Google Images has been upgrades to include a great new set of options and filters. This great new upgrade allows image searches to be refined to much finer level, but not everyone can see it. It seems as though the update is either a new functionality test or is being rolled out slowly from data centre to data centre.

 

We tested out a search for “Eliza Dushku” using the UK version of Google Images and we are glad to say it seems to be fully working.

Images can be searched by Files size, exact size or larger than. Exact size allows you to search for an image that is a specific pixels size, allowing you to enter both the width and the height and larger than searches allows you to search for images above a pixel size allowing you to select a pixel size and ratio or a mega pixel size number.

Images can also be filtered by type including, face shots, photos, clip art and line drawing. Images can also search by colour allowing full colour, black and white or a specific colour searches. This really is an exciting update and really helps to provide great results.

Check it out for yourselves http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GB&um=1&sa=1&q=eliza+dushku&aq=0&oq=eliza&aqi=g10&start=0#start=0&imgsz=2mp

Article by Creative SEO UK

Firefox the open source browser and web developers’ friend is expected to break the one billion download barrier in the next 24 hours.

Firefox currently is used by nearly one third of the worldwide online population, that’s an amazing 31%. Internet Explorer still rules the marketplace at over 60% while, both Safari, Chrome and Opera together hold around 5% of the market.

The European competition regulators ruled in January that on new computer systems, Microsoft only adding internet explorer to its windows operating system and did not give users a choice of different browsers. This is felt was damaging its competition. After negotiations, Microsoft have acknowledges that they will include a selection of download links on the up and coming Windows 7. This decision should really open the playing field.

Article by Creative SEO

Cofounder, Biz Stone wants to make Twitter more user friendly, to appeal to a larger audience and to become a valuable business tool. The whole point of updating the homepage was to give new users the ability to understand the concept. So why is the new design so minimal?



Everyone is baffled by the changes; the new design looks great and suits the brand, but surely a more “new user” friendly approach would have ensured an increased level of user growth? Let’s face it a lot of people just don’t get Twitter, “why would I want to talk about my cat or tell people that I’ve hung out the washing?” The problem is Twitter is so much more than this, it’s a powerful social network and communication tool, a real time information portal.

“Defining a “tweet” for the uninitiated and explaining how to create an account doesn’t resonate with everyone. “Why would I want to do that?” is a common reaction. However, demonstrating the power of Twitter as a discovery engine for what is happening right now through our Search and Trends often awakens a sense of wonder which inevitably leads to a much more compelling question, “How do I get involved?” Biz Stone.

Twitter has approached the new homepage not as a place to share updates about the lives of the users, but as a real-time information and search portal. This I think is a work of genius, yes the concept and use of Twitter is still hard to explain to a new user but the data that is being accrued by Twitter users is priceless. Real time topic and opinion based news and information which can be shared within the community. No wonder Google is looking to broker a deal with Twitter.

I still think it’s a shame that Twitter did not embrace both areas, a more user friendly approach, with user guides etc. Would have been a nice touch. But let’s face it, Twitter can’t really do much wrong at the moment.

Article by Creative SEO – Search Engine Optimisation

After over a year and a half of negotiation both Microsoft and Yahoo have finally come to a deal which is set to challenge Google’s 65% share of the online search.

Under the terms of the new 10 year deal, searched on Yahoo.com will be powered by Microsoft ‘s brand new search engine Bing and Yahoo will be responsible for attracting and selling premium advertising.

Microsoft is set to pay Yahoo 88% of the revenue it gains from searches on the Yahoo website and Microsoft will also have the rights to integrate Yahoo search Technology into its existing search platform. Yahoo is reported to have said that the new agreement will generate the company an annual income of over $500 million.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said that the deal will allow Microsoft to “create more innovation in search, better value for advertisers and real consumer choice in a market currently dominated by a single company.”

In a joint statement from Microsoft and Yahoo, it was said that “advertisers no longer have to rely on one company that dominates more than 70% of all search.” This was obviously an attack on Google’s dominance in the marketplace.

Article by Creative SEO

Google Voice is a great online service which allows users to make cheap international calls and consolidate multiple telephone numbers through one unique Google number. Voice mail messages are recorded, transcribed and emailed to the user. So why have Apple refused to allow the Application to be available through the iTunes Store?

The decision has caused massive amounts of controversy, preventing iTunes users from easily downloading and using Google Voice. Apple have refused to comment on the decision which has sparked an outcry from the internet and Apple communities. PC World accused Apple of “Control Freak Tendencies.” TechCrunch called Apple “Rotten to the Core.” So why did Apple put its self forward for the firing line by making such an unpopular decision?

It seems as though Apple were protecting their business partner AT&T, the telecoms provider, from potentially losing revenue from lost calls, which would result from its users choosing to make a call by Google Voice and not the phone network carrier.

“There’s some turf to protect,” said Martin Pyykkonen, an independent technology analyst. “From Apple’s standpoint, why embrace something that could end up being a competitor down the road?”

Google Voice, previously Grand Central, is currently a free to use service and at present Google has not released information about how it plans to make revenue from the product. The service was reintroduced two weeks ago and was by invitation only.

“We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone,” said Carolyn Penner, a Google spokeswoman, who noted that users may still access the application through the phone’s Web browser, even if they can’t download the application from Apple’s online iTunes store. “We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users, for example by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.”

The problem is that if Google Voice becomes too popular, network providers could potentially lose revenue.

“If you use Google Voice tremendously, it would take away from AT&T’s minutes,” said Richard Doherty, an analyst with Envisioneering, a technology research firm. “The fear is that Google could dump you into a chat room with all of your friends and you may end up not needing AT&T.” Taken from LA Times.

Could this be seen as AT&T monopolizing and controlling how its users make calls in order to make more money? Surely a user should be able to make a call, using whatever service they feel is appropriate?

Article by Creative SEO UK