Google planning on getting into ebooks in a big way

We've been having life-changing ebook experiences of one form or another promised to us for what seems like forever, but it really could be just around the corner this time, honest -- though the whole life-changing thing is still debatable at this point. It turns out Google is pressing forward with its Google Book Search service, and planning to roll out full-on ebook sales "sooner rather than later," with downloadable books available to computer screens and mobile devices. Of course, with Sony already in the game, and Amazon prepping downloads of its own, it's not like Google will be doing this all by its lonesome, but some innovative features like the proposed rental and single-chapter purchase schemes could garner interest in the Google offering, not to mention the whole "Google world domination" thing. It seems like the primary obstacle at this point for Google is the publishing associations that still haven't decided they're so hot for Google throwing up the contents of books online for open searchability, but we have a feeling they'll come around soon enough, or Google will just go ahead with the licensees it already has -- which with buddies like Penguin, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster already warm to the book searching, probably won't be insubstantial.

Microsoft, Google, and others developing code of conduct

It's not often you see a group of companies like this working together on something, but Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Vodafone look to have put aside their differences and sat down with each other in an effort to address concerns of privacy rights and freedom of expression relating to their various business dealings (most prominently those with China), joining with a group of nongovernmental organizations to develop a code of conduct that each will follow when such issues arise. While there's no indication when the code of conduct will be finalized or go into effect, the groups working to develop it certainly lead quite a bit of credibility to it, with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, Business for Social Responsibility, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders all having a hand in its drafting. What's not so clear, however, is what, if any, consequences the companies would face should they violate the code, only that they'll be held "accountable for their actions."

Google Switch

Color us skeptics on this one, but we've got a tipster claiming to have the scoop on Google Switch. This version of the mythical Googlephone is said to be the result of a collaboration with Samsung -- not Alpha Networks or HTC. Of course, it's a button-less touchscreen device as is the rage these days only this time with GPS built-in for pinpoint navigation around Google Maps. What's pictured in that all too familiar blur (Photoshopped?) is the phone's contact program said to be an extended version of Gtalk combining Gmail, text and instant messaging. According to our tipster, the device doesn't have any on-board storage. That's right, all your applications are served up over the network with new apps "attached" to your account via a web interface. So what is it... the real deal or engorged fanboy fantasy?

Anshe Chung YouTube video is a 'terms of use violation'

The video that depicts the griefing attack on Second Life land baroness Anshe Chung--removed by YouTube after a DMCA copyright infringement complaint--has been recategorized as a "terms of service violation."

It's not clear why. At first, Guntram Graef, husband of Anshe Chung's real-life persona Ailin Graef, attempted to convince YouTube that the video contained copyright infringement because of the unauthorized inclusion of Anshe Chung's avatar.

Users own what they create in Second Life, and that was the basis for the copyright infringement claim. But according to legal experts, the video and its images were fair use because they were taken during the griefing attack in which Anshe Chung--while She was interviewed in CNET's Second Life theater--was bombarded by 15 minutes of flying digital penises and pornographic photographs. The attack quickly became worldwide news.

But now, loading the video produces a generic YouTube message informing visitors that the video was deleted for a "terms of service violation." YouTube provides no further information.

I will keep you informed, dear readers, as I discover the reasons behind this. But it's nice to know that YouTube no longer considers this situation in the realm of DMCA, as nearly everyone involved knew that argument to be specious.

Google plans street advertising presence

In a patent filing Google has revealed that it is looking into entering the physical advertising industry. The patent filing itself alludes to placing adverts on billboards, with the primary innovation being that they're interactive and connected to the internet -- what, you didn't really believe that Google would go in for static ads did you? The system apparently works by only advertising products that are available and in stock within stores in the local area. Stores will be able to buy advertising on these local electronic billboards through a similar system to how AdSense currently works: by logging into a computer and buying them. One of the key positive developments -- at least for busy consumers -- is that once stock of the product has run out, the advertised project on display automatically switches onto the next one that's in stock. This whole project relies greatly on there being adequate infrastructure for Google to make a return (which obviously isn't a problem when it comes to the internet), so this patent is far from an assurance that you'll be seeing "Ads by Goooooogle" reminding you to pick up some milk from your local 7-Eleven any time soon.

[Via SmartMobs]

More space stuff...

SEATTLE -- Google has already planted its flag on Earth, the Moon and Mars. Is the universe next?

