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Google Maps Street view lets you navigate street level level images of different areas. It is a powerful tool for not only real estate professionals, but anyone buying and selling real estate.

Street View in Google Maps lets you explore places through 360-degree street-level imagery, whether you’re looking at locations in your town or across the globe. With Street View, you can check out a restaurant before going there, find beautiful places around the world to visit on your next vacation, or check out neighborhoods when you’re looking to move. via Google

How To View Google Maps Street View On Your iPhone

Google Maps has a good web app you can access from your smartphone by going to maps.google.com. However, if you want to view Street View on your iPhone, you will have to use the map app that comes pre-installed on you iPhone.

Step 1. Launch Maps, the map app.

Step 2. Type in an address, business name, or landmark.

To view Street View, click the icon button next to the address or business name. Clicking the arrow button will take you to a description about that address.

Clicking the icon will take you directly to the the Street View. You can scroll around 360 degrees to view everything around that area.

You can travel down the street by clicking the white arrow in the road. There is also a compass in the lower right hand corner that shows what direction you are looking.

Don’t know the street address? No problem. You can place a maker anywhere on the map by tapping and holding your finger on the map. A purple “Dropped Pin” will be placed on the map. You can drag the pin anywhere you want and click its icon to view the street view.

How To View Google Maps Street View On an Android Phone.

Ryan Lundquist, a real estate appraiser in California, made a video to show how to view Google’s Street View on an android phone.

You can view Ryan’s real estate appraisal blog HERE and also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

How can the real estate industry use Street View?

• Home buyers can preview a neighborhood before looking at a house. This is especially useful for buyers that are relocating to a different city.
• Investors can use it to help decide if a property is worth in-depth look.
• Real Estate agent or for-sale-by-owners can embed a street view map on their website or blog to showcase their home’s area.
• Home buyers can use it to see how well a subdivisions is maintained.
• Use street view to see what amenities an area has to offer.

The Bottom Line

While street views are not available for every street and could be several years outdated they are a powerful tool for anyone buying and selling real estate. It is an easy way to to get a feel for an area. I use it all of the time to view neighborhoods before I do a real estate appraisal.

Being able to access street views on your Smartphone makes them even better.

Apple released three new products Wednesday, Lion, their new operating system for desktop and laptops, a faster Macbook Air, and a new Mac Mini.

Today we are going to take a look at Apple’s miniature desktops, the Mac Mini. They are twice as fast as the old ones and start at just $599.99.

Mac Mini Prices

There are three models to choose from:

• 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Mac mini with 2GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a starting price tag of $599. Optional 8GB memory and 750GB hard drive.
• 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Mac mini with 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and a starting price tag of $799. Optional 2.7GHz dual-core Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of memory, and a 750GB hard drive or 256GB solid state drive.
• 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Mac mini with Lion Server, 4GB of RAM, dual 500GB hard drives and a starting price of $999. Optional 8GB memory, two 750GB hard drives, or up to two 256GB solid state drives.

The $999.00 model comes with Lion Server. The Lion Server might be good solution for your real estate business. It lets you add an unlimited number of Mac and PC users without per-user licensing fees to help you collaborate and share information and documents.

All three models ship with Lion, Apple’s new operating system.

Mac Mini Size

The new mini is small enough to fit on any desk. It measures just 7.7 inches square and is just 1.4 inches thin.

Mac Mini Features

The Mac Minis lost their optical drive but each has a built in Thunderbolt port, Apple’s ultra fast new standard for peripherals and monitors. Thunderbolt port lets you connect up to six Thunderbolt devices.

They include an HDMI port that allows you connect it to a big screen TV.

Each Mac Mini includes the latest 802.11n wireless technology letting you surf, print, or stream music, and Bluetooth so you can connect your wireless keyboard and mouse.

The Minis have a removable bottom panel that makes it really easy to upgrade its memory. Just twist the panel open, put in new memory, and your done.

Also new is that the Mac mini now has its power supply completely built-in. This means no more power brick.

The Bottom Line

The Mac Mini seems to be a good buy at the starting price of $600.

