Mobile Search in China
September 11, 2010
The Middle Kingdom has a track record for doing it the “emperors’ way”. Want to negotiate a tough deal? No problem. Get the traders into a trading city. Offer a deal. If refused, the area in the walled city becomes a hot spot. I find these architectural details from the past interesting.
Now Baidu, China’s top search engine with the largest market share is making all plans to keep up with the recent tech trends, and cash on the boost in the mobile segment. The Yahoo news article “Baidu to Focus mobile Internet Investment on Search” unfolds the company’s strategy to stand on its strength of core search business for the mobile Internet. According to the news, Baidu will “include mobile Internet and ecommerce initiatives in the business-to-consumer space” as it targets to dominate the next big Internet space.
Completing ten years of its existence, Baidu began its preparations last year, to play big in the mobile Internet, with the “introduction of a Baidu text input method and mobile maps.” The news reveals further that, “the company also set up a mobile Internet department.” The first to offer WAP and PDA-based mobile search in China, Baidu is equipping itself to continue to be the search king in China.
Now what about those inside a trading city? Tough spot for some vendors who make big plans just like the traders traversing the Silk Road. Long way from home to try and get frisky.
Stephen E Arnold, September 11, 2010
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Groklaw Oracle Post Highlights a Battle Royal
September 6, 2010
Thump. Thump. Thump. That’s the sound of the legal eagles marshaled for an aerial assault on the Googleplex.
The case of Oracle America vs. Google is not going away and becoming a TruTV reality show preview for the IT industry. First off, Oracle has renamed Sun Microsystems as Oracle America. Now, Oracle America is alleging infringement on their patents by Google. The case is dissected in groklaw.net’s article titled “Oracle America’s Complaint Against Google, As Text.” The text of the Oracle complaint against Google can be found here. The article summarizes that the plaintiff, Sun/Oracle America, is filing suit for patent and copyright infringement of Oracle’s properties, which include Sun’s Java platform. The article says that the language of the complaint is “strong” and “it’s language that indicates Oracle is going for treble damages” and it also means they “likely have something quite fact-based and specific in mind that they think can be pinned on Google.”
Now, that’s an understatement. Google hired away some Oracle Java engineers so you can bet your bottom dollar Google had knowledge of Java. Interestingly, the article also quotes Java creator James Gosling as saying that Oracle’s lawsuit was filed “only after the failure of protracted technology licensing negotiations with Google that began long before Sun sold itself to Oracle…”
The series begins this fall. Live. 3D. Available on a mobile device running Java or a clean room version thereof.
Stephen E Arnold, September 6, 2010
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Google and Its Global Street View Experiences
August 30, 2010
Special to Beyond Search
Technological innovative ideas have transformed our societies and lifestyles for better since time immemorial, also affecting the social norms and values. Such changes, as all changes do by default, go through a period of resistance, before they are finally embraced. The recent Google Street View controversy in Germany is a perfect example, and it has set out people and political parties to philosophize and finally polarize themselves in two opposite camps.
Source for this great illustration: textually.org
The Spiegel.de article “Google Knows More about Us than the KGB, Stasi or Gestapo” delineates the various ideologies of the politicians, institutional leaders, thinkers and commentators of Germany, when Google is just a few weeks away from launching the street views of the 20 German cities on the Internet. The German government, criticized for its slow reaction, now wants to take a cautious approach, rejecting the proposed legislation against Google’s Street View, and instead wants to address geographically based Internet services in general.
Oracle and Google: More on This Dust Up
August 24, 2010
In “Oracle v Google: Why” the author gives an in depth analysis of the reasons for Oracle’s bold legal move against Google and ultimately what is at stake for both parties, the Java platform and more importantly the technology world. The following quote describes the outcome “As for predictions, I’ll make only one: whoever wins will also lose. Because this suit is going to negatively impact – probably substantially – Java adoption.”
The enterprise technology landscape is more fragmented by the day, as it transitions from Dot NET or Java orthodoxy to multi-language heterogeneity. Oracle’s suit will accelerate this process as it introduces for the first time legal uncertainty around the Java platform. Apple and Microsoft will be thrilled by this development, and scores of competitive languages and platforms are likely to see improved traction as a result of Java defections. Though Google is an easy financial target it seems Oracle’s battle with open source has just begun. The immediate issue may seem to be Google, but the real target may be open source and its threat to Oracle’s traditional business model.