The Internet search company has struck a partnership with scientists building a huge sky-scanning telescope, with hopes of helping the public access digital footage of asteroids, supernovas and distant galaxies.

Officials say Google's technical expertise and vast data processing capacity will be an invaluable help, even for a project that has access to some of the country's leading research institutions.

"Google's ability to do large database queries and to service that data is unmatched, I would say," said Donald Sweeney, manager of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST.

Google's broad public imprint should also bring more mainstream attention to the project, which could be crucial as the $350 million telescope competes for public and private money.

In that respect, LSST officials may have learned a lesson from projects that have captured broader public imagination, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, said W. Henry Lambright, professor of public administration at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

"If they want to finance this thing and keep it going and maintained, they've got to make this not just the astronomers' telescope, but the people's telescope," Lambright said.

The 8.4-meter LSST is expected to begin surveying the sky in 2013, from a mountaintop in Chile. Its goal is to continuously scan space, taking a series of 15-second exposures that allow it to cover the sky every three nights.

Officials say the telescope will open "a movie-like window" on nearby asteroids and far-off exploding stars, and help explore the mysterious "dark energy" believed to fuel the universe's expansion.

The project has attracted at least $25 million in private donations and a four-year, $12 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Some of the 20 project partners also have supplied money, including about $1 million each from a half-dozen universities, Sweeney said.

Google's involvement hasn't been completely defined yet, Sweeney said Friday.

But it is assumed the company that already offers detailed online maps of the Earth, the Moon and Mars will help analyze massive amounts of data - up to 30 terabytes a night - generated by the telescope.

Google clearly will do some good by helping the nonprofit firm running LSST, said Stephen Maran, spokesman for the American Astronomical Society. But its involvement raises questions about whether the company sees the resulting space images as a cash cow.

"I'm wondering what they get out of it other than some unusual experience for their engineers," Maran said. "Maybe they'll be selling ads next to the Orion Nebula or something."

Officials said there is no clear revenue stream for Google in the project, and said the company also isn't putting up money to help build the telescope itself.

"There is no licensing, there is no quid pro quo here," Sweeney said. "There's no financial incentive to them or to us."

"I don't think we entered into this partnership ... with an eye on how do we monetize our participation," Google spokesman Jon Murchinson said.

Ultimately, Sweeney hopes Google can help shape a Web portal for the public and researchers to access the digital movies produced by the LSST.

"Frankly, I could see the day when they would be our sort of window to the general public, and provide very large computer hosting and indexing capabilities," he said.

That would give the company potentially unrivaled engineering experience, said Al Teich, director of science and policy at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"This is, in fact, more than a good public relations move," Teich said.

---

Google teams up with China's Xunlei

BEIJING - Google Inc. and a Chinese partner on Friday announced a new Internet venture as the U.S.-based search engine tries to expand its share of China's growing online market.

Google said it would add its search technology to services offered by Xunlei Network Technology Inc., which provides video and game downloads.

Google is trying to expand its presence in China, where it ranks behind local search engine Baidu.com, which has more than 60 percent of the Chinese search market.

Google and Xunlei did not release financial details of their venture.

"We hope to expand our relationship into many new areas over the coming years," Xunlei president Zou Shenglong said in a statement.

Also this week, Google announced it was teaming up with China Mobile, the country's biggest cell phone carrier, to provide search services for mobile phones.

India court accuses Google's Orkut of spreading hatred

The Times of India is reporting that a court there is accusing Google's Orkut social networking service of spreading hatred about India over a member's posting.

"The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to issue notice to Google for the alleged spread of hatred about India by its social network service 'Orkut,'" the article says. "A picture of burning the national tricolour, bearing anti-India message, has been put on www.orkut.com and a community 'We Hate India' has been created on the site, the petition said."

Google had not received a court order or notice, but was taking the matter seriously, Google spokeswoman Debbie Frost said.

"Problems such as this are complicated, however, because we have to be careful not to affect users around the world by making changes to a global product based on the law in one country," she wrote in an e-mail. "There may be future instances, for example, when we will want to avoid making changes that would affect Indian users based on the laws in a different country. The Internet is an international phenomenon and while technology can bring great opportunity and access to information globally, it can also present unique challenges for complying with differing laws around the world."

"We respect the authorities in India and are committed to working with them to resolve this," she wrote. "We should also note that this product is operated from within the United States and complies with the laws of the United States."

