with Jesse Nichols.

Google Launches It's Music Service

AppJudgment Reviews The Amazon Appstore For #Android

How To Enable Google Chrome’s Secret Gold Icon

Here’s how to enable to secret Gold Google Chrome icon.

New Improvements To Google Maps & Navigation In Android

From Official Google Mobile Blog:

. . .Google Maps Navigation (Beta) will now automatically route you around traffic. With more than 35 million miles driven by Navigation users every day, this should add up to quite a bit of time saved!

On a recent trip to New York, I was running late to meet some friends at the Queens Museum of Art. I had no idea that there was a traffic jam along the route I would normally have taken. Thankfully, Navigation routed me around traffic. I didn’t even have to know that there was a traffic jam on I-495, and I got to enjoy a much faster trip on I-278 instead.

Navigation now uses real-time traffic conditions to automatically route you around traffic.

You don’t have to do anything to be routed around traffic; just start Navigation like you normally would, either from the Navigation app or from within Google Maps. Before today, Navigation would choose whichever route was fastest, without taking current traffic conditions into account. It would also generate additional alternate directions, such as the shortest route or one that uses highways instead of side roads. Starting today, our routing algorithms will also apply our knowledge of current and historical traffic to select the fastest route from those alternates. That means that Navigation will automatically guide you along the best route given the current traffic conditions.

Not only can you save time and fuel, you’re making traffic better for everyone else by avoiding traffic jams. Keep in mind that we can’t guarantee that Navigation will be able to find a faster way, but it will always try to get you where you’re going as fast as possible.

You can begin routing around traffic with Google Maps Navigation for Android in North America and Europe where both Navigation and real-time traffic data are available.

AppJudgment Reviews Google Listen App For Android