Google Plus

Google unleashes a new social network - Google+.

Google has revealed what they call 'The Plus project', an ambitious venture aimed at reducing the popularity of Facebook. Access to the social network is by invite only, and Internet Simplified suggests you leave your email address in the comments below so we can invite you to give Plus a try, as soon as Google opens up invitations.

The idea behind Plus revolves around three major zones - Circles, Sparks and Hangouts. While circles are simply various kinds of categorizations of people you add or follow on Google Plus, Sparks involves obtaining and sharing links of topics that interest you and are doing the rounds of the web. Hangouts is, simply put, video conferencing.

[More on Google Blog]

View Full-Size Images In Google Search

A Google Chrome extension, that helps you skip the Preview page.


Straight To Full Size For Google Images is a Chrome extension that skips the page that previews images, in Google search.

After installing this extension, you will directly be linked to the image itself. This helps avoid the image preview, as well as the background loading of the webpage on which it was found.

Install Straight To Full Size For Google Images [Only for Google Chrome]

Play Angry Birds On The Web

Popular game Angry Birds is now available to play in your web browser. Simply head over to Angry Birds and start playing.

The game can be played in two versions, depending on the performance of your computer – Standard and HD.

The game also appears on the Chrome Web Store as an app. Install the app from this link.

Upload Folders To Google Docs

This feature essentially enables a batch-upload of files.


You can instantly upload a batch of files, that are stored in a folder on your computer, to Google Docs.

On your Google Docs homepage, simply click the Upload button and you will find an option ‘Folder’. Click the button and select the folder you want to upload from your computer.

[More Google Docs Tips]

Short Simplified Links #3

Useful links, to help get work done.


Create temporary email addresses with Guerrilla Mail. The service offers a temporary email address that lasts for 60 minutes, and can be used to avoid giving away your genuine email address to a potential spam website or otherwise. [Also see: 10 Minute Mail]


iTools is a simple website that contains the best possible tools that one can use, on the internet. Ranging from real-time search engines to dictionaries to tools that provide information on websites, iTools offers a wide variety in a plain theme.


Shorten URLs with Google’s goo.gl and track the number of clicks on them with the analysis given below. The improved URL shortener offers detailed analysis of web addresses.

[More Simplified Links]

Google Scribe – Get AutoComplete Suggestions

The experimental Scribe offers word suggestions as you type.


Google Scribe is a text completion service from Google Labs. It offers suggestions for words and phrases which could be correct or alternative to what you type.

The service works for the English language and can be used with GMail, Blogger, Wordpress or other websites where text editing may be needed.

The best way to use the service is to add the Scribe bookmarklet in your browser bookmarks When needed, hit Ctrl+Shift+J to enable/disable the service.

Related Reading: More Bookmarklets

Google Instant

Search, as you type.


Google’s search engine now brings up results as you type your search terms, called Google Instant. Head to Google Instant and click ‘Try It Now’ to get search results as you are typing any search term.

Next to the search bar, you will find a link to switch on Instant or switch to default search. You can alternatively head to Google’s NCR website to try the service.

[Via Google Blog]

Set A Background In Google Search

You can now set a wallpaper on Google.


Google now gives you an option to convert the white background into a colourful one, with background images.

You can choose from a public gallery, or choose from your Picasa account. Or even upload directly from your computer.

Related Reading: All Things Google

New Features in Google Buzz

Reply to comments via email and view entire photo albums in Buzz.


Google Buzz, the social networking and sharing platform in GMail, has introduced a couple of new features in the service.

Now you can comment on Buzz updates that appear in your email account, via your email itself. Simply reply to the message containing an update on your Buzz post (or any other that you may have commented in) and it will be posted as an update in Buzz.

You can also view entire photo albums in Google Buzz. Initially, if albums were shared on Buzz, you would have to go to the link where they were shared to view them in full. Google Buzz now has a photo viewer, where you can view all posted photos.

Related Reading: Compendium of Tips on Google Buzz

Google’s Colourful New Look

Popular search engine has a brand new search results page.