Google also has run into legal problems with the social networking site in Brazil, where most of its members are located

India court accuses Google's Orkut of spreading hatred

The Times of India is reporting that a court there is accusing Google's Orkut social networking service of spreading hatred about India over a member's posting.

"The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to issue notice to Google for the alleged spread of hatred about India by its social network service 'Orkut,'" the article says. "A picture of burning the national tricolour, bearing anti-India message, has been put on www.orkut.com and a community 'We Hate India' has been created on the site, the petition said."

Google had not received a court order or notice, but was taking the matter seriously, Google spokeswoman Debbie Frost said.

"Problems such as this are complicated, however, because we have to be careful not to affect users around the world by making changes to a global product based on the law in one country," she wrote in an e-mail. "There may be future instances, for example, when we will want to avoid making changes that would affect Indian users based on the laws in a different country. The Internet is an international phenomenon and while technology can bring great opportunity and access to information globally, it can also present unique challenges for complying with differing laws around the world."

"We respect the authorities in India and are committed to working with them to resolve this," she wrote. "We should also note that this product is operated from within the United States and complies with the laws of the United States."

Google also has run into legal problems with the social networking site in Brazil, where most of its members are located

Gmail bug exposes your mail account to spammers

Like your Gmail account? Consider it a sacred place which must be protected from spammers at all cost? Yeah, us too. Well, we hate to break the bad news at the dawn of the new year but there's a weakness in Gmail which exposes your email address to any web site capable of exploiting the bug. As reported on Digg, the exploit takes advantage of the fact that Google puts your details into a JS file. As a result, if you're logged into Gmail and browsing the web, any rogue website can declare the function "google" and then parse all your contacts. The only way to safeguard yourself is to disable Javascript in your browser (or enabled it for trusted sites only) or simply climb into a hole and not browse while logged into Google services like Gmail, Blogger, Orkut, Reader, Calendar, etc. -- you know, the sites you typically have open all day long. For obvious reasons, we will not link directly to the site which demonstrates the exploit on your personal account due to the risk of running possibly malicious code. However, we tested it and found our most precious account -- and those of our contacts -- correctly identified and ready for harvest. But hey, even though Gmail has been out since 2004, it is still "beta"... right?

Update 1: There are reports that Google has fixed the issue. Their "fix" is related and with any luck should be applicable. However, it's no fix. Don't believe us? Login to your fave Google service and give this non-malicious link a click.

Update 2: Google seems to have now patched the vulnerability.

Alliances key for search giants

Google has become the web's equivalent of McDonalds - a brand that has become embedded in our language and seems to be everywhere.

It has had another busy year, adding yet more services to its ever-widening portfolio, setting the rumour mill buzzing with talk of take-overs and alliances and, of course, the much talked about rivalry with Microsoft.

At the beginning of the year it tottered on its pedestal for a while, with the announcement that it would be offering a censored version of its search engine in China.

There was dismay among Google fans who felt it was being hypocritical to its motto of "do no evil", while others lauded its attempts to face the Chinese authorities head on and inform users when their searches were being censored.

Scattergun approach

On the product front, it was as busy as ever and 2006 saw the launch of, among others, Google Calendar, an online payments system, and a News archive.

Nate Elliott, senior analyst at Jupiter Research, is not convinced that its constant release of new products is the best way forward.

"It has what I term a scattergun approach to product launches. It seems to launch whatever it feels like launching but it has yet to have a commercial hit. In fact the one hit in their history has been search.

Mr Elliott feels a "more directed product strategy" should be top of Google's priorities for 2007 but in terms of what it will offer, he is not prepared to speculate.

"They surprise us so regularly I wouldn't attempt to guess but expect more creativity," he said.

Perhaps the most exciting development in the Googlesphere this year was unrelated to products.

A deal with MySpace in the summer saw the search engine paying the social networking site $900m for the right to provide it with search and adverts.

This was followed by its buy-out of YouTube later in the year, signalling how seriously it was taking the whole area of user-generated content.

The media furore that followed saw talk of it fuelling a second internet bubble. The buy-out helped its shares climb to an all-time high of $500 by the end of the year.

YAHOO

Yahoo's home page
Yahoo has been criticised for its involvement in China

Few of the stories written about web giant Yahoo this year have failed to mention in some way or another that it is "struggling to compete with Google". This struggle has been reflected in falling share prices.

John Delaney, an analyst at research firm Ovum, believes that the headline battle between Yahoo and Google belies Yahoo's stature as an internet veteran.

