Category: Google

Google rants, commentary, etc.

Categories
Google Mozilla

Googlefox Uncovered

Well, now we get the info we need on the elusive “Googlefox”.

The second area of Mozilla intends to explore with new versions of Firefox is integration with desktop search.

Companies like Google, Vivisimo and Copernic make search applications that comb through all the information on a personal computer. The way it is now, a browser’s bookmarks, cache, history and e-mail reader present the desktop search application with a wide array of APIs (application programming interfaces) to negotiate.

Mozilla said it is in discussions with desktop search providers to simplify and standardize those tools to make them more easily searchable by search programs.

[Source: CNET News.com @ 11/10/2004 12:00 AM EST ]

I think that’s about the most information disclosed about the Mozilla < --> Google relationship thus far.

Not to mention this.

I think that says a lot.

Categories
Google Mozilla

More Mozilla and Google talk

As I mentioned here, Google desktop isn’t bad, but doesn’t support Firefox and Thunderbird as well as their Microsoft counterparts. Apparently that might change. Great news indeed.

Categories
Google Mozilla

Google Desktop Search out

Google’s Desktop Search is out (beta). It seems pretty interesting, but I’ve got a few complaints and grevences so far:

  • No Firefox and Thunderbird Support. They know this. Let them know you want it (perhaps that would be a good SFX campaign).
  • It looks like they prevent you from distributing a Google Search Plugin for Firefox. Look how the URL itself is structured: http://127.0.0.1:4664/search&s=1850695040?q=foobar&ie=UTF-8&btnG=Search+Desktop See, the s parameter. Thanks google.
  • No ability to exempt certain directories on your hard drive from being indexed. So it’s all or nothing.
  • No ability to delete certain items from the index. Say I have a conversation over AIM I don’t want indexed for privacy/security issues, that’s not to say I don’t want any of them indexed.

Among the many other things.

Yea, it’s a preview. I like the idea, but google’s got a lot of refining to do if they want to convince me it’s worth it. To me, I see lots of room for improvement.

Categories
Google Mozilla

Googlefox Pt 2

I mentioned it the other day.

Bug 226572 is now under lock and key.

Oh what could it be?

Could it be Google’s dropping the blue ‘e’?

Could it be Google’s helping to dump IE to the bottom of the deep blue sea?

Could it be Google to the rescue?

Could it be Google? God Bless You!

Categories
Google Mozilla

Googlefox?

Could it be?

Categories
Google Internet

Amazon Eager to Get A9 off the ground

It appears Amazon is giving a geeky (π/2) discount to early adopters who uses their search engine.

So before you make an amazon purchase do the following:

  1. Visit a9 and perform a search
  2. Visit amazon.com (if you like me… use my link so I get affiliate credit)

Robert Accettura, since you’ve been using A9.com recently, virtually everything at Amazon.com is automatically an additional π/2% (1.57%) off for you. Collecting this discount is zero effort on your part. It will be applied automatically at checkout (it will happen whether you use the shopping cart or our 1-Click Shopping®). You don’t need to do anything to get this discount except keep using A9.com as your regular search engine.

We don’t advertise this additional discount that we give in exchange for using A9.com, so if you want your friends to know about it, please tell them. It is probably the only way they’ll find out. All they have to do is use A9.com as their regular search engine. They should make sure they are signed in to A9.com (it should be recognizing them by name) so that we can be certain they get credit for their visit.

While the π/2% discount is a good additional reason to use A9.com it isn’t the best reason. A9.com licenses its web search results from the industry leader Google, and then supplements those results with Amazon’s Search Inside the Book™ results. The coolest feature is that A9.com keeps track of your search history for you on the server side. To see how this works, do some A9 searches from your computer at work and then sign in to A9.com from your computer at home.

How can we afford this additional π/2% discount?

Sponsored links revenue -from the small text-based ads on A9.com and Amazon.com search results pages -will help offset costs we incur through the Rewards promotion. With our automatic π/2% discount, we are effectively sharing with you some of the money we collect from sponsored links, i.e. sharing the pi.

Please use A9.com and tell your friends.

