Thursday, September 28, 2006
Behind the Scenes in the Search Engine Labs
"...Yahoo Labs
According to Horowitz, Yahoo labs' four areas of focus are community, microeconomics, information navigation and search, and user experience. For example, when analyzing communities, Yahoo researchers look at the following information:
How to know what to believe
Trust models online and propagation
What makes communities thrive and wither
Tagging images and videos, and sharing these file types
Horowitz said that Yahoo believes in better search through people. "Writing algorithms to understand what is in an image is extremely difficult, for example," he said. "People plus algorithms is better than algorithms alone."
Algorithms have evolved considerably since 1995. Horowitz characterized search algorithm evolution into four phases:
...
Phase 4: Social search. Builds on all earlier technologies. "Subjective queries rely on domain expertise," said Horowitz. "With social search, we are handing back domain expertise to the users."..."
"...Yahoo Labs
According to Horowitz, Yahoo labs' four areas of focus are community, microeconomics, information navigation and search, and user experience. For example, when analyzing communities, Yahoo researchers look at the following information:
How to know what to believe
Trust models online and propagation
What makes communities thrive and wither
Tagging images and videos, and sharing these file types
Horowitz said that Yahoo believes in better search through people. "Writing algorithms to understand what is in an image is extremely difficult, for example," he said. "People plus algorithms is better than algorithms alone."
Algorithms have evolved considerably since 1995. Horowitz characterized search algorithm evolution into four phases:
...
Phase 4: Social search. Builds on all earlier technologies. "Subjective queries rely on domain expertise," said Horowitz. "With social search, we are handing back domain expertise to the users."..."
Google to File Motion in Orkut Case
"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Google Inc. will file a motion in response to a Brazilian judges' deadline to turn over information on users of the company's social networking service Orkut, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
On Aug. 22, Federal Judge Jose Marcos Lunardelli gave Google's Brazilian affiliate until Sept. 28 to release information needed to identify individuals accused of using Orkut to spread child pornography and engage in hate speech against blacks, Jews and homosexuals or face daily fines of $23,000.
Google spokeswoman Debbie Frost said the company would instead file a brief in court explaining why it can not comply with the judge's order.
"We have and will continue to provide Brazilian authorities with information on users who abuse the Orkut service, if their requests are reasonable and follow an appropriate legal process," said Frost who was in Sao Paulo for the court date.
"It is and always has been our intention to be as cooperative in the investigation and prosecution of crimes as we possibly can, while being careful to balance the interests of our users and the request from the authorities," she added.
Google claims that its Brazilian affiliate cannot provide the information because all the data about Orkut users is stored outside Brazil at the company's U.S.-based headquarters.
Google maintains that it is open to requests for information from foreign governments as long as the requests comply with United States laws and that they are issued within the country where the information is stored, Frost said..."
"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Google Inc. will file a motion in response to a Brazilian judges' deadline to turn over information on users of the company's social networking service Orkut, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
On Aug. 22, Federal Judge Jose Marcos Lunardelli gave Google's Brazilian affiliate until Sept. 28 to release information needed to identify individuals accused of using Orkut to spread child pornography and engage in hate speech against blacks, Jews and homosexuals or face daily fines of $23,000.
Google spokeswoman Debbie Frost said the company would instead file a brief in court explaining why it can not comply with the judge's order.
"We have and will continue to provide Brazilian authorities with information on users who abuse the Orkut service, if their requests are reasonable and follow an appropriate legal process," said Frost who was in Sao Paulo for the court date.
"It is and always has been our intention to be as cooperative in the investigation and prosecution of crimes as we possibly can, while being careful to balance the interests of our users and the request from the authorities," she added.
Google claims that its Brazilian affiliate cannot provide the information because all the data about Orkut users is stored outside Brazil at the company's U.S.-based headquarters.
Google maintains that it is open to requests for information from foreign governments as long as the requests comply with United States laws and that they are issued within the country where the information is stored, Frost said..."
