Implications of OpenID - Google Tech Talk
July 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The embeded video comes from a Google Tech Talk given by Simon Willison.
From the abstract:
Simon Willison OpenID is an emerging standard that provides simple, decentralised … all » authentication for the Web. OpenID follows the Unix philosophy, solving one small problem rather than attempting to tackle the many larger challenges posed by online identity. This talk will explore the implications of OpenID, and explore the best practices required to take advantage of this new technology while avoiding the potential pitfalls.
Tags: authentication, decentralized, google, google tech talks, identity, identity management, open id, openid, password, passwords, simon willison, standard, unix, willison
Google Presentations Coming This Summer
April 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Google announced today that presentations are coming to Google Docs and Spreadsheets. This was of course rumored a couple months ago, and certainly expected (or eagerly awaited…) by the tech industry.
From the blog:
we want to welcome the team from Tonic Systems to Google. Tonic, which we’ve just acquired, is based in San Francisco and Melbourne, Australia. They have some great technology for presentation creation and document conversion, and it will be a great addition as we add presentation sharing and collaboration capabilities to Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
Looking into Tonic a bit more deeply lead to the FAQ on tonicsystems.com:
“Tonic Systems is a San Francisco-based company that provides Java presentation automation products and solutions for document management - Tonic Systems Builder, Tonic Systems Filter, Tonic Systems Transformer, Tonic Systems Viewer, and JarJar Links. Features of their products included text extraction for indexing documents, presentation creation capabilities and document conversion tools.”
My only fear is that the technology they are buying as part of the Tonic acquisition is Java based. Docs and Spreadsheets is much lighter as pure javascript and xhtml. I trust Google will strike the appropriate balance and get this new application integrated and working nicely. As soon as screenshots begin to emerge, I’ll be sure to post those.
Tags: docs, docs & spreadsheets, docs and spreadsheets, documents, google, google presently, java, javascript, office, powerpoint, presentation, presentations, spreadsheets, tonic, tonic systems, writely
A Look at Joost
March 9, 2007 | 47 Comments
Jenny recently hooked me up with a much coveted Joost account. Sadly I do not have any invitations yet, and there is a long list of people who have already asked me for one, you know who you are…
I was initially frustrated by the lack of client for MacOS-PPC, since this is the machine running in my living room, hooked to my TV. With that aside, I downloaded the client onto my Windows Vista laptop, where it initially also would not run. Luckily, with Vista all you need to do is jump through a few hoops. Here’s what you do:
- Right click on the shortcut, select properties.
- On the compatibility tab, un-check everything, except “Run as administrator”, this must be checked.
- Then click “Show settings for all users”, and do the same here.
- At this point you should be set to run Joost!
After the initial frustration of getting it running somewhere, I started to appreciate the potential here. In general, it runs pretty smoothly, the quality is surprisingly good for on demand web video. I think it is head and shoulders above the quality of YouTube or Google Video, probably comparable to VHS.
At the moment, the content is a bit limited, although I did watch the Green Day: American Idiot concert, which was very cool. I was extremely happy with the interface. I believe the channel based delivery of content will be familiar and intuitive to the general public who is familiar with cable TV.
My one final complaint would be the advertisement placement. It seems like the software just randomly decides to insert commercials from time to time, which I am OK with, but it doesn’t have any intelligence for deciding when to cut in. For example, I say a stupid Maybelline ad twice, both time in the middle of a song. I think this will work out in time, but just an insiders view of what’s wrong in the beta from my perspective…
Tags: american idiot, google, google video, green day, joost, macosx, Maybelline, television, video, web, windows vista, youtube
Google Presently?
February 7, 2007 | 3 Comments
Garett Rogers on ZDNet points out an interesting section of the Google language file in Google Docs.
