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30 
Pagerank update April 2008
Google have just done a pagerank update. If you have the Google toolbar installed you should see that Nimisis.com is back to PR4. Same for PriceCutReview.com and Sport.omani.ac. About time too!
16 
Online world country quiz
Below is a famous CNN gaff showing Switzerland after it had apparently invaded the Czech Republic. Would you have spotted it? Here's an interactive world country quiz that tests your knowledge of world geography.
18 
Google search by date indexed
There are still some searches for which Google isn't too brilliant. For example, you can't search for certain special characters and you can't look for files (other than images) by filesize. However, there is a fantastic new improvement - you can now find pages by the date they were added to the Google index. This is very useful because sometimes it's hard to tell when a page was written - not all pages are like press releases and have a date on them! So, if you want to filter out old news or maybe see which pages have been recently indexed for a particular site, you can by adding the "as_qdr" parameter. Append your seach with "&as_qdr=1d" for pages found in the last 24 hours, "&as_qdr=1w" for the past week and "&as_qdr=1y" for the last year. (The 1's can be adjusted to any number and therefore length of time you like).
For example, to find new pages that have been talking about a pagerank update, you might search: http://www.google.com/search?q=pagerank+update&as_qdr=d1 or what new software has been added to a download site in the last week: http://www.google.com/search?q=site:download.omani.ac&as_qdr=w1.
[14:37][have your say 1]
11 
Google Pagerank Update January 2008
It's happening... the Google servers are giving different numbers for PR, so I'm guessing we're in the middle of another update!
[05:00][comments 2]
29 
Astronomy with Google Earth
The latest version of Google Earth has a new feature which allows you to flip the default view (looking down upon satellite imagery of the earth) to looking up at imagery of the night sky gathered from telescopes.
No longer do you have to buy a telescope from ebay to do some star gazing (a bit pointless anyway if you live in an area with bad light pollution). Seeing all those billions of stars does make you feel pretty small though!
[04:41][remarks 1]
18 
Google PageRank update for July 2007 has started!
If you own a website and have lately been trying to improve your Google PageRank, you might be interested to know that the website rankings are now just starting to change. Keep watching that PageRank button on your Google Toolbar for, hopefully, a higher number!
[07:10][have your say 2]
9
New Google Groups
I've set up a couple of Google groups for some of the software I've written, namely Flix and Warp. (Their respective groups are here and here.) These two applications are particularly well suited to have their own group or forum as Flix is about making timelapse videos and Warp is about making funny photos, so I'm hoping that folk will feel free to share their creations!
8
Online world geography quiz
My ignorance when it comes to geography is truly shocking and I've been meaning to do something about it. So, here's a little world geography quiz Google Maps mashup I've whipped up using the Google Maps API. Hopefully you'll learn a few things with it! I'd certainly never heard of the tiny island nation of Pitcairn (population 53) before today...
[15:43][remarks 6]
3
Nimisis toolbar button
For those with a google toolbar integrated into their web browser, it is now possible to add your own custom buttons! It really couldn't be easier (follow the instructions on this page if you're interested.) I've made one for nimisis.com too.
6 
Picasa
Recently tried out Google's photo organisation app, Picasa and I've got to say that I'm impressed. Some old school photos in the depths of my hard drive were found which I'm sure I would've lost otherwise. If this grabs you, take the tour via the banner below.
5 
Word Wreck Tangle
This is the latest Wei Hwa puzzle that can be seen on google personalised homepages.
Drag the letters into the rectangle so that words read both across and down. Purple letters only move up-and-down, while green letters only move left and right. Click and drag a colored letter to move it. You win if four five-letter English words read left-to-right along the rows and five four-letter words read down along the columns.
For answers see comments.
[15:12][remarks 1]
14
Just retracing some of my steps using Google Earth and Google Maps and noticed that the reservoir in Central Park looks as if it's either got a very narrow bridge across it or a tunnel. How great would a glass underwater tunnel be (assuming that the water was really clear)! See for yourself.
[05:11][comments]
12
Flight sims
Goggles isn't a proper flight simulator like the ones used to train pilots but an online game that makes clever use of Google Maps. (Tip: If you try flying around London, you're starting in Hyde Park.)
24 
But Dave, you're not a geek!
...so people often reassure me. But sometimes I do geek-like things, like qualify for Google Code Jam Europe. Booyah!
(For those annoyed to have missed it, you can still take part in similar competitions at Topcoder.com. If you sign up, please refer "nimisis". Thanks.)
[16:35][have your say 1]
13
Google Da Vinci Code Quest
Google is starting a "quest" inspired by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and is going to offer more than ten thousand prizes. The puzzles will be publish daily on Google Personalized Homepage. "Beginning on April 17th you will embark on a quest that requires skill, intellect, and perseverance. For 24 days, you will encounter unique challenges." Click here for details on The Google Da Vinci Code Quest.
2 
Summer of Code
Google has launched its Summer of Code. Only students i.e. under 18s can apply but still there are some good ideas here!
7
Resolution #3
Blog far less frequently... only joking! Have been quite busy with a little 3D computer graphics program. It's quite cool but more about that later.
My quest is almost accomplished! When you search for "David Butler" in Google, Nimisis.com comes up at number 2 out of 1.2 million! Yeah baby.
3
My quest is starting to get somewhere. Typing "David Butler" into Google places nimisis.com at a dizzy number 34! With all these Butlers giving the rest of us a bad name at the moment (though they're probably innocent I should add), I seem to be getting leap-frogged! Ah well, sooner or later we'll get to the top ten.
[13:48][have your say]
3
Dave Butler, I Want You!
A couple of days ago I typed "David Butler" into Google and found out that this site only ranked around 115th. I'm sure we can do better than that. To have nimisis.com appear top is my goal. This is my Everest! So come on and give me some encouragement, if your name's David Butler (or Dave Butler... even Davie Butler, though I feel sorry for you) then please let me know that you came by leaving a comment below. We'll bond over the ether. I realise that this is very similar to the Dave Gorman thing but let's just go with it. There must surely be way more Butlers than Gormans on this planet.
[17:24][comments 14]
Make short URLs
Live Twitter
Euro 2008 wall chart
Write short stories
Find restaurants nearby
Free software downloads
Sell property online
Anti-plagiarism software
Live sports chat
Real time website visitor tracking
Discount shopping
Geography Quiz
Make money from photos
Wii Fit in stock checker finder
Warp photos
Webcam timelapse
The Korean womens' athletic's team stole the show at the "Kick drugs out of Sport" concert... Via Ho Chi Minh [add caption 3][past pics]
