The trial Yahoo has been conducting to display Google ads in its search results has been judged a success, according to sources close to the companies, and Yahoo is set to move ahead on the partnership with its one-time biggest rival in an attempt to stave off Microsoft's $42 billion takeover offer. We mentioned on Monday that an alliance between Yahoo and Google could receive heavy criticism from US and EU competition regulators, both companies are now working on a solution. Perhaps such a solution would be to only allow Google to serve ads in certain categories or regions. Even though this would limit the cash flow boost to Yahoo, the company would still come out significantly richer in the end, perhaps by as much as $500 million a year. Yahoo is also in talks with AOL over a merger to further increase its cash flow.

Experts are claiming that a business partnership between Google and Yahoo! could be more heavily criticised by US and EU competition regulators than a merger between Microsoft and Yahoo!. Aaron Edlin, who teaches law and economics at the University of California at Berkeley said:

The Justice Department would certainly want to take a serious look at that because it would mean that a firm that would want to take advertisements or to place advertisements (online) would have only one place to go.

Google was the top search engine in February, accounting for 59.2% of US web searches, with Yahoo! and Microsoft lagging behind on 21.6% and 9.6% respectively. Microsoft has proposed a $42 billion takeover bid for Yahoo! in an attempt to combat this dominance, although Yahoo! has so far refused to accept the deal.

Google today introduced Google Sites, an application that makes creating a team web site as easy as editing a document. With Google Sites, people can quickly gather a variety of information in one place - including videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and text - and easily share it for viewing or editing with a small group, their entire organization, or the world.

"Creating a team web site has always been too complicated, requiring dedicated hardware and software as well as programming skills," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager of enterprise, Google. "Now with Google Sites, anyone can create an entirely customized site in minutes and invite others to contribute. We are literally adding an edit button to the web."

Google plans on soon selling advertisment space on its web videos. They may put short video advertisments or "commercials" on YouTube and Google Video, for each video you watch. So far it is in the beta stage and they have signed up 20 customers to test the new advertisments. It will similar to AdSence, putting in advertisments that are contextually relevant to what you are watching.

Google seems to have been around for about as long as the internet, and provides a necessary function. When there's something on the internet you just cannot find, Google takes less than two tenths of a second to find it for you. However, some people seem to have become awful bored with the same old way of searching for results. And so, Google remedied this issue by re-doing the way the search engine works. Google Experimental, instead of just slapping results in a user's face, gives users a lot of different options as far as how to review the results.

Aside from a list, users can view a map of results or a timeline with results chronologically organized. From there users can apply special informational filters, to further pare down the information obtained.

Dan Crowe, production manager over at Google, put the changes in place to make the user base happy. If you want to make Mr.Crowe happy, simply head on over to Google and let Google know you want to run the Experimental search by default.

As most of you know, Yahoo is seriously considering letting Microsoft buy them. However, we cannot forget that more than just Microsoft would benefit if Yahoo was to consider letting someone buy them. Google would also be pretty pleased if they could get Yahoo in their pocket, much like YouTube. However, instead of place a bid in, Google sent some nasty comments Microsoft's way.

Could Microsoft now attempt to exert the same sort of inappropriate and illegal influence over the Internet that it did with the PC? While the Internet rewards competitive innovation, Microsoft has frequently sought to establish proprietary monopolies-and then leverage its dominance into new, adjacent markets.

Please follow the source article for the full statement Google put out regarding this possible merger/purchase.

Google's instant messaging program, Talk, now features real-time translation via twenty-three 'language bots' you can add to your group chats. Does this bring us a step closer to the Star Trek 'universal translator'? Google has been offering translation services for blocks of text (and, for that matter, entire websites) for quite some time, of course. While it's always been possible to use this service to translate your instant messages, it's hardly been practical: type response, translate, copy, paste into Google Talk, send, wait for reply, copy, paste into Google Translate, translate. The new 'bots' introduced by Google use a protocol called XMPP which is open to all. The usage of the bots is certainly simple. Each bot takes the form of [language]2[language]@bot.talk.google.com; just replace the two languages with the standard two letter abbreviations for each language. To translate from German to English, for example, add de2en@bot.talk.google.com to your conversation. It would probably also help to add en2de@bot.talk.google.com as well, if you want to have a hope of understanding the reply.

Technology giants Microsoft, Google and Yahoo! have agree to pay $31.5 million to settle claims that they promoted illegal gambling. However, none of the companies contested or admitted that they were guilty of such an offence, which accused them of running adverts for illegal gambling websites between 1997 and June this year. The $31.5m breaks down into $21m from Microsoft, $3m from Google and $7.5m from Yahoo!. Some of the money from the three companies will be used towards funding for the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, public service advertising and adverts warning young people about illegal gambling. Google gave the following announcement:

While we did not admit any wrongdoing, the Department of Justice has advised that online gambling is illegal in the United States and ads to promote it are improper. Google voluntarily discontinued running such ads, which were a very small part of our AdWords business, in April 2004.

