Google releases Powerpoint app: Presently

There have been persistent rumors over the last week that Google was going to release the final component of their online office application suite, a slide show application.

When I checked my feed reader this morning the news was all over the place.  Then when I checked my Google Docs page this morning, I saw a new option: New Presentation. 

Here's the bottom line for me: The biggest upside is the ability to collaborate with a co-worker on a deck of slides.  The downside is that it is not nearly as full-featured as the "real deal" from MS.  Still, it's a great addition. 

You can read more at TechCrunch, Mashable, Mashable again and DownloadSquad.

Apple store opens in Prishtina, Kosovo

I saw the billboards last week.  Apple was coming to Prishtina, Kosovo's capital.  This week I stumbled by it look for a Ministry building (Molla is the Albanian word for "Apple".  I went inside and took a quick peak.  There's not much in there yet, some iPods (nanos and shuffles) and a few Macs.  The helpful salesguy was quick to tell me that they were getting shipment in this week. 

Google adds 54 new countries to maps

Hey, I'm back in Kosovo and trying to get back up to speed on my blogging.  Google Maps added 54 new countries to its all-seeing offerings Thursday.  Here's the full list of new countries:

Afghanistan, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

This is great news, not just for pure joy of mapping, but also for all the derived products like Gmaps Pedometer, a handy distance measuring web app.  Now you can calculate how far you have to walk to the market in 54 new countries!  Writing prayer letters has never been more precise :)

 

via Mashable

International Saber-rattling heats up

Over the last few weeks the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have been ratcheting up.  Today the US State Department responded to hints from Belgrade that it might use force if Kosovo declares its independence.  Turkish Weekly (quoting VOA news)reports:

 The State Department said Thursday it is seeking clarification from Belgrade after a Serbian official said that country might use force to prevent independence for Kosovo. Talks on Kosovo resume later this month in New York, with a December deadline set by the United Nations looming. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

The State Department is criticizing as "inflammatory and unfortunate" a remark by Serbia's top official for Kosovo that Belgrade might respond militarily to an independence move by the U.N.-administered Serbian province.

Local papers are also reporting that Albania has promised aid in the event of a Serbian military intervention.  NATO spokesmen are also quoted as saying Serbian military and police will not be allowed access to Kosovo territory.