Google let me in to the beta of the new Adsense interface.  It is pretty cool. Unlike the Adwords "improvements" which I still don't like.  The new Adsense does a lot of useful things,   The CTR to eCPM tool is interesting, and the daily trends let me know if it was my traffic, or [...]

Filed under : Industry News

If we just admit we are heading in to a technology Duopoly split between Microsoft and Google.
Microsoft is the reigning king of the desktop, Office Automation, and all things local.  Google reigns over all things Net, Search, and Connected.  As the lines blur between the desktop, the Net, and the Cloud, the two kings will [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Today Google’s doodle entitled Unexplained Phenomenon is creating some strange trends in search.  The image links to a search for “Unexplained Phenomenon” and features a UFO beaming up an O from the Google Name.  Being the top hit for the most searched term on Google is bouncing from Site to Site as the day tracks [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Matt Allard works with graphic design and web design for both independent and professional clients. During that time he’s found a way to blend the arts and create a niche in the Interactive Design market, as well as gain experience in the professional arena with a highly regarded company. The work displayed in his portfolio [...]

Filed under : Riches and Lifestyles

I sat down to put my depth of Python experience in to learning Google App Engine this weekend.  And my first app http://drakaalfirst.appspot.com/ is an accelerator for my XYHD.tv Blog.  Rather than porting WordPress to run on Google, I instead built a proxy designed to take the load off of the installation. 
This does several [...]

Filed under : Site Announcements

Do Midgets Have Night Vision? No.  Of course they don’t.  They are Midgets not Dwarves.  They don’t work in the mines of Mordor.  The Internet is making people stupid.  If you have to Google to find out the answers to obvious questions you are an idiot.
The problem with having the answer to any question at [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

Remember the good old days when search was about mastering Boolean expressions so you could find what you want?  You could say you wanted “((bing OR kumo)) AND search) NOT crosby NOT bada” and get exactly the result you were looking for.  Yeah those were the days.  Then we decided the Internet was too large [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Microsoft is soon to announce/release Kumo/Bing.com a rebranding of Live.com Search.  While Microsoft has been trying to consolidate brands in to a single “Live.com” in order to get away from preconceptions it is rebranding at Microsoft Bing.
Bing is really just Live.com with an easier “Modify my search” function.  Basically Google Suggests for Live.com.  The Interface [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

DuckDuckGo.com appears to be a Yahoo powered search engine that has just a few modifiers, such as the addition of FavIcons and a Cutesy UI.
Duck Duck Go is clearly looking to capitalize on the Popularity of WolfRam.com in the press.
Everyone wants to see Google Fail, and with Search being a Multi-Billion Dollar business even a [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

In this rapidly evolving world of online marketing it is sometimes hard to remember what all the terms mean, let alone how the strategy works.  As such I have broken down the various services as applied to the bar scene.
Brandon walks up to the cute girl at the bar and says “I’m great in [...]

Filed under : Funny

David Silversmith has a history of making bombastic headlines that are so far from the truth, backed by numbers that are no where near a whole picture, but this one is probably the one furthest from the truth I have seen.
Let’s assume most of David’s Numbers are right, he cites where he got them so [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Christine Lu is the Top China Expert when it comes to how to take an American business to China.  Converting your business to work in the Chinese economy and market is not just a matter of translating your existing ad copy to Mandarin and Cantonese, it takes an understanding of the culture, politics, and business [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Despite spending time to talk to the BBC and Engadet, Onlive’s Math doesn’t hold up, and that’s before we get to cost.
Steve Perlman is whining that people like me haven’t used the system and are already saying it won’t work, but Onlive is one of those technologies that if they have solved the theoretical problems [...]

Filed under : Industry News

www.Google.com/Voice has gone live as replacement for Grandcentral.com.  while many of the features are staying the same, the ability to forward your calls to multiple phones, ability to make outgoing calls from your Virtual Number.
What’s new in Google.com/voice is that you can now get your voicemails converted to text, and sent as e-mail or SMS. [...]

Filed under : Industry News

EHarmony sent me three letters telling me the accounts I set up when I lived in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and most recently San Jose, have been closed.  There was no reason cited.  Just a note saying it could be because I’m a criminal, married, or could be any or no reason.
· Misrepresentation of personal [...]

Filed under : Dating in Cyberspace

And One Ring to Rule them All!  With Ping.fm, and Onlywire.com and Friend Feed, and Face book, I think I may have more Social Networks than I have friends.  Actually it is pretty close.  I have about 500 “Friends” fewer than that followers, and I have logins for 146 social networks, that is before you [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

While Google has a great Unit Conversion Tool Built in, that won’t help you on a plane, when you need to quickly figure out how many Feet per second 200 knots are before you crash in to the ocean will it?
If you start Calc.exe in Windows 7 and select Options –> Unit Calculator you will [...]

