google

A couple of months ago, Google explained its plan to anonymize its logs after retaining them for a period of 18 to 24 months. While some praised this announcement, others questioned why Google has to store this information at all, particularly since ... the logs include data which can potentially be used to identify individuals. Last Friday, Google's global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer posted an explanation on why the company does -- and should -- keep the data for a while. (Source: arstechnica.com ) Fleischer says that the policy evolves around three factors: improving service, preventing ... (view more)

Here's a new one for the techie forums to debate: Who is more powerful online, Microsoft or Google? Surely, this is a tough answer -- with one boasting strength in crafting popular software, while the other dominates the future profits of thousands ... of websites. However, when it comes to searching the web, the big G has the market cornered. Too bad Yahoo, too bad MSN. That harsh reality may be behind rumors that Microsoft is pursuing a Yahoo takeover. First to the story is the NY Post, which reports to other media outlets that Microsoft recently approached Yahoo executives about a possible ... (view more)

After enjoying the top spot for a little over a year, Microsoft must now get used to being referred to as the former number one powerhouse in the list of the most affluent global brands of 2007. According to an internationally-published brand ... ranking system, Google bested the popular Microsoft Corp. by a unanimous decision. While not affecting the financial success of the company, the news must still be a little devastating to Microsoft, especially after a year in which the company had launched their highly anticipated operating system, Windows Vista. This is only the second year in a row ... (view more)

Recently, Google announced the launch of a new feature for its web users: Web History. The new project offers Google account users the opportunity to access their Web surfing history. A posting on the Official Google Blog touted the new feature as ... making it easy for Google users to "view and search across the pages ... visited. If you remember seeing something online, you'll be able to find it faster and from any computer with Web History. Web History lets you look back in time, revisit the sites you've browsed, and search over the full text of pages you've seen. It's your slice of the web, ... (view more)

Google has removed the sponsored links that had been manipulated to divert users into installing malicious software. By clicking on the link, users would eventually go to a legitimate site, but would first be diverted to another site that attempted ... a "drive-by installation" of password stealing software. (Source: news.com ) "Google identified and canceled AdWords accounts displaying ads that re-directed users to malicious sites," a Google representative wrote on the corporate blog. (Source: news.com ) The culprits engineered the debacle by taking advantage of a unique characteristic of Google ... (view more)

Have you ever heard of Marratech? Most people in the company's home base of Sweden probably haven't either. But Google has. The search engine giant has just purchased the rights to Marratech's video-conferencing software. Google has acquired just ... the technology itself -- not the entire company. (Source: googleblog.blogspot.com ) For now, the program will just be used internally by Google. That news is sure to disappoint tech-heads looking forward to trying the technology out. However, there may be a glimmer of hope: Marratech's program may eventually be integrated into Google services such as ... (view more)

Path Path is another re-invention of Windows Run menu with several extra features added to it, such as desktop and start menus, and user-defined tools. This application uses very little system resources and minimizes to the system tray. Replace the ... standard Windows "Run" menu, with a more efficient one and access all areas of your system conveniently. http://www.xtort.net/xtort-software/path/ Customize Google CustomizeGoogle is a Firefox extension that enhances Google search results by adding extra information (like links to Yahoo, Ask.com, MSN etc) and removing unwanted information ... (view more)

YouTube, in many cases, represents the open-source wonder and freedom of the Internet. As one of the last media outlet without stringent borders, the web embraced YouTube when it was first launched a few years ago. Google's purchase of the site, ... which allows users to upload just about any type of amateur home video, only vaulted YouTube into the mainstream. Now, it appears Google ownership may lead to limits on the kind of content posted, with the recent disappearance of a video showing John McCain singing -- yes singing -- his hopes to "bomb Iran." McCain, who is currently serving as a ... (view more)

Three consumer advocate organizations have filed a joint complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting that the Google/DoubleClick merger be stopped. The Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Center for Digital Democracy, and the ... US Public Interest Research Group submitted the complaint on April 20th. The complaint asserts that "neither Google or DoubleClick have taken adequate steps to safeguard the personal data that is collected." The 11 page document goes on to ask the FTC to halt the merger until the "unfair and deceptive trade practices" are changed. (Source: ... (view more)

In the beginning, there was Yahoo, Lycos, and even a little search engine 'that could,' called AltaVista. While each offered varying abilities in crawling the web, none could quite match the rise of Google. And although its roots were only modest, ... Google's impressive search capabilities quickly rocketed it to the top of the web, with the power to control the rise and fall of companies vying for space in the Internet community. Now, less than a year after buying YouTube, Google is flexing its muscle again, buying advertising firm DoubleClick for an astounding $3.1 billion. The sheer value of ... (view more)