While it doesn’t come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, you can use whatever peripherals you already have. Just plug in a minitor, keyboard, and mouse that you already have, turn it on, and just like that, everything works together. You might need to purchase an adapter, like the Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adaptor, to connect a VGA monitor to the Mini.

The new Mac Minis do not have an optical drive. This might be a deal breaker for some, but do you really need one? I honestly can’t remember the last time I purchased software, music, or a movie on a CD or DVD.

If you are a PC and looking to slowly transition to a Mac, the Mac Mini might be the way to go. Check out Apple.com/macmini for more information.

Google unveiled its top secret social network on June 28th and it already has 10 million plus users. If you have received an invite and don’t know where to start or just want to know more about it, these 34 quick guides, tips, and tricks should help you learn everything you need to know.

Google+ Guides

1. Google+: The complete Guide. via Mashable.com

2. How to make the most of Google+. via Lifehacker.com

3. Getting started with Google+ via MakeUseOf.com

4. Getting started with Google+. via ChrisBrogan.com

5. Everything You Need to Know About Google Plus and Photos. via Wired.com

6. This Is What It’s Like to Actually Use Google+, Google’s New Social Network [Video]. via Lifehacker.com

7. Google+ explained in 5 short videos. via BusinessInsider.com

8. Concerned about privacy? Here are 5 settings you need to know.
Google+ Privacy: 5 Settings You Need to Know. via CIO.com

9. Still not sure about G+? Chris Brogan gives a good breakdown about what you need to know about Google+.
10 Things CMOs Need To Know About Google.+ via Forbes

10. Concerned about the photos you post to G+?
Getty Images Says Google Plus Terms of Service is “OK” via ReadWriteWeb.com

11. A how-to guide about Google+ created by users and hosted on Google Docs.
Google+ Tips and Tricks via pcworld.com

Google+ Tips & Tricks

12. Sync your G+ updates to other social networks including Twitter and Facebook with Agent G.
Sync Google Plus to Twitter, Facebook & Identi.ca with Agent G via ReadWriteWeb.com

13. Do you want to read your G+ updates in a RSS reader? You can by creating a RSS feed for your Google+ profiles.
HOW TO: Make RSS Feeds for Google+ Profiles via Mashable.com

14. Here is a quick reference guide to some G+ tricks and tips.
Google+ Cheat Sheet via BuzzFeed.com

15. Lifehacker shows you how to use G+ to post your status updates to Facebook. All you need is your Facebook mobile email address and a separate G+ circle.
Update your Facebook status via Google+ without an extension. via Lifehacker.com

16. This video shows you how to easily transfer your Facebook friends to Google+.
How to easily transfer your Facebook friends to Google+ [video] via Alltop.com

17. Your G+ account is tied to your Google profile. Google will not allow anymore private profiles after July 31st.
There Will Be No More Private Google Profiles After July 31 — Here’s What That Means. via BusinessInsider.com

18. Move2Picasa is a web service that will move all of your Facebook photos to G+.
How To Move Your Facebook Photos To Picasa (Soon, Google Photos) In A Flash. via TechCrunch.

19. You can use G+ to help build your personal brand.
5 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand On Google+. via OpenForum.com

20. Do you use Evernote to help stay organized? Now you can share G+ content directly into Evernote.
Share Google+ Content Directly Into Evernote. via Evernote.com

21. Add a Google+ widget to your blog or website for people to follow you.
Google Plus Widget via widgetplus.com

22. Add a G+ widget to your WordPress blog for linking directly to your Google+ profile.
googleCards via WordPress.org.

23. You can share something you find on G+ to your Posterous, Tumblr, or WordPress blog.
Create a circle and add your posterous email address. Then when you find something your want to post, share it to that circle and make sure the Also email box is clicked and G+ will post to your Posterous Blog – this would also work with Evernote and any other email based tool.

Tip and instructions via John Jantsch.

24. How to publish your G+ public feed to your WordPress blog.
I’m sure badges and widgets are coming for G+ but until they do here’s how I published a mini G+ feed on my blog.
First - find you profile #. Then simply use this tool from plusfeed to create an RSS URL with your # -http://plusfeed.appspot.com/yourprofilenumber here, this is an RSS feed for my G+ public feed only (you can actually do this for any public feed if you wanted to publish other people’s feed)
Next I took the RSS feed above and burned it at Feedburner (I know, another Google property.)
Feedburner has a feature called BuzzBoost that makes it pretty easy to republish an RSS and produces the code you need for your widget.
Take that code and create a text widget in WordPress, place it in your theme (you might also add a link back to your profile) and that’s it.
Tip and instructions via John Jantsch.

