Not satisfied with the entrenched popularity of YouTube, Google and Universal are reportedly talking about a collaborative new Web site for hosting music videos. Tentatively called “Vivo,” the site intends to nab more revenue by coming up with a more lucrative solution than YouTube’s beside-the-video display ads. Wall Street Journal’s report doesn’t specify how this would be accomplished, nor does it say why people who already think of YouTube as the place to go for videos would suddenly flock to another site. Perhaps the two companies will try to sweeten the deal with more content in higher resolutions, but no matter what, they’ll have to compete with MTV’s massive library at MTV Music. Other record labels besides Universal could be involved in the discussions, but it’s not clear as of yet. For now, enjoy our wicked awesome screengrab of A-ha. [Wall Street Journal via Ars Technica]

Google has now officially launched Google Latitude, a new way to keep track of your friends, children, and even your boss through the web. The mobile application uses location based technology to track where users go, and then plots their location on a map for people (whom they allow) to see. The application can use GPS, as well as cell-tower technology to determine your location, and allows you input your location manually if you’re phone isn’t able to provide it. The idea is pretty cool. Really you could be at a local bar, and check your phone to se what friends might be nearby that you can invite to join you. The app definitely also have stalker-esque qualities. Sometimes were places we don’t want to be found, or where we don’t want certain people to know we are. [via WSJ]

If you’ve ever wanted t travel back in time, or check out what lives on the ocean floor then now’s your time. Google released Google Earth 5.0 yesterday, which adds the ability to go backing time 50 years when looking at a location, as well as look at a detailed 3D picture of the ocean floor. The ocean floor portion of the update was created alongside the Monterey Bay Aquarium, US Navy, and National Geographic (amongst others) and currently covers close to 2/3 of the water on the earth. You can check out videos of ocean life, and read expedition logs from certain areas you’re looking at, as well as get details on surf spots. Google Earth 5.0 is a free download for both Mac and Windows machines. [via Electronista]

Google Maps recently released a new tool that overlays a city’s entire public transportation network. While Google’s Transit tool already allows you to plan a route by typing in start and end points, the Transit Layer sort of works in reverse, showing all the ways to get around the city so you can better plan an entire excursion. Just click the “Transit” box under the “More” tab. There are 57 supported cities so far, including Berlin, Cairo, London, Madrid, Paris, Oslo and Vienna, but the Big Apple is notably and inexplicably missing. Maybe it’s because New Yorkers are so friendly that you can just ask them for help instead. [Google LatLong]

Bar codes aren’t just for the grocery store anymore. The advent of personal bar code readers, like ScanLife’s latest for Android phones, allows you to quickly jump to Web sites, phone numbers or videos. This is basically a shortcut for typing on your smartphone’s keypad or browsing through menus. It’s even possible to create your own bar code on ScanLife’s Web site for quick access to oft-used functions. The software has been available as a free iPhone app since August, and can be downloaded now for Android phones as well. Head to ScanLife’s Web site and start checking yourself out, aisle three. [ScanLife via CNet]

Want to share your deep love for Gmail with the world? Google is currently offering some sweet gmail stickers for free to users who send them a self-addressed stamped envelope. Stickers in the collection include a glittery envelope, computer bookplate, and some Gmail shortcut stickers. Start covering your trapper keeper soon by sending a self-addressed envelope to [via OhGizmo]:

Send me some Gmail stickers already
P.O. Box 391420
Mountain View, CA 94039-1420

By now, T-Mobile’s G1 and Kogan’s Agora were among the only mobile phones to use the Android OS. However, things are about to change because Google just released the unlocked version of the Android Dev phone making it available for users on other networks, too. It features a three-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and quad-band GSM with EDGE for data, but for the time being its 3G capabilities outside T-Mobile are not yet known. The unlocked version of the phone comes in at $399 apart from initial registration of $25 as a Google Android developer. The handset will be available in 18 countries and will not carry all the support there is for the G1. [via electronista

Up until now, Google’s open-source Android OS was only available on T-Mobile’s G1– but fortunately this is about to change.  Australian mobile developer Kogan has stepped in to offer their own Android-enabled smart phone. Dubbed Agora, it features a 2.5-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G and a comfortable QWERTY keypad. Easy to handle and visually elegant, Agora will be available unlocked for $300 (including international shipping) by the end of January in 2009. Kogan is accepting preorders at the moment if interested. [via Dvice]

ASUS has officially revealed their first smartphone with the Glide OS, the ASUS P552w.  This ASUS Glide phone features a touch-responsive 2.8″ screen, 3.5G connectivity as well as standard wireless, GPS and more.  The P552w is deeply integrated with google, including google maps and a standard mobile google search bar.  While most of the details on the Glide OS are a little foggy, we hope to add an official video when it hits.  Officially, ASUS says Glide is “an innovative touch-responsive user interface that makes navigating and performing tasks on a mobile phone more intuitive and interactive than ever before.” This ASUS P552w Glide-enabled smartphone is expected to hit in early 2009. [asus]