Sep
02
2008
In its never-ending quest to deliver technical innovation, renewed behaviors and refreshed revenue streams, today Google launched a Beta version of their new “open source” Internet browser.
The browser is called Google Chrome. Promises are faster browsing, integration with the open source community Google Gears and a Javascript VM. The browser will also change the way users browse content–with a revised tab structure and a ready-at-hand gallery of your most visited sites as you launch the browser.
On the heels of the launch of Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, also in Beta format and available for public download, Google Chrome is following suit with special new privacy features; principally an “incognito” session/window which enables users to browse without passing browsing data to a computer.
This certainly creates a lot of dialogue about the future of browsers
Jul
28
2008

Former Google employees just launched a new Search Engine–Cuil (www.cuil.com). According to a Reuters article today, Cuil, which is being launched to compete with the Search giant, “goes beyond prevailing search techniques that focus on Web links and audience traffic patterns and instead analyzes the context of each page and the concepts behind each user search request.”
There is new layout and “psychology” to Cuil. It enables searchers to reference cross-topics in a more graphically engaging, social networking-intelligent manner.
Read more of the Reuters article (via Yahoo! Tech News) here.
Jul
02
2008

Another negotiation between media giants — this time, between Hollywood and a web goliath — will further chip away at the current digital content delivery dividing lines.
According to an article published in today’s “New York Times”, by Media reporter, Brooks Barnes, “Google is experimenting with a new method of distributing original material on the Web, and some Hollywood film financiers are betting millions that the company will succeed.” Episodes of Seth McFarlane’s popular FOX Broadcasting animated series “Family Guy“ will be made available exclusively for online viewing.
Google’s expected distribution method extends beyond exclusivity, to innovation. The NYT article goes on to say that Google’s “AdSense advertising system” — dynamic video banners — will bring Family Guy episodes “to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience” as well as on YouTube.
Google’s move is a wise one. Not only does will it utilize the web in new ways to reach new audiences, it will create a revolution in codifying advertising ROI.
I discussed with a wise colleague a couple of years ago what the then pre-Google YouTube would eventually become. He articulated plainly what was already in my mind, “television.” It is now here.
Jun
12
2008

Several months of talks of an acquisition of the pioneering search engine, Yahoo!, by Microsoft ended today. On the same day, an announcement was made that Yahoo! signed a deal with the other giant, Yahoo!’s to-date rival, Google. Reports on the deal are that Google ads will now appear in certain Yahoo! Search Results.
The next couple of months should be very interesting to watch.
Story from CNN Money, Thursday, June 12, 2008.