SEO
Google-Yahoo Deal faces scrutiny
The Google-Yahoo deal, which was announced on June 12th 2008,will enable Google to provide search advertising to Yahoo for selected Yahoo searches in USA and Canada. Google is the search engine Titan , followed by Yahoo and Microsoft in the positions of second and third.
The European Union confirmed that it is reviewing the deal for anti-trust regarding Google and Yahoo’s proposed advertising deal.This ad deal has been faced with a lot of criticism from several US advertisers , in addition to a worldwide association of newspapers.
Google chief executive Eric Schmidt told reporters that he would continue to move ahead with the deal in making its advertising search deal a reality.He also said that he was aware of the fact that Microsoft too had major plans to break this deal of Google and Yahoo.
According to Google’s competitors,Google will manage to gain the monopoly in the field of Internet advertising if the deal is through.The largest chunks of Internet advertising in the hyperfast world of Internet is “search advertising”.These are the advertisements that are displayed alongside Internet search results delivered by Google,Yahoo as well as Microsoft.
First Google Phone to be demonstrated on Sept 23
T- mobile will be unveiling the first mobile phone which runs on Google’s Android Software.The features of the much anticipated mobile phone will be demonstrated on Sept 23rd at a news conference in New York.The phone manufactured by HTC will be available only by next month.
The G1 phone though available only in October, it is expected that the details of the pricing will be revealed during the conference.The Android phone faces a stiff competition from the already popular Apple Inc’s iPhone,which is ironically largest source of mobile traffic for Google so far.
The main aim of Google while designing its Android Software was to ensure that most of its services including its highly profitable advertising runs on mobile phones.We’ll we just need to wait to see if all the hype will turn out to be a reality.
Android Software from Google:
The giant of Search Engines will soon be releasing the software Android which will ideally be suited to run all mobile phones.
Instead of actually manufacturing mobile phones,Google is providing the software Android ,eventually hoping to make handsets in a variety of shapes and sizes by depending on several hardware partners.
Google hopes to combine the approach of Nokia and Microsoft to meet the requirements of the users.Google will combine Nokia’s strategy of “a handset to suit every style” as well as Microsoft’s method of developing the software,in addition to involving several other partner companies.This will also contrast Apple’s iPhone strategy of “one handset fits all”.However unlike Microsoft who charges for using its Windows Mobile software,Google will be providing Android Software completely free.
The vision of Google is to develop the ideal mobile phone which is internet-enabled.Google will be moving towards this vision by focusing on developing countries like India and China,where people are increasingly switching towards the mobile to access the web.
The Social Networking Giant Facebook undergoes a revamp
Facebook on Wednesday has rolled out its new site with a redesign to several million of its users.The new site is open to all it users after several months of Beta Testing.
Around 40% of Facebook users tried the new version which was released in July.75% of this group continued using the latest design while the remaining 25% will get accustomed to this new design henceforth.
The site has got a simple look and feel,more user control over profiles and accumulation of latest information using feeds. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had said that the re-design will make it very easy for its users to share information .So for all facebook users its adieu to the old design and hello to the new design.
Microsoft introduces Safer Online Environments for Children – Digital Playgrounds
The idea builds on the belief called “End to End Trust” that Microsoft first proposed in April at the RSA Security conference. The whole concept was produced in a paper entitled “Digital Playgrounds:Creating Safer Online Environments for Children”,released by Microsoft.
The company is handling the challenge as to how to make the Internet safer for children.In addition ,this could also help adults who wish to conduct business, make transactions, and communicate with the confidence that they are interacting with people after complete verification. The major area of concern is how to include additional identity authentication without compromising the privacy of the people involved.
Report from one of the blog says,”I started thinking about how we identify people in the physical world three years ago, when my wife had a [baby] boy,” Scott Charney, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for Trustworthy Computing, said in a recent interview. “I was in the delivery room, and out he came, and the doctor said, ‘What’s his name?'”
“It occurred to me that all identity is based on social custom and derivative identity. Parents name the child, and the name is put on the birth certificate,” which then becomes the irrefutable proof of that person’s identity, he said. “We haven’t done that on the Internet.”
In order to create digital credentials,Microsoft hopes to use existing verification systems like schools who get children registered for classes , post offices which use passports for verification etc.There have been attempts earlier to create sites which were targeted at children and have not been that successful .But Microsoft assures that online sites which verify age limits would surely be very appealing to parents .
