Google Blogoscoped http://blogoscoped.com Google, the World, and the World Wide Web, Weblogged en-us By Philipp Lenssen, with some rights reserved: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:19:16 +0100 Friendfeed's Real-time Search http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-07-03-n17.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-07-03-n17.html Philipp Lenssen Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:19:16 +0100 Now that ex-Google employees start-up Friendfeed has real-time search, you can feed their engine with a keyword like google and embed it elsewhere, like below (I could refine this search by restricting it to results which have X comments only, or have Likes, or which are only from my contacts at Friendfeed, and so on): PS: If you want to subscribe to my links at Friendfeed, it's there. [Hat tip to Websonic!] Technology Internet Google Search Now that ex-Google employees start-up Friendfeed has real-time search, you can feed their engine with a keyword like google and embed it elsewhere, like below (I could refine this search by restricting it to results which have X comments only, or have Likes, or which are only from my contacts at Friendfeed, and so on):

PS: If you want to subscribe to my links at Friendfeed, it’s there.

[Hat tip to Websonic!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Friendfeed's Real-time Search | Comments]


[Advertisement] Find the right keywords for your campaigns at KeywordDiscovery.com]]> Gmail With Drag & Drop http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-07-02-n34.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-07-02-n34.html Philipp Lenssen Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:57:10 +0100 Drag and drop has come to Gmail: you can now drag a message by its left-hand grid, and move it into a label/ folder to the left side. Also, you can now re-arrange labels via drag & drop. [Thanks Cookie Lee and Niranjan!] Technology Internet

Drag and drop has come to Gmail: you can now drag a message by its left-hand grid, and move it into a label/ folder to the left side. Also, you can now re-arrange labels via drag & drop.
[Thanks Cookie Lee and Niranjan!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Gmail With Drag & Drop | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> A Changed Google Results Layout, Perhaps Experimental http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-29-n74.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-29-n74.html Philipp Lenssen Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:05:31 +0100 I'm currently seeing a slightly changed layout for Google results. The Google logo has gotten smaller, and there's more padding to the left. In Firefox, the file holding the logo for the new layout is called nav_logo6.png (when I open the old layout in Chrome, it's nav_logo4.png). This redesign could well be just an experimental prototype, and nothing that's rolled out for everyone, I don't know... who else is seeing the changed layout? (Recently, the Google homepage also presented itself with less padding below the search box, but that may have been a t ... Technology Internet Google Search

I’m currently seeing a slightly changed layout for Google results. The Google logo has gotten smaller, and there’s more padding to the left. In Firefox, the file holding the logo for the new layout is called nav_logo6.png (when I open the old layout in Chrome, it’s nav_logo4.png).

This redesign could well be just an experimental prototype, and nothing that’s rolled out for everyone, I don’t know... who else is seeing the changed layout?

(Recently, the Google homepage also presented itself with less padding below the search box, but that may have been a temporary bug... it doesn’t show anymore to me.)

[Hat tip to WebSonic.nl and Tony!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: A Changed Google Results Layout, Perhaps Expe ... | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> YouTube Changes Channel Layout, Gets 48,000+ Comments http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-26-n45.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-26-n45.html Philipp Lenssen Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:37:02 +0100 A YouTube blog entry by a YouTube manager announcing the roll-out of a new channel design has so far received 48,668 comments, and growing. Looks like not everyone is happy (and it may or may not be that unhappy users are more vocal, too, right now). Included in the most recent comments right now are things like: "i think u should ask the viewers before u make your choice. please do that ... =]" "support this video against the mandatory changes - http://www.youtube.com/wat..." "Please allow the choice of both old and new channel designs." ... as well as full blown ASCII protest art. [Thanks Technology Internet A YouTube blog entry by a YouTube manager announcing the roll-out of a new channel design has so far received 48,668 comments, and growing. Looks like not everyone is happy (and it may or may not be that unhappy users are more vocal, too, right now). Included in the most recent comments right now are things like:

  • “i think u should ask the viewers before u make your choice. please do that ... =]”
  • “support this video against the mandatory changes - http://www.youtube.com/wat...”
  • “Please allow the choice of both old and new channel designs.”

... as well as full blown ASCII protest art.

