Yahoo to Launch the Intern, Tie-in to NBC’s the Apprentice

Yahoo is planning to launch The Intern, a game tied to NBC’s sixth season of the Donald Trump-starring series The Apprentice, which would offer fans of the show the opportunity to compete for a chance to spend time with the reality show’s winning contestants.

The winner of The Intern contest would eventually spend two weeks shadowing the winner of this season’s Apprentice as he or she goes to work for the Trump Organization.

Yahoo! Chief Data Officer, Dr. Usama Fayyad, Chosen as 2006 Fellow by Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)

Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO), had announced that Senior Vice President and Chief Data Officer, Dr. Usama Fayyad, is been selected as a 2006 Fellow of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM). Fayyad was recognized for his extensive contributions to the fields of machine learning and data mining and for his significant scientific and commercial applications in the field of knowledge discovery in databases. Fayyad is also responsible for Yahoo’s overall data strategy, with overseeing the Yahoo! Research Organization.

“Yahoo! Research is now focusing on hiring all the big researchers around the globe in the fields of search, machine learning, microeconomics, social media, and more,” said Fayyad.

Miva Drops Yahoo Adds Google

Miva give up partnership with yahoo and start a new relationship with Google as of January 27, 2007. This battle for publishing partnerships would play a major role in search industry this year and as well in expansion to international markets.

Yahoo further needs to announce a new international team in the very near future.

Yahoo, Dash to Launch Auto-based Local Search

Yahoo and Dash Navigation had announced a partnership, which would combine Yahoo’s local search technology with Dash’s internet-connected automotive navigation system. Dash would provide location data that Yahoo could use to narrow the search results to business (through iMedia Connection and MarketingVox).

One would be able to conduct a local search and then navigate to the geographic location of the search results. The service would launch in California during spring, with a national rollout.

California Thank Google for Budget Windfall

California’s budget revenue slides up and down with constant change in capital gain and stock options, is now counting on big income tax filings from few tech executives to help balance its budget. For this wave, California could largely thank Google Inc.

Google cashing in more than 9 million shares valued at $3.7 billion in the year 2006, 16 Google insiders would owe the Golden State as much as $380 million in taxes. As Google’s stock topped $500 in 2006, now continues to sell hundreds of shares each months, according to an analysis of insider transaction data provided to The Associated Press by research.

Google Search Appliance Adds New Features to Customize Enterprise Search

Google has recently announced new features for the Google Search Appliance that is planned to give enterprise customers the ability to customize search results of their individual corporate environments. It as well offers improved integration with Google services with additional content sources. It offers open source connectors for indexing content in SharePoint 2003 and SharePoint 2007.

Robot HR takes over at Google

Google uses computer algorithm to sort out job applications and rank the candidates using a score system from zero to 100. This sorting of application would be done using system that scans CVs and other personal information. Applicants are asked to fill wide reaching form, which provides details of their personality, likes and dislikes attitudes and previous behavior.

Previously Google recruited candidates with difficult math’s problems to make sure that the applicants are up to the task. Further Google would extend the practice next month to include all new applications.

Ross Students Win Second Place in Yahoo! Case Competition

ANN ARBOR, Mich.- Ross School of Business MBA students Kaveesh Chawla, Joy Ghanekar, Irfan Presswala and Tanuka Roy, all from the class of ’07 had won second place in a latest case contest sponsored by Yahoo! The contest was part of the Berkeley Digital Media Conference held at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley in November.

Students were asked for recommendations on how to make Yahoo! as strong a brand name in television as it is in the online world. If Yahoo! did develop a television channel, what content should it use and how should that content be delivered and monetized?

Students were asked to recommend on how to make Yahoo! as strong as brand name in television as it is in the online world. And in case Yahoo! develops a television channel, what content need to be used and how that content should be delivered and monetized.

The team for their creativity, customer focus and a brilliant monetization strategy, Cammie Dunaway, Yahoo’s chief marketing officer, offered a $5,000 award to the Ross School team.

Google granted US patent for ‘similarity engine’

The US Patent and Trademark Office have finally granted two patents to Google, one for methods and apparatus estimates similarity and another one for a digital mapping system. This patent number 7,158,962 was initially filed during 2001 and took five years to receive approval.

It will describe the method whereby a similarity engine creates compact representative of objects called ‘Sketches’. These sketches that contain weighting could further be compared for similarities.

Google’s Digital Mapping Systems patent explains different methods, systems and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system’. It comprises the methods for using map tiles and grids in client-server environments.

San Francisco Gets wireless network by Google

Google Inc. and EarthLink Inc. have closed a deal, which will create wireless Internet network across San Francisco. The contract terms, was approved by Mountain View based Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Atlanta, Ga. based EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK) and should even get okay by San Francisco’s board of supervisors.

This planned network will have a free high-speed Internet service network supported by many ads appearing on users screens. In addition, there will be even faster, commercial-free wireless service available for $20 a month.