"It is important not to underestimate Yahoo. It has a well established group of users who, unlike Google, are willing to pay for its services. Also unlike Google, it is not so heavily dependent on a single service," he told the BBC News website.

To counter the decline in its fortunes, Yahoo's homepage had a major make-over in May and at the end of the year the company undertook a big restructuring process.

Despite criticisms that Yahoo has been slow to innovate compared to Google, the search giant has launched a number of new services including Yahoo Go at the beginning of the year which saw it move from its traditional home on the desktop to mobile devices.

Tie-up with Microsoft

Like Google, Yahoo has been sniffing around for a social networking friend but rumours in September that it was on the verge of buying Facebook - a website that allows university friends to stay in touch - have not resulted in anything concrete as yet.

It did make some other friends though and notable tie-ups this year included a deal with eBay, which gave Yahoo the right to use PayPal for Yahoo services and a deal with Microsoft that allowed users of the rival instant messaging system to finally talk to each other.

For Mr Delaney, this tie-up was the single most important part of Yahoo's 2006 calendar.

"It could see figures for instant messaging increase rapidly," he said.

Instant messaging, unlike Google's core asset of search, is an innately sticky service, explained Mr Delaney.

"With search it is very easy for a user to switch if a better service comes along. This is more difficult with instant messaging because you leave behind buddy lists, need a new address, etc," he said.

While many companies' involvements in China have been questioned this year, the lions share of the criticism has fallen on Yahoo.

News that information it provided to the Chinese authorities had led to the jailing of a second Chinese blogger prompted human rights groups to question the presence of big companies in oppressive regimes.

Wikipedia creator turns to search

The creator of the Wikipedia encyclopedia is turning his attention to search engines.

Jimmy Wales, the man behind the collaborative online reference work, is planning to create a "people-powered" search site.

The Search Wikia project will not rely on computer algorithms to determine how relevant webpages are to keywords.

Instead the results generated by the search engine will be decided and edited by humans.

The project will stand apart from the Wikipedia encyclopedia but will be overseen by the Wikimedia Foundation - which is headed by Mr Wales.

Like the Wikipedia, the search site will rely on a large community of members to create and run it.

Announcing the project Mr Wales said it was needed because the existing search systems for the net were "broken".

They were broken, he said, because they lacked freedom, community, accountability and transparency.

The Search Wikia project would aim to change this and he said it would draw on the work of sites such as Nutch and Lucene which have taken a more open approach to search engines.

At the moment the results returned to those using keywords on sites such as Google are generated by computers which analyse webpages to work out what they are about and how useful they are.

Webpage owners use all kinds of tricks to outsmart the computer indexing systems and ensure their pages appear high up in results - even if they are not relevant to particular keywords.

By contrast the relevance of results returned by the Search Wikia will be decided by the site's community of users. Those searching will also be able to edit the list of results they get.

Mr Wales announced his plans for the search project before Christmas and was now recruiting people and buying hardware to get it up and running. There is no indication when it will be launched.

Can the networks beat YouTube?

Fox, Viacom, CBS and NBC Universal are reportedly discussing plans to build a rival to YouTube, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
Taking on YouTube

The networks had already tried going after the popular video sharing site in the legal arena. Now it appears they'll try to best the site in the marketplace.

But will they be able to succeed? Bloggers didn't seem to think so, saying that what drove YouTube's success wasn't marketing or corporate sponsorship but letting the public do what they want with content; something it's doubtful the media companies will allow.

Blog community response:

"The chances that any one of the TV networks could get it right is slim. The chance that they could get it right in a partnership is nil."
--A VC

"When they show interest to do so, it has nothing to do with a sincere desire to give users what they want. They do so because they are envious with MySpace's massive rise in power to shape musical tastes, YouTube's rise to the TV platform by default with its 100 video streams, and for the $1.65B that Google could pay without blinking. In other words, their intentions going in are anything but virtuous. When you go into something driven by one of the seven sins, you come out a loser. What's that saying? Bulls make money, bears make money, but hogs get slaughtered."
--Hipmojo.com

"It seems far better to focus on what they're good at, which is content creation, and then to take advantage of the existing popularity of YouTube (and whatever the "next" YouTube turns out to be), perhaps by signing deals with them, to drive the popularity and attendant ad revenue of their shows."
--Techdirt

iPod To Eventually Hold All the Video In the World?

