Google PageRank update 02/04/2010

Google PageRank update 02/04/2010

Webmasters (some webmasters I should say) are usually obsessed with Google PageRank update, the hardcore obsessed one not only keep a chart of the previous updates and the expected date of the next but they discuss it at lent at UK webmaster forum and other forums. As early as the middle of March speculation about the next PR update started, well, its here now. The update started rolling out from various Google data centre from the 2nd of April and it is still on going as this blog is posted.

The last Google PageRank update was on the 2nd of January, making it exactly three months between updates. You can continue discussion about Google PR update at UK webmaster forum or you can comment on this blog page.

Google admitted its Buzz service was not tested enough and they regret this

Google Buzz is a Gmail integrated service, launched February 9^th, that lets to people the possibility to post and share content, read and comment buddies’ posts etc.

Since their launch, Google was hardly criticized for personal information disclosure. If you are not so familiarized with this service, see what the deal is: Google Buzz friends’ circle creator makes public your list with most emailed persons unless you change your settings. That means Google allows others Buzz’ users to see to whom you email more often.

The decision was based on the idea of providing a greater user experience to people using that service, but it seems it was a bad step taken by the company while revealing maybe connections between journalist and “rats”, business people, even affairs with other women.

Google admitted that they have not done this the good way so improvements are to be done, but all that they wanted was to create an easily accessible social network for Gmail users. More than that, they also consider offering to people that do not use Gmail the option to join a separate from Gmail website.

As you might know, Google services are tested by Google Trusted Tester program, a network created by friends and families of employees that gain access to products before being launched and than send feedback to Google. It seems that Buzz was not tested by this program, the reasons being unknown.

A Google representative admitted that the company apologizes for making this step without a deeper testing of this service and also apologizes for the worry created about this issue.

We should keep an eye on Google’s next moves while those can decide if the Buzz will be a success or a failure in Google’s plans for a bigger piece of social networking.

Here are some fixes announced to be done in a short time:

-         Buzz will only make suggestions who could be a part from your friends’ circle

-         Easier way to disable Buzz

-         guarantee that accounts will not auto-connect with Picasa albums

-         guarantee that accounts will not auto-connect with items stored in Google Reader

-         an improved “preferences” menu

It seems that these improvements are up to be released this week, as the work involved in this issue is at higher levels.

Google incorporates real-time data into SERPs

Google real-time web goes live

Real-time search also called real-time-web results Google has been trying for some time is now being incorporated into their SERPs. This mean in addition to the indexed pages it usually displays on its search result pages, it will also display information from news organisations, blogs, forums, Twitter and other trusted sites as soon as such information is published. The real-time web feature will also index status updates from Facebook, public information from MySpace and tweets.

Google claimed that it is the first search engine to integrate real-time web into its result pages, the feature will also be available in PDA such as iPhone and Android powered PDAs.

The real-time data will be displayed in a constantly updating stream within the regular Google search engine result pages.

Google.co.uk – Do not visit this site, it may harm your computer

Google search service was affected by technical problem yesterday and today (Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st Jan), with some users saying they are unable to access search results. On Saturday, all listing on Google SERP (search engine result page) were flagged a potentially harmful, with user warned that the site “May harm your computer”. User who click on their preferred search result were advised to select another search result, this applies to even their own website www.google.co.uk .

Some user also reported that email delivered by Google email services carried warning even though the emails were from trusted sources.

Spokes person for Google attributed the problem to human error, she said users were affected for about 40 minutes in an official Google Blog.

This issue and other search engine related issues are being discussed at webmaster forum, you can join the discussion free of charge.

Google UK – The Queen and I

If the queen was to award royal seal of approval to Google UK, it could read something like this “By Appointment To Her Majesty the Queen, Google UK, purveyor or Internet information” this would have entitled Google UK to join royal warranty holders association, and use the queen’s seal on their website. As customary to Google, they commemorate special occasions with a discreet alteration to their logo, on the occasion of the Queen’s visit to Google’s UK premises, the Queen’s head replaces the ‘g’ in the logo on their website.

While at Google’s UK headquarters, the Queen and Prince Phillips were given a virtual tour of Big Ben and Windsor Castle using Google Earth. The Queen also uploaded a footage to her YouTube channel. Prince  Philip ask Google staff to show him their own office using Google Earth, they could not find it, it happen that the aerial phone that powers Google Earth is yet to be updated since Google’s head office on Buckingham Palace road was built.

The Queen, compared with other monarchs is at the cutting edge of technology, she is on record as the first monarch to send an email way back in 1976, her website went online  21 year later in 1997 and her own YouTube channel was launched in November 2007.

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