How to Use Google SSL Search as Default Search Engine in Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

Google made it clear to the world that it cares for user security and privacy, by introducing SSL version of its search engine yesterday. It  will prevent third parties from intercepting search terms and search results, as a result of the encrypted connection. Currently it is in its beta stage, but one can still make full use of it by using https every-time you perform a search on Google.

And if you are feeling a bit lazy, you can follow the steps below, to make Google SSL as your default search engine on Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer. With this, every time you perform a search through browser search box, it will be encrypted. Here we go:

Firefox

1. Download and install Add To Search Bar addon, and restart your firefox.
2. Head over to https://www.google.com. Right-click anywhere on the search box and click on Add to search bar… in the menu.

3. A new window will pop-up which will help you create new search engine provider for your search box. Assign it a name and keyword, and click ok to save.

 4. Your new search engine has been created. Make it your default search engine by moving it to top spot in Manage search engines… window.

 5. After making it your default search engine, an encrypted version of google search is used everytime you perform search with it.

Chrome

1. Go to “Settings” on top-right corner of Chrome browser and click on “Options“.
2. Click on the “Manage” button next to the list of search engines, add a new search engine provider by inserting “Google Secure Search” in place of name (you can add any name) and in place of URL, add:  https://www.google.com/searchq=%s

3. Click OK and make it the default search engine.

Internet Explorer

1. Head over to this web-page to add you own search provider.
2. Add the following details:
  URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=TEST
  Name: “Any name”
3. Click on Install search provider.

Google, Intel and Sony to Introduce Smart TV

On the heels of rumors that Google TV will be unveiled at Google’s I/O conference in San Francisco in May comes a report by The Financial Times that gives a name to the project: Smart TV.

Few new details are revealed in the report; Google’s hardware partners are still Intel and Sony. The hardware will likely consist of a set-top box based on Intel’s Atom CPU and Google’s Android OS, while Sony is slated to reveal the plan to integrate web services into its televisions.

The Financial Times also claims that Google will call on its Android community to start working on apps for TVs. This would give Android a whole new dimension and a certain advantage over its main rival, the iPhone OS, which is confined to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

According to a report out this morning, revenues from apps on TVs should increase from $10 million in 2010 to $1.9 billion by 2015. With Apple focusing (quite unsuccessfully) on Apple TV, could Google’s Android TV be the first to corner a significant emerging market?

Games: Guess the Logo (Online Game) for brand geeks

Logos are something that really makes a company or service instantly identifiable. For instance a “t” symbol of Twitter on a webpage is enough for anyone to guess it leads to a link to a Twitter profile. An image is probably the most easily recognized by anyone. That is the reason bloggers will have the same display pic in the  Facebook and Twitter profile.

Here is a online guessing game which you can play to see if you really identify popular logos correctly.

• The game is simple. There are 6 images to choose from and each is very similar to the other except one is the correct one.
• A counter checks the time it takes for someone to choose the correct image. Two seconds are added for every wrong answer.
• The twist in this website is it checks how well we remember logos of famous brands like Google and Yahoo. A small difference in color or styling is sometimes almost impossible to notice or sort out.

Users are also allowed to submit their URL logo to the website to be introduced on the website as a feature. Considering millions of people visit this website to check their brand knowledge it would also mean a great deal of exposure for a new brand logo.

Do try out and let us know your score by dropping in your comments.

Link: Guess the Logo Website

How to access Old Google Look

Since Google changed its interface to be more user friendly . No wonder that Google’s changed layout is more attractive and colorful , but leaves a lot of blank white space on screen , hence showing only little information in a compact area. If you dont like this new Google Search interface , you may simply revert back to old one.

Google Search New Layout :

To change back to old Google Interface , you have to click the link given below :

http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all

This is an easy option to change Google Search Interface at anytime you like .

Google Search Old Layout afterwards :

Are Google Chrome OS Devices Debuting Next Month?

A new report suggests that next month, computer manufacturer Acer will unveil a slate of devices that run on Chrome OS, the web-centric OS that Google unveiled last year.

According to Venturebeat, Taiwan-based Acer intends to launch several Chrome OS devices at the Computex show in Taipei, Taiwan. While it’s uncertain what devices Acer intends to demonstrate with the Google-built OS, they’re almost certain to be netbooks. Tablets are a less likely possibility.

This is not the first time reports of an Acer-built Chrome OS netbook have surfaced — late last year, news leaked that Acer planned to launched such a device in late 2010. If today’s report is true, that timetable has been accelerated, although it’s unknown when an Acer-build Chrome OS netbook would go on sale.

Google Chrome OS made headlines last year because of its unique approach to operating systems. The browser IS the OS, and thus all apps on Chrome OS are web apps. In addition, it is designed to boot in seconds, doesn’t support traditional drivers, and is designed to repair itself whenever the integrity of its code is compromised.
 http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os
Source: http://www.mashable.com

YouTube Introduces New Privacy Option for Videos

YouTube has just introduced a new privacy option for videos uploaded to the site, Unlisted Videos. The new option lets users post videos to the site and mark them as “unlisted.”

Essentially Unlisted Videos are private videos that anyone can view if, and only if, they have access to the video URL. These videos will not show up on public pages, in search results or on user channels. There’s no limit on the amount of people who can view the video, and anyone can see it, regardless of whether or not they have a YouTube account.

Unlisted Videos should be welcomed by users not satisfied with the existing public and private options. Heretofore private videos could only be shared with other YouTube users. This new option is perfect for teachers, students, non-profits, organizations and anyone else who wants to upload a video to YouTube, share it, but not expose it to the world.

We think it’s a smart addition to the YouTube feature set and one we could imagine using ourselves. Will you use the Unlisted Videos option?

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HTC Wants Ban on iPhone, iPad and iPod Sales Over Patent Issues

Remember how Apple sued HTC over patent infringements two months ago? Today HTC is fighting back by filing its own complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC). In addition, HTC is seeking a ban on the importation and sale of iPhones, iPads and iPods in the U.S.

For those of you who have been following our coverage of “Patent Lawsuit Theater,” this should sound pretty familiar. Both Nokia and Kodak have also filed ITC complaints in addition to import bans. Apple has called for a ban of Nokia imports in its countersuit.

The only odd part of HTC’s announcement is that they are only announcing the ITC complaint; these sorts of things are almost always accompanied by a federal lawsuit, Engadget pointed out.

This response comes two weeks after HTC entered into a licensing agreement with Microsoft in regards to Android patents.

We await Apple’s response in this ongoing tug of war between massive corporations who really should have better things to do than play Judge Wopner.