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var MSG_VIEW_PRESENTATION="View presentation";
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var MSG_PRESENTATION_SETTINGS="Presentation settings";
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var MSG_DOC_TO_PRESENTATION="Convert document to presentation";
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var MSG_DOC_TO_PRESENTATION_HINT="Once your document is converted to a presentation, you can insert slide breaks using Insert> Slide from the main menu.";
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var MSG_PRESENTATION_TO_DOC="Convert presentation to document";
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var MSG_POPUP_BLOCKER="Presently is unable to launch your presentation in full-screen mode. Check your pop-up blocker settings.";
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var MSG_NEW_SLIDE_TITLE="New Slide";
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var MSG_UNSUPPORTED_BROWSER="Unsupported Browser Presently doesn't support Opera and will not function properly. Would you like to continue anyway?";
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var MSG_SLIDE_INDEX="Slide %1 of %2: %3";
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var MSG_NEXT="Next";
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var MSG_NEXT_HINT="Space, Enter, N";
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var MSG_PREV="Previous";
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var MSG_PREV_HINT="Backspace, Del, P";
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var MSG_ZOOM_IN="Zoom in";
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var MSG_ZOOM_OUT="Zoom out";
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var MSG_ZOOM_RESET="Zoom reset";
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var MSG_TOGGLE_AUTOFIT="Toggle AutoFit";
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var MSG_PICK_THEME="Choose theme:";
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var MSG_THEME_BLANK="Blank";
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var MSG_THEME_GOOGLE="Google";
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var MSG_THEME_LIQUID="Liquid";
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var MSG_THEME_MONOCHROME="Monochrome";
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var MSG_TOGGLE_TOOLBAR="Hide/show toolbar";
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var MSG_EXIT_PRESENTATION="Exit presentation";
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var MSG_END_OF_PRESENTATION="End of presentation. Are you sure you want to exit?";
This tips the hand and shows they are intending to have an application called "Presently" and it will have theme capabilities. We would assume it will export and import from Microsoft Powerpoint...
On a side note, Google has already reacted to this by pulling the above quoted language from the file.
Tags: garett rogers, google, google docs, google presently, javascript, microsoft, microsoft powerpoint, powerpoint, presentation, presently, zdnet
Google Acquiring YouTube
October 9, 2006 | 3 Comments
Google is in the process of acquiring YouTube for $1.65 billion.
According to the press release:
The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online video entertainment communities with Google's expertise in organizing information and creating new models for advertising on the Internet. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more comprehensive experience for users interested in uploading, watching and sharing videos, and will offer new opportunities for professional content owners to distribute their work to reach a vast new audience.
[...]
When the acquisition is complete, YouTube will retain its distinct brand identity, strengthening and complementing Google’s own fast-growing video business. YouTube will continue to be based in San Bruno, CA, and all YouTube employees will remain with the company. With Google’s technology, advertiser relationships and global reach, YouTube will continue to build on its success as one of the world's most popular services for video entertainment.
Since YouTube will be "strengthening and complementing Google's own fast-growing video business", does this mean Google Video will remain intact with YouTube remaining in parallel? This would seem odd considering YouTube and Google Video are direct competitors. It only seems like good business sense to merge the two in some way.
The main positive to come out of this deal is that YouTube is not going away anytime soon. Knowing they had financial troubles and were rumored to be burning through venture capital money very quickly, most predictions suggested YouTube would implode if it did not find a sustainable business model. Google is the king of making these things work. Their vast user base, ad network, and searching capabilities should combine nicely with YouTube. Add to this their past history of succeeding with things people thought to large to sustain (see 2GB quotas in GMail), you have the perfect match here.
Tags: google, google video, network, search, video, youtube
Internet is for Porn WoW Video
August 25, 2006 | 6 Comments
Warning: this is not safe for work. Play at your own risk...
Apparently today is inappropriate and questionable content day at No Sheep, but anyway...
This video is a song and dance debate between two characters animated using the lush environments and interactivity in Word of Warcraft. Apparently Matt blogged this back in December, but I just watched it for the first time today on Google Video.
I've seen a pile of WoW videos, but none of them are anywhere near as funny as this one. The video makes the easy claim that the internet is for porn, which may be true, but Google Video and You Tube keep reminding me how good it is at entertainment.
Update: I just found out the song included in the video is from the Broadway musical Avenue Q which was a critically acclaimed comedy done all with puppets that clearly parody Sesame Street and The Muppets. Additionally, here are the lyrics for your enjoyment:
KATE MONSTER
The internet is really really great
TREKKIE MONSTER
For porn
KATE
I've got a fast connection so i don’t have to wait
TREKKIE
For porn
KATE
Huh?
There's always some new site,
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
I browse all day and night
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
It's like i’m surfing at the speed of light
TREKKIE
For porn!
KATE
Trekkie!
TREKKIE
The internet is for porn
KATE
Trekkie!
TREKKIE
The internet is for porn,
KATE
What are you doing!?
TREKKIE
Why you think the net was born?
Porn porn porn
KATE
Treee—kkie!
TREKKIE
Oh hello Kate monster
KATE
You are ruining my song
TREKKIE
Oh me sorry, me no mean to
KATE
Well if you wouldnt mind please being quiet for a minute so i can finish?