April Holmes, August 24, 2010
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ChaCha and KGB: Seeing Eye to Eye
August 23, 2010
Who offers the most trusted search system for the Web and mobile. Is Google still the most trusted “go to” Internet search engine and with the advancement of mobile technology many mobile users can now conduct Google search from their mobile device.
“ChaCha, KGB See Text Messages as Alternative to Search Engines on Cell Phones” the companies ChaCha and KGB offer customers a simpler way to get answers. Users can send a question to ChaCha through a text or voice message and simply wait for a prompt reply from an agent. This is a free service but users should be prepared to receive advertisements from various providers. KGB service guides also can be contacted in a similar fashion except users must pay 99 cents and will not receive outside advertisements. Each is responsible for scouting out the latest information and delivering the most accurate up to date information possible. It’s not likely they are going to overtake Google fans but they could be a helpful addition.
Worth watching.
April Holmes, August 24, 2010
Research in Motion and Aggressive Mobile BlackPad
August 21, 2010
I struggle to locate emails on my BlackBerry. I struggled to buy a working app on the BlackBerry store. I now struggle with a news story that links Research in Motion to Crusher Tank software and luxury car maker BMW. I rented a BMW once, and I gave up trying to get the radio to work and set the air conditioning. I cannot wait to see a table with a combination of BMW technology and Crusher Tank software.
What do you make of “RIM Said to Plan Crusher Tank Technology for Tablet Computer”? As you can see from the photo on the splash page of this blog, even my Microsoft SharePoint engineer, Tess the Boxer, can use the Apple iPad. Will she be able to handle RIM’s forthcoming tablet?
Will the BlackPad have the durability of this Crusher tank? Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_swGyNR8UhGg/SBoduyYjJPI/AAAAAAAAAI8/jBff0KtcnFQ/s1600-h/crusher2.jpg
Here’s the passage from the Bloomberg story which I hope is deadly accurate like the Crusher tank’s armaments:
The yet-to-be-announced tablet will run on software developed by QNX Software Systems, which RIM bought from Harman International Industries Inc. for $200 million in April, said the people, who didn’t want to be named because the plans haven’t been made public. QNX’s software is used in products from companies including Cisco Systems Inc., General Electric Co. and Caterpillar Inc. RIM, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is racing to introduce its tablet as rivals debut similar devices that fill the gap between smartphones and laptops. By using QNX technology, RIM could take advantage of the independent software developers who already create applications for QNX and build on the popularity of its BlackBerry smartphone with corporate customers.
I have no opinion about the issues related to access to BlackBerry email. I would imagine that Crusher tank technology can deal with almost any unpleasantness. If the technology won’t do it, maybe RIM could drive a Crusher tank over the issue, flattening it in no time.
The iDrive control device that baffled this addled goose.
I am more interested in the BMW technology.
My observations:
- The mobile heat is on for RIM from phones to tablets to far off lands which want access to email. I am not sure Apple will relate to the artistic elegance of the Crusher tank. I think the Google Math Club will find the BMW less environmentally pleasing than a Prius but well suited to speeding to meetings with various governmental entities.
- The Apple iPad seems to be a winner, and I wonder if the alleged BlackPad can capture the market segment fascinated by the tablet form factor. Apple is rumored to be readying a Mini Cooper iPad which might rain on the RIM tank parade. A flotilla of Android tablets seems to be making its way across the big blue sea with an ETA in the Fall of 2010.
- The BlackBerry application store is not quite up to Apple’s level and I think it lags the dross-riddled Android app store. BlackBerry has its consumer work cut out for itself. I still find the BlackBerry app I downloaded amusing. It would crash the mobile device. Solitaire is a tough nut to crack or BlackBerry to squish as the case may be.
To sum up, the macho positioning of the Research in Motion BlackPad is interesting. I just want to make phone calls, maybe read a book at the airport, and check some email. Do I need a BMW-infused, smart tank technology for these functions? RIM, if Bloomberg’s story is spot on, seems to hold the belief that I do indeed. (I must admit I secretly admire the Crusher tank.)
Furthermore, the word choice in this Bloomberg BlackBerry BlackPad article strikes me as somewhat ominous. The goose is frightened of the consonantal tintinnabulation.
Stephen E Arnold, August 21, 2010
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Not Net Neutrality. Maybe Haves and Have Nots?
