Google: the Science of Search

I have been doing searches on Google for 12 years now and I learned how to be a better searcher by trial and error and with some help from the Google Cheat Sheet.

A few days ago Jay Trinidad, Google Asia Pacific's product marketing manager for consumer products, gave some tips on how to become a super Google searcher. Here's some of them:

1. Keep it short and simple - don't use too many words in a query.

2. Eliminate unwanted results - sometimes we search for words that have multiple meanings. To eliminate some unwanted results just put a minus sign ("-") and the redundant keyword after the query (i.e. [java -coffee]). This is also quite useful for searching for recipes (i.e. [adobo -toyo]).

3. Use contextual words to indicate the kind of result you want - include words that would put your query in the proper context. For example you'd like to learn gardening, as a beginner you essentially want to read on the basics. So you can try [gardening tutorial]. Other contextual terms are DIY or how to, guideline, curriculum, lesson plans and summary.

4. Find a word on the page - oftentimes when doing research you'd end up in web pages that have very long text and that results. To find the word your searched for within the page just type "Ctrl+F" on your keyboard.

5. Search operators - refine your searches by telling Google to perform a particular kind of search. Here's a few search operators you can use -

Define: - use Google as a dictionary. For example, define:ROTL.

Filetype: - find documents of a particular kind. For example, gardening filetype:pdf.

Site: - search within a single domain. For example, android site:inquirer.net.

6. Advanced Search options for Google Web Search - or "masusing paghahanap" in Filipino. You need not memorize these search operators. All of these are available on Google Advanced Search.

7. Simple queries for simple answers - try using the following keywords to find some queries that we do often -

Weather - i.e. [weather davao]

Local - for local business hunting. i.e. [pizza Makati]

Public Data - i.e. [population Philippines], [gdp Philippines]

Currency and unit conversion - i.e. [2,000 php to usd]

Time - i.e. [time italy]

Translate - i.e. [translate ______ in Filipino], [translate glass in Filipino]

Other Google search properties you can use:

1. Google Translate - translate websites or words instantly by using Google Translate (translate.google.com).

2. Google Maps - find places easily by searching on Google Maps (maps.google.com). You can find local hot spots (i.e. "pizza in Makati"), read and share local business reviews and save items to My Maps.

A Handset for Calling and Texting, the Cherry Mobile 1800

Cherry Mobile is a locally branded handset provider that offers affordable phones - from basic call/text phones to smart phones with triple-SIM capability. Amazing isn't it? And I was truly awed to witness people flock in their booths whenever they do mall events. They're selling phones like pancakes (well more like burgers)!

I won this Cherry Mobile 1800 single SIM phone during the raffle when they introduced their newest endorser, Kim Chiu, a few weeks ago. I rarely win in raffle draws so I was really happy I won a phone because it gave me a chance to have a photo-opp with John Lloyd Cruz and Kim Chiu.

The Cherry Mobile 1800 single SIM handset provides basic phone necessities, calls and for texting. It also has a FM radio and flashlight feature. I didn't get the chance to use the phone because I gave the phone to my Mom since the phone I got for her for Mother's Day conked out. She didn't have any difficulty adjusting to the handset and has been using the phone quite a bit (I know coz I pay for her phone bills haha). My Mom's almost 75 years old so ease of use is important to her and she's been telling her friends that the phone is from John Lloyd. LOL.

Neo's 3D Gaming Laptop

This laptop is for those who are into 3D gaming.

Neo last week launched its newest laptop. The "Elan L4300-3D" was developed for gamers. It's packed with the following:

CPU: Intel Core i7-740QM

CPU Details: Quad-Core, 6 MB Smart Cache, 1.73 GHz

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Memory: 4GB DDR3

Screen: nVidia GTX 285M (1 GB DDR3 VRAM)

Display: 15.6" HD 3D Panel

Features: Bluetooth 2.1, 1.3 MP Webcam

Accessories: nVidia 3D Vision Kit --> check out the "shades" on the keyboard

ODD: BluRay Combo Drive

USB: USB 3.0

Weight: 3.3 kg

Here's my friend, Rico of Technogra.ph taking the laptop for a spin:

Of course the laptop isn't only for gaming. It's good as well for users who need a faster processor.

