Google’s forum-based method of providing tech support works for many of the company’s consumer products, but didn’t work so well during the company’s failed experiment with the mobile handset business. Customers’ e-mail and Google Voice accounts are now often central to their lives, and Mark has learned that some problems simply don’t lend themselves to self-service tech support. [More]
Google Chrome's New Extension Lets You Block Content Farms
By 2.16.11
Don’t feel like feeding into the machine of content farms, which mine your searches in order to create stories that fit the terms you just plugged in to find something? Google Chrome has introduced a new extension called Personal Blocklist so you can hide what you’re looking for. [More]
Twitter: Google Isn't Trying To Buy Us For $10 Billion
By 2.14.11
It was recently reported that Google is in the market to buy Twitter and that the price tag floating around for the company was somewhere in the $8-10 billion range. But today, Twitter’s CEO denied those reports — sort of. [More]
Is Twitter Worth $10 Billion?
By 2.10.11
A lot of people expressed surprise at the $315 million purchase of Huffington Post by AOL. But that’s nothing compared to the figures Facebook and Google are reportedly considering ponying up to acquire Twitter. [More]
Google Voice Number Porting Stalled For 19 Days
By 2.8.11
Brandon has been waiting since Jan 20 for Google Voice to port his cellphone number. First he tried to port on Jan 20, then it said there was an error, so he tried again on Jan 30. He paid the $20 fee both times. The whole process is supposed to take 24 hours. He’s tried posting in their “Help Center,” as their welcome email suggests, but no luck. Just limbo. Hm. Maybe Google should stay out of businesses that require customer service. Have you tried getting in touch with your ex-wireless provider’s porting department and asking what the status is? UPDATE: Brandon reports his port over from AT&T has now gone through. Huzzah! [More]
Google Shopper App Recognizes Products By Their Cover
By 2.7.11
Google has jumped into the shopping app fray with “Google Shopper,” which stands out from the crowd by being able to id products by their cover art. The feature works on book, CD, DVD, and video game covers. You can also search by voice, along with the usual barcode scanning, local pricematching and the ability to save items. If you’re a RedLaser fan, this could be a serious contender to replace it on your home screen. The app is free and available on both Android and iOS. [More]
Survey: Many People Likely To Leave Android For Verizon iPhone
By 2.7.11
Ruh roh! Seems the Verizon iPhone is very popular, which is good news for Verizon but not so good for Android and BlackBerry. A new survey says many users of the Google and Research in Motion Smartphones would likely switch to Verizon’s new offering. [More]
Google And Mozilla Announce New "Do Not Track Me" Features
By 1.24.11
Google and Mozilla have posted that they’re adding new features to their browsers that will let users opt out of being tracked by third-party advertisers. The move comes a few weeks after the FTC issued a report recommending browser software developers to implement such a mechanism. [More]
After Failing To Buy Groupon, Google To Launch A Competing Service
By 1.22.11
As the time-honored adage goes, if at first you don’t succeed at buying a company in a multi-billion dollar deal, try to out perform it with a competing service of your own. Such is the tack Google is apparently taking against Groupon. [More]
Outgoing Google CEO Schmidt's Creepy Greatest Hits
By 1.21.11
Google CEO Eric Schmidt is handing the company’s reins over to co-founder Larry Page in April, and to commemorate the event, The Wall Street Journal has compiled a greatest hits collection of Schmidt quotes. No, he didn’t say “don’t be evil.” He did, however, say that the Google has a policy to “get right up to the creepy line but not cross it.” [More]
There's No Caps Lock On Google's New Laptop
By 12.21.10
The most revolutionary feature on Google’s new laptop might not be the Chrome OS, free broadband or cloud-based computing, but their decision to leave off the Caps Lock key entirely. How else will everyone on the internet know that I am screaming? [More]
Find Foreclosures Using Google Maps
By 12.13.10
You can check out foreclosures all over the US just by drilling down in Google Maps. [More]
Google Fixes Algorithm So Harassing Your Customers Doesn't Boost Your Page Rank
By 12.2.10
Google says it has updated its algorithm so that making your customers hate you so they complain about you on other sites and boost your SEO no longer works. The move to soak up the “black Google juice” comes after a big NYT profile/investigation of the owner of an online store that was stoking customers to hate him because the inbound links from their complaints on other sites boosted his rankings in Google Search Results. [More]
Google Oh So Close To Launching E-Book Store
By 12.1.10
Back in May, it was being reported that Google was planning on having its new E-book store up and running by the end of summer. Obviously that didn’t happen. Now the Wall Street Journal says Google Editions is likely to be a reality by year’s end. [More]
Harassing Customers As A Business Model
By 11.29.10
One site has figured out a way to turn antagonizing customers into a profitable business model. [More]
Google Voice App Finally Hits iPhone
By 11.16.10
After a long and windy road, the Google Voice app is now available on iPhone. You can make international calls for cheap, send free text messages, and have your Google Voice number show up on people’s caller ID’s when you call. No more of that pesky mobile site workaround business. [More]
Easily Find Your Polling Location With Google
By 11.1.10
For the quickest and easiest way to figure out your polling location for tomorrow, just Google for the word “vote.” A little search box with a vote button next to it will appear. Type in your home address and you’ll get a handy Google Map showing you your nearest place to go vote. [More]
Google TV Announces Underwhelming Roster Of Programming Partners
By 10.4.10
As Google TV readies to launch in the coming weeks, the company has finally announced its initial slate of programming partners — and it’s not exactly thrilling reading. [More]
