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2007

Google Draws Flak From Reader Group Over Privacy

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Google learns from its Reader fiasco that sharing is not the same as caring…

“When Google launched its Reader service for reading blogs earlier this month; its corporate advertisement outrageously claimed ‘Reader and Talk are Friends!’”

On Dec. 14, Google announced that Reader, its RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed service, would link with contacts from Google Talk, the company’s instant messenger, and Gmail, its Web-based e-mail service. Any feed tagged to “Share” in Reader would be visible to any Talk or Gmail contact.

“It seems trying to make the Web more social is tricky for even Google, which prides itself on exercising caution before implementing new features that affect users…”

Google Patent Battle Suffers A Setback

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Federal court says a district judge made a mistake when he dismissed the lawsuit filed by HyperPhrase Technologies in its entirety in December…

“Google must face a Wisconsin company’s lawsuit over a toolbar feature that generates Web links from search data, a federal appeals court decided in a ruling posted on Wednesday…”

Washington -- A federal appeals court handed Google Inc. a setback in a patent fight on Wednesday, tossing out part of a summary judgment in the Web search engine’s favor in a lawsuit filed by HyperPhrase Technologies, LLC.

Google Gets US Go-Ahead On DoubleClick Buy

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The $3.1-billion bid to buy DoubleClick still faces scrutiny by regulators in Europe…

San Francisco -- Google Inc.’s $3.1 billion bid for Internet advertiser “DoubleClick” gained federal approval Thursday despite objections that it might pose a threat to competition and tread on consumer privacy in the fast-growing Internet advertising world.

“The approval leaves the European Commission as the last hurdle still facing the $3.1bn purchase of DoubleClick from a San Francisco private equity firm.”

Google Unveils Rival To Wikipedia

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Google has kicked off a project to create an authoritative store of information about any and every topic…

“Search engine has unveiled “knol,” an online, user-generated reference work that will seek to usurp Wikipedia … Beta Version of Knol Includes Identified Authors, Rankings and Ads…”

New York -- Web search leader Google Inc. is testing an Internet site for sharing knowledge about any subject under the sun, one that could eventually compete with the popular user-edited encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Google Maps Launching Street Views Of Boston

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New Service Lets Surfers Get Up Close And Personal…

“In the face of ethical concerns, Google is considering changes to its Street View Google Maps feature that would protect the privacy of those it photographs…”

Boston -- Despite protests from privacy advocates, Google Inc., is all set to introduce its “Street View” feature for eight more U.S. cities, offering 360-degree, street-level images of urban life so clear that passers-by often can be identified, is set to make its Boston debut on 18 December, 2007.

Google To Roll Out Map Service In New Zealand

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Google has re-launched its maps service in New Zealand, raising the stakes in an already crowded field…

Auckland, New Zealand –- Google Inc. today launched the Google Maps New Zealand service at maps.google.co.nz, enabling users in New Zealand to find the local information they want more easily.

The Web search giant has operated a basic New Zealand maps site for some time but has now added more features, including business listings and driving directions.

Google, UNICEF, And OLPC Team Up For Our Stories

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New UNICEF initiative enables children in developing countries with a way of sharing their stories with the world…

“Not every would-be storyteller has access to a major publisher; some, in fact, have close to nothing. So, Young people from around the world will be able to record and share their stories online in various languages thanks to a new project launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), technology giant Google and the non-profit organization One Laptop per Child.”

Billionaire Google Founder Ties Knot In Uncharted Waters

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“Larry Page, the co-founder of Google who is tying the knot today, on a private island in the Bahamas owned by his friend and best man, Sir Richard Branson…”

New York -- Larry Page, Google’s billionaire co-founder, is set to marry his girlfriend, Lucy Southworth, on a tiny Caribbean island this weekend, a source familiar with the wedding arrangements said.

“Hundreds of guests – including politicians, rock stars and other luminaries – are expected to attend the ceremony on Necker Island, a tiny blob of land in the Virgin Islands with room to house just 28 people.”

Google Disables Gmail Accounts By Mistake

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In its attempts to combat a volley of network spammers -- Google accidentally disabled a number of innocent Gmail accounts…

Google this week mistakenly disabled the Gmail accounts of an undetermined number of users due to an apparently overzealous attempt by the company to combat spammers.

“On Wednesday night, people started reporting in the official Gmail Help Discussion forum that Google had locked them out of their accounts.”

Google Unveils Application For iPhone

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Safari browser and AJAX-like technologies helped improve Google apps to work better on the Apple iPhone…

“It never released the much-rumored Google Phone, but now Google has said it is developing software for use in the Apple iPhone…”

New York -- In another of many recent mobile-oriented announcements, Google Inc. on Wednesday rolled out a new application for Apple Inc.’s iPhone that provides users with a more intuitive way to access Google’s online services such as e-mail, search and calendar into a single interface.