Monday, September 25, 2006
Over 30 Domain Names Transferred to Google
"We’ve posted in the past about Google having “google-related” domain names first registered by others (domain name squatters?) transferred back to Google Inc. Friday, was a big day for this type of thing with over 30 .com domains transferred to Google Inc. Basically, more IP for the Google stable.
A guess (only a guess) is that some/most/all of these domains were registered by a person in Belvidere, Illinois, using GoDaddy’s registration services on November 5, 2005 or November 15, 2005. The cached pages (some still online at various times this month, using the Google Cache) are all placeholder pages. We’ve linked to a few of them..."
"We’ve posted in the past about Google having “google-related” domain names first registered by others (domain name squatters?) transferred back to Google Inc. Friday, was a big day for this type of thing with over 30 .com domains transferred to Google Inc. Basically, more IP for the Google stable.
A guess (only a guess) is that some/most/all of these domains were registered by a person in Belvidere, Illinois, using GoDaddy’s registration services on November 5, 2005 or November 15, 2005. The cached pages (some still online at various times this month, using the Google Cache) are all placeholder pages. We’ve linked to a few of them..."
Good overview of the problem. Begs the question; "why don't they just stop allowing parked domains?" (other than the obvious greed factory). Are they that short sighted?
"Click Fraud
The dark side of online advertising
Martin Fleischmann put his faith in online advertising. He used it to build his Atlanta company, MostChoice.com, which offers consumers rate quotes and other information on insurance and mortgages. Last year he paid Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO )and Google Inc. (GOOG ) a total of $2 million in advertising fees. The 40-year-old entrepreneur believed the celebrated promise of Internet marketing: You pay only when prospective customers click on your ads..."
"Click Fraud
The dark side of online advertising
Martin Fleischmann put his faith in online advertising. He used it to build his Atlanta company, MostChoice.com, which offers consumers rate quotes and other information on insurance and mortgages. Last year he paid Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO )and Google Inc. (GOOG ) a total of $2 million in advertising fees. The 40-year-old entrepreneur believed the celebrated promise of Internet marketing: You pay only when prospective customers click on your ads..."
Sunday, September 24, 2006
BusinessWeek Covers Click Fraud
Literally - it's the cover story this week. Gary has a great round up here.
Literally - it's the cover story this week. Gary has a great round up here.
Want To Be a Google Lab Rat?
"Google has a form up for you to request to become a "User Experience Research" at services.google.com/inquiry/user_study. Google is "currently looking for Google Page Creator users to participate in a user study to improve our product."
So if you love Google, like to test things, and enjoy Page Creator, then fill out the form..."
"Google has a form up for you to request to become a "User Experience Research" at services.google.com/inquiry/user_study. Google is "currently looking for Google Page Creator users to participate in a user study to improve our product."
So if you love Google, like to test things, and enjoy Page Creator, then fill out the form..."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Huckabuck - ineresting. The tuner has some nice features. "
http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/09/web_20_ads_anot.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_techbeat
...a "Web 2.0 search engine" called Huckabuck, is up for sale on eBay. Yeesh. Maybe even worse, it has gotten 33 bids as of Monday night, but at $8,300, bidders haven't yet hit the reserve price, which I'm betting isn't hitting the billion or two of more famous Web 2.0 startups...."
http://www.huckabuck.com/
http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/09/web_20_ads_anot.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_techbeat
...a "Web 2.0 search engine" called Huckabuck, is up for sale on eBay. Yeesh. Maybe even worse, it has gotten 33 bids as of Monday night, but at $8,300, bidders haven't yet hit the reserve price, which I'm betting isn't hitting the billion or two of more famous Web 2.0 startups...."
http://www.huckabuck.com/
It's an interesting model but it seems difficult/risky... Best of luck to them! (wonder who's doing their algorithmic results?)
