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
Freebie
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
Freebie.
Alleged Police Raid on Google Korea
August 12, 2010
The BBC’s “Google Offices Raided by Korean Police” won’t make much difference to Verizon and probably not much difference to the search engine optimization gangs. However, if the story is true, a Google legal eagle will have some work in lovely South Korea.
The reason for the alleged raid is Google’s alleged WiFi sniffing for the not-do-alleged StreetView service. The math club crowd probably thinks that Korean authorities were acting irrationally. That’s okay. Points of view and differences of opinion cause people to see actions in different ways.
Here’s a snippet from the BBC story that I noted:
A police statement said they suspected Google has been collecting and storing data on “unspecified internet users from wi-fi networks”…. “[We] have been investigating Google Korea on suspicion of unauthorized collection and storage of data on unspecified Internet users from Wi-Fi networks,” the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said in a statement. Korean media reported that 19 KNPA agents raided the office, seizing hard drives and related documents. Authorities said they plan to summon Google officials for investigation once analysis on the confiscated items is complete.
The way the Korean authorities acted reminded me of Norwegian police tactics in October 2008 when the Fast Search & Transfer offices experienced what I recall was an “action”, maybe a “raid.” (Another similarity Google shares with Microsoft wonder I?)
For Google to keep those revenues flowing, one wonders if lighting up the sensors of various law enforcement and governmental professionals is a revenue plus or minus. For sure, there may be some added friction for the Googlers in countries where authorities conduct raids. Sending 19 officers is either a typographical error or an indication that the Korean authorities were not in the mood for a Google foosball game, more like rugby.
Stephen E Arnold, August 12, 2010
More Google Negativity
August 11, 2010
In a “free market” as it operates in the US, money is the object. Along with money comes other benefits; that is, the Vanderbilt effect. Corny had some rough edges, including a track record of fist fights, lousy grammar, and putting one of his relatives in a special care facility.
So what’s the big surprise that the non-iPhone Verizon and the non-iTunes Google are figuring out how to get money. The poobahs and the former English majors who analyze technology use fancy words to describe basic American business activity.
What interests me is that the glossy, unsullied Google is now described as a “carrier humping, net neutrality surrender monkey” and discussed with words like “sold out.”
Wow. These folks need to “hie thee to a nunnery” or take a class in medieval wisdom literature. This is the US of A, land of MBAs, quarterly reports, and winner-take-all products like those Mr. Jobs cranks out at healthy margins I might add.
Google is suddenly garnering bad boy headlines because it is trying to deliver to its stakeholders. The object of a public company is to increase value to stakeholders. This means taking money from a third party and putting that money in one’s pocket.
I would have preferred to read about:
- Google’s acquisition logic, which seems to me to be very similar to Yahoo’s pre-Bartz method
- Google’s new social network service
- Google’s increasingly robust security methods for the Google enterprise products and services. (I do recall hearing that Google’s security was pretty good before the new security push.)
Nope. None of this.
The negativity is surprising and unwarranted. The Math Club and the chip off the pre-Judge Green AT&T are doing what is required to thrive in today’s business climate.
From what I have heard and learned in my research, there is more to come. Much, much more.
Stephen E Arnold, August 11, 2010
Freebie, although it goes against the American capitalist method.
Google WiFi Issue Has Legs
August 5, 2010
The cars used to gather the Street View pictures may be gathering some of your private Wi-Fi network information, and a majority of Americans are concerned. In ‘Google Wi-Fi Scandal Concerns Most Americans,’ Webpronews.com recently reported that in a poll from Consumer Watchdog, 74 percent of Americans view Google favorably, but 65 percent say the Wi-Fi scandal is one of the things that “worries them most” or a “great deal” while another 20 percent saying it “raises some concern” when considering online issues. Google is cooperating with the National Security Agency without saying what information is being shared, and that’s causing an uproar from consumer groups who are eying voter ballot initiatives if Congress and state houses don’t act, says Consumer Watchdog advocate John M. Simpson.
Brett Quinn, August 5, 2010
Freebie
New Microsoft Focus
August 2, 2010
The lingo is now Job One. In 2008 it was enterprise search. (And how is that working out?) Then I learned that the real focus has been cloud computing since 1995. The other day there were eight focus points. Today I read “Ballmer: Microsoft-Powered Tablets Are ‘Job One Urgency’.” I know Microsoft is a big outfit and can handle lots of different tasks at the same time. I am, however, surprised that the target changes so quickly. The areas on which Microsoft is attending at the * same * time are big dudes, people. For me, this was the killer passage in the write up referenced Microsoft’s forthcoming iPad killer:
“They’ll be shipping as soon as they are ready,” Ballmer said, offering few details on the products, which he said will come from partners, not Microsoft itself. “It is job one urgency. No one is sleeping at the switch.”
Like the Kin?