Filed under : Computers, PCs, and Macs

A friend looking over my shoulder asked why “my” Google was so much better than hers. I run a Google Custom search which removes a few thousand spam sites from the results, and has some search modifiers so I can quickly change how I search for things.
By setting your Search box in IE for my [...]

Filed under : Computers, PCs, and Macs

The Default Values in Internet Explorer 8 ( IE8 ) as they ship for Vista and Windows 7 Leave a lot to be desired.  As such I recommend doing the following steps after install, or if you have already done an install, choose “Reset” from the Tools –> Internet Options –> Advanced  and then configuring [...]

Filed under : Computers, PCs, and Macs

Search Engine Land is talking up a Twitter Search, John Battelle is explaining why Google doesn’t have one.
Well I have had a pretty decent Twitter Powered Search Engine for the last 6 months.
The thing about twitter is that it only works because people aren’t trying to game it.  Yet.  Google was an Amazing search engine [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

It's somewhat fascinating how Google automatically inserts their ads to the stories we write here on XYHD.TV.   I just finished writing an article about Bob Barker, explaining how I almost ran over his foot while driving him and his wife in a  a long ago Hollywood Santa Claus Parade.
Google uses some fancy programming to scan [...]

Filed under : Advertisements, Blogging, Funny

Lots of people ask me how I make a living blogging, and when I explain that not all of that money is directly from Google they don’t really understand.
Blogging is only partly about Search Engine Optimization, and selling Ads, and convincing your readers to buy things.  Part of what you are selling, is you.
Getting people [...]

Filed under : Blogging

If you suspect that you have a virus, or Malware, and your Internet Explorer is not rendering pages correctly, or is slow, or you are getting a Google Error that “We’re sorry but… ….your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application”  It may be necessary to Reset Internet Explorer [...]

Filed under : Computers, PCs, and Macs

ooVoo (www.oovoo.com) teaches you how to video chat for free. Perfect for college student, long distance relationships or long lost friends. ooVoo allows people to connect regardless the distance. With video conferencing you'll be able to chat at any time, distance, without any fee unless your group exceeds 6.
Video chat isn't just for the [...]

Filed under : Site Reviews

Radio has a higher penetration of reach than any other medium on the planet.  Nearly 100% of Americans will hear radio at least once each week.  This may just be in the elevator, or on the bus, but it is hard to argue with the amount of reach which is possible with radio.
Google being aware [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Getting the most out of Google Adsense doesn’t involve anything dirty or deceptive.  It involves implementing Adsense the way Google intended.  These “hacks” will help you get the most money out of your content, and will do so with in the TOS of Adsense.
Google Adsense Hack #1:  Write Good Content
This would seem like a no-brainer [...]

Filed under : Money, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

What do you do with (or with out) a BA in English? What is your Life Going to be?
If you can't pay your bills yet, but you have a writing skill set, Blogging could be your new space.
You could write for a rev Share, Make money to spare.
It doesn't have to [...]

Filed under : Money, Site Announcements

Check this out.  I am on results 230-235 of about 1.  This is what happens when you get indexed quickly.  Most sites work pretty hard to get 200 pages a day indexed.  Yes, My SEO God status is maintained.  If I can convince Google to index all 6.5 Million products in my store I'll be [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Alphabetized Guide to Natural Cleaning Recipes

A

Acetate – Acetone dissolves acetate, and acetate colors often bleed. Wash by hand with a gallon of water in which you dissolve ¼ cup of baking soda. Or wash with very mild liquid soap and water. Dry on a flat surface to prevent wrinkling. Perfumes containing [...]

Filed under : How To

Associated Press is reporting that Time Warner is trying out metered Internet with overage charges of $1 per Gigabyte.  This mean users of Xbox Live Video Market Place, Amazon Unboxed, and others could end up paying an additional $2 per episode for SD content and $6 for HD Content.
5% of Internet users account for 50% [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Michael Largent used a script to sign up for 58,000 accounts with Google Check out. Every time you validate an account Google Check Out and PayPal put a few cents in to that account so that you can verify that the account is valid.
Where Michael went wrong is that he used fake names, and there [...]

Filed under : How To, Industry News, Life Hacks

5 Ways Your Gadgets Will Betray Your Privacy is just the beginning Stacey.  I have seriously considered just showing up EVERY where Scoble twitters he is going, just to prove why I his experience and everyone else's with the product are not the same.
But back to Stacey and her gadgets.  If you play much with [...]

