Google closes more services

Google continues to clean. After announcing in October and Buzz closing Jaiku, now comes the turn of others. In his blog explains the timing of closing . Google Bookmarks Lists, in English, to share links, will on 19 December. Google Friend Connect, which allows webmasters to add a social component to their sites will be removed on March 1, 2012 except Blogger. The company recommends migrating to Google +. Google Gears for storing web applications on the desktop, disappeared completely in December. Google Wave, online tool that allows users to communicate and collaborate in real time, a year ago that no development. Closed in April. In October next year will no longer be accessible Knol, a Wikipedia failed attempt. The blog gives recommendations for the migration of services.

In October, Google announced the closing of Buzz , a social network created in February 2010 that raised serious suspicions about the management of privacy and that the U.S. authorities subjected to regular monitoring on this issue. Then, Google justified because he aspired to create products that use two or three times a day. To this end, the surfer needs to focus on certain services that you think worth using. On 15 January, Google Code Search also closed, designed to help find open source creations. On the same date will no longer work Jaiku acquired by Google in 2007. Jaiku is a Finnish building intended for microblogs and intended to be an alternative to Twitter. Also in January will no longer function iGoogle social features and The University Research Program. These ads are added to the closure, announced, Google Labs, opened with the intention of allowing test ideas and prototypes.

Google will also close its research on energy alternatives to coal because it believes that other projects are more advanced. This is not an end in its willingness to use renewable energy.

The company now has its main efforts to promote the use of Google + social network.

The Gmail password? Better not to reuse it elsewhere

In theory it is a good idea to always keep in mind: never reuse the same password on different sites or Internet services. In the case of Gmail , however, the suggestion becomes almost an obligation, since we are talking about one of the main systems of mail in the world.

The same Google , however, moved at this time in the first person to remind its users what are the risks of money laundering prompted the password: "Thousands of online accounts are violated every day. If you reuse your Gmail password on other websites, change it now. "

A warning appeared on the mailboxes of many users, and according to some sources will hide in Mountain View to put a patch to the increasing number of attempts to account for violations . Google, for now, has not released any official information about the presence of flaws and vulnerabilities of the last hour, but when in doubt it is always best to remember the five basic rules that any good Internet user should keep in mind when creating a password :

1. Use a unique password for all accounts important
2. Use a password with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols
3. Create a password that's hard for someone to guess
4. Make sure the password recovery options are up to date and secure
5. Keep your passwords in a secret place out of sight

Speaking of Gmail can also mention the official debut of Gmail for iPhone OS . In fact, the email format Mountain View "app" had already peeped on Apple devices about two weeks ago but the presence of an embarrassing bug related to the push notification system of technical posts had suggested to the American giant to withdraw the ' application within hours of release.

The current version - the 1.0.2 - can be downloaded for free from the App Store , and includes the Italian version is optimized for iPhone and iPad [read the ' deepening of CNET ].

Google challenges you to shape your city with Google SketchUp

Google has announced the second edition of the contest 'Model your city' , which invites users to create models of real buildings that appear in the service Google Earth using photo textures. With the contest, users can put their city in 3D Google maps and win a prize of 18,500 euros to be spent on local schools. Users will have to form teams and model buildings using Google Earth or Google SketchUp Modeler 3D buildings Google. Once shaped buildings should upload to the website of SketchUp. Google's intention is that their services grow with the support of users, which tries to involve the generation of content for systems like Google Earth . Users can model many structures as is deemed necessary, and can choose buildings in their view must be represented. According to the company, "what matters is that the buildings chosen are relevant to convey the character and history of the city." Users have the February 2012 deadline for your project. The city that it winner will receive SketchUp team in a big party.

The new digital wallet is called Google Wallet

Google has officially released the first application of Google Wallet , payment system via mobile phones. The service, which uses the phone as a wallet , is available for Nexus S terminals of the operator Sprint in the United States. The application uses technology Near Field Communication ( NFC ) , which allows short-range connection between devices, to validate the operations. The company has taken several months to launch your application, during which he has worked to reach agreements with various stakeholders in the sector. A well-known agreements with MasterCard, American Express and First Data Sprint, notes the announcement that Visa has just joined the project.  Although the agreement has been made ​​official, by the time users will need to have a Citi MasterCard card use Google Wallet . For those who do not have this type of card, Google also announced the creation of a prepaid card of its own that allow users to transact with Google Wallet. Google also noted that "are excited about this first step" and "Google Wallet hope to bring more phones in the future."

