Error Forum Blog

WASHINGTON–Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s nightmare scenario for a future Internet looks like this: As billions more people go online, those in power are so “freaked out” about the misuse of personal information that they suffocate the Web with stifling regulations.
Under that “undesirable” construction, a small number of companies become gatekeepers, forcing Internet users to interact in “highly regimented” ways that rest on verifying their identities, Schmidt said in his keynote speech at a luncheon event hosted here by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“The registrar has to know who you are,” Schmidt said, referring to future gatekeepers. “You can’t lie.”
The Google chief said he remained optimistic that the Internet will instead tend toward a self-governing set of people and communities. But he acknowledged that “true anonymity is extremely rare…and can be very, very dangerous.” In that vein, a middle-ground scenario that supplies “enough insulation so you know who you’re dealing with” could also arise.
In a meandering, conversational speech that lasted about 30 minutes, Schmidt mused about challenges that global leaders will continue to face as the Internet’s reach continues to expand.
For instance, aside from privacy and security concerns, “we have to define where free speech begins and ends,” he said. He suggested tensions might arise in a world where countries like Germany and France have outlawed pro-Nazi speech, Brazil and others don’t look kindly on racist remarks, and India makes it a crime to desecrate national icons like Mahatma Gandhi.
Nations that have traditionally restricted stories told by the news media may also have to grapple with the newfound capability of their citizens to discover, just by going online, when their governments aren’t treating them well, Schmidt said.
In the end, online communities could even shake up the usual borders that define governing structures, the Google chief said.
“If MySpace gets a billion people, does it get its own government?” Schmidt asked. “Is there some rule that if you have a billion people, you get your own country? I don’t know. I’m trying to be a little provocative here.”

source:zdnet

“ PayPal was seven times more popular that Google Checkout in 2006, according to a report issued on Wednesday by investment firm JPMorgan. Based on a survey of 1,100 online shoppers, the report found that 6% of respondents had used Google Checkout compared with 42% who had used PayPal. The report suggests that Google’s typically meticulous attention to the user experience misfired for Google Checkout. “Despite 65% of credit card users and 44% of PayPal users reporting ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ service experiences, only 19% of Google Checkout users said the same,� the report said�.

I dare say the bugs will be worked out eventually.

Part of the problem is that merchants already have a fair amount invested in PayPal. They know the interface, they know it works, they have their code in place. It is proven. Like changing banks, it’s a hassle to change payment systems. As a non-US resident, I’m not even sure if I can use Google Checkout. I know that was the case initially.

Could I just search and find out? Yes, I could. But what’s going to make me?

Concerns: does Google Checkout work as well? Money is involved. Will customers like it, or be confused by it? Is it cheaper than PayPal?

Perhaps I’ll do a comparison next week.

In an exclusive tip-off from inside Google, Tech’s Message has learned that the search giant is sitting on a huge announcement that it intends to make public around the date that coincides with the consumer launch of Microsoft Windows Vista, January 30th 2007.Google has a history of stealing Microsoft’s thunder, for example when Microsoft announced its MSN Search database held records for 5 billion web pages, Google co-announced that it infact held records for 8 billion. Could this be another such event?

Perhaps…

Possibilities

1) The announcement is likely to be the unveiling of a new Google product, the most hotly anticipated of which is the Google OS - a collection of web-based applications that provide free, networked alternatives to Microsoft’s Office suite of applications. Obviously Google Docs and Spreadsheets compete already with Excel and Word, but alternative solutions to spreadsheets, desktop email, frontpage etc could be easily deployed by the Google machine.

2) Another large possibility could be the fabled GDrive. This would be an easy way to consolidate all of a user’s Google files (Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Video etc) in one place, in a desktop environment. The GDrive may also offer a certain number of gigabytes of backup space, though this is less likely given the sheer exploitability factor.

3) Lets not overlook the YouTube acquisition. It’s unlikely anything major would come as a result so soon, but there’s always a chance.

4) There’s also the possibility of a more competative offering in the VoIP market. Google Talk is not a widely used application and was met with a damp response from users, and continues to only be lightly adopted in comparison to Skype. Skype, however, offers the ability to call physical phone lines, something Google talk does not do (yet). Adding “calling out� features would certainly increase the mass appeal and would make the service less of an IM underdog, and more of a competitor to Skype. This would undoubtedly create tension, however. Google has a multi-year partnership agreement with Skype’s parent eBay, to provide text-based adverts on the auction site outside of the United States.

Would a call-out service work from Google? Probably not. Could you imagine having a conversation with a friend about your recent contraction of herpes, only to get a automated announcement on the phone from the “Google system� about related anti-herpes offers from Google advertisers? No, certainly not a good system. Google would struggle to profit from a voice-based system but keeping track of all your conversations would, in a way, organise your data and would therefor be within Google’s manifesto of organising the world’s data. I leave the thinking to you.

5) A blog on ZDnet gave some insights on potential Google releases in 2007, one of which is claimed to be 100% certain. That is, an enterprise version of Google Apps For Your Domain. Currently the system offers Google applications to run as if hosted on your own website’s domain, but is actually hosted on Google’s servers. Various features are expected with such a product and you can read some insights here.