Filed under : Industry News

A while back Jason Calacanis said that one way to cut start up costs was to fire your IT guy and get a bunch of Mac's the other day, he was twittering that he was looking for a Mac IT guy.  Om Malik twittered today that his Time Capsule was destroying his network.
I'm fighting with [...]

Filed under : Industry News, Life Hacks

Google is introducing a Web site tool called Friend Connect today that promises to extend the reach of social networks such as Facebook to any site that wants to use the tool.
That's right, now when I Google your name instead of getting your Linked in Page I'm going to see that your secretary bought you [...]

Filed under : Industry News, Rants and Tangents, Technical

There was a lot of news recently about if Powerset should sell, or play David and Goliath with Google.  I vote sell. The concept is good, but they are more of an Ask competitor than a Google competitor, and we know how well Ask is doing.
So let's Play.
Question one, which I posed a few days [...]

Filed under : Industry News, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

For those of us who pop in to Second Life every Friday to listen to Science Friday from NPR, it seems odd that Mark Kirk would want to ban the service in Schools.
There are quite a few educational spots in Second Life.
Mark Kirk says there are also virtual Rape Rooms, and Virtual Drug deals, going [...]

Filed under : Gaming, Privacy

www.isayhello.com went live last night.  The front page is ugly, I don't have as many human edited pages as I would like, but it is day one, and this is the first step.  In the coming days you will start to see better and better results pages, and more "Category" templates.
Not all results will be [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Site Announcements

Not satisfied with dominating Earth's online Economy Google has teamed up with Virgin to create project Virgle, the first human colony on Mars.
As quoted from the Google Website
"For thousands of years,the human race has spread out across the Earth, scaling mountains and plying the oceans, planting crops and building highways, raising skyscrapers and atmospheric CO2 [...]

Filed under : Goofing Off

Google Trends which was hourly, has gone to being a seemingly random interval, and features repeats a lot. 
Google Trends was updating every hour at about 45 minutes after the hour, telling users what the top 100 terms for that hour were.
But the last couple of days those updates are sometimes 5 hours apart and [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

While attempting to search for a way to fake the power of my huge brain.  I came across a weird search result on Google.
A search for "facebook biggest brain game cheats" results in the top two hits being from MSN, and a result part way down, being for Maps.live.com

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

It's beta, and it has a few quirks, but this tool combines the hot 100 searches of the Hour from Google Trends with Suggested Search Phrases from Google Suggest. Then if you click on the links you get a further mash up that is the results run through Youtube and Flickr. One Killer SEO tool.
I [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

 You must have seen that the concept of social online networking has taken the world by storm. People from all age group, religion and country are using this form of networking and building communities for catering to their own needs. Among the most popular social networking sites, Orkut and Facebook have gained tremendous popularity. While [...]

Filed under : Random News

I was about to login to Adsense and I got this message.
Please take a moment to update your AdSense login.We will soon be asking all our publishers to update their logins to a Google Account . This change will provide you with enhanced security and will make it more convenient for you to use other [...]

Filed under : Industry News

 
The young, hip, tech saavy crowd isn't satisfied with just instant gratification anymore. Instant public embarrassment is the next hottest thing and a group on Facebook called "Thirty reasons girls should call it a night" is at the forefront. Far from a tutorial about why good girls stay at home on Saturday night, the webpage [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

It is funny that people won't spend the money to buy a domain that is such sane match for their site.  Deal Or No Deal from NBC wants people to go to NBC.com/dond not www.nbc/dond.com or dond.com or any of the other variations that people are mistyping in to Google.  DOND.com would have cost a [...]

Filed under : Random News

My core readers may have noticed that I have been doing a lot of work with Google Trends lately.  But Man555.com has done something reasonably impressive.  They "hacked" their way on to Google Trends using SMS Messages.  Sending 100's of thousands of text messages to cell phone users, and using a trojan to access e-mail [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Getting found is not only about having the right stuff on your page, but also having the right people to link to you.  So if you want to really boost your own page rank you need to get one of these guys to link to you.  Good luck, with very few exceptions these sites don't [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

An 18-year-old Kansas student who went missing over the weekend is now believed to have lead a secret double life as an online porn star. A woman that looks curiously similar to missing 18-year-old Emily Sander was found on a Zoey Zane website (zoey-zane.com / ZoeyZane.com ).
Emily Sander AKA Zoey Zane Myspace and YouTube Video
  [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

For those not familiar with RuneScape it is much like World of Warcraft, but instead of focusing on combat it spends much more of its efforts focusing on story telling. 
The Game sports graphics on par with games created over a decade ago. But at any given moment it may have over 100k simultaneous players.  [...]

