Google Maps URLs are normally very long and can be difficult to share on websites such as Twitter, or in Instant messages and emails. But how, it is possible to automatically shorten Google Maps URLs using goo.gl URL shortening service.

To use this service, follow the following instructions:

1. Open Google Maps website (maps.google.com).

2. Click on ‘New’ labs link at the top next to ‘My Profile’ link.

3. In the new window, click to select ‘enable’ next to ‘short URL’.

4. Navigate to any Google Maps location and click ‘Link’ at top right (next to print and send button).

5. It will display shortened URL for specific Google Map

Alternatively, you can also other URL shortening services such as tinyurl.com, bit.ly, etc to shorten URLs of long Google Maps URLs.

During VidCon 2010, Google announced that YouTube will now add support for videos shot in 4096 x 3072. Videos in this resolution are also known as 4K.

4K videos are very large. The perfect screen for 4K video will be 25 feet. IMAX uses two 2K projectors as a comparison. On YouTube, 4K videos will be titled "Original" on the resolution menu instead of 4096p.

Google has uploaded 3 4K videos till now. We can expect more videos to be available soon. It appears that you will have to visit YouTube to access Original res, embedding doesn’t seem to work.

We cannot expect a large number of 4K videos for the time being. This is because 4K videos are costly and difficult to make. You will also need a good broadband connection to view those videos. If you have a slow connection, you better stick to normal videos on YouTube.

In January 2010, Google stated that it not willing to continue censoring search results on Google.cn, and that it close the Chinese search page, and even its offices in China. In March, Google started redirecting Google.cn to Google.com.hk, which enabled it to keep providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese but from Hong-Kong.

Last month, the Chinese government made it clear to Google that it wasn’t happy with this move, and that its Internet Content Provider license would not be renewed if they don’t take appropriate measures.

Google budged and set up a landing page on Google.cn that took all visitors to the Hong Kong-based search page, enabling users to conduct Web searches or continue to use Google.cn services like music and text translation, which Google can provide locally without filtering.

Google submitted its ICP license renewal application. Eric Schmidt said he was confident the Chinese government would renew its license to operate a website. He was right. The renewal of the license had been doubtful due to the tension between Google and Chinese authorities over alleged hacking of Gmail accounts and censorship of Google search results.

Google announced that Beijing had indeed renewed the license, thus averting a potential shutdown of its search page in the fast-growing Internet market, the world’s biggest with over 400 million estimated users.

Statistics indicate that Google’s Android platform is becoming more and more popular in the recent days. ComScore, a firm that tracks cell phone OS popularity reveals that Google’s Android platform grew by 44 percent in the period from February to May of this year.

In February Google’s market share of the smartphone market was about 9 percent. It increased in May to 13.2 percent.

In February Apple’s share was about 25.4 percent. This his reduced by 1 percent to 24.4 percent in May 2010. RIM is still at the top with 41.7 percent although their share is also down from February.

Apple sells only the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS models. On the other hand, Android smartphones are sold by many manufacturers, and the increasing number of Android smartphone has probably contributed quite a bit to their increase in market share.

Android is definitely going to dominate the market. However, it is still some way behind. The recent release of the new iPhone 4 may cause a jump in Apple’s share over the next few months.

With new Android smartphones such as the HTC Evo 4G and the Motorola Droid X Android may also see its market share to increase over the next few months.