6) The announcement may be something less interesting but no less notable, such as Google’s GMail finally coming out of beta after almost 3 years. The site has recently allowed signing up functionality (previously, new users had to be invited by existing users). Whether this is a sign or not that the mail service is approaching its “finished� status, I wouldn’t like to say. It wouldn’t be huge news but it’d at least beat Windows Live Mail to the punch (that said, WLM hasn’t been in beta for anything like as long as GMail).

In Closing

This news should be treated as a rumour, but a strong one, and from a trusted source.

Personally, I want a gPod with a gFox browser and integrated gTooth and g-Fi for sharing my songs wirelessly with other gPods. To avoid Apple lawsuits, Google may want to annoy Microsoft more, as referred to above, by calling it the gUne (Goon). Either way, I want one. It won’t happen, but I want one.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer addressed the “highest concentration of CEOs in retailâ€? in New York City Monday, touting Microsoft “retail innovation outlook.â€? I attended Ballmer’s keynote to the National Retail Federation Annual Convention; Read my in-depth, first-hand report and analysis in “Microsoft: Steve Ballmer sells to retail in NYC.â€? Ballmer was for the most part on message, the Microsoft retail solutions message. In “Google Checkout: Small retail footprint at retail’s big showâ€? I juxtapose Microsoft’s heavyweight presence at the retail industry’s annual mega event with Google’s under the radar Google Checkout pitch at the show: Microsoft is the leading technology company in terms of market cap, twice the size of Google. Microsoft is doing all it can to maintain its dominance hoping for “Wow,â€? while Google is doing its Googley best to continue to close in. Ballmer included a few subtle, but significant, digs at number two Google during his presentation: Today, I would say we operate in a world that is still relatively primitive. Just take search as an experience, search is a very indirect way today to get at information that people want as they make buying and shopping decisions. You do a search, you find a site, the site may take them exactly to the information, but you don’t get there very quickly. Just take number one search engine Google as a not so quick search experience? During the not so spontaneous “audienceâ€? Q & A, Ballmer concluded his remarks with an unequivocal affirmation of Microsoft’s determination and intent to continue to dominate worldwide: Our tools and technologies are the best in the world at allowing, and the most popular in the world, at allowing your employees to access information. People grow up knowing products like Outlook and Excel, they are the natural place for employees to want to get access to line of business information. Last, but certainly not least, if you take a look at what it will mean in the future what it means today and what it will mean in the future for you to interact with your customers, the heart and soul of that interaction is likely to be a Microsoft operating system, running a Microsoft Internet browser. Google sees things differently. Google has told me: It is possible that people equate the Google search box with their browser window. Google is often used as the gateway to the Internet (as I report and discuss in “Google search PageRank excludes relevant Websites”). Microsoft claims to be the “heart and soulâ€? of technology while Google claims to be the “gateway to the Internetâ€?: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Google is talking with military agencies after learning that terrorists attacking British bases in Basra, Iraq, appear to have been using aerial footage from Google Earth. It appears that among documents seized in raids on insurgents’ homes, were printouts from Google Earth showing the location of buildings, tents, latrines and lightly armored vehicles. Precise longitude and latitude coordinates were also going to be used in the attacks.

Google’s response to the problem: “Of course we are always ready to listen to governments’ requests. We have opened channels with the military in Iraq, but we are not prepared to discuss what we have discussed with them. But we do listen and we are sensitive to requests.”

Top 25 reasons Google rules earth information (Plus Pictures)

Google has become the dominant search engine on the Internet. It would be hard to imagine a web without Google. For that matter, it would now be hard to imagine a world without Google. As frightening as that may seem to many people, it is none the less true.

For better or worse, Google has permeated into almost every aspect of our everyday life. Being Googled is now a common expression and an act carried out by millions of users around the world each day. New Google products and services are coming on stream at a frightening pace, further increasing Google’s impact on our lives.

Despite this dominating presence, many people still don’t realize Google offers some excellent free marketing tools for marketers and webmasters. Marketing tools which can prove extremely valuable to any webmaster or marketer trying to promote their sites or products online. Useful tools that will make your promotions easier and much more profitable.

Don’t be fooled by the ‘free’ label, these marketing tools might be free, but they are also valuable. One even wonders why Google would be giving away these tools and services for free? It probably makes good business sense in the long run, by providing these free tools Google is fostering a lot of company good-will and building up the Google brand name in the process. Good PR is good business.

Every marketer and webmaster should be taking advantage of Google’s good-will and snapping up these professionally run services and marketing tools. Here’s a quick run-down of the 10 most valuable free Google Internet marketing tools:

1. Google Analytics

Perhaps the premier marketing tool offered by Google. It will prove helpful to both the marketer and the webmaster. Google Analytics gives you a daily snapshot of your web site. Google Analytics analyzes your traffic, where it comes from and what it does once it enters your site. You can monitor up to three sites for free.