[’Old Channel Rules’ written with @’s]

[Thanks Ionut and A.!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: YouTube Changes Channel Layout, Gets 48,000+ ... | Comments]


[Advertisement] Find the right keywords for your campaigns at KeywordDiscovery.com]]> HTC Hero, an Android-Based Phone (Video) http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-24-n73.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-24-n73.html Philipp Lenssen Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:14:01 +0100 [Via Reddit.] Technology Internet

[Via Reddit.]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: HTC Hero, an Android-Based Phone (Video) | Comments]


[Advertisement] Find the right keywords for your campaigns at KeywordDiscovery.com]]> A Bigger AdSense Default Font http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-23-n59.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-23-n59.html Philipp Lenssen Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:54:57 +0100 It's only a small change to AdSense, but if you're using Google's ads on a lot of sites even small changes may make a difference: Google on Monday announced they've increased the default font size for AdSense units. However, since last week you can now also change the font size for AdSense ad units yourself. The font size dialog allows default, small, medium, and large. (The old default size equaled "small", and the new one equals "medium", Google says). Technology Internet Google Search

It’s only a small change to AdSense, but if you’re using Google’s ads on a lot of sites even small changes may make a difference: Google on Monday announced they’ve increased the default font size for AdSense units. However, since last week you can now also change the font size for AdSense ad units yourself. The font size dialog allows default, small, medium, and large. (The old default size equaled “small”, and the new one equals “medium”, Google says).

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: A Bigger AdSense Default Font | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books on Amazon]]> Google China Removes Auto-Suggest Following Gov't Anti-Porn Initiative http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-23-n83.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-23-n83.html Philipp Lenssen Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:17:31 +0100 Fingerpointing towards Google in a report by state-controlled CCTV; the user shows how he enters [xing], later stumbling upon scantily clad people in Google Images. The search auto-completion feature on Google China's homepage was recently removed. Why? Apparently, the Chinese government is on a mission to fight porn, and auto-suggestions might help people find adult sites. (A Chinese research mob -- a "human flesh search engine" -- found some problems with the govt's t ... Technology Internet Google Search
Fingerpointing towards Google in a report by state-controlled CCTV; the user shows how he enters [xing], later stumbling upon scantily clad people in Google Images.

The search auto-completion feature on Google China’s homepage was recently removed. Why? Apparently, the Chinese government is on a mission to fight porn, and auto-suggestions might help people find adult sites. (A Chinese research mob – a “human flesh search engine” – found some problems with the govt’s tales, though.) Or were there other, more political problems with Google Suggest, of which we aren’t told? Via email here’s Google’s comment on the whole issue:

Google has been working to remove pornography from our search results in China, in accordance with our operating license there. This has been a major engineering effort, and we believe we have addressed many of the problems identified by the Government. As part of these efforts, we have also temporarily disabled the Google Suggest feature on Google.cn.

Google adds:

Finally, we have redesigned the home page of Google.cn to remove the radio buttons that offer language and locale options. These buttons were used by a very small percentage of our users. All other links on the home page of Google.cn remain unchanged.

Part of Google China’s auto-suggest feature was transliteration from Pinyin to Chinese characters, though, a feature that’s also gone now. However, there’s still Google’s nice IME (Input Method Editor) for that.

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Google China Removes Auto-Suggest Following G ... | Comments]


[Advertisement] Want to advertise here? Your ad will show in the blog and feed.]]> Experimental Google Product Boxes on Search Results? http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n79.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n79.html Philipp Lenssen Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:00:53 +0100 Searching Google for tivo and dell inspiron, Steve Baldwin says he saw above Google image product boxes to the side. They're gone for Steve now, he says, adding that he was probably "randomly chosen to see them." Whether these boxes are ads or just plain oneboxes in a special position, I can't tell, thought from the looks of it they may well be unpaid. Steve remarks that the first link in the Dell box goes to Google Products, whereas the links below that go straight to the landing pages for "Express IT Options" and "Codemicro.com", but that mirrors the results shown at Google Products, too. Technology Internet Google Search

Searching Google for tivo and dell inspiron, Steve Baldwin says he saw above Google image product boxes to the side. They’re gone for Steve now, he says, adding that he was probably “randomly chosen to see them.”

Whether these boxes are ads or just plain oneboxes in a special position, I can’t tell, thought from the looks of it they may well be unpaid. Steve remarks that the first link in the Dell box goes to Google Products, whereas the links below that go straight to the landing pages for “Express IT Options” and “Codemicro.com”, but that mirrors the results shown at Google Products, too.

Note Google Korea also features lots of graphic boxes to the right hand side of SERPs, and more graphical sides have also been sporadically seen on elsewhere.

[Thanks Steve!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Experimental Google Product Boxes on Search R ... | Comments]


[Advertisement] Want to advertise here? Your ad will show in the blog and feed.]]> Google Adds Facebook Friends to Results http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n50.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n50.html Tony Ruscoe Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:19:47 +0100 I'm not sure how new this is, but when a Facebook user's profile is returned in Google's search results, you can now see the user's location (or network) and a random selection of their friends, as shown on their public profile. I'm not seeing any special markup in the Facebook profile page, but could this be Google's "Rich Snippets" feature in action, as announced at this year's Searchology conference? [Thanks Luke!] Technology Internet Google Search

I’m not sure how new this is, but when a Facebook user’s profile is returned in Google’s search results, you can now see the user’s location (or network) and a random selection of their friends, as shown on their public profile.

