Yahoo News Story details how Skype, Google and a load of the usual VC suspects are backing FON. FON is a startup that aims to create a global community of wi-fi sharers. Members are either Bills (who charge a small amount for access) or Linuses (who just share for free). There were a couple of startups doing this previously and I don’t know where they are now. At least these guys have got some cash in their pockets
Tag: Google
Evil Google logo
When I’m tired and not feeling on top form I can never really be bothered to look at stuff online. The one site that always cheers me up a bit is Boing Boing, you’ll never fail to find something interesting, odd, funny or inspiring. I’m not sure which category to put this one in…
As I’m sure everyone knows it’s now very cool to hate Google. So this Script to replace Google logo with Evil Google logo is just what you need. It takes the Google logo and replaces it with one created by the Students for a Free Tibet.
In case you don’t know the story, Google have agreed to filter their search results in China to comply with the government’s censorship wishes. It’s a tough one. Google was already being crippled in China so in some ways it’s a good thing that they’re now accessible and, importantly, able to show users when things have been stripped out by the local authorities, meaning they can see they’re being censored.
Allegedly all the big search engines have done similar deals with the government. But now that Google are officially ‘evil’ they’re the worst (of course)…
dumb, crass, stupid, sexist lavazza
Interesting thoughts on complaining via buzz tracking. Russell doesn’t like the Lavazza posters with busty women on them (russell davies: dumb, crass, stupid, sexist lavazza). I think the image, as a photograph, is middle-shelf toss-fodder. Yes it’s sexist, yes it’s a bit crass. But most of all I really can’t see how this is going to appeal to drinkers of a relatively high end coffee… I’m not offended by it, I just think that the whole campaign is misguided.
I’m much more interested by the power of blogs as routes to reach marketers. Trackbacks, links, and general Google strength are all things that as bloggers we can harness for our own aims.
Given that it doesn’t take many letters to the ASA to get an ad taken off air, how many blogs would have the same effect?
Digital Newspapers
Have I been living with my head in the sand? A bit, probably. But I spotted these today. Printouts of newspapers. The Times, in the morning. in New York. Looks like it’s just been squirted off a laser printer. No bulky shipping, no big printing presses.
Just your ordinary newspaper news in a page-turningly good format. But only a few hours after the presses have rolled.
Is this legit? Grey? Or do the big newspaper publishers all know about it?
I’m sure a Google search would yield some answers, but it’s more of a ‘look what I saw’ kind of post.
Why Google Rule
Something that makes Google so cool is the fact they recognise that their competitors (or deadly rivals), have an important part to play in peoples’ lives. See how they’ve listed Ask Yahoo! in fun. Most other sites would rather kill themselves than link to a competitor.
Celeb Map Mashup
In the seeming endless wave of Google Maps mashups comes Celebrity Maps. Of course, we all want to know where celebs live, so we can go raid their bins, clone their identities and create an elite army of celeb lookalikes that take over the ruling of the free world… Oh! Sorry just got a bit carried away daydreaming, celebs do that to me…
Thanks to the vigilant chaps at PSFK for that.
Yahoo gets Flickrd
Business 2.0 – The Flickrization of Yahoo. It’s a long article, but makes for interesting reading about how social software is begining to spill over into many aspects of Yahoo!s business.
One point that they make that particuarly resonated with me is the difference between Yahoo! and Google. I’ve always felt that Yahoo! is more ‘human’ than Google – probably because in the good old days Yahoo! was structured around directories, picked by human editors. And now, if you start adding human tags to search (as Yahoo! MyWeb v2.0 does) – it goes back to becoming a much more human window onto search. Yaaaaaaaaaahoo!
Google Analytics
Google Analytics – Google offers free web stats through its new service. Based on the popular Urchin software this is a great way for site owners to get detailed site analytics (for free!). I still like my simple to read Mint stats too though.
Who knows? Get Google Analytics installed and you might meet someone like Kief.
Backstreet Mime-a-long
Who? Why? 2 Chinese dudes, sing along to the Backstreet Boys. It’s funny. It gets funnier as you watch it for longer. The guy in the background appears to be just going about his business, unperturbed by the maniacs freaking out to boy-pop behind him.
Via BoingBoing via the Today Show via Sina.com.cn – yoiks that’s a lot of via-ing.
Yahoo! and MSN up a tree…
…K.I.S.S.I.N.G. (well maybe). Interesting report on
MSN and Yahoo! joining forces on the IM front to present a united front against the ‘Google-Threat’. Interestingly they appear to be leaving poor old AOL out. Almost makes me feel sorry for them, a bit.