Stephen E Arnold, August 1, 2010
Freebie
Quote to Note: Google about Android and Content
July 29, 2010
Here’s a quote to note. Today is July 29, 2010, and I don’t want this puppy to slip away. The story “Eric Schmidt on Google’s Next Tricks” is about Google’s dependence on advertising revenue. There is nothing wrong with billions of dollars. The problem is that Apple’s revenues are more diversified and Apple is moving into advertising. Google is jumping into hardware but in a Platonic manner. Google gives away Android and allows other companies to build hardware. Apple on the other hand gets its hands dirty with deals, hardware, software, and online services. So in terms of tricks, the Apple orchard has more diversity than Google’s patch.
Now here’s the quote to note:
“If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can’t make money from that?”
That’s a good question. The proof will be like Apple’s bushel basket full of revenue, earnings, and valuation. Google’s good, but a monoculture may be more vulnerable than diverse revenue streams that are up and flowing, not glimpsed in the mirror reflecting the horizon. Plato was not into money. Investors are the kinds of folks who say, “Show me the money.” Very un-Platonic in this goose’s opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, July 29, 2010
Freebie from the goose
Tech Giants Trade Punishing Verbal Hooks
July 19, 2010
The addled goose and the goslings enjoy watching humanoids who make lots of money tussle. It is even more enjoyable when the squabble involves technical giants. Here’s the latest Silicon Valley death match. In the aptly titled Larry Page Calls Steve Jobs a ‘Little Bit’ of a Liar, the acrimony is more frightening than Muhammad Ali’s remarks in the run up news conference for the Thrilla in Manila dust up with Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Personally I think Mr. Page and Mr. Jobs are more intimidating to an addled goose. (One of Mr. Ali’s relatives works with the addled goose, and I think she would be terrified of these tech titans’ blows too.)
Image source: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/DWTS%20-%20AliFrazier.jpg
Mr. Page, a math black belt, says that he doesn’t believe the tech terminator’s assertion that Google created the Android after the iPhone became a success of the iPhone. In fact the math black belt suggests Mr. Jobs is engaging in an activity that is a ‘little bit like rewriting history.’ I had a teacher who later became an Illinois Congressman. Dr. Phil Crane asserted that Joseph Stalin did the same thing with certain textbooks as part of much-needed revisionism.
And those Illinois elected officials. Paragons.
According to the aforementioned Gizmodo.com article, one could see the Android as somewhat similar to the iPhone. Coincidence? The addled goose is frightened and cannot think clearly. The whole thing has an air of
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
Fascinating.
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2010
Freebie
Google Metaweb Deal Points to Possible Engineering Issue
July 19, 2010
Years ago, I wrote a BearStearns’ white paper “Google’s Semantic Web: the Radical Change Coming to Search and the Profound Implications to Yahoo & Microsoft,” May 16, 2007, about the work of Epinions’ founder, Dr. Ramanathan Guha. Dr. Guha bounced from big outfit to big outfit, landing at Google after a stint at IBM Almaden. My BearStearns’ report focused on an interesting series of patent applications filed in February 2007. The five patent applications were published on the same day. These are now popping out of the ever efficient USPTO as granted patents.
A close reading of the Guha February 2007 patent applications and other Google technical papers make clear that Google had a keen interest in semantic methods. The company’s acquisition of Transformics at about the same time as Dr. Guha’s jump to the Google was another out-of-spectrum signal for most Google watchers.
With Dr. Guha’s Programmable Search Engine inventions and Dr. Alon Halevy’s dataspace methods, Google seemed poised to take over the floundering semantic Web movement. I recall seeing Google classification methods applied in a recipe demo, a headache demo, and a real estate demo. Some of these demos made use of entities; for example, “skin cancer” and “chicken soup”.
Has Google become a one trick pony? The buy-technology trick? Can the Google pony learn the diversify and grow new revenue tricks before it’s time for the glue factory?
In 2006, signals I saw flashed green, and it sure looked as if Google could speed down the Information Highway 101 in its semantic supercar.
Is Metaweb a Turning Point for Google Technology?
What happened?
We know from the cartwheels Web wizards are turning, Google purchased computer Zen master Danny Hillis’ Metaweb business. Metaweb, known mostly to the information retrieval and semantic Web crowd, produced a giant controlled term list of people, places, and things. The Freebase knowledgebase is a next generation open source term list. You can get some useful technical details from the 2007 “On Danny Hillis, eLearning, Freebase, Metaweb, Semantic Web and Web 3.0” and from the Wikipedia Metaweb entry here.
What has been missing in the extensive commentary available to me in my Overflight service is some thinking about what went right or wrong with Google’s investments and research in closely adjacent technologies. Please, keep in mind that the addled goose is offering his observations based on his research for this three Google monographs, The Google Legacy, Google Version 2.0, and Google: the Digital Gutenberg. If you want to honk back, use the comments section of this Web log.
First, Google should be in a position to tap its existing metadata and classification systems such as the Guha context server and the Halevy dataspace method for entities. Failing these methods, Google has its user input methods like Knol and its hugely informative search query usage logs to generate a list of entities. Heck, there is even the disambiguation system to make sense of misspellings of people like Britney Spears. I heard a Googler give a talk in which the factoid about hundreds of variants of Ms. Spears’s name were “known” to the Google system and properly substituted automagically when the user goofed. The fact that Google bought Metaweb makes clear that something is still missing.
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