This is the second security issue of the day for Google, following the vulnerability with the Google Toolbar, although this one is probably more serious. Anti-malware firm BitDefender has discovered that some of Google's web adverts are being hijacked by Trojans which replace the intended text with ads from another, potentially malicious, provider. The ads in question are those displayed by Google's AdSense service, which shows adverts linking to page content. Google is working on a solution to the problem, saying:

We have cancelled customer accounts that display ads redirecting users to malicious sites or that advertise a product violating our software principles. We actively work to detect and remove sites that serve malware in both our ad network and in our search results. We have manual and automated processes in place to detect and enforce these policies.

At present BitDefender is describing the Trojan as causing medium damage and spreading at a low level.

A security flaw has been discovered in Google's Toolbar which could allow criminals to steal data or install malicious software onto people's computers. The flaw works by exploiting the toolbar's ability to install new buttons, and allows a hacker to potentially disguise malicious code as a legitimate button due to the fact that the toolbar does not perform adequate checks when buttons are being installed. To become a victim of the vulnerability, a user would have to be tricked into clicking a link which would open a new popup window asking them to install a custom button, which appears to be installed from a legitimate site such as Google. It then needs to be run from the toolbar, and a user would have to agree to downloading and running an executable. Given the number of steps involved, the flaw is not being treated as critical, and Google is already working on a fix for the problem.

Apparently, people enjoy stalking themselves and each other using the power of Google. A recent study concludes that 47% of internet users have "Googled" themselves at one point in time to research themselves. A larger percentage of people have used Google to find information about other people. The group that did the study, called "The Pew Internet and American Life Project", was surprised that this number was not higher. After all, who hasn't felt the urge to put their name into Google to see what comes up?

The study also concluded that some 60% of people are not worried about the personal information that can be found about them online. Most of the people who were found to Google themselves more often were less than 50 years old, or had careers that required a powerful online persona.

January 24th, 2008 is the big auction day for our wireless world. The 700-megahertz Band is made up of 108 megahertz of spectrum from 698-806 MHz. For quite some time now the 700-Mhz frequencies have been licensed as Television channels 52 to 69. To keep with present times broadcasters are going digital, and whoever steps in will hold the biggest piece of the future wireless internet. The FCC will the upper 60MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz band. What is the big deal about the 700Mhz frequency spectrum you ask? It's quite simple. The 700Mhz frequency spectrum will have much better reception for remote areas due to its characteristics. And the lower frequency waves have better penetrating qualities, making reception better inside buildings and down into basements. Due to its larger range than the current 1,800Mhz cell phone spectrum, it will take less than half as many wireless towers to cover the nation (30,000 down to less than 15,000). Each 700MHz tower can cover four times area as towers in higher bands, and the signals go through almost any obstacles trees, buildings, you name it.

There seem to be more lawsuits than normal as Christmas approaches, this time it's Google in the spotlight. Google, which is known as "Guge" in China, is being sued by a firm based in Beijing called Guge Sci-Tech. Guge Sci-Tech was registered on April 26th last year, with Google not being filed there until November 24th later in the year, and now Guge Sci-Tech is claiming that Google's name has caused confusion and damage to its business and wants Google to change its Chinese firm and reimburse its legal costs. So far, Google's response has been to say that its Chinese name was already circulating the Internet before Guge Sci-Tech was registered and that it may have been looking to intentionally cash in on a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Google has decided to continue its bid for world domination by introducing Google Knol, where the company will "encourage people who know a particular subject to write an authoritative article about it" - sound familiar? The name Knol stands for a unit of knowledge, and Google's service differs from Wikipedia in that users will not edit each other's articles, instead they will write individual knols which compete against others written about the same subject. Another major difference between Knol and Wikipedia is that if the author chooses to let Google include ads with their knol, they will receive a "substantial revenue share" of the money that Google makes from the ads. So basically, Google is trying to encourage users to write encyclopedia entries about a subject by offering them a financial reward in return. At present the tool is still in the first phase of testing, and you only join by invitation, but Google eventually plans to let everyone use Knol for free.

Two privacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission today asking the commission's chairwoman, Deborah Platt Majoras, to recuse herself from the commission's review of Google's merger with DoubleClick. Ms. Majoras's husband, John M. Majoras, works at Jones Day, a law firm representing DoubleClick as the merger is considered. Ms. Majoras also worked at Jones Day. Privacy groups have been fighting Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick, an ad-serving company, because they say it would give Google access to too much data about Web users. The Center for Digital Democracy and the Electronic Privacy Information Center jointly filed the complaint today. The two organizations have filed other complaints about the proposed merger. Jones Day announced that it was representing DoubleClick on Nov. 17, long after the commission began considering the deal. Google announced the $3.1 billion deal with DoubleClick in April.

Google recently mistakenly disabled the Gmail accounts of some users, a mistake caused by company's attempt to stop spammers.

I understand that some of you have had a frustrating experience with your accounts being inappropriately disabled. Our team is aware of the problem, and our engineers are continuing to investigate

said a Google staffer, identified as Google Guide. People whose accounts were disabled by mistake should have regained access to them already and no data should have been lost, the Google staffer also wrote. Google spokesperson Courtney Hohne said the mistakenly disabled accounts affected "a small fraction," well below 1 percent of the tens of millions of Gmail users.

