Google has launched Google+ Pages, which is Google+ Version of Facebook Pages. To create a Google+ Page, just visit this URL, plus.google.com/pages/create.

I wish Google+ has support for nicer URLs like what they did in Facebook for both pages and profiles URL. No freaking way anybody is going to remember the ID of your profile or page.

Without a doubt, I have jumped onto the bandwagon and created a Google+ Page for lesterchan.net!

lesterchan.net on Google+: https://plus.google.com/117234432788649963306
lesterchan.net on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesterchan.net

People + pages, better together

Google+ has always been a place for real-life sharing, and Google+ Pages is no exception. After all: behind every page (or storefront, or four-door sedan) is a passionate group of individuals, and we think you should able to connect with them too.

For you and me, this means we can now hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favorite clothing line, or follow a band on tour. Google+ pages give life to everything we find in the real world. And by adding them to circles, we can create lasting bonds with the pages (and people) that matter most.

For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you’ll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello.

Official Blog Post: Google+ Pages: connect with all the things you care about

YouTube Singapore is now official! YouTube makes its official debut in Singapore and it’s aim is to help Singaporeans find their favorite content and spread Singaporean content across the globe.

Its initial partners include music collection society COMPASS, leading sports rights agency World Sport Group, music distributor Valleyarm / Music Services Asia, and production companies Interactive SG, Oak Media, and Refinery Media.

The YouTube Partner Program opens in Singapore, allowing local video creators to earn income from their work on YouTube through sharing advertising revenue.

The official YouTube account for YouTube Singapore is youtube.com/SingaporeYT!

Official: YouTube Singapore

Wow, Google is acquiring Motorola Mobility for USD$12.5 billion! This comes as a surprise for me! Looks like future Google’s Nexus Phone will be made by Motorola. Next, Microsoft will acquire Nokia for USD$27 billion or less.

Press release as follows:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and LIBERTYVILLE, IL – AUGUST 15, 2011 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

Press Release: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility
Source: Official Google Blog: Supercharging Android: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

Thanks to SingTel and HTC for organising the Most Checked-in Party at Zouk . It was awesome! I was slightly late for the party due to work commitments but better late than never arrive at all!

First thing upon reaching Zouk is for you to register for the party. There are a few computers outside for you to login to your Facebook account, upon logging in, you need to like SingTel’s Facebook Page and then allow SingTel & HTC Event Facebook Application to access your Facebook details. This is to allow the RFID tagging to work.

After you registered, you proceed on to pose for photos in front of the giant Facebook wall mock up and after that, you are in Zouk!

I found a total of 5 RFIDs Machines at the party:

• Giant Facebook Wall (Photo Taking)
• The Bar (Free Flow Drinks)
• Toy Machine (Catch Free Android Figurines Using UFO Catcher)
• Farm Story Zone (Free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough)
• Angry Birds Zone (Play Life Size Angry Birds Game)

Giant Facebook Wall

Free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream

Angry Birds Zone

GNASD???

There are also 2 contests that took place, 1 is abbreviation challenge and the other is imitating the Android bots dancing. The abbreviation challenge is tough! There are some abbreviations that I never used before like LTNS (Long Time No See) and GNASD (Good Night And Sweet Dreams).

Door Gift – Facebook Stickers

Li Xiang and I enjoyed ourselves at the party, hope to see more of these type of geeky/social party happening!

Interesting project by Google, it reminds me of Facebook with Friend’s List. No idea how different is it from Facebook till I tried it. But I love the Circle UI, quite a new and interesting concept.

Among the most basic of human needs is the need to connect with others. With a smile, a laugh, a whisper or a cheer, we connect with others every single day.

Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools.

In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it.

We’d like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software. We want to make Google better by including you, your relationships, and your interests. And so begins the Google+ project

+Circles: share what matters, with the people who matter most

Not all relationships are created equal. So in life we share one thing with college buddies, another with parents, and almost nothing with our boss. The problem is that today’s online services turn friendship into fast food – wrapping everyone in “friend” paper—and sharing really suffers

+Sparks: strike up a conversation, about pretty much anything

Healthy obsessions inspire sharing, and we’ve all got one (or two, or three…). Maybe it’s muscle cars, or comic books, or fashion, but the attraction is always the same: it comes up in conversation, we immediately jump in, and we share back and forth with other fans. Often for hours. The trick is getting things started, and getting over that initial hump. Fortunately, the web is the ultimate icebreaker.

+Hangouts: stop by and say hello, face-to-face-to-face

Whether it’s inside a pub or on a front porch, human beings have always enjoyed hanging out. And why not? It’s how we unwind, recharge, and spend unscheduled time with old and new friends alike. Hanging out is deceptively simple though, and the nuance gets lost online.

+Mobile: share what’s around, right now, without any hassle

These days a phone is the perfect sharing accessory: it’s always with you, it’s always online, and it’s how we stay close with our closest friends. We didn’t want “just” a mobile experience, however, so with Google+ we focused on things (like GPS, cameras, and messaging) to make your pocket computer even more personal.

+Huddle

Coordinating with friends and family in real-time is really hard in real life. After all, everyone’s on different schedules, in different places, and plans can change at any moment. Phone calls and text messages can work in a pinch, but they’re not quite right for getting the gang together. So Google+ includes Huddle, a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know what’s going on, right this second.

Check out the Official Blog Post: Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web for more detailed information.

Engadget: Google+ invite received, we go hands-on
Official Site: Google+