Gmail and Picasa Storage Can Be Used for Any File

Google recently announced that it was launching a new feature for Google Docs, which would allow users to upload and store any kind of file. What may not have been clear, however, is that this new storage from Google isn't limited to just Google Docs.

The company is saying that Gmail and Picasa storage can also be used. Google Docs Product Marketing Manager Peter Harbison writes:

Each account will get 1 GB of free storage in Google Docs (in addition to the 1 GB of free storage in Picasa Web Albums and over 7 GB of free storage in Gmail) and will be able to upload any file up to 250 MB. If you’ve already purchased additional storage for Picasa Web Albums and Gmail, that storage is now shared with Google Docs as well, giving you more ways to use your online storage space. As we announced in November, additional storage is only $0.25 per GB per year. And because of the enthusiastic response, the Google Photos team has extended the special offer with Eye-Fi: users in the US or Canada who purchase 200 GB of extra storage for $50 will receive a free wifi-enabled SD card from Eye-Fi.

Google says the feature will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks. There will be a notification bubble when you sign into Google Docs.

Avast Software Added To Google Pack

At least in certain parts of the world, Google has revised its approach to connecting people with security products.  Avast Free Antivirus is now included in eight different versions of the Google Pack bundle of software.

Try to download Google Pack in Czech, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish, and you'll see Avast's logo among symbols for Chrome, Google Earth, Picasa, and a handful of other things.  This endorsement should help Avast Free Antivirus Version 5 find its way onto more than a few new computers.

Of course, the odd thing is that Spyware Doctor with Anti-Virus, and not Avast's product, is still recommended to anyone who takes a look at Google Pack in English.  Whether this is because the change is experimental or Google's been caught mid-rollout is hard to say.

Or perhaps Google's just really trying to split hairs with regards to what security software is most effective in different markets.

It's likely that the adjustment represents some form of payback, though.  Alex Chitu, who wrote about it, also noted, "In December, Avast's blog announced that the software will offer users the option to install Google Chrome."

NASA Astronaut Sends First Real Tweet From Space

NASA said today astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have received a special software upgrade that allows access to the Internet and the World Wide Web via the "ultimate wireless connection."

Expedition 22 Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer made first use of the new system Friday, when he posted the first unassisted update to his Twitter account, @Astro-TJ, from the space station. Previous tweets from space had to be emailed to the ground where support personnel posted them to the astronaut's Twitter account.

The personal web access, called the Crew Support LAN, uses existing communication links to and from the station and gives astronauts the ability to browse and surf the web.

When the station is actively communicating with the ground using high-speed Ku-band communications, the crew will have remote access to the Internet via a ground computer. The crew will view the desktop of the ground computer using an onboard laptop and interact remotely with their keyboard touchpad.

Will YouTube Be the Place to Rent Movies?

YouTube has made a couple of big announcements. First of all, they are going to start renting movies. They are kicking off this initiative by partnering with the Sundance Film Festival, making five films from 2010 and 2009 available for rent for U.S. users. This starts Friday and will run through Sunday January 31.

In addition to those five films, another small collection of rental videos from other U.S. partners across different industries (including health and education) will be made available in the coming weeks. "We're also excited to put out the call for more independent filmmakers to join the rental program as part of our 'Filmmakers Wanted' campaign at the festival," says the YouTube team.

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Inactive Twitter Usernames Scheduled For Recycling

From WebPro News

If you're not happy with your Twitter username - or if you are, but don't love Twitter and haven't logged in for a while - listen up.  The usernames attached to inactive accounts may soon be made available for the taking.

In fact, the release of idle usernames is almost sure to occur.  The cutoff regarding inactivity has probably been set, too -Martin Bryant found a policy referring to the automatic removal of accounts after six months.

The most important detail - when the big release will take place - is just a little fuzzy.  Bryant wrote, "We reached out to Twitter for comment . . . and a spokesperson for the company told me that the company plans to release all inactive usernames and deleted usernames in the future but doesn't have a date set yet."

So make preparations for the event as best you can, whether that means signing into a few accounts you've let collect dust or setting up a sophisticated email alert system for when a username becomes free.

Something of a land rush is practically guaranteed to occur, and insofar as that'll represent (and generate) more interest in Twitter, the company's decision to make this move is looking pretty smart.

Facebook Gets Into Customized Data Centers

From WebPro News

It's always a big deal when a company like Google, Yahoo, or Microsoft begins to build another data center; the move proves that they've got a fair amount of cash on hand and are growing at an impressive rate.  More significant, though, may be the idea of a company first getting into the DIY data center business, and Facebook appears to have reached that juncture.

Rich Miller reported yesterday, "Facebook has decided to begin building its own data centers, and may announce its first facility as soon as tomorrow.  The fast-growing social network has previously leased server space from wholesale data center providers, but has grown to the point where the economics favor a shift to a custom-built infrastructure."

The facility Facebook's rumored to be behind is under right now construction and will cover 117,245 square feet in Prineville, Oregon.  Unless some seriously innovative construction techniques and types of hardware are employed, it's sure to cost more than $100 million, and data centers often carry price tags along the lines of $500 million.

Then, when the construction's done, Miller writes that it will take about 35 people to staff the data center.

So Facebook does indeed seem to be making a major move.  We'll try to relay more details as they become available.

Happy New Year 2010 !!!

Wish you all people, a happy and a prosperous new year!!! May all your dreams come true...