An anonymous reader writes "A senior Google exec has been talking up the prospect of iPods that can hold all the world's media due to the plummeting price of storage and its increasing volume-to-size ratio. Google's VP of European operations, Nikesh Arora, predicts that in as little as just over a decade's time, iPods will be capable of storing 'any video ever produced.'" From the article: "Arora believes, mobile is likely to follow the same path. 'Mobile is not going to be a different thing,' he added — and if the mobile industry is to capitalize on the growth of content, it would be wise to ape the development of the internet. He said: 'The mobile industry has to go through the same phases the internet has gone through... Mobile will have the same learning curve. It would be somewhat foolish to leapfrog the stages the internet went through.'"

Verizon phones to show YouTube

If you can't get enough of exploding Mentos in Diet Coke bottles or the guy who showcases the history of dance, Verizon Wireless has some good news for you. The carrier announced today that it signed a deal with YouTube to bring a limited number of videos to Verizon's 3G handsets starting in early December. Users also will be able to use their phone's camcorders to record their own videos to share with other Verizon customers or YouTube viewers. Granted, the video quality from a camera phone won't be spectacular but if you want to catch your best friend or your local politician making a fool of himself, then you'll be good to go.

To view the content, Verizon customers will need an EV-DO phone such as the new LG enV and a subscription to the carrier's V Cast streaming video service. V Cast is available for $3 per day or $15 per month.

Microsoft vs Google Heats Up

I know, a predictable (almost tabloid-y) blog headline. But in this case, there really is some interesting back and forth going on between Microsoft and Google currently - especially with regards to office software.

Firstly Google CEO Eric Schmidt wrote an article for The Economist, in which he takes aim at Microsoft with this:

"In 2007 we’ll witness the increasing dominance of open internet standards. As web access via mobile phones grows, these standards will sweep aside the proprietary protocols promoted by individual companies striving for technical monopoly. Today’s desktop software will be overtaken by internet-based services that enable users to choose the document formats, search tools and editing capability that best suit their needs."

OK he doesn't specifically name Microsoft, but it's obvious who is at the top of the list of "individual companies" Schmidt is referring to. Also not specifically mentioned is office software, but in this case Google's actions speak louder than their words. In recent months we've seen a flurry of product releases and acquisitions in the office space by Google - Google Apps For Your Domain (a kind of lightweight office suite which includes a start page), the transformation of Writely and their online spreadsheet product into Google Docs & Spreadsheets, the acquisition of JotSpot... it all points to an increasing emphasis on office software from Google.

Add to that the Google Desktop and speculation over a GoogleOS, and it's very clear that Google is increasingly stamping all over Microsoft's turf.

And now Microsoft is talking tough in return. In a Reuters article today, Microsoft Office group co-leader Antoine Leblond says:

"The simple argument that 'this is good enough for 90 percent of what we do' has fallen on its face over and over and over again [...] When it comes to mission critical things and key pieces of how people run their businesses, the threshold is higher."

Like Schmidt, taking a none too subtle swipe at its competition.

As the Reuters article notes, Microsoft's approach is that Web services will work in tandem with PC-installed software. Whereas Google is mostly an adherent of cloud-based office software, although things like Google Desktop will probably blur that line. As Schmidt noted in the Economist:

"Today we live in the clouds. We’re moving into the era of “cloud” computing, with information and applications hosted in the diffuse atmosphere of cyberspace rather than on specific processors and silicon racks. The network will truly be the computer."

Nick Carr wonders though if Schmidt has his timing right - will 2007 be the 'tipping point'? I suspect it will be, because as we noted in our previous post about GoogleOS - when Microsoft's Vista OS gains significant adoption (which is a given, even if it won't be like the old days of people lining up outside stores for the latest Windows release), that will put pressure on Google's product line. After all, Vista will have IE7 as its default browser, Live Search as default search and live.com as the default homepage (probably). All of this puts the squeeze on Google, which is why we're predicting 2007 will be the year that Google attacks on a lot of fronts. And whether or not you believe a GoogleOS is on the way, it's almost certain that Google will put the pressure on with office software delivered over the Web.

As Dare Obasanjo of Microsoft notes, "it's refreshing to see Google stop playing coy and be straightforward about their ambitions." I heartily agree, but I suspect Google's actions in 2007 will be much louder than their words. Microsoft needs to step up too, as Dare says, so this is going to be a fascinating battle to watch!

FROM
READWRITEWEB

GoogleOS: What To Expect

There's no such thing as the GoogleOS in reality - but despite that, it is one of the most talked about Web products. People can't stop discussing it - and even imagining screenshots for it! Seems like everyone expects Google to get into direct competition with Microsoft, by releasing an operating system. However Google refuses such claims and even makes fun of this kind of buzz. Nevertheless we decided to analyze where Google may be heading with their product strategy - and from that determine what are the chances of a GoogleOS.

Possibilities

We see 3 scenarios for a GoogleOS:

• A web based desktop (i.e. operating system)
• A full featured Linux distribution
• A lightweight Linux distro and/or BIOS

We'll try to explain each of these in detail - then in the conclusion, make our prediction. What's more, we think this could be less than 6 months away from happening.

A Web Based Operating System

If you asked "what will a GoogleOS look like?" - most people would answer that it'll be an AJAX-powered copy of the Windows desktop. In other words, a WebOS (aka webtop). To remind you of what a WebOS is, it is basically a virtual desktop on the web and has various built-in applications. Google already has a history of producing web-based products that mimic desktop apps - Gmail was the first desktop client like email reader, and now they have Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar and other desktop-like products. Also note that Google's internal open sourced widget toolset, GWT, allows them to replicate any desktop capability.

On the other hand, a bunch of startups like YouOS , Goowy, DesktopTwo, Xin and open source eyeOS are already tackling this exact problem - and have been for a while now. So if Google engineers are not already working on their own webOS project, they may want to snap up one of these! AJAX powered YouOS, which is a yet another Paul Graham investment, seems like the most obvious choice at this time.

Screenshot from YouOS

Besides the startups we've already mentioned, there may be other surprises that Google looks at for WebOS purposes. Meebo, for instance, has created a very large user base with their web-based meta instant messaging product (it enables you to use multiple IM services on the same webpage). IM is a crucial application, because many people spend a lot of time on the computer IM'ing. So Meebo could use IM as a base - and utilize the empty spaces on their page for new applications.

Meebo OS with fictional Calculator application (taken from YouOS)

30 Boxes also has a webtop offering, but it looks less promising than their calendar. Start pages like NetVibes, PageFlakes and WebWag could also potentially enter the webos business.

A Full Featured Linux Distro

Another possibility for Google is to create their own Linux-based operating system. The free license of Linux allows anyone to create their own version of Linux. Although Linux is the most popular operating system in the server market and it's free, it is still far behind Windows and MacOS in the desktop market. Some believe this may change with the latest enhancements to the Linux user interface.

This scenario is a more traditional model to replace Windows - with a direct competitor, instead of creating a web-based replacement. Indeed this has already been widely speculated - Ubuntu, a semi-free Linux derivative, was rumored to be acquired by Google.

If this scenario happened, Google may open up their operating system as a free download and promote it on their homepage - as they once did with Firefox. They could also make a networked file system the default, instead of the complex UNIX file hierarchy of Linux - which is another reason why Linux struggles in the mainstream desktop market.

A Lightweight Linux Distro or BIOS

A lightweight Linux distro is a possibility. For example an OS that simply booted up the computer, connected to the internet, and then opened Firefox. Then leave the rest to Google's web sites and apps. This is possibly the most logical strategy, because Google could then create a homepage that connects all their services and applications - and people will have the freedom to use other web sites and services as well.

Similar concepts already exist. For instance, Puppy and Damn Small are 2 credit card sized Linux distros. The good thing about these is that you can carry them everywhere you go - putting the credit card sized CD or the USB drive into your pocket and using your own operating system anywhere you go. Why? Because these distributions don't need to be installed and can work directly from the CD or the USB drive.

ByzantineOS, a dead project now, was doing exactly this. Its sole purpose was to boot up and open a Mozilla based window manager - but then you could not get out of your browser window!

A screenshot of ByzantineOS, showing the user stuck inside the browser

However, Google may be considering an even more radical solution and planning to replace BIOS with their own version. BIOS means 'basic input/output system' and it is the built-in software that determines what a computer can do - for example it controls the keyboard and display screen. Google's latest sponsorship of LinuxBIOS may be a step towards researching this. In that case, Google could agree with hardware vendors to pre-install Google's BIOS-based operating system.

