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How Newspapers Use Twitter

posted on December 17, 2009

Twitter icon2009 cannot be over quick enough for the newspaper business. The year was full of bad news, followed by worse news, which in some cases, ended in business ending news. The prognosis for the future is not real rosy either so what can the reeling industry do? One thing is to erect pay walls but we’ve heard enough on that one. One thing that the industry can do is embrace social media and in particular, Twitter, to get the attention of the digitally inclined.

The Bivings Report decided to do conduct an imperfect study of the use of Twitter by the newspaper industry. To their credit The Bivings Report themselves noted that the study was imperfect which shows some considerable integrity and makes their findings of greater interest to someone like myself. Their blog states:

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Google Services Takes the Audi A8 for a Spin

posted on December 17, 2009

Google Logo FRGoogle is taking mobile very seriously, as in they are partnering with Audi to bring Google services including Google Earth to the A8. This marks the continuation of Google’s attempts to bring their services into automobiles and does it at a new level. According to Google’s Lat Long blog:

With their newly unveiled Audi A8, Audi is the first car manufacturer to bring Google Earth directly into the vehicle and to combine that with a set of useful Google services. We’ve worked closely with them to create a compelling in-car experience integrated with the Audi navigation system. You’ll be able to enjoy 3D satellite imagery, terrain information and a wealth of additional geo information relevant to your current location: layers like Wikipedia to learn more about your surroundings or Panoramio images to get another view.

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It’s Coming: the Google Chrome OS Netbook

posted on December 17, 2009

chrome os netbook from techcrunchLast month, there was a minor furor over Google’s Chrome OS. The rumors were flying that it was about to “launch” and you could run it on a netbook before Thanksgiving. Of course, that wasn’t quite the case—as Google had promised all along, it was merely opening its code to developers to prepare for the eventual full launch. (Of course, if you really wanted it, you could always run the code through a compiler—and cross your fingers.)

Well, that full launch is still coming. Google’s original timeline set devices coming out in the second half of 2010. According to TechCrunch, a Google-branded device might be ready for the holiday season of 2010—right on schedule.

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Size Does Matter! Google Says Small & Narrow is Best!

posted on December 17, 2009

It seems that Google likes to roll out new tools to help webmasters without really saying why. So, when Google launches a new tool that helps you determine if your web page is too wide or long for most browser sizes, you have to wonder: will the dimensions of your web site become the next variable added to Google’s algorithm?

It’s not out of the realm of possibility, when you consider that the speed of your site will soon be a factor in determining your Google ranking.

Whether I’m reaching here–or close to home–I don’t know. What I do know is that Google wants YOU to be aware of how many Google users don’t get to see all of your web content at first glance.

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Twitter’s Retweet Function Vanishes! Retweet’s Are Back!

posted on December 17, 2009

Has anyone seen the new Twitter retweet link? Quick go check under your bed and see if it is hiding there.

Because I can’t find it in my Twitter stream:

And there’s no news from Twitter about its disappearance. A victory for those that hated the new feature? Or just a glitch?

UPDATE: The retweet function is back, and appears to be connected to the slowdown earlier today.

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Google’s Blogger Integrates with Amazon Associates

posted on December 16, 2009

Back in April, Google added a Monetize tab within Blogger to help its users earn money from AdSense on their site and in their feeds. Now they’re adding a new feature to that stable—Amazon Associates integration.

We’re used to hearing about the two companies as “frenemies” in the emerging eBook market—but hey, if cooperation makes things easier for users (and make the users and Amazon a buck), it’s definitely a good thing, right?

blogazon1

You’ve always been able to use Amazon Associates “manually” in a Blogger blog, but now there are options to make it fast and easy to use from right inside Blogger. (And I’m pretty jealous.) The above screen shows the default. Once you set up or enter your Associates ID, you’re given the option to add the Amazon Product Finder to the Edit and Compose New Post pages. The finder not only locates products within the Amazon store:
blogazon3

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Fix Cross-Domain Duplicate Content

posted on December 16, 2009

google angel haloBack in February, Google, Yahoo and then-Live premiered a solution to on-site duplicate content: a canonical URL element that let you designate which version official word was, of course, that the element is still just one signal.) Unfortunately, that element only worked within a single domain—if you had your content copied on another domain, no joy.

Until now. Yesterday on the Webmaster blog, Google announced a new cross-domain canonical URL element. Now, if you have the same content on two domains, you can indicate to search engines which one is the preferred URL.

The element uses the same syntax as the prior version, but now you can indicate the canonical URL is on a different domain:

<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.NEWexample.com/product.php?item=swedish-fish" />