The business manager explained that Google + Google is not a social network

No more than 100 days ago Google launched its firm commitment to social, Google +. Since its launch, has been considered a social network Faccebook direct competition. However, the business directory of Google, Nikesh Arora, Google has clarified that + "is not a social network" but "a platform for incorporating social elements in all the services and products" of the company. That is, the social roots of the entire ecosystem and not a Google product itself.

Google This new platform has continued to receive praise but also criticism . At several analysts who criticize the social network formerly known as Google's not going to nowhere and end up dying, joined responsible for all of the social revolution that lives Internet: Mark Zuckerberg . The creator of Facebook recently said that Google +, the search engine company is trying to build " the small version " of its popular social network.

Just days after these statements, Google has responded. As recorded by The Telegraph , The Google executive has said that Google + is a platform that incorporates social elements but not a "social network" such as Facebook. According to her, because we have seen how " YouTube has entered into Google + "and a" direct connection "is also entered in the search business. In this regard, Arora has indicated that Google + "is not just about bringing people together in one place and say it is a social network."

Google's directive mentioned, in this sense, the two products, Facebook and Google +, are not direct competitors. However, it has acknowledged that competing in some things . Arora "is sure that there are some features that compete with Google + features that exist on Facebook."

Launch of Google +

The CEO of Google, Larry Page announced in April 2011 before the launch of Google + have priority focus your business in a social strategy . After this release, users will now provide more information, either personal or about your tastes, all over the Internet space that occupies this company.

For its part, Arora said that the foundation of modern network "would be social and information base", but "obviously there's a fine line" on how much information may be shared with Internet companies.

Similarly, the executive has stated that "it is well kept with any company" certain information, but also must know where "is on the web." From there you can say that if anyone has information about you is "it will be used conveniently for you" in a service and therefore " not suspicious of those who have that information . "

Zuckerberg: "Google tries to build a small version of Facebook"

Mark Zuckerberg  has said that Google is trying to build "their little version of Facebook", as defined Google + . During an interview with the CEO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg ,  on the website of the U.S. network reporter PBS  Charlie Rose  also talked about other issues, including the possibility of Facebook to create your own games.

With nearly 800 million users, Facebook is currently the largest social network online. During the interview, Mark Zuckerberg has talked about the growth of Facebook and what are your short term as well as show their opinion about their direct competitor, Google +.

Zuckerberg has said that the battle between Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon looks like a "war without rest for the future," but I really believe that there is no competition between them because each one has its place in the market. "People like to talk about the war but I do not have competition. Do not think a company will beat all others," he says.

Despite this view, it is clear that Google is trying to win + hole  in a sector which dominates Facebook with ease and is a direct competition. In this sense, although Zuckerberg says that Google "is in some ways more competitive," the moment, the moment the giant  Mountain View  "is trying to build a small version of Facebook."

Facebook's mission: users

Zuckerberg has said that the main objective is to target Facebook users. Its primary mission is that these are connected to people that interest them and that may be open to new possibilities. "The idea is that when you give people the possibility of being connected with all the people they care about may express new things about themselves or people they care about.

Facebook makes people can stay connected so that it could not before, "said Zuckerberg. In addition, the founder of the popular social network believes that the possibility that millions of people use social networks every day is crazy." One of the things we're really proud of is that now 800 million people around the world are using Facebook every month and over half use Facebook every day, and I think that's crazy. "

Facebook will not play

One of the tools you use more number of users on Facebook are social games. Therefore, during the last months there was speculation that Facebook take the reins of this type of application and start creating your own games, without relying on developers. However, Zuckerberg flatly denied this possibility: "The game industry is probably the largest industry today, but we are not going to make games."

This decision, as Zuckerberg has been taken by the difficulty of creating both gaming platforms such as  movies or music . For now, have decided to leave this work by third parties as the case of  Zynga  or  Netflix . "We will make Zynga games, Netflix movies and other services to music streaming music making." The work of Facebook is to connect these points with users, in short, "connecting the world"

Google Launches 'Google Pages +', a space for companies in your social network

Google has launched 'Pages Google +', a space for companies to connect with their customers through the social network that allows Internet users from communicating via videoconference with the bike shop on your street to follow a group of music during his tour.