Microsoft introduces IE8 Beta 2 with InPrivate Browsing
Microsoft has introduced Internet Explorer Beta 2 at a time when the web is being used for highly sophisticated activities on a routine basis.
Though, during the early part of the decade, the IE browser did not have many competitors, ever since Mozilla launched Firefox,Microsoft has released several versions of its browser in a fast paced manner to stabilize its market share.
With InPrivate Browsing, the users are given more control of how their personal information is being viewed and shared by others.When this option is being activated,users can maintain the privacy of browsing history on shared computers as in in Internet Cafe’s or homes.
Microsoft also introduces the option of InPrivate Blocking in IE8.This provides the user the ability to control the access of third-party websites especially those that tract online behaviour.Examples of third party contents on websites include stock tickers, advertisements or weather information.To better target advertising , the third parties,who usually provide content to different pages track the individual’s browsing habits.
Blocking on the other hand is a major drawback for Web Publishers and advertisers as their business model gets affected tremendously.In addition,blocking also affects measuring page views and several others statistics which the online advertising industry relies on for the success of their business.
Check out www.microsoft.com/ie8 for download and additional information.
One Million Users for Microsoft’s Workspace.
Six months after the beta launch of Microsoft’s Office workspace, around one million customers have signed up for Microsoft’s Office.This free tool allows users to save,work and share around 1000 documents online.
Workspace was launched in competition for Google Docs,which provides the opportunity to share your personal work with others or collaborate on a project together, irrespective of Operating System.
With Workspace Microsoft has succeded in combining its software products with online services.Highlight of workspace is that Microsoft has added 11 new languages with nearly 20 additional features .
Surprise launch of Browser from Google.."Chrome"
Google by launching the new open-source browser “Chrome” has entered into competition with Microsoft’s IE.Through this surprise launch,Google has increased its list of applications,which is by itself very large. The main focus area of this browser is to handle applications like video clips and online games.
Statistics reveals that the main market share of Microsoft’s IE is 58% followed by Firefox with 19%.In t
The beta version of Chrome for Windows is already available for download.After downloading the beta version,what is eye capturing is the simplicity of the browser,plus the extraordinary feature of adding New Tabs.Well,the emblem of Google Chrome is also quite interesting.Mac and Linux users would however have to still wait for the download of their versions.
Here is how Google had revealed its launch of Chrome.A comic book was published by Google in one of the websites which keeps tracks of the company.Check this website to view the comic book http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html,which provides an insight into how Google evolved to develop this browser.Google has always abided by its policy “Launch Early and Iterate”.
To try out Chrome,download from http://www.google.com/chrome
Google Map Maker in India!
Google has launched “Google Map Maker” in India , a tool through which users can add or edit businesses, institutes, apartments, parks, roads etc.This geographical content is updated immediately and can be viewed by all other users.
Though this tool,the users can view maps which extends to great depth and breadth. Google has introduced peer moderation which makes it possible for users to review the data their peers add,thus allowing map accuracy and good quality.
Dr Lalitesh Katragadda, Software Engineer and Creator of Google Map Maker said that through this tool people are empowered to share the knowledge that they know.
Well, Google is in line with the fast paced infra structure development in India,which reflects that maps would need to change very often.Check out www.google.com/mapmaker for more.
Trace Monkey to speed up browser Mozilla’s Javascript performance!
The world would be witnessing the transformation from the SpiderMonkey Javascript compiler towards the TraceMonkey Just in Time Javascript Compiler(JIT) in Firefox 3.1.The latest version of Firefox will run several Web-based applications such as Gmail faster through incorporation of TraceMonkey,a feature that dramatically speeds up programs written in JavaScript. As much of the Firefox browser itself is coded in JavaScript,and because of more demanding sites,Javscript is playing a significant role in Web Based Applications.
Mozilla’s interim vice president of engineering, Mike Shaver, mentioned that the kind of JavaScript performance made possible with TraceMonkey would eventually eliminate the need for plug-ins such as Adobe’s Flash and Microsoft’s SilverLight to enable sites to incorporate highly interactive content like web-based graphics editors.
However to really experience this speed, net users need to wait until this year end when Firefox 3.1 will be out in the final form.