You may also want to read on "How to Choose the Right PC".

7 Months on Android

It's been seven months since I got my Nexus One. It took me about two weeks to fully transfer all the conveniences I had in my Nokia E71 to the Nexus One. The issues I encountered were the following: (1) exporting contacts, (2) setting up wifi, and (3) setting up 3g. It was hard to figure out since I couldn't find any localized info about it, but I eventually figured it out and posted about it here at You Got Tech. It was my friend Markku who reset the security settings of my router to get my home wifi working on the phone.

After 7 months I can say that I can't live without my Nexus One and here's why:

1. Rooster Alarm - my phone wakes me up twice a day. One before 5 in the morning and the second one at around 8. The alarm feature also allows me to set different alarm modes. Now I just use one phone to wake me up and I tell you it won't let up until you are awake!

2. Email Heaven - I actually check my mail before I get out of bed. This helps me adjust my day depending on any new priority that comes in via email.

3. Social Networking - And before I go to the bathroom I usually say, "Good morning" on Plurk and check for messages from Twitter and Facebook. I usually also try to "Check-in" via Foursquare whenever I'm out (Foursquare though doesn't work well with 3G connections).

4. Apps - I enjoy the camera apps the most especially that of "Camera360" and "Camera FX".  The flashlight app was also very useful when Typhoon Basyang hit. Also have a piano app and lots of games from Lab Pixies (addicting grrrrr!). I'm still waiting though for a Plants vs. Zombies Android app.

5. Google Maps and Latitude - with more and more info being tagged locally by mappers I can proudly say I haven't gotten lost for sometime now. Also discovered that it's easier to check-in on Foursquare if you do a sync first on Google Latitude.

6. Google - when it doubt you can easily search for stuff on Google. Also love the search function for the contacts list since my list is all messed up.

I haven't been lugging around my laptop because of my phone. My Android experience though would probably level-up with better 3G/HSDPA service. What about you, how is your Android experience going?

Vlogging with the Samsung SMX-F400

Thanks to Samsung I got the chance to visit my Dad's hometown, Lucban, last month during the Pahiyas Festival. I've been going back and forth to Lucban since I was a kid and have many happy (and embarrassing) memories.

In my point of view Lucban hasn't changed drastically in the last 3 decades. There are more conveniences available nowadays like a hotel, more restos and pasalubong places, but it's charm and heritage has stayed. And being my Dad's hometown that's exactly what I wanted to capture and show my vlog audience.

Samsung brought us to Lucban, Quezon last May 15, 2010 and lent us cameras and camcorders to try out. I have been video blogging using a digital camera so it was my first time to shoot using a camcorder. I was lent the new SMX-F400 and here's what I thought about the camcorder:

1. Size and Weight - I have small hands and an awful grip. The Samsung SMX-F400 was just the right size for my tiny hands and it easy to handle. It was fairly easy to manage because of it's size and I managed to use just one hand to shoot easily despite the crowded town. My digital camera is certainly heavier than the camcorder. It's light weight made it a comfortable experience to shoot footages around the town. 

2. Ease of Use - Note that it was my first time use a camcorder to vlog and we weren't give any manual to read when the camcorder was lent to us. The button though were very easy to figure out and I was shooting in no time while we were inside the bus. As an amateur I think this is very important since you basically just want to take videos and photos.

3. Features - There are two things I love about this camera: (1) the 65x Intelli-Zoom lens; (2) Smart Auto feature. I really liked the zoom feature of the camcorder especially when we were taking shots of the mystical Mount Banahaw and this feature is quite important especially when taking videos of the landscape. The Smart Auto feature also helped me a lot with lighting and focus. I just pointed the camera wherever and it took care of adjusting the lighting and focus (perfect cheat camera!). Another noteworthy feature is the animated thumbnail feature where you can easily review vids/photos you took on the LCD.

