How to Embed and Promote Your Google Helpouts Listing on Your WordPress.com Blog

For those of you that have a listing on the new Google Helpouts service you know that you have the option to promote your listing via Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. There is also the option of selecting Embed so that you can grab the HTML iframe tag code and post it on the web site of your choosing. For the free WordPress.com blogging service, this is not an option, so it was not an option for me. There are workarounds out there that will allow you to do this but some aren’t so easy. This is a workaround I figured out and I hope it helps you too.

It’s best to view this video in 720p HD quality.

Google Helpouts – Do You Need Help?

Google started a new program that went live today called Google Helpouts. You can get more information here. And nice intro video here:

I applied to be a part of this new service and was accepted. I will be offering Computer and Networking Assistance in Google Helpouts new service. If you need help with anything relating to technology I can offer my assistance to you. You can find my listing here (clicky the linky and image):

Computer and Network Assistance

You Should Know, Jesus Saves

https://plus.google.com/115929020155131741119/posts/8xk7dzDRxVS

Windows Scan And Fix

From my Google Plus post:

https://plus.google.com/115929020155131741119/posts/C1QPLfntLmk

Google Plus Embed

I just read that Google has introduced a new feature that allows one to embed Google Plus post into your blog. Let’s try this out.

UPDATE:
You’re supposed to be able to read the embed above that I attempted from Google Plus. However, because it is Javascript, WordPress doesn’t allow. Lame. I understand it’s because of security reasons but this would still be nice to have.
From WordPress’s site:
“Users are not allowed to post JavaScript on WordPress.com blogs. JavaScript can be used for malicious purposes. As an example, JavaScript has taken sites such as MySpace.com and LiveJournal offline in the past. The security of all WordPress.com blogs is a top priority for us, and until we can guarantee scripting languages will not be harmful, they will not be permitted.

JavaScript from trusted partners, such as YouTube and Google Video, is converted into a WordPress shortcode when a post is saved.”

Hopefully, that last line will get fixed as my Google Plus embed is from a trusted partner, Google.

UPDATE UPDATE:
Found this post on WordPress.

Let’s try this again. If this works, you should see an embed below.

https://plus.google.com/115929020155131741119/posts/1qJZ2sAKBcT

Should I Move My Blog

I’ve been considering not renewing my web hosting on GoDaddy when it comes up for renewal this fall. I’ve had this site since 2006 but I don’t really blog that often, most of my posting these days are posted on Google+. It’s not really worth the money to pay for web hosting especially when I can post the occasional blog post on the free WordPress site. Of course, I would still pay for the domain since it’s cheap and still use the email for some things.

We’ll see.

Cloud Music

Okay. I’ve tried using Amazon Cloud/Player and really like the features especially for Android. I especially like the fact that when I buy music from Amazon, which I have been doing for a couple of years now, it is automatically added to my Amazon Cloud storage and made available to me to play through the cloud player on my computer and my Android device and gives me the option to download it later to my computer. I can also upload songs that I did not purchase from them from my computer without having to upload my entire library. I can select a specific song or even an entire album. It’s pretty convenient.

I decided to give Google Music a try and I wasn’t happy with the Music Manager. While with Amazon I have the option of just uploading certain albums, Google Music Manager wants to upload my entire library without giving me the option to only upload what I want to upload. Yes, I could probably just point it to a folder that only has a specific album or albums but that’s retarded. I do like the Google Music Player for Android though. It’s actually a very nice looking application. I haven’t found anything wrong with the Amazon Music Player. It’s really just a basic player.

I know it may be convenient to just upload the entire library in one sitting but not for me. I have over 10,000 songs that equals close to 50GB and an upload pipe of only 1.85Mps. One, trying to upload all the data clogs my pipe. Two, it would take easily 4 to 6 days to upload my entire library. And using up all that bandwidth in those days would be quite annoying. Now, if Google wants to come over to my house and give me their Google Fiber it would make everything so much better.

I think for now, until Google makes some changes to their music manager, I will stick with Amazon’s Cloud music service.

Calling From The Future

Since my childhood I’ve been a fan of Star Trek. I remember as far back as 1978 watching reruns of The Original Series with my Dad. I was always fascinated with the technology from that show, and other sci-fi TV shows and movies, of being able to talk to someone via a video call. Well, whether you use it or not, the technology is here, the future is here, and I’m loving it.

For about five years now I’ve been using Skype for PC-to-PC calls with family and friends however I remember being able to make video calls as far back as 1999 with NetMeeting on Windows 98. I still use Skype for video calls frequently and sometimes switch between that service and Google’s Video Chat via Gmail. Video chat has been available for a few years now on computers but technology has advanced so much that we now have the capability to have video calls on our mobile phone. That just blows my mind. I’m mean, come on, it’s not science fiction today it’s science fact and that is the coolest thing to me being a fan of science fiction. The iPhone 4 came out last year with a front-facing camera and the ability to make video calls via Facetime. In recent months you also have the option to purchase an Android phone (I think it’s just the Nexus S for now) with a front-facing camera to video chat via Gtalk with more Android phones coming out with the same ability in the coming months.

Currently, I do not own a phone with a front-facing camera (still hauling around the Motorola Droid 1) but I can tell you that my next purchase will be an Android phone with a front-facing camera that will have the ability to video chat. Because I encourage my friends and family to call me on Skype and Gtalk on the computer today I also would like to have that option on my mobile phone too. It’s so Star Trek, man.

So, I’m wondering: If you were to buy a phone with a front-facing camera today, or in the future, would you use the video chat function? I would love to see your vote and read your comments below.

[poll id=”1″]