Google has revamped the look of it’s popular search engine, by adding more colour and a left-sided pane that offers various other searches like videos and images.

The experience of using Google is now more pleasant, and you can get more relevant search results and browse options on the left pane.

[Via Google Blog]

Google Follow Finder

Google’s new experimental service helps you find new Twitter followers.

Google Labs has come up with a web service to allow you to find people on Twitter that are worth following – Google Follow Finder.

It analyzes the people you follow and the follow lists to come up with suggestions. Just enter your Twitter handle and the Follow Finder will do the rest.

Related Reading: More Twitter Tips

Remix Twitter Web With MonkeyFly

MonkeyFly – Twitter add-on.


Do you prefer to use Twitter’s web service instead of desktop clients or another online clients? Then you should install the MonkeyFly add-on for Mozilla Firefox.


The extension is also available on Google Chrome. MonkeyFly adds a whole new dimension to Twitter web, by allowing you to add sub-pages on the homepage (of mentions, direct messages etc), shorten URLs through the J.mp service, save tweets as drafts and do much more on the homepage itself.

If you are using Twitter web, you should give MonkeyFly a try.

Related Reading: More Tips on Twitter

Google Reader Play

Access the most interesting stuff in Google Reader, through their experimental Reader Play.

Reader Play is a new experiment in Google Reader, that offers easy access to the most interesting reads that are doing rounds on the web.


To try the service, simply head to Reader Play and an attractive interface will appear with simple scroll buttons to access the other interesting items in Reader Play.

Give it a try, if you frequent Google Reader.

Related Reading: What is Google Reader?

[Via Google Reader Blog]

Write And Save Notes Through Google Talk

Store little notes through the A Tiny Note Google Talk bot.

A Tiny Note is an easy-to-use notebook, where you can save little notes through Google Talk.


Sign into A Tiny Note through your Google account and add atinynote@appspot.com as a contact. To save a note, simply send a message with a command to this bot with your note.

To get all commands, simply send ‘help’ to the bot.

Google Buzz Simplified

Simple tips to make the most out of Google Buzz.


Google Buzz is Google’s social microblogging and information sharing service, that comes embedded in Google Mail.

What you basically do on Buzz is share your status, photos or useful links with people who follow you. Google Buzz is like an expanded form of Twitter. 

Here are a set of tips and tools that will help you do more on Google Buzz:

1. Send a Buzz to a user’s Gmail Inbox

You can send a message to a user through Buzz by specifying the @ symbol, followed by the person’s email address, which will post the update on your Buzz feed and send the message to the user’s email.

2. Connect your Social websites


If you want to connect various social websites like your blog, Twitter profile or Picasa to your Buzz stream, then simply select the Connected Sites option at the top of your Buzz stream, and add/remove websites accordingly. [Refer above screenshot]

3. A Firefox Add-on for Google Buzz


If you are a user of the Mozilla Firefox web browser, then you can instantly share what you surf with your followers on Google Buzz, by installing the Buzz It Firefox add-on in your browser. Buzz It also auto-shortens URLs with Bit.ly.

4. Google Chrome Extension for Google Buzz

The Google Buzz extension for Google Chrome, Google Buzz Pad, is a useful add-on that allows you to view your Buzz account and also share links with your followers from Google Reader.

5. Block unknown followers

Google Buzz offers you the option to block unknown followers, who might be posting inappropriate or unwanted comments on your posts.

Simply go to the list of your followers, and select Block corresponding to the specific follower to block him/her.

6. Privacy – Disable followers/following list from Google profile


A new option to disable the public viewing of who you are following and being followed by, has been introduced in Google Buzz. You can now disable the viewing of both of these lists from third parties visiting your Google profile.

To do that, click on the lists to open them. You will find a checkbox as shown above at the bottom of the lists. De-select the checkbox to ensure these lists cannot be viewed.

7. Update Buzz via email

To update Google Buzz via email, all you require is a Buzz-enabled GMail account. Simply send your update to buzz@gmail.com, to post your update to your Buzz followers via email.