Filed under : Gaming

In an interesting turn, my most popular page today, made me $0.  Google seems to not run Adword's on pages with Assasin's Creed in the title of the page.  I don't know if it is just because the word has Ass in it twice, or if there is some other reason, but I'm tempted to [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Google is going to make it easier to manage your Adsense Ad code with a new tool that allows you to change the preferences of an ad block from with in the adsense management tool.  The Manage Ads Button is starting to be advertised in the tips section of Google's Adsense, but currently doesn't resolve [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Google Trends got dominated by Earthquake Searches.  The funniest of which is "Current Earthquakes"  yes when you are experiencing an earthquake race to Google and search what to do during the Earthquake.  Recent Earthquakes would be more useful but what can you do?  I was at dinner and the restaurant didn't skip a beat.  A [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

If Facebook is worth $15 billion, and Myspace is $65 billion XYHD.tv is worth $571k.  The math would seem simple.  If Facebook has 42 million users and you calculate the value of a user to be 15billion divided by 42million you see that each User has a value of $357.14.  My 1622 users results in [...]

Filed under : Hard on the Pocket Book, Industry News, Rants and Tangents, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The Fearless Leaders:
Steve Jobs knows brandwidth. Apple is not competing with PC’s anymore. A PC is a tool, a Mac is a status symbol, and brandwidth is what got Apple to that designer label status. Steve Jobs was recently interviewed by Rolling Stone. He is talking to Disney about a job they offered him. He [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Today I went to MSN.com and saw this Headliner "TV's Most Disgusting Ad?"  which linked to Slate which while owned by the Washington Post, is part of the MSN Network.  In the Slate Article, embedded smack dab in the middle of the page is a YouTube Player.
This is a huge "No, No" when it comes [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

SAN FRANCISCO At the Web 2.0 conference here in 2005 — back before Google had paid $1.65 billion for YouTube and people were talking about valuations for Facebook of $15 billion — Zach Coelius, a precocious 25-year-old who had snuck into the hall without paying, stepped up to the microphone and… Full Story

Filed under : Industry News

In the days before Google your brand was measured by your .Com. Today your page rank at Google says a lot, but if someone will buy your T-shirt you know you have hit the big time. CitiBank gives its T-shirts away on college campuses, Electronic Arts sells their Shirts for $30 a piece.
The Big Guys:
Steve [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

Microsoft is announcing that they are releasing IE7 with out the requirement for Genuine Advantage.  This could be any of several moves. 
a. Microsoft has decided that browser vulnerabilities are more important to combat than piracy, and so has set aside the WGA requirement because they are hoping to prevent virus and spyware infections which [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Google is just like Elvis… Everyone does their own bad impersonation, and a lot of people claim he's dead.
Yahoo Search is less Google Killer and, More Google Impersonator. I hate to be the purveyor of "you can't beat Google at search" but Yahoo seems to think the the secret to beating Google is to look [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Live.com got a face lift and a backend technology upgrade. Focusing on several core search experiences: Entertainment, Health, Local and Shopping.
Theses four areas account for 40% of Live.com queries, and Microsoft has made improvements that are supposed to improve each of these areas.
Because of Microsoft's acquisition of MedStory, Live.com is able to bring trusted results [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Tired of having ads that are contextual being beamed at you?  Now Google is letting you choose a term to have ads about.  Just incase you have money burning a hole in your pocket and want to blow it on the Internet.  Perhaps you'd like a Lawyer, or Some ads about Penile Enhancement, Puppies?  Maybe [...]

Filed under : Industry News

New UK-based MVNO Blyk launched today, targeting the 16- to 24-year-old demographic with an invitation-only service — which happens to be free.
Users get a free account with a limit of 217 texts and 43 minutes per month in return for viewing content from advertisers: a minimum of six ads per day.
"Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, I-play Mobile [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Internet Fudge is a growing concern in media, and business, for those who don't know Internet Fudge is when wrong information found on the Internet is used in a legitimate document or product.  I know that Wikipedia gets cited quite often at my workplace and I have found many errors that needed correcting.
Because Google makes [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

A photo that Vanessa took of herself for an unknown recipient ended up around the Internet.
"High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens has split with her boyfriend and co-star Zac Efron, and is considering posing for a men's magazine – according to reports.
Hudgens, who was involved in a nude photo scandal earlier this month, split [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents

Google (GOOG), the search and advertising giant, is always looking for ways to increase its control of the online advertising market. Today the company is launching a new effort to turn widgets into ads. A select group of brand advertisers are working with Google on special Google gadgets (widgets) that iGoogle users can place on [...]

