In last week’s Search Insider, I introduced the idea of habits, and why they can be hard things to break. This week, I want to explore how search engines can be habit-forming as well. Cognitive Lock-In
Google AdSense For Video Hits Beta
This time, Google’s beta tag means something – to become a user, publishers will need to have English-language, U.S.-based sites, and serve at least one million video streams per month. But, beta tag or not, AdSense for video has officially arrived.
Google Seeking Relationships With Alumni Organizations
In all honesty, this development turned out to be less exciting than it originally seemed. Still, it’s at least somewhat interesting to note that Google intends to establish relationships with university alumni programs. Google Alumni Relations Program Manager (Screenshot Credit: Google Jobs)
Watch The Lunar Eclipse with Google Earth
A total eclipse of the moon occurs tonight and will be visible from South America and most of North America and you can use Google Earth Sky to find out when and where for your location.
Google.org, Partners Create Indian Investment Company
Its current designation – we won’t call it a name – lacks imagination, to say the least. But Google.org, the Soros Economic Development Fund, and Omidyar Network have created an entity that should be of great help to small- to medium-sized Indian businesses.
Google Extends Hand To Indian SMBs
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is teaming up with the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF) and the Omidyar Network to help boost small- and medium-sized businesses in India secure funding.
Google Earth Adds New Images In Spain
Google Earth has added some new imagery in Spain according to the Google Earth Blog.Frank Taylor writes," There’s a noticeable new area of imagery on the eastern edge of Spain covering Barcelona, which is copyrighted "Institut Cartogrfic de Catalunya". This imagery is not particularly high resolution – I would estimate about 1 meter/pixel. Not as good as Digital Globe, which is 60 cm/pixel."
Using Google Can Become A Habit
My wife Jill was the victim of another drive-by “why-ing” — and I, of course, was the perpetrator. There’s a small specialty grocery store where we live that Jill visits every week or two. And almost every time, she complains about the experience. Outdated stock is repackaged. Food is rancid. The staff is surly. But she keeps buying there. After listening to another long-winded vent, I dared to go where no man should go. I asked her “why?” There were a number of reasons that she gave. It’s on the way on her daily route. Parking is convenient. Prices are low. But the biggest reason was one she didn’t express, because she didn’t know it. It had become a habit. And habits are tough things to break.
Fighting Google’s Paid Link Stance With Robots.txt
Andy Beard has hit upon a compromise between removing text links from his site and being summarily punished by Google for selling them.
Google News Slow To Reinstate UN Critic
Inner City Press, a one-man full-time operation with volunteer contributors, should be back on Google News following an anonymous complaint that caused it to be delisted.