20 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOUTUBE

Oklahoma Government Gets More Mobile with OK.gov for Android

OK.gov, the official website of the state of Oklahoma, recently launched the release of a free Android government application, available now on your Android phone by searching for OK.gov.

OK.gov for Android gives Oklahomans convenient access to Oklahoma government directly from an Android mobile device. The new application provides real-time access to state agency news, office location mapping, and professional licensee lookups.

“The state of Oklahoma is excited to offer citizens the opportunity to use this innovative application to gain access and knowledge about our local government,” said Governor Brad Henry.

Features of the OK.gov for Android application include:

• Agency Lookup – Quickly find agencies by keyword or category search. The application displays contact information including main phone number, address, and website address. It also offers a built-in agency location mapping system featuring directions and the option to call directly from the application.

• Professional Licensee Search – Easily search or browse over 122 Oklahoma licensee types from over 20 state agencies.

• Oklahoma Government News – Keep up-to-date with the latest news and announcements from Oklahoma state agencies.

“We are pleased to announce that the new OK.gov for Android is the first state government portal application released for Google Android mobile devices,” said Mark Mitchell, General Manager of OK.gov. “Along with the OK.gov for iPhone app, this new Android application allows the public to access Oklahoma government conveniently and advantageously through handheld mobile technology.”

According to www.admob.com, Android is Google’s Linux operating system for mobile devices. With more than 100k daily activations, Google rapidly produces updates to the Android platform and is the first in total Web and App usage in the U.S. and is second in smartphone sales behind RIM’s Blackberry. There are currently 60 compatible devices,50 carriers, 48 countries, and 21 OEM’s supporting Android. This mobile device has more than 50,000 Android Applications with more than 180,000 developers.

Visit OK.gov's Mobile Site

Congress-YouTube partnership raises questions

Some high-tech watchdogs are worried about a relationship unveiled this week between popular video-sharing site YouTube.com and Congress.

The Google-owned site launched two new platforms where people can watch videos uploaded by members of the House and Senate. The pairing was endorsed in a welcome message by House Speaker Pelosi, House Minority Leader Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senate Minority Leader McConnell that has been viewed more than 230,000 times since Monday.

The announcement, however, is prompting questions about the propriety of lawmakers singling out a commercial Web tool. Critics also cite privacy concerns -- namely, what happens to data collected about users who view lawmakers' videos.

The project was made possible by changes to outdated House and Senate rules last year that clarified the circumstances under which members are allowed to place content on external Web sites. Steve Grove, head of YouTube's news and political content, said in a blog post that the service has "the potential to make Congress more transparent and accessible than ever before."

But the Center for Digital Democracy's Jeff Chester warned Google is "taking a lobbying tactic developed in part by C-SPAN years ago -- offer members of Congress a free service so they can be seen by the public." On his Web site, he warned that such an "electronic or digital campaign contribution helps insure that Congress will think twice about biting -- or regulating -- the video hand that feeds [it]."

Chester and other critics are asking whether Google will be able to incorporate data gathered about those who watch the videos for its growing political online advertising business -- and whether Congress should be endorsing a for-profit enterprise as a principal access point for official government content. Chester also suggested the YouTube union might create a conflict of interest for those charged with regulating Google and other Internet firms. The company came under fire on Capitol Hill in 2008 for its plan to partner with rival Yahoo on an advertising venture. The proposal, which was also the subject of a Justice Department probe, was eventually shelved. Google executives have been grilled by lawmakers on other topics, including behavioral targeting and consumer privacy, and have lobbied on issues like what should be done with spectrum freed up by the upcoming nationwide digital television transition.

Congressional aides familiar with the deal said there was no monetary agreement involved and there is strict separation between official and campaign content on the YouTube channels, just like there is between member's official and campaign Web sites. The rule of thumb, one aide said, is members can use YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services as long as they think of them as extensions of their official Senate sites and not post materials deemed inappropriate for government Web sites. YouTube's arrangement was "an extraordinary accomplishment" because it managed to make a platform that generates money for Google and advertisers but seem like a "free, public utility," an official with another major high-tech company said.

Search the internet for Brain Power

Apparently, searching the internet requires decision-making and complex reasoning, which is a challenge for the brain and keeps the respective key centers in a top notch condition. But instead of using Google all the time, try something new. There are hundreds of search engines out there.

Don’t be lazy, give them a chance!

If you can’t do without Google, at least try another interface, such as Sputtr for example...

Announcing a Presidential Forum in New Orleans

New Orleans and Louisiana leaders today announce they are working with Google and YouTube to bring American voices into a forum with Presidential nominees that will address critical issues for the nation's future.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and the New Orleans Consortium plan to host the forum on September 18, 2008 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The forum will use Google technology and the YouTube video platform to drive citizen engagement and to create a dynamic, compelling, and constructive live television broadcast.