Filed under : Industry News

I have read several articles outlining ways to rip music from CD's and then selling them back to used CD stores.  The Problem is this isn't legal.  If you want cheap music for your iPod or cheap songs for your Zune, there is a better way.  Amazon Used, Used CD Stores, iTunes Promo Code from [...]

Filed under : How To

iPhone just might be the best thing that has ever happened to Google Maps -– it has made them popular like never before and has driven the usage substantially. This information comes courtesy of Marissa Mayer, Google’s (GOOG) vice president of search products & user experience.
She was a fellow judge at the TechCrunch 40 conference [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Student sues Microsoft over anti-piracy program … EPA will use Virtual Earth program, Microsoft says … Bezos' OK needed for Amazon music service … Clearwire takes wireless service into Spain … Apple may be ready to divulge iPhone news … Google asks for global privacy standards Full Story

Filed under : Industry News

A six-year-old Swedish company, with backing from leaders in Seattle's technology industry, has ambitious plans to be a Microsoft and Google killer. Full Story

Filed under : Industry News

Microsoft (MSFT) today announced "The Ultimate Steal" deal for Microsoft Office 2007 that gives students a chance to buy Microsoft Office 2007 for $60, a deep discount of 91%. (In comparison Microsoft Office for Mac costs $150 for Student and Teachers Edition.)
This might be small price to pay for the company since it is ensuring [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Sure YouTube has been kicking your ass, Sure the property has never been a huge money maker, but….
You are losing less money than Google is on YouTube, so you should have stuck it out.  Yes, MTV jumped the gun, MTV usually gets technology plays right, their Virtual Leguna Beach, and other online properties are a [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Greg Sterling posted about Microsoft's response to CapGemini rallying behind Google Apps.
Microsoft responded to the announcement of CapGemini support for Google Apps yesterday with a statement and a list of questions about Google Apps for the Enterprise — or reasons potentially not to use them. Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet has both, and the list [...]

Filed under : Rants and Tangents, Technical

After my Greatest Living American stunt I'm glad I don't live in Poland, where a man Bombed Kutas the Polish word for penis to Lech Kaczyński's home page. 23 years old Marek W. from Cieszyn was tracked down by local police using his home IP address.
Google Claimed Bombing no longer works, but we reasonably know [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Normally a company that is on track to bring in about $150 million in sales this year doesn't need to go out and raise more money from investors. But Facebook isn't a normal company, and Silicon Valley isn't a normal place.
Kara Swisher over at All Things D reports that the company is contemplating raising a [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Earlier today IBM (IBM) threw its weight behind the Open Office project, a move that will give the open source productivity suite some much needed support in the enterprises. And if that wasn't enough, now Google (GOOG) has upped the ante on Microsoft Office by teaming up with consulting company, Cap Gemini. Cap
Gemini is going [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Ok, so rich is all relative, but the truth is blogging for profit is 90% Pimping your site to your friends co-workers and random strangers 8% writing content, and 2% finding a snazzy Template for your wordpress.
So here are some Great themes to help optimize your rankings in Google, because SEO is going to be [...]

Filed under : Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The recent entry of Apple (AAPL) and the looming Google (GOOG) OS for mobiles are a cause of concern for everyone – from handset makers to mobile carriers. Their mobile forays should be of serious concern for Mobile OS makers such as Microsoft (MSFT) and Symbian. While Apple wants to gobble up the high-end smart [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Facebook Opens Profiles To Tap Into Google Traffic, While Google Grabs Facebook's News Feed Idea  —  Google is getting a bit more like Facebook by enabling a Facebook-style news feed within its Orkut social networking site, while the king of the walled gardens Facebook acknowledges in actions …

Source:   Search Engine Land: News About [...]

Filed under : Industry News

Death of a Cheerleader ( a friend to die for ) is showing up in Google trends, because of a story that sounds just like the movie .  I'm always curious what kicks something like this to the forefront of search.  The 1994 movie based on real events in Florida was played out in Pennsylvania when  a [...]

Filed under : Dating in Cyberspace

New York Times has a story about the Shift In Google News.  Google is going to enter the content business linking to Associated Press.
Google has been a source of traffic for a great many content providers but thus far has always stayed out of the content business.  Google is entering competition with its customers.  I [...]

Filed under : Industry News, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)