GoogleKnot

Google to pwnz crappy overpiced word processors with \W/ritly

2006-03-14T09:25:00.000-05:00

Paper911 has been using online word processor Writly for the past couple months to collaborate on our academic and scholoarly writings. I have been very pleased with it and am even more pleased that Google has choosen to help out with the project. Writly's interface is great and makes sharing and collaborating on documents a cinch. Best part is: Its free and your documents are accesible from anywhere.

Google Release Version 3 of Desktop

2006-02-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

Google Desktop is a sidebar application which brings together many Google functionalities including Email, News and Talk. The new version allows you place the panels wherever you would like on your desktop and show and hide them by pressing shift twice. This is a very nice feature for maximizing screen realestate and reminds me of the dashboard widgets on Mac.

But the big news is the ability to share files with other Desktop/Talk Users which is a feature that Talk had been lacking and one that I felt could be improved in services such as AOL instant Messenger. In Addition you will now be able to search files across multiple computers. To take advantage of this feature you have to install Desktop on all the computers and then choose which files you would like to share. The files are then copied to all the computers. There is concern about this feature because during the copy process the files are temporarily stored on Google's servers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is not recommending this feature because the storage of the files on Google's servers makes users much more vulnerable to subpoenas. Only a subpoena is required for information stored on service provider servers where as a warrant. The EFF is asking Google to join it in asking the US Congress to strengthen the privacy rights for data stored on service provider servers but Google has yet to respond

I can see its getting better, A little Better All the Time

2006-02-07T16:13:00.000-05:00

Google Talk is being integrated into the Gmail Interface. You will be able to chat with with your Talk buddies though gmail and not have to download and install any client program. You will not be able to do voice without the client, however. Even more superprodundo is the fact that all your Talk transcripts will be logged and searchable through gmail. And yes, you can go "off the record" for those little on the job cybersoirees. In addition Talk users can talk with any user on the Jabber network

A unique feature of the Jabber system is that of transports, also known as gateways, which allow users to access networks using other protocols - such as AIM and ICQ (using OSCAR), MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger (using the .NET Messenger Service), Yahoo! Messenger, SMS or E-mail. Unlike multi-protocol clients like Trillian or Gaim, Jabber provides this access at the server level by communicating via special gateway services running on a remote computer. Any Jabber user can 'register' with one of these gateways by providing the information needed to log on to that network, and can then communicate with users of that network as though they were Jabber users. This means that any client which fully supports the Jabber protocol can be used to access any network to which a gateway exists, without the need for any extra code in the client.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabber)

So it looks like it wont neccesary to convert those in the dark ages of AIM and MSN

Venture for Sharing Wi-Fi Draws Big-Name Backers Lacks Profitability

2006-02-05T23:09:00.000-05:00

Google and bunch of other big boys like Skype and Cisco are backing a global Wifi "community" company called fon. Founder Martin Varsvsky paints a cyber utopian world filled with Foneros who share Wifi connections. The idea is fun and ingenious.

The users may sign up to FON in three ways: they can be Bills, Linus or Aliens. What are those names you might ask? The explanation is quite simple: a Linus (who are called like this after Linus Torvalds) shares his/her bandwidth for free with other Foneros, Bills (of course named after Bill Gates) share their bandwidth for a small fee, and Aliens don't share their bandwidth at all.(playfuls.com)

So they got 20 mil, but I'm not really sure they have a business model. You can already share or not share you internet connection though your router and pc. So the only thing they seem to be offering is the ability to charge others to use your bandwith. You are still going to have to pay a separate ISP. This would be an interesting program for isps to offer. I think that skype and google could have better spent the money on cable modem service and cisco could supply the routers.

A Google spokeswoman, Lynn Fox, said that the company was an investor in the project but that it was not in a partnership with it. "We're looking forward to seeing how it develops," she said. "We are optimistic that this technology will be good for users, I.S.P.'s and Internet technology companies, as it will enable people to get online more often and from more locations

Well At Least They're not betting the farm on it. This seems like pet company to me. A toy for these big boys. Fon will probably never succeed on Wall Street but will hopefully push the wifi sharing envelope and get people thinking about community networking.

Google has been doing wifi R&D and is a bidder for the deployment of a municipal wifi netowrk for San Francisco

Happy Chinese New Year: 2006 is the Year of the Google Gag

2006-02-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

The Chinese government censors tampon-box instructions so it's no surprise that in order for its people to earn access to Google, certain compromises must be considered. Compromise with the Chinese government usually means getting to keep your left nut.

