I’ve been enjoying Google Plus and after a week or so I think it’s going to stay around. I’ve always been a little annoyed with Facebook for some unknown reason. I live in Gmail and Google Docs and Plus is nice, clean and geeky too. Every time there is a new Social Network or Blogging platform some people give up their blogs. Not to worry Wire to the Ear keeps living here on my own server safe. Join me on Plus… maybe we can do one of those 10 way video Hangouts from our studios and make noise?

“Google+ (also known as Google Plus) is a social networking service operated by Google Inc. The service launched on June 28, 2011″ – Wikipedia

Follow me: http://gplus.to/oliverchesler

I use Google services all day. I live in Gmail and Google Docs. We all know the dark music search sites. You know the ones with a simple input box and lots of spammy adverts (SkreemR, Seeqpod, Songza, Wuzam, beeMP3). Those search sites led you to a place to download the song. Although less illegal “feeling” than say Napster or Limewire they served the same function. Google announced it will be finally be incorporating a proper music search and audio player into it’s regular search page. Yes we all know how to record whatever streams through our computer but I still buy music. I buy it because it’s right and also because it’s way more convenient. Partners in this new Google plan include imeem, lala, MySpace, Pandora, Rhapsody, EMI, Sony Music, Universal and Warner. Of course that won’t give us search access to every song in the world ever created but it’s a start. We still have our dark sites and forums to troll if needed.

“Our new music search feature makes it easy to find music. Just search for an artist, album, song or even a few lyrics to get song previews from our partners.” – Google

Will Google’s new initiative change the music buying landscape? Is this any competition to iTunes?

For more info: www.google.com/landing/music/

I pretty much love all things Google. I use Gmail, Google Docs and Google Reader daily. Considering I have two computers and an iPhone it just seems life in the cloud is the way to go. Have you heard the mountain of hype from the geek world about Google Wave yet? It’s basically real time email, instant messaging, media collaboration and Twitter (follow me) all on crack. I say crack because everything is in real time. Real time as in as one types each letter or does anything at all everyone in your Wave (group) see’s it. To top it all off Google has made Wave an open platform so developers can have a go at it. I immediately thought that this will finally bring real time music collaboration to the masses in a meaningful way. Let’s hope some smart German music software developers think so too.

More info: http://wave.google.com

Berlin is the undisputed center of electronic music. A few times a month friends and blog readers come to visit. I’ve decided to make a Google Map with the locations of many of the great record stores, labels, synthesizer manufacturers, audio software companies and nightclubs you can check out upon arrival.

Ableton, Tresor, Hard Wax, Native Intruments, Schneider’s Buero, Neumann, MFB, Gigolo Records, Berghain, JoMoX, Sugar Bytes, BPitch Control, SoundCloud… what more do you want?

If you do come to visit don’t forget you will be in a gorgeous city full of historic places and green parks. Don’t spend all your time dancing. See it all!

Remember Google Maps is feature rich. You can get point to point directions, zoom way in, see satellite views and create your own map of places in Berlin you want to see (click a pin and select “save to my map”).

To view the map full screen and also see the complete list of great places: click here