25. Simple way to give the illusion of an embedded slideshow here on G+.
Upload a series of slides as individual jpegs into a single album on the photo tab and then share the album and the first image shows with a series of images below – make sure you upload them in the order you want with first upload being first slide. Here’s an example.
Tip and text via John Jantsch.

26. Export and backup your G+ stream and +1 sites with Google Takeout.
Google Takeout via Google.com

27. Find public G+ hangouts to join. gphangouts offers a directory of public Hangouts anyone can join. The site shows when the Hangouts are starting and topics to be discussed.
gphangouts via Lifehacker.com

Google+ Extensions and Downloads

28. Download the Enhancer userscript to show the unread item count for Gmail, Reader, and Calendar to G+. It works with Firefox, Chrome, and Opera browsers.
Google+ Enhancer Adds Unread Item Counts for Gmail, Reader, and Calendar to Google+ via Lifehacker.

29. Usability Boost is a Chrome extension will make the Google plus pages flow quite nicely visually. It separates posts and comments. It’s small CSS changes that put the focus on the content. It also fixes the position of the Google navigation bar at the top so it does not get out of sight when you scroll down.
Usability Boost for Google Plus via Chrome Web Store.

30. Google+Facebook is a Firefox and Chrome extension that allows you to connect with your Facebook friends right inside Google+. The extension puts your Facebook news feed into your Google+ interface.
Firefox Add-on: Connect with your Facebook friends inside Google+ via Technology Cloud.

31. Surplus is a Chrome extension that allows you to post and respond to your G+ circles without having to visit a Google site.
Surplus for Chrome Puts Google Plus Everywhere You Browse. Via Lifehacker

32. GTools+ is an extension that allows you to customize the layout and also adds functionality to Google services. It adds a notification counter for Gmail and also Google Reader on the Google+ bar and also allows you some tweaks for your account.
GTools+ Adds Customization Options to Google+ via NirmalTv.com

33. Google+ Ultimate is a Chrome add-on that completely changes the look and feel of Google+.
Google+ Ultimate via Lifehacker.com

34. Google+ Tweaks is another Chrome add-on that changes the layout and design of G+. Safari and Firefox users can use the Adhik addon.
Google+ Tweaks and Adhik via Lifehacker.com

35. Google+ Manager is a Chrome and Firefox extension that adds shortcuts for common Google+ actions.
Google+ Manager for Chrome and Firefox via Lifehacker.com

Just for Fun

1. Do you need some G+ icons for your website? You can download some for free.
Google+ icons. via Dribble.com

2. There is a new G+ URL shotner, G.co, is coming soon.
Google Buys G.Co To Create An Official URL Shortcut For Google Products. via TechCrunch.

3. Google+ for businesses are coming soon.
Over 36,000 businesses may have already signed up for Google+. via TNW.com

4. Is G+ a Facebook killer? Mark Zuckerburg doesn’t think so.
Mark Zuckerburg explains why Google+ won’t beat Facebook (yet). via BusinessInsider

5. Don’t try to put a G+ add on Facebook. Facebook will suspend all of your campaigns.
Google+ Ad On Facebook Is Banned. via TechCrunch.

6. Even though the search giant Google created G+, you can’t search within Google+. But that will be fixed one day soon.
Why Can’t You Search Google+ On Google+? via TechCrunch.

7. How good are G+ Hangouts. They must be good because Dell wants to use them for customer service.
Dell wants to use Google+ Hangouts for customer service. via Gigaom.