August 18, 2010
The recent “compromise” between search king Google and wireless company Verizon suggests wireless networks should be exempt from treating all content equally. The Telegraph recently outlined the reactions to this plan in an article, “Google ‘Has Made Few Compromises’ on Net Neutrality.” The piece cited one telecom analyst as saying, “Verizon has made real concessions here…Google, on the other hand, has made few compromises, getting most of what it always said it wanted.” But, what, many are asking, does the search mammoth want? Some say they aim to, “create[s] an Internet for the haves and an Internet for the have-nots.” Others agreed the plan would: “divide the information superhighway, creating new private fast lanes for the big players while leaving the little guy stranded on a winding dirt road.” Is Google up to something or is this just an attempt at the necessary flexibility many corporations need? We don’t know, but it’ll be fun to learn.
Pat Roland, August 18, 2010
Google Street View Faces German Skepticism
August 17, 2010
Google has caught Germany by surprise with its sudden and quiet announcement to carry on with its controversial Street View service in 20 German cities. As reported in “Google Itself Is Responsible for the Massive Skepticism”, more shocking for the Germans including many of the politicians who are away on vacation, is the limited one month period given by the company to request for their homes to be blurred out from the images provided by the service.
Google has drawn skepticism by this move, which is seen by many as a deliberate attempt to reduce the number of objections to be registered against Street View. However, the public and commentators on the editorial pages are divided over the issue of digital mapping of Germany. Some call Google as setting its own rules, and a non-cooperator, compromising only under public pressure, while some hail Street View as the map of the future, and do not want to be left out!
Leena Singh, August 17, 2010
Oracle and Google: Interesting Enemies
August 16, 2010
“How Oracle Might Kill Google’s Android and Software Patents All at Once” is an interesting write up. You should read it and make your own decision about its premise. For me, I was struck by the notion that Android itself could be jeopardized. Here’s the passage that got my wheels turning:
That fact not only highlights that Oracle is just as “open source friendly” as Google, but that it’s also more responsible in developing open source software in such a way that it doesn’t recklessly expose itself to being sued the way Sun did, or the way Google did.
I am not sure I see Oracle as quite the champion of open source that Roughly Drafted suggests. The article continued:
Once the iPhone and other platforms reach Verizon over the next six months, Android’s sales will scale back down domestically, and all the platform will have to recommend itself is a lot of adware, malware, copyright violations and fraudware pushed underhanded developers looking to bilk an audience in a market with no curator. On top of all this, it will also have a top software maker seeking to eviscerate its core development platform, necessitating a significant reworking of what Android even is. Who wants to invest in development for that? Especially if all your work is just going to be pirated by all the Android freetards.
If this assertion is accurate, Google will have to scramble to find another potential money stream. My hunch is that Google may have difficulty monetizing at the scale of AdWords. After 11 years, Google still sells text ads and variations thereof for the lion’s share of its revenues. What happens if the AdWords’ money-machine throws a gear? I recall hearing or reading that Google’s management expects to make money – lots of money – from Android. No Android. Bummer. No Android and declining AdWords revenue. Will the Math Club may be working at Burger King?
The write up also includes a patent “hook”. No matter how lousy the patent system is, I think that change will be slow and litigation will be only marginally faster. Nevertheless, the write up presents an interesting argument. I suppose Oracle folks will no longer be encouraged to sell Google Search Appliances or use Google Apps to address certain issues with Oracle’s own “glue” code like Fusion.
Stephen E Arnold, August 16, 2010
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Twitter: New Monetizing Play?
August 14, 2010
Data and text mining boffins like to crunch “big data.” The idea is that the more data one has, the less slop in the wonky “scores” that fancy math slaps on certain “objects.” Individuals think that his / her actions are unique. Not exactly. The more data one has about people, the easier it is to create some conceptual pig pens and push individuals in them. If you don’t know the name and address of the people, no matter. Once a pig pen has enough piggies in it (50 is a minimum I like to use as a lower boundary), I can push anonymous “users” into those pig pens. Once in a pig pen, the piggies do some predictable things. Since I am from farm country, piggies will move toward chow. You get the idea.
When I read “Twitter Search History Dwindling, Now at Four Days”, I said to myself, “Twitter can charge for more data.” Who knows if I am right, but if I worked at Twitter, I can think of some interesting outfits who might be interested in paying for deep Twitter history. Who would want “deep Twitter history?” Good question. I have written about some outfits, and I have done some interviews in Search Wizards Speak and the Beyond Search interviews that shed some light on these folks.
What can a data or text miner do with four days’ data? Learn that he / she needs a heck of a lot more to do some not-so-fuzzy mathy stuff.
Stephen E Arnold, August 14, 2010
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