4. File Type - The videos you take are saved as an MP4 file so it doesn't take up a lot of space. The SMX-F400 uses a SD card so it's quite easy to transfer your vids to your PC (either plug-in the camcorder via USB or just plug-in the SD card if you have a reader on your PC). Don't expect though the videos to be hi-res since your shots are compressed into a MP4 file.

The SMX-F400 was made available to market by Samsung last May 2010 and SRP is PhP14,990.

Here's the video blog I made about Pahiyas Lucban:

How to Choose the Right PC

I never really chose my own PC. I always enlisted the help of my techie friends and I remember brining along one engineer, one computer scientist and my best friend when I decided to get George (my PC circa 2005). They ended up debating on what to get for me since they each had their opinion on my PC use. It was stressful (haha), so after that incident I decided to just go for the branded desktops/laptops.

I oftentimes experienced outgrowing my new toy only after a year since I'd always experience the "Hourglass Syndrome" (the hourglass icon comes out everytime your PC works on processing the latest command you input). It's oftentimes frustrating especially when I work on several things at the same time.

I was glad I attended the Intel workshop on "How to Choose the Right PC". I finally understood how to translate the capacity of the PC to my needs. Here's some basic things you need to understand about your PC:

1. Processor/CPU (central processing unit) is the most important part of any computer since it controls everything your computer does. At this day and age we need our CPUs to think faster because we multi-task a lot. If you do heavy stuff like video editing and playing extreme games it would be better to get a processor with higher capacity.

2. Gigahertz (or clock speed) is the rate or speed the processor executes a task. Processors nowadays though are more efficient so Intel said not to compare computers based on clock speeds.

3. RAM is your computer's short term memory. Your computer uses RAM to process what you are doing real-time (i.e. writing an email, editing a photo or browsing a website). Intel says that 2GB RAM is ideal for everyday users. This can be easily upgraded later on.

4. Graphics is the component in your computer that allows you to view images on your screen. Remember that you should get the right balance between your processor, the graphics requirements and your needs.

5. Hard Drive is the easiest component to understand. It's where you store all your apps and data in your computer. Most of my documents and spreadsheets are on the cloud, but I use up a lot of space for my images and videos. Having 160 gigabytes capacity is a good starting point and you can always purchase an external USB 2.0 hard drive.

Based on the workshop I realized that the most important aspect in choosing the right PC for you is to choose the right processor. Intel has a couple of new processors out and here's how they segmented them:

1. Intel Core i3 is for "The Dabbler". The Dabbler is someone who watches videos, listens to music and play games (Plants vs. Zombies!) at the highest possible quality, but he/she wouldn't do any video editing. I think this is the processor best matched for my Mom, non-tech bloggers and those who don't plan on doing video blogging, and for those who would just use their PC essentially to surf the net and do occasional voice chat sessions.

2. Intel Core i5 is for "The Gadgeteer". This processor is for people who have other gadgets that they sync to their PC/laptop and who multi-task a lot. I think I can live with this processor since I do some video editing and lay-outs as well. I don't do hard core coding or CAD editing, but I do multi-task a lot so I guess this would suffice.

3. Intel Core i7 (plus plus)  is for "The Tech Whisperer". Users at this level wouldn't need to read this post. `Nuff said (LOL).

If you are still confused you can go to the Intel site that would help you choose the right processor. Go here.

Thanks Intel and Strategic Edge! I had a lovely time.

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Update: I took the Intel online exam after I published this post and based on my answers the site suggested I get a PC with an Intel Core i7. See? That's why I need help!

Surf Using Your TV

A few weeks ago Smart announced their newest product, SurfTV. I got curious about how it works and finally got some info from some people working for Smart.

The unit costs about PhP4,500 and includes the following: SurfTV box, Smart Bro dongle and SIM, keyboard, mouse and cables. You can use it on your TV or a VGA monitor. Just plug it all in and you can surf or watch TV and when you do you are charged PhP10 for every 30 minutes (for prepaid) or you can get the unlimited monthly plan.

Haven't tried it out though, but I'm quite curious whether this is something that would finally get my Dad online.