Google has faired better than this. With two nuts and a wee little shaft, Google is peeking its head into the information oligarchy that is China. Its core principle of total information freedom, however, has undergone a slight modification at the behest of one big-ass country. It is thus that Google may be setting an unfortunate and heretofore unthinkable precedent of philosophical divergence. Hopefully Bush and Homeland Security won't pick up on it.

Google and the Patriot Act in cahoots? I don't want the government knowing that I stroke it to the Google Image search terms 'dustin diamond' AND 'jiffy lube'.

“As was widely reported last week, Google has now joined Yahoo! and Microsoft by censoring its Internet search results in order to do business in China. It was a decision that supposedly tested the company's "don't be evil" pledge, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. As Orville Schell, a China scholar and Dean of Berkley’s Graduate School of Journalism, told John Battelle, author of "The Search," "China represents a great paradox for a democratic business culture -- its political culture is repugnant, but its market is far too rich to ignore.”
(Kutnikoff)

Check out the whole article here or by clicking the title above:

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=271724&rel_no=1

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The End of Perpetual Beta... At least for News

2006-01-24T15:45:00.000-05:00

After close to 4 years, Google News is out of Beta. This service is compiled electronically in full and groups stories on the same topic from different sources into clusters. This allows you to see news trends around the world and look at stories from multiple perspectives. The move out of beta comes along with the incorporation of Personalized Search into Google News. This allows Google News to recommend stories based on your past searches. This means that although News is no longer in beta it will allow the service to continually improve on an individual basis.

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Investors See Google’s vulnerabilities

2006-01-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

The value of Google’s stock has swelled to 450% of its original value since going public in 2004. Still, market forecasters say it will need to diversify its means of revenue and remedy such issues as google-bombing and AdWords / AdSense Click Fraud in order to remain the preferred internet portal. The latter of these issues is costing the advertisers who occupy Google’s search-engine sidebar and often delivering a less-than-favorable value for the dollar. Given that the AdWords service constitutes 99% of Google’s income, a failure to cure its shortcomings could be fatal.

“Click fraud is a difficult situation. I don't know what is being done to stop click fraud on Google Web sites and on its AdSense network, which is advertising technology used by third-party, or other company, Web sites. They have to invest in technology and people around the concept of click fraud to ensure that it doesn't happen. At some point, this will become an issue that people will talk about in 2006.” (Kessler)

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Googles Refuses to comply with Department of Justice Order

2006-01-21T15:11:00.000-05:00

The US Department of Justice has ordered Yahoo, AOL, MSN and Google to turn over search information. Everyone except Google is complying. Google objects to the request not on privacy grounds as you might expect, but rather on the ground that the request is too "broad and burdensome". I think that ultimately, this is a battle Google will loose but at least they aren't trying to be the government's bitch.

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Google Refuses to Pay Cybextortion

2006-01-19T23:34:00.000-05:00

Google has turned down BellSouth's offer to charge it to for an increase in site load speed which would place Googles load time above most competitors. Good move Google, don't let those ISP's boss you around and way to not fall in league with the monopolistic bastards. The only problem is that someone else will pay. It will be their only way to compete with Google. That's ok though, because it's only a matter of time until the telephony titans of yesteryear fall completely to wireless peer to peer.

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Pocket Google

2006-01-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Recently, (Before CES) there was much talk about possible partnerships between Google and electronics companies such as Motorola and Intel to produce mobile devices. None of these deals came to pass because Google knows its industries and its strengths, however multifarious they may seem to be. For many of us, using our phones for web access is prohibitively expensive at astronomical rates such as $.10/Kb but as the web becomes optimized for small displays suitable for your pocket $15 or $20 seems pretty attractive for unlimited access at speeds faster than dialup(50-80kb/s). Google does not need to venture into these territories because they are already there. Google is going to be wherever the web is, and the web is most definitely already in your pocket.

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Going Mobile

2006-01-16T17:30:00.001-05:00

"Google is continuing to bridge the gap between its pervasive web presence and its increasing visibility in the world of the corporeal. Gmail and Google are easier to use on your cell phone with Google’s new personalized homepage.

“Google has expanded its personalized homepage to mobile devices, offering a portal-like website with optional services including emails from users' Gmail accounts, news headlines, weather information, stock quotes and RSS feeds.” (Sanders)

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Google Pack Mentality

2006-01-15T18:42:00.000-05:00

Google calls it A free collection of essential software. I'm not so sure its essential, but it is free and free of ads or spyware and includes some excellent software. Google Software included in the pack consists of :

Google Earth - 3D Earth browser
Google Desktop - Desktop companion
Google Talk - Voice and IM application
Picasa - Photo organizer
Google Pack Screensaver - Photo screensaver
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer - Search toolbar

Software from other developers:

Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar - Web browser
Adobe Reader 7 - PDF reader
Ad-Aware SE Personal - Antispyware utility
Norton Antivirus 2005 Special Edition - Antivirus utility
RealPlayer - Media player RealNetworks
GalleryPlayer HD Images - High-quality artwork and photos
Trillian - Instant messenger

The Programs are all downloaded and installed through the clean and neat Google Updater.