Thank you

  • A9.com Instant Rewards will not be applied to the purchase of gift certificates or gift cards, such as Amazon.com Gift Certificates, Target GiftCards, or Borders Gift Cards.
  • A9.com Instant Rewards will not be applied to purchases from Amazon.com zShops or Amazon.com Auctions; payments and contributions made using the Amazon.com Honor System; Marketplace Pre-Orders; or In-Store Pickup purchases.
  • A9.com Instant Rewards may be inactivated for any Amazon.com account at any time depending on the number of A9.com Web searches performed.
  • Product searches performed on Amazon.com will not help to qualify an account for A9.com Instant Rewards.
  • You do not have to click on sponsored links to qualify an account for A9.com Instant Rewards.
  • The A9.com Instant Reward rate is π/2% (1.57%) off the total purchase price, including tax and shipping.
  • The exact amount of the A9.com Instant Reward stated on the order summary is only an estimate. After taxes are finalized, the exact amount of the Instant Reward will be finalized.
  • A9.com Instant Rewards are not for use on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca, Amazon.fr, or any Web site other than www.amazon.com.
  • Amazon.com reserves the right to change or discontinue the A9.com Instant Reward program at any time.

[Source:Amazon.com 9/19/2004]

Categories
Google Mozilla

Gmail invites

I’ve got Gmail invites still. Priority goes to Mozilla community members. If I’ve seen your name around, you’ve got a higher chance. So post a comment here with your name and email address (no anti-spam garbage, or I’m skipping it, the blog will do some minor obscuring).

Even higher priority goes for those who join Freeipods.com through my referal link, and complete an offer. 😉 Still trying to find out if it’s the real deal. Try AOL for 30 days (hey, they did give Mozilla Foundation $2 million). There several other easy little offers. Then cancel during the free trial to avoid having to pay for the service if you don’t like it. Use the same address to signup, so I know who you are.

So if you don’t have a Gmail address yet, this is an easy way to get it. Priority offer is as follows:

  • freeipods.com signups who complete an offer (use an ‘instant offer’ for even quicker gratification).
  • Mozilla community members.

Do both and increase your chances.

If I get more invites, I’ll just attack this list for a little bit, before making a new post with a new contest for gmail invites.

So go ahead and get busy.

Categories
Google

Miss America’s answer could win a Gmail account

In the spirit of America’s favorite beauty pageant:

If I had a million dollars, I would ________________

Best 2 answers get a Gmail Account. Leave a comment with your real name/email to win.

Categories
Funny Google

Make me laugh for a Gmail account

Ok, well I have a few Gmail accounts to give away, but I want to have fun. So here’s your mission:

Make me laugh

Rules (must read before attempting this contest)

  • I decide. Simple as that, 100% up to me. That’s the way it goes.
  • USE THE COMMENTS FORM… unless…
    If your going to say something that may be deemed offensive, use the comment form. Do not try and make a comment with a dirty joke. Violators may be disqualified, and blocked. Use the comment form if your not sure, and if it’s appropriate, I’ll give you the nod to make a comment. Adult jokes by comment form ONLY. No exceptions. Make a mistake, and you will make me mad.
  • Information required: valid email and name. That’s who I will send it to. Use bogus data sflkdsjf@adsfjlksdf.com and you will not get an invite.
  • Multiple entries allowed, but use discretion. If I feel you are to spammy, your not getting one. So send your best 1 or 2.

    • Oh, feel free to invite others to try. And come back to read. Hopefully a few won’t be ‘comment only’

    As for what tickles my funnybone… well that’s half the game. Those who know me, know very well what the sweet spot is. For the rest of you, good luck. Don’t bother asking, I won’t tell, you can scour the blog if you want. Not sure if that will help though.

    There are 2 (maybe 3) accounts to give away this time. Lets see how good you guys are.

    Use the comments form in compliance with the rules above. Violators WILL be prosecuted.

    This contest will run until at least Sunday night (9:00 PM EST). It may be extended at my will if the contest has a lot of entries (and if they are good).

    Categories
    Google Internet

    Got Gmail

    I’ve got Gmail!

    Thanks to Jeff Walden for the Invite.

    I’ll hold off on initial impressions for now, I think I’ll write them all at once at some point in the future when I feel I’ve toyed with it enough to do so.

    My email will stay the same as it has for several years now. I think I might use the Gmail account for all the mailing lists I take part in. Quite a few, and they clog my email. Might be nice to put them all in Gmail.

    When I start getting invites, I’ve got a few people to give to, but any extras will be given away here like Asa is doing. So stay tuned. You never know when it happens, or what the requirement may be. Might be first comment, might be a scavenger hunt, might be a bug bounty? I’ve got to figure out how to do it so everyone gets a fair chance. Some people are doing just developers, or people that they remember have been looking. I’m thinking more like a contest. Perhaps trivia?

    Anyway, were getting a little ahead now. More later if I get invites to give away.