Google is rolling out the biggest set of changes it has ever made to Google Maps since it launched nearly five years ago. The changes come in a variety of manners, like refinements to color, density, typography, and road-styling. These changes are visible in the "map" and "hybrid" views around the world.
Kentucky Supreme Court Hears Online Gambling Case
The Kentucky Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday on whether the Common Wealth of Kentucky has the power to seize 141 domains belonging to online gambling sites.
Previously a Franklin Circuit Court Judge ruled for the state saying it was allowed to seize the domain names, but the Court of Appeals overturned that decision. The case was then appealed to the Supreme Court.
Mozilla Aims to Integrate Social Media and Email into One Inbox
Mozilla has introduced a new inbox program called Raindrop. They refer to it as an "exploration in messaging innovation" to "explore new ways to use Open Web technologies to create useful, compelling messaging experiences." Sounds kind of like what Google’s trying to do with Google Wave from that description doesn’t it? There is already talk that this may compete with it.
Google Launches Custom Search For Smartphones
Google has launched Custom Search for smartphones. This means that if you own a site and add a Google Custom Search box to it, it will format search results to fit the screens of supported mobile devices.
The following devices are supported:
Online Retailers To Focus On Facebook And Twitter During Holidays
Due to the popularity of Facebook and Twitter and because they are more cost effective than traditional advertising, 47.1 percent of online retailers will be increasing their use of social media this holiday season, according to a new study by Shop.org, conducted by BiGresearch.
People 18-24 Would Rather Give Up Social Networks Than Email
The Participatory Marketing Network (PMN) and Pace University’s Lubin School of Business have shared some interesting findings from a study that found Generation Y (commonly considered the "Net Generation") would abandon social networks before abandoning email or texting.
Online Marketing Leads Paranormal Activity to Wide Release
Paranormal Activity is a movie that has made its way to a wide theatrical release this weekend as a result of some clever online marketing. The movie is described as a "Blair Witch"- type film, in that it is told through fake "realistic" video footage. This is a cliché that has been used numerous times in the horror genre.
The film boasts some pretty bold quotes from some well-known sources. For example:
Internet’s Possible Future in the US Gets Ready to Be Decided
Update: The meeting ended and the rule making process will move forward after a unanimous vote. The rules say a provider of broadband Internet access service:
What People Are Saying About Microsoft Windows 7
Machines with Microsoft’s Windows 7 went on sale today. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the hottest topics on the web. Everybody’s talking about it on Twitter. Everybody’s searching for it. Microsoft and Windows queries are all over Google’s Hot Trends list. Everybody wants to know more about Windows 7.
Well, let’s look at what people are saying about it. Here’s a sample from the Twitterverse:
Twitter is for Old People?
I heard a story on NPR yesterday where they talked to kids about social networks. The popular opinion (at least among the kids talked to for the piece) was that Facebook was "in" and Twitter was for old people.