What is Google Really Up To?

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There is a brilliant new guest post up over at ProBlogger.net by Alister Cameron titled How Google Blogsearch ranks your Posts… In their own words!

It’s a long post, and very technical. Alister analyzes some of the wording found in Google’s patent application a couple years back for their Blog Search and he brings up several interesting questions.

Here’s one of the things he brings forward that might be a little disturbing for some folks.

Apparently, according to the patent application, Google goes through folk’s GMail and Google Talk accounts looking for links and somehow incorporates that data into their search algorithms. They also apparently use data gathered from their Google Reader users accounts with regards to feed viewing and clicking habits.

If you are a user of one of these services (I use use all three), how do you feel about Google looking over your shoulder to glean information about your habits?

Do you think Google culling your email or IM conversations for links is an invasion of your privacy?

If you don’t use these services, does knowing Google is watching what you do discourage you from ever using them?

Food for thought.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tags: Tech Tips, Alister Cameron, GMail, Google, Google Reader, Google Talk, problogger.net

Google Picks a Bad Fight

Can you have too much success?

Google seems to think so. Check on this entry from the Official Google Blog this past week.

Basically Google is worried that their trademark may get diluted because too many people are using the word Google “inappropriately”.

Sure trademark protection is an important issue. However their blog post that they used to start some conversation about the issue is incredibly condescending. Giving examples with “Our lawyers say:” is a move guaranteed to raise the ire of the very user who are so enthusiastic about using their products.

Kem Meyer hits the nail on the head with her post Don’t Tell Me How To Google.

All this time, Google, you made us think it was all about us… and we loved you for it. We changed the way we talk, surf and build sites because of you. But, this sounds like it’s all about you….and now my radar is up.

I guess Google must be disappointed with how much success they’ve achieved. Now they want to be sure their lawyers keep a lid on their branding.

Do you suppose they will actually be dumb enough to let their lawyers eventually sue someone who doesn’t follow their guidelines?

I don’t get it.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tags: Misc, Branding, General, Google