Google’s not the only one passing out some tips to get businesses ready for the holidays. They recently offered some tips for utilizing Google Analytics, Google Checkout, and of course, the ever-popular, Google AdWords. Had their deal with Yahoo gone through, you may have been able to incorporate some of these tips with Yahoo’s advertising platform, but it seems that it was not meant to be.
Potential Hulu/Joost Killer Begins Beta Testing
A new player in the online video game is emerging in Sling.com. Well the service is new, not really the player. Owners Sling Media have been around for a while, focusing primarily on hardware, but that is all about to change, starting with Sling.com, which has just begun beta testing to select users.
U.S. Testing Online Travel Approval Plan
Travelers who do not need a visa to fly to the United States will have to answer questions about their health and criminal background under a new electronic system launched today.Starting January 12, 2009, people traveling to the U.S. from the 27 visa waiver countries will be required to fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form online three days before departure.
Google Testing a Social iGoogle
If you haven’t tried iGoogle, Google’s personalized homepage, you’re not alone. But Google’s looking to spiff up their customizable homepages and testing has already begun, as Google Operating System reports—and it looks like they’re trying to make our foretelling of iGoogle as social network come true.
YouTube Testing Several New Feature Updates
If you’re the sort of person who likes new things, here’s a bit of good news: YouTube is testing fresh versions of the Inbox, My Contacts, and My Videos features. Moreover, even if you’re not part of the original (randomly selected) test group, you can opt in and try them out.
Yahoo Testing AdSense for Search
In an announcement made just moments ago, Yahoo has formally decided to try a limited test of Google’s AdSense for Search program in their search results. From the release:The test will apply only to traffic from yahoo.com in the U.S. and will not include Yahoo!’s extended network of affiliate or premium publisher partners. The test is expected to last up to two weeks and will be limited to no more than 3% of Yahoo! search queries.
Adobe, Yahoo Testing PDF Ad Service
A beta test of Ads for Adobe PDF Powered by Yahoo opened for publishers, offering placement and tracking of contextual ads alongside Portable Document Format content.
Google Testing Search Result Categories
Google appears to be testing categories in its search results, according to reports in a webmaster forum, dividing results under headings like "comparison shopping" and "reviews."
ICANN Does Some Domain Taste Testing
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the quasi-independent organization that oversees domain and registry practices, have launched an investigation into the practice of "domain tasting."
Google Testing Privacy-Enhanced Ad Serving
New privacy practices announced by Google will get a workout in a test of third-party ad serving technology.