Satellite 2011 is Taking Off

According to a release this morning, the 30th annual SATELLITE Conference has record attendance this year. More than 10,000 satellite communications professionals from 70 countries are at the event which continues today and tomorrow at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center located in Washington D.C.

The SATELLITE 2011 Exhibition has grown to include 325 companies, more than 60 of which are exhibiting at SATELLITE for the first time. In addition to enjoying the variety of products and services available on the show floor, attendees have enjoyed the outdoor exhibit area featuring large antennas, truck- and car-mounted satellite systems and more. I was excited about the outdoor exhibit but was somewhat disappointed that is only had 2 displays - hopefully it will grow next year.

The SATELLITE 2011 Conference began yesterday with chief executives from the world�s four largest satellite operators discussing the future of the satellite marketplace. Today�s general session is Competing For Customers: The MSS CEOs Speak Out.

The conference�s remaining sessions include High Throughput Satellites: Broadband and Beyond; A New Generation of MSS Terminals: What�s Next for MSS Equipment: Hosted Payloads: Thinking Outside the Box; 3-D TV via Satellite: Building Foundations for Success: Earth Observation- A Luxury Item or a Commodity?; How Can Commercial Satellite Providers Best Meet Government Requirements for COTM?; Satellites and Broadcasting: A 30-Year Warning, among many others.

There are a large number of RF/microwave companies here ranging from T&M to antennas to components. There are a very large number of filter and high power amplifier companies represented along with the system companies like L-3, Cobham, Rockwell Collins, Boeing, GD, LMC, Hughes, Thales, EADS, etc. We will do a complete wrap up of the show in a few days and then it is on to CTIA next week. Hopefully I will have time for a few videos today and will try to include those also.

Google Search app for iPhone—a new name and a new look

If you need to do a Google search on your iPhone or iPod touch it's now faster and easier when you use our redesigned Google Search app, formerly Google Mobile App. If you've been using Google Mobile App for a while, you'll notice that things look different.

The redesigned home screen of Google Search app.

First, you’ll see that there are now more ways to interact with the app. When browsing through search results or looking at a webpage, you can swipe down to see the search bar or change your settings. For those who use other Google apps, there’s an Apps button at the bottom of the screen for rapid access to the mobile versions of our products.

We also included a new toolbar that will make it easier for you to filter your results. You can open this toolbar by swiping from left to right — either before you search or once you’ve got your results. If you only want images, just tap “Images,” and the results will update as shown:

The toolbar helps you to get to the right kind of results.

Second, we’ve made it easier to pick up searching where you left off. If you leave the app and come back later, you’ll be able either to start a new search right away (just tap in the search box to type, hit the microphone button to do a voice search or tap on the camera icon to use Google Goggles) or get back to exactly where you were by tapping on the lower part of the page.

Finally, there are a number of improvements we’ve made to everything else you love in the app, including Google Goggles, Voice Search, Search with My Location, Gmail unread counts and more. There's a lot in the app, so we've added a simple help feature to let you explore it. Access this by tapping the question mark above the Google logo.

The help screen can be accessed from anywhere in Google Search app.

Download and try Google Search app today; it’s available free from the iTunes App Store. You can also scan the QR code below.


Posted by Alastair Tse, Software Engineer and Robert Hamilton, Product Manager