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060904-044533
"New Engine 'ChaCha' Offers Real-Time Answers From Live 'Guides'
Part Wikipedia, part Yahoo Answers and part About.com, ChaCha is a new search engine with a compelling hook – real-time results from human beings. The site launches (in "Alpha") today and offers users two ways to search: traditional algorithmic results or help from live "guides." Users interact with guides via an embedded instant messaging window in the search results page.
Brad Bostic, co-founder of ChaCha, said that the site had lined up about 2500 guides at launch: college students, retirees, stay-at-home moms and others "who are online all day anyway." But not just anyone can become a guide apparently; you have to be "sponsored" (invited by an existing guide) and work your way up a hierarchy consisting of four levels.
New guides are considered "apprentices" and are matched with areas of personal interest and expertise. New guides also have mentors, more experienced guides who monitor their work. Apprentices cannot interact with the public initially and must pass several tests for speed, quality and accuracy. If they meet these requirements they become "pros."
Pros then get the chance to interact with the public and will be paid (US$5 per "search hour"). After pro come two other levels: "master" and ultimately "elite." Elite-level guides make US$10 per search hour. But once you become a master you're eligible to earn 10% of what your "network" makes. Your network consists of those you've brought into the "ChaCha Underground" (the community of guides).
The challenges of this entire concept obviously revolve around the cost structure and how many guides ChaCha can recruit to make the real-time aspect of this work well. It was clear from my conversation with Bostic, however, that ChaCha has carefully thought through these issues. The company has developed financial and ego-based incentives to recruit and retain guides and various mechanisms to help maximize the quality of their results.
While Bostic believes that most people will get and stay involved because of altruistic reasons (think Wikipedia), the modest financial rewards and four levels of "initiation" (my term) may add additional appeal for prospective guides. As mentioned, there's also a community aspect. Guides have profiles, featuring their areas of expertise and most recent answers. They're also rated by users..."
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060904-044533
"New Engine 'ChaCha' Offers Real-Time Answers From Live 'Guides'
Part Wikipedia, part Yahoo Answers and part About.com, ChaCha is a new search engine with a compelling hook – real-time results from human beings. The site launches (in "Alpha") today and offers users two ways to search: traditional algorithmic results or help from live "guides." Users interact with guides via an embedded instant messaging window in the search results page.
Brad Bostic, co-founder of ChaCha, said that the site had lined up about 2500 guides at launch: college students, retirees, stay-at-home moms and others "who are online all day anyway." But not just anyone can become a guide apparently; you have to be "sponsored" (invited by an existing guide) and work your way up a hierarchy consisting of four levels.
New guides are considered "apprentices" and are matched with areas of personal interest and expertise. New guides also have mentors, more experienced guides who monitor their work. Apprentices cannot interact with the public initially and must pass several tests for speed, quality and accuracy. If they meet these requirements they become "pros."
Pros then get the chance to interact with the public and will be paid (US$5 per "search hour"). After pro come two other levels: "master" and ultimately "elite." Elite-level guides make US$10 per search hour. But once you become a master you're eligible to earn 10% of what your "network" makes. Your network consists of those you've brought into the "ChaCha Underground" (the community of guides).
The challenges of this entire concept obviously revolve around the cost structure and how many guides ChaCha can recruit to make the real-time aspect of this work well. It was clear from my conversation with Bostic, however, that ChaCha has carefully thought through these issues. The company has developed financial and ego-based incentives to recruit and retain guides and various mechanisms to help maximize the quality of their results.
While Bostic believes that most people will get and stay involved because of altruistic reasons (think Wikipedia), the modest financial rewards and four levels of "initiation" (my term) may add additional appeal for prospective guides. As mentioned, there's also a community aspect. Guides have profiles, featuring their areas of expertise and most recent answers. They're also rated by users..."
