GoogleNews posts

Today marks the official launch of GoogleWiFi in Mountain View California. Transmitting 802.11b/g signals to the entire city, including residents, businesses and visitors, at no charge.

This is a big step in the development of free WiFi for cities, and Google is heading this initiative. Google's main aim at developing the service in their hometown, was to give back and engage the citizens of Mountain View.

Google has put together a nice map of the locations where the Mountain View coverage areas are. So, when you are cruising through Mountain View, look for the "GoogleWiFi" access signal, and sign in with your free Google Account credentials. If you have had the opportunity to try out some free Google WiFi, drop us a line, and let us know how it worked out for you.

In this issue we cover:

• Google iScream
• Google Atlanta
• Eric Schmidt and the hand washing scandal
• Google Dance pictures

Step inside for today's Googleholic edition...

Google launched a new version of Blogger today. The new version entitled Blogger beta, has a bunch of features that people have been recommending since Google bought the popular blogging tool.

The major new additions to Blogger beta include:

• Categorizing posts with labels
• Blog Readers - specify who can read your blog
• Appearance changing - templates, and managing changes without HTML

Google has put together a tour of the new features here. They are limiting the number of people that will be switched over to the beta version, and current Blogger users will notice a message on their dashboard when they can enable the changes. For those that want to check out the changes immediately, Google has a way to sign up to create a new account with the new features.

[Thanks Evan]

Google is hiding a new secret look for the Google Video page layout. They are leaning towards a YouTube look for this special test. The smaller videos are the most notable change in this new design. The extra large full window Video's are what made Google Video special. I'm not a fan of the new layout, but it hasn't been launched yet, so Google could always switch things up.

You can check out the new layout by visiting a Google Video page, and pasting this text into your address bar:

javascript:setCookie('np','old');window.location.reload();

And then click on "Try our new layout." (The above JavaScript code will set a cookie in your browser. Use at your own risk. YMMV.)

[Via Googlesystem]

The Video Issue. In this issue we cover:

• Google Demo Reel
• Google Click Fraud: The Movie
• The Secret of Google's Search Engine
• Google's First TV ad
• Vint Cerf on Net Neutrality
• Google is looking for a Chef in Chelsea
• What News sources does Google index?
• Picasa Web Albums
• Gpokr

Google and Mozilla know how to push their software out to the masses. People love their software, and do pretty much anything to get it out there, either through word of mouth, or through distribution deals with the likes of Dell and other major players in the technology industry.

Google and Mozilla have teamed with RealNetworks to distribute their popular software even further. For the past few years Google has already had a partnership with Real for software distribution. Now another multi-year deal was recently struck between the three companies, giving users the option of downloading and installing Firefox, and the Google Toolbar when they are downloading RealPlayer. Hooray for Google and Mozilla! More exposure for these killer applications.

Google issued a recent press release stating that they have reached an agreement with XM Satellite Radio.

The new deal with introduce advertising to the seven million subscribers of the XM service. The ads will run on XM's non music related channels through Google's dMarc media network.

Through this deal, Google Advertisers, including Google AdWords customers, will have an easy automated solution to reach XM radio's subscriber base.

Google has just released a great new version of Google Talk. This new version has all the goodies people have been asking for.

This new feature list includes:

• File Transfer - Send unlimited files and folders to contacts. With no restrictions on file size.
• Voicemail - If your buddy isn't answering his/her call, leave a message. A voicemail message. And even if your friend doesn't use Google Talk, they can still receive it in a nice little attached audio file.
• Music Status - Show what tunes you are currently listening to.

Google Talk is shaping up to be an ultimate player in the IM and VoIP world. They have come a long way since the launch of their first rendition of a barebones instant messenger. MSN Messenger look out!

This edition of Googleholic includes:

• Strange Google Links
• Google Hacks
• Google's Test Automation Conference is coming up
• Google Airport Mashups
• Google Help

Click below to read more!

Katie Fehrenbacher was lucky enough to get invited to test out Google's free wi-fi service around the Mountain View California area. She was testing it out, and says that there is ample signal strength. She is set to drive around a bit and try out the different locations that are marked on Google's Mountain View wifi coverage map.

In order to download the the Google Secure Access, and start using Google's wi-fi, you must log on to https://wifi.google.com/download.html at a Google wi-fi network point and download the Google Secure Access VPN client.

The main purpose of Google's wi-fi project is the outdoor use; however, there are supposedly instructions in Katie's invitation that speak about pulling in signals for indoor coverage using a high power wifi modem. Stay tuned for Katie's Google testing tour around Mountain View.

A while ago, a company brought Google to court in regards to a click fraud case, and invalid clicks. As part of the settlement, Google was ordered to have an independent expert examine the methods Google has in place to determine if they are detecting things properly. The individual went through Google and examined their policies, practices, and procedures.

The report found that Google's efforts against click fraud are in fact reasonable. And now Google has a 47 page report of the conclusions.

Dr. Alexander Tuzhilin, the individual set in place to examine Google, is a Professor of Information Systems at NYU. Tuzhilin looked at the types of data Google collected, filtering methods, log generations, AdSense auto-termination methods, ad conversion systems, AdSense publisher systems, click quality investigative processes, credit process systems, and alerting systems to see if Google met reasonable efforts for invalid clicks, and click fraud issues.

During his visits to Google, Alexander met with many engineers responsible for the design and development of the online invalid click detection software, in addition to spam operators who inspect invalid clicking activities.

The document covers not only Google's history, but the internet's history as well. Google's pay per click advertising model is touched upon in some detail, as well as the pay per click model, including AdWords and AdSense program outlines.

The Tuzhilin Report is a great read to look into Google, and how they battle click fraud issues, and invalid click concerns.

Google has more than doubled its profits since last year at this time. The doubling of profits has been said by Google to be from the launch of some very impressive products and services into the marketplace.

Google's profits went from $342 million last year, to $721 million this year. This was a historically slow quarter, and Google's growth in the quarter had even shocked Eric Schmidt at a press conference into saying "Google grew at an impressive pace during a seasonally slow quarter".

Google's growth is a stark change to the recent news of Yahoo's fall in the market due to its delayed launch and development of its new ad search service.

Google is in the midst of securing some tax breaks for its new facility in Ann Arbor Michigan. Google has been working on trying to secure a reduction in tax for a number of choice real estate areas in which it hopes to build its massive facility.

Google plans on having close to 1000 new employees for the new facility that will be working on Google Adwords related projects.

No news yet as to the validity of these Google Bench ads, and the photo that was posted on WebmasterWorld. The photo has the number and name of the media company blocked out.

The copy reads:

YOUR AD HERE
Google "BENCHADS"
1-800- ???????
Become Part of ???? Growing Media Co.

Pretty interesting stuff, but I highly doubt that Google is getting into the bus bench ad industry. Good laugh nonetheless.

There are many, many awesome Google maps mashups out there. There seem to be so many out there now, and so many people are easily creating there own, for business, and personal uses.

The Virtual Video map is another one of those great Google map mashups. However, this one integrates YouTube videos.

The purpose for this creation is the advancement of distance education. It was put together for distance learning's in the fields of pedagogy (The art or profession of teaching), andragogy(an attempt to develop a theory specifically for adult learning), technology, and instructional systems.

In this instance, teachers and students can communicate by exchanging electronic files.