Google Maps can now not only tell you how to reach a business – it can say if you should go there at all. Don’t worry, this isn’t the fruition of Google’s creepy “total information” plan; the tips are provided by user-generated ratings and reviews.
Google Acquires Zenter
Google appears to be on track to deliver on its promise to provide a PowerPoint alternative by the summer. The company has announced the acquisition of Zenter, a company offering online slide presentations.
Google’s Market Share Growth Slows
Hitwise reports that Google’s market share for May is 65.13%. While fielding nearly two thirds of all US searches is definitely not a bad thing, Google’s market share didn’t grow over April 2007. In fact, it actually declined 0.13 percentage points. While the amount is minuscule (representing 0.2% of their market share), for the first time in recent months, some of the other major search engines actually gained market share.
Google Reader & Offline News Reading
In the first week of June Google launched a program called "Google Gears" that expands the already impressive capabilities of Google Reader (Google’s free news reader) to allow offline viewing. Here is a quote from Google’s related blog posting:
Insight Into Google Via Press Release Analysis
Would it surprise you to know that Google has dedicated less and less attention to “search” over the years? Conversely, the company’s talking more about “revenue.” These, anyway, are the conclusions that one might draw using Philipp Lenssen’s Google Press Release Analyzer.
No Google Shirts Allowed At eBay Live
In a blog post on MyStoreSpace.com Alex E writes of a confrontation he allegedly had at an eBay Live closing party with eBay’s Chief Marketing Officer, Gary Briggs and some security folks over suspicions of his ties to Google.
Google Ranks Well Among Webware 100 Winners
The top 100 Webware sites have been announced, and Google’s name came up eleven times. From there, things began to resemble the search engine market: Yahoo was referenced on seven occasions, but Ask’s logo made just one appearance.
Microsoft, Google Settle Vista Complaint
The Department of Justice has reached an agreement with Microsoft that will end a complaint made by Google about a Vista feature.
Business Reviews Added To Google Maps
Google will tap its users for business reviews to complement the ones they collect from other online sources and display.
Google’s Solar Panels Power Up
Some time ago, Google announced that it would install a number of solar panels on the much-discussed Googleplex. Those panels are now in place, on, and, according to the company, generating “an electricity output capable of powering approximately 1,000 average California homes.”