Google launches web font API and open source font collection

 

 

There are so few "web-safe" fonts, and there's no standard way to bring new ones into the equation. Google has taken a big step toward addressing that problem, by introducing an open source font library, and an API that makes it easy to use the new fonts on your own webpage.

 

That means that along with Georgia, Arial and the rest, you're about to start seeing a lot more Droid Serif, Molengo, and Tangerine on the web.

Google buys a VoIP company, might build a Skype competitor

“The Web is evolving quickly as a development platform, and real-time video and audio communication over the Internet are becoming important new tools for users”.

 

 

Google on Tuesday said it will acquire Global IP Solutions Holding, which makes processing software for voice and video over IP, for $68.2 million. The deal means that Google will own the voice and video conferencing engine behind its competitors’ instant messaging systems.

 

GIPS is an established player that currently provides Internet calling for companies including Oracle, Samsung, Yahoo!, and AOL, and it could add a lot to Google's current VoIP offerings (which are built into Google Talk)

Facebook makes 5-year deal with FarmVille company Zynga

Zynga -- the games company behind FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and plenty -- couldn't exist without Facebook. Likewise, Facebook probably wouldn't be as big as it is without Zynga's addictive games. That's why the two companies have officially agreed to continue their relationship for five more years.

 

Both companies have to keep one another happy, because Zynga games are played by over 200 million Facebook users, and Facebook is Zynga's entire business model.

Hotmail: attachments up to 50MB, better organization, and much more…

• One of the biggest changes is with file attachments. Hotmail can now handle up to 200 pictures or Office documents of up to 50MB each in a single message (GMail can only handle messages up to 25MB) -- the result of integrating Hotmail with SkyDrive.
• Hotmail has also added inline thumbnail previews and offers a slick, built-in slideshow viewer.
• Office Web Apps have also been integrated, so if you receive an Excel, PowerPoint, or Word attachment you can open it right in the appropriate web app and make changes.
• You can now create multiple nested subfolders.

 

• Hotmail has a preview pane. Split your view horizontally or vertically and read the full text without having to leave your inbox -- just like Outlook.

 

• Hotmail can also now preview content from certain sites like LinkedIn, Hulu, and YouTube right in your reading pane.

There's a massive list of changes and new features over at The Windows Blog -- check it out for more details about what's new.

There's now an app to search your Facebook status updates.

A new site called OpenBook lets you search facebook users public status messages. You can even filter your search by gender, to see updates from just men or just women.

 

Know your Facebook privacy options, and thinking about locking your account down a bit, if you haven't already.