Catch a Wave – A Google Wave
Nov 5th, 2009 by Capsun
OK, before I start my new post, I have to ask, did anyone catch my reference in my title? If you’re a political junkie, today’s title probably sounded familiar – and that was intentional. Catch A Wave is the title of a 1973 book written by Tom Coffman, which Honolulu Weekly described as, “a knowing, insiders’ account of Tom Gill’s unsuccessful 1970 insurrection against Governor John Burns. That election resulted in Burns’ third and final term, and the ascension of George Ariyoshi, who replaced Gill as lieutenant governor.”
OK, just thought you’d like to know. But that’s not what today’s post is about, so I digress, as per usual.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the web is abuzz about Google Wave. Real geeks (like Ryan or Burt) have been playing with it in a developer preview for up to several months. FYI, I like and look up to them both, and “geeks” is used in a positive way, not the pejorative here. Wannabe geeks (like me) have been drooling over an invitation for something we don’t quite know nor fully understand. But I didn’t let that stop me and having been using Google Wave for about a week now. A big mahalo goes to my friend who got me mine – you know who you are.
If you haven’t heard about Google Wave yet, online productivity/software site Lifehacker had a great write-up on it in their Google Wave First Look. But then two of their editors went even further, starting The Complete Guide to Google Wave in wiki style. Basically, Google Wave is a combination of Gmail, Google Docs, Google Talk (or other IM), Wikipedia, and Blogger. As with most things Google, it is free, and at least for now, NOT ad-supported.
Here are today’s Catch a Wave details:
- Contestants must share something positive about any of Google’s services, like Gmail (which some considered revolutionary when it debuted), Google Reader (something I use everyday), or even YouTube (which Google now owns). It can be any of these listed services or another one of your choosing.
- The prize: a Google Wave nomination from me. Remember, it is not a live link to an invitation, so it may take a while for you to receive your actual invite from Google.
- Contest ends at 11:59 pm Sunday, November 8, Hawaii Standard Time. While you’re more than welcome to share after that, it won’t count for contest purposes. The winners will most likely be announced on Monday.
The Fine Print
- By participating, you agree that I can share your comment in a future post, and mention either your username or first name.
- In order to qualify, you must leave a valid email address in the proper field. It doesn’t need to be in the actual comment, just the email field. Only I will be able to see it, and I need it to notify the winner.
- If you win, I will need the email address that you want me to nominate. I have to enter it using Google Wave. Again, they can take a while to contact you, but when they do, they will email you the link. In my opinion, if you have an actual @gmail.com address (and not a Google Apps email running on your site), I found that works easiest.
- Void where prohibited, taxed, etc.
- I have an ulterior motive – Google Wave is more fun when more people you know have it and can collaborate with you. Not that it’s a requirement, but maybe it’s another opportunity to connect.
Good luck and Mahalo!
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P.S. – You can follow me on Twitter (@exbor) to get more regular updates. Be warned, they are much more “regular” than my posts here. 
P.P.S – Did you know capsun.org has it’s own Twitter account (@capsundotorg) that Tweets whenever I blog here or on my photo blog?
Please note: The views expressed here are mine and mine alone. While I am employed by and affiliated with organizations and individuals, permission has neither been asked nor granted to write on the topics discussed here.
if you still have any Google Wave invite. I would love one…Would appreciate it thanks.
Johnny: Thanks for visiting and the comment. Please read through the post for the contest rules.
I didn’t believe that web-based email could be worth a damn until Gmail came along. Even in its earliest incarnations, it wiped the floor with the likes of Yahoo! and Hotmail. And that was just the beginning of my love for Google products.
In my department, we use Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites to stay on the same page with each other – sure, we have Exchange, but trying to use it is like stapling air: what’s the point?
As a writer, I use Google Earth pretty darn often to find stuff and measure distances. Most recently: 1.2 miles from Keaukaha School to the Hilo airport terminal, the distance walked by the keiki during Monday’s tsunami drill.
Indeed, I Google quite often.
Well, I don’t need the Google Wave invite, right? BUT I’ve not heard from them yet.
I use my Google reader several times per day to keep up on my peeps. I read 80+ blogs per day and it would take forever if Google didn’t tell me when they updated so I didn’t have to sit all day and keep refreshing my browser.
My gmail is always open on my desktop. I pretty much mainline it. I have special groups set up to manage different email types, and I have enabled the “saved” template for a couple of those different mailings (some Quilly, some Charlene, some formal, some casual).
As to Youtube — check out my blog. I love being able to illustrate my photos and posts with appropriate music. I have even been known to stick music in comments!
Good luck with your contest my friend