Google has integrated AOL's AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday. Gmail has had its own chat service since February 2006, but now Gmail users will be able to connect to AIM through a drop-down menu on the Gmail Web page, Google said. Gmail users can sign into AIM through the "set status here" menu. AIM contacts and Gmail chat will appear on the same menu. Initially only English version of the AIM service will be available, with more languages to join soon.

We're always looking for new and useful ways to help our users connect with friends, family, and coworkers

Google said in a statement.

Google Inc. wants to offer consumers a new way to store their files on its hard drives, in a strategy that could accelerate a shift to Web-based computing and intensify the Internet company's competition with Microsoft Corp. Google is preparing a service that would let users store on its computers essentially all of the files they might keep on their personal-computer hard drives - such as word-processing documents, digital music, video clips and images, say people familiar with the matter. The service could let users access their files via the Internet from different computers and mobile devices when they sign on with a password, and share them online with friends. It could be released as early as a few months from now. Planned pricing for the new service isn't known.

As promised, Google has today released the software development kit for its new Android mobile phone operating system. The Android SDK is now available to download for free, with Google encouraging the use of third party applications (in contrast to Apple's recently launched iPhone). Google is even giving developers the chance to win a share of $10 million prize money if they create an application deemed to be among the fifty best entries. Google said the following on its Android site:

Cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users, built by developers like you, will be a huge part of the Android vision. To support you in your efforts, Google has launched the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide $10 million in awards -- no strings attached -- for great mobile apps built on the Android platform.

The prize money is actually divided into initial bundles of $25,000 for the fifty most promising entries between submitted January 2nd and March 3rd next year, which is intended to aid further development, with an extra ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards being offered for the best of those.

Google said Thursday it is testing ways to deliver ads in computer games but declined to comment on the Internet buzz that it will be in the market by year's end.

We think this rich environment is a perfect medium to deliver relevant, targeted advertising that ultimately benefits the user, the video game publisher and the advertiser,

We are currently in tests to determine the best approach to in-game advertising.

the Internet colossus said in a written response to an AFP query. Google bought in-game advertising firm AdScape for 23 million dollars in February. Advertising in video games is considered a powerful marketing tool because messages can be tailored to precise demographic groups and players focus intensely on game scenes, remembering what they see there.

Lost drivers soon will be able to Google for help at the pump. As part of a partnership to be announced Wednesday, the online search leader will dispense driving directions at thousands of gasoline pumps across the United States beginning early next month. The pumps, made by Gilbarco Veeder-Root, include an Internet connection and will display Google's mapping service in color on a small screen. Motorists will be able to scroll through several categories to find local landmarks, hotels, restaurants and hospitals selected by the gas station's owner. After the driver selects a destination, the pump will print out directions. Eventually, Gilbarco Veeder-Root hopes to enable motorists to type in a specific address and get directions. Greensboro, N.C.-based Gilbarco Veeder-Root will initially offer the service in about 3,500 gas pumps and expand based on retailer demand.

After rumours of a Google phone emerging over the last few weeks, Google has revealed its new phone operating system today, which will be known as Android. The OS should become available in the second half of 2008 and is expected to compete with the likes of Symbian OS and Microsoft's Windows Mobile. Google has also promised to offer strong support for third party applications (a Software Development Kit to will be available from 12th November) by allowing equal access to all the same capabilities as Google's own applications, including user contacts, calendar and geographic locations. As well as this, Google has also formed an alliance of 34 companies, known as the Open Handset Alliance, which has helped to develop the OS and will continue to aid its growth and release. Among others, the alliance consists of powerful brands such as T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm and Motorola. Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, said the following:

Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models.

OpenSocial, a social networking site, will be launched by Google in two days.

OpenSocial is a set of APIs (Application Programming Interface) that developers can use to create applications for any network that chooses to participate. Google hopes that developers will now focus on more platforms when developing their applicationss than ever before. Hosts are the social networks participating, and include Orkut, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Ning, Hi5, Plaxo, Friendster, Viadeo and Oracle. Developers thus far are Flixster, iLike, RockYou and Slide.

Basically, OpenSocial will be Google's new social networking site that will serve as a portal to many other social networking communities.

Google has announced that it is working on releasing a completely re-written and optimised version of Gmail, as it attempts to achieve a customer satisfaction rating of over 70 percent. The new version has two main goals: to be faster and feature improved contact management. The results of initial tests are that users find the updated Gmail to be noticeably quicker and more responsive, and testers have also reported that there have been GUI enhancements including a new contacts screen and the ability to hide the chat. Other changes also include the ability to transfer pictures directly from Gmail to Google's Picasa service, in an attempt to reduce bandwidth and processing expenses for the client. Gmail 2.0 is expected to be launched either this year or early next year, and will be available via a "new version" option which will appear in the upper right of the mail screen.

Internet giant Google is close to unveiling its long-planned strategy to announce Google-powered phones to market by mid-2008, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Within the next two weeks, Google is expected to announce advanced software and services that would allow handset makers to bring Google-powered phones to market by the middle of next year. The Google-powered phones are expected to wrap together several Google applications - among them, its search engine, Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail email.