Tag Archive for 'yahoo'

Google has rolled out a web version of Google Talk

As the title suggests, Google has rolled out a Flash based version of Google Talk called Gtalkr.

It includes a Yahoo Maps extension - as Google Maps is not Flash based - this is unfortunate because Yahoo Maps is US only :-(

Gtalkr also includes your Gmail account automatically (you log in using your Gmail credentials), so it looks like Google are trying to make this a home page for users.

I spotted this on TechCrunch - hopefully the Google Talk blog will break the story soon!

UPDATE:
Robin has correctly pointed out to me that the web-based Flash version of Google Talk is not a Google product - in a footnote on the base of the site it clearly says:

Disclaimer: This site is not affiliated with Google.

Time to get those eyes checked again Tom!

Microsoft follow Google into Book Search

I had a much longer post prepared about this but I lost it when I had a server crash (due to my playing around with my .htaccess file!).

Anyway, according to the BBC, Microsoft are following Google’s lead into the Book Search arena.

MSNBC’s report states that Microsoft are teaming up with Yahoo! and the Open Content Alliance and they hope to:

sidestep hot-button copyright issues for now by initially focusing mainly on books, academic materials and other publications that are in the public domain… to let users search about 150,000 pieces of published material. A test version of the product is promised for next year.

Google’s Print project, on the other hand, promises to index millions of books and to remove from the index any books whose author requests they do so.

In terms of usefulness, a search index of millions of books will be orders of magnitude better than one with a mere 150,000 books - now if only Google can overcome the silly legal objections.




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