This has been reported the Internet giant through its official blog , which specifies that from now on users can add firms to their circles of friends. "So far, Google + connected to people and now we want to enable you relationships with those you care about, since most local businesses in your city brands ", explained through the blog.

Fans can recommend various businesses and brands through the +1 button (similar to "Like" on Facebook) or, for a more direct relationship, add to one of their circles of interest.

Barcelona Football Club, the Museo del Prado, 40Principales, UNICEF, Reporters Without Borders, LG, Sony and Movistar are some of the companies and organizations that are already creating their corporate site with Google +.

It has also presented the tool "Direct Connect" to pages within the corporate social network can be found through the search engine just by adding before the name of the company the "+" are now available + Google, + Pepsi and + Toyota.

Google made a change in its algorithm that will affect 35% of searches

After the update called Panda, applied in August to the Spanish search to improve results , Google has announced a significant change in their new search algorithm. The new package is called Caffeine and improvements, according to the company , will positively affect the 35 % of searches.

Google hopes that the new algorithm increases the "freshness" of the search results by prioritizing the most recent and relevant content. The aim is that the search at the top shows information and articles published a few minutes before and also stand out for its quality.

The company explained that in the case of events that recur periodically, such as awards, annual fairs or festivals, the browser will be able to discard the oldest references first and provide the latest information on the understanding that are looking for content about the latest edition (gala, celebration, etc.) and not on a 50 years ago.

The same applies to the content changed and updated frequently. For example, when searching for information on the latest smartphones, cars or any other product , with the new algorithm will be less likely to appear among the top results and comparative analysis of years ago.

However, Google will maintain and improve their ability to differentiate perishable contents of those timeless that are valid despite being old. Thus, the algorithm does not apply when looking for content such as recipes and beauty tips.

Google indexes all public comments Facebook

The user comments also serve to highlight in Google. The most popular Internet search engine in the world now indexed public comments users make Facebook pages and websites that include add-ons  (Firefox extensions) of the social network. This measure means that all users make comments on any public website would appear in Google search results as the British newspaper today says The Telegraph .

Previously, search engines could not read these comments because Facebook and other sites for discussion as Disqus or Intense Debate used a series of programs difficult to read these comments automatically. However, Google uses Web tools to search and index the content are able to read the comments that have been made ​​using Facebook Connect  , an application to connect to Facebook from other environments, and other equivalent services.

Some website owners have refused to use the add-on to collect feedback from its users, ensuring they do not help in the search rankings. But as Facebook has become a popular tool for interaction outside of Facebook.com, Google has been ignoring a growing part of the web.

This measure means that the links in the comments also reinforce the position of the websites, although it is likely that comments may not appear immediately in the top of search results. This measure will also allow comments and conversations that occur between users easier to find.

Google turns to jump into the television market

Google is making another effort to transfer their knowledge on the web to television, hoping to capitalize on a vast new market, despite the lukewarm reception that gave consumers their first offer.

The Internet search engine has released a revamped version of its Google TV service. The company has introduced new features aimed at making the product easier to use and more attractive to consumers.

The new version 2.0 of Google TV provides new tools for recommending movies, TV shows and videos online to television viewers, and allows developers of software creating new applications for the television screen.

"There are very anxious to use the web in the living room," said the vice president of product management at Google, Mario Queiroz, who is in charge of Google TV.

But in a sign of the many challenges that have thwarted Google's ambition to conquer the living room as well as other technology companies-including Apple-Google Queiroz has described television as "a long-term bet."

No release date

"I do not know what month exactly take off," said last week during a demonstration of the new product in the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. "I think there has been great progress over the last year and this coming year there will be more, "he said.

Google TV, which is now incorporated in some models of Sony televisions and decoders Logitech International, allows consumers to access videos online and Web sites on their TVs, and play with specialized applications.

Google does not disclose how many users have for Google TV, which was launched with great fanfare last year. But some analysts say that version 1.0 of the product has been a failure. "The fire they were trying to start or even get a spark," said Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey.

The $ 299 (213.6 euros) for the device less expensive for Google TV was too high , said McQuivey (since then, Logitech has reduced the price of your device to 71.4 euros).