The most innovative of these programs is Google Earth which is mindblowing. It makes you feel like you are sitting at the controls of the planet. It combines some features of professional Geographic Information Systems Software with the ease of use of a globe. I see incredible potential in this software and specialized implementations for all kinds of industries from GPS in your car to emergency response.

This package is all about presenting users with alternatives to crappy, pricey, add-filled software from the likes of Mircrosoft and AOL. One thing I would have really liked to see in this pack is the free open source office suite OpenOffice. But Mircrosoft would probably send their hired goons over to google if that was done.

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Just Watched Google CEO's CES Presentation on Google Video

2006-01-11T20:05:00.000-05:00

After watching Google CEO, Larry Page's keynote CES Presentation. I am not exactly sure what he announced but I am sure that he is not just a geek, which we knew, but also a dork. I mean he opened the presentation with a full scale remote contolled car. But he is a dork with a philosophy about technology that many of us share and that is going to change the we way access and think about information and our lives radically. And It is going to be radical when everything works together and you can use google tools wherever and whenever you want. In your car, on your mobile device or in your living room.

So, we already knew about Goolge Earth, Talk and Video so what did he announce? Partnerships to further all of these products including Google Earth in Volkswagens, google Talk interacting with AOL Instant Messenger, and Google Video hosting games for the NBA 24 hours after the show. They also announced the bundling of several of their programs with software from partners as the Google Pack. These things are all but great but not necessarily over $400 a share earth shattering. Big grand unveiling of new products is just not Goggles thing. Google is constantly improving and actually redefining what google is. Google is in a perpetual Beta and hopefully always will be.

What was earth shattering was the fact Larry pointed out which is that only 15% of the world is on the net. That means that there is still incredible potential in the internet. If we can keep things open and get every thing working together than we can offer low cost alternatives to the high prices of computing. This will enable everyone to participate in technology and ultimately raise everyone's standard of living including google stock holders, geeks and kids in Africa.

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Google Video: Initial Impressions

2006-01-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

Google Video is a streaming video service which allows anyone to share their videos and charge, if they choose to, a minimum of a nickel a download.

Interesting Features of Google Video:

Great Interface: Beautifully Simple
Free Video Hosting: google will host your video for free
Innovative Pricing Structure: Allows anyone to charge whatever they would like
Partnerships with Big Media: Including NBC, CBS and the NBA
Search Capability: Search thousands of videos, TV shows, movies etc

It is also worth noting but not surprising that google is offering the videos in there own formats gvp and gvi for use on the Google Video Player and in mp4's for the Ipod and Play Station Portable. This is a natural tentacle of the google empire and one of the most appropriate for the CES. I think that this service has a lot of potential. As the compression algorithms improve, high speed becomes ubiquitous and everyone gets their HDTV's tapped in, internet video services will improve and eventually eclipse or at least merge with cable and satellite TV.

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Google CES Announcements

2006-01-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas This past week Google announced

Google Pack: A Bunlde of 12 free programs for Windows
Google Video: A pay per download video service

These offerings are modest but interesting. More to come immediatley...

www.google.com/pack
www.google.com/video

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I’m not Saying I’m Paranoid But. . . WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!?!

2006-01-05T03:00:00.000-05:00

So Google runs the Internet with services and portals that are too effective. Should we be afraid?

“Google enjoys a 75 percent monopoly for all external referrals to most websites. Webmasters cannot avoid seeking Google's approval these days, assuming they want to increase traffic to their site. If they try to take advantage of some of the known weaknesses in Google's semi-secret algorithms, they may find themselves penalized by Google, and their traffic disappears. There are no detailed, published standards issued by Google, and there is no appeal process for penalized sites. Google is completely unaccountable.” (google-watch)

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Godzilla vs. Megalon: Are Google and Microsoft Gearing up to duke it out?

2006-01-05T02:53:00.000-05:00

With rumors swirling that a bargain-basement Google PC and a Google Operating System may be on the immediate horizon, the search engine behemoth appears to be leaving the meta-world and venturing onto solid ground. It may only be a matter of time before we are dependent upon Google Medicine Cabinet, Google Sandwich and Google Shoe Horn.

“The Internet giant reportedly is in talks with retailer Wal-Mart Inc. to sell $200 PCs, with the hardware being provided by Wyse and Google bringing in the software.” (Burt)

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