Google Wave

Google have just announced their latest 'product' (communications tool) which will be open to developers so that it can grow and adapt to provide all the features and tools required in our busy and hectic working lives.

Originally codenamed 'Walkabout' the team at Google have been developing a brand new communications model, which has been called Google Wave.

These few questions led the team to develop this exciting new communications model

Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents?

Could a single communications model span all or most of the systems in use on the web today, in one smooth continuum? How simple could we make it?

What if we tried designing a communications system that took advantage of computers' current abilities, rather than imitating non-electronic forms?

So after what they describe as two years holed up, they have now come up with a prototype for Google Wave

Image Here >>

Basically you create a 'Wave' and add people to your wave, then everyone on the Google Wave can add text, photos and feeds.

It seems like all the best of social media, email and other communications tools PLUS the best information tools like feeds, all rolled into one place.

See here for all the information directly from Google:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/went-walkabout-brought-back-google-wave.html

Twitter Television (TV) Series

Well it seems like Twitter just goes from strength to strength so it is no real surprise that there are plans for a Twitter TV series. From the information available so far about the new Twitter TV series the format will be unscripted and will involve interactive competitions with celebrities and Twitter users (known as Tweeters).

So let's see who gets involved as it sounds a lot of fun.

Will it be Bing.com

We should all know by now that Microsoft has been talking up the launch of their 'new' search engine that was being tested under the codename 'Kumo'. In fact reports indicate there will be a lot more 'talking up' as they plan to throw a budget of $100 million for an ad campaign to help launch Bing.com (it is not confirmed that it will be bing.com but sources and many articles within the industry seem to think this is the name).

Firstly, lets take a look at what bing means (always a clanger in there somewhere)

1) Bing is a Unix program which is essentially a ping with added network throughput measurements

OK not bad. At least it is an on-theme meaning (loosley)

2) A slag heap

Hmm not so good

3) Bing is a Chinese term used to describe dough-based Chinese flatbreads

Hmm not bad but not too good either

So no information about why its called BING however PC Mag did have some great ideas such as;

But It's Not Google or Bill It's Not Good (See the full list here)

Whois

So we did a look up and can see that maybe Microsoft just thought "hey lets buy this domain name Bing.Com as its been around since since 1996."

At least they have recently renewed it for 10 more years to avoid any embarassing oversights like forgetting to renew the domain (we all remember that one I am sure). Take a look at the links at the bottom of this page to see the different businesses that operated under bing.com before Microsoft took it over.

Competing with Google

Let's face it Microsoft (and bing.com) are going to need some radical ideas and innovations to even make a small dent in the Google search armour.

Even the industry experts like Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land have their doubts about winning searchers from Google.

"Making something compelling to switch over to would be another thing to do. That's just difficult. There is a lot of room for improvement, but it is not at the crisis point with Google where users feel like they have to switch."

So what do Microsoft know that's different?

Well they have been conducting lots of research into search behaviour and have found some interesting statistics.

1) Although two thirds of people searching via the search engines say they are 'generally' satisfied, less that 40% think that the local search results will provide the information they are seeking.

2) Microsoft evangelist Stefan Weitz looked closely at the data from Live.com and found that the most popular feature in search is actually the back button.

He went on to say that only a quarter of searches return a good result (he is talking on Live.Com) but he goes on to say that if it is the case for Live.Com then it must be similar for Google and Yahoo.

So with all this 'research' will Bing.Com provide a better search experience?

Well we will find out very soon as it is rumoured to debut at the All Things D Conference is San Diego on Thursday.

And finally...

site:bing.com brings up some interesting pages ???

or

Want to see some archived versions of www.bing.com

2 April 2005
6 Novermber 2006
18 April 2007
20 November 2007

New Google Query Suggestions Layout

It seems that everyday when you do a search in Google there is a change in look, layout or even the type of results you get.

The latest 'layout' change we have noticed is in the 'Query Suggestions'. This is the drop down box that appears when you start to type words into the Google search box.

What's changed?

Well as of today all suggestions are now bold

Also there are Google Search and I'm Feeling Lucky tabs at the bottom.

Not sure of the significance of these changes but no doubt as the day continues we will see more feedback.

Google Search Options

Well the face of Google search is changing again with the introduction of 'Google Search Options'.

This is a new feature on the left of the blue bar which gives you the number of search results. It is universal search plus, with lots of new features and ways to organise your searches, even getting results by date, by timeline and my personal favourite a look at the 'wonder wheel'.

Reading through the Google BLOG http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-search-options-and-other-updates.html it appears that us SEO co's will have to pay even more attention to things like client reviews and forums.

I am still reviewing the overall impact of the new Google Search Options feature but one thing is for sure (and was expected), the human input WILL influence SERPS in the future.