In the news...
Green light for Google's Street View
Thursday 23 April 2009
Following complaints from privacy campaigners, the UK's Information Commissioner has ruled that Google Street View should be allowed to continue. The organisation's judgement was that, although Street View carries a small risk of privacy invasion, it should not be stopped and that banning the mapping service would be "disproportionate to the relatively small risk of privacy detriment" .
Raise your profile with Google
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Come on, admit it: we've all put our own name into Google to see what comes up! Many of us are disappointed at the results – either because someone with a dubious profile shares our name and hogs your favourite social networking account or, worse still, we finally make an appearance on page 342 in the SERPs.
Ask Jeeves why he's back
Monday 20 April 2009
After three years in retirement, Jeeves – the quintessential butler character – has been reintroduced by the search engine Ask.com, which is also reverting to its original name, Ask Jeeves. Recent market research in the UK, which showed that brand identity for Ask was 83 per cent stronger with Jeeves, led to the branding U-turn.
Google accused of tax avoidance in the UK
Monday 20 April 2009
Search giant Google has left HM Revenue & Customs searching for its tax payments as it joins the growing list of companies facing criticism over UK tax avoidance. Public accounts showed that Google had paid a mere £600,000 in UK corporation tax, despite local revenues in excess of £1.25 billion.
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.
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.
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
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