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June 29, 2011

Giving Away Free Google + Invites

Google Plus LogoI can now give away free Google + invites.

If you want them, add a comment below with your email and full name.

I also want you to follow me on Twitter @rustybrick and subscribe to the Search Engine Roundtable as a thank you.

For more on Google + see here.

I have the Google + invite feature:

Google + Invite

June 17, 2011

From Airplane Through Customs To Exit In A Few Minutes: Global Entry

Global Entry Trusted Traveler NetworkAs some of you know, I was in Madrid for a few days this week.

One of the worst parts, at least for me, of traveling internationally are the lines of people going through U.S. customs on the way back into the United States. There are times I've waited a couple hours to get through the lines. The problem is amplified when multiple international flights land at the same time and you are stuck waiting for the stroller to be taken off the plane and handed to you. It can be bad.

So before I went to Madrid, I enrolled and was approved for the Global Entry program.

How does it work? Well, you apply, they do a background check on you and within a few weeks they approve or deny you. I was approved but had to finalize the process by going to a Global Entry office to take a picture, do digital finger prints and sign a document. So I did that on the way out to Madrid at JFK. Yes, it takes only 10 minutes and you get the approval that day, so you can use it on the way back from your trip.

So I was approved and then went from Terminal 4 to Terminal 7 and left to Madrid.

You can't use it for customs outside of the U.S. (yes there are exceptions).

Man using kioskBut on the way back, I departed the airplane at JFK, walked through the terminal and arrived at customs. I just went over to the kiosk, scanned my passport, took my picture and scanned by finger prints, then I checked off no, no, no, no and yes to the flight details and a receipt printed. I then walked to the exit, handed them the receipt and went to passenger pickup.

The process from walking off the plane and to the airport passenger pickup area in JFK, terminal 7, took me maybe 5 minutes.

I was in awe.

The global entry pass costs $100 every 5 years. Since I go internationally about twice a year, I feel it pays.

June 10, 2011

Car Navigation Systems: I Want My iPhone Notifications On My GPS

I upgraded my iPhone to use the beta developer preview of iOS 5 and I am in love with many of the features, especially the notifications. (Yea, Android people, I know - stop there.)

One thing I want is that my car's navigation system be more integrated with my iPhone or even Android phone.

iphone ios5 car navigation

(1) I want the notifications to stream from my phone to my navigation.

(2) I want to ditch my car's GPS and use the GPS built into my phone.

(3) I want live Google Maps traffic to display from my phone to the navigation.

(4) I want to let my wife and kid watch movies streamed from my phone on the navigation while I am driving.

(5) I want to be able to stream anything via Airplay or USB from my device over my navigation.

Am I asking too much?

This has been a dream of mine since driving to Toronto in 2006. I just wanted this data streamed to my car's navigation.

June 3, 2011

My First Retweet From @Google

I don't think the @google Twitter account ever tweeted a link to a story of mine, nor ever retweet anything I've tweeted. Lucky day!

Reading "Google's take on user-generated content & quality" (@rustybrick) http://goo.gl/op252 - good writing matters!less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply