Today’s search podcast covers Google selling its stake in the Chinese Baidu
search engine; Google planning to expand employees for its own Chinese efforts;
Google testing ads in video content; looking at issues with filtering adult
content in video and web search and more!
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Below are links to items discussed:
- Google
Disposes Of Stake In Baidu
Reuters reports that Google has sold its “modest investment in Baidu.” Google
owned about two-percent of Baidu.com, worth about $63 million, and “disposed”
of that investment on May 25th. Google spokesperson, Debbie Frost said, “It
has always been our goal to grow our own successful business in China and we
are very focused on that.”…
- Google
To Have 1000 Employees In China By 2007
Pacific Epoch reports that Google expect to have over 1,000 employees in
Google China by 2007. By the end of this year, Google hopes to have 200
employees based in China. Google will have three research and development
centers in China, they will be based in Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan according
the article….
- AdWords
Tweaks & Bug Fixes Documented
I reported this morning at the Search Engine Roundtable on Small But Important
New Google AdWords Features & Fixes. eWhisper at WebmasterWorld tracked the
small, sometimes unnoticed, changes within Google AdWords and put together a
list. Here is that list. + Local time zone added to MCC reports. + Bug fixed
where the ‘account’ box didn’t show on sub mcc reports. + Add your GAP
business to Google Local (although, not sure why this wasn’t attached to base
so the pin was unnecessary) + HTTPs errors fixed on internal help pages (note,
the only place I can tell the error…
- Google
Testing Ad Supported Premium Video
Google is running a test offering about 2,000 premium videos available for
free streaming viewing, inserting a persistent banner-type ad at the top of
the screen and showing an additional post-roll video ad once the premium
content has finished streaming. The test is expected to last about a week,
according to Peter Chane, group business product manager, Google Video. ,
inserting a persistent banner-type ad at the top of the screen and showing an
additional post-roll video ad once the premium content has finished streaming.
The test is expected to last about a week, according to Peter Chane, group
business…
- Child
Porn Suit Dropped Against Google
The Associate Press reports that the suit brought against Google for profiting
on child pornography has been dropped. Jeffrey Toback, of the Nassau County
Legislature, filed the suit in early May. Toback said he dropped the suit
because “Google has offered to sit down and discuss the issues. They didn’t
want to do that while litigation was pending, so we’re taking them up on their
offer.”…
- Video
Search, Smut and Censorship
Earlier this week, ZDNet News published an article discussing the presence and
availability of explicit content on video search sites like, YouTube, Yahoo
Video and Google Video. “A weeklong review of some of the top user-generated
video sites by CNET News.com unearthed scenes of beheadings, masturbation,
bloody car accidents, bondage and sadomasochism,” wrote the reporter, Greg
Sandoval. He did say that this review found no child pornography….
- Ask.com
Too Strict With Child & Sex Keywords?
The Hammer of Trust writes that Ask.com is way too strict for searches on
keywords about sex and children. For example, a search on Ask.com on [laws
against pedophilia] brings back a message that reads, “This query does not
comply with Ask.com Terms of Service.” The “Go” button following the message
links you to Ask.com Terms of Service. Other similar searches do the same
thing, such as , talking to your children about sex, blocking porn from kids
and warning your kids about sex offenders. I also tried searching on
preventing child pornography and that also was blocked. It is…
PhotoBucket Has 44% Share of Photo Sharing Sites: Beating Yahoo & Flickr
The Hitwise blog posted what I found to be surprising statistics on what is
the most popular photo sharing site. I would have thought Yahoo Photos or
Flickr would be a one of the most popular services, but it looks like
PhotoBucket has almost 44% of the share, compared with Yahoo Photos with only
18% share in the number two spot. Even more surprising, to me at least, is
that Flickr has barely 6% share, ranking number six in the list. Hitwise tells
me that Photobucket surpassed Yahoo! Photos in January 2006, and its share of
visits increased by 34%…
- Japan’s
Softbank Mobile Phones To Use Yahoo As Content Portal
MarketWatch reports that Softbank, who acquired Vodafone, will be using Yahoo
to “bring the broad world of the Internet” to their mobile users. The mobile
phones will have some sort of direct link to the Yahoo portal, to bring the
content of that portal to Softbank’s mobile users….
- Google
Mixes Up Referrals Buttons
I reported at the Search Engine Roundtable that Google has mixed up the
referral buttons with the Google AdSense referral program. For example, I have
inserted the code to display the Google Pack referral button on this page but
instead it is displaying the graphics and materials for the Google Firefox
referrals. This was first reported at WebmasterWorld yesterday at 11:50am
(EST). It continues to be a problem to this minute….
Specialty Search Roundup #4
Another week has gone by and the world of databases of special interest to the
web researcher have appeared on ResourceShelf. Here’s a look at a few of them
along with a couple of database news items via ResourceShelf. By the way, the
ResourceShelf site itself has also been updated and enhanced with a new look
this week….
Technorati Betting: New Link Bait Idea
Omar emailed me that he has posted a Technorati Blog Betting competition.
Basically, you bet as much as you like, on the chances that a particular blog
will be at the number one spot. As ThreadWatch notes Matt Cutts has 6 to 1
odds in this competition. They currently have Matt Cutts, Robert Scoble,
Engadget, and some others in the competition. This site, nor is my site in the
running. Currently, the Technorati top 100 shows me at #35, Philipp at #29,
ShoeMoney at #52, John Battelle at #63 and Danny (SEW) at #69….