Google tests automatic Blogger support for Google Reader

Google Reader is testing a new feature to automatically add blogs that you follow within Blogger to your Google Reader subscriptions. Listed as a new category, "Blogs I'm following," subscription information can be managed in Google Reader without affecting your Blogger settings. So if you want to still follow a blog, but don't necessarily want to be subscribed to the RSS feed, you have the option.

[via Google Operating System]

Gmail adds "never send it to Spam" filter

Although Gmail's Spam filter is one of the best (I would argue the best) in the business, there can be circumstances where messages that might look like Spam but are not fall through the cracks. Although adding an e-mail address to your contact list will usually prevent that address from ever being put in the spam folder, there can be other situations -- say you communicate on an active inter-office mailing list -- that beg for a whitelist option.

Gmail has added a new filter option, "never send it to Spam" for just these kind of situations. You can enter in a keyword or subject heading that is common to your situation as a new filter and then tag it as "never send to spam."

[via Google Operating System]

CalDAV support comes to Google Calendar

iCal fans rejoice -- Google Calendar has added CalDAV support, meaning native synchronization with iCal. Although a few other programs also support CalDAV, Google Calendar only supports iCal right now.

This means that you can now add a gCal calendar to iCal, make changes and have those changes sync with Google's servers automatically. Likewise, any changes made via gCal will appear in iCal. The system isn't perfect (you can't sync existing iCal calendars with existing gCal calendars), but the support is native for OS X Leopard users and the sync is fast.

[via TUAW]

Multilingual Google

During my hiatus, Google discussed its initiative to provide cross-product support in the top 40 languages used worldwide. Today, Google announced its progress in helping develop and launch a homepage and search interface for New Zealand's Maori language.

Google's blog describes the arduous six year journey that a group of volunteers have traveled to complete the Maori translation. It's a pretty inspiring tale that speaks to the power of the Internet in community and linguistic endeavors.

[via Official Google Blog]

Google Maps transit directions come to more phones

Back in June, I talked about the transit map and directions feature that was added to Google Maps for mobile for BlackBerry and Java-based phones.

This week, Google has expanded that list to include phones running on the Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile platforms. After downloading the latest version of the Google Maps for mobile software, the Directions menu will have a new tab that says "Transit" or "Public Transport" so that you can get directions and schedules to help you get to your destination car-free.

Google Maps has transit directions in more than 50 cities worldwide and are working with local transportation authorities to add more cities all the time.

[via Official Google Mobile Blog]