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Is Google going to be able to sell this??
http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/2006/09/02/google-apps-outside-googlecom/
Google Apps Outside Google.com
Google has launched a signup form for Google Apps, which would allow organizations to put Google tools on their own domains in “private label” versions. The tools currently being offered (and this is in beta) are Gmail, Google Talk, Google Page Creator, and Google Calendar. You can sign up at https://www.google.com/a/. It looks like services for the term of the beta will be free, but after that it will cost, but organizations who sign up for the beta will continue to receive services for free (that’s how I’m reading it.)
(And I’m a bit surprised that Google’s doing this, really. Traditionally search engine companies have had a very difficult time serving the general public and enterprises at the same time. It seems that usually the company eventually gives up and spins off/ sells one of the two focuses. Of course, Google’s TOS for this service makes it very clear that they’re not responsible for support or providing end-user help, so maybe they see themselves as more of a only-slightly-involved hosting service.)
You’ll need a Google account to sign up. Once you’re signed up, Google asks you a bunch of questions, including organization name, type, country, how many accounts you need, what you’re currently using, your level of involvement in tech decisions in your company, etc. (A couple of the questions are optional.) From there you go into the administration/nuts-and-bolts of setting up an account and choosing the Google services you want to run (you can run two out of the four available.) Google has well-documented this process and has lots of help pages.
Obviously anyone who has privacy concerns vis-a-vis Google is not going to want to do this, and as the Google Apps TOS makes it clear that Google can serve ads, some users might have an issue with having their employees peppered with ads while trying to do their work (and possibly being distracted away from what they’re supposed to be doing?) Getting some of these services up and running, like Google Mail, requires a certain level of nerdness that may be daunting, like adjusting MX DNS records.
On the other hand perhaps a group of organizational users are already scattered across several different free Web mail services and an administrator would find it easier to gather them all in one place. Or the organization has Web mail from their Web hosting service and finds it minimal compared to an offering like Google Mail. I can equally come up with reasons for an organization to try this and for them to avoid it completely. The more interesting question to me is: will Google be able to successfully and profitably balance offerings for the general public and for enterprise users? Will the method of advertising serve as a sufficient (and sufficiently profitable) common denominator for those two groups?..."
http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/2006/09/02/google-apps-outside-googlecom/
Google Apps Outside Google.com
Google has launched a signup form for Google Apps, which would allow organizations to put Google tools on their own domains in “private label” versions. The tools currently being offered (and this is in beta) are Gmail, Google Talk, Google Page Creator, and Google Calendar. You can sign up at https://www.google.com/a/. It looks like services for the term of the beta will be free, but after that it will cost, but organizations who sign up for the beta will continue to receive services for free (that’s how I’m reading it.)
(And I’m a bit surprised that Google’s doing this, really. Traditionally search engine companies have had a very difficult time serving the general public and enterprises at the same time. It seems that usually the company eventually gives up and spins off/ sells one of the two focuses. Of course, Google’s TOS for this service makes it very clear that they’re not responsible for support or providing end-user help, so maybe they see themselves as more of a only-slightly-involved hosting service.)
You’ll need a Google account to sign up. Once you’re signed up, Google asks you a bunch of questions, including organization name, type, country, how many accounts you need, what you’re currently using, your level of involvement in tech decisions in your company, etc. (A couple of the questions are optional.) From there you go into the administration/nuts-and-bolts of setting up an account and choosing the Google services you want to run (you can run two out of the four available.) Google has well-documented this process and has lots of help pages.
Obviously anyone who has privacy concerns vis-a-vis Google is not going to want to do this, and as the Google Apps TOS makes it clear that Google can serve ads, some users might have an issue with having their employees peppered with ads while trying to do their work (and possibly being distracted away from what they’re supposed to be doing?) Getting some of these services up and running, like Google Mail, requires a certain level of nerdness that may be daunting, like adjusting MX DNS records.
