Have you heard the exciting news?! Comcast is rebranding as Xfinity! We decided to help them out by calling on our lovely readers to create the first Xfinity ads, and I think they did a bang-up job.

First Place—Jeffer Mitchell
Second Place—Alexander Deluca
Third Place—Die Hard Dan

Google Buzz is actually slightly more insane on Android phones and iPhone than the desktop: There's a revamped, Buzzier Google homepage; you can post entirely using your voice; and a new version of Google Maps eats Yelp's lunch.

There's three components to mobile: A new mobile Google homepage with automatic geo-location and Buzz integration; a web app for Android phones and iPhone located here with full, incredible speech-to-text powers (especially with Android, which uses the built-in search widget); and a new version of Google Maps that tightly bundles location with Buzz.

In fact, location is the true killer feature here. While it lacks the gaming component of Foursquare, it's central to the mobile version of Buzz. Whenever you post buzz from your phone, it's (optionally) geo-tagged, and Buzz tries to figure out where you're at, offering a list of nearby locations it thinks you're at, and then embeds a map in your buzz showing your location. With nearby view, you can see what people are talking about around you, even people you're not following. From there, you can jump directly into a Google Places listing with reviews and comments. It's also another data layer in the new version of Maps, for you to see what's up nearby.

If there's anything it has as a one-up on Twitter, it's location. Because it's deep, and contextual, thanks to all of the services Google has, like Maps and Places.

Google has just announced the name for their rumored new service. It's part of Gmail and called Google Buzz. Features include:

Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail infrastructure. Buzz's five key features include:

• Automatic friends lists (friends are added automatically who you have emailed them on Gmail)
• "Rich fast sharing" combines sources like Picasa and Twitter into a single feed, and it includes full-sized photo browsing
• Public and private sharing (swap between family and friends)
• Inbox integration (instead of emailing you with updates, like Facebook might, Buzz features emails that update dynamically with all Buzz thread content, like the photo viewer we mentioned above)
• "Recommended Buzz" puts friend-of-friend content into your stream, even if you're not acquainted. Recommendations learn over time with your feedback.

Of course, Buzz also works on mobiles. Google is slowly introducing those features now.

Read more updates in our Google Buzz liveblog, going on now.

So what exactly is Google Buzz? Used on a PC or mobile, Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail and Google.com infrastructure.

Buzz's five key features include:

• Automatic friends lists (friends are added automatically who you have emailed on Gmail)
• "Rich fast sharing" combines sources like Picasa and Twitter into a single feed, and it includes full-sized photo browsing
• Public and private sharing (swap between family and friends)
• Inbox integration (instead of emailing you with updates, like Facebook might, Buzz features emails that update dynamically with all Buzz thread content, like the photo viewer we mentioned above)
• "Recommended Buzz" puts friend-of-friend content into your stream, even if you're not acquainted. Recommendations learn over time with your feedback.

Google Buzz is available today, and it should creep up as a new tab in Gmail any minute.

But What About My Cellphone?

Of course, Buzz also works on mobiles right from Google.com on Android and iPhone browsers, and it locates your position from a one button press. From here, Buzz can tailor your feed to their information on things like businesses and restaurants. More on mobile Buzz here. [Google Buzz]

I'm not sure how I feel about these tower skin concepts, which can turn ugly buildings into modern icons. A lot of the post-war buildings aren't the nicest-looking, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Architectural company LAVA believes ugly buildings should have a shot at happiness, with these tower skins acting like a "transparent cocoon" made from mesh textile, capable of being lit up in the evening for maximum attention. They'd supposedly generate energy with the addition of photovoltaic cells, collect rain water and improve ventilation for the buildings.

I'm sure the tower skins will stay firmly in "concept land," but the designs are on display in Sydney until the 28th of March for anyone wanting a gander. [LAVA Design Boom]

We're covering Google's mysterious, bizarrely secret product unveiling(s) live right here—and things are kicking off right now. Is Google just going all Twittery, or are they going to surprise us?

1:15: Google's Bradley Horowitz is on stage, and he's talking in broad terms about "sharing", and things like that! Sounds like Twitter, in the context of rumors. WIthout the rumors, it sounds a little like nothing.

1:19: Ah! There it is. "Google Buzz." It's built into Gmail, and Google's Todd Jackson is jumping on stage to talk about it.

1:21: Ok, this is what the WSJ was talking about: It's a system of "social updates" that leverages your Google contacts. It can auto-follow, sort of like how Gmail automatically adds contacts. You can publish private or public updates.

1:25: Here's what it looks like: It's a bit like Twitter, but there doesn't seem to be any kind of character limit. And you can share anything, like photos and video.

1:28: The Buzz timeline has all kinds of media support, including a cool automatic photo album thing. Using this looks a lot like using Twitter through an advanced client—you know how Tweetie or Tweetdeck lets you preview stuff without changing windows? The experience is a lot like that.

1:30: Haha, people have figured out the demo computer's email address, and they're spamming the inbox. Awesome.

1:33: Inbox integration is exactly what it sounds like—by @ing a comment on a Buzz link to one of your contacts, it will show up in their Gmail inbox. Google says obliquely that "the @ response has become very popular on the internet", without mentioning Twitter at all. This is funny, see, because Buzz is a flaming cannonball aimed directly at Twitter's heart.

1:35: Gmail's "Just the Good Stuff" feature highlights popular content, so you can discover new Buzz folks to follow, I guess. Trending topics, anyone?

1:36: And yes, there are going to be mobile apps. But first, a speech.

The military currently trains its soldiers using PCs, but they were interested in switching to the Xbox 360 for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, Microsoft was not too interested in helping them out.

According to Danger Room, Microsoft refused to sell consoles to Roger Smith, chief technology officer for PEO STRI, the Army command responsible for purchasing training equipment. Why wouldn't Microsoft sell them consoles? Well, according to Smith, three reasons:

* Microsoft was afraid that the military would buy up lots of Xbox 360s, but would buy only one game for each of them, so MS wouldn't make much money off of the games.
* that a big military purchase would create a shortage of Xbox 360s.
* that if the Xbox became an Army training device, it would taint its reputation. Microsoft was concerned that "do we want the Xbox 360 to be seen as having the flavor of a weapon? Do we want Mom and Dad knowing that their kid is buying the same game console as the military trains the SEALs and Rangers on?" Smith told me during an interview for Training & Simulation Journal.

When asked about this, a Microsoft rep claimed to have no knowledge of that conversation and suggested the Army uses the XNA Game Studio development tools. Sure, Microsoft. But they didn't say they were opposed to working with the Army.

But at this point, Smith doesn't seem so interested anymore, saying he'd "be happy to reopen these discussions if Microsoft is interested in selling these products to our community."

A weird situation all around. The soldiers just want Xboxes! Come on guys, let's work this out. [Danger Room]

Netgear and Ericsson have been tinkering away on a joint project, the fruits of which have weaned today—the MBRN3300E 3G mobile broadband router.

It's essentially a router which uses 3G WAN in addition to 802.11n wireless and four ethernet LAN ports for 270Mbps connectivity, so there's plenty o' choice for internet users whether they're in their houses or on the road (with 3G connection).

It's available now, although Netgear hasn't confirmed for just how much. [Netgear]

While this is really just a Honda ad, I had to share its charms with you. Because not only is the alleged Alec probably the most promising mind of his generation; he's likely husky and rejected by his peers. [Jalopnik]

CGChannel uncovered this fantastic '80s vintage documentary that details the three-month process behind HBO's iconic pre-movie intro. Grit your teeth past the corny "Illusion!" song. It's worth it to see how special FX were made "with computers" before CG. [CGChannel]