Google Analytics is extremely valuable in analyzing your marketing funnel. It tracks all the steps leading up to your sales or checkout page. Vital information for raising your conversion rate and ROI.

You may be placed on a waiting list for this highly in demand service from Google.

2. Google Sitemaps

Webmasters can use Google Sitemaps to almost instantly place newly created pages on their site into the Google Search Index. This is an XML file that is uploaded to Google as new pages are added on your site. Needless to say this can be a valuable service for any webmaster or marketer who wants to get their information on the web quickly.

3. Google Alerts

Be notified when someone, or another site, lists your site or mentions your name. Great way to keep track of all your online activities. Great way to monitor all your online business interests and products.

4. Google Froogle

Froogle is Google’s price directory! It simply lists all the cheapest prices for different products on the web. For marketers and webmasters who are promoting products, it should be studied and analyzed. Optimizing your site’s content for Froogle may prove to be very beneficial.

Follow Froogle or Google directions exactly on how to list or display products on your site. Froogle will spider your site and display your prices and products to thousands of targeted customers. That, as they say, is priceless.

5. Google Checkout

Not exactly free but for those marketers who use AdWords - for every $1 spent on AdWords you can process $10 for free. You can also place the shopping cart logo on your AdWords ad and take advantage of the prestige and trust the Google brand name has built up.

Over time marketers may find this tool to be very effective and valuable.

6. Google eBlogger

Blogging has become vitally important to the health and functioning of your web site. No site should be without at least one blog and RSS feed. Creating a blog (online journal) on the topic of your web site or product will bring in extra traffic and targeted customers. eBlogger is a simple free blogging service that even lets you publish or post your blog files to your own web site server. Keep in mind, each blog has that all important Google Blog Search bar.

7. Google Toolbar - Enterprise Version

Try the new enterprise version of the Google Toolbar for your company or business. Integrates countless features with all your employees or corporate network. These could include a common customer database, company calendar, financial news…

Keep in mind, Google also ranks every page it indexes on a scale of 0-10. While it is important to know the Page Rank of your own pages, it is even more important to know the PR of your competitor’s pages. You can use the toolbar to get the PR of each page you’re visiting. Extremely helpful information for webmasters and marketers to know when forming online linking or business arrangements.

8. Google Groups

Every marketer knows the importance of having a large contact list of people with a similar interest. Social networking will play an ever increasing role in your success on the web. Just look at the growing popularity of sites like MySpace and LiveJournal.

Google groups is another form of social and business networking that every marketer should be aware of and pursuing.

9. Google Adsense (Must have, Get it at left, quick and profitable)

One simple way to monetize your web content is to use Google Adsense. Just place the Adsense code on your site and receive a check from Google each month. For webmasters who are not really into online marketing (do such creatures exist?), Adsense can be a painless way to earn extra income from your site.

For professional marketers using the Adsense system can supply a tremendous amount of marketing information on the keywords in their particular niche. It keeps the marketer informed on what keywords are being bid on and how much advertisers are willing to pay.

Adsense also has an excellent real-time tracking system you can use to keep track of all your important web pages.
adsense

10. Google Writely

A recent addition to Google’s stable of free products. Writely is a full featured online writing editor with spellcheck and great collaborating features. It also lets you publish your content directly to your blogs. One feature that may be of interest to marketers - it lets you save files in the popular download format of PDF.

Lets face it, until video takes over the web in four or five years time - the written word is still king on the net. It is the medium that markets, promotes and sells your content or products. Writely will help you write better.

Honorable Mention - Google Trends

This Google program will let you search popular trends, important for marketers searching for the latest hot product to promote. You can also break down these trends by different regions.

Final Note

Please take note that signing up for a Google account will usually help you in obtaining most of these free services or programs. Some of these programs may have to be applied for individually. But be assured, all these free Google marketing tools are well worth your time and effort. They will make your marketing easier and they will help any webmaster or marketer run their online business more efficiently.

Google Earth is the best free app on the net. get it free in google pack and you will never be sorry.

1. Capsized Cruise Ship Captured in Google Earth / Maps

2. KC-135 Caught Refueling C-5 Galaxy in Mid-Air in Google Earth!

3. Huge Scale Model of Disputed Border Region of China Found in Google Earth

4. Lancaster Bomber Caught Flying in Google Earth

5. Flying Car? Not Really

6. Nude Sunbather caught by google earth.

7. Firefox Crop Circle in Google Earth

8. Google Earth Las Vegas

10. See African Animals in High Resolution in Google Earth

Google Earth Hacks.

Google Earth Layers

Google earth 3d models

Google earth 3d cities

Google earth individual 3d structures

Google Referrals packages With the recent international launching of Google’s Adsense referral packages. Google have decided to combine Picasa and other Google Adsense referrals into a single program.

The best advantage of this program is you will still be able to direct your visitors to Picasa which is a part of the New Pack which includes Google’s products like Google Earth, Google Desktop and Google Toolbar. By the way Google Referrals are great way to make money by referring Google products on your website. If you have still not have a Google Adsense account go-head and get one at Google Adsense