On the other hand perhaps a group of organizational users are already scattered across several different free Web mail services and an administrator would find it easier to gather them all in one place. Or the organization has Web mail from their Web hosting service and finds it minimal compared to an offering like Google Mail. I can equally come up with reasons for an organization to try this and for them to avoid it completely. The more interesting question to me is: will Google be able to successfully and profitably balance offerings for the general public and for enterprise users? Will the method of advertising serve as a sufficient (and sufficiently profitable) common denominator for those two groups?..."
http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/newsanalysis/technet/10307019.html
"YouTube Hires Yahoo! Treasurer
By TSC Staff
9/3/2006 3:05 PM EDT
YouTube is not only grabbing an ever-larger online audience. It's also attracting first-string Silicon Valley executives.
The video-sharing Web site, founded just 19 months ago, has hired Yahoo! (YHOO - commentary - Cramer's Take) Treasurer Gideon Yu as its chief financial officer, according to a report Saturday in The Wall Street Journal.
The hiring shows YouTube is maturing and might begin pursuing deals or an IPO, the report noted.
YouTube's users now watch more than 100 million videos a day, making the start-up competitive in the online video arena against Internet goliaths like Google (GOOG - commentary - Cramer's Take).
This isn't the first time YouTube has snatched an executive from Yahoo!, the report noted. Earlier this year, it hired Tony Nethercutt to build its ad sales team...."
"YouTube Hires Yahoo! Treasurer
By TSC Staff
9/3/2006 3:05 PM EDT
YouTube is not only grabbing an ever-larger online audience. It's also attracting first-string Silicon Valley executives.
The video-sharing Web site, founded just 19 months ago, has hired Yahoo! (YHOO - commentary - Cramer's Take) Treasurer Gideon Yu as its chief financial officer, according to a report Saturday in The Wall Street Journal.
The hiring shows YouTube is maturing and might begin pursuing deals or an IPO, the report noted.
YouTube's users now watch more than 100 million videos a day, making the start-up competitive in the online video arena against Internet goliaths like Google (GOOG - commentary - Cramer's Take).
This isn't the first time YouTube has snatched an executive from Yahoo!, the report noted. Earlier this year, it hired Tony Nethercutt to build its ad sales team...."
Talk about some privacy issues!!!:
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060904-105025
"Google To Fingerprint Voices With PC Microphones
This weekend The Register published an article named Google developing eavesdropping software. The article describes how Google uses existing PC microphones fingerprinting technology to show relevant ads that appeal more to you. The article goes on to explain how the sound fingerprinting works; it "breaks sound into a five-second snippets to pick out audio from a TV, reducing the snippet to a digital "fingerprint", which it matches on an internet server." Privacy folks are worried about the repercussions of such software..."
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060904-105025
"Google To Fingerprint Voices With PC Microphones
This weekend The Register published an article named Google developing eavesdropping software. The article describes how Google uses existing PC microphones fingerprinting technology to show relevant ads that appeal more to you. The article goes on to explain how the sound fingerprinting works; it "breaks sound into a five-second snippets to pick out audio from a TV, reducing the snippet to a digital "fingerprint", which it matches on an internet server." Privacy folks are worried about the repercussions of such software..."
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/?p=3768
"Google Flagging Sites with Too Many Subdomains
In a post last week about Robert Scoble visiting the Google Plex and the Windows Live Writer blogging tool, Matt Cutts lent a hint that Google is monitoring and flagging sites which launch too many subdomains at one time. Seems that the Live Windows team is using sub domains for almost every new product they add to the Live.com product line (example: http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/).
So, for those of you who think that launching hundreds of subdomains from an authority site is a sure bet to long term high spammy rankings on Google, think again because Google is watching the sites using this technique..."
"Google Flagging Sites with Too Many Subdomains
In a post last week about Robert Scoble visiting the Google Plex and the Windows Live Writer blogging tool, Matt Cutts lent a hint that Google is monitoring and flagging sites which launch too many subdomains at one time. Seems that the Live Windows team is using sub domains for almost every new product they add to the Live.com product line (example: http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/).
So, for those of you who think that launching hundreds of subdomains from an authority site is a sure bet to long term high spammy rankings on Google, think again because Google is watching the sites using this technique..."
