Google CEO Larry Page answered a question about Google’s motivations for competing with Facebook in social networking by going on the attack, saying “They’re a company that’s strong in that space,” “But they’re also doing a really bad job on their products.”
He didn’t expand on which products he believed were performing badly.
Reports indicate that the pooling of data by Google is a breach of privacy laws, according to EU data protection commissioners.
The changes mean that what was once separately collated data via its services such as YouTube & Google+, is now tied together.
If you’ve signed into any Google related account in the past week you will have noticed Google has updated it’s privacy policies. Most casual users probably won’t bother reading the changes, however Microsoft have come out firing at Google by placing full-page ads in a selection of major American newspapers criticising the changes.
Google+ is a social networking website designed by Google to compete with Facebook, and offers similar features such as news feeds, photos and status updates.
The service was unveiled on June 28 with an invite system, which Google has said has created “insane demand”, so much so they have decided to halt users from sending any more invites.
Google have not yet set a date for a full public roll out of the new social networking website.
You can read more at sydneymorningherald.com.au
Google in Australia has already taken proceedings against other companies allegedly infringing its trademark, such as Groggle (Groggle is now named Drinkle and the proceedings have settled).
Now Google has a new ‘infringer’ in its sites, a family owned company called Scoogle. The name Scoogle comes from a modification to the family name of Scougal, and sells eyewear ie: nothing to do with Google’s own business.
A source close to Scoogle says that Google is “…just bullying the modified version of the Scoogle family name”.
Google itself hasn’t yet commented – watch this space!
The full Sydney Morning Herald article is here.
Some small businesses dropped in rankings when Google changed its search algorithms a few weeks ago.
‘Many local businesses will find Google doesn’t position their entries as high as previously, meaning potential customers will have to scroll further down the pages of results to find them’, said search engine consultant Ash Nallawalla.
For example, a company that might have previously come up higher in the Google search results, now may have other ‘map-based’ entries above it, pushing it lower down the page and putting it below the ‘fold’ (tech-speak for the bottom of the computer screen).
Nallawalla says that businesses above the fold are far more likely to gain the attention, and custom, of people conducting a Google search.
What is the solution? Businesses need to optimise their online presence, ensure they have a physical address on their website, with phone and other relevant contact information.
View the full article here.
