In the news...
Politicians embrace new media
Saturday 18 April 2009
The recent budget may have marked a new low in the nation's finances but it was also remarkable for something else. The Conservatives had planned an intriguing Internet campaign to run in its wake. It seems that the Tories – buoyed up by the (relatively) youthful David Cameron, who launched his novel 'Webcameron' video blog back in 2006 – have finally woken up to the potential of new media in the battle for the hearts and minds of British voters.
Street View is on the map for good
Thursday 09 April 2009
When Google Street View launched in the UK back in March, its arrival was met with a mixture of excitement and scorn. While many Internet users are delighted with the street-level mapping service, privacy activists have been, well, active.
Google makes results more local
Monday 06 April 2009
The world's favourite search engine has introduced new technology to help Internet users find what they're looking for. Google's research found that many people looking for products and services in their locality don't specify a town or area in their search terms.
Consumer credit card data at risk of compromise
Wednesday 01 April 2009
On Tuesday 31 March, representatives of the US retail sector told Congress that the self-regulation set up by the credit card giants to protect consumer data sacrifices some security in the name of convenience for the credit card companies and their financial institutions.
YouTube and Disney strike a deal
Wednesday 01 April 2009
Walt Disney and YouTube have signed up to a business deal under which Disney will launch its own channels on the world's most popular video-sharing website. Owned by Google since October 2006, YouTube has come under increasing pressure from the Mountain View giant to start converting its huge user numbers into real cash.
The Pirate Bay sails into more stormy waters over Facebook file-sharing application
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Notorious file-sharing website The Pirate Bay is facing a new storm of controversy, as allegations are made that it could be tempting Facebook users into illegal download activity. The Pirate Bay – a Swedish site that maintains a huge index of movie, music and game downloads – has linked itself to Facebook, the 175 million-strong social network.
Google reveals search changes
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Search giant Google has tweaked the way in which it conducts its search and presents its results. The move is being seen by some pundits as an attempt to pre-empt the activities of its competitors, including new kids on the block Kumo.com and WolframAlpha.
Controversy surrounds Street View’s UK launch
Thursday 19 March 2009
As Google Street View launched in the UK and Netherlands, its arrival was met with both excitement and scorn. While many Internet users are delighted with the street-level mapping service – which shows 360-degree photos of our streets – privacy activists got hot under the collar.
Internet Explorer 8 released by Microsoft
Thursday 19 March 2009
Microsoft has launched Internet Explorer 8 at MIX09, the corporation's web designer and developer conference in Las Vegas. The official release of IE8 – ahead of the version that will appear in Windows 7 – follows widespread use of the RC1 release candidate version of the new browser, which many users have downloaded.
Microsoft quells Kumo rumours
Friday 13 March 2009
Speculation is rife that Microsoft is planning to re-brand Live Search as Kumo. The rumours follow glimpses of www.kumo.com – now unavailable – as a search engine homepage emblazoned with Microsoft's Kumo logo.
Google Voice set to revolutionise voice communications
Thursday 12 March 2009
Following its first foray into the telecoms arena in 2008 with the launch of Android, its mobile operating system designed to rival the iPhone, Google is now stepping up its game with the introduction of its latest service, Google Voice.
Google implements interest-based ads
Wednesday 11 March 2009
Internet goliath Google is changing its advertising model from keyword-related ads towards interest-based ads and the switch is already resulting in a hail of protest from privacy campaigners. Until now, Google has offered users targeted ads based on what they are searching for at that particular moment in time.
Google Health: Tonic or Toxic?
Tuesday 10 March 2009
Street View is not the only target for those resisting the Googlification of the modern world this week. Google's drive to digitise health records, first launched in May 2008, is being stepped up – buoyed, no doubt, by Obama's support of this as part of his health care reform plans – and so is the criticism of it.
Read also
Google to refresh its search
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Facebook simplifies privacy settings
Saturday 05 June 2010
Google completes AdMob acquisition
Monday 31 May 2010