TREKKIE
Me no talkie
KATE
Good
I’m glad we have this new technology
TREKKIE
For porn
KATE
Which gives us untold opportunity
TREKKIE
For por—oops, sorry
KATE
Right from you own desktop
TREKKIE
For ---
KATE
You can research browse and shop
Until you’ve had enough and your ready to stop
TREKKIE
FOR PORN!!
KATE
Trekkie!
TREKKIE
The internet is for porn!
KATE
Noooo
TREKKIE
The internet if for porn!
KATE
Trekkie
TREKKIE
Me up all night honking me horn to porn, porn, porn!
KATE
That’s gross you're a pervert
TREKKIE
Ah, sticks and stones Kate monster
KATE
NO really, your a pervert. Normal people don't sit at home and look at porn on the internet
TREKKIE
Ohhhh?
KATE
What?!
TREKKIE
You have no idea. Ready normal people?
NORMAL PEOPLE
Ready--- ready ----ready
TREKKIE
Let me hear it!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
The internet is for porn!
PRINCETON
Sorry kate
TREKKIE AND GUYS
The internet is for porn!
PRINCETON
I masturbate!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
All these guys unzip their flies
For porn, porn, porn!
KATE
The internet is not for porn!!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
PORN!, PORN, P---
KATE
HOLD ON A SECOND!
Now i know for a fact that you, Rob, check your portfolio and trade stocks online
ROB
That’s correct.
KATE
And Brian, you buy things on Amazon.com
BRIAN
Sure!
KATE
And Gary, you keep selling your possesions on Ebay
GARY
Yes I do!
KATE
And Princeton, you sent me that sweet online birthday card
PRINCETON
True!
TREKKIE
Oh, but Kate-
What you think he do . . .after? hmm?
PRINCETON
. .yeah
KATE
EEEWWWWW!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
The internet is for porn!
KATE
Gross!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
The internet is for porn!
KATE
I hate porn
TREKKIE AND GUYS
Grab your dick and double click
TREKKIE AND GUYS
For porn, porn, porn!
(harmonizing) porn, porn, porn, porn
KATE
I hate you men!
I’m leaving!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
Porn, porn, porn, porn
porn, porn, porn, porn
KATE
I hate the internet!
TREKKIE AND GUYS
Porn, porn, porn, porn
TREKKIE
The internet is for
TREKKIE AND SOME
The internet is for
TREKKIE AND ALL
The internet is for PORN!
TREKKIE
YEAH!
Tags: avenue q, Fun Whatnot, google, google video, internet is for porn, lyrics, porn, video, warcraft, world of warcraft, wow
Google Strikes Back Against Click Fraud Claims
August 9, 2006 | 2 Comments
I have substantial experience with advertising tracking technologies including click fraud analysis. While working for Direct Response Technologies, I spent a year as the lead developer on their Direct Track product. We spent a substantial amount of time tracking and analyzing claims of click fraud, but in most cases our system identified fraudulent clicks properly, yet we still spent a fair amount of time double and triple checking the numbers with our many clients.
Google has it infinitely worse.
For months we've been hearing about problems with click fraud and many crazy numbers in relation to Google Adwords. As a Google AdSense publisher these complaints have scared me. Over the last six months my traffic has continued to increase, yet my ECPM and CTR numbers have declined drastically. I could only assume Google was bending to their paying Adwords customers and eliminating valid clicks while fear and anxiety on the advertisers' part was reducing overall per click payouts. This trend has been fairly consistent amongst many of my friends, some have recently been seeing their ECPM dip below the $1.00 mark.
However, careful analysis from Google has been released that defies many of the claims of click fraud. In a 17 page white paper released on August 8th, Google shows clearly how these fraud numbers are misrepresented, trumped up, and just plain wrong. Many of the methodologies click fraud companies are using do not properly track numbers, nor verify their claims against what Google actually tracked. In one example given, AdWatcher claimed there were approximately 12,000 fraudulent clicks in a time period when Google only tracked 6800 and had already identified and eliminated 800 as fraud.
Hopefully this detailed report will get adequate press coverage and publishers can start seeing Google earnings start to increase to respectable levels again. It is my strong opinion that if you are not getting between $2 and $3 ECPM for real content, you are being screwed. It would be nice to feel good about my Google ads again and not be shopping around at Yahoo, Commission Junction, and Blog Ads.
Tags: adsense, advertiser, advertising, adwords, affiliate, blog ads, blogads, cj, click fraud, commission junction, cpm, ctr, direct response technologies, direct track, directtrack, ecpm, fraud, google, google adsense, google adwords, internet advertising, internet marketing, performance, publisher