Google

Google's Chrome operating system (OS) took one step closer to wider release recently when the company announced it had begun shipping netbooks equipped with the operating system to selected beta testers. But despite reports (mostly from Google) that ... Chrome will trump Windows' speed and security features, at least one analyst says there's nothing for Microsoft to fear just yet. In a presentation to announce Chrome OS' move toward more rigorous testing, Google CEO Eric Schmidt pointed to the operating system's faster startup and installation times, in addition to impressive security features, ... (view more)

Google's Chrome OS (operating system) moved one step closer to wider release on Tuesday. At a press conference in San Francisco, Google CEO Eric Schmidt revealed the company's new pilot program for the OS along with a Chrome Web Store for purchasing ... applications. "With Chrome OS, we have the development of a viable third choice for the desktop," announced Schmidt, referring to the widespread use to this point of Microsoft's ubiquitous Windows and Apple's cult-favorite Mac OS. He apparently thought Linux not worth mentioning. (Source: informationweek.com ) Chrome OS Summer 2011 Release Rumored ... (view more)

There are plenty of rumors about the final release date for Google's Chrome operating system (OS), but that hasn't stopped the search giant from touting its wide-ranging applications. In a recent report, a Google executive boasts that most ... businesses could easily switch out Windows in favor of Chrome OS once the final version is released to the public. Chrome OS Stripped Down, Simplified Google's upcoming Chrome operating system is designed to be a stripped-down and simplified operating system that competes directly with Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Leopard. Few industry insiders have a ... (view more)

While Windows 7 is doing well among home users, adoption by businesses remains comparably slow. But one research company has an interesting idea for how that might change: it thinks workers used to the system on their home PCs might pressure ... employers to upgrade. While around one in five XP and Vista users overall switched to Windows 7 in its first year (ending October 22), only one in ten businesses are currently running the system. About 75 per cent still use XP. When Windows 7 first debuted, there was some debate about how rapidly businesses would adopt it. On the one hand, many companies ... (view more)

A leaked Google document has revealed how much major firms spend on online advertising. It shows that even well-established Internet brands spend millions of dollars a month using Google's Adwords advertising system. The document has been published ... by industry journal Advertising Age and, as well as giving general information for the first six months of the year, reveals how much companies spent on Google ads in June, 2010. For those unaware, Google Adword ads appear alongside Google search results and online websites that participate in the Adwords program. Advertisers use a bidding system ... (view more)

With many tech analysts predicting that cloud computing will be an important part of how companies conduct their future business, Google has intervened by clamping down on potential hackers and would-be identity thieves. Second Password Code Sent ... via SMS, Cell Phone Using simple passwords for an online account makes you prone to hackers, and this is especially true for corporate accounts. In response to the call for greater security, Google has implemented an additional (and optional) security measure which requires users enter a random six-digit code after entering their password. The random ... (view more)

Google has unveiled a new instant search feature that provides results as users type in their query. It's a new trick for online searches -- one Google says will save its many, many clients lots of time. As Google vice president of user experience ... Marissa Mayer put it, the instant search feature is designed to provide results "as you type, not after you type." (Source: usatoday.com ) American Internet users got their first look at the instant search tools on Wednesday, with international clients being introduced to the feature over the course of the week. Google Instant Search Powered by ... (view more)

Google will soon offer content from the Associated Press (AP) on its news site. While the deal makes business sense, it's something of a surprise given that the two companies have publicly disagreed over interpretation of copyright rules. The full ... details of the deal, and specifically the financial arrangements and the duration of the license extension included, are being kept under wraps. MarketWatch figures suggest that, given Google's size, the fee is likely worth more than $1 million US dollars per year. The Associated Press has revealed that the deal will mean closer collaboration rather ... (view more)

Google and Verizon have made a joint proposal for how "net neutrality" should operate. It's a proposal that is as controversial as net neutrality itself. The Principle of Net Neutrality The principle of net neutrality is that all Internet traffic ... should be treated in the same way, with the exception of illegal content. Whether that principle should be upheld is the subject of heated debate. Supporters say the Internet should be treated like a utility (such as telephones, where providers must offer a connection to every home), while opponents favor a purely commercial approach with providers ... (view more)

Over the weekend, Google admitted its enormously popular video site YouTube had been hacked. By Sunday morning the search giant had fixed the problem, which included raunchy pop-up messages and link redirections to explicit websites. The flaw ... involved hackers exploiting a cross-site scripting weakness that allowed them to insert their own programming code into YouTube's comments section. Rather amusingly, the hackers focused their attention on Justin Bieber clips (amongst others), with many of his music videos affected. Bieber appeared on an NBC Fourth of July TV special Sunday, so it's ... (view more)