Google Street View works on a project to show the inside of shops and restaurants

The team of Google Street View is working on a pilot project to include on their maps panoramic images from inside buildings or tents. This new feature is an extension of the technology used in Google Street View, which allows users to see street-level images of cities.

For the team of Google Street View street level view of the world's cities are not sufficient to provide the best possible experience for its users. He is now working to include this view in the interior of shops, hotels, gyms , etc.. In this way, users of Google Maps tool you can see how they are inside stores located in the location you have searched through Google Street View.

Despite being a pilot project, Google has already thought about the issue of privacy. The existing service Street View Google has made ​​some complaints about this issue is concerned, as some users claimed that this technology was intrusive . However, Google has said, as recorded by the BBC that the new project is based on the decision of the owners who want to build their online presence.

"Based on the Google Art Project , which was Google Street View to 17 famous museums , this project is another creative implementation of Street View technology to help companies to build their own online presence , "just as said a company spokesman. "We expect companies to highlight the qualities that make their location stand grace high quality images . "

At the moment for the launch of this service, Street View team has chosen to settle in cities like London, Paris and other locations in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.. In the latter case, Google is starting to get in touch with leading companies in the country.

Restaurants, hotels, shops, gyms and repair of vehicles are included in Google Street View. However, the company has ruled out big names at the moment along with hospitals and law offices , which also will be included.

Google says that business owners will be responsible for warning their customers and employees about the performance of the pictures when there are people inside. The company has pledged that it will pixelate the faces of customers . The photo sessions to be held within the business will be made ​​with fisheye lenses and wide , as well as still images. Business owners can also upload their own images to. Google says that all photographs become the property of the company and can be used for other applications.

"Many retailers are increasing their online presence and use of technological innovations , so this is a tool that some companies undoubtedly will study with interest, "says the British Retail Consortium spokesman, Sarah Cordey.

Brazil, Germany and the U.S., the ones who have asked Google to remove content

The Brazilian authorities, the Germans and the Americans are those who have submitted during the first half of 2011 more requests to Google to remove content they consider to violate their laws.

Through its tool "governmental" , the search engine company has published information on the requests that courts and government agencies have submitted for the removal of content (each request may relate to multiple items) or to access user data.

From January to June 2011, Brazil filed 224 applications for Google to remove content from their various websites (of which the company suppressed by 67%), especially issues relating to defamation, identity theft, the rights of copyright, privacy and security. Next in the list Germany , with 125 requests that were taken into account the 86% U.S. and 92 requests a withdrawal rate of 63%, and South Korea, with 88 applications and a rate of content removed from 63%.

In Spain were sent 13 requests (28% over the same period last year) concerning violation of the law on defamation, privacy and security and pornography, and Google removed all or part of site contents web by 54% of cases.

For its part, the Argentine authorities asked Google on 21 occasions to withdraw certain content and the search satisfied the demands in all cases.

User data

The Mountain View company also has published statistics on any request from the governments in the first half of 2011 to access user data .

The United States leads the list with 5950 requests and a response rate of 93%. In second place is India, with 1739 applications of which 70% went unanswered, and in third place appears France, with 1,300 requests for data, which Google said 48%.

The Spanish authorities requested in 460 cases data about users and the search engine company responded to 63 percent of them.

In Latin America, Brazil is also the most active country in the request for data about users: 703 applications filed in the first half year of which 87% went unanswered. Applications in Argentina amounted to 134 (32% satisfied in cases), in Chile, 118 (with a response rate of 42%) and Mexico, to 48 (of which Google take into account a 42 %).

Google Maps API is no longer free

Google argues that the measure is necessary to ensure "growth and evolution" of a service that until now was completely free.

Google has taken another step this week in what some analysts are beginning to interpret technology as a strategic change of the Internet giant in its business on the web.

Blog Through Google Geodevelopers , the Mountain View company announced the introduction of restrictions on the use of Google Maps API . It is a measure whose implementation and advanced Google last April in order to ensure "growth and evolution" of a service that until now was free.

An article by ReadWriteWeb contains the first impressions of some developers, which in principle are sympathetic to the movement of Google: " Taking into account the value of these APIs provide and the cost of keeping up, pay money for using them should not be a problem at all. The last thing any of us is that the withdrawal quierría as they have other " , says the developer austrliano Daniel Treadwell.