8. Find more people on Buzz


To find more people to follow on Google Buzz, select the Find People option at the top of your Buzz feed, and you can find recommended followers, or search for users via their names or email addresses.

9. Select Public/Private while posting


You can choose to share on Buzz with a select people, or with anybody else on the world wide web.

When writing a post, find the Public/Private drop-down and select the desired one. [Screenshot above]

10. Remove posts from your Buzz feed


To hide a post on your Buzz feed that you may not be interested in, select the Mute Post option from the top-right drop-down menu on the particular post. [Screenshot above]

11. Disable Buzz/Hide Buzz


You can disable Google Buzz entirely from your GMail by heading to the bottom of your GMail page, where you will find a Turn Off Buzz option.

To hide the Buzz label from Gmail, simply head to Settings –> Labels and edit as required.

12. Update Twitter and Buzz together

In case you want to post the same update on both Twitter, the popular microblogging platform, and Google Buzz, read this Internet Simplified post to know how.

13. Create a Google Buzz widget


You can create a Google Buzz widget for your website, by heading to Buzz Counter. Simply specify your Google profile name and obtain the code for the widget.

Paste it on your blog/website, and a widget (see screenshot above) will appear with your Buzz updates.

Related Reading: Compendium of Tips on GMail

Update Twitter And Buzz Together

BuzzTweep – Send updates to Twitter and Google Buzz at once.


BuzzTweep is a free service, using which you can update your Twitter account and your Google Buzz stream at once, with the same comment.

Just follow the instructions given on their website (Tutorials Page 1 and Page 2) to set up the service. Basically, all you require to do is set up a GMail filter, and then connect your Twitter account to the service.

Learn in detail about setting up a GMail filter in our detailed GMail tips post.

Related Reading: What is Google Buzz?

Google Buzz - Google's Social Microblogging Service

Here's a video that explains Google Buzz.

[Via Google Blog]

7 Interesting Twitter Services

Useful Twitter services, that are free.


Here are seven interesting Twitter services that you can give a try.

1. TweetAlarm

TweetAlarm is a Google Alerts-type of service for Twitter. Get alerted when users tweet about something specific to you with TweetAlarm.

2. TweetStats

TweetStats is a service that provides a detailed, graphical analysis of your Twitter usage. Just enter your Twitter handle, and you will get a detailed report about everything that can be possibly analyzed of your Twitter use.

3. Chir.ps

Chir.ps helps you tweet little audio clips to your followers. Record an audio clip and tweet it to your followers. Learn more here.

4. TwitterCal

With TwitterCal, you can tweet events and notes directly to your Google Calendar account. To learn how to do that, read our complete post on Twittercal.

5. Twitzer

Twitzer helps you go beyond the 140-character tweet limit set by Twitter. You can post longer tweets. Learn more here.

6. Twitter Grader

Twitter Grader offers you details about how influential you are in comparison with other Twitter users. Enter your Twitter handle and be ranked with this service.

7. Twtpoll

Twtpoll helps you create a little opinion poll in Twitter. Generate a poll and share the link with others on Twitter, to get percentage stats about a particular topic.

If you need more Twitter tips, visit the useful Twitips website.

Orkut Extension for Google Chrome

Get Orkut updates through the Orkut extension on your Google Chrome web browser.


Orkut Chrome Extension is a useful add-on for the Google Chrome browser that gives you instant updates from the Orkut social network.


You get notifications of scraps, can share links and use it to update your status on Orkut. Instantly access friends’ pages also from this extension.

Download Orkut Extension for Google Chrome

Related Reading: More Tips on Google Chrome

Manage Google Docs Offline

Access, edit, and do more with your Google Docs documents, offline.


Memeo Connect is a useful tool that helps you manage your Google Docs, the online office tools suite provided by Google, offline.

Access all your Google Docs documents offline, edit them as you like, transfer them to your online Docs account with much ease, store current and previous versions on your hard drive.

The tool automatically syncs your files with your Google Docs account. You can test a trial version for 30 days, after which the service is chargeable.

Related Reading: More Google Docs Tips