I’m not seeing any special markup in the Facebook profile page, but could this be Google’s “Rich Snippets” feature in action, as announced at this year’s Searchology conference?

[Thanks Luke!]

[By Tony Ruscoe | Origin: Google Adds Facebook Friends to Results | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books on Amazon]]> Question on Taking Photos in Public Spaces http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n87.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-22-n87.html Philipp Lenssen Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:45:55 +0100 If your country's police were to drive around town with cam-equipped cars, automatically taking photos of all public spaces, would you mind? If so, why? If not, why not? Technology Internet If your country’s police were to drive around town with cam-equipped cars, automatically taking photos of all public spaces, would you mind? If so, why? If not, why not?

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Question on Taking Photos in Public Spaces | Comments]


[Advertisement] Want to advertise here? Your ad will show in the blog and feed.]]> I Googled My Dad (Pic) http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-21-n46.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-21-n46.html Tony Ruscoe Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:25:25 +0100 ... and LEGEND came up a million times! I got this Father's Day card for my dad. He's definitely one in a million! Technology Internet
... and LEGEND came up a million times!

I got this Father’s Day card for my dad. He’s definitely one in a million!

[By Tony Ruscoe | Origin: I Googled My Dad (Pic) | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> Satirical Paper "Weekly World News" in Google Books http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-20-n60.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-20-n60.html Philipp Lenssen Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:39:26 +0100 Google Books was recently redesigned. I'm not sure for how long, but they also feature Weekly World News these days -- a parody-style magazine with sensational fake headlines like "I Married Bigfoot", "Interview With an Angel!", "Satan's Burial Ground Found!" or "Loch Ness Monster Photographed". One interesting new display mode you can use for this magazine and others is the thumbnail mode, part of the bar displayed on top of Google Books; also, you can embed books by clicking "Link". Technology Internet Google Search

Google Books was recently redesigned. I’m not sure for how long, but they also feature Weekly World News these days – a parody-style magazine with sensational fake headlines like “I Married Bigfoot”, “Interview With an Angel!”, “Satan’s Burial Ground Found!” or “Loch Ness Monster Photographed”.

One interesting new display mode you can use for this magazine and others is the thumbnail mode, part of the bar displayed on top of Google Books; also, you can embed books by clicking “Link”.

[Hat tip to Ionut!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Satirical Paper "Weekly World News" in Google ... | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> Google Street View Imagery Leads to Arrest http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n23.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n23.html Philipp Lenssen Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:12:07 +0100 Technology Internet Google Search

Faces may be blurred in Google Maps Street View but that’s apparently not always enough to protect the identity of the people captured. Reuters reports:

Dutch twin brothers who mugged a teenager in the northern town of Groningen were arrested after being caught on camera by a car gathering images for Google’s online photo map service, police said.

The pair stole the 14-year-old boy’s mobile phone and 165 euros ($230) in cash last September.

“The picture was taken just a moment before the crime,” a police spokesman said.

In March, the victim recognized himself and the two robbers while surfing Google Maps, which has a “Street View” feature allowing users to see images of buildings.

[Thanks Juha-Matti!]

Update: Andries in the forum writes about how apparently Google had the faces in question blurred like usual, but then handed out the unblurred raw material upon being asked by authorities:

I live in the Netherlands, and this story made it to the 20:00-journal on all channels. The story is true, but the crime itself isn’t captured by Google, only the few minutes before. But the images were important, because they didn’t know who committed the crime.

The guy who was robbed only saw the censored version of the pictures on Google Maps. He contacted the police. The Dutch police contacted Google USA, to get the original, uncensored, versions of this pictures.

One of the investigating agents recognised one of the robber’s faces, because he committed a crime before, and the other robber was a brother of the first robber.

I asked Google about a statement and will update should they reply. Also, according to some sources pointed to in the comments, the location is Merwedestraat (I don’t know if this is true and if the screen shows the actual scene).

