This is a just a quick rant – and maybe, just maybe, there is a solution out there that I’m not aware of. I’m a fan of several Google services. But I cringe every time I have to log in to a service, because I can’t remember which one of the now three accounts I have.

It all started with Gmail. When Gmail was announced – I signed up with ScottCate@ Gmail.com – which was my first Google account. With this account, I started using most Google services, logging in with my ScottCate@ account.

Then months (or years???) later, Google announced Applications, and I signed up for Scott.Cate@ myKB.com which was my second account. To my knowledge – there is no way to merge or link the Gmail account, and my applications account, so now if I see a service to play with like Google Wave, or Google Voice, I have to decide which account to use.

So when Google Voice was announced, I was lucky enough to already have a CentralStation.com account, so it was migrated. And the Applications email didn’t let me log in, so I “Linked” my Google Voice account to my Gmail account. Then months later, Voice announced support for your own number, but I couldn’t see a way to do that with an exiting account, so I setup a new account under Scott.Cate@ myKB.com. Oh wait – That email is now setup as a Google account. Not an applications account.

See my confusion? Now I have a Google Account, and a Google Apps Account – with the same name – Scott.Cate@ myKB.com. I’m sure this whole thing it my fault – and I did it all wrong. But I know I’m not alone, just searching online, I can see a lot of others having this same problem.

The core problem here is that Google treats Application accounts separate than Google accounts. Two totally different and unrelated entities. I’m sure this is a great technical problem, but it’s painful for their consumers.

My simple request from Google.

Please offer a Merge between Gmail and Google App accounts feature.

Thank you!

As I closed the lid on my MBP today, it let out a very loud and annoying cry for help. Like it was saying … Nooooooo, Don’t close me, I’m not ready to sleep! This the first time it happened, and luckily I was at Gangplank HQ and peeps were around to grab a quick video. All in fun …. A quick shut down and restart seems to have solved the issue, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple days/weeks. Wish me luck.

Watch this quick YouTube Clip.

Are companies just allowed to put whatever bait-and-switch pricing they want on Google Products?

I’m searching for a replacement keyboard for my MacBook Pro. I could just replace a couple of keys, but it seems like the price of a whole new keyboard might be the same price, and then I’ll have plenty of extras 🙂

Anyway … Back to my rant …

I did a search on Google Products, and found the keyboard I was looking for, for an amazingly low price of $37.99

 

 

Only to click through to the website, and find a Bait-And-Switch price of $54.99.

 

I’m sure this is all pretty automated (and maybe even a legitimate mistake) but it sucks for the consumer.

Just saying….

A friend asked me today on twitter about this, and after I explained it in 140 char’s or less (probably very badly) he asked for a screen cast. The core question was – How can I use Google Maps to create point-to-point directions, without having to type anything, only using the mouse.

Here you go 🙂

The real trick is right click, but hey, here’s a YouTube HD Screencast to show it live and in color.

Don’t beat your head against the wall for this next time Scott – just read your old notes.

As a gentle reminder (to self 🙂 the file name is App_Offline.htm

not … AppOffline.htm

and not … AppOffline.html

it’s … App_Offline.htm (casing does not matter but don’t forget that underscore)