No Google Chrome for me

I was off the grid for the last few days and actually heard the news of Google’s entry in the browser market on BBC Radio via NPR… I know - old school.

Anyway - I don’t trust this thing at all. Why? Privacy. Skynet Google already knows far too much about me. The last thing they need to know is my browsing habits. Oh, and no Mac version.

Why so late in the browser game? Co-Founder Sergey Brin discusses why…

Man, Sergey really looks like he needs some sleep…

I’m also not happy about having ANOTHER browser to test my work in.

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Search Google Docs with Spotlight

Precipitate is an application from the Google Mac team that lets you search your online documents via the popular Spotlight feature available in OSX.

From the release…

That’s where Precipitate comes in. After you install Precipitate, you can use Google Desktop or Spotlight to find files online (such as those in your Google Docs list) just as you would find files stored on your Mac. Then, you can open them in your browser with a single click. Once Precipitate is set up, it stays out of your way, regularly getting the latest contents of your documents automatically, so you’ll never need to think about it — or where you store your information — again

This version supports Google Docs and Google Bookmakrs, with more features being teased at for future releases.

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Google Ad Manager Updates

• Automatic Macro Insertion
  - Ad Manager will automatically detect the ad tags from several popular
  3rd party vendors when you paste them in as new creatives. When
  properly detected, the click-tracking and cache-busting macros will be
  inserted automatically.
• Competing Line Item Report
  - The quantity booked, amount delivered, and the current delivery
  status have all been added as new columns to the competing line items
  report.
• Overbook Details - When
  warned about possible overbooking, you now have the option to book only
  the inventory that is available. A new link to a “Detailed Inventory
  Check” will also provide quick access to more information.
• Export Ad Slots - The new
  “Download Ad Slots” link on the Ad Slots tab will export your entire
  slot list to a CSV file. This is useful to audit your inventory and
  verify AdSense settings.
• Edit Company Name - The company display name is now editable on the Admin > Settings tab. This name is seen by advertisers who you invite to log in and see their orders.

By the way - I love Google Ad Manager…

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Google and the Analytics Industry - Ask Andy

“Hey Andy - Your recent posts on Googles new products lead me to do some research. check out this link … I’d love to get your take on it. Do you think Google is stepping into areas best left to Nielsen and the tracking agencies, or is this the next logical progression for them?!? Link Keep Cooking!” Andrew Clark

It’s only natural for Google to step into the areas that have previously been dominated by the likes of Nielsen and Comscore. Why? They have the data to do so. With such a majority in search technology it is easy for Google to mine these analytics, and with the economies of scale at Google - they can provide this information for free. This does directly undercut the business models of the companies mentioned in the link you provided. Will these companies go out of business? No.

While the business models conflict there are other issues at hand. Two of those are data integrity and different sampling methodoligies. The article you cited makes a great point…

Some experts wonder if Google’s Ad Planner service may be a conflict of interest. Will advertisers trust data from a source that sells them online advertising?

The point made is whether advertisers will trust analytics provided by the company they purchase advertising from. My bet is, yes, they will because it is so cheap to do so. The other issue is methodology which directly reflects sampling issues. Google gets 70% of search traffic meaning they don’t have analytical data on the other 30%. The traditional firms like Nielsen use statistical practices such as samples and controls. Regardless, as the article points out, “…the main argument being
that Web usage is too fragmented to be accurately represented by a limited
sample size. Reporting solid results about Internet usage becomes tricky when using a restricted number of participants.” This thinking affects both sides.

I think the industry that should be worried more than the analytical industry is the actual ad firms that do media planning. A couple years ago I built a media planner website for a local ad agency. This directly targets their business model, and with Google’s scalability and affordability, the AdPlanner could directly impact their business - especially when companies like mine exist to help these consumers use the inexpensive tools provided by Google.

Thanks to Andrew Clark for the question.

Do you have a question? Maybe you should Ask Andy!

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Google Launches MediaServer (?)

This is an odd release from Google, but I will give it a try. I’m a big Media Center fan and have it running throughout the house - serving content to everything. Anyway, I am very surprised to see this release from Google, which runs on Google Desktop as a gadget - which is even more odd… From the Google Desktop Blog…

Google Media Server is a Windows application that aims to bridge the gap between Google and your TV. It uses Google Desktop technology such as Desktop gadgets for the administration tool and Google Desktop Search to locate media files. All you need is a PC running Google Desktop and a UPnP-enabled device (e.g. a PlayStation 3). At the touch of a button, you can then:

* Access videos, music, and photos stored on your PC
* View Picasa Web Albums
* Play your favorite YouTube videos

Hmm… seems to work to stream content to your XBOX 360 too… Still confused, but you can follow the discussion regarding this “gadget” here.

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