[Thanks Luca, Andries and Scjm!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Google Street View Imagery Leads to Arrest | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> Google's Gay Pride Results http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n77.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n77.html Philipp Lenssen Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:02:50 +0100 Searching Google.com for keywords like gay, lesbian or sf pride currently shows a rainbow-colored stripe at the top of the results. While well-intended, I wonder if editorial engagement in supposedly neutral-and-automated-as-possible result pages is the right way to go. Put differently, while I personally agree with the notion of promoting gay pride (much needed still in many to most countries of the world where there's no full acceptance or equality), here I wonder if it's expressed in the right place (i.e. on result pages instead of a company blog ... Technology Internet Google Search

Searching Google.com for keywords like gay, lesbian or sf pride currently shows a rainbow-colored stripe at the top of the results. While well-intended, I wonder if editorial engagement in supposedly neutral-and-automated-as-possible result pages is the right way to go. Put differently, while I personally agree with the notion of promoting gay pride (much needed still in many to most countries of the world where there’s no full acceptance or equality), here I wonder if it’s expressed in the right place (i.e. on result pages instead of a company blog post, a homepage doodle and so on).

Also see talking gayglers with Google’s Bennet Marks.

[Thanks Caleb, D. and M.!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Google's Gay Pride Results | Comments]


[Advertisement] Google books at eBay: background info on Google, AdWords, AdSense, Blogger and more...]]> Google Product Ads Beta? http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n22.html http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-06-19-n22.html Philipp Lenssen Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:26:48 +0100 Someone who'd like to remain anonymous forwarded an email from Google, confidentially referring to a product called "Google product ads beta". From the mail: We are pleased to invite you to participate in an exciting beta program with the Google Affiliate Network to show product ads on Google. Product ads are paid product listings that appear when users search for products on Google. Through participation in the Google Affiliate Network product ads beta program, you can promote your products to users actively searching for your products and pay only when users make a purchase on your site. This opportunity is a very tangible benefit of the integration of our affiliate platform into Google. Google is constantly experimenting with new features and visuals to improve ad effectiveness and advance the end ... Technology Internet Google Search Someone who’d like to remain anonymous forwarded an email from Google, confidentially referring to a product called “Google product ads beta”. From the mail:

We are pleased to invite you to participate in an exciting beta program with the Google Affiliate Network to show product ads on Google. Product ads are paid product listings that appear when users search for products on Google. Through participation in the Google Affiliate Network product ads beta program, you can promote your products to users actively searching for your products and pay only when users make a purchase on your site.

This opportunity is a very tangible benefit of the integration of our affiliate platform into Google. Google is constantly experimenting with new features and visuals to improve ad effectiveness and advance the end user experience.

Google product ads will feature product specific information directly in the ad such as price and product image. During the beta program, Google will be testing to identify the most effective ad formats. Google product ads will complement standard text ads on Google.com and will run independently during the beta. All reports on the performance of Google product ads can be seen through your Google Affiliate Network account.

The Google product ads beta program relies on your Google Base feed. Minimum pricing is your standard publisher rate, plus the network fee. To maximize your competitiveness among advertisers participating in product ads, you are encouraged to increase the CPA rate for your product ads relationship.

The FAQ goes on to say (my embolding):

Where would my product appear on Google?
Your product would appear as Sponsored Links on Google when users search for products that match the items in your feed. Beta testing is for US / English.

How much does it cost?
You specify the commission rate for conversions that take place via clicks on Google product ads. Minimum pricing is your standard publisher rate, plus the network fee. To maximize your competitiveness among advertisers participating in product ads, we recommend a higher commission with the Google product ads relationship.

How do I see reports during the beta testing?
Through your Google Affiliate Network account, you will see reports for Google similar to other tracking publisher reports. Please keep in mind that our initial experiments will be limited to a small percentage of traffic until our full launch.

Do product feeds need to be submitted through Google Base?
Yes, these ads use information from your Google Base product feed. Google Affiliate Network is integrating with Google Base to create product ads with trackable product links.

How do these ads compare with free product listings via Google Base?
Product ads appear as a Sponsored Links on the page and Google will use a variety of prominent placements and additional display options to optimize and drive targeted traffic to your product ads. You pay only for qualified conversions that take place through Google product ads. Product listings that appear in the search results will continue to be free.

How do these ads different from AdWords text ads?
Product ads represent individual offers with product information directly in the ad itself. Unlike keyword targeted text ads, product ads appear when the user’s query matches information provided in your product feed. During the beta, product ads are shown independently from text ads.

Can I add keywords to my ads?
No. Google categorizes and matches the items from your product feed to the user’s search query for you. Please make sure your product information is complete and accurate in your product feed to Google Base.

How are these ads ranked?
Ad Rank = Commission × Quality Score. The quality score takes into account the relevance of your product to the user’s query, conversion rate of the query and the matched product ad on Google, your account history, and other relevant factors.

[Thanks Anonymous!]

[By Philipp Lenssen | Origin: Google Product Ads Beta? | Comments]


[Advertisement] Want to advertise here? Your ad will show in the blog and feed.]]>