Google

Google RSS Feed Ads

April 28, 2005

Google is testing Google RSS Feed ads, a new variation of its AdSense program for publishers that allows sites to display text or image ads related to their content and get paid by the click.

In fact, Google just launched this as a "trial" version of their AdSense program that allows publishers to send a text or banner advertisement alongside syndicated content using Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or Atom (Google's adopted format).

In case you've been under a rock or just not technically inclined, RSS is an open standard for content syndication that enables people to access news headlines and other information such as blogs online using a RSS reader. Though RSS is a promising technology, publishers have yet to profit from it. Advertising is widely thought to be the answer.

Posted in Google

Google TV

June 15, 2005

A source has informed me that Google is in the process of purchasing a massive amount of bandwidth and a major network upgrade. The source didn't confirm or deny whether Google was purchasing bandwidth from Level3, but all signs point to Level3. Now I don't want to go down the Google VoIP road which up till now was mere speculation and rumor based on Google's recent interest in 'dark fiber'.

However, my souce said that the amount of bandwidth purchased could only mean one thing - video.

Posted in Google

Google Unveils Video Software

June 28, 2005

Google is now offering video channels to stream various content, however Google is not streaming Internet TV content as I "theorized" due to Google's recent acquisition of massive amounts of bandwidth. I still think Google TV may be a future possibility. Check out the Google video story on TMCNet.com here: Google Unveils Video Viewing Software

Posted in Google

Google Earth Install Error

July 20, 2005

I was installing Google Earth at the behest of Robert/Vahid Hashemian (aka "Means Everything to Me", "Looks Good", and "Huh? What?" <TMC inside joke>) when I got this error code -5009: 0x80040806

This is my first "bad" experience with any Google product. Of course, it could be my PC to blame, considering I install lots of VoIP and call center applications on my PC. But I try and keep it clean by uninstalling old applications and cleaning the Registry by hand.

Posted in Google

Google's Free WiFi?

August 16, 2005

Rumor is that Google is planning to offer free nationwide WiFi. According to Om's B2Day, San Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom will hold a press conference today detailing his plans for a citywide WiFi network.

Om comments that this is "adding fuel to our speculation that Google is readying a national broadband network with the hopes of giving away WiFi to everyone in America."

He goes on to explain why he sees some "connections" between Google and a local startup that is deploying the WiFi to make some assumptions that perhaps Google is indeed planning on a nationwide WiFI rollout..

If Google does indeed use its deep pockets to give away "free WiFi" in all the major cities, this could absolutely kill SBC, Verizon, Quest, and a whole slew of broadband data providers.

skibare aptly named his blog VoIP Nuke for his prediction that VoIP would indeed be the "nuclear" weapon of mass destruction that would destroy the carriers.

Let me see if I can take Einstein's theory of relativity here which is related to nuclear reactions to model this "VoIP going nuclear"...
E = M*C2
Death of carriers = Free WiFi*Free VoIP2

Posted in Google, VoIP

Google Talk

August 23, 2005

After all the talk about Google VoIP, all the theories about what Google's purchase of tons of dark fiber means, all my prognostications on Google VoIP, it finally appears that Google is going to have a VoIP offering called Google Talk to be launched tomorrow. First, hat tip to Om, for covering this story on Monday where he discusses Google using Jabber technology within Google Talk. Jabber is known as "the Linux of instant messaging" -- an open, secure, ad-free alternative to consumer IM services like AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo.

Google always tried to utilize open standards, so it is no surprise to me that they chose the Jabber technology. There is no word on whether or not Google Talk will simply be an instant messaging client with simple P2P "voice chat" features or if it will incorporate PSTN dialing as well to compete directly with Skype and their SkypeOut service. Also, since Google is renowned for adopting open standards, I would have to assume that if they are doing VoIP that they are utilizing the SIP protocol.

Posted in Google, Skype, VoIP

Google Upgraditis

August 23, 2005

This blog poster opines about how he recently installed Google Desktop then deleted it to install Yahoo! Desktop. Then he learned that a new version of Google Desktop was out called Google Sidebar and he just had to go and install that. Next, he just had to install Konfabulator along with some plugins. Finally, I just had to chuckle when he writes "When I thought I could take a break from configuring various desktop searches and slick widgets, there is news that Google is going to release a communications tool" (i.e. Google Talk)

I'm with him. Hard to keep up with all this newfandangled software.

Posted in Google

Google Talk Test Drive

August 24, 2005

I just installed Google Talk and so far I can't tell what codecs it supports or what protocol it is using for the voice. I know the IM portion is using Jabber, which means you can configure third-party IM clients such as GAIM or iChat to work with Google Talk. I did a port scan and 5060 isn't open, so it isn't using the standard SIP port. Checking Google Talk's site, I found this with regards to SIP:

4. Do you plan to support other real-time communication protocols?
Google Talk supports XMPP with the beta release.

Posted in Google, VoIP

Google Talk's secret game

August 24, 2005

Right-click on the Google Talk icon in your System Tray and then click on "About" to see this screenshot.

Notice the cryptic message which is nearly white on white that says:
play 23 21 13 16 21 . 19 7 1 13 5

If you do a simple alphabetical substitution you get:
wumpus.game

Simply add "wumpus.game" to your Friends list and play an old IRC game!

Note: It seems their wumpus game may have overloaded the Google server, so it may take awhile for you to play

p.s. Doesn't Google "ban" websites that perform SEO gaming tricks, such as white text on a white background? How ironic.

Posted in Google

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 22 Next

VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Google