Conclusion: GoogleOS will tackle Microsoft's Vista OS head on

We believe that everything will become much clearer in the following 6 months. Microsoft will put pressure on Google with its Vista OS, which will receive relatively high adoption just like any other new Windows release (although probably not as high as historically Microsoft has enjoyed!). As Vista's adoption increases, so will the adoption of its default search engine Live Search. From Microsoft's perspective, this will have a positive effect on all Live and MSN sites. What end users are looking for is ease-of-use and satisfactory experiences - which in a lot of cases starts from the Vista OS.

In that scenario, Google's usage rates may be negatively affected. So we predict at that point, Google will start a more punchy strategy - pushing Firefox and some form of Google OS. Yahoo! has already responded to the Microsoft threat in a friendly fashion, by offering a customized IE7 for its users. But we think Google will be more aggressive and competitive and will push their own OS. The GoogleOS may be a reality within 6 months!

From

Readwriteweb

Google says speed is king

SAN FRANCISCO--YouTube succeeded where Google Video didn't because users were able to see their videos posted immediately, Google executive Marissa Mayer said at the Web 2.0 Summit here on Thursday.

"YouTube let people see the video right away," Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience, said during a short talk. "That's why it did so well."

By contrast, people posting to Google Video had to wait anywhere from two to four days for the video to be vetted and posted for public consumption, Mayer said.

Google announced that it was acquiring YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock last month.

In a survey on search, Google asked people how many results they would want by default; they responded that more is better, Mayer said. So the company conducted an experiment, providing some searchers with 30 default results. But it took, on average, a half-second longer to get those results than when the default was 10 results, she said. Out of frustration, people conducted fewer searches.

"This indicated extreme unhappiness," Mayer said. "It was clear that we weren't going to make this change."

Google applies this knowledge to the development of all its products, she said, adding that "the key motivator for us developing Gmail in AJAX was speed." AJAX, or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a development method for writing interactive Web applications.

At one point, Google realized that the Google Maps home page had grown to more than 100 kilobytes. "So we took Google Maps and we put it on a diet, and got it down 20 to 30 percent." Users responded positively to the change, she said.

Internet users want to see results right away or they will leave the Web site, she said. Speed--the ability to interact with software and content, and see immediate results-- is a key aspect of Web 2.0 applications, she said. The popularity of user-created and user-edited online encyclopedia Wikipedia, for example, illustrates that people like to have an "immediate feedback loop," Mayer said.

Work needs to be done in the mobile space, though, according to Mayer. Mobile devices suffer from slow data transfer, and it takes too long to input data and interact with Web applications on the devices, she said.

"Even applications like Google Maps for Mobile, while good, are fundamentally too slow," Mayer said. "You will see improvements to speed that up."

CNET

Microsoft flags Gmail as a virus

Gmail's popularity may be viral, but the e-mail software is not a virus--despite a Microsoft alert.

From late last week until Sunday night, the Windows Live OneCare security software incorrectly flagged the Google e-mail service as a threat. A warning popped up when OneCare users opened the Gmail Web site, telling them that their systems were infected with a virus called "BAT/BWG.A."

"This was a limited false positive issue with our antivirus protection," a Microsoft representative said Monday. "After we became aware of the issue, we released a new antivirus signature that resolved the issue for our customers on Sunday evening."

The problem started last week, when Google made some changes to its Gmail Web site, Microsoft said. The software maker is reviewing its procedures and processes in order to minimize the occurrence of further false positives, the Microsoft representative said.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

False positives happen occasionally with security software. For example, McAfee's security tools earlier this year flagged Microsoft's Excel, and other legitimate applications on users' PCs, as viruses. Also, Symantec this summer identified a Church of England software program as spyware.

Windows Live OneCare is Microsoft's first consumer antivirus product, released late May. The Gmail issue isn't the first problem it has had. During testing, OneCare was found to disable Absolute Software's Computrace LoJack, an application that functions like a homing device to help recover a laptop after it has been lost or stolen.

Typically, false positives can be fixed by updating the signature files in security applications. These signatures are the rules used by the security program to identify malicious software.

CNET

Gmail mobile rushes email to your phone

Google's recent updates to GMail Mobile are making it easier and faster to check your GMail from your cell phone. The app (which can be downloaded from Google for free) pre-fetches your e-mail automatically and lets you view attachments like PDFs, images, and Word files from your cell phone. The folks at MobileCrunch gave it a whirl and were mostly impressed by the app's speed. Sprint already has plans for pre-installing the app on some of its new phones, otherwise you'll need a Java-enabled phone to run the app.

GMail Mobile [via MobileCrunch via Om Malik]