8. Google+ might not be a Facebook killer but it does have some killer features.
Five ways Facebook can fight back against Google+. via Macworld.com

9. Will G+ affect Search Engine Optimization?
7 Google Plus Data Points That Could Change SEO. via IgniteSocialMedia.com
How Will Google Plus Affect SEO? via ReadWriteWeb.com

10. Google Plus Doesn’t Need to ‘Kill’ Anything to Be a Winner. via allBusiness.com

11. Google announced it has 10 million Plus users and 1 billion items are shared each day on G+.
Google+ officially tops 10 million users via CNet.com

12. Find the top 100 most popular Google+ users according their followers.
SocialStatistics.com

13. Download the official Google+ iPhone and Android app.
iTunes Link and Android Market Link.

The bottom line

While you might be hesitant to try and learn a new social network, Chris Brogan recommends to think of it as “communication backbone” instead of a “social network”. It allows for private collaboration and works with email instead of replacing it.

Google+ is still an infant with new features on the way. Will Google+ last? I am not sure but Google is definitely committed to it. It will impact search and at the very least you should set up an account for your business once business accounts are supported.

Have you tried Google Plus? What do you think so far?

And be sure and follow me on Google+.

YouTube has released an experimental interface codenamed Cosmic Panda. Videos, playlists and channels have a cleaner interface and darker theme. Content creators will appreciate the removal of some of the clutter that makes it easier to focus on the video.

With nearly 8 years of video uploaded and 3 billion views logged every day on YouTube, it’s clear you like to watch and share YouTube videos. While you’re watching your favorite or new videos, we at the ‘Tube are obsessing night and day over how those videos are presented. Our team is constantly experimenting, tweaking and playing with new ways to make your experience exactly what you’re looking for.via YouTube

So how does Cosmic Panda compare to the older interface?

Older Interface Vs. Cosmic Panda

Channels now have a darker background and have a large thumbnail for each video. The bigger thumbnail looks good but you now have to scroll down the page to view additional videos. There is also a link to featured videos, all videos, and comments at the top of the page.

Original YouTube Channel

Here’s what browsing a channel in Cosmic Panda looks like:

Video playlists have a new design with a black background and the video is front and center with distractions minimized. Playlists now have a widescreen look and Cosmic Panda makes it very easy to go from from episode to episode. The video title has also been  moved to just below the video.

Original YouTube Playlist:

:

And here’s what the playlist viewing experience looks like in Cosmic Panda:

If you have a YouTube channel, you can choose from between four layout options. They are all based on the idea of horizontal strips below the main video instead of down the side.

You can Cosmic Panda by visiting youtube.com/cosmicpanda. If you don’t like it you can disable it from YouTube’s control panel.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the redesign is less cluttered and appears to be more focused on content, which is good for anyone who hosts their videos on YouTube.

I would like to see more options to customize channel pages with background images and color schemes. Hopefully this feature will be added in the future.

Give it a try for yourself and tell us what you think in the comments!

Tablets are becoming popular with real estate agents and appraisers. If you have an iPad 2 but miss having a physical keyboard, this aluminum keyboard buddy case for the iPad 2 might be just what you need.

The iPad slides into the Aluminum Keyboard Buddy Case and is held at an angle. The case has an almost full-sized QWERTY keyboard that includes keys to control iPad functions like media playback and brightness. The bluetooth keyboard is styled with Apple’s Chiclet-like keys that run to the edges just like on the 11.6-inch MacBook Air.

Close the case so the iPad and keyboard are face-to-face and magnets put the iPad’s screen to sleep. The case also protects the iPad display.

You and your iPad 2 won’t want to go anywhere without it. It’s perfect companion for your iPad 2. This Aluminium Keyboard Case has a thin, eye-catching design that gives your device durable protection, added functionality and style.

This iPad case holder can easily convert into a laptop style position for a more comfortable typing, as well as for tablet use by folding its new hinge, which then hides the Bluetooth keyboard out of sight. This iPad aluminum case provides 2 viewing angles in both portrait and landscape modes while assuring full protection for the iPad screen. It also allows access to all the controls and ports at all times, meaning you have full functionality whilst your iPad is still inside the case.

Last but not least, it has a 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will last several weeks of normal use without charging.

via micgadget

The case cost: $49.90 and works with the iPad 2.

The Bottom Line

One thing that has held me back from getting an iPad is the lack of a keyboard. I have an iPhone and don’t know how much I would use an iPad. But with a keyboard like this, I think I might come close to replacing one of my laptops.

