I was hoping to come to this post with an easily quantifiable impression of Google’s latest endeavor, a quick “yay!” or “nay” that I could pass along to you, our loyal readers, to give you some idea of what you could expect from the newest entry into the world of social networking. There are, unfortunately, a few things that made achieving said impression basically impossible. But, in a way, I think most of those things will also contribute to Google+’s chances at success and longevity.

First off, it took a bit of doing to finally wrangle an “invite.” Rather than opening up the service to any and everyone right off the bat, Google opted to allow small numbers in at a time, which helps them control the user experience. End users often turn up smaller bugs, that Google can then fix before the whole world sees them. That way Google+ is a more solid and polished service by the time it’s open to the whole public. It’s also a cool way to ensure that end users get to dictate how the service will evolve. By observing the first adopters, Google can modify and update the service to add the features that its user base really wants. But it does mean that I’ve only been playing around with the service for a week or so, and also that the list of my friends who have also joined up is still rather short.

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If you have a mobile device running Google’s Android software, the time has come to rejoice. The internet giant recently launched the online version of their app store, Android Market.

While you could always access the market from your Android device to download tons of free and paid applications, you can now check out the same selection from your computer’s internet browser. Having the mobile store to browse on the go is certainly a great convenience, but there’s something to be said for shopping for apps with more screen real estate at hand.  Considering every app’s page has screenshots, reviews, thumbnails of other apps by the same developer, and sometimes even videos of the app in action, it can be a lot to absorb on the 3.5-4″ display most touch-based smartphones sport.

The online market makes it easier to view all the information on an app’s page at once, so you may find your stamina for browsing greatly increased. But the best part? Once you’ve logged in to the market, you can install any app you like directly from the site—without connecting your device to your computer.  Android Market will automatically stream the content from server to smartphone, making the download process just as easy as if you were using the mobile market.

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We here at NYC Tech Guys have discovered that folks have a lot of complaints when it comes to their computers. From speed issues to viruses run amok, there are myriad frustrations that can complicate the user experience.  But even more amazing, lots of people don’t realize that there are some excellent software solutions out there that can ameliorate or even totally rectify some of the most troublesome issues that plague your computer.  To that end, we present “our picks,” a basic ranking of our preferred options for the most popular types of software to help you find the right programs to make your life easier.  This week, we’re talking about internet browsers.

The internet is everywhere. Literally. It’s in coffee shops, city parks, and likely every room in your home. If you have a smartphone, you’ve even got it in your pocket. It’s probably safe to say that you, like all the rest of us, take this constant connectivity for granted. But this ubiquitous access aside, you might not be getting the best browsing experience. Here are a few recommendations to help you remedy that!

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Anyone who’s used Google Maps recently has probably played around a bit with the Street View feature (if only to see some of the hilarious things that camera car recorded on its vast and storied route), but lots of people haven’t seen the new application of this incredible technology:

Welcome to The Art Project, powered by Google.

(click to get a better look)

This time, the internet juggernaut has teamed up with seventeen (and counting) prestigious museums around the world to create high-resolution images of some of the best-known works of art in history.  You can use the familiar Street View interface to actually “tour” the galleries in each museum. You can also view works individually and use the zoom feature to get up close and personal, without those gruff docents telling you to stay behind the ropes. With the easy-to-use menus, you can jump between works and museums like a tourist on speed.

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