From time to time, we all need information about local businesses when we're away from our computers -- like confirming the address of a bar while on the way to meet friends. Today we're introducing Search with My Location, a new way to make searching for nearby businesses on your Windows Mobile phone faster and easier.

Previously, when you went to google.com from your phone's browser and performed a local search, the results were tailored to the last location you entered. Now, using the Gears Geolocation API, Search with My Location approximates your actual location using the same Cell ID technology used by Google maps for mobile. So if you want to find sushi nearby, just type "sushi" and Google will return local business listings around you. If you want to know the forecast, type "weather". If you want to search somewhere else, specify a location in the query like "pizza Kansas City".

We take your privacy seriously and have designed Search with My Location so that it doesn't associate your location with any personally identifiable information, even if you are logged in. We won't send your location until you explicitly opt in, and you can always opt-out from the Gears Settings under the Tools menu.

Note that some devices don't yet support My Location. For this reason, we're initially launching the feature on the devices listed in this help center article while we work with manufacturers to add support to future phone versions.

Initially, Search with My Location will be available in the US and UK. To get started, visit google.com from your phone and click on the My Location link under the search box (you may have to refresh the page to see the link). Enjoy the new feature and check out the video to see how Search with My Location can help save your thumbs!

Source: Google API

It looks like google has filed for Nexus One trademark, taking out those rumors that google phone is not real.  The above screenshot revealed that Google has indeed filed a Trademark application for 'Nexus One' on Dec 10.

There's still no official word from Google regarding the launch of Nexus One, but it's said that the smartphone may be available as soon as January 5, 2010, first unlocked and then via T-Mobile USA.

Thanks to unwiredview.com for this information.

Gizmodo reported they got some pricing information on the new Google Nexus One phone that's going to be released on Jan 5, 2010, so far this is what we know.  

• Yeah, it's $530 unsubsidized. Google's not going to be selling the phone at cost, like so many people considered. They're not going to save us from the "making money off of hardware" culture we've got right now, so this is basically just another Android handset, albeit a really good one
• If you want it subsidized, you'll have to sign up for a 2 year mandatory contract and pay $180 for the phone
• There's only one rate plan: $39.99 Even More + Text + Web for $79.99 total
• Existing customers cannot keep their plan if they want a subsidized phone; they have to change to the one plan, and this only applies to accounts with one single line
• If that doesn't fly with you, you have to buy the $530 unlocked version-this actually might save you money over two years if you already have a cheap plan
• Family plans, Flexpay, SmartAccess and KidConnect subscribers must buy the phone unlocked and unsubsidized for $530
• You can only buy five Nexus One phones per Google account
• There is language in the agreement of shipping outside the US
• Google will sell it at google.com/phone, which explains what they were doing with that page a few weeks ago
• Google will still call it the Nexus One apparently, and not the Google Phone

Check out the whole story at gizmodo.com

NYtimes.com Article By MIGUEL HELFT Published: January 5, 2010

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Google stepped up its attack on the mobile phone industry on Tuesday, introducing a new touchscreen phone called Nexus One to compete with the iPhone.

The device, which was built by HTC, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, has a 3.7-inch screen and runs the latest version of Google's Android operating system. It is just 11.5 millimeters thin, or about the thickness of a No. 2 pencil, and weighs 130 grams, or no more than a small Swiss Army knife, said Erick Tseng, a senior product manager. It has a 5-megapixel camera and an LED flash and can shoot both still images and video.

"The Nexus One is an exemplar of what is possible with Android on mobile phones," Mario Queiroz, a vice president for product management at Google, said during a news conference at Google's headquarters here.

Read the rest of the article at NYTimes.com

Google said Tuesday that it and a Chinese cellphone service company had postponed the release this week of two mobile phones that would use Google's Android software.

Google did not give a reason for the delay, but a person briefed on the situation said the company did not feel that the phones should be released given the current uncertainty over its Chinese operations and its Chinese-language search engine. The company announced last week that it would negotiate with Chinese officials over the government's unwelcome requirement that Google censor searches on its Chinese search engine, Google.cn. The company, based in Northern California, said it could shut down or curtail operations in China if the government did not relent.

Google made last week's announcement after it discovered that hacking attacks traced to mainland China had been directed at its security infrastructure and that of more than 30 other companies based in the United States. Google was also frustrated by separate attacks against the Google e-mail accounts of rights advocates working on China issues.

Opponents of China's complex system of Internet censorship, nicknamed the Great Firewall, and of the authoritarian nature of the Communist Party in general were pleased with Google's move, though some skeptics say Google has little to lose from withdrawing from China since its search engine has a relatively small market share here; Baidu, which runs a homegrown search engine, is dominant.

The announcement that Google and China Unicom were postponing the release of the cellphones showed that Google has more at stake in China than just the revenue from Google.cn.

Read the complete article at NYTimes.com

Google has introduced the Google Maps for Mobile Version 4.1, it has some cool added features which make sense of a fast paced and changing world is difficult under the best of circumstances, but when you're on the go, it's even harder. With the new Google Maps for mobile 4.1, these few features that make sorting through search results or quickly seeing Maps info a bit easier.

• Updated Search Results Page
• Swipe for more results
• Latitude widget and Maps live wallpapers
• Switch Google Accounts

source: googlemobile.blogspot.com

During Google I/O conference in San Francisco this week, it announces Android 2.2 which it said is right around the corner.  One of the most important features of the Android 2.2 is the ability to tether.  The latest Android 2.2 "Froyo" update allows the user to set up WiFi or USB tethering for other devices on the fly. This means that Android users could potentially do things like connect a WiFi-only Apple Inc. iPad to a 3G network via an Android phone. Google is calling this feature "a portable hotspot."

iPhone users have been long waiting for tethering features to be added to that operating system. Word is that the OS 4.0 update coming in June from Apple will finally add the feature.

Here are some of the great features provided by Android 2.2

Performance & speed: The new Dalvik JIT compiler in Android 2.2 delivers between a 2-5X performance improvement in CPU-bound code vs. Android 2.1 according to various benchmarks.

New enterprise capabilities: We've added Exchange capabilities such as account auto-discovery and calendar sync. Device policy management APIs allow developers to write applications that can control security features of the device such as the remote wipe, minimum password, lockscreen timeout etc.

Faster, more powerful browser: We have brought the V8 JavaScript engine to the Android browser as part of 2.2. This has resulted in a 2-3X improvement in JavaScript performance vs. 2.1.

Rich set of new APIs and services: New data backup APIs enable apps to participate in data backup and restore, allowing an application's last data to be restored when installed on a new or a reset device. Apps can utilize Android Cloud to Device Messaging to enable mobile alert, send to phone, and two-way push sync functionality. Developers can now declare whether their app should be installed on internal memory or an SD card. They can also let the system automatically determine the install location. On the native side, a new API now gives access to Skia bitmaps.

Additions to Android Market: Android Market provides Android Application Error Reports, a new bug reporting feature, giving developers access to crash and freeze reports from users. Developers will be able to access these reports via their account on the Android Market publisher website.

Head over to Google's Blog for complete list of new features.

http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html#UserFeatures