There’s no multitouch trackpad which might be a deal killer for some but you can’t beat the price of $50.

Check out micgadget for more information.

[Images Credit: MIC Gadget]

Google Maps on Android phones are far superior to the iPhone app and they just got better. You can now download Google Maps to your Android phone.

Remember the days of driving around with a paper map while trying to find an address? Most , if not all, tech savvy agents and appraisers now use a dedicated GPA device or a smartphone with GPS.

Smartphones work well and there are several good apps including MapQuest that can help you find your way. But what if you are traveling to a rural property and don’t have a cell phone signal?

Google Maps can now be downloaded directly to your Android phone so you can view the map even if you don’t have a cell signal.

How To Download A Map On Your Android Phone

First, you will need to download the latest version of Google Maps. Google Maps 5.7 for Android Link

Then you will need to activate the feature. To access Labs on your phone, press your phone’s menu button once in Google Maps, choose “More” and select Labs. On a tablet, click the menu button in the upper-right corner of Maps.

To download a map, press the “More” button while viewing a map and select the option to locally store a map of the surrounding area.

Google will download a copy of the map tiles within a 10 mile radius. You can view, pan, and zoom in on the map even if you don’t have a data connection.

All your downloaded map areas can be managed in your Google Maps cache settings so you can delete maps you no longer need or if you want to free up storage. After 30 days, all downloaded map areas will be removed from your cache; they can be re-downloaded any time.

The update to Google Maps also includes two other features, a Scale Bar and a Measure tool.

The scale bar shows the current map scale. Sometimes it’s unclear what zoom level you are looking at if you zoom in and out of a map. The scale bar should help you understand what zoom level you are viewing.

The measure tool will calculate the straight line distance between two points on the map. Once you enabled the feature, click the tape measure icon. You’ll be prompted to tap two points on the map and Google Maps will calculate the straight distance between those points (this direct distance is “as the crow flies”).

The Bottom Line

It can be frustrating to try and view a map on your smartphone if you have a poor or no cell signal. Being able to download Google Maps directly to your Android phone is a great way to make sure you always have the map you need.

Download Google Maps for free in the Android Market; Android Market Link

According to Google, by the end of this year over half of all Americans will have a smartphone and over half of all consumers are more likely to buy from stores that have mobile websites.

Does your real estate business have a mobile website? If not, you can easily create one with Google Sites.

Google has launched a new service (well, a new addition to Google Sites) that lets you easily and quickly create a mobile landing page.

The new service has several templates to choose from including ones for restaurants, local businesses, lead generation, eCommerce. There is also one called “Social,” which links to your business Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube videos. The service also allows you to get analytics on traffic to your mobile site.

How To Create A Mobile Landing Page For Free With Google

Step 1. Go to sites.google.com/mobilize and choose a template.

For this tutorial we are going to use the “Local Business” template.

Step 2. Pick a color.

Step 3. Click “Try this template”

Step 4. Your mobile website will open and include some sample text. If you think you will be happy with the template and colors click the “Use this template” button.

Step 5. Setup Your Website.

Name your site.

Choose a theme. There are currently 52 themes to pick from.

Type in the verification code and press “Create Site”.

Step 6. Customize your mobile website.

Depending on what template you picked, you can now add your logo, a description, social median links, your contact information, and photos.

You can click on “Edit Page” at the top of your mobile website to open the site editor where you can edit the template information including links and text.

If you are using the local business template, you can upload your company logo by going to More Actions –> Manage Site –> Site Layout –> Change Logo.

You can add a company description and enable Google Analytics by going to More Actions –> Manage Site –> Site Layout –> General.

Press Save and you are done.

It only took a few minutes to create a mobile site for my business. You can view the mobile site here.

The Bottom Line

While the mobile sites are fairly basic and don’t allow for a lot of customization, creating a mobile site for your business couldn’t be easier.

The mobile site could serve as a stand alone site linked to your business listing or as an addition to your blog or full company website.

Does your Real Estate business have a mobile website?

What Do You Love is a project by Google that presents search results in a unique way while showcasing all of the services they offer, and they offer a lot.