TomTom Gets New Directions From Google

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The navigation gear maker strikes a deal that could slow competition from mobile phones loaded with GPS…

“Google, the internet search giant with interests in areas ranging from word-processing software to mobile telephony, intends to conquer yet another new territory -- the car…”

Amsterdam -- TomTom, the Dutch-based navigation device maker, said on Wednesday it is teaming up with Internet search leader Google Inc. so users can find and send business addresses directly from the Google Maps Web site to TomTom devices.

Gmail Users Can Now Chat With AIM Friends

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Gmail users can now use AOL’s popular instant-messaging program in addition to Google’s own Gmail Chat…

Gmail and Google Talk users can now chat with their AOL Instant Messenger buddies through the Gmail interface, Google announced on Tuesday.

“Now, you can just log into Gmail and in addition to chatting with fellow Google Talk users through Gmail, you can log into AIM separately and see your AIM friends interspersed with your Google Talk friends.”

Google Officially Bidding In Spectrum Auction

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“Google Inc., owner of the most-used search engine, will apply to bid in the U.S. government’s auction of wireless airwaves to take advantage of the growing market for mobile-phone advertising…”

After weeks of playing coy, Google said Friday it will bid in the auction for a highly coveted part of the nation’s airwaves, setting the stage for a multibillion-dollar game of corporate poker that could determine who controls the wireless Web in the United States.

Google Puts On Hold Pay-Per-Call Web Ads

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Google ads that aim to get buyers to pick up the phone are on hold -- at least for now… Instead, the company is focusing on other types of ads, including ads sent to cell phone users and pay-per-action ads.

“Google launched a pay-per-call program -- it calls it “click-to-call” on trial that will come to halt after December 3, 2007.”

If a consumer clicks on a click-to-call ad they are instructed to enter their phone number. Google then calls the consumer’s phone number and connects the person to the advertiser. Google pays for the call and collects a fee for the lead from the advertiser...

Google Mapping Software Bridges The GPS Gap

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My Location is not a replacement for GPS, but gives mobile phone users a way to approximate their locations…

San Francisco -- Google on Wednesday has introduced mapping software that figures out the general vicinity using the company’s search algorithms to sift through information broadcast from cell towers and approximate a user’s location on a map through a mobile phone.

Google Aims To Become World's Biggest Holder Of Digital Data

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Google is expected to launch an online information storage service in an attempt to become the central depository for the world’s digital data…

“Web search behemoth Google is reportedly working on adding online data storage to its list of services. But, as frequently is the case with hosted storage -- especially with Google -- the subject of privacy raises questions…”

Google Checkout And PayPal Spend Big To Lure Buyers

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Google continues its seasonally aggressive Checkout campaign, offering discounts and special promotions in advance of Cyber Monday…

“Behind the pitched Cyber Monday battle of online retailers is the battle of the payment systems. Both Google Checkout and eBay’s PayPal unveiled generous promotions today to increase their share of holiday spending…”

Smile! You Are On Googles Candid Camera

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With the arrival of Google Street View in Australia, concerns have been raised concerning potential transgressions of people’s privacy…

“Take extra-special care of your appearance when walking around Australian capital city streets this summer, as one nose pick or bum scratch could be immortalized on Google Maps forever…”

Google’s occasionally controversial Street View product is heading outside of the United States.

Google Makes Custom Search Available Worldwide

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Google’s hosted search service for business users has been extended worldwide for the first time…

“As Google has evolved, it has transformed from what began as nothing more than a simple search engine into a plethora of online tools, many of whom people have come to rely on…”

Something that is “custom” is usually rare; it is often, in fact, unique. Yet the Google Custom Search platform is available to just a lot of folks, as a new announcement states that it is accessible in 40 languages and roughly 80 countries throughout the world.

Google-Backed Firm Offers DNA Testing For $999

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“A genetics website encouraging people to send in swabs of their saliva began operating lately in a closely watched Silicon Valley venture with links to the search firm Google…”

Los Angeles -- 23andMe -- named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body, is a Google-funded online company selling a $999 DNA test, launched on Monday, offering Web users an opportunity to take a saliva-based DNA test to learn more about their genes and family heritage, as well as participate in genetic research.

Google Lets Users Edit Google Maps Locations, Wiki-Style

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Google is asking users like you to edit its Maps site to provide more accurate, real world map data…

“Google Inc. on Monday announced that registered Google users in the U.S. and Australia can move incorrect markers for their homes or businesses to the correct locations…”

For those who have gotten lost, delayed or just plain frustrated on a trip due to a mistaken marker on Google Maps, the company has unveiled a potential solution.