Category Archives: google

Google Maps adds click-to-call

Posted on November 19, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

Google Maps now offers a free click-to-call service. When you see a phone number, you can click a “call” link, enter your phone number and Google will call you and the business. The feature worked flawlessly; my phone rang almost … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, google, local search, maps, yellow pages | 2 Comments

Google gets mobile – Gmail goes beyond WAP

Posted on November 2, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

Google introduced a new Java-based mobile email application today. It has instantly become my second-favorite mobile application, after Google Maps. I’ve been using Google’s mail on my cell phone with my phone’s Web browser for a while now. It has … Continue reading →

Posted in email, google, mobile, wireless, wireless data | 2 Comments

Google’s Custom Search – a take on social search?

Posted on October 31, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

I’ve been playing with Google’s Custom Search engine lately. In short, it lets you build custom search engines around a given topic. You can create your own search engine around toys, HDTV, restaurants, travel Web site — whatever interests you. … Continue reading →

Posted in google, personalization, search | 5 Comments

YouTube’s other intellectual property issue

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

There’s been a lot of talk about the copyright issues that YouTube faces with the vast volume of clips that aren’t authorized by content creators. We’ve seen a number of licensing agreements for content. YouTube has also pulled unauthorized Comedy … Continue reading →

Posted in google, intellectual property, YouTube | 2 Comments

Post-it to self: Don’t Google people any more

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

Google’s blog has a plea for users to not use Google as a verb. Just as we’re not supposed to Jet Ski or Xerox, Google’s lawyers would appreciate it if we stick to using Google as a noun. There is … Continue reading →

Posted in google, intellectual property | 1 Comment

Could YouTube have come from a large company?

Posted on October 12, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

YouTube is clearly one of the leading innovators in the online video space, dramatically transforming not only the way people consume video content on the Web, but also what kind of content they consume. You don’t need to look any … Continue reading →

Posted in google, media, video, web 2, web 2.0, YouTube | 4 Comments

Following local search to nowhere

Posted on October 10, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

One of the big frustrations I have with local search is that the data is often old. With many sites, the information can be 18 months old. More than once I’ve driven to businesses that were no longer in business. … Continue reading →

Posted in city guides, google, local search, web 2.0, yellow pages | Comments Off

MapQuest brings back aerial views

Posted on October 8, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

After a long hiatus, MapQuest now has aerial views on its beta site. Long time online map users will remember that MapQuest had aerial views long before Google Maps existed. Unfortunately, they aren’t as good as what Google has now: … Continue reading →

Posted in aol, google, maps | 6 Comments

Want more ads with your Gmail?

Posted on October 4, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

I was in my Gmail account and noticed a new addition to the Sponsored Links that appear along side the email: the option to get more sponsored links. Clicking any of the links under “More about…” gets you a page … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, email, google, search | 3 Comments

Public transit and online maps

Posted on October 2, 2006 by Rakesh Agrawal

Google Labs has expanded its transit planner service to include Eugene, Ore., Honolulu, Hi., Pittsburgh, Pa., Seattle, Wash. and Tampa, Fla. The service started last year in Portland, Ore. This slick service integrates with Google Maps and lets you plan … Continue reading →