When you go to WDYL.com, you are greeted with a simple search box where the search button is a heart. It returns search results for more than 20 different Google services including Image Search, Alerts, Trends, and Patents (did you know Google had a patent search?).

Each result and service is presented in a separate box. You can click the button in the upper right corner of the box and go directly to the chosen service.

Search for “Real Estate” and you’ll find real estate photos, can explore real estate in 3D with Google Sketchup, watch real estate videos, find books about real estate, search Google Maps for real estate, search real estate blogs, and even start a blog with Blogger.

The internet is a crowded place. Search for real estate and you get a lot of different results from all kinds of websites. WDYL.com is a unique way to help narrow your search (do you want real estate trends or real estate videos) while showing off all of the services that Google offers.

The Bottom Line

I’ll be searching the web with WDYL.com over the next few days to see what kind of results I get. What about you? Have you tried it yet?

Is this something that might be useful or a shameless promotion of Google services?

Head over to WDYL.com and try it for yourself.

Have you ever had problems giving your contact information to someone over the phone, having to repeat your email or web address? While there are numerous apps, including regular text messages, that can share your contact information, Thrutu is aiming to simplify the process.

Thrutu is an Android app that extends the functionality of traditional phone calls by letting you share contact information, photos, location, and more, while on the phone with just a touch of a button.

Share location, photos, and more – without leaving the phone call.

Thrutu brings new fun and function to the phone call. Share location, contacts, photos and more – all at the touch of a button. It’s so simple that you’ll wonder why phone calls couldn’t always work this way.

The app comes with six buttons. You can share contact information, your GPS location, share photos, and doodles. All without interrupting your phone call.

How Can The Real Estate Industry Use This App?

• Easily share contact information while on the phone. Contact details will appear instantly in the other caller’s address book.
• Share your location. Meeting your spouse or client to look at a house that is for sale? You can share your location and see each other’s position on a map, updating live as they move. The map also has a pen tool, so users can show each other what direction or area they’re referring to by drawing on the map.
• Share doodles. Are you working on a new idea for your business? If one user presses the doodle button, a whiteboard pops up on both screens. Users can draw, share sketches, or annotate photos during a call.
• The Meet Me button lets you quickly find the best place to meet in person.

While the app works the best if both users have the app, Thrutu also works if only one user has it installed. If a Thrutu user is calling somebody without the app, items like photos, locations, or contacts are shared as SMS messages.

You should note that the app only works on phones running on GSM networks like AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s in the US. That’s because those networks can handle voice and data traffic at the same time.

The app also allows developers to create “buttons” for the app. It will be interesting to see what is developed for Thrutu.

The Bottom Line

Much of Thrutu’s functionality is already available on smartphones, but you have to use multiple apps to use all these features. Thrutu simplifies that process by giving you a single unified interface to share information during a phone call.

Do you share information while on a phone call? I don’t think I ever have. I usually wait until I hang up and text photos or contact information. This new app is interesting and is looking to make the process of sharing information while on a phone easier and more common.

The app is FREE and available in the Android Market: Android Market Link.

Real estate appraisers, home inspectors, and real estate photographers all might need to accept credit card payments while out of the office. There are numerous ways to accept credit cards with your Smartphone; Square, Intuit’s GoPayment system, and Sage Mobile Payments. But all of these require a card reader that attaches to your smartphone.

Card.io brings credit card processing to your smartphone’s camera.

How does it work? Customers just hold a credit card up to the phone and card.io reads the card information using the phone’s camera.

How much does it cost? Standard credit card processing rates apply. There are no monthly fees and you don’t have to sign any contracts. Nonprofits can use card.io for free.

It is it secure? According to their website, card.io never saves card numbers or payment information, all data is protected with 128-bit SSL encryption, and their servers are hosted in secure facilities.

Right now the company is still in private beta but you can request an invite and get $30 free credit.

Bottom Line

We are big fans of Square here at REbliss. But Card.io makes it possible to anyone with an eligible smartphone to take credit card payments without any additional hardware.

The best thing about Card.io is that they are releasing the technology as an SDK to mobile developers so they can include this technology in their own applications. I would love to see this technology built into some real estate iPhone or Android apps.

Check out Card.io for more information or to request early access.