In the news...
Google to refresh its search
Tuesday 20 March 2012
According to the Wall Street Journal , Google is working on an overhaul of its Internet search formula in an attempt to maintain its dominant position. Google enjoys a market share of around 66% and rakes in more than 75% of all search-related advertising revenue, which accounts for the vast majority of its $37 billion annual revenue.
Google launches encrypted search engine
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Google has announced the launch of an encrypted version of its search engine in order to prevent search results being accessed over open connections. The move follows the company's decision to turn on encryption by default for Gmail users earlier this year and comes in the wake of controversy over breaches of privacy by its Street View service .
Google adds brands to search results
Saturday 01 May 2010
Google is testing a search results box that places top brands above regular results for product-related searches. This brand information - which is neither an ad nor a normal search result - was first spotted by the Internet marketing news website, Search Engine Land.
Google highlights similar pages
Saturday 01 May 2010
On Tuesday of this week, Google revealed that it is making its 'Similar' feature - which shows alongside the URL in the search results - more prominent in its results pages. On the Official Google Blog, Software Engineer Doantam Phan explained: " We've offered a 'Similar' feature on results for a while now as a way to discover new, useful sites, but it hasn't been too visible.
Apple takes aim at Google with the launch of iAds
Friday 09 April 2010
In a move that will have sent shivers down the spines of Google's top executives, Apple announced yesterday that it will deliver interactive, in-app advertising to iPods, iPads and iPhones this summer.
Yahoo! accounts in China hacked
Wednesday 31 March 2010
According to news reports on Wednesday, the webmail accounts of foreign journalists based in China and Taiwan have been hacked. The BBC News website reported that the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) had confirmed eight cases of email attacks on Yahoo.
Google enables retail stock checking
Sunday 14 March 2010
Back in 2006 Google, along with Intuit and the Kelsey Group, described the future of retailing and the picture included the ability to check the stock levels of nearby stores as you shop. It may have taken a few years, but now it's a reality - in the US, at least.
Google to appeal privacy convictions
Friday 26 February 2010
A court in Italy has convicted three Google employees in a privacy trial concerning content uploaded to Google Video in 2006, shortly before the firm acquired YouTube. The Google executives - Peter Fleischer, David Drummond and George De Los Reyes - received suspended six-month sentences.
Facebook unveils new privacy controls
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Facebook, the world's largest social networking group, announced new privacy controls this week for content posted using third-party applications, external websites linked to Facebook via the Connect system and Facebook's mobile version.
Google gets stung by Buzz
Friday 19 February 2010
When Internet search giant Google unveiled its brand-new social media product, Google Buzz, on 9 February, it obviously had no idea that there could be a sting in its tail. Google Buzz , which provides a social networking platform to rival Facebook , initially met with a storm of protest from users over privacy problems.
Aardvark acquired by Google
Friday 19 February 2010
Social search service, Aardvark, has been bought by Google. The acquisition was announced last week and both parties have expressed their delight at the deal. In a post on the Official Google Blog , Johanna Wright (Director of Product Management, Search) wrote: " When you need an answer to a very specific question, sometimes the information just isn't online in one simple place…That's why we're excited to announce that we've acquired Aardvark, a unique technology company that lets you quickly and easily tap into the knowledge and experience of your friends and extended network of contacts.
Google runs rare TV ad during the Super Bowl
Wednesday 10 February 2010
The commercial breaks for America's coveted Super Bowl on Sunday featured a brand that rarely makes a foray into TV advertising: Google. Nicely complementing Google's AdBlitz channel on YouTube – where users can vote for their favourite Super Bowl TV commercial – Google ran its 'Parisian Love' ad during the third quarter of the match.
Google attackers posed as 'friends'
Friday 29 January 2010
According to a report published earlier this week, the perpetrators of the recent cyber attacks that emanated from China had sent messages to key staff at Google, Adobe and other US firms on social networks, pretending to be friends.
Insiders at Google China may have helped with attacks
Wednesday 20 January 2010
According to reports from Reuters on Monday, Internet giant Google is investigating whether some employees in its China office were implicated in the attacks against it and other US companies in mid-December.
Microsoft admits IE was used in Google attacks
Tuesday 19 January 2010
US software giant Microsoft has admitted that its Internet Explorer browser was used in the recent attacks on Google's networks that originated in China. In a blog post on Thursday last week, Microsoft conceded that a vulnerability in IE was used to allow hackers to run programmes remotely on infected computers.
Google issues ultimatum to Chinese government
Wednesday 13 January 2010
A number of recent attacks on Google and its users – specifically, those in China and western nations who support human rights activists – combined with the Chinese government's new resolve to limit information on the Internet seems to have convinced Google to pull out of China.
Google launches Nexus One to rival iPhone
Thursday 07 January 2010
At a launch event on Tuesday at its HQ in Mountain View, California, search giant Google unveiled its first ever piece of hardware: the Nexus One smartphone . Google wants this sleek, touchscreen device to steal market share from Apple's iPhone, RIM's BlackBerry and Nokia.
Google shows that size does matter
Monday 21 December 2009
The web wizards at Mountain View have been busy analysing the way that Internet users view information in their various browsers and now they have made that data available to web designers in a useful new tool.
Google launches ‘Favorite Places’
Friday 11 December 2009
Google in the US is rolling out a new campaign called ' Favorite Places ' that aims to empower shoppers with mobile devices on the streets of American towns and cities. The Internet company has distributed 100,000 window stickers with Google's logo and a QR code to what the company deems to be the most popular businesses in its 'Local Business Center'.
Google reveals 2009’s top searches
Tuesday 08 December 2009
Internet search giant Google has issued lists of the most popular search terms of the year in what it dubs the 'Zeitgeist' - literally the spirit of the times - for 2009. The results, which Google has been making public since 2001, make fascinating reading, with spikes in search activity reflecting the response of